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City council approves EIR, authorizes early stormwater bidding for Crosstown Connector
Summary
The City of Destin accepted an updated environmental impact report (EIR) for the Crosstown Connector and authorized staff to advertise a request for bids for Phase 1 stormwater work and an RFQ for construction engineering and inspection services, moves intended to preserve grant funding and accrued interest.
The City of Destin City Council on April 21 accepted a final reevaluation of the Crosstown Connector environmental impact report and authorized staff to advertise a request for bids for Phase 1 (stormwater) work and a request for qualifications for construction engineering and inspection services.
The EIR reevaluation, presented by Matt Taylor of Atkins Realis and summarized by City Manager Andy Jones, concluded that changes in design and existing conditions did not alter the conclusions of the original EIR. The council voted 7-0 to accept the final EIR and separately voted 7-0 to approve advertisement for the bid package for Phase 1 and an RFQ for CEI services so the city can begin procurement work before federal DOT construction funding becomes available.
City staff said early procurement has two objectives: preserve a $2 million DOT grant and preserve interest earned on loan proceeds by beginning to spend money from those loan funds before IRS rules or other timing issues require reallocation. Atkins’ presentation outlined required preconstruction environmental commitments — preconstruction surveys for gopher tortoise, burrowing owls and bald eagle nests; DOT-standard protection measures for the eastern indigo snake; and consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if the tricolored bat or monarch butterfly become listed under the Endangered Species Act. Council members were told those commitments would be written into construction contract documents.
Atkins’ slide presentation also recommended dividing the project into two construction packages: a Phase 1 to construct stormwater underground chambers and inflow pipes (estimated 4–6 months) and a Phase 2 to complete roadway and remaining work (16–18 months). The preliminary schedule presented showed Phase 1 starting in summer 2025 and Phase 2 starting in early 2026 with completion in mid-2027.
Council discussion focused on the schedule imperative — consultants and staff cited material-cost uncertainty and finance rules for loan proceeds as drivers for moving the stormwater procurement forward now. Councilmembers asked staff to return with final documents for advertising and to ensure required environmental and permitting commitments are included in RFP/RFQ documents.
The council’s actions authorize staff to proceed with procurement subject to the city manager and city attorney review; the EIR approval makes the project eligible for state (but not federal) funding, per the consultant.
The city will include the environmental commitments identified by Atkins in the construction RFPs and in CEI scope documents and proceed with advertisement as soon as the final bid documents are cleared by staff.
A decision on actual construction contracts and final design approval will come back to the council through the normal procurement and contract award processes.
