Apopka adds $2.5 million state grant for Border Lake pumping; residents press for durable solution

The City Council unanimously approved a $2.5 million budget amendment July 2 to accept a state grant for long-term stormwater pumping infrastructure in the Border Lake chain.

Finance director Blanche Sherman told the council the executed grant agreement provides $2,500,000 with no local match and will fund design and construction of intake pipes, pump stations and discharge lines intended to reduce flooding impacts on adjacent roadways, homes and businesses. Staff said the work is the longer-term complement to an interim pumping effort the city has been operating this year.

Engineering staff and the project consultant outlined a rough 18-month timeline: 3'6 months for design and permitting, 2— months for bidding and award, and 6— months for construction. City engineers explained the pumps will be fitted with on-site filtration and discharge the treated stormwater into the reclaimed-water storage system at the Cleveland facility; the plan calls for seasonal coordination so the city can pump lake water during off-peak reclaimed-water demand periods.

Public commenters pressed the council for clarity on permitting, rights-of-way and whether the grant funds would cover land acquisition or easements; staff said the grant covers design and construction and that easements or rights-of-way would be negotiated as needed. Council members requested copies of intergovernmental letters and information provided to state partners and said they would brief Orange County and FDOT staff as design work moves forward.

The motion to amend the FY2024-25 budget and accept the grant passed unanimously; staff said they will begin the procurement and design kickoff immediately and return to the council with a project workplan and schedule.