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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Staff Report.pdfPage 1 of 2 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: July 6, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Dave Anderson Administrative Analyst II SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit Funding Proposal to the State Community Development Block Grant Program for 2008 Disaster Recovery Initiative Funding RECOMMENDED ACTION: Open public hearing; listen to public testimony; close public hearing; and adopt resolution authorizing submittal of an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2008 Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) allocation of the State CDBG Program. BACKGROUND: At the June 15, 2011 City Council meeting, staff was authorized to prepare a funding proposal for the 2008 DRI Program. This program was developed in response to the presidentially declared 2008 California wildfires. Local governments in the counties impacted by the 2008 wildfires can apply for DRI funds for housing rehabilitation, public facilities, public improvements, public services, or hazard mitigation planning activities. Those not directly impacted by the wildfires, including Saratoga, can only apply for DRI funds for hazard mitigation planning activities. Saratoga is eligible to apply for up to $250,000 in DRI funds. Suggested hazard mitigation planning activities include creating or updating local hazard mitigation plans or General Plan Safety Elements. Because the City’s local hazard mitigation plan has just been updated, staff recommended applying for DRI funds to update the Safety Element. The last update was made in 1987. The Safety Element update is expected to cost approximately $171,500. Grantees are allowed to use up to two percent (2%) of the total grant amount for reasonable general administrative expenses. Consequently, staff is proposing to apply for $175,000 in DRI funds. If DRI funds are received, a request for proposals would be issued for knowledgeable consultants to: - Develop and or update maps pertaining to earthquakes, flooding, fire hazards, and geological hazards; - Incorporate the most up-to-date maps; - Reference the City’s updated Emergency Preparedness Plan; Page 2 of 2 - Incorporate as an annex the recently completed update to the federally mandated plan for disaster mitigation planning; - Undertake any environmental study requirements pertinent to the update; and - Any related work that would technically update the Safety Element. The DRI Program does not require matching funds and funding is awarded using a non- competitive over-the-counter application process. Funds are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis. FISCAL IMPACTS: If DRI funding is awarded, some staff time will be required in order to perform general administrative functions, such as grant management, coordination, evaluation and reporting. Grantees are allowed to use up to two percent (2%) of the total grant amount for reasonable general administrative expenses. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: The City will not submit an application for DRI funding to update the City’s Safety Element. ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S): N/A FOLLOW UP ACTION(S): Submit DRI funding proposal and execute grant agreement if DRI funds are allocated to the City. ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, this item was properly posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s web site in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting. A public notice for this item was also included in the Saratoga News on June 21, 2011. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: Resolution authorizing submittal of an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2008 DRI allocation of the State CDBG Program