FRDAP Grant/Nance Park: An application for FRDAP monies was sent to FDEP September 5, 2006, which was approved. Project improvements, costing $50,000, include redecking the boardwalk area between the restrooms and crossover #3, redecking access #4, providing additional sidewalks in the southern end of the park to better move pedestrians and avoid conflicts with vehicles, paving a portion of the parking lot drive-thru area, and providing additional play equipment. The executed agreement was received from FDEP on July 23, 2007. Sidewalks were constructed along the west side of the park entrance and along the south side of the park. The Town has been reimbursed for these expenses. Access #4 and the boardwalk east of the restrooms have been reconstructed. Sidewalk portion installed connecting restrooms with Wavecrest Ave. sidewalk. Swing seats have been replaced and new spring toys installed. Parking area resurfacing has been completed and the Parks & Recreation Committee selected play items to be added to the park. (7/15/08)
Dual northbound turn lanes on SR-A1A @ US-192: FDOT has determined that a second northbound left turn lane can be installed within the FDOT right-of-way, which will improve the operation and efficiency of the intersection. The MPO Traffic Operations Committee recommended this project as the third prioritized project and the MPO has indicated in the 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan that this section of SR-A1A will experience severe congestion. FDOT has included $545,993 for the project, which will include mast arms, in the Five-Year Transportation Plan for FY-07. The end result of the project will move traffic and a newly constructed sidewalk to the west side of the right-of-way that lies to the east of the Longboard House. The FDOT Tentative Five-Year Plan includes $584,000 for this project. FDOT has combined the project with a similar project in Brevard County, issued a Notice to Proceed April 25, 2007, set a pre-construction meeting for July 13, with construction to begin in September. The mast arms are operational. Drainage work and striping appear complete, but have contacted FDOT regarding some remaining issues, i.e. number of signal heads. Detectable warning devices have been replaced at the northwest and southwest corners. (6/17/08)
Comprehensive Plan/School Concurrency: The Public School Facilities Element was approved by the Zoning & Planning Board on April 22, 2008 and by Council on May 20, 2008. Changes are consistent with the School Concurrency Inter-local Agreement approved by Council on February 19, 2008 (agenda item V-B). A revised Interlocal Agreement is expected to be presented to Council at the August meeting. (7/15/08)
Melbourne Causeway: FDOT has included in the Tentative Five-Year Transportation Plan replacing the easternmost relief bridge (bridge number 700037) and the parallel pair of relief bridges (bridge numbers 700173 & 700175), which are east of the Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge on US-192. The plan includes monies in FY-06 for design and monies in FY-10 ($8.223 million) for construction. For the tentative FDOT Five-Year Plan the construction cost has been projected at $15.7 million. The Brevard County Causeway Vulnerability Study will impact this project but it appears that the Indian River Lagoon North Restoration Feasibility Study will not. A temporary bridge will be constructed south of the existing bridge, which will protrude about 45 feet south of US-192 along Douglas Park. Staff has requested that a separated 10-foot bike path be constructed on the bridges for traffic moving in both directions and four-foot bike lanes along the outer lanes of the new bridges. It is expected that the current pedestrian and bicycle traffic thruways will be maintained during construction. Preliminary plans provided by FDOT’s consultant on 2/28/07 reflect six-foot wide temporary bike/pedestrian bridges along the south side of the causeway south of the westernmost relief bridge and the easternmost relief bridge. The project proposes to have a five foot wide protected sidewalk along the north side of the westernmost relief bridge and an eight foot wide protected sidewalk along the south side of the easternmost relief bridge. A public meeting was held 6/11/07 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church from 5 to 7 pm. The FDOT Proposed Five-Year Plan for FY-09 through FY-13 reflects no change in year or amount for replacing these three relief bridges. (6/17/08)
Nance & Sunrise park leases: Staff has requested that the County extend the leases that it has with the State and follow-up with extensions of the County leases with the Town for the properties that the Town operates as Nance Park and Sunrise Park. Both properties have leases that expire in 2037; however, FRDAP requirements stipulate that the Town, when applying for FRDAP grants, have control of the property for at least 30 years. The County is in the process of securing new leases with the State for the two properties. Unfortunately, the State’s representative has changed slowing the process, but is resolving some related legal issues. (6/17/08)
Comprehensive Plan/Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR): A workshop for the public and Zoning & Planning Board to provide input for development of the EAR to meet State requirements was held on February 27, 2007. On August 28, 2007, the Zoning & Planning Board authorized transmitting the EAR to DCA for informal review and to Council, which adopted the EAR on November 20, 2007. DCA has found the EAR sufficient. The Town has 18 months from 11/20/07 (i.e. May 20, 2009) to adopt the EAR based amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. (6/17/08)
Mitigation Grant: The County granted approval for the Town to apply for $53,000 in non-local (FEMA) funds for shutters and an emergency generator for Town Hall. The local share is $17,667. The application was sent to the Florida Department of Community Affairs on May 2, 2005. DCA noted that the emergency generator was ineligible for funding; however, approved $17,042 in non-local funds requiring $5,681 in local match for shutters. An executed copy of the agreement was received by the Town on May 25, 2007. Staff is costing out the improvements and requesting that the State allow the Town to install armor shield fabric roll-up shutters at the sets of French doors and install the fabric instead of shutters over the front windows. (6/17/08)
Trees for Parks: The Town received grants from both the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to install trees along the south side of the Melbourne Causeway. The FDOT money was used for this purpose making the Urban & Community Forestry grant monies available to provide additional trees (i.e. 65 Sabal Palms, 3 E. Palatka Holly trees, and 8 Silver Buttonwoods) in Sunrise, Nance, Douglas and Orlando parks. The programmatic change was requested on March 22, 2007, and approved on May 7, 2007. Council approved a contract with Florida Green, which was fully executed June 27, 2007. Trees were planted August 1 through 6, 2007. The U & CF representative inspected the trees October 3, 2007, and authorized reimbursing the Town. Some trees that have died have been replaced under warranty. The Town Attorney has communicated with Florida Green’s attorney. (7/15/08)
Turtle lights: A grant application was submitted to replace the industrial type lights along the east side of Wavecrest Avenue south of Access #8 with bollard lights. The tag monies application was denied. A grant pre-application was submitted for National Fish & Wildlife Foundation monies. A full application was submitted on June 10, 2008. (6/17/08)
Orlando Park: The seesaw was removed due to a broken foot piece. A replacement part has been ordered. The chin-up bars deteriorated and were removed several months ago. Replacement chin-up bars have been ordered. (7/15/08)
SR-A1A outfall: The County is working with FDOT toward lessening the volume of water that leaves SR-A1A onto the beach at Watson Drive. The Town may need to provide some financial assistance. The improvement is needed to ensure that the Town will be eligible to have sand placed on the beach in future years. (6/17/08)
Sidewalks: The South Beaches Technical Advisory Committee for the Transportation Impact Fee Trust fund approved $36,425 for a sidewalk along the west side of S. Palm Avenue from Fifth Avenue to Eighth Avenue and along the east side of S. Palm Avenue from Eighth Avenue to connect with the existing walk in Tradewinds Park. (7/15/08)
210 Deland Avenue: The Town was unsuccessful in delivering a certified letter detailing the code violations; however, a new contact arrangement has been made that should lead toward notification being received. One of the violations has been resolved. (6/17/08)
Rip Current Signs: The County may provide free rip current signs for the 14 beach public access points in the Town next year with the verbiage in both English and Spanish. (7/15/08)
Douglas Park: The Island Garden Club donated a Hong Kong Orchid tree to be planted in Douglas Park in memory of D. X. Ross. (7/15/08)