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FEMA_Request to Change Flood Insurance Rate MapMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Request to FEMA to Change Flood Insurance Rate Map DATE: February 24, 2010 Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens recommends City Council approval of a letter to be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting removal of the new flood areas, and additional correspondence from impacted property owners. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager MicFSael C. Van igen Dubuque All-America City 2007 Request to FEMA to change Flood Insurance Rate Map Page 2 According to FEMA staff, this Zone A re- delineation will be done after the 90 -day appeal period, which begins approximately two months from now. FEMA staff told me at the February 23 meeting that we can expect the revised map in about six months, and that the DFIRM will become final in about July 2011. The City's position as reflected in the enclosed letter to FEMA has been revised to reflect the latest information from FEMA staff and City staffs research into FEMA requirements. Requested Action The requested action is for the City Council to authorize the Mayor to submit this letter and the latest comments received from impacted property owners to FEMA. Enclosures cc: Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer Kyle Kritz, Associate Planner Tim O'Brien, Assistant City Attorney Masterpiece on the Mississippi Rich Leonard, Chief Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch Mitigation Division FEMA Region VII 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300 Kansas City MO 64114 Dear Mr. Leonard: Dubuque All-anertacnr 'I I► 2007 Office of the Mayor & City Council City Hall 50 West 13 Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864 www.cityofdubuque.org March 2, 2010 Introduction Thank you for your notice of the FEMA public meeting held in Dubuque, Iowa on February 23, 2010. This letter is based on the verbal presentation that I made at the FEMA public meeting. Additional correspondence from impacted property owners is enclosed as well. FEMA has proposed a map that would significantly expand the number of properties in the city designated as being in a regulated flood plain from 70 structures to over 1,700 structures! The City of Dubuque is requesting again that FEMA remove new flood areas previously not designated from the preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM). Background On July 15, 2009, the City of Dubuque received the preliminary map and the Flood Insurance Study Report as part of FEMA's Flood Map Modernization Program. The program is designed to update on a nationwide basis the flood insurance rate maps of member communities and counties in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The City of Dubuque was the first community in Iowa to join the NFIP on April 2, 1971. The City's current flood insurance rate map is from 1989. The City has regulated floodplain development since 1990. The City of Dubuque has been very conscientious in its application of the NFIP requirements. The City has never approved a variance from the NFIP requirements. The City has not allowed a single new residential structure to be built in any flood hazard area. The only new structures built in flood hazard areas have been commercial structures elevated and /or flood proofed in compliance with the NFIP requirements. The City of Dubuque supports FEMA's nationwide effort to have accurate flood plain maps. We want accurate maps, too. Our concern is that FEMA is not accurately mapping flood plains in our community. Letter to Rich Leonard, FEMA March 2, 2010 Page 2 The City of Dubuque has filed written objections with FEMA about these new maps in August, September, October, November, and December of 2009 and January of 2010. We hoped this information would help remove properties from the flood plain. On February 22, we learned from FEMA staff that it appears that FEMA plans to use the City's latest contour to re- delineate the new Zone A areas. We take this as good news and appreciate this effort, but it does not go far enough. Discussion We are concerned with the new Zone A flood zones delineated in the Keyway /Keymont/Keymeer area, along Kaufmann Avenue and West 32 Street, in the North End Neighborhood and the Washington Neighborhood, and in the Kerper Boulevard industrial area. The City has focused reinvestment in these areas, and installed storm water management facilities to alleviate problems with the storm water system. Designation of these areas as a Zone A flood hazard area will reverse the progress we've made. The most significant impact of having a property in a flood plain is that new construction, new additions and even the existing structures may have to be elevated or flood proofed as part of any substantial improvement to a property. In Zone A, base flood elevations (BFEs) haven't been