TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Jeffrey L. Oris, CEcD, Assistant City Manager
THROUGH: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: May 7, 2024
Title
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE AND SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS FRANKEL, LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR EACH OF THREE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH REQUESTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET.
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to authorize the City Manager to create and submit to the Office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel, letters of support for each of three City of Delray Beach Requests for Congressional Community Project Funding (CPF) for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget.
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Background:
Several years ago, the U.S. Congress created a budgetary program called the Community Project Funding Program by which each member of Congress may request specific funding for individual projects. These requests are submitted through the office of a member who then selects which projects they believe are most worthy and submits their selections to the appropriate Congressional Office for consideration of inclusion in the following fiscal year budget. With the help of Congresswoman Lois Frankel, the City has been able to garner a total of approximately $5 million in CPF allocations for water infrastructure and the Police Departments' Real Time Crime Center.
On Thursday, April 27, 2024, the City was informed by Congresswoman Frankel's Office that the application period for Federal FY 2024-2025 would open that afternoon with all applications for funding due in their office by the end of day on Monday, May 1st (4 calendar, 2 business days) later. City staff worked with our lobbyist, Color Nine Group, to quickly formulate projects that took full advantage of the available funding programs within the CPF program and which would take pressure off the City for needed projects.
The following requests were put together:
$7.5 million for Environmental Infrastructure - Palm Beach County, Section 219, Army Corps of Engineers
$5.0 million for City of Delray Beach Clean Water Infrastructure - Department of Environmental Protection (EPA), State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG)
$1.5 million for City of Delray Beach Police Department Technology Upgrades - Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology and Equipment grants
The appropriate applications were submitted to and accepted by the Congresswoman's Office. There is a need now for the City to submit a formal letter to show formal City support for each of our applications. At the creation of this agenda item, staff is still awaiting some instruction as to needed content of the letters, however, these letters must be submitted no later than Friday, May 10, 2024.
City Attorney Review:
N/A
Funding Source/Financial Impact:
There is no cost to applying for the allocation and application does not commit the City to accepting the allocations or undertaking the projects. If the projects are included in the adopted FY 2024-2025 Federal Budget, it would be the actual amount allocated that would determine ultimately cost to the City as Congress may not allocate the full amount for a project that the City requested. In most cases, the City will be asked for a 25% match however, staff has moved forward projects in which funding from the City is already anticipated or required, thus these projects would either enhance the projects or allow for a more immediate timeline of implementation.
Timing of Request:
Letters must be submitted by Friday, May 10, 2024.