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PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND CLOSEOUT OF THE 2013 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RELIEF (2013 CDBG-DR) CONTRACT K-1415-37 WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
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BACKGROUND: In 2013 the United States Congress passed legislation that funded disaster relief through a separate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund specifically for areas that were impacted by the May 2013 tornados in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) was assigned the task of writing a plan for use of the funds and for making recommendations on funding allocations in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
ODOC then began contacting eligible entities, requesting proposed use of funds. The City of Norman was one of the eligible entities, and a proposal was submitted and approved.
DISCUSSION: The City of Norman contract included repair of two public roadways that sustained damage associated with the cleanup efforts following the tornado event. Both roads were the primary routes for the debris removal and heavily impacted by the frequent large trucks utilizing the roads and are also primary routes to two schools - Lakeview and Little Axe. The projects were as follows.
108th Avenue NE from Rock Creek Road to Franklin Road [$220,000]
Two (2) miles of paving with base repairs to severely failed areas
168th Avenue NE from Rock Creek Road to Indian Hills Road [$330,000]
Three (3) miles of paving with base repairs to severely failed areas
The costs reflect City and County forces being used to perform the base repairs, asphalt paving, shoulder grading and vegetation restoration. By utilizing City and County employees and equipment, the costs noted for these two roadways were used for materials. As a result the two roadways cost the CDBG DR Program approximately 50% less than it would have if the work had been contracted out. In addition to the $550,000 approved initially for the projects, ODOC subsequently provided $5,300 for administration to defray the cost of staff time utilized in the administration of the grant.
All work associated with the grant has been completed and all of the funds were expended.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the final acceptance and closeout of the CDBG-DR contract.