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Council tables Seabreeze Park Pier engineering contract, asks staff to study rock‑jetty alternative
Summary
Council postponed awarding a $90,216 engineering contract for Seabreeze Park Pier reconstruction and directed staff to return with information comparing a reconstructed pier (estimated $1.4M) to a possible rock‑jetty alternative after council members raised concerns about hurricane resilience and long‑term maintenance.
Council discussed a staff recommendation to award a professional‑services contract to Cobb Finley and Associates for engineering design of the Seabreeze Park Pier at $90,216 and reviewed an estimated construction cost of roughly $1.4 million to replace the structure’s piles and decking.
A Cobb Finley representative told council the design would incorporate flow‑resistant materials intended to help protect the pier in future storms; councilmembers questioned whether a rock jetty might be more durable and cost‑effective in the long term than repeatedly replacing pier piles. Staff and the engineering representative said they had not evaluated a jetty in detail and that a jetty would involve additional permitting and likely Corps of Engineers or county involvement.
Councilmember discussion included whether escrow funds held for maintenance of a separate Sylvan Beach pier could be used (staff said those funds are restricted and cannot lawfully be used for Seabreeze), whether the city could obtain insurance for pier damage (staff said piers are generally difficult to insure) and the timeline for design (about four months) and construction (later, after bidding). Several councilmembers requested cost estimates for a rock‑jetty alternative.
After discussion, the council voted to postpone the engineering contract award for Seabreeze Park Pier and directed staff to bring back comparative information, including rock‑jetty options and related cost and permitting implications.
