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City details $36M capital program and major stormwater projects; county and federal matches reduce local outlays
Summary
Public works and capital projects staff outlined 44 active projects including boardwalk and marsh repairs, dredging, a multi-phase stormwater master plan and the Turnbull/Corbyn projects; county and grant funding covers substantial shares of several large stormwater items.
Jesse, director of capital projects, told the commission the city now manages 44 active capital projects and has completed nine so far this fiscal year — the same number the city completed in all of 2023.
Jesse highlighted grant coordination and a new grants master list that, he said, helped the city identify roughly $2.1 million in reimbursements within the first four months for the CIP department. "In 4 months, she's helped us find $2,100,000 that we're eligible for," Jesse said, recognizing the new grants coordinator.
Stormwater was the dominant capital theme. Jesse said the citywide stormwater master plan is in two phases; Phase 1 is about 92% complete and Phase 2 has funding through the Transform 386 program (approximately $800,000) and will be managed jointly with the county. The Corbyn Park stormwater project was described as an approximately $8.5 million effort with $6 million from the county and $2.5 million from the city's stormwater fund.
On dredging, Jesse reported a $3.5 million FEMA grant for dredging at four locations (Pine Island, Canal sites and others); Menorcan Pond work is complete and Pine Island dredging is expected later in the year. Turnbull Creek dredging is underway: Jesse said construction on the South Side would finish in March and work would move to the North Side.
Other capital highlights and cost estimates provided by Jesse or staff included a $1.1 million boardwalk repair and replacement (combining general fund reserves and FEMA reimbursement), an estimated $823,000 repair for the Brannon Center dock (funded partly by a state grant and general fund reserves), street resurfacing of about 12.5 miles at roughly $2.3 million paid from gas tax, and North Causeway dock replacement and shoreline revetment with construction scheduled to be advertised and bids to be awarded in April.
Commissioners asked about project management capacity; Jesse and the city manager said the city is understaffed for the workload and recommended hiring at least two full-time project managers and pursuing asset-management software to better prioritize maintenance and replacement across city assets.
Next steps: Several projects will come to the commission for bid awards and contract approvals in late March and April; staff said they will continue monthly project reporting and post interactive project maps on the city website so the public can track timing and funding.