determined, so the property owner first must hire an engineer to determine the BFEs in order to determine how high an addition or a new structure must be elevated. Placing this burden on 1,400 property owners in the new Zone A areas is unacceptable. Inaccuracies of Preliminary DFIRM The City of Dubuque supports FEMA's nationwide effort to have accurate flood plain maps; however, the City of Dubuque is concerned with the inaccuracy of the methods utilized by FEMA to produce the preliminary DFIRM for Dubuque. The inaccuracies that City staff found in the preliminary map will make it difficult to enforce NFIP requirements in areas newly designated as a flood hazard. The preliminary map shows flooding heights on Kaufmann Avenue such that vehicles would be submerged, when the 100+ year history that shows no such flooding had ever occurred. The Julien Dubuque Monument on top of a bluff 145 feet above the Mississippi River, is designated as being in a flood plain. The flood plain along Peru Road stops before reaching the Couler Valley. These egregious errors, if not corrected, will make citizens question the validity of the new map, and rightly so. The City of Dubuque cannot stress enough the far reaching negative impacts these new Zone A flood plains will have. If these areas had any history of flood damage, the City would not question their designation as special flood hazard areas; however, the written record of over 100 years does not support such designation. Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork Letter to Rich Leonard, FEMA March 2, 2010 Page 3 FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Dubuque County documents historical flooding in other communities, but not Dubuque. This Study does not contain any new detailed studies of flood hazards in Dubuque — yet 1,700 structures are being designated as a flood plain! Inadequate Study FEMA appears to be mapping shallow flooding related to the City of Dubuque's storm sewer system, based on our Drainage Basin Master Plan. This Plan was intended to address storm sewer conveyance problems — not flooding associated with a creek or river. The shallow flooding experienced in the new Zone A areas is due to local drainage problems with the capacity of the City's storm sewer system. These areas do not rise to the level of a regulatory flood plain, and should not be mapped as Zone A by FEMA. The City's Drainage Basin Master Plan is a planning study; it did not detail precisely which structures would be impacted. It identifies a generalized area that appears to be at risk from storm sewer backups or overflows. We believe that FEMA is identifying a storm sewer problem rather than a flooding issue connected with a flood plain along a stream or river. FEMA utilized cost - effective "approximate" methods to establish the new flood zones proposed in the North End Neighborhood and the Washington Neighborhood, in the Keyway /Keymont/Keymeer area, along Kaufmann Avenue, along West 32nd Street, and in the Kerper Boulevard industrial area. The citizens of Dubuque have made significant investments in these areas. Designation of these areas as Zone A flood hazard areas will place an additional financial burden on homeowners and businesses in these areas and likely lead to disinvestment and blighted conditions. The City of Dubuque has concluded that an "approximate" study is inappropriate for several reasons. 1) FEMA's contractor, Black & Veatch, used computer models to do an approximate study for the new Zone A flood hazard areas using ten -foot contours. At the February 23 FEMA public meeting, the engineer from Black & Veatch stated that detailed studies are conducted in urban areas and generally use two -foot contours. The city of Dubuque is a developed urban area, and has had GIS data for two -foot contours since 2001. 2) The January 2008 Floodplain Management Desk Reference provided to the City of Dubuque by the Iowa DNR and FEMA states on page 3 -3: "The areas mapped with an approximate study are where there was little or no development and /or little expectation of development when the mapping was done." Yet FEMA has used an approximate study to map fully developed areas of Dubuque — in contradiction to their own handbook. Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork Letter to Rich Leonard, FEMA March 2, 2010 Page 4 3) FEMA staff has indicated that Black & Veatch used the NFACT methodology, outlined in Techniques for Estimating Flood- Frequency Discharges for Streams in Iowa (USGS, 2001), to determine the new flood hazard zones in Dubuque. But according to this document, "the equations developed in (the) study apply only to stream sites in Iowa where flood discharge is not significantly affected by regulation, diversion, channelization, or urbanization." The document states that the standard error of prediction is over 35 %. If FEMA does not have the funding to do an engineering study correctly, using sufficiently sophisticated models to produce base flood elevations, then no new flood areas should be mapped. The burden of determining the base flood elevations must rest with FEMA, not the citizens of Dubuque. The City of Dubuque requests that FEMA eliminate all new Zone A areas not previously designated. In addition, the City of Dubuque requests that FEMA confirm that all new Zone A areas will be re- delineated using the City's latest contour data, and advise us of the date that revised maps will be available for our review. Thank you in advance for responding to our concerns. