Title
Resolution to Accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant and Appropriate Funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Demolition of Two Storage Structures at 721 North Main Street ($116,939.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve a grant agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant for 75% of the total project cost to demolish two city-owned storage structures located at 721 North Main Street. The two structures are located in the floodway of the Allen Creek overland flow. One of the two structures is a 50 ft x 116 ft (5800 sf) structure previously used by the City for road salt storage. The second structure is a 36 ft X 200.5 ft (7220 sf) storage building, formerly used for large vehicle storage. The former maintenance garage facility on the 721 N. Main Street site is located outside of the floodway (though still in the floodplain) and is not part of this grant project, and thus will remain in place.
Acceptance of the FEMA grant is contingent upon creating permanent open space by deed restricting the floodway portion of the 721 N. Main Street property (see attached map showing the floodway). This requirement is consistent with City Council Resolution 374-8-05 approved on August 15, 2005, which states that the area of the City properties at 415 West Washington and 721 North Main Street within the floodway will be included in the new Allen Creek Greenway.
In 2005, the City received a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) planning grant to create a Flood Mitigation Plan for the City. City Council approved the Flood Mitigation Plan in 2007, which made the City eligible to apply for a Hazard Mitigation Grant.
The City of Ann Arbor Flood Mitigation Plan can be found at:
Project #53 (Downtown City Owned Sites) of the City of Ann Arbor Flood Mitigation Plan discusses implementing the recommendations of two reports: Appendix A - the Floodplain Policy Discussion; and, the Greenway Task Force Recommendations. Appendix A includes the option of removing all structures from the floodplain and another to removal all structures from just the floodway. All of the options listed in the Greenway Task Force Recommendations called for the floodway being open at 721 North Main Street. The Greenway Task Force Recommendations can be found at:
There is currently a community planning effort underway for the 721 North Main Street site, which is a component of the North Main-Huron River Corridor Project. The goal of this effort is to determine the best use of this site as part of the overall vision being developed by the North Main - Huron River Vision Task Force. The recommendations provided by the Task Force's 721 North Main Technical Committee to preserve the floodway as open space are consistent with the deed restriction requirements for the Hazard Mitigation Grant.
The floodway portion of the site is already encumbered by the Allen Creek Drain, an 8.5 foot x 14 foot arched culvert under the jurisdiction of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner, and a 36" City sanitary sewer main. Additionally, the floodplain and floodway at this site are under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and development potential is severely limited.
Thus, deed restricting the floodway portion of the property is consistent with stated goals, actions, and regulations at the City, County, State and Federal levels.
Matching funds for this project have been established in the approved FY13 Capital Projects Budget, split equally between a combination of funds, including the Fleet Services (0012), Major Streets (0021) , Local Streets (0022), and Stormwater Utility (0069) Funds since those activities were involved in the past uses of the two structures. The total estimated cost of this mitigation project as well as the federal and non-federal contribution is shown below:
Total FEMA (federal) contribution: $ 87,704.00
Total City (nonfederal) contribution: $ 29,235.00
Total estimated cost of this mitigation project: $116,939.00
The Resolution requests that grant fund be appropriated when received to the Project budget; to be expendable for the life of the project regardless of fiscal year. The City's Stormwater and Floodplain Management Program Coordinator will handle grant management.
Staff
Prepared By: Jerry Hancock, Stormwater and Floodplain Programs Coordinator
Reviewed By: Craig Hupy, Public Services Administrator
Approved By: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor completed a Flood Mitigation Plan in March 2007, recommending opening up the floodway by preventing new structures and removing existing structures from the floodway to create greenways;
Whereas, The City submitted a Hazard Mitigation Grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in December 2008, and the City was notified by letter dated December 10, 2012 that FEMA has awarded the City of Ann Arbor $87,704.00 which represents 75% of the total project cost;
Whereas, The grant award is conditioned on the City's deed restriction of the floodway portion of the 721 North Main Street property as permanent open space;
Whereas, This grant advances the attainment of reduced flood losses, minimizes damage to public and private property and protection of public health and safety by removal of two large structures in the floodway;
Whereas, Funds for the City's $29,235.00 match have been established in the approved FY13 Operations and Maintenance Budget, split equally between a combination of funds, including the Fleet Services (0012), Major Streets (0021) , Local Streets (0022), and Stormwater Utility (0069) Funds as those activities were involved in the past uses of the two structures; and
Whereas, The Stormwater and Floodplain Program Coordinator will handle grant management;
RESOLVED, That the City accept the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of $87,704.00 effective March 4, 2013;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the execution of all documents necessary to create permanent open space by deed restricting the floodway portion of the 721 North Main Street property;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriate the grant funds, when received, to the Stormwater Capital Budget for expenditure during the life of the project, regardless of fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the Mayor, City Clerk and City Administrator to execute all documents necessary to complete the Grant requirements after approval as to form by the City Attorney.