Foster City maintains the levee along the Bayfront, surrounding the majority of the outer perimeter of the City. The City’s levee system provides protection from flood hazards and storms and is a valuable safety element. The levee has withstood challenges so far, but it is in need of critical improvements for safety and savings.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that Foster City’s levee system does not meet FEMA requirements into future years. Unless the City upgrades the levee to meet the required FEMA standards, Foster City will be designated as a flood zone and the average homeowner of homes with federally insured loans will be mandated to pay an estimated $2,000-$3,000 per year in flood insurance, while remaining at flood risk.

 

In order to maintain FEMA accreditation and keep Foster City properties out of the flood zone, the City Council placed Measure P, a bond measure to fund levee improvements, on the June 2018 ballot. Measure P would cost the property owner approximately $40 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) property value annually for levee improvements for 30 years instead of the estimated $2,000-$3,000 or more per year in flood insurance indefinitely.