St. Augustine commission approves Army Corps funding amendment, Medici Lions work and Nights of Lights shuttle change

The St. Augustine City Commission voted unanimously to amend the city’s feasibility cost-share agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accept additional federal funding that will complete a Back Bay coastal-storm-risk feasibility study through 2028 without requiring the city to provide additional matching cash.

Why it matters: The study—aimed at reducing coastal flood risk to critical infrastructure, cultural resources and the local economy—had an estimated total cost of about $7.5 million. The city previously committed a $1.5 million share funded from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Commissioners were told the remaining nonfederal share (roughly $4.3 million) has now been covered by federal appropriations; that eliminates about $2 million the city had been preparing to allocate as a match.

Study detail: Jessica Beach, the city’s chief resilience officer, and Jason Harrah, the Corps’ project manager, told commissioners the study will continue through environmental, engineering and…