Submitted By: Laurie Hornberger
presenter
Presentation By: Rusella Bowes-Johnson
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Department: Water & Sewer
FORMAL TITLE:
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Budget Resolution 2027-104 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to appropriate additional funds from Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant No. LPS0025 for the Foxwood Farms sewer expansion project in the amount of $718,476
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On July 20, 2021, City Council approved an agenda item and adopted a budget resolution for Agreement No. LPS0025 between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the City of Ocala (the City) for the Foxwood Farms Water Quality Improvement Project in the amount of $1,436,953.
On March 21, 2023, City Council approved Amendment No. 1 of the agreement to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2025.
On April 15, 2025, City Council approved Amendment No. 2 of the agreement to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2027.
FDEP has deemed Rainbow Springs an impaired body of water, in part due to elevated nitrate levels. As such, the primary objective of the project is to design and construct a sanitary sewer conveyance system which will remove from service a package plant which serves approximately 365 mixed-use residential lots and one community center.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The grant is to reduce nutrient loading at Rainbow Springs from package plants. Accepting the grant will help MHC FOXWOOD FARMS, LLC. (the Developer) in the abandonment of the Foxwood Farms package plant and send wastewater flows to Water Reclamation Facility No. 3. The Developer agrees to provide all documentation per the grant requirements for quarterly reports and reimbursements.
Connection to the central sewer will remove approximately 5,491 lbs. per year of total nitrogen from the Rainbow Springs Basin Management Action Plan area. The Developer expects to complete the job by January 2027.
Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FDEP agrees to reimburse the City up to $1,436,953, and the City will pass this total through to the Developer to cover approved tasks completed. The City previously appropriated $718,477, and this resolution will appropriate the remaining $718,476 to account 308-050-357-535-69-65010.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
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BUDGET RESOLUTION 2027-104
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOXWOOD FARMS SUBDIVISION SANITARY SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $718,476
WHEREAS, the City has been awarded a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to design and construct a sanitary sewer system for the Foxwood Farms subdivision; and
WHEREAS, this grant addresses the removal from service of a package plant, which serves approximately 365 mixed-use residential lots and one community center; and
WHEREAS, this project will connect the Foxwood Farms subdivision to the City’s central sewer and will remove approximately 5,491 lbs./year of total nitrogen from the Rainbow Springs Basin Management Action Plan area; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ocala was awarded a grant totaling $1,436,953 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, of which $718,477 was previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, this budget resolution will appropriate the remaining $718,476 to this project.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, duly assembled in regular session, that the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget be amended as follows:
SOURCE:
308-334-000-000-09-33473 FDEP $718,476
USE:
308-050-357-535-69-65010 Construction in Progress $718,476
This resolution adopted this ______ day of ______________________, 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney
Reviewed for accounting accuracy & completeness:
By: _________________________________
Peter A. Lee
City Manager