CHAPTER 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX

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1 CHAPTER 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX 3.1 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN POINT OF CONTACT Emily Adams, City Administrator P.O. Box 229 Colfax, WA Phone: CITY PROFILE Population: 2,875 (as of April 1, 2005) Historical and background information was taken from The county seat for Whitman County, is named for Schuyler Colfax, the U.S. vice president under Ulysses S. Grant. The city s location is the intersection of two rivers and three systems of rails. The first significant industry was logging and lumber milling, but ranching and wheat farming soon followed and a flour mill was added. The arrival of people to Colfax came relatively late in the settlement of the west, in the late 1860s, by which time Oregon and Puget Sound had been settled. Colfax was incorporated in While Colfax failed to get the state land grant college, which ended up in Pullman, it did have the good fortune to be named the county seat. The combination of retail and service businesses and government entities continues to this day. The topography of the area consists of steep rolling hills. The structure of the hills is called Aeolian, meaning formed by wind. The soil type is loess, specifically Palouse loess. It was blown in as dust off the retreating glaciers from the last ice age, about 15,000 years ago. The earth is rich and deep, with top soil up to 100 feet thick. The system of hills is known as the Palouse Hills and the area as the Palouse. The Palouse is named after the Palouse Indians, a small tribe indigenous to the region that is affiliated with the Nez Perce tribe. The horse breed called the Appaloosa originated with these Indians, hence the name a palouse of the Palouse. The first white settlers in the area claimed the vast acres of tall bunch grass as grazing land. Because of the relatively low rainfall (about 16 inches annually) it was not taken seriously as farm land. Only the river bottoms and areas watered by springs were originally cultivated. In the 1870s and 1880s, influenced by immigrants from Eastern Europe who were familiar with similar climatic conditions, farmers began cultivating the Palouse hills and growing winter wheat, a crop that was planted in the fall and harvested the following summer. With the development of mechanized farming techniques, the Palouse produces enormous crops and farming units have developed into hundreds and even thousands of acres. Wheat is now one of Washington State s largest cash crops. The region is also now a world leader in the production of peas, lentils and barley. The end of the last glacial period left behind another dramatic feature of terrain. Melting glaciers across the Northwest US and southern Canada filled a vast reservoir of water that covered most of present 3-1

2 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes Montana west of the Rocky Mountains, which geologists called Primitive Lake Missoula. It is described as the largest body of fresh water that ever existed. The lake was impounded in interior Montana by a glacial ice dam in the present day Idaho Panhandle. When this ice plug broke about 15,000 years ago, an epic flood was released. It tore a gash north to south through Washington, following the western side of Whitman County. The force and volume of the water gouged and ripped enormous canyons through the basalt bed rock, leaving what is called the channeled scab lands. A striking and dramatic example of this is Palouse Falls, an easy drive west of Colfax. The water falls over 200 feet into a cirque surrounded by sheer basaltic canyons. Similar canyon walls are frequent throughout Whitman County. Colfax retains a distinctly western character. In season, hunting is popular (deer, pheasant, chukars, partridge) and fishing is a local passion. Besides many lakes with trout, the Snake river is about 20 miles from town where there is year-around fishing. The city is popular with retirees, with its quiet and pleasant neighborhoods and the convenience of a hospital and medical center, convalescent center, retirement condominium community and assisted living apartments. There is also a golf course, bowling alley, a number of parks, swimming pool, playing fields and a walking/jogging path. The downtown provides retail stores, legal and service establishments and several restaurants. Pullman, 16 miles south, is the site of Washington State University and gives Colfax proximity to a large campus with a variety of theatrical, musical and athletic events. A mayor-council form of government, with seven elected council members and an elected mayor, governs Colfax and will assume responsibility for adoption of this plan. The city administrator oversees day-today operation of City-sponsored services. The Administrator is ultimately responsible for operation of the City with responsibilities that include: the city planner, building official, environmentalist and liaison between the city and civic groups, private citizens, other cities, Whitman County and state and federal agencies. Services provided by the City include police, fire, transportation, water, sewer and flood control. Based on data from the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Colfax has experienced a relatively flat rate of growth. The overall population has increased only 4 percent since 1990 and has averaged 0.2 percent per year from 2000 to With this rate of growth, the anticipated development trends for Colfax 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 Colfax has mechanisms available to manage future development via regulations identified in a zoning ordinance. 3.3 NATURAL HAZARD EVENT HISTORY SPECIFIC TO THE CITY NATURAL HAZARD EVENTS Type of Event FEMA Disaster # (if applicable) Date Preliminary Damage Assessment Flood /26/96 Information not available Flood /26/1996 Information not available Flash Flood n/a 1980 Information not available Volcanic Ash 623 5/21/1980 Information not available Flood 1948 Information not available Flood 1910 Information not available 3-2

