The ordinance had not been amended since 2015 and the Arizona Department of Resources, representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, recommended the changes. These, Gila County staff reported, bring the ordinance into agreement with current regulations and definitions, make explaining the requirements clearer and allow ways to possibly make compliance easier without violating state and federal regulations.

Amendments included the addition of paragraphs describing “accessory structure,” “agricultural structure” and “breakaway fence,” along with revised definitions of such terms as “breakaway wall,” “encroachment,” “detached parking/storage building” and “floodproofing.”

Previously, electrical and mechanical equipment, and appliances, were required to be elevated above the regulatory flood elevation; in the amended ordinance that has been removed. The ordinance now allows those items to be designed to prevent water from entering or accumulating during flood conditions, which could make it easier to retrofit non-compliant equipment.

Another section of the ordinance that was removed gave county staff the option to refer violations to the Board for abatement. This was written before the county had a hearing officer. “We’re going to take that out and let them go to the hearing officer where they can always appeal to the board,” said Flood Control District Chief Engineer Darde de Roulhac.

“When it comes to community development in general, the county should not be an enforcement agency as its first option,” said board member Steve Christensen. “Let’s work with the customer, let’s work with our people, let’s try and get them in compliance if there’s a very unique situation.”

Read more about the specific changes at https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/government/public_works/floodplain/index.php.