Community VoicesCouncil members delayed the decision in January, sought more information.
Riviera Beach City Council members are expected to decide Thursday on the future of the city’s water system.
Members declined in January to proceed with construction of a water treatment plant, with some members citing a lack of information they expected before approving the $280 million guaranteed maximum price for the centerpiece of the rebuilt system.
Flashback: In 2021, the city selected the joint venture of Jacksonville-based Haskell and Boston-based CDM Smith engineering firms to design and oversee construction.
Catch up quick: Chairperson Shirley Lanier in December asked how much it would cost if the city exits the project before it is complete. Staff offered to meet one-on-one with council members acting as the Utility Special District Board to provide the off-ramp information. Lanier had also directed staff to present the information clearly at the January board meeting.
Yes, but: Staff told the council at that January meeting that the information had been included in the one-on-one meetings. That night’s presentation included some off–ramp estimates.
That wasn’t enough for the board.
What they’re saying: “The public needs to know what our options are,” Lanier said. “We understand where we are. It may seem feasible to stay with what we have, but we have no other options that you presented to us.”
Why it matters: The city is under pressure to replace its failing water system.
- In 2024, Riviera Beach was fined by the Florida Department of Health over its water quality.
- If the council does not move forward soon, construction of the water plant could be delayed for a year or longer.
Driving the news: Council members at the Jan. 22 meeting had questions about the off-ramp, cost comparisons for other water plants and requirements for hiring local contractors, all of which were discussed at length.
- An off-ramp is the cost in time and money for canceling the project. Council members asked for a clear public breakdown of the cost.
- Cost comparisons to other city water plants. Council members said they wanted to see what other cities are paying to replace their water plants. Utility director Joshua Niemann said he had done the comparison work without a public records request and could not disclose that information publicly. A consultant did provide a back-of-the-envelope comparison for council members.
- Requirements for hiring local contractors. The city already includes a target for developers to hire up to 15% local contractors. Council Member Bruce Guyton insisted on 20%. Mayor Douglas Lawson agreed.
The first four components of the project, including site preparation and new wells, have been approved for $71 million. The phase under consideration, building the water treatment plant, would be up to $280 million. The plant would be substantially complete in 2029. The cost would be borne by water customers.
What’s next: Board members are expected to make a final decision on whether to commit the $280 million at Thursday’s special Utility Special District Board meeting.
The bottom line: The mayor said, “This is the most important project the city has ever done.”
Who wrote this story: This story was reported by Community Voices writer Mikala Graham and Kelvin VerVerhovlyak.
What is CV: Community Voices is a partnership between Stet News and Inlet Grove High School. Stet News is underwriting the pilot to train and pay students to cover Riviera Beach.
Inlet Grove High School journalism teacher C.B. Hanif and Stet’s Carolyn DiPaolo and Liz Capozzi contributed to this story.
