A) Approve Cooperation Agreement (CA) between the Army Corps of Engineers and Lee County, Florida for Nourishment of the Gasparilla Island Segment of the Lee County, Florida Shore Protection Project.

B) Approve Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for additional sand placement to expand the southern limits of the fill area beyond the Belcher Road seawall to include Gasparilla Island State Park.

C) Approve transfer of $5,000,000 from Beach Renourishment Trust Fund (Project No. 400686) to Gasparilla Island Beach Nourishment Project #403267.

D) Authorize Chairman to execute a Use Agreement (UA) for State Park property on Gasparilla Island that is substantially similar to the UA approved by the Board on 6-25-2013 (WO #1) providing for construction access and staging, and authorization to place sand on State owned uplands.

In 2006 Lee County approved execution of the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Army Corps of Engineers for initial construction of the Gasparilla Island Federal Shore Protection Project. The Project was constructed by Lee County from December 2006 to April 2007 and included the entire Gulf shoreline south of 17th Street. Funding was from a combination of local and state funds with federal reimbursement of eligible cost shared expenses. Tropical Storm Debby in June 2012 was an extraordinary event, qualifying for Federal rehabilitation. In 2013 a new Agreement was signed for federally funded storm repair plus cost shared nourishment to return the beach to its design width.

The authorized federal fill template begins on the north end at approximately 17th Street and stops on the south end just north of the Belcher Road seawall portion of Gasparilla Island State Park. It is difficult to establish and hold a sandy beach in front of the Belcher Road seawall for an extended period of time because it protrudes significantly further seaward than the surrounding shorelines. Nevertheless, construction of a beach would improve the storm protection on this shoreline and offset the high erosion rates in the State park to the south. Erosion in the park is extreme and has damaged and jeopardized use of facilities previously funded through County tourist tax revenues. The incremental cost to extend the fill area approximately 2500’ south is expected to be significantly more cost effective compared to a stand-alone effort since mobilization can cost several million dollars. The MOA will authorize completion of this work (part B of the motion). Because it is a state park, it is expected that FDEP will reimbursement 100% of the contractual expenses for the extension. Application has been made and will be considered as part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Beach Erosion Control Funding Program to be considered during the next State Legislative Session. The MOA requires the County to advance $4,500,000 to the Army Corps, upon receipt of which, the Corps will include the additional work in the Federal construction solicitation and contract.

Future State Funding Agreement would come back to the Board following approval in the State budget. The FY19/20 request is pending legislative action next Session.