Hurricane Sandy damaged the city's lifeguard stations and other structures and caused "significant sand loss at most of the beach areas."

"The amount of sand lost has not been calculated, but the reduction in the width of the beaches is clearly visible," Assistant City Manager Mike Woika said. He estimated the structure damage at less than $20,000.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District, a taxing authority, has literally been shelling out millions to the city for that purpose for years. Beach re-nourishment was cited as a condition of an inter-local agreement with the city for four new ball fields for the new Spanish River Athletic Facilities at DeHoernle Park in April.

So the subject of who will pay for beach re-nourishment from now came up at the recent Beach & Park District meeting. Hurricane Sandy accelerated the need for beach re-nourishment, "and we need an ongoing agreement and more detailed discussions," with the city, said the district's lawyer and acting director Art Koski.

The district would like a much larger role than just bankrolling projects after the fact, he said, adding planning, timing and availability of grants to the list. "We hope we're looked at as real partners in the next three months as we try to get that together," Koski said.

The federal government and Palm Beach County joined together with northern counties to approach FEMA for hurricane relief, Koski advised commissioners. "But given some of their other pressing needs, I don't think they will find FEMA receptive.

"We should be prepared to come to the realization that projects will have to be funded locally, but at least for the first time we will be involved in the process from the beginning."

"We never financed a large part, $1 million here and $1 million there," said Commissioner Robert K. Rollins. "The last project cost $9 million."

He wanted to know if the city was interested in borrowing money for beach re-nourishment.

Koski suggested short-term bonds. "We already paid $2 million and are requested for another $2 million," he said.

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Boca beaches suffer 'significant' loss from Hurricane Sandy