RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an ordinance authorizing an agreement for the City of Houston to receive funds from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for reimbursement of up to $7,208,149.93 to complete the elevation of 26 flood-prone structures as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program; authorizing the Director or the Director's designee to accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, to extend the budget period, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the grant; and authorizing the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant for the project/performance period, not to exceed five years.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
Ordinance 2020-0122, approved February 19, 2020, authorized the submittal of a grant application through TWDB for the annual FEMA call for the FMA grant program. The grant program makes funds available nationwide to address mitigation of flooded properties that hold flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The City of Houston will use the grant funds to pay the eligible costs to elevate 26 pre-selected properties, or pre-selected alternate properties. Eligible activities include design, permitting, construction, and project management.
As sub-applicant of the awarded FMA grant the City of Houston will be reimbursed for either 100% or 90% of eligible costs per property, depending on the NFIP loss history of each property at the time of the grant application. Homeowners volunteered to participate in this program prior to application.
Homeowners will be required to share in the cost of elevating their home if the City will be reimbursed less than 100% for the project. The cumulative homeowner share is $237,780.45.
The City’s costs for administering the grant and project management of the elevation projects are reimbursable except for $10,664.12.
FISCAL NOTE:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2022 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
No fiscal note is required on grant items.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.
Director
Houston Public Works