Subject:
Title
Request for “Release of Funds and Certification” from the State of Florida Department of Commerce, as part of the Community Development Block Grant requirements, for Joe's Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the “Request for Release of Funds and Certification” (Form) from the State of Florida Department of Commerce, as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) requirements, for Joe's Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project (Project).
• County was awarded $17,120,395.00 in CDBG Mitigation funding for the Project on December 1, 2022.
• The Form is used when requesting release of funds, and requesting authority to use funds, for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs that provide for assumption of environmental review responsibility by units of general local government and states.
• Grant required completion of Environmental Assessment, which is attached to this staff report and was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on July 21, 2026.
• Upon completion of Environmental Assessment, County issued Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds and Certification on July 26, 2026, in the Tampa Bay Times. No comments were received; thus, release of funds can be requested.
• This Request for Release of Funds and Certification has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County. Funding for Joe's Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project is available in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, in the Capital Projects Fund.
Department of Economic Opportunity Agreement No. MT132 in the amount of $17,120,395.00; PID 04116A; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.3 Increase access to green space.
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
1.6 Ensure sustainable water management.
Healthy and Safe Community
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Summary:
Summary
The Release of Funds and Certification Form is used by Responsible Entities and Recipients, as defined in 24 CFR 58.2, when requesting the release of funds, and
requesting the authority to use such funds, for HUD programs identified by statutes that provide for the assumption of the environmental review responsibility by units of general local government and States.
The overall objectives of the Request for Release of Funds and Certification are:
1. Request for release of funds and requesting the authority to use such funds.
2. Environmental Certification, as described in the request form.
The Grant requires completion of an Environmental Assessment. Assessment used to determine if the Project would have a significant impact on the human environment. The Assessment determined no significant impact to the quality of the human environment. In addition, the Assessment accomplished the following:
1. Ensure compliance with Statutes, Executive Orders and Regulations covering airport hazards, coastal barrier resources, flood insurance, clean air, coastal zone management, contamination and toxic substances, endangered species, explosive and flammable hazards, farmlands protection, floodplain management, historic preservation, noise abatement and control, safe source aquifers, wetlands protection, wild and scenic rivers, environmental justice.
2. Identify impacts to land development, socioeconomic, community facilities and natural features for the Joe’s Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project County PID 04116A.
The Project will improve floodplain capacity and water quality while offering recreational opportunities and increasing resilience to flooding impacts for low to moderate-income residents.
Body
Background Information:
The County entered into an Agreement (MT132) with State of Florida, Department of Commerce for a grant funding award of $17,120,395.00 on December 1, 2022. The Joe’s Creek watershed is a 9,256-acre drainage basin located in the south-central portion of the County. The watershed receives a large amount of untreated stormwater runoff that has caused the Creek to be impaired for nutrients, biologic indicators, and fecal coliform.
The Project area consists of commercial, industrial and residential areas that experience localized flooding, including the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area. The Project will provide green and grey infrastructure improvements that will mitigate flooding and improve water quality. A greenway trail will also be provided. The Trail will improve transportation connectivity as well as offer recreational and aesthetic amenities to the community.
The Project is phased into three (3) deliverables including implementation, engineering and design, and construction. Engineering design is on-going and scheduled to be completed by Summer 2027. Construction is scheduled to begin Fall 2027 and end Winter 2029.
Fiscal Impact:
This Request for Release of Funds and Certification has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County. This action fulfills a Community Development Block Grant Mitigation requirement necessary to allow the County to request reimbursement of eligible Project expenditures.
Funding for Joe's Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail (004116A) is available in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, in the Capital Projects Fund, funded by Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas) and grants with Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and Florida Department of Commerce (FDC).
The County match is $33,832,422.00, funded by Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas) and State grant funds.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
SFDC
Attachments:
Request for Release of Funds and Certification
Executed Environmental Assessment Determinations and Compliance Findings
Location Map