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Laura Carstens, Community Flood Plain Administrator at 563.589.4210 or Icarstencityofdubuque.orq. Sincerely Roy D. B'uol Mayor Enclosures cc: Beth Freeman, FEMA Region VII Roger Benson, FEMA Region VII Melissa Janssen, FEMA Region VII Rick Nusz, FEMA Region VII Watershed Concepts, 2405 Grand Blvd, Suite 1000, Kansas City MO 64108 Bill Cappuccio, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Michael Van Milligen, City Manager Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Tim O'Brien, Assistant City Attorney Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II Kyle Kritz, Associate Planner Anna O'Shea, Dubuque County Zoning Administrator/ Flood Plain Administrator Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork February 23, 2010 To: Mr. Roger Benson, FEMA Region VII Dear Sir: It has come to our attention that our property is now listed in a Flood Plain in Dubuque, Iowa. We would like to formerly protest this move and request that you read our argument and make changes in your flood plain map. Our property is at 1600 W. 32' St. We have an easement of a 60 foot frontage on the road. There are no buildings on this frontage. The remainder of the property is on top of a hillside. All our buildings, including a house, garage and barn are on top of the hillside. The buildings are 485 feet from 32' Street _ and they all sit at an elevation of 762 feet above mean sea level (msl). The proposed 100 -year flood plain comes up to an elevation of 680 msl or 82 feet below our house. In addition, since the installation of a detention basin on Carter Road in Dubuque, there have been no water problems on 32' Street during any ensuing heavy rains. Your recent decision would make it financially unfeasible to do any improvements to our property. It would also severely limit the marketability of our property for resale. However, as you can see from the above figures, (provided by the City of Dubuque), our buildings would NOT be affected by a 100 year flood. They would need an ark to evacuate the entire City if our property were to flood. We request an immediate change to your position. Thank you. Becky Taylor Harris David W. Harris (02/23/2010) Departmental Email Planning - FEMA Flood Statement From: To: Date: Subject: Please confirm receipt. To Whom it May Concern: Shannon Zimmerman <zimmerman.shannon @gmail.com> <planning @cityofdubuque.org >, Shannon Zimmerman <zimmerman.shannon @gmail... 02/22/2010 9:23 PM FEMA Flood Statement ,, ;1 I t: -, i � We purchased our home in May 2005 at 3570 Keymeer Dr. Our house is one of the homes with the least amount of land between our fenced yard and the creek. In the 5 years of spring seasons, we have never once had the creek extend into our yard. It has never even come close to rising above the bank. The City of Dubuque has spent money and resources to correct storm sewer issues. I believe FEMA owes it to the city to spend their resources to conduct a the appropriate studies. In our neighborhood storm water issues would be the only conceivable way our homes would be damaged by water. Which it is my understanding is not covered by flood insurance. So as a homeowner we would be forced by mortgage companies to purchase insurance that would exclude the main risk we could have faced in the past. With the changes Dubuque is making to the storm sewers, it is not feasible that this could even be an issue in the future. I would also like to note that all neighborhoods have the potential for flooding in their homes due to excess groundwater. Our house along with many others in Dubuque and other cities are equipped with a sump pump to avoid this happening. Why should the homeowner have to pay the cost of FEMA's neglect in conducting the correct studies of the area? As you are aware, placing homes in a flood plan causes much excess expense in difficulties on the home owners shoulders. Why are we expected to bear this burden from FEMA's use of an approximate study. As a homeowner I believe we are entitled to proof that this re- mapping is necessary as well as an adequate study be completed of these areas. We await your response and confirmation that an accurate engineering study will be conducted prior to developing these so called flood areas. Sincerely, Bill and Shannon Zimmerman 3570 Keymeer Dr Dubuque, IA 52002 Page 1 02/23/2010 TUE 11 :28 FAX 