DUNEDIN — City commissioners gave unanimous approval to installing a living shoreline at Weaver Park, instead of repairing 728 linear feet of its crumbling, eroding, unstable seawall.
However, it also became apparent that the project cannot move forward until the city knows how the November property tax referendum will affect its funding.
During the July 7 work session, Sustainability Program Manager Natalie Gass told commissioners; “Weaver Park has shoreline erosion and the entire intent of this project is to strategize, and understand how we can improve the shoreline in the best way possible for this park.”
The suggested plan, she said, is to “utilize a nature-based solution to develop a living shoreline in place of the crumbling riprap shoreline; incorporate new riprap, mangroves, native upland plantings, oyster recruitment solutions, and explore an ADA Kayak launch for additional public access.”
Gass told commissioners a traditional seawall “is strongest on day of installation and weakens over time,” due to tidal impact and weather conditions; “While living shorelines are weakest on installation day, but once you get pass the point where you allow the mangroves, sea grasses and other native plants and oysters to grow and expand, it strengthens over time.”
“You have root systems that get deeper, oyster recruitment that continues to expand along your coast line and so you have a stronger, more resilient, shoreline that expands,” she advised.
Pinellas County Water Navigation informed the city that the project site is not eligible for seawall funding, because it doesn’t have seawalls on both sides to connect to, but funds can be used for a living shoreline, she told commissioners.
Gass added that the pier, which is closed and has been deemed unsafe, is not included in the scope of the living shoreline project. Pier restoration is currently in the permitting stage and then will be placed out to a separate bid; However, the pier, with a footprint and design that will not change, is eligible for FEMA funding because it was destroyed by the hurricanes.
Amanda Martin, the city’s CPH consultant project engineer, revealed her team identified several issues that contributed to shoreline deterioration. “Over time there has been a loss of material, creating voids which allowed wave energy to further erode the shoreline, so it’s no longer eroding the seawall itself; it’s eroding the earth beneath it, due to displacement of this rock.”
There are also several wash-out areas, she advised. “Many of the existing armor stones have become displaced, and are undersized for the conditions they are experiencing; reducing the shoreline’s stability and leaving it more vulnerable to further erosion.”
The consultant recommended a three phase approach starting with shoreline stabilization, which will include not demolishing certain components of the seawall, and installation of 11 feet of riprap waterward of the shore.
A second phase would see planting of mangroves and upland native vegetation, along with installation of oyster domes. A third phase would include the addition of water access enhancement, including the addition of a floating kayak launch on the north side.
Probable 2026 construction cost is estimated at $1.6 million for phase one, $493,750 for phase two, and $431,250 for phase three. The project could qualify for state grant matches.
Once the commission approves the project, the proposed schedule envisions design around August 2026, followed by permitting that could be in place by January 2027, with construction documents prepared in February 2027. However, while implementation, and a search for grants, all could begin once project funding is determined, the impact of the outcome of the November property tax referendum looms large.
Commissioner Steve Sandbergen questioned whether money could be saved on the living shoreline project if the kayak launch could be part of the pier restoration, which is in a separate budget package. Staff noted it will be difficult to make it ADA accessible.
City Manager Jennifer Bramley in addressing Mayor Maureen Freaney’s question about where the funds will come from to pay for the project, answered; “the plan is to get the project shovel ready and then apply for grants.”
“I think this project is certainly a grant rich type of project; there’s a lot of grant funding out there,” Bramley said. She cautioned much will be determined by what happens with the November property tax referendum.
“We need to get this project as far along as we can, and then see what grant funding will permit us to fund,” the city manager advised.
Staff noted common themes brought up during public workshops were residents’ concerns that mangrove height should not obstruct their view.
Freaney told fellow commissioners she is 100% in favor of this ecologically. However, when it comes to resident sentiment, Freaney told fellow commissioners she just got a message on her phone in capital letters stating; DON’T SCREW UP MY VIEW.”
Commissioner Robert Walker said, “I’m very much in favor of the concept; The process is technically fascinating and it’s an absolute necessity in terms of where we’re at ecologically.”
Sandbergen echoed the comments of other commissioners in noting, “we don’t know what’s coming in November, so we have to be cautious with the taxpayer’s money, but we need to protect what we have there.”
Commissioner Tom Dugard noted, “we are facing a set of circumstances that in my short tenure is unprecedented, and also in the tenure of everybody up here is unprecedented, in as much as we have to read the room—and the room is very challenging right now.”
He added, “making any decision before Nov. 3rd would be Pollyannaish at best, so I don’t think we need to see this before then in any kind of actionable way.”
Bramley noted the commission consensus is to fund the project all at once, versus in phases, for the better opportunity of securing grants. “I’m hearing from you nothing until November, and I certainly agree we need to know exactly where we are after the Nov. 3rd referendum.”