Agenda 09/23/2025 Item #11E (Request for reimbursement from the City of Marco Island to restore the beach sand berm of the Tigertail/Sand Dollar Island spit in Northwestern Marco Island)9/23/2025
Item # 11.E
ID# 2025-2600
Executive Summary
*** This item is to be heard at 11:00 AM. ***
Recommendation to approve a request for reimbursement from the City of Marco Island in the amount of $647,873 using
tourist development tax funds for costs to restore the beach sand berm of the Tigertail/Sand Dollar Island spit in
Northwestern Marco Island resulting from impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricanes Helene and Milton,
authorize the necessary Budget Amendment, and make a finding that this expenditure promotes tourism.
OBJECTIVE: To approve a request to reimburse the City of Marco Island in the amount of $647,873 for maintenance
of the Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project using tourist development tax, authorize the
necessary budget amendment, and make a finding that this expenditure promotes tourism.
CONSIDERATIONS: Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island is a beach sand spit in northwestern Marco Island and is
part of a valuable ecosystem which includes recreational assets and tourist attractions. The project in its entirety is
located on public beach and wetland areas designated as Critical Wildlife Area by the State of Florida and can only be
accessed by land through Collier County Tigertail Beach Park at the south part of the system. The project is in the public
interest providing environmental, social and economic benefits and storm protection.
The Tigertail Lagoon and Sand Dollar Island ecosystem is a protected natural preserve and a Critical Wildlife Area that
provides valuable habitat for a variety of birds, sea turtles, manatees, and seagrasses. Tigertail Lagoon and Sand Dollar
Island are also valuable Marco Island recreational resources for residents and tourists for birding, fishing, kayaking,
paddle boarding, kitesurfing, and, on the northern half, boating. The ecosystem is accessed by the public via Collier
County’s Tigertail Beach Park at the southern end of the lagoon and via boat at the northern end of the lagoon. Tigertail
Beach is one of 510 points on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and is considered one of the best all-around
birding spots in southwest Florida. Reader’s Digest named this area as one of the “15 Best Beaches in Florida Locals
Want to Keep Secret.” The County Park is one of only three public beach access points on Marco Island and receives
over 200,000 visitors annually. It has a relatively large public parking area, playground, and bathrooms. A shuttle bus
runs from some hotels to the park. Private, rental, and commercial tourist boats access the lagoon from its northern
entrance.
In the summer of 2024, Marco Island was hit by an unprecedented series of named tropical storm events, tropical storm
Debby, hurricane Helene, and hurricane Milton. These storms produced storm surge that resulted in over-wash of sand
in to the lagoon, closure of the water channel to the County park, erosion of the beach and berm, and a breach severing
access from the County park. Without maintenance in this area, the beautiful two-mile Sand Dollar spit, the scenic
lagoon, and associated natural resources would be gone. The southern lagoon by the County Park would be a landlocked
pond, the Sand Dollar spit would no longer exist, and its remains would be an island that would erode and diminish over
time. The inner shoreline would also erode and the entire Tigertail area of Marco Island would be increasingly
vulnerable to storm surge and damage without the multi-tier protection of the Sand Dollar spit, the lagoon, and the
mangrove shoreline.
Under the City of Marco Island’s existing permits and the State of Florida’s emergency order for hurricanes Helene and
Milton and with advance funding from a special tax district, the City took quick action to repair the damage before
further erosion and sand loss could occur. The work included closure of the breach and restoration of the 2-mile Sand
Dollar spit and beach berm, restoration of the tidal flow channel to the southern lagoon by the County Park, excavation
of the sand on the mangrove shoreline, and provision of 8 acres of bird nesting area at the northern section of the Sand
Dollar spit.
Ongoing beach restoration is a critical program for Marco Island due to tourism, environmental, and storm protection
benefits. As a result of the unique design of the Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island restoration project, the contractor
was able to recycle sand from the growing northern tip of Sand Dollar Island and reuse the sand that was over-washed
into the lagoon, all by mechanical means. The largest costs of beach restoration are hydraulic dredge mobilization and
offsite sand acquisition. As this restoration did not require these costly items, it is being done at an approximate cost of
$5 per cubic yard versus $50+ per cubic yard elsewhere in Collier County and in coastal counties to the north. The
Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island hurricane restoration cost is $647,873 ($ 618,055 in construction costs and $29,818
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9/23/2025
Item # 11.E
ID# 2025-2600
in professional services) compared with $7M to $52M in other areas.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: The Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) recommended
against funding this expenditure with tourist development tax with a vote of 5-2 on May 8, 2025. The Tourist
Development Council (TDC) reviewed this item on July 15, 2025 and passed 7-0.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Collier County’s Coastal Zone staff has reviewed and supports the request as it
pertains to the maintenance of the flow channel to Tigertail Lagoon.
