Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	July 14, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 74 Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-390 Submitted by: Allen McKinley, Finance Director/Treasurer

AGENDA HEADING:

Designating Kurt A. Rueckel, Finance Department, as the City's Authorized Representative for Federal Disaster Declaration.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend approval to designate Kurt A. Rueckel as the City’s Authorized Representative in order to receive FEMA reimbursement for eligible flood related expenses. On June 23, 2008, President Bush declared that estimated costs of response and recovery due to flooding during the incident period beginning March 25, 2008 warranted an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42, U.S.C 5121-5206. In order to receive Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) funding, the City is required to designate an Authorized Representative to be the first point of contact for all official correspondence, audits, and other administrative issues related to a Federal Disaster Declaration.  Kurt A. Rueckel has served in this capacity in the past.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: None related to this action.

Costs related to this disaster are still being incurred and total damages are still being assessed. A preliminary estimate of eligible claims for the City of Des Moines is $5,000,000 which would equate to a reimbursement of $4,250,000.

Funding Source: Reimbursement of eligible expenses is 75% Federal, 10% State, and 15% Local.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

During the incident period beginning March 25, 2008, heavy rains in the Des Moines River Basin caused significant flooding in the Des Moines area. Because of the nature and timing of the storms, the City had advance warning that flooding would happen. The city incurred, and continues to incur, significant expenses related to: mitigation, flood fighting, debris cleanup, and repairs to damaged city buildings and infrastructure.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

Date: April 9, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-662

Action: Designation of Kurt Rueckel as authorized representative for Federal Disaster – FEMA. (Council Communication No. 07-183) Moved by Vlassis to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: October 10, 2005

Roll Call Number: 05-2458

Action: Designating Kurt Rueckel, Finance Department, as the City’s authorized representative for FEMA reimbursements, Federal Disaster Declaration - Hurricane Katrina.  (Council Communication No.  05-574)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: July 12, 2004

Roll Call Number: 04-1453

Action: Designation of Kurt Rueckel, Finance Department, as the City’s authorized representative for FEMA, Federal Disaster Declaration #1518 for Polk County.  (Council Communication No.  04-323)  Moved by Brooks to adopt.    Motion Carried 7-0.

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: NONE

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.