Subject:
Title
Ratification of the County Administrator’s approval of the Resilient Florida grant applications with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Ratify, confirm, and enter into the minutes the approval by the County Administrator of the submission of four grant applications to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Resilient Florida grant program. Final grant applications are due to FDEP on September 15, 2023. Due to the grant submission deadline, the County Administrator’s approval was required for timely submittal of the four grant applications.
Grant requests total $51,131,100.00 in Resilient Florida funds, matched with $51,131,100.00 of County funds. Projects include:
• 98th - 100th Way Drainage Improvements:
o $3,969,600 request
o $3,969,600 match from Penny for Pinellas
o $7,939,200 total request and match.
o $8,590,600 total proposed project funding with grant award. Project remains short approximately $886,446.00 and County is pursuing additional grant funding.
• Cross Bayou Canal Drainage Improvements (Segments 1 and 2):
o $12,928,000 request
o $12,928,000 match from Penny for Pinellas
o $25,856,000 total request and match.
o $25,856,000 total proposed project funding with grant award.
• Crystal Beach Drainage and Roadway Improvements:
o $6,162,000 request
o $6,162,000 match from Penny for Pinellas.
o $12,324,000 total request and match
o $15,363,000 total proposed project funding (includes proposed CIP plan and grant award). Project remains short approximately $107,828.00 and County is pursuing additional grant funding.
• Joe’s Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project:
o $28,071,500 request
o $28,071,500 match from a combination of Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation Funds Grant, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Penny for Pinellas
o $56,143,000 total request and match
o $56,143,000 total proposed project funding with grant award
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community.
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.1 Implement green technologies and practices where practical
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources.
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in Infrastructure to meet current and future needs.
Summary:
Summary
The FDEP Resilient Florida Grant Program Applications request funding assistance for four County projects: construction phase of 98th - 100th Way Drainage Improvements, design, and construction phase of Cross Bayou Canal Drainage Improvements (Segments 1 & 2), design and construction phase of Crystal Beach Drainage & Roadway Improvements, and design and construction of the Joe’s Creek Restoration & Greenway Trail Project. The Grants will provide $51,131,100.00 in Resilient Florida funds and the County will provide $51,131,100.00 in matched funds. Initial grant funding requests for 98th-100th Way and Cross Bayou Canal projects documented in OMB Intent to Apply and Directors Memos were reduced to maximize grant scoring criteria.
Due to grants deadline submission requirement, the County Administrator authorized approval of the grant applications through Legistar Item 23-0707D. The grants application deadline was September 15, 2023, which was revised from September 1, 2023. This Board of County Commissioners action ratifies, confirms, and enters into the minutes the approval.
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Background Information:
The Resilient Florida Program Grant Program was created to enhance efforts to protect our inland areas, coastlines, and shores.
The 98th - 100th Way Project focuses on improvements to the stormwater conveyance system draining to the Pinellas Trail and ultimately Long Bayou via the St. Petersburg / Madeira Beach Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Holiday campground. The Project area experiences frequent flooding which results in property damage and creates access problems for private properties as well as public safety concerns. Flooding has persisted due to an undersized drainage system and the lack of a secondary drainage collection and conveyance system. There are several public and private assets and utility systems in the region as well that are impacted by the floods including stormwater drains, wastewater manholes, sewer lines and sanitary sewer pump stations. Addressing these issues is a goal of The Wastewater-Stormwater Partnership.
The Cross Bayou Canal Drainage (CBC) Project will provide drainage improvements which include restoration of hydraulic capacity in the canal, re-shaping and bank stabilization to improve conveyance, flood control, protection of infrastructure and buildings, as well as improvements to public safety. The CBC is a priority waterbody and major drainage conduit for the Cross Bayou Watershed. In addition to the benefits of flood control and water quality, significant long-term maintenance cost-saving will be realized for CBC. This Project will significantly reduce flooding extents along the channel and in areas upstream of CBC in the Cross Bayou Watershed. Green infrastructure design elements will also be incorporated where feasible to improve habitats and water quality.
In 2008, the County developed preliminary plans to address drainage and roadway issues in close coordination with the Crystal Beach community associations. The project was not completed due to insufficient funding at that time. Based on the current conceptual design, the base project will incorporate roadway improvements for resilient design including reducing flood risks impacting the road. As part of this project, sanitary sewer and potable water utility conditions will be assessed to consider updated resilient infrastructure design. Nature based features for water retention in the form of bioswales are proposed to mitigate local flooding. Conceptual plans include native vegetation considerations along with innovate bioswale designs to enhance long term resilience.
The Joe’s Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project includes design and construction and is within the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) and Town of Kenneth City. The County has been awarded $320,000.00 in SWFWMD funding and $17,120,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant funding for mitigation efforts to improve floodplain capacity and water quality in Joe’s Creek while offering recreational opportunities, supporting multimodal transportation, and creating improved resilience to flooding impacts for low-to-moderate income residents.
Fiscal Impact:
Project funding breakdown:
98th - 100th Way Drainage Improvements, 003899A- $3,969,600.00 request; $3,969,600.00 match; $9,477,046.00 total estimated cost of project. Anticipated project funding is $8,590,600, consisting of $3,969,600.00 of grant requested assistance from FDEP Resilient Florida and $4,621,000 funds from the FY24-FY29 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan, funded by Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas). The source of the remaining funds needed ($886,446.00) is to be determined. Additional grant funding is being pursued.
Cross Bayou Canal Drainage Improvements (Segments 1 & 2), 002124A and 002124B- $12,928,000.00 request; $12,928,000.00 match. Total Project cost of improvements for CBC Segment 1 & 2 is approximately $25,856,000.00. Anticipated project funding is $12,928,000.00 from FDEP Resilient Florida Grant and $12,928,000.00 from the FY24-FY29 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan, funded by Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas). Receipt of the requested Resilient Florida Grant would reduce Penny funding from $25,856,000.00 to $12,928,000.00.
Crystal Beach Drainage & Roadway Improvements, 003896A and Crystal Beach Utility Relocation and Replacement Associated with Drainage and Roadway Improvements, 003896B - $ 6,162,000.00 request; $6,162,000.00 match; $15,470,828.00 total estimated cost of project. Anticipated project funding is $15,363,000 Anticipated project funding comprised of requested grant funding in the amount of $6,162,000.00 from FDEP Resilient Florida Grant and Proposed FY24-FY29 CIP plan for $9,201,000. Budget of $9,201,000 is funded by Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas) for $6,162,000.00, a portion of House Bill 4505 and Senate Bill 356 legislative appropriation int the amount of $1,689,000.00, Sewer funds for $675,000 and Water funds for $675,000. The source of the remaining funds needed ($107,828.00) is to be determined. Additional grant funding is being pursued.
Joe’s Creek Restoration & Greenway Trail Project, 004116A - $28,071,500.00 request; $28,071,500.00 match; $56,143,000 total estimated cost of project. The Proposed FY24-FY29 CIP plan for Joe’s Creek is $56,143,000 and funded by a CDBG-MIT grant for $17,120,000.00, a SWFWMD grant for $320,000.00, and Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas) funding of $38,703,000. Receipt of the requested Resilient Florida Grant would reduce Penny funding to $10,631,500.00.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
FDEP
Attachments:
98th - 100th Way - Draft Grant Application
Cross Bayou Canal - Draft Grant Application
Crystal Beach - Draft Grant Application
Joe’s Creek - Draft Grant Application
Public Works Director Memos (4)
OMB Intent to Apply Emails (4)
Project Location Maps (4)