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Treasure Island approves master pump station and 108th Avenue seawall contracts
Summary
Commissioners approved a $5.4 million master pump‑station replacement contract and a $547,000 seawall contract after discussing grant timing, construction sequencing and material sourcing; staff warned that delaying construction could risk existing hazard‑mitigation grant applications.
The Treasure Island City Commission on July 21 voted to award two infrastructure construction contracts after extended discussion about timing and grant risk.
Master pump station: Commissioners debated whether to move forward now or delay in hopes of winning a larger Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award. Acting Public Works Director Gary Volanek and staff said federal and state HMGP reviews can take many months and that delaying construction could jeopardize existing, smaller grants. "We could possibly lose a grant in hopes of getting a larger amount," staff warned, adding that FEMA review times vary widely.
Despite the uncertainty, the commission voted to award the master pump station replacement contract in a motion led from the dais. The publicly posted bid and contract amount discussed during the meeting was $5,400,000 (the staff presentation noted a base contract of $4.9 million plus a 10% contingency). Commissioners who supported proceeding emphasized rising construction costs and that the project has been on the capital list for years.
108th Avenue seawall: Commissioners also discussed sequencing the seawall installation relative to other heavy construction (pump station, public‑works yard and public‑safety facility). Public Works recommended installing tiebacks and anchors first and then backfilling so subsequent construction can complete finish work without undermining the wall. Staff noted multiple grant applications for the seawall and committed to verifying material origins to protect grant eligibility. Vice Mayor Vasquez raised a concern that certain tieback components sourced from outside the U.S. have previously triggered grant repayment in other jurisdictions; staff pledged to verify and require written assurances as needed.
The commission approved the seawall award to Enterprise Marine Contractors Inc. by roll call.
Why it matters: both projects are part of long‑standing capital‑improvement priorities tied to hurricane recovery and coastal resilience. Grants are part of the financing picture; staff said moving forward with smaller, available grants may preserve some funding rather than waiting for larger, uncertain awards.
Follow up: staff said they will attempt to delay physical groundbreaking if feasible to leave open the larger HMGP window, will verify materials submittals to ensure grant compliance and will report back to the commission on any changes in grant status.
