2.3.26-CC-Workshop

A Workshop Meeting of the Apalachicola City Commission was held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 5pm, at the Commission Meeting Room located at 74 6th Street, Apalachicola, Fl. Present: Mayor Brenda Ash, Commissioner(s) Donna Knutson, Donna Duncan, Adrienne Elliott, Despina George, City Manager Chuck Anderson, City Attorney Dan Hartman, Officer Chase Richards, Grant Contracts Manager Leslie Glaze, and City Clerk Sheneidra Cummings Meeting was called to order by Mayor Ash followed by invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda Adoption Commissioner Motion to adopt the agenda made by Commissioner George, seconded by Commissioner Knutson. Motion passed unanimously. Public Comment Mr. Dennis Winterringer inquired about the drainage basin report, specifically looking at catchment E. Another resident clarified a location mentioned in the report regarding Avenue D and Center Street, noting there was confusion about street names used in the report versus local usage. Drainage Basis Analysis Review and Discussion Josh Baxley from Dewberry introduced his team including DT Horton and Constantino "Dino" Galanos, who conducted the field investigation and modeling. DT Horton shared his background in municipal stormwater projects throughout Florida and his experience with the ICPR modeling software (now called StormWise) that was used for this analysis. Mr. Baxley explained this was Phase 2 of the analysis, with Phase 1 having been completed in 2018. The purpose was to document the city system further, identify problem areas, and recommend maintenance or repair activities for existing facilities.

2.3.26 CC WS-Drainage Basin Analysis Page 2 of 5 The team's presentation covered three main sections: 1. Field observations revealed numerous issues: • Pipes and inlets completely buried at Avenue F • Curb inlet and manhole filled with sedimentation and vegetation at Highway 98 and 14th Street • Heavy vegetation and sediment-filled manholes at Avenue D • Collapsed inlet at Water Street • Damaged inlet grates at Avenue D and 5th Street • Discharge pipe into the bay completely buried with grass at Water Street • Sediment-filled inlet at 7th and 8th Street alleyway • A CMU block inlet with blocked discharge near 13th Street and Avenue G • Water quality improvement systems around City Hall covered with vegetation and filled with sediment 2. Subsurface video observations: • Many pipes could only be videoed for short distances before encountering blockages or collapses • At Water Street, they were only able to video 30.6 linear feet of pipe before reaching a dead end • At Battery Park, the video rover could only travel half a foot before being stopped by sand in the pipe • Avenue C showed joint separation and pipe material changes • Multiple sections of collapsed pipe were found at Avenue C • The 7th and 8th Street alley system showed cracks and complete collapse in some sections • Several pipes were completely clogged with debris including drink bottles • A mystery metal pipe connection was found in one area that didn't appear to be part of normal stormwater design

2.3.26 CC WS-Drainage Basin Analysis Page 3 of 5 3. Modeling results: • The model assumed all infrastructure was fully functional to identify issues that would exist even with proper maintenance • Areas of concern included: o Near City Hall where the outfall was below the mean high water, causing backups during high tide o Market Street to Sixth Street along Avenue M, a low-lying wetland system with three blocked culvert pipes o Area connecting Avenue E and Market Street with no positive outfall to the bay o Avenue F between 15th and 17th Street showing surcharging Further Discussion held. Commissioner Elliott asked why so many pipes seemed to be blocked off or run into dead ends. Mr. Baxley explained they hoped when pipes were blocked, the system was redirected, but without as-built drawings it's difficult to determine. When asked about the overall condition of the system, Mr. Baxley estimated that 70-80% of the system would need cleaning or pipe repair and replacement. The Commission discussed next steps, with Mr. Baxley suggesting that the best immediate action would be to identify areas for cleaning and further video inspection. He noted that while city staff might handle some tasks like uncovering inlets and cleaning ditches, specialized equipment would be needed for pipe cleaning. The Mayor asked about the cleaning process. Mr. Baxley explained that jet cleaning would be required for most pipes, similar to what's being done in the current Avenue stormwater project, which includes cleaning, video inspection, and CIPP lining. Commissioner Knutson inquired about the Phase 1 results from 2018 and progress made since then. Ms. Clark explained that results from the first drainage basin analysis were used to apply for a resilience implementation grant that is currently funding repairs. She noted this would be the plan for Phase 2 results as well.

2.3.26 CC WS-Drainage Basin Analysis Page 4 of 5 Commissioner Knutson also asked about situations where pipes run through residential properties and who bears the cost of repairs. This was noted as a conversation that has not yet taken place. There was discussion about direct stormwater discharge into the bay, with Dino noting most stormwater flows directly to the bay unless it passes through a wetland system. Battery Park was mentioned as having a tank system to collect trash and debris before discharge. Ms. Anita Grove noted that past efforts with DEP included installing backflow preventers on the avenues. For next steps, City Manager Chuck Anderson indicated he would work with Cindy Clark and the Dewberry team to prioritize what work could be done by existing staff versus what should be contracted out, including checking baffle boxes and identifying candidates for CIPP lining. Mayor and Commissioner Comments There were no specific Mayor or Commissioner comments outside the discussion of the drainage basin analysis. City Manager & Attorney Communications There were no specific City Manager or Attorney communications outside the discussion of the drainage basin analysis. Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Elliott, seconded by Commissioner Duncan. None opposed. Motion carried, 5-0. Meeting adjourned.

2.3.26 CC WS-Drainage Basin Analysis Page 5 of 5 Brenda Ash, MAYOR ATTEST: Sheneidra Cummings, CITY CLERK