Administrative Brief
COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
VOL. 31 NO. 40
December 17, 2009
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM GARY HOBBIE
Development Services Department - Planning Division
We have received word from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that they
will publish in the Salina Journal, a public notification of an Appeals Period for proposed
modifications in the Base Flood Elevations (BFE) for specific flooding sources within the
Salina community. This first notice was published December 11 with the second notice to be
published December 18. This second notice starts a 90-day appeal period allowing any owner
or lessee of real property, who believes their property rights will be adversely affected by the
base flood elevation determinations, to notify the city of any incorrect information.
The property owner appeals must contain scientific data ortechnical information indicating that
the base flood elevations are incorrect. The appeals are to be sent to the Floodplain
Administrator Dean Andrew so all appeals may be consolidated and deemed sufficient to
justify an official appeal by the City of Salina. We have been notified that any documents
submitted by the public property owner, directly to FEMA, which does not have the technical or
scientific supporting evidence, will become a comment to the revised flood mapping and
should be categorized as such.
During this 90-day Appeal Period, the city plans to have three public meetings which will
inform citizens of Salina of the proposed flood plain map proposed revisions. A special
mailing to all the citizens affected by the proposed map change will occur two weeks prior to
the meetings noting the proposed date, time and locations for the meetings. This will allow the
property owner sufficient time to locate their Letter of Map Amendment, and develop their
appeal documents for submittal to the city for inclusion in the official appeal resolution. If
citizens need help with their LaMA letter, city staff members will have available the Letters of
Map Amendment on file in our offices for review at these meetings. City staff is mapping all
the LaMA Letters on our GIS system and maps will be available at these meetings for review
by the general public.
During this appeal period, the city must determine that an appeal is warranted, that sufficient
data has been collected and confirm that the assembled items are appropriate to be submitted
to FEMA on behalf of the property owners within the community. The City of Salina appeal
must be completed within the ninety-day period, or by March 18,2010. Nearly 1,700 Letters
of Map Amendment are on file in our offices and our consultants believe we have adequate
support for an appeal resolution and will assist city staff in developing our appeal case. All
reports and data submitted will be considered by FEMA staff and final decisions will be made
in writing with copies sent to each individual appellant and the state coordinating agency.
FEMA will make available all reports and information used for tier final determination to the
public.
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The city has hired AMEC Earth and Environmental professional engineers to assist in Levee
System review and flood control overview. Joe File PE, with that firm will assist the city staff in
conducting these public meetings and appeal process documentation. AMEC and their
resources will be a great asset for our community as they are helping Wichita, Hutchinson and
Garden City in their flood plain management and mapping projects. Recent visits with FEMA
staff in Kansas City indicated that they would be willing to attend these public meetings if
scheduling permits which will allow the property owner to talk directly to FEMA staff of their
concerns. City Planning staff have sent the mapping agency copies of all the LaMA and
LOMR certificates on file, and we do know that nearly one-half of the letters of certification
have not been processed by the mapping agency.
If warranted by substantive changes, FEMA will send the city revised copies of the Flood
Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map, and send a letter of final revised base flood
elevations. Since the city has nearly 1,700 Letters of Map Amendment, we feel dedicated to
hold public meetings, the collection of scientific and technical data, and the appeal of the
proposed base flood elevation on behalf of the City of Salina.
MONDAY'S MEETING
Enclosed are other items on the agenda. If any Commissioner has questions or cannot
attend the meeting, please contact me.
Jason A. Gage
City Manager