FEMA Chronology
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FEMA Chronology
4/7 / 8 6
1972
Resolution #72-59 (from predecessor of Santa Clara Valley Water
District (SCVWD)) adopting a floodplain management program.
October 12, 1973 Letter from predecessor of Santa Clara Valley Water District
(SCVWD) announcing they have initiated a flood mapping project
for South County expected to be completed in 1976.
December 6, 1973 Received copies of SCVWD Uvas-Carnadero creek report.-
April 1, 1974 Scott Lefaver requests flood maps from Federal Insurance
Administration (FIA).
June 6, 1974 Letter from Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) announcing
FIA program.
June 18, 1974 Karen Rinde requests flood information maps of Bay Area from
United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) in San Francisco.
July 12, 1974 Scott Lefaver letter to Coast Savings and Loan indicates Gilroy
had previously received a limited number of FIA flood maps.
July 15, 1974 City Council adopts two resolutions #1833 and #1834 to qualify
the City for the Federal Flood Insurance program.
November 14, 1974 Scott Lefaver letter commenting on SCVWD flood area
dedication policies.
February 19, 1975 Scott Lefaver general letter sent to numerous financial
groups stating that the City is within the FIA program and
attached map showing flood area south of Sixth Street.
June 19, 1975 Letter from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) engineer
to Goodrich informing City of amendments to Flood Hazard maps
changing from rectilinear to curvilinear mapping techniques.
August 13, 1975 Letter from Fred Wood objecting to virtually the entire City in
Flood Hazard Area and attaches SCVWD map of Gilroy flood areas.
August 22, 1975 Letter from Fred Wood to FEMA engineers enclosing Army Corps
1973 information and revised FEMA map.
October 6, 1975 Letter from SCVWD to Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/FIA
regarding FIA delays in studying Santa Clara County areas.
January 21, 1976 Letter from Fred Wood to FEMA engineers requesting amendme/t of
FEMA maps to conform with 1) 1973 Army Corps report and 2) .5.
Soil Service "Watershed Work Plan, Lower Llagas Creek."
May 11, 1978 Rob Mendiola responds to FIA annual survey and indicates new\
study by George Nolte Associates will replace current FIA maps
which he stf}tes "do not accurately reflect the flood hazard
boundaries. .
FEMA Chronology
4/7/86
August 23, 1978 SCVWD letter to Hansen stating that SCVWD does not recommend
construction of an interim levee adjacent to the Filbro
tract #6251.
February 1, 1979 Memo from Michael Dorn to Wood regarding information for City
Council on FIA flood insurance program.
April 27, 1979 SCVWD form to California State Division of Real Estate indicating
that Filbro tract #6251 is not subject to the 1% flood.
August 1, 1979 SCVWD report on Uvas Creek Project relating FIA & Army Corps
different ratings of the 1% flood.
October 11, 1979 Letter from FIA to Goodrich explaining adoption process for
FIA maps and ordinance. Statements in letter show:
1. Gilroy must adopt maps or lose flood insurance program.
2. Public notices of flood elevations to be published in
Dispatch on October 16 and October 23, 1979.
3. Advises City of citizen appeals process.
4. Appeals ... shall be based only upon scientific and
technical evidence contrary to that of the FIA study.
December 13, 1979 SCVWD form to California Division of Real Estate indicating
that Arcadia tract #6255 is not subject to the 1% flood.
February 1, 1980 Letter from FEMA to Goodrich stating that:
1. No appeals to the FIRM's were received.
2. FEMA will suspend City from insurance program if City does
not adopt Flood Plain Management Ordinance in form required
by FEMA.
April 23, 1980 Michael Dorn letter to FIA requesting review of first draft of
Flood Plain Management Ordinance.
May 1, 1980
May 8, 1980
June 5, 1980
July 7, 1980
July 7, 1980
July 21, 1980
July 2b, 1980
Letter from FIA to Goodrich reminding City that it is required
to enact Flood Plain Management Ordinance by August 1, 1980.
Robin McGinnis letter to FIA drafting engineers updating City
limits.
Planning Commission recommends approval of FEMA model Flood
Ordinance.
City Council issues Initial Study for Flood Ordinance.
City Council approves FEMA model Flood Ordinance.
City Council takes final action on Flood Ordinance. (Ord. #80-23)
Rhonda Pellin transmittal of Initial Study for Flood Plain
Management Ordinance to (ABAG).
FEMA Chronology
4/7 /86
August 5, 1980 Michael Dorn letter to FIA clarifying intent of proposed Flood
Plan Management Ordinance Section 5.10 regarding actions needed
if Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) does not show flood
elevations.
