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Response <br />Comment <br />disaster relief grant be designated for infrastructure, address unmet housing needs of flood damaged homes. This disaster grant is most likelythe final chance to help our citizens repair <br /> and recover from two historic floods last year.At a city council workshop July 25th, grant consultants presented analysis indicating $33 million in unmet housing needs due to flooding. <br /> The consultants recommended dedicating 50% of the disaster grant to housing. During a two-hour meeting, councilmembers Derrick, Prewitt, Hughson, and Gregson expressed deep concern <br /> that the $33 million in unmet housing needs numbers seemed too low and the process might be missingkey parts of our community. Eight days later at an August 2nd council meeting, during <br /> a 15-minute presentation, the unmet needs report was updated to include an additional $70 million in infrastructure projects submitted by the city engineer and staff. These new numbers <br /> included $28 million for a Blanco River bypass plan, which the City Manager has stated is not eligible to receive more than $250,000 from this CDBG disaster grant. Despite previous <br /> concerns expressed by a majority of city council members about low housing numbers, the initial housing analysis remains unaddressed and unchanged. The council approved a draft plan <br /> allocating 70% of the grant for infrastructure, planning and administration.FLOODING UNMET NEED: INFRASTRUCTUREInfrastructure is important and helps reduce repetitive flooding. During <br /> community feedback, neighbors of flooded areas continually highlighted drainage needs in the existing neighborhoods. City analysis estimates drainage projects to cost $22.5 million <br /> and many appear shovel ready. I fully echo to community support of these projects are reasonable near-term <br />Element <br />Source <br />Date <br /># <br /> <br />