TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Grant Application to the Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Voluntary Home Buyout Program in the Amount of $954,000 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.
Recommended Action
Approve the grant application to the Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Voluntary Home Buyout Program in the amount of $954,000 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.
Background Information
The Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Voluntary Buyout Program, supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, is designed to assist homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Myakkahatchee Creek. Sarasota County has allocated $6.46 million to fund the voluntary acquisition of properties within high-risk zones. The program aims to reduce disaster risks, enhance community resilience, and provide homeowners an opportunity to relocate from areas vulnerable to future flooding. Eligible properties must be owner-occupied at the time of Hurricane Ian, located within a designated disaster area or a repetitive loss area, and must meet specific criteria for low-to-moderate-income thresholds.
Properties acquired through this program will become public land and are subject to strict land use restrictions. They must be maintained in perpetuity as open space, recreational areas, or for floodplain management purposes. This ensures the land serves the broader community by contributing to long-term disaster risk reduction.
The deadline for applications was April 30, 2025, and public entities, such as the City, are responsible for submitting applications on behalf of interested homeowners. Five City of North Port homeowners showed interest in the program. Of the five, two were eligible and verbally agreed to particpate in the Resilient SRQ Program. The City submitted an application for the two properties, 3976 Sensation Street and 5970 Banana Avenue. Both are identified as tier II properties along the Myakkahatchee Creek. The total estimated cost of the project is $954,000 which includes costs for legal fees, fair market purchase price, building demolition and basic site restoration.
If awarded, the contract for the Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Voluntary Home Buyout Program funding will be reviewed by the Interim City Attorney to ensure it is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan
Good Governance
Environmental Resiliency & Sustainability
Financial Impact
Potential award of $954,000. Matching funds are not required.
Procurement
City of North Port, Florida, Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed when the purchase is made.
Attachments:
1. Grant Application & Attachments
Prepared by: Valerie Malingowski, Grant Division Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager