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City approves contracts for environmental counsel, federal liaison and engineering review to support water and infrastructure strategy
Summary
The commission authorized three professional agreements to support environmental and regional infrastructure work: legal counsel with Harvey M. Sheldon, federal government relations with Thorn Run Partners, and a Holtz Consulting work authorization to subcontract Hazen & Sawyer for a systems review of regional water and CERP projects.
The Stewart City Commission on Sept. 22 approved three contracts intended to advance the city’s environmental strategy, federal advocacy and technical understanding of regional water projects. The commission authorized a not‑to‑exceed professional legal services agreement with Harvey M. Sheldon, a 12‑month federal government relations contract with Thorn Run Partners, and a Holtz Consulting Engineers work authorization to subcontract Hazen & Sawyer for a comprehensive review of existing, planned and under‑construction Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and regional stormwater projects.
City environmental counsel (new hire) Rose Holmes summarized the rationale: the city needs independent, technical and legal analysis of water infrastructure projects and funding opportunities to support targeted advocacy and to understand which regional projects will materially benefit the St. Lucie River and estuary. Holmes said Thorn Run will monitor congressional activity, Army Corps programs and appropriations schedules; she said Hazen & Sawyer will inventory capacities and construction status of CERP and other projects (for example C‑25, C‑24 and C‑44 interconnects) to identify which projects are fully functional and which still need construction or repairs.
Holtz/Hazen’s proposed work is intended to create an independent knowledge base — including capacities, performance and readiness — that the city can use when advocating to state and federal partners for prioritized funding to reduce local discharges or address water quality. Holmes said Harvey Sheldon brings federal environmental enforcement and regulatory experience and could advise on administrative or statutory avenues if the city needs to pursue federal or administrative remedies.
Action: The commission voted unanimously to authorize the three contracts: Resolution 91‑2025 (Harvey Sheldon), Resolution 92‑2025 (Thorn Run Partners), and Resolution 93‑2025 (Holtz/Hazen work authorization). The motions were moved and seconded with roll‑call approval.
Why it matters: The contracts are intended to arm the city with legal, lobbying and independent engineering analysis to better target limited local advocacy resources toward federal and state projects that provide measurable benefits to local waterways. The Holtz/Hazen work will produce data the city said is not readily available in public portals, including capacity and operational status of regional water control structures, and therefore will shape the city’s requests in the next round of federal appropriations and Corps project prioritization.
