Loading...
CCLAAC Minutes 04/06/2015 April 6,2015 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Naples, Florida, April 6, 2015 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 A.M. in REGULAR SESSION at Administrative Building "F", 3`1 Floor, Collier County Government Complex Naples, Florida with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Bill Poteet VICE CHAIRMAN: Clarence Tears John Burton, II Susan Calkins (Vacancy) (Vacancy) (Vacancy) ALSO PRESENT: Alexandra Sulecki, Conservation Collier Coordinator, Program Manager Jennifer Belpedio, Assistant County Attorney Christal Segura, Environmental Specialist 1 April 6,2015 I. Roll Call Chairman Poteet called the meeting to order at 9:00AM. Roll call was taken and a quorum was not established. Discussion occurred on items IV.C, D and V.A until a quorum was reached at 10:25am. All actions were taken after a quorum was obtained. II. Approval of Agenda Mr. Tears moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. Burton. Carried unanimously 4—0. III. Approval of October 13,2015 and January 12,2015 minutes Mr. Tears moved to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2014 meeting as presented. Second by Mr. Burton. Carried unanimously 4—0. Mr. Tears moved to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2015 meeting subject to the following change: • Page 3 Item IV.0—Nicole Johnson comments,line 3 from"She noted the Bear's Paw..."to "She noted the Landings at Bears Paw..." Second by Mr. Burton. Carried unanimously 4—0. IV. Old Business A.Approvals from 1-12-15 meeting where no quorum was achieved 1. Alligator Flag LMP—5 Year Update Ms. Segura presented the "Alligator Flag Preserve Land Management Plan—Revised 5 Year Update" for consideration. She noted Staff incorporated the Member's suggestion to contact area schools to propose an"adopt a trail"program. Ms. Calkins recommended the Board of County Commissioner adopt the "Alligator Flag Preserve Land Management Plan—Revised 5 Year Update." Second by Mr. Tears. Carried unanimously 4—0. 2. Willet parcel in Mcllvane Marsh Ms. Sulecki noted at the CCLAAC January 12,2015 the Committee reviewed the"Willett Property Good Deal Offer"and reached consensus on recommending the County acquire the parcel. Mr. Tears moved to recommend the Board of County Commissioner approve the acquisition of the Willett Property. Second by Ms. Calkins. Carried unanimously 4—0. B. CDC Parcel Update (heard before a quorum was obtained) Ms. Sulecki presented the Executive Summary "Recommendation to consider a "good deal" purchase with Collier Development Corporation, now known as CDC Land Investments, Inc.,for 7.51 acres under the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program, at a cost not to exceed $403,150, and under specific conditions"dated April 6, 2015 for information purposes. She noted: • The Committee has previously recommended the County acquire the parcel. 2 April 6,2015 • The parcel is assessed at$510,000 and the acquisition price is $400,000 qualifying the parcel as a"good deal." • If the parcel is acquired, Staff recommends the exotics be removed at a cost of approximately $30k and no other improvements be constructed until the financial status of the program is clarified. • Neighbors oppose construction of a parking lot on the property. Under Committee comments it was noted: • Their previous recommendation to acquire the parcel was not subject to constructing improvements on the parcel. • The Executive Summary should acknowledge the bridge proposed on the City of Naples property is no longer proposed and no improvements are proposed to be constructed on the parcel until the financial status of the program is clarified • Additionally, Conservation Collier cannot expend funds on properties they do not own(i.e. the City of Naples bridge). • Ellie Krier of the Southwest Florida Land Preservation Trust contacted Chairman Poteet and conveyed her support of the acquisition. Speakers Marissa Carrozzo, Conservancy of Southwest Florida supported the acquisition of the property. The following actions was taken under item V.D during discussion of the Annual Report Chairman Poteet moved for the Executive Summary for the CDC parcel include the Committee's recommendation the funds allocated in the Program's 10 year financial plan for the City of Naples bridge over the Gordon River be reallocated to the Program's general revenue account. Second by Ms. Calkins. Carried unanimously 4—0. C. Amendment 1 (heard before a quorum was obtained) Ms. Sulecki provided the Memo "Amendment 1 Update"dated April 6,2015 for information purposes. She noted: • The Florida House of Representatives and Senate have developed preliminary plans based on the referendum passed by the voters. • Environmental groups are concerned the focus is on land management and conservation easements as opposed to the acquisition concept approved by the voters. • Any benefits for the Conservation Collier program are unclear especially given the title of any lands acquired must be held by the State of Florida. Chairman Poteet reported the initiative is in the early phases and a"moving target." He has spoken to area legislators on the concept of providing matching funds to local conservation programs for acquisition of properties. D. Pepper Ranch—Wildlife Impact of Bike Trail Use(heard before a quorum was obtained) Ms. Segura provided Memo"Wildlife Impact of Bike Trail Use"dated April 6, 2015 for information purposes. She noted: 3 April 6, 2015 • A citizen raised an issue at the last meeting that the hiking and biking trails constructed on Pepper Ranch may be having a negative impact on wildlife in the area. • Staff investigated the issue undertaking the following measures: • Installation of three wildlife cameras on the trails on January 27, 2015. • The cameras were "harvested"on March 26 and yielded numerous photos of wildlife including turkey, deer,bear,bobcats,panthers, etc. as well as hikers, bikers and cows. • Researched any available data on the impacts of hiking and biking trails on wildlife in the vicinity of the trails. • Staff determined: • The photographic evidence is beneficial,however there is not a benchmark of wildlife activity established before construction of the trails. • Research indicates trails may not generally have a detrimental impact on wildlife activity in the area,however trails that"switchback"throughout the habitat may be a cause for concern(as opposed to begin at one end of a site and traversing along the perimeter to the other end). • The impacts may be further diminished for Pepper Ranch as access to the area is restricted from June 1 to October 1. • The cameras will be monitored to