1. CDBG-DR
Workshop
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
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2. Agenda
Introduction
Infrastructure Update
Housing Update
Council Direction
Next Steps

3. In response to the Memorial Day Floods and All Saints Flood of 2015, San Marcos received a $25M allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD).
Following the completion of a Needs Assessment, the City Council approved the submission of an Action Plan to HUD for approval.
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4. Action Plan Budget
$2,524,000
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5. Actions Completed to Date
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6. Infrastructure Update
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7. Study Overview Contract Awarded: January 2017
Objective: Identify & Prioritize infrastructure projects.
$12.5M budget for infrastructure
Projects must:
Benefit Low to Moderate Income Residents
Be Implemented within 6 yrs
Action Plan Amendment with selected projects: Due May 2017

8. 100-Year Riverine and Overland Flow Depths
7,000 cfs
136,000 cfs
6,000 cfs
9,000 cfs
1,500 cfs
8,000 cfs
9,000 cfs
2,000 cfs
15,000 cfs
Does AECOM agree with this data? I would like to use your inundation map with your overflow rates if different
Use to convey scope of issue May 2015 but also just 100-yr in comparison to relatable flows
Current Q of San Marcos River about 245 cfs
Located in Flash Flood Alley
Solving San Marcos’ flooding problem is challenging
Location: epicenter at confluence of 2 major Rivers
Topography: steep west of IH-35, flat on the east
Recent history of flooding
109,000 cfs
25,000 cfs
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9. Current Findings 2-Dimensional Modelling
Studying both causes of flooding:
Local – Rainfall & Drainage
Riverine – San Marcos & Blanco River
Cannot handle 100-yr “regional” flooding with “local” solutions.
Can handle “local” flooding and reduce impacts of “regional” flooding. 
Studied by national experts using the best data and most advanced modeling technology available
Reviewed possible solutions previously discussed to handle the “big” flows but not realistic with funds and timeframe. Needed to determine alternative approach.

10. Here’s what we did to find that alternate approach
6 Flood events have occurred within the past 17 years
The May and October 2015 events were “historical”
The Blanco River overflows the channel at about than 20-year flows
Overflows from Blanco River are primary cause of damage
Focusing on 25-year design &/or 25-year level of protection. Current Citywide standard.
“Local” Flooding Solutions
Neighborhood Projects ID’d in CIP & Action Plan
Upgrade all systems to 25-year design criteria
Add conveyance, storage/detention, & Mitigation such as elevation projects, flood-proofing, & other measures that will benefit area
Considering Green Infrastructure, where applicable
Looking at priority areas identified by Public Safety and operations staff.
Recommended Projects will represent solutions with the most benefit (biggest reduction/protection) benefitting the most LMI properties/community
Projects will meet 25-year design criteria &/or provide a 25-year level of protection (protection during 4 of past 6 flood events
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11. Infrastructure Expectations
Will the improvements reduce the level of impacts that structures experience during flood events?
Yes: Projects will provide increased protection during local rainfall events but in larger regional events flooding will still occur.
Projects will contain 25-yr storm flooding but will not remove structures from the 100-year floodplain.
Will all of the infrastructure DR funds be needed?
Yes. To improve drainage in all of the impacted areas additional funding sources will be needed, including City drainage C.I.P. funds.
Will the City be able to determine which projects provide the greatest benefit?
Yes: We will bring the projects to Council with a Prioritization Matrix in April.
We believe the CDBG-DR projects supplemented with other 10-year CIP projects & continued maintenance programs (debris removal from small and large streams) will provide a significant increase in protection for San Marcos.
These projects implemented over the 6-10 year timeframe in combination with the housing program and future Corps of Engineer/GBRA Blanco River Projects is the best available long-term solution for the City of San Marcos
We look forward to presenting to you in April.

