Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) introduced the Public Safety Enhancement Act today.
The bill would allow construction of new fire or police stations to take place in urban areas such as Natomas, where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is remapping the area’s flood zone designation.
“It is important that as FEMA updates flood zone maps for the region we ensure that vital public safety buildings, such as police stations and firehouses are able to be constructed,” said Matsui. “If passed, the Public Safety Enhancement Act will provide the City of Sacramento the ability to build needed public safety facilities in Natomas in order to better serve the public.”
The City of Sacramento wants to build a multi-use, public safety facility in Natomas, which is home to over 70,000 residents. The facility would house both police and fire personnel.
In recent months there have been a number of house fires this year in the area, highlighting the need for such a facility.
On December 8, 2008, FEMA will issue new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the Natomas Basin . The maps will move Natomas from a moderate-risk “X” flood zone to a higher-risk “AE” flood zone. In addition to flood insurance requirements stringent building regulations will go into effect.
“Since learning of the FEMA remapping of the Natomas area, I have been working to protect homeowners from increased flood insurance costs by requesting a one year extension of current rates. I have also worked to ensure that Natomas has the vital infrastructure it needs. The bill I introduced today will allow for sensible building in the interest of public safety.”
In addition to introducing the Public Safety Enhancement Act, Rep. Matsui sent a letter on November 18, 2008 to the FEMA Administrator David Paulson urging him to allow Natomas residents to carry a Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) for an additional year.
A Preferred Risk Policy written for the maximum National Flood Insurance Program coverage levels costs about $350 a year. After changes to the FEMA maps, flood insurance policies for residents in the Natomas basin will cost approximately $1,300 a year.
Allowing residents an additional year at their PRP rate will give hardworking families the ability to make ends meet while ensuring homeowners own flood insurance policies and pay into the National Flood Insurance Program
This is a big deal. Getting Natomas residents’ eligibility for Preferred Risk policies for another year would save every homeowner nearly a grand. This would be welcome relief to a community that needs some good (economic) news and responsibly voted to tax itself for levee upgrades.
I haven’t read the whole bill yet but I could seriously kiss Doris Matsui! She seems like she actually gets it!
Thank goodness for Doris Matsui!!! She has proved again & again that she really cares!! You go Girl!!!
Yes, the relief and the abillity to build the safety structures (police & fire) are so important for Natomas.
I had an opportunity yesterday to meet with Nathan Dietrich (Matsui’s District Director) who explained to me that
Congress-woman Matsui is also working really hard to secure the funding we will need in the latter stages to finish the levee improvments (after SAFCA and State dollars are spent).
Doris Matsui is proactively preparring to build the infrastructure Natomas residents need and also laying ground work to get needed funding a year or two down the road and at the same time seeking reduced or preferred rates for Natomas residents.
I agree this would appear that she absolutly gets it and I was impressed with her commitment to see the multiple facets of this project through; especially since we have faced so many challenges at the City level just to get the conversation about the fire and police station going – it is really nice to see an elected representative PLANNING for our future development and safety/infrastructure needs in Natomas.
Nathan said he will continue to keep me posted on the progress of these various components – so as that information comes to me I will continue to pass it on to the BUZZ.
He also indicated that there may come a time that Congress-woman Matsui may need us for community support on these efforts. When that time comes we will use the Yahoo Groups and the BUZZ to get as many residents engaged as possible.
Thanks for posting this BUZZ and if you don’t already have your flood insurance go get it – you need it now.
Angelique Ashby, JD
President
Creekside Neighborhood Association
Co-Founder
Natomas Crime & Safety Leadership Team
[email protected]
That is great. But like anything else that the city is involved with seeing is believing! A perfect example is the South Natomas fire station #15. It was built as a temporary station in the early 80’s. The Fire Department was told that they would be in it only a couple of year at most! Well it’s still there and is totally inadequate for the needs of South Natomas. Most people don’t realize that the closest ambulance to South Natomas comes from downtown! The South Natomas station is too small to accomodate the additional personel to staff an ambulance. The people of South Natomas deserve better than this from our city. Station 15 is one reason that I’ll believe a West Natomas staion is going to be built when I see it.