Safety Harbor establishes private stormwater grant program using ARPA funds; applications targeted to open Nov. 1

The Safety Harbor City Commission on Oct. 20 adopted Resolution 2025‑17 creating a private stormwater improvement grant program intended to reduce flooding and improve water quality on private property.

Program basics (as adopted): staff explained the proposed program would be funded initially using remaining ARPA funds (budgeted in the 5‑year CIP) and transition to the city's stormwater enterprise fund in subsequent years. The program provides matching grants at 50% of eligible project costs, capped at $25,000 for single-property applicants and $50,000 for multiple-property applicants (including homeowners associations). Deferred maintenance projects are not eligible; applicants must be on an incorporated, homestead property located inside the city; projects must demonstrate beneficial watershed impacts. The program permits retroactive reimbursement for improvements completed immediately after the 2024 hurricane season. Applications are to be scored on a points system reflecting alignment with program goals, constructability, timeline, project criticality and cost; Public Works performs initial scoring, the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) reviews quarterly and provides recommendations, and the commission makes final awards.

Renee Cooper, the city's public works director, told the commission the city hopes to open applications Nov. 1 and present candidate projects to the SAB in December; if applications are received, commission approvals could follow in January. Cooper also noted the city attorney reviewed the program and that the SAB added appendices now incorporated into the guidelines.

Public and commissioner questions centered on how impacts would be measured, permitting requirements, potential upstream/downstream effects and whether the program would advantage wealthier property owners who can front-match dollars. Cooper and other staff said projects would require permitting (SWFWMD, FDEP, and city as applicable), that the point system prioritizes projects with higher watershed benefit, and that retroactive projects tied to post-storm emergency work would be eligible. The commission adopted the resolution on roll call.