12. Housing Update
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13. Housing Program Survey
City Staff surveyed more than 600 impacted households to determine remaining housing needs and preferences.
Mailed survey to rental property owners: 293 households
Door-to-Door survey of owner-occupied households: 307 households
Surveying spanned three weeks, including weekends
Responses received from approximately 20% of households; 120 comprehensive responses received
The City staff surveyed the area and was able to get responses from 120 households. This is a great turnout; most communities we have seen more like 5-10% response. The responses from your community members showed a strong preference in favor of rehabilitation. There were a similar number of individuals who reported a positive interest in both buyout and demolition/reconstruction, with a slightly heavier preference in favor of buyout.
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14. Housing Program Survey - Questions
Households self-reported information on the following topics:
Basic Application Questions
Type and Severity of Damage
Estimated Repairs Completed and Remaining
Duration of displacement
Assistance Received
Housing Preferences
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15. Demolition/ Reconstruction
Housing Program Survey Results
120 comprehensive responses received
Preference 1: Rehabilitation
Preference 2: Buyout
Preference 3: Demolition/Reconstruction
Overall, 86% of households surveyed want Rehabilitation or Reconstruction. A damage assessment will determine which Program a homeowner qualifies for.
Rehabilitation
Demolition/ Reconstruction
Buyout # %
1 - Most Interested 40
51% 17
23% 24
32%
2 - Interested 22
28%
22%
3 - Least Interested 7 9% 6 8%
4 - Not Interested 9
37% 28
*there were an additional 32 respondents who marked Not Interested across all 3 categories. These are omitted for statistical purposes
The City staff surveyed the area and was able to get responses from 120 households. This is a great turnout; most communities we have seen more like 5-10% response. The responses from your community members showed a strong preference in favor of rehabilitation. There were a similar number of individuals who reported a positive interest in both buyout and demolition/reconstruction, with a slightly heavier preference in favor of buyout.
smtxfloodrecovery.com

