As Council is aware, the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the National Flood Insurance Program has developed a Community Rating System (CRS) which affects rates for flood insurance within communities throughout the United States. Guidelines have been promulgated under the National Flood Insurance Program to assist communities in improving its rating under the CRS. By establishing a public information committee and the adoption of a Program for Public Information, The City can enhance its community’s rating under the CRS.
The purpose of the Flood Risk and Preparedness Public Information Committee is to offer advisory opinions and recommendations to the city council on best practices for information dissemination regarding flood risk and emergency preparedness. This committee will be in conformance with the Community Rating System Manual, including subsequent editions and amendments, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for administration of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.
The duties and functions of the Flood Risk and Preparedness Public Information Committee shall be as follows:
- To serve as the advisory committee to the city council for information dissemination to residents and business owners regarding flood risk, emergency preparedness, and flood resiliency;
- To complete an initial review and recommend adoption of the city’s Program for Public Information, as defined and in accordance with the Community Rating System Manual;
- To conduct a minimum of two (2) public meetings to assess the city’s public information needs and to review and recommend to the city council the Program for Public Information;
- To conduct meetings from time to time, at least one (1) time per calendar year, to review, revise, and recommend modifications to the Program for Public Information as necessary;
- To participate as a stakeholder in public information efforts through event attendance and outreach projects relating to flood risk; and
- To serve, as-needed, as an advisory committee to the city council for other activities necessary to improve the city’s status in the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program, in accordance with the Community Rating System Manual.
The committee shall have a minimum of five (5) members, and such additional members as appointed from time to time by the City Council and shall be comprised of both city staff and stakeholders. The committee shall have at least one (1) member from the city’s floodplain management office and one (1) member from the city’s public information office. Stakeholders shall be those with a vested interest in the city. City Council shall seek to have stakeholder members include, but be not limited to, floodplain residents, insurance agents that service the city, developers and contractors that operate in the city, environmental organization members, realtors that service the city, emergency responders, and business organizations within the city.
Members of the committee shall serve terms of two (2) years. City Council shall designate at least two (2) members to serve an initial term of one (1) year to provide for staggered terms.