This item is consistent with the Quality of Place Objectives of the County’s Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: A budget amendment in the amount of $647,873.00 is necessary to allocate funding from Reserves
within the TDC Beach Renourishment Fund (1105), to Tigertail Lagoon Project (90007). The source of funding is the
Tourist Development Tax.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no impact to the Growth Management Plan related to this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: Section 125.0104, Fla. Stat., provides the authorized uses for tourist development tax
revenue and include:
To finance beach park facilities, or beach, channel, estuary, or lagoon improvement, maintenance, renourishment,
restoration, and erosion control, including construction of beach groins and shoreline protection, enhancement, cleanup,
or restoration of inland lakes and rivers to which there is public access as those uses relate to the physical preservation
of the beach, shoreline, channel, estuary, lagoon, or inland lake or river
This item is approved as to form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. – CMG
RECOMMENDATIONS: To approve a request to reimburse the City of Marco Island in the amount of $647,873 for
maintenance of the Tigertail Lagoon / Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project using tourist development tax,
authorize the necessary Budget Amendment, and make a finding that this expenditure promotes tourism.
PREPARED BY: Justin Martin, Public Works Director, City of Marco Island
Submitted by: Andrew Miller, Coastal Zone Management
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City of Marco Island Tigertail presentation
2. 1105 - Tigertail Project 90007
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City of Marco IslandTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Date of Photo April 25, 2025Page 937 of 3896
City of Marco IslandTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Collier County
Tigertail Beach
Park
Hideaway Beach
Critical Wildlife
Area
Sand Dollar Island/
Tigertail LagoonoEntire project is on public
lands and in state Critical
Wildlife Area
o Access to Sand Dollar Spit
is from the Collier County
Park
o Tigertail Beach Park is one
of only two major public
access areas to Marco
Island beaches
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Project OverviewTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Request for TDC supplemental funding
•$647,873 for the 2024 post tropical storm recovery
Offshore Borrow
Area
Collier County
Tigertail Beach
Park
Overview
•Project Description
o Restore Sand Dollar Island & Tigertail Lagoon post 2024 storms
o Entire project is on public lands, state Critical Wildlife Area
o Sand Source – Over-wash sand recovery within the system
o Unit cost - $5.75 per cubic yard
•Project History
o Initial construction completed in 2023 (500,000 cy)
o Total construction cost ($4.2 Million)
o Funded by City of Marco HB Tax District and Collier County
•Public Interest and Tourism
o Project is in public interest (State review determination)
o Project promotes tourism with direct benefits to Collier County
Park (County staff recommendation and prior TDC determination)
•Storm Impacts and recovery efforts
o (2023) Hurricane Idalia
o (2024) Tropical Storm Debby, Hurricanes Helene and Milton
o Post storm recovery (160,000 CY)
o Partially funded by preapproved maintenance fund ($350, 000)
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Pre and Post Storm Recovery and RestorationProject Update
Nov 25-2025 Apr 25-2025
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Marco IslandCollier County Tigertail Beach Park
Pre Project April 2025- Post Restoration
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Public InterestTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Public interest- State review determination
•The project may reduce potential for adverse impacts to public
health, safety and welfare should the lagoon become stagnant.
• The project will allow for continued use of the area by the public
for wildlife observation and other recreation uses.
•The project is in the public interest providing environmental,
social and economic benefits and more storm protection.
•The project is expected to maintain this area as an environmental
and recreational resource to the public.
•The project will have a net positive benefit to the coastal system.
•The project meets the Department criteria for public interest
determination.
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
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Tourism
•Beach park & concessions
•Bird watching
•Beachcombing/Shelling
•Kayaking/Paddleboarding
•Kite surfing
•Surf fishing
•Charter fishing
•Sunbathing
•Swimming
Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/ Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
J. W. Marriott catamarans
Commercial Tours
Cool Beans Cruises -Isles of Capri MarinaTreasure Seekers Shell Tours
Dolphin Explorer- Rose Marina
Sand Dollar Boat Tours
Marco Island Excursions
Paradise Cycle Boat Cruises
Rose Marina Page 946 of 3896
Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
o
Media – Social Media, Local & National News
Trip Advisor
May 26, 2024
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Real Estate/Short Term Rentals Marco Escapes
Sea Mar Condo
airbnb
Clausen Properties Rentals
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Tourism
Tigertail Lagoon /Sand Dollar Island
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Recent Condition – June 26, 2025Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
D t f Ph t J 26 2025
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Additional SlidesTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
Date of Photo June 26, 2025
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Pre and Post ConstructionTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
2017 Pre Irma 2022 Post Ian
2023 conditions
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City of Marco IslandTigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
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Tourism Tigertail Lagoon/ Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration
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