Federal lobbyist briefs Oviedo on community-project funding and FEMA advocacy

A federal-lobbying firm that represents Oviedo told the city council it had submitted two community-project funding requests on the city's behalf and is monitoring several federal processes that could benefit local infrastructure projects.

Maurice Kurlin, speaking as the city's federal lobbyist, reviewed recent successes — including earlier community-project awards and a $10 million Army Corps project authorization — and said the city had two recent submissions pending with congressional offices: funding for an emergency-operations center and for an Artesia street culvert replacement involving steel pipe.

Kurlin described the appropriations process as multi-step (subcommittee, full committee, floor votes in each chamber and then potential Senate action), and cautioned that funding amounts can change at each step. He also discussed federal authorization avenues (such as the Water Resources Development Act) that can surface different funding pathways through agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

During Q&A, council members asked about FEMA reimbursements for past projects. Staff said the McKinnon project's FEMA interactions are complete, while the Magnolia Street project remains in appeals. Kurlin said his office would assist by contacting congressional staff and FEMA contacts if staff recommends escalation. City staff also said they would continue to provide the documentation FEMA requires and that a disaster consultant and finance staff are engaged in the appeals process.

The council did not take formal action during the presentation; staff and the lobbyist said they will continue to track appropriations postings on members' websites and return with updates as projects advance through the federal process.