The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s commission gave approval to hold a special election for a bond referendum to finance the post-hurricane beach renourishment project at its recent meeting.

On Jan. 8, the commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 on a resolution to approve the Captiva Island 2024-2025 Emergency Beach Maintenance Renourishment Project. Covering from the northern end at Redfish Pass on south to Blind Pass, the project will involve about 800,000 to 900,000 cubic yards of sand placed over 25,600 feet of Gulf shoreline and an average added beach width of 80 to 100 feet.

The commission next voted 5-0 on a resolution to issue a special assessment bond or certificate not exceeding $25 million to finance the cost of the construction of the emergency beach project and to call for a special election bond referendum on May 21 asking if the bond or certificate should be issued.

Prior to the votes, Executive Director Daniel Munt gave an update on the renourishment efforts.

He reported that after Hurricane Ian, staff submitted requests to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — as the beach projects are federally authorized and constructed projects — and FEMA in October of 2022 for funding assistance. The FEMA application was placed on hold for the Corps to respond first.

Munt continued that the Corps denied financial assistance for the project due to issues associated with easements and public access. However, the Corps did not “officially decline” until this past October.

“Placing us in an unavoidable situation where we could not pursue alternative funding from other agencies or start the bidding process for our project,” he said.

Munt continued that FEMA has since also declined participation due to a new interpretation about providing assistance for federally authorized and constructed projects. However, the CEPD does have separate applications still under review for the replacement of beach plantings, ropes and bollards.

“Which could provide additional funding estimated between $250,000 and $500,000,” he said.

The CEPD has obtained $13.2 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“Our office is currently pursing additional funding from Lee County as well through a new interlocal agreement,” Munt said.

As the commission directed, the project was scheduled to go out to bid on Jan. 4. The new funding developments through have delayed placing that out to bid. In response, staff began preparing the bid under the emergency response plan in connection with a referendum of $15 million passed in 1999.

He explained that the CEPD’s attorney recently provided a legal opinion that the 1999 referendum obtaining a bond loan would no longer be sufficient due to its age and a new one must be done.

Munt continued that staff was able to set up a special election on May 21 with the Lee County Elections Office for the new bond referendum at a cost of $3,000. The project cannot commerce prior to obtaining the loan and the requirement for the referendum will alter the initial project dates.

“Without the passage of a bond loan, the district does not have the financial capital to complete this project,” he said.

In addition, Munt noted that the town of Fort Myers Beach recently received the bids back for its renourishment project and they came in well over the town’s estimation. CEPD staff has asked project engineer APTIM to review those bids and update the estimation for the island’s project as needed.

According to the approved resolution, the official ballot referendum will read as:

“Should the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD) issue Special Assessment Bonds not exceeding $25,000,000, maturing at such times as the CEPD shall determine not exceeding 20 years from issuance bearing interest not exceeding the maximum legal interest rate, payable from special assessments on benefited lands within the CEPD boundaries for the emergency maintenance and renourishment of beaches, pursuant to the Captiva Island Emergency Maintenance Plan and Captiva Island 2024-2025 Emergency Beach Maintenance Renourishment Project?”

IN OTHER NEWS

– The commission voted 5-0 to approve a contract with The Tree Marshall for a not-to-exceed of $30,000 for parking lot repairs at the Alison Hagerup Beach Park. The work will include grading the lot, removing the concrete parking bunkers, removing the excess sand, replacing the bunkers, and delivering and spreading 126 yards of limestone.

Staff reported that they expect the work to be completed in the next month or so.

– APTIM Coastal Market Lead Nicole Sharp provided an update on the beach renourishment and Bayside Adaptation projects. She reported that the specifications and construction plans for the beach renourishment have been completed, however, the project is on hold until the referendum is done.

On the bayside project, APTIM is waiting to sign the contract to proceed on that.