CHAPTER 2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX 2.1 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN POINT OF CONTACT Kenneth G. Smith, Superintendent of Public Works Alternate: Randy Crowner, Mayor P.O. Box 38 Albion, WA 99102 Phone: 509-332-5095 e-mail: albionpublicwks@palouse.com 2.2 TOWN PROFILE Population: 620 (as of April 1, 2005) Albion is in the southeastern portion of Whitman County, 5 miles northwest of the City of Pullman. The town encompasses approximately 250 acres and is located in a small valley surrounded on all sides by rolling hills typical of the Palouse region. The South Fork of the Palouse river forms the town s southwestern border. Albion enjoys a temperate climate with an average low temperature of 36.7ºF and an average high temperature of 58ºF. The average annual rainfall for Albion is 21.3 inches. Albion was first settled by homesteaders around 1870. This settlement was driven by the abundance of grazing land for livestock and the availability of water. There was a conversion from livestock grazing to agricultural production by the 1880s. In 1881, Levi Reynolds, who had homesteaded the original town site, successfully petitioned the US Postmaster for the establishment of a post office under the name of Guy, in tribute to Reynolds grandson, Guy Whitsel. The town s name was changed to Albion in March 1901 through the persuasion of a British settler named Thomas, who perpetuated the early British name for the entire region, New Albion. Albion incorporated in 1910 with a population of 276 residents. A mayor-council form of government, with five elected council members administered by an elected mayor, governs Albion and will assume responsibility for adoption of this plan. Services provided by the City include police, water and sewer. Based on data from the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Albion has experienced a relatively flat rate of growth. The overall population decreased by 3 percent from 1990 to 20000, and has averaged 0.13 percent increase per year from 2000 to 2005. With this rate of growth, anticipated development trends for Albion are low to moderate, consisting primarily of residential development. Whitman County and its cities have adopted critical areas and resources lands regulations pursuant to the Growth Management Act, but are not subject to the law s full planning requirements. The City of Albion has mechanisms available to manage future development via regulations identified in a zoning ordinance and policies identified in a Comprehensive Plan. 2-1
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 2.3 NATURAL HAZARD EVENT HISTORY SPECIFIC TO THE CITY NATURAL HAZARD EVENTS Type of Event FEMA Disaster # (if applicable) Date Preliminary Damage Assessment Flood 1159 12/26/1996 $40,000 Flood 1100 1/26/1996 $36,000 Landslide n/a March 1996 $7,000 Volcanic Ash 623 5/21/1980 n/a Number of FEMA Identified Repetitive Flood Loss Properties: 0 Number of Repetitive Flood Loss Properties that have been mitigated: 0 2.4 NATURAL HAZARD RISK/VULNERABILITY RISK RANKING Rank # Hazard type NATURAL HAZARD RISK RANKING Estimate of Potential Dollar Losses to Structures Vulnerable to the Hazarda Probability of Occurrenceb 1 Severe Weather $109,696 High 2 Flood (100-year) $90,400 High 3 Earthquake (100-year) $54,123 Medium 4 Volcano $10,970 Low 5 Drought No measurable impact on structuresc High 6 Wild Fire No measurable impact on structures High a. Building damage ratio estimates based on FEMA 386-2 (August 2001) b. High = Hazard event is likely to occur within 25 years; Medium = Hazard event is likely to occur within 100 years; Low = Hazard event is not likely to occur within 100 years c. Although this event would not impact structures, it could have an economic impact related to drought s impact on farming. 2.5 COALITION PARTNER CITY CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT This section identifies the following capabilities of the local jurisdiction: Legal and regulatory capability Administrative and technical capability Fiscal capability Community classification. 2-2
2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX 2.5.1 Legal and Regulatory Capability Regulatory Tools (Codes, Ordinances. Plans) Local Authority LEGAL AND REGULATORY CAPABILITY Prohibitions (State or Federal) Other Jurisdictional Authority State Mandated Comments 1.) Building Code Yes No No Yes IBC adopted by Albion Municipal Code (AMC) Title 14, Ordinance # 318; January 13, 2004 2.) Zoning Ordinance Yes No No No AMC Title 16, adopted 1971 3.) Subdivision Ordinance Yes No No No AMC Title 15, adopted 1994 4.) Special Purpose Ordinances (floodplain management, critical or sensitive areas) 5.) Growth Management 6.) Floodplain Management or Basin plan 7.) Stormwater Management Plan 8.) General Plan or Comprehensive Plan 9.) Capital Improvements Plan 10.) Site Plan review requirements 11.) Habitat Conservation Plan 12.) Economic development plan 13.) Emergency Response plan Yes Yes No Yes Floodplain Ordinance: AMC 14.24.00; Adopted 11/04/03 Sensitive Areas Ordinance- #315; Adopted- 11/04/03 No No No No Critical areas and resource lands only. No No No No A floodplain management plan is listed as a need in the City s Comp Plan, but has not yet been addressed. No No No No A need for stormwater management dictated by a plan is listed as a need in the City s Comp Plan, but has yet to be addressed. Yes No No No Adopted July 2003. Yes No No No 6 year CIP for roads and streets only, updated annually. The Albion Comp Plan includes a capital improvements plan. However, the only projectspecific element of this plan addresses streets. Yes No No Yes Requirement of IBC, adopted under title 14. No No No No No No No No No No No No 2-3
