R2002-166 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF APPLICATION

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� , Aur��st 21, 2002 ENGINEERING & INFRASTRUCTURE MEMORANDUM NO. 2002 - 65 MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Steve Garman, City Manager Stephen Swanson P. E., Director of Engineering & Infrastructur SUBJECT: Hazards Mitigation Grants Program SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by City staff that the City Council approve th� attachc�� resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Application for Federal Assistance to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. BACKGROUND: The Mayor has requested that the matter of submitting an application for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program be placed on the City Council Agenda for its meeting of August 26, 2002. This matter was earlier presented to the City Council at its meeting of July 22. The City Council at that meeting voted unanimously to not approve the submission of a pre-application for participation in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The opportunity to participate in this program is the result of the federal disaster declaration for Macon County on May 21, 2002, following the flooding that took place in May of this year. The HMGP is administered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and partially funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). All HMGP projects must be sponsored by the local community as individuai homeowners and businesses may not apply directly to the program. The jurisdiction must be in good standing wr�� the N�ational Flood Insurance Program (i.e., participating community without a violation). The City is in good standing. A copy of a FEMA brochure describing this program is attached. The pre-application was submitted to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) in advance of the City Council meeting of July 22 in order to meet the submission deadline of being postmarked no later than July 19, 2002 to receive consideration. It was noted on the pre-application, on the advice of IEMA, that a copy of the SF 424 signed by the Mayor would be submitted on July 23, in anticipation of City Council approval of this matter. However, it was not approved for reasons basically relating to not committing the City to financial obligations and one of the proposed projects not representing the best use of"tax" dollars. There was subsequent to the July 22 meeting activity on this matter. The first was IEMA requesting in a letter dated August 1 to the Director of Engineering & Infrastructure that the City submit a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Application based on the potential merit of the City's pre-application. A copy of this letter is attached. In addition, Mr. Robert Stewart, one of the individuals requesting the City to sponsor an application on his benalf, contacted members of Page 1