October 15, 1980 SCVWD form to California Division of Real Estate indicating
that a portion of lots #158,159,160, & 161 are subject to
flooding, but that SCVWD has approved the tract plans showing
lots to be filled above the 1% flood elevation. "When this is
done, the lots should be safe from flooding."
August 11, 1980 Michael Dorn letter to FIA engineers requesting new City
limits be added to FIRM.
August 27, 1980 Letter from FEMA to Goodrich stating:
1. FEMA accepts City's Flood Plain Management Ordinance.
2. Announces effective date of FIRM to be August 1, 1980.
3. States "The FIRM supercedes all previous maps identifying
areas of flood hazard and mu~be used by your community...
after the effective date of the FIRM.
January 21, 1981 Letter from FIA engineers to Goodrich submitting draft FIRM
showing new City limits.
February 11, 1981 Chuck Myer letter to FIA engineer thanking them for
improving accuracy of street names, city limits, etc. on the
FIRM.
May 26, 1981 Letter from SCVWD to Michael Dorn advising that the City
Engineer should verify which datum is used to establish
flood elevations.
June 2, 1981 Chuck Myer letter to FIA requesting if City "should inform
property owner's" of their recently annexed land being in flood
zone A.
August 12, 1981 Army Corps letter stating that a July 21, 1981 inspection of the
levee from Santa Teresa Boulevard to Thomas Road indicates the
levee to be in satisfactory condition.
October 15, 1981 Letter from FEMA to Goodrich:
1. Announcing effective date of October 6, 1981 of revised FIRM
due to new City boundaries.
2. Specifically referenced new A flood zones along the
Princevalle Storm drain and Royal Drive in the Arcadia
tract.
3. The attached publication notice stated "Any request for
reconsideration must be based on knowledge of changed
conditions or new scientific or technical data".
January 4, 1982 Flood emergency on Uvas.
FEMA Chronology
4/7 /86
January 15, 1982 Letter from Ruth and Going Engineers for Arcadia to FEMA for
request to revise flood maps.
June 10, 1982 Letter from California Department of Water Resources to Fred
Wood sets up appointment for review of progress on flood plain
management.
August 27, 1982 Letter from California Department of Water Resources evaluating
Gilroy's Flood Plain program based on review conducted on June
10, 1982 - recommendations of review:
1. Encourage use of post-construction Elevation/Flood
proofing certificates to be obtained from FEMA.
2. "Insure that the finished lowest floor elevation is
obtained, verified, and recorded for all new or
substantially improved structures built in the flood
plains."
January 15, 1982 Letter from Loma Prieta Resource Conservation District
regarding need to clean debris from Uvas Creek.
November 15, 1982 Letter from FEMA to Goodrich exempts some portions of
Miller Meadows tract from flood zone A.
June 2, 1983 Bill Ayer letter to Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation
District (SCVWCD) regarding confirmation that SCVWCD will build
flood wall and will be built behind high school.
July 26, 1983 Army Corps letter to Fred Wood stating that the levee from Santa
Teresa Boulevard to Thomas Road has been properly maintained and
is in good condition.
August 24, 1983 Letter from FEMA to Ruth & Going exempting lots 155-159,
162-192, 202-251, 255, & 257-262 from the flood zone A. Lots
160 & 161 were determined not to be in flood zone A. Lots
193-201, 252, 253, 254 & 256 will be partially in flood zone A.
March 23, 1984 Letter from FEMA to MacKay & Somps regarding the Barnett-Range
subdivision:
1. Indicating lots 23-32 not to be in the Special Flood Hazard
Area.
2. Indicating portions of lots 1-22 & 33-89 would be
inundated, but due to information supplied by MacKay &
Somps thse structures were built above the Special Flood
Hazard Area therefore exempting them from the insurance
requirement.
April 17, 1984 Letter from Baksa to Senator Alquist urging State funding
support for flood control projects.
February 28, 1986 Letter from Mayor Hughan to State Coordinator of the flood
plain management program requesting a restudy of the FEMA flood
zones in G~lroy.
FEMA Chronology
4/7 /86
March 11, 1986 Letter from FEMA to Rusty Areias responding to his inquiry and
explaining FE~~'s position and supporting the current
designations.
Development Approvals Chronology
4/7/86
November 16, 1976 Letter from SCVWD to Hansen stating that there would not be
significant flooding on Munson property if existing levee is
reinforced.
February 17, 1977 Planning Commission approved TM 77-2 Blossom Heights
(Res. #77-17).
April 1977 Soils and geologic investigation by Applied Soil Mechanics Inc.
briefly mentions flooding and recommends either a small levee or
padding the building up above the 1% flood elevation.
June 6, 1977 Blossom Heights final tract approved by the City Council.
June 8, 1977 Memo from Cox to Bedaux regarding conditions for Arcadia tract.
