Marco Island says Army Corps of Engineers met with, ignored city's concerns on beach aid

Feeling snubbed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in future storm planning, Marco Island city officials plan to send a harshly worded letter expressing their outrage.

Marco Island officials participated in meetings with the Corps for a Collier County Storm Risk Management (CSRM)  Feasibility Study with the idea that Marco Island would “have a seat at the table,” Council member Darrin Palumbo said. Instead, Marco Island’s two main concerns – the need for full beach berm and dune renourishment and structural measures to protect the island – appear to have been cut after a cost analysis.

"I feel like you invited me to the table only to snub me and I'm not part of the conversation or you put me down at the kiddy's table," Palumbo said.

"I think us being excluded really should be seen as more of a slap in the face," said Vice Chair Jared Grifoni, who asked for stronger language in a letter drafted by City Manager Mike McNees. "We were disregarded without really any feedback, any reasoning."

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The CSRM Study is analyzing potential measures that are formulated and designed to manage coastal storm risk to the vulnerable coastal communities located in Collier County. First begun in October 2018, the study was paused three years later with a request for more time and to reformulate alternatives. The new study is scheduled for completion in August 2025.

“It appears that as work on the feasibility study continues, these two options have been ruled out. Of further concern is that we have in effect been removed from any further consideration as the study moves forward,” McNees wrote in a first draft. “We have invested a significant amount of time attending virtual meetings, charettes and public meetings to represent the needs of Marco Island regarding storm risk management.”

The letter continues “We understand that the USACE has done a cost analysis on the two options mentioned above and chosen to remove them from the feasibility study. We wish to emphasize however that as a low-lying barrier island, hence one of the most vulnerable parts of Collier County, we must not be removed from further consideration as the study moves forward. Whatever courses of action are decided on, Marco Island should continue to be included in those studies and implementation.”

Grifoni calls move 'outrageous'

Council members agreed that McNees could be tougher in a letter from them.

"I think we could just be a little bit more upset about the turn of events and how we got to this particular juncture and why we even have to send this letter," Grifoni said. "It’s mind boggling why a barrier island in this particular part of the country subject to hurricanes and other types of flooding events where a huge chunk of these tax dollars are ultimately going to come from and now, we have to go beg hat in hand" and ask to be included. ... The whole thing rubs me the wrong way."

Hurricane Irma made landfall on September 10, 2017, in the Florida Keys, and again on the Florida mainland at Marco Island. Beach erosion and coastal damage was the greatest along the northeast coast and central Atlantic coast of Florida, as well as in the Florida Keys and along the coast of Collier County in Southwest Florida, according to the Division of Water Resource Management Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The hurricane, with gusts of 130 miles per hour on Marco Island, left three areas on Marco Island's beach critically eroded. Hurricane Ian made things worse along Tigertail Beach and Hideaway where the natural berm that protects the lagoon has been eroded since Irma.

Whatever plan and then funding comes out of the $2.97 million study, Marco should be included, Council members agreed.

"A huge hunk of it is going to Coastal Collier County and they just disregard Marco Island. What is the justification?" Grifoni said. "Frankly, it’s outrageous. The more I think about it, the angrier I get about it. It’s absolutely ridiculous and I think that needs to be part of the record."

"I’ll be happy to channel that outrage," McNees said.

Public updates continue

Monthly online update meetings continue and Marco Island and Goodland together remain one of the focused planning areas, however there is no mention of the communities in the measures being considered, according to a June 21 presentation. Among the new ideas discussed but screened out at an interactive workshop called a charette was “Barrier Islands along PA1 – PA4 coastline. Environmental impacts, beach aesthetics, impacts to sediment transport, concerns of sand source availability.”

Monthly virtual status meetings began in July, with the next one scheduled for today at 3:30 p.m.

"My guess is it’s going to end up in the round file at the Corps of Engineers, but I think we need to send it," said Councilor Erik Brechnitz, who added that he doesn't believe anything from the study will ever get funded.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Marco Island says Army Corps snubbed city for beach protection