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ervilhe 1880 Nam Street, Cetttef%114 MNSS038 ` EStaffish &i 1857 6S1- 429- 3232or 'Fax 6S1- 429 -8629 April 1, 2014 Phil Belfiori, Administrator Rice Creek Watershed District 4325 Pheasant Ridge DR. NE #611 Blaine, MN 55449 -4539 Re: FEMA -FIRM maps Dear Mr. Belfiori: As you know, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is revising its flood plain mapping in Anoka County. During the data gathering phase, FEMA was supplied with the flood plain study done by RCWD (Houston Engineering) for Clearwater Creek. The RCWD study was more favorable to development than the earlier FEMA mapping. Several months ago, it was evident that FEMA would not be able to use the RCWD mapping data, without additional work being done. At the same time, I understood that RCWD would work with us to get FEMA what they needed, but any costs to provide that date, would need to come from the City of Centerville or the benefitting landowners. In a memo from FEMA dated February 20, 2014, we received specific details outlining what additional information would be needed. We then asked your consultant to review what FEMA was asking for and provide an updated cost estimate. At that point Houston received signals that they would not be working for RCWD and that they (Houston) would have to determine if they wanted to do the work for Centerville. Houston declined to do the work, citing potential conflict of interest. We have always viewed RCWD as a partner working with the City toward mutual goals, and this seems like something we should be able to accomplish cooperatively. We want our property owners to be able to develop their land within the constraints of reasonable regulation. If the FEMA flood plains are more burdensome than they need to be, we should be able to work together to fix that. The City Council of Centerville passed a resolution on March 12, 2014, requesting that the Board of Managers of RCWD assist in securing the additional data requested by FEMA. We do not expect RCWD to pay for any of the costs of the additional work I will attend the April 9, Board meeting to discuss this matter. Thank you. Yours truly, VARAA -fmft ,aM. Dallas Larson, Administrator Enc.