City awards $1.17M contract to add maintainable outfall vaults to cut sunny‑day flooding

The City Commission authorized the city manager to execute a construction agreement with BCS Construction Group for up to $1,173,370 to install access vaults, inline tide check valves and debris‑catching baffle structures at 13 stormwater outfalls along Boca Ciega Bay.

Public Services Director Camden Mills said the work is targeted at sunny‑day tidal flooding: "When the bay water is elevated at an elevation higher than our roads, that tide check valve is in place to help block it so our roadways don't get flooded." The project builds concrete vaults adjacent to roadway inlets so crews can lift and service valves from land rather than relying on divers.

Mills told commissioners the city had $1.7 million in CIP funds for the program; the low bid that met qualifications was about $1.1 million (roughly $1,000,000 construction plus contingency). He said cheaper underwater dive maintenance historically cost an estimated $200,000 per year and still left valves only partially served, whereas the vault approach should allow more comprehensive inspections and extend valve life.

Commissioner discussion focused on whether the upgrade is a near‑term, cost‑effective improvement versus a longer‑term investment in pumps or larger stormwater infrastructure. Mills said pump stations would address rainfall flooding but are substantially more expensive and complex; the vaults are a targeted means to preserve check‑valve function and improve in‑house maintenance.

Roll call approved the agreement (motion carried). Work will move forward under the construction contract.