PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution; acceptance of a grant award for funding of the development of a Drainage Area Master Plan utilizing a Texas Water Development Board, Flood Infrastructure Fund grant for Program Year 2020; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant.
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DEPARTMENT: Finance
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The New Braunfels City Council strategic priorities include using a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs. Therefore, upon receipt of City Council’s approval in October 2020, staff submitted a grant application on behalf of the City’s Public Works department to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for Program Year 2020 for the development of a Drainage Area Master Plan (DAMP) for the City. In July 2021, the City received official notification that its funding request had been approved by the granting agency.
The intent of the new Drainage Area Master Plan is to support a multiphase drainage program for the city, incorporating floodplain management, flood protections and mitigation, along with stormwater and watershed management. This includes reviewing and researching drainage needs locally and regionally and building partnerships with the community and governing entities to support the plan’s approach. The program will include consideration for regional flood protection, localized flooding concerns, floodplain ordinance improvements exceeding FEMA and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum standards, aligning current regulations with new precipitation data, updating floodplain standards and floodplain mapping for the City, and improving floodplain awareness through education outreach efforts. The new DAMP will function as a framework that supports an evolving multiphase drainage program for the City which will be sustained by updating maps, maintaining work that has been completed, and developing and completing new projects.
During the initial phase, the City coordinated with all regional jurisdictions that may be affected as the program develops including Comal County, Guadalupe County, City of Seguin, and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), all of which expressed support of the program plan and provided any necessary data for the development. It is possible that future projects may extend outside of the City’s jurisdictional boundaries and require coordination with other agencies; therefore project-specific MOUs will be established in accordance with the scope of work for each affected agency as needed.
A preliminary portion of the project has been completed after obtaining funds through the annual budget process; future funding to support the drainage program will be obtained via the annual City budget process, and alternate funding sources such as additional grant opportunities if needed.
The TWDB 2020 Flood Infrastructure Fund grant award is for a total amount of $1,106,781, of which the granting agency will reimburse eligible costs for up to $777,143, with a City match amount not to exceed $329,638. The project is anticipated to take approximately three years. In FY 2022, matching funds of $110,000 were included in the proposed budget. The remaining matching requirement will be determined during the FY 2023 budget development process.
All work will be procured in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Policy and Procedures and will comply with all requirements set forth by the granting agency, and all local, state and federal laws.
Staff is requesting City Council approval of a resolution, as required by the granting agency during the award process, that will authorize our City Manager to act as the authorized official on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant. The designated authorized official is given the power to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the applicant agency.
ISSUE:
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT:
The initial cost of the project, in the amount of $70,590, has been completed by the City and paid for utilizing funds provided in the FY 2020 Adopted Budget. The matching requirement for the above-referenced, multi-year grant will not exceed $329,638. $110,000 has been included in the FY 2022 Proposed Budget to support the match for the upcoming fiscal year, and future annual budgets will incorporate the appropriate match for work scheduled to be completed that budget year. A potential funding source includes available proceeds from the City’s 2013 Bond Program, Proposition 2 funds for Drainage and Flood Control Improvements.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution; acceptance of a grant award for funding of the development of a Drainage Area Master Plan utilizing a Texas Water Development Board, Flood Infrastructure Fund grant for Program Year 2020; and authorization for the City Manager to act on behalf of the City in all matters related to this grant.