EXHIBIT A
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 1-10-18
Mr. Loran Strand, a resident and homeowner in town, asked the following questions concerning the storm water infrastructure ballot initiative. I would like to respond:
1. You mentioned a sea level rise study that should be completed as part of the Indialantic storm water plan (that may go onto a public ballot).
- Did you have a firm in mind to do the work?
NO, this is not allowed by Florida Statutes. The Statutes require an RFQ process to find and consider firms that may be qualified to perform such work. To actually have a “firm in mind” could be fraudulent as it implies a potential for biases in selection and award of the work to an entity. Per Florida Law, entities can only be selected based on qualifications, not by bidding or price
- What would be the time frame to produce the report?
From Award of contract, it is generally 2 to 4 months to final report. The town will stipulate the timeframe required in the RFQ package.
- What would be in the report that you expect would help us make a better storm water plan?
At the October 2017 Town Council Meeting, an amendment was passed to adopt the “Coastal Management and Conservation Element” study and report prepared by LaRue Planning Associates and paid for by the town. A provision of the amendment stated that by May 2019 the town must perform an analysis “to plan for and adapt to sea level rise”.
As the town has committed to performing this study by the first half of 2019 as required by the State of Florida it seems reasonable to both meet that commitment, and use the results to help guide storm water infrastructure planning. It would be illogical to begin construction work on a plan and also have to perform the study, but not let the study inform the plan.
- How many years out in sea rise estimates will the report look?
The report is supposed to be prepared based on established criteria and methodology of NOAA as is clearly indicated in the Amendment to the “Coastal Management and Conservation Element” study.
The amendment further states that projections set by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council will be examined as a reliable data source. So the necessary criteria for the study and analysis are identified and follow established criteria and norms for such a report.
2. If you knew the results of the storm water plan today ...
- How would that affect what the engineers would do in the plan?
- Is there something you know related to the flow through pipes with a higher sea level?
Not already having a report in hand to identify concerns, it would be sheer speculation to answer these questions. This is why it is appropriate to have knowledgeable professionals with in situ information and actionable data develop solutions rather than to ignore and make uneducated and uninformed decisions concerning something that will cost the town’s taxpayers well over $3,000,000.00 to pay for.
- Are there other, critical considerations to the plans designs based on expected sea rise?
Again, without a report in hand it would be irresponsible to speculate.
But, if we do not have the report prepared prior to finalizing our plan, especially when we are obligated by State Law to have the report completed within one year, we would not be responsive to the concerns of the taxpayers of this town.
It is important to note that just a cursory review of county tax records indicates that the average tax increase to a homeowner in this town will be between $200 to more than $500 per year for the next ten years. Especially impacted are the newer and in many cases typically younger families moving to Indialantic who have not had their property assessments restrained by having owned their homes for many years. To take an unplanned stab at “repairs to our infrastructure” without the benefits of a study that we have to have prepared anyway, and without appropriate engineering and a forward thinking plan we would be doing a disservice to our residents.