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CWIPC Minutes 11/08/2016 November 8,2016 MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE Naples, Florida, November 8, 2016 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County Watershed Improvement Program Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:00 PM in a REGULAR SESSION at the Growth Management Department Building, Room 609/610 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive,Naples, FL with the following persons present: Chairman: Jocelyn Nageon De Lestang Vice Chairman: Dennis Vasey Gregg Strakaluse Chad Chustz (Excused) Brent Bachelder Jeff Carter (Vacancy) ALSO PRESENT: Tabitha Stadler, Stormwater Planning Kris Van Lengen, Community Planning Manager Gino Santabarbara, Principal Planner Robert Wiley, Principal Project Manager 1 November 8, 2016 Any persons in need of the verbatim record of the meeting may request a copy of the audio recording from the Collier County Growth Management Department—Contact Mr. Evy Ybaceta at 239-252-2400. 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order at 1:00pm and a quorum was established. 2. Approval of Agenda—Committee action requested Mr. Strakaluse moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. Vasey. Carried unanimously 6-0. 3. Approval of Minutes—Committee action requested Mr. Carter moved to approve the minutes of the September 23, 2016 meeting as presented. Second by Mr. Bachelden Carried unanimously 6—0. 4. Staff Announcements Ms. Stadler reported Jerry Kurtz(Staff Liaison) was unable to attend the meeting. 5. Workshop/Discussion Session a. Update on Golden Gate Estates Area and Next Steps All Committee and Staff Ms. Stadler noted: Gulf America Corporation(GAC) Lands Staff noted: • They will be engaging a consultant to determine the quantity and type of retention areas which may be available on the parcels. • The contract for the work will be reviewed by the Committee. • Under the 1983 agreement,the parcels may not be used for mitigation for County projects. The Committee requested Staff to review the agreement and determine what, if any, mitigation opportunities are available for the parcels. TDR Program Staff is investigating the Conservation Collier lands potentially available for the program including the acreage and number of parcels. They will present their findings at a future meeting. Golden Gate Area Staff is proceeding on developing technical reports on each area including developing a balance between policy initiatives and technical recommendations. Miscellaneous A presentation on Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells may be forthcoming. b. Primer on the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)Program Kris Van Lengen,Community Planning Manager, Collier County Government Mr.Van Lengen presented the PowerPoint "TDRs: Rural Fringe and GG Estates Possibilities CW1P Ad Hoc Advisory Committee November 8, 2016"highlighting: • A Committee has been established to review several County plans including the Rural Fringe Mixed Use District and provide recommendations on the TDR program. • The TDR program was developed as a result of a 1999 Final Order stemming from litigation requiring the County to direct growth to appropriate locations. 2 November 8,2016 • The program encompasses the"North and South Belle Meade"areas of the County where development rights can be transferred from sending areas to receiving areas (pre identified). • The density credits available for transfer include base credits, early entry bonus, restoration/maintenance and conveyance. • Generally, 1 TDR credit is equal to 1 dwelling unit credit in the receiving area(up to a maximum density allowed). • The Committee charged with studying the changes to the Program has developed recommendations including awarding more TDR credits,improving the supply and compensation of credits,consideration of a TDR bank to provide a conveyance mechanism, creating additional developer incentives to improve participation in the program,etc. • A major issue is there is no entity available to accept conveyances of land for the North Belle Meade parcels restricting opportunities for the owner obtaining the final credits (restoration and conveyance). Committee Discussion on Conveyance alternatives noting: • A mitigation bank is not proposed at this point in time and would require some type of public and/or private partnership. • Florida Statute prohibits land purchased for conservation being used for mitigation with the exception of FDEP and FDOT projects-Staff to confirm requirements. • It would be necessary to front load funds for approximately 2 years before the entity becomes self sustaining. • The County does currently have a need for$20M of mitigation for future projects. • It would be beneficial