Agenda Item # 12.a.
City Commission Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 12/01/2014
- Re
- Letter of Suport - WRDA Request
- Submitted For:
- Linda Cox
SUBJECT:
Discussion requested by Mayor Hudson seeking a letter of support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the inclusion of modifications to the Fort Pierce, FL Shore Protection Project in the Annual Congressional Report to be issued in February, 2015.
SUMMARY:
In an effort to enhance project performance and provide beneficial cost savings to the federally authorized Fort Pierce Shore Protection project, St. Lucie County is seeking a brief letter of support from the City of Fort Pierce to accompany a draft proposal to the Corps. This proposal is an extension of previous actions supporting shoreline stabilization structures and inlet sand bypassing in concert with the Fort Pierce Shore Protection project. If authorized by Congress then these modifications could become elements of the federal project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) put out a Notice seeking proposals for possible new studies and/or modifications to existing projects. Under the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, the USACE is now required by Congress to seek such proposals on an annual basis. Proposals do not need to be too detailed and are due by Dec. 3.
From the proposals submitted by local interests, the Corps will identify those that meet certain criteria and recommend those to Congress for authorization within an Annual Report. The Report will also include an Appendix listing proposals that are not recommended for authorization (with some reasons for the recommendation). Congress will then have the opportunity to authorize the recommended studies and project modifications through a yes or no vote, rather than through a traditional Water Resources Development Act. Congress will also be able to authorize non-recommended studies/modifications from the Appendix if they decide those proposals do, in fact, meet certain criteria. The big-picture perspective is that this is an effort to get around the earmark ban in Congress.
The Corps’ main missions include projects related to flood control (which includes storm damage reduction projects along the coast), navigation, ecosystem restoration, and to a lesser extent, water supply.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) put out a Notice seeking proposals for possible new studies and/or modifications to existing projects. Under the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, the USACE is now required by Congress to seek such proposals on an annual basis. Proposals do not need to be too detailed and are due by Dec. 3.
From the proposals submitted by local interests, the Corps will identify those that meet certain criteria and recommend those to Congress for authorization within an Annual Report. The Report will also include an Appendix listing proposals that are not recommended for authorization (with some reasons for the recommendation). Congress will then have the opportunity to authorize the recommended studies and project modifications through a yes or no vote, rather than through a traditional Water Resources Development Act. Congress will also be able to authorize non-recommended studies/modifications from the Appendix if they decide those proposals do, in fact, meet certain criteria. The big-picture perspective is that this is an effort to get around the earmark ban in Congress.
The Corps’ main missions include projects related to flood control (which includes storm damage reduction projects along the coast), navigation, ecosystem restoration, and to a lesser extent, water supply.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support.
ALTERNATIVES:
Do not offer a letter of support.
RESPONSIBLE STAFF:
Linda W. Cox, City Clerk
COORDINATED WITH:
Nicholas Mimms, P.E., Deputy City Manager
Richard Bouchard, P.E., St. Lucie County, Sr. Coastal Engineer
Richard Bouchard, P.E., St. Lucie County, Sr. Coastal Engineer