608 339 9816 Exexcutive Fax Z002/002 September 1, 2009 City of Dubuque Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13 Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805 To Whom It May Concern, RE: FEMA Proposed DFIRM Along Peru Itoad I am the owner of Manternach Development Co. and several contiguous parcels of land immediately north, south, and west of the intersection of Peru Road and Aerostar Drive, City of Dubuque, IA. These parcels will be adversely effected by the proposed FEMA Digitized Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DF1RM), as they are included in the very north flood plain depiction along Peru Road. My family has owned and developed land along the Peru Road Corridor since the late 50's, most recently Terrace Estates Subdivision including Aerostar Drive. The construction of Aerostar Drive involved extensive engineering related to storm water runoff and I can state unequivocally that there has been no flooding or significant water back up of any nature affecting the properties owned by Manternach Development Co. adjacent to Aerostar Drive since it's construction in 1975. I feel that these parcels are unfairly targeted as flood prone and I request that you urge FEMA to reconsider the proposed "Flood Plain" ar..a and remove the parcels at the Peru Road/Aerostar Drive intersection owned by Manternach Development Co. P.S. Area Reference Map Attached. Cc: Thomas J. Manternach Laura Carstens Planning Services Mgr Kyle Kritz Planning Services Dept. 1553 111h Drive, Friendship, Wisconsin 53934 -9774 (608) 339 -7888 (608) 339 -9361 FAX www.terracehomes.com A division oaMnniorm -A Dg,, In rune lin I HMI 1r raceHomes A Third Generation Family Business Sincerely, ����// Galen President C' 01 OF DO CO Alan Lumley To: Roger Benson, FEMA - Region VII 5635560283 L � As the homeowner of 352 Kaufmann Avenue I am very concerned about the FEMA proposal. Firstly, my property was built in the early 1900's, has never been in the flood plain, nor had problems with flooding. I have owned the property since 1985 and there has never been water in my home's basement, despite many terrible storms while living there. Secondly, I feel that the City of Dubuque is taking every measure to ensure that we will not have to worry about it happening, as evidenced with the projects on 32 Street and Kniest Street, and the large storm sewers installed years ago. I am confident that Dubuque is controlling the city's flooding issues and would immediately take necessary steps should the problem occur. Lastly, I feel that this proposal is just another way for insurance companies to get money out of people. Sincerely, Lois Lumley ()(614-4-') Dubuque MAimileaCir kattail 1, Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 LIT OF DUBUQUE PLANNING SEITil0E.S DEPARNEW J FEB 22 2010 FEMA requires all comments on the preliminary DFIRM to go through the City of Dubuque. If you have any comments or questions that you would like us to forward to FEMA, please provide your comments in the space below. ,t QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: /,a/ a . �,� .a- ca 4 5 ii ,Z1 v � +�►�/ /214( t.( / 7 6 5 . U' de. c ( . +-w 4 4 4 4) firs.? - ! � , P 7 1. A i .1r �►� �!�.�. -f �'w-U- a. 16-4 - i447 J12 p i«.�7t44-:1Q ,,A) 1 's Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805 (563) 589 -4210 phone (563) 589-4221 fax (563) 690 -6678 TDD planning@cityofdubuque.org CITY OF DUBUQUE INFORMATIONAL MEETING L EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) IGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (DFIRM) August 13, 2009 h t v o -- I4 mn Property owner information: Name: . , 12 ))f a, ui Representing: Address: 4 59 ,( 6./. City: „b., D ,, , State: .4 Zip: - 6 0 / Phone: c ,? 1 Email: Own residential property shown in DFIRM. Address: Own business property shown in DFIRM. Address: Return this form by mail to the Planning Services Department, City Hall, 50 W. 13 St., Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805, by email at planning @cityofdubuque.org or by fax at (563)589 -4221. This form is available electronically on the City's website at www.cityofdubuque.org. Feb 20 2010 12:11 HP LASERJET FAX To whom it may concern, I am Rod Clemen and own a business at 840 Garfield Ave in Dubuque, Iowa. According to your new flood plain map, this property is now in a flood plain. I know this is a river city and have lived here my whole life. I enjoy the beautiful views of the river as the seasons change but I am far from a river rat. If I had to deal with cleaning up after being flooded out time and time again, I definitly would not want that. If I thought this property was in fear of flooding I would not have bought it_ I understand things change and FEMA has to rezone areas so people will properly insure them so our government is not stuck paying for them, But this is a slight overkill. To put this burden of having to put flood insurance their property,for this