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Bradenton council approves amended purchase of Tropicana site; environmental testing found PFAS and arsenic
Summary
The council approved a third amendment to the purchase agreement for about 32.9 acres from Tropicana Manufacturing Company after environmental testing found arsenic and PFAS; the purchase price was reduced to $4.85 million and the city plans to pursue brownfield designation.
The Bradenton City Council approved a third amendment to the city’s agreement to buy about 32.9 acres from Tropicana Manufacturing Company on April 20, a vote the council carried 5–0.
City Administrator Rob Perry told the council the city completed environmental due diligence that identified arsenic and detectable PFAS concentrations on parts of the property. The administration negotiated a lower purchase price — from $5,250,000 to $4,850,000 — and said the change is reflected in the amendment approved by the council.
Perry said the city plans to pursue a brownfield designation for all or part of the site and to secure environmental insurance; he said administration is considering a 10-year policy that could cover legal costs and third-party claims related to environmental conditions. Perry described the parcel as primarily industrial and noted that the groundwater flow generally moves back toward the Tropicana property.
Travis Hearn, an environmental attorney representing the city, told the council that brownfields status provides financial assistance for cleanups and can improve the economics of redevelopment. “The best thing about Brownfields is that it gives you…a lot of financial assistance toward the cleanup,” Hearn said, noting program grants and potential state support to cover portions of remediation costs.
Perry said the city intends to use mostly utility enterprise reserves for the purchase because the property would support Public Works operations such as sanitation and facility maintenance; he also said the site’s location is centrally useful for public-works logistics and could support other future uses in collaboration with county partners.
The amendment requires closing by May 15 under the terms presented. Councilmember Coachman moved approval; Councilmember Barnebey seconded. The council approved the amendment on a 5–0 vote.
Why it matters: the site gives the city a sizable centrally located property for public-works operations and future planning, but environmental testing creates remediation responsibilities and potential constraints on certain uses. Brownfield designation and environmental insurance are planned to reduce the city’s exposure and to support redevelopment options.
Ending: City staff said follow-up work will include cleanup planning, potential brownfield grant applications, coordination with state regulators and continued engagement with county partners on future site uses.
