City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DAPHNE KOTT, INTERIM DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund Program to continue to fund the design and professional services for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Staff is requesting City Council approval to submit a grant application to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (“DCR”) as follows:
(1) A 50/50 matching grant application of up to $7,500,000 to fund the continued advancement of design and associated professional services estimated at $15,000,000 for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation project to help mitigate flooding issues in the core area of the City’s waterfront.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the attached Resolution directing the City Manager to authorize the development and submittal of a competitive grant application to DCR for a grant request and potential award of up to $7.5 million for the design activities cost associated with the City’s Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project (“Project”) from the Round 6 Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to enter into any agreements that may be required to receive these funds should the requested allocations be approved; and
(3) Authorize the City Manager to provide the assurances, certifications, and commitments required for the financial assistance application including executing a financial assistance agreement with DCR and Virginia Resources Authority and any amendments or changes thereto; and
(4) Authorize the City Manager to commit to fund the local share of engineering and construction costs (as applicable) for remaining planning and design costs of the Project covered under the grant award.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (“CFPF”), managed by DCR, was established to provide support for regions and localities across Virginia to reduce the impacts of flooding, including flooding driven by climate change. CFPF prioritizes projects that are in concert with local, state, and federal floodplain management standards, local resilience plans, and the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan. CFPF empowers communities to complete vulnerability assessments and develop and implement action-oriented approaches to bolster flood preparedness and resilience. DCR has organized five rounds of CFPF grant application submissions from localities and is preparing for a sixth. Staff is recommending submittal of Round 6 CFPF grant application to help defray the costs for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation project.
DISCUSSION: The City was awarded a $3.24 million grant from a prior round of CFPF that supported design through 30% design development. The next phase of design development will include advancing the design from 30% - 70% (or beyond).
FISCAL IMPACT: If awarded by DCR, the grant would reimburse 50%, or up to $7,500,000 of the estimated $15,000,000 total project cost for the 30% - 70% design phase of the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project, with the remainder of the project funded through prior year CIP funding.
The Department of Project Implementation anticipates submitting application materials by January 24, 2026. If Council does not approve this project for grant funding, this project would need to be wholly funded out of the City’s CIP and/or stormwater funds.
ATTACHMENT: 1. Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director, OMB
Arthur Wicks, Capital Improvement Program Manager, OMB
Daphne Kott, Interim Director, DPI
Matthew Landes, Division Chief, DPI