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BCC Minutes 03/31/2005 W (w/PARAB re: Beach Access) March 31, 2005 TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS & PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD BEACH ACCESS JOINT WORKSHOP Naples, Florida, March 31, 2005 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County Commissioners and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Beach Access Joint Workshop in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 AM in WORKSHOP SESSION in Building "F of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Fred Coyle Commissioner James Coletta Commissioner Tom Henning Commissioner Donna Fiala Commissioner Frank Halas ALSO PRESENT: Jim Mudd, County Manager Leo Ochs, Deputy County Manager Marla Ramsey, Public Services 1 ..¡- COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ~ JOINT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD BEACH ACCESS WORKSHOP AGENDA March 31, 2005 9:00 a.m. to Noon Fred W. Coyle, Chairman, District 4 Frank Halas, Vice-Chairman. Commissioner, District 2 Donna Fiala, Chairman, District 1 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. 2004-05 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. 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 IMP AIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE. 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance 2. Staff Presentation on Beach Access 3. Discussion on Beach Access 4. Public Comments 5. Adjourn -....,--,~,-~~-- - ~~"- ! March 31, 2005 1. Workshop was called to order by Commissioner Fred Coyle at 9:00 AM. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Staff Presentation on Beach Access: Jim Mudd - County Manager The Commissioners had been looking at all the boat access and parks in Collier County in February. Marla Ramsey has put together a packet of information. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board members introduced themselves: Skip Ripple, John McDougall, Tim Toole, Joe Overbeck and Murdo Smith. Marla gave a power point presentation on a history of where they have been and what they have done to date: . 1998 - 2004 - Adopts Beach Access and Boat Launch Report, BCC directs staff to implement a Master Plan, Staff request BCC give direction regarding potential funding sources and BCC adopts recommendations of the Revenue Commission for funding beach and boat access. · Gave recommendations of Revenue Commission (Increase impact fees, look at State and Federal Funding and not increase user fees and not look at franchise fees) . Guiding Principals from the Master Plan given o Distribute people up and down the beach instead of in a few areas o Wanted one parking space for every 150 residents - but not attainable o Have access every half mile as a goal with facilities o County to look at other alternatives to saltwater beach access amenities Covered the Beaches in Collier County - 418 acres o Listed the County, City and State Beaches - 53 access points with 8 having restrooms · Coastal Lands with No Upland Access were shown. · Showed graph of Beach Parking Space Deficit and gave statistics · Will be 900 parking spaces short within 5 years. Outcomes of February 23 Public Workshop · Priority projects were: Vehicular Shuttle, Purchase Vanderbilt Inn, Water Shuttle to Keewaydin and Maintenance of a diversity of beach experiences Additional Funding Options · 1 cent Tourist Tax $3M per year · Property Tax Millage dedicated - $3.5 - 17M per year · Sales Tax Referendum · Bond Referendum · User Fees - parking stickers Feasible Projects at $3M per year · Shelter & Rest Room at Connor Park · Access between Vanderbilt Inn & Delnor- Wiggins · Refurbishment of Vanderbilt Accesses · 1 or More Vehicular and Waterborne Shuttle Systems · Rest Room and dune Crossover at South End of Tigertail 2 -i'- I March 31, 2005 There are issues with each that could be worked out. Projects at $7M per year- add: · Purchase of lots along Gulf Shore Drive Projects at $15M per year - add: · Parking Garage & Boardwalk to South at Clam Pass Projects with $200M Bond or Sales Tax Referendum · Purchase of Vanderbilt Inn and Development into beach Park (Not known if "for sale") Showed Vanderbilt Walkways (Existing and proposed) Tigertail Beach Proposed Rest Room & Dune Crossover Potential Vehicular Shuttle Routes shown (CA T stops) Much discussion on the different areas of shuttling to. . .. . . Potential Water Shuttle Routes · Cocohatchee to Barefoot Beach Preserve · Cocohatchee to VanderbiltlPelican Bay Area · Across Outer Clam Bay · Bayview to Keewaydin, Rookery Bay · Bayview to Keewaydin, purchase