northend neighborhood is not fair in my opinion.Even before the flood wall was built, the properties in this area were not in fear of flooding. I have been in this part of town for 30 years and don,t remember a flooding issue. I have also spoke others that go back much longer ago and they never seen it either. I ask you to please review your findings and adjust as needed. Thank you, Rod Clemen p.1 February 17, 2010 City of Dubuque (FEMA) Attn: Laura Carstens Planning Services Department 50 West 13 Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805 Re: FEMA Preliminary Flood Plain Maps Dear Ms Carstens, This letter is in response to your letter regarding the FEMA preliminary flood plain map. To give some background, our property is located at 525 E. 19 Street, which falls in Zone A of the FEMA preliminary flood plain map. This property is currently owned by B &M Properties. Craig Breitbach and Rod Maas are co- owners of this company. B &M purchased this property from Bob Walser on 9/4/07. Bob Walser had owned this property since 1965. Rod Maas has worked at this facility for 16 years prior to the purchase of the property by B &M Properties through today. From 1965 to present, including the Great Floods of 1993 and 2008, there has never been even any flood water that has seeped onto this property! As a result, we are against this preliminary flood plain map. This will place an undue financial burden on our company. We have been quoted by TrueNorth Insurance Company a cost of $68K a year for flood insurance if our property is designated to be in Zone A. Additionally, being in Zone A will cause a considerable drop in our land value. Due to the economic times we're in currently, we fear that our company will not be able to endure the additional cost nor the land depreciation. We feel this is not FEMA's right to put this financial burden on us considering the fact that there has never been any flood water on this property. We are against this preliminary flood plain map. Rod Maas will attend the meeting on February 23, 2010 to support the City's position.. Sincerely, Craig B ►_'R . ach Rod aas Pres' • nt/co -owner Vice President/co -owner GAL „..* -- AaA FEN A 5 99 e u- Cc'„y/ii¢d 7uvrz-a- 66&ng„ 7 1rA-' �� ,, /72-0e ate- 4a' .,evracit a* zy - - ,un 11,0 4c72 5eze-1 (61/40-4 '9 ,4u-e- &46L- ezc1ao---6- ze/i7Lp 614 azaFia-- /1e2 0.422-42- /2aete.12 gry }02"-a2 ,e9-12ae,t Aa4i- anzck 407?,ofv-e (2/u-o,71 if,gozrz,t /777 4-z 4 - Axe_ 1.0 p Juka1- c2 e i m JA bq oil o 58 c P Lth 11 OJA-e_ IA tA.4.4 r//)14) a_;5/0 thi&yo,o « t(J-Aed 4212,LLIA, h L 9 LL £e4LchL *1 zuel.±a) 2/Lag Z cb/i/L.' OIA 0 int _.,01, cJ /emy etA 63 ,0±-e-M-vka q o w / 9 7 2 - w,14-&-n -.0 lit 1A-)q r t (j) AA AlLtiLL) a, 6-ki2--e. k Wail Lod dam l 7 A 0 IL JtJ tt) 6 65 j. I c l had h 11,0 mo - a/K1 u1/4) 0-6 1 0-3-Afv. CLCAA3.--;1J 1/1-1Z ,a1A-c-a- 0 irvx LO 903-5 El u),2 itzet .13 LAA r -e ctit.cA/J) to .dabuvue) kk a t.,Put) 41...e aj hcatt jui:e.eL 25 18 - 13 V . I.JA4 otiy\-efe QA ovyti a io co ti ivAva4 h i,t ul.,, t U 61/1 -e et_ 1 w tut fiva,±? AictivLe_ ETkL _ fli in t,(-1 (AAA— ct Vital i:e) cLo so , haoLA _vkiv) -1-h cuAL 1"-A ryt_._6v cAAAP-cii,J2 4 h co t- h to LOS c to 6" c_ _ alcadt-e} '.K pul_cuk, +-ha ailA-est L ha rd ke4d, . a. O_ 58 al," Si. .t..k „ieti_ott_ 1/45 G 134i4 5t. 6 2 3 ' ) 3 3665 Keystone Drive Dubuque, IA 52002 563- 495 -0498 18 February 2010 Laura Carstens Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13 Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Dear Ms. Carstens: I am writing this letter in response to the new flood plain map proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the City of Dubuque. The area of concern for me is the "A" flood zone added in the Keyway/Keymont area of the west end of Dubuque. This flood zone includes my home at the following address: 3665 Keystone Drive Dubuque, IA 52002 I have two main objections to FEMA's declaring my property in a flood zone and I request the flood zone be removed: 1) my home is not along the Mississippi River or any of its major tributaries at or near the outflow elevation of the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam #11 and 2) my property borders the North Fork of Catfish Creek, which is a storm water runoff channel, not a flood zone. Flood plain The outflow elevation of the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam #11 is 592 feet above sea level and my property is at an elevation of approximately 800 -810 feet above sea level. It should be noted that the Dubuque flood wall and levee system is designed to protect the city in the event the Mississippi River swells out of its banks. Properties inside the flood wall and levee system should not be considered as being in a flood plain. Storm water runoff channel • FEB 22 2010 GIN OF PLANNING SEBIGES G' r`I'. " :..NT My property borders the North Fork of Catfish Creek which carries a significant amount of storm water runoff from the west