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a wz T INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA AGENDA ITEM Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department Conservation Lands Division Date: January 8, 2024 To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners Thru: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator Beth Powell, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Director From: Wendy Swindell, Conservation Lands Manager Subject: Modification of Contract #H0259 between Indian River County and the Florida Division of Emergency Management BACKGROUND: On February 8, 2017, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced the availability of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds resulting from the Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Matthew (FEMA 4283 -DR -FL). 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 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). On June 6, 2017, staff presented two Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Grant funding applications and received authorization from the Board to submit both the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area Wildfire Mitigation application, and the Countywide Wildfire Mitigation application. Both projects were awarded grant funding from FDEM. The Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area grant included a project cost of $65,000 (with a reimbursement to the County of $48,750.00). This grant was completed successfully and closed out in early 2022. On January 23, 2018, the Board further authorized staff to complete a Pre -Award Cost Request that included hiring Environmental Science Associates, Inc. to complete the Indian River County Countywide Wildfire Management Plan: 2018 Fuel Management Plan, dated March 2018 (Wildfire Plan), a copy of which is available on file at the Indian River County Clerk's office. This Wildfire Plan was necessary to complete the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review in order to award the Hazard Mitigation Grant. The Countywide Wildfire Mitigation grant included a project cost of $280,754.00 (with a reimbursement to the County of $210,565.50). On June 27, 2019, staff was notified that Indian River County was awarded the final FEMA approval for the Countrywide Wildfire Mitigation, application number 4283-95-R. The scope of work included providing wildfire mitigation activities on 10 241