CRA approves $220,000 for 10 additional A1A storm-basin inspections after EnviroWaste finds heavy debris and leaking valves

The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously May 7 to authorize up to $220,000 for EnviroWaste Services to inspect 10 additional stormwater basins along the A1A corridor, expanding an initial four-basin survey that identified widespread debris, leaking backflow devices and infiltration.

EnviroWaste senior presenter Michael Rothenberg told the board that video inspection and dewatering of the Liberty, Oklahoma, Buchanan and Iris basins revealed leaking joints, offset or broken pipe segments and Checkmate brand backflow valves that ‘‘are leaking around the actual seal.’’ He warned that in some 24-inch pipes ‘‘it’s 75 to 80% full of debris’’ and added, "you're only working with 20% of the capacity of the system." Those findings, he said, support targeted repairs such as sectional liners or full-length cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining where defects are concentrated.

Susan, the CRA executive director, told the board the agency hired EnviroWaste after a coordination effort with FDOT and that the CRA’s inspections are intended to produce a comprehensive package for FDOT so the state can take responsibility for corrective work on the FDOT-owned portions of the system. Susan said the CRA already has quantified approximate repair costs for previously inspected basins and noted the CRA’s willingness to advance repairs if required, while seeking reimbursement from FDOT.

FDOT representatives at the meeting acknowledged the EnviroWaste findings and the typical approach that an FDOT contractor (identified in the meeting as Versaar) usually performs inspection and maintenance. FDOT staff said they were reviewing the new reports but did not commit to specific repair dates or a reimbursement mechanism during the meeting. Board members pressed FDOT to provide a timetable and asked the district maintenance engineer, Tony Castro, to appear at a future CRA meeting with a clear plan for inspection frequency, maintenance and reimbursement.

Board members proposed short- and medium-term measures: adding check valves at the demarcation point between the city and FDOT systems so the city can better isolate and maintain its own network; procuring additional vacuum/vactor capability; installing catch-basket inserts in grates to reduce debris; and piloting more frequent inlet cleaning in flood-prone coastal zones. Board member Hernandez asked staff to quantify the cost to clean and maintain the 21 basins under the city’s jurisdiction on an annual or biannual basis; consultant estimates discussed in the meeting put typical inlet cleaning at roughly $2.25–$3.50 per inlet and jetting at $2–$5 per linear foot, with a high-level back-of-envelope cost for biannual cleaning of the 21 basins in the range of $40,000–$50,000.

The board approved the purchase order for inspections for up to $220,000 on a motion by Board member Lehi and a second from Board member Schuham; the vote was unanimous. Susan said the CRA will add the inspection and estimated maintenance costs to the overall spreadsheet for budgeting and pursue follow-up meetings with FDOT, including seeking documentation of any prior repairs FDOT asserts were completed at New York and Arizona Streets.

The approval sends the additional inspections to EnviroWaste and instructs staff to report back with costs and recommended next steps, including avenues for FDOT reimbursement and any necessary interlocal agreements.