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Committee hears $2.5M storm debris cleanup update; staff expects federal reimbursement
Summary
Staff told the committee the winter-storm debris and stump removal project cost about $2.5 million (including $520,000 for debris monitoring) and said FEMA typically covers 75% of eligible costs; a separate FEMA notice of roughly $400,000 was said to be heading to the general fund.
An Agency official told the Public Works Committee on May 26 that the city’s winter-storm debris removal and hazard stump program cost about $2.5 million in total, with roughly $1.87 million for material removal, $88,000 for stump work and about $520,000 for debris-monitoring services used to document and secure reimbursement.
“75% from FEMA, and then 25 is our portion,” the Agency official said when describing the federal cost-share. The official added that the state sometimes picks up part of the local share and that the precise reimbursement percentage could vary depending on intergovernmental contributions.
A second Agency official said the FEMA reimbursement process can take time. “We probably won't even—you know, it took two years. The 2024 May flood, we just got noticed that we're gonna get reimbursed for that, like, a month ago,” the official said, and confirmed the city expects about $400,000 from that earlier event to be credited to the general fund. Committee members were told the city used its rainy-day reserve to cover the $2.5 million project costs while staff pursues federal and state reimbursement.
Committee members asked about schedule and monitoring; staff said debris pickup had returned to the regular route and that they continue to monitor calls. No formal action was taken; staff advised follow-up once reimbursements are confirmed.
