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7DEPARTMENTAL INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA MEMORANDUM TO: Jason E. Brown, County Administrator THROUGH: Richard B. Szpyrka, P.E., Public Works Director FROM: Eric Charest, Natural Resources Manager SUBJECT: Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration Project Easement Status and Project Recommendations DATE: February 21, 2022 DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS Since 2018, Countystaff and project consultants have been activelyworking at designing, monitoring and permitting the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration Project, as well as obtaining the easements' necessary for the project to be deemed viably, cost effective, and constructible. Staff had previously presented information to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) regarding the need for high percentages of signed easements for a successful project. At the July 14, 2020 regularly scheduled County Commission meeting, the BCC concurred with staff that a 90% or greater number of signed easements would be targeted as the goal in order for the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration Project to move forward with construction. On July 26, 2020, the County advertised the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration project for competitive bid solicitation. Two (2) bids were received meeting the qualification of the project, but at the time of award on September 22, 2020, it was determined that since only 50% of the targeted easements had been obtained that the project would be delayed for 1 year. This delay pushed on -beach construction to the November 2021 to April 2022 construction season. Staff was directed to use this delay to continue pursuing easement agreements with those property owners not currently recognized as having a recorded easement allowing for construction. Additionally, staff was directed to reach out to those agencies providing funds to assist the County in covering the cost of the project (FEMA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) to inform them of the delay and seek extensions to the funding. County staff, on July 6, 2021, brought before the BCC an update on the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration project. This update showed an increase in the number of easements obtained by staff within the project area during the initial delay. This update showed the number of recorded easements jumping up from 41 (50%) back on September 22, 2020 up to 51(62%) on July 6, 2021. As large-scale beach and dune nourishment projects require extensive pre- and post -construction monitoring, the timing of this presentation coincided with a deadline for required pre -construction activities to begin. At that July 6, 2021 BCC meeting, Staff presented the BCC with four (4) options for the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration Project. After lengthy discussion, the BCC, in agreement with the recommended approach from the Beach and Shores Preservation Advisory Committee (BSPAC), directed staff to delay the Sector 7 Beach and Dune Restoration Project another year, with construction now slated for the November 2022 through April 2023 construction season. Additionally, staff was directed to work with the funding agencies to secure another extension to the funding offered. 75