Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Safety Harbor approves $400,232 Swan Lake weir repair, seeks FEMA reimbursement
Summary
The City Commission approved an emergency construction agreement to rebuild the failed Swan Lake weir and repair adjacent erosion; public works says the city has applied for FEMA reimbursement but a federal determination is pending.
The Safety Harbor City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an emergency construction agreement to repair the failed weir at the east end of Swan Lake and to restore erosion behind the structure.
Public Works Director Renee Cooper told the commission that two contractors responded to the city's bid request and the low, responsive bidder was AMI Recycling and Services at $400,232. "This repairs and reconstructs the rear structure at the east end, and it also restores the erosion that occurred behind that rear structure after it failed," Cooper said. The motion to approve the construction agreement passed 5-0.
The commission was told the work also includes "minor utility repairs" where utility lines are now suspended because the bank eroded. Cooper said the city has submitted the project for FEMA Public Assistance and that reimbursement, if approved, would be a 75 percent FEMA share with the remainder split between the state and city. "This is one of our FEMA projects we have requested reimbursement for," Cooper said. "This would end up being a 75%, 25% split with the city handling the 12 and a half percent, the state handling 12 and a half percent, and FEMA handling 75%."
Commissioners pressed staff about related work upstream and downstream. Cooper said the city will pursue complementary bank-restoration work on the adjacent channel and culvert near North Bay Hills Boulevard and is seeking quotes to restore banks before hurricane season. She described bank-restoration methods including using onsite material where possible and stabilizing new banks with coco matting or sod until vegetation reestablishes.
Commissioners and staff also discussed dredging and ownership. Staff said Swan Lake and the lakebed are owned by the North Bay Hills homeowners association (HOA), which has limited funds and is not currently able to pay for broad dredging. Cooper said the city could help the HOA pursue grant funding through the new city grant program or county funding sources. She cautioned that quotes for dredging when the lake was full were much higher; while the pond is dry, access makes some work less expensive.
The commission noted that the weir and other stormwater infrastructure suffered after multiple storms and unusually heavy rainfall last season. Cooper said parts of the city's stormwater infrastructure were designed for a 25-year storm, and the recent sequence of storms exceeded typical design levels.
The construction contract motion included no change to the city's capital program beyond the awarded contract; Cooper said staff will continue pursuing reimbursements and bring implementation details back to the commission.
The commission approved the agreement 5-0.
