The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s commission approved the Bayside Adaptation project contract at its recent meeting, as well as heard staff’s plan for getting the beach nourishment going.

On Feb. 12, the commissioners voted 4-0 on the contract for APTIM to conduct the adaption and resiliency project for the island’s bayside. It was selected as the winning bidder in December.

During a workshop in November, APTIM and a second bidder presented their proposals for the Bayside Adaptation Plan to the commission and staff. APTIM’s project approach included:

– Task 1 — Kick off and project steering committee:

To include a kick-off meeting and three steering committee progress meetings.

– Task 2 — Acquire background data:

To develop the adaption plan.

– Task 3 — Public-private implementation analysis:

Due to the extensive privately-owned land. To involve identifying ownership and jurisdiction; strategic analysis; policy considerations; and stakeholder engagement, incentives and standards.

– Task 4 — Adaption plan:

The approach and initial perception of the necessary elements to be included in the plan were listed as: prioritization of adaptation needs; identification of adaptation strategies and prioritization of projects; potential strategies — living shoreline with resilient engineered features, minimum shoreline elevation policy for properties, mangrove adaptation plan and resilient dune strategy — feasibility analysis; and prioritized projects for each asset class.

– Task 5 — Public outreach meetings:

To include four bimonthly public outreach meetings.

– Task 6 — Engineering report with conceptual adaptation drawings:

As many as 10-15 drawings with renderings included, along with construction cost estimates.

APTIM estimated that the proposed plan will take about one year to complete.

Also during the meeting, Executive Director Daniel Munt provided a presentation on the “Beach Nourishment Path Forward.” He worked with staff, APTIM and the CEPD chair on the plan.

“To get this project rolling,” Munt said.

He outlined the steps for the critical path forward on the project as:

– Contract a bond attorney (estimated start in February)

– Beach nourishment to bid (estimated start in March)

– Beach nourishment bid response evaluation (estimated start in April)

– Referendum (estimated start in May)

– Certificate for referendum (estimated start in May)

– Bond loan to bid (estimated start in May)

– Beach nourishment bid award (estimated start in May)

– Apportionment workshop (estimated start in June)

– Bond loan bid response evaluation (estimated start in June)

– Bond loan bid award (estimated start in July)

– Bond loan closing (estimated start in July)

Munt also explained that a total of three bid alternatives would be sought:

– Fall of 2024, with a start date of Oct. 15 (60 days to complete)

– Winter of 2025, with a start date of Jan. 15 (60 days to complete)

– Spring of 2025, with a start date of May 1 (60 days to complete)

IN OTHER NEWS

– Deputy Director John Riegert gave a presentation on “Coastal Construction Control Lines” and “Erosion Control Lines.” He noted that a map of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) for the island has been added to the CEPD’s website for the public and can be searched using an address.

To view the Captiva Overview Map, visit https://www.mycepd.com/captiva-overview-map.

– The commission voted 3-0 to extend the CEPD’s contract and services with accounting firm Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English. Prior to the vote, the engagement letter was presented.