Agenda 09/26/2017 Item #16A4809/26/2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to continue the ongoing update of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) which will more accurately identify the flood
risk for County residents and potentially reduce the cost of flood insurance premiums for certain
residents.
OBJECTIVE: To approve Change Order #14 to Contract 11-5626 “One Hundred (100 Year Flood
Elevations for Five (5) Basins in Collier County” project with Tomasello Consulting Engineers, Inc.
(TCE) in the amount of $116,000 for the ongoing update of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) to more accurately identify the flood risk for
County residents and potentially reduce the cost of flood insurance for certain residents. Additionally, we
request the Board approve a time extension to the contract with TCE until December 31, 2020 to
complete the project.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Background
In 2004, the County began an initiative to update FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The
project was a jointly funded effort by the County and City of Naples, and included the development of a
Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) partnership agreement between FEMA, Collier County, City of
Naples, and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The original effort was based upon
the currently available LiDAR (topographic elevation data) received by the County in 2003. The Board
authorized this action through an emergency authorization and contracted with Tomasello Consulting
Engineers, Inc. (TCE) due to a mandated 8-month time frame established by FEMA (March 9, 2004,
Agenda Item 9.D). A contract was executed by the Board on March 23, 2004.
It took six (6) years of effort by staff, the County’s consultant, TCE, SFWMD, FEMA, and FEMA’s
contractor, Michael Baker Jr., Inc. to complete the computerized modeling and mapping of the floodplain
to the satisfaction of all the parties involved. By 2010, FEMA transitioned their floodplain mapping
requirements into electronic digital products (hence the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM)).
Additionally, the County purchased new LiDAR that was completed and provided to the County in 2010.
2010 LiDAR
Staff reviewed the 2010 LiDAR and found that it provided better ground elevation information than the
2003 LiDAR. Utilizing accurate ground elevation information is essential to provide County property
owners a correct picture of their flood risk and access to fair flood insurance premium rates. On May 10,
2011, (Agenda Item 16A10) the Board of County Commissioners (Board) declared a second valid
public emergency and directed the County Manager to proceed with a re-evaluation of the FEMA-
designated floodplain using the 2010 LiDAR. The Board also provided guidance to amend the contract
with TCE and proceed with completing the multi-year and multi-phase DFIRM update with FEMA,
which provided continuity for the project. Although the Preliminary DFIRM was being made available
for public review and comment, County staff requested that FEMA allow the new LiDAR to be
incorporated into the floodplain map because it provided better ground elevation information than the
2003 LiDAR. FEMA denied staff’s request, so with the Board’s approval, staff and TCE prepared an
appeal of the Preliminary DFIRM for two of the drainage basins.
The County’s appeal was readily accepted by FEMA for inclusion in the final DFIRM which became the
current effective floodplain map. The appeal removed thousands of structures from the regulated
floodplain, but created a map with inconsistencies. The flood elevations in the two appealed basins (2010
LiDAR) did not match the adjacent surrounding drainage basins (2003 LiDAR). Upon request from the
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County, FEMA agreed to publish the DFIRM without requiring the County’s consultant to blend the
flood elevations in adjacent basins. In exchange, the County committed to follow up with map revisions
to update the other drainage basins with the 2010 LiDAR information. On May 16, 2012, the Board
adopted the effective DFIRM that consisted of 10 basins that depict the 2003 LiDAR and two basins that
depict the 2010 LiDAR
PMR #1
The remaining basins were divided into two planned submittal packages which ultimately became
Physical Map Revision (PMR) applications #1 and #2, each wi th their own separate case number issued
by FEMA. PMR #1 was submitted to the LOMC Clearinghouse on June 7, 2013. It was processed
through the initial review and then forwarded on to FEMA Region IV on January 14, 2014 for further
detailed review and processing. FEMA Region IV had already informed the County that they did not have
the funding required to review and process such a large PMR and that they would hold the application
until Congress appropriated the funding. PMR #1 remained with FEMA Region IV until they received
congressional funding and started work on it in May 2015.
During this time, FEMA hired a new contractor to prepare and review floodplain mapping changes.
