BCC Minutes 12/11/2018 RDecember 11, 2018
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, December 11, 2018
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
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Andrew Solis
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
Donna Fiala
Burt L. Saunders
Penny Taylor
ALSO PRESENT:
Leo Ochs, County Manager
Nick Casalanguida, Deputy County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Crystal Kinzel, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Troy Miller, Communications & Customer Relations
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB)
Airport Authority
ty •
041
AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples, FL 34112
December 11, 2018
9:00 AM
Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 - BCC Chair
Commissioner William L. McDaniel Jr., Dist. 5 - BCC Vice-Chair; CRAB Co-Chair
Commissioner Donna Fiala, District 1; CRAB Co-Chair
Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3
Commissioner Penny Taylor, District 4
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO PRESENTATION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO BE
ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE
(3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
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."
PUBLIC PETITIONS ARE LIMITED TO THE PRESENTER, WITH A
MAXIMUM TIME OF TEN MINUTES.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
Page 1
December 11, 2018
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING 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.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53 AS AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 2004-05 AND 2007-24, 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.
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, THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN
ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT DIVISION LOCATED AT 3335 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL,
SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN
THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
LUNCH RECESS SCHEDULED FOR 12:00 NOON TO 1:00 P.M
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A. Pastor Eric R. Hausler, Christ the King Presbyterian Church and Naples Jail
Chaplain.
B. Reaffirmation of the Oath of Office for re-elected Collier County
Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 and re-elected Collier County
Commissioner Penny Taylor, District 4. The Oath of Office will be
administered by the Honorable Ramiro Maiialich, Circuit Court Judge,
20th Judicial Circuit.
2. AGENDA AND MINUTES
A. Approval of today's regular, consent and summary agenda as amended (ex
parte disclosure provided by commission members for consent agenda.)
Page 2
December 11, 2018
B. November 13, 2018 - BCC/Regular Meeting Minutes
3. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. EMPLOYEE
1) 20 YEAR ATTENDEES
a) Donna Dowdell — Building Review and Permitting
b) Pat Estes - Information Technology
c) Les Gross - Facilities Management
d) Roy Hendry - Wastewater
e) Judy Johnson - Wastewater
f) Michael Perry - Water
g) Sandra Watt-Gant - EMS
2) 25 YEAR ATTENDEES
3) 30 YEAR ATTENDEES
a) Kurt Jokela - Facilities Management
b) Toni Mott - Facilities Management
4) 35 YEAR ATTENDEES
B. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
C. RETIREES
D. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
1) Recommendation to recognize Christine Boni, Accountant,
Page 3
December 11, 2018
Administrative Services Department as the November 2018 Employee
of the Month.
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Proclamation recognizing Lucky's Market as recipient of the Waste
Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) Award for contributing to the greater
good of Collier County by advocating the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"
message, thereby helping to prolong the usable life of the Collier County
Landfill. To be accepted by Lucky's Market Store Director Bobby Ditmar
and Assistant Store Director Jenn Faustini.
B. Proclamation designating January 16, 2019 as National Religious Freedom
Day in Collier County. To be accepted by representatives of the Salt & Light
Advisory Council: Greg Harper, Father Michael Orsi, Pastor Tom Harris,
Pastor Rick Baldwin and Pastor Greg Ball.
C. Proclamation designating January 12-20, 2019 as Kindness Awareness
Week in Collier County, in support of the annual "One Million Acts of
Kindness" campaign. To be accepted by Bob Votruba with his Boston
Terrier traveling companion, Bogart.
D. Proclamation designating December 2018 as Join Scouting Month in Collier
County. To be accepted by James Giles, District Executive of the Southwest
Florida Council - Boy Scouts of America.
E. Proclamation recognizing the Wynn Family and the contributions the family
has made to our community, and congratulating Wynn's Market on its 80th
anniversary and Sunshine Ace Hardware on its 60th anniversary. To be
accepted by Michael Wynn.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of the Collier County Business of the Month for December
2018 to Grace Place for Children and Families, Inc. To be accepted by Dr.
Tim Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer. Also present is Bethany Sawyer of
the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
Page 4
December 11, 2018
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE CURRENT
OR FUTURE AGENDA
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
A. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to determine that the proposed
land use for a veterinary clinic, excluding outdoor kenneling, and dog
grooming are comparable, and compatible uses within the Mixed Use area of
the Vanderbilt Commons MPUD, Ordinance Number 2005-19, as amended,
and are therefore found to be permitted principal uses at the location further
described herein. [CUD-PL20180002265]
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to deny a Resolution amending
Resolution No. 90-292 (Development Order No. 90-3, as amended) for the
Halstatt/Grey Oaks Development of Regional Impact by providing for:
Section One, amendments to Development Order by revising the Master
Plan to relocate unbuilt access locations from Airport Road and Golden Gate
Parkway to access locations on Livingston Road for access only to the areas
of the PUD identified as FP&L easement located south of Grey Oaks Drive
East; amendments to Exhibit E, Development Order access conditions and
SubExhibit 1, project access locations and Sub-Exhibit 2 project access
conditions; Section Two, findings of fact; Section Three, conclusions of law;
and Section Four, effect of previously issued Development Orders,
transmittal to Department Of Economic Opportunity and effective date.
[PL20170001729] (This is a companion to Agenda Item #9B - Planned Unit
Development Amendment Petition PUDAPL20170001548.)
B. This item requires that all participants be sworn in and ex-parte
disclosure be provided by Commission members. Recommendation to
deny an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 07-40, the Grey Oaks MPUD,
by relocating unbuilt access locations on Airport Road and Golden Gate
Parkway to Livingston Road for access only to the areas of the PUD
Page 5
December 11, 2018
identified as FP&L easement located south of Grey Oaks Drive East, and by
providing an effective date. The subject MPUD consisting of 1,601+/- acres
is located at the northeast, northwest, and southeast quadrants of the
intersection of Airport Road (S.R. 31) and Golden Gate Parkway (C.R. 886),
in Sections 24, 25, and 26, Township 49 South, Range 25 East, Collier
County, Florida. [PL20170001548] (This is a companion to Agenda Item
#9A - Development Order Amendment Petition DOA-PL20170001729)
C. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve Petition VAC-
PL20180001007 to disclaim, renounce and vacate the County and the public
interest in a 70' x 439' portion of the right-of-way known as Recreation
Lane, as recorded in Road Book 3, Page 26 of the Public Records of Collier
County, Florida, located approximately one third of a mile east of Santa
Barbara Boulevard, in Section 33, Township 49 South, Range 26 East,
Collier County, Florida.
D. Recommendation to approve proposed amendments to the Golden Gate Area
Master Plan (GGAMP) and related elements of the Growth Management
Plan (GMP) for transmittal to the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity (DEO) for review and objections, recommendations and
comments (ORC) response, and to provide direction to staff on any
additional amendment language for further review at adoption. [Transmittal
Hearing]
E. This item to be heard at 3:45 p.m. Recommendation to approve an
Ordinance amending Ordinance Number 04-41, as amended, the Collier
County Land Development Code, which includes the comprehensive land
regulations for the unincorporated area of Collier County, Florida, to allow
medical marijuana dispensaries in the same zoning districts as pharmacies
including certain Planned Unit Development Districts, the Commercial
Convenience District (C-2), Commercial Intermediate District (C-3),
General Commercial District (C-4), Heavy Commercial District (C-5),
Business Park District (BP), Research and Technology Planned Unit
Development District, Santa Barbara Commercial Overlay District (SBCO),
and Golden Gate Downtown Center Commercial Overlay District
(GGDCCO), and to codify statutory requirements for security measures and
design and signage, by providing for: Section One, Recitals; Section Two,
Page 6
December 11, 2018
Findings of Fact; Section Three, Adoption of Amendments to the Land
Development Code, more specifically amending the following: Chapter One
— General Provisions, including Section 1.08.02 Definitions; Chapter Two —
Zoning Districts and Uses, including Section 2.03.03 Commercial Zoning
Districts, Section 2.03.04 Industrial Zoning Districts, Section 2.03.06
Planned Unit Development Districts, Section 2.03.07 Overlay Zoning
Districts; Chapter Five— Supplemental Standards, adding new section
5.05.16 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; Chapter Ten—Application,
Review, and Decision-Making Procedures, including Section 10.03.06
Public Notice and Required Hearings for Land Use Petitions; Section Four,
Conflict and Severability; Section Five, Inclusion in the Collier County Land
Development Code; and Section Six, Effective Date.
10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A. This item to be heard at 11:15 a.m. Recommendation to authorize the
Chairman to send a letter on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners
to the NCH Healthcare System Board of Trustees asking for reconsideration
on the implementation of a recently announced admissions policy until they
have completed an independent process of gathering input from the residents
of Collier County with respect to such a policy. (Commissioner Taylor)
11. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. This item to be heard at 1:00 p.m. Recommendation to authorize the
County Manager to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Collier County Public School District outlining the terms of a potential land
swap and joint development project on a County-owned parcel located
between Immokalee Road & 4th Avenue Northeast; work with the adjacent
private property owner for potential partnering to obtain access to the
existing traffic signal; conduct Neighborhood Information Meetings for
input from residents and bring back options for potential uses for the
property at a future Board meeting. (Toni A. Mott, Manager, Facilities
Management Division)
B. This item to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Recommendation to accept a report
regarding Collier County's Economic Development Program. (Sean
Callahan, Executive Director, Corporate Business Operations)
Page 7
December 11, 2018
C. Recommendation to authorize staff to advertise an amendment to Ordinance
No. 2002-63, as amended, which established and implements the
Conservation Collier Program. (Alexandra Sulecki, Principal Environmental
Specialist, Parks and Recreation Division)
D. Recommendation to review and approve the County's delivery plan for the
execution of the projects approved by the Board and a majority of the
electorate to be funded from the proceeds of the One-Cent Infrastructure
Surtax (Sales Tax) with oversight from a Citizen Advisory Committee.
(Nick Casalanguida, Deputy County Manager)
E. Recommendation to direct staff to advertise, and bring back for a Public
Hearing, an Ordinance repealing the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance,
Ordinance No. 2011-07, to be replaced by the new Floodplain Management
Ordinance. (Caroline Cilek, Manager, Building Division)
F. Recommendation to accept or reject bids received for County-owned surplus
lands advertised pursuant to the provisions of Section 125.379, Florida
Statutes and direct staff to take appropriate actions based on Board direction.
(Toni A. Mott, Manager, Facilities Management Division)
G. Recommendation to award Contract Number 18-7469, CEI Services for Big
Corkscrew Island Regional Park, to Wood Environment and Infrastructure
Solutions, Inc., in the amount of$1,932,314 and authorize the Chairman to
execute the attached agreement. (Leandro A. Goicoechea, P.E., Sr. Project
Manager, Facilities Management Division)
H. Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid No. 18-7305, "Master Pump
Station 306" (Project Number 70237), to PWC Joint Venture LLC, in the
amount of$10,719,008, and authorize the necessary budget amendments.
(Tom Chmelik, Engineering and Project Management Division Director,
Public Utilities Department)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
Page 8
December 11, 2018
A. AIRPORT
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Proposed Future Workshop Schedule
16. CONSENT AGENDA - All matters listed under this item are considered to be
routine and action will be taken by one motion without separate discussion of
each item. If discussion is desired by a member of the Board, that item(s) will
be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.
A. GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve the First Amendment to the Interlocal
Agreement dated June 26, 2018 by and between Collier County and
the City of Everglades City to clarify the collection and distribution of
building permit and related fees under the Interlocal Agreement.
2) Recommendation to approve proposal dated October 22, 2018 from
Humiston & Moore Engineers to update the 2018 Aerial Image Book
and complete the Wiggins and Doctors Pass monitoring reports under
Contract No. 15-6382, authorize the Chairman to execute the work
order for a not to exceed amount of$15,898.25, and makes a finding
that this expenditure promotes tourism.
3) Recommendation to approve the release of two code enforcement
liens with an accrued value of$8,333.23 for payment of$1,133.23 in
the code enforcement actions entitled Board of County
Commissioners v. Wayne Ray Finzer, Code Enforcement Board Case
Nos. CENA20140013503 and CENA20170011622 relating to
property located at 2675 Storter Ave, Collier County, Florida.
4) Recommendation to approve the release of a code enforcement lien
with an accrued value of$18,101.62 for payment of$6,000 in the
code enforcement actions entitled Board of County Commissioners v.
Page 9
December 11, 2018
Orange Blossom Naples, LLC, Code Enforcement Board Case No.
CENA20130010827 relating to property located at 6619 Yarberry Ln,
Collier County, Florida.
5) Recommendation to authorize the Clerk of Courts to release a
Performance Bond in the amount of$48,020 which was posted as a
guaranty for Excavation Permit Number 60.085-3, PL20160000540
for work associated with Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples
— DiLillo Parcel.
6) Recommendation to approve a standard Temporary Construction
Easement for Beach Renourishment and to remove the requirement
for dune plantings from the Temporary Construction Easement for
Beach Renourishment for the Marco Island Central Beach Regrade
project and make a finding that this item promotes tourism.
7) Recommendation to direct staff to bring back for a public hearing an
ordinance amending the Land Development Code to modify design
standards for signs advertising the price of fuel, in accordance with
Section 553.79(20), Florida Statutes, and allow applications for such
signs to be processed under the proposed new zoning standards while
the LDC amendment process is pending.
8) Recommendation to receive and approve the Collier County
Floodplain Management Plan 2017 Progress Report and Proposed
Action Plan for 2018 and 2019, which includes a 1.5 feet rate of sea
level rise by 2060 planning standard to be adopted in the Floodplain
Management Plan.
9) Recommendation to authorize staff to advertise for a future public
hearing, an ordinance amending the Land Development Code relating
to the affordable housing density bonus program, pursuant to previous
Board actions on the Community Housing Plan (CHP).
10) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer facilities for Naples Motorcoach Resort, PL20160001454, and
accept unconditional conveyance of a portion of the potable water and
sewer facilities.
Page 10
December 11, 2018
11) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and unconditional
conveyance of the potable water utility facilities for Isles of Collier
Preserve Phase 8 — Dog Park, PL20180001856.
12) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer facilities for The Warehouse, PL201700001163, accept
unconditional conveyance of a portion of the potable water and sewer
facilities, and to authorize the County Manager, or his designee, to
release the Utilities Performance Security (UPS) and Final Obligation
Bond in the total amount of$9,659.41 to the Project Engineer or the
Developer's designated agent.
13) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and unconditional
conveyance of the potable water and sewer utility facilities for Isles of
Collier Preserve Phase 8, PL20170000553 and to authorize the
County Manager, or his designee, to release the Final Obligation Bond
in the total amount of$4,000 to the Project Engineer or the
Developer's designated agent.
14) Recommendation to grant final acceptance of the private roadway and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Marsilea, Application
Number PL20130001985 with the roadway and drainage
improvements being privately maintained; acceptance of the plat
dedications, and authorizing the release of the maintenance security.
15) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the amended final plat of Esplanade Golf and
Country Club of Naples Phase 5, (Application Number
PL20180002972) approval of the standard form Construction and
Maintenance Agreement and approval of the amount of the
performance security.
16) Recommendation to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Agreement No. LP11030 which
provides grant funding for Storm Water, Water and Waste Water
improvements along 95th Ave N. and 96th Ave N. in Naples Park by
extending the period of agreement by 730 calendar days and updating
Page 11
December 11, 2018
language within certain sections of the agreement.
17) Recommendation to approve the electronic submission of a Safe
Routes to School application with the Florida Department of
Transportation in the amount of$761,514.74 to fund the design and
construction of a sidewalk along Linwood Avenue to Shadowlawn
Elementary School with a local match of$89,942.69 for construction
engineering and inspection.
18) Recommendation to authorize a budget amendment to recognize
payment in the amount of$29,842.20 received from the City of
Naples for the engineering design of potable water lines for the West
GoodletteFrank Road Joint Stormwater-Sewer Project (Project
No.60142).
19) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Invitation to Bid
#18-7476 "Pine Ridge Canal Weir #1 Replacement" to Thomas
Marine Construction, Inc., in the amount of$793,939.75 (Project No.
60119), and authorize the Chairman to execute the attached
Agreement.
20) Recommendation to approve the expenditure $49,698 to provide
professional engineering services From Humiston and Moore
Engineers to develop a conceptual plan that provides temporary
shallow draft boat access into Vanderbilt Lagoon via Water Turkey
Bay and authorize necessary Budget Amendments.
21) Recommendation to approve two Funding Agreements with the South
Florida Water Management District to fund the I-75 Canal and
Cocohatchee Canal Interconnect and Emergency Pump Facility
Project, in the amount of$500,000 and to assist with funding for the
Palm River and Cocohatchee River Conveyance Project, in the
amount of$388,000.
22) Recommendation to policy constrain Orange Blossom Drive from
west of Airport Road to Goodlette-Frank Road to two lanes.
23) Recommendation to authorize the County to issue standard County
Purchase Orders by piggybacking off of the pricing obtained from
Page 12
December 11, 2018
firms that entered into Agreements with the City of Naples' under its
Request for Proposal ("RFP") #16-014, Building Inspection and Plan
Review Services, Library of Firms.
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1) Recommendation that the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners increase the annual amount that can be spent under
Contract #17-7197, Immokalee Municipal Service Taxing Unit
(MSTU) Roadway Landscape Maintenance, to A&M Property
Maintenance, LLC to $200,000.
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as
the Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB), authorize the
County Attorney's office to take all action necessary to clear title on
three developed parcels previously owned by Love and Legacy LLC
and, if necessary, file Quiet Title action on 15 lots sold to Love and
Legacy LLC in 2014.
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to award an Agreement for Invitation to Bid #18-
7399, "Air Filtration Services," to Filter Pro USA, LLC, for
countywide air filtration services.
2) Recommendation to approve a Resolution removing uncollectible
accounts receivable and their respective balances from the financial
records of Collier County Public Utilities Department in the amount
of$59,034.99.
3) Recommendation to accept an offer from Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.
d/b/a Ferguson Waterworks for replacement of a potential failing
component in 15,000 water meters purchased and installed in the
County's water distribution system and authorize the Chairman to
accept and sign the offer letter.
4) Recommendation to approve a Lease Agreement with Collier Plaza,
LLC, to continue operating the former FGUA Customer Service
Center in Golden Gate City, now known as Utility Billing and
Page 13
December 11, 2018
Customer Service — Golden Gate.
5) Recommendation to approve a Second Amendment to Agreement for
the Provision of Telecommunication Services and Facilities with
Vertical Bridge S3 Assets, LLC, for the installation of antenna
equipment for the County's emergency radio system.
6) Recommendation to approve an increase in funding for the
operational costs and term of the Sole Source Waiver and Master
Sales Agreement with Itron Incorporated for automated meter reading
services for the utility system acquired from the Florida Government
Utility Authority approved at the July 10, 2018 Board Meeting
(Agenda Item #16C1).
7) Recommendation to approve a $245,909 Work Order under Request
for Quotation No. 16-6663-1 to Bonness Inc., to construct the Pelican
Marsh IQ Pump Station Site Improvements, which includes a new
access driveway into the site, concrete steps and retaining wall,
sidewalks surrounding the pump station, internal drainage
improvements, leveling the pump station floor, and removal of exotic
vegetation, and to authorize the necessary budget amendment (Project
No. 70166).
8) Recommendation to approve a $583,000 Work Order under Request
for Quotation No. 14-6213-128 to Haskins, Inc., under Project
Number 70182, "Wildflower Way Water Main Looping," which
includes installing 4,000 feet of 12-inch and 14-inch water main on
Wildflower Way from St. Andrews Boulevard to Lely High School
Boulevard, and authorize the necessary budget amendment.
9) Recommendation to approve a $529,692 Work Order under Request
for Quotation No. 15-6469-4 to Wells & Water System, Inc., under
Project Number 70085, "Acidification of Eight Production Wells —
Phase 2 Golden Gate Wellfield," and authorize the necessary budget
amendment.
D. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the removal of
Page 14
December 11, 2018
aged accounts receivable in the amount of$114,451.70, considered
uncollectible or should otherwise be removed from the financial
records of the Collier County Public Library (CCPL) in accordance
with Resolution No. 2006-252.
2) Recommendation to approve a Distribution, Release, and Refunding
Agreement for the Harvey M. Shreve Jr., and Sarah Ann Shreve
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, to accept a distribution from a
Trust in the estimated amount of$53,080.56 to the Collier County
Public Library, to authorize the County Manager or his designee to
execute the distribution agreement and complete any required forms,
and to authorize any necessary Budget Amendments.
3) Recommendation to recognize carryforward for interest earned during
the period April through September 2018, on advanced library
funding received from the Florida Department of State to support
library services and equipment for the use of Collier County residents
in the amount of$4,006.76.
4) Recommendation to approve the submittal of revised FY18-19
Section 5310 grant application pages to the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) for additional equipment to add three (3)
mobile radios, three (3) tablets, and one (1) paratransit vehicle.
5) Recommendation to authorize the necessary Budget Amendments to
reflect the estimated funding for Calendar Year 2019 Older
Americans Act (OAA) Programs in the amount of$1,212,820.23 and
the required match of$130,165.44.
6) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners (Board)
declare the Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) member
position held by Kerru Dera, to be vacant and direct the County
Attorney to prepare a resolution confirming the declaration of vacancy
and to publicize the vacancy.
7) Recommendation to approve First Amendment to State Housing
Initiative Partnership (SHIP) Program Subrecipient Agreement with
Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc. d/b/a HELP to
increase funding in the amount of$22,500 for Homebuyer Education
Page 15
December 11, 2018
and Counseling Program for State FY16/17.
8) Recommendation to approve the FY2018-2019 State Aid to Libraries
Grant Agreement, Certification, and the Collier County Public Library
(CCPL) 2018-2019 Annual Plan of Service.
9) Recommendation to approve the Collier County Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report for U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant,
HOME Investment Partnership, and Emergency Solutions Grant for
Fiscal Year 2017-2018 as required; approve the Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report Resolution; and authorize the
Chairman to certify the Consolidated Annual Performance and
Evaluation Report for submission to U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
10) Recommendation to approve Resolutions authorizing the submittal of
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Sections 5310, 5311, and 5339
Rural FY2019/2020 grant applications and applicable documents to
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) through FDOT
TransCIP to support transit operations and system capital
improvements. (Total anticipated fiscal impact of$2,511,158 with a
Federal share of$1,585,101.40, State share of$169,840.80, and Local
match of$756,215.80.)
11) Recommendation to approve the Collier County University Extension
Division's request for funding from the Collier County 4-H
Association in the amount of$79,880; approve a subsequent
acceptance of requested funds; authorize the Chairman to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Collier County 4-H
Association; and authorize the necessary Budget Amendment.
12) Recommendation to authorize the Chairman to sign the Fourth
Amendment to the Starnes Cattle Lease Agreement to extend the term
of the lease.
13) Recommendation to approve award of Request for Proposal (RFP)
#18-7470 Services for Seniors Marantha Home Care, Inc., d/b/a
A Better Health Care; The ADT Corporation d/b/a ADT, LLC;
Page 16
December 11, 2018
Summit Home Respiratory Services, Inc. d/b/a Summit Home
Healthcare Products; Southern Home Care Services, Inc. d/b/a
ResCare, Inc.; VIP America of Southwest Florida, LLC; Bidwell
Home Care Service, LLC d/b/a Home Instead Senior Care); Omega
Health Services, LLC d/b/a Omega Care Services and Almost Family
PC of SW Florida, LLC and authorize the Chairman to execute the
attached agreements, as set forth herein.
E. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to recognize accrued interest earned by EMS
County Grant revenue and appropriate funds for a total amount of
$1,053.22.
2) Recommendation to award Request for Qualification (RFQ) No. 18-
7443 "Motor Oils, Lubricants, and Fluids" to Palmdale Oil Company
and Flamingo Oil Corporation.
3) Recommendation to award RFP #18-7284 "Credit Card Payment
Processing and Related Services" to JetPay Payment Services FL.
LLC.
4) Recommendation to authorize the purchase of Zoll Cardiac Monitors
under a Request for Proposal ("RFP") and Agreement issued and
approved by Volusia County (RFP #16-P-64AK) and to approve a
Budget Amendment in the amount of$1,450,956.55.
5) Recommendation to approve an Assumption Agreement to
AssuredPartners of Florida, LLC, d/b/a IRMS, assigning all rights,
duties and benefits, and obligations under Agreement #16-6613
"Property and Casualty Brokerage Services".
6) Recommendation to approve an Assumption Agreement with
Maranatha Home Care, Inc. d/b/a A Better Health Care, assigning all
rights, duties and benefits, and obligations under Agreement #12-5856
"Services for Seniors."
7) Recommendation to approve the administrative report prepared by the
Procurement Services Division for disposal of property and
Page 17
December 11, 2018
notification of revenue disbursement.
8) Recommendation to approve the Administrative Reports prepared by
the Procurement Services Division for change orders and other
contractual modifications requiring Board approval.
