ORDINANCE approving and authorizing the submission of Grant Applications to the TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (TDEM) for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for Drainage Improvement Projects; declaring the City’s eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the director of Houston Public Works or Director’s Designee (“Director”) to act as the City’s representative in the Grant Application Process

RECOMMENDATION: Approve an ordinance for authorization to submit three (3) applications to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for drainage improvement projects; authorizing the Director or designee of Houston Public Works to act as a signatory on the grant applications with authority to apply.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: HMGP makes federal funds available to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to plan for and implement sustainable and cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from future natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from future disasters. As the HMGP grant recipient for the state of Texas, TDEM published notices of funding opportunity for the HMGP program related to DR-4798 Hurricane Beryl.

 Houston Public Works (HPW) prepared three (3) applications for drainage infrastructure improvement:

Pleasantville Drainage Improvements Project. Improve the capacity of closed drainage storm sewer collection to reduce localized neighborhood flooding and convey storm water toward Buffalo Bayou. A small detention pond will allow for the capture of floodwaters mitigating downstream flooding. This project will mitigate flood risks to the Pleasantville neighborhood by increasing stormwater collection capacity and restoring drainage to Buffalo Bayou, reducing upstream staging.

Sunnyside Drainage Improvements (MLK Blvd Trunkline). This project proposes increasing the stormwater pipe along Martin Luther King Blvd to reduce flooding in the 2, 10, and 100-year events. Increasing the conveyance system along Martin Luther King Blvd (MLK Trunkline) will reduce flooding upstream of Sim’s Bayou within the Sunnyside neighborhood. As part of the project the storm sewer flow between Doulton Drive and the Saltwater Ditch will be reversed to redirect flow away from the open ditch (Saltwater Ditch) and into the MLK Trunkline (proposed box culverts).

Freeway Manor/Gulfway Terrace Neighborhood Flood Risk Reduction Project. Improvements to two existing channels to address the identified flooding hazard within three neighborhoods Freeway Manor North, Freeway Manor, and Gulfway Terrace. This will directly mitigate flooding caused by the existing channels overtopping and encroaching into the adjacent neighborhoods. 

Federal Cost Share, Local Share, and total percentages are shown below. If awarded, approval of the grant agreement and appropriation of the local share will be requested at a later date.

FISCAL NOTE: No fiscal note is required on grant items.

No significant fiscal operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.

_______________________________

Randall V. Macchi, JD

Director, Houston Public Works 

$87,005,804.72 - Fed/State/Local Pass Through (5030)

$71,274,991.23 - Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund- Ad Valorem Tax Fund 4046 (Future Appropriation)