It was about 25 years ago that San Mateo city officials had a meeting so big it had to be held at the San Mateo County Event Center announcing thousands of residents were on a new flood map requiring expensive insurance.
After a ton of effort, including new stormwater pumps and a $30 million flood mitigation project that raised a 1,300-foot flood-prone levee 5 feet, the Federal Emergency Management Agency conformed in a letter Nov. 18, that 1,600 properties in the North Central and North Shoreview neighborhoods were taken off the map as of Oct. 11. The map is called Special Flood Hazard Areas and required costly flood insurance premiums in the thousands of dollars every year with some reporting an annual amount of $5,000. According to the city, property owners who still choose to have flood insurance will potentially get lower premiums because they are considered a lower flooding risk than before.
The massive flood mitigation project— located between the San Mateo and Burlingame border off Airport Boulevard—also encompassed a full reconstruction of two stormwater pump stations, located at Coyote Point and Poplar Avenue. The reconstruction of the two stormwater pump stations included updating electrical controls, correcting structural deficiencies, installing backup power generation, increasing pumping capacity, and installing trash capture devices, according to the city.
“Getting this critical infrastructure project done and approved from FEMA was a remarkable feat, made possible by intensive collaboration between our expert Public Works team, City Council leaders, FEMA advisors, and dedicated community members,” City Manager Alex Khojikian said in a press release. “As we prepare for our storm season, which could be exacerbated by a possible La Niña this winter, this accomplishment couldn’t have come at a better time and is something our community can be proud of.”
When the city first learned of the new FEMA maps, more than 500 residents flooded Fiesta Hall in the San Mateo County Event Center to learn about the impact on their lives — not only did the required flood insurance cost extra money but it also meant any development or home improvements needed extra steps. The city launched a number of efforts, beginning with the 2002 Flood Management Strategies Study and 2004 Storm Drain Master Plan. That identified this project and the eligible neighborhoods, with design and permitting beginning in 2014 with Schaaf and Wheeler civil engineering firm. The project required extensive coordination from several local, state and federal agencies before the authorization of construction permits in 2019. It was funded by the city, through Measure S, and will include additional funding through the North Shoreview Flood Assessment District, according to the city.
The City Council awarded the construction contract to Anderson Pacific in May 2020, and the project broke ground in September 2020. To provide additional construction management support, the City hired 4leaf Inc. Once the project completed in June 2023, city staff continued to work closely with FEMA to expedite review of the map revision. Staff also went to Washington, D.C., in support of the requested map revision as well as to seek potential funding for other coastal protection projects, according to the city.
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