Public works outlines stormwater, canal maintenance and streetlight ownership talks with FP&L

Public works staff outlined stormwater and canal maintenance priorities at the July 15 budget workshop and told commissioners the city is maintaining a quarterly canal cleanup schedule with additional aesthetic work on demand. Bob and public works staff said council has previously approved a multi‑year drainage maintenance program of roughly $350,000 per year and that maintenance of certain canals has been a county service paid by the city (about $300,000). Bob also noted a state MS4 inspection resulted in a FY25 penalty of approximately $127,000.

Streetlights and FP&L discussion: Commissioners asked about dark or inconsistent streetlights. Public works operations manager Mark Carney said FPL (referred to on the record) recently asked the city to discuss FPL taking ownership of some lights that the city currently maintains; Carney said he had emailed FPL and was awaiting a meeting invitation. Commissioners asked whether ownership transfer would mean FPL would perform upgrades and whether the city would still pay the energy bill; staff said those are questions to raise in the planned meeting.

Canals and dredging: Adelina Gross said Burlington Canal is in phase 2 and phase 3 will complete the project; other canal stabilization work will be done as needed with Burlington prioritized. Staff noted the city pays a county‑contracted amount for canal maintenance and that some projects (dredging, shoreline stabilization) are costly and have been prioritized by need.

Ending: Staff asked commissioners to note stormwater fund health — staff presented a $3.6 million transfer to stormwater CIP and said this operating fund is relatively healthy compared with general fund and water/sewer funds. Staff will return with specifics on any FP&L proposal and timing for canal and Ingram Park bank work; no formal policy change was adopted at the workshop.