FY 24 Community Project Selections

Cape Coral Septic to Sewer Conversion & Utilities Extension Project

Recipient: City of Cape Coral

Location: 1015 Cultural Park Blvd, Naples, FL 33990

Amount of Request: $160 Million

Details: This project converts about 7,300 property parcels within the City from septic and private wells to sewer and city water. Funding will also support stormwater enhancements, reuse/irrigation water and new roadways, reducing the harmful contaminants entering regional waterways and the number of private wells in the northern part of the city are rapidly depleting water resources from shallow aquifers. Residents will gain access to the City's potable water and distribution facilities, reducing the frequency of wells running dry and saltwater intrusion. This project also reduces dependence on fresh water and provides a disposal method of treated wastewater for lawn irrigation and fire protection uses. All federal funds can be expended in fiscal year 2024.

Raw Water Supply Improvement

Recipient: City of Fort Myers

Location: 2200 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Amount of Request: $3.5 Million

Details: The current wellfield is considered aging infrastructure at the ends of its useful working life; it will soon be unable to meet demand and productivity will greatly diminish. With the expansion of the wellfield, the City will more effectively be able to treat and distribute water at high pressure on a continued basis. This project also promotes resiliency in the face of catastrophic man-made or natural disaster by providing redundancy to our utility system. This will diminish service interruptions to residents in the event of an emergency, such as Hurricane Ian. Year after year, after disaster hits, taxpayers are stuck paying for faulty infrastructure. Upgraded infrastructure helps mitigate damage which saves taxpayers' money.

Larry Kiker Preserve Water Management Project

Recipient: Lee County Board of County Commissioners

Location: 2115 Second St, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Amount of Request: $2 Million

Details: The requested funds will be used for design and permitting of the Larry Kiker Preserve Water Management Project. The purpose of the project is to restore flow ways, protect wildlife habitat, improve regional flood control, improve water quality, and enhance aquifer recharge. The project lies upstream of the Imperial and Estero Rivers, which are listed as impaired waters. The Imperial River has a Florida Department of Environmental Protection adopted and US Environmental Protection Agency- approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and it is part of a Basin Action Management Plan (BMAP). In response to significant regional flood events, projects to benefit the project area were conceptualized under the South Lee County Watershed Plan. The project will result in a reduction of nutrient loading to the Estero and Imperial Rivers, increased wildlife usage in the watershed, improved regional flood control and water quality, and reduction of storm water discharge from the project area. Requested funds will be used for contracted design and permitting services.

Collier County Sheriff's Office Policing Equipment Upgrades

Recipient: Collier County Sheriff’s Office

Location: 3319 Tamiami Trail E, Naples, FL

Amount of Request: $ 2,075,000 Million

Details: In order to accomplish the agency’s mission of protecting citizens and providing efficient services, timely replacement of agency vehicles is critical. The Collier County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) has been successful at replacing some vehicles in recent years. However, they are in need of funding to replace more vehicles. CCSO is also in need of funding to replace more mobile radios and a patrol boat which helps with rescue missions.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Policing Equipment Upgrades

Recipient: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

Location: 14750 Six Mile Cypress, Fort Myers, FL 33912

Amount of Request: $ 4,992,000 Million

Details: Lee County Sheriff’s Office launched a pilot project in 2020 to evaluate pursuit-rated hybrid Police Interceptor Utility vehicle. The greater fuel efficiency and performance has been a cost benefit to taxpayers, and LCSO has been able to put an estimated 105 Police Interceptor Utility vehicle hybrids on the road. Moving ahead in 2023, they would like to replace 15 Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and 113 Police Interceptor cars with more than 100,000 miles with new pursuit-rated hybrid Police Interceptor Utility vehicles. Hybrid vehicle replacements would not only lower operating costs, but also increase reliability for Deputies. Their Fleet Management Division has a goal of completing maintenance within 24 hours, yet last year that occurred only 80.9% of the time. They also would greatly benefit from the purchase of six high water rescue vehicles for each of our districts. These vehicles are essential for emergency operations and would have benefited this Agency greatly during Hurricane Ian. The cost for a hybrid Interceptor is $45,000 to $50,000, while the cost for a high water rescue vehicle is between $80,000 to $120,000.

