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PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RELIEF GRANT (CDBG-DR 14) APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,711,500 TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. R-1415-32.
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BACKGROUND: In 2014 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 August 2012 Fires and 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. Cleveland and Creek Counties were directed to receive a total of approximately $42 million.
ODOC then began contacting eligible entities, requesting proposed use of funds. The City of Norman/Cleveland County submitted a proposal that included over $49 million in projects. After reviewing that proposal and that of Creek County, ODOC advised that the City of Norman/Cleveland County proposal could not be funded in its entirety and that only certain equipment items were eligible and could be funded. ODOC then submitted back a list of projects, in order of the priorities established by the City and County, totaling $21,711,500 that would be eligible to submit as an application.
DISCUSSION: The City of Norman/Cleveland County projects in the list include four bridges and five roadway improvements totaling $18,528,000 and fire equipment totaling $3,183,500. [A list and description of the projects and equipment is attached.] All work will be contracted and the infrastructure improvement projects will be split into two phases - the first being engineering, limited right-of-way acquisition near bridges, etc. The second being actual construction. Although none of the four bridges were included in the City's Capital I...
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