Title:
Title
Memorandum of Understanding: Apportionment of Cost Share for the Natomas Basin, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Letter of Map Revision Internal Drainage
End
FileID
File ID: 2021-00283
Location
Location: Districts 1, 3 and 4
End
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reclamation District 1000 (RD 1000) and the County of Sacramento (County) for the development of a hydrologic model for the Natomas Basin internal floodplain in support of a proposed Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for the Flood Control Planning Program (I14010100), for an amount not-to-exceed $388,566, including the City’s share of the agreement of $129,522.
FileName
Contact: Rosa Millino, Senior Engineer (916) 808-1451; Neal Joyce, Supervising Engineer (916) 808-1419; Tony Bertrand, Engineering & Water Resources Division Manager, (916) 808-1461; Department of Utilities
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
3-Annual Adequate Progress Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Staff recommends Council approve an MOU, apportioning costs for the Natomas Basin, FEMA LOMR for internal drainage with RD1000 and the County.
RD1000, the County, and the City of Sacramento (the Parties) wish to prepare a LOMR for the Natomas Basin internal floodplain as part of an exterior levee certification project. The Parties have determined that the existing model of the Natomas Basin internal floodplain requires an update in order to meet their current needs. RD 1000 solicited Statements of Qualifications from qualified water resources consultants to prepare the technical analysis, floodplain mapping, and supporting documentation for a LOMR submittal to FEMA, and RD 1000 holds the expertise necessary to supervise and provide direction to a consultant in this effort.
Policy Considerations: City Council approval is required for agreements in excess of $250,000 relating to contribution or receipt of funding or services between the city and another public agency per City Code 3.04.020.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns administrative activities that will not have a significant effect on the environment and does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA [CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(2 and 5).
Sustainability: The proposed project is consistent with the 2035 General Plan, Environmental Considerations (EC) 2.1.1-Interagency Flood Management, EC 2.1.4- 200-year flood protection, EC 2.1.5 Funding for 200-year flood Protection and EC 2.1.13- Levee Certification, which support the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) in implementing projects that will ultimately provide a 200-year level of flood protection or greater.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: On July 31, 2020, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised by RD 1000 for the Natomas Basin Hydraulic Model.
Staff from the City of Sacramento (City), the County and RD 1000 reviewed the proposals and based on their knowledge, expertise, and experience, Civil Engineering Solutions, Inc. (CESI) was selected to provide the requested services.
Financial Considerations: The City’s portion of the cost share is for an amount not-to-exceed $129,522. Sufficient funding exists in the Flood Control Planning Program (I14010100, Fund 6011) to fund the agreement.
There are no General Funds allocated or planned for this project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable
Background: In 2008, FEMA issued updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Natomas to reflect the de-certification of the perimeter levees. The updated FIRMs established base flood elevations that effectively prohibited urban development in the basin. In preparation of the levee de-certification, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) applied for California (CA) Department of Water Resources - Early Implementation Project (EIP) grant funding to improve the levees to a 200-year standard. In 2006, SAFCA was awarded the EIP grant, which has led to approximately 18 miles of levee improvements. The remaining 24 miles of levee improvements are under construction by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and scheduled for completion in 2025.
As required by CA Senate Bill 5 (2007), flood control facilities must meet the Central Valley 200-year urban flood control standard by 2025. The local jurisdictions must annually demonstrate that adequate progress is being made to meet the 200-year urban level of flood protection (ULOP). SAFCA provides the City with a summary of levee work completed and an updated schedule each year. The annual adequate progress report (Attachment 3) provides the County with information needed to make “SB 5 findings”, thus allowing continued development and building permits at ground level in Natomas.
FEMA has designated Natomas as a Zone A99 floodplain. This flood zone type recognizes the planned levee improvements and also relies upon annual adequate progress. Flood insurance is required in Natomas at a Preferred Risk Policy rate which is a low-cost Standard Flood Insurance Policy.
Once the Natomas Levee Improvement Project (NLIP) is complete, the obligation to continue purchasing flood insurance will remain until FEMA has published updated FIRMs for Natomas. Federal Code of Regulations Title 44, Section 65.10 (44CFR65.10, ref. <https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/44/65.10>) requires an internal drainage study and floodplain maps be prepared for areas behind levees.
Code of Federal Regulations 44CFR65.10(b)(6) - Interior drainage. An analysis must be submitted that identifies the source(s) of such flooding, the extent of the flooded area, and, if the average depth is greater than one foot, the water-surface elevation(s) of the base flood. This analysis must be based on the joint probability of interior and exterior flooding and the capacity of facilities (such as drainage lines and pumps) for evacuating interior floodwaters.
Natomas is unique in that there are levees within the basin which also require levee certification; therefore, an internal drainage study must be prepared for internal levee certification. If sections of the internal levees are found to be deficient, it may take several years to construct the levee improvements to meet certification criteria. The County, City, and RD 1000 are working together to prepare the support documentation for the FEMA LOMR, such that the timing of the internal drainage and levee certification coincides with the completion of the NLIP.
RD 1000 was selected to act as the lead agency, prepared the project documents and solicited a Request for Qualifications on July 31, 2020. A consultant team has been selected at a total cost of $388,566. The cost of this project will be shared between the Parties. The City’s one-third portion of the project is $129,522.
The consultant team selected for the project will purchase the technical data developed by the Grand Park (formally North Natomas Precinct) project as the basis of the submittal. This shall provide continuity between the FEMA LOMR and planned development projects.