Proposed Consolidation COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION
PROJECT PLAN REVIEW SECTION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Sue Buck, Administrative Secretary
County Manager's Office
FROM: John F. Madajewski
Project Plan Review Manager 41/t—
DATE: May 10, 1993
RE: Proposed Consolidation of Environmental Advisory Board
and Environmental Policy Technical Advisory Board
The information requested in your May 4, 1993 memo is being
provided in the attached report.
JFM/ew/doc: 6044
Attachment
cc: EAB Binder
Chrono File
CONSIDERATION FOR COMBINING ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD (EAB) WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD (EPTAB)
OBJECTIVE: To maintain the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB)
and Environmental Policy Technical Advisory Board
(EPTAB) as separate boards. See also "Attachment A"
letter to Mr. Neil Dorrill from George H. Hermanson,
Chairman Collier County Environmental Advisory
Board.
CONSIDERATIONS: Staff has completed the review of goals and
functions of the EAB. The following information is
submitted to describe the EAB. Collier County
Natural Resources Department will address the goals
and functions of EPTAB.
Environmental Advisory Board
1. Definition and Function: The EAB replaced the Environmental
Advisory Council (EAC) and the Water Management Advisory Board
(WMAB) per Land Development Code Section 5. 13 . 1. 2 . The EAB acts
in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners in
matters dealing with the review and evaluation of specific zoning
and development petitions and their impact on the regulation,
control, management, use or exploration of any or all natural
resources of or within Collier County.
The function of the EAB is: Review and recommend stipulations
addressing the preservation, conservation, protection, management
and beneficial use of the County's physical and biological natural
resources (atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic and hydrologic) for
petitions and/or plans for selected development orders, including
but not limited to Rezones, Developments of Regional Impact,
Provisional Use, Subdivision Master Plans and Planned Unit
Development Amendments that are directed to the EAB by County
staff, the Board or the provisions of the Land Development Code.
The powers and duties of the EAB are as follows:
Implement the provisions of the Conservation and Coastal
Management Element of the County's Comprehensive Plan during the
review process for development petitions and/or plans.
Participate in the review and recommendation process for
excavations as provided for in Division 3 . 5 of the Land
Development Code.
Assist in the implementation of any new programs, ordinances
and/or policies created through the Environmental Policy Technical
Advisory Board and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners
which deal with the conservation, management and protection of
air, land, water and natural resources and environmental quality
in Collier County.
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Provide an appeals forum and process to hear disputes between
County staff and applicants concerning land development projects
and recommend proposed stipulations for project approval or
grounds for project denial for Board consideration.
Function as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) appeal board
pursuant to Division 3 . 8 of the Land Development Code.
Acts as "buffer" on environmental issues; addressing conflicts and
their resolution(s) prior to the petitions being presented at the
Board of County Commissioners meetings. This important function
assists the Board of County Commissioners in limiting the number
of lengthy hearings with possible disputes.
Provides technical and advisory support to the Board of County
Commissioners.
2 . Membership: Seven (7) members appointed by and serving at the
pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners. Members must be
permanent residents and electors of Collier County and reputable
and active in community services. Members must demonstrate
expertise in one or more of the following areas: Air Quality,
biology (including any of the sub-disciplines such as botany,
ecology, zoology, etc. ) , Coastal Processes, Estuarine Processes,
Hazardous Waste, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Hydraulics, Land Use
Law, Land Use Planning, Pollution Control, Solid Waste, Stormwater
Management, Water Resources, Wildlife Management, or other
representative areas deemed appropriate by the Board such as, but
not limited to, a representative of the development community.
Members serve without compensation, except for reimbursement for
expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties
upon prior approval of the Board.
Current Members Affiliation/Expertise
Patrick H. Neale Lazarus and Neale Attorneys at Law;
Land Use Attorney
Eric D. Worsham Butler Engineering, Inc. ;
Environmental Specialist
Todd T. Turrell Turrell and Associates, Inc. ;
Environmental Engineer
George H. Hermanson Hole, Montes & Associates, Inc. ;
Civil Engineer
Dr. William V. Branan Biologist, PhD
Christine D. Straton Citizen
Michel Saadeh Vineyards Development Corp. ;
Land Use Planner/Civil Engineer
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3 . Meetings: EAB convenes on the first Wednesday of each month at
9 : 00 a.m. in the Commissioner' s Meeting room. A simple majority
constitutes a quorum. A quorum has been met since the EAB was
created with the adoption of Ordinance No. 91-68 on July 30,
1991, which was incorporated into the Land Development Code on
October 30, 1991. The initial members were appointed by the
Board through Resolution No. 91-666 on September 24, 1991. The
first meeting was held November 6, 1991. A total of nineteen
(19) meetings have been held since the EAB was created. The
following represents attendance at the nineteen (19) regularly
scheduled meetings:
* 7 members present 6 meetings
* 6 members present 10 meetings
* 5 members present 3 meetings
No scheduled meetings were canceled.
4 . Accomplishments:
a) The EAB has effectively performed the review function
formerly administered by two Boards, the EAC and WMAB.
b) Acted as a public forum to provide for and encourage public
participation in the review process.
c) Reviewed petitions on a case by case basis either concurring
with Staff ' s recommended stipulations or making
recommendations and/or changes to address the needs of the
project design and the natural resources on site.
d) Acted as an implementation Board for new ordinances and
regulations. The EAB has acted as a "sounding board" for the
codes.
e) Seventy (70) petitions have been reviewed by the EAB over the
past nineteen months. See "Attachment B" for detail.
f) Acted as a "buffer" on environmental issues; addressing
conflicts and their resolutions, prior to the petitions being
presented at the Board of County Commissioners meetings.
5. Goals:
Continue to act in a review and advisory capacity to the Board of
County Commissioners to:
a) protect and enhance the public health, safety and welfare and
the quality of the environment while allowing for the
proposed activity to take place,
b) act as a moderating influence in the review process to assure
consistent application of the Land Development Code' s
environmental and water management provisions,
c) continue to provide technical and advisory support to the
Board of County Commissioners and to perform those functions
previously listed,
d) make recommendations, where and when applicable, for Land
Development Code amendments based on actual evaluation of the
Codes and their implementation against current petitions.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Minimal. There are no advertising or recording costs. The EAB
members serve without compensation and are only entitled to receive
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of
their duties upon prior approval of the Board of County
Commissioners.
cc: Frank Brutt, Community Development Services Administrator
Bob Blanchard, Site Development Review Director
John F. Madajewski, Project Plan Review Manager
EAB Members
Chrono File
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ATTACHMENT "A"
COLLIER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD
Collier County Government Center
3301 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, Florida 33962
May 11, 1993
Mr. Neil Dorrill
County Manager
Collier County Government Center
3301 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, Florida 33962
Dear Mr. Dorrill;
This letter is written in response to recent discussions that you have had with the Board of
County Commissioners for combining or abandoning certain County advisory boards
including the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB). At our March 3, 1993 meeting, EAB
members discussed this matter. We passed a resolution (5 to 0) to authorize me as
chairman to write you a letter on this matter.
It was the opinion of all EAB members present at the meeting that the EAB should
continue in existence as it is today. We feel it would be serious mistake to modify the board
or combine it with EPTAB. For several reasons, not the least of which is the County's
image, the need for an advisory board to review site-specific environmental conditions is so
important in a county undergoing dynamic growth.
Secondly, the EAB and EPTAB were created at the same time with two distinct functions,
(I might also mention that these boards were created by the Board of County Commissioners
with considerable input from the public, including technical experts and past advisory board
members.) EPTAB was to review proposed ordinances, land development code
amendments, and growth management plan amendments relating to environmental matters
in land development. This is a very distinct function from the EAB. The EAB was
organized to review zoning and other land development petitions which have significant
environmental impacts in Collier County.
The difference in these two functions is very distinct, and separate boards should be
• maintained to perform these two distinct functions. To combine the boards would be to
combine strategic environmental planning with implementation of these policies through
review of land development petitions.
It may be well.at times to promote interaction between the boards to see how planning and
implementation work together. This can be easily accomplished by setting up workshops
between members of each board to, for example, give EPTAB input as to how.previous
ordinances are being implemented by EAB. This could be valuable in future planning.
However, to combine the boards permanently with these two responsibilities, we feel,would
be a mistake.
Mr. Neil Dorrill
May 11, 1993
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An additional reason has to do with the time available for board members. It must be kept
in mind that these board positions are volunteer, non-paying jobs. While most board
members, I am sure, are glad to give of their time, this should not be carried to an excess.
If these two boards were combined, the time commitments would be so demanding that it
would he difficult to get good people to volunteer; We think that 'the scope and
responsibility of the hoards should be kept to a reasonable level so that board members can
freely give of their time without being overextended.
We sincerely hope you will consider the position of this board on this matter. We would be
happy to discuss it further with you and/or the Board of County Commissioners if you so
desire
ery urs,
•
• George I-I. Hermanson, Chairman
Collier County Environmental Advisory Board
I GH-11-1:rr
•
cc; BCC Board Members
EAB Members
John Madajewski
•
is
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; _
ATTACHMENT "B"
Petitions reviewed by the Environmental Advisory Board November 6,
1991 through May 5, 1993 .
Petition Type Number
Exemption to Coastal Construction Setback Line 1
Special Treatment Development Permit 17
Rezone 18
Preliminary Subdivision Plat 12
Site Development Plan 2
Excavation Permit 10
Planned Unit Development Amendment 7
Conditional Use 2
Other 1
Total 70