Submitted By: Noel Cooper
presenter
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
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Department: Engineering
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve Florida Department of Environmental Protection Petroleum Cleanup Participation Program Agreement for Art Park and West Lake Tuscawilla with a City copayment of $25,000
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On May 28, 1998, a discharge of petroleum products at 558 NE Watula Avenue was reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The subject location (Parcel # 28237-007-00) is currently the Tuscawilla Art Park. The City of Ocala (City) acquired the subject parcel from the Ocala Manufacturing Company in 2002 to add a drainage retention area constructed in 2005.
In 1999, the site became eligible with FDEP for the Petroleum Cleanup Participation Program (PCPP). The PCPP is a cleanup program that provides rehabilitation funding assistance for property contaminated by petroleum or petroleum products discharging from a petroleum storage system.
On October 18, 2018, a Site Access Agreement (SAA) was executed granting permission to FDEP and its contractors, subcontractors, and vendors to access the City to conduct the necessary assessment and remedial cleanup.
On February 7, 2025, the City received an email from an FDEP contractor stating that the City would need to enter into a PCPP Agreement for FDEP to complete supplemental assessment work and address some actions not completed in the 2018 assessment. Attached to the email was a formal letter from FDEP notifying the City that the Ocala Manufacturing Site was eligible for the PCPP and requesting the City submit the required PCPP Agreement within sixty (60) days of receipt of the notice.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
A PCPP Agreement is necessary to obtain funding assistance for site rehabilitation. FDEP will pay 75 percent of the required cleanup costs, and the City will be responsible for the remaining 25 percent. The total costs to complete supplemental assessment work and address remedial actions are estimated to be $100,000.
Staff recommends approval to execute the PCPP agreement and use available program funding to complete the required work.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost for the PCPP cleanup is $100,000. Funding is available in account #158-020-343-538-69-65010 in the amount of $25,000 for the City’s portion (25 percent) of the cleanup cost.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
These services were procured in compliance with the City’s procurement policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This Agreement will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny