BEACH & SHORELINE PROGRAM

TDC Beach & Shoreline Capital Improvement Program

Overview

Our beaches and ecology are the main draw of Lee County, and the beach and shoreline program serves as a great enhancement to these assets with funding provided by the tourist development tax. Utilizing one-cent of the three-cent bed tax, this program has provided more than $37 million dollars to variety of countywide projects related to beach maintenance, beach nourishment, and park development. Each of these projects represents a cooperative effort with governmental agencies in Lee County from our local municipalities to the federal government. With the countywide nature of the program, new recreational opportunities are being provided in areas of Lee County that our visitors have not historically frequented, thus encouraging further exploration.

This program provides direct benefit to visitors and residents alike, all with the goal of promoting tourism while preserving and enhancing our beaches and shoreline. Many of these projects have proven to be a major impact on visitor activity. For example, the visitor count at Lovers Key increased more than 238 percent the first year after the completion of the Carl Johnson/Lovers Key project with 53,653 visitors in 1998 and 127,723 in 1999. Since 1999, the numbers have reflected an amazing increase with 776,190 visitors in 2003, making it one of the most popular state parks in Florida. The investments from the beach and shoreline program are clearly paying off!

Additionally, these tourist-generated funds have served as budget supplements, allowing for the provision of services at a level that exceeds what could be provided without additional taxation to local residents. For example, the maintenance of the public beach accesses is funded by the tourist tax at no additional cost to the residents who also use these facilities.

TDC & Long-Range Erosion Control Plan

Each year the Tourist Development Council (TDC) appropriates a portion of the beach and shoreline program funds to a beach renourishment trust fund to assist with future renourishment needs. This is done to protect our most precious tourism asset ¾ our beaches. As part of its long-range plan, Lee County Department of Natural Resources has estimated the erosion control funds needed over the next 10 years. Each erosion control project undergoes a thorough cost-benefit analysis to determine funding opportunities. After assigning the state and federal cost sharing figures, the balance required for each project is divided by the storm protection and recreational benefits based on the availability of public access. The storm protection portion is deemed the responsibility of the homeowners and the recreational portion is funded with the beach renourishment trust fund. Regardless of who derives the recreational benefit - the property owners, local residents or visitors - this portion is funded exclusively with bed tax revenue.

Current Projects & How Projects Are Funded

Each year the TDC reviews project requests to award the beach and shoreline funds for the coming year. Local governmental agencies request funding by completing a funding request that offers detailed information about the project. During an annual workshop TDC members review the requests and evaluate each project on several criteria to determine if they are eligible for funding. During the workshop the requesting agency is available to answer questions the TDC may have about the request for funds. Once the projects receive TDC approval, they are forwarded to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners for inclusion in their annual capital improvement budget (CIP) process.

The TDC's recommendations for FY 2003-04 offers funding to 14 projects valued at more than $3.4 million. These projects include:

• $2.2 million addition to the beach renourishment trust fund
• Beach maintenance at Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island
• Dune plantings and landscaping at Sanibel's beach parks
• Bathing beach water quality monitoring
• Countywide boardwalk deck improvements
• Beach erosion monitoring

Please note that each of the projects funded during FY 2003-04 are maintenance oriented. The TDC limited projects during this cycle to maintenance only due to the $2.2 million needed for upcoming beach renourishment projects at Boca Grande, Bonita Springs, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. It is expected that there will be funds available for new capital projects in the next funding cycle.

In addition to the maintenance projects receiving funding during this cycle, several other projects that were funded in previous years are in various stages of development. A status report for all active projects is updated each quarter and presented to the TDC. Many of these projects are long term and will require additional funding in future years. A number of projects have been funded over multiple years including beach access development, beach water quality monitoring, Bonita Beach Park improvements, Bowditch Point Regional Park, Bowman's Beach master plan, Caloosahatchee Regional Park shoreline protection, emergency beach cleanup, Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve improvements, Jaycee Park erosion control, Manatee Park, Matanzas Pass Preserve improvements, dune and landscape plantings at Sanibel beach parks and Sanibel Lighthouse park improvements, just to name a few.

Current projects with anticipated funding needs for FY 2004-05 include countywide beach maintenance, beach water quality monitoring, boardwalk deck repair, beach park maintenance, and the beach renourishment trust fund.