The Director of Houston Public Works recommends that City Council approve an ordinance for the submission of a grant application to the TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD for community flood mitigation assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program; declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of Houston Public Works to act as signatory on the grant application with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs provide funding for mitigation projects and studies to reduce or eliminate claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
This is a FEMA FMA Advance Assistance grant application for $125,000.00 ($93,750.00 federal share and $31,250.00 local share) for a study of the Hidden Lake residential townhome development.
The development is comprised of approximately 85 residential townhomes and an activity center located in Northwest Houston along the bank of White Oak Bayou. The development is located within an original oxbow of White Oak Bayou prior to a federal flood control project that straightened the bayou alignment in the 1970s. Records indicate the development has experienced severe repetitive flooding dating back to 1984 resulting in multiple flood loss claims over the years including in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The goal of this advanced assistance grant is to expand on the preliminary evaluation study utilizing current hydrologic watershed models, and identify any environmental constraints, investigate structural and non-structural flood protection options and develop detail cost estimates for mitigation projects, possibly funded through the FEMA FMA program.
FISCAL NOTE:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2019 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.
Director
Houston Public Works