Friendswood City Council approved a request from city staff on Monday to begin negotiations with a flood mitigation consulting firm that could help secure grants for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. The direction to move forward came amid frustration from councilmembers that Friendswood did not get approved for FEMA's buyout program. While thousands of homes took in water after the hurricane, Friendswood's application to FEMA included just 44 homes totaling around $12 million, which may have been the reason for the denial, said Assistant City Manager Morad Kibiri, though he said the city has not yet received a formal explanation from the agency. "Our plan was too rich," Kibiri said. "The pot to start with was $90 million nationwide. My assumption is that we were asking for too much." That result stands in contrast to the city's success in 2001, when FEMA bought out 136 homes after Tropical Storm Allison. The city also may not be eligible for hazard mitigation grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which are targeted to areas defined as low- and middle-income, Kibiri said. The hope is that by bringing on a flood mitigation consultant, the city can seek out grants to help elevate flood-damaged homes. "The flood mitigation consultant will be employed by the city, for the city, but obviously their work benefits all affected residents and future residents of Friendswood," said Patrick Donart, Friendswood's public works director, city engineer and floodplain administrator. The firm can also conduct drainage surveys and recommend future projects to reduce flooding risks. "They would be looking at what we're asking them to," Donart told the council on Monday. "As the process goes, you may be directing them to do larger and bigger things or going back and looking at smaller things." Jeffrey S. Ward & Associates was identified as the vendor of choice, but a contract has not yet been developed. The mayor will be able to execute the contract as soon as it is negotiated, allowing the process to be expedited. Part of the cost of the contract would be covered by grant funds, according to the city's request. "Other cities are getting stuff we’re not," said Councilmember Steve Rockey. "And it needs to stop." The council also approved allocating $1 million for the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District to clear vegetation from a section of Clear Creek, though this project will only apply to the Galveston County side of the creek.