BCC Minutes 08/12/2004 E (am) (Hurricane Charley)
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
TRANSCRIPT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS EMERGENCY MEETING
Naples, FL, August 12, 2004
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 9:00 a.m. in
EMERGENCY SESSION in Building "F" of the Government
Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
ACTING CHAIRMAN: Tom Henning
Jim Coletta (Telephonic)
Donna Fiala (Telephonic)
Frank Halas
ALSO PRESENT: Jim Mudd, County Administrator
David C. Weigel, County Attorney
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COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
~
EMERGENCY
AGENDA
August 12, 2004
9:00 a.m.
Donna Fiala, Chairman, District 1
Fred W. Coyle, Vice-Chair, District 4
Frank Halas, Commissioner, District 2
Tom Henning, Commissioner, District 3
Jim Coletta, Commissioner, District 5
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER
WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE
AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53, AS AMENDED, REQUIRES
THAT ALL LOBBYISTS SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING
ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO
THE BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON SUBJECTS WHICH ARE NOT ON
THIS AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING WITH EXPLANATION
TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THE MEETING AND WILL BE HEARD UNDER "PUBLIC PETITIONS".
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE
TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
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August 12, 2004
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ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO FIVE (5)
MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF
CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3301 EAST
TAMIAMI TRAIL, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112, (239) 774-8380; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Update on Hurricane Charley and its affect on Collier County - Dan Summers,
Collier County Emergency Management Director
3. Emergency Meeting Procedures - David Weigel, County Attorney
4. Commissioner Coletta's request to non-coastal residents to offer help, shelter and
assistance to Coastal High-Hazard Collier County residents
5. Update by County Manager, Jim Mudd
6. Comments
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August 12, 2004
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August 12,2004 (A.M.)
MR. MUDD: Commissioner Henning, you have a hot mike.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your seat.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: I call the emergency
meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County,
Florida to order.
Would you all rise for the pledge of allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good morning. County
Manager?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner Henning, this is the emergency
meeting as of -- scheduled yesterday. This afternoon I'd like to turn
this over to Mr. Summers to give you an update, and then we'll
discuss about four or five items resulting from the briefing that we
might want to -- that we might have decisions on this
mornIng.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Mr. Summers?
Item #2
UPDATE ON HURRICANE CHARLEY - PRESENTED;
RESOLUTION 2004-245 TO WAIVE EMS TRANSPORT FEES
"OUTGOING" FOR PREREGISTERED RESIDENTS W/HEAL TH
CONDITIONS FOR TRANSPORT TO SHELTER AND
DECLARATION OF MANDATORY EVACUATION OF
COASTAL HIGH-HAZARD COLLIER COUNTY - ADOPTED
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioners, good morning. Dan
Summers, director of the Bureau of Emergency Services, and the
emergency management director for Collier County of record.
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August 12,2004 (A.M.)
Just as an opening remark, the only way I know how to couch
this for you, after 20 years of hurricane experience, is that Mother
Nature and the forecasters have drawn a line in the beach, so to
speak, with this storm and it really seems to be a line parallel with
Collier County, unfortunately. It's a very, very difficult call.
Let me bring you up to speed with the graphics here in terms of
what we anticipate, what we have communicated with with the
National Hurricane Center this morning.
On the visualizer you see right now is a time element where
we're looking at 3 :00 a.m. on Friday morning. This storm has
remained relatively constant in terms -- right now in terms of its size,
and has been relatively constant in its track.
The National Hurricane Center does not expect, as this storm
crosses Cuba and this particular illustration in the model at 3:00 a.m.
on Friday, does not anticipate the storm to weaken. Once it crosses
or becomes north of Cuba, it's going to hits the Straits of Florida,
where sea surface temperatures now range above 82 degrees, which
is really the heat engine for this particular storm.
We have seen jogs in the track, both east and west, throughout
the night. The current forecast track, again the models are still very
close, basically have this storm headed more towards Tampa at this
particular point.
However, I must tell you that if you can notice the yellow circle
there, which is the storm force winds, as we progress forward in time
-- and let me give you a little time hop here. That's the 3 :00 a.m.
That should be the 7: 00 a.m.; as you see those outer storm force
winds Friday morning at 7:00 a.m., beginning to feel the effects at
7:00 a.m.
Now, if you notice, we're in a hurricane warning. We're also on
the leading edge of the storm. As those rain bands turn
counterclockwise, that's going to push an enormous amount of water,
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August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
storm surge, into Collier County, particularly where we have a south
face. Little less storm surge where we have a west face coast, but our
sounds, estuaries, the Marco Island/Everglades area, all of that area is
right at the flat surface, if you will, for receiving the bulk of the storm
surge activity.
With that in mind and the fact that the forecast track, again
looking at the center of the storm, has a forecast error plus or minus
for east or west 47 miles in the computer model, the fact that the
storm force winds will be eventually as close as 20 miles to Collier
County with this current track, we have no margin to spare. All that
storm has to do is move to the east or track slightly east, maybe only
two hours, and once again, it could potentially have a direct Collier
County landfall.
Let me show you a little different perspective. At 10:00 a.m.
Friday, again the storm has slowed a little bit in forward speed, which
has gained us a little bit of prep time, gained us a little bit of
evacuation time. But as you see in the blown-up view here at 10:00
a.m., we're right on the leading edge. And again, from the farthest
most point of Collier County to the yellow bands of wind, again only
less than 20 miles. So it's way too close to call.
Either way, as it parallels the storm, we are so -- the storm is so
close to the land mass of Collier County that if it's not a significant
wind event, and it may be a Category 2, if it's not a wind event, it is
definitely a storm surge flooding scenario.
Let me take you on through time. I believe that's 2:00 p.m., so
we've got a good four hours, possibly six hours as the storm
approaches, parallels Collier County, and then goes north of Collier
County, probably a four to six-hour event. And then moving you into
5:00 p.m. on Friday. Just beyond us. It is with that information that
we have, again, understanding the forecast error east or west 47
miles, but the storm's effect being within 20 miles.
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Let me show you a storm surge model that has been run as of
today. These numbers may be a little hard to read. But as we look at
Marco Island, for example, in the current model, based on a Category
1 storm event, we're looking at approximately five feet of storm
surge. Added to that, again, that's run on a Category 1 model. Add
to that wave action, the discussion from the Hurricane Center is
maybe five feet of storm surge, potentially nine in certain areas. So
as the storm moves forward, as if you would sort of blow across a
cereal bowl, you're going to blow that water into the sounds, into the
estuaries, hence bring that rise to the storm surge and have the storm
surge flooding that you would expect in those areas.
Naples will do a little bit better, but again we're only down to a
couple feet difference, only because of their westward face. So it's
not capturing as much water as the southern face is. But the Naples -
- anything that's beach front Naples will be impacted.
MR. MUDD: What about Vanderbilt?
MR. SUMMERS: Vanderbilt Beach, same kind of scenario,
again almost the same as Naples. It may be a foot difference, a foot
more, a foot more there, just because we know the Vanderbilt area
there is typically a little bit lower. So we gain actually another foot
north of that.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Question I have: Will the biggest
impact in storm surge will be -- will it be on the leading edge of the
storm or will it be on the back side of the storm, or will it be equal?
MR. SUMMERS: Very good question. It will be the leading
edge all the way until the eye passes. Again, we don't really know
our timing; we don't know the exact timing because of the storm's
arrival versus storm -- I'm sorry, versus the tides. But it will be the
leading edge of the storm will start moving that water. As the eye
passes, that storm will continue some movement well until the storm
passes to where we're really on the back side will we begin to see
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August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
some receding. So I think if I follow your question there, you've got
a good six hours of storm surge flooding inundation.
MR. MUDD: I just put a chart on the -- Commissioner Halas, I
just put a chart on the overhead, basically shows you the 2:00 p.m.,
and you can see where the eye is, okay, across from Vanderbilt.
Now, that's also high tide at 2:00. It's basically high tide 2:00 a.m. on
Friday morning, then it goes six -- excuse me, I understand that's 2:00
p.m. It's 2:00 a.m.
Then you basically get low tide six hours later, and that's around
8:00. Then you're back up again at high tide.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: May I interrupt, sir?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: We have, assuming,
Commissioner Fiala with us?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I'm here.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Mr. Weigel--
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I think Commissioner Henning is
also here -- I mean Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, I'm here also.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, great. Good.
Do you have any recognizing, or is this a
continuation of yesterday's meeting, Mr. Weigel?
Item #3
EMERGENCY MEETING PROCEDURES - DISCUSSED
MR. WEIGEL: Thank you, Mr. Henning, Acting Chair.
This is not actually a continuation of yesterday's meeting. This
is a new meeting that was announced at yesterday's meeting. And I
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appreciate the opportunity at this point, with the introduction of
Commissioners Fiala and Coletta, to indicate that.
Pursuant to Chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes and the Collier
County ordinances that pertain to emergency measures, that the two
commissioners who are not here, we note on the record are
participating by telephone and full interaction by telephone. But by
virtue of the fact that we do not have a three of five quorum here at
the present time, it does put us into the default mechanism of the
ordinances, and so that based on seniority and presence, Mr. Henning
would be recognized as the acting chair today. And I think that's all
that's necessary for the record at this point, thank you.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Please
continue.
MR. SUMMERS: That's all I have in terms of the weather. I'm
prepared to answer any questions you have on weather, and then I'd
like to talk to you about EOC and evacuation.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any questions,
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.
Dan, you had mentioned that it's on the southern side it's going
to be hit the hardest. Is that like along the U.S. 41 East Trail? And if
so, when you say five-foot storm surge, is that expected to then come
over U.S. 41 East and into the areas beyond that, north of that?
MR. SUMMERS: No, ma'am, I do not expect anything at this
point to breach 41.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I see, uh-huh. And the people on
the southern side of 41, all of the areas down there, do you expect
anything to come as far as U. S. 41 and impact those homes in that
area?
MR. SUMMERS: I think it is a distinct possibility. We looked
at the Gordon River area. We will just have to see how the storm
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dynamics are addressed. Weare making sure that we're doing
everything possible and have the bulk of the day to continue to warn
people to make their evacuation plans as soon as possible.
It's my recommendation that we establish a clearance time at
9:00 p.m. tonight. We really want folks out of harm's way before --
shortly after dusk. We know that there's some wait time tonight as
we wait for the storm to approach and pass. But we want to do as
many activities and get into a safety posture before dark.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And the last question: Goodland,
Isles of Capris, Marco Island, Fiddler's Creek, all of those places,
have places been posted for them to evacuate to, to higher ground?
MR. SUMMERS: Yes, ma'am. I'm fixing to make a
recommendation to you and to the board regarding shelter openings
and those facilities.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, great, thank you.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you very much,
Commissioner Henning.
Mr. Summers, I got great concerns about the Golden Gate
Estates and Golden Gate City area. I understand that the canals there
are near capacity at this time. Should the people out there be aware
of the fact that there is some danger of a flooding? And what would
be the severity of it? Do you have any idea at this time?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, we are monitoring that. We are in
communication with South Florida Water Management as well. The
precept totals right now are going to be very spotty . We could expect
five inches possibly of rain in some locations, or if a band comes
across, it could even at the worst case do up to eight inches of rain, as
in the current precipitation models, but it will not be consistent
throughout the county. So I think in the Estates area, although
without a doubt we can expect some localized flooding, and we will
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address that on a case-by-case basis, I think that generally we'll do
fairly well there.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Question, too, if I may,
sir: We may expect some flooding. I mean, I remember before a
significant rain event the canals reached their maximum, we had
some flooding. If we were to exceed that and these roads do get
covered by water, people are in their homes and they can't leave, how
long would it take for the water, if we have eight inches of rain and
the canals come up and do flood the roads, before people will be able
to leave their homes just so they can make preparations as far as what
supplies to keep on hand?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, it's our recommendation, just as it would
be for our coastal residents, but our inland residents that could be
affected, not necessarily by wind but stormwater surge or rain, is to
make sure that they have a 72-hour preparedness kit as well. Those
homes could be isolated for a period of time. We'll do our best, as
long as it's safe for our emergency workers and our emergency
vehicles, to effect a rescue if necessary, but we would encourage the
folks county-wide to make sure that they are prepared to ride this
storm out without essential services.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And the last question I have,
Mr. Summer, is I inquired yesterday about the weirs being open to be
able to drain off the water to be able to bring the levels down so we
have more of a reserve for the rains that are coming. I got an answer
back, but it was kind of vague. It wasn't yes, all the weirs are wide
open, we are taking all the water we can and passing it on through.
Do you know at this point in time that the weirs are all open and that
every effort is being made to draw down the present levels of the
canals?
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MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, thank you. And I do have a
representative here from South Florida Water Management, and I will
turn the mike to him.
MR. TEARS: Commissioner Coletta, this is Clarence Tears,
director of Big Cypress Basin. Good morning.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Good morning, sir, I'm glad to
hear from you.
MR. TEARS: Just to let you know, we're doing everything
possible to lower the water levels. And the majority of this system
was open before this current event. And we're doing some final last
minute changes to some of the system in the Fakiunion area. But
other than that, we're doing everything possible to move the water
and prepare for the storm event.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, Mr. Tears, I would very
much appreciate it at a later date, maybe a couple of weeks from
now, if we could get together and you could show me a performa of
when these gates have been opened and what we -- you know, as far
as the water that's passing through them and what time this all started
to take place. I would like to know that for my own information.
MR. TEARS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further questions,
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, thank you, Commissioner
Henning.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Commissioner
Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, I guess what we're trying to
stress here to all the people that are living in low lying coastal areas is
get out. Is that basically the message you're bringing? And it's very
important that they do get out of that area.
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MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, you're exactly right. And I
have a little more text here to share with you about that. But we --
you have a very -- situation today where it looks like it's going to be a
normal day, so to speak, and folks want to go about doing their daily
routine, but there is significant danger here after dark and tomorrow
morning with a storm that is right on the borderline of almost being
catastrophic for us. Again, we may miss the winds, but if we're
talking about eight feet of water, we have to remind folks that just a
cubic yard of sea water weighs over a ton. And if you have that type
of movement and that type of water volume, you really need to run
from water and hide from wind.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good. We've got to get that
message out there, because it's been 60 years since there's been any
type of an impact to Collier County of this magnitude. So anybody
out there listening, and if you have some doubts what you should do,
make sure that you be prudent, get in your vehicle and get out of
town.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I may?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you very much,
Commissioner Henning.
I think it would be very important, too, to establish the fact that
more people should go. I know that we have shelters open, but I
know that our shelters have limited capacity; is that correct? And
also, too, would the Estates area be a good place for people to go as
far to as other peoples' homes?
MR. SUMMERS: Yes, sir. And that would be -- that is good.
And I'm prepared to make those recommendations now. I have a
visual for that and would like to read -- make some
recommendations, some action recommendations to you at this time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, and after you
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do, I would like to make some comments.
MR. SUMMERS: Certainly. This -- again, this will be prepared
in terms of a news release. It will be the information and the action
plan for the activity today.
Due to the Hurricane Charley's threat to Collier County, it is our
recommendation, staffs recommendation to the board, that you
activate a mandatory evacuation for the coastal residents of Collier
County . We know that the City of Naples, Marco Island and
Everglades City have the jurisdictional authority to make their own
recommendations. It is our request that Marco, Naples and
Everglades City follow our lead with this mandatory evacuation. We
hope to hear from them and the EOC later today.
Because of the potential for storm surge, we are going to open a
hurricane evacuation shelter at 10:00 a.m. today for those individuals
registered with Collier County Emergency Management who are
medically frail and have special needs. We are proceeding ahead
with activating Barron Collier at 10:00 a.m. Emergency medical
services, as well as our school system's transportation resources, will
be working on a case-by-case basis to assist those who have special
transportation needs. And I would like to ask that we proceed ahead
with that.
Again, our evacuation order would go into effect at 10:00 today,
with the idea of having a clearance time or having our coastline
secured by 9:00 p.m. It is also our recommendation -- it is also our
recommendation that citizens along the coastal area have their actions
completed by 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.
Now, let's talk a little bit about the evacuation routes. We do
know that Sanibel Island has already -- Lee County called their
evacuation early. It's our understanding Cape Coral will do their
evacuation - actually activated their evacuation around 8:00 this
morning. Right now the interstate northbound is doing pretty well.
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Our law enforcement organizations are going to monitor Interstate
75, and if and when we see any back-up or choke points on 75
northbound, our evacuation route discussion will then turn to using
Alligator Alley and head to the East Coast.
So we've got -- we're in a real good situation because we've got
lead time, we've got time to queue traffic northbound, and we have
the resources during day light to requeue traffic eastbound, should that
become necessary.
I just share that with you that we're doing pretty good traffic
management-wise right now. We even have aircraft available to us to
give us reconnaissance on our highways during the day today, so
that's available to us.
