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Committee reprioritizes capital projects; Don CeSar/Boca Ciega and shoreline resilience top list with grant seeks
Summary
Committee members asked staff to reprioritize projects in the capital improvement plan, elevate resiliency and waterfront projects, pursue a 75% grant match for adaptation work and seek an extension for a $1.5 million FDOT grant for Boca Ciega Drive.
The Finance and Budget Committee asked staff to refine the city’s capital improvement plan and to accelerate resiliency and shoreline adaptation projects in light of recent storm damage.
Staff summary and committee direction
Staff reported they reduced the number of capital projects to match what can reasonably be completed in a year and reprioritized projects at the committee’s request. Committee members asked that the Don CeSar/Boca Ciega resiliency and adaptation project receive prominence; staff added $8.8 million for that project in the draft and said they will seek a 75% grant match to reduce local cost. The committee also discussed a $1.5 million FDOT grant tied to Boca Ciega Drive that expires in 2025 and directed staff to request an extension if needed.
Other CIP adjustments
Staff said Gulf Winds Drive work was pushed out to 2027–2028, some sidewalk expansions were removed to reduce scope, and the Mary Pier bait‑shack and adjacent shuffleboard building remain in planning with options other than demolition being considered. The Pass-a-Grille stormwater/resiliency effort was moved to a phased design‑build approach with design and permitting planned in 2026 and construction likely to span 2026–27. Staff also flagged long lead times for some elevator replacements and noted several hurricane‑damage right‑of‑way and seawall rehabilitation items were spread over multiple years to match cash and staffing capacity.
Why it matters
The reprioritization shifts scarce local dollars toward shoreline and storm‑resilience projects and places several large projects into multi‑year phasing to match available grant opportunities and staff capacity.
Next steps
Staff will pursue grant opportunities and return a refined CIP to the commission and the committee. No appropriations were approved at the workshop; the committee asked that staff continue to revise project timing and scope and provide clearer funding sources when the tentative budget returns in August.