3 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX Number of FEMA Identified Repetitive Flood Loss Properties: 0 Number of Repetitive Flood Loss Properties that have been mitigated: 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 Flood (100-year) $1,162,100 High 2 Severe Weather $953,333 High 3 Earthquake (100-year) $246,798 Medium 4 Volcano $9,533 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 (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. 3.5 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 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 International Building Code (IBC), Title 15, Colfax Municipal Code (CMC); July ) Zoning Ordinance Yes No No No Title 17, CMC; May,

4 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes LEGAL AND REGULATORY CAPABILITY Regulatory Tools (Codes, Ordinances. Plans) 3.) Subdivision Ordinance 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 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 Yes No No Yes Title 16, Chapter CMC; May 1993 Yes Yes No Yes Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance: Title 15, Chapter CMC Critical Areas: Title 18, Chapter No No No No Critical areas and resource lands only. No No No No No No No No Yes No No No Adopted January 2001 Yes No No No Six-year CIP for water, sewer, roads is updated annually. Yes No No Yes Requirement of IBC No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes July, 2004 Yes No No Yes Title 18, CMC, May 2004 No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes RCW

5 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX 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 Yes Yes No Contract Planners Contract Engineers, Whitman County Engineer, City of Colfax Building Inspector 4.) Floodplain Manager Yes Building Inspector, Whitman County Engineer, WA Ecology 5.) Surveyors Yes Contract Surveyors 6.) Personnel skilled or trained in GIS applications No 7.) Scientist familiar with natural hazards in Whitman County No 8.) Emergency Manager Yes City Administrator, Whitman County Emergency Management 9.) Grant Writers Yes City Administrator, Whitman County Emergency Management 10.) Staff with expertise or training in benefit/cost analysis No Fiscal Capability Financial Resources FISCAL CAPABILITY Accessible or Eligible to Use (Yes/No/Don t know) 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 5.) Impact Fees for homebuyers or developers of new development/homes No 6.) Incur debt through general obligation bonds Yes 7.) Incur debt through special tax bonds No 8.) Incur debt through private activity bonds No 9.) Withhold public expenditures in hazard-prone areas No (Could, but not likely) 10.) State sponsored grant programs such as FCAAP Yes 11.) Other FEMA sponsored grant funding: PDM, HMGP, FMA 3-5

6 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 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. COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATIONS Program Classification Date Classified Community Rating System (CRS) n/a n/a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) 5/ Public Protection 6/9* n/a Firewise n/a n/a Storm Ready The City of Colfax is designated as a Storm Ready County. August 2005 * 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. 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. The Firewise program outlines ways for participating communities to promote land uses that reduce fire risk in wildland/urban interface areas. The Storm Ready program outlines public warning activities related to severe weather for participating communities. 3.6 PROPOSED NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION INITIATIVES MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Mitigation Initiative Initiative Addresses Administrating Agency Funding Sources Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb 1.) Implement flood control channel improvements outside of concrete channels in such a way as to keep flood control channel clear to maintain capacity to handle flood water and enhance quality of habitat within the system Flood Storm Drainage utility, CIP, Possible grant funding; FCAAP, PDM, HMGP, FMA Short Term 1, 2, 5 3, 5 3-6

