Restoration approved to begin on Beach
Let the Estero Island Beach Restoration project begin.
After receiving approval by the Fort Myers Beach Town Council Monday evening, the Interlocal Agreement for the 1.1-mile project north of the Beach Pier was officially and unanimously agreed upon by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday morning.
“I’m just so thankful at this point that we can go forward,” said Lee Commissioner Ray Judah. “Let me thank Steve Boutelle (Lee County’s Natural Resources Division manager) for his tremendous perseverance in working with the Fort Myers Beach mayor and council for entering into this partnership for the re-nourishment project on the desperately eroded portion of Fort Myers Beach.”
The project will move forward with permitting, easement transactions and design, engineering and construction activities including a terminal structure at Bowditch Point Park. Maintenance and monitoring will be extended for a period of seven years.
“We want to get under construction before the end of the calendar year,” said Boutelle.
Judah asked Boutelle if the oil spill situation has any barring with the state permitting for the project.
“Based on the conversations we’ve had with the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection Agency), we don’t need any additional permitting from the state,” said Boutelle. “Furthermore, the emergency which is issued now provides us great flexibility for all of our beaches should we have any issues or sand needed to be removed for cleaning purposes.”
The FMB Council members approved the action by a 4-1 count. Councilman Tom Babcock was the lone dissenter. The officials discussed obligations from both parties before deciding October 1, as the no-later-than deadline date for property owners to notify the Town or County in writing of their request for easement rescission.
During the prior discussion, former Town Attorney Anne Dalton noted the Town’s expected share for the project funding should be no more than an estimated amount of $110,224 -excluding cost overruns.
“The Town’s total exposure is $110,224 except for the construction bids,” said Dalton, acting as special counsel. She also pointed out post-construction maintenance of beach vegetation on private property will fall on the Town.
“Any responsibility with regard to the beach vegetation management plan is strictly between the Town and property owners,” she said.
According to Dalton, the Town can walk away from the agreement if the costs are significantly higher than expected. The Interlocal states both Town and County will have 30 days following submittal of the anticipated total project costs, and that either party will have the ability within that time to advise the other, in writing, that it does not wish to proceed with the project under this situation. If that is the case, the agreement will be deemed null and void.
Council also unanimously agreed to issue a Coastal Structure Permit to enable the Town to protect its interest in the proper construction and future maintenance of the project’s groin structure and associated activities. Town Manager Terry Stewart said the reasoning for the permit is “to enable the Town to stay in the mix and have some rights in the future.”
The County does have the ability to include additional county-owned property in the scope of the project for the purpose of placement of sand. The Gulf front lots at 1080 and 1130 Estero Blvd., which the County is in the process of buying, may benefit from this action at no additional cost to the Town.
Restoration approved to begin on Beach
Let the Estero Island Beach Restoration project begin.
After receiving approval by the Fort Myers Beach Town Council Monday evening, the Interlocal Agreement for the 1.1-mile project north of the Beach Pier was officially and unanimously agreed upon by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday morning.
“I’m just so thankful at this point that we can go forward,” said Lee Commissioner Ray Judah. “Let me thank Steve Boutelle (Lee County’s Natural Resources Division manager) for his tremendous perseverance in working with the Fort Myers Beach mayor and council for entering into this partnership for the re-nourishment project on the desperately eroded portion of Fort Myers Beach.”
The project will move forward with permitting, easement transactions and design, engineering and construction activities including a terminal structure at Bowditch Point Park. Maintenance and monitoring will be extended for a period of seven years.
“We want to get under construction before the end of the calendar year,” said Boutelle.
Judah asked Boutelle if the oil spill situation has any barring with the state permitting for the project.
“Based on the conversations we’ve had with the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection Agency), we don’t need any additional permitting from the state,” said Boutelle. “Furthermore, the emergency which is issued now provides us great flexibility for all of our beaches should we have any issues or sand needed to be removed for cleaning purposes.”
The FMB Council members approved the action by a 4-1 count. Councilman Tom Babcock was the lone dissenter. The officials discussed obligations from both parties before deciding October 1, as the no-later-than deadline date for property owners to notify the Town or County in writing of their request for easement rescission.
During the prior discussion, former Town Attorney Anne Dalton noted the Town’s expected share for the project funding should be no more than an estimated amount of $110,224 -excluding cost overruns.
“The Town’s total exposure is $110,224 except for the construction bids,” said Dalton, acting as special counsel. She also pointed out post-construction maintenance of beach vegetation on private property will fall on the Town.
“Any responsibility with regard to the beach vegetation management plan is strictly between the Town and property owners,” she said.
According to Dalton, the Town can walk away from the agreement if the costs are significantly higher than expected. The Interlocal states both Town and County will have 30 days following submittal of the anticipated total project costs, and that either party will have the ability within that time to advise the other, in writing, that it does not wish to proceed with the project under this situation. If that is the case, the agreement will be deemed null and void.
Council also unanimously agreed to issue a Coastal Structure Permit to enable the Town to protect its interest in the proper construction and future maintenance of the project’s groin structure and associated activities. Town Manager Terry Stewart said the reasoning for the permit is “to enable the Town to stay in the mix and have some rights in the future.”
The County does have the ability to include additional county-owned property in the scope of the project for the purpose of placement of sand. The Gulf front lots at 1080 and 1130 Estero Blvd., which the County is in the process of buying, may benefit from this action at no additional cost to the Town.