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BCC Minutes 09/19/2005 E (Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita) September 19,2005 EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Naples, FL September 19, 2005 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 4:30 p.m. in EMERGENCY SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Fred Coyle Donna Fiala Torn Henning Frank Halas Jim Coletta ALSO PRESENT: Jim Mudd, County Manager David Weigel, County AttoD1ey Sue Filson, Executive Manager to the BCC Page 1 COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ~ ~ EMERGENCY AGENDA TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE RITA September 19, 2005 4:30 p.m. Fred W. Coyle, Chairman, District 4 Frank Halas, Vice-Chairman, District 2 Donna Fiala, Commissioner, 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, 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. ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO FIVE (5) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN. Page 1 September 19, 2005 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. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance 2. Updated track information for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita and its effects on the citizens of Collier County, Florida (Presented by Emergency Management Director, Dan Summers) 3. Determination of Necessity of Dec1aring a State of Emergency 4. Discuss any appropriate action for the Board to take 5. Comments 6. Adj oum Page 2 September 19, 2005 September 19,2005 MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Mr. Chairman, you have a hot mic. CHAIRMAN COYLE: The emergency meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is hereby in session. Would you please rise for the pledge of allegiance. (Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.) CHAIRMAN COYLE: Thank you very much. Mr. Mudd? MR. MUDD: Commissioner, as you said before, this is an emergency meeting. But really this is a meeting to determine if the board is going to declare an emergency for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita, who she is approaching rather quickly. I'd like to turn this particular part of the meeting over to Mr. Summers, our director of emergency management bureau. Item #2 UPDATED TRACK INFORMATION FOR TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE RITA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE CITIZENS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA - PRESENTED MR. SUMMERS: Commissioners, good afternoon. Thank you. Dan Summers, Director of the Bureau of Emergency Services and your Emergency Management Director of record. The -- I have no opening remarks other than to say here we go agaIn. Tropical Storm/Hurricane Katrina (sic) we've been watching for the last several days. We have been in contact with the National Hurricane Center -- excuse me, Rita. MR. MUDD: Rita. MR. SUMMERS: I have to get the storm names right here. I'm getting kind of dazed and confused here. Page 2 September 19, 2005 The storm. We were in contact with the National Hurricane Center this morning and have been throughout the day this morning. Looked like the storm would have had -- at least at the 6:00 a.m. briefing would have had minimal impacts. At the 11: 00 briefing and subsequent briefings with the National Hurricane Center, the National Hurricane Center had aircrafts in this storm all day. They continue to see a drop in the barometric pressure. They continue to see intensification. A couple of good news, bad news kind of scenarios for us. This morning Collier County was not in the projected cone. As of midday, half of Collier County is well within the -- not the center line, but the cone. Let me go on and show that to you for the sake of clarification. Collier County -- this is on the visualizer, on the graphic here, indicates that -- the dotted line indicates the track of Hurricane Rita. The southern half of Collier County is likely to be impacted by this storm, only to the extent of probably 35 to 45 mile per hour winds. However, we could receive some sustained gusts around 55 to 60. It's with that and the associated unstable weather, as well as the three to five inches of predicted rainfall that I am recommending that you declare a state of emergency. It's important to note that Monroe County, Dade County, Broward, Hendry County, Palm Beach County all have declared a state of emergency associated with this storm, just in the event that we get a change in track or even increased intensification, as well as the ongoing evacuation with Monroe County. I'll talk some more about that in just a few moments. Let me go back to the satellite photograph right now. And again, we're seeing a well defined StOD11. It's going to continue to hit warmer water. And right now its proj ected path truly brings the eye of the storm right across Key West, unfortunately. To look at -- let me show you another graphic here, just to illustrate the -- better illustrate the concern here. This is a probability Page 3 September 19, 2005 that Rita will pass within 75 statute miles. Again, the yellow indicating less than 20 percent, green greater than 20 percent. And again, this is based on the current forecast model. While this storm has significant forward motion, in this case it's a lateral motion, presently nine to 10 miles an hour, expected to increase maybe even up to 15 l11iles per hour. Works somewhat in our favor in that we're less likely to see as much wobble in the storm path. In other words, it should corne right on across the Keys, Key West. The bad news right now is the models are fairly consistent with this storm even intensifying out in the Gulf and its ultimate landfall right now predicted at the Texas/Louisiana border as a Category 3. So we really hate to see this for our adj acent states. But impact is imminent in the next couple of days in the Louisiana/Texas area. Let me run the track model here for you just a little bit again. Collier County in that white area there within the cone. And I will advance the storm for you just a little bit. As you see -- bear with me. There we go. Let's go -- you see the blue line there indicates the 39, 40 mile per hour winds. The yellow line indicates the 58 mile per hour winds, and the red is the hurricane force winds with the storn1. Now, this presents