Title
Consider and take action on a resolution amending the General Land Office (GLO) Contract No. 20-066-049-C772 Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Local Buyout and Acquisition Harvey Program to decrease the scope from acquiring fifteen properties through the Voluntary Buyout Program to acquiring one property, and de-obligating 70 percent of the original funding as required by the General Land Office (Director of Planning)
Background:
Approval of this item will deobligate 70% of the funding for the CDBG-DR voluntary buy-out program. Consideration by the City Council is required to consider a scope and budget change to the project known as League City Voluntary Buy Out Program per the City’s adopted Citizen Participation Plan.
In accordance with Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-56), enacted on September 8, 2017, to facilitate disaster recovery, restoration, and economic revitalization, federal funds through the Texas General Land Office (GLO) were allocated to areas affected by the Texas Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332). Approximately $240 million of recovery funds were allocated to the Harris-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), and based on the city’s estimated population, $6,987,717.00 was allocated to the City of League City on February 9, 2018. An agreement was executed with the GLO on March 26, 2021, to perform, or cause to be performed, the local Buyout and/or Acquisition Activities defined in Attachment A (the “Project”).
Staff executed the required Housing Guidelines for the Buyout Program on October 16, 2021, and received GLO approval February 24, 2022. Upon approval of the Housing Guidelines, staff executed a contract with MPACT Strategic Consulting, LLC on May 16, 2022, to provide Environmental Services, conduct outreach to affected areas, and application review and processing. The City conducted extensive outreach to those areas that were eligible to the program. Outreach activities included mailed flyers, posted notices, and door-to-door campaigns. The outreach efforts yielded submissions from eight applicants. Of the eight applicants, only one provided all documentation that met HUD criteria to be considered for the buyout program.
The one complete application was submitted to the GLO for final approval on July 26, 2023, and received approval on January 19, 2024. Upon approval from the GLO, staff and MPACT proceeded with executing the environmental services and appraisal of the property. On November 15, 2023, staff submitted a request to extend the deadline for Contract No. 20-066-049-C772 from April 1, 2024, to October 1, 2024. The GLO approved a partial extension of the deadline to June 30, 2024. On March 4, 2024, staff submitted another request to extend the deadline from June 30, 2024, to May 30, 2025, to complete the project. In response to the second time extension request the GLO has requested the City to amend Contract No. 20-066-049-C772 to decrease the scope from acquiring fifteen (15) properties through the Voluntary Buyout Program to acquiring one property, and to de-obligate 70-percent of the funds, or $4,891,402.00 of the original $6,987,717.90.
The proposed resolution will amend Contract No. 20-066-049-C772 in accordance with the request made by the GLO, and to decrease the scope from acquiring fifteen (15) properties through the Voluntary Buyout Program to acquiring one property, and to de-obligate 70-percent of the funds.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Notice of Amendment to GLO Contract No 20-066-049-C772
3. Attachment A
4. Revised Attachment A
CONTRACT ORIGINATION:
FUNDING
{X} All costs associated with the Voluntary Buyout Program are reimbursed by grant funding from fund 2127.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X} Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor #1: Develop and Maintain our Infrastructure