CRA budgets match grants for Fisherman’s Landing and Main Street dredging; county sewer impact fees complicate sewer-connection grant

Community Development staff told council the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) capital program in the FY26 proposed budget aligns with pending and awarded grant applications for waterfront projects and streetscapes.

Alex (Community Development) said the CRA has programmed façade and landscape grants, working‑waterfront grants and a component of Fisherman’s Landing facilities work. She told council the budget numbers reflect the city’s strategy to match and commit available CRA dollars to projects so the city is positioned to obligate grants if state or federal funds are approved.

On sewer connections tied to a grant award, staff told council that the state grant will cover connection fees but not county impact fees. Brian said county practice is to waive connection fees in some agreements but still charge impact fees; the state grant does not fund impact fees. Staff said they have therefore programmed $100,000 in CRA (and related funds) to help cover impact fees and avoid an added cost to homeowners. "The impact fees would be in the range of $4,000 to a typical homeowner," Brian said.

Alex also noted the Fisherman’s Landing match schedule and the planned Main Street boat‑ramp dredging, both of which rely on awarded or pending grants (including FDEP and other state programs). She said design for the dredging project is underway and the city will pursue the construction-phase grants according to the presentation timeline.

Why it matters: the CRA’s ability to match grants determines whether waterfront and streetscape projects can proceed; unresolved sewer impact-fee costs could shift costs to homeowners if the city does not program matching funds. Council must confirm CRA priorities and any reallocation to cover impact fees if state grants move forward.