TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for Fire Station 84 Hardening in the Estimated Amount of $1.5 Million and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City of North Port.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Application to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for Fire Station 84 Hardening in the estimated amount of $1.5 million and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the Grant be awarded to the City of North Port, allowing for the project, if partially funded by the Grant, to proceed on schedule.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Application to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for Fire Station 84 Hardening in the estimated amount of $1.5 million and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the Grant be awarded to the City of North Port, allowing for the project, if partially funded by the Grant, to proceed on schedule.
• Pros: Provides grant funds covering approximately 75% of the cost of hardening Fire Station 84 to withstand 170 mph winds, ensuring that it can function fully during a hazardous storm emergency.
• Cons: Requires a 25% match.
Option 2: Deny the Application to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for Fire Station 84 Hardening in the estimated amount of $1.5 million and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the Grant be awarded to the City of North Port, allowing for the project, if partially funded by the Grant, to proceed on schedule.
• Pros: Saves the City the cost of the match.
• Cons: Would require the City to fully fund the cost of the hardening or abandon the project, thereby leaving the station vulnerable to storm events and risking the safety of citizens.
Background Information
The FDEM manages the FEMA HMGP for the State of Florida. The Grant provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce future disaster losses. Hazard mitigation means any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from future disasters. Mitigation planning breaks the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Hazard mitigation includes long-term solutions that reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Fire Station 84 serves an estimated 28,000 citizens in the City and is a critical City facility. It was built to withstand 130-156 mph winds. This level of resiliency proved insufficient during Hurricane Ian, when the structure received substantial damage, thus hazarding personnel and hampering the City’s emergency response capability.
The proposed project will provide protection from high winds and associated debris up to 170 mph. Protecting the building envelope will prevent damage to the structure, its contents, and prevent displacement and loss-of-productivity costs. The application is for replacement of the roof system and other related modifications including doors and windows in order to bring the structure up to current Florida Building Code.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Infrastructure and Facilities
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The estimated potential award of $1.5 million from FDEM. The grant will also cover grant management costs estimated at $75,000. The City would be responsible for a 25% match estimated at $487,137. If the grant is awarded, $243,750 in matching funds will come from both 001-0760-519.62-00 and 323-2222-522.62-00. The CIP Project number is FM2584, Fire Station 84 Roof Replacement and Hardening.
Procurement
If awarded, the City’s Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed when the purchases are made.
Attachments:
1. HMGP Fire Station 84 Hardening Application and Attachments
Prepared by: Michael J. Davey, PhD, Grants Coordinator
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager