Productivity Committee Minutes 04/18/2001 COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT
PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE
Minutes
April 18,2001
3:00 P.M.
Members Present: James Gibson, Donald Campbell, William Adams, Edward
Ferguson, Thomas Grootemaat, Sharon Hanlon, Karl Otto and Janet Vasey
Members Absent: Commissioner Pam Mac'Kie, Thomas Casale, James Homer and
Jean Ross-Franklin, with one vacancy
Staff: Winona Stone, Mike McNees, Mike Smykowski, Norman Feder, Jim Mudd and
George Yilmaz
Guests: Bill Ragan, Collier County's Financial Advisor; Bob Krasowski, Citizen;
Robert French and Christopher Tilman, Malcolm Pirnie Inc.
Introduction: Jim Gibson, Chairman, opened the April 18, 2001 meeting of the
Productivity Committee at 3:00 P.M.
Minutes: The minutes of the March 21, 2001 meeting were unanimously approved.
Old Business:
A. Tourist Development Council (TDC) Bed Tax Transportation Finance Issues Sub-
Committee Update:
Janet Vasey distributed a two-page draft "Tourist Development Tax, Expanded
Application Rationale", and discussed her investigation into the issue. The draft paper
is appended to the file copy of these minutes located in the Office of Management and
Budget. She explained how elements of the Community Character Plan would enhance
tourism and provided the linkage to use Tourist Development Tax funds.
Janet suggested that the Tourist Development Tax could be increased from 3 cents to 6
cents to generate $10 million per year to implement parts of the Community Character
Plan. Florida statutes would have to be changed and supermajority approval of the Collier
County Commission would be required to use TDC funds for this purpose. Janet
recommended future discussions with the Community Character Committee and various
MPO committees and said she would revise the paper to have a final document for the
next meeting.
Don Campbell stated he would like to know what the Board of County Commissioners
intends to do with the Dover Kole study (Community Character Plan). Janet noted that
much of the report is focused on changing codes for new development. The consensus of
the Committee was to not take any actions at this time but for Janet to meet with the
Community Character Committee to determine what their next step will be.
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B. Proposal to Revise the Committee's Quorum Requirements:
The Committee unanimously approved the revisions recommended by Ramiro Manalich,
Assistant County Attorney, to the quorum and membership requirements as presented in
the draft executive summary, with one exception. In light of the current vacancy (Libby
Anderson's recent resignation) and so as to avoid an even number of voting members, the
Committee changed the proposed number of voting members from 12 to 11. Winona
Stone will revise the Executive Summary accordingly and will request it be included in
the next Board of County Commissioner's Agenda. A copy of the proposal is appended
to the file copy of these minutes, available for review in the Office of Management and
Budget.
C. Discussion of Work Plan for 2001:
This item was deferred.
D. Discussion of Financing Scenarios for Transportation Projects:
Mike McNees, Assistant County Manager, reviewed the reasons that staff recommended
the proposed %2 cent sales tax to partially fund transportation projects. It was noted that
Collier County's local option gas tax is at the maximum amount allowable by the state.
Don Campbell inquired as to whether anyone has queried the Legislature regarding
increasing the gas tax maximum and if County's could index the gas tax as the state does.
➢ Mike McNees will check with the Florida Association of Counties and
Representative Dudley Goodlette regarding such.
There was lengthy discussion regarding the pros and cons of general obligation bonds
and special or dedicated revenue bonds. Bill Ragan, Collier County's Financial Advisor,
noted that Collier County would have an "A" rating, possibly an "A+" rating. He noted
that Collier County does not have diversification of industry, which negatively affects the
rating.
There was discussion of how staff proposes to educate the public on the transportation
financing problems and proposed solutions.
➢ Don Campbell suggested that the color table, Proposed Transportation 5 Year
Work Program, provided by Norman Feder at the last meeting be simplified and
put into a chart that could be printed in the newspaper.
➢ Several Committee members recommended that maps of the transportation
projects be made available to the public at the Board's May 8, 2001 meeting.
Jim Gibson noted that the County currently has a number of outstanding bond issues
with final maturities between 2002 and 2004, which when retired will provide the
County with increased capacity for issuing debt for transportation projects.
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There was discussion on what the next actions of the Committee should be. A motion
was made and unanimously passed that Jim Gibson would provide the Board a letter
detailing the Committee's recommendations regarding transportation financing. [A copy
of the letter drafted subsequent to this meeting is available for review in the Office of
Management and Budget.]
E. Progress Report on Staff's Review of Long Term Alternatives for Waste
Disposal:
Jim Mudd, Public Utilities Administrator, provided a brief history and overview of the
Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for long-term alternatives to Collier County's
solid waste disposal needs. He noted that 21 responses had been received, which were
reviewed by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
Robert French, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. presented a power point presentation on their
analysis of the 21 respondents. He noted that Malcolm Pirnie is postponing
recommending ancillary choices until a core technology has been selected. They
recommend that staff develop and issue a Request for Additional Information (RFAI) to
solicit information from the eight recommended technology representatives.
Jim Mudd provided the Committee with a copy of a letter from Camp Dresser and
McKee, Inc. regarding their conceptual feasibility analysis for Collier County's use of the
existing Glades County Landfill. He will provide this information to the Board for their
response to Glades County.
Karl Otto complemented Jim Mudd on the progress he and his staff have made over the
last six months.
Bob Krasowski, a Collier County resident, requested to address the Committee. He noted
that waste management is a hobby of his and that he is concerned about the level of
recycling efforts in Collier County.
New Business:
There was no new business discussed.
Comments/Suggestions:
Winona Stone distributed a 2001 publication of the Guide to the Sunshine Amendment
and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.
The meeting concluded at 6:45 P.M.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Productivity Committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at 3:00 P.M. in the County Manager's Conference Room, 2nd
floor of the W. Harmon Turner Building (Building F, Administration Building).
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