a storm surge issue for Dade, Broward and even Palm Beach. This is -- this storm is expected to stay in that westward track, and it should not be a storm surge scenario for us -- that's some really good news -- in that we don't anticipate -- you know, we've had StOD11S that paralleled the coast. We think this storm will clear our coast significantly before it makes its northern turn. So that's again a good news situation for us. We expect to starting seeing the effects of the winds tomorrow morning at around 10: 00 a.m., based on the model. And all the model guidance lines up very well fron1 the Hurricane Center today. The storm will be in our Collier County area all the way through about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday. So we're going to run a very extended Page 4 September 19, 2005 period tomorrow of unstable weather. And if you'll notice, even the current movement increases there to 14 miles per hour. So where we've had a waltz with some of these storms, we certainly are going to move this storm right on out of here pretty quickly. Since we are -- the storm force winds puts us on the leading edge. That always means there's always an opportunity for unstable atmospheric conditions. There's no tornado discussion currently in any of the advisories from the Miami Weather or National Hurricane Center; however, that's just kind of standard issue that we always remind folks, listen to radio and television, NOAA Weather Radio, in the event that this thing does spawn off any tornadic activity that is somewhat short-lived. So with that in mind, let me tUD1 to the handout that you have, and let me just hit a few key points. It will be my recon1mendation to you that we declare that state of emergency with the language that indicates a voluntary -- and again I want to stress voluntary -- precautionary evacuation statement associated with Copeland, Everglades City and Chocoloskee. And again, if a shelter is needed tomorrow, we're prepared to activate a shelter at the Golden Gate Coml11unity Center. We don't want to impact our school buildings ton10rrow, so we think the Golden Gate facility will be adequate. We'll have Red Cross and other support staff there, as well as supplies will be on hand tomorrow, if needed, by about 10:00. I am recommending that the EOC go to a Level 1 staffing, and that is a full staffing, but I reserve the right to release any non-essential personnel for this particular scenario. I'd like to activate the EOC tomorrow at 7: 00 a.m. and have our Collier Information Center activated tomorrow at 8:00 for any calls that we might can assist the general public with. There's an abundance of activity going on in Monroe County. All their hospitals are closed effective now. They're working verya Page 5 September 19, 2005 hard on a very thorough evacuation. They had some med. flights out of there -- medical evacuation flights, not helicopter flights -- that have been taking place, and they've also had some requests into the state for some other n1ission support, as we expect the eye of the storm to come directly across IZey West. In this State of En1ergency Declaration, I do not have any prohibition or curfews recommended. We do have a small budget amendment that we would like to ask your approval for, for the EOC approved emergency expenditures, again, based on our current policy and procedure. I am not activating our standby generator contract. I don't think that we have the need for that under this scenario. I have laid eyes on those resources; I know that if I need additional short-term power, standby power from rental equipment, I do know that the equipment is in stock in Fort Myers and I can bring that out accordingly. I will tell that you Collier County is well postured as a host sheltered community, thanks to the folks at Tourism and Jack Wert. They inventoried the hotels this morning. We have roughly about 2,500 rooms available. We have shared that information with the State EOC, as well as Monroe, Dade and Broward County, in the event that additional hotel space is needed. We also have, if needed, lmmokalee Friendship House is on standby for any sheltering. They also have standby power there. We've been in contact with then1 as well. Again, great support in radio and local television for getting the word out. But we suspect that again, as we see the events begin to escalate, tomorrow will be a very busy weather day. And again, we hope that we remain north of the bulk of the danger of the storm, but we feel like it is good recommendations on our part to be ready to act quickly; hence my request for the State of Emergency Declaration. Let me stop and see if you have any questions or comments right now. There's a few other pieces of information in your packet that Page 6 September 19,2005 also give you some impact estimates within the community -- CHAIRMAN COYLE: Con1missioner Halas? MR. SUMMERS: -- to go into those in any detail. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. Dan, at this point in time, do you feel that this is going to be the track for this storm, or do you think that there's a possibility that the track could be moving to the north yet? MR. SUMMERS: Sir, we have seen only minor shifts in the track. And the models from the Hurricane Center have lined up beautifully. Again, as this storm increases in its forward motion or its westward motion, we expect little shift in the track. So I think that we have played this fairly. I think not too conservative. And I don't think we have underestimated our potential impact. I feel real good about this one in terms of our posture for tomorrow's operation. COMMISSIONER HALAS: One last question. What's your best guess, with the information that you have available, what the category this storm may be? MR. SUMMERS: We expect probably a little bit of weakening tonight, but some further development tomorrow morning, and it may be a Category 2 -- easily be a Category 2 as it passes Key West. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Do you anticipate it build even further as it passes over the Keys and out into the open water? MR. SUMMERS: Yes, sir. The current guidance from the National Hurricane Center is that they are suggesting that this storm will be a Category 3, based on -- at landfall somewhere in Texas or Louisiana. