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Council presses consultants on grants, matching funds and SB 180 limits
Summary
Councilmembers questioned how Senate Bill 180 and changing federal-state grant landscapes could affect proposed Adaptation Plan projects; the consultant said municipalities should expect local matches and prioritize pursuing federal and state funding programs such as Resilient Florida.
Councilmember White asked how Senate Bill 180 might affect the town’s proposed projects and whether grants tied to Port Orange’s sewer and lift stations were relevant to Ponce Inlet’s priorities. The meeting’s consultant, Dr. Alec Bogdanoff of Brizaga, Inc., answered questions about grant availability and advised the council on typical match expectations and program differences.
Dr. Bogdanoff noted that "there are more federal than state grants available" and emphasized advocacy for programs such as the Resilient Florida Program. He also advised a practical expectation for local match for many grants: "a good rule of thumb is to anticipate matching 50% of a project." Councilmembers discussed the tradeoffs between seeking federal versus state funding and the cost-effectiveness of different grant programs.
Residents raised SB 180 constraints during public comment; Barbara Davis urged the Town to draft an ordinance to implement a two-and-a-half-inch retention requirement "once allowed following SB 180 restrictions." Council members asked staff to review what actions are possible now without contravening SB 180 and to report back.
