Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate a Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Program Grant Awarded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for the Mill Point Living Shoreline Project
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly created and set forth specific parameters for the administration of the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (“SLAF” or the “Fund”). The purpose of the Fund is to provide matching grants to local governments for the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater best management practices that address cost efficiency and commitments related to reducing water quality pollutant loads. In accordance with that legislation, the State Water Control Board (the “Board”) approved Guidelines for the implementation of the SLAF program, which were last updated in 2022.
The City of Hampton (the “City”), through its Community Development Department, applied to the SLAF program in 2022 for the Mill Point Living Shoreline Project (the “Project”). A grant of $1,575,017.00 was awarded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (the “DEQ”) and has subsequently been received for the Project (the “Grant”). A local match from the City was required in the amount $525,006.00. The total estimated cost of the Project is approximately $4,165,200. The remaining cost of the Project will be paid from funds from the 2019 Stormwater Management Fund - Resilient Hampton Bond Proceeds allocated in the Fiscal Year 2020 Capital Budget for Resilient Hampton Projects. The City's success in securing grants to support our Resilient Hampton initiatives has enabled us to stretch these funds to cover many more projects than initially contemplated.
The Project will consist of the transformation an existing 2,100 linear foot portion of armored shoreline along the Hampton River. The site is located along the western shore of the Hampton River from Lincoln Street to Mill Point Park. The current shoreline is lined by riprap with minimal (less than 5%) wetland marsh vegetation in the tidal zone. The area is devoid of riparian vegetation, wetland marsh, or habitat for fisheries in the Hampton River. The Project will provide riparian vegetation, wetland marsh, or habitat for fisheries for this reach of shoreline, as well as increase habitat for fisheries and improve water quality. The living shoreline project is anticipated to provide 20-30 feet of wetland marsh extended into the Hampton River using a riprap sill at the outer edge of the wetland marsh to reduce wave energy to the shoreline. The wetland marsh is also anticipated to provide additional protection to the shoreline during larger storm events.
Discussion:
The project has been identified as a priority in multiple City planning efforts, including the July 2021 Downtown Water Quality Master Plan, the September 2021 Downtown Hampton BID Implementation Strategy presented at the City Council Workshop, and most recently in the September 2023 Downtown, Phoebus, and Buckroe Water Plan as part of the Downtown Waterfront Defense strategy. It has been included in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) since FY2023.
Impact:
The implementation of this Project aligns with the strategies identified in the Resilient Hampton plan “Downtown, Phoebus, and Buckroe Water Plan.” This Project embraces Council's strategic priority of living with water by pursuing shoreline retrofit projects with multiple community benefits. The Project will also support the City’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (“TMDL”).
Recommendation:
Rec
Recommend that City Council accept and appropriate this Stormwater Local Assistance Fund grant award from the DEQ.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (the “DEQ”) has awarded a Stormwater Local Assistance Fund grant (the “Grant”) to the City of Hampton (the “City”) in the amount of $1,575,017.00 (the “Award”) to be used by the City’s Community Development Department and Public Works Department for the design and construction of the Mill Point Living Shoreline (the “Project”);
WHEREAS, the Award requires a local cash match of $525,006.00;
WHEREAS, the Award will be used by the Department of Public Works and the Community Development Department to design and construct the Mill Point Living Shoreline, which will 1) improve local water quality in the Hampton River and advance the City’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL goals, 2) increase fishery habitat, and 3) increase the resilience of the Downtown shoreline by reducing wave energy;
WHEREAS, the Award is for a performance period from November 1, 2022 to August 30, 2026;
WHEREAS, the total estimated cost of the Project is approximately $4,165,200 an amount well in excess of the Grant; and
WHEREAS, the remaining cost of the Project will be paid through the 2019 Stormwater Management Fund - Resilient Hampton Bond Proceeds allocated in the Fiscal Year 2020 Capital Budget for Resilient Hampton Projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, hereby amends the Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget to:
(1) accept and appropriate the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Stormwater Local Assistance Fund grant award in the amount $1,575,017.00 and any supplemental funding, awarded by the DEQ in accordance with the grant agreement; and
(2) approve the transfer of $525,006.00 from the Capital Budget - Resilient Hampton Projects to the Grants Fund for the Mill Point Living Shoreline Project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to implement this grant award, including execution of the relevant grant agreement upon approval by the City Attorney.