16. Demolition/ Reconstruction Demolition/ Reconstruction
Housing Program Survey Results
Owner-Occupied
Preference:
1. Rehabilitation
2. Buyout
3. Demolition/Reconstruction
Rental Property Owners
2. Demolition/Reconstruction
3. Buyout
Rehabilitation
Demolition/ Reconstruction
Buyout %
1 - Most Interested
47%
18%
30%
2 - Interested
23%
26%
17%
Rehabilitation
Demolition/ Reconstruction
Buyout %
1 - Most Interested
36%
27% 9%
2 - Interested
As you can see below, the preferences deviate slightly between Owner-Occupied and Rental responses. Therefore, you might decide to allocate different funding percentages between the two categories. We provide an example in a later slide that will show you an example of this.
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17. Average Repairs Completed: $31,000
Survey Results
Average Repairs Completed: $31,000
Average Repairs Remaining: $17,500
Two respondents reported remaining repair costs in excess of rehab cap of $45,000.
As you can see, the citizens of San Marcos have already done a remarkable job in getting some repairs done, but there is still work to be completed to help these residents rebuild. Of the individuals who specified an estimated dollar amount of repairs remaining, most would fall in the rehabilitation category though a couple would likely only be eligible to demolish and reconstruct based off the self-reported estimates. These estimates should all be verified by a qualified estimator through the program damage assessment process.
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18. Housing Programs Funding Breakout per Action Plan
Proposed Funding Breakout
Funds can be shifted between categories, but any shift of funding in excess of $1M requires HUD approval
Housing Programs Funding Breakout per Action Plan
Owner-Occupied (Rehab/Recon/Buyout)
$5,000,000
Rental (1-4 Unit; Rehab/Recon/Buyout)
$2,524,000
As a reminder, these are the funds that were outlined in the Action Plan that was approved by HUD last fall.
**have data available for other communities’ breakout if needed **
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19. Buyout vs. Rehabilitation vs. Demolition/Reconstruction
Flood damage is repaired (typically up to Housing Quality Standards)
May not be an option for everyone due to NFIP requirements and Substantial Damage
Program Cap: $45,000 per home
May have Accessibility and Special Needs accommodations
Demolition/Reconstruction
Option for homes with more severe damage
Must conform with federal standards for quality, size, and elevation standards
Program cap: $150,000
Buyout
Voluntary
Space strategically reserved for greenspace or other limited use
Program Cap: $250,000 per home
Discuss Buyout vs. Acquisition
Discuss Relocation requirements/costs
Discuss HQS standards
Discuss quality/square footage/bedroom qualifications
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20. Demolition/ Reconstruction Demolition/ Reconstruction
Housing Program Options – How Many Can We Serve?
Based off the preferences from the survey results and maximum funding under the Program Caps, we can estimate to serve the households outlined below. This assumes no additional services for accessibility and special needs, as well as no rental assistance during construction activities. URA is also separate.
Owner Occupied - $5,000,000
Rental Housing - $2,524,000
Rehabilitation
Demolition/ Reconstruction
Buyout
% of Funding
70%
12%
18% 62 3
This is an example of how you might choose to split the funding among different programs. In an earlier slide, I mentioned how you might choose a different percent for rental housing as you do for owner-occupied housing. These percentages are for illustrative purposes, so you may elect a different percent to be consistent with the goals of your community and your constituents. Please also note that if the City choose to provide relocation assistance to your most vulnerable populations who participate in rehabilitation or reconstruction, that will reduce the number of houses you can serve. I have previously seen a limit of $1,500 for three months of assistance ($500/month), but I have also seen a limit of $2,000 for 2 months. We can certainly make suggestions on how to manage that process should the City elect in favor of that assistance.
Rehabilitation
Demolition/ Reconstruction
Buyout
% of Funding
75%
15%
10% 34 2 1
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21. Owner-Occupied Housing Eligibility Requirements and Prioritization per Action Plan
Annual household income must be less than 80% of Area Median Income (70% of participants).
Ownership – Both current and at time of flood
Must be current on all debts (property taxes*, child support, mortgage).
The applicant(s) must be U.S. citizens or have legal alien status.
Must have received flood damage as verified by Damage Assessment
Compliant with prior event NFIP requirements and all Duplication of Benefit requirements
Prioritization Criteria
Income/Family size – 80% of Area Median Income
Handicapped/Disabled Residents
Elderly Residents
Households with Children
Condition of Damaged Dwelling – most damaged
*applicants on a payment plan for property taxes may be considered current
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22. Federal HOME Program Standards
Rental Housing Eligibility Requirements and Prioritization per Action Plan
Eligibility Requirements
1 to 4 unit dwellings (no multi-family)
Must be within the 100 year floodplain
Must have proof of ownership (current and at time of flood)
5-year affordability period (must rent to LMI family per Action Plan)
We recommend an amendment to Action Plan based on HOME standards
Uniform relocation assistance required
Prioritization Criteria
First come – first serve
Substantially damaged (vacant due to flood damage)
Federal HOME Program Standards
Assistance Amount
Affordability Period
Less than $15,000
5 Years
$15,000 - $40,000
10 Years
More than $40,000
15 Years
New Construction of Rental Housing
20 Years
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23. Housing Implementation Tasks
Phase 1: Secure Applicant Pool
Program Design/Policies and Procedures
Procurement
Outreach
Application Intake/Eligibility
Phase 2: Site-Specific Planning Activities
Damage Assessment/Scope of Work
Environmental Clearance
Feasibility
Survey/Plans and Specifications
Phase 3: Construction
Contractor Assignment
Signing Event/Setup
Construction
Phase 4: Post-Construction
Payment/Closeout
Compliance
This is a general list of the steps the City will need to undertake to get this up off the ground, so to speak. The first step in enacting a housing program or housing programs such as those presented before you is designing the program. This is the point where you determine which programs you will undertake at what time, how much funding you will dedicate to those activities, which eligibility and prioritization criteria you may want to establish in addition to those already in the Action Plan, and plan out how you will execute the program from soup to nuts. This is where policies and procedures are fleshed out, Program documents crafted, and reporting and tracking systems established.
Your second step is procurement. While the City has a skilled in-house staff, you will want to outsource some parts of the Program. We typically recommend securing a qualified pool of general contractors to participate in construction activities (the Texas General Land Office will be an excellent resource for the City in this respect). You will likely need to secure firms to complete your damage assessments and environmental clearance activities. You will need surveyors and possibly an engineering firm to handle topographical surveying and develop plot plans, as well as plan sets that are in compliance with federal, state, and local building codes. You may want to get some local Section 3 hires to do outreach, eligibility and case management services. This is a great opportunity to have your funds do “double duty” by re-investing them in local jobs.
You will likely undertake outreach and application intake concurrently, just because it is the smartest use of your time.
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24. Demolition / Reconstruction
Policy Decision Point
Reminder of Survey Results
Can we proceed?
Rehabilitation
Demolition / Reconstruction
Buyout # %
1 - Most Interested 40
51% 17
23% 24
32%
2 - Interested 22
28%
22%
3 - Least Interested 7 9% 6 8%
4 - Not Interested 9
12% 28
37%
*there were an additional 32 respondents who marked Not Interested across all 3 categories. These are omitted for statistical purposes
We recommend a phase-based approach, where you execute your rehabilitation and reconstruction activities concurrently. The Program Design for these options could realistically start right away. We anticipate we will return to the Council once the infrastructure projects are available; at that time any applications for buyout can be reviewed to see which properties align with the priorities based on those results.
Based upon the survey results and other early work we’ve been doing, we recognize that there are two major concerns: focus on rehabilitation, but also get people back into their homes as soon as possible. Given these needs, we are asking for your approval of the approach as we’ve laid it out so that we can begin soliciting applications, processing them, and adjusting our need based on the information that comes in from these. We ask for your approval on the approach, and permission to begin implementing it.
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25. Discussion
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26. Next Steps for Recovery – Six Month Snapshot
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