RECOMMENDATION:
ORDINANCE approving submission of grant applications to the TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (TDEM) for flood mitigation projects through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program; declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of Houston Public Works to act as signatory on grant applications.
Specific Explanation:
The Director of Houston Public Works recommends that City Council support an ordinance approving submission of grant applications to the TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (TDEM) for flood mitigation projects through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) program; declaring the City’s eligibility for such grants; and authorizing the Director of Houston Public Works to act as signatory on grant applications.
Authorized by Section 404 of the amended Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide post disaster statewide FEMA funding for eligible mitigation projects submitted in accordance with the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Unified Guidance and the 44 CFR § 206.430.
The State has established priorities for utilizing mitigation funding to address the needs identified resulting from the disaster event and to advance the goals and strategies specified in the State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan. The underlying principle for prioritizing projects is to provide the greatest benefit through long-term risk reduction to the greatest number of people.
The City of Houston submitted Notice of Interest (NOI) forms to the State for consideration of hazard mitigation funding for residential mitigation projects and infrastructure projects. 14 projects passed the initial eligibility screening and can move forward with a full project application for consideration of funding. The total amount of funding requested via the NOI forms for the 14 projects is $703,000,000.00 with a 25% local match requirement of $175,750,000.00. The City can utilize CDBG-DR funding for the match or for residential mitigation projects, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Increased Cost Compliance (ICC) can be filed by the City on behalf of homeowners for local match. Other strategies including requesting the State to cover the local match is being considered. Each projects specific funding will be determined and finalized during application development based upon project(s) meeting FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Guidance.
There is a 25% local match requirement. The City can utilize CDBG-DR funding for the match or for residential mitigation projects, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Increased Cost Compliance (ICC) can be filed by the City on behalf of homeowners for local match.
These 14 projects were presented to City Council as part of the Mayor’s report by Stephen Costello and Jedediah Greenfield on March 21, 2018. If and when individual projects are selected for award, Houston Public Works will bring each project to City Council for approval of acceptance of the grant award and detail the specific amount and source of the required local funding match.
MWBE PARTICIPATION:
If awarded, the contractors under these grant agreements will be encouraged but not required to participate in the City's M/WBE Program because it involves the use of federal funds and is subject to specific contract rules of the federal government for the grants.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.
Director
Houston Public Works