In March, Sparks residents and business owners will learn their updated flood insurance rates - the end result of many costly hours of work done by Sparks staff and consultants to satisfy the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The city is planning public workshops during that month to educate residents and answer their questions about flood hazard zones in the city.

However, councilmen expressed their frustration at Monday's redevelopment workshop with the costly process of working with FEMA that has led up to these workshops.

"We spent $100,000 and we are back to what we had in 2005," Councilman Mike Carrigan said.

In order to prove to FEMA that Sparks Marina lands continue to be protected from Truckee River flooding - for the second time in two years - Sparks spent $97,000 on three independent consulting teams and countless hours of staff time.

Then, a few developers spent money on bringing in extra loads of dirt to raise the elevation of their projects out of the former flood zone Ñ just in case. Among the few affected was the developer of the $1 billion Legends at Sparks Marina shopping and entertainment complex: RED Development Inc.

However, what seemed like a waste of time and money was actually part of an ongoing process with FEMA and local governments across the country, said Sparks Flood Control Manager Shawn Gooch.

The Washoe County flood maps had not been updated since about 1997, Gooch said. The FEMA maps are generally updated at least every 10 years to ensure the security and strength of levees throughout the United States.

Sparks city staff began coordinating efforts with FEMA back in the spring of 2007, when FEMA updated its electronic flood zone maps of Washoe County. During the process, FEMA found that Sparks Marina lands had previously been within a flood zone, but were later removed from the flood zone.

The area in question is south of Prater Way, west of Sparks Boulevard, north of Interstate 80, and east of McCarran Boulevard. Affected developments included the Harbor Cove subdivision, Marina Village apartments and the Marina Commercial Building - which houses The Jib restaurant, coffee & wine bar and Scraps Dog Bakery, among other restaurants, shops and offices.

Staff and consultants had to conduct studies and draw up engineering reports to secure FEMA's accreditation that the area was protected by flood control devices already in place.

In 2004, under FEMA's direction, eight "tide-flex" devices were installed in existing storm drain pipes along Interstate 80. The devices stop flood water from the Truckee River from flowing backward into the storm drain and flooding the Sparks Marina, Gooch said.

In July 2005, FEMA approved the flood control devices and brought the land out of the floodplain by issuing a Letter of Map Revision. FEMA then updated its electronic maps and demanded proof again that the same lands were still not in danger of flooding by the Truckee River.

Then on Jan. 3, Sparks received accreditation from FEMA that Sparks Marina homes and businesses are safe from flooding and do not need to carry flood insurance. FEMA stated that flood-control devices under Interstate 80 and pumps at the Sparks Marina are sufficient to protect the marina from Truckee River flooding.