Council Moves Forward with Technical Review of C-HAWQ Proposal

A City Council Special meeting was held on May 5th to hear C-HAWQ’s proposal for an unsolicited public-private partnership with the City of Marco Island for “inshore reuse dredging of the Marco Island Canals with construction of natively vegetated marshes and small islands throughout the City’s canals. This proposal includes but is not limited to full design, permitting, grant solicitation, construction, planting, and maintenance services on behalf of Marco Island.” 

According to C-HAWQ, they have already retained David Childs and the Vogel Group, a renowned state and federal lobbying team, to assist in developing a strategy to obtain state and federal funding. The total costs shall not exceed a total principal amount of $60,000,000 (the “Projected Budget”). 

The estimated project time from Notice to Proceed is two years for island completion, one year for island vegetation.

In regards to what to do with the sediments dredged, C-HAWQ said, “Spoils will be transported to each island strategically, minimizing transportation distance. The typical loads will be transported less than 1,000 feet. The longest transportation routes could be up to 1.5 miles, but those loads will be minimized. Excavated materials will not be stockpiled. The material will be deposited on the islands immediately.”

They added that “The perimeter of each mini island will be defined and contained using vinyl or plastic sheet piling walls, which are further reinforced using limestone boulders. The sheet piling, limestone, and sand will unite to create the foundational island structure.”

“Native grasses, forbs, rushes, shrubs, and trees will be grown and procured to provide sufficient vegetative materials to stabilize the constructed islands and sediments and provide long-term native sustainable habitat,” in the professional judgment of the C-HAWQ Initiative.

Public Comments included Nanette Rivera, who was opposed to the project and added: “This proposal does nothing to address the root cause of the problem (nutrients in the water) and asked Council to stop this charade or take it to a referendum.”

Ralph Rohena, a resident also spoke and added: “Dredging is a powerful tool, but it is a sledgehammer and if you kick the can down the road long enough, pretty soon you’ll find out that a sledgehammer is all you’ve got left.”

Councilor Gray added, “I would like to see a waterways master plan to understand the various choices and not come at it in a piecemeal manner. This will help the City identify its financial priorities.” He declined his support for this proposal. 

Councilor Champagne stated, “This is a divisive issue, and a referendum might be the ultimate way for residents to make a decision. But to get there, we need expert opinion.”

City Attorney Gabriel added, “You have a proposal that is in the package that is ready to go, should you decide to use an expert advice on this project for a total cost of $29,697 from Humiston and Moore and Turrell Hall and Associates to be paid for by the applicant per the statute (C-HAWQ).”

Councilor Schwan added that she “wanted to make water quality decisions based on facts, and we have a lane here to have an expert come in and give us the facts.”

Councilor Palumbo added: “I am of the mind to keep the conversation going, especially if the expert opinion is being paid for by C-HAWQ.”

Atty Zack Lombardo (Attorney for C-HAWQ) made the clarification on the scope of the technical review as follows: “What we are reviewing is material quality standards, interior space utilization, budget estimates, design construction schedules, and sustainable design construction standards consistent with public project.”

Councilor Henry made the motion to move forward with the technical review; with a second from Council Palumbo and the motion carried with a 4-3 vote (yes votes by Henry, Palumbo, Schwan and Champagne; no votes from Brechnitz, Gray, and Goehler).

This motion will instruct staff to go forward with the review by Humiston and Moore/Turrell Hall to be paid for by the applicant (C-HAWQ).

After the meeting, Councilor Gray was asked about the maintenance of the mini-islands and he responded that “this proposal has maintenance by the City of Marco Island in perpetuity.”