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to award an Agreement for Invitation to Bid No. 18-
7445 for "Pelican Bay Street Signs Repair Replacement" to American
Infrastructure Services, Inc., in the amount of$483,630, and authorize
the Chairman to execute the attached agreement.
2) Recommendation to provide after-the-fact approval for the electronic
submission of the Federal Agency Management Administration
(FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant application to the
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) for hardening
the Collier County Sports and Event Complex field house to hurricane
standards in the amount of$9,500,000.
3) Recommendation to approve Tourist Development Tax Promotion
Funds to support eight upcoming January and February 2019 Sports
Tourism Events up to $73,900 and make a finding that this
expenditure promotes tourism.
4) Recommendation to approve the submittal of a grant application to
Visit Florida in the amount of$22,500 for Collier County's share of a
Red Tide Tourism Recovery Regional Marketing Grant request,
authorize the County Manager to accept the award and process any
necessary budget amendments and make a finding that this action
promotes tourism.
5) Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
6) Recommendation to authorize the County Manager to cast two
affirmative votes for the Riviera Golf Estates Homeowners
Association Board of Directors, to negotiate a contract for the
Page 18
December 11, 2018
acquisition of the 93-acre golf course and to borrow up to $3.3 million
for the land purchase and maintenance equipment for use as a private
community park. Collier County owns two (2) lots at 767 and 771
Charlemagne Court in Riviera Golf Estates and thus has two (2) votes
it can cast.
7) Recommendation to approve a report covering budget amendments
impacting reserves and moving funds in an amount up to and
including $25,000 and $50,000, respectively.
8) Recommendation to adopt a resolution establishing the Collier County
Mental Health and Addiction Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as
the Airport Authority, adopts the attached Resolution approving the
proposed rate schedules for the Everglades Airpark, Immokalee
Regional Airport and Marco Island Executive Airport for 2019.
2) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute
the attached Resolution authorizing execution of Joint Participation
Agreement Contract No. GOV81 Supplement One with the Florida
Department of Transportation for the purchase of a new refueling
truck at the Immokalee Regional Airport. (Fiscal Impact: Increase
FDOT Participation $38,782; Decrease Local Match $42,497).
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1) Recommendation to direct the County Manager to develop a proposal
and submit an application requesting Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) funds to construct infrastructure improvements such as
sidewalks and street lights to improve the safety of Broward Street,
Texas Avenue, Carolina Avenue and Georgia Avenue, all located in
Naples Manor, and authorize the Chairman to execute such
application for timely submittal to Collier County's Community and
Human Services Division.
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
Page 19
December 11, 2018
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) Recommendation to accept the report of interest for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2018 pursuant to Florida Statute 218.78.
2) To record in the minutes of the Board of County Commissioners, the
check number (or other payment method), amount, payee, and
purpose for which the referenced disbursements were drawn for the
periods between November 1 and November 28, 2018 pursuant to
Florida Statute 136.06.
3) Request that the Board approve and determine valid public purpose
for invoices payable and purchasing card transactions as of
December 5, 2018.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to reappoint three members to the Ochopee Fire
Control District Advisory Committee
2) Recommendation to appoint two members to the Development
Services Advisory Committee.
3) Recommendation to appoint a member to the Radio Road
Beautification Advisory Committee.
4) Recommendation to appoint two members to the Lely Golf Estates
Beautification Advisory Committee.
5) Recommendation to approve a Mediated Settlement Agreement for
final compensation in the amount of$94,000 for Parcel 38ORDUE,
plus $13,826 in statutory attorney fees and costs, and $14,000 for
expert fees and costs, in the lawsuit styled Collier County v. George
A. Nestory, et al, Case No. 16-CA-1347, required for the Golden Gate
Boulevard Expansion Project No. 60145. (Fiscal Impact: $64,596)
6) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a
Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release with Hannula
Page 20
December 11, 2018
Landscape & Irrigation, Inc., in the amount of$28,0000, concerning a
payment dispute arising under ITB No. 16-6537R, the "Annual
Contract for Landscape Maintenance," for work performed by
Hannula between March 28, 2017 and May 2, 2017.
7) Recommendation to authorize the County Attorney to reject the
Plaintiff's proposal for settlement for $100,000.00 in the lawsuit
captioned Michaelle Petit-Dort v. Collier County, Florida, Case No.
2018-CA-2356, pending in the Circuit Court for the Twentieth
Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida.
8) Recommendation to authorize the payment of full compensation in the
amount of$14,500 for the taking of Parcel 224RDUE, as determined
by the jury in the eminent domain case entitled Collier County v.
Arabel Subiaut, et al, Case No. 14-CA-2762, required for the
widening of Golden Gate Boulevard, Project Number 60040. (Fiscal
Impact: $6,570)
17. SUMMARY AGENDA - This section is for advertised public hearings and
must meet the following criteria: 1) A recommendation for approval from
staff; 2) Unanimous recommendation for approval by the Collier County
Planning Commission or other authorizing agencies of all members present
and voting; 3) No written or oral objections to the item received by staff, the
Collier County Planning Commission, other authorizing agencies or the
Board, prior to the commencement of the BCC meeting on which the items
are scheduled to be heard; and 4) No individuals are registered to speak in
opposition to the item. For those items which are quasi-judicial in nature, all
participants must be sworn in.
A. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve Petition VAC-
PL20170003027 to disclaim, renounce and vacate the County and the public
interest in a portion of the conservation easement located in Tract B of Villas
at Greenwood Lake, Plat Book 31, Pages 87 through 91 in the public records
of Collier County, Florida. The subject property is located in the northwest
quadrant of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and County Barn Road, in Section
Page 21
December 11, 2018
17, Township 50 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. (This is a
companion to Agenda Item 17.B)
B. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by the
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve an
Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 93-74 and Ordinance No. 98-73, as
amended, the Windsong PUD, to amend the Master Plan to reconfigure the
preserve area location on the east side of the PUD, for property located on
the northwest corner of the County Barn Road and Rattlesnake-Hammock
Road intersection, in Section 17, Township 50 South, Range 26 East, Collier
County, Florida, consisting of 37.6 acres; and by providing an effective date.
(This is a companion to Agenda Item 17.A)
C. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve an Ordinance
amending Ordinance Number 09-37, the Avow Hospice Community Facility
Planned Unit Development; and by amending Ordinance Number 2004-41,
the Collier County Land Development Code by amending the appropriate
zoning atlas map or maps by changing the zoning classification of 4.89+/-
acres of land zoned Residential Single-Family-5 (RSF-5 (0.4)) to the Avow
Hospice CFPUD; by adding permitted uses including Individual and Family
Social Services (SIC 8322) limited to community centers and adult and/or
handicapped day care centers; by adding accessory uses; by amending the
master plan; adding deviations; and revising developer commitments. The
property is located south of Pine Ridge Road on the west side of
Whippoorwill Lane, in Section 18, Township 49 South, Range 26 East,
Collier County, Florida consisting of 20.55+/- acres; and by providing an
effective date. [PL20170002501]
D. Recommendation to approve by Ordinance the 2018 Staff-Proposed Out-of-
Cycle Growth Management Plan Amendment to the Collier County Growth
Management Plan, Ordinance 89-05, as Amended, and to Transmit to the
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. (Adoption Hearing)
(PL20180001205/CPSP-2018-4)
E. This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
Page 22
December 11, 2018
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve an Ordinance
amending Ordinance Number 1989-12 and Ordinance Number 81-43, the
Youth Haven Planned Unit Development, by adding group housing for
seniors as a permitted use, by adding 10 beds for a maximum of 250 group
housing beds, and adding acreage; by amending Ordinance Number 2004-
41, the Collier County Land Development Code, by amending the
appropriate zoning atlas map or maps by changing the zoning classification
of an additional 1± acres of land zoned RMF-6 (3) to the Youth Haven
Community Facility Planned Unit Development; by amending the master
plan and revising developer commitments. The property is located on the
south side of Whitaker Road west of Santa Barbara Boulevard in Section 17,
Township 50 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida consisting of
25± acres; and by providing an effective date. [PL20180000646]
F. Recommendation to approve a Resolution renaming Creekside Street to
Innovation Drive, which is located in the southwest quadrant of the
Immokalee Road and Goodlette-Frank intersection within the Creekside
Commerce Park in Section 27, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier
County, Florida. [SNR-PL20180002011]
G. Recommendation to approve a Resolution renaming a portion of Creekside
Boulevard to Innovation Boulevard. The subject street is located south of
Immokalee Road, on the west side of Goodlette-Frank Road, east of the
vacated portion of Creekside Boulevard, in Section 27, Township 48 South,
Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida. [SNR-PL20180002012]
H. Recommendation to approve a Resolution renaming Creekside Trail to
Arthrex Way. The subject street is located west of Goodlette-Frank Road, on
the south side of Immokalee Road, in Section 27, Township 48 South,
Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida. [SNR-PL20180002013]
I. Recommendation to adopt an Ordinance creating the Vanderbilt Waterways
Municipal Service Taxing Unit for the short-term dredging of Water Turkey
Bay as well as the long-term maintenance of the channel.
J. Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving amendments
(appropriating carry forward, transfers and supplemental revenue) to the
Fiscal Year 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
Page 23
December 11, 2018
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
li
Page 24
December 11, 2018
December 11, 2018
Page 2
MR. OCHS: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please come to
order.
Mr. Chairman, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. Welcome, everyone, for the
December 11th, 2018, Board of County Commissioners meeting.
It's a wonderful day. This will be my last meeting as chair, and --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We didn't vote on that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, no. And it's really been my pleasure
and an honor to act as chair for the last year.
And with that, we'll start with the agenda. We'll start with the
invocation by Pastor Eric Hausler of Christ the King Presbyterian
Church and the Naples Jail chaplain.
Item #1
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE GIVEN BY
PASTOR ERIC R. HAUSLER, OF CHRIST THE KING
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND NAPLES JAIL CHAPLAIN
PASTOR HAUSLER: Good morning. It's an honor and
privilege to be here. I just would like to read from the Old Testament
and the New Testament. The Old Testament says -- the Lord says, by
me, kings reign; that is, God raises them up and puts them in a place to
govern. Not only kings, but County Commissioners are raised up by
God.
The New Testament says there's no authority except by God, for
those which exist are established by God. Jesus himself said to Pontius
Pilate, you would have no authority unless it had been given you from
above.
So it's right and proper that we begin to pray with -- this meeting
by prayer, that God has given you responsibility, Commissioners, to
December 11, 2018
Page 3
rule and govern well, and you need everything God can give you to
govern well. So let us pray.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this beautiful place which we
call home in Collier County. What a blessed part of our country.
Thank you for the peace and prosperity which we enjoy. Truly, our
cup overflows with good things.
Thank you for the religious freedom that we have in this country.
Thank you for those in law enforcement and all the first responders
who put their lives on the line every day that we and our families may
sleep in peace and safety.
Thank you for those whom you've raised up to serve here in
government: All the judges, and the commissioners, the
commissioners of Collier County.
Oh, Lord, we pray that you would give to those whom you have
placed in positions of authority, particularly this day, the Collier
County Commission, that you would give them everything they need
to govern wisely and fairly and justly. Give them wisdom and
discernment and self-control and courage and boldness but also
gentleness and patience and compassion on the needy and defenseless.
Oh, Lord, we pray for your blessing on this meeting and all who
are here. Thank you, again, for all of our blessings that we have. We
make our prayer in your holy name. Amen.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders, would you lead
us in the Pledge.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think we have to come down.
Item #1B
REAFFIRMATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR RE-
ELECTED COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSIONER ANDY SOLIS,
December 11, 2018
Page 4
DISTRICT 2 AND RE-ELECTED COLLIER COUNTY
COMMISSIONER PENNY TAYLOR, DISTRICT 4. THE OATH OF
OFFICE WAS ADMINISTERED BY THE HONORABLE RAMIRO
MAÑALICH, CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 20TH JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT – COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER
SOLIS GIVEN THE OATH OF OFFICE
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, at this time we have the pleasure of
reaffirming the oath of office of two recently elected Collier County
commissioners: Commissioner Solis representing District 2 and
Commissioner Taylor representing District 4.
The oath of office will be administered this morning by the
Honorable Ramiro Man ̴᷈lich, Circuit Court judge of the 20th judicial
circuit.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: May it please the Chair, members of the
Commission, County Manager Ochs and your valuable staff, County
Attorney Klatzkow and your staff, Madam Clerk, first responders, and
veterans, and all the members of our Collier County community.
It's a privilege on my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues in the
judiciary to administer the oath to elected Commissioners Taylor and
Solis.
I also congratulate the members of the commission, our Clerk, for
previously being elected.
It really feels like a homecoming here for me. I spent 14 years at
the County Attorney's Office, and I see many familiar and friendly
faces, and it's a pleasure to see all of you here.
Before I administer the oath, I just want to give you two
inspirational thoughts from two of the greatest framers of our
Constitution. General Washington, our first and greatest president,
who set the tone for this nation by relinquishing power after serving as
president. He once said, "The only true keepers of the American
December 11, 2018
Page 5
Constitution are the people themselves." And I hope, Commissioners,
in all of your decisions, you dedicate your efforts to the people.
And, secondly, from Thomas Jefferson, America's own
intellectual with the gift of concise and eloquent expression who once
said, "The excellence of every government is its adaptations to the
needs and the state of those to be governed by it."
And I know Collier County has many good things. It also faces
many challenges. I hope you will be inspired by those thoughts.
Without further adieu, if you would please state your names.
First Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Penny Taylor.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Andy Solis.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: All right. And now if you would raise
your right hands and repeat after me.
I do solemnly reaffirm.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I do solemnly reaffirm.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I do solemnly reaffirm.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: That I will support, protect, and defend.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That I will support, protect, and defend.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That I will support, protect, and
defend.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: The Constitution and government of the
United States.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: The Constitution and government of the
United States.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The Constitution and government
of the United States.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: And of the State of Florida.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And of the State of Florida.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And of the State of Florida.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: That I am duly qualified to hold office.
December 11, 2018
Page 6
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That I am duly qualified to hold office.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That I am duly qualified to hold
office.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: Under the Constitution of the state.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Under the Constitution of the state.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Under the Constitution of the
state.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: And that I will.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And that I will.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And that I will.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: Well and faithfully.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well and faithfully.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well and faithfully.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: Perform the duties of Collier County
Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Perform the duties of Collier County
Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Perform the duties of Collier
County Commissioner.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: So help me God.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So help me God.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So help me God.
JUDGE MAÑALICH: Congratulations.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #2A
APPROVAL OF TODAY’S REGULAR, CONSENT AND
SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED (EX PARTE DISCLOSURE
December 11, 2018
Page 7
PROVIDED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR CONSENT
AGENDA.) – APPROVED AND OR ADOPTED W/CHANGES
(COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL VOTED “NO” ON ITEM #16A9
AND ITEM #16D10)
MR. OCHS: Congratulations, Commissioners.
Good morning, Commissioners. These are the proposed agenda
changes for the Board of County Commissioners' meeting of
December 11, 2018.
The first proposed change is to move Item 16A1 from your
consent agenda to become Item 11I on the regular agenda. This is a
move at the staff's request. It's a recommendation to approve an
amendment to an existing interlocal agreement between the county and
Everglades City.
The next proposed change is to move Item 16F6 from the consent
agenda to become Item 11J on your regular agenda. This is a
recommendation to authorize an affirmative vote on behalf of the
Riviera Golf Estates Homeowners' Association related to their desire to
acquire a private golf course that surrounds their community. This
item is moved to the regular agenda at Commissioner Saunders'
request for further discussion.
The next proposed change is to move Item 16F8 from your
consent agenda to become Item 11K. This is a recommendation to
adopt a resolution establishing the Collier County Mental Health and
Addiction Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. That move is made at
Commissioner Taylor's request.
And the final proposed change is to continue Item 9D on your
regular agenda to the February 12th, 2019, Board of County
Commissioners' meeting. This is a recommendation to approve
proposed amendments to the Golden Gate Area Master Plan. That
request is made by Commissioner McDaniel.
December 11, 2018
Page 8
We have four time-certain items on today's agenda,
Commissioners. The first is Item 10A scheduled to be heard at 11:15
this morning. That's an item brought forward by Commissioner Taylor
related to a recent change in hospital admission policies at NCH
Healthcare System.
Item 11A is scheduled to be heard at 1 p.m. This is a discussion of
a joint proposal by the staff and the staff of the school district to
develop a county-owned parcel along Immokalee Road for public
services.
At 1:30 you're scheduled to hear Item 11B. This is a report on the
county's Economic Development Program.
And, finally, Item 9E is scheduled to be heard at 3:45 p.m. That
is the proposed Land Development Code amendment related to
medical marijuana dispensaries.
Reminder, our court reporter breaks are set for 10:30 a.m. and
2:50 p.m.
And, finally, as a reminder to members of the public, anyone
wishing to address the Board of County Commissioners on any item
on this agenda today may do so by registering to speak. Please fill out
the speaker slips that are available in the hallway and register with Mr.
Troy Miller, who's raising his hand here, and under the Board's rules
we ask that you make that registration prior to the start of the hearing
on the particular item that you'd like to speak on.
Those are all the changes I have, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And we have such a full agenda today. I
was going to ask Commissioner Taylor just trying to see if we can --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- get some things out of the way. One,
moving 168A on the ad hoc committee, was there a specific issue?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Just some more clarification.
Really a question is --
December 11, 2018
Page 9
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, I'm sorry. Can we get you on the
mic?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I'm sorry. Would it be -- more of
a clarification issue and a suggestion. Could we move this to the
January meeting without a lot of concern on your part?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, my -- I mean, we really -- what
we're trying to do is have the committee start in January on the
strategic plan that then would be hopefully ready by June for the
workshop.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And so it's really important, I think, that
we get it moving. And just for clarification, too, I think that the
strategic plan -- and it was at the suggestion of kind of the
stakeholders' group that as it said in the executive summary, it's limit --
it's really limited to the adult side of the mental-health and addiction
issue, and that was intentional, based upon the input from David
Lawrence Center, NOMI, and the stakeholders because -- and Pam
Baker will be here this afternoon if she's needed to talk about this.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Because the children's side, the juvenile
side of the issue, one, it involves a whole different -- different kinds of
issues and regulations, and it actually, although not perfect by any
means, is better in terms of services that are available. And the
decision was really made that to try to tackle both of those at the same
time was going to be extremely difficult, so that's why -- it was an
intentional thing. It's not that it was being left out.
Ultimately, the hope is is that once we have the strategic plan for
the adult side, which is, I think, the most immediate issue based upon
the input from the experts, that then we would also then incorporate a
strategic plan for the juvenile side.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay. Probably we need to
December 11, 2018
Page 10
discuss it just briefly, if that's okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. So you want that to go ahead on --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes, please.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- 11K, okay. Those are the changes. Any
--
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: There was one change that
Commissioner McDaniel has recommended, and that is 9D, to
continue that until February 12th.
I'm trying to -- I've been working on a zoning overlay for the
Golden Gate City area now for about a year. We're pretty close to
having that ready to go, and I'm concerned about delaying this too
long.
Do we need to do 60 days? Is that something that you personally
need -- feel is important?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I've been asked for that, sir.
You know, there was some suggestion about -- and it doesn't have
anything -- you know, we're adopting or adjusting the entire Golden
Gate Master Plan that is eight years, minimally, delinquent in the first
place.
And there was some discussion about expansion of the
commercial nodes in the Eastern Collier County. A neighborhood
information meeting was held while I was out of town, and the
president of the Corkscrew -- or I am the president of the Corkscrew --
but the president of the Golden Gate Estates Association asked for the
60-day continuance just to allow us an opportunity to make sure the
language adjustments were in certainty.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think it's a question for Mr.
December 11, 2018
Page 11
Ochs or Mr. Klatzkow.
In terms of moving this program along, getting that approved,
will we still be able to do this in the spring of 2019, or is this going to
put us to a point where we're delayed until the fall? Especially the issue
of the zoning overlay.
MR. OCHS: Probably the fall, early fall.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: What about -- I mean, I just
hate to put this off to that length of time if we can avoid it. I think
maybe one of the ways to work this is to continue it. And, obviously,
if you've got a reason for continuing it, we'll continue it. But, staff, if
we can make sure that at least that zoning overlay ordinance is ready to
go in the spring, that would be helpful.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And that, I think, would
accomplish both.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I don't know if that can be
accomplished. We don't have our Planning Department here.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's a staff issue, not our issue.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, Mr. Ochs, perhaps if you
could check into that today and just let me know, and we'll try to move
that. I'll agree to the -- well, here's Mr. Bosi now. And I'm sorry to
delay this.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, no. It's a --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: The question is, there's a
motion to continue the Golden Gate Area Master Plan until February
12th. I'm concerned about the zoning overlay for Golden Gate City
that we've been working on. Can we still move that issue along even
though this is going to be delayed?
MR. BOSI: We can most certainly -- we will move those
amendments along to implement the mixed-use strategy that we've
called out for, but we won't be able to adopt those until the Golden
Gate Estates Area Master Plan is officially adopted.
December 11, 2018
Page 12
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So at least the public will
know that we've got those ordinances in place and they're ready to go?
MR. BOSI: Correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And just for points of
clarification. The request was for 60 days. And I'll be happy to bring
it back if it's, in fact, less than that. If we can get it done by the latter
part of January, I'd be happy to -- this is up to 60 days.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Here's what we'll do, if you
don't mind. Let's continue it to the first meeting in February.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's what it is.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. I'm sorry. I meant to
say the second meeting in January. Let's continue it to the second
meeting in January, and at the second meeting in January, if you need
more time, we'll continue it to the 12th. So that will put a little
pressure on you guys to come up with what you're trying to do.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't like pressure.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, then I'll object to
continuing it and ask my fellow commissioners not to continue this
then, since this is my district.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Mine, too.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. So would that work
for you, the second meeting in January?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, that's fine.
MR. OCHS: January 22nd.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Are there specific issues related to the
amendments that are being proposed that are at issue?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I shared that with you.
Predominantly, it has to do with the commercial nodes within Eastern
Collier County. The segregation -- and one of the things that we are
proposing is the segregation of Golden Gate Master Plan into urban
Golden Gate Estates, Golden Gate City, "the," and rural Golden Gate
December 11, 2018
Page 13
Estates. And once that's accomplished, then we can deal with these
things individually, the zoning overlays and the adjustments and so on.
Currently, they're all together, but there was an issue that arose
late in the process with regard to the potential expansion of the
commercial nodes. And, again, due to timing and everything, the NIM
was held when I was out of town, and I'm relying upon the community
who has asked for the 60-day extension. So it's -- that's the rationale.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, just for clarification, we were
asked to continue this once before to have that hearing with the public
on that issue, and we did. So I just want to make sure that, you know,
we will fill that directive, and that indication is in your executive
summary.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But I'll be happy to work with
you, Commissioner Saunders. I mean, I understand that there are
multiple factions that are involved with this, so -- and the goal is to
move it along. That was why I -- when I spoke with Leo yesterday, I
was like, we can even do it up to 60 days. There's no -- there's no -- if
we can get it accomplished sooner, then fine.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's just an advertising issue.
MR. OCHS: Right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right. I'm good with the
proposed change to the, I think you said the 21st, second meeting in
January.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Second meeting in January.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's fine.
MR. OCHS: Twenty-second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's fine.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Are there any other requested changes to
the agenda?
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, I do have two registered speakers
for agenda items. First, Mr. John Garbo just wants to speak in support
December 11, 2018
Page 14
of Item 16A22. He just wants to say thank you, I think.
MR. OCHS: Sir, you haven't done your ex parte yet.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We haven't. Maybe we should do that
first.
MR. OCHS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
So ex parte on the consent and summary agendas. Commissioner
McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. On the consent agenda, I
would like to register a negative vote on 16A9 and 16D10. Those are
issues involving our Housing Department, and they continue to utilize
the metrics there for the need that I'm completely dissatisfied with.
And then on 17E, I did receive an email on the summary agenda.
Other than that --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What subject was that one?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Youth Haven.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: 17E. Other than that, no
disclosures on the consent or summary, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. As far as the consent agenda
goes, I only have 17A and 17B to declare. I received correspondence,
emails, I've had meetings, and met with property owners and so forth.
So that's all that I have to declare on the consent or the summary.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes. Nothing on the consent and
only one thing on 17E. I had a phone call regarding this issue and a
discussion with staff. And can I also -- there's a small change to the
agenda --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: -- to be made at this time. I have
December 11, 2018
Page 15
a conflict on 8A, and I will not be voting, and I have the proper form in
front of me to fill out. Yes, 8A.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you. That's it.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No disclosure; no changes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And I have no disclosures and no changes
on the consent. On the summary agenda, I have -- on 17A I had a
meeting with Mr. Mulhere and a hand-delivered note from Mr. Beyrent
related to 17A. And other than that, I have no other disclosures.
MR. MILLER: Okay. Mr. Chairman, back to the agenda
speakers. First, Mr. John Garbo wishes to speak in support of 16A22.
MR. GARBO: Good morning, Mr. Commissioner, fellow
commissioners, Mr. Ochs, Mr. Casalanguida. John Garbo with the
Orange Blossom Pine Ridge Community Alliance.
