Siesta beach project under budget

If staff recommendations are approved, parking lot tree upgrades are out, additional picnic structures are in, and a covered maintenance building is possible for the Siesta Key Beach Improvement project.

Sarasota County commissioners will consider some of the final components, or alternates, of a large-scale capital improvement project to revamp beach parking and amenities Nov. 10.

When the board approved a guaranteed maximum price of $21.5 million in August 2013 to upgrade parking, landscaping and other amenities at the beach, eight alternates, or projects to completed if possible, were put on a list.

Two of those projects, dune walkover replacements and a pavilion, were built in to the guaranteed maximum. Four more have since been built including paving upgrades, shelters and tree species upgrades in the park.

Now, with approximately $400,000 that may remain left uncommitted at the end of the project, county staff will propose scrapping additional tree upgrades for the parking lot, due to costs, and swapping wooden picnic shelters at the west end of the park for precast concrete shelters. They will also build a covered building for maintenance equipment if funds remain after the concrete shelters are built.

The new shelters would cost approximately $290,000, according to a memo from County Administrator Tom Harmer to the commission. The proposed maintenance structure would be 1600 square-feet and cost $90,000.

According to that memo, the remaining funds could also be used to pay debt incurred during the project.

Portions of the original project underway include the west concessions/public safety building, the historic pavilion and restrooms, and the west parking lot. The substantial construction for the project will wrap Jan. 20, with final completion on Feb. 20, according to county spokesman Jason Bartolone.