Backup Documents 05/24/2016 Item #16A17 00-42
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Board of Collier County Commissioners
Donna Fiala Georgia A. Hiller, Esq. Tom Henning Penny Taylor Tim Nance
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5
June 6,2016
Mr.Rick Barber,P.E.
Chairman,Big Cypress Basin Board
South Florida Water Management District
2660 Horseshoe Drive North
Naples Florida 34104
Dear Chairman Barber,
The Big Cypress Basin 2017 Fiscal Year Capital Plan was reviewed and approved by the Collier County
Board of County Commissioners during the regular commission meeting on May 24,2016(agenda item 16A17.)
During that meeting,as part of the item approval,Commissioner Taylor requested a clarification related to the local
control of our contractually managed system by BCB.More specifically,the Board collectively asked if the
"Remote Monitoring and Control"project,a two-year project to establish communications with the Control Center
located in West Palm Beach,was intended to supplant the local control.
We recognize that remote monitoring of the Basin operated portion of Collier County's primary flood
control system is essential to managing the system and that the work proposed includes installation of additional
antennae,generators and equipment needed to monitor canal water levels and water level control structure floodgate
operation. It is also our understanding that staff at the local office will use this improvement to monitor and manage
the system and that this additional communication ability will not subordinate local control in any way.We
recognize that the proposed upgrade is intended to provide a communications link to the West Palm Beach Control
Center for local office back up and off-hour monitoring assistance.
That said,the Board of County Commissioners conditioned their approval with a caveat that our system,
which is contractually managed by BCB,will be locally controlled and operated by BCB engineer and staff,and
these enhancements will only provide back-up communication and supervision by the West Palm Beach control
center. If we are incorrect in our assumptions,or there is a different intent,please contact our staff so that we can
agenda a discussion item with our Board members.
We appreciate the opportunity to work with you,your board members,and the dedicated staff of the Big
Cypress Basin and South Florida Water Management. As we move into another rainy season,we are confident that
together we have the best talent and experts available to manage our flood control system and water resources for
the citizens of Collier County.
Sincerely,
Donna Fiala,Chairman
Board of County Commissioners
3299 Tamiami Trail East,Suite 303•Naples,Florida 34112-5746.239-252-8097•FAX 239-252-3602