for the County to possess a mitigation bank as a current major concern is mitigation funds are transferred out of Collier County and used for mitigation in other areas of Florida. • Concern that a County mitigation bank may incentivize disruption of sensitive lands during construction of County projects if they control the mitigation bank. • Other sources of income to fund the activity could include endowments. • Another option is a TDR Bank where the County to be an intermediary holder of the credits. • The TDR bank would require tax payer funding,not a politically favorable option at this point in time. c. Freedom Park's Stormwater Treatment Wetlands Rafael Vazquez-Burney,Senior Technologist,CH2M Mr.Vazquez-Burney presented the PowerPoint "Freedom Park Stormwater Treatment Wetlands Comprehensive Watershed Improvement Program (CWIP) Technical Advisory Committee Ad Hoc Meeting-November 8, 2016"highlighting: • Freedom Park is a former 50 acre abandoned citrus grove which was identified in the Gordon River Master Plan(2002)for use,purchased by the County in 2004 and subsequently developed for stormwater treatment and public amenities. • The site was developed utilizing a series of interconnected wetland areas to treat urban stormwater runoff. • The project is a 2011 FSA Excellence Award Winner with public visitation exceeding 25,000 persons annually. • One issue that needs to be addressed is that the wetland areas do experience chronically low water levels even with the large volume of stormwater treated on site. 3 November 8,2016 The following was noted during Committee discussion. • There may be an opportunity to address the low water volume issue with the City of Naples Aquifer Storage and Recovery well in the area. • The costs of operation are minimal, generally expense for electricity for the water pump apparatus. • The areas have an anticipated life of 30 years before dredging is required. d. A Partnership Program at Freedom Park's Treatment Wetlands: FGCU's Everglades Wetland Research Park and Collier County Stormwater Planning Bill Mitsch, Ph.D., Director, Everglades Wetland Research Park,Florida Gulf Coast University,4940 Bayshore Drive,Naples Dr.Mitsch presented the PowerPoint "A Partnership Program at Freedom Park's Treatment Wetlands:FGCU's Everglades Wetland Research Park and Collier County Stormwater Planning" highlighting: • A partnership was developed with the County for a Long-Term Monitoring and Management Plan through a 7/1/16 agreement. • It involves"Wetlaculture"mesocosm experiments at the park linking wetlands treatment to sustainable clean water with nutrient recycling. • The project requires the installation of approximately 30 mesocosm tubs(each 2.5 ft wide x 4 ft long) in a 5 x 6 array near a source of high phosphorus water. • The projects needs include: • $20,000 for the tubs, water supply tanks, and plumbing/carpentry/fencing/back hoe earthmoving • A small portion of land(40 ft by 60 ft)for a"mesocosm compound"near a high phosphorus water source. • Studies will also analyze affects on hydrology and bathymetry (via routine sampling twice monthly, special storm sampling at 6-hr frequencies with auto samplers, diurnal and dawn- dusk sampling and installation of a continuous stage and water quality station), impacts to vegetation cover and wildlife conditions in the area. • The short-term goals include: • Conducting experiments to investigate hydraulic loading rates (HLR)for appropriate wetland vegetation communities in Freedom Park(3 different loading rates with current rate as lowest). • Providing environmental education opportunities for graduate student theses and dissertations based on the experiments. • Installation of interpretation signage on the program for the visiting public. • Promoting publication of research in peer-reviewed scientific literature. • Exploration on the feasibility of this approach for full-scale testing and implementation including a sound business model. • The overall goal is to investigate a new landscape-scale approach that integrates wetland retention of nutrients from stormwater and polluted river waters(that otherwise will damage downstream lakes, rivers, coastal areas) and recycles the nutrients to agriculture or horticulture uses. • The project is anticipated to be active in April of 2017. 6. Member and Citizen Comments None 4 November 8, 2016 7. Old Business None 8. New Business None 9. Set or announce next meeting date To be determined There being no further business for the good of the County,the meeting was adjourned by the order of the Chair at 3:35PM. COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED IMPROVEME P 0 GRAMCOMMITTEE /7/ Chairm 4,JoVlyn Nageon De Lestang These Minutes were approved by the Committee on / 117 20!7 , as presented V`/ , or as amended 5