FEMA’s contract with Baker, the prior contractor, expired and a new contractor, AECOM, was selected
through FEMA’s Request for Proposals process. This meant that a new reviewer would be looking at the
County’s PMR applications. Currently, AECOM and TCE are approximately half way through the review
of PMR #1. TCE has responded to three (3) rounds of review and comment by FEMA’s contractor for
two basins, Coco B and C. A fourth (4) response is pending. Comments from AECOM are extensive and
many of their concerns involve minute details within the computer modeling or individual permits,
somewhat like the issues raised by Michael Baker Inc. (FEMA’s contractor) during the six years of effort
to prepare the 2012 DFIRM. Subsequent work is required for two other basins, Henderson Creek and
District 6. It is anticipated TCE will be complete with PMR #1 in 2018.
PMR #2
The County submitted PMR #2 to the LOMC Clearinghouse on June 29, 2015 where it was briefly
reviewed and then forwarded to the FEMA Region IV. On December 22, 2015, FEMA Region IV
provided confirmation they would be completing a detailed technical review of the submitted information.
FEMA Region IV also stated they had programmed funds to process the PMR. FEMA Region IV’s
contractor provided comments to the County’s consultant on May 4, 2016, which included two hundred
and five (205) pages of comments and twenty-six (26) pages of screen shots pictures.
TCE will be able to work on PMR #2 once Change Order #14 is processed. This will speed up the
process, allowing TCE to work on PMR #2 responses, while FEMA’s contractor is
reviewing/commenting on the remaining districts in PMR #1.
FEMA’s Coastal Re-study
In addition to the review of the PMRs, County staff and TCE will be working with FEMA to address
FEMA’s coastal restudy, the Southwest Florida Coastal Flood Study (SWFL-CF Study). FEMA began the
SWFL-CF Study initiative in 2014. This Study includes Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties and
is part of a larger FEMA program referred to as Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning program
(RiskMAP), conducted by Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMPP). The restudy is
based on a model that has been applied to most of the Gulf and Atlantic coastal areas. After RAMPP
conducted several analyses to compare the County’s effective DFIRM with the restudy model, FEMA
determined the RAMPP analysis provided more accurate coastal elevation information than the County’s
effective DFIRM model.
The SWFL-CF Study will need to be “merged” at the interface where it meets the PMR #1 and PMR #2
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drainage basins. Based on staff correspondence with FEMA’s contractors, the contractor will perform this
task. However, it is imperative that TCE review the merging conducted by FEMA’s contractors to ensure
it is acceptable. This is included in the total cost of PMR #2. FEMA’s contractors have s tated they
anticipate they will begin the “merging” in spring/summer of 2018.
Contract Information
To date, the County has paid Tomasello Consulting Engineers $908,459.94 to generate the 2012 DFIRM
and prepare the updates. Since the re-evaluation of the 2003 LiDAR, the Board has approved a number
of changes to the original contract with TCE, extending the contract in both time and dollars. The current
contract is valid through December 31, 2017.
To respond to FEMA’s inquiries for PMR #2 and to evaluate RAMMP’s merging of the SWFL-CF Study
a change order in the amount of $116,000 is requested. The requested funding will cover the expenses
for TCE to provide responses to FEMA’s review for each drainage basin. TCE’s work includes revisiting
the computer models and mapping outputs (built by TCE) and responding to FEMA’s detailed
inquiries.
Staff believes that it is in the best interest of the County to continue with the current contract for this on-
going, multi-year, and multi-phase project, and to continue under the auspices of TCE through the
duration of the contract which, following Board approval, would be extended to December 31, 2020 .
This timeframe should provide a sufficient time to complete all components, including the review of the
Preliminary DFIRM. Further, this extension provides some time allowance should there be a delay from
FEMA in completing the development, processing, and finalization of the DFIRM.
Preliminary DFIRM
Once PMR #1, PMR #2, and the coastal “merging” and review are completed, FEMA will produce a
Preliminary DFIRM for public review and input. At that stage, the County may opt to hire TCE to assist
with the appeals process, a process by which the County must review and submit a recommendation of
approval or denial to FEMA for all property submitted appeals by property owners questioning specific
aspects of the Preliminary DFIRM prior to finalization by FEMA and subsequent Board adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $116,000 is available in Fund 111, Cost Center 138110.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management Plan impact associated with
this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To approve Change Order #14 for the “One Hundred (100) Year Flood
Elevations for Five (5) Basins in Collier County” project with Tomasello Consulting Engineers, Inc. in
the amount of $116,000 for the ongoing update of the FEMA DFIRM to more accurately identify the
flood risk for County residents and potentially reduce the cost of flood insurance for certain residents.
