About Jack Berlin
Founded Accusoft (Pegasus Imaging) in 1991 and has been CEO ever since.
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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 grants which focus on improved water quality from stormwater
treatment need to be looked at as a possible funding source
• We really need an overall cost estimate for the entire city/county need for cleaning
canals
• EPC suggested they could put together an estimate using GIS to look at numbers
of canals, canal widths and canal lengths. EPC could then collaborate with
City/County staff using their own estimates from past work
• It was suggested to look at creating a statewide funding program similar to the
current renourishment funds as a possible funding source
• EPC volunteered to look into a before/after study to get a handle on an
environmental ROI
• It was requested that the regulatory agencies look at heads of canals where
stormwater pipes discharge and silting is especially bad. The issue is increased
growth of vegetation including mangroves possibly impeding flow
• Bayshore Boulevard was brought up as needing cleaning from silt build up in some
places
• Other canal communities in Florida need to be canvassed to determine how they
have dealt with dredge maintenance needs and financing
• EPC agreed to provide a meeting summary and a future meeting was tentatively
set for June
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 grants which focus on improved water quality from stormwater
treatment need to be looked at as a possible funding source
• We really need an overall cost estimate for the entire city/county need for cleaning
canals
• EPC suggested they could put together an estimate using GIS to look at numbers
of canals, canal widths and canal lengths. EPC could then collaborate with
City/County staff using their own estimates from past work
• It was suggested to look at creating a statewide funding program similar to the
current renourishment funds as a possible funding source
• EPC volunteered to look into a before/after study to get a handle on an
environmental ROI
• It was requested that the regulatory agencies look at heads of canals where
stormwater pipes discharge and silting is especially bad. The issue is increased
growth of vegetation including mangroves possibly impeding flow
• Bayshore Boulevard was brought up as needing cleaning from silt build up in some
places
• Other canal communities in Florida need to be canvassed to determine how they
have dealt with dredge maintenance needs and financing
• EPC agreed to provide a meeting summary and a future meeting was tentatively
set for June