District outlines FEMA reimbursement progress and remaining unreimbursed costs after county loan

At the Jan. 26 Pacheco Stormwater District meeting, staff provided a financial update on storm-related cleanup and levee repairs tied to FEMA reimbursement. Steve Loop said the district has submitted most paperwork and is about 11 steps into FEMA’s process; he emphasized FEMA reimburses agencies only after approved work is completed and paid for.

Loop gave project-specific figures: debris removal total cost $935,000 with FEMA’s share at about $701,000 and the state share at $175,000; a customary remaining non-reimbursable portion (about 6% of project costs) will likely remain. FEMA management costs for that work were cited as $46,000. For levee repairs, Loop said the total project cost was about $375,000 with FEMA’s share at $281,000, the state share at $70,000 and remaining non-reimbursable costs roughly $24,000; FEMA-allocated staff/management costs were noted as $18,000.

Chair emphasized that because the district did not have the money to do the work up front, the county loaned funds so repairs could proceed. Loop cautioned that some FEMA management costs may be difficult to justify because many trustee activities are voluntary and unpaid; he said he expects the district to be reimbursed for most eligible costs but that the full $58,000 (example non-reimbursable construction) and $46,000 management figure are unlikely to be fully recovered.

Residents asked about how non-reimbursable amounts will be handled. Marcel Beaulieu asked whether the county might forgive the unreimbursed portion; the chair said that arrangement has not been determined. The board recorded a voice vote to approve the consent agenda (certificate of posting) later in the meeting and adjourned; no detailed roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.