Additionally, the recommendation is for the Board approve a time extension to the contract with TCE
until December 31, 2020 to complete the project [Project No. 50100].
Prepared by: Caroline Cilek, AICP, CFM, Manager - Building Plan Review and Inspection Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Change Order 14 Quote from TCE - 2 (PDF)
2. Change Order CAC signed TCE 8_30_17 (PDF)
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.48
Doc ID: 3619
Item Summary: Recommendation to continue the ongoing update of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) which will more accurately
identify the flood risk for County residents and potentially reduce the cost of flood insurance premiums
for certain residents.
Meeting Date: 09/26/2017
Prepared by:
Title: Manager - LDC – Building Plan Review & Inspections
Name: Caroline Cilek
08/14/2017 12:38 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Director - Building Plans Review & Inspections – Building Plan Review & Inspections
Name: Richard Long
08/14/2017 12:38 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Building Plan Review & Inspections Richard Long Additional Reviewer Completed 08/14/2017 1:09 PM
Procurement Services Opal Vann Level 1 Purchasing Gatekeeper Completed 08/14/2017 1:12 PM
Growth Management Department Judy Puig Level 1 Reviewer Completed 08/15/2017 11:53 AM
Procurement Services Sandra Herrera Additional Reviewer Completed 08/25/2017 4:26 PM
Procurement Services Ted Coyman Additional Reviewer Completed 08/29/2017 6:03 PM
Growth Management Operations & Regulatory Management Kenneth Kovensky Additional Reviewer Completed 08/30/2017 10:20 AM
Growth Management Department Caroline Cilek Department Head Review Skipped 08/14/2017 12:36 PM
Growth Management Department James French Deputy Department Head Review Completed 08/30/2017 5:22 PM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 08/31/2017 9:01 AM
Budget and Management Office Mark Isackson Additional Reviewer Completed 08/31/2017 10:29 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 08/31/2017 1:25 PM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/02/2017 11:07 AM
Board of County Commissioners Michael Cox Meeting Completed 09/12/2017 9:00 AM
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PMR#2 Change Order # 14 Invoice Breakdown Rev 7/20/17
Change Order total amount: $ 116,000 (Sum of Tables 1 and 2)
Basins included:
Ava Maria $16,500
Faka Miller* $51,000
FU_FHS* $27,000
Southern Coastal $16,500
Total $111,000
*Revised WMS to include new pump station(s)
Table 1. PMR Basins
Ava Maria
Tasks Timeframe Amount ($)
Review and provide responses to Compass (1st trial) $9,000
Review and provide response to Compass (2st trial) $4,500
Review and provide response to Compass (3rd trial), If needed $1,500
Compass approval $1,500
Subtotal $16,500
Faka Miller
Tasks Timeframe Amount ($)
Review and provide responses to Compass (1st trial) $36,000
Review and provide response to Compass (2st trial), if needed $9,000
Review and provide response to Compass (3rd trial), If needed $4,500
Compass approval $1,500
Subtotal $51,000
FU_FHS
Tasks Timeframe Amount ($)
Review and provide responses to Compass (1st trial) $13,500
Review and provide response to Compass (2st trial), if needed $9,000
Review and provide response to Compass (3rd trial), If needed $3,000
Compass approval $1,500
Subtotal $27,000
Southern Coastal
Tasks Timeframe Amount ($)
Review and provide responses to Compass (1st trial) $9,000
Review and provide response to Compass (2st trial), if needed. $4,500
Review and provide response to Compass (3rd trial), If needed. $1,500
Compass approval. $1,500
Subtotal $16,500
Total $111,000
Table 2. Coastal Merging
Options Estimated cost
TCE incorporate PMR coastal analysis $10,000
TCE to blend FEMA's coastal analysis* with PMR $10,000
TCE to evaluate FEMA's blending of FEMA's coastal analysis* with PMR $5,000
* based on FEMA study documentation
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Packet Pg. 1212 Attachment: Change Order 14 Quote from TCE - 2 (3619 : DFIRM PMR #2)
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Packet Pg. 1213 Attachment: Change Order CAC signed TCE 8_30_17 (3619 : DFIRM PMR #2)