Town accepts $5.69 million HMGP elevation award, agrees procurement approach for 24 properties

The Town of Fort Myers Beach approved on June 15 a subrecipient agreement (H1360) with the Florida Division of Emergency Management for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) multiple-property elevation project (project 4673-312-R) with a federal award of $5,688,229.25.

Community development staff described the next steps: Title Basin will serve as the program manager on the ground, and the town will run a federally compliant procurement process that lists each eligible property for bidders to bid on specific houses. Staff said the procurement will require licensed Florida contractors; where multiple bids are submitted for a given property the lowest responsive bidder would be selected. Councilors asked how homeowners will be reimbursed and whether town administrative effort is covered. Staff said Title Basin receives an administrative fee and that the grant structure and packets for homeowners are being finalized; staff expects substantive movement in July and said the administrative support will cover Title Basin—s work and assist town staff in implementation, with further details to be available as packets are completed.

Community development cited an estimated 25 participant properties in the program. Staff emphasized this is intended to be oversight of the state-funded process rather than a town-funded elevation program; the town—s procurement and oversight are designed to meet federal grant rules. Council approved the resolution unanimously.

Councilors asked for transparency in how administrative fees and local matches are handled; staff committed to bringing detailed documents and procurement schedules to council and to meet individually with homeowners and contractors during the process.