Okaloosa County BOCC — April 27, 2013 — Destin Letter — reading text

Office of the City Manager 4200 Indian Bayou Trail | Destin, FL 32541 | Phone: 850-837-4242 | Fax: 850-650-9250 | www.cityofdestin.com March 13, 2013 James D. Curry, County Administrator Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners 1804 Lewis Turner Boulevard, Suite 100 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 Dear Mr. Curry: At their regularly scheduled meeting on March 4, 2013, the Destin City Council directed staff to work with Okaloosa County to seek financial assistance from Tourist Development Council (TDC) funds for the emergency permitting and dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel. The northwest area of Norriego Point has been slowly migrating into the Old Pass Lagoon Channel since the last dredging operation was conducted inside the harbor entrance by the City in 2012. As a result of winter and tropical storms, sand from the aforementioned erosion of Norriego Point, as well as from other sources, has moved into water areas to the north adjacent to the bridge outside the harbor entrance. This has created significant shoaling of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel adjacent to the Destin Bridge, thereby impairing navigability of that waterway by any large vessels. This channel is heavily used by recreational boaters and commercial fishermen. It has now reached the point where emergency dredging is required to maintain the navigability of the channel and preserve continued safe use of the Destin Harbor. Because it is critical that this channel remain open, staff is requesting Council declare an emergency. Based on the extent and depth of the shoaling area, it is anticipated that the project cost will not exceed $200,000. Staff is recommending that Council request financial assistance from the Okaloosa County TDC funds in an amount of $180,000 for the emergency permitting and dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel and further recommends City participation by making a monetary contribution of $20,000 as well as handling the construction bidding and administration. Please see the attached draft resolution and agenda item for the March 18, 2013 City Council Meeting. Mayor Sam Seevers will attend the Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 19, 2013 to present the City Council’s request for financial assistance for this critical project as well as the City’s financial commitment. The City sincerely appreciates the County’s assistance in ensuring the safety and navigability of this waterway which is so vital to our local economy. Sincerely, Viet Maryarin Ustick City Manager Atch 1. Draft Resolution 2. March 18, 2013 Agenda Item RESOLUTION 13- __ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESTIN RELATING TO REMOVAL OF SHOALING IN THE OLD PASS LAGOON CHANNEL; PROVIDING FOR DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY; PROVIDING FOR REMOVAL OF IMPEDIMENTS TO NAVIGATION TO AND FROM THE HARBOR BY THE CITY IN CERTAIN IDENTIFIED AREAS; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE REQUIRED; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. FINDINGS: WHEREAS, the City of Destin is a Florida Municipality duly incorporated, with all the rights and powers as provided in s. 2(b), Art. VIII of the State Constitution; and WHEREAS, among the effects of tropical and winter storms on areas within the City of Destin was additional erosion of an already severely eroded sand spit beachfront area known as Norriego Point located on East Pass immediately adjacent to and southwest of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel and the entrance of Destin Harbor; and WHEREAS, as a result of those storms, sand from the aforementioned erosion of Norriego Point, as well as from other sources, moved into adjacent water areas to the north and northeast of Norriego Point resulting in significant additional shoaling of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel, thereby impairing and/or threatening navigability of that channel by vessels; and WHEREAS, to remove the additional shoaling, on October 12 - 16, 2011, and March 6 - 30, 2012 the City of Destin conducted emergency dredging of the Old Pass lagoon Channel at the Destin Harbor entrance; and WHEREAS, winter storms and unusually strong southerly winds have caused additional unanticipated erosion to Norriego Point and significant additional shoaling in the portions of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel not included in recent dredging operations; and WHEREAS, it has now become necessary to engage in additional emergency dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel and entrance to Destin Harbor to maintain the navigability of that channel and preserve continued safe use of Destin Harbor; and THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Destin, Florida that: Section 1. Declaration of Emergency. The