July 20, Subject: 7 th Avenue Creek Project Update & Elevation Certificates

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1 July 20, 2015 Subject: 7 th Avenue Creek Project Update & Elevation Certificates Below are a few updates regarding the 7 th Avenue Creek Project. As you may recall there are two concurrent and independent processes taking place in this area, one by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the proposed floodplain mapping revisions and the second one being performed by the City of St. Charles to identify projects that will help mitigate the flooding impacts. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplain Mapping Revision Update FEMA is working through the process of updating the floodplain maps in the area of the 7th Avenue Creek and the 7 th Avenue Creek Tributary to more accurately depict the current flood risk to properties, which may change the limits of the current flood boundaries. FEMA has indicated that they anticipate publishing the draft maps this fall, with the FEMA public meetings to be held by the end of the year. This will be followed by the public comment period where residents and the City can provide comments and provide information on the proposed mapping. City of St. Charles Flood Mitigation Analysis Update The City of St. Charles is also undertaking a study to evaluate the impacts of the revised flood insurance maps and developing options for mitigating these impacts with identified projects. In addition, the City will be developing concepts for stream restoration including improving the eroded stream banks along the creek. The City s consultant H.R. Green continues to complete the evaluation of potential design options to develop a long term master plan to relieve flooding along the 7 th Avenue Creek watershed. It is anticipated that Staff and H.R. Green will be presenting these options this fall. Elevation Certificates As the City continues to identify the impacts of the revised flood insurance maps and associated flooding extents along the 7 th Avenue Creek, we have identified an option that will help both you the resident/property owner and also the City as we move forward with both the FEMA and City process. The City Council has approved hiring a surveyor to perform Elevation Certificates for approximately 109 structures within the 7 th Avenue Creek project area that are located within the revised floodplain and floodway boundary. These elevation certificates will be completed and paid for by the City, with no cost to the property owner. Below is some information regarding Elevation Certificates and the proposed process.

2 What is an Elevation Certificate? An Elevation Certificate is an important tool that documents your buildings elevation. An Elevation Certificate is an administrative document used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to certify the elevation of buildings in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood zone. What information will be collected during this survey for the Elevation Certificate? o Type of building o Elevation of the land adjacent to the home (lowest and highest grades) o Elevations of floors including first floor, basements and crawl spaces o Location of mechanical systems such as air conditioner, furnace, etc. Who will complete the Elevation Certificate and survey work? Elevation Certificates are required to be completed by a licensed surveyor in Illinois. The City has hired H.R. Green, Inc. to complete the elevation certificates for the 7 th Avenue Creek Project. What is the cost to have an Elevation Certificate done? There will be no cost to the property owners for the completion of the Elevation Certificate as long as it is performed within the timeframe as proposed for this project. The City received bulk discount for performing this work at the same time, which is why we are able to complete this project for the property owners. Any property owner requesting this work to be completed after the timeframes specified, will be required to hire their own surveyor to complete this work. What properties are being considered for Elevation Certificates? Properties with structures that are shown to be in the revised floodplain or immediately adjacent to the floodplain are being included in the Elevation Certificate process. How will the Elevation Certificate information be used by the City? o Improve the accuracy of the preliminary and final floodplain maps to better represent the properties that are truly within the floodplain and those that may be able to be removed from the proposed floodplain maps. The currently proposed FEMA floodplain maps based their evaluation of the floodplain boundary on a 2 foot elevation contours along with limited field survey of the creek, which is standard procedure as FEMA would generally use the best available information. However, the elevation certificate will collect building and adjacent ground elevations that are within 0.10 foot accuracy. The City and our consultant will review the Elevation Certificate information for each property to identify properties that may be eligible for removal from the proposed floodplain. The Elevation Certificates for the identified properties will be submitted to FEMA as part of the comment period for the preliminary maps. This is the only information the City will be able to provide to FEMA as valid information to remove properties from the floodplain. FEMA will require that these properties be submitted at one time as part of a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) and will not be accepting individual certificates as part of the comment period. o Identifying the elevation information for each property will help further optimize the needed improvements within the stream or culverts in this area to make sure that we are removing as many properties from the floodplain as possible with these improvements and also to help mitigate flooding of these homes.

