Canal Maintenance Dredging Discussion
Friday, March 7, 2014
County Center, 26th Floor
Attendees/Invitees:
Sandy Murman-Hillsborough County Commissioner; Harry Cohen-City of Tampa
Councilman; John Lyons- County Public Works; Mike Herr & Irv Lee-City of Tampa Public
Works; Greg Stong, Brian Armstrong & Mark Langford for Mary Yeargan-FDEP; Scott
Emery & Rick Garrity-EPC; Estella Gray & Jeff Glas-SWFWMD; Bob Esposito-FDOT;
Melanie Hoyt for State Representative Dana Young; Candace Wheelahan-ACOE; John
Grandoff-Attorney/Resident, Kent King-Resident; Marlin Anderson & Jack Berlin-Residents
were not present
Meeting Summary
• Canal maintenance needs to be a priority for many reason including mitigating
silting from runoff, improving water quality, improving property values and quality
of life issues
• The City of Tampa has spent $2.4-$2.8 million on the Westshore canal project; in
addition citizens paid for near-shore maintenance dredging
• Regulatory agencies agreed that canal maintenance dredging served a worthwhile
purpose and pledged to assist as much as possible with permitting procedures and
technical support
• A proposal was made to share the cost of maintenance dredging canals. This
would involve an Interlocal Agreement and could include local government (City &
County) as well as other governmental agencies
• There was also discussion about residents sharing in the cost as had occurred in
both the Westshore project and in Apollo Beach
• In Westshore the City financed the cleaning of the center of the canals but the
residents financed maintenance along the shoreline near their docks
• The possibility of using stormwater fees to support the cost of dredge maintenance
came up but the COT collects only $6 million/year , not enough to cover their
needs
• Hillsborough County has only a $12/residence/year stormwater fee and that
original fee has never been adjusted
• Return on Investment (ROI) needs to be calculated and shown in order to have a
better shot at grants
• FDEP 319 gr