1. 2 Authority 1 3 Planning Area 1

2.2 The Mitigation Planning Process

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  November 19, 2002. Overview of the mitigation planning process, prevalent natural hazards, losses and costs associated with events, discussion of opportunities for public comment, introduction to examples of mitigation actions.
  
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  February 4, 2002. Review roles and responsibilities, overview of number of buildings (public/private) that are “in” the floodplain, discussion on ways the City communicates with the public, discussion on what we know about flood (and other) hazards and how we will learn more, drafting a mitigation goal statement, discussion on possible mitigation actions
  
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  April 1, 2003. Brainstorming session to review potential mitigation actions, formally agree to the mitigation goal statement, review the preliminary GIS maps, discussion of schedule and task for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements, review of brochure draft material.
  
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  May 22, 2003. Review of new GIS material, discussion and review interview notes, review mitigation action ranking and cross check with components of the goal statement, discussion of mitigation action assignments, funding and other limitations, political/citizen acceptance, review public information material, review public questionnaire draft and determine appropriate distribution, overview of regulations and ordinance evaluation, discussion of schedule and tasks for the remaining plan development and public meeting requirements.
  
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  October 6, 2003. Overview of Work Session held with City Council, Review updated timeline for completion and adoption of plan, brainstorming session linking mitigation actions to elements of the mitigation goal statement, review of maps to be included in the final plan, review communication brochures for public outreach.
  

The overall mitigation planning process, summarized below, was facilitated by a mitigation planning consultant:

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  Get Organized: Pearland’s Administration Department was charged by the City Council with coordinating a committee comprised of City departments that are responsible for permits, subdivision approvals, community development, parks and recreation, roads and bridges maintenance, public facilities, and emergency management.
  
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  Coordinate: Prior to the first Committee meeting, the following agencies were notified of the planning activity and invited to participate:
  

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  Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Water Development Board, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (which coordinates the National Flood Insurance Program).
  
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  FEMA Region VI, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Galveston District, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
  

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  Identify Hazards: Interviews were conducted to understand how members of the Committee perceive the impacts past events have had and how hazards are incorporated into routine responsibilities (detailed notes on the interviews are on file with the City). Maps can be used to show hazard-prone areas when hazards are defined with sufficient detail to show spatial or geographic differences in impact. Flood hazards are the most easily identified, due to the availability of Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City. There are not enough geographic differences within the City to suggest that high winds or tornadoes might affect one area more severely or more frequently than other areas. There are no dams within the City or outside the City that affect the City’s watersheds, therefore, dam failure is not a threat. Hazardous materials are generally confined to fixed facilities or within defined transportation corridors; thus, maps can be prepared to show anticipated impact areas.
  
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  Review How Hazards are Addressed: During interviews with the Mitigation Planning Committee representatives, the roles of each program were described with respect to whether and how hazards are included in routine functions. The results are summarized in Section 6. Particular attention was paid to administration of the Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance (No. 532-2), the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 27), and Storm Drainage Design Criteria – Storm Drainage Design Requirements.
  
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  Assess Risks: For the purpose of this Plan, site-specific and detailed risk assessments were not prepared. The best floodplain mapping information available is from the Flood Insurance Study and associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps, dated 1999. The City had a digital version of its floodplain map prepared as an overlay for the property parcel map. This digital layer is used in the City’s Geographic Information System.
  
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  Create Goal Statement: The mitigation goal statement was discussed during the second meeting of the Committee, and approved at the third meeting.
  
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  Review Mitigation Actions: A list of tentative mitigation actions was prepared based on meetings and interviews as well as knowledge of successful actions implemented in other communities. The list was distributed to the Committee and discussed in some detail during the third meeting. Minor changes were made and a revised list was distributed to the Committee, and members were asked to indicate priorities (Drop, No Opinion, Low, Medium, High) based on their program’s functions and priorities. The priorities were compiled into the list shown in Part 7.
  
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  Draft Action Plan: Information collected and notes from meeting discussions were compiled into a format designed to fulfill various planning requirements. The draft was circulated to Mitigation Planning Committee members and electronic copies were provided to adjacent communities and pertinent state and federal agencies. Comments were collected and incorporated and a final draft was circulated.
  
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  Hold Public Meetings: In September 2003, the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan, including proposed mitigation actions, was made available for public review. A public meeting was held on October 29, 2003 to address any public comments or questions on the draft plan. The final Plan was presented for adoption at the October 11, 2004 City Council Meeting.
  
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  Adopt Plan: A copy of the resolution of adoption is bound into this Plan.