Baywood Canal map

Project Update – October 2009

Based on a request from property owners, county staff requested a change to the project authorization issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The authorization was amended in June 2007 to include additional dredging at the end of the northern-most canal, adjacent to Schooner Bay.

The Schooner Bay Association plans to remove the finger piers extending from the bulkhead at the end of the canal prior to construction. This allows the dredge footprint to extend another 17-feet northward towards the end of the canal.

When county staff drafted the project contract documents in mid-2007, a temporary dredge and construction easement was also drafted. The easement was approved by the county attorney in January 2008. The Sarasota County Real Property office initiated contact with the owner of submerged land at the mouth of the Baywood canal in order to obtain an easement which would allow privately-owned sediment to be removed.

In May 2008, the owner of the submerged land contacted the county requesting revisions to the easement language. Following review of the request by the county attorney’s office, FDEP was contacted to verify that the state does not claim ownership of the submerged land at the mouth of the Baywood canal.

A response from FDEP has been received and a meeting was scheduled with additional county staff to discuss the project. Based on the information received from FDEP, Sarasota County Survey/Mapping staff was able to accurately depict the privately-owned submerged land and verify that an easement is needed. The Sarasota County Real Property office received executed easement documents from the owner of the submerged land in July 2008, and the paperwork is currently being reviewed by the county attorney.

The construction plans and contract documents for the Baywood Canal project have been finalized. Advertisement (to solicit bids from dredge contractors) of the construction project was originally scheduled for Jan. 16, 2009. Due to unforeseen issues, the advertisement of the project was postponed for up to 30 days. On Feb. 2, 2009, staff was directed to proceed with project advertisement. The project was advertised on Feb. 6, 2009, and submitted bids were opened on April 15, 2009. In June 2009, staff determined that the project was to be re-advertised with a requirement for hydraulic dredging. The project was re-advertised. Submitted bids were opened on July 29, 2009. Staff has determined that neither of the two companies submitting a bid met the minimum qualifications required for the project.

The Baywood Canal project has been bundled with two other dredging projects. Should an acceptable bid be received, the Baywood Canal project will be the first of the three projects to be dredged. By bundling the project with others, it is anticipated that a cost savings will be realized through a reduced mobilization/demobilization cost.

Once a dredge contractor has been selected, a neighborhood meeting will be scheduled to allow staff to review the project with property owners and answer questions. County regulatory staff will also be present to discuss additional private dredging outside of the county project area.