2020 Seaplane-A-Palooza Poster 11x17 Opens in New Window  About FA1 Opens in New Window  2020 Contest Details Rules Opens in New Window  2020 Pilot Registration Opens in New Window  2020 Schedule Opens in New Window  2020 Seaplane Landing Area Opens in New Window  2020 Tavares Lodging Opens in New Window

FREE EVENT!

Join us Saturday, March 28th & Sunday, March 29th for our annual SEAPLANE-A-PALOOZA! 

Seaplanes fly in from all over the nation to participate in this event and you can see them up close and personal! Whether you’re a pilot, aviation enthusiast or simply curious about amphibious aircraft…you don’t want to miss this! We are expecting record numbers of many makes and models!

Seaplanes will begin arriving and signing up to compete in the flying contests Saturday throughout the day. Jones Brothers Air and Seaplane Adventures will be returning with their Seaplane Bingo Games! If you have never seen Seaplane Bingo, here is your chance! In an effort to give back to the community Jones brothers will be offering scholarships to local students to pursue aviation training. Spectators will also be able to play on land! 

Flying contests will include the fastest takeoff, “watermelon bomb drop,” and spot landings.

SEAPLANE-A-PALOOZA 2020 will provide opportunities for spectators to see a variety of seaplanes, visit with exhibitors and vote on their favorite seaplanes! Stop by the Information Tent for our Seaplane Beauty Pageant Ballot. 

Tavares Seaplane Base identifier is FA1.  

See letter below

February 6, 2020

Greetings.

The City of Tavares, as part of our stewardship plan with Florida Communities Trust, is required to maintain overgrown areas with high fuel loads as well as remove invasive exotic plants around our parks. We have been working closely with the Florida Forest Service on mitigation dollars to conduct a prescribed burn for the 112-acre Tavares Nature Park, located on Milwaukee Avenue. Recently we received notification from the Florida Forest Service that we qualify and the environmental conditions are favorable to mobilize and commence with preparations.

Florida Forest Service has developed a 300-acre prescribed burn plan that will cover the 112-acre park. Together with a partnership of local and state fire agencies, the Florida Forest Service has scheduled the burn for February 2020. There are many elements of nature that must be just right to meet the objectives of controlled burning and fire specialists monitor these critical elements of nature.

Firefighters with firefighting vehicles and equipment will be working together to prepare the area and monitoring the fire and conditions that affect it until it is completely out. The plan contains sufficient control measures to ensure firefighter and public safety.

In 2018, the Florida Forest Service identified that over 42% of acres burned in the state of Florida were caused by lightning which was an 11% increase from the previous 5-year period. Controlled fires are used to reduce the risks of unplanned fires which can pose serious threats to public health and safety, minimizing the emissions and adverse impacts of smoke. As good stewards, the City shall continue to propel forward through innovation to protect and improve our community and its natural resources.

For questions or updates please call the City of Tavares Citizen Information Line at (352) 253-4226

Kind Regards,

James Dillon, CGC, CSSYB

Public Works Director

Update #11: Tuesday, January 21, 2020

On January 21st, 2020, the last of the pilings were removed, ahead of schedule, and the Dora Queen relocated as she awaits the re-build of the marina! 

This phase of the project began on January 6, 2020, and is estimated to take seven weeks. Work has begun to remove the 80-hurricane damaged concrete marina pilings. Temporary changes affect boats and seaplanes. A notice to airman regarding crane/construction impact has been issued, pilots review NOTAMs.

• Periodic boat ramp closure during construction: see signage at Wooton Park West boat ramp (South Sinclair Ave) on Lake Dora
• Open boat ramp at Prop Shop, Wooton Park East (150 East Ruby St) for boat launch and recovery only. Parking for boat trailers is located in the grass field west of the City Volleyball Courts (South Joanna Ave) on Lake Dora.
• Open seaplane ramp and apron-aircraft parking only at Prop Shop, Wooton Park East (150 East Ruby St). Airman check NOTAMs for potential construction impacts. Tavares Prop Shop 352-742-6267 Identifier FA1 Unicom Frequency 122.975 MHz

In the meantime, many boaters and seaplane pilots are enjoying mooring up along the Tavares shoreline, fueling at the fuel pumps and unloading and loading passengers at the temporary docks. The Tavares Marina & Seaplane Base is located at 150 E Ruby Street. For more information please call Tavares Prop Shop 352.742.6267.

January 10th, 2020: Photo below of crane and barge removing old hurricane-damaged pilings on Lake Dora at Wooton Park. 

December 11, 2019: Big news!  City Council approved and authorize the execution of a contract between the City and Haskell Company and authorize staff to issue a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for the scope of work. (See below for details).

How long does it take to build a large city project?

The rule of thumb in a typical governmental agency is that it takes:

1. One year to decide whether to do the project (The docks were already built so we don’t have to spend the time deciding).
2. One year to find the money (The good news is the city had purchased “replacement insurance and betterment insurance” on the Marina and Seaplane Base).
3. One year to design (currently nearing completion), engineer and permit a project (obtain permits from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and St. John’s Water Management District).
4. One year to construct a project — and that’s a fast-track community project.

The Tavares Pavilion on the Lake took six years to build, and the new Public Safety Complex took seven years to build.

AGENDA SUMMARY TAVARES CITY COUNCIL 10/16/2019

AGENDA TAB NO.: 9

SUBJECT TITLE: Approval of Agreement With Haskell Company for Removal of Marina Pilings

(Economic Development)

OBJECTIVE:

To approve a construction contract with the Haskell Company to remove the concrete and wooden pilings to "make way" for the seaplane base and marina rebuild facilities that were destroyed by Hurricane Irma.

SUMMARY:

Previously the City Council and Insurance Company approved the selection of Haskell Company of Jacksonville FL, through a competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) solicitation, for Design/Build services of the reconstruction of the Seaplane Base & Marina. Council and the insurance company approved a preliminary services agreement which was executed on July 24th, 2018 and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for engineering & design services was issued on August 1, 2018. This phase currently stands at approximately 95% complete. Upon completion, in the coming weeks, Haskell will provide a complete set of construction documents and a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Proposal for Council’s consideration.

The 95% re-build plans call for the removal of the existing pilings as they are not usable because:

1) They were compromised by the Hurricane

2) They are in the wrong configuration for the re-build and

3) They are in the wrong location for the re-build.

City staff has negotiated a contract in the amount of $294,683 with Haskell to remove all the existing piles which have been approved by the insurance company at 98% reimbursement. The remaining 2% has previously been budgeted by the City.