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| Information |
| TITLE: |
| Consideration and Approval of Grant Agreement: Grant Agreement in the amount of $1,482,899.60 between the City of Flagstaff and the Arizona Department Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Award for Museum Post-Fire Flood Mitigation Property Acquisition (EMF-2023-PD-0002). |
| STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: |
- Approve the Grant Agreement with DEMA for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Award for Museum Post-Fire Flood Mitigation Property Acquisition (EMF-2023-PD-0002) for $1,482,899.60 (67% Federal Share), with a minimum $717,100.00 (33% Non-Federal Share) match requirement; and
- Direct the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
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| Executive Summary: |
| This accepts the grant agreement with DEMA for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Award for Museum Post-Fire Flood Mitigation Property Acquisition (EMF-2023-PD-0002) for a total award amount of $2,199,999.60 with an grant amount of $1,482,899.60 (67% Federal Share), with a minimum $717,100.00 (33% Non-Federal Share) match requirement. |
| Financial Impact: |
The Grant Agreement is for a Museum Post-Fire Flood Mitigation Property Acquisition (EMF-2023-PD-0002) for a total award amount of $2,199,999.60 with a grant amount of $1,482,899.60 (67% Federal Share), with a minimum $717,100.00 (33% Non-Federal Share) match requirement.
All Proposition 441 Spruce Wash projects are budgeted in the City of Flagstaff GO bond capital project fund which is funded through the secondary property tax authorized, approved by voters in 2022 for $26 million of flood relief in the Spruce Wash watershed associated with the 2019 Museum Fire. The grant was not budgeted as part of the FY2023-24 budget. |
| Policy Impact: |
| This accepts the DEMA Grant Agreement which will provide property acquisition funds to provide mitigation for flooding, restore the hydraulic capacity to the natural environment to the maximum extent practical, and reduce threats to life and property. A secondary benefit may be the expansion of Ponderosa Park if the highest priority land parcels are available for voluntary purchase using this grant. |
| Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan: |
Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
- High Performing Governance - Enhance the organization's fiscal stability & increase efficiency & effectiveness
- Environmental Stewardship - Promote, protect & enhance a healthy sustainable environment & its natural resources
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| Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This: |
| No. |
| Options and Alternatives: |
- Accept the Grant Agreement which will provide funding to complete the purchase of needed land in the Sunnyside neighborhood for flood mitigation; or
- Not accept the Grant Agreement and the DEMA funds will be returned. Alternative sources of income will be needed for necessary property acquisitions in the Spruce Wash corridor.
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| Background/History: |
Beginning on July 2019, the Museum Fire severely burned approximately 2000 acres of ponderosa pine, grass and brush in an area north of Flagstaff, which negatively impacted soil structure and water retention within the designated Flagstaff area watershed footprint. The resulting burn scar created a severe post-fire flooding environment and risk potential to the community.
The expected post-fire flood potential has increased by three orders of magnitude with preliminary modeling indicating near 1200 cubic feet per second of devastating flood flows from a 2 inch rain event in 45 minutes (roughly a 4% annual exceedance storm) through portions of north Flagstaff.
Two key areas were identified for use of this grant fund, parcels near Ponderosa Park for access to the new channel and a parcel near Linda Vista for expanded flood mitigation opportunities. The priority will be acquiring the parcels near Ponderosa Park.
Funding for this project was provided by Congressional Directed Spending (i.e. "earmarks") but required a grant application and a grant funding avenue through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to DEMA to the City as a subrecipient. This awarded grant is the result of successful lobbying of Congress and substantial staff time meeting the requirements of FEMA and DEMA grant process. |
| Community Benefits and Considerations: |
| This Grant Agreement will fund $2,199,999.60 (total grant award amount) for property acquisition in the Spruce Wash corridor which will help reduce / relieve imminent threats to life and property cause by post wildfire flooding. |
| Community Involvement: |
| The community has been involved since 2019 when the Museum Fire occurred, staff hold regular community meetings, social media posts, and e-newsletters on the general topic of post-fire flooding. |
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