Subject:
Title
West Cocoa and Silver Pines Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants for the Acquisition and Demolition of Flood Prone Properties - D2
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Fiscal Impact:
FY21 FEMA Grant H0564 - $2,386,546.50, match Fund 1112/260030 $795,515.50
FY21 FEMA Grant H0565 - $740,401.50, match Fund 1112/260030 $248,800.50
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
1) Approve and Execute two FEMA Agreements (H0564-Project number 4337-301-R and H0565-Project number 4337-174-R; 2) Authorize the County Manager or designee to sign grant amendments; 3) Waive environmental site assessment report requirements unless deemed necessary by department(s); 4) Approve the Land Acquisition Department to offer appraised values; 5) Approve related property purchases; 6) Approve advertisement and execution of contract(s) for the demolition work; and 7) Approve related budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On July 25, 2018 the Brevard Management Local Mitigation Strategy (L.M.S.) Steering Committee approved and submitted a request to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (F.D.E.M.) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (H.M.G.P.) for funding from Hurricane Irma. On August 3, 2018 the Natural Resources Management Department (N.R.M.) submitted five applications for FEMA funding to acquire and demolish properties in high risk areas identified in the County’s L.M.S. which have experienced repetitive flooding. One application was for a single home on North Merritt Island. The owner has rejected the offer of appraised value; therefore, that grant is being terminated. Two more project areas have been approved for funding and the County has received the attached contracts for execution.
• Contract H0565-4337-174-R is for 4 private properties in Silver Pines, Rockledge.
• Contract H0564-4337-301-R is for 18 private properties in West Cocoa.
County staff went door to door in flood prone areas and provided information to the owners offering voluntary participation in the buy-out program. Of approximately 116 homes in West Cocoa and 8 in Silver Pines, only 22 volunteered to provide sufficient information to be included in the County’s grant requests for acquisition and demolition funding. Residents of some of these properties have previously filed insurance claims for flood losses.
The County has spent over 7 million dollars on stormwater drainage upgrades in the West Cocoa watershed. A West Cocoa Flood Water Study finalized in 2014 identified thirteen potential flood relief projects. The County has completed four so far. Even after all thirteen projects are complete, some properties will still be in danger of flood damage during a 100-year storm. These properties were visited and offered participation in the grant program.
The N.R.M. and the Emergency Operations Center Department are requesting the Board approve the two F.E.M.A. Grants for a total of $3,126,948.00. Local match is available in the Stormwater fund for District 2. The Grants expire in January 2023.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Execute two Originals of both contract numbers in blue ink.