Agenda Item Name:
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Local (50/50) matching funds related to three Resiliency Florida Grant Program projects that may be awarded by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
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Presenter:
Ramon D. Gavarrete
Description:
General Fund Reserves will need to be used to match funding (50/50) for the Resiliency Florida Grant Program Projects awarded for the FDEP’s FY2021-22 and FY 2022-23 grant cycle. Three drainage improvement projects under consideration are Pine Hills, Hill of Santa Fe, and Robin Lane.
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Recommended Action:
recommended action
Use General Fund Reserves for the local 50/50 match for each project that developed.
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Prior Board Motions:
recommended action
N/A
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Fiscal Consideration:
fiscal consideration
The local match required would be $672,815.32 for Pine Hills, $507,615.07 for Hills of Santa Fe and $599,816.60 for Robin Lane for a total of $1,780,246.99 or 21.76% of the General Fund Reserves currently available ($8,181,054) for FY23.
Excerpt from the FY23 Board Approved Budget Policy:
a. Reserve for contingency requests in the General Fund, MSTU Law Enforcement and MSBU Fire Funds must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The Board will use the procedures and evaluation criteria set forth in this, and other policies. Such requests will be evaluated as to the:
i. Urgency of the request - these areas retain large amounts of water during storms.
ii. Scope of services to be provided - Limited-service area impacting a small segment of the population
iii. Short and long-term fiscal impact of the request - This a one-time use of funds, not on-going
iv. Potential for alternative methods of funding or providing the service(s) - Storm water assessment funds and gas tax funds were considered for the match but were determined not appropriate.
v. Review for duplication of service(s) with other agencies - this is a joint project with the State.
vi. Review of efforts to secure non-County funding - this is a joint project with the State.
vii. Discussion of why funding was not sought during the normal budget cycle - based on grant cycles.
viii. Review of the impact of not funding or delaying funding to the next fiscal year. - Delaying does not resolve the issue through another storm cycle
Several of the criteria are met as the scope of the project, the seeking of alternative methods of funding, and securing non-county funding as match are demonstrated in the grant application.
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Strategic Guide:
strategic guide
Infrastructure
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Background:
The Board heard several staff presentations and concerns in December 2017 and January 2018 from residents of several neighborhoods regarding home flooding and neighborhood entrance flooding after Hurricane Irma. The Board directed staff to apply for mitigation grants to help assist residents. Staff has applied for several grants in 2021 such as Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA 75/25 match), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP 75/25 match) with little success.
As directed by the Board, Public Works staff submitted FDEP Resiliency grant applications in August 2021 and received award for Pine Hills and Hills of Santa Fe for FY2021-22 and Robin Lane for FY2022-23. Since that time staff has submitted Grant Work Plan Agreement on the implementation of the Tasks, Budget, Timeline and Performance Measures related to the project. FDEP is reviewing the plan and has requested the funding source of the local match for the projects. A Grant Work Plan Agreement must be executed by the State and the County once FDEP provides Public Works staff the final agreements. The Board will have to either approve or disapprove the Grant Agreements.
At this time, Staff is seeking direction as to the funding source for the required local match from which funds would be allocated upon execution of final agreements.
The scope of work for all three project locations is identical. The scope includes property appraisal and acquisition of two houses. The success of the application relies on acquiring all impacted land for each project area. The County will need to use an approved appraiser to ascertain market value for the properties, then engage in contract negotiations with the property owners. Once the County has acquired the properties the residential structure will be demolished, and the properties will be converted into a stormwater retention basin. The project includes adjusting underground utility appurtenances, restoring any landscaping affected by construction and mitigating tree loss in accordance with Alachua County land development code requirements. The property owners must be willing to sell in order for each grant to be completed.
