SUBJECT:The Director of Houston Public Works recommends that City Council approve an ordinance approving submission of a grant application to the TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (TWDB) for community flood mitigation assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program; declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; and 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, and to extend the budget period.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council adopt an Ordinance approving the submission of a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board to support home elevation projects.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: 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). The City of Houston applied for and received funds to implement this program in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (2020 is pending award).
The City of Houston will submit one elevation application for 24 homes. Homeowners volunteered to participate in this program prior to application development. Depending on the National Flood Insurance Program loss history of each property at the time of the grant application, participating homeowners will be awarded between 90% (repetitive loss) and 100% (severe repetitive loss) of eligible home elevation and other project costs. Homeowners of qualifying homes that are not repetitive loss or severe repetitive loss properties will be awarded 75% of eligible project costs. Homeowners in these applications will be collectively responsible for the local grant share of $302,796.59.
It is recommended that City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments, and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant program and to authorize the Director or the Director’s designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project period up to five additional years.
The City’s costs of administering the grant, including its application development, are reimbursable except for $14,503.42 which is the City’s share of administrative and project management costs. This is anticipated to be allocated from Fund 8300 and will be included within the proposed FY2023 annual budget.
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Council District
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Estimated Cost
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Grant Amount
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Homeowner Cost Share
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Administrative & PM Costs
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Citywide
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$5,440,258.48
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$5,122,958.47
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$302,796.59
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$14,503.42
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The period of performance for this grant will be three years from the effective date of the contract. Eligible activities include design, permitting, construction and project management.
FISCAL NOTES: Funding for this item will be included in the FY2023 Proposed 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