Item I3
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 18 August 2004
Bulk Item: Yes No -L
Division:
Growth Management
Department:
Marine Resources
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Provide direction to staff on Card Sound Road boat ramp project near the County Card Sound Toll Booth.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
In the fall of 2002, the Board requested staff utilize existing grant funds to complete engineering for the ramp and adjacent
retaining structure and to acquire permits so that improvements can be made. The engineering design has been
completed. Although specific cost estimates have not yet been completed, the staff believes that these estimated costs
may range between $500,000 to $750,000 to rebuild the boat ramp, retaining wall, and improve the adjacent parking lot
. area. Additionally, the County learned very recently, that the land-side portion of the property is not owned by the
County as originally thought, which further complicates permitting and construction of the project.
Due to the funding issues and ownership issues, the staff is recommending that the Board direct staff to pursue the
following course of action:
(1) Obtain a commitment from a State agency (i.e., FWC, FDEP, or FDOT) to take over the project; provide
engineering plans for the site to that agency and transfer current permit application over to that agency;
and, have State fund the construction and assume all responsibility for the project; and, ,
(2) If the staff is unable to get commitment from a State agency to take over the project, the staff will bring
back to the Board for its consideration as a proposal with estimated construction costs and funding for the
County to move forward on the project on its own initiative.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
Approved the preparation of engineering plans and permits for project in fall of 2002 using grant funds.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS;
Approve course of action recommended by staff.
TOTAL COST:
NA
No
BUDGETED: Yes
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
AMOUNT Per Month
No
COST TO COUNTY:
NA
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
Year
APPROVED BY:
County Atty
NA
Risk Managemen
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
DOCUMENTATION:
DISPOSITION:
Included -L
AGENDA ITEM NO.:
BC040840
07/28/0412:09 PM
MEMOR~DUM
Department of Marine Resources
2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 420
Marathon, norida 33050
Voice: (305) 289 2507
FAX: (305) 2892536
Email: ganctt -georgc(i!;mon roecounty- fl. gov
Board of County Commissioners
Mayor Murray Nelson, Dist. 5
Mayor Pro Tern David Rice, Dist. 4
Commissionerr Dixie Spehar, Dist. I
Commissioner George Neugent, Dist. 2
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy, Dist. 3
DATE:
2 August, 2004
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
FROM:
George Garrett, Director of M~rine Resources
h
SUBJECT:
Discussion of options to proceed
on the Card Sound Road boat ramp
Background:
In the fall of 2002, the Board requested staff to use existing grant funds to
completing the design and engineering for the replacement/reconstruction of a boat
ramp and unpaved parking area at the eastern approach to the Card Sound Road
toll booth. The staff estimates that the expected cost of the
restoration/reconstruction of this ramp is over $500,000.
Issue
Over the past year, the County's engineering consultant has completed engineering
plans and initiated permitting for rebuilding the boat ramp, retaining wall and
improving the adjacent parking area. Construction costs have not been provided
by the consultant; however, the staff believes that such costs will range from
$500,000 to $750,000.
It was County's understanding, as well as that of the State initially, that the
County owned a portion of the boat ramp and parking area as part of the right-of-
way for Card Sound Road. The County staff also understood that the state owned
the portion of the property on the water side of the ramp.
Card Sound Rd ramp
July 30, 2004 2:03 PM
However, the staff was recently informed by the Title and Land Records Section of.
DEP that recent surveys by its staff indicate that the County does not own any
portion of the ramp facility site. Therefore, with no legal title to the property in
question the application previously submitted has been put on hold by DEP staff in
Marathon, as an applicant must be the owner of the property or have a lease.
Options and Analysis
To move forward on this project, the staff has identified the following two options
available to the County:
(I) Continue with the current permit application in conjunction with
pursuing a lease agreement with the State; and provide local and/or
secure grant funding for construction and assume all responsibility for
the project; or
(2) Obtain commitment from a State agency (FWC, DEP, or FDOT) to
take over the project; provide engineering plans and transfer current
permit application over to that agency; and, have State fund the
construction and assume all responsibility for the project.
Option 1. If the County wishes to ensure that this ramp is improved, then it will
need to take the initiative. As this property and ramp weren't acknowledged to be
in the ownership of the State until recently, this project is not contained in any
State agency's plans, programs, or budget. To take the initiative, the County could
either acquire a lease for the property from the state or if under FDOT control,
request that they authorize improvements to the site as they have done with the
County for ramps on U. S. 1.
A real limitation on pursuing this option, is that the County would be obligated to
fund a project that may cost well over $500,000. Unless a grant can be obtained
for a major portion of this project, funding would have to come from local sources.
Boating Improvements Funds are limited and funding for this project has not been
included in the proposed FY 05 budget.
Option 2. The second option requires the County to lobby for a State agency to
take over the project, which no agency has shown any willingness to do so up until
this time. However, this option may be the most practical to pursue first, rather
than Option 1, due to lack of available funding.
2
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to pursue
getting a State agency to take over the project. If within the next three months, no
State agency appears willing to commit to the project, then the staff will report
back to the BOCC and present for its consideration a proposal with estimated
construction costs and funding for the County to move forward on the project.
3