Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coastal Resilience topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Town awards Estero Island dune planting contract to Earth Balance to restore post‑Ian dunes
Summary
Council authorized a $509,859.50 contract with Earth Balance Corporation to plant dune vegetation along Estero Island from Bowditch to Big Carlos Pass; town's share of the project is budgeted at roughly $76,989 with state and federal grants covering the remainder.
The Town Council awarded a contract to Earth Balance Corporation to install dune plantings across sections of Estero Island as part of the island’s beach renourishment and dune management program. The low‑bid award (ITB 25‑02‑EN) will fund plantings from Bowditch northward and through areas covered by the recent renourishment.
Funding and scope The agreement authorizes the town manager to sign a contract not to exceed $509,859.50. Council noted the town’s direct fiscal exposure was budgeted and small relative to the total cost: approximately $76,988.78 will come from town budgeted funds and the remainder will be covered by grants including FDEP and FEMA mitigation funds, which were cited during discussion.
Plants, profile and outreach Staff said they intend to use a “low‑profile” planting mix unless property owners request a different option. The low‑profile plan emphasizes salt‑tolerant grasses (bitter panicum), rail‑road vine and dune daisies with roughly 15% sea oats; county and regional coordination will guide planting along municipally‑controlled shoreline and help inform community outreach.
Timing and property owner interface The town will post a public information notice and contact property owners about where openings in the dune will be maintained. Staff said nurseries have known the project was coming and they expect plant stock to be available soon; schedule details will be provided once the contractor sets phasing.
Vote and next steps The council voted unanimously to award the contract. Staff will finalize a planting schedule, notify property owners, and coordinate with grant administrators to implement the work.
