§ 21-101. Administrator; appointment and duties.

(a)

Program administrator. The Ouachita Parish police jury shall, upon the enactment of this article, designate or appoint a qualified program administrator to administer and implement the provisions of this article.

(b)

Duties and responsibilities of the program administrator. The duties and responsibilities of the program administrator shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1)

Review all applications for development permits as hereinafter provided for to determine that the permit requirements of this article shall have been satisfied; and approve or deny all development permit applications.

(2)

Review all development permit applications to assure that all necessary permits have been obtained for the proposed development from those federal, state or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required.

(3)

Review all development permit applications to determine if the proposed development is located within a floodway or if it adversely affects the flood-carrying capacity of the area of special flood hazard. For the purposes of this article, "adversely affects," means damage to adjacent properties because of increases in flood stages.

a.

If it is determined that there is no adverse affect, then the permit shall be granted consistent with the provisions of this article.

b.

If it is determined that there is an adverse effect, then flood damage mitigation measures shall be made a condition of the permit.

c.

If it is determined that the proposed development is located within a designated floodway, then a permit shall not be issued unless all provisions of Section 21-119 are satisfied.

(4)

Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions) the program administrator shall make the necessary interpretation based on the actual ground elevation as determined by field survey. Any person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided for in this article.

(5)

Prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse which might impact an upstream, downstream, or adjacent community, the program administrator shall notify the appropriate community and any affected state or federal agency as required and furnish evidence of such notification to the federal insurance administration upon request.

(6)

Coordinate on behalf of the Ouachita Parish police jury any proposed amendment or revision to the flood insurance study and accompany flood insurance rate maps and flood boundary-floodway maps based on scientific and technical justification which supports a change in previously established floor elevations or boundaries.

(7)

Assure that adequate provisions for maintenance are provided for within any altered or relocated portion of a watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.

(8)

When base flood elevation data are not provided for areas of special flood hazard in accordance with Section 21-76, the program administrator shall assist a developer in obtaining, reviewing, and reasonably utilizing any base flood elevation data available from a federal, state, or other responsible source, in order to administer the provisions of this article.

(9)

Maintain and hold open for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this article.

(10)

When a regulatory floodway has not been designated, the Floodplain Administrator must require that no new construction, substantial improvements, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zones A1—30 and AE on the community's FIRM, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one (1) foot at any point within the community.

(11)

Under the provisions of 44 CFR Chapter 1, Section 65.12, of the National Flood Insurance Program regulations, a community may approve certain development in Zones A1—30, AE, AH, on the community's FIRM which increases the water surface elevation of the base flood by more than one (1) foot, provided that the community first applies for a conditional FIRM revision through FEMA.

(Ord. No. 7944, 3-11-85; Ord. No. 8346, § 3, 3-7-94)