Subject:
Title
Restoration of Engineered Dunes in South Beaches post Hurricane Ian
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Fiscal Impact:
Approximately $8,500,000 cost to the Tourist Development Tax Beach Improvement Fund prior to reimbursement of up to 87.5% to be sought through FEMA and state reimbursement
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board authorize the following: 1) advertisement of the South Beaches engineered dune restoration for a reduced two week bid period and award of contracts to the lowest responsive bidders; 2) the County Manager to execute all contracts and task orders in excess of $100,000 including construction & maintenance, engineering, and environmental services necessary to complete the projects; 3) use of County owned/managed land for construction access 4) staff to seek FEMA and State reimbursement and 4) associated budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Initial inspections of all Brevard County beach projects were completed immediately after Hurricane Ian. The beach projects performed as designed and protected all upland structures from direct damage by the ocean, however erosion damage by the storm was significant. Any necessary maintenance of the federal shore protection project (North, Mid and South Reaches) will be arranged through our Project Cooperative Agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Repair of damage to the engineered dunes within the South Beaches are being coordinated by the Natural Resources Management Department, and are expected to be eligible for FEMA assistance as a Category G project.
In the South Beaches approximately 90,000 cubic yard (CY) of material was eroded from the engineered dune during Hurricane Ian. The dunes were most recently maintained in January-March 2021. The cost estimate to repair damage from Ian, including sand, dune vegetation, permit compliance and engineering services is $8.5M. The expected local share of 12.5%, after FEMA and FDEM participation, is $1,062,500. Because maintenance of the project is required for FEMA eligibility, and Brevard has completed such maintenance in recent years, the construction contracts for sand and vegetation will be drafted to allow the Hurricane Ian repairs as well as future work for up to five years, at the discretion of the County Commission with future pricing adjustments using CPI-U.
A preliminary damage assessment for Hurricane Ian was submitted to FEMA to pursue a Category G Project Worksheet for funding eligibility. If the BOCC would like to pursue complete repair of the engineered dunes in the South Beaches before the 2023 hurricane season, action must begin immediately. This will require Board authorization to advertise the projects, both sand and vegetation, for a reduced two week bid period and the award of contracts to the lowest responsive bidders. Authorization is also needed for the County Manager to execute all contracts and task orders including construction & maintenance, engineering, and environmental services necessary to complete the project, use of county owned/managed land for construction access, and associated budget change requests.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Work associated with this agenda report is very time sensitive. Once the clerk’s memo is complete, please contact Mike McGarry (321-537-1779 or Mike.McGarry@brevardfl.gov) for pickup or email a copy if possible. Thank you.