13.005 Statutory Authority, Findings of Fact, Purpose, and Methods

13.005 Statutory Authority, Findings of Fact, Purpose, and Methods.

(1) Statutory Authorization. The State of Oregon has in ORS 197.175 delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt floodplain management regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the City of Medford does ordain as follows:

(a) The flood hazard areas of the City of Medford are subject to periodic inundation which may result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.

(b) These flood losses may be caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in special flood hazard areas which increase flood heights and velocities, and when inadequately anchored, cause damage in other areas. Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated, or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to flood loss.

(3) Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flooding in flood hazard areas by provisions designed to:

(a) Protect human life and health;

(b) Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;

(c) Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

(d) Minimize prolonged business interruptions;

(e) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in special flood hazard areas;

(f) Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood hazard areas so as to minimize blight areas caused by flooding;

(g) Notify potential buyers that the property is in a special flood hazard area;

(h) Notify those who occupy special flood hazard areas that they assume responsibility for their actions; and

(i) Participate in and maintain eligibility for flood insurance and disaster relief.

(4) Methods of Reducing Flood Losses. In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions for:

(a) Restricting or prohibiting development which is dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which results in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities;

(b) Requiring that development vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;

(c) Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel floodwaters;

(d) Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; and

(e) Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or may increase flood hazards in other areas.