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County Coastal Engineer Jeff Tabar reviewed his Memorandum ofNovember 7, 2000: <br />TO: <br />James E. Chandler, <br />County Administrator <br />THROUGH: James W. Davis, P. -E., <br />Public Works Director <br />FROM: <br />SUBJECT: <br />DATE: <br />Jeffrey R. Tabar, P.E.` <br />Coastal Engineer -) <br />Maintenance of Buoys on PEP Reef <br />November 7, 2000 <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />On November 1, 2000, a letter was received by County staff <br />regarding concerns about the buoy markers on the PEP reef (letter <br />attached). <br />Since the installation of the PEP Reef in 1996, several protective <br />measures have been initiated to ensure public awareness. <br />1. Warning signs have been installed at all beach access locations. <br />2. Staff has contacted all resort managers and homeowners in the <br />project area. <br />3 Staff has contacted the City of Vero Beach lifeguards in the <br />project area <br />4. Twenty-three buoy markers have been installed at each end of each <br />PEP Reef segment. A full installation is completed every <br />spring, whether it is needed or not. As weather warrants, <br />maintenance is carried out throughout the year, which includes <br />the replacement of any missing, and inspection of all buoys. In <br />addition, staff completes an inventory at least once every two <br />weeks. These buoys cost approximately $3,500/year with staff <br />maintaining a surplus of materials. <br />ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS <br />Any buoy or equipment installed on the surf zone will have a <br />limited life of operation. County staff has chosen the best <br />available materials without incurring extreme costs. Our <br />experience has been that any material placed in this turbulent and <br />corrosive environment will eventually fail and need to be replaced. <br />Each buoy is chained to the reef with a coated cable attaching <br />every eighteen -inch diameter marker. <br />NOVEMBER 14, 2000 <br />-98- <br />BK 116PG110 <br />