Sunset Beach eyes $485,000 in walkway projects, boosts beach‑erosion fund to about $1.015 million

During the May 4 budget workshop, staff outlined three proposed beach‑walkway projects (including 18th Street and two others) and explained steps for design, bidding and grant submittal. An engineering estimate for the three walkways was presented at approximately $485,000; when combined with last year’s $530,000 beach erosion allocation, staff showed a total beach‑erosion fund balance near $1,015,000.

A council member asked whether the town had missed recent grant deadlines and staff confirmed that the town had missed one grant cycle (staff cited an April deadline) and will now put the walkway projects out to bid to obtain accurate costs before pursuing grants. Staff emphasized caution about submitting grant applications without firm cost estimates.

Why it matters: beach walkways and shoreline stabilization are recurring capital needs that attract grants but require precise scoping. Council members directed staff to pursue bids and targeted grants and to consider establishing a year‑to‑year appropriation strategy rather than piecemeal funding.

No final allocation was approved; staff said they would return with bid results, grant program timelines and recommended allocations.