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CONTRACT NO. K-1213-159: AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND THE OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARD (OWRB) TO IMPLEMENT THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) RISK MAP AND DISCOVERY PROGRAM, DIRECTING THE CITY'S SHARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,200 TO THE OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCE BOARD, AND BUDGET.TRANSFER.
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BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are currently implementing the Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning Program (Risk MAP) in Oklahoma. The purpose of Risk MAP is for continued improvement of flood hazard information and mapping for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); increased national awareness and understanding of flood risks; support of federal, state, and local mitigation actions to reduce risk; and formation of a solid working foundation for risk assessment and floodplain management.
In Oklahoma, the Lower Canadian-Walnut Watershed map has been selected for initiation of the first step in the Risk MAP process, which has been defined by FEMA as Discovery. This map (Attachment A-1 to the contract) contains the watershed boundaries for Oklahoma. The same map is also included in the Contract. Discovery relies on local involvement to collect available community data, validate flood risks, identify mitigation planning and implementation opportunities, and identify future funding priorities. The following counties are included in the Lower Canadian-Walnut Watershed: Blaine, Caddo, Cleveland, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, McClain, Oklahoma, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, and Seminole. Communities within these counties have been invited to participate in this process. A listing of the communities located in the Lower Canadian-Walnut Watershed is provided in Attachment A-2 to the contract.
DISCUSSION: The OWRB has received $75,000 in funding from FEMA for the development of the Risk MAP project as part of a Cooperative Technical Partner (CTP) agreement. The OWRB is required by FEMA to provide additional resources to complete the assigned activities for the Risk Map project in the form of "cash match" in the amount of $25,000 by participating communities.
Discovery is the process of evaluating a watershed to determine what level of services and products will be prepared if a Risk MAP Project is deemed appropriate. This process is divided into five main activities: Watershed Stakeholder Engagement, Data Analysis, Discovery Meeting, Post-Meeting Coordination, and Project Identification. A Stakeholder Discovery meeting is scheduled in Norman on February 28, 2013.
A follow up Risk MAP project may include updated mapping, risk assessment, Mitigation Planning Technical Assistance, and outreach and communications assistance; the Risk MAP project may include one of these elements or all of these elements, depending on the need in the watershed.
The City of Norman's active participation in this process will help our community identify proactive steps to reduce flood risks. The partnership and exchange of data between the OWRB and our community is vital to the success in identifying flood risks and needs that may impact Norman citizens. Nearly 40 square miles of Norman properties are located in this watershed, so the benefits of this flood analysis could be substantial to Norman citizens.
Participating communities within the watershed are required by the CTP agreement to collectively contribute funding in the amount of $25,000 for the completion of this project. According to the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Norman and the OWRB, based on Norman's population in the watershed (85,504 according to 2010 census) and area located inside the Lower Canadian-Walnut Watershed (39.06 square miles), Norman's share of the required cash match of $25,000 is $6,200. Norman has the largest population and land area located within the boundaries of the watershed of all participating agencies. Therefore, Norman's contribution is the highest of all participating agencies. Please refer to Attachment A for a list of contributions made from other communities.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: Staff recommends approval of Contract No. K-1213-159 between the City of Norman and the OWRB, including a contribution of $6,200.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: The funds for this project are recommended to be made available from the FYE 2010 Drainage Project (account 050-9968-431.61-01; project DR0057), due to savings during construction of the 2010 neighborhood storm water project. Staff recommends a transfer of $6,200 from FYE 2010 Drainage (account 050-9968-431.61-01) to Risk MAP & Discovery (account 050-9388-431.61-01; project DR0060).