7 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Mitigation Initiative Initiative Addresses Administrating Agency Funding Sources Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb 2.) Construct a levy behind the dog pound area at west end of City of Colfax Waste Water Treatment plant. This measure will seek to construct a flood control structure that can be driven on, in conjunction with existing structures, to keep flood waters out of the Waste Water Treatment Plant in a cost beneficial manner. Flood General Fund, CIP, Tax levy, grant funding: FCAAP, PDM, HMGP, FMA Short Term 1, 2, 4 3, 5 3.) Install a permanent storm water system on the north flat for Oak St Cedar St. and Riverside Lane with the objective to remove storm waters, with an outlet that is not compromised by flood waters in the river. Flood General Fund, CIP, Tax levy, grant funding: FCAAP, PDM, HMGP, FMA Long Term 1, 2, 4 3, 5 4.) Trimming or removal of hazardous trees that can cause damage to life or property during storms. Inspect and trim or remove hazardous trees. Objective- To remove hazardous trees or branches that can break during severe weather, and cause damage to life or property. Severe Weather General Fund, CIP, USFS Grant OG/Short Term 1, 2 3, 5 5.) Place vulnerable utilities underground. Work with utility companies to place utility lines underground that are vulnerable to damage during severe weather This initiative may require an incentive to the utility companies in the form of cost sharing or fee based incentives. Severe Weather Cost share with Utility companies, General fund, grant funding Long Term 1, 2, 4 1, 4, 6 6.) Continue promotion/ implementation of water conservation program that includes: reducing leaks, replacement of infrastructure to reduce consumption of water. Implemented water conservation program via rate study, timed park automatic sprinkler systems, public information - To implement water conservation programs, reduce water use in City Parks, inform public of conservation issues. Drought General Fund, Water CIP OG 2, 3, 4 2, 5 3-7

8 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Mitigation Initiative 7.) In a joint venture with Whitman County, replace existing wellheads that lie in the floodplain of the county, with a new well in Colfax, eliminating vulnerability to flood, earthquake and wild fire. This initiative would eliminate 6 miles of water line that is in need of upgrade and maintenance. 8.) Upgrade the City water system over time with an emphasis on increasing sustained fire flow capability and fire hydrant spacing for fire suppression. This is to be accomplished via increased above ground storage, increase in distribution main sizing and main looping. 9.) 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 Colfax and continuing support/participation in the Whitman County Natural Mitigation Planning Partnership. 10.) Consider voluntary participation in programs such as the Community Rating System, Firewise and Storm Ready programs that will provide benefits/incentives to the Citizens of Colfax for hazard mitigation. 11.) 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 City of Colfax Initiative Addresses Flood, Drought Wildfire Wildfire All Flood, Wildfire All Administrating Agency Joint Venture: Whitman County, City of Colfax Office of the City Administrator Office of the City Administrator Office of the City Administrator Funding Sources Water Capital Funds, PWTF, Water Quality funds, Grant Funding: HMGP/PDM Water CIP, General Fund, Tax levy, grant funding General Fund Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb Long Term 1, 2, 4 5, 6 OG/Long Term OG/Short Term 1, 2, 4 4, 5 1, 2, 3 2, 6, 7 General Fund Long Term 1, 2, 3 2, 6, 7, 8 General Fund Long Term 1, 2 1, 3, 9,

9 3. CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN Mitigation Initiative Initiative Addresses Administrating Agency Funding Sources Time Linea Goalsb Objectivesb 12.) 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. All Office of the City Administrator, Colfax Fire Dept., Colfax Police Department General Fund OG/Short Term 1, 2, 3 2, 4, 6 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 and Table 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 High 2 2 Medium Medium Yes Yes No High 3 2 Medium High No No No Low 4 2 Medium Low Yes No Yes High 5 3 High High Yes Yes No Medium 6 2 Medium Medium Yes No Yes High 7 2 High High Yes Yes No High 8 2 Medium High No Yes No Medium 9 3 Low Low Yes Yes Yes High 10 4 Low Low Yes No Yes Medium 11 4 Medium Low Yes No Yes High 12 3 High Low Yes Yes Yes High 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 3-9

10 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 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 3.8 FUTURE NEEDS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND RISK/VULNERABILITY Once tools and technology such as GIS become available for the Whitman County planning area, the HIVA needs to be updated in a map format so this information can be better used as a planning and public outreach tool. The City of Colfax would also like to see the HIVA include critical facilities vulnerability analysis provided for each city Planning Partner. 3.9 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS None at this time. 3-10

11 CITY OF COLFAX ANNEX

12 Whitman County Natural Mitigation Plan; Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes 3-12