Okaloosa County BOCC — June 3, 2014 — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: June 3, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: 2014 Flood Mitigation Grant DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Growth Management Department requests permission to submit an application to the Florida Division of Emergency Management to receive funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance program. BACKGROUND: As appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76); the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program provides resources to assist states, tribal governments, territories and local communities in their efforts to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended. The FMA Grant Program was created as part of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA) of 1994 with the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the NFIP. For FY 2014, the total amount of funds distributed will be $89,000,000. They are distributed on a competitive basis. This is a cost-reimbursement program, meaning that funds must be expended first, and then repaid. However, the grant rules allow for advance payment of costs (work must be performed within 90 days for any funds advanced) to enable projects to move forward when local funds are not available. No County funds are proposed to be used for this grant application. FEMA will select eligible planning and project sub-applications in order of the agency’s priorities for the FY 2014 FMA grant program: * 1st priority: Mitigation planning sub-applications consistent with 44 CFR Part 201 up to a maximum of $100,000 federal share per applicant * 2nd priority: Mitigation project sub-applications that mitigate Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) properties. * 3rd priority: Mitigation project sub-applications that mitigate Repetitive Loss (RL) properties. The application must be submitted no later than June 6, 2014 and will undergo a complete eligibility review within their respective FEMA Region. FEMA Regions will review planning and project sub-applications plus one management cost subapplication submitted by each applicant through the Mitigation eGrants system to ensure compliance with the HMA Guidance, including eligibility of the applicant and sub-applicant; eligibility of proposed activities and costs; completeness of the sub-application and eligibility and availability of non-federal cost share. Due to the short timeframe for preparation, the application is not complete as of this writing. However, if the application is successful, the County and State must first enter into a contract prior to the release of any funds. The contract will be submitted for full legal review prior to it being placed on the Board of County Commissioner's agenda for execution. OPTIONS: Submit the application or do not. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the submittal of an application to the FY 2014 Flood Mitigation Assistance program, and authorize the County Administrator and Growth Management Director as appropriate to sign the application and associated documents. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator