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. The grant application was funded. The executed agreement was received from FDEP on July 23, 2007. FDEP authorized the Town to proceed with the improvements on July 19, 2007. Sidewalks were constructed along the west side of the park entrance and along the south side of the park.
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. The grant application was funded. The executed agreement was received from FDEP on July 23, 2007. FDEP authorized the Town to proceed with the improvements on July 30, 2007. The sidewalk was constructed through the park.
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, issued a Notice to Proceed April 25, 2007, set a pre-construction meeting for July 13, with construction to start early to mid September. Some directional boring has already started.
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. Florida Today reports that the project was funded.
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. 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. The project proposes to have a five foot wide protected sidewalk along the north side of the westernmost relief bridge and an eight foot wide protected sidewalk along the south side of the easternmost relief bridge. A public meeting was held 6/11/07 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church from 5 to 7 pm.
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. Unfortunately, the State’s representative has changed slowing the process.
Sidewalks: The town is awaiting receipt of an executed agreement and the check for $32,310 in Transportation Impact Fee Trust fund monies to provide portions of sidewalk along Fourth Avenue (south side, east of N. Ramona Avenue) and N. Ramona Avenue (west side, south of Third Avenue). The purchase order has been issued to have the work performed on portions of Fourth and N. Ramona avenues.
Water: Melbourne Water has a contractor installing replacement water lines in the 200 and 300 blocks of Melbourne Avenue and in the 100 block of Tampa Avenue to address previously identified water quality concerns.
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 (DCA) on April 12, 2007. A draft has been prepared and made available to Zoning & Planning Board members August 13, 2007, for consideration on August 28, 2007. The Zoning & Planning Board authorized transmitting the EAR to DCA for informal review and to Council for adoption.
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. An executed copy of the agreement was received by the Town on May 25, 2007.
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 Buttonwoods) 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 five prospective firms May 9, 2007. The project is being pursued within the grant program guidelines. The deadline for submitting proposals was June 1, 2007. Council approved a contract with Florida Green, which was fully executed June 27, 2007. Trees were planted August 1 through 6, 2007.
Nance Park: The large play item, funded through a FRDAP grant several years ago, has deteriorated to the point where staff believes that it is unsafe and it has been removed. Since it is covered under warranty, a new play item is to be shipped September 21, 2007, to the Town for installation.
Swale: Public Works installed a swale at 304 Deland Avenue which the property owner sodded.