Fort Pierce officials move to document costs and declare local emergency as South Beach erosion worsens

Mayor Ilainda Hudson and Fort Pierce commissioners spent the meetingleaders on Monday assessing a rapidly deteriorating shoreline on South Beach and directed staff to take emergency steps to protect infrastructure and document expenses for possible state or federal reimbursement.

Resident Steve Tarr told the commission the "South Beach now is been evaporated from erosion" and warned that dunes were close to breaching and sending water onto A1A, threatening roadways, businesses and homes. His public comment prompted a lengthy staff and commissioner briefing on weeks of ad‑hoc mitigation work. "They were out there creating a concrete barrier to try and protect that part of the dune," Tarr said, describing the emergency response he observed.

City staff and elected officials described a sequence of crisis measures taken over several days: locating and hauling Jersey (concrete) barriers to the most endangered spots, backfilling them with sand, chaining units together, and repeatedly repairing or replacing barriers after high tides knocked them down. "By our calculations, we had 48 hours to stem the tide," Commissioner Broderick said, recounting on‑site assessments and the coordination that brought county and federal personnel and donated material into the effort.

City project manager Marsha Kamon said staff are restoring concrete barriers and backfilling them to mitigate tidal impacts. "Our strategy has mitigated the impact of the tides that we've been witnessing," she said, while warning the measures are temporary and require daily work.

County commissioners and staff described parallel actions. St. Lucie County Commissioner James Claspy said the county authorized emergency funds and coordinated a 10,000 cubic‑yard sand dump to protect sections near the jetty, while the Army Corps of Engineers is expediting engineering work on planned t‑groins that officials say will be part of a longer‑term solution. Officials said the Corps' renourishment project is projected to begin in early March.

City attorney advice and commission direction: commissioners expressly discussed the legal mechanics of a local declaration of emergency. City attorney (Miss Hedges) told the commission the mayor has sole authority to declare a local state of emergency and that such a declaration expands the city manager's authority for emergency purchases and for restricting access where needed. The commission asked staff to compile thorough documentation (photos, video, timesheets, equipment lists and invoices) so any costs can be supported for future reimbursement claims.

Commissioners pressed for immediate procurement and equipment access to buy time until the federal renourishment project arrives. Commissioner Broderick urged a short, targeted list of needs — equipment, fill material and a small set of purchases—rather than broad, indefinite spending. City manager Chess said staff already have authority to make emergency purchases under existing code but that a formal emergency declaration would clarify and expand options for procurement and operational control.

What happens next: the city clerk will draft a local state of emergency for the mayor's signature; staff will continue on‑site mitigation around the clock, coordinate with county ERD personnel, and prepare full documentation of personnel time, equipment and material for possible state or federal reimbursement. The Army Corps' larger dredging and renourishment work remains the planned long‑term fix, with officials saying that federal activity should begin in early March and that the temporary measures are intended to buy the city and county a few weeks of protection.

The commission did not take a recorded formal vote to adopt a specific spending cap during the meeting; instead members directed staff to pursue necessary purchases, keep the commission informed and prepare the emergency declaration for the mayor's signature.