FRDAP Grant/Nance Park: An application for FRDAP monies was sent to FDEP September 5, 2006. Proposed project improvements, costing $50,000, include redecking the boardwalk area between the restrooms and crossover #3, redecking access #4, providing additional sidewalks in the southern end of the park to better move pedestrians and avoid conflicts with vehicles, paving a portion of the parking lot drive-thru area, and providing additional play equipment. Waiting for State budget approval.
FRDAP Grant/Riverside Park: A FRDAP application was sent to FDEP September 5, 2006. Proposed project improvements, costing $50,000, include a walkway through the park from the handicap parking spaces, interconnecting with the picnic areas, to end across from the sidewalk at Second Avenue; outside binoculars/telescopes (2) at the western end of the pier; and a bench swing. Waiting for State budget approval.
Dual northbound turn lanes on SR-A1A @ US-192: FDOT has determined that a second northbound left turn lane can be installed within the FDOT right-of-way, which will improve the operation and efficiency of the intersection. The MPO Traffic Operations Committee recommended this project as the third prioritized project and the MPO has indicated in the 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan that this section of SR-A1A will experience severe congestion. FDOT has included $545,993 for the project, which will include mast arms, in the Five-Year Transportation Plan for FY-07. The end result of the project will move traffic and a newly constructed sidewalk to the west side of the right-of-way that lies to the east of the Longboard House. Plans were reviewed with comments having been forwarded to FDOT. The FDOT Tentative Five-Year Plan includes $584,000 for this project. FDOT has combined the project with a similar project in Brevard County and has set a bid letting date of January 31, 2007. The bid has been awarded with a pre-construction meeting to be scheduled by May 1, 2007.
Pedestrian Signs: Information requested from FDOT regarding the possibility of increasing pedestrian warning signs at the US-192/Riverside Drive intersection. FDOT has requested and received information regarding pedestrian activity times.
Pedestrian Crossings: Received pedestrian countdown signs and had them installed at the intersections of SR-A1A/Fifth Avenue and Riverside Drive/Fifth Avenue.
Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge: The FDOT Tentative Five-Year Transportation Plan projects spending $2.3 million in FY-08 to make repairs and fix the expansion joints on the Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge.
Melbourne Causeway: FDOT has included in the Tentative Five-Year Transportation Plan replacing the easternmost relief bridge (bridge number 700037) and the parallel pair of relief bridges (bridge numbers 700173 & 700175), which are east of the Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge on US-192. The plan includes monies in FY-06 for design and monies in FY-10 ($8.223 million) for construction. For the tentative FDOT Five-Year Plan the construction cost has been projected at $15.7 million. The Brevard County Causeway Vulnerability Study will impact this project but it appears that the Indian River Lagoon North Restoration Feasibility Study will not. A temporary bridge will be constructed south of the existing bridge, which will protrude about 45 feet south of US-192 along Douglas Park. It is not known if the new bridge decks will be elevated above the current bridge decks. Staff has requested that a separated 10-foot bike path be constructed on the bridges for traffic moving in both directions and four-foot bike lanes along the outer lanes of the new bridges. It is expected that the current pedestrian and bicycle traffic thruways will be maintained during construction. Preliminary plans provided by FDOT’s consultant on 2/28/07 reflect six-foot wide temporary bike/pedestrian bridges along the south side of the causeway south of the westernmost relief bridge and the easternmost relief bridge. A meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2007, with the FDOT consultants.
Nance & Sunrise park leases: Staff has requested that the County extend the leases that it has with the State and follow-up with extensions of the County leases with the Town for the properties that the Town operates as Nance Park and Sunrise Park. Both properties have leases that expire in 2037; however, FRDAP requirements stipulate that the Town, when applying for FRDAP grants, have control of the property for at least 30 years. The County is in the process of securing new leases with the State for the two properties.
Comprehensive Plan/Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR): A workshop for the public and Zoning & Planning Board to provide input for development of the EAR to meet State requirements was held at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2007. A Scoping Meeting, as required, with neighboring agencies was scheduled for April 11, 2007. A letter of understanding was forwarded by the consultant to the Florida Department of Community Affairs on April 12, 2007.
Sidewalks: The town is awaiting receipt of an agreement and the check for $32,310 in Transportation Impact Fee Trust fund monies to provide portions of sidewalk at the following locations: Fourth Avenue (south side, east of N. Ramona Avenue); N. Ramona Avenue (west side, south of Third Avenue); and N. Riverside Place (west side, from Riverside Park accessible parking spaces to Second Avenue).
Melbourne Causeway (south side): FDOT provided the forms to complete the Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) for FY-06 funds to install trees along the south side of the Melbourne Causeway between the Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Bridge and Bridge #700037 (the easternmost relief bridge). The JPA was proposed to install 78 Sabal Palm trees, 11 E. Palatka Holly trees, and 14 Silver Buttonwood trees. The area is approximately 2400 feet in length and is 18 to 20 feet wide (i.e. between the State’s required clear zone and the new bike path). A grant application was provided for the above noted improvements to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for Urban & Community Forestry funds on February 17, 2005, which has been approved and executed. Council determined on April 19, 2005, to adjust the plantings being requested through FDOT to be as follows: 69 Sabal Palm trees, 21 Silver Buttonwood trees, 11 Sea Grape trees, and 11 Gumbo Limbo trees. FDOT has reviewed the Town’s planting proposal and noted that the requirement for Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) services can be met through FDOT. Council approved the JPA on January 17, 2006 with FDOT executing the document on February 10, 2006. The landscape architect reviewed the plans with the Town Manager on April 14, 2006, and updated the plans and specifications. Comments from FDOT were due to the landscape architect by the end of the month. A request was submitted to extend the grant completion deadline for the Urban & Community Forestry grant, which was approved extending the deadline to September 30, 2007. FDOT provided the required landscape plans to the Town on August 21, 2006. Council approved the adjustment of trees within the planting space on September 19th. The tree allocation is for 75 Sabal palms of varying sizes, 10 Gumbo Limbo trees, 18 Sea Grape trees, and 14 Silver Buttonwood trees. The project has been bid with notice publication dates of November 16, 2006, and January 4, 2007 and a bid opening date of January 19, 2007. Council approved JPA Amendment #1 on February 20, 2007, with FDOT executing it on 2/27/07 increasing the FDOT funding by $4,000. Council also awarded the bid to the low bidder and approved a contract with the low bidder. Pre-construction meeting was held 3/15/07 with installation to occur June 15, 2007.
Mitigation Grant: The County granted approval for the Town to apply for $53,000 in non-local (FEMA) funds for shutters and an emergency generator for Town Hall. The local share is $17,667. The application was sent to the Florida Department of Community Affairs on May 2, 2005. DCA noted that the emergency generator was ineligible for funding; however, approved $17,042 in non-local funds requiring $5,681 in local match for shutters.
Appraisals: To comply with the insurance carrier’s requirements appraisals of Town government structures (i.e. Town Hall, Fire House, dune crossovers, park pavilions) have been completed.
Trees for Parks: The Town received grants from both the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to install trees along the south side of the Melbourne Causeway. The FDOT money is being used for this purpose making the Urban & Community Forestry grant monies available to provide additional trees (i.e. 65 Sabal Palms, 3 E. Palatka Holly trees, and 8 Silver Buttonwood trees) in Sunrise, Nance, Douglas and Orlando parks. The programmatic change was requested of the State on March 22, 2007. Approval was granted May 7, 2007, by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to modify the Town’s application for the use of these funds. Proposals were mailed to prospective firms May 9, 2007. The project is being pursued within the grant program guidelines.