Title
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Playgrounds (NB)
Explanation
On February 11, 2002, the City Commission heard a presentation from Staff regarding CCA treated wood in City parks. The City Commission requested that City staff remove and dispose of the wood equipment, and in the process, excavate the soil around the playground equipment. Staff was also directed to take whatever action necessary to ensure that these sites are left in a safe condition and report back to the City Commission: 1) with an estimate on the replacement costs for the playground equipment removed; and 2) to provide an update on this removal process.
To date, all CCA treated playground equipment has been removed and all of the soil in and around the play equipment has been excavated and removed in accordance with the guidelines recommended by Alachua County's Environmental Protection Agency. All disposal actions were conducted and funded by the City's Solid Waste Division at a disposal cost of $4,859.70. In addition, all City park picnic tables and benches have been surface coated with an oil base stain, as recommended by the County's EPA, at a cost of $1,000.00.
Staff has been in contact with the Lincoln Heights neighborhood and they have requested that a new unit be replaced at Lincoln Park and in the original area. In addition, the Nature Centers Commission has also supported replacing the unit removed from Ring Park. Sharmie Ffar is too small of an area for a play unit so the recommendation is to install picnic tables and benches. All replacement items will be addressed in the Recreation Bond proposal currently being discussed at an estimated cost of $20,000.00
Fiscal Note
The $10,000 approved from the Contingency Account in February is still available for this project. The additional $10,000 can be appropriated from the 2002 Bond Issue.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a report from staff; and 2) approve and authorize funds from the 2002 Bond Issue in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for play equipment at Lincoln, Ring and Sharmie Ffar Parks.