TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Application for project funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure.
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SUMMARY:
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The BRIC grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal governments, and local governments for hazard mitigation activities. The program prioritizes investment in infrastructure and construction projects that deliver immediate, measurable risk reduction for communities vulnerable to natural hazards. By prioritizing ready-to-implement construction projects and increasing the geographic distribution of hazard mitigation investments, BRIC aims to accelerate and improve nationwide project delivery. The program is a good fit for the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility Bridge Replacement Project because of the critical nature of the aging bridge and its inability to meet current design standards for strength, seismic resistance, and flood passage.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the City Manager to apply for funding to design and construct the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility Bridge Replacement Project through the BRIC Grant Program and, if successful, authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with FEMA to accept these funds?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to apply for funding to design and construct the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility Bridge Replacement Project through the BRIC Grant Program and, if successful, authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with FEMA to accept these funds.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Department of Homeland Security Notice of Funding Opportunity (Attachment No. 1) provides BRIC award opportunities, whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL appropriates billions of dollars to FEMA to promote resilient infrastructure.
The Geren Island Water Treatment Facility Bridge Replacement Project is the City’s best candidate for this funding because of its critical importance and competitiveness with the grant criteria.
The Geren Island Water Treatment Facility bridge is the only means of access to the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, making it a critically important infrastructure asset for maintaining the supply of safe drinking water to the City of Salem. The Project will replace the existing bridge, constructed in 1965, with a new structure that meets current design standards for both strength and seismic loading conditions. The open area under the new bridge will be sized to convey 100-year design storm flows with additional consideration given to estimated increases in flows due to climate change. The estimated construction cost is $14.1 million.
The grant application requires 25-percent City match funding. The recommended project is already in the adopted CIP. Therefore, we have the 25-percent match programmed. If successful, the 75-percent grant award would equal approximately $10.6 million.
The BRIC grant contains a requirement that the recipient comply with all applicable executive orders. In particular, Executive Order 14151 - Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing; Executive Order 14168 - Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government; Executive Order 14173 - Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity; and Executive Order 14159-Protecting the American People Against Invasion and Executive Order 14218-- Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders. The City Attorney’s Office believes that application of these Executive Orders runs contrary to Federal, State and local law. Application of these requirements has been subject to extensive litigation and has been largely rejected by the courts. The City will raise its objections to the inclusion of the Executive Orders when submitting its application. Additionally, should the grant be awarded, its acceptance will be conditioned upon the exclusion of the Executive Orders from the agreement either by negotiation or litigation.
BACKGROUND:
On January 22, 2024, Council approved a staff report to submit a BRIC grant application for this Project. However, FEMA canceled the Fiscal Year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity, and we could not apply. On March 27, 2026, we were notified that FEMA restructured the grant criteria and issued a combined 2024 and 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the BRIC Grant Program.
Allen Dannen, PE
City Engineer
Attachments:
1. Project Location Map
2. DHS Notice of Funding Opportunity FY 2024 & 2025 BRIC