above stated findings are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference. The City Council hereby declares a state of emergency as relates to safe navigation in the Old Pass Lagoon Channel. Section 2. Authorization to Issue Temporary Permits. The City Council hereby authorizes City staff to issue permits to the City, and its employees, agents or contractors, as required, for the dredging and removal of shoaling in the Old Pass Lagoon Channel and to secure such permits as may be required by State and Federal agencies, to comply fully with all terms and conditions for the issuance of such permits as established in the statutes and rules. Section 4. Additional Authorization. The City Manager is hereby authorized to develop and enter into any agreement as may be necessary to properly implement and carry out the permit program authorized hereby as is necessary to protect the interests of the City and the public health, safety and welfare. Section 5. Notice Required. Notice of adoption of the Resolution shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation. Section 7. Effective Date and Termination. This resolution shall take effect upon its adoption by the City Council and signature by the Mayor and shall terminate on successful completion of such dredging and removal operations as necessary to provide a safe and navigable channel. SO DONE THIS 18™ DAY OF MARCH 2013 By: ATTEST: Maryann Ustick, City Manager Rey Bailey, City Clerk 9 ITEM # CITY OF DESTIN AGENDA ITEM COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 18, 2013 TYPE OF AGENDA ITEM: Staff Report and Recommendation TO: THRU: THRU: FROM: DATE: Mayor and City Council City Manager/Maryann Ustick Finance Director/Bragg Farmer City Engineer/David O. Campbell, PE March 12, 2013 SUBJECT: — Emergency Maintenance Dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel Il. BACKGROUND: Dredging has been performed in the Old Pass Lagoon Channel, including around the tip of Norriego Point, in six of seven prior years. The northwest area of Norriego Point has been slowly migrating into the Old Pass Lagoon Channel since the last dredging operation was conducted by the City in 2012. Asa result of winter and tropical storms, sand from the aforementioned erosion of Norriego Point, as well as from other sources, moved into adjacent water areas to the north and northeast resulting in significant additional shoaling of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel adjacent to the Destin Bridge, thereby impairing and/or threatening navigability of that channel by vessels as shown on the attached survey performed by Gustin Cothern Tucker, Inc., on March 6, 2013, a copy of which is attached hereto as “Exhibit A.” DISCUSSION: Based on Council direction, staff has been working with the Okaloosa County staff to seek financial assistance from Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC) funds for the emergency permitting and dredging of the shoaled Old Pass Lagoon Channel. In addition, staff recommends City participation in the permitting and dredging operations by making a monetary contribution as well as handling the construction bidding. A. Link to Strategic Goals /Objectives: e II. Preservation of Heritage and Environment = IL.D.2.a. Armoring of Norriego Point B. Effect on Budget (EOB): There are no funds currently allocated in the budget for dredging. Funds sufficient to cover City participation in the permitting and dredging operations will need to be authorized and added to the 2013 budget. C. Level of Service (LOS): Safety and accessibility for boat ingress and egress to the Destin Harbor will be substantially improved as a result of the dredging operation. Ii. ITEM # CONCLUSION: _ This channel is heavily used by recreational boaters and commercial fishermen. It has now reached the point where emergency dredging is required to maintain the navigability of the channel and preserve continued safe use of the Destin Harbor. Based on the extent and depth of the shoaling area, it is anticipated that the project cost will not exceed $200,000. Staff recommends the City request financial assistance from the Okaloosa County TDC funds in an amount up to $180,000 for the emergency permitting and dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel and further recommends City participation in the permitting and dredging operations by making a monetary contribution of $20,000 as well as handling the construction bidding and construction administration. RECOMMENDED MOTION: I move that City Council authorize the Mayor to execute a letter to the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners requesting Tourist Development Council funds for the emergency permitting and dredging of the Old Pass Lagoon Channel in an amount not to exceed $180,000 and authorize a City contribution of $20,000 to be funded from the Ending Fund Balance and make the appropriate budget amendment. Exhibit A: Survey