BCC Minutes 01/29/2002 RJanuary 29, 2002
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
NAPLES, FLORIDA, JANUARY 29, 2002
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) of such
special districts as have been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9 a.m. In REGULAR
SESSION in Supervisor of Elections Building of the Government
Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
VICE-CHAIRMAN:
JIM COLETTA
TOM HENNING
JAMES CARTER, Ph.D.
FRED COYLE
DONNA FIALA
ALSO PRESENT:
Tom Olliff, County Manager
David Weigel, County Attorney
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January 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: We'll begin this meeting.
for the pledge of allegiance, please.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
All stand
Item #2 -CONTINUED FROM THE JANUARY 22, 2002 BCC
MEETING (Item #10J)
CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST SERVICES
WITH ARNOLD & BLAIR, L.C. IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000
- APPROVED
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: Good morning, good morning, good
morning. We've got one item of commission business before we go
on to the workshop.
Who's making that presentation?
MR. OCHS: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the
board. For the record, Leo Ochs, Assistant County Manager.
This item was continued from your last official board meeting.
This is the discussion regarding the proposed contract for lobbying
services with Arnold and Blair Associates. There was some
discussion from the board about the advisability of proceeding with
this at the last meeting. I think there's been some subsequent
communication between our local legislative delegation and the
County Commission.
At this point I'd be happy to answer any questions the board may
have.
COMMISSIONER CARTER: I'm going to move for approval.
CHAIRMAN COLETTA:
discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN COLETTA:
I'll second that. Time for
Myself, I had a meeting on Thursday'
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January 29, 2002
night with Burt Saunders for about two hours. And he welcomes the
opportunity to have a lobbyist, and he strongly recommended Keith
Arnold as that lobbyist. He said it will make his job easier because
he'll have a better idea of what's happening over in the House and
also be able to keep him abreast of an issue as it goes forward. So it
serves many purposes.
And the only communication I had with Dudley Goodlette was
that letter that came to me saying the only thing he's requesting is that
we don't use the lobbyist to waste his time and efforts on lobbying
Mr. Goodlette.
Other than that, the one other thing was -- I found out this
morning is that Governor Bush also got a news clip of the lobbyist
that was going on here in Collier County. And he let Keith Arnold
know to pass the word on that he personally endorses Keith Arnold
and recommends we hire a lobbyist. So if that's any help.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's good news. Yes, I spoke
with Burt at home, and I also spoke with Steve Hart and Sarah from
Dudley Goodlette's office as well as I had a luncheon meeting with
Ray Judah from Lee County who has been using Keith Arnold. And
he said that Keith brought in so many dollars for the roads last year.
He said, "Don't miss the opportunity to do this." He said, "It just
augments the help to our other delegation up there." He said that
these people can go around and lobby for particular tax dollars that
we need and bring them back on home. And he said, "Right now," he
said, "I wouldn't miss the opportunity with dollars being as tight as
they are." He said, "He'll pay for his wage ten times over." So I was very encouraged to hear that.
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: And Mr. Arnold talked to me about a
half-an-hour ago, and he said that if for any reason the commission
did not agree to hire a lobbyist, he would understand as something
that was our decision and would hold no grudges against us. Just to
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January 29, 2002
pass that on. Any other discussion? (No response.)
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: With that I'll -- we have a motion,
Mr. Carter, and second from myself, and I'll call the question.
All those in favor of hiring a lobbyist indicate by saying aye.
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARTER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN COLETTA? Opposed.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN COLETTA: The ayes have it 5 to 0. Thank you.
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January 29, 2002
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 9: ! 5 a.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS
CONTROL
JAMES N. COLETTA, CHAIRMAN
s l gn&t, ut"e o~l.v.
These minutes approved by the Board on
presented v-' or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF DONOVAN COURT
REPORTING, INC., BY PAMELA HOLDEN, COURT REPORTER
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