On joint motion of all Councilmembers present, the following ordinance was offered:
SUMMARY NO.
ORDINANCE NO.
An ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 14, Flood
Prevention and Protection, relative to incorporating the new
Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM’s) into the
ordinances and other regulations of the Parish of Jefferson relative
to the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) in connection with National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) and the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) of
the Department of Homeland Security, and to provide for related
matters. (Parishwide)
THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That Sections 14-2 of the Code of Ordinances be and the same is
hereby amended and re-adopted to read as follows:
Sec. 14-2. Official flood maps.
(1) Official flood maps entitled Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate
Maps (DFIRM’s) for the Unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish, LA, Community
No. 225199, effective October 30, 2008, and as hereafter amended, are hereby
made a part of these regulations in addition to the previous March 23, 1995
Official Flood Maps entitled Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS’s) and they are
both on file with the Parish Planning Department, the Department of Inspection
and Code Enforcement, the Department of Public Works, the Department of
Homeland Security, and the Department of Emergency Management.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 1, the Parish Planning
Department, the Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement, the
Department of Public Works, the Department of Homeland Security, and the
Department of Emergency Management are authorized and directed to apply the
Preliminary DFIRM’s pursuant to the FEMA Louisiana Flood Recovery Guidance
for Jefferson Parish, dated February 11, 2008, until such time as the final Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) are issued by FEMA and subsequently adopted by
Jefferson Parish. The Council by resolution may adopt any additional
requirements necessary to effectuate the application of the Flood Recovery
Guidance for Jefferson Parish or other such guidance recovery issued by FEMA.
(3) The provisions in (1) and (2) above, hereby eliminates the use of FEMA
Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE’s), in all of Unincorporated Jefferson
Parish on the Eastbank, which were previously adopted on July 19, 2006. The
FEMA ABFE’s, however, are still in force for all of Unincorporated Jefferson
Parish on the Westbank until final FIRM’s are issued as mentioned in (2) above.
SECTION 2. That Section 14-8 (a) (Last Sentence of First Paragraph) of the
Code of Ordinances be and the same is hereby amended by and re-adopted to read as
follows:
Sec. 14-8 (a)….. The first floor elevation of new residential livable areas and
substantial damage/improvements must, as a minimum, be elevated to the 100year base flood level as determined by the FEMA Preliminary DFIRM’s of October
30, 2008 for Community No. 225199 and also in accordance with “Higher
Regulatory Standards” stipulated in Sec. 14-8.1 below for certain designated
areas of Unincorporated Jefferson Parish on the Eastbank in Metairie.
SECTION 3. That Section 14-8.1 be added to the Code of Ordinances and
adopted to read as follows:
Sec. 14-8.1 Higher Regulatory Standards for certain designated areas of
Unincorporated Jefferson Parish in Metairie.
(a) All new Residential and Commercial structures, as well as those
substantially damaged/improved, in “AE” Flood Zones, on the Eastbank of
Unincorporated Jefferson Parish, specifically in Metairie, LA., where the Base
Flood Elevation (BFE) decreased on the new FEMA Preliminary Digital Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM’s) of October 30, 2008 from the March 23, 1995
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s) from -3.50 to -4.00, -4.50, and -5.00,
respectively, along with one other “AE” Flood Zone in Metairie near the Metairie
Country Club, where BFE decreased from 0.00 to -2.00, this area bounded by
South of the Loumor Ditch and the railroad tracks to Airline Dr. and West from the
17th St. Canal toward Jefferson Ave., must be elevated to two (2) feet above
Highest Adjacent Grade (HAG)” measured from the “Centerline of the Street”
elevation indicated on the appropriate FEMA Elevation Certificate or the BFE on
the March 23, 1995 FIRM, whichever is higher.
(b) All other new Residential structures, as well as those substantially
damaged/improved, in “AE” and “X” Flood Zones on the Eastbank of
Unincorporated Jefferson Parish, must be elevated to 18” above the HAG
mentioned in (a) above or the BFE on the October 30, 2008 DFIRM’s, whichever is
higher, in the same manner. Commercial structures will be required to elevate 6”
above the HAG mentioned in (a) above or the BFE on the October 30, 2008
DFIRM’s, whichever is higher.
(c) All structures in “X”, “AE”, and “VE” Flood Zones on the Westbank of
Unincorporated Jefferson Parish, both inside and outside of the Hurricane
Protection Levee System, will continue to follow the FEMA Advisory Base Flood
Elevation (ABFE) guidance adopted by Jefferson Parish on July 19, 2006 until
further notice.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was
as follows:
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
The ordinance was declared to be adopted on this the __________________,
and shall become effective as follows; if signed forthwith by the Parish President, ten
(10) days after adoption, thereafter upon signature by the Parish President, or, if not
signed by the Parish President, upon expiration of the time for ordinances to be
considered finally adopted without the signature of the Parish President, as provided in
Section 2.07 of the Charter. If vetoed by the Parish President and subsequently
approved by the Council, this ordinance shall become effective on the day of such
approval.