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CCLAAC Minutes 07/13/2015 III July 13, 2015 fogaN MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Naples, Florida, July 13, 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", 3rd Floor, Collier County Government Complex Naples, Florida with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Bill Poteet VICE CHAIRMAN: Clarence Tears (Absent) Tracey Dewrell Susan Calkins John Burton, II (Absent) Pat Sherry (Vacancy) ALSO PRESENT: Alexandra Sulecki, Conservation Collier Coordinator, Program Manager Jennifer Belpedio, Assistant County Attorney Christal Segura, Environmental Specialist 1 July 13, 2015 I. Roll Call Chairman Poteet called the meeting to order at 9:26AM. Roll call was taken and a quorum was established. II. Approval of Agenda Mr. Dewrell moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. Calkins. Carried unanimously 4—0. III. Approval of April 6,2015 minutes M.c Calkins moved to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2015 meeting subject to the following change: • Page 2, Item IV.A.2 paragraph 2, line 2 —from "...Mr. Calkins."to "...Ms. Calkins." Second by Mr. Dewrell. Carried unanimously 4—0. IV. Old Business A. CDC Parcel Update- status Ms. Sulecki reported: • The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the acquisition of the CDC parcel on June 28, 2015. • The bridge proposed to be built by the City of Naples over the Gordon River was removed from the Program's financial plan. • There are no plans for capital improvement on the property at this time. • Work is being undertaken to finalize the developer agreement and completing the Phase I Environmental Assessment. • The County hopes to formally acquire the property by the end of the year. V. New Business A. CCLAAC application- Michael Seef Ms. Sulecki presented an application submitted by Michael Seef for appointment to the Committee. Mr. Dewrell moved to recommend the Board of County Commissioners appoint Michael Seef to the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Committee. Second by Ms. Calkins. Carried unanimously 4—0. Speaker Michael Seef addressed the Committee noting he looks forward for the opportunity to serve the County and its citizens. B. Discussion—Modification of Land Development Code (LDC) offsite preservation section 3.05.07, H.I.f. iii. a. and b. Ms. Sulecki presented the Executive Summary "Discussion regarding modification of Land Development Code LDC Section 3.05.07.H.1.fiii.a. and b" for information purposes. She provided an overview of the history of the Section of the Land Development Code which allows parties to donate land and funds for its management to the Program and noted: • The Board of County Commissioners directed staff to review the requirements with the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee and the Development 2 July 13, 2015 Services Advisory Committee and for them to provide recommendations on an LDC amendment. • Staff has developed four options for consideration at this time: 1. Maintain the status quo. 2. Modify the land development code to require an endowment that approximates perpetual maintenance. 3. Modify the Land Development Code to require a larger but not perpetual management endowment. 4. Remove the option to donate lands and only accept donation of funds with amounts targeted to acquire and manage multi parcel projects or other targeted lands. • She recommended a Subcommittee be formed to review the issue and provide a recommendation to the full Committee. • Staff plans to bring the item to the Development Services Advisory Committee in September of 2015 and the CLAAC at their October 2015 meeting. Mr. Poteet moved to appoint Patricia Sherry, Clarence Tears and Tracy Dewrell to the Subcommittee for the purposes of reviewing option 3 and providing a recommendation back to the full Committee. Second by Ms. Sherry. Carried unanimously 4—0. Ms. Calkins noted Option 4 should not be discounted as it allows for funds to be donated for both land acquisition and management. Chairman Poteet noted the Program is required to pay fair market value for properties. It may be more advantageous for developers to acquire the lands and donate them as they may negotiate a price below fair market value when acquiring the lands. Ms. Sulecki noted there have been instances where the private parties are paying prices greater than fair market value for parcels inflating property values in the areas targeted for acquisition by the Program. Speakers Nancy Payton, Florida Wildlife Federation reported she would participate in the process and wanted to ensure the option chosen includes the ability for parties to donate both funds for land acquisition and management activities to the Program. Marisa Carrozzo, Conservancy of Southwest Florida supports the concept of land and/or funds donation to the Program and endorsed the establishment of a Subcommittee to review the item. C. 5 year update to the Land Management Plan—Redroot Preserve Ms. Segura presented the "Redroot Preserve Land Management Plan—July 2009—July 2019— (10 Year Plan), Revised 5 Year Update June 2015"for consideration. She noted the following changes: • The name from Limpkin Marsh Preserve to Redroot Preserve given no Limpkins were present on site. • Updated maps. • Updated budget table to reflect the activity over the past 5 years. • Updated budget table reflecting future projections for the