property · Caxambas to Cape Romano Area · Goodland to Cape Romano Area Vanderbilt Inn · 5 acre site could be developed as beach park · If private development, beach access and intersection improvements are needed "Out-of-the-Box" Solutions · Acquisition of MICA parking lot at South Marco · Acquisition IMgt of Wiggins SRA · Construction of Pier Facilities (Vanderbilt area) · Amphibious Vessel Shuttles · Inland Beach Parks (Conversion of Quarries) · Parking Garage/s within Cities of Naples and Marco Island, State Park 3. Discussion on Beach Access: Discussion centered on the following: · Private shuttles · Barefoot Beach capacity · Parking issue · How far will people walk for a beach experience PUBLIC SPEAKERS David Busser - City Resident, Board member of Seagate Community & Biology Background - concerned about the environment and Clam Pass Park. He was happy to 3 --",,---,,<...,-_.,,_.,,_._~.~ r-- March 31,2005 hear about carrying capacity and being different at different areas. Showed many pictures. Frustrated with Clam Pass. Homeowners are ignored due to being so restricted and dangerous. He stated the County has an obligation and responsibility for proper signage in the area and management of the pass. Signs are needed. Situation is deteriorating as persons are trampling the mangroves. Supervision of the Registry - chairs on sea oats. He requested the County gate the parking lot after dark. Too much noise at night and the County needs to address all these issues. Marilyn Ryan - Seagate - pristine beaches - opposed to the parking garage. Will ruin the beauty. Brad Cornell - Audubon Society - Collier County has a lot of natural habitat beaches. Need to keep them in mind when planning access for all beaches. Nesting and coastal water birds on Tigertail especially. Second most important beach for habitat on the west coast for shorebirds. Protect the diversity on our beaches and promote it. Russ Weimar - County has provided more beach access in the past - now part of the City of Naples. Need to improve boat access and increase parking impact fees. Don't give up on increasing the parking in the State Parks. Look at Special Taxing Districts. Talked about beach access, barrier islands and the mainlands. Interior lakes are the answer. Gulf Street is still a platted road. Bill Kroeschell - former member of CAC - encouraged they are looking at Delnor- Wiggins State Park. Scott Straub - representing persons with Disabilities and Center for Independent Living - concern about beach access is achieving successful beach access. Not a beach in Collier County he can get onto to the water from the tide level using the wheelchair. Would like to see this and would help provide a resolution. Sergeant Blake Martin - there is usually 1 - 1 1/2 mile backup to Bluebill Bridge (2 lane road). Traffic is tied up for residents getting home and emergency vehicles. Two separate occasions an ambulance was called to Delnor Wiggins Park for injuries and could not get there until someone was there to block off the road. The only way is to go against the traffic over the bridge. The problem is the State Park system does not work. The Park is at capacity at 9 AM and they do not close it. The traffic is backed up and room for only a few cars on their property and then onto Gulf Shore and Vanderbilt Drive. They open the park every 20-30 minutes when some cars leave with approx. 300 cars waiting on Bluebill Ave. People wait for a parking space for many hours. Discussion Commissioner Coletta agreed as he was there and saw the problem. They should be pro-active as they are concerned about the health, safety and welfare of the residents. Possibly a sign leading up to the Park could be installed. 4 ."-,-~,"---,...- March 31, 2005 Commissioner Halas stated it won't work as people will still wait in line and another problem is parking. They park anywhere to get to the beach. Commissioner Coletta stated it is an ongoing problem. It is public property and will be used. Anyone that owns property along the water should realize the beach is for everyone and for everyone to have access to it. Commissioner Halas said the problem started in the 80's and still continues by the BCC. He gave examples of different areas such as Marco Island and Pelican Bay being private in certain areas by developers. He talked about not having access, not buying land and areas being developed and no funding. He stated they have built a wall from one end of the County to the other and now just have limited access. He can't see forcing people into small access areas because it wasn't done properly in the 80's. Commissioner Coyle responded