TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Missie Barletto, Public Works Director
THROUGH: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: June 3, 2025
Title
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT (ILA) BETWEEN THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH AND PALM BEACH COUNTY (PBC) FOR THE UPCOMING SHORELINE PROTECTION PROJECT, SUPPORTING THE WINTER 2025 / 2026 US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) FLOOD CONTROL AND COASTAL EMERGENCY (FCCE) AND BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT (PROJECT NO. 17-081)
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Approval of an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the City of Delray Beach and Palm Beach County (PBC) for the upcoming Shoreline Protection project (Project No. 17-081), supporting the Winter 2025 / 2026 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Flood Control and Coastal Emergency (FCCE) and Beach Renourishment project. This ILA provides a mechanism for funding the project, and the terms, conditions and obligations of the City and PBC.
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Background:
The Delray Beach Shore Protection Program consists of the design, permitting, construction, and monitoring of approximately 2.6 miles of shoreline. The primary focus of the program is to provide for the protection and enhancement of the beach and coastal resources in accordance with State and Federal permit conditions. The City of Delray Beach (City) holds a Joint Coastal Permit (JCP), Permit No.0303553-001-JC, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) for sand nourishment of the beachfront with offshore borrow areas.
The City has participated in nine beach nourishment projects from 1973 to 2020, with the most recent sand renourishment project completed in 2020 in response to damages incurred by the 2017 hurricane season. The City experienced sand losses during the 2022 Hurricane season, primarily associated with Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Following the storm season, PBC requested USACE evaluate and repair damages from the storms. The USACE performed an evaluation and found that Delray’s Beach project was impacted and eligible for an FCCE storm repair project. The USACE’s storm repair project is scheduled for Winter 2025 / 2026 (after the 2025 sea turtle nesting season ends October 31, 2025, and before the 2026 sea turtle nesting season starts March 1, 2026) and will be adding approximately 450,000 cubic yards of sand to the City’s beach. The City of Delray beach wishes to complete a fully permitted template beach repair adding an additional 750,000 cubic yards of advanced fill sand to provide additional storm protection and recreational beach.
PBC is the Non-Federal Sponsor on the City’s Beach Renourishment Authorization with USACE. To proceed with the project as proposed, USACE and PBC will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), allowing the USACE’s contractor to construct the additional sand placement while mobilized here for the USACE’s FCCE storm repair project. The additional sand placement is estimated to cost approximately $18,000,000 and will be cost shared between the City, FDEP and PBC. The FDEP cost shares on the City’s project at 50% of the non-Federal costs and PBC is proposing (via this ILA) to cost share at 20% of the non-Federal cost. This proposed ILA provides a mechanism for funding the project, and the terms, conditions and obligations of the City and PBC. Following execution of this ILA, PBC will invoice the City for $5,400,000 (the City’s estimated cost for the project) with payment due within 120 days.
City Attorney Review:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Funding Source/Financial Impact:
Funding is available from account number 332-41-363-572.63-90 (Full Beach Renourishment).
Timing of Request:
This request is time-sensitive to construct the Winter 2025/2026 Beach Renourishment on schedule as this ILA is required by PBC to proceed with their MOA with USACE.