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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
<br />Coming off a year that began with the simple mission of significantly
<br />increasing annual state funding for beach projects, to celebrating a
<br />2014/15 appropriation of $47.3 million, we still must anticipate and
<br />.. prepare for the immediate challenges ahead as well as those we, as a
<br />local government association, must address for years to come.
<br />We have an obligation to ensure that beach nourishment is considered
<br />as an adaptation strategy for addressing sea level rise. We must justify
<br />a new dedicated funding level for the statewide beach management
<br />program, and demonstrate that the current statutory intent of $30 million
<br />will not sustain Florida's beaches going forward. With Constitutional
<br />Amendment 1, the Legacy Amendment, on November's ballot which
<br />would dramatically alter documentary stamp tax allocations, the
<br />dedicated source of beach funding, we must immediately focus on the
<br />new funding level going forward and be sure we can demonstrate to
<br />decision -makers that the project ranking and selection process meets
<br />their expressed expectations regarding economic benefits, cost-
<br />effectiveness, capturing storm damage impacts, and maximizing federal
<br />and local matching funds.
<br />All of these subjects and far more are on this fall's conference program
<br />including a special look at the first federal authorizing bill, WRRDA, in
<br />over 6 years; a number of host area presentations including the Keynote
<br />by FSBPA's Chair, Steve Boutelle; DEP presentations on monitoring and
<br />nearshore hardbottom; and the participation of a number of U.S. Army
<br />Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District personnel, starting of course as
<br />tradition with the Colonel's update.
<br />Add to this program an exceptional field trip, and we hope you agree
<br />that a proper balance between important, timely discussion and a good
<br />time has been achieved.
<br />Please plan to join us September 24-26!
<br />REGISTRATION
<br />Early Registration
<br />Regular Registration
<br />Through August 29,
<br />2014
<br />After August 29, 2014
<br />Member Registration
<br />$350
<br />Member Registration $400
<br />Non -Member Registration
<br />$400
<br />Non -Member Registration $450
<br />Spouse
<br />$125
<br />Spouse $125
<br />Full Time Students
<br />$125
<br />Full Time Students $125
<br />THREE WAYS TO REGISTER
<br />ONLINE: www.fsbpa.com/annual-conference/registration.html
<br />FAX: 850-201-6782
<br />MAIL: FSBPA, PO Box 13146, Tallahassee, FL 32317
<br />To fax or mail, download the registration form from the link above
<br />The cancellation, policy is listed on the website.
<br />HOTEL RESERVATIONS
<br />Hyatt Regency Coconut Point I Bonita Springs, FL
<br />Room Rate: $149
<br />single/double plus taxes
<br />For reservations online,
<br />visit www.fsbpa.com/annual-conference/hotel.htmi
<br />�— For reservations by phone, call 1.888.421.1442
<br />TO RECEIVE THE GROUP RATE, MENTION FSBPA
<br />To ensure that a room is available,
<br />reservations should be made by August 29, 2014.
<br />Field Trip
<br />Thursday, September 25
<br />Departure: Conference Hotel — Time: 2:00 p.m.
<br />Big Hickory Island, Spring 2013
<br />(Photo courtesy of Doug Mann, ON)
<br />The field trip, organized by Lee County Natural Resources and the lee
<br />County Visitor & Convention Bureau, will provide a unique perspective on
<br />the southern Lee County barrier islands. Starting with a boat trip from the
<br />Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort across Estero Bay, participants will
<br />have a chance to see three inlets and three beach nourishment projects. The
<br />inlets are small, Big Hickory Pass; medium, New Pass; and large, Big Carlos
<br />Pass, but all have significant relationships to adjacent critical erosion areas.
<br />At the southern end of the tour is Bonita Beach, constructed most recently
<br />in July 2014. This project was originally constructed in 1995, and included
<br />a pair of curved terminal structures. The recent nourishment's sand source
<br />was the Big Carlos Pass ebb shoal cuiilpi-ex.
<br />Working our way north will bring us to Big Hickory Island. Big Hickory Island
<br />beaches can only be accessed by water. The island is mostly conservation
<br />land but also is home to the beach park for our conference host hotel, the
<br />Hyatt Regency, and Pelican Landing Homeowners Association (PLHA).
<br />Subject to extreme erosion over the last several years, the Hyatt and PLHA
<br />funded a 2013 project to restore the beach with sand from the New Pass
<br />ebb shoal.
<br />Continuing north will take us along Lovers Key to Big Carlos Pass, the sand
<br />source for the restoration of Lovers Key State Park in 2004 as well as the
<br />2014 nourishment which should be under construction for our field trip.
<br />Lovers Key was the second most visited state park last year.
<br />Departing from the Hyatt at 2 p.m. and returning around 4:30 p.m.
<br />there should be ample opportunity for discussion. Be sure to sign up
<br />early, capacity is limited. (Complete details will be available on the
<br />conference website and in future editions of Shoreline).
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