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you. CHAIRMAN COYLE: COl11missioner Coletta? COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. Mr. Summers, I see your suggestions for a voluntary evacuation of Chocoloskee, Plantation Island, Everglades City and those people that live in mobile homes. Page 7 September 19, 2005 Can you tell me at what point in time they should make their final decision? MR. SUMMERS: Yes, sir. I would recommend, based on our impact statement that we have, would probably be by 11 :30 to 12:00 noon tomorrow. Also understand that I'm going to have the rural fire districts in that area do a roving patrol of those areas and check on any of the individuals that might have some needs or might need some additional information. But we'll have conditions tomorrow where we'll ask the fire departments to patrol those areas in their apparatus and offer any assistance to the public, as it becomes necessary. COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And the other question is, is the Emergency Operations Center open now for phone calls? MR. SUMMERS: No, sir, we have elected not to staff that component today. We are receiving phone calls through our general office number, and we've been able to manage that phone traffic with our departmental resources today. Tomorrow with the help from our press, we know that that will be a big issue tomorrow. COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay, any other questions? (No response.) CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay, does staff have anything more? MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. We have the -- if the board desires to-- there's two resolutions. There's the proclamation resolution and then there's the resolution for the $20,000. At this time, David, if it's okay, I'll read it. Is that all right? MR. WEIGEL: Fine with I11e. Item #3 RESOLUTION 2005-322: PROCLAMATION/RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER Page 8 September 19,2005 COUNTY TO DECLARE A ST ATE OF EMERGENCY FOR ALL TERRITORY WITHIN THE LEGAL BOUNDARIES OF COLLIER COUNTY INCLUDING ALL INCORPORATED AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS - ADOPTED MR. MUDD: All right. The first is a Proclamation/Resolution No. 2005-322. It's a proclamation of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County to declare a state of emergency for all territory within the legal boundaries of Collier County, including all incorporated and unincorporated areas. WHEREAS, Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita has a potential for causing extensive damage to public utilities, public buildings, public communications systems, public streets and roads, public drainage systems, commercial and residential buildings and areas; and WHEREAS, the Collier County Emergency Management officials are recommending that a State of Local Emergency be declared due to the current and predicted path of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita; and WHEREAS, Section 252.38(3)(a)(5), Florida Statutes and Collier County Ordinance No. 84-37, and 2001-45 and 2002-50, codified at Sections 38 through 56 through 38 through 70 in the Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, provide for a political subdivision such as Collier County to declare a State of Local Emergency, and to waive the procedures and forn1alities otherwise required of political subdivisions by law pertaining to: 1) Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community; 2) Entering into contracts; 3) Incurring obligations; 4) Employment of permanent and temporary workers; 5) Rental of equipment; Page 9 September 19, 2005 6) Utilization of volunteer workers; 7) Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials and facilities, and; 8) Appropriation and expenditures of public funds. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, in Special Session this 19th day of September, 2005, that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita poses a serious threat to the lives and properties of residents of Collier County; and that a State of Local Emergency be declared, effective in1mediately, for all territory in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Collier County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners hereby exercises its authority prudent (sic) to Collier County Ordinance Nos. 84-37,2001-45 and 2002-50, and waives the procedures and formalities required by law of a political subdivision, as provided in Section 252.38 (3) (a) 5, Florida Statutes, including authorization for purchasing director to waive existing purchasing card limitations during the declared emergency. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners hereby declares that during an emergency, it shall be unlawful and an offense against the county for any person operating within the county to charge more than the normal average retail price for any merchandise, goods or services sold during the emergency. The average retail price, as used herein, is defined to be that price at which similar merchandise, goods or services were being sold during the 30 days immediately preceding the emergency, or at a markup which is a larger percentage over wholesale cost than was being added to wholesale cost prior to the en1ergency. This Proclamation/Resolution adopted this 19th day of September, 2005. And now I need a vote of the Board of County Commissioners. COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved. Page 10 September 19, 2005 COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to approve -- go ahead, you're in charge. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, you're in charge. