Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marco Island council approves ordinance to upgrade wastewater plant to advanced treatment
Summary
The Marco Island City Council approved Ordinance 26-02 on second reading to upgrade the city's wastewater plant to advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) standards aimed at reducing nutrients; councilors said the step should be paired with a broader master plan for canals and sediment management.
The Marco Island City Council voted on May 4 to adopt Ordinance 26-02, directing an upgrade of the city’s wastewater treatment plant to advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) nutrient standards. The ordinance sets targets of no more than 3 milligrams per liter total nitrogen and no more than 1 milligram per liter total phosphorus.
Joan read the ordinance into the record before council discussion and public comment. City staff said the change is intended to reduce nutrient loads entering local canals and Bay systems.
Vice Chair Champagne said the city must pair AWT with other measures. “The petition and the ordinance leave a tremendous amount of necessary information out,” Champagne said, arguing the city needs a master plan that also addresses sediment removal, circulation and oxygenation so that clean effluent is not immediately recontaminated by muck on canal bottoms.
Supporters at the meeting and some councilors called the ordinance a necessary step toward cleaner canals, noting precedents in nearby communities. Residents in public comment urged the council to pursue grant funding and to consider the projected costs: one speaker cited an $8 million initial estimate and an ongoing $700,000 annual projection as figures the public should see when evaluating long-term commitments.
Councilors also discussed budgeting and implementation details, with staff noting next steps would include design, cost estimates and potential financing. After discussion and public comment, the council approved the ordinance on second reading by roll call.
The ordinance takes effect according to the timetable in the code and may be subject to further implementation steps, including detailed design and funding planning.
What happens next: staff will return with implementation details, cost estimates and options for financing; councilors urged a coordinated master plan that pairs treatment upgrades with sediment management and circulation improvements.
