Subject:
Title
Purchase Order Agreement with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for design and permitting improvements to the shoreline within the Fort DeSoto Campground and Bunces Pass Cove.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by County Administrator of the Purchase Order Agreement with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) for design and permitting improvements to the shoreline within the Fort DeSoto Campground and Bunces Pass Cove.
• Funding provided for design and permitting improvements to the shoreline within the Fort DeSoto Campground and Bunces Pass Cove.
• TBEP to provide $100,000.00 from its Habitat Master Plan over Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and 2027.
• County match requirement is $211,738.00 over FY 2026 through FY 2028.
• Funding for the County match is included in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget for Public Works within the Surface Water Utility Fund.
• No signature is required.
• Funding for the TBEP agreement is reflected under Fort Desoto Wave Attenuation Devices for Shoreline Protection project (006686B), included in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), funded by the Capital Projects Fund, in the amount of $100,000.00.
PID 006686A/006686B; Total design and permitting costs are $311,738.00 to be paid with TBEP funding ($100,000.00) and County match ($211,738.00).
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Summary:
Purchase Order Agreement funding from TBEP will support design and permitting costs for improvements to the shoreline near the Fort DeSoto Campground and Bunces Pass Cove, as part of the Fort Desoto Shoreline Protection Project. The project will design and permit a replacement of the failing seawall and address erosion along the campground and Bunces Pass Cove shores. The project aims to restore 2,400 linear feet of shoreline to build coastal resiliency, preserving park amenities, and restore habitat to expand recreational and ecosystem benefits. This project will result in measurable progress toward the Tampa Bay Habitat Master Plan (2020 Update) 2030 target of protecting or installing 21 miles of living shorelines and is consistent with several priority actions.
Background/Explanation:
Previous seawalls have failed in recent storms and should be protected and fortified with shoreline incorporating native plantings, rip rap, and other natural wave attenuation devices or green coastal infrastructure. During a seawall assessment conducted on November 14, 2023, deficiencies were identified such as panel sections lost, cap warping and settlement. The seawall was determined to be non-repairable. The Parks Department, in conjunction with Public Works, decided to pursue construction of a shoreline protection project to address the failing seawall. The project’s current phase of design and permitting are being supported, in part, by TBEP as it meets the goals outlined in their Habitat Master Plan.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the TBEP agreement is reflected under Fort Desoto Wave Attenuation Devices for Shoreline Protection project (006686B), included in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), funded by the Capital Projects Fund, in the amount of $100,000.00.
Funding for the $211,738.00 County match is included in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget for Public Works within the Surface Water Utility Fund for up to $200,000.00. Additionally, Public Works will leverage (FY) 2025 expenditures of $16,389.60 for match.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to approve this Purchase Order Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
TBEP
Attachments:
Purchase Order Agreement
TBEP FY 2026 Work Plan
OMB Intent to Apply