Having said that, again, wanting everybody secured by 9:00, our
shelters will be open all night and those shelters are as follows, and
they are scheduled to open at 3 :00 p.m. today: Gulf Coast High
School, Oak Ridge Middle School, Corkscrew Middle School and
Immokalee High School. That gives us four shelters. We have other
shelters in reserve that we can activate, once we seek -- or if we are
approaching capacity at these facilities.
Emergency Management and Red Cross want to remind
individuals, and we'll do that with other news releases, what they
need to bring with them to the shelter. It is just a shelter. We have
some limited supplies there, but especially bring your medications,
bring bottled water, bring bedding supplies, etcetera. So we'll
highlight that at a later time. Again, we have resources at those
shelters now and will be prepared to open and receive at 3:00.
My last recommend -- two final recommendations to you: I
would suggest to you as a -- as a support issue to the medically frail
and special needs individuals that we waive our EMS transport fees
for evacuation for those convalescent special need type transportation
efforts. We waive that. If we receive a presidential disaster
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August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
declaration, I will appeal to FEMA for those costs, but I think under
this hardship situation, I'd like for you to give consideration, possibly
a resolution or a vote, authorizing us to waive the base fee for the
one-time-out EMS transportation cost.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's just to get them out of the
area?
MR. SUMMERS: Outbound, correct.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: If they need transport back in, then
it's their responsibility; is that correct?
MR. SUMMERS: That is correct. And then if there is -- if we
are declared, there are other resources, other community resources
that could be of assistance, if that's necessary.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta, do
you have anything?
Item #4
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST TO ASSIST
RESIDENTS OF COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREAS-
DISCUSSED
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, I do, by all means.
I'm going to make an urgent plea at this time for the residents
that live within Golden Gate City, the Estates east of 951,
Waterways, Orangetree, Immokalee and the rural areas of Collier
County, to open their hearts and their homes, if they get people from
the coastal area that are in danger of flooding. The reason for this is
very simple: Our shelters are not adequate to be able to take on the
whole population. There will be very primitive conditions. And the
time that these people would have to live in your homes would be
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possibly two, three days at the most before they'd be able to be
relocated.
Go back to your fraternal organizations, if you belong to
fraternal organizations, your church, your fellow employees, go to
these people and see if they do need shelter.
Once again, this is something that we can do as a community to
try to avert disaster and make life a little more bearable for our fellow
residents. I'm going to offer this particular amenity on to my
Commissioner Halas who I know lives on the coastal area. If he'd
like to come to my house, I have several other people that are already
scheduled to come there, he's more than welcome to.
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, you bring up a good point
and that is, sir, that it is - if you have worked on your family action
plan and you can relocate with family or friends or extended friends,
maybe a network within your church, you're far better off to do that
than what we have available at the shelters at this time. We'll do our
very best and we have all the resources that we can spare at our
shelters, but again, you will be much more comfortable if you can
make arrangements, family, friends, even hotels inland.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Commissioner
Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Do we need to make a vote on this
resolution regards to the transport of convalescent people out of an
area?
MR. MUDD: I'd like to have a motion to waive those outgoing
fees.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'd like to have a motion to waive
those outgoing fees based --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'll make a motion that we waive
those outgoing fees at this time for the people who need assistance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll second it.
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August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner
Halas, second by Commissioner Coletta to waive the EMS transport
fees to our medical needy to the shelters; am I correct?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: To the shelters.
MR. SUMMERS: It will be to the --
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Shelters in Collier County.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I may?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, can we extend
that one step further and also to the homes of friends and relatives
that will take these people in, if so be?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: No, I think this is just for the
people who have signed up that need assistance to be moved from
(sic) shelters. These are people that have already ahead of time made
MR. MUDD: They have health concerns, they're frail, they can't
get there. There's about 200, 250 people that are signed up for it,
that's what we're talking about.
MR. SUMMERS: And Commissioner, to clarify, too, these are
individuals that are stretcher bound only and have no other family
care mechanism.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala, do
you have anything at this time?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, thank you.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any further
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Seeing none, all in favor of
the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
Page 16
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries
unanimously.
MR. SUMMERS: One additional before I turn it over to Mr.
Mudd to talk about operations, and that is at what point would you
like to be briefed or reconvene so that I can give you a status report?
Or how do we want to communicate? I know -- hopefully we're
getting things to you electronically by fax and e-mail, but at what
point would we like to get together for follow-up and for situation
reports?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: May I make a
recommendation?
MR. SUMMERS: Yes, sir.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: The update from the
National Hurricane Center this evening is at 6:00 p.m.?
MR. SUMMERS: It comes out at 5:00. It gives us about 45
minutes to process that and put it into our model, so we would
receive an advisory at 5 :00. Give us some time, please, to work
through the information.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think it would be
appropriate at 6:00 p.m.
MR. SUMMERS: Very well.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah.
MR. SUMMERS: And do we want to be flexible in terms of
whether we meet in person or whether we conference call?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think, Commissioner
Halas, you can make it here?
Page 1 7
August 12,2004 (A.M.)
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, I can make it here.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: If you can make it here, I'll
make it here.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: A suggestion?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm not too sure where Mr.
Summers is going to be at that point in time. Would he be available,
or would be --
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: He's going to be right with
us.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, he's going to be with us,
holding our hand.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Then I'll attend by phone.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's correct.
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioners, I did bring my pillow.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: At this time I think it's
appropriate to -- the Board of County Commissioners declare
mandatory evacuation for the coastal --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: High hazard areas.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- high hazard areas of
Collier County.
Is there amotion?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I make a motion that the citizens
in the coastal high hazard areas be under a mandatory to evacuate
those areas.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there a second to that
motion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second that motion.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner
Halas, second by Commissioner Fiala to have a mandatory
Page 18
August 12,2004 (A.M.)
evacuation for the coastal area of Collier County. Any discussion on
the motion?
(N 0 response.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion,
signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: The motion carries
unanimously.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, Commissioner Henning, I
wanted to ask you, did you want us to come back then again for
another conference call at 6:00 p.m. today?
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's correct,
Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: The -- we have one more
action.
MR. SUMMERS: I will stop and see if you have any additional
questions of Emergency Management, after I turn it over to Mr.
Mudd and you adjourn your meeting. Once again, as we did
yesterday, I may do a briefing with the agencies that are here. And
then Mr. Torre will be our spokesperson, and his staff will be the
spokesperson for 95 percent of all the Collier County information
today, because my efforts will be concentrated in the EOC today.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I have one -- I guess I can direct
this to the County Manager Jim Mudd. This is regards to non-
Page 19
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
essential government employees. Should we have them stay at home
or to evacuate?
MR. MUDD: We're going to get to that right when you're done
asking --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Oh, okay, all right.
MR. MUDD: -- Mr. Summers his questions.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala,
Commissioner Coyle (sic), do you have any questions?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Nothing. I was going to ask the
same question as Commissioner Halas, so I'm clear.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: County Attorney David
Weigel?
MR. WEIGEL: Thank you, Mr. Henning. Once more, just for
consistency with the record, I would appreciate if the commissioners
here and present would take a motion and vote, finding extenuating
circumstances for both Commissioners Fiala and Coletta for their
participation by telephone.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: I make a motion that we
find that Commissioner Coletta and Commissioner Fiala, during
these extenuating times of emergency in Collier County, that they are
voting members during this (sic) proceedings.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I second that.
MR. WEIGEL: And the vote would be among you two here.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor, signify by
saYIng aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye. Opposed?
(No response.)
MR. WEIGEL: Thank you very much.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries
unanimously.
Page 20
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
Any further questions?
(No response.)
Item #5
UPDATE BY COUNTY MANAGER~ JIM MUDD - DISCUSSED
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: County Manager Jim
Mudd?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner Henning, Commissioners, let's
discuss a little bit about operations. As you saw from the slides that -
- and Dan, can I have your 7:00 a.m. or your 2:00 p.m. slide.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: May I ask you to speak
into the mike, please.
MR. MUDD: Back on the visualizer, please.
When you take a look at where those things are going to be, first
thing is, you know, we talked about are we going to pick up garbage
tomorrow with our contract. I would make a recommendation -- I'm
going to make a recommendation to Mr. DeLony that we do not pick
up garbage tomorrow. Why would we want cans and all that stuff
flying all over Collier County. It's makes it even worse. So we'll get
out a press release first thing this morning that basically says that we
will not have garbage collection tomorrow and we will be out there
full force on Saturday with everything that Waste Management has to
start the debris collection and do regular collection on Saturday, and
then proceed over the next couple of days to start working vegetative
debris and everything else that folks have from their homes.
