PUBLIC NOTICE
El aviso público está disponible en español en el sitio web de la ciudad de Astatula (https://www.townofastatula.com).
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED CDBG DISASTER RECOVERY MITIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR THE TOWN OF ASTATULA
The Town of Astatula anticipates applying for Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support long-term restoration, facility hardening and mitigation efforts following the 2023-2024 storms. This program is being administered by the Florida Commerce Department thru the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. A total of nine hundred twenty-five Million three hundred ninety-four thousand dollars ($925,394,000.00) has been allocated for the State of Florida for the 2023 and 2024 Storm Events. Four Hundred Million Dollars ($400,000,000.00) of that amount has been allocated, by Florida Commerce, to fund infrastructure restoration, hardening and mitigation projects in communities impacted by the 2023 and 2024 storms. The minimum allowable amount a community can request is seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00). Applications are due to Florida Commerce on or before September 29, 2025. Eligible types of projects are those that demonstrate increased community resiliency. Examples of some of the types of projects encouraged by Florida Commerce are as follows:
•Restoration of critical infrastructure (such as water and sewer facilities, streets, removal of debris, drainage, bridges, etc.)
•Re-nourishment of protective coastal dune systems and state beaches
•Building or fortifying buildings that are essential to the health, safety and welfare of a community (this can include shelters, police stations, fire stations, parks and recreational centers, community and senior centers, hospitals, clinics, schools and educational facilities and other public properties)
•Rehabilitation or construction of stormwater management systems
•Improvements to drainage facilities
•Reconstruction of lift stations and sewage treatment plants
•Road repair and improvement and bridge strengthening
•Upgrading of communications, energy, transportation and health and medical resources and systems
•Development of mitigation standards, regulations, policies and programs • Dam safety programs, seawalls and levee systems;
•Acquisition of flood prone and environmentally-sensitive lands;
•Retrofitting/hardening/elevating structures and critical facilities
•Relocation of structures, infrastructure and facilities out of vulnerable areas;
•Permanent relocation of residential housing and businesses located in high-risk areas through voluntary buyback programs and rebuilding in low-risk areas
•Public awareness/education campaigns
•Improvement of warning and evacuation systems
Activities that are typically eligible for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as well as specific additional activities as outlined in the State of Florida CDBG-DR Action Plan for the program are eligible projects if no other funding is available to meet the need.
The Town of Astatula anticipates submitting one application for a total of one million six hundred thirty-four thousand eighty-three dollars and fifty cents ($1,634,083.50) in funding. The project synopsis and budget for the application being submitted is as follows:
Application #1 – Hardening of the Astatula Community Center For Use As A Command Center By The Town Of Astatula Police Department During and Immediately After Significant Storm Events: The Town of Astatula Police Department normally operates out of a mobile home which currently serves as the Town's Police Station. During significant storm events, which historically include heavy winds, the mobile home police station is not a safe place to conduct the required continuous police operations during and immediately after significant storm events occur. During that time the Astatula Police Department relocates its command center to the Astatula Community Center located at 13251 Park Avenue, Astatula, Florida. Currently the Astatula Community Center is not a sufficiently hardening facility to maintain operation of the police department command center during and immediately after a significant storm event. In order to harden the Community Center the following improvements need to be completed.
•The installation of a commercial fire sprinkler system connected into the Town of Astatula water system. The proposed installation would include a standpipe, Fire Department connection (FDC), alarm control panel, and connection with backflow prevention
•Modification to the Community Center to add four (4) private shower stalls and changing areas.
•Furnish and install a 50 KW emergency electrical generator with automatic transfer switch, and double walled 250 gallon fuel tank.
The Service Area for the Astatula Community Center hardening project includes the entire Town of Astatula. which based upon the 2016-2020 Census is a Low-&-Moderate Area. Based upon the census information, this application is being submitted as benefitting the Town's low and moderate income population.
The proposed budget for the Astatula Community Center Hardening Project application is as follows:
Structure Name Project Address or Description CDBG-MIT Funding Matching Funds Total Project Costs
Project Administration N/A $ 77,813.50 $ 0.00 $ 77,813.50
Project Engineering Design, Permitting, Bidding and Award Services N/A $ 149,880.00 $ 0.00 $ 149,880.00
Project Engineering Services During Construction N/A $ 99,920.00 $ 0.00 $ 99,920.00
Completion of the HUD Environmental Review N/A $ 20,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 20,000.00
Davis Bacon and Section 3 Oversight During Construction N/A $ 37,470.00 $ 0.00 $ 37,470.00
Community Center Hardening Improvements Install a sprinkler system, showers and emergency electrical generator: $1,249,000.00 $ 0.00 $1,249,000.00
Totals $1,634,083.50 $1,634,083.50
Any resident wishing to know more about the proposed project or submit any public comment on the proposed projects should contact Ann Quandt, Town Clerk, Town of Astatula at (352) 742-1100 or by email at townclerk@astatula.org. Comments from the public concerning these projects will be received from September 14, 2025, and must be received by the Town no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025. All comments will be considered, and proposed changes will be submitted to Florida Commerce. Information relating to the proposed project and application is available for review between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Town of Astatula, Town Hall located at 25009 County Road 561, Astatula, Florida 34705.
Any non-English speaking person wishing to comment on the proposed project should contact Ms. Quandt and a language interpreter will be provided. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
The Town of Astatula is a Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity/Handicap Accessible Jurisdiction.
September 14 2025
LSAR0369793