City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 8, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ADRIANA CASTAÑEDA, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund Program to implement the Phase 2 Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run Inlet Replacement project. [ROLL-CALL VOTE].
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ISSUE: Staff is requesting City Council approval to submit a 50/50 matching grant application to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) of up to $1,173,000 to fund the Phase 2 Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run Inlet Replacement project estimated at $2,346,000 to help mitigate flooding issues in Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the attached Resolution to support the Round 5 Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) grant application; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to submit this Resolution and enter into any agreements that may be required to receive these funds should the requested allocation be approved.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), was established to provide support for regions and localities across Virginia to reduce the impacts of flooding, including flooding driven by Climate Change. The 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. The CFPF empowers communities to complete vulnerability assessments and develop and implement action-oriented approaches to bolster flood preparedness and resilience. The grant solicitation window initially closed November 9, 2024, but was extended to January 24, 2025, due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
DISCUSSION: The City’s Flood Action Alexandria program includes capital infrastructure projects and operating programs to help mitigate the impacts of flooding in the community.
The Phase 2 Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run Inlet Replacement project will include the design and construction of approximately 120 inlets which have been prioritized through previous work. The inlets will be either rebuilt or replaced to help mitigate flooding in Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run watersheds. Improving inlet capacity allows for more surface runoff to enter the pipe system -- which has adequate capacity -- and helps move more stormwater out of neighborhoods more quickly during flood events, thereby helping to mitigate flooding. The project will also consider the incorporation of natural-based solutions such as Green Infrastructure, when feasible.
FISCAL IMPACT: If approved by DCR, the grant would cover 50%, or up to $1,173,000 of the estimated $2,346,000 total project cost, with the remainder of the project funded through FY 2025 CIP funds. To date, the City has received over $6.4 million in CFPF grants. This includes grant funding to accelerate portions of the Edison and Dale Large Capacity Project that is slated to receive CIP funding in FY 2026 of the 10-Year Stormwater Utility Plan, funding Green Infrastructure design for the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Large Capacity Project, developing a formal Inlet Program, funding for the Waterfront Project, and developing a Flood Resilience Plan.
Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) is working with the Department of Project Implementation (DPI) to submit application materials by January 24, 2025. If Council does not approve this project for grant funding, this project would be wholly funded out of the City’s Storm Sewer System Spot Improvements program using FY 2025 and FY 2026 funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director, OMB
Arthur Wicks, Capital Improvement Program Manager, OMB
Alicia Wright, Assistant Director, T&ES
William J. Skrabak, Deputy Director, Environmental Services, T&ES
Jesse E. Maines, Division Chief, Stormwater Management, T&ES