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Mangrove trimming finished; inlet-widening warranty active and corner-widening feasibility under procurement
Summary
Staff reported completed mangrove trimming, inlet-widening work in warranty, no active dredging, near-exhaustion of a FEMA maintenance line item, and procurement activity for corner-widening feasibility and possible land acquisition for staging.
Canal maintenance staff told the Burnt Star Isles Canal Advisory Committee on Sept. 9 that mangrove trimming work recently was completed and that inlet-widening work is now in a warranty period; no new dredging activity was reported.
Mark Storm said contractors finished mangrove trimming the previous week. He also said the inlet-widening project is complete and currently in a warranty phase; any warranty-related follow-up is ongoing. Storm said a small FEMA-related maintenance amount that appeared in the packet will be exhausted before the new year, and that no new dredging contracts are active at this time.
Staff reported procurement activity on a corner-widening feasibility study. A purchase order has been issued and staff are reviewing study deliverables, timeline and personnel assignments. Storm identified five pinch points under review: one at the south end near Tristy Drive, another by the lock, and three approaching Tamiami Trail. He told members a single barge is currently working in Punta Gorda Isles and that contractor staging and barge access were factors in scheduling further work.
The committee discussed a potential land acquisition for a roughly three-to-four-acre "top corner" staging area. Staff said they had contacted the new owner and were awaiting a response about a possible purchase; members said the lot is a prime staging location and ranked land acquisition as the program's top priority to secure future maintenance access. "Number 1 is those lot, if somebody starts to develop, it's gone forever," one member said, emphasizing staging concerns.
Committee members asked staff for an emailed status update on the corner-widening procurement and any land-acquisition negotiations. Staff agreed to provide updates to the group as they become available.
