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CRA board focuses on stormwater pilots, pervious pavement and maintenance equipment for pilot areas
Summary
Board members discussed a stormwater pilot on Magnolia north of Fillmore, pervious pavement maintenance needs, estimated pilot costs and equipment options, and two Kimley Horn design proposals for stormwater components of the Civic Hub and Presidential Streets.
At the Aug. 20, 2024 special meeting, City of Cape Canaveral CRA board members and staff spent significant time on stormwater priorities and pilot projects intended to reduce street flooding without fully rebuilding entire Presidential Streets.
The board discussed a proposed pilot on Magnolia Street, north of Fillmore, as a lower‑cost test to remove impervious pavement area and allow water to infiltrate rather than go into storm pipes. Tim (staff member) said the original pilot concept covered about 268 linear feet and “it came out to about a $140,000,” though he cautioned that the estimate dates from a few years earlier and would likely rise modestly.
Why it matters: Board members said targeted, lower‑cost stormwater work could provide relief to frequently flooded low points (notably near Fillmore townhomes) faster than a full Presidential Street reconstruction and could reduce how much CRA money is required for the Civic Hub stormwater components.
Technical options and maintenance: City staff described pervious pavement trials already in place in the city (examples on North Atlantic Avenue curves, Canaveral City Park, and an upcoming pervious paver installation at Center Street Park) and warned that pervious surfaces require vacuum maintenance. Tim briefed the board on vacuum‑cleaning equipment options, saying prices range from “a little small model all the way to $45,000” to large commercial vacuum sweepers costing up to about $500,000; he emphasized that a conventional street sweeper will not adequately clean pervious pavement and that neglecting maintenance will degrade the pavement’s effectiveness.
Design costs and consultants: The board confirmed it has two recent Kimley Horn proposals: roughly $149,000 for engineering the Civic Hub underground stormwater chambers and about $298,000 for design work tied to Presidential Streets stormwater components. Board members agreed those proposals will be scheduled for presentation at the regular CRA meeting in September.
Scope and tradeoffs: Board members flagged that full Presidential Street reconstructions (the CIP previously listed a $1.6 million figure for Presidential Streets) would take many years and that CRA funds alone would not complete the full program. Members suggested prioritizing stormwater elements of Presidential Streets and Civic Hub to achieve broader drainage improvements sooner. Multiple members also proposed pilot projects in safe zones that would not conflict with future Kimley Horn work.
Next steps and direction: Staff was asked to refine pilot cost estimates, provide updated Kimley Horn cost details, and bring design proposals and an updated budget book to the September CRA meeting. Board members also discussed locating underground stormwater vaults in green‑space areas before proposing vaults under amenities such as tennis courts to avoid removing existing recreational features.
Taper: The board directed staff to return with refined cost estimates, updated design proposals and a recommended sequencing of pilots versus large‑scale street reconstruction at the September meeting.