I want to thank Commissioner Solis for proposing that Orange
Blossom Drive from Airport Road west to Goodlette become, I
believe, the first constrained roadway in Collier County.
Orange Blossom, as many of you know, is one of the prettiest
roads in Collier County. We're pleased that you will vote today to
make that a constrained roadway. A little background: That roadway
from Goodlette Road east to just past Mill Run is 100 percent
maintained by the HOAs along Orange Blossom. No cost to the
taxpayers.
I'm going to share with you that we have plans to improve, even
from what it is today, the landscaping and, more important, the
drainage. We've had drainage issues there. There is a drainage issue
with one of our preserves.
Your county engineers made suggestions. We are going to sign
that proposal to clean up that preserve and get the water flowing so
there won't be anymore, hopefully, issues on Orange Blossom Drive.
So I'd like to thank all the commissioners, Leo, Frank -- or, Nick,
December 11, 2018
Page 16
for your support of this. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Also, Mr. Chairman, I have a speaker, Douglas
Lewis, who wants to speak on the agenda.
MR. LEWIS: Good morning, Commissioners. For the record,
my name is Doug Lewis. I'm an attorney with the Thompson Lewis
Law Firm at 850 Park Shore Drive, Suite 201, here in Naples.
We have been retained by the Grey Oaks Property Association,
the Grey Oaks at Estuary Property Owners' Association, and the Grey
Oaks Country Club, who are subject to both the PUD and the DRI and
are directly impacted by Agenda Items 9A and 9B. And today we
request the opportunity to raise certain procedural --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sir, this is -- we have advertised public
hearings on 9A and --
MR. LEWIS: I understand that.
MR. KLATZKOW: Commissioners, he's going to be asking for a
continuance. This would be the time.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Oh, I see. Okay. I'm sorry. I just want to
make sure you were aware there's going to be another opportunity.
MR. KLATZKOW: He's taking his time to get there.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Oh, okay.
MR. LEWIS: So we'd like the opportunity to raise certain
procedural objections on this item in response to a request for a
continuance. Again, we've been recently retained.
Specifically, our clients maintain that either the applicant does not
comply with the unified control requirement under Section 4.071 of
your Land Development Code, or they have no authority to bring these
petitions, the DRI, the PUD before you today.
So I have an expert that I'd like to proffer, and also we'd like
adequate time to present testimony to establish this as part of the
quasi-judicial record today.
December 11, 2018
Page 17
I know your agenda is very busy today, and I think that
addressing this as a threshold item may help resolve and alleviate,
perhaps dispense of this item today.
I also want to just note that these objections are not square -- or
limited to just private objections. Those are certainly there, and there
are real private objections, contractual issues that we have, but these
issues that we're going to discuss today squarely involve your Land
Development Code and ensuring that applications that come before
you are proper and accurate.
Thank you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, can I ask a
question?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You said that you were
recently retained. When were you retained?
MR. LEWIS: I looked at the file this week. I have my partner
here who was kind of the lead partner, but I was involved on Friday.
Within the last week or two, so it's been fairly recently.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. So a week or two?
MR. LEWIS: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I just wanted to see if there
was --
MR. LEWIS: And these issues, by the way -- just so that you
know, Commissioner Saunders, we raised. We had a meeting on
Monday with the applicants to see if we can resolve some of these
issues. We have been communicating. They've asked questions.
We've proffered documents. We've involved the County Attorney, so
we are working as diligently as possible to work through these, but
these are significant issues that impact the bearing and, at the
minimum, we need the ability to put these in the record for purpose
was protecting our clients' interest, so thank you.
December 11, 2018
Page 18
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Mr. County Attorney, procedurally, how
do we handle this?
MR. KLATZKOW: You can do --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I guess the applicant is here.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: You can do this one of two ways. I spoke
with the County Manager this morning, and our recommendation is we
just proceed with the item, and then if they're not happy with it, they
can always take their judicial recourse. The other approach is continue
the item for one meeting, see if the parties can hammer it out, and in
the meantime, if they can't, they can run into court and stay the
proceedings. But our recommendation is we just proceed with it.
MR. LEWIS: Or in regards to that, we would just like to address
it as a threshold issue. So, yeah, obviously, if we want to proceed,
they're the applicant, but I think it would be helpful and instructive to
address this as an initial matter on the front end so that we can move
forward later.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Mr. Yovanovich?
MR. YOVANOVICH: Rich Yovanovich on behalf of the
applicant. Obviously, we object to any continuance. And, frankly,
they've been in this case since at least -- more than a week, and they
should have filed whatever documentation they wanted to file much
sooner than 10 p.m. last night.
We object to the late filing of the information. The information
they have filed is purely in trying to enforce private deed restrictions,
which is not what the Board of County Commissioners does, and we
object to any continuance of this matter. They do have an ability to
challenge whatever the result may be.
I could tell you that a continuance, based upon the conversations
that we had yesterday and their follow-up actions after the
conversations yesterday, will not result in our coming back holding
December 11, 2018
Page 19
hands at your next meeting. So we would like to move forward today
and have the Board decide on the merits whether or not to grant the
petition.
MR. LEWIS: And we respect the applicant's right to decline the
continuance. We're not asking for a continuance. We're just asking --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure
why we're having back and forth.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. I don't think it's appropriate at this
time.
MR. LEWIS: Yeah, that's fine.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: They've asked for a continuance --
MR. LEWIS: It's not a request for a continuance. We'd just like
to have it heard first.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I think let's
hear -- my view is let's hear the application. If we hear something that
prompts us to want to continue it, we can continue it at that time.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Or we can vote.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I agree.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I agree.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So we'll leave that item on the agenda.
MR. OCHS: You need a motion to approve today's agenda as
amended.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second to approve
the agenda as amended. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 20
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MR. OCHS: That was easy.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That was the easiest part of the
day.
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
December 11,2018
Move Item 16A1 to Item 11I: Recommendation to approve the First Amendment to the
Interlocal Agreement dated June 26, 2018 by and between Collier County and the City of
Everglades City to clarify the collection and distribution of building permit and related fees under
the Interlocal Agreement. (Staff's request)
Move Item 16F6 to Item 11J: Recommendation to authorize the County Manager to cast two
affirmative votes for the Riviera Golf Estates Homeowners Association Board of Directors,to
negotiate a contract for the acquisition of the 93- acre golf course and to borrow up to $3.3
million for the land purchase and maintenance equipment for use as a private community park.
Collier County owns two(2) lots at 767 and 771 Charlemagne Court in Riviera Golf Estates and
thus has two (2)votes it can cast. (Commissioner Saunders' request)
Move Item 16F8 to Item 11K: Recommendation to adopt a resolution establishing the Collier
County Mental Health and Addiction Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. (Commissioner Taylor's
request)
Continue Item 9D to the February 12,2019 BCC Meeting: Recommendation to approve
proposed amendments to the Golden Gate Area Master Plan(GGAMP) and related elements of
the Growth Management Plan (GMP)for transmittal to the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity(DEO)for review and objections,recommendations and comments(ORC) response,
and to provide direction to staff on any additional amendment language for further review at
adoption. [Transmittal Hearing] (Commissioner McDaniel's request)
Time Certain Items:
Item 10A to be heard at 11:15 a.m.
Item 11A to be heard at 1:00 p.m.
Item 11B to be heard at 1:30 p.m.
Item 9E to be heard at 3:45 p.m.
1/10/2019 2:22 PM
December 11, 2018
Page 21
Item #2B
BCC MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 13, 2018 –
APPROVED AS PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: That's right.
Item 2B is a motion to approve the Board of County
Commissioners' regular meeting minutes of November 13, 2018.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion and a second to approve the
meeting minutes from November 13th, 2018. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Approved unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #3A1
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: EMPLOYEE 20 YEAR
ATTENDEES – PRESENTED
That takes us to Item 3 on this morning's agenda, service awards.
If you'd all join us in front of the dais, please.
Commissioners, we have the pleasure of acknowledging county
employees for years of dedicated service this morning. We'll begin
December 11, 2018
Page 22
with a list of employees celebrating 20 years of county service.
Our first service awardee, 20 years of service in our Building
Review and Permitting Operation, is Donna D-o-w-d-e-l-l. Donna?
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Donna.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Celebrating 20 years of service with Information
Technology, Pat Estes.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I was going to say. Look at this
proud dad.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Come on up.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So Brad is your dad?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Come on, Brad. Stand next to
your son.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We'll fit everybody in. You stand next to
your son there.
MR. BRAD ESTES: Okay.
MR. OCHS: Very nice.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Celebrating 20 years of service with our Facilities
Management Division, Les Gross.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Look how he stands up tall now.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I don't know.
MR. OCHS: Congratulations.
Celebrating 20 years of service with Wastewater Division, Roy
Hendry. Roy?
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We had a nice place waiting here for
December 11, 2018
Page 23
you.
(Applause.)
MR. HENDRY: I see that. Thank you. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Also celebrating 20 years of service with our
Wastewater Division, Judy Johnson. Judy?
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Celebrating 20 years of service with the Water
Division, Michael Perry.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Mrs. Perry, come on.
MS. PERRY: I have 30 years.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Do you really?
MS. PERRY: Oh, yeah.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: A little competition going on.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: And our final 20-year service award recipient this
morning, representing our EMS Division, Sandra Watt-Gant.
(Applause.)
Item #3A3
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: EMPLOYEE 30 YEAR
ATTENDEES – PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, we have the privilege this morning
of recognizing two of our associates celebrating 30 years of dedicated
service to the community and the county government. First recipient
from our facilities management division, Kurt Jokela.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Also celebrating 30 years of service this morning
with our Facilities Management Division, Toni Mott.
December 11, 2018
Page 24
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: They're all waving at you.
(Applause.)
Item #3C1 – Added
RECOGNIZING LAVAH HETZEL FOR 18 YEARS OF SERVICE –
COMMUNICATIONS & CUSTOMER RELATIONS –
PRESENTED
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, there's one other
presentation that -- you know, a proclamation that I'd like to honor.
And, Ms. Hetzel, would you please get to the front, please, and
give me the camera. I'm taking your picture, lady.
MS. HETZEL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And she's got the camera.
MR. OCHS: We should explain. Lavah is retiring, and she's
always been in charge of taking everybody else's photo, and we wanted
to take the opportunity to turn the table over a little bit.
Congratulations.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Not so easy to be on the other side.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Stand up straight, smile.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You've got to do it again.
MR. OCHS: Get in there, Commissioner Taylor.
Congratulations.
We're going to brag on you a little bit. Lavah is our graphic
specialist, handles that responsibility for the entire county agency. She
administers the county's website. So any information you need, she's
the one to go to.
Obviously, our official photographer for the Board of County
December 11, 2018
Page 25
Commissioners. Eighteen years of dedicated service to the county, and
has long been a key member of our public information team during any
tropical storm, hurricane, wildfire, flood. She's the cause of them for
the past 18 years. And, again, she designed every logo for every
tropical storm and hurricane for the past 18 years. And we'll bring you
back when we have the next one.
Congratulations and thank you for your service.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Commissioners.
If everybody would leave quietly, please.
Item #3D1
RECOGNIZING CHRISTINE BONI, ACCOUNTANT,
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS THE
NOVEMBER 2018 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH –
RECOGNIZED
Mr. Chairman, that takes us to Item 3D1 this morning. This is a
recommendation to recognize Christine Boni, accountant with our
Administrative Services Department, as the November 2018 Employee
of the Month.
Christine, please step forward.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Christine, stay right there while we tell the audience
a little bit about you.
MS. BONI: Sorry.
MR. OCHS: That's right, we're going to embarrass you for a
minute here. Christine has been a member of the county team for 20
years working in our Emergency Management Division.
She's primarily responsible for all of our grant management work,
December 11, 2018
Page 26
our financial management systems, and the budgeting in that division;
however, during the Hurricane Irma event, Christine stepped up and
offered special assistance to our special-needs program. The hurricane
caused great fear and increased awareness for the medically dependent,
the frail, and the elderly population here in Collier County.
Prior to Irma we had approximately 1,800 applications on file for
special-needs program patients. That number swelled to over 2,600
before and during Hurricane Irma. It was Christine's assistance that
allowed the special-needs team in Emergency Services to reach out to
every qualified applicant.
Due to the increased storm activity this year and in ongoing
emergency education, the Collier County community is continuing to
register for this proactive program. During the yearly mailing,
Christine has received hundreds of registrations and has researched the
status of each of the community members registered. Without
Christine's help before, during, and even now long after the hurricane,
we would not be able to assist as many citizens as effectively and
seamlessly as we do now, and it's for that reason and many others,
Commissioners, that I present Christine Boni, your Employee of the
Month for November 2018.
Congratulations, Christine.
(Applause.)
MS. BONI: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, now we move to Item 4 on the
agenda. That's this morning's proclamations.
Item #4
PROCLAMATIONS – ONE MOTION TAKEN TO ADOPT ALL
PROCLAMATIONS
December 11, 2018
Page 27
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING LUCKY'S MARKET AS
RECIPIENT OF THE WASTE REDUCTION AWARDS PROGRAM
(WRAP) AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE GREATER
GOOD OF COLLIER COUNTY BY ADVOCATING THE
"REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" MESSAGE, THEREBY HELPING
TO PROLONG THE USABLE LIFE OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
LANDFILL. ACCEPTED BY LUCKY’S MARKET’S REGIONAL
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TODD KERSCHNER AND
ASSISTANT STORE DIRECTOR, JENN FAUSTINI – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Item 4A is a proclamation recognizing Lucky's
Market as the recipient of the Waste Reduction Awards Program for
contributing to the greater good of Collier County by advocating the
reduce, reuse, recycle message thereby helping to prolong the use of
the life of the Collier County Landfill. To be accepted by Lucky's
Market's regional director of operations, Todd Kerschner, and assistant
store director, Jenn Faustini.
(Applause.)
Item #4B
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JANUARY 16, 2019 AS
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY IN COLLIER
COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SALT &
LIGHT ADVISORY COUNCIL: GREG HARPER, PASTOR TOM
HARRIS, PASTOR RICK BALDWIN AND PASTOR GREG BALL
– ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: All right. Item 4B is a proclamation designating
December 11, 2018
Page 28
January 16, 2019, as National Religious Freedom Day in Collier
County. To be accepted by Greg Harper, Pastor Tom Harris, Pastor
Rick Baldwin, and Pastor Gregg Ball. If you'd please step forward and
receive your proclamation.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Just identify yourself for the record, please.
PASTOR HARPER: Yes, sir. Greg Harper.
I just wanted to say a special thank you. This is the fifth year that
you've issued this proclamation, and the community is very, very
thankful for that recognition, the support of religious freedom, as was
mentioned during the invocation, one of our strong rights and a very
important principle here in the United States, and thank you for
recognizing that here in Collier County. Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #4C
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JANUARY 12-20, 2019 AS
KINDNESS AWARENESS WEEK IN COLLIER COUNTY, IN
SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL “ONE MILLION ACTS OF
KINDNESS” CAMPAIGN. ACCEPTED BY BOB VOTRUBA
WITH HIS BOSTON TERRIER TRAVELING COMPANION,
BOGART – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Item 4 is a proclamation designating January 12th
through the 20th, 2019, as Kindness Awareness Week in Collier
County in support of the annual One Million Acts of Kindness
Campaign. To be accepted by Bob Votruba and his Boston Terrier
traveling companion, Bogart.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You've got your hands full.
December 11, 2018
Page 29
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Does he read?
(Applause.)
MR. VOTRUBA: I'm Bob Votruba, and this is Bogart from One
Million Acts of Kindness. Some of you have probably seen us around
town in our painted-up bus and the bicycle I ride with all sorts of
placards raising awareness about kindness and no bullying in our
schools.
Collier County Kindness Awareness Week, this is our fifth year --
I'm just amazed how many people are taking part: Schools, churches,
neighborhoods. Alls we ask you to do is during this week is to work a
little harder at being kind in your neighborhood, in your community
helping one another.
Thanks so very much.
(Applause.)
Item #4D
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING DECEMBER 2018 AS JOIN
SCOUTING MONTH IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY
JAMES GILES, DISTRICT EXECUTIVE OF THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COUNCIL - BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Item 4D is a proclamation designating December
2018 as Join Scouting Month in Collier County. To be accepted by
James Giles, district executive of the Southwest Florida Council of
Boy Scouts of America.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: There used to be a Jim Giles here
before. Was that your dad or anything?
MR. GILES: No.
(Applause.)
December 11, 2018
Page 30
MR GILES: My name is James Giles with Southwest Florida
Council, Boy Scouts of America.
On behalf of the over 500 adult volunteers and 1,100 youth, thank
you for this opportunity to be honored by the Collier County
Commission for the work that they do every day.
This past year we've had over 25 Eagle Scouts each representing a
project which benefited the community. In addition to that, many of
those projects happened in conjunction with many Collier County
agencies. We appreciate that partnership, partnership that includes
North Collier Fire Department, Collier County Sheriff's Department as
well, and our adult -- or excuse me -- our career education programs.
Every -- our benchmarks this year have been amazing. We have
over seven hours of community service per member registered this
year. We've sent 30 at-risk youth to a summer camp program. We
have over 100 camping nights of at-risk youth between our Immokalee
and Golden Gate City programs. We've operated in the black now for
10 years in a row, which is very unique for most nonprofits, and we've
grown this year.
As many of you know, we've had the introduction of female
scouts into our elementary cub scouts program and soon middle and
high schoolers. Young women will have the opportunity to earn the
rank of Eagle Scout.
And the excitement and the engagement of families with their
children through this new program and this new way to deliver the
scouting program has been received very well, and we're already
seeing results based on that.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #4E
December 11, 2018
Page 31
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE WYNN FAMILY AND
THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE FAMILY HAS MADE TO OUR
COMMUNITY, AND CONGRATULATING WYNN'S MARKET
ON ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY AND SUNSHINE ACE
HARDWARE ON ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY. ACCEPTED BY
TOM WYNN, JERRY WYNN, JIM WYNN, LINDA WYNN
SMITH, MICHAEL WYNN, JEFF WYNN, AND JUSTIN WYNN
– ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Item 4E is a proclamation recognizing the Wynn
family and the contributions the family has made to our community
and congratulating Wynn's Market on its 80th anniversary and
Sunshine Ace Hardware on its 60th anniversary.
To be accepted by Tom Wynn, Jerry Wynn, Jim Wynn, Linda
Wynn Smith, Michael Wynn, Jeff Wynn, and Justin Wynn. I don't
know who's minding the store this morning.
(Applause.)
MR. MICHAEL WYNN: Michael Wynn, for the record.
I just wanted to say thank you so much to you as the
commissioners, Chairman Solis, for recognizing these anniversaries
that are so important to our family and to our team.
And, as you can imagine, a few things have changed in the 80
years since our family first settled here. But we like to think about
some of the important things that haven't changed.
We're still blessed to be able to work with the family that we love
and that supports each other. We're still blessed to be able to work
alongside associates and team members that make us proud every day
in delivering outstanding customer experience, and we're still proud to
be able to serve a great and generous community that overcomes and
rises to overcome any challenge that it faces.
So thank you again so much for this special recognition.
December 11, 2018
Page 32
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, if I could get a motion to approve
today's proclamations, please.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Motion to move -- approve. Motion
to approve all of the proclamations for today.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion and a second. All in favor, say
aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: They're approved.
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BUSINESS OF
THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER 2018 TO GRACE PLACE FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INC. ACCEPTED BY DR. TIM
FERGUSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. ALSO PRESENT IS
BETHANY SAWYER OF THE GREATER NAPLES CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE – PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: That takes us to Item 5A on this morning's agenda.
This is a presentation of the Collier County Business of the Month for
December 2018 to Grace Place for Children and Families,
Incorporated.
To be accepted by Dr. Tim Ferguson, chief executive officer, and
December 11, 2018
Page 33
Bethany Sawyer of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.
(Applause.)
DR. FERGUSON: Dr. Tim Ferguson, chief executive officer at
Grace Place for Children and Families.
I want to thank the County Commission and the Chairman for this
wonderful recognition for Grace Place. The mission of Grace Place is
to provide a pathway out of poverty for children and families in the
Golden Gate community.
We're celebrating our 15th anniversary as an organization. It's
hard to believe that 15 years ago Grace Place started as an after-school
tutoring program for 60 students in the Golden Gate elementary
schools. In over 15 years, we've grown to serve over 900 students and
700 families in comprehensive family literacy.
We're very proud to be a part of the Golden Gate community. We
have a beautiful new facility, 30,000 square feet, located right in the
heart of Golden Gate City. So if you haven't visited Grace Place, this
is an open invitation to come and see the wonderful programs and
services that we provide to children and families in Golden Gate.
So thank you so much.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Mr. Manager, I've been reminded that I
need to introduce the featured Artist of the Month this month in Collier
County.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's good you remembered
that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: The beginning of the meeting. The
featured artist this month is Dr. Jane -- and I hope I pronounce her last
name correctly -- Ruprecht.
During her 25 years with the Collier County School District, Dr.
Jane, as she's known, has made a positive impact on the lives of many
children in Immokalee in her roles of counselor and reading teacher.
December 11, 2018
Page 34
Overall, Doctor Jane has been in education for 43 years, and
throughout this time, she's loved to teach her students about the
creative process in both schoolwork and photography.
In 2007, Dr. Jane was selected as a Golden Apple award
recipient. Dr. Jane is also a professional photographer, and her
photographs have been exhibited in shows and galleries throughout
Southwest Florida. She retired from education this year, 2018, and
looks forward to spending more time on her photography.
So please enjoy the wonderful photography in the back. It's
spectacular. Thank you.
Item #7
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, that takes us to Item 7, public
comments on general topics not on the current or future agenda.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, we have four registered speakers
today for public comment. Your first speaker is Dr. J.B. Holmes, and
he will be followed by Rae Ann Burton.
DR. HOLMES: County Commissioners, Chairman Solis, my
name is Holmes, Dr. J.B. Holmes. I'm pleased to be here this morning.
I know you have a very busy agenda today, so I'll make my comments
very brief.
In 2012, a young girl came here from Germany to find the grave
of her grandfather who was a World War II veteran. The task was
assigned to the state VFW. Eventually it came to the Golden Gate post
to locate the grave.
We determined to the best of our ability it would be at the Lake
Trafford Memorial Cemetery where there's a veterans portion of the
December 11, 2018
Page 35
cemetery. We went out there to locate that grave, and the conditions
out there were abominable, disgusting. This veteran’s cemetery
overgrown with weeds, strewn with trash, piled with dirt, mulch, and
debris, and we could only identify six graves.
We formed two details, one to identify the graves and another to
clean up the cemetery working with the county. And I'll comment
about the county employees in this case. They were all very, very
generous in their assistance to us in both identifying and cleaning up
the area.
It took us six years to clean the area and to prepare it as a proper
cemetery. We were able to -- there were six gravestones above the
ground. We found another 44 of them that had sunk into the soft sand;
we were able to raise them up.
Ninety-four graves totally; 44 graves we had to obtain headstones
for.
We worked with the VA, Hodges Funeral Home, Fuller funeral
home, to identify those graves, and to get headstones for them. They
supplied them. Eventually came three truckloads with 44 markers
weighing 80 to 100 pounds each. You have a bunch of 75-,
80-year-old veterans trying to haul them around. We had to go to the
Fire Department in strapping them -- the Fire Department pick up one
with each arm and go, where do you want these, guys. So, you know,
that will go without comment, but thank you to the Lake Trafford Fire
Department.
So, anyway, we have identified 94 graves. We have the
headstones on all of them now. In addition, we've put crosses or Star
of David as appropriate on those graves, fastened them to them. We've
also obtained VFW, Veterans of Foreign War, medallions for each
grave and flags on each grave, and the county has agreed to help us
maintain those graves, and they've done a great job, and I implore you
to continue to work with us to maintain those graves.
December 11, 2018
Page 36
Saturday, the 15th, is when Wreaths Across America places all
the wreaths on the Arlington cemetery. We have now been -- Lake
Trafford Memorial Gardens, as the veterans cemetery, has now been
recognized as a national cemetery for our veterans, an actual veterans
cemetery.
So I just -- 10 seconds more. I invite all of you, and particularly
Commissioner McDaniel, because that's his district, to join us on
Saturday, December 15th, at 10 a.m. at Lake Trafford Memorial
Gardens where we have completed the restoration of that cemetery,
and we're placing wreaths on the graves of all our fallen brothers.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'll be there, Doc.
DR. HOLMES: Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker for public comment is Rae
Ann Burton, and she will be followed by Anthony Matonti.
MS. BURTON: Good morning, again. My name is Rae Ann
Burton, 2530 31st Avenue Northeast, Naples, Florida, known as
Golden Gate City.
There are many issues concerning the Estates. One, expansion of
Randall/Immokalee corridor and the S curve, which will I (sic) address
on Friday. Very dissatisfied with the meeting this past Thursday at
North Collier Regional Park.
