December Update

(corrected)

Funding: Of the three funding options for the Federal beach re-nourishment project before the County Commission on Dec. 17th option “A”

• Option “A” passed unanimously. It was preferred, and advocated for, by the PC. Staff did not recommend support of A, only support of B & C.
  
• Option “B” failed with 2 YES and 3 NO votes.
  
• Option “C” failed unanimously after recognizing no purpose was served by “C” without “B”.
  

Only one, option “A” was approved. Its approval makes for a total of two options to date. Per St. Lucie County (SLC) Staff, “The creation of the MSTUs does not in any way obligate the County to levy ad valorem taxes; rather, it simply preserves the County’s option to do so, if it is found to be the most feasible funding option. The determination as to how much ad valorem revenue to be raised in the MSTUs, if any, and the corresponding millage rate for each MSTU would be determined by the Board during its budget deliberations next year.” Source: 9.B.1. RES-2019-286 PUBLIC HEARINGS-PUBLIC WORKS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: 12/17/2019 Same for the previously approved MSBU which if used would levy an assessment allocated or apportioned more similar to what was done for the 2013 project. Martin County uses an MSTU and like them the PC maintains it is the more favorable of the two.

Link to December 2019 communication to SLC Commissioners Click Here> (pdf attached in email)

Access for additional Federal funding: The PC has been and is encouraging the County to develop and earnestly pursue a viable plan “B” for acquiring the 3 strategically located access points necessary to increase the federal funding by as much as +/- $6.2MM. Dec. 16th we were advised the County has been and is investigating alternatives that may be available with undeveloped property. As you may have seen, Gil Smart wrote an opinion column dated December 6th (updated on December 9th) on the beach access issue and options. (link to article) https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/gil-smart/2019/12/06/st-lucie-county-being-penny-wise-pound-foolish-beach-project/2589349001/)

Project Costs: The County continues to question the prospective agreement or "contract" with the USACE and hopeful that reductions may yet be forthcoming from the USACE's review and sharpening of their pencil.  USACE Beach Project Costs.  Includes the Presidents  Council letter to USACE Col. Kelly (October 13, 2019) regarding Federal  project inquiries, along with the USACE reply (November 6, 2019).

Gil Smart's TC Palm Article (Updated & Corrected December 9, 2019) - "Should  St. Lucie County spend millions to save millions on beach project? "