By Steve Plunkett
A public workshop on the town’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan filled the Briny Breezes Community Center on Dec. 4 with even more residents attending via Zoom.
But for some residents, at least, the workshop did not resolve questions they had concerning the impact of the planned construction projects, nor their concerns about the costs they could incur should the town not secure enough grant money for the work — or if the actual costs will increase while the work is in progress.
Workshop leader Alec Bogdanoff, principal of Brizaga consultancy, announced that his firm and fellow consultants Engenuity Group Inc. had reached the 30% completion point on the conceptual plans for upgrading the stormwater and wastewater infrastructure and building new sea walls.
Lisa Tropepe of Engenuity said scientists predict a 2-foot rise in sea level in 25 years. Briny Breezes already routinely floods during king tides and strong storms.
Bogdanoff also praised Briny Breezes and the town manager, Bill Thrasher, for being ahead of other municipalities in already securing $9.5 million in federal, state and county money of an expected $15 million needed to do the work.
Thrasher has promised he will find other grants so that residents pay nothing for the upgrades.
But the postmortem reviews of the workshop were mixed.
Susan Brannen, president of the board of Briny Breezes Inc., thanked the Town Council at its Dec. 12 meeting.
“I know the corporation was very pleased with the turnout. (It was) quite a few people for us to crowd into the Community Center,” she said. “I think your folks did a great job in trying to keep the audience engaged without getting out of control, if you will, because we’re known for that sometimes.”
Mayor Ted Gross had a different take. He said the workshop was an important step in moving the infrastructure project forward. But it also highlighted some significant concerns and uncertainties among the stockholders, he said.
“It seemed no definitive answers could be given for the biggest questions stockholders wanted to know. And I’m saying no definitive, not because anybody failed, but we have 30% conceptual plans.
“The questions were, how high will the sea walls be — 5 feet? ‘Oh, that will be too high for me when I’m sitting in a chair on the ground. I won’t be able to see over it.’”
Other questions he included were: will some residents have to remove and rebuild their docks; how long will construction keep some residents from accessing their units; what happens if the money runs out before the sea walls are completed; will there possibly be an increased or special assessment; how loud will the pumps be, where will they be placed, and how much will it cost to maintain them; and do the projects require a vote from shareholders for a material change?
“These are all valid questions that I listened to as people asked. We weren’t able to give them any answer,” Gross said.
The mayor, who does not have a vote in council decisions but can use his position as an influencer, urged the council to make the process more transparent and less confusing by creating a shared understanding among the town, the corporation, the board of directors and the stockholders.
“By fostering open communication, establishing clear priorities and ensuring that everyone is on the same page, Briny Breezes can move forward in a direction that is well supported by all stakeholders,” he said.
Gross added that he is “not against this project by any means.”
“What I’m concerned about is, I’m confused. And I find other people confused as to what’s happening,” Gross said.
But Council President Liz Loper said Briny residents do support the project. “I’ve heard more people for than against it,” she said.
“So I must be out of touch,” the mayor replied.
Grants in the works for elevating homes
The state Division of Emergency Management has a new grant program, Elevate Florida, for people who would like to elevate their homes, Briny Breezes Town Manager Bill Thrasher announced Dec. 12.
“It does apply to mobile homes,” he said. “And they also have a grant program for elevator (boat) lifts in case that the dimensions of the lot are so small that it could not meet the slope requirements being made.”
Details of how and when to apply were not yet available.
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