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Exh 8DAGENDA ITEM 8D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AGENDA ITEM: Request to approve projects for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Community Development Block Grant SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP, Community Development Director DATE: February 03, 2003 BACKGROUND: The City of Atlantic Beach maintains an ongoing Inter-local Agreement with the City of Jacksonville to undertake activities funded by Community Development Block Grant funds. The portion of Duval County funds allocated to the City of Atlantic Beach is approximately $150,000 annually. Funds are required to serve low and moderate-income populations within designated project areas and may be used for several categories of activities including public services, public facility and infrastructure improvements and housing rehabilitation. Fiscal Year 2003-2004 applications are soon due to be submitted to the City of Jacksonville, and staff has met to consider possible projects for the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year. As discussed during this same process last year, several infrastructure needs were identified, particularly drainage and stormwater improvements within the Dormer's area and Section H (Marsh Oaks) subdivisions. Correction of drainage problems is a priority need in these areas; however, since the updated Stormwater Master Plan had not been completed at this time last year, specific projects could not be identified or budgeted. The updated stormwater plan identified two locations within the Dormer's area where re- occurring house flooding and street closures occur. Two other locations at Francis Avenue and Simmons Road and within the Section H (Marsh Oaks) area have been identified by the Public Works Department as a persistent flooding problem. (The Francis Avenue /Simmons Road and Marsh Oaks areas were not included in the Master Plan because of their small size.) Staff recommends that the majority of CDBG funds for the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year be used for several smaller drainage projects within the these area. Based upon recommendations from the Stormwater Master Plan, the most immediate projects -and significant funding -must be directed towards the major problem areas, specifically the Aquatic Gardens /Royal Palms areas within the Hopkins Creek basin. It is unlikely that funding will be available in the near future for these smaller more isolated projects, yet these are low and moderate income areas where structures and streets are known to repeatedly flood. While design and engineering has not been performed, it is staff's belief that these smaller drainage projects could be substantially completed with the CDBG funds. Drainage projects are eligible for funding within the Public Facility and Infrastructure category, and expenditure of funds would be subject to the City's usual bid and procurement procedures as well as all Federal requirements related to the HUD /CDBG funding source. Staff also recommends that $30,000 of CDBG funds be allocated for Housing Rehabilitation activities within the CDBG project area. AGENDA ITEM 8D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 RECOMMENDATION: Approval of proposed projects for the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Community Development Block Grant funds to include $30,000 in the Housing Rehabilitation category with the remaining approximately $120,000 of grant funds allocated to the Public Facility and Infrastructure category for stormwater improvement projects within the Section H (Marsh Oaks) subdivision, E. H. Dormer's subdivision and surrounding vicinity, authorizing the City Manager to submit the CDBG application and sign documents as required to execute the contract. BUDGET: Approximately $150,000 of CDBG funds for inclusion to the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget. ATTACHMENTS: None REVIEWED BY CITY MAN. 2