What's going on with the destroyed docks?

Nice picture, huh? Well not for the many people who are still waiting for the docks at Dinner Key Marina to be repaired. They are still in bad shape after last September's Hurricane Irma.

The city finally met with their insurer along with FEMA officials last week. They now know that the City of Miami has $8.9 million in insurance claim money for repairs.

The estimated hurricane related repairs are $10.3 million.

The city's Director of Capital Improvements tells me that the estimated non-hurricane related repairs (primarily utility repairs required before the storm) are $3.2 million.

Taking into consideration design and other general and administrative costs, the total repair is $15 million.

I've been told, "We are working with FEMA to identify what they will cover of the difference between the $10.3 million and $8.9 million."

The city is also working with FEMA to determine if they will cover any future mitigation costs above the $15 million. In other words, if there are ways to build the marina to better protect against future storms, what and how much will FEMA cover?

The city intends to proceed with a design-build for the marina repairs. "We are setting up an Industry Day in a few weeks to attract marina construction firms to present their interest, capabilities and experience," says the Capital Improvements director.

A month or so after that the city will release a design-build RFP.

People are still paying for their dock space and the city is receiving business interruption insurance for those that are not usable. Another of the complex insurance issues is how long and for how much will that insurance cover?


Most boats are still there, some are either at other locations or no longer have a need for a slip.  As construction begins, it will be done in phases in order to try to keep as many boats at the marina at a time.  In the end, they will do their best to ensure people get the slips they have historically had, but, no promises.