Submitted By: Rusella Bowes-Johnson
presenter
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
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Department: Water & Sewer
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve Amendment No. 2 to Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement No. LPS0025 extending the expiration date for the Foxwood Farms Water Quality Improvement Project
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On 07/20/2021, City Council approved and adopted a budget resolution for Agreement No. LPS0025 (the “Agreement”) between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the City of Ocala for the Foxwood Farms Water Quality Improvement Project (the “Project”). This Project consists of designing and constructing a sanitary sewer conveyance system that will remove a package plant from service that serves approximately 276 mixed-use residential lots and one community center in the Foxwood Farms subdivision. This Project recognizes the vital ecological and economic importance that the Rainbow Springs Group and the Rainbow River have in the community and helps to improve the water quality of these impaired water bodies.
On 03/21/2023, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement to change the expiration date from 12/31/2022 to 12/31/2025 due to design and easement issues.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The Foxwood Farms Water Quality Improvement Project has experienced delays:
• An easement was disputed by an adjacent property owner, which resulted in realigning, redesigning, and re-permitting the project. Additional field investigation and survey work were needed to support the alternate force-main alignment.
• The City requested a late change to the design package to include the new standard design components. Ocala Electric Utility requested that the lift station be redesigned to have a different voltage. Subsequently, FDEP’s construction and environmental resource permits for the redesigned project were approved on 01/28/2025 and 03/04/2025, respectively.
• The legal documents, developer’s agreement, easement documents, and construction contract between the City, Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc., and Jones Edmunds needed updating to prepare for initiating the construction bidding process in April 2025.
The City of Ocala has requested an extension of the Agreement. Both parties agree to change the date of expiration to 12/31/2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
This Amendment has been reviewed in compliance with the City’s Procurement Policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This Amendment will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny