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W INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA AGENDA ITEM Assistant County Administrator / /a2• �• Department of General Services Date: September 6, 2018 To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners e,@T)v Thru: Jason E. Brown, County Administrator Thru: Michael C. Zito, Assistant County Administrator From: Beth Powell, Conservation Lands Manager Subject: Notice of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Award (Hurricane Matthew) for Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area DESCRIPTIONS AND CONDITIONS: On June 6, 2017, the Board of County Commissioners approved staff's recommendation to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Hurricane Matthew) for Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area. The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is to assist communities in implementing hazard mitigation measures following a major federal disaster declaration. The HMGP program is a federally funded program that is allocated and distributed by the State. HMGP is a cost -reimbursement grant program and will fund up to 75% for eligible projects. The 25% match may be a combination of cash and in-kind sources. Hazard mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. Indian River County is an eligible applicant as it has a FEMA -approved local mitigation plan and has a formally adopted Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) (Resolution No. 2010-059 adopted on July 13, 2010, and revised Resolution No. 2015-078 adopted July 7, 2015). Indian River County's LMS Working Group members revised the prioritization list in April 2017 after Florida Division of Emergency Management review and compiled a list of 12 county -wide projects which included Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area Wildfire Protection (ranked #1). THE PROJECT: Purchased in 1995, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA) is one of Indian River County's oldest and most actively used conservation areas. The 298 -acre conservation area is adjacent to Forest Park Subdivision and South Vero Square Shopping Center. Homes in the Forest Park Subdivision are located approximately 12-20' from the boundary of the conservation area, which is generally dense with exotics including Australian Pines and Brazilian Pepper. The vegetation is only 10-15' from many of the homes' rooflines. Access for staff to maintain the boundary is extremely limited, and must be accessed through private homeowner's property. Through this HMGP grant project, staff proposes to create an initial 100-150' firebreak between the conservation area and the homes that abut the conservation area. This will initially provide a clear zone for staff to access the property for follow-up management and maintenance of the