end of Dubuque. However, even in very significant rains, the creek remains in its banks. In the spring of 2008, Dubuque experienced many significant rain events that thoroughly saturated the region. In one particular rain event, Dubuque received 6 to 7 inches of rain overnight. The morning after the event, I captured the photograph shown in Figure 1. The flow in the creek that morning was swift and it filled the entire gully of the creek. Water was no where near any structure on my property or structures in surrounding properties seen from my backyard. To illustrate the elevation difference between my backyard and bank of Catfish Creek, the photos in Figures 2 through 5 were taken on 13 February 2010. One notable point is that the City of Dubuque is in the process of completing a project to replace sanitary sewer along the North Fork of Catfish Creek and re- contour the channel to improve flow in rain events. This improvement and all of the improvements downstream, including the work done at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and JFK Road last fall, will further reduce the occurrences of high water in the North Fork of Catfish Creek in significant rain events. Figure 1: North Fork of Catfish Creek at 3665 Keystone Drive Figure 2: Visual evidence of elevation change in back yard Figure 3: View up the hill from Catfish Creek at the back of my home Sincerely, Trent Luoma Figure 4: Using a 10 -foot 2X4 to demonstrate the height of the hill 4111karshiA Figure 5: Approximately 1 -foot of the 2X4 shown in Figure 4 is visible when standing at the back door of my home In summary, I would like you to consider my arguments and remove the "A" flood zone in the Keyway/Keymont area of Dubuque. I am not convinced that my property and home are in a flood zone and need any special protections from such an event. Please contact me if you need more information. FEB-18-2010 10:13 (5c Community Credit Union February 18, 2010 Laura Carstens Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13 Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001 DUTRAC COMMUNITY CR UNION 563 582 9375 P.01/82 Re: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Response Your Trusted Financial Partner DuTrac Community Credit Union, located at 380 East 14 Street is asking that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remove the new flood plain areas from your map. These areas have not been in previous maps and should not be included now, as there is no evidence to support the need for this. The proposed map increases the number of properties dramatically and would place significant burden on the people of Dubuque and future growth of this area. We have made wonderful progress to strengthen this part of our community and the revisions to the flood plain proposed by FEMA would have a negative impact on efforts to -date. It would dramatically affect current businesses that maybe forced to move out of the area due to increase insurance costs. It would also prevent new business or residential growth due to the standards they would have to abide by. As a lender in this area, this would impede my ability to make loans for new construction or improvements to businesses or residents. This is a definite set back for all that the City of Dubuque has achieved in the last decade and all that we are trying to build and accomplish for the future. As a lifelong citizen of Dubuque and business manager of this community, I have seen the City of Dubuque take measures to alleviate storm water damage and construct a flood wall to prevent flooding in this area. The majority of the areas in the proposed flood zone have never seen flooding nor do they have a history of flood damage in any recorded documents of Dubuque. www.dutrac.org MAIN BRANCH P 563.582.1331 ASBURY TF 800,475.1331 ST. MARY'S BRANCH WAIrMART BRANCH PERU ROAD BRANCH MAQUOKETA BRANCR MONTICE1.LO BRANCH DAVENPORT BRANCH Ito A M E l i c a• s CREDIT UNIONS' FEB -18 -2010 10:13 Community Credit Union Having grown up on 22 and Washington Streets, we did see some street flooding and did have some water in our basement following a heavy rain storm; however this does not necessitate redesignating flood areas. This could have been solved by installing a sump pump and repairing the basement foundation walls. The Drainage Basin Plan that the city has implemented addresses this storm sewer issue. I currently live on the west end of Dubuque and have experienced some basement flooding due to groundwater and have taken steps to install tile and a sump pump and no longer have that issue. This is the same situation as when I lived in the North End and should not be allowed to be included in the proposed FEMA map. DuTrac Community Credit Union supports FEMA's effort to have accurate flood plain maps, however we feel this proposed mapping is not accurate in our community and FEMA has not completed the appropriate engineering study to make correct decisions. Based