July 7, 1977 Planning Commission recommended City Council certify the Final
Environmental Impact Report for Arcadia (Res. #77-29),
recommended approval of Z 77-8 (Res. #77-30) and recommended
approval of TM 77-4 (Res. #77-31).
August 4, 1977 Planning Commission recommended City Council certify the
Environmental Impact Report for Filbro (Res. #77-33) and
recommended approval of Z 77-10 (Res. #77-34).
August 15, 1977 City Council certifies Arcadia EIR.
September 6, 1977 City Council approves zoning and Tentative Map for Arcadia.
September 7, 1977 SCVWD letter to Bedaux regarding flooding potential for Filbro
tract.
September 15, 1977 Gilroy Planning Commission approves Filbro Tentative Map
#TM 77-5 with condition that building pads be elevated above 1%
flood. (Res. #77-36).
September 20, 1977 SCVWD letter to Bedaux regarding improvements and design
standards for Princevalle Storm Drain.
September 20, 1977 SCVWD letter to Bedaux regarding flood proofing of the
Arcadia tract and Princevalle Storm Drain design.
October 3, 1977 City Council certifies Environmental Impact Report for Filbro
Tract.
October 3, 1977 City Council approves Tentative Map for Filbro Tract.
November 17, 1977 SCVWD letter to Bedaux regarding Princevalle Storm Drain
capacity and flooding from the Uvas at the Arcadia tract.
March 2, 1978
SCVWD letter regarding a 4% flood protection for the Arcadia
tract.
Development Approvals Chronology
4/7/86
July 17, 1978 City of Gilroy Development Agreement with Filbro required
temporary levee to be built behind Filbro tract.
August 14, 1978 SCVWD permit for Arcadia work.
August 23, 1978 SCVWD letter to Hansen stating that SCVWD does not recommend
construction of an interim levee adjacent to the Filbro tract
#6251.
November 3, 1978 SCVWD letter to Hansen stating that the Uvas Creek ROW
requirements have been met.
December 13, 1979 SCVWD form to California Division of Real Estate indicating
that Arcadia tract #6255 is not subject to the 1% flood.
October 15, 1980 SCVWD form to California Division of Real Estate indicating
that a portion of lots #158,159,160, & 161 are subject to
flooding, but that SCVWD has approved the tract plans showing
lots to be filled above the 1% flood elevation. "When this is
done, the lots should be safe from flooding."
January 15, 1982 Letter from Ruth and Going Engineers for Arcadia to FEMA for
request to revise flood maps.
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Army Corps of Engineers Chronology
4/7/86
December 6, 1973 Letter from Army Corps of Engineers regarding study meeting
on December 20, 1983.
August 4, 1978 Memo from Wood to City Council explaining progress in Army
Corps funding.
August 8, 1978 City Council supports project on Uvas.
December 20, 1978 Army Corps announcement of study initiation on Uvas Creek.
August 1, 1979 SCVWD report on Uvas Creek Project relating FIA & Army Corps
different ratings of the 1% flood.
December 6, 1979 Letter from SCVWD to Marion Link not recommending a 10 year
protection project.
February 29, 1980 Army Corps issues Draft Design Memorandum on Uvas Creek
project.
December 1, 1980 SCVWD letter advising property owners of Uvas levee effects.
December 5, 1980 SCVWD fact sheet on Army Corps levee project.
January 16, 1981 Army Corps announcement of public meeting on draft report.
January 19, 1981 City Council resolution supporting Army Corps Levee project on
Uvas Creek.
February 4, 1981 Citizens petition in support of the Army Corps Uvas Creek levee
project with 140 signatures.
May 19, 1981 City Council indicates willingness to share costs of
recreational portion of Army Corps Levee project.
August 12, 1981 Army Corps letter stating that a July 21, 1981 inspection of the
levee from Santa Teresa Boulevard to Thomas Road indicates the
levee to be in satisfactory condition.
January 4, 1982 Flood emergency on Uvas.
March 9, 1983 Letter from Goodrich to State Water Commission requesting
funding support for Army Corps levee project.
July 26, 1983 Army Corps letter to Fred Wood stating that the levee from Santa
Teresa Boulevard to Thomas Road has been properly maintained and
is in good condition.
November 29, 1984 Michael Dorn letter to SCVWD clarifying Zoning Ordinance and
General Plan designations along Uvas Creek.
, w
May 1, 1985
hay 29, 1985
Army Corps of Engineers Chronology
4/7 /86
Letter from SCVWD to Jay Baksa regarding meeting on June 5,
1985 to discuss Uvas levee project with Army Corps of
Engineers.
Notice from SCVWD on public meeting on Army Corps of Engineers
Uvas Creek project.