SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Congresswoman Doris Matsui introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow fire and police stations to be built in designated flood zone areas such as Natomas.

The Public Safety Enhancement Act will allow new fire and police stations to be built in urban areas where the Federal Emergency Management Agency is remapping the area's flood zone designation.

"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," Matsui said.

The city of Sacramento wants to build a public safety facility that would house both police and fire personnel in Natomas.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA said construction in the Natomas area can be allowed only if built 20 feet above ground.

Any project that does not have a building permit by December 2008 cannot start construction.

FEMA plans to send out the new flood insurance rate maps for Natomas on Dec. 8.