Resolution of Protest to Preliminary DFIRM for the City of DubuqueTHE CITY OF Dubuque
, DUB E
I 11 ir
2007
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Richard Leonard, Chief
Risk Analysis Branch
FEMA Region VII
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300
Kansas City MO 64114 -3372
Office of the Mayor and City Council
City Hall
50 West 13' Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4120 office
(563) 589 -0890 fax
SUBJECT: Resolution of Protest to Preliminary DFIRM for the City of Dubuque
Dear Mr. Leonard:
January 31, 2011
The City of Dubuque has received the enclosed letter from you dated January 21, 2011
providing notification of the process for resolution of the City of Dubuque's protest of FEMA's
preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) for our community.
The City of Dubuque is grateful for the assistance and cooperation that FEMA has shown with
respect to re- mapping the Bee Branch and other areas of our community, using the City's data.
The City of Dubuque applauds FEMA's decision to accept flood maps revised by the City of
Dubuque to determine which North End areas lie within the 100 year flood plain. The new maps
reflect more accurate information about the flow of storm water and resolve conflicting data
related to base flood elevations. FEMA's decision to use the new maps will save nearly 1,600
Dubuque households from being required to pay for flood insurance at the high risk rates.
Based on FEMA's decision to use the City's data for the Bee Branch watershed to re- delineate
the flood plain on Dubuque's North End, and to re -map the community's flood plains using the
City's latest 2 -foot contours, there appears to be satisfactory resolution of the City of Dubuque's
protest of FEMA's preliminary DFIRM for our community.
The City of Dubuque supports FEMA's project to update the nation's flood maps. The City plans
to continue to work with FEMA officials and FEMA's engineering consultant, AECOM, to have
the most accurate DFIRM possible for our community.
Please feel free to contact Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens with any questions or for
more information at 563.589.4210 or Icarsten a(�citvofdubuque.orq.
Sincerely,
7
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Enclosures
1,41
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
Resolution of Protest to Preliminary DFIRM for the City of Dubuque
Page 2
cc: City Council Members
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
Kyle Kritz, Associate Planner
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Beth Freeman, Administrator, FEMA Region VII
Roger Benson, FEMA Region VII
Bob Bissell, FEMA Region VII
Rick Nusz, FEMA Region VII
Bill Cappuccio, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Richard Bender, Senior Legislative Assistant, Senator Harkin's Office, Washington D.C.
Amanda Banks, AECOM, 2405 Grand Blvd, Suite 1000, Kansas City MO 64108
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
The Honorable Roy D. Buol
Mayor, City of Dubuque
City Hall
50 West 13 Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4864
Dear Mayor Buol:
JAN 2 1 2011
Re: Resolution of Protest to Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for
Dubuque County, Iowa and Incorporated Areas
This letter is in reference to your letters received August 25, 2010 and via email, November 23, 2010,
regarding the Preliminary copies of the Flood Insurance Study (FTS) report and Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) for the City of Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa, The concerns raised in this letter were
originally addressed under separate cover sent to the office of United States Senator Tom Harkin,_ dated
October 7, 2010 (enclosed).
In response to the findings presented by your engineering consultant, CDM, we have resolved to
incorporate the study of the Bee Branch watershed as updated one A flood hazard areas within the City.
Additionally, we have remapped the Special Flood Hazard Area near the Julien Dubuque Monument and
incorporated LOMR #907018, dated May 31, 1990. The affected FIRM panels and FIS have been revised
and were sent electronically to Laura Carstens on January 18, 2011.
All of these revisions will be shown on the new maps, and resolutions referenced in the Letter of Final
Determination sent to your community. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact
Roger Benson, the Consultation Coordination Officer designated for your community at (816) 283 -7031.
Sincerely,
Enclosures:
FEMA Letter to the Honorable Tom Harkin, October 7, 2010
Revised Preliminary FIRM Panels: 19061CO239E, 19061CO243E, 19061CO244E and 9061CO360E
Revised Preliminary FIS
cc: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager, City of Dubuque
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager, City of Dubuque
Richard Leonard, Chief
Risk Analysis Branch
FEMA Region VII
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
FEMA Region VII
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300
Kansas City, Missouri 64114-3372
FEMA
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m
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2
bcc: Bill Cappuccio, State NFIP Coordinator
Robert Bissell, Director RVII-MT
FEDD File
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