on this information, we request that FEMA remove the newly designated flood plain areas from the most recently produced preliminary maps. Thank you for your careful consideration. Sincerely, Beth Weiland Branch Manager DuTrac Community Credit Union 380 East 14 Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001 DUTRAC COMMUNITY CR UNION 563 582 9375 P.02/02 WINW.Autrac.urg MAIN BRANCH ST. MARY'S BRANCH WALMART BRANCH PERU ROAD BRANCH P 582.582.13:11 ASBURY MAQUGHBDI BRANCH MONTIC010 BRANCH DAVENPORT BRANCH TF 800.4 n.1331 Your Trusted Financial Partner W a M[C IC A'S CREDIT UNIONS' TIlTAI P _ R2 Departmental Email Planning - Laura Carstens RE: FEMA Comments From: "Moyer, Diane" <Diane.Moyer @sedgwickcros.com> To: <planning @cityofdubuque.org> Date: 02/18/2010 12:00 PM Subject: Laura Carstens RE: FEMA Comments February 18, 2010 Page 1 of 2 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express my concerns with FEMA's new proposed digital flood insurance rate map. Specifically, regarding homes along Kaufmann Avenue. My home is located near Kaufmann Ave and is considerably higher in elevation compared to the street /curb level. I understand and appreciate the effort FEMA is making to ensure everyone in danger of being flooded has adequate protection from any damages that might occur in the future. However, I feel the proposed map is not a true representation of the possible flood plain areas. Occasionally, some water has seeped into my basement when we have received several inches of rain in a short time span. This only happens a few times a year. I have already taken drastic measures to ensure my property is protected from flood damage. I have lived in my home the past seven years. I remember the floods of 1993 and the river water was not anywhere near Kaufmann Ave. In 1993, I lived near the Massey Station boat docks /campground, which was flooded. Even then my property near the marina was not in any danger of being flooded. This past summer I took it upon myself, as a homeowner, to excavate my own property and install drain tile along my basement wall. The drain tile will run all excess water around my house and into a sump in the backyard. If the sump should fill with water, a sump pump can be easily and immediately inserted to pump out and avoid overflow. Since I have laid the drain tile, I have had no water seeping into my basement. Therefore, I would like to request that my property be excluded from your proposed flood plain map. I believe if someone from FEMA would personally visit my property, you would understand why my property should not be included in your proposed flood plain map. I am also in the process of selling my home, and this is assumption is making it very difficult for me to find a buyer for a property in a supposed flood plain, that really should not be. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. I will be attending the meeting on February 23 in Dubuque, IA, and am hoping a revision will be made to current proposal. Sincerely, Diane Moyer 2493 Hempstead Street Dubuque, IA 52001 file• / /CADncnments and Settinus \mrettenh \T.oca1 Settinws \Temn \XPgrnwise \4B7D2BD2... 02/18/2010 Departmental Email Planning - Comment for FEMA Informational Meeting 2 -23 -10 From: "Andresen, George" <gandrese @mahealthcare.com> To: <planning @cityofdubuque.org> Date: 02/18/2010 9:19 AM Subject: Comment for FEMA Informational Meeting 2 -23 -10 Please add the following : Page 1 of 1 I find your logic to placing my home into a flood plain is totally without merit. When looking out my kitchen window I have an unobstructed view over the river. Eagle Window and Door is located between my house and the river. This means I am higher than the entire factory. If my house flooded the city of Dubuque would be under water from Southern Ave to the south, Bluff Street to the West, Northwest Arterial to the north and the river to the east. I strongly ask that FEMA toss out the study which resulted in the new Zone A area and eliminate all newly added areas. Thanks You George J Andresen 918 Garfield Ave Dubuque, Ia 52001 Phone: 563 -583 -2403 GEORGE J. ANDRESEN PURCHASING CLERK MEDICAL ASSOCIATES CLINIC DUBUQUE, IOWA 52002 PH: 563-584-4157 GANDRESEN @MAHEALTHCARE.COM CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e -mail and destroy all copies of the original message. The views expressed in this communication are that of the individual and shall not be construed as those of Medical Associates or any of its entities. file: / /C: \Documents and Settings\mrettenb \Local Settings \Temp \XPgrpwise \4B7D0605D... 02/18/2010 3 /77/ i f7 . 3, Ll FEB 1 7 2010 CITY OF DUBUQUE PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT ��� °Lr.- 5 I 1 /9 Ms: Mary K: Meyers 2521 Jackson St. Dubuque,IA 52001 1 2/ ca 1,tA-4 4 -At-e1 ■rnzofiz 0761 :?