Subject:
Title
Grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Sand Key Segment/County Shore Protection Project.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Sand Key Segment/County Shore Protection Project.
• Agreement in the amount of $54,552,508.50 includes $27,276,254.25 in grant funding for construction. County match required is $27,276,254.25.
• Funding for costs associated with beach and dune construction for Sand Key Segment.
• Match requirement of $27,276,254.25 derived from Tourist Development Tax.
• Sand Key sixth nourishment is contained in the Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program.
• The total State appropriation for the Sand Key project is $43,311,521. In accordance with Section 161.101(19), Florida Statutes, FDEP is required to withhold 25% of the FY2026-27 appropriation until the fourth quarter. FDEP anticipates amending the agreement in approximately April 2027 to add the remaining $16,035,266.75.
• Funding for this agreement is available under Sand Key 6th Nourishment Project, 001516A, included in the Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-FY32 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by Tourist Development Tax, a Florida Division of Emergency Management grant, and this FDEP grant in the Capital Fund.
PID 001516A; FDEP Grant Agreement 27PI1; Agreement amount of $54,552,508.50 includes Grant funding for $27,276,254.25 with County match of $27,276,254.25; Agreement term ends December 31, 2029.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.3 Increase access to green space.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance Community Safety.
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities.
Summary:
Summary
Grant Agreement provides 50% total project costs of $54,552,508.50 with match the required match derived from the Tourist Development Tax. The Agreement will include additional construction funding and post-construction monitoring funding when available. The project consists of the beach and dune construction within the Sand Key Segment of the Pinellas County Shore Protection Project. The Agreement period is January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029.
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Background Information:
The project was initially restored in segments between 1988 and 1993. This will be the sixth (6th) nourishment. The project is federally authorized until 2043 as a part of the federal County Shore Protection Project. The most recent federal renourishment was completed in 2018 utilizing sand from Egmont Shoals. The project was impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The most recent nourishment was completed in 2026 without federal participation.
Fiscal Impact:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Standard Grant Agreement provides reimbursement funding of up to $27,276,254.25 for the Sand Key 6th Nourishment Project (001516A). The grant requires an equal County match.
Funding for this agreement is available under Sand Key 6th Nourishment Project, 001516A, included in the Proposed FY27-FY32 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by Tourist Development Tax (TDT), a Florida Division of Emergency Management grant, and this FDEP grant in the Capital Fund.
The project was previously fully funded by TDT in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan. This grant will reimburse eligible project costs, including $5,000,000 in FY25 expenditures, and offset TDT funding.
The total State appropriation for the project is $43,311,521. In accordance with Section 161.101(19), Florida Statutes, FDEP is required to withhold 25% of the FY 2026-27 legislative appropriation until the fourth quarter. FDEP anticipates amending the agreement in approximately April 2027 to add the remaining $16,035,266.75.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
FDEP
Attachments:
Agreement
Project Location Map