Coral Gables secures $1.6 million from state for cleanup, sewer and waterway work

Coral Gables City Hall, where commissioners voted in May to change the city’s election calendar. A recent court ruling in Miami has cast new legal uncertainty over that decision.

Voters approved an inspector general in April, but commissioners are still deciding how investigations would be authorized, who would conduct them and how much independence the outside investigator would have.

By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Coral Gables has secured $1.575 million in state funding for three infrastructure and environmental projects, including cleanup of a former incinerator site, rehabilitation of aging sewer pipe and flood-mitigation work along the Ponce waterway.

The projects were included in Florida’s fiscal 2026-27 budget, which was approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In a July 5 announcement, the city credited DeSantis, Sens. Alexis Calatayud and Ileana Garcia, and Rep. Demi Busatta for supporting the appropriations.

The city’s announcement listed Garcia and Busatta as sponsors of each of the three funded items.

Former incinerator site gets largest share

The largest appropriation, $900,000, is for environmental remediation of a public works debris site.

The city’s state funding request describes the project in more specific terms: remediation and restoration of a roughly 1.76-acre former incinerator site at the Coral Gables Public Works compound, 2800 SW 72nd Ave.

The money would be used to remove, transport and dispose of about 15,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Once cleaned up, the city says, the site could serve as a regional resource for debris management and trash reclamation, including staging and reducing storm debris after hurricanes or other disasters.

The request describes the project as benefiting both Coral Gables and neighboring municipalities during disaster response and recovery.

Sewer and waterway projects funded

A second appropriation, $450,000, will support the Coral Gables Gravity Sanitary Sewer Pipe Rehabilitation project.

The city has sought state support in recent years for sewer-related work as it continues to address aging wastewater infrastructure and sanitary sewer issues tied to older transmission lines.

A third appropriation, $225,000, will fund work the city described as the Ponce Waterway Dredging Project. State budget records refer to the item as the Coral Gables Ponce Corridor Waterway Flood Mitigation project.

Together, the three funded projects total $1.575 million.

One drainage item was vetoed

Not every Coral Gables water-infrastructure request survived the governor’s veto process.

The governor’s veto list shows a separate $225,000 appropriation for the Coral Gables Downtown Drainage Flood Mitigation project was struck from the final budget. The veto list does not state a reason for the individual cut.

Part of broader water spending

The Coral Gables appropriations are a small part of a larger state budget commitment to water infrastructure and environmental work.

The governor’s office said the fiscal 2026-27 budget includes $301 million for local water projects, including wastewater facilities, septic-to-sewer conversions, stormwater management and agricultural nutrient-reduction projects. The budget also includes $45 million for priority areas including the Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay.

What comes next

The state budget took effect July 1. The city’s announcement did not provide construction or completion timelines for the three Coral Gables projects.

Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff

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