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Port St. Joe advances alley and street drainage work, continues debate on boat basin and Williams Avenue parking design
Summary
The city approved task orders to evaluate downtown alley drainage and Bay Harbor Street drainage, discussed a Frank Bay boat-landing study with concerns over cost and parking loss, and delayed final selection of a Williams Avenue parking-lot layout to refine plans for landscaping and sidewalks.
PORT ST. JOE, Fla. Sept. 8, 2025 The Port St. Joe City Commission on Monday approved engineering task orders to evaluate drainage improvements in downtown alleys and on Bay Harbor Street, but commissioners paused on larger work at the Frank Bay boat landing while members debated cost, permitting and an anticipated loss of nearby public parking.
The commission approved a task order for downtown alley drainage improvements with a consultant fee of $29,685. City staff said the work is primarily an evaluation to locate problematic stormwater spots, identify elevations and tie-ins to the main storm system before any paving is removed and reconstruction begins. Commissioners voted to begin the evaluation so grading and subsequent design work can proceed in coordination with an upcoming sewer project.
The Frank Bay boat-landing area prompted a longer debate. City staff said an early engineering assessment had estimated roughly $40,000 for initial work, but that full reconstruction of the boat basin and related permitting/disposal costs could reach into the millions, depending on permit requirements and the extent of structural work. Several commissioners said losing free parking on a nearby property (the former First Baptist Church site) would make ramp access and boating logistics difficult and urged postponing major capital work until parking and funding issues are clearer. One commissioner proposed a permit moratorium and free permit allowances for local residents if parking is lost.
The commission also approved moving forward with a Bay Harbor Street drainage task order after staff reported homeowners willing to grant easements and the need to resolve alley drainage that affects several properties.
On Williams Avenue property recently acquired by the city for a parking lot, staff presented six conceptual layouts varying from about 28 to 36 spaces and different circulation patterns (diagonal vs. straight-in). Commissioners and staff emphasized aesthetic elements such as shade trees, planting beds and sidewalks; they asked the cityengineer to redraw the preferred plan (diagram P1) to incorporate alley edges, a continuous sidewalk and larger turning radii for trucks. The commission set a workshop and asked staff to return with revised drawings and cost estimates before advertising the project for bid.
Separately, the commission discussed boat-launch permits. The mayor proposed that current annual launch permits expire Dec. 31, 2025, and that, beginning in 2026, the city sell annual permits only to property owners inside city limits (with proof of ownership or residency required); temporary daily launch fees would apply to others. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a workshop on permit qualifications and implementation.
Why this matters: drainage and parking projects affect downtown business viability, pedestrian safety and stormwater management. The unresolved boat basin questions touch on public access to launch facilities, shoreline permitting and the city's parking supply during peak seasons.
Next steps: city staff will proceed with the two drainage evaluations, revise Williams Avenue parking layouts per commissioner direction and prepare a workshop on boat-launch permit policy and parking impacts.
