City creates FEMA wish list
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News Scott@gulfbreezenews.com

The Gulf Breeze City Council held a workshop on Friday, Feb. 15 in order to discuss alternate projects for the use of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant money. By meeting's conclusion, council members reached a consensus on a list of projects that will be submitted to FEMA for approval.

The city is all set to receive a grant of over $16.8 million. The estimated cost for the deconstruction of the fishing bridge is $3 million. That will allow the city approximately $13.8 million to fund alternative projects.

All projects must be approved by FEMA, simultaneously. They may not include debt repayment, operating expenses or landscaping. City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy stated there are several other key factors that place parameters on the plan. The money must be spent within 48 months, projects must benefit the same area and population and the applicant has to be the city, Eddy said.

"Our goal is to come up with a preliminary list of projects to submit to FEMA for approval," Eddy said.

Eddy prepared a preliminary list of 10 projects, totaling $14 million, prior to the meeting. The idea was to rank each idea, along with any others presented at the meeting, and reach a consensus on the items to be submitted to FEMA. That step was unnecessary as Eddy's list reached a consensus without even going through the ranking process.

The list of projects to be submitted, and the cost of each, is as follows:

Construction of concession stands and bathrooms at Shoreline Park: $500,000. One of each at the football and softball fields.

Additions to Rec Center: $4 million. Additions include basketball courts, teen/senior area, snack bar, games

Projects Built: $1.5 million. Council members want to add a new football field and a fire truck.

Rebuild waste transfer station: $500,000.

Disaster response equipment: $700,000. Includes a knuckle boom, police vehicle and bobcats

Stormwater lift station: $300,000. It would be placed in the Baycliffs neighborhood.

Median, parking, stormwater: $1 million. Projects to include a division on Shoreline Drive and angle parking at Shoreline Park North.

Extend fence: $500,000. the fence would be from Gulf Breeze High School to end of the elementary school on west and from Andrew Jackson Trail to the Field House on East.

Phase 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant: $4 million. The plan includes a nine million gallon pond, the sale of reclaimed water to Navarre area that is expected to generate funds that offset maintenance costs.

Natural gas fueling station: $1 million. Includes replacement vehicles conversion, which costs about $3,000 to convert a car.

"The factor to bear in mind right now is that we really have to get a list to FEMA quickly," Eddy said. "We will first submit a $13.8 million list to FEMA and continue our master plan beyond that."

The city is still waiting on Tetra Tech to submit its master plan for the parks and recreation facilities. That plan will be executed in conjunction with the new plan approved by the City Council.

The FEMA money will not fund any additional projects in the Tetra Tech plan. The City Council was mindful of this, and built the current project list with that in mind. Items five, eight, nine and 10 will free up money in the current budget. That money can then be used to complete further master plan projects.