1. Pine Hills Drainage Improvements
o Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan Project Type
o Project Summary
The County intends to purchase two homes that have flooded on NW 112th Terrace/NW 14th Avenue. Significant rainfall during the 2004 hurricane season, from Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Tropical Storm Elsa in 2021 resulted in flooding. The two homes will be demolished, and a stormwater retention pond will be constructed on the home sites. These two homes have experienced repetitive loss flooding. Consistent with the Local Mitigation Strategy's Goal of developing resilient community. (Caputa, White)
o Project Goal
Flood waters have threatened several homes within the Pine Hills subdivision on multiple occasions. Continuous flood events and repetitive losses are impacting the health and safety of residents in the area and this project proposes to mitigate those hazards. The project will reduce the risk to the properties posed by flooding by removing the 2 structures and they will be protected against the 100-year storm event. The risk of flooding to potential Repetitive loss properties, the septic tanks will also be reduced considerably thereby reducing well water impacts.
o Alachua County is NOT a "financially disadvantaged small community" according to the F.S. 380.093 definition.
o Estimated total project cost: $1,345,630.64
o Grant funding amount requested: $672,815.32 (Grant is a 50/50)
o Local Match required: $672,815.32 (Grant is a 50/50)
2. Hills of Santa Fe Drainage Improvements
o Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan Project Type
o Project Summary
The County intends to purchase two flood-prone properties that have experienced repetitive losses in the past five years.
The entrance to the Hills of Santa Fe subdivision in northwest Alachua County floods during large storm events. The only vehicular access to the subdivision is at the intersection of NW 98th Street and NW 25th Place. Significant rainfall during the 2004 hurricane season and from Hurricane Irma in 2017 resulted in flooding that made the entrance roadway impassable. Access to and from 144 homes and condominiums was blocked, impacting approximately 390 residents. Flood waters have also entered two homes within the Hills of Santa Fe subdivision on multiple occasions, as well as portions of the adjacent Meadowbrook Golf Course. An emergency access road to NW 23rd Avenue was required after Hurricane Irma to allow ingress and egress; however, flooding is an ongoing issue for this community, dating back to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in September 2004. Continuous flood events and repetitive losses are impacting the health and safety of residents in the area and this project proposes to mitigate those hazards. (Peña, Arango)
o Project Goal
The scope of work includes property appraisal and acquisition. The County will need to use an approved appraiser to ascertain market value for the properties, then engage in contract negotiations with the property owners. Once the County has acquired the properties the residential structure will be demolished, and the properties will be converted into a stormwater retention basin. The project includes adjusting underground utility appurtenances, restoring any landscaping affected by construction and mitigating tree loss in accordance with Alachua County land development code requirements.
o Alachua County is NOT a "financially disadvantaged small community" according to the F.S. 380.093 definition.
o Estimated total project cost: $1,015,230.13
o Grant funding amount requested: $507,615.07 (Grant is a 50/50)
o Local Match required: $507,615.07 (Grant is a 50/50)
Projects Awarded for FY2022-23 (starting on July 01, 2022):
3. Robin Lane Drainage Improvements
o Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan Project Type
o Project Summary
The County intends to purchase two flood-prone properties that have experienced repetitive losses. The entrance to the Robin Lane subdivision in northwest Alachua County floods during large storm events. The only vehicular access to the subdivision is at the intersection of NW 75th Street and NW 39th Avenue. Significant rainfall during the 2004 hurricane season and from Hurricane Irma in 2017 resulted in flooding that made the entrance roadway impassable. Access to and from 144 homes was blocked, impacting approximately 390 residents. Flood waters have also entered two homes within the Robin Lane subdivision on multiple occasions. An emergency access road to private roadway was required after Hurricane Irma to allow ingress and egress; however, flooding is an ongoing issue for this community, dating back to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in September 2004. Continuous flood events and repetitive losses are impacting the health and safety of residents in the area and this project proposes to mitigate those hazards. (Abrams, Colorado)
o Project Goal
The scope of work includes property appraisal and acquisition. The County will need to use an approved appraiser to ascertain market value for the properties, then engage in contract negotiations with the property owners. Once the County has acquired the properties the residential structure will be demolished, and the properties will be converted into a stormwater retention basin. The project includes adjusting underground utility appurtenances, restoring any landscaping affected by construction and mitigating tree loss in accordance with Alachua County land development code requirements.
o Alachua County is NOT a "financially disadvantaged small community" according to the F.S. 380.093 definition.
o Estimated total project cost: $1,199,633.20
o Grant funding amount requested: $599,816.60 (Grant is a 50/50)
o Local Match required: $599,816.60 (Grant is a 50/50)