City to buy pipe, Naples Beach Club to install 12-inch main on South Gulf Drive in shared cost deal

The City Council approved a staff proposal to supply material for a 12-inch water main that the Naples Beach Club will install on the north side of South Gulf Drive, an arrangement staff said is cheaper and faster than the city building the line alone. The club will pay for construction, permitting and most contractor costs; the city will supply the pipe and absorb the material budget outlay from the water enterprise fund.

Why it matters: Staff said the existing water main running in a rear-yard easement between homes on Seventh Avenue North and South Gulf Drive is aging, difficult to access and vulnerable to roots and storm damage. Replacing or supplementing that circuit with a new 12-inch main under South Gulf Drive improves hydraulic capacity, increases resilience and aligns with the city’s multi‑basin stormwater and utility resiliency plans.

Deal terms: Staff outlined an estimated total project cost near $800,000; the club will cover roughly $525,000 in construction/permitting and the city will provide pipe and material valued at about $269,000. The council authorized the city manager to conclude the arrangement: the club will install the pipe while the city supplies and owns the material.

Staff rationale and next steps: Public Works said the proposed routing would connect into existing 12-inch mains at U.S. 41 and Gulfshore Boulevard North, improving supply redundancy for the neighborhood and for future Miracle Mile and Basin 4 projects. Council heard the project is consistent with the city’s water distribution master plan; staff will coordinate final design, permitting and construction scheduling, and confirmed no general-tax dollars are required because the work is funded from the water enterprise fund.

Ending: Council members supported the cost-sharing agreement and the opportunity to coordinate the water main installation with the club’s north-side sidewalk work, and directed staff to proceed with contracting and final permitting.