REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Annual Report for FY 2024 for the Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional Program for Public Information related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The City has participated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) program since 2002. CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. This commitment enhances public safety, property protection, and protects the natural functions of floodplains, and flood insurance premiums.
Flood insurance premium rates for residents and businesses are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community activities meeting the three goals of the CRS:
1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property
2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP
3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management
The City is currently CRS Class 7, which means that residents and businesses in the City’s Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) are eligible for up to a 15 percent insurance premium discount. The average annual flood policy premium for City residents and businesses within the SFHA is approximately $900, with the total insurance premiums being an estimated $642,000. Due to participation in the CRS program, the latest estimated total flood insurance premium savings is approximately $95,000 a year for Santa Clara residents and businesses.
The City works closely with the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), whose participation in CRS dates back to 1998. Valley Water’s participation in the CRS program allows them to document qualifying flood risk reduction activities they perform throughout Santa Clara County and receive credits that are then transferred to each CRS participating community, including the City of Santa Clara. These credits contribute to the flood insurance premium discount that residents and businesses enjoy.
The Program for Public Information (PPI) was introduced as part of the CRS in 2013. The PPI encourages participating CRS communities to work together with local stakeholders to design a program incorporating community outreach on flood risk reduction that best fits local needs. Valley Water took the lead in the development of the Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional PPI, a countywide collaborative outreach program to increase flood awareness.
FEMA requires that an annual evaluation report on the Multi-Jurisdictional PPI be shared with the elected bodies.
DISCUSSION
The annual report to FEMA documenting PPI activities and accomplishments in FY 2024 was released by Valley Water in June 2024 and the report is being provided to the City Council as an informational item to satisfy the FEMA requirement. In addition to the general flood awareness message that FEMA wants all CRS communities to share, three additional messages were added specifically for communities in Santa Clara County based on input received through the PPI stakeholder process. They are (1) “Turn Around, Don’t Drown ®,” which encourages people to stay out of flooded roads, whether driving or walking; (2) Download disaster apps; and (3) Make a family emergency plan before an emergency happens. The Annual Evaluation Report for FY 2024 is included as Attachment 1.
The PPI gives the City opportunities to earn extra credit points under the NFIP CRS program. Every 500 CRS points translates to a 5 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for properties in the SFHA. In addition to the annual recertification submittal to FEMA, a field audit is performed by a FEMA representative every five years to verify flood reduction activities that have been implemented. The City’s last verification visit occurred in November 2023 resulting in the City maintaining its current rating as a Class 7 community in the NFIP CRS.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The staff time for the City’s participation in CRS is and has been supported by the General Fund. Since the outreach projects are set to repeat annually, the increase in staff effort due to implementation of PPI is small and it is mainly for project documentation. There are no other financial impacts associated with this item other than the staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Note and File the Annual Report for FY 2024 for the Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional Program for Public Information related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Annual Evaluation Report for FY 2024