1. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP), in the approximate amount of $916,000 for the South Beach Pedestrian Priority Zone.
The County Incentive Grant Program provides funds to Counties to improve transportation facilities located on the State Highway System, or for projects that relieve traffic congestion on the State Highway System. Florida Statutes allow FDOT to issue grants to Counties for local transportation projects. To be eligible for consideration therefore, the City must apply for CIGP funds through Miami-Dade County. Proposed projects must be consistent, to the maximum extent feasible, with local metropolitan planning organization plans, such as the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and local government comprehensive plans.
The South Beach Pedestrian Priority Zone project was adopted as part of the Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan. The project is premised on the adopted modal priority which places pedestrians first, transit and bicycles second, and private automobiles third. The project aims to mitigate community concerns with pedestrian safety by introducing improvements such as traffic calming, wider sidewalks, signalization improvements conducive to better pedestrian experience, wider/clearer sidewalks, high-emphasis crosswalks, ADA ramps, improved landscaping, and lower speed limits.
The City is requesting funds from the 2021 CIGP grant program for the South Beach Pedestrian Priority Zone project. The total project cost is approximately $1,865,803 and the grant requires a 50% match. Matching funds of $945,000 will be provided from the following budget codes: 305-9615-069366-00-410-000-00-00-00-60177- $300,000; and 379-9615-069357-30-410-522-00-00-00-60177 - $ 645,000.
2. Florida Office of the Attorney General, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program, in the approximate amount of $510,000 for the Police Department’s Victim Services Program.
The Florida Office of the Attorney General provides federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to fund services to victims of crime.
The Administration has applied for and received these funds annually and plans to apply for continued funding for Fiscal Year 21/22 for salaries, training, and operating costs in the Police Department. This year’s application represents a continuation of the currently funded program and supports the services of the Police Department.
The Administration intends to apply for approximately $510,000, and the grant requires a 25% match. Matching funds in the approximate amount of $128,000 will come from positions in the Police Department's Victim Services Unit that are proposed to be partially funded from the City’s General Fund, subject to the adoption of the City’s FY 2022 operating budgets.
3. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Community Development Block Grant, Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Round 2 - Entitlement Program, in the approximate amount of $381,620 to cover costs associated with preparing for, responding to, or recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The CDBG-CV programs are designed to help local governments prepare for, prevent, or respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The funded activities must be critical to the locality.
In April 2020, pursuant to passage of the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated additional CDBG funds (CDBG-CV) to the State of Florida to address issues related to the impacts of COVID-19. HUD has provided three allocations to states and entitlement grantees under the fiscal year 2020 CDBG formula. DEO has received a total of $100 million in CDBG-CV funding. In May 2020, HUD allocated $63.1 million for use in both entitlement and non-entitlement communities. DEO created the CDBG-CV Entitlement Program for the award and administration of Round 2 funds for Entitlement communities through its state CDBG program. As an Entitlement community, the City of Miami Beach is eligible to apply for these funds up to a maximum amount of $381,620.
Each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate income (LMI) persons, prevent or eliminate slums or blight, or address community development needs with particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.
As required, the City held a Public Hearing on February 1, 2021 to discuss community needs in preparation for the grant pre-application. The Public Hearing was held prior to the pre-application submission date of March 15, 2021 and was properly noticed. No members of the public attended the Public Hearing; however, a full presentation was still given by staff.
The Administration intends to apply for CDBG-CV Round 2 Entitlement funding for Rent Assistance, Mortgage Assistance and Utility Assistance in the approximate amount of $381,620. This grant does not require matching funds.