City updates council on 9 Mile Creek piping project, FEMA hazard‑mitigation grant pursuit

Public works staff updated council on the 9 Mile Creek piping project and its status with FEMA Hazard Mitigation funding. The project, a partnership between the city, Meridian Development Corporation (MDC) and the state FEMA program, would pipe 9 Mile Creek to remove 41 structures and 78 acres from the special flood hazard area, staff said, enabling additional downtown redevelopment potential.

Staff said design is nearly complete and the city expects a 90% federal / 10% local cost split if the project clears a FEMA cost‑benefit re‑analysis after design. The timeline staff offered: design completion in July, then submission of updated construction cost estimates to FEMA for the phase‑1 grant re‑award, and a likely funding decision within the next six months if the review is favorable. Staff added that the state has acknowledged this bucket of hazard mitigation funds is less likely to be impacted by other federal funding challenges.

Why it matters: removing structures from the special flood hazard area would reduce flood insurance burdens for property owners and clear development constraints for downtown properties. Council members asked about the grant timeline and the possibility of the federal program changing; staff advised continuing to pursue the grant while the design proceeds.

Next steps: staff will finish design in July, submit the construction estimate and cost‑benefit analysis to FEMA for the phase‑1 funding re‑award, and return with updates on grant award status and any required local matching obligations.