Agenda 07/07/2015 Item #16A 27/7/2015 16.A.2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a funding assistance letter to the
Congressional Delegation requesting the United States Army Corps of Engineers include funding
for Gordon River Pass dredging in its next budget.
OBJECTIVE: For the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to approve and authorize the Chairman to
execute a letter to the Congressional Delegation — Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, Congressmen
Mario Diaz -Balart and Curt Clawson — requesting they ask the United States Army Corps of Engineers
( USACE) on behalf of Collier County to include funding for Gordon River Pass dredging in the
upcoming federal Civil Works Operations and Maintenance Work Plan.
CONSIDERATIONS: A federally- authorized project, Gordon River Pass was last dredged by the Corps
in 2010. Historically, the pass has been dredged on average every four (4) to five (5) years. Shoaling has
decreased water depth in the channel, requiring the county to work with the USACE to plan for the
dredging of the pass again. While the pass is in no danger of imminently closing, it is necessary that we
begin to elevate our request for priority funding and scheduling.
Authorization for the Channel from Naples to Big Marco Pass, Florida is found in House Document 596,
75"' Congress, 3rd Session, and House document 183, 86th Congress, 1St Session.
The attached proposed letter from the BCC Chair is addressed to only one member of the Collier County
Congressional Delegation, but the identical correspondence will be transmitted to all 4 members of the
Congressional Delegation, including Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, Congressmen Mario Diaz -
Balart and Curt Clawson. The BCC Chair letters are requesting the Congressional Members each write
the USACE and ask the agency to budget full funding for Gordon River Pass dredging in the next Civil
Works Operations and Maintenance Work Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: The dredging of the Gordon River Pass has in the past cost approximately $2.0
million and has historically been funded by a Federal Authorization through the United States Anny
Corps of Engineers.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no impact to the Growth Management Plan related to
this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been approved as to form and legality and requires
majority vote for approval. — CMG
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners approves and authorizes the
Chairman to execute a funding assistance letter to the Congressional Delegation requesting the United
States Army Corps of Engineers include funding for Gordon River Pass dredging in its next federal
budget.
Prepared By: J. Gary McAlpin, P.E., Coastal Zone Management
Attachment: Letter
Packet Page -739-
7/7/2015 16.A.2.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.16.A.16.A.2.
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
funding assistance letter to the Congressional Delegation requesting the United States Army
Corps of Engineers include funding for Gordon River Pass dredging in its next budget.
Meeting Date: 7/7/2015
Prepared By
Name: HambrightGail
Title: Accountant, Growth Management Department
6/1/2015 2:12:45 PM
Submitted by
Title: Accountant, Growth Management Department
Name: HambrightGail
6/1/2015 2:12:47 PM
Approved By
Name: PuigJudy
Title: Operations Analyst, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/1/2015 3:42:22 PM
Name: PuigJudy
Title: Operations Analyst, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/1/2015 3:43:06 PM
Name: Tara Castillo
Title: Management/Budget Analyst, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/1/2015 3:53:04 PM
Name: PattersonAmy
Title: Manager - Impact Fees & EDC, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/1/2015 4:47:08 PM
Packet Page -740-
7/7/2015 16.A.2.
Name: McAlpinGary
Title: Manager - Coastal Management Programs, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/2/2015 3:05:27 PM
Name: KearnsAllison
Title: Manager Financial & Operational Support, Growth Management Department
Date: 6/3/2015 4:44:36 PM
Name: GreeneColleen
Title: Assistant County Attorney, CAO General Services
Date: 6/8/2015 1:31:59 PM
Name: OberrathKaren
Title: Accountant, Senior, Grants Management Office
Date: 6/10/2015 8:23:46 AM
Name: CasalanguidaNick
Title: Deputy County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 6/20/2015 7:03:05 AM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney,
Date: 6/22/2015 4:54:35 PM
Name: StanleyTherese
Title: Manager - Grants Compliance, Grants Management Office
Date: 6/24/2015 1:50:55 PM
Name: CasalanguidaNick
Title: Deputy County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 6/25/2015 1:28:14 PM
Packet Page -741-
Board of Coiner County Commissioners
Donna Fiala Georgia A. Hiller, Esq. Tom Henning
District 1 District 2 District 3
May 29, 2015
The Honorable Curt Clawson
U.S. House of Representatives
228 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Re: Gordon River Pass Dredging Request
Dear Congressman Clawson:
7/7/2015 16.A.2.
Penny Taylor Tim Nance
District 4 District 5
The Gordon River and Naples Bay, in Collier County, Florida flow into Gordon Pass. This is the most
significant pass in Collier County because it supports the commercial fishing (stone crab), sport fishing
and tourism industries. The pass is also used by residential and pleasure boaters throughout the county,
and supports the county's marinas. As the most significant shallow draft inlet within Collier County, the
pass also provides harbor safety during storm events to the wide variety of commercial and recreational
boating interests in our area.
The Gordon River Pass is a federally authorized project. Authorization for the Channel from Naples to
Big Marco Pass, Florida is found in House Document 596, 75t' Congress, 3rd Session, and House
document 183, 86th Congress, 158 Session. The pass was last dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) in 2010. The pass has been dredged on average every 4 to 5 years by the USACE,
and is in need of dredging this year because shoaling has diminished the water depth in the channel.
This project is "shovel ready" with all the required environmental and regulatory permitting in place to
begin immediate dredging. Dredging Gordon Pass will also provide the most economical sand disposal
option by providing beach - compatible sand to the adjacent downdrift beach.
As Chair of the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, I respectfully request that the USACE
budget full funding for Gordon Pass Dredging in the upcoming Civil Works Operations and Maintenance
Work Plan.
Thank you for your contributions to the Collier County community. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Please feel welcome to contact me if you need additional information or have any questions.
Respectfully,
Commissioner Tim Nance, Chair
Board of County Commissioners
C: Board of County Commissioners
County Manager Leo E. Ochs, Jr.
Deputy County Manager Nick Casalanguida
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 303 • r packet Page -742-'239-252-8097 • FAX 239 - 252 -3602