determine if any negative impacts on the wildlife activity in the area are identified. • To aid in the study, a volunteer has come forward who wishes to install additional cameras on site, maintain the cameras and provide reports to Staff. • The switchback trails have already been approved and constructed but Staff will continue to monitor the wildlife activity in the area to determine if any adjustments need to be made in the trail system. The Committee noted one of the goals of the Program is to allow public access to the sites and at this point, a detrimental impact on wildlife activity cannot be documented so no immediate action needs to be taken. Staff reported they will provide updates to the Committee as they become available. V. New Business A. General Land Management Update (heard before a quorum was obtained) Staff provided an update on recent management activities via the Power Point"Preservation Updates CLAAC Meeting April 6, 2015"highlighting: Cocohatchee Creek Work days occurred on site including the placement of mulch on trails and construction of the observation deck. Logan Woods A Collier Count Sheriff's work day occurred on site with clearing of debris and placement of mulch on trails. Otter Mound Removal of exotics. Staff is having two shells in the"shell wall"tested for radioactive dating to verify when they were placed to determine the historic significance of the walls. Alligator Flag 4 April 6,2015 Cameras installed to document any wildlife on the property and the usage of the trails by individuals. Nancy Payton Staff work day on site which included mulching of trails, installation of plant identification signs, parking stops,etc. Pepper Ranch Staff reported: • They are acquiring price quotes for exotic removal. • Construction has begun on the boardwalk and Lake Trafford overlook platform. • Staff is developing a program for use of volunteer guides for this and other preserves. Rivers Road A $15,000 Grant was received for exotics removal with the work to begin in May of 2015. A Sierra Club work day is proposed. Gordon River Greenway Trespassing from the River's Reach neighborhood at the northeasterly corner of the site is becoming an issue. Staff proposed to install a fence however it was determined language in the documents governing the conservation easements on the property prohibits installation of fences. The Committee recommended Staff undertake the necessary measures to amend the documents governing the South Florida Water Management District conservation easement. B. CCLAAC applications-Tracey Dewrell and Patricia Sherry Ms. Sulecki presented the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee applications for Tracey Dewrell and Patricia Sherry for consideration. Mr.Burton moved to recommend the Board County Commissioners appoint Tracey Dewrell and Patricia Sherry to the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee. Second by Ms. Calkins. Carried unanimously 4—0. C. Lake Trafford Water Quality Study Ms. Segura provided the Memo "Lake Trafford Water Quality Study"dated April 6, 2015 for information purposes noting the Board of County Commissioners requested the study when the cattle lease was approved. The study is ongoing with the watershed area to be delineated and further testing to occur before any conclusions may be reached. D. Annual Report Ms. Sulecki presented the "Conservation Collier Annual Report Draft"dated April 6,2015 for consideration. She provided an overview of the Report which includes a study prepared by James Beever titled "Estimate of the Ecosystem Services of Existing Conservation Collier Lands in Collier County Florida"which estimates the value of lands in conservation. The Committee recommended the Report identify how volunteers contributing to the Program are recognized. Discussion occurred on the status of the funds allocated to the City of Naples bridge. 5 April 6, 2015 Ms. Calkins moved to recommend the Board of County Commissioners approve the Conservation Collier Annual Report Draft dated April 2015 subject to the above recommendation and action by the Committee being incorporated into the Report Second by Mr. Burton. Carried unanimously 4—0. E. Financial Report Ms. Sulecki provided the "Conservation Collier Funds Budget to Actual Comparison Oct 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015" dated April 6, 2015 and provided an update on the Program's financial condition which is stable at the current time. F. Ongoing approvals to take Winchester Head and Red Maple Swamp LDC donation parcels straight to the Board Ms. Sulecki provided the "4-28-15 DRAFT Conceptual Resolution" and noted: • The amendment is proposed as the Committee meets quarterly and the donations from private parties need to be expedited in fairness to the applicant. • The areas have already been approved as multi parcel projects. • If an"extenuating circumstance" is identified(i.e. environmental hazard) for the parcel to be donated,the proposal will be forwarded to the Committee for review. • Staff will be forwarding the proposed amendment to the County Attorney's Office for review and comment. The Committee requested Staff to return the item to them for consideration at the next meeting. VI. Coordinator Communications A. BCC Items At the April 28,2015 BCC meeting,the Eagle Scouts who have donated time to the Program will be recognized. B. Misc Items Ms. Sulecki reported: • An article on Otter Mound Preserve will appear in the April issue of Gulfshore Life. • Staff is investigating the feasibility of allowing a volunteer(s)to reside at Pepper Ranch on an RV site in exchange for work on the property. There will be a cost associated with construction of the RV site. • The Collier County Historical Preservation and Architectural Board has approached Staff on the feasibility of designating the lodge on Pepper Ranch as a"historic building." Staff is investigating the pros and cons of the designation which include items such as any renovations being exempted from building codes,a prohibition of removing the structure without certain approvals, increased availability for grant funding for renovations, etc. The Committee requested Staff to place the item on a future meeting agenda for further consideration. VII. Chair Committee Member Comments The Committee recognized Staff's work for the Department. 6 • April 6,2015 VIII. Public General Comments None IX. Staff Comments None There being no further business for the good of the County,the meeting was adjourned by order of the chair at 11:32A.M. Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee Bill Poteet,Chairman These minutes appr by the Board/Committee on - /3-/c as presented or as amended L . 7