Two, HCP. Not sure about the Board's part on the habitat
conservation plan, but there's a 50-year lease permit request for drilling
and building in primary panther breeding and other endangered and
threatened species habitat. Already commented to the USFWS with
this lease request. Drilling would impact our aquifer and land stability.
Three, stormwater fee being proposed against the Golden Gate
City homeowners because of concern with the aquifer or (sic) this
board. Fifty-year lease will create more water problems, destroy
December 11, 2018
Page 37
primary panther habitat, cost 7.8 billion, become taxpayers'
responsibility, turning Naples into an urban area the size of
Washington, D.C., severing and fragmenting capital -- Camp Keais
Strand in Summerlin Swamp panther corridors. Already have three
taxes for water management in our tax statement. We do not need the
HCP 50-year lease or the stormwater fee.
Four, Golden Gate Area Master Plan, summer goals, objectives,
and policies are a guide -- land use and public facility decision-making
to balance/provide basic services, natural resource concerns for the
well-planned land use to ensure health, safety, welfare, and quality of
local residents. I request this is honored.
Five, balance urban amenities. There's already ones that are not
utilized. Preserve the area's rural character of Golden Gate Estates
defined by large wooded lots, keeping of livestock, growing crops,
wildlife activity, environment stewardship, low-density residential
development, and limitation on commercial conditional use.
Stop proposed dense growth. Proposed development, the reason
for excessive roads. The Rural Lands West is a prime breeding area
for Florida panther. There were wild panthers brought from Texas to
prevent Florida panthers' extinction now only to destroy the prime
breeding and food habitat. Hybrid panther is stronger and has less fear
of humans. They need their space.
Six, stop creating ways to tax or charge fees -- balance the budget.
Today my mortgage payments are manageable. Any more taxes or
fees I fear could (sic) loss of home. I do urge first ones (sic) -- first I
have to.
We have voiced opinions against the S curve, the stormwater fee,
excessive building and roads. Our desires to keep rural Naples
environment. So please honor them. Thank you.
I have printed out the panther habitat map and some pictures of
the destruction while seeking to food. Thank you.
December 11, 2018
Page 38
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Anthony Matonti. He will
be followed by Hillary Hogue.
MR. MATONTI: Good morning, Commissioners. Would you
mind if I had a visual? It would probably paint a better picture than
my words can.
I'm here to speak about the widening of Vanderbilt Beach
Boulevard, Vanderbilt Beach Road, and I'm for this, this is fine, but I
believe that if we are going to be expanding a roadway, we can't just
do minimum standards for bicycles and pedestrians. The best way to
improve traffic is to get people out of their vehicles, and you do that
with safe accessibility.
I put a picture there of children in a four-foot bike lane. You
could see their hands would be almost like joggers running past trying
to grab cups of coffee out of a car.
This is the display that -- the red line marks Vanderbilt Beach,
and you can see what it passes through. We're creating a suburban
highway through -- instead of trying to connect the community with
their major assets, the beach, Mercato, Publixes, the library, Naples
Collier Hospital. The yellow lines show a grid network that could
begin because of this.
That's in the state of Florida. That's in St. Petersburg. Those are
buffered bike lanes. And I know some would say, oh, there's no bikers
there. I actually waited for them to pass so I could get a better picture
of what that looks like. It doesn't have to be separated, but it's
something I like to call move the curb. Don't put the curb between the
sidewalk and the bicyclist. Put the curb between the bicyclist and the
street; make it safe.
I am a native Floridian. I grew up in Broward County. I lived
there for over 20 years, and I've watched the suburban sprawl happen.
Now they're trying to retrofit and fix it. Collier County has the
opportunity to do it now, right now, before shovels in the ground.
December 11, 2018
Page 39
And it doesn't necessarily have to be separate. You could put a
bollard. People feel a lot safer when they're separated from traffic,
especially when they're going 65 miles per hour. So as a native
Floridian, as a Collier County resident, and as the father to a
four-month-old son who plans on raising a family here, I encourage
you to please revisit the design of Vanderbilt Road widening.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker for public comment today is
Hillary Hogue.
MS. HOGUE: Good morning, everyone. Good morning. My
name is Hillary Hogue. And I wasn't quite sure if I could speak today,
so I'll just read from my phone for the three minutes allowed.
I'm here on behalf of victims of predatory guardianships here in
the 20th circuit. My 88-year-old father, whose only crime was
growing old, having a million-dollar estate, and living in the 20th
circuit of the Middle District of Florida, was blindsided by an adult
guardianship. We're known for being the top in identity fraud; number
two in the nation. Nothing's being done.
I've sent all of you a copy of my criminal court report which Bill
Nelson has sent to the Department of Justice in Washington who are
still investigating the crimes, white-collar crimes here in Collier
County.
You're in charge of EMS. We know that Kelly Desaltes
(phonetic) contacted you about her problems, and none of you have
been in touch with her. Isolate, medicate, and drain the estate.
You are in charge with the health and well-being of your
constituents. What is being done? My father is out of $100,000 in six
months. He'll never be able to recoup the money. He has me as his
advocate. Most people don't. I've quit my job, and I'm an advocate for
guardianship fraud in Collier County.
December 11, 2018
Page 40
So, please, tell us what you're going to do to stop this. Thank you
for listening to me. Have a great day.
MR. MILLER: That was all of our public comment today, sir.
(Applause.)
Item #8A
RESOLUTION 2018-229: DETERMINING THE PROPOSED LAND
USE FOR A VETERINARY CLINIC, EXCLUDING OUTDOOR
KENNELING, AND DOG GROOMING ARE COMPARABLE,
AND COMPATIBLE USES WITHIN THE MIXED USE AREA OF
THE VANDERBILT COMMONS MPUD, ORDINANCE NUMBER
2005-19, AS AMENDED, AND ARE THEREFORE FOUND TO BE
PERMITTED PRINCIPAL USES AT THE LOCATION FURTHER
DESCRIBED HEREIN – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, that takes us to Item 8A on this
morning's agenda. This is an item that requires ex parte disclosure by
commission members, and all participants are required to be sworn in.
This is a recommendation to determine that the proposed land use
for a veterinary clinic, excluding outdoor kenneling and dog grooming,
are comparable and compatible uses within the mixed-use area of the
Vanderbilt Commons MPUD ordinance.
Ex parte, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Ex parte, Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. You are welcome to see
the file. I've had them all: Meetings, emails, correspondence, and
phone calls.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I've only had discussion with
staff and emails.
December 11, 2018
Page 41
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I've had emails and discussions
with staff, and I am recusing myself on this item based on a conflict.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I've had meetings with the
representatives of the petitioner and correspondence and emails as
well.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And I've had emails from a Ms. Abrams,
and that's all I've had. Thank you.
Hear from the applicant.
THE COURT REPORTER: Do you want me to swear them in?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah, I think first we need to swear
witnesses. Will anyone that's going to speak on this matter please
stand and raise your right hand.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. WEAVER: Good morning. My name is Anna Weaver. I'm
a planner with Davidson Engineering, and I'm here representing the
applicant for the Vanderbilt Commons comparable-use determination.
I'm just going to run through a brief PowerPoint to go over the details
of the request.
The Vanderbilt Commons PUD is located on the north side of
Vanderbilt Road just west of Collier Boulevard.
The comparable-use determination was filed requesting a formal
determination that vet services -- vet services, excluding outdoor
kenneling and dog grooming, are comparable to the existing permitted
uses within the Vanderbilt Commons PUD for Lots 1 and 2 only
depicted on the screen.
Here you can see an architectural rendering of the newly
constructed retail building on the subject lots. The groomer is
proposed in Unit 11, and the vet clinic is proposed in Unit 13.
December 11, 2018
Page 42
Within the existing PUD, both health and personal services are
permitted uses. These uses are comparable to vet services and dog
grooming with the only difference being that the services offered to
pets rather than humans. Appointments will be scheduled, and hours
of operation will be similar to what you would see for doctors' offices
or a beauty salon.
Also, miscellaneous retail is an existing permitted use listed in the
PUD, which does allow for pet stores. Oftentimes you'll find that pet
stores include grooming or vet services offered. We're just requesting
that these services be stand-alone businesses.
So, lastly, we did have Trebilcock Consulting evaluate the uses
and determine that dog grooming and veterinary clinic are comparable
or less than the existing permitted uses in the PUD for traffic
generation.
And that's all I have for you unless you have any questions.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any questions from the Board?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Should we go to public speakers?
MR. MITCHELL: Yes, sir. We have seven -- excuse me -- six
registered public speakers for this item.
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, excuse me. Would you like to hear
from staff first before your --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm sorry, yes. I'm sorry. Mr. Bosi?
MR. BOSI: Good morning. Mike Bosi, director of zoning
services.
And I just wanted to put on the record that staff has reviewed the
information for the comparable/compatible use determination. The
zoning and evaluation suggests that it is a comparable/compatible use,
as well as the traffic generation; therefore, we've agreed with the
application that it meets the qualifications for a compatible/compatible
determination as provided for by this section of the PUD.
December 11, 2018
Page 43
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. My apologies.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. There are five speakers
for this item. Your first speaker is Terrie Abrams, to be followed by
Beverly Smith.
MS. ABRAMS: Don't judge me; I have to put my glasses on.
Good morning, Commissioners. We are all here today to discuss
the latest request by the developer of Vanderbilt Commons to add a
business previously disallowed by the county.
This request is symptomatic of the piecemeal development of the
property. The issues surrounding this property are larger than the
agenda item today and must be understood before decisions can be
made in a vacuum.
As stewards for Collier County and as residents, please review the
entire picture. You have already received a petition with signatures
from 88 percent of the addresses in Black Bear Ridge.
Let's remember Mission Hill Shopping Center next to us is
strategically buffered and has a Winn-Dixie, fast food, sit-down
restaurant, vet, 7-Eleven with gas, bank, dentist, insurance agency, nail
salon and a bar. Falls of Portofino, next to Vanderbilt Commons, is
partially built out and has lower rents available.
Here are the activities that have been happening with the property
that I would like the commissioners to understand: In good faith,
October of 2017, we worked with the developer hours upon hours
agreeing with the list of SIC codes that provided a full range of
businesses compatible with the needs of the surrounding area.
The developer specifically did not want any animal vet/grooming
because the property does not lend itself to that type of business. This
isn't about traffic.
The developer has accepted a lease from a business that clearly
and openly has advertised as one specifically called out as not allowed
in the PUD.
December 11, 2018
Page 44
The developer is putting a request in to change the PUD to allow
residential units on the ground floor of a proposed building. The PUD
requires commercial on the ground floor and residential on the second
and third floor.
We already have experienced light shining into our preserves and
homes from the storage unit which the developer would not correct.
Since then, the storage unit has changed hands.
We ask for your support in development of Vanderbilt Commons
in the fashion in which it was intended. We have done everything
possible to work in good faith with the developer, but the developer is
disingenuous in his actions.
This is turning into a botched-up development and is negative
value to the area, quality of life, and property values. Why is the
developer forcing Collier County Commissioners to waste valuable
time and money on something already decided by the county when the
county has so many more critical things to address?
There is nothing new in this area to justify the change. We, as
residents, end up wasting time and money when the only benefactor is
the developer.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker on this item is Beverly Smith.
She will be followed by Marc Allen.
MS. SMITH: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Beverly Smith. I'm a resident of Black Bear Ridge.
I'd like to reconfirm the statements that Ms. Abrams has just
stated, but I'd like to add my frustration and disappointment that we
stand before the Board on a matter that was finalized more than a year
ago.
As a representative of Black Bear Ridge, I stood at this podium
side by side with Mr. George Vuko, the developer. After months of
negotiation, we both agreed to the amended PUD as presented that
December 11, 2018
Page 45
morning. So here we are at the expense of taxpayers' money and
utilizing valuable time of the Board to do it all again.
The issue at hand, the dog groomer and the vet office, was
specifically not included in the original permitted usage by agreement
of the developer who agreed that the facility was not constructed to
handle the issue of animal waste. There is no safe, proper designated
area for animals to be walked.
The business was advertised in the window of the potential lease
for several months now before he even came to ask for a dispensation
for the compatible and comparable use.
A pattern's now emerged where this developer is not following
the agreed terms of the PUD. A thrift store was permitted under the
guise of being an antique store. This business received the permit
under this guise. We have made contact with the county regarding the
violation, but the permit was issued.
Now we have no choice but to wait for the store to open and have
Code Enforcement take the matter in hand. Again, unnecessary
taxpayer expense and the county officials' time. As the developer
knew the business was prohibited and an attempt to override the PUD
by misuse of a SIC code, the pattern is now being established.
Again, we now find that the developer is now asking that the
PUD be reevaluated again to amend the resolution of the residential
housing agreement.
Housing is supposed to be over commercial. His original plan was
denied and sent back, his site plan. Now he's going to try again to have
the PUD changed. So, again, the pattern continues.
We came to an agreement. All we ask is that that agreement be
adhered to by the county. We ask for your help in this matter. We
don't want to have to be here again.
Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker on this issue is Marc Allen.
December 11, 2018
Page 46
He will be followed by Wendy Fuchs.
MR. ALLEN: Good morning. My name is Marc Allen. I live in
Black Bear Ridge, which abuts against the Vanderbilt Commons
development.
This proposal should not be approved because it carries with it a
public-health risk that has not been addressed. Animals carry diseases,
just like humans, and some of these diseases may be transmitted to
humans. These are called zoonotic diseases. There are a whole host of
them, and they can cause human disease ranging from no symptoms to
mild, and self-limiting symptoms to a fatal infection.
Since my time is limited, I want to talk about just one, a round
worm parasitic disease called toxocariasis. The CDC has identified
toxocariasis as a priority for public-health action. Toxocariasis is
relatively common in dogs and cats. Infected dogs and cats shed
toxocara eggs in their feces.
The CDC report said a USA study showed that 30 percent of dogs
younger than six months have toxocara eggs in their feces. Other
studies have shown that almost all puppies born are infected and 25
percent of cats are infected. Thus, it is likely that some animals
brought to the clinic would be infected.
The parasitic eggs have a strong protective layer which allows
them to survive in the environment for months or years under the right
conditions. Many common disinfectants are not effective against the
eggs. Humans are infected through ingestion of larvated eggs from the
soil or from anything contaminated by the eggs.
After ingestion, the eggs hatch in the small intestine. The larva
penetrate the intestine with cosa (sic), pass to the liver, and thereafter
travel to the lungs, the brain, the eyes, and other parts of the body.
Two disease entities result: Visceral larva migrants and ocular
larva migrants. This is when the parasitic larva are worming their way
through the host's body. Often, these are children.
December 11, 2018
Page 47
The problem here is that the animals that would be brought to the
clinic would not include only healthy but also sick animals, and these
animals may not be solely in the clinic and in the owner's vehicle. It is
likely that an owner may allow the animal to relieve itself on the grass
surrounding the parking lot, or the owner may even bring the animal to
one of the adjacent restaurants. If parasitic eggs get deposited in the
area around the clinic, they may persist for years. Another animal or
person may become infected. Often this is a child. This is an
unnecessary risk.
The site is not an appropriate setting for a veterinary clinic. The
proposal should be rejected. It's not a comparable use.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Wendy Fuchs. She'll be
followed by Carlos Vasollo.
MS. FUCHS: Good morning. Wendy Fuchs, and I'm a resident
of Black Bear Ridge.
And I agree with all my other previous neighbors that have made
comments this morning.
My home actually backs up to the industrial storage facility across
from the preserve, which is behind this strip center, and I am one of the
10 homes that has been impacted by the 24-hour lights shining into my
home, windows, living room, kitchen, dining room, and lanai.
I'm asking the -- I am asking that Vanderbilt Commons not be
given a variance on the previously agreed businesses of the PUD for
the following reasons: The development of the current strip mall does
not provide adequate areas for animals visiting the vet to relieve
themselves, unless they are taken into the drainage ditch along
Vanderbilt Beach Road. As you can see here, there's rocks and bushes
which, when they are fully grown out and some other type of ground
cover, doesn't allow for somebody to take their dog to defecate. They
have to go into the drainage ditch along Vanderbilt Beach Road.
December 11, 2018
Page 48
For the past three or four years our community has endured the
continual unappealing look of piles of dirt, construction equipment,
construction materials being thrown about the lots, PVC piping, and
concrete debris. Vanderbilt Commons has not upheld their obligations
to not adversely affect neighboring areas.
In addition to this, the Black Bear Ridge community has had
declining property values while most of Naples has been increasing.
This shouldn't be, as we are a well-built Stock Construction
community in that -- in our community.
The two major issues I can identify are the issues addressed above
with Vanderbilt Commons and the adjacent Falls of Portofino
community, which has remained an unfinished community for 11 years
without upholding any community standards.
So to wrap it up, I am asking for your thoughtful consideration of
the 100 homes in Black Bear Ridge. Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Your final registered speaker on this item is
Carlos Vasollo.
MR. VASOLLO: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Carlos Vasollo. I live in Golden Gate Estates just two streets south of
this development.
My neighbors and I get together almost every afternoon. We go
for a walk. We take our dogs. And since we have dogs, the topic of
dog maintenance and veterinarians comes up all the time.
And it's really a burden on us that we don't have any veterinarians
in the area. And due to the fact that there are such few veterinarians,
the fees are quite high.
One of my neighbors the other day was commenting the dog had
some problems that needed to be taken care of. She'd like to have
another dog, but the distance, the inconvenience, and the expense of
not having another vet in the area is preventing her from being able to
get another dog.
December 11, 2018
Page 49
As someone who's lived in that neighborhood for over 20 years, I
welcome all these new developments and the shopping centers and the
convenience. I don't have to drive five, 10 miles away just to get the
services that everybody else takes for granted.
So I'm sorry that some of the other neighbors don't appreciate
that, but for some of us that need these kind of services it's nice to be
able to go two blocks away, have restaurants, have a vet, have a
supermarket and not have to drive five, 10 miles away to get the same
services that everybody else takes for granted.
Thank you for your time.
MR. MILLER: That was your final speaker on this item.
MS. WEAVER: Okay. I'm just going to try to address the
concerns that are relevant to the application.
So this image shows our request is for Lots 1 and 2. Outlined in
red is the entire PUD. This applicant currently owns this, Lots 1 and 2,
and so this request is only going to be affecting these lots.
I know that there was -- it was said that we committed to no vet
clinic, but we couldn't find that any commitment was ever made. We
went through all of the minutes. We worked with staff, and there was
no commitment such as that ever made.
And this is not an amendment or a variance. We're just requesting
a confirmation of a comparable use based on the typical operations of
the business. The comparable use is typically a lower-level application
through staff and the Hearing Examiner.
This PUD is unique in that we -- in working with Black Bear
Ridge, we agreed to increase, I should say, the process for comparable
uses. We've added a separate clause in the PUD to require a NIM for
every comparable-use application, which is not usually required for
any other PUD.
So we are doing more for the process for this request, and that's
because of negotiations with Black Bear Ridge during the original
December 11, 2018
Page 50
PUD approval.
There are no prohibited businesses open in the development, and
no prohibited businesses will be able to open unless approved. So we
just want to kindly request the confirmation of staff's recommendation
for approval of the comparable use.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I met with the petitioner yesterday. I didn't have any particular
problems with this type of veterinary clinic, but there have been
problems with this particular developer, I believe, over the years. And
so I'm not sure what position I'm going to take on this right now.
I did tell the developer that I didn't seem to have an issue, but I
reserve the right to hear what is said today and make my decision.
And I'd like to ask Mr. Bosi to give us a little bit information
about this type of a clinic and the comments that you just heard
concerning how these animals are going to be -- to use their term,
relieve themselves, where they're going to do this, how they're going to
take care of that waste material, whether or not there are code
violations if they don't take care of the waste material properly.
MR. BOSI: Again, Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning director.
The operational aspect of how the dogs would relieve themselves
and where they would relieve themselves would be something that the
applicant would have to ensure that there's adequate room to provide
for, and how that waste is managed and taken care of would be an
issue that could be a code enforcement violation if it's found to not be
addressed in the proper way in terms of meeting the health standards.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Do they have proper facilities,
a proper location? Is there room for that type of management of the
waste material?
MR. BOSI: I believe there's -- there is enough vegetated grass
areas towards where they can, but I would turn to the applicant to
December 11, 2018
Page 51
provide a little bit more description of the proposed building area of 1
and 2 and where those facilities are going to be provided for.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And if I can just follow up with that
question. Are there standards for that in the Land Development Code
in terms of veterinary operations?
MR. BOSI: There's no standards that gives us any guidance in
terms of how much is required.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
MS. WEAVER: So we believe that we have plenty of
landscaping on the property to accommodate and, of course, the
businesses will be responsible to maintain the cleanliness and upkeep
of the area. We also have an association over all -- the entire PUD that
will be keeping up with the area to maintain anywhere that the animals
relieve themselves and then, of course, the code enforcement if all else
fails. We hope not to ever get to that point.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Who controls that association?
MS. WEAVER: Developer.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And just one comment with
regard to that. I mean -- ultimately -- and I certainly share the
concerns, but it's the pet owner's responsibility to clean up after your
pet. Irrespective of where the animal chooses to relieve itself, it's the
pet owner's responsibility.
I own a public facility myself. We welcome people to bring their
pets, but we also share with them that the responsibility is that of the
pet owner to clean up after themselves.
So though it's a concern, and I see the validity, I'm not really
seeing that it's that large of a detriment, that large of a deviation from
the currently permitted uses that the PUD, in fact, allows.
So I'd like to go ahead and make a motion for recommendation of
the approval of the comparable/compatible use.
December 11, 2018
Page 52
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, on the motion,
I'm going to vote against the motion, and this is a change of my
position from -- not really my position but my thoughts yesterday.
This has been a problem. This area's been a problem since I've
been on the Board. And I think that we need to send a message to the
developer there that we're not going to permit changes that people have
come to rely on. So I'm going to vote against the motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Well, was there a second for the
motion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I have not seconded it or anything.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I don't know that it matters at this point.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's a majority vote on this.
This isn't a supermajority.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Oh, this is just a majority vote.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My understanding.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's not a zoning change, so it's a majority.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right. It's not a zoning change. It's just a
verification request.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So is there a history of this
developer changing things after things are approved or something? I
didn't quite understand what you meant.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah. Over the last year and a
half, there have been situations where there have been disputes with
the developer that have taken quite a bit of effort and time to resolve. I
don't know if there's anybody from Black Bear Ridge that might be
able to elaborate on that for the rest of the Board just real briefly, but
that might be helpful.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: They've already had their three minutes.
December 11, 2018
Page 53
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, I'm just asking them a
question. I'd ask the Board to permit me to ask the speaker a question.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And that question is --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: If we could be brief.
MS. SMITH: Yes.
Yes, we did work with the developer months and months to
develop the PUD that was agreed to last October.
And I want to state that at a side table right here the developer and
I and other members discussed dog grooming and a veterinarian, and
he agreed.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could you speak into that
microphone.
MS. SMITH: I'm sorry. He did agree not to, so -- put that into
the PUD because we talked about adding that to the PUD at that time.
So he did agree not to based on the opinion that his facility would not
accommodate it, and that was right here at a sidebar with the zoning
board commission when we did that.
And, again, like I say, it's a change.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Mr. Bosi, if the concern is dog waste, I
mean, are there any standards at all in either -- I mean, Department of
Health standards? What do we look at in general when someone is
asking for a zoning verification letter that a veterinary facility or a
dog-grooming facility is allowed?
MR. BOSI: The first test that we look at what -- the proposed
use, in this case the dog groomer or veterinarian was the zoning
category that that would be supported by our Land Development Code,
and that's a C2 -- that's a C2 designation. And then we look at the
uses, the zoning uses that are allowed within the PUD, and this PUD
has a C3 and a C4 allocation.
So from a zoning standpoint, the use that's being proposed is in a
December 11, 2018
Page 54
lower zoning district so, therefore, it passes the test; therefore, it would
be a -- it would be able to be advanced for a comparable/compatible
determination.
And then we look at some of the operational characteristics, and
the first and foremost is traffic, and traffic from a comparable use,
from the uses that are provided in the PUD, it provides for either a
decrease or a net neutral in terms of traffic evaluation so -- and,
therefore, it would suggest that it would be a comparable/compatible
use with the PUD and with the external effects that it would have upon
it.
Now, related to -- it would be the Department of Health that we
would have to look to in terms of any guidance in terms of the
handling of the waste associated with -- but not the Land Development
Code.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Quick question of staff. Do we
have any other veterinarian clinics within the community that are
contained within a shopping plaza with outdoor facilities?
MR. BOSI: Off the top of my head, I can't identify. Normally,
we do have veterinarian clinics that are within shopping plazas, but I
don't know the backside of those shopping plazas in terms of how
those veterinarians are operating and walking into those facilities.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And complaints with regard to
animals?
MR. BOSI: I'm not aware of any recent code enforcement issues
related to --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Maybe Mr. French can shed some light on
that.
MR. FRUTH: For the record, Josh Fruth with Davidson
Engineering.
The pointer right there is a -- if you guys could flip over to the
December 11, 2018
Page 55
presentation, please. That is an existing vet.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What is your name, please?
MR. FRUTH: Josh Fruth.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Davidson Engineering.
MR. FRUTH: Davidson Engineering.
This is Mission Hills, and this is an existing vet within a shopping
plaza, and it's within the parking lot area, as opposed to how ours is
laid out.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Would you like to hear from Mr.
French on code enforcement issue?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Certainly. I mean, I'm --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'd like to.
MR. OCHS: He has to get sworn in, sir. He wasn't sworn in. If
the court reporter can swear in Mr. French, please.
(The speaker was duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. FRENCH: Commissioners, that would be -- I was just
speaking with our Code Enforcement director. Those regulatory
standards are established by your DAS ordinance, and they do pay
attention to how those animals are treated with regards to facilities and
things like that.
We are aware of a number of these veterinarian clinics that exist
throughout the county that would be in commercial-type settings such
as your C3, C4-type districts with regards to the facilities. Many of
them do offer kenneling, and they also have, let's say, runs or grassed
areas that would allow for those pets, but it just really depends on the
level of service that that service provider would be offering to their
clients. But there is a DAS ordinance, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. And I'm just curious -- and I don't
want to ask Commissioner McDaniel's question, but is this a common
code-enforcement issue that comes up in your experience?
MR. FRENCH: No, sir. We don't -- code enforcement is under
December 11, 2018
Page 56
my purview as well, and the 15 years that I've been here, I'm unaware
of any veterinarian clinics that we brought before you, to the Special
Magistrate or in front of the Code Enforcement Board.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a motion -- anything else,
anyone else?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You know, I just -- I'm befuddled by
this, actually, because I know I've seen veterinary clinics right next
door to restaurants. We have one right there on U.S. 41, and
everything seems to operate fine and no problem.
I think what we're -- what we're kind of hearing is there's more of
a problem -- a deeper problem than what we're revealing here, and so
that puts me in this state of mind. I don't know what to do because are
we, then, helping somebody who might somehow harm the community
or something? I don't know if that's it. Or it seems to me that it should
be something that we could just vote for, because I've seen them
elsewhere, but I'm afraid to take that step because there's so much
opposition to it. I don't know why.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, this may be
one of those things where we need to continue this. There's four of us
here, and I don't think this issue is -- there may be a tie vote, which --
and I hate to put Commissioner Fiala on the spot. I need, perhaps,
some more information from the neighborhood why this particular use
is so obnoxious to them, and I probably would need to talk to the
developer about what has happened in the past in terms of other issues.
The developer's here. Maybe they can elaborate on that, but I
think -- I would not support the motion today.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Understood.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I may be persuaded down the
road to support it, but I need to have more time, I think, with the
neighbors and with the developer.
December 11, 2018
Page 57
MS. WEAVER: If we may, I think that -- George Vuko is our
developer, and he's willing to speak today maybe a little bit on maybe
the timeline of recent events to help clarify.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I do have one quick question of
the applicant before Mr. Vukobratovich comes forward. And I'm one
of the few people that can actually say his full last name. Did I hear
you just say that there's already a veterinary clinic in the contiguous
plaza to the east?
MS. WEAVER: Yes, there is, right here in Mission Hills to the
east. Also, pet stores are already permitted in the PUD, and often vets
and groomers are within pet stores. So like a Pet Smart or something
like that could go today.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Is that veterinarian allowed for
outdoor kenneling? Because my concern would be with veterinarian
operations is the outdoor kenneling allows for excessive noise.
People's dogs and animals have a lot of noise, and you also have the
issue of them relieving themselves outside at the same time, so -- but if
there is no outdoor kenneling, you minimize all of that within the plaza
itself. Does that particular veterinarian allow for outdoor kenneling?
MS. WEAVER: I don't believe there's an outdoor run there. It's
surrounded by parking. It's a little tough to see here, but I can't see one,
and I know it's right next to a restaurant, like you were saying. It's in a
typical shopping center.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's been a request from Commissioner
Saunders to continue. Is that something that the applicant doesn't want
to do?
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: No. We -- good morning,
Commissioners. My name is George Vukobratovich.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Speak into the microphone.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: He's right.
December 11, 2018
Page 58
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: I've lived in this community for 35
years. We care about this community as much as anybody. Pets, dogs,
they're parts of our family.
This is a very difficult issue for me to understand how anybody
would object to this. And there are underlying issues, but I'm not
prepared -- I can't deal with that. What I can deal with is code, what's
the right thing to do for our community; compassion.
Just before you there was a gentleman with a little Boston Terrier
with one eye. Who wouldn't want to let that dog have a veterinarian?
This is difficult for us to even understand.
This is no issue. There are veterinarian clinics in all of our
centers. Our neighbors walk up and down the streets every evening.
We get together with our pets, and we want to be able to take them to a
veterinarian.
This is a comparable/compatible issue. This isn't changing the
PUD. This isn't modifying. And I never -- I have four dogs. I never
committed to not having a veterinarian, ever. I couldn't list every
single use, so the comparable/compatible is the normal way that you
do this.
We've had this veterinarian signed up since June. Do you have
any idea economically how this has impacted a veterinarian to wait
until now to do this?
Please consider just a simple vote of a veterinarian clinic. Please.
Thank you very much. And we would restrict where these dogs go.
We would restrict -- you know, it is up to the owners. It is up to the
business. There is no issue of code enforcement in this county for 30
years.
Thank you very much. I appreciate your support.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Did you want to say something?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think -- I'm not sure if
December 11, 2018
Page 59
anybody else had anything else to say. I may have something when
everybody's finished.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. After listening to all of that,
and hearing that there's already another veterinarian in the next
shopping center over, which seems to be the same conditions, I would
have to say, I would vote for it then.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Will you second the motion, then?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second his motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a second. A motion and a
second. Any other discussion?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, just -- one
quick comment.
I don't have a problem with the veterinarian clinic, and I'm going
to support the motion. I know that's going to be a little bit
disappointing to some of the folks there, but I can't see where there's a
particular problem with that. But I wanted to make a point, and that
point is that there have been changes. There have been problems. And
if there are going to be future changes, then I'll be more aggressive in
opposing those if it's a negative impact on the neighborhood.
So that's the point I wanted to make today is that, you know, you
have a commitment to that neighborhood, and it's my goal to make
sure that it's honored. So I'll support the motion, again, because I don't
see there being a problem with the vet clinic in that location.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. So let me ask -- would you
mind if I asked, Commissioner Saunders, so what you're saying and
what I think they're supposed to be agreeing to is that with this there
will be no other changes; this is whatever --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: This isn't a change.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I mean, there may be other
changes and things that are necessary, but it's going to have to be in
concert with working with the neighborhood. That's all I'm saying.
December 11, 2018
Page 60
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And not to paraphrase,
Commissioner Saunders, but there were other issues raised by the
neighbors with regard to their cooperation with the developer, and that
we're just setting the -- setting notice that a more cooperative state is
going to be requisite.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: Understood.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: For example, there was an
indication that there was a problem with some lighting bleeding into
the neighborhood. That's easy to fix, and it should be. We shouldn't
have these types of problems.
MR. FRUTH: I'd just like to make a statement about the lighting.
We did address that; it was not part of this development. But it was
LED lighting with full cutoff optics that meet the Collier County
standard. And we worked with that homeowner last year to address
that, but it keeps coming up, but it's not part of this application. That's
what we're trying to address.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No, I understand it's not part of
this.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But is it part of a shopping center
that this gentleman owns.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not anymore.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: No.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good. There's a motion and a
second. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: (Abstains.)
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
December 11, 2018
Page 61
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MR. VUKOBRATOVICH: Thank you so much. We will take
your words into account.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And we now -- we're a little late for our
court reporter's break, so we will come back at 10:58.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
Item #9A
DEVELOPMENT ORDER 2018-03/RESOLUTION 2018-230:
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 90-292
(DEVELOPMENT ORDER NO. 90-3, AS AMENDED) FOR THE
HALSTATT/GREY OAKS DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL
IMPACT BY PROVIDING FOR: SECTION ONE, AMENDMENTS
TO DEVELOPMENT ORDER BY REVISING THE MASTER
PLAN TO RELOCATE UNBUILT ACCESS LOCATIONS FROM
AIRPORT ROAD AND GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY TO ACCESS
LOCATIONS ON LIVINGSTON ROAD FOR ACCESS ONLY TO
THE AREAS OF THE PUD IDENTIFIED AS FP&L EASEMENT
LOCATED SOUTH OF GREY OAKS DRIVE EAST;
AMENDMENTS TO EXHIBIT E, DEVELOPMENT ORDER
ACCESS CONDITIONS AND SUBEXHIBIT 1, PROJECT ACCESS
LOCATIONS AND SUB-EXHIBIT 2 PROJECT ACCESS
CONDITIONS; SECTION TWO, FINDINGS OF FACT; SECTION
THREE, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW; AND SECTION FOUR,
EFFECT OF PREVIOUSLY ISSUED DEVELOPMENT ORDERS,
TRANSMITTAL TO DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE – MOTION TO
December 11, 2018
Page 62
APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS ALLOWING ONLY
1 ACCESS POINT AND THE PETITIONER TO GIVE-UP THE
RIGHTS TO ACCESS GREY OAKS ENTRANCE AND THIS
PETITION DOESN’T ADDRESS USES FOR THE PUD –
ADOPTED
Item #9B
ORDINANCE 2018-65: RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND
ORDINANCE NO. 07-40, THE GREY OAKS MPUD, BY
RELOCATING UNBUILT ACCESS LOCATIONS ON AIRPORT
ROAD AND GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY TO LIVINGSTON
ROAD FOR ACCESS ONLY TO THE AREAS OF THE PUD
IDENTIFIED AS FP&L EASEMENT LOCATED SOUTH OF
GREY OAKS DRIVE EAST, AND BY PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE. THE SUBJECT MPUD CONSISTING OF
1,601+/- ACRES IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST,
NORTHWEST, AND SOUTHEAST QUADRANTS OF THE
INTERSECTION OF AIRPORT ROAD (S.R. 31) AND GOLDEN
GATE PARKWAY (C.R. 886), IN SECTIONS 24, 25, AND 26,
TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA – MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF’S
RECOMMENDATIONS ALLOWING ONLY 1 ACCESS POINT
AND THE PETITIONER TO GIVE-UP THE RIGHTS TO ACCESS
TO GREY OAKS ENTRANCE AND THIS PETITION DOESN’T
ADDRESS USES FOR THE PUD – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, we're moving on to Item 9A and
9B respectively. These items require participants be sworn in and ex
parte disclosure be provided by commission members.
Item 9A is a recommendation to deny a resolution amending the
December 11, 2018
Page 63
Halstat/Grey Oaks Development of Regional Impact with reference to
a request to relocate unbuilt access locations from Airport Road and
Golden Gate Parkway to access locations on Livingston Road, and
Item 9B is a recommendation to deny an ordinance amending the Grey
Oaks MPUD by relocating unbuilt access locations as previously
described.
Mr. Chairman, ex parte disclosure would be in order at this point.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Let's start with Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I had meetings with the
petitioner, with residents of the Grey Oaks community, had some
emails and other correspondence.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
Yes, I've had meetings with the petitioner, meetings with Grey
Oaks, discussions and phone calls from both Grey Oaks and
Wyndemere, meetings with Wyndemere, meetings with staff. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I've had meetings with Bill
Confoy, Wayne Mulligan, Les LaBov, Pete Swain. I met with Wayne
Arnold and Rich Yovanovich and Al O'Donnell, discussion with
planning commissioners, and I have staff reports, and then I talked to
other people along the way that are too numerous to mention.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. See the file. I've had
meetings, emails, phone calls, and the like.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And I've also had meetings with the
petitioner and his representatives, representatives from Wyndemere
and -- residents from Wyndemere and Grey Oaks, and numerous
emails as well.
We need to swear the witnesses.
December 11, 2018
Page 64
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. YOVANOVICH: While the visualizer is coming up, for the
record, Rich Yovanovich on behalf of the petitioner.
With me today is Al O'Donnell and his wife, who are the owners
of the property; Wayne Arnold, who is the professional planner; and
Norm Trebilcock, who's our transportation consultant.
I'm going to do a brief overview of the request of what we're here
to talk about. What we're really here to talk about is a very limited
issue. We're here to talk about the relocation of two currently
approved access points within the Grey Oaks PUD from the areas I'm
showing on the visualizer -- one is on Airport Road, and one is on
Golden Gate Parkway -- and relocate those access points to Livingston
Road to serve a parcel of property that is within the Grey Oaks PUD
that is along Livingston Road. It's immediately to the south of Grey
Oaks Drive East. And you can see that on the visualizer.
It's to the south and basically goes all the way down to the FP&L
-- I guess that's a substation or a big a bunch of FP&L facilities.
That property is within the golf course, recreation, park, and
right-of-way portion of the Grey Oaks PUD, and the allowed uses on
that property are -- and this is the permitted use section of the PUD,
not accessory use section of the PUD.
The permitted uses on this specific piece of property are storage,
maintenance yards, and landscaping nurseries with the FP&L
easements, rights-of-way, and open space. We're in an FP&L
easement, and it's subject to the approval of persons or entities and
who favor the easement or right-of-way runs. That's FP&L. It's an
FP&L easement.
So our use of that property is subject to getting permission from
FP&L similarly to when we came up on the Oakes Farm PUD that we
did up on Livingston Road. It was underneath an FP&L easement.
December 11, 2018
Page 65
We had to get FP&L's permission in order, in that case, to put a
parking lot. So there are limited uses that can occur within an FP&L
easement.
Now, the request was to relocate these access points because Mr.
O'Donnell, when he acquired the property, committed to the residents
that he would do everything in his power not to use the Grey Oaks
Drive access that currently serves the property.
So what you have in front of you is his attempt to fulfill that
request and ask for access to this property so he can basically give up
his only legal access that he has today, which is Grey Oaks Drive.
We're asking for, as you can see just south of the entrance, a
left-in and a right-in/right-out, and, just south of that, a
right-in/right-out.
Your staff report was a little confusing. What they -- and Mr. Bosi
can correct me if I'm wrong. But I think what Mr. Bosi was saying is
we, as a staff, do not support both access points. We only support one
access point. So we're recommending denial of both access points and
limiting us to one access point, which I understand to be -- the one is
the directional, which is the left-in, right-in/right-out.
We can live with just the one access point. We think it's better to
have the two access points, but if the Board wants to limit us to just
one access point, we can accept that.
That's the request of what you have before you today. Now, you
will hear, as we've already had the first skirmish at the very beginning
of the meeting, everything but the issue which is the access issue.
Your staff, when it went to the Planning Commission, recommended
approval of both access points. They looked at it from a transportation
standpoint, and they determined that based upon a much higher
demand that was in the original access which was, I think, 463
peak-hour trips, that these two access points were appropriate.
We revised the Traffic Impact Statement. And based upon that,
December 11, 2018
Page 66
that reduced the trips, I believe, to 172 peak-hour trips. They still
determined that both access points were appropriate.
So we are requesting that the Board of County Commissioners
approve -- we'd like to have both, but if you want to follow your staff's
recommendation that we only have one, it would be that directional,
you know, left-in, right-in/right-out on the report. It is our desire to not
use Grey Oaks Drive, but we will if we have to and we're denied,
because that is our only legal access to the property as we sit here
today.
I'm going to resist the temptation to rebut what I already know I'm
going to hear later. I'll wait. I'll let the public speak, and then I'll come
back up and rebut and interject myself, if necessary, to preserve some
legal rights for my client.
But with that, I just wanted to give a brief overview. If you have
any questions about us, our request, Wayne or Norm or I can handle it.
But it really is that short and simple, and we request that the Board
approve at least one access point so we don't have to use Grey Oaks
Drive.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
Public speakers?
MR. MILLER: Yes, Mr. Chairman. We have 17 public speakers
for this item.
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, I'm sorry for the interruption again,
but the staff would like to get something on the record.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm sorry.
I apologize, Mr. Bosi.
MR. BOSI: Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning director again, and
absolutely understandable.
As Mr. Yovanovich had indicated and as corresponded to
Attachment H, which was in the packet related to the petition, there
December 11, 2018
Page 67
was a memorandum that I generated to the Planning Commission
based upon the revised application. Staff reviewed the trips associated
with the landscape nursery. The landscape nursery is a use that's
clearly provided for within this section.
And based upon the reduced number of trips associated with that
use, staff has revised -- is recommending denial upon two access
points, but staff can support one additional access point based upon the
limited number of trips that are associated with that permitted
landscape nursery that's provided for by the PUD. The staff just
wanted to provide that clarification.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, we've 17 public speakers for this
item. Your first speaker will be Bill Confoy, and he will be followed
by Larry Olson. I would like to ask the speakers to queue up at each
podium so we can move this along a little quicker. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: In addition, we have a very full agenda,
and if you're in agreement with what a prior speaker says, please limit
your comments and just note that you're in agreement with what the
prior speaker said so we're not necessarily repeating everything.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: A point of order, if I may.
I think it's very -- it may happen that some of the speakers might
go into the area of what that property can actually -- what people can
actually do on that property, and I'm not sure that's what's before us.
And so I respectfully ask the Chair to direct their conversation to
specifically the issue that's before us, which happens to do with the
additional roadway into their -- to their development from Livingston.
I'm concerned we're going to get into uses and what could go on
there and what if this happens and, clearly, we can't even opine on it
right now. So that -- with all due respect.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah, I understand. And I would urge
everyone to keep your comments to what the issue is. I mean, I'm a
December 11, 2018
Page 68
little reluctant to cut people off just because it's -- I know that's what
we're going to hear. And I agree with you that we need to keep it
relevant to what the application is, so please try to do that.
Thank you.
MR. CONFOY: Thank you, Commissioners. Bill Confoy. I'm
the vice president of the homeowners' association at Wyndemere. And
we have a lot of speakers from Wyndemere here.
But I also attended the hearing that was chaired on the -- by Mark
Strain and his staff, and so I do have comments based on what I heard.
And the first comment I want to make that I heard there was that the
master plan does not allow property on Livingston Road to be
commercial.
I also heard that when the -- when the PUD was approved,
Commissioner Saunders, 1990, moved, and that approval included the
stipulation that there would be no commercial in the vicinity of
Livingston, and we agree.
Section 4 of the Grey Oaks PUD, the section that says "nursery"
that we saw on the screen there, is for uses associated with the Grey
Oaks activities: Recreation, parks, golf, and a nursery. It allows
establishments that would serve the members of the Grey Oaks
community. Clearly, an outside landscape contracting business does
not meet that criteria.
A nursery is not a landscape contracting. A nursery is for
growing plants and would involve only 12 vehicles coming in the a.m.
and leaving in the p.m. Landscape contracting, however, requires
trailers, bathrooms, lighting, fencing, signage, and noise. You're
talking about 50 trucks, 250 employees coming and going twice a day
into this area located on a busy road that is supposed to be a gateway to
the city.
It will not enhance the neighborhood, but it will add traffic, noise,
and be a major safety issue.
December 11, 2018
Page 69
This entire proposal should have been a part of a PUDA, which
would have allowed the county agencies to fully evaluate this on its
impact to the entire community. It appears that the petitioner thinks
that giving them two access points to the property is all he needs to do
to go forward with a full landscaping nursery. That must not be -- that
must be prevented, and we request the Board to reject this proposal, as
did the Planning Commission.
So I've got 20 seconds left. I do know that their talk about
coming in on the Grey Oaks parking lot that exists there would even be
a worse condition than coming in to the one entry that the -- Mike
Bosi, I think, is going to suggest.
Thank you for listening.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Larry Olson. He will be
followed by Les LaBov.
MR. OLSON: Commissioners, Larry Olson, 132 Edgemere Way
South at Wyndemere.
If the Commissioners are leaning towards Mr. Bosi's
recommendation of one entrance, we would be in support of that. Mr.
O'Donnell has said that they would use, in that case, both the Grey
Oaks entry and the one permitted entrance. We would be against that.
The amount of congestion and traffic backup at the existing stoplight
would be unacceptable.
So we are opposed to the petition.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Les LaBov. He will be
followed by Kevin Killilea.
MR. KILLILEA: Killilea.
MR. MILLER: Killilea, thank you.
MR. LeBOV: Hi, I'm Les LaBov. I'm the president of the
homeowners' association of Wyndemere, and I just would like to make
December 11, 2018
Page 70
a very brief comment. I don't want to repeat a lot of what Bill
Confoy's already said. But I think our big concern, again, is the traffic,
the safety, the noise.
And I think we're not opposed to an alternate entrance. We are
opposed to what the actual site is going to be used for and the amount
of extra traffic, extra noise, lighting, all the other things that go with it,
and that's what we're really most concerned about.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Kevin Killilea, and he will
be followed by Peter Swain.
MR. KILLILEA: Good morning. My name is Kevin Killilea. I
live at 340 Edgemere Way North in Wyndemere. And I'm also a
recent board member of the Pond Apple Association, which fronts on
the wall that separates us from Livingston Road.
In the interest of time, I'm just going to say that I have been asked
to agree with what Bill and others have said. We're most concerned
about the impact that this would have on our community and our
lifestyle and the traffic that it might generate based on what the use
would be on that particular piece of property. A nursery versus a
commercial operation is what the concern is here for me.
Appreciate your time.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Peter Swain. He will be
followed by Steven, I think it says Thompson.
MR. SWAIN: Yes, I'm Peter Swain, president of the Grey Oaks
Property Owners' Association. And, if possible, I would like to defer
for one moment.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, are you ceding your time to Mr.
Lewis?
MR. SWAIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
December 11, 2018
Page 71
MR. LEWIS: All right. Thank you.
For the record, Doug Lewis with Thompson and Lewis Law Firm.
I was encouraged -- as I mentioned earlier, I do represent the
Grey Oaks communities.
I was encouraged by Mr. Yovanovich's comments, and I wanted
to, perhaps to expedite our comments today, make a proposal. I think I
heard Mr. Yovanovich indicate that their intent to go after the access
on Livingston was to avoid using the Grey Oaks Drive East and that
their only issue that's being decided today is the question of access and
that we're not deciding the issue of use, whether or not, you know,
commercial/industrial uses can occur on the property.
So in that vein, I would like to ask -- and I think we can expedite
everyone's time today -- if the applicants would stipulate as to any
approval today, if this board was so inclined to grant access, if they
would agree to first stipulate that the uses as proposed by the applicant
under its traffic impact study or otherwise as disclosed by the applicant
to staff as part of the applications are not being approved today, that's
the first point, to stipulate you're not granting approval of use rights
today. I think we're in agreement on that.
And, second, that access along Livingston is only being granted
today for the uses permitted under the PUD, the Comprehensive Plan
and restrictive covenants, and that the county's not deciding this issue
today. That's an issue to be decided later on at some future point.
We're only discussing access today, whether or not access can be
granted. And, second (sic), as part of any stipulation or any motion to
approve, whether or not the applicant would agree as a condition -- any
condition that they would give up, any claim of rights to use access
along Grey Oaks Drive East. And if they're willing to do that, I think
that's really the effect of what they're saying.
They're coming in and saying, look, we want to locate access
points within the PUD that aren't being utilized, namely the access
December 11, 2018
Page 72
points along Airport and Golden Gate, and we want to relocate that
access so we can use access along Livingston.
Well, that's great, and I think the same logic applies for Grey
Oaks Drive East. If they really don't need that access and they're really
wanting to access directly off of Livingston, then I think they would
agree to make things simpler today and stipulate as to any condition,
any access condition on Livingston, they would agree to give that up.
If they do that, I'm inclined, and I've been authorized by my client, to
support the Board's effort to grant access to the party on Livingston.
Those are the stipulations.
MR. YOVANOVICH: May I?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Before I do that, I want to know how
many public speakers he represents and will be giving up their time to
speak. Because I don't want to get up here, make some commitments
and some discussions and then find out I've got people speaking
behind us, because he's just said we're going to expedite the process. I
just want to know, of the remaining speakers, how many people will
no longer be speaking?
MR. LEWIS: First of all, I represent the Grey Oak Property
Owners' Association, the Estuary at Grey Oaks, and the Grey Oaks
Country Club.
MR. YOVANOVICH: I appreciate that.
MR. LEWIS: So in that regard, I have signed up to speak, the
president of one of the member clubs has ceded his time. But as you
are aware, they're an affected party, and we need to establish a record.
So if we aren't able to resolve it, I'm going to need to establish a record
today, and we're going to ask for the adequate time, a reasonable
amount of time to do that.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Mr. Lewis, I asked a very simple
question. How many registered speakers will no longer be speaking if
December 11, 2018
Page 73
I -- we expedite this? That's not -- that was very simple.
MR. LEWIS: I can speak for those three organizations.
MR. YOVANOVICH: All right. Is there anybody else who
signed up to speak that's going to continue to speak if I agree to your
terms?
MR. LEWIS: I can tell you that those three organizations, this
issue will be resolved.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Again, that's not helping me on the rest of
the --
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, if I might. I don't have any slips
here that indicated they want to cede to Mr. Lewis; however, the last
slip also did not indicate they wanted to cede time to Mr. Lewis, so I
can't really differentiate.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Let's see if I can make this a little quicker,
okay.
I have always said that this hearing has absolutely nothing to do
with the uses allowed on the property. I said that in my opening
statement. That is as far as I'm going to go. I'm not going any further
than that.
Second of all, if we can have the right-in/right-out, the directional
left and the further south one down by FP&L, those two limited access
points, I'm authorized to give up the use of Grey Oaks Boulevard (sic),
which would take care of the intersection issue.
I'm not going to stipulate to any of this other stuff. This is a -- it's
not a use issue. It's an access issue. That's what we're here to talk
about.
If we're going to have a fight later about use, we'll have that fight
later about use. That's what I'm willing to say.
MR. LEWIS: And what we're going to say is, if we don't get that
assurance in writing or as a commitment to the approval, then we're
left in a court fight, and I have to be able to --
December 11, 2018
Page 74
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Lewis, he's just said on the
record as their attorney what he's willing to agree to. If that's
acceptable to you, that's, in effect, in writing. That's part of the record.
MR. LEWIS: And so what we would -- no, that's not our -- our
request is as a stipulation for approval, that those items be built into
any approval. In other words, that we tighten that issue down so we
don't --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, this is the
Board's public hearing on this.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: We just need to conduct the
public hearing.
MR. KLATZKOW: The Board has the ability to place conditions
on any approval, including that they will not use Grey Oaks Boulevard.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right.
MR. KLATZKOW: Whether you grant them one access point or
two access points, either way you can make it a condition that the
granting is conditioned on their not using Grey Oaks.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think -- Rich, I think we need to -- let's
hear the public speakers to the extent that they want to continue to
speak. I don't think that he can represent that he represents other than
three speakers. So why don't we just conduct the public hearing. If
there's a deal, maybe you can discuss this. At the end we'll figure out
where we're at.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Mr. Saunders, if you'll just indulge me on
this and the rest of the Board. I wouldn't mind stipulating as part of the
motion, if a motion is made to approve, the relocation of the access
points, that we would not utilize Grey Oaks Boulevard in the motion,
and that could be in the motion. That could be part of the motion.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I understand that.
MR. YOVANOVICH: And, hopefully, that will save us all a
long public hearing.
December 11, 2018
Page 75
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That is not what Mr. Lewis
wants you to stipulate to.
MR. YOVANOVICH: But I'm willing to do that.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If we could simply conduct the
public hearing, and then there will be a motion, and it may contain that
restriction, it may even contain restrictions that Mr. Lewis wants, but
otherwise we're just going to be sitting here going in circles.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, your next registered speaker is
Steven, I think that says Thompson.
MR. THOMPSON: I defer to Mr. Lewis.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Mr. Lewis isn't done.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: He's deferring to Mr. Lewis, so he's got
three more minutes.
MR. LEWIS: And I would respectfully request, Mr. Klatzkow, if
-- as an affected party, whether or not, on behalf of my clients, we can
have additional time to create the record that we need. Frankly, my
preference would be to --
MR. KLATZKOW: You are spending so much time talking
about everything else, why don't you just set your record and be done
with it.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. Will do.
MR. MILLER: One last question. Mr. Chair, should I call some
of these names to see if any other people are ceding time?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes, please.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Kelly, Richard Kelly, are you ceding time?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Or would waive their right to speak.
MR. KLATZKOW: I would just say, allow him to put his
foundations for any possible court action after that, and then we're
done with this, whether he's ceded additional time or not.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
MR. KLATZKOW: Doug, whatever you have to say.
December 11, 2018
Page 76
MR. MILLER: Proceed.
MR. LEWIS: And I just wanted to give one last opportunity. I
think Mr. Yovanovich agreed to those conditions. If he did, I'm not
going to waste my time. If there's not an agreement --
MR. KLATZKOW: Doug, just lay your record.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. So I have a brief introductory background
statement first, and that will include some introductory points. I have
some procedural objections that we'd like to put into the record --
MR. KLATZKOW: Doug, I'm not spending 10 minutes here.
Just tell the Board what your objection is and be done with this.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. This isn't an appeal. This is a public
hearing. There's an applicant that's made an application. Staff has
made their recommendation. We have public speakers. Let's conduct
it like a public hearing, not an appeal, which, whether that comes later,
we can do that, but --
MR. LEWIS: Well, just so that we're clear on the record, I have
signed up to speak. Mr. Thompson signed up to speak. The chair of
one club, so that's nine minutes, and we've wasted several minutes
trying to address the procedural. I'm asking for a little due process
today to be able to put it in the record --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You've got nine minutes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Lewis, would you just
make your presentation; that's all we're asking you to do.
MR. LEWIS: Well, that's not what you asked me to do, with all
due respect. I appreciate that, Mr. Saunders. I will proceed.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Now it's eight minutes.
MR. LEWIS: I was starting my presentation. I was just
interrupted.
MR. MILLER: You've used three; six left.
MR. LEWIS: By way of introductory statements, there's nine
points that we'd like to make. First, our clients have property interest
December 11, 2018
Page 77
in both -- that are subject to both the PUD and the DRI. The Grey
Oaks residents and community are directly impacted by the proposed
agenda items, and they are an affected party.
Second, to address an earlier question, our engagement letter was
signed on Friday, December 7th, 2017 (sic), and we received the first
title search on Thursday, December 6th, 2018, in anticipation of the
return of the signed engagement letter.
Third, the Board should be aware that the applicants are asserting
rights to use Grey Oaks Drive, which don't -- we understand and
affirm, ordered title work to evaluate this assertion.
Fourth, our clients reject the applicant's assertion that they have
access rights to use the Grey Oaks Drive East for the uses listed in the
traffic study or otherwise.
As such, our clients, rightly, are concerned that the applicants are
seeking direct access today off Livingston but also seek to retain rights
to use Grey Oaks Drive perhaps to put the applicants in a stronger
negotiating position to bring in unlawful uses under the PUD later.
Fifth, we see it as being reasonable that any direct access granted
by this board today by the -- to the applicant off Livingston would be
conditioned upon the applicant agreeing to relocate and surrender any
claim to use Grey Oaks Drive East.
The applicants are asking the county to relocate the PUD access
points off Airport-Pulling and Golden Gate so they can directly access
Livingston. Why wouldn't they also agree to relocate and surrender
any claims to access Grey Oaks Drive as part of the same request?
Sixth, we met with the applicants on Monday to discuss this issue
and others, and we are disappointed that, to date, the applicants,
although we may see something different, have been unable --
unwilling to give up any claim as part of this petition to use Grey Oaks
Drive.
Seventh, our clients have not approved the applications and
December 11, 2018
Page 78
proffer the following affidavits to be placed in the record: With
respect to the applications, I have a copy of the affidavits, and I've got
one for the applicant. I will leave these so we have these in the record.
But these are the affidavits. They're affidavits from the president of
the Grey Oaks Property Owners' Association, the president of the
Estuary at the Grey Oaks Property Association, and the chairman of
the board of the Grey Oaks Country Club, and the Board of Lack (sic)
for the Grey Oaks Country Club. So I will tender those as part of the
record.
Eighth, we did not -- we did not -- why did the PUD -- when you
look at the original PUD, why did it not provide access -- direct access
along Livingston for the FP&L easement parcel? That's a great
question to focus on. Why did it not provide direct access?
It's clear that direct access was not provided under the -- to the
FP&L parcel because no commercial, when you look at the Table 1
uses, or industrial uses are permitted under the PUD at this site, and
this site was only intended to support the approved PUD residential
and office, retail, commercial uses at the site.
Ninth, the applicant has represented to my clients that they are not
seeking any right -- use rights or approvals in connection with this
amendment to the DRI and the PUD applications. We accept this
stipulation. For the record, however, we maintain that a wholesale
nursery and a landscape contracting business as identified by the
applicant and its traffic impact study comprise two different and
distinct industrial uses and that they have separate use codes and
classifications, none of which are permitted under the PUD and the
Comprehensive Plan and restrictive covenants.
Now, turning to our procedural objections, our clients maintain
that neither the applicant -- that either the applicant does not comply
with the unified control covenant pursuant to Section 4.07.01 or that
the -- alternatively, they have no authority to file the amendments to
December 11, 2018
Page 79
the DRI and the PUD.
Now, we acknowledge that those are private documents, but there
are interplays between those private documents in the LDC.
So in support of that position, we have copies of eight affidavits,
which I'll enter into the record, from an expert on real estate and title
matters, and I will proffer him as an expert. If Mr. Yovanovich has
any objections, I will be happy to come up, and we can qualify him as
an expert. But he's being entered as an expert for purposes of his
review of the title. So we have reviewed that.
So in review of the title, we have certain procedural objections.
We've noted that in 2016 the applicant attempted to -- purportedly
attempted -- not applicant, but their seller in 2016 attempted to remove
this parcel from the unified covenant of control that the county
establishes to ensure that these restrictions are imposed on a private
matter.
They also provided an application to you today that said that they
were in compliance with the unified control. It is our opinion, based
on the affidavit and the information that we've provided, that there is
no -- at this point no unified control document for this property
assuming that amendment is valid, and we take the position that,
alternatively, the amendment is invalid, which we assert it is.
Then, clearly, under the declaration, as you'll see the affidavit in
the record, the only party that has the ability to bring the amendment to
the DRI or the PUD, which makes sense, would be the declarant.
They, in their private document, maintain that right to control any
amendments to the DRI or the PUD. Those are not complied with, and
those are dealt with in the affidavit. So those are our procedural
objections.
If the applicant -- we've worked with Leo Salvatori in Mr.
Yovanovich's office. We've asked for those documents. If they have
them later, perhaps our title examiner could find -- was not able to find
December 11, 2018
Page 80
those. But as it stands today, they're not there.
Another interesting point is that there is a neighborhood
community that's adjacent to this parcel, and we've discovered --
unless there's an amendment that Halstatt's filed that has removed that
property from that, that property is common area, a big portion of the
south piece of this FP&L parcel, according to the title documents.
At one point we know it was put in part of the plat, Grey Oaks
Unit 14. And a big portion of the property, almost half the property, is
part of the neighborhood community. So we would say that.
Finally -- those are our procedural objections. We'll tender the
affidavits of record. Happy to talk about those. And then, finally,
again, I just want to repeat, as part of any recommendation for
approval, we would certainly, at this point, until we get those
stipulations, we would ask for a denial. If you're inclined to approve
any access off Livingston today, we would ask, as part of any motion
to approve, whether or not they stipulate or not, that you would ask
Mr. -- that you would stipulate or require and put in the approval that
the uses as proposed by the applicant under its traffic study or as
otherwise disclosed by the applicant, as part of its application, are not
being approved today. You're not approving the uses.
Number 2, that the access along Livingston is being granted today
only for the uses permitted under the PUD, Comprehensive Plan, and
restrictive covenant, and that the county's not deciding this issue, and,
finally, that you would condition any access off Livingston upon the
elimination of any claims on rights to use Grey Oaks Drive East.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MITCHELL: Your next public speaker is Richard Kelly.
He will be followed by Barbara Kelly.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Now, did he just speak for a lot of
the people in the audience?
December 11, 2018
Page 81
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, he did not.
MR. MILLER: I only had two people say that they ceded time to
Mr. Lewis, and he had a total of nine minutes.
MR. KELLY: Thank you for the opportunity of speaking to you,
Commissioners.
My wife and I own property in Wyndemere on Wyndemere Way.
I'm a retired attorney and currently, still, a municipal judge serving out
my term this year in Wisconsin.
Of course, when we bought this property, we thought it was -- we
were buying property in a stable neighborhood, and so we're somewhat
alarmed by the proposed development.
I am a little puzzled by the access. It seems that Wyndemere is in
a little different situation than Grey Oaks in that you're taking access
points that are totally foreign to Wyndemere, access points on Airport
Road and Golden Gate Road (sic) and now putting those access points
onto Livingston which is, of course, the road that services our
community.
And, unlike Grey Oaks, we have only one access point. What
puzzles me is --
MR. MILLER: You'll need to stay on the microphone.
MR. KELLY: Oh, I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You'll need to stay on the mic.
MR. KELLY: I believe there's a concrete barrier that divides the
north lanes from the south lanes on Livingston. And so for northbound
traffic to access these points of access, it seems to me they're going to
be making U-turns at our Livingston access where the lights are. So, I
mean, the potential for noise and traffic congestion is pretty alarming.
So, again, I appreciate -- and, of course, we're opposed to granting
those access points. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Barbara Kelly. She will be
followed by Jack Denneboom.
December 11, 2018
Page 82
MR. OCHS: The second speaker can come over to this other
podium, please. Either one, ma'am. The second speaker to the
alternate podium, please. Thank you.
MS. KELLY: Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name
is Barbara Kelly, and my spouse and I have discussed this matter. I
knew what he was going to discuss, and I completely agree. Thank
you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Jack Denneboom. He will
be followed by Paul Chrestensen.
MR. DENNEBOOM: Jack Denneboom. My wife and I live at
Wyndemere Country Club. I'm totally opposed to these new access
points. I don't understand the need for access points if there's not
going to be any development. It makes no sense to me.
The second point is that the beauty of Naples should not just be
within the walls of country clubs. The beauty of -- and Livingston's a
beautiful road, and so is the entire City of Naples, and it should be that
way.
I totally oppose the access points. It makes no sense to me.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Ray Chrestensen. He will
be followed by Marilyn Kacy.
MR. CHRESTENSEN: It's Paul Chrestensen. I'm the president
of the Mahogany Bend community within Wyndemere, and our
homeowners are completely opposed to adding additional access on
Livingston, even the single one, because we think the amount of
traffic, especially in peak hours in the morning -- I'm retired, but I do
go out occasionally, and the traffic backs almost all the way up to the
east gate of the community there.
And so we think noise and traffic, and especially this U-turn
thing, which adds additional traffic, because it would be only right-in
and right-out. So we're completely opposed to it. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Marilyn Kacy. She will be
December 11, 2018
Page 83
followed by Catherine Smith.
MS. KACY: Good morning, Commissioners. I am a resident of
Wyndemere. I am the governor of Grasmere, which happens to be a
neighborhood in Wyndemere, and I'm also secretary of our
homeowners' association.
Mr. Bosi has supported one entry on Livingston Road. We can
support that as long as the county restricts the use of Grey Oaks Drive.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Catherine Smith. She'll be
followed by A. Fenton.
MS. SMITH: Good morning. Thank you. My name is Catherine
Smith.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Can you speak into the microphone. Just
pull it down.
MS. SMITH: I am a resident of Wyndemere. I'm a resident of
Wyndemere for 15 years. I'm also the governor of our community
within Wyndemere, which is called Edgewood. We have 26 homes.
It is our feeling that the access points should be turned down for
the reasons cited by the previous speakers. Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is A. Fenton. He will be
followed by Carl -- I am sorry. I can't read this writing -- Sartolo.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Santolli.
MR. MILLER: Santolli. Oh, Mr. Fenton left.
Okay. Carl Santolli will be followed by Ed Mayotte.
MR. SANTOLLI: I'm Carl Santolli, a 31-year resident of
Wyndemere. I remember when Livingston Road was a sleepy little
road that ended at the Wyndemere gate. Many people were opposed to
the extension of that road. I was not. I am for progress.
What is before you today is not progress. It will be chaos on
Livingston Road with trucks going in and out and who knows how
December 11, 2018
Page 84
many. So I am totally against it.
I have been vice president of Wyndemere. I've been president of
our association. There's not a person I have talked to who is for this.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next and final speaker on this item is Ed
Mayotte.
MR. MAYOTTE: Good morning, Commissioners. Thank you
very much for the opportunity to address you on this issue.
I am, in totality, opposed to this whole project, but I would
support Attorney Lewis' position in that we could continue discussions
on this project. It absolutely makes no sense to me as a private citizen,
and I would support the Board's recognition of the number of people
that are here discussing this issue and how they feel about it and how
it's going to impact our homes, the noise intrusion, the pollution it's
going to be causing, and the total disruption of our lives.
Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: That was your final registered speaker for this
item, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. Well, so many people came
off the list. Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: It was me and, you know, I didn't
X myself off. I'd like to speak to staff, please; specifically,
transportation.
MS. SCOTT: Good morning. For the record, Trinity Scott,
Transportation Planning manager.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So I have a question regarding
Livingston and the design of Livingston and whether access --
increased access from Livingston onto properties is going to hinder or
help the movement of traffic on Livingston, please.
MS. SCOTT: I'm going to switch over. I had prepared a brief
presentation, and I think it will give a visual with regard to -- I'm going
December 11, 2018
Page 85
to skip through.
Livingston Road is a Class 2 facility in our access management
standards, so that's a controlled access point. The applicant could meet
access management spacing for two access points; however, that same
resolution requires the county to provide reasonable access and we,
from a staff perspective, feel that reasonable access can be
accommodated with one access point.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So you -- so one access is okay;
two is not so good?
MS. SCOTT: We don't believe that based on the information
provided for the landscape nursery operation of 12 p.m. peak trips, that
it would warrant a second access point.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Before you leave.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: The petitioner currently has
access at the entranceway to Grey Oaks, is that correct, as far as you
know? That's what we've been told.
MS. SCOTT: I honestly do not know that without looking at the
title work. And looking at the Property Appraiser's website, the -- I
believe the Grey Oaks Homeowners' Association, but that's based on
what the property information is.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Let's make an assumption that
the petitioner has access for some use -- we're not determining use --
but has access to that FP&L easement either for a regular nursery or
whatever it turns out to be; that's not our decision today.
Would it be better from a traffic standpoint for the citizens that
live in Grey Oaks and for the travelers on Livingston to have that
additional access regardless of what that use is at the FP&L easement?
MS. SCOTT: From a transportation perspective, I'm okay with
another access point with the left-in to keep them out of the
December 11, 2018
Page 86
intersection, the signalized intersection. What we've learned about
signalized intersections, U-turns, takes away from green time.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And that's all I wanted to
know is whether or not, from a traffic planning standpoint, it made
sense to have one more access point.
Folks at Wyndemere are opposed to a new access, but they're not
the ones that are directly impacted by access at the entrance to Grey
Oaks. So I think we have an opportunity to solve a problem without
negatively impacting Livingston Road in general.
But I am sensitive to not approving any kind of a use, if we do go
forward with this. That may be something that would require some
litigation, but that's not what we're here about today.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The folks at Wyndemere are
affected because that's the main entrance and exit to their community
which they use, and it's very busy. So if there's an increase of
commercial traffic --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's a good point. I was just
thinking in terms of traffic going in.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah, exactly. And it could be
argued that when you look at this, the road into Grey Oaks, it could be
argued that the -- indeed, it's not only the folks that are -- that are
legally entitled to Grey Oaks, but look at the houses so close to this
road. That's going to increase a lot of traffic on these folks that maybe
use this all the time. So it's an increase -- it's an increase in use in an
area that has never had it before, and this, to me, is a poster child of
why we have to address infill.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I was concerned. It seems to me
from these drawings that the entrance to Wyndemere is right across
from the entrance to Grey Oaks.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes.
December 11, 2018
Page 87
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So if we moved the access point
down the street a little bit, that way, then, that wouldn't get any extra
traffic going in and out there and would be easier for the folks at
Wyndemere because it would take --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: (Inaudible.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. And so by having one access
point -- and I don't care for the two access points at all, so I was glad
you made that concession. Thank you very much.
I don't -- I think landscaping in this thing -- of course, I'm into
landscaping anyway. I think that that would be a nice thing to look at.
Commercial business, I don't like that idea either. That's not what
the people are bargaining for. So if I had my druthers, I would say to
give one access point right-in/right-out, left, and so forth. That would
be good. No second one. And put it down the road so it doesn't
hamper or interfere with Wyndemere so that everybody has easy
access.
And I would make a motion to do that.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: On the motion, could I ask the
motion maker to add a little bit to that motion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It depends on what you want me to
add.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Right. No, I understand.
That's why I said "ask."
That there be one access point as indicated by staff. The
petitioner, as well as the representatives in opposition; that one access
point would be acceptable; that this does not have any impact on what
is a permitted or conditional use of the FP&L easement. We're not
making any decision on what that use can be.
December 11, 2018
Page 88
There's some language in the PUD document that says it can't be
a commercial use, but there's some language that seems to be
somewhat contrary to that. So that's an issue that the lawyers can
litigate.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll accept that, because we're not
discussing use today anyway, so --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And, secondly, that this
particular applicant will give up any rights that it may have to use the
entranceway to Grey Oaks and Wyndemere. They're giving up that --
whatever right they may have to use that. If you can add those two
conditions, if the --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Give up the rights -- say it again.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Make sure I'm saying this
correctly. The applicant has indicated that they may have some rights
to use the Grey Oaks entranceway where the traffic signal is; that they
would be giving up any right to use that as a condition of getting this
other access point. If the petitioner will agree to those two conditions,
then I'll second the motion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. And I do want to add one
little caveat to that, but go ahead. Would you agree to that, or would
you --
MR. YOVANOVICH: The answer is yes, but I do want to say a
few things for the record afterwards, but I don't want to get in the way
of your discussion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. What I wanted to talk about
was somebody said something about U-turns. And in order to go back
and get into their property, to the Wyndemere property, right?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We're not going to be dealing with
December 11, 2018
Page 89
U-turns, right? You're going to be able to get in and out easily?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well, the problem you've got --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Stay on the microphone,
please.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The problem you've got is
Livingston -- if someone's coming from the south to the north on
Livingston, they must make a -- if they're using this area, let's say, the
nursery, they have to make a U-turn at the entrance to Wyndemere on
the right and Grey Oaks on the left.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: No. There's a left there.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: There's a left-in, right-in.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: If they're heading north?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Right.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a left-in here.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: At that access point to the
north.
MR. YOVANOVICH: I circled it on the visualizer to make sure
we're all talking -- if you don't mind, Commissioner Saunders, that's
the access point you were referring to, correct?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right, yes.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay. That's the access, not the
southern one.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Right. That's what you were talking
about, Mrs. Fiala and Commissioner Saunders?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I am. And somebody had
mentioned it. I just wanted to make sure we cleared that up. Good.
Well, then my motion stands as added to or agreed upon.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Then I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. It's a -- thank you, Mr.
December 11, 2018
Page 90
Chair.
I just -- well, I'm in concert with the motion. I wanted to
particularly state that we weren't here today to discuss the uses. I don't
really concur with the reduction of the second southerly access because
I think it allows for better traffic flow and so on and so forth, and I
wanted to -- I was in favor, candidly, of allowing both access points
with a written stipulation from the applicant to not use the lit
intersection at Grey Oaks and Wyndemere.
But we're down a path of just one access point, and I didn't see the
detraction of the southerly one towards the intersection as being
prohibitive. So -- but I'm okay if you only want to allow them one.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you. And the reason -- I
thought about this very carefully, and the reason I eliminated the
second one is when we built this road in the first place -- you all
remember that -- when we built this road, it was for limited access.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That's right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So I felt that one access would be
fine. A second access is pushing it some. So that's why I eliminated
that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I spoke, so I don't need to.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
MR. KLATZKOW: Commissioners, just for the record, this
motion's for both 9A and 9B, correct?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Correct.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Correct.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Correct.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, thank you, yes. Came to our
rescue, Jeff.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Can I -- just a couple quick things on the
record. I know that -- I have to because --
December 11, 2018
Page 91
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
MR. YOVANOVICH: -- in case there's an appeal, okay.
One, I'm going to object to the affidavit coming in because you
cannot provide an affidavit through an expert to provide a legal
interpretation as to what a judge will rule, so I object to the affidavit
because it is not a permissible expert affidavit.
I would point out in the affidavit that the master declaration that
they attached to the affidavit has been amended and restated and the
affidavit, in fact, does not include the most current master declaration
to the property.
I would like to point out that the attempt to qualify Mr. Thompson
as an expert, to not include the attempt to qualify Mr. Thompson in
anything other than real estate expert -- and, again, I've noted my
objection for the record as to the validity of the affidavit.
And I want to state for the record that there has been no expert
testimony other than your staff and our submittal documentation
presented to the Board of County Commissioners at this time and
during this public hearing.
And with that, what I did is I put one last exhibit up there. This --
where you're talking about, the left turn lane access, it already exists in
Livingston Road. So we're not creating a new unplanned-for access
point, and I just thought that that was important for the Commission to
note and for the public to note that it's an already-existing access point
that can be easily identified to serve our property.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
MR. YOVANOVICH: With that, thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. No other question or
comments? There's a motion and a second. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 92
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I'm opposing. The reason I'm
opposing is specifically because of transportation. We have roads that
work, and we have roads that we need to keep working or else the
community will have to be paying a lot of money, at the tune of $5
million a lane mile to build roads.
Even though there's an access area on this, this is basically a piece
of property that's not being used, and I just don't agree. I think it's a
bad, bad precedent we're setting, so I'm voting against it.
(Applause.)
MR. YOVANOVICH: Thank you for your time.
Item #10A
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO
SEND A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS TO THE NCH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ASKING FOR RECONSIDERATION ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
ADMISSIONS POLICY UNTIL THEY HAVE COMPLETED AN
INDEPENDENT PROCESS OF GATHERING INPUT FROM THE
RESIDENTS OF COLLIER COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO SUCH
A POLICY. (COMMISSIONER TAYLOR) – MOTION FOR THE
CHAIRMAN TO WRITE A FORCEFUL LETTER REQUESTING
THAT NCH APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD WITH AN
EXPLANATION REGARDING ITS POLICY CHANGES –
APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, you have a 11:15 a.m. time-certain
December 11, 2018
Page 93
item. That was Item 10A. You also have time-certain items at 1:00
and 1:30 p.m. You have, by my note here, 10 registered speakers here
for 10A.
This is Commissioner Taylor's item. I don't know if she can
expedite the speakers depending on --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think this may --
MR. OCHS: -- the Board's position on this matter. Mr.
Chairman, if I may just proceed, and we'll see where this goes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: We have some doctors that have
taken valuable time.
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. Let me go ahead and get this kicked
off. Item 10A, it's a recommendation to authorize the Chairman to
send a letter on behalf of the Board to the NCH Health Care System
Board of Trustees asking for reconsideration on the implementation of
a recently announced admissions policy until they have completed an
independent process of gathering input from the residents of Collier
County with respect to such a policy.
Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you very much.
This came to my attention, quite frankly, through a phone call
from a resident in the City of Naples. And I listened to it, and then it
seemed like Pandora's box would be opened.
I have had meetings, I've had people come up to me in my hair
dresser's salon, every time people see me at a social engagement, it's
all about what is NCH doing.
As recently as this morning walking my dog at 6:30 in the
morning when I heard a story of a lady who is a power of attorney for
a good friend who broke her shoulder and the fact that being on a floor
in the hospital, fourth floor, where there's hospitalists, she, after Day 3,
has yet to talk to the doctor treating her friend, and she can't get
December 11, 2018
Page 94
information.
So I think there's a lot of chaos out there. I know we're going to
hear from some of the medical community. But my great concern is is
this, perhaps, was a great idea on paper, but the practice of it is proving
very stressful for the community, and I think it would be very helpful
for the Naples Community Hospital board to hear from the community
before they make their decisions. So that's why I'm bringing this
forward.
And just as an aside, as a mother, I can't imagine having a sick
child and having it brought to the hospital and having it handed over to
a doctor that has never seen that child.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MITCHELL: Mr. Chairman. We have 10 registered
speakers. Again, I will ask the speakers to queue up and use both
podiums. Your first speaker is April Donahue. She will be followed
by Dr. Cesar DeLeon.
MS. DONAHUE: Good morning, Commissioners, Vice Chair
McDaniel, Chair Solis. Thank you for allowing me to speak.
My name is April Donahue. I'm the executive director of Collier
County Medical Society, and I speak on behalf the medical society
members, their patients, and the 5,000-plus community members who
have signed petitions requesting that NCH reconsider their new
admissions policy.
We are in favor of Commissioner Taylor's recommendation and
share the concerns that our community and the NCH medical staff
have expressed regarding this policy and removing the patient's choice
of physicians.
National government agencies recognize that patients have the
right to choose the physicians to direct their care while hospitalized,
and we support that patient right.
The new policies being proposed would affect at least 20,000
December 11, 2018
Page 95
admissions per year at NCH that are due to independent hospitalists
and primary-care physician services equaling 40 to 50 percent of all
admissions.
Some primary-care physicians admit their own patients, and many
have their own team of hospitalists. To be clear, we are not opposed to
hospitalists, NCH employed or otherwise. The patient and their own
physician should retain the opportunity to choose the hospitalist that
has access to the outpatient charts and complements the care given by
the primary physician.
The existing close-working teams of community physicians and
hospitalists contribute significantly to preventing medical errors,
improving outcomes, and getting patients back home safely.
NCH-employed hospitalists do not have access to the outpatient
charts, and all of these 20,000 patients would be new to them. Collier
County has a high number of residents with complicated medical
histories, multiple medications, and surgeries. These patients would be
at increased risk of complications with someone who does not know
them.
A visitor role for their physicians is not sufficient. If a physician
is not able to document a recommendation in the hospital's chart, it is
like that consultation never happened.
The policy also restricts access to the specialists in our
community that have proven track records of excellence. NCH has not
encouraged its employed hospitalists to engage with community
physicians, and there is evidence that the hospital disregards
independent physician referrals to specialists who are not employed at
NCH. The policy will have a detrimental effect on our community's
ability to attract talented and qualified physicians who want to remain
independent and yet maintain hospital privileges.
NCH is a community hospital built for the community and by the
community, and over 700 independent physicians and hospitalists have
December 11, 2018
Page 96
contributed to its current five-star rating.
The needs of our community will be best met utilizing all those
physicians who make NCH a leader, regardless of their employment
status, in a truly collaborative open system.
Over 100 letters to the editor have been published. Not a single
physician voted in favor of this policy at the NCH staff meeting. As
our community's elected officials, you can act on our behalf and urge
the NCH board of trustees to hold on this proposal for our community
hospital until other options can be reviewed.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Dr. Cesar DeLeon, and he
will be followed by Dr. Corey Howard.
DR. DeLEON: Good morning, Commissioners. I'm Cesar
DeLeon. I'm the president of the Collier County medical society, the
president of the Collier County Osteopathic Medical Society, and I'm
the chair for the family practice department at NCH.
When this policy was implemented at NCH, administrators did
not request the input of the medical community. When we, the
physicians, were informed about it, we unanimously opposed it, as it
could be potentially detrimental to the lives of our patients.
When a patient comes to me, they entrust in my hands their life,
their health, their well-being, the most valuable possession that they
have. When they arrive at NCH, this is taken away from my hands,
and my patients are being told that due to the result of a mischievously
crafted pilot program, that the care that they would receive from an
unknown-to-them NCH physician, by default, would be better than my
care.
Well, let me tell you, nobody can provide better care than their
patient's own primary-care physician or team, and this is because: No.
1, the relationship and knowledge that we have of them, they trust us,
we know them, we know their families, and many times we know their
December 11, 2018
Page 97
friends as well.
Two, because nobody cares for our patients more than their own
PCP; that's the reason most doctors go into medicine, to serve, not to
be told that your relationship, your knowledge, that your love for your
patients don't matter when they arrive at NCH. An employed
physician can do better. I disagree.
The plan that Dr. Weiss has for our community is not in line with
the best health of our citizens. There will be medical mistakes. There
will be complications. There will be misunderstanding and, above all,
there will -- there might be death.
The ones that could be affected could be you, me, your families.
It will be the citizens of Collier County, the elderly, with many
medications, who are not able to explain their history will be the most
vulnerable.
If you really believe that this is something that you should stay on
the sidelines and watch, just think of the consequences that this poorly
implemented program will bring to Collier County. Also consider the
vision as a commissioner you agreed to follow. It will be destroyed.
A vision to be the best community in America to live, work, and,
play. We cannot be the best community when our healthcare has been
hijacked in the name of lower lengths of stay and less 30-day
readmissions. Who cares about that? Patients want to know that they
will get home save and feel better, not about how much money they
make with their admissions to NCH.
This issue has brought too much negative publicity to our town,
and we are having a difficult time recruiting qualified physicians. We
also have lost and are losing some of the best physicians that NCH has
had. Please do not be reluctant to weigh in and act on the hijack of our
medical system in Collier County.
We, as leaders, have the responsibility and obligation to protect
all those that we are to represent, because one day it will be us on the
December 11, 2018
Page 98
gurney, and nobody will want to speak for us.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Dr. Corey Howard. He will
be followed by Dr. David Scott Madwar.
DR. HOWARD: Thank you. Corey Howard. I'm a physician.
I'm the president of the Florida Medical Association, representing
25,000 physicians in the state of Florida, one of the largest in the
country.
Speaking in favor of Item 10A and writing the letter, although I
will have a little caveat about the actual wording there.
I'm a resident of the City of Naples. I've been here since 1996.
I'm also a past chair of the Department of Medicine and been on the
Medical Executive Committee at the hospital as well.
This is a major problem. The Florida Medical Association really
believes that patients should have a right to choose the physician that
they would like, and the physicians as well. We support medical staff
autonomy. We also support the right to full due process when
credentials are challenged and the right of medical staff to be
self-governed and independently advised.
Finally, the Florida Medical Association really recommends
medical staff privileges not be limited to only those physicians
employed by the hospital.
The American Medical Association, which I also chair the state of
Florida there, has 367 policies specific, I won't read them all, about
medical staffs, but I will read this where it says, medical staff
self-governance is vital in protecting the ability of physicians to act in
their patients' best interest. Only within the confines of the principles
and processes of self-governance can physicians ultimately ensure that
all treatment decisions remain insulated from interference, motivated
by commercial or other interests that may threaten high-quality patient
care.
December 11, 2018
Page 99
There is a significant question of whether or not this is driven by
something financial for the hospital and really not for patients.
Patients really do need to have their physicians present. There's no
question about that.
In the letter that you're going to write, the that way it stands, until
they have completed an independent process of gathering input from
the residents -- I don't know if they're going to listen to whatever they
say, but I do think that that study should be published so that the public
can see it prior to them implementing anything.
In conclusion, the Florida Medical Association speaks in favor of
writing the letter and against any implementation that the hospital is
considering closing the medical staff.
Thank you very much.
MR. MITCHELL: Your next speaker is Dr. David Scott
Madwar. He'll be followed by Dr. Susan Cassidy.
DR. MADWAR: I wanted to say thank you to the Board today,
County Commissioners, for allowing us to speak.
My name is David Scott Madwar. I'm a board certified general
internist and married father of two.
I completed my training in the primary-care pathway at the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 1998. In 2001, I relocated to Naples to
join the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Naples satellite hospital. There
my practice thrived in both the in-patient and outpatient arenas. My
commitment was recognized, and I became chief of hospital staff in
2004, '5, and '6.
Thereafter, I engaged my civic duty on the board of Collier
County Medical Society, becoming its president in 2011.
I have maintained a private medical practice since January 2007.
I see my patients in the office, in their home, and in the hospital. I'm
available to my patients 24 hours a day.
There are those that would have you believe that I am a dinosaur.
December 11, 2018
Page 100
My patients think otherwise. I'm a resource and a lifeline. Naples is
my home, and my patients are the reason I exist.
The relationship between doctor and patient is time honored and
cherished, its value unimpeachable.
October 23rd, 2018, at the general staff meeting for Naples
Community Hospital, Dr. Allen Weiss announced a rollout of a
paradigm shift in in-patient care. This rollout was met with unanimous
opposition from the entire medical staff and its elected leaders. Not a
single physician raised a hand in support of this measure.
The proposal was to establish a hospital admission rights policy
exclusively for those physicians employed by Naples Community
Hospital and their MD -- NCH MD medical group. This would,
effectively, eliminate the internal medicine and medical privileges for
all independently practicing physicians.
Those physicians employed with NCH MD Medical Group would
have absolute authority over admissions, discharges, medical
management, consultation, and diagnostic testing during the course of
your hospitalization. Only the physician of record is legally entitled to
view your chart without special permissions.
This is being mislabeled by the hospital administration as
opposition to hospitalists in general. The practice of hospital medicine
is now over 20 years old and is widely accepted as a mechanism of
improving efficiency and quality in a hospital setting. I, myself, have a
keen understanding of its field, having completed my training at the
Cleveland Clinic's 1,500 physician group while pioneering in hospital
medicine.
Moreover, I, myself, practiced in this town as a hospitalist for
three years. I am keenly aware of the counterpoints to hospitalists as a
substitute for an excellent primary-care physician.
This is a private, not-for-profit entity, and a community asset that
has benefited for decades from the trust and generous support of this
December 11, 2018
Page 101
community. The hospitalists model is appealing to a hospitalist
administrator based upon length of stay and closely monitored metrics
that cut cost and optimize billing.
Moreover, physicians employed with a single medical group may
be subject to economic incentives that will ultimately dictate referral
patterns to only those physicians and services within their own
multi-specialty group practice. In many circumstances, such referral
patterns are contractually obliged.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. I'm sorry.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Dr. Susan Cassidy. She will
be followed by Patricia Perez-Trepichio.
DR. CASSIDY: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Thank you.
My name is Dr. Susan Cassidy. I'm a physician and an attorney. I'm a
patient advocate. I'm the healthcare surrogate for a number of residents
in Collier County who either have families that can't speak for them or
have no one who speaks for them.
I'm not personally affected by the staff privileges. I'm not a
concierge physician. I neither want nor have had staff privileges at
NCH.
I am in opposition to NCH's attempts to close their hospital staff
model. I echo everything that's been said today, and certainly
Commissioner Taylor's comments as well.
I'm going to just make a few bullet points. I won't read a long,
lengthy thing. You know, NCH has just got a relatively new residency
program. The quality parameters in that program are unknown. We do
know that every July when new residents come on board in any
hospital across the country that patient care is affected negatively.
There is certainly issues where NCH, I believe, has said that the
concierge physicians and the hospitalists who now have privileges will
be notified when their patients are admitted. Well, I will tell you as a
healthcare surrogate and patient advocate for people, I'm not notified.
December 11, 2018
Page 102
And so I am extremely skeptical that they will be notified.
I think there is a huge issue here, and it echos, really, what
Commissioner Taylor said. It's not only just handing your child over
to an unknown person. We have many, many older people in this
community who themselves are afraid and fearful. And as they get
older, they're more vulnerable, and their care is going to be handed
over to some unknown person without any checks and balances,
without anybody to come in until they find out they've been admitted.
Fortunately for me, the caregivers that take care of the people I
take care of call me, so I am able to be there, but other healthcare
surrogates, days go by; they don't even know that the person that they
are legally responsible to make their health decisions has actually had a
catastrophic illness.
You know, medical history -- and this was mentioned before -- is
a fundamentally important piece in accurate diagnosis and efficacious
care. I mean, if you don't -- the reason that primary-care physicians and
a patient's personal physician is so good at what they do is because
they have the trust that their patients tell them things that they don't
want to tell anybody else. They're embarrassed. They feel -- they're in
denial. They don't trust that person.
And if you don't trust that person, you don't get a good history.
And people with dementia can't give a good history. And in time of
crisis, they don't have time to refer to records. And as April indicated,
you know, the outpatient records are totally unavailable to them. This,
essentially, leaves them with blinders on to take care of somebody.
When a trusted known resource who will be able to say, well,
we've tried that in the past, and it hasn't worked. You know, that
person is now no longer in the mix. You know, there's a -- this closed
system will also result in a decrease in the richness of the data
available to make medical decisions and, also, it will help eliminate the
cross-pollination.
December 11, 2018
Page 103
So I think -- oh, my time is up, so I think we have to be careful
that we don't end up treating the disease and not the patient.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Commissioners, I'm told Ms. Perez-Trepichio has
left. We will move on to Nancy Lascheid. She will be followed by
John P. Cardillo.
MS. LASCHEID: Hi. Good morning, is it? No, good afternoon.
I'm Nancy Lascheid, and I'm here representing the Neighborhood
Health Clinic and all of our volunteer physicians who have been with
us for 20 years.
I feel adversely about the decision that the hospital is making and
some of the other decisions that they are making that I'd like to bring to
your attention. I'm representing two things: I'm representing the
private practitioner, and I'm representing the Neighborhood Health
Clinic.
The hospitalists actually can do it for medical care. It is not the
end-all. I think that that what's happening here in this community is an
insult to the integrity of our physicians and the quality of medical care
that transpires in this town.
In looking at the hospitalists program, I did call a few people who
have participated, and I know that Dr. Madwar mentioned it, and I
asked him, what was the good, bad, and what was the ugly? And the
good was, you better hope that it's an experienced nurse when you, the
hospitalist, walk up to that bed. And the bad and the ugly was, what
am I looking at on this patient, and did I ever take the class and how
that works? And the other part of it is, when they leave the hospital at
the end of their 12 hours, the haunting of, was that really the right thing
to do?
The second issue that I would like to bring up is the attitude of the
Naples hospital and Dr. Weiss and Kevin Cooper and the challenges
that the Neighborhood Health Clinic has had with these individuals.
December 11, 2018
Page 104
Dr. Weiss has been a volunteer at the Neighborhood Health Clinic
since we started, once a month. He is not unknowing who our patients
are. We have 14,000 patients. And just in 2017, we delivered 14
million -- or $17 million of healthcare to this community. We
dispensed in excess of $5 million worth of medications for the working
poor. We have enjoyed a relationship with Naples Community
Hospital and Physicians Regional.
On April the 13th, Dr. Weiss called me and said, "Nancy, we're
closing the door on the Neighborhood Health Clinic. We will not take
any more of your patients."
I asked, "Why?" and he said, "I refuse to answer your questions."
He eventually hung up on me. And when I asked him, "How are
we going to get our patients' records to continue their care?" he said,
"You can try if you want," and then he hung up on me.
Our board chair went there, our CEO went there and,
subsequently, we ended up hiring an attorney in Tallahassee, John
Loyles (phonetic), and he went there. We have all been told the same
thing.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, I was going to -- I have a
question for her, and I'd like her to finish, if we may, Mr. Chair.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Continue.
MS. LASCHEID: Oh, I'm allowed to continue?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. We waved our magic
wand.
MS. LASCHEID: Wow. That's really great.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: We just gave you
Commissioner McDaniel's three minutes.
MS. LASCHEID: Okay. I'll take it.
When we called the attorney, we used, John Loyles, who is the
legal firm in Tallahassee that represents all of the charity clinics in the
December 11, 2018
Page 105
state of Florida. We hired him. We brought him down. He, too, met
with Dr. Weiss and Kevin Cooper and said, "Why are you doing this?
Why are you shutting them out?"
And they said to him, "We will not answer your questions." The
meeting was over in 13 minutes.
Subsequent to that, Mr. Loyles did investigate charity clinics in
the state of Florida in relationship to community hospitals and was told
"this is a first." The scope of what's being laid on this community is
unacceptable, and if it's the physicians that they're challenging and the
charity clinics that they're challenging, what's next? You better all
watch out.
Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just one quick question before
you go. And when the doctors that volunteer at the Neighborhood
Clinic actually perform, what is the fee that is associated with that for
those that are qualified?
MS. LASCHEID: Thank you so much. Thank you so much.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, ma'am.
MS. LASCHEID: There isn't a fee.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, ma'am. That's what I
wanted.
MS. LASCHEID: We are a charity clinic, sir. We don't take
government money, and we don't ask for the patients to pay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
MS. LASCHEID: Am I done?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
MS. LASCHEID: Okay, thanks.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is John P. Cardillo. He will be
followed by Dr. Jonathan Marsh.
MR. CARDILLO: A little of that magic. I need 30 seconds
more.
December 11, 2018
Page 106
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, we'll see if the Chair will.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I don't know. No comment.
MR. CARDILLO: Good morning -- good afternoon. Thank you
for allowing me time for what I have to say.
I am John Cardillo and a board member of the Neighborhood
Health Clinic since its inception. And I am currently the Chair of the
Board of Directors.
And I follow Nancy for a reason. She and her husband, Dr. Bill
Lascheid, established the clinic nearly 20 years ago. In that time, it has
become one of the leading free charitable clinics in the nation. It has
people coming from all over the country to learn why we have been so
successful. It has received national awards, including trips to the White
House for presidential acclamation.
During this time the clinic has provided excellent medical care in
a dignified manner to the working people of this county who have a
job and who make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line and
cannot afford or obtain health insurance.
We have treated 15,000 people during that time dealing with
chronic disease management, and there are 50,000 people in Collier
County who are eligible for our services. We accept no government
money. All our funds are from generous or private donors, and we
have had over 250 volunteer physicians, 150 nurses, 250 nonmedical
support staff who are protected by sovereign immunity. And when a
physician refers a patient to Naples Community Hospital for specialty
treatment, whether surgery or other hospital care, the hospital and its
treating physicians are also covered by sovereign immunity.
We take the patients back for follow-up. The hospital saves
money by being able to shorten a stay or no readmission because of
our followup treatment. The hospital also saves millions of dollars by
our services by keeping patients out of the emergency room where
every hospital loses money. The hospital was instrumental in helping
December 11, 2018
Page 107
getting us started. Now that magnanimity and community service have
come to a halt.
One, after the hospital bought out NDIC, which is diagnostic, it
cut off our access to NDIC radiology which provided us with $2
million worth of annual services by physicians who volunteered their
time and services at no cost to the hospital.
With the help of a generous donor, we had to go out and purchase
our own CAT scan, our own MRI, X-ray, and mammography
equipment at a healthy price. Then the hospital limited us to four
incidents a month, which could be as minor as a mammography or a
burp. The hospital then cut out any access for our patients at all to the
hospital.
Can you imagine a community hospital doing a thing like that to
an award-winning vital charity clinic in our community? Now, with
their denial of access to physicians, among them are the very
physicians who volunteer at our clinic. Those doctors have no access
to their patients, nor do they have access for our patients who have --
they have attended to.
I had been advised that the hospital has inhibited its own doctors
on its staff from volunteering at the clinic which volunteerism has been
a source of pride among physicians. And, furthermore, they have
threatened nonhospital specialty physicians who do have access to
further limit their admission privileges if they volunteer at the clinic.
On three separate occasions, as Nancy attributed to, we have had
three separate visitors who have met with Weiss and his attorney and
have been met with "we will not answer your questions." Their own
in-house lawyer says this in front of Weiss. It sounded like somebody
was taking the Fifth Amendment. Instead of helping the clinic thrive,
they are eating their young.
So we ask you, write and call NCH. Ask them to reconsider their
policies and open their doors to the clinic. Use whatever influence you
December 11, 2018
Page 108
have as individuals regardless of your business relationships with the
hospital and as a body to help this community that you represent to
keep its hospital a community hospital.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, can I ask a
quick question?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'm sorry. I'm No. 3 on the list
here.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right. Did you want to say something
else, or do you just want to ask a question?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No. I just want to ask Mr.
Cardillo a question.
MR. CARDILLO: You can call me John.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I just want to ask John a
question.
I've been trying to kind of understand why NCH would be
moving in this direction. And the only thing I can think of -- and it
may be totally incorrect -- is that they're continuing to corner the
market on physician practices. This is an effort to just enhance
revenue. Is there -- is that correct, or is there any other explanation?
MR. CARDILLO: I think, in large part, it's correct. I have been
tracing all the moves that have been being made, and I think it comes
down to two or three things: One is power and recognition of that
ability to be "I am the hospital. I am the hospital," and, two, the
amount -- the financial aspects of it. That's what I think it boils down
to.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: The reason I asked the
question, if you're an independent practitioner not owned by the
hospital, and the hospital adopts this policy, then how do you practice
December 11, 2018
Page 109
medicine in this community? It seems to me you're forced to sell
yourself out to the hospital. And I'm just wondering if that's just
overthinking it or --
MR. CARDILLO: I don't think you're overthinking it,
Commissioner. I think that is part of the deal. You either are bought
out by them or you're out of business.
Thank you very much, Commissioners.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, your next speaker is Dr. Jonathan
Marsh. He'll be followed by Keith Flaugh.
DR. MARSH: Hi. I'm Dr. Jonathan Marsh. I'm an independent
hospitalist in Naples, Florida. I've been here since 2012. I'm here to
speak out against NCH's new admissions policy.
This policy was announced at a staff meeting at the end of
September. The policy is that all admissions and care administered at
NCH hospital will be provided by NCH-employed hospitalists to the
exclusion of primary-care providers or anybody they may have chosen
to see their patients.
They've claimed that the motivation for this is to improve patient
care, and they have also claimed that this is not financially motivated;
it's all altruistic. So I'd like to address those two items one by one.
First of all, the idea that it improves patient care. We've already
heard several people point out the issues with fracturing that
relationship with the primary-care provider. NCH conducted a study,
which has been discussed at length in the newspaper before this, but
basically it was not a scientific study. It's not a study that should be
used to make decisions, life-and-death decisions that affect an entire
county.
That is one of the main reasons that it was unanimously rejected
when it was presented to the NCH medical staff and voted on. We
asked for an independent review, and we asked that the study be
brought before the board so a more thoroughly informed decision
December 11, 2018
Page 110
could be made. It was never taken before the Board in contravention
of NCH's own medical staff bylaws.
The second aspect is not only does this not necessarily help
patient care, as claiming with this study, in a lot of ways it hurts care.
It's bad for continuity. It's bad for patient choices. It's bad for
physician autonomy. When you're employed by the hospital, you're
going to be more likely to do exactly what the hospital tells you, and,
of course, the hospital knows that.
It does, in fact, benefit NCH financially, probably tremendously.
NCH currently admits half the patients that go to their hospital. They
will now admit 100 percent. So if you imagine your business grew by
100 percent overnight by changing a rule in a book, you would
probably do a little bit better.
Not only will they get the direct physician fees for those patients
that their hospitalists see, their hospitalists are contractually obligated
to refer their patients to NCH subspecialists, who will then use NCH
ancillary services and refer the patients to NCH providers outside of
the hospital. To say that this is not a likely outcome of what's -- of this
change is to bury your head in the sand, unfortunately.