they know how bad it is for beach access and staff is working on it. They need solutions now and provide staff on what can be done for the future. He talked about the carrying capacity of the various beaches and not all agreeing. They want to make sure they don't damage the environment but preserve it. He would like to see the carrying capacity of the various beaches from staff. A lengthy discussion pursued in what beaches they want to concentrate on, which ones they need to shuttle people to or spread the people out at. Beach shuttles themselves were discussed along with parking facilities. Funding sources were questioned and Commissioner Henning would like to see more details on shuttling to all the beaches. Commissioner Coletta mentioned they want to make sure they are pro-active to provide for the future when they will no longer be in office. Amanda gathered some information from Lee County on their shuttles. They run during the winter months and on weekends - $1.00 to ride the shuttle and the hours are 7:30 AM to around 8 PM. Finding alternative parking while being shuttled to the beach needs to be developed. Marla mentioned they need a turn-a-round so cars don't sit on the bridge for some time - they need to turn around and go somewhere else. State Park doesn't like to see the cars come into the park and turn-a-round - feel the traffic issue is a County problem and look to the County for a solution. Commissioner Halas mentioned the Sheriffs department doesn't have the manpower to be at the beach all the time. They would like the County to provide funds so they can keep the traffic moving. Need funding for a Deputy to be in the area on weekends when it is busy. 5 .'- March 31, 2005 County Manager Mudd stated there is a plan for a right-of-way at Barefoot to shuttle from Connors Park. There is a school in the area. The County would love to take over the Barefoot Beach Park from the State and take it over and manage it. Alternatives need to be made; get parking spaces, shuttling, signage in the area and asking for a deputy, will all give some relief. Need to address cleaning the beaches better and any other alternatives. Taking the $15M alternative was discussed. · All those listed under the $15M projects were agreed to looking at the options. Also: · Take immediate action on traffic back-ups at Seagate and Bluebill Drive. · Find alternative places to park and off the streets and shuttle to beach accesses. · Staff will give direction on better cleaning of the beaches Another workshop will be scheduled when these issues are worked out to bring back to the Commissioners. Discussion followed on the funding and the Tourist Tax. Commissioner Coyle explained Senate Bill 2303: Senate Bill 2303 is being sponsored by Senator Bennett and co-sponsored by Representative Rivera (Collier County) passed through the Growth Management Committee, represented by Mike Davis (Collier County) 9-1. Passes the Senate 9-0. Senator Bennett is Chairman of the Sub-committee and also sponsored by the Builders Association. It requires they give credits against impact fees for all taxes that would be assessed to the builder or purchaser of the property that might be used to build capital projects. This means impact fees will disappear and not be paid by developers but by the person who purchases the property, with the option of the impact fee being included in the assessment of the property amortized over 20 years. How will they get the money to build infrastructure? They have reached an agreement with the Builders in Collier County to pay 50% of the impact fees when they do their SDP. This gives them the money in advance to build infrastructure before the homes are built, but this Bill will preclude that right. Collier County has done this so far and partly through many of the projects and now it sounds like they are going to cut off this future funding established already. This is a serious issue and the worst legislature Commissioner Coyle has ever seen and will hurt Collier County more than anyone else. 4. Public Comments - Speakers were earlier in the workshop. ***** 6 --"-_.~...,. - ! March 31, 2005 There being no further business for the good of the County, the workshop was adjourned by the Chair at 11:10 AM. COLLIER COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD BEACH ACCESS JOINT WORKSHOP ~.~ W c k Commissi ner Chairman Fre~le .. 'i\~<ð .1.~ ":rr;(~ . ATTESTf:" ..... ··...:.fI^', DWIGI¡fr ~ BROcK,. ~f-.;ERK W~i-JÍL~.N. ~ . . ~"ø..f~2:. ..;'\'f...~, . II ~ rwanr . i . tIitt.~~;~..~,::· ~.;:;-' These minutes 'approyéd by the Board on -+L &1~ 106.S ' as presented as corrected V" or 7