Waterways commission recommends downtown dredging, Sisters Creek bathhouse and TK Stokes bulkhead for FIND funding

The Waterways Commission recommended that city leaders seek FIND grant support for three waterfront projects — downtown dredging, a phased Sisters Creek transient-facilities package and a TK Stokes bulkhead replacement — and approved an order of priority to forward to the Waterways grant process.

A parks department staff member presenting the list said the commission’s top pick would be a downtown dredging package covering seven targeted sites, including a cleanup at the Arlington River mouth, with a target depth of about -7 feet and an estimated total cost of roughly $3.3 million. The staff member said the city would request $1.5 million from FIND as the grant ask and provide a 50% local match; the presentation included a customary 10% contingency that increases the project budget to about $3.3 million on paper.

Why it matters: the projects are intended to restore or expand public water access downtown and at popular transient-boat facilities, which proponents said would improve safety, reduce repeated grounding at low tide and support recreational and tournament activity. The vote sends the ranked projects to the Waterways process, where council-level approval and CIP amendments could be required to provide local match dollars.

In addition to the downtown dredge, staff recommended a Sisters Creek package that the presenter estimated at about $6.4 million for the full scope (floating docks, gangway, a boardwalk, bathhouse and related infrastructure). Staff told the committee the dock element alone was roughly $5 million. Because the city’s available FIND cap would not cover the full package this year, the staff member recommended phasing: build the elevated bathhouse, supporting sidewalk/boardwalk and an interim observation pier now (eligible for design reimbursement), then deliver the gangway and floating docks in a later construction phase.

The staff member said the city’s FIND ask for Sisters Creek would be $1.25 million (which, with a 50% match, equates to $2.5 million of project funding before contingency) and stressed that the phased approach would allow the city to retain design reimbursements and keep the project moving within grant timelines.

The third recommended addition — a design request for a TK Stokes bulkhead replacement — was presented as a relatively modest design ask (staff estimated a FIND request of about $125,000) intended to keep the city’s pipeline steady so some projects are always progressing from design toward construction.

Staff also noted other items reviewed on the draft FIND list: a Neptune Beach kayak launch application had been withdrawn before consideration (so those FIND dollars were not applied for), and a Joe Carlucci fishing-pier improvement is moving forward this fiscal year under a separate program. The presenter said the committee’s recommended order to forward to Waterways would be: downtown dredging first, Sisters Creek second, and TK Stokes third.

During discussion committee members and staff addressed permitting constraints (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FDEP reviews), submerged‑land-permit considerations and design tradeoffs that led to the recommended phasing for Sisters Creek. The presenter said recent utility work (notably a JEA force main located beneath an old ramp) had eliminated the option of replacing one boat ramp and led staff to propose converting a ramp into a stabilized kayak launch and small fishing pier at that location.

Public comment: John Nooney, identifying himself as a Jacksonville resident and public commenter, urged continued attention to waterfront access and noted other regional funding and partnership opportunities. “When this stuff happens, I hope that our waterways commission ... we will be donating, and you’ll have public access,” Nooney said, describing potential private donations and regional activities.

The committee approved forwarding the three recommended projects in the order presented to Waterways for formal recommendation; the motion passed on the record with the chair asking “All in favor?” and no individual roll-call votes transcribed.

What’s next: staff said the Waterways Commission’s recommended list will go through the city council legislative process if selected; council action would be needed to amend the CIP and provide any local matching funds the grants require. Staff also noted phasing and permit timing could push some construction requests into subsequent fiscal years.