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Tavares council accepts stormwater grant, names pond Eagle Park and approves small community grants
Summary
Council accepted a $160,500 FDEP grant for a stormwater vulnerability assessment, named a new stormwater pond Eagle Park, approved four $500 community grants (total $4,500) and adopted an Arbor Day proclamation.
The Tavares City Council on Wednesday approved several consent and action items including acceptance of a $160,500 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Resilient Florida grant for a comprehensive stormwater vulnerability assessment, the naming of a newly constructed stormwater pond as Eagle Park and awards of four small community grants totaling $4,500.
Public works and utilities staff said the grant (agreement number to follow) requires no local match and that the award period will be set once the formal agreement is received; staff estimated the project would be completed within a fiscal year after the agreement is finalized. During the staff presentation council members caught a typo in the packet: the fiscal impact line mistakenly listed $106,500; staff acknowledged the error and confirmed the award is $160,500.
Council voted to name the newest stormwater pond Eagle Park after staff suggested the name; the motion passed by voice vote. The council also approved an Arbor Day proclamation declaring Jan. 18, 2025 as Arbor Day in Tavares.
On community grants, staff reported the council budgeted $2,000 for the fiscal year but received four eligible applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofits: Lake Cares Inc., the Educational Foundation of Lake County, Lake County Museum of Art and Triangle Community Alliance. Staff recommended and the council approved awards totaling $4,500, which staff said will leave a zero balance in the grant account for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Lake County Museum of Art's executive director, Amelia Ambuages, thanked council members and said the support will help the museum’s outreach and children’s programs; “we'd be, very grateful for the grant,” Ambuages said on the record.
Council also noted staff is midway through an impact‑fee study that will update assessments for parks, recreation and police and that the final report is expected by mid‑March.
