Flagler Beach awards pier construction contract; start could slip past July 4 target

The Flagler Beach City Commission on Jan. 23 unanimously approved Resolution 2025-06 to award the city’s pier construction contract (bid FB 242307 / project 260). The commission opened public comment and then approved the award after a presentation and questions about the bid pricing and schedule.

City officials and the pier project manager said the winning contractor’s bid showed differences from the city’s engineer estimate mostly explained by how the contractor packaged mobilization and trestle costs and by some higher-priced line items such as lighting. Gabriel Perdomo, project manager, Moffett Nickel, said the contractor’s lower trestle line and higher mobilization line are likely a pricing choice and that “we were a little bit surprised by that” on lighting costs and will review that item further.

Why this matters: the pier is a major capital project that affects summer visitor access, parking in the downtown CRA, and timing for related work on the beach walk and promenade. Commissioners pressed staff for clarity about staging, lane impacts, and the contractor’s timeline so the public can plan around summer activity.

Details of the award and schedule

- Contract award: Resolution 2025-06 (FB 242307 / project 260) was approved by the commission. The contract amount stated in the agenda text was unclear in the transcript; the commission approved the award as presented. The agenda packet included the Palm Coast contract as the basis for a piggyback procurement.

- Contractor mobilization and trestle: Perdomo said the contractor will assemble an existing trestle rather than purchase all new materials, which can reduce costs but still requires significant mobilization. He explained that when the contractor’s mobilization and trestle line items are combined, the totals more closely match the engineer estimate.

- Lighting: Perdomo said the contractor’s lighting line was higher than expected and noted the requirement to meet FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) turtle-lighting standards, but he said staff will review the conductors and installation pricing.

- Timeline and target dates: City staff told the commission the contractor expects the earliest start in March and a likely March–April deployment, with a realistic window into May depending on contract execution. Staff earlier described a July 4 target for opening parts of the project but warned the completion date could slip one to three months depending on weather and other variables. The commission was told that a one- to three-month delay in starting would likely extend completion by a similar length of time.

- Staging and parking impacts: Staff said staging will restrict parking on the east side of A1A between Third Street and Fifth Street while the contractor stages equipment. The city does not expect general lane closures but may need temporary lane shifts and restriping coordinated with FDOT. City staff said the contractor is responsible for staging and safety zones, including providing controlled access beneath the pier for beachgoers and ATVs; there may be temporary closures of that passage for overhead crane operations.

Related beach walk, promenade and funding

- Geotechnical work: Perdomo told the commission the geotechnical consultant will drill three borings; staff said these borings will not use impact hammering. The commission agreed to leave the timing of that work to the contractor’s discretion.

- Beach walk and promenade schedule: Staff described a permitting window of about six months for the beach walk, with preliminary/final design work proceeding concurrently. If design is finished by late October or early November, the city expects phase 1 construction to begin in early 2026. Promenade construction is estimated at roughly four to six months; the city anticipates the promenade to be completed in the latter part of 2026. Staff said the TDC (Tourist Development Council) grant terms require construction to begin within one year of the funding agreement and for construction to occur within two years; staff indicated the project remains within that timeline.

Public questions and city responses

Residents asked about impacts to the summer tourist season, beach access during construction and whether the city had plans for traffic impacts on A1A and Moody Boulevard. Staff said parking displacement is expected in the staged area but that the city intends to avoid lane closures and will coordinate with FDOT/MDOT on maintenance-of-traffic plans and restriping. Staff also noted the South 8th Street parking lot rehabilitation will reopen additional spaces during construction.

Votes and next steps

City staff will finalize contract documents and coordinate the contractor’s maintenance-of-traffic and safety plans with FDOT and the city’s public-safety departments. The commission approved the resolution; staff will proceed with contract execution and project coordination.

Ending

The commission’s approval advances a multi-phase waterfront program that pairs the pier with a beach walk and later promenade work. Staff emphasized coordination with FDOT, adherence to turtle-lighting requirements, and contractor responsibility for public safety and staging as the project moves into construction.