Committee Votes No on Berm Project Reimbursement

Humiston and Moore’s Dr. Mohamed Dabees and Justin Martin, City of Marco Island Director of Public Works, made a final presentation on the recently completed berm restoration on Sand Dollar Island at the May meeting of the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC). The nine-member CAC advises the Board of County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council (TDC) of project priorities with respect to funding sources for county restoration projects and protection of its shoreline. Three members are from the unincorporated area of Collier County, three from the City of Naples, and three from the City of Marco Island.

The City is seeking reimbursement in the amount of $575,073 for restoring the Tigertail/Sand Dollar Beach from the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricanes Helene and Milton. At the meeting, the amount was revised to include $72,800 for the final survey, presenting a total ask of $647,843.

With a vote of two yes and five no, CAC voted no to the TDC tax funding. According to County Staff, the item will still go forward to the TDC with the CAC votes noted.

“This area is a significant tourist attraction similar to Keewaydin Island, attracting boating traffic, naming at least a dozen local boating operators and shelling tours,” said Martin, adding that “Sand Dollar is a shorebird nesting area and is on the National Birding trail and we have birding tourism that comes from all over the world to see some of the shorebird’s nesting including the Wilson’s Plover. Some of these birds are rare - black skimmers, least terns, and at least half a dozen other bird species, and sea turtles come to nest on the beach, and we have Collier County sea turtle monitors that monitor the area year-round.”

Martin stated, “This project was permitted by FDEP, USACE, FWC, which included coordination with the Audubon Society and a lot of environmental groups. The State decided that this is a beneficial project and important to the ecosystem; the area behind Sand Dollar spit is a tidal channel that serves as an estuary for spawning marine life such as sawfish, horseshoe crabs, and a dozen other important marine life.”

Dabees presented a history of Sand Dollar Island, which included the 2024 impact of Tropical Storm Debby, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused breaches to form in the Sand Dollar spit, closing off tidal flow to the southern portion of Tigertail Lagoon and causing mangrove damage from storm surge and sand over wash.

Dabees told CAC members, “This is not for an ask to recover from the impact of last year’s storms, but for reimbursement for a completed project.”

He emphasized the recreational value of the lagoon by adding, “Boaters were lining outside the lagoon the day the project was completed and they thanked us for restoring its recreational features, drawing boaters, jet skis, paddle boarders, kayaks and canoes, all these accessible from the county park or by boat.” 

“I was wondering if you should be going somewhere else in the County for funding rather than tourism money for this reimbursement,” asked CAC member Bob Roth. He mentioned that CAC received emails from Marco residents asking not to fund this project.

“Those emails are part of a persistent minority,” Dabees replied. “They have their own motivation and peddled a lot of misinformation. They create smoke and noise with no foundation.”

Linda Penniman from the City of Naples asked Martin whether Marco City Council supported the project. “The project has received unanimous votes from the City Council,” said Martin.

“I cannot release tourist tax funding for restoration of an ecosystem, protection of properties, mangroves, water quality, and I did not hear tourism very often, said Penniman.