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes LEGAL AND REGULATORY CAPABILITY Regulatory Tools (Codes, Ordinances. Plans) 14.) Shoreline Management Plan 15.) Post Disaster Recovery Plan 16.) Post Disaster Recovery Ordinance 17.) Real Estate Disclosure requirement Local Authority Prohibitions (State or Federal) Other Jurisdictional Authority State Mandated Comments No No No Yes Adopted the Whitman County Shorelines Master program, 1974 No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes RCW 64.06 2.5.2 Administrative and Technical Capability ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY Staff/Personnel Resources Available Department/Agency/Position 1.) Planners or Engineers with knowledge of land development and land management practices 2.) Engineers or Professionals trained in construction practices related to buildings and/or infrastructure 3.) Planners or engineers with an understanding of natural hazards No No Yes Can contract for services based on need. Can contract for services based on need. Whitman County Engineer is available to consult with the Town on an as needed basis. 4.) Floodplain Manager Yes Superintendent of Public Works/ Building Inspector 5.) Surveyors Yes Contract Surveyors 6.) Personnel skilled or trained in GIS applications No 7.) Scientist familiar with natural hazards in Whitman County No No personnel on staff. Washington State University (WSU) is a possible resource under this category. 8.) Emergency Manager Yes Whitman County Emergency Management 9.) Grant Writers Yes Town Staff, Mayor and Council 10.) Staff with expertise or training in benefit/cost analysis No 2-4
2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX 2.5.3 Fiscal Capability Financial Resources FISCAL CAPABILITY 1.) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Yes 2.) Capital Improvements Project Funding Yes 3.) Authority to Levy Taxes for specific Purposes Yes 4.) User fees for water, sewer, gas or electric service Yes (water and sewer) 5.) Impact Fees for homebuyers or developers of new development/homes Accessible or Eligible to Use (Yes/No/Don t know) No 6.) Incur debt through general obligation bonds Yes 7.) Incur debt through special tax bonds Yes 8.) Incur debt through private activity bonds Yes, but not likely 9.) Withhold public expenditures in hazard-prone areas 10.) State sponsored grant programs such as FCAAP Yes No ( would consider as an option to support mitigation) 11.) Other FEMA sponsored grant funding: PDM, HMGP, FMA 2.5.4 Community Classifications The classifications in the following table address capabilities in all phases of emergency management (preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation). They are used in determining costs for various forms of insurance. The CRS class applies to flood insurance; the BCEGS and Public Protection classifications apply to standard property insurance. Classifications are on a scale of 1 to 10, with Class 1 being the best possible classification, and Class 10 representing no classification benefit. Criteria for classification credits are outlined in the Community Rating System Coordinators Manual, the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule, and the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATIONS Program Classification Date Classified Community Rating System (CRS) n/a n/a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) 6/6 2001 Public Protection 7/9* n/a * Higher classification applies to when subject property is located beyond 1,000 feet of a creditable fire hydrant and is within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station. 2-5
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 2.6 PROPOSED NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION INITIATIVES Mitigation Initiative 1.) Replace existing water storage facilities with a new 200,000-gallon water reservoir (storage tank) to increase fire suppression capability for the town, and to provide seismic protection to this critical facility. 2.) Relocate wastewater treatment system out of the floodplain to the packing plant sight. 3.) Upgrade water distribution system by increasing main size, looping existing mains and increasing hydrants/existing spacing-distribution. 4.) Clear storm drains and drainage system facilities of obstructions that limit their capability to convey stormwater during rainfall events. 5.) Retrofit bridges utilized for an evacuation routes for flood and seismic protection 6.) Seek technical assistance and funding sources to re-study and map the floodplain within the Town of Albion. This effort should be coordinated with Whitman County and the County-wide re-mapping effort under FEMA s map modernization initiative. MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Hazards Initiative Addresses Wild Fire Earthquake Flood Wild Fire Earthquake Flooding Flooding Earthquake Flooding Administrating Agency Albion Department of Public Works Albion department of Public Works Albion Department of Public Works Albion Department of Public Works Albion Department of Public Works City of Albion, Office of the City Administrator Funding Sources PWTF grants, bonds/levies DOE/FCAAP Grants PDM, HMGP, FMA Bonds/Levies PWTF grants, bonds/levies General fund, CIP PWTF grants, bonds/levies PWTF, Grants, WSDOT grants Bonds/Levies USACE-205 funding, FCAAP, FEMA s Map Modernization Program Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb Short Term DOF Short Term depending on funding Short Term depending on funding OG/Short Term Long Term DOF 1, 2, 4 5, 7 1, 2, 4 3, 4, 5 1, 2, 4 5, 7 1, 2, 4 3, 4, 5 1, 2, 4 3, 4, 5 Short Term 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 8, 9, 10 DOF 2-6