East Periwinkle Way Bridge Replacement

Recipient: City of Sanibel

Location: 800 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957

Amount of Request: $ 5,500,000 Million

Details: East Periwinkle Way Bridge is the primary arterial that serves the eastern section of Sanibel Island. It is also the primary evacuation route for residents who live in the eastern section of the island and is a primary road utilized by first responders. The funding request is for engineering, construction, and construction administration. Water and wastewater lines that are supported by the bridge would also be upgraded and replaced. The project is listed in the City's Legislative Priorities for FY23 and has received wide support from Sanibel residents and businesses. Sanibel is a small island community that contributes greatly to the economy of southwest Florida through its strong housing market, pristine beaches, tourist visitation, small town community and business charm, and seasonal residential population. Sanibel's recovery is reliant upon the financial support of the State of Florida and Federal Government since the damage sustained from Hurricane Ian was catastrophic. Funding the replacement of the East Periwinkle Way Bridge will improve the City's resiliency and support this sanctuary barrier island's full recovery.

Big Hickory, Little Carlos Pass and New Pass Bridge PD&E

Recipient: Lee County Board of County Commissioners

Location: 2115 Second St, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Amount of Request: $ 6,000,000 Million

Details: The three Hickory Bridges provide connections between the barrier islands from the Black Island to the City of Bonita Springs. All of the bridges were built in 1965 and were designed with a 50-year design life. The three bridges had good health ratings prior to Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. Post storm assessments found that the approach roadways to each bridge experienced heavy erosion and two bridges had bents that sustained significant scour damage. Lee County will prepare a Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) study for the replacement of all three bridges due to their age, functional obsolescence, and damage from Hurricane Ian to obtain Location and Design Concept Acceptance (LDCA) for the replacement of the three bridges. Design and plan preparation would be taken to the 30% level to determine the social, economic, and environmental effects of feasible build alternatives for the bridge and approach improvements. These bridges are vital to support the Southwest Florida hospitality/tourism economy and to provide safety for residents, workers, and visitors. The bridges provide key access to the island from the workforce community of Bonita Springs as well as to visitors approaching the island from southern Lee County and from Collier County. The bridges also ensure a southern hurricane evacuation route from the island community.

FGCU Groundwater to Surface Water Quality Project

Recipient: Florida Gulf Coast University

Location: 10501 FGCU Blvd S. Fort Myers, FL, 33965

Amount of Request: $ 1,000,000 Million

Details: Florida Gulf Coast University proposes to monitor groundwater to understand its role in surface water quality in the Estero Bay Watershed, particularly in the Surficial Aquifer System that connects to almost all the surface water bodies in Southwest Florida and can transport nutrients and pollutants. By identifying the amount of groundwater replenishing our rivers, lakes, ponds, and estuaries, as well as the nutrients and pollutants it carries, we can develop effective strategies to manage this important resource and protect waterways such as the Estero Bay, adjacent estuaries, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Shady Oaks Community Center At-Risk Youth Facilities

Recipient: City of Fort Myers

Location 2200 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901

Amount of Request: $ 2,430,000 Million

Details: The residents of this community are primarily minority and low-income, and many of the youth are considered underserved and at risk. Additionally, the communities served by Shady Oaks suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Ian from which they are still recovering. The Shady Oaks Community Center facilities represent the primary opportunity for after school activities for tutoring, mentorship and organized athletic programs for the youth in the area. The City of Fort Myers is requesting $2,430,000 for facilities upgrades, hardening, and resiliency measures in light of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Building resilient recreational spaces is an essential priority of the City of Fort Myers, and with an exponential population increase, the city is dedicated to the continued investment in multifunctional recreational opportunities. The resiliency measures enacted will prevent excessive damage in the event of a natural disaster. During Hurricane Ian, parks within the city of Fort Myers were greatly impacted and sustained many damages. The hope for this facility is that the additional resiliency measures will ensure the longevity and protection of the park. The city has already invested $200,000 in facility infrastructure repairs, and an additional $45,000 in furnishings and equipment has been invested to develop a teen room, café, wrestling, boxing and classrooms for leadership and other training. The city has also budgeted an additional $200,000 in cash and $80,000 in in-kind services to build a multi-purpose field. The Police Athletic League is a true community investment, with community volunteers, police employees, and other organizations fueling the clean-up, security, and field assistance. These community partnerships are a vital resource for the at-risk youth and their families in the area.