GGELTC Minutes 07/28/2014 Golden Gate Estates Land
Trust Committee
Minutes
July 28 , 2014
MINUTES
Golden Gate Estates Land Trust Committee
Regular Meeting
Monday,July 28, 2014
5:30 p.m.
Big Corkscrew Island Fire Control & Rescue District Station 10—Administration Office
Committee Members
Chairman: Jeff Curl
Vice-Chairman: Pat Humphries
Member: Karen Acquard
Member: Mark Fillmore
Member: Vacant
County Staff
Michael Dowling: Collier County Real Property Management
Guest
Chief Michael Ginson, Big Corkscrew Island Fire District
Captain Erik Watson, Big Corkscrew Island Fire District
1. Call to order:
Jeff called the meeting to order at 5:30.
2. Approval of current agenda:
Jeff asked that item 6 go before item 5. Jeff asked for a motion to approve the agenda as amended,
Karen made a motion to approve with the revision and Mark seconded, all were in favor.
3. Annette Kniola's resignation:
Michael provided the resignation letter in the agenda packet and advised the Committee that the
Board of County Commissioners' Office has been notified in order to advertise the vacant position.
Karen made a motion to accept Annette's resignation with regrets, Mark seconded, and all were in
favor.
4. Treasurer's Report:
No Treasurer's Report. Karen said she'd like to meet with Crystal with Michael and to make that
appointment when time allows.
5. Item 6 to be heard in lieu of 5
Future requests to be heard by the GAC Land Trust Committee to be received prior to a specified
time frame to be determined by the GAC Land Trust Committee:
Michael said that the Committee has had several last-minute requests and in order for staff to
adequately research the inquiry, and to include those requests in the publicized agenda, he and Jeff
discussed that the Committee should consider a specified cutoff date for submittal.
Karen asked how much lead-time staff would require in order to include items on the agenda, and
Michael said that two weeks prior to the release of the agenda would be sufficient. Karen said that if
something were to come in as an emergency, she would like the request to be considered. Jeff agreed
that there will be exceptions but he would like to establish a set policy. Karen made a motion for
requests to be placed on the Committee's agenda twenty-one days before the meeting date with an
exception for emergency requests, Mark seconded, and all were in favor.
6. Previously item 5.
Request from Big Corkscrew Island Fire Department for funding of a Station Alerting System for
emergency dispatch calls in the amount of$19,688, an annual maintenance contract for the Station
Alerting System in the amount of$777, and a software update totaling$40,560. The total request for
funding of$60,248. Letter from Chief Rita Greenberg attached for reference:
Mark asked if the request could he looked at as two items and asked if the equipment is mission-
critical. Chief Ginson explained that it's a two pronged process that the Sheriff's Office (SO) is
initiating to provide for rapid response to those in the field. Rather than the current systems, which
alerts one unit at a time, the proposed system will alert all available units at once. The SO will set up
the main part of the system but each fire and EMS station will be required to install software, strobe
lights and sound alerts as needed. Chief Ginson said that the cost for the software and related
equipment was not budgeted by the Sheriff's Office and the District did not budget for the new
equipment because it was not aware of the added costs. Chief Ginson originally thought the
equipment would cost the District between $5,000 to $10,000.
Karen said that she attended a Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association meeting where she
specifically asked the representative from the SO what the new system would be costing the fire
districts and the SO's representative said that there would be no cost to the districts.
Mark asked how the other lire districts were funding the new system and Chief Ginson replied that it
is a challenge for the districts to find funding.
Mark asked if the funding would preclude the District from equipping itself with the new system and
Chief Ginson said it would. Mark asked what would happen if the Committee did not grant the
funding and Karen said the District would probably have to furlough fire fighters.
Chief Ginson said he did not see the original contract between the vendor and the SO. Karen said
the SO's representative said that there may be incidental costs that wouldn't amount to much that
would become the responsibility of the fire districts.
Captain Watson said that Communications International is the vendor's subcontractor and the
proposed system is a County-wide system which will take three to four fiscal years to pay for.
Chief Ginson went on to explain that the alerting system for the two stations was about $19,000 -
$20,000. The second portion of the request is to update the district's Tough Books which will not be
compatible to work with the new system.
Mark said that maybe Tim Nance should be contacted and advised that the SO's representative
provided the incorrect information and Karen said that letter should be directed to Sheriff Rambosk.
Karen asked if there was an extended contact so that the equipment can be updated to avoid future
costly replacements and/or updates. Chief Ginson said there is a warranty associated with the
upgrade and some of the equipment will be under warranty as well for at least one year from
purchasing.
Jeff said he would like to give the District the opportunity to explore the best deal for warranties on
its own and have the District make that decision.
Karen made a motion to approve an amount not to exceed $62,000 for the District's request, Jeff
seconded and all were in favor.
Pat asked where the funding was coming from for the SO to pay for the system and Chief Ginson
said that the Sheriff is funding county-wide, general fund, and also is able to apply for Homeland
Security, State and Federal Grants since they are a law enforcement agency and that is not available
for fire districts. Pat said that the Committee will have to be very careful in responding to future
funding requests since the current property values are so low and that the Trust Fund has such a low
cash balance.
7. Discussion regarding inquiries and/or offers on GAC Land Trust properties:
Michael said that he and Jeff discussed that if all inquiries to purchase land should be made to the
Committee even if the parcel is on the hold list. Michael discussed that the 1983 Agreement states
that the selling price is ten percent off the appraisal but the Committee could always have an item
submitted to the Board of County Commissioners and request full appraisal value. Jeff said that in
his discussions with Jeff Klatzkow. the Committee has the right to discuss and negotiate a price with
a potential buyer to agree on a price.
Michael said that he recently received a response to his Request for Legal Services (RLS) from the
County Attorney's Office regarding the termination of the 1983 Agreement. Michael said that he
and Toni Mott, Manager, Real Property, are planning to meet and discuss the RLS to determine the
next step in the process. Jeff called for a motion for Michael to contact Avatar to remove them from
the first right of refusal process, Karen made the motion, Pat seconded, all were in favor.
8. Other business:
Karen made a motion for the Committee to send a letter to Sheriff Rambosk to advise him that his
representative who attended the Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association is providing incorrect
information that the property Station Alerting System would not cost the Fire Districts anything and
the Land Trust has already received one inquiry of$62,000 from one of the Districts. Karen said a
letter should be sent to the president of the Civic Association as well (Mike Ramsey). Michael asked
if he should send one letter to the Sheriff and then copy the Civic Association and the Committee
agreed. No vote was needed or taken. The purpose of the letter is just to make the SO aware of the
discussion.
Jeff said he would like to address several issues in the letter to the SO as bullet points; 1) According
to Big Corkscrew Fire Control and Rescue District staff, they originally thought the cost for the new
equipment would be $10,00{) to $20,000; 2) true figure is closer to $60,000 (GAC Land Trust
Committee approved an amount not to exceed $62,000; and 3) the existing staff at BCRCRD is
small and if the District was required to buy the equipment on its own, that would possibly mean
cutting firefighters' hours or even layoffs. Jeff would like the point of health, safety and welfare to
be made.
9. Public Comment: None
10. Next Meeting Date: September 29,2014, 5:30
I I. Adjournment: Karen made a motion to adjourn, Pat seconded, all were in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 7:05.
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Jeff Cur, an, GAC Land Trust Committee