2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Mitigation Initiative 7.) Support Countywide initiatives that promote the education of the public on the impacts of natural hazards within Whitman County, and the preparedness for and the mitigation of those impacts. This support will be in the form of dissemination of appropriate information to the residents of Albion and continuing support/participation in the Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning Partnership. 8.) Utilize information provided in the Whitman County HIVA to consider regulatory provisions that will reduce the vulnerability, and promote wise land use with regards to hazards that impact the Town of Albion. 9.) Continue to coordinate and work with Whitman County Emergency Management in disaster response and preparedness. This level of coordination should include: updates to the Emergency response plan, development of a post disaster action plan, training and support. 10.) Prepare a Comprehensive Floodplain Management Plan for the City of Albion as recommended by its Comprehensive Plan. Hazards Initiative Addresses All Hazards All Hazards All Hazards Flood Administrating Agency City of Albion, Office of the City Administrator City of Albion, Office of the City Administrator City of Albion, Office of the City Administrator, Department City of Albion, Office of the City Administrator Funding Sources General Fund Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb OG/Short Term 1, 2, 3 2, 6, 7 General Fund Long Term 1, 2 1, 3, 9, 10 General Fund Grant Funding: FMA, FCAAP OG/Short Term Short Term DOF 1, 2, 3 2, 4, 6 1, 2, 3 1, 3, 9, 10 a. Short term = 1 to 5 years; Long term = 5 years or greater, OG = Ongoing program, DOF=Depending on Funding b. See Volume 1, Chapter 5, Section 5.3.1 and Table 5-1. 2-7
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 2.7 PRIORITIZATION OF MITIGATION INITIATIVES Initiative # PRIORITIZATION OF MITIGATION INITIATIVES # of Objectives Met Benefits Costs Do benefits equal or exceed costs? Is project grant eligible? Can project be funded under existing programs/ budgets? Priority (High, Med., Low) 1 2 High High Yes Yes No Medium 2 3 High High Yes Yes No Medium 3 2 High High Yes Yes No Medium 4 3 High Medium Yes No Yes High 5 3 High High Yes Yes Yes Medium 6 5 High High Yes Yes No High 6 3 Low Low Yes Yes Yes High 7 4 Medium Low Yes No Yes High 8 3 Low Low Yes No Yes High 2.7.1 Explanation of Priorities High Priority A project that meets multiple objectives (i.e., multiple hazards), has benefits that exceed cost, has funding secured or is an ongoing project and meets eligibility requirements for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) or Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM). High priority projects can be completed in the short term (1 to 5 years). Medium Priority A project that meets goals and objectives, that has benefits that exceed costs, and for which funding has not been secured but project is grant eligible under HMGP, PDM or other grant programs. Project can be completed in the short term, once funding is secured. Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured. Low Priority A project that will mitigate the risk of a hazard, that has benefits that do not exceed the costs or are difficult to quantify, for which funding has not been secured, that is not eligible for HMGP or PDM grant funding, and for which the time line for completion is long term (1 to 10 years). Low priority projects may be eligible for other sources of grant funding from other programs. Prioritization of initiatives was based on above definitions X Prioritization of initiatives was based on parameters other than stated above: N/A 2.8 FUTURE NEEDS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND RISK/VULNERABILITY A complete survey of the Town s actual median household income should be completed in order to substantiate the availability of other grants and funding sources targeting small and impoverished communities. The financial resources for a town of Albion s size and population to accomplish the hazard 2-8
2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX mitigation goals identified in this plan are limited, if not non-existent. Maximizing the Town s potential for grant funding will be key to implementing this plan. 2.9 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Albion is committed to ensuring its residents, who desire upgrades in existing infrastructure, the best services possible, within its capabilities, with a level of service not to be compromised. It is a secure community with police, fire, and emergency medical services. It is a community where sewer and water service is capable of meeting the demands of current town residents. It is a community where education is a priority. It is a town that has taken control of its stormwater runoff and flooding potential and managed it in creative and innovative ways, with limited resources. Hazard mitigation of its infrastructure (water, sewer, transportation) is mission critical for its resiliency to natural hazards. 2-9
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2-11 2. TOWN OF ALBION ANNEX