next 5 years conforming to approved 10-year financial plan. 3 July 13, 2015 Mr. Dewrell moved to recommend the Board of County Commissioners adopt the "Redroot Preserve Land Management Plan—July 2009—July 2019—(10 Year Plan), Revised 5 Year Update June 2015." Second by Ms. Sherry. Carried unanimously 4—0. D. Pepper Ranch Proposed Improvements—RV pad and hookups for volunteers Ms. Sulecki presented the Executive Summary "Proposed Improvement at Pepper Ranch Preserve—RV pad and hookups for campground hosts" for consideration. She noted: • The concept is to provide a location for a campground host at a cost of approximately $38,000. • The annual cost for the County to staff the site with similar personnel is estimated at$14k to $17k creating a 3 year payback on the expenditure should it be undertaken. • The"host" would reside on the property in exchange for staffing the visitor center and undertaking light trail maintenance. • The concept is based on an existing program utilized by the State of Florida and was posed by the FWC Agent who resides on the premise. • There is a concern the party may agree to "host"but leave during mid season, however investigations reveal there is a pool of persons that would be interested in the concept and the Program has proven successful with other Agencies. • The applicants would be subject to a criminal background check including finger printing. The Committee discussed the concept and recommended Staff contact Risk Management Services to determine the feasibility of the proposal and report back at the next meeting. E. Bear Hunting Ms. Sulecki provided the"Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FAQ about Bear Season"for information purposes. She noted: • The State is now allowing bear hunting for management purposes. • No Conservation Collier lands are under consideration at this point including Caracara Preserve. • Currently hunting of deer, hog and turkey is permitted on the Caracara Preserve. • She queried if the Committee wished to take any action regarding potential bear hunting on Caracara Preserve. Under Committee/Staff discussion it was noted there have been issues with bears on some properties, but they have been resolved through the use of bear proof trash receptacles on Conservation Collier or abutting properties. The Committee determined to maintain the status quo and monitor the issue and take action in the future as necessary. F. General Land Management Update Ms. Sulecki provided the "General Land Management Update Prepared for the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee—July 13, 2015"for information purposes. The Committee recommended the following: Otter Mound 4 July 13, 2015 Contact Florida Gulf Coast University on the feasibility of engaging students to assist in determining the age of the bucyon shells in the wall. Winchester Head "Color code"the Soil Conservation Service parcels to facilitate identification of the owners in the area. Camp Keais Contact Collier Enterprises to determine their interest in the parcels including acquisition or partnership with the Program. Caracara Preserve Determine the feasibility of obtaining Grants for construction of a bridge across the ditch between the property and CREW lands so access to the parcels is interconnected during the rainy season. Staff reported they are aware of the issue and in the process of investigating the availability of grant funds and the feasibility of an Eagle Scout project to address the item. Gordon River Greenway Display the fine amount on the sign posted on the bridge crossing the Gordon River to notify those individuals jumping off the bridge on the consequences of the activity. G. Draft Brochure—Alligator Flag Preserve Ms. Segura provided the Alligator Flag Preserve brochure for review. The Committee recommended the written directions to the Preserve be printed in black ink with white background and removal of the QR code from the publication. VI. Coordinator Communications A. BCC Items 6/28/15 meeting—Eagle Scout presentation; approved acquisition of the CDC parcel; approved acquisition of the Willett"good deal"parcel; approved the Alligator Flag Management Plan; approved installation of the IFAS groundwater monitoring wells on Pepper Ranch in conjunction with the Trafford Lake study. 7/7/15 meeting—discussion on the offsite preservation section of the Land Development Code (3.05.07, H.l.f. iii. a. and b); approved a parcel to be acquired in Red Maple Swamp. B. Misc Items Laurel Wilt Ms. Sulecki reported Staff is monitoring the disease Laurel Wilt which is affecting trees such as avocados, sassafras, camphor trees, swamp bay and red bay in the Laurel family. The condition is caused by a fungus transferred to the tree via the redbay ambrosia beetle. The beetle was introduced to the Country in 2006 in Charleston, SC. and treatment for the wilt is expensive with the pest potentially having a major impact on the avocado industry and potentially could destroy swamp and red bay tree populations in Collier. 5 July 13, 2015 Ms. Sulecki provided a copy of the "Conservation Collier Annual Report dated May 2015"to the Members for information purposes VII. Chair Committee Member Comments None 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 11:12A.M. Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee Bill Poteet,Chairman These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on S— as presented or as amended • CA) 6