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Go ahead. That's -- you motioned to approve. Do I have a second on that? COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second. COMMISSIONER HALAS: All those in favor? COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye. COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye. COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye. COMMISSIONER HALAS: All those in opposition? (No response.) COMMISSIONER HALAS: Carries unanimously. MR. SUMMERS: One additional item, Commissioners, if I may. Dan Summers. I wanted to add that schools tomorrow -- we've been in contact with the district. They're going to make their determinations later today, if not first -- early in the morning. So I wanted to let you know that we have apprised them of the weather situation. We understand they too have some real concerns with the potential loss of another school day, but they are going to address that later this afternoon, if not this evening or first thing tomorrow morning in order to get the word out. So -- and we're in concert with them. We're on the same sheet of music in terms of their decision process. Item #4 RESOLUTION 2005-323: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOLLOWING ITS DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR ALL TERRITORY IN COLLIER COUNTY FURTHER PROVIDING FOR OPENING Page 11 September 19, 2005 NEW APPROPRIATION FUND, FROM RESERVES, IN THE STARTING AMOUNT OF $20,000 - ADOPTED MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the last resolution is Resolution No. 2005-323. It's a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners, following its declaration of a State of Local Emergency for all territory in Collier County, further providing for opening new appropriation fund for emergency services during Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita. WHEREAS, on September 19th, 2005, the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, the board, in special session adopted Proclamation/Resolution 2005-322 declaring a state of emergency for all territory within the legal boundaries of Collier County, including all incorporated and unincorporated areas; and WHEREAS, the board, having duly met in chambers on Monday, September 19, 2005 and being further informed that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rita has the potential of causing severe (sic) extensive damage to public utilities, public buildings, public communication systems, public and private streets and roads, public drainage systems, commercial and residential buildings and areas, and posed an immediate (sic) threat to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, residents and visitors of or to Collier County. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, in special session, this 19th day of September, 2005, that: 1) The board authorize the opening of a new appropriation fund from reserves with $20,000 starting base for emergency services during Tropical Stonn/Hurricane Rita. This resolution adopted this 19th day of September, 2005. And I need a motion for this particular resolution. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Motion to approve. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second. Page 12 September 19,2005 CHAIRMAN COYLE: Motion by Commissioner Fiala, second by Commissioner Halas. Any further discussion? (No response.) CHAIRMAN COYLE: All in favor, please signify by saying aye. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye. COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye. COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Aye. COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Any opposed, by like sign. (No response.) CHAIRMAN COYLE: It carries unanimously. MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the last item that I have -- Dan, did you finish? MR. SUMMERS: I'm sorry, I had two -- I apologize for interrupting you about the school situation. I wanted to capture that. Also, I understand that our solid waste folks recycling and landfill operations will be on a normal schedule tomorrow. So I just wanted to pass that word along. That's all. Go ahead, Mr. Mudd. MR. MUDD: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, I'd also like to make an announcement that the Goodlette- Frank Road design/construction public meeting that was going to transpire tomorrow at the North Naples Methodist Church from 5:00 to 7:00 will be canceled, okay, and we'll reschedule that for a time that's appropriate here in the relatively near future. Mr. Weigel, did I miss anything, sir? MR. WEIGEL: No. MR. MUDD: Dan, do you have anything else? MR. SUMMERS: Nothing further, sir. Page 13 September 19, 2005 MR. MUDD: Mr. ChaiD11an, Commissioners, that all we have. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Thank you. Do we have any public speakers? MS. FILSON: No, sir. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay, thank you very much. Any questions by -- oh, Con1missioner Fiala has a question. COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I do. If there's garbage pickup, are you recommending that people not put their garbage out the night before but rather wait till the morning? MR. MUDD: No, n1a'am, tonight would be okay, because we don't get the winds until tomorrow morning and it doesn't start till about 6:00 in the morning. So it will be okay tonight. And I checked with Mr. DeLony and the reason we're doing trash is because most of the north side of the county gets done on Tuesday. MR. DeLONY: We should be okay. We're going to hustle to get it out before the winds get big, but when the wind gets bad, we're going to stop, obviously. But we're going to make that call. And I believe we'll get most of it taken care of, ma'am. COMMISSIONER HENNING: What's the wind speed, when you say bad? MR. DeLONY: Well, I'm going to let the individuals make those decision with regard to their own safety, sir. But we usually look somewhere more than 40 miles an hour is when people usually -- when things are pretty tough out there moving around on our streets and moving garbage cans. But son1ething along those lines. We try to let the management of that situation go down to the individual in the crew level. They know what to do and what they need to pick up the garbage. We don't -- we'll stand behind them and make sure they're making the right decision, though. CHAIRMAN COYLE: Any further questions? (No response.) CHAIRMAN COYLE: We are adjourned. Page 14 September 19, 2005 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 4:52 p.m. ***** BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALSÆX OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL. ~W.~ FRED COYLE, Ch' an ATTES1:\o~!' ,,:/.:-.. _ DWIüm.Jt:.'13RÐCK, CLERIZ ~. .".;':":": ··~7~·;·: Y:j . b~ : . ..;;; ":~.;.¡ . .0 ~ ( . ·~·"-l ò.íte ' .;".,..;:" '.. 1f"1111' , S t9Mt.i"õï~ J These minutes ~roved by the Board on.ö.0Dber" presented / , or as corrected l \. ðOCS , as .- .'?\ TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT REPORTING SERVICE, INC. BY CHERIE' NOTTINGHAM. Page 15