Subject:
Title
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management for the design of McKay Creek Operable Lake Controls and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Project.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) for the design of McKay Creek Operable Lake Controls and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Project.
• Grant funding provided by Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ian (DR-4673).
• New flood gates and weir to be designed for installation at Taylor Lake and Walsingham Reservoir in McKay Creek Watershed.
• Federal award to County for Phase I (design) is $313,404.36 and County match required is $145,211.41.
• Phase II funding (construction) is contingent on FDEM approval.
• Funding for agreement deliverables and required match is available under McKay Creek Operable Lake Controls and SCADA project (004134A), included in the Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Capital Project Fund with Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas).
PID No. 004134A; FDEM Agreement No H1322; FDEM Project No. 4673-249-P; Grant agreement total $458,615.77; Grant funding is $313,404.36 with a local match of $145,211.41.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
Grant funding is provided by the Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ian (DR-4673). Federal award to the County for Phase I (design) is $313,404.36 and the County match required is $145,211.41. Grant Agreement provides funding assistance for design of the proposed flood mitigation project to implement lake level SCADA controls at Taylor Lake and Walsingham Reservoir, which are part of the McKay Creek watershed. The subject drainage improvement project is a watershed-wide benefit to temporarily lower lake levels of both major waterbodies during select times of the rainy season and before a hurricane/major rainfall event.
The lowered tail water condition and additional flood-storage volume in the lakes will significantly increase the available flood water storage and conveyance capacity, thus reducing flooding in the McKay Creek watershed. According to the preliminary engineering report from 2025, the project is projected to remove approximately one hundred five (105) buildings from the 100-year 24-hour floodplain.
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Background Information:
The County was allocated $6,300,000.00 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding from the Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ian (FEMA-4673-DR-FL). The grant process is directed through the County’s Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Committee. Projects are ranked and selected by LMS prior to beginning the grant application process. The application for the McKay Creek SCADA project was submitted in August 2023. The subject award to the County for Phase I (design) is a result of that grant application. Phase II funding (construction) is contingent on FDEM approval.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for agreement deliverables and required match is available under McKay Creek Operable Lake Controls and SCADA project (004134A), included in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Capital Project Fund with Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas). Grant funding for the design phase is $313,404.36 with a local match required of $145,211.41.
The FDEM funding will be provided to the County on a reimbursement basis and will offset Penny for Pinellas funding.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
FEMA
FDEM
LMS
Attachments:
Agreement
Project Location Map