The second thing is I would -- I'm going to make a call here
around 3: 00 this afternoon.
First of all, I'm going to let the employees go at 3 :00 today so
they can get prepared for their homes and things like that. Around
Page 21
August 12,2004 (A.M.)
2:00 or so, I'll make a call to determine if we're going to be off
tomorrow for non-essential employees of Collier County. I'll make
that around 2:00 p.m. I'd like to know just a little bit as far as where
that storm's going to be and how it's turning and be -- we might be
able to say half a day or whatever. But I think it's prudent, I'll make
that call at 2:00 p.m. But I'm going to let the employees go at 3:00
p.m. this afternoon so they can get prepped and get their homes
ready. An hour prior to that, I'll make a determination if we are
going to not be in regular session tomorrow as far as county
government is concerned.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good.
MR. MUDD: That's all I have, sir.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Summers, I --
question: Now that we declared an emergency evacuation for the
coastal area, knowing that the communities to the north has also
recommended a mandatory evacuation, for our citizens here in
Collier County, what would your recommendations of the evacuation
be for Collier County residents?
MR. SUMMERS : We -- and this is one of those situations that
residents need to again monitor radio and television very closely.
Our goal is -- 75 is working well so far this morning. Florida
Highway Patrol, Collier County Sheriffs Office, Lee County Sheriffs
Office have additional personnel on those interstates. Any disabled
vehicles will be cleared quickly, and they're doing everything they
can to monitor and ensure that the northbound flow continues
appropriately.
At any point during the day, because they're watching this
continuously, if we're starting to see any excessive back-up or
bottleneck, the word will go out to recommend that we use Alligator
Alley.
Page 22
August 12,2004 (A.M.)
So I think we're on top of it. And I think as long as we get that
emergency information out quickly and the residents comply, and
including anything that we -- if we need additional law enforcement
to work the entrance ramps onto the highway, we have the ability to
do that as well. So we're going to continue to use that. When we
start to see it back up, then we'll put the word out for the diversion to
the East Coast.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I think what we also need to let
people know is to leave town as soon as possible. But some of the
items they may want to take with them is all their insurance papers in
regards to their household and their private property and homes and
whatnot. So make sure you have those papers with you, all your
important papers.
As soon as you can make arrangements, batten down your home
with storm shutters and leave town, if you're in a coastal high hazard
area. We should be leaving now and not waiting until tomorrow. It
should be this point in time is when we should start leaving.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I may add, those residents
that remain behind, it would be very wise of you to draw money out
of an A TM or your bank, because it might be very difficult to pass a
check or use a credit card.
MR. SUMMERS: Very good.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, any further business
this morning?
MR. MUDD: No, sir.
Item #6
COMMENTS - MEETING TABLED UNTIL 6 P.M.
Page 23
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Shall we just recess this
meeting and convene it back at 6:00 p.m.?
MR. SUMMERS: Let me bring up a very, very good point
there. I would prefer, and this is appropriate within FEMA
guidelines, you may please table your meetings. And I want the state
of emergency for Hurricane Charley as an ongoing meeting not to be
terminated, I want it to be tabled. Because at any point down the
road, a month or two from now if we have to enter something into the
record for FEMA purposes, we only can -- we can reconvene the
meeting. That's a protocol issue. I'm going to assume we're allowed
to do that, but I do want you to table.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala, do
you have anything other to add before we table this meeting?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, sir, I don't. I just --
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- I pray from here, in Amish
country in Ohio, that all remain safe. And I'm with you there all the
way in my thoughts.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Commissioner
Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I have nothing more to add.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: No, I have nothing.
ACTING CHAIRMAN HENNING: I am going to table this
meeting until further notice. At this time it will be at 6:00 p.m.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 9:39 a.m.
Page 24
August 12, 2004 (A.M.)
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
:I~
TOM HENNING, Acting
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DWIdB;T]~~~9~F, CLERK
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Thes~ ~~~~~ved by the Board o%pI--~ ii, 2ffirJ, as
presented . ~ or as corrected .
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICE, INC. BY CHERIE' NOTTINGHAM.
Page 25