Subject:
Title
Approval to Accept Transfer of the balance of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant LPA0417 from Cocoa Beach to Brevard County and Authorization to Administer the Cocoa Beach Muck Capping Project
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Fiscal Impact:
The County will receive a Legislative Appropriation revenue of $11,631,867.28 as a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project. Additionally, the $27,658,824.72 that is currently budgeted as Save Our Indian River Lagoon Aid to Government Agencies for the City of Cocoa Beach to implement this project will be reallocated to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Capital Improvement Program for Brevard County to implement the project.
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management (NRM)
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners:
1. Authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection confirming Brevard County’s willingness to assume administration of Grant Agreement No. LPA0417 from the City of Cocoa Beach; and
2. Authorize the County Manager, for items related to the Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project, to execute 1) all contracts, agreements, amendments, modifications, and other contract-related documents, upon review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, Risk Management, and Purchasing; 2) Task Orders and Change Orders, as required in excess of $200,000, to accomplish work approved under the State grant and 3) all necessary budget amendments (BCRs).
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project was identified in the original Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Project Plan as a priority sediment remediation project to improve water quality and reduce internal nutrient loading within the Banana River Lagoon. Decades of accumulated organic-rich muck contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels, harmful algal blooms, and degraded benthic habitats. This project will address those impacts through strategic sediment sand capping to isolate nutrient-rich muck and improve overall lagoon health.
In 2022, the City of Cocoa Beach asked to administer this project. The County and City worked collaboratively with the Legislative Delegation to secure a $12,000,000 state appropriation to cover the gap between SOIRL funds allocated and the estimated total project cost. Subsequently, changes in city staff resulted in the loss of in-house expertise to manage this project. Therefore, the City has formally requested approval from the FDEP to transfer the administration of this grant to Brevard County's Natural Resources Management. Upon approval, Brevard County will assume responsibility for administration of the Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project, including grant management, contract administration, compliance reporting, grant reimbursement requests, and processing payments to contractors and vendors. Because this project is part of the County-administered SOIRL Program, consolidating grant management under Brevard County will streamline implementation and oversight as well as improve coordination with other lagoon restoration projects.
FDEP has indicated its concurrence with the proposed transfer, contingent upon receiving formal confirmation from Brevard County. Approval of this agenda item will authorize the Chair to execute the required letter to FDEP confirming the County’s willingness to assume administration of the grant.
Additionally, to support timely and efficient project delivery, staff is requesting authorization for the County Manager to execute all agreements, amendments, change orders, task orders, procurement actions, and necessary budget adjustments associated with the Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project, subject to standard County review and approval procedures. This authorization will allow the project to advance without unnecessary delays while maintaining appropriate oversight across all funding sources and project components.
On January 15, 2026, the City of Cocoa Beach awarded the contract for sand capping to the qualified low bidder, JF Brennon, through a competitive procurement process. Geosyntec, also procured by the City through a competitive process, will continue to serve as the Engineer of Record and provide construction oversight services. The City will assign these contracts and tasks to the County, who will administer all remaining aspects of the project.
The proposed transfer of the grant and project administration will not modify the approved project scope, contract deliverables, SOIRL funding, or state funding amounts for this project.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please execute 2 copies of the authorization letter, one for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and one to be returned to Natural Resources.