3 o Assist the City in preparing and submitting a strong grant funding applications to fund future projects. How can the Elevation Certificate information be used by the homeowner? o An Elevation Certificate can help you determine if a property is within the proposed floodplain limits. If the Elevation Certificate indicates that your property may not be located within the floodplain, but it is now shown as proposed to be in the floodplain by FEMA, a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) request will be submitted to FEMA for potential removal of your property from the proposed floodplain on your behalf by the City, at no cost to the property owner. o For those properties that may remain within the proposed floodplain limits, the Elevation Certificates may be presented to your insurance company to identify actual rates that may be paid for flood insurance premiums based on actual elevations as opposed to estimated rates. For some homeowners, the Elevation Certificate may save sometimes save significant flood insurance premiums long-term. o Provide a better understanding of potential flood risks. o Support a request of a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to remove your property from the floodplain. Will I get a copy of the Elevation Certificate? Each property owner will receive a copy of their property s Elevation Certificate for your records and use. We anticipate that the Elevation Certificates will be available to the homeowners by this fall. Am I required to participate in Elevation Certificate process? No you are not required to participate. With that being said, the data compiled with this Elevation Certificate will greatly benefit your property and the 7 th Avenue Creek Project as a whole. This is a one-time offer by the City to complete this work under our City contract at no cost to the property owner. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the City of St. Charles Public Works Engineering Division at Property Access The Elevation Certificate survey work will take place on your private property. In order for the City and our consultant H.R. Green to access this area to complete the work, the property owner will need to execute and return the attached survey and property access document to the City of St. Charles Public Works Department at the location shown on the document. What is the process that will take place for completing the Elevation Certificates? 1. Property owners to complete the attached Property Access Agreement and return to the City by July 31, 2015 at the latest. No work can begin on your property until this form is received by the City.

4 2. Internal Survey Work - Contact the City of St. Charles Public Works Department before July 31, 2015 at (630) to set up a time to complete the internal home survey. Internal home survey work will take place on the dates below. Once the surveyors arrive at your home, they will require access to the interior of your home and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the survey. Property owners will need to be present for the internal survey work. Surveyors will need to identify all mechanical locations (air conditioner, water softener, furnace, etc.) and be able to gain access to these areas to complete the work. Other internal survey work includes measuring the elevations of floors including first floor, basements and crawl spaces. The internal survey work may take place before or after the external survey work, but the Property Access Agreement is required before they can come to your home. Two hour time slots area available for the surveyor to come to your home as follows: Thursday, August 6 th between 10am 8pm Friday, August 7 th between 8am 4pm Thursday, August 13 th between 7am 5pm Friday, August 14 th between 8am 4pm Thursday, August 20 th between 10am 8pm Friday, August 21 st between 8am 4pm As noted above, please call before July 31, 2015 at (630) to set up a time slot that works for you for the Internal Survey Work. 3. Exterior Survey Work - Survey crews will be out sometime between August 3 rd and August 24 th to complete the survey work on the exterior of your home. Should there be delays due to weather the external survey schedule may be pushed out to mid-september. Property owners are not required to be home for this work. No specific times will be set up for this work, but they will knock on the door when they arrive to notify you that they are there if you are home. Once the exterior survey work is completed, H.R. Green will place a door tag on your front door to notify you that this work has been completed. The external survey work may take place before or after the internal survey work, but the Property Access Agreement is required before they can come to your home. Please note that H.R. Green employees will be carrying identification showing that they are employees of the H.R. Green for all work taking place on your property both inside and outside. The City will be providing periodic updates regarding the 7 th Avenue Creek project through the project website is located at We encourage you to visit this website to learn more about the study currently underway by the City and take the questionnaire if you haven t already. If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact the City of St. Charles Public Works Engineering Division at (630) or us at stormwater@stcharlesil.gov. Sincerely, Karen R. Young, P.E., C.F.M Assistant Director of Public Works - Engineering

5 Property Access Agreement 7th Avenue Creek Elevation Certificates This form is to be filled out and signed by the property owner. We have made every effort to send a copy of this letter to all property owners, but we understand that some properties may have changed to rental properties over time thatt we are not aware of. If you are a renter/ /tenant for this property, please reach out to the property owner to make sure they have received a copy of this agreement and letter. Name: Address: Phone: Best time to reach you: Do you have a fence? Yes or No (Circle one) Is your gate locked? Yes or No (Circle one) Do you have a dog? Yes or No (Circle one) Are there any other items we should be aware of while on your property? Is there any reason to not access your yard? Property Access Agreement (Check one) I hereby give permission to the City of St. Charles and their consultant H.R. Green to enter on to my property at the above address to perform the necessary survey work for the Elevation Certificate for the 7 th Avenue Creek Project. I do not give permission for the City of St. Charles and their consultant H.R.. Green to enter on to my property at the above address to perform the necessary survey work for the Elevation Certificate for the 7 th Avenue Creek Project. I understand that without this permission an Elevation Certificate will not be completed for my property. Signature: Date: Return this executed form to the City of St. Charles at Two East Main Street in the enclosed pre-paid envelope by July 31, 2015 in order to participate in the Elevation Certificate program. Don t delay in sending this form to the City. If forms are returned in an expeditious manner ahead of the July 31 st date, we will be able to get the survey crews started and complete the work in a timely manner. Don t forget to sign up early for your internal surveys for greater availability.