(f yn 6016 c t:J i t a4,a, Hotmail elro.123 @q.com Inbox (12) i To: f Junk (8) Drafts Sent Deleted SIEPPLE RD Manage folders MAP Add an e -mail account We have lived in this home. 1910 Lagen St., for 18 Related places years. The highest the water ever came to my house was to the bottom of the clothes line pole, which is Today 80ft. from the house and 10 ft. from the creek - -total Contact list of 90ft. The creek bed is another 5 ft. lower than the bank and lift. lower than the back side of my house. Calendar From: elro.123 @q.com • CITY OF DUBUQUE IOWA-- - -FEMA FLOOD Please consider changing your maps. © 2010 Microsoft j Privacy i Terms of us I Send Save draft Attach • Spell check Rich text • 4 Cancel Subject: Planning Services Department - -flood plain Show Cc & Bcc Verdana • 10 • B I U With the new additions to the drainage of the creek the last few years ,catch basins that have been installed , and the new construction now in progress, that should help even more to control the flow of water. I believe since we were not in a flood area before, we should definately no* be in one now. - 9)7,1 4 ft_v .1)1 (-7) / 4 Choose the type of info you'd like to add to your message. Maps Restaurants Movie times Images Videos Business listings Options • A ccount I Feedbac E FEB 11 2010 L. CITY OF DUBLICIUE PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT - e1,71_10 1 ./e-/: /ce-alh LOtAti4 -6 Ctite,but U.e. 5 eA ) m THE CITY OF Dubuque D UB E kmaszzg Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 CITY OF DUBUQUE INFORMATIONAL MEETING FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) NEW DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP ( DFIRM) August 13, 2009 FEMA requires all comments on the preliminary DFIRM to go through the City of Dubuque. If you have any comments or questions that you would like us to forward to FEMA, please provide your comments in the space below. QUESTIONS /COMMENTS: l Je J14nt (7v1 j1 G(;T " Y11 l-. At-e s f ,N ( 6 O6/ /, •e✓ J ( :24zr ' /I I? 611 01,1 'J /4/)? .)--writ [ /q 93 / 9 f7 a 6..>4!..i % 0 C' . we 4 Me d_ 1 1 ti„ Pt - )?&- c . . c � pec j Je cr f ZaJ('L� ?tom '"l '/ /► v e t ai/ / Propertyy owner in-formation: r / Name: / /L 7� �i 1r �G7G, `� cGf // /presenting: Address: ?9 ` I 7 4J i, City: Otaf,1 State:, 1. A~ Zip: 5DO 1 Phone: (57.:A J/ — 3C Y9 Email: Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805 (563) 589 -4210 phone (563) 589 -4221 fax (563) 690 -6678 TDD planning@cityofdubuque.org Own residential property shown in DFIRM. Address: Own business property shown in DFIRM. Address: Return this form by mail to the Planning Services Department, City Hall, 50 W. 13 St., Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805, by email at planning @cityofdubuque.org or by fax at (563)589 -4221. This form is available electronically on the City's website at www.cityofdubuque.org. Masterpiece on the Mississippi CITY OF DUBUQUE INFORMATIONAL MEETING FEDERAL. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (EEMA) NEW DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP ( DFIRM) August 13, 2009 FEMA requires all comments on the preliminary DFIRM to go through the City of Dubuque. If you have any comments or questions that you would like us to forward to FEMA, please provide your comments in the space below. QUESTIONS /COMMENTS: My property consists of 117 units of 1 bedroom and efficiency apartments located at 1550 and 1600 Butterfield. I have been part of the ownership of this property since 1977 and now am the sole owner. Since that time the two buildings in this complex have never experienced any damage from flooding to the buildings. The city this year is installing a new sewer line along this area of catfish creek. The sewer line is being increased from 12" to 24" and should help remove any surface water that gets into the system and will help reduce flooding from surface water also. The complex provides entry level housing. This means lower income, entry level workers, retired people and students. Since we have been placed in a flood zone this means flood insurance which is an additional cost that must be passed onto our tenants creating an additional hardship for them also. These buildings should not be in a flood zone. Dub :qua: ill IT Property owner information: Name: Jcf2 D, F4cInt:yrc ' Representing: - K�y Apartments - Butterfield Address: 1550 & ` 1 600 ButterfieldCi Dubuque State: Iowa Zi 52001 Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805 (563) 589 -4210 phone (563) 589 -4771 fax (563) 690 -6678 TDD pI an n i n g@ ci tyof dub u q u e. orn Phone: 563 - 599 - 5800 (CELL) Email: mci rityre6 - %1O4gtnazl . c:�ln 563- 556 -1600 X Own residential property shown in DFIRM. Address: 1 5 0& 16 0 0 Butterfield X Own business property shown in DFIRM. . Address: 1 5 0& 16 0 0 Butterfield Return this form by mail to the Planning Services Department, City Hall, 50 W. 13 St., Dubuque, IA 52001 -4805, by email at planning c)ciIyoEdubuque.org or by fax at (563)589 -4221. This form is available electronically on the City's,website at www.citvofdubuque.org.