Okaloosa County BOCC — April 19, 2016 — Request Authorization to Accept and Submit Proposals for Disaster — agenda request — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: April 19, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Request Authorization to Accept and Submit Proposals for Disaster Mitigation Grants 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 2016 Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency BACKGROUND: On March 15, 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced the availability of funds through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs. While applicants for these programs may include all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Federally-recognized Native American Tribal governments, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, local governments are considered sub- applicants and must apply to their applicant state/territory. In Florida, applications must be submitted to the FDEM which will then select which applications will be forwarded to FEMA as part of the overall state application. Projects will be selected based on the priorities for the funding year. For the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, the FY 16 priorities are: 1st priority: Projects that will mitigate flood damage for at least 50 percent of structures included in the sub-application that meet definition part (b)(ii) of a Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) property: At least two separate NFIP claim payments have been made with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure 2nd priority: Projects that will mitigate flood damage for at least 50 percent of structures included in the sub-application that meet the definition of an Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Repetitive Loss (RL) property: Have incurred flood-related damage on 2 occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25% of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event 3rd priority: Projects that will mitigate flood damage for at least 50 percent of structures included in the sub-application that meet definition part (b)(I) of an SRL property: four or more separate NFIP claims payments have been made with the amount of each claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of claims payments exceeding $20,000 4th priority: Projects that will mitigate flood damage to the largest number of NFIP-insured properties at the neighborhood level For the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Assistance Program, the priorities are: 1st priority: Mitigation planning and project sub-applications up to $575,000 Federal share per states/territories/District of Columbia consistent with Section 203 (f)(1) of the Stafford Act 2nd priority: Up to $10 million for mitigation planning and project sub-applications up to $575,000 Federal share per tribal applicant 3rd priority: Mitigation planning sub-applications from applicants that do not have Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) planning funds available 4th priority: Projects from applicants that do not have HMGP project funds available: Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities i. Climate Resilient Mitigation Projects (CRMA) projects and pre- or post-wildfire mitigation activities or any mitigation action that utilizes green infrastructure approaches ii. Non-flood hazard mitigation projects and non-acquisition/ elevation/mitigation reconstruction flood mitigation activities iii. Acquisition, elevation and mitigation reconstruction projects iv. Generators for critical facilities 5th priority: Planning activities from applicants that have HMGP planning funds available 6th priority: Projects from applicants that have HMGP project funds available: I. CRMA projects and pre- or post-wildfire mitigation activities or any mitigation action that utilizes green infrastructure approaches ii. Non-flood hazard mitigation projects and non-acquisition/ elevation/mitigation reconstruction flood mitigation activities iii. Acquisition, elevation and mitigation reconstruction projects iv. Generators for critical facilities These are cost-reimbursement programs, 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 of funds advanced) to enable projects to move forward when local funds are not available. As of this writing, it does not appear that there will be any applications forthcoming for the Pre- Disaster Mitigation Program. However, two County residents have expressed interest in utilizing the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program to address flooding problems at their residences. Because of how the program is set up, they must submit their information to the County which must then be sent to the State which will forward them to FEMA. If the projects are selected, the County will need to enter into an agreement FDEM to utilize the funds as well as an agreement with each property owner that clarifies the County's and the property owners' responsibilities and obligations. The application must be submitted no later than May 3, 2016 through the eGrants system. While staff is working with the property owners on the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program application, due to the extremely 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 an agreement prior to the release of any funds and again, the County will need to enter into agreements with the property owners as referenced above. These agreements will be submitted for full coordinated review prior to being placed on the Board of County Commissioner's agenda for execution. OPTIONS: Authorize or not authorize staff to submit an application to the Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance programs. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the submittal of an application to the FY 2016 Flood Mitigation Assistance and/or Pre- Disaster Mitigation programs, and authorize the Growth Management Department to continue to work with the interested citizens in developing the applications, authorize coordinated review of the completed applications prior to submittal, authorize the Chairman to sign the application(s), and authorize the office of Contracts and Grants to electronically submit the application as approved through coordinated review. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator