The Blue Heron Bridge underdeck lighting was originally a component of the State Road A1A project, but due to product specification issues the lighting component was not installed as a part of the A1A project. As a result of not being completed during the A1A construction process, the City had to move forward with the lighting project as a stand-alone project. After completing a new design for the lights and components, the City’s engineering consultant submitted the plans for review to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). After months in the review process it was determined by FDOT that the project would have to go through the FDOT’s Community Aesthetic Feature Agreement (CAFA) application process.
As a part of FDOT’s original approval of the A1A project, there was a stipulation that only allows the lights on the bridge columns to be fully operational during the time when sea turtles are not nesting which is November 1st to February 28th. This was brought to the City Council’s attention in 2009 and was agreed to by City Council via resolution number 143-09. This stipulation will also be required as a condition of the new permit; therefore, the lights will burn constant during the sea turtle non-nesting season and on a very limited basis, if at all, during the sea turtle nesting season.
One of the requirements of the CAFA is that the municipality gets board approval as a condition of the application process. This differs from the City’s normal process of City Council approving the final agreement and allowing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute it, but according to FDOT this particular agreement does not follow the same process.
FDOT requires that the City designate a City representative to execute the CAFA after a final draft is presented. Should City Council approve the resolution, the CAFA will go through the same review process as all other agreements which includes having the City Attorney approve the agreement for legal sufficiency.
Staff requests that City Council approve authorizing the City Manager to execute the CAFA upon acceptance and approval by the City Attorney.