TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kristoff Bauer, ICMA-CM-Deputy City Manager
FROM: Rob Stone, P.E. Director of Engineering and Infrastructure
Tracey Broyles, Budget and Evaluation Director
DATE: June 26, 2017
RE:
Title
Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance 2017-56 to Appropriate a Grant Award from the Golden LEAF Foundation for the Spruce Street Drainage Project; and, Adoption of Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2017-10 to Appropriate a Grant Award from the Golden LEAF Foundation for Debris Removal in Multiple Creeks
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
Districts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe and secure community
Goal 3: High quality built environment
Goal 4: Desirable place to live work and recreate
Executive Summary:
On June 7, 2017, the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded the City two grants, totaling $1,866,871.50, for Hurricane Matthew recovery projects. The first grant provides $873,871.50 to replace the undersized storm drainage infrastructure at Spruce Street. The second grant provides $993,000 for removal and disposal of trees and debris from multiple creeks.
Capital Project Ordinance (CPO) 2017-56 will appropriate the $873,872 of grant funding for the Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project. Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance (SRO) 2017-10 will appropriate the $993,000 of grant funding for the Multiple Creek Tree Debris Removal project.
Background:
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2016 (S.L. 2016-124) provided funds to the Golden LEAF Foundation to provide grants to local governments for repair, replacement, or construction of new infrastructure (including water, sewer, sidewalks and storm drainage) and other, similar projects that provide assistance for recovery from Hurricane Matthew, the western wildfires, or Tropical Storms Julia and Hermine.
Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project:
The stormwater system in the Forest Hills neighborhood was overcharged by high water during Hurricane Matthew, causing streets to be overtopped, erosion, a large sinkhole, damage to the existing stormwater infrastructure, and flooding of homes in low-lying lots. As this area had already been identified as having drainage problems, the City had a design ready for the drainage system improvements. The Golden LEAF Foundation grant program provided an opportunity for the City to secure grant funds to assist with this project.
Multiple Creek Tree Debris Removal:
Hurricane Matthew’s flooding caused many trees to uproot and fall into creeks around the City. Allowing the downed trees and other debris to remain in the creek beds would cause a damming effect, leading to the collection of additional debris and an increased risk of recurring flooding. The Golden LEAF Foundation grant provides funding to remove and dispose of the storm debris from Blounts Creek, Branson Creek, Hybarts Branch, and Buckhead Creek.
Issues/Analysis:
Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project:
Award of the Golden LEAF grant will allow previously appropriated funding for the Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project to be applied to other much needed stormwater improvement projects within the City. Local stormwater funds will also be required to fund any unanticipated costs for the Spruce Street project.
Multiple Creek Tree Debris Removal:
Award of the Golden LEAF grant will allow the City to conduct creek cleaning which would otherwise have been unfunded.
Budget Impact:
There is no impact to the General Fund as there is no local match requirement for either grant award. The award for the Spruce Street Storm Drainage project will make previously appropriated project funds available to be applied to other stormwater improvement projects.
Options:
1) Adopt Capital Project Ordinance 2017-56 and Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2017-10 as presented to appropriate the grant awards.
2) Do not adopt Capital Project Ordinance 2017-56 or Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2017-10 and provide further direction to staff.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council move to adopt Capital Project Ordinance 2017-56 for the Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project and Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2017-10 for the Multiple Creek Tree and Debris Removal as presented.
Attachments:
• Capital Project Ordinance 2017-56 (Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project)
• Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2017-10 (Multiple Creek Tree and Debris Removal Project)
• Golden LEAF Foundation Grant Award for Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project
• Golden LEAF Foundation Grant Award for Multiple Creek Tree and Debris Removal Project
• Golden LEAF Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project Description
• Golden LEAF Multiple Creek Tree and Debris Removal Project Description
• Golden LEAF Agreement for Spruce Street Storm Drainage Project
• Golden LEAF Agreement for Multiple Creek Tree and Debris Removal Project