Item Number: 19
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: December 17, 2024
Submitted By:
Jenele Davidson, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-086, authorizing the City Manager or his/her designee to apply for, accept, and execute all documents deemed necessary to facilitate receipt of grant funding for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. If the City is successful in securing grant funding, staff will bring a subsequent item before the City Council to appropriate grant funds.
Additionally, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program requires a 25 percent non-federal match. As the City is requesting $164,325.00, this would require a match of $54,775.00 from non-federal funds if the City is successful in securing the full amount of funding requested. As this project is expected to be initiated next fiscal year, related expenditures will be included with the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This grant opportunity aligns with Goal A – Financial Stability and Goal B – Public Safety. •Goal A (Financial Stability) – The grant will provide reimbursement for Hazard Mitigation planning activities and ensure the City is eligible to receive additional funding for future disaster assistance funding through the State and Federal government.
•Goal B (Public Safety) – The grant provides funding for communities to implement mitigation activities that reduce risk to life, property and infrastructure from natural hazards.
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Background:
Hazard Mitigation Plans are developed before a disaster occurs to identify potential hazards that may impact the community. Hazard Mitigation Plans assess community risks and vulnerabilities and identify policies, actions and tools for long-term implementation to reduce risk and potential for future losses. Developing and maintaining a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan allows the City of Victorville to be eligible to receive Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding, including:
•Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
•Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
•Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) •Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program
•Other federal disaster-related funding, such as Safeguarding Tomorrow Through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act Funds
The City of Victorville’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan was last updated in 2022. The City engaged a consultant at that time and established a planning team comprised various City department personnel. The City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan must be updated and approved by FEMA every 5 years to maintain eligibility to receive Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding. The City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan will be expiring in March 2027.
Discussion:
Hazard Mitigation funding supports the development of hazard mitigation plans and the implementation of mitigation activities that reduce risk to life, property and infrastructure.
This grant provides the opportunity for the City to update its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and ensure compliance with new policy changes which place greater emphasis on stakeholder participation and community engagement and greater focus on how hazards affect community assets, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), people, and a greater range of solutions for mitigation actions.
Grant funding is available for costs related to the plan update through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Up to $220,000 is available for single-jurisdiction plan updates and eligible costs include engagement of a consultant and staff time required to update our plan and meet new guidelines. Because the plan must be approved by FEMA, the support of a consultant through this process with expertise in FEMA’s Mitigation Planning requirements will help ensure the City follows FEMA regulations at the time of the plan update.
This FEMA grant program is funded through the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, DR-4758 and DR-4769. For California, the grant is administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). City staff have worked with technical consultants made available through the program to prepare and preliminarily submit the required subapplication (Attachment B). In order to finalize the subapplication, 3 8
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the City must submit a Match Commitment Letter (Attachment C) and commit to meeting the non-federal share of matching funding required. As the City is requesting $164,325.00, the 25 percent match would amount to $54,775.00 from a future fiscal budget if the City is awarded the full amount requested.
Per Victorville Municipal Code 2.28.060(e)(3)(10), the City Manager is only authorized to enter and execute grant applications, grant agreements, or grant acceptances that may result in revenue of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars or less per fiscal year. The total potential revenue available to the City through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program exceeds the City Manager’s authority.
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-086, authorizing the City Manager or his/her designee to apply for, accept, and execute all necessary documents to facilitate receipt of grant funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Staff is available for any questions the City Council may have.
Attachments: A. Resolution No. 24-086
B. HMGP Subapplication
C. Match Commitment Letter