Commission hears comprehensive CIP update; staff highlights stormwater projects, sewer conversions and lift station costs

Steven Slaughter, the city’s utility and public works director, presented a midyear Capital Improvement Plan update that laid out timelines, design progress and funding notes for projects citywide.

Slaughter opened with the Avenue to Menendez seawall and said rehabilitation and cap removal south of the marina are underway, with an estimated completion at the end of 2026 or into early 2027. He told commissioners the Army Corps Back Bay study returned benefit-cost ratios below 1 for the Corps' design alternatives and therefore the Corps recommended "no action," though the city said it learned ideas it could pursue locally.

Staff described Court Theophilia stormwater and utility improvements (completion anticipated July 2026), marina facility projects in design with fuel-dock and central-dock phases targeted for 2029, and a replacement Iron Island fire station (60% design, construction expected 2027–2029). The city is developing an adaptation plan—an inventory-to-hardening roadmap—estimated for completion around July 2027 and expects to fold resulting projects into the CIP.

Slaughter provided program-level numbers: the pavement management program has a $900,000 paving commitment for the fiscal year; the city sets aside $250,000/year for private septic-to-sewer connections in West Augustine and has connected 181 homes to gravity sewer there (Pearl Street connected 42 homes). He said Lee and Irving Street is a high-priority conversion estimated to connect about 136 homes because it can expand off existing gravity sewer lines. By contrast, Collier Heights would require a new wastewater lift station; staff said a new submersible duplex lift station alone is priced "over $1,000,000," excluding gravity sewer installation.

Slaughter also flagged Senate Bill 64, which requires elimination of non-beneficial surface water discharge by 2032; the city is exploring a Class I municipal injection well as one compliance option, funded from the utility fund with possible grant support. The commission asked several technical questions about tide-check valves, culvert replacement, Lighthouse Park alternatives and the status of Inlet Drive and other projects; staff said some items are paused pending alternative designs and others are ahead of schedule.

Commissioners praised staff for winning grants and noted the city is planning or spending roughly $52 million on resiliency-related projects (a figure described as grant-heavy rather than local-taxpayer-funded). No formal votes were taken; staff will continue project design and permitting and will return to the commission with updates and budget requests as appropriate.