CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to floodplains; extending interim regulations established by Ordinance 126113 for 12 months, to continue to rely on updated National Flood Insurance Rate Maps to allow individuals to continue to obtain flood insurance through FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program; and adopting a work plan for studies needed to develop permanent regulations.

WHEREAS, in July 2020, the City adopted interim floodplain development regulations to regulate development in special flood hazard areas in accordance with standards established by the National Flood Insurance Program and the Washington State Department of Ecology and areas identified as flood-prone in subsection 25.09.012.B of the Seattle Municipal Code with an effective date of August 24, 2020 and expiration date of February 24, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the United States continues to experience a pandemic that is impacting all segments of government business including the normal time to carry out all required aspects of adopting a permanent floodplain development regulations to meet National Flood Insurance Program and the Washington State Department of Ecology requirements to remain in compliance; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City Council makes the following legislative findings of fact and declares as follows:

A. The Council incorporates by reference the findings of fact contained in Ordinance 126113.

B. In July 2020, the City Council passed and the Mayor signed Ordinance 126113, establishing interim floodplain development regulations to maintain the City’s standing in Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, enabling residents to continue to be eligible for flood insurance while preventing development incompatible with City goals related to development in the floodplains.

C. Since that time, the City began working on developing permanent regulations, however, due to factors detailed below, the work necessary to develop permanent regulations will not be completed before the expiration of the interim regulations on February 24, 2021.

D. Work on permanent regulations has been limited in part due to the February 29 and March 3, 2020 proclamations of civil emergency by Governor Inslee and Mayor Durkan, respectively, related to the spread of COVID-19.

E. Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.70A.390 authorizes the City to renew interim regulations by ordinance. Interim regulations can be authorized up to one year if accompanied by a work plan. A work plan for the studies needed to complete the permanent regulations is included as Attachment 1.

Section 2. Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390, the interim regulations first set forth in Ordinance 126113, shall be extended and in effect for a period of 12 months from the date the ordinance introduced as Council Bill________ is effective, and shall automatically expire after the 12-month period unless the same is extended as provided by statute, or unless terminated sooner by the City Council.

Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

President ____________ of the City Council

Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)