Title
Resolution authorizing Recertification for Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) Community Certification Program.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County SMC certifies communities in Lake County to enforce the Watershed Development Ordinance (WDO) requirements for floodplains, stormwater management systems and wetlands. Community certification is a pre-requisite for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Lake County (unincorporated) is currently a certified community and, as such, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the WDO.
• Planning, Building and Development has received its five-year recertification notice from the SMC and, consequently, has prepared the requisite application forms for County Board approval.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board adopted the Watershed Development Ordinance (WDO) on October 13, 1992 with subsequent amendments; and
WHEREAS, said WDO establishes certain reasonable minimum regulations applicable throughout all areas of Lake County as are necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare with respect to the accumulation and runoff of stormwater; and
WHEREAS, said WDO provides for and encourages the certification of all municipalities and the County in the enforcement of these regulations; and
WHEREAS, Lake County is a Stormwater Management Commission “Certified Community” and has adopted the WDO; and
WHEREAS, Lake County is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); and
WHEREAS, Lake County participates in the FEMA NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) as a Class 6 Community; and
WHEREAS, in order to maintain its status as a “Certified Community” and to remain in “good standing” in the FEMA NFIP and participate as a Class 6 CRS community, the County must recertify as a community; and
WHEREAS, in the interests of extending the County’s shared services program with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, Lake County wishes to transfer its wetland review functions to SMC and decertify for wetland reviews.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board, of Lake County, Illinois, that the Chair of the County Board of Lake County is hereby authorized to execute and forward to the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission a petition for Community Certification of unincorporated Lake County absent wetland recertification.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, September 12, 2023.