Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: January 21, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: Luciana Mino, Assistant Manager
FROM: Sara Solomon, Senior Title Examiner
CONTACT: Faye Lee, Administrative Assistant
PHONE: 407-836-7097
DIVISION: Real Estate Management Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between Orange County Utilities Department and Parks and Recreation Division for Real Estate transactions related to portions of property for the CR 535 Water Supply Facility and Lake Apopka Connector Trail; approval and execution of two Notice of Reservations; and authorization to disburse funds for recording fees, and record instruments for Lake Apopka Connector Trail - CR 535 Water Supply Facility Expansion. Districts 1 and 2. (Real Estate Management Division)
body
PROJECT: Lake Apopka Connector Trail - CR 535 Water Supply Facility Expansion
PURPOSE: To provide access, construction, operation and maintenance of recreational trail and utility facilities.
ITEM:
Memorandum of Understanding
Revenue: None
Notice of Reservation (Trail)
Cost: Donation
Size: 10.32 acres
Notice of Reservation (WSF site)
Cost: Donation
Size: 5 acres
BUDGET:
1265-062-2178-6110 (Parks and Recreation Division)
4420-038-1557-0004-6310 (Utilities Department)
REVENUE: N/A
FUNDS:
1265-062-2178-6110 (Parks and Recreation Division)
$205.50 payable to Orange County Comptroller (recording fees)
4420-038-1557-0004-6310 (Utilities Department)
$35.50 payable to Orange County Comptroller (recording fees)
APPROVALS:
Real Estate Management Division
County Attorney’s Office
Utilities Department
Parks and Recreation Division
REMARKS: On November 17, 2020, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County Utilities Department (Utilities) and the Parks and Recreation Division (Parks) to support the Lake Apopka Connector Trail. The trail project is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, which required an executed MOU to demonstrate that Parks would have the necessary access and property rights in place by the time construction began. For that reason, the MOU was approved in advance, and the actual transfer of controlling interest was planned to occur before construction commencement. Parks is now ready to move forward with construction and is requesting that Real Estate Management process the transfer of controlling interest as originally planned. To complete the exchange, Utilities who has identified a need to expand an existing Water Supply Facility, has determined that this land controlled by Parks, is suitable for the expansion.
As a result, Parks and Utilities agree that, in the interest of mutual benefit, each department will transfer the needed land to the other at no cost. This reciprocal arrangement is memorialized in the new MOU now before the Board.
This action requests Board approval of the new MOU and approval and execution of two Notice of Reservations: one transferring Utilities-controlled land to Parks for the trail project, and one transferring Parks-controlled land to Utilities for the Water Supply Facility expansion. Because this involves a change in use of park land, approval requires a supermajority (5) vote in favor, under the County Charter.
Supermajority Vote Required: Conversion of County protected park land, or any portion thereof, for another use requires a supermajority (5) vote in favor, from the Board.