Seminole Street boat ramp contractor to mobilize; above-water repairs to finish first, underwater work in permitting

A project manager told the advisory board Sept. 10 that the low-bid contractor for the Seminole Street boat launch will mobilize the week of Sept. 15 and that staff expect the above-water repairs to be completed in October. "We're just doing the, everything above water. So they're replacing the ramps, all the gator docks on there. So that that's phase 1. Phase 2 will be the underneath the water, and that's being designed right now," the project manager said. The project will be executed in multiple subsections so the city can keep two ramps open at all times; staff said phase 1 will be divided to maintain operational boat ramps during construction. The underwater portion (phase 2) is in design and will proceed to permitting. Staff also said the construction schedule is condensed and crews will work Monday through Thursday to avoid weekend congestion, particularly during boat-racing events that will stage pits and staging at Sankey Park while launches occur at Seminole. Board members asked about related facilities, including restrooms and an elevator; staff clarified that elevator repair is outside the current scope. Several board members raised potential low-cost kayak launch locations — a small sand area at the end of Seminole Street, the east end near the shuffleboard court and a shallow site near the foot of Pierce Street under the old radio station — and asked staff to evaluate them for minimal alterations and adjacent parking. The advisory board received the update; staff expects contractor mobilization next week and will return with progress reports as work proceeds.