Council approves FDEP grant application to pilot algae‑control devices at two private lakes

City staff and the city manager told the council they had submitted a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant application seeking pilot funding for a one‑year algae‑control project in Twin Lake and Coleman Lake. The grant application, submitted before the application deadline, would fund a pilot deployment of a vendor’s algae‑management technology with the condition that devices be removed after the one‑year pilot and evaluated by FDEP.

Staff explained the two lakes are on the state’s list of impaired waters but are governed by private homeowner associations; if a pilot shows positive results and lake stakeholders want longer‑term deployment, staff said those post‑pilot costs would likely fall to the HOAs. The council voted to authorize the grant application and directed staff to proceed with the pilot application; there is no anticipated city budget cost if the grant is awarded.

Council members expressed appreciation that the city could facilitate a pilot that uses state funding and would not obligate municipal dollars beyond staff time if awarded. The council asked staff to keep the city informed about next steps and any HOA cost obligations should the pilot continue beyond the funded year.