Tequesta council hears update on mangrove‑island restoration; group seeks $5,000 line item and symbolic resolution

Sue, a project representative for the mangrove‑island restoration effort, told the Village of Tequesta Council the project is “in the final stages of the permitting process” and that engineers and federal reviewers are close to agreeing on a final design.

The presenter said the project has raised more than $730,000 so far and that “individuals alone have raised over $340,000.” She described the work planned to protect nearby mangrove islands, including informational signs already installed by condominium owners and a planned system of informational buoys. The presentation credited the Jupiter Inlet Foundation and the Andrew Red Harris Foundation as major partners and funders; she said the Andrew Red Harris Foundation committed a minimum of $175,000.

Council members and staff discussed two specific requests from the group: (1) that the village consider a budget contribution to the project and (2) that the village deliver a municipal expression of support for a state naming proposal to designate the mangrove islands in memory of Andrew Red Harris.

Councilmember Jason French and other members said they supported the restoration work but wanted more specificity about how any village funds would be used. French proposed treating any contribution as an “investment in our waterways” and suggested a $5,000 amount as a starting point, with the council or staff specifying which element (for example, buoys or signage) the money would buy. Several council members said they preferred a budget line item or contingent pledge tied to construction start rather than a direct charitable donation. Vice Mayor Sartore and other members voiced full support for the project and for a municipal expression of support for the naming effort, though several members asked that the municipal letter be phrased so it does not itself constitute the formal act of naming.

The presenter said the group has a lease option with the landowner under which the village could lease the site for community events; she and council staff discussed costs the village would face if it leased the property for a year. The presenter also described outreach options to boost fundraising, including exhibiting at regional boat shows.

Council consensus was to bring a concrete proposal to the upcoming budget workshop: staff will present a $5,000 line item for the Jupiter Narrows/mangrove‑island restoration project under the planning department budget and show language options for a support letter (council members asked that the letter express municipal support for the state process rather than definitively naming the islands). No formal donation vote was taken that night.

Members of the public and project representatives who spoke urged support and noted the project’s community partnerships, while several council members emphasized the need for clear scope and an accountability plan before releasing funds.

The group asked that the village coordinate with marine patrol to provide educational contacts on the water rather than citations, and the presenter said engineers estimate a roughly $1 million total project target subject to final permitting, with engineering costs “a little less than 20%” of that estimate.

Council and staff said they would return to the topic at the budget workshop with specific language for a line item and sample wording for a municipal support letter to state officials.