Dunedin approves design contract for east seawall as debate continues over marina reopening and FEMA risk

Dunedin — The City Commission on Jan. 21 unanimously approved a $298,083 contract with engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates to design and seek permits for the marina’s eastern bulkhead replacement and repairs to a damaged north bulkhead, while residents and commissioners pressed staff for a faster plan to stabilize docks and reopen portions of the marina.

The vote followed several hours of public comment, technical presentations from city staff and consultants, and a heated public exchange over procurement, timelines and how much the federal government might reimburse. Clayton Watkins, the city’s assistant utilities director and city engineer, told commissioners the quick schedule aims to complete design by April, bid in May and start construction in August with an estimated construction cost of about $3,555,000.

Why it matters: The marina is a central economic and recreational asset for Dunedin’s downtown, and its closure has affected restaurants, marina businesses and slip renters. Commissioners sought both an accelerated technical plan to repair the failing seawall and a short-term stabilization strategy that would allow limited marina operations before construction begins, while staff warned that moving too quickly can jeopardize FEMA reimbursement.

What the commission approved Commissioners voted 5–0 to authorize the city manager’s recommended service authorization for Kimley-Horn. The motion, read…