Meeting Package 10 June 2015
10June2015
Meeting Minutes
Chairman Barbour called themeetingto order at 4:00and introductions were made by each;the
meeting’sattendance sheetisattached.The May meeting minutes were approved and the current
PWBC fund balance was noted at ~$3631.98.
Inter-local Agreement
The Chairman’s Draft recommendation letter(attached)to theNew Hanover County(NHC)
Board of County Commissioners(BOC)was discussed. Kure Beach(KB)Councilman
Bloszinsky noted the economic hardship a 17.5% outlay would have on KBand that their town
th
council would vote on the potential six-month extension next Tuesday the 16. Carolina Beach
(CB)provided the County Manager a letter supporting the PWBC’s recommendations including
a six-month extension(attached). The CB letter went on to suggest the makeup of the
recommendedsubcommittee; this element of CB’s letter to the NHC County Manager was not
discussedat lengthby the PWBC. Wrightsville BeachAlderman Millsnotedthe PWBC
recommendationwason their agenda for tonight.
There was discussion as to the timing of the PWBC recommendation submittalto theBOC.The
PWBCdecisionwasto request the item be included within the 22 June 2015agenda of the BOC
meeting. Chairman Barbour would present the PWBC’s recommendations.
Current Efforts:
NHC’s Wrightsville Beach (WB) Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (CSDR)Project
Authorization
The pre-application meeting with theregulatoryagencies was held on 27 May. A primary point
discussed was the preferred construction scheduling within the environmental window (15 Nov.
–1 April).
Mason Inlet Relocation Project (MIRP)
A meeting with the Mason Inlet Preservation Groupwill be scheduled to discuss the US Fish and
Wildlife Services’ (USFWS) revised Biological Opinion, Habitat Mgt. Plan, monitoring
mandates and the next potential maintenance event.
Shallow Draft Inlet (SDI) Permitting
TheNC Division of Coastal Management(NCDCM)has begun the State review of the joint
application. An amended Biological Assessment has been required and an outline has been
accepted by the USFWS.
Shoreline Mapping Program (SMP) 2015
The surveyor has completed all shorelinetransects and is currently running quality
assurance/control protocols. Once checked, the data will be sent to the coastal engineer for
assessment and inclusion within theshoreline template data base.
CB15-year Extension
To date, theUS Army Corps of Engineers(USACE)Headquarters (HQ) has not providedformal
implementing guidance oftheWater Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) 2014,
Section 1037.A NHC selection committee has interviewed and chosen a preferredcontractor to
develop the non-federal risk reduction plan. Once a scope, fee and schedule have been
negotiated,the BOC will have final approval.
WB Economic Update and Validation Report
The USACE hasrequested and has beenprovided the non-federal share ($116.5K) of the
Economic Updatecost estimate; the USACE has projectedthe total cost at $333K. The
Validation Report’s scope, fee and schedulehave not been developed. A separateValidation
Reportscoping meeting will be scheduled by the USACE followingthe economic update’s start
up.
CB Inlet Maintenance Dredging
The USACE hopper dredge Currituckcompleted a10-day maintenance dredging event inApril
2015.92% of the authorized eight-foot template was restored. Post-Anaeffects were tolerable;
the inlet is still viable for navigationas noted by Chairman Barbour. A condition survey has
been requested for this summer to assess anyshoaled volumes and a potential scheduling of the
USACE side-cast dredge Merritt.
Permitting
A permit modification has been secured for the Mason Inlet Relocation Project removing the
mandated major permit modification stipulation as associated with the mean high water
engineering corridor trigger. The modification may increase the time interval between
maintenance relocation events.
A permit modification has been secured for the Pleasure Island CSDR efforts allowing flexibility
between borrow sources and the recipient beaches. The current CB Inlet borrow site and the
offshore borrow site are now available to both projects.
The meeting was adjourned at ~4:50.
10June2015
Jonathan Barfield, Jr., Chairman
New Hanover CountyBoard ofCommissioners
Re:Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
nd
Inter-local Agreement (2Execution)
Port, Waterway & Beach CommissionRecommendations
Dear Chairman Barfield:
On 5 December 2011, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners unanimously
endorsed the Beach Nourishment Inter-local Agreement(ILA). This agreement between New
Hanover County(NHC), Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach provided direction
for continued maintenance of our coastal storm damage reduction (CSDR) projects in the event
federal and state economic funding support fell short.Based on the ILA,in a worse-case
scenario, theNHCroom occupancy tax would pay up to 82.5% of ourbeach communities
CSDR projectsandthe community receiving the CSDR maintenance event would participate up
to 17.5%. The ILA isapproachingthe initial five-year renewal date(30 June 2015)and, as
structured within theinitialagreement, the communities of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach have
made initial steps to opt out offuture participation asthe ILAcurrentlyreads.
On 13 May 2015, the Port, Waterway & Beach Commission (PWBC)entertained a robust
discussionled by the Mayors of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The potential 17.5% outlay by
the beach communities,in the absence of federal or state funding,was the center of the
mayors’ consternation. Following the vigorous position statements and group discussion, the
PWBC requested I present to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners these
recommendations.
Assembleastakeholder representatives’groupand task the group to
assess the county-wide partnership supporting our beach communities
and tourism industry’sCSDR Projects;
re-assess and re-structure the potential 17.5%currentlyleft solely to the
beach communitiesand;
allow an initial six-month extension of the current ILA whilethere-
assessing, re-structuring and necessary updates takeplace.
The PWBC appreciates the opportunity to serve and thanksyou for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Dennis Barbour
Chairman
Wilmington-New Hanover County Port, Waterway &Beach Commission
Cc: CommissionersBeth Dawson,Vice-Chair; Woody White;Skip Watkins;Rob Zapple;
County Manager, Chris Coudriet;NHC PWBC
Agenda
10June2015,4:00–5:00PM
New Hanover County, Government Center
Finance Conference Room #500
4:00Call to Order
Welcome/Introductions
Request approval of the Maymeeting minutes (emailed 15 May2015).
Port, Waterway & Beach Commission (PWBC)fundbalanceis~$3631.98.
Inter-local Agreement
Chairman’s Draft recommendation letter(attached)
Current Efforts:
NHC WrightsvilleBeach (WB)Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (CSDR)Project
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Agency scoping meetingwasheld onMay 27.
Mason Inlet Relocation Project(MIRP)
An overviewof the permit modifications, re-consultation and revised management planisto be
provided tothe Mason Inlet Preservation Group.
Shallow DraftInlet(SDI-5)Permitting
State permit review is underway.
Formal consultationwastriggeredwithUSFWS and NMFS.
Shoreline Mapping Program (SMP) 2015
Field work complete.
CB15-YearExtension(Validation Report)
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Head Quarters (HQ)guidance not yet finalized.
Non-federal Risk Reduction Plancontractor has been selected and the scope is being
developed.
WBCSDREconomic Update
Wilmington DistrictUSACEeconomic updateisunder way.
WB Validation Report (Supporting Section 902)
Scope/fee/schedule yet to bedeveloped.
CB InletMaintenance Dredging
Mid-summer surveys and shoaled volumes have been requested.
Public Comment:
Adjourn