Title
Approval of Sub-Grant Agreement FEMA-4199-DR-NM-26 in the amount of $120,000 for the Los Alamos Canyon Road Stabilization Project Phase I and Approval of Budget Revision 2017-24.
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve execution of Sub-Grant Agreement FEMA-4199-DR-NM-26 in the amount of $120,000 for Design and Environmental Assessment for the Los Alamos Canyon Road Stabilization Project. I further move that Council approve Budget Revision 2017-24.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Manager recommends that Council approve execution of the agreement and the budget revision as requested.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Board of Public Utilities recommends that Council approve execution of the agreement and the budget revision as requested.
Body
In March 2016 Los Alamos County applied for a FEMA mitigation grant to stabilize the road to the Los Alamos Reservoir, remove debris obstructing the canyon stream and restore the stream to its original course. Since the Cerro Grande fire in 2000 the road to the Los Alamos Reservoir has been washed out and repaired multiple times. The canyon has been subject to flooding due to the burned watershed upstream. This project will construct gabion structures on the stream side of the road to protect the road from floodwaters. In addition, debris and downed trees that are obstructing the natural path of the canyon stream will be removed to restore the stream to its original course, away from the road in many areas.
The application was for $1,750,000 to complete design, an environmental assessment and construction. As part of the application review process FEMA required that the project proceed in two phases as follows:
1 - Phase I: Design and Environmental Assessment @ $120,000
2 - Phase II: Construction @ $1,630,000
Award of phase II for construction funds will be made at a later date via a second sub-grant agreement or by amendment to this agreement. As a condition to receive grant funding Los Alamos County must match 25% of the grant amount. Attachment C is an excerpt from the March 22, 2016 Council meeting minutes which includes a cost split between the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and General Fund for the 25% match. At this time the required match is 25% of the phase I cost (Grant $90,000, LAC match $30,000). In addition to seeking approval of the sub-grant agreement we are requesting approval of a budget revision for the County match of $30,000. $15,000 will be paid by the general fund and $15,000 will be paid by the DPU (The splitting of fees for this project was approved at the March 22, 2016 Council meeting - see Attachment C).
Alternatives
If the sub-grant is not approved the funding opportunity will be lost.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The $30,000 match for phase I of the project has not been budgeted. The budget revisions presented for approval will fund the required 25% match. DPU staff will administer the design, environmental assessment and construction of the project. Staff time applied to the administering the work can be used as an in-kind match.
Attachments
A - Sub-Grant Agreement FEMA-4199-DR-NM-26
B - Budget Revisons 2017-24
C - March 22, 2016 Council Meeting Minutes