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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10168 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10168 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 26, 2018 h�T�i7 Page 1 of 2 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: FEMA FLOOD MITIGATION GRANT FOR ARLINGTON HEIGHTS #qU f f e'?5 This Informal Report is submitted to update City Council on recent developments regarding the potential for flood hazard mitigation in the Arlington Heights neighborhood via property acquisition and creation of green space. The overall goal of this initiative is to remove structures with a high flood risk and acquire enough property to construct a stormwater detention basin that will bring much needed flood mitigation to the nearby residents. Any properties ultimately acquired through this effort will be converted into well-maintained green space. The lots will also be graded in such a way as to provide as much detention and additional flood protection as is possible for nearby residences. If contiguous lots are assembled, the potential to convert the lots into park-like amenities will be explored with the community and implemented to the maximum extent possible. On September 26, 2017 (M&C C- 28410), City Council authorized staff to apply for FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance grant funding for the acquisition of up to 11 flood prone structures in the 2000 block of Western and Carleton Avenues in Arlington Heights. As authorized by the M&C, to optimize the likelihood of receiving funding based on the terms of this particular grant opportunity, staff split the application into 2 submissions. One of the submissions was for the acquisition of just the 2 homes in Arlington Heights that are classified by FEMA as "repetitive loss" structures based on their history of flood insurance claims. The second submission covered the remaining homes and included the construction of a stormwater detention basin. On May 18, 2018 the Texas Water Development Board, the agency administering this FEMA grant opportunity for the State of Texas, announced that the application for the acquisition of the 2 "repetitive loss" structures was approved by FEMA, pending completion of a review for potential impact on historic structures. The second submission was not approved by FEMA for grant funding. The review for potential impact on historic structures associated with the FEMA grant funding could take up to 8 months to complete. An M&C recommending acceptance of the grant funding will be submitted to City Council upon successful completion of this process. Once the grant funding has been accepted, staff would initiate the voluntary property acquisition process with the owners of those 2 properties. In addition to the funding from the recently approved FEMA grant, sufficient funding is available in the Stormwater Fund to pursue the purchase of the other properties that voluntarily participated in the second grant application. Staff intends to recommend programming those funds for this purpose in the upcoming update of the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. A local review for historical significance will be completed relative to all structures that would be acquired with local funding. The local historical review process is expected to be completed within 30 days. All of the above information will be communicated to the grant participants and the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association and a public meeting will be scheduled at the earliest available opportunity to explain this direction to the community, share possible concepts for ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10168 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 26, 2018 h�T�i7 Page 2 of 2 �i �i7 Y *a SUBJECT: FEMA FLOOD MITIGATION GRANT FOR ARLINGTON HEIGHTS #qtF rn ye,?5 adaptive re-use of the acquired properties, and receive the input of the community. Following the public meeting, staff would initiate the voluntary acquisition process with the owners of the properties to be pursued with local funding while awaiting the completion of the federal historical review process on the properties to be acquired with the grant funding. City Council approval will be required in order to move forward with any property acquisitions. Questions about this process can be directed to Jennifer Dyke, Sr. Planner, TPW Stormwater Management at 817-392-2714. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS