PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
__________________________________________________________________________________
TO: Honorable Chairman and DATE: 1/4/08 FILE: PRA08-0204
Members of the Board of
County Commissioners
THRU: Daniel R. Johnson SUBJECT: Cancellation of State Funding for the
Assistant County Administrator Wesley Chapel District Park -
(Public Services) Recreation Building - Hurricane
Structure Enhancement
FROM: Frederick J. Buckman, CPRP REFERENCES: Comm. Dist. 1
Parks and Recreation Director
__________________________________________________________________________________
It is recommended that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County
Commissioners (BCC).
DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS:
On March 13, 2007, the BCC approved acceptance of $300,000.00 in Hazard Mitigation Program Grant
(HMPG) funding to construct the Wesley Chapel District Park Recreation Building to meet hurricane
standards. The application was submitted on April 20, 2007. At the time, the wind requirement was
160 miles per hour hurricane wind resistance, and consequently, the recreation building has been
designed to withstand such an event.
Recently, FEMA 361 was introduced requiring HMPG-funded buildings to withstand winds up to 200
miles per hour and to provide for pressurization changes associated with a tornado, among other
criteria. As indicated by the design firm contracted for this project, Wannamacher Russell Architects,
Inc., this would mean a total redesign of the building. Redesign and construction costs associated with
this change will more than offset the value of the $300,000.00 Federal dollars available.
In order to meet FEMA 361, the cost of hardening may be in the $2 million range with no guarantee or
indication of additional Federal dollars over and above the approved $300,000.00 grant, and likewise,
the structural design and functionality of the building would not be conducive to the traditional
recreational structure. It is, therefore, the Parks and Recreation Department’s recommendation that the
BCC approve cancellation of the grant application and allow the Wesley Chapel District Park
Recreation Building design to meet the current 160 mile per hour hurricane winds’ requirement.
ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS:
1. Approve cancellation of the HMPG application.
2. Deny cancellation of the HMPG application.
3. Direct staff to other alternatives.
RECOMMENDATION AND FUNDING:
The Parks and Recreation Department recommends that the BCC accept Alternative No. 1 and cancel
the HMPG application for Federal funds for the Wesley Chapel District Park Recreation Building
hurricane hardening.
County funding is not required for this action.
FJB/MSC/ai/ppra080204