Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate the 2018 National Coastal Resilience Fund Grant Awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
In May 2018, The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) established the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF). The primary goal of this fund is restoring and enhancing natural resource infrastructure to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to storms, floods and other detrimental natural events.
The James River Association (JRA) contacted City of Hampton (City) staff to determine the City’s interest in partnering with JRA, Wetlands Watch and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on an application for a grant through the NCRF. The application was submitted to NFWF with JRA as the grantee and the City as sub grantee. A grant award of $1,512,536.29 was received for the Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater project (Pochin Project) and a Living Shoreline Collaborative (LSC). The local match includes $230,000 for City staff time towards participation in three LSC Summits, team meetings, project management and review of implementation projects, along with up to $500,000 for project construction costs. There is currently $953,127.70 from the NCRF grant for the Pochin Project. The grant also recognizes the City as a leader in resilience.
Discussion:
The Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater project was fully funded as part of the FY2016 and FY2017 Council Approved Capital Improvement Plan. The lowest bid received for the project was $479,975, significantly lower than the estimated cost. With $473,152.70 remaining in grant funds, City staff contacted JRA to identify an additional project within the City. The King Street Wetland project was determined to satisfy the criteria in the grant and JRA obtained NFWF’s approval to use the balance of the grant towards this project. The lowest bid for this project was $750,244.29 and the project was fully funded as part of the FY2018 and FY2019 Council Approved Capital Improvement Plan.
Impact:
This grant award provides funding for the Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater Basin and King Street Wetland projects. This will allow the re-appropriation of previously committed funds to other projects that help meet the City commitment to reducing pollution flows into theChesapeake Bay such as Hampton Roads Center North Basin, or support for the Resilient Hampton initiative.
Recommendation:
Approve Resolution
Body
WHEREAS, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded the 2018 National Coastal Resilience Fund Grant to the City of Hampton, as a sub-grantee, through the James River Association, as grantee, in the amount of $953,127.70;
WHEREAS, the grant award requires an in-kind match of $230,000 for staff participation in three Living Shoreline Collaborative Summits along with up to $500,000 for project construction costs funded from previously approved Capital Budgets; and
WHEREAS, the funds from the NFWF Grant award and required match available to Public Works Stormwater Engineering for the construction of the Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater Basin and King Street Wetland projects total up to $1,683,127.70.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget to (1) accept and appropriate the National Coastal Resilience Fund Grant award in the amount $953,127.70, and any supplement funding, from the NFWF to the City’s Grant Fund; and (2) approve the required local match of up to $730,000 which will be covered with both an in-kind contribution and with cash from previously approved Capital Budgets for the construction of the Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater Basin and King Street Wetland projects in accordance with the grant agreement.
|
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager, or her authorized designee, is hereby authorized to take any and all actions necessary to implement this grant award, subject to approval by the City Attorney. |