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City engineer: all three Gulfport piers under contract; staff to seek federal grant for finger-pier replacements
Summary
Assistant City Engineer Robert Lee reported that the Ken Combs Pier is under construction and notices to proceed have been issued for two other piers. Staff said they will apply for Federal Lands Access Program funding to replace aging finger piers at the harbor with more durable materials and add ADA access where feasible.
Assistant City Engineer Robert Lee told the council that all three remaining harbor piers are now under contract: the Ken Combs Pier is under construction, the URI Pier contractor received its notice to proceed effective March 10, and the Libby Milner Pier contract was signed with notice to proceed effective April 2. "All 3 of the remaining piers are under contract. Notices to proceed have been issued," Lee reported to the council.
In a separate agenda item, staff described a planned application to the Federal Highway Administration’s Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). The application will request funding to replace as many of the harbor’s five finger piers as can be supported, move from timber to more durable materials (concrete or flow‑through decking were discussed), and improve ADA access at the harbor. City staff said the piers were rebuilt with timber after Hurricane Katrina and are now aging; partial funding for one or more finger piers would be pursued because Mississippi’s FLAP allocation is limited and tied to the percentage of federal lands in the state.
Councilmembers emphasized ADA access and public‑use improvements. Councilmember Hines noted the importance of access for people with mobility needs and asked staff to provide an update on harbor rental arrears. Staff said they are developing budget and scope estimates and will include ADA compliance in the grant application; exact dollar amounts for the application will be provided before the early‑May application deadline.
Council discussion also referenced ongoing harbor management issues including ramp and finger‑pier maintenance and earlier pier repair bids. Staff will return with a grant application draft and cost estimates before the May submission deadline.
