ORDINANCE approving and authorizing submission of seven (7) grant applications for Grant Assistance to the TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS THROUGH THE FEDERAL HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – MITIGATION PROGRAM; declaring the City’s eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the Director of the City of Houston’s Department Houston Public Works (“Director”) to act as the City’s representative in the application process, to accept such Grant Funds, if awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the program

SUBJECT:

The Director of Houston Public Works recommends that City Council support an ordinance approving submission of seven (7) grant applications to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for flood mitigation projects through the federal Housing and Urban Development Department’s Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation program (CDBG-MIT); declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of Houston Public Works to apply for, accept, and expend Grant Funds if awarded, and to apply for, accept, and expend all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant and to extend the budget period; containing provisions to the subject.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended City Council approve the submission of seven (7) grant application to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for flood mitigation projects.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

Authorized under the Supplemental Appropriation for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 Public Law (P.L.) 115-123 and published in the Federal Register, 84 FR 45838 (August 30, 2019). CDBG-MIT funds allow the City to fund projects that mitigate disaster risks and reduce losses in areas impacted by natural disasters.

The City proposes flood mitigation projects at seven (7) locations throughout the City. Project sites were selected based on flood mitigation benefits and grant program criteria established by the Texas General Land Office with the approval of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The GLO project scoring criteria includes low-to-moderate income, social vulnerability and per capita market value data.

These seven (7) projects were presented to the Transportation, Technology and Information Committee (TTI) on September 3, 2020, with a public comment period opened between September 3, 2020 to October 1, 2020.

It is recommended that City Council authorize the Director or her designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years. The City’s non-federal share will be appropriated with future contract awards and come from the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund (DDSRF). 

FISCAL NOTE: No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E., Director

Houston Public Works

$484,262,200.06  Fund 5430 – Federal State Local – HPW Pass thru DDSRF

$  29,144,680.00  Local Share Amount - Fund TBD
$513,406,880.06  Total Amount

Maureen Crocker, Assistant Director,

Transportation & Drainage Operations.

Phone: (832) 395-3222