So it's up for debate. Does this improve things or not? I think
that's up for the patient to decide, not for the hospital to unilaterally
decide. The patient makes this decision with their choice of primary
care, and administration should not have a role in that.
I did want to speak to the health clinic. I think this is a pattern of
disturbing behavior from the hospital, not serving the needs of the
community. One is shutting out the Neighborhood Health Clinic; two
is opposing the Braden Clinic in Immokalee, which will serve the
underserved; and three is continuing to engage in a land battle with
Lee to the north instead of coming to a compromise that could benefit
all the patients in this community.
So I ask for you to use your influence to try and make our
December 11, 2018
Page 111
community hospital a community hospital once again. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Keith Flaugh. He will be
followed by Everett Alsbrook.
MR. FLAUGH: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Keith Flaugh. I'm a resident of the county.
I'm here to speak on behalf of myself and, as you know, I'm a
leader of a fairly significant grass-roots group of community members.
We urge you not only to do this letter, but we urge you to
strengthen the letter by stating your opposition to what they're trying to
do. So it's just unacceptable in most of our opinions. I haven't heard
one person that I've talked to say that they support this at the
community level.
So thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker on this item is Everett
Alsbrook.
MR. ALSBROOK: Hi. How are you doing?
There's been a lot said here that I agree with and I think's very
good. I would like to sort of give you a historical kind of view of it.
And I'll make some generalities, but I'm more than happy to give you
the specifics behind the generalities in another setting perhaps.
I moved here in 1983. I was brought here to practice critical-care
medicine by a search team at NCH. At the time critical-care medicine
wasn't even a specialty, but it was being practiced almost exclusively
in medical schools.
And I was attracted to come here from a teaching position in a
medical school. I taught critical care in the Department of
Anesthesiology, although I'm an internist by my basic training.
And I was brought by a search committee that consisted of Drs.
Warden and Briggs. And as you all, I'm sure, know, Jack Brigg's
mother organized the community to build a community hospital,
change it from a clinic to a hospital, and she matched the funds that
December 11, 2018
Page 112
was raised by the community.
Jack was a thoracic surgeon in California, and when he retired, he
moved back here. He grew up here, and became the chairman of the
board, and he had a lot of knowledge about medicine. And as part of
the agreement of coming here, I wanted him to take me fishing. We
ended up being friends, and I was a lifelong friend.
He would tell me about his plans for the hospital, how he viewed
the community. The hospital worked with the medical staff to attract
and provide state-of-the-art care when it was needed. Jack had a lot of
access to the old guard of the community. There was no trouble
raising money to provide these services, and they were expertly and
accurately identified by Jack and Crone (phonetic) and the medical
staff to provide these services.
Things have changed. The primary -- I'll speak faster. The
primary-care question is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been --
and as alluded to, there have been Machiavellian tactics in bringing
this about. The cardiologists now at NCH are all hired. How were
they hired? They were hired through intimidation and threat of
personal bankruptcy.
The radiology unit has been completely replaced. There has been
continuous complaints by the medical staff on quality issues that have
never been adequately addressed. The MEC, the Medical Executive
Community, is now a majority of the employee physicians of the
hospital or are parts of groups with exclusive contracts. So you can see
the primary-care question is just the tip of the iceberg.
At one point we had -- because of our activities, we had the
lowest mortality of heart attack in the state of Florida and one of the
shortest times from what was called door-to-needle time for these
clot-dissolving drugs. Those kinds of things go away under the
corporate big-medicine approach where statistics become important
and not the individual patient and where care is not tailored to them.
December 11, 2018
Page 113
So I think -- I support you-all writing a letter, and if there are any
more questions or I can add anything, I'm happy to do it. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I thought Commissioner Taylor
was in front of me.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: No.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You know, I would like to say
this out loud.
First off, you know, I've had mixed emotions about this, not in
support of the community and what's, in fact, being stated certainly
here today. But we're public elected officials and being asked to, if you
will, meddle in a private not-for-profit organizational decision making.
But in -- and my resistance there is not to -- certainly, to not
support the community, but it's meddling in private affairs along those
lines.
But, you know, Commissioner Saunders, you brought up a point
earlier asking one of the speakers there with regard to the motivations,
and it's -- the bottom line is a monetary gain and a maneuver.
Someone spoke about NCH's opposition to Dr. Braden's Hospital.
And I read that opposition. In 48-some-odd pages going on and on, it
basically alleged that the proposed profit for Braden Hospital estimated
900,000 was going to dip into their 40 million of not-for-profit profit
that NCH would, in fact, make.
I had asked our staff yesterday if we, the government, were
subsidizing NCH in any way, form possible, and I actually -- and I was
told no. And then I learned that our insurance carrier for our county
employees has differentiations in the deductibles between the two
hospitals that we currently, in fact, have available to our county
employees, and I would certainly like that to be looked into.
December 11, 2018
Page 114
It was mentioned here regularly today that it is the patient's choice
with regard to the physician. It also should be the patient's choice with
regard to the hospital they choose to go. And if we're incentivizing
one way or the other, I think that needs to seriously be looked into.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's a good point.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I wholehearted support
Commissioner Taylor's efforts here with regard to this and would like
as strong of a letter to the staff at NCH from us.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Would you agree that if there's
any -- with this letter, would you agree to -- I think we heard one
suggestion that if there is an informal community or a formal
community gathering of information, that it be made public and put
that in the letter?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, again, yes, but, certainly,
it should, but we're dictating policy to a private non-for-profit, and they
have the right -- they've already made it very clear "we don't have to
answer your questions."
I would certainly like to see that if, in fact, it could be suggested.
But they've already proven that they're going to do what they want to,
so...
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm okay with what you've got
going.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
I do not believe that elected officials should interfere when
business decisions are made, in general. And this is just a little bit
different. We are a huge customer of NCH.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If you take the Sheriff's
December 11, 2018
Page 115
Department, you take all of our county employees and the jail, all of
those employees that we provide healthcare for through our budget, we
are a huge customer of the hospital. So this is a little different. I think
that we can weigh in not only on behalf of the community but on
behalf of our staffs.
I am concerned that this is a policy that is geared towards
enhancing control and enhancing revenue. That's why I asked that
question. And I haven't seen anything that shows that this is something
that will actually benefit patients.
So I want to thank Commissioner Taylor for bringing this
forward, and we should send a strong letter, and we should ask for
documentation and support for why this is something that will benefit
patients, because I haven't seen that.
I think the fact that NCH is not here today -- now, this would
have been relatively short notice, but still it was on the printed agenda,
and NCH is a big organization. They have a lot of folks. They could
have sent somebody down here to answer some questions. And I think
the fact that they didn't is indication that I don't think they really care
what we have to say, but I think we need to say it.
I don't want to put in a letter that we believe that this will affect
patient care in a negative way. We don't know that. But I think that
there should be some public airing of why they're doing this. There
should be a tremendous amount of public input into this, because it
does affect every one of us, everyone in the community. So I support
moving forward with the letter.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I just have a question of my
colleague to my right. Did you work with Dr. -- with Mr. Crone in the
hospital?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Me?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes.
December 11, 2018
Page 116
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I did; yes. I worked with him
for 13 years, yeah, and it was a great hospital.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes, absolutely. He's still
treasured in the community.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Very community supportive.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I would just like to make a couple of
comments myself.
You know, I did speak with Dr. Weiss yesterday and asked for
whatever the data was, asked him to provide -- or somebody at the
hospital, to provide the data upon which they're making this decision. I
strongly urged him to attend or have somebody attend on behalf of the
hospital to have a discussion to hear both sides. Because I agree with
Commissioner Saunders that, you know, we can't be necessarily
dictating what happens between these private entities and doctors, but
we do have a constituency and a lot of employees that we need to think
of.
And so I don't know that we should judge one way or the other at
this point, because we've only heard one side of the story. Now, the
side of the story that we have heard -- and the hospital's made the
decision not to present their side of the story is not a good one.
And I shared with Dr. Weiss that my experience with the
hospitalists in my dad's illness was not a positive one, and I'm
extremely concerned that this isn't going to make it a better experience.
So I would like to add to the letter that, you know, the hospital
should come and provide the data and whatever research they've
performed or whatever the results were of the patient surveys and
everything. That should be presented publically. I mean, it affects the
entire community, and we should hear that.
The situation with the Neighborhood Clinic is -- I wasn't aware of
that, and it's just shocking, to say the least.
December 11, 2018
Page 117
So I would be in support of writing the letter and making it as
forceful as we can but requiring -- or not requiring, because we can't
really do that, but requesting that on behalf of the community the
hospital come and present something.
My understanding is they didn't appear at the City Council
meeting either, and that seems to be consistent with "we're not going to
answer questions." So I'm very concerned about that as well.
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I've always been one who feels
that you must communicate. You can ask anybody; that's my big forte:
Communicate. Tell everybody what you're doing so that you can come
up with a solution where everybody's involved.
And when somebody makes a decision such as this that affects
the entire health of the community and they won't even speak to you,
that's really not good. I worked there for many years, and there was
much more of an open-door policy there, and I can't believe that they
do that.
But, you know, the sad thing is they also prevent other hospitals
from coming in or from expanding their services. It's almost like we
want to make sure that nobody else has a chance at it, and we'll just cut
them off at their knees. And I'm so sad to see that it's turned to that
type of a philosophy.
But, Commissioner Taylor, I will support you in anything you do
on this. This is really an important thing to our entire community.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you. What I would like is
to make a motion that we ask our Chairman to write the letter and that
-- and to send a letter, a forceful letter, as you said, also requesting
NCH to come in and explain their motive based on the fact that we are
the Board that is responsible for -- how many employees?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: 2,000.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: 2,000? How many employees?
December 11, 2018
Page 118
COMMISSIONER FIALA: By the time you get the Sheriff's
Office and everything.
MR. OCHS: Well, yeah. That's about 1,890 on your agency.
There's another 2,500 among the constitutionals, maybe more, so
you're 4,000 or so.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: All right. And so that's as soon as
possible.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I will do that.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And asking for a response one
way or another.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And I'm just -- I don't want to belabor this
anymore. But I would ask the Medical Society one favor, and that is I
was recently on a panel with Dr. DeLeon, I believe, at the Schulze
Family Foundation panel where one of the discussions was the
shortage of primary-care physicians and whether or not this change in
policy could make that better or worse. I'm assuming worse if it would
be difficult to, you know, make a living as a primary-care physician.
So if they could just provide me that, I'd be willing to add
something like that to that, because that is impacting a lot of different
aspects in Collier County.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think the Medical Society would
be a great resource. So there is a motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Is there a motion?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second. Commissioner
Taylor made it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion and a second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 119
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's unanimous.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you, all, for being here today.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you for the time took away
from your practice to speak on this very, very important issue.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
And we will take lunch. We have some time-certains, but I think
-- can we do 45 minutes for lunch? We have time-certains. An hour?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Let's make it an hour. If we're
late, we're late.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. We will be back at 1:45 and begin
our 1 o'clock time-certain.
(A luncheon recess was had.)
Item #11A
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY
MANAGER TO PREPARE A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC
SCHOOL DISTRICT OUTLINING THE TERMS OF A
POTENTIAL LAND SWAP AND JOINT DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT ON A COUNTY-OWNED PARCEL LOCATED
BETWEEN IMMOKALEE ROAD & 4TH AVENUE NORTHEAST;
WORK WITH THE ADJACENT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER
FOR POTENTIAL PARTNERING TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE
EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL; CONDUCT NEIGHBORHOOD
December 11, 2018
Page 120
INFORMATION MEETINGS FOR INPUT FROM RESIDENTS
AND BRING BACK OPTIONS FOR POTENTIAL USES FOR THE
PROPERTY AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING – MOTION TO
APPROVE AND TO ALLOW ANY PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD – APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, you have a live mic.
Commissioner, this moves us to Item 11A, which is a 1 p.m.
time-certain, and this is a recommendation to authorize the County
Manager to prepare a memorandum of understanding with the Collier
County Public School District outlining the terms of a potential land
swap and joint development project on county-owned land located
between Immokalee Road and Fourth Avenue Northeast; also to work
with the adjacent private property owner for opportunities to partner in
obtaining access to the existing traffic control signal at that location;
further conduct neighborhood information meetings for input from the
residents; and, finally, to bring options back for potential Board
consideration at a future meeting.
Ms. Toni Mott, your 30-year county service award winner, will
also -- is the manager of our Facilities Management Real Estate
Division, and she will make the presentation. Toni.
MS. MOTT: Good afternoon, Commissioners. For the record,
Toni Mott, Real Property Management. Included in your agenda
packet was a PowerPoint presentation. I can go through that and speak
shortly on excerpts.
MR. OCHS: Let's do it.
MS. MOTT: Okay. The Randall Curve property was part of the
1,061.5 acres that was transferred from Avatar Properties. The lands
deeded to the county need to be either used for capital improvements
located within the Golden Gate Estates boundary or the funds derived
from the sale of the lands need to be utilized for capital improvements
December 11, 2018
Page 121
for residents of Collier County.
This next slide is a little busy, but what it does is it shows all of
the expenditures from the beginning of time, who the entity is, the
amount, and what the funds were used for.
The next slide's a little bit easier to see as far as the entities and
then a total of the funds that have been provided.
Okay. This is the property that we're talking about, the Randall
Curve property, 47 plus-or-minus acres. Back in 2004, there were
discussions with the school district about doing a potential land swap.
Acreage -- this acreage would be utilized for county purposes such as
fleet management and road and bridge and a school bus barn and
related facilities.
I got a little ahead of myself. That is the acreage at Palmetto
Ridge High School, the proposed 25 acres that would be the swap, the
initial swap back in 2004.
One of the challenges with the site plan that was developed in
2006 was access to the existing light on Immokalee. Here's the
conceptual plan that was developed back in 2006, so this has been
going on for quite some time.
In 2007, it became inactive due to the recession, the inability to
obtain suitable access to Oil Well Road for the Parks and Recreation,
and also water and sewer services were not going to be immediately
available at the Randall Curve site.
The county and school district are interested in revitalizing the
swap plan and, basically, for the same infrastructure that was
contemplated back in 2004. In exchange, the District would provide
the county with acreage to increase pickleball parking at the East
Naples Community Park, and I believe there's been discussions that
that parking is limited at this time.
The other acreage would be at Palmetto Ridge High School for
future amenities for parks and recreation, and also within that footprint
December 11, 2018
Page 122
will be the connector easement for Public Utilities to the north plant
and the Orangetree plant that we took over.
The access at the Randall Curve property might be feasible by
patterning with adjacent private property owners. That's our next slide.
We have our Randall Curve property, and we have the property,
BCHD Partners 1, LLC.
And, as Leo mentioned in the beginning, our recommendation is
to authorize the County Manager to prepare a memorandum of
understanding with the school district outlining the land-swap
transaction; to work with the adjacent private property owners for
potential partnering; to obtain access to the existing traffic signal; to
conduct neighborhood information meetings for input from residents,
which is key here. We would like input from the residents, also the
GAC Land Trust Committee; and then to bring back options to the
Board.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Do you have the superintendent with this, Toni?
MS. MOTT: Yes. I'd like to introduce Dr. Patton from the
school district. She has some comments she'd like to make also.
DR. PATTON: Hi. Good afternoon to our chair and to our other
county commissioners, and Mr. Ochs.
So I am Kamela Patton here from the school system. And I just
want you to know this is the first time in seven-and-a-half years I've
come to speak on an item. We've been the recipient of some of your
wonderful awards, but the first time to actually speak on an item.
So we're very proud when we have the opportunities to work
together and provide joint facility usages. We know that is specifically
saving taxpayers' money. We do that in the past. We continue to do
that. We're looking forward to the support of having this. You heard
the history just a moment ago.
Ultimately, we're looking for a permanent school bus
December 11, 2018
Page 123
maintenance center and the different facility there is to help that
Golden Gate Estates community; that that is a project, as you've heard,
that we've been working on for more than 12-plus years in different
aspects. That long history makes a big difference for us; that we all
know that we need to have those opportunities to have facilities that
we can do that jointly together.
So we're in support of this and asking you to consider moving
forward with that project; to explore that and bring it back again. So
just know that you have our support of this project. And, again,
whenever we have that opportunity to share facilities, that's ultimately
saving taxpayers' dollars. So we thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Do we have public speakers?
MR. MILLER: Yes, Mr. Chairman. We've two registered
speakers for this item. Your first speaker is Michael R. Ramsey. He
will be followed by John Pelletier.
MR. RAMSEY: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name's
Mike Ramsey. I'm the president of the Golden Gate Estates Area
Civic Association.
Estates Civic believes that the interpretation of the 1983
agreement on this issue for the GAC lands is that the lands were to be
used for the benefit specifically of the residents of Golden Gate
Estates, not just government services.
Two, Estate Civic believes that the 47 acres is still under the
reservations of Parks and Recreation, according to our research.
Before it's removed from that reservation, we think there should
have been more discussion with the GAC Land Trust and the Estates
residents about options, which has not occurred.
Three, Estates residents consider the area now from Randall to
Oil Well Boulevard along Immokalee Road where the 47 acres is to
now -- it's becoming a center point of the rural Estates community. It's
becoming commercial. It's becoming retail. It's becoming a center
December 11, 2018
Page 124
point, and we would like for that to be something more than a
maintenance facility area.
Four, Estates residents do not want a bus barn at this location.
After much discussion with our residents in our meetings, they made
that very clear; they don't think that's the type of operation they'd like
to see there.
Five, most important, Estates Civic is concerned with the lack of
communication with the GAC Land Trust and the Estates residents
about the development of this plan in front of us today. We believe
other options should be explored; therefore, the Estates Civic does not
support developing a memo of understanding with the schools at this
time to swap the property. We believe more options should be
explored and the different types of benefits to the residents of the
Estates as dictated in the 1983 agreement.
That's all.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is John Pelletier.
MR. PELLETIER: Thank you for letting me speak here today. I
do apologize in advance; I didn't sleep too well last night because I
have to public speak today, and this was a subject in school I had
trouble with. So bear with me.
I've taken time off from work today because this concerns me and
my family as well as residents of the street in Golden Gate Estates.
My name is John Pelletier. I've owned the home on Fourth Street
Northeast for 25 years. Twenty-five years ago when I wanted to rent a
video, I used to have to go on a two-hour round trip to Blockbuster
Video down by the Coastland Center Mall.
So now I can walk to a beautiful new Publix in a fraction of that
time. So I would like to thank past and current commissioners for
amenity-type progress and development of this area.
But I am here today to express my opposition to authorize a
memorandum of understanding for that land swap and joint project
December 11, 2018
Page 125
development of a bus depot. This use would be industrial on a
residential street. There are many other sites to consider just a mile
away hidden from view of any residence.
Randall Curve is considered, for me, the center of town where I
live. My street, Fourth Street Northeast, it has 27 homes, 10 which are
directly across from this proposed bus depot. In addition, on the street
there are 38 landowners.
Valencia Lakes also has 30-plus homes directly looking at this
property across from Immokalee Road. Randall Curve also is an
F-rated intersection by DOT, the worst possible rating you can get.
Adding hundreds of buses would exacerbate safety concerns that the
DOT has.
Supporters of this land swap for a bus depot on Randall Curve
needs to know that this affects thousands of Golden Gate residents
from a visual, financial, and vehicular standpoint.
I respectfully request that no authorization is given to pursue this
memorandum of understanding. We were told for decades a park was
going there. History indicates that this 47 acres still belongs to a
reservation to the Parks and Recreation Department via the Gulf
Atlanta Corporation Land Trust.
In conclusion, I am concerned -- my neighbors are also not here
on the street, and the reason I'm concerned about that is that on the
agenda today the Fourth Street Northeast -- the street was named
wrong. It was Fourth Avenue stated, not Fourth Street.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, John.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. Was that our final speaker?
MR. MILLER: That was your final speaker, yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any other comments or questions for
staff?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah.
December 11, 2018
Page 126
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. I'm sorry. Commissioner Taylor,
you're up.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well, I didn't press it, so that's
amazing. That has to be from before.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Did you press your button?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I did press my button. But I
was number two.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, go ahead. You're number
one. I'm number two. That's from before.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The first question I have is
MOU, my understanding -- County Attorney, my understanding of a
memorandum of understanding is not a legally binding document.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's not a contract, no. It's just -- it's sort of
this is how we'll conduct ourselves, but we don't really need to.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Should circumstances prevail,
this is what we would consider doing if you would consider doing that
and so on.
MR. KLATZKOW: Think of it as a handshake deal.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. So one of the things I'd
like to share with my colleagues -- and I have -- I've been quite
involved with this since Commissioner Nance was here. There -- I do
not believe that we have ascertained the highest and best use for this
piece of property. I do not believe that we have done due diligence in
determining what the actual value of this property is should it be
disposed of in any form or fashion, and it is specific that the benefit of
the disposition of this property shall go to the residents of Eastern
Collier County.
So what I would like to propose -- and I don't really have an issue
with the MOU, though there is a supposition that if we start to go down
that path, that that's the way it ends up getting carved into. I don't have
any issue with continuing conversations with contiguous property
December 11, 2018
Page 127
owners, and I certainly want to enhance the public outreach that has
transpired so far.
And along with these recommendations, I would like for the
county to offer this piece of property up for sale for a 90-day -- while
all this is going on, we can actually enter into an RFI period, request
for interest, of outside parties. I know of one specifically who has
expressed an interest in this and has been told by somebody that it was
not available for sale, for exchange, for anything, and that we're too far
down the road with these negotiations with Department of
Transportation and the school district with regard to the exchange for
the bus barn and the CAT bus facility and the firehouse and the like.
So it would be my recommendation, if the Board does choose to
proceed with this, that we, in fact, add that to the recommendations so
that we can, in fact, ascertain if there is somebody else out there that
would be interested -- other than the contiguous property owners that
would be interested in this.
So I'd like to make that a motion, if I can.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So say your motion again.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: What are you making a face at
me for, sir?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm trying to figure out what the motion is.
Sorry.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Well, I want to add to
the recommendation -- again, I don't have a concern with the MOU,
because it's just a memorandum of understanding as per se.
I would like to add to these recommendations that we open the
property up for sale for a 90-day period as-is, where is, and accept
letters of intent from people who might have an interest in it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a motion. Is there a second
for the motion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I'd second it for discussion.
December 11, 2018
Page 128
But first I wanted to -- I would like to know, this particular property --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- one of the things that Golden Gate
Estates is probably envied for is that they have very little commercial,
and they have large wooded lots, which is great, because no place else,
as far as we know in America, is like that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Correct.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It's just wonderful, and they need to
keep that, but they do need -- there's so many people out there now.
They need to -- commercial. Is this land considered good for
commercial?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Potentially. There is a lot of
already zoned, not yet permitted, but zoned commercial land on the
perimeter of Golden Gate Estates, but we haven't offered this piece of
property up for sale for someone to be able to potentially rezone the
property for a commercial use.
We haven't offered this property up for sale for exchange or other
interested parties that might, in fact, exist. I think, for us to do our best
to do our due diligence, to ascertain the highest and best value -- and
I've had this conversation with our staff. I think it's prudent for us to,
minimally, do that along with these recommendations that staff's
coming forward with.
There may be somebody out there who is willing to -- willing to
buy this piece of property, at which point, then, the money goes to the
Golden Gate Land Trust, and we can -- that money can then be spent,
as it has been, for the benefit of the residents of Eastern Collier
County.
There may be other exchange partners that are out there that we
don't know yet. And until we actually offer it up, I don't think we're
doing a service to the community.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I have a quick question. And I apologize.
December 11, 2018
Page 129
I've got three -- so you're -- okay, you've spoken.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I have.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm trying to get my -- catch up on my --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you want me to unplug
myself?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: No. I'm playing catch-up here.
Commissioner Taylor, you're next.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Do you want to speak?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I just have a legal question. And as I
understand it, there are some restrictions that the property be used for
the benefit of residents of Eastern Collier County. I mean, that's a deed
restriction?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. I mean, this goes back many, many
years.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right.
MR. KLATZKOW: The properties are either to be used for
public services for the residents of the Estates or be sold and the
proceeds used for the residents.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Oh, it can be sold.
MR. KLATZKOW: So, for example, you know, one use that
we've talked about over the years is selling property and then putting
that money to help with a regional park. That would be one type of
thing we could do. But it's there to help the people in the Estates.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Is it specifically to the Estates
residents, or Eastern Collier County? I couldn't remember if that -- is it
specifically to the Estates?
MR. KLATZKOW: My recollection is that it's specific to the
Estates.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. But it is the Estates.
MR. OCHS: Sir, there's a bullet point here in the middle of this
December 11, 2018
Page 130
slide that kind of summarizes the intent there.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So it's my understanding -- I'll
direct my question to Commissioner McDaniel.
From reading the material that we didn't discuss today, it's my
understanding that the folks in Golden Gate do not want more
commercial. It's my understanding that they don't mind driving
because, frankly, the Golden Gate is, as you have said, homes with
wooded lots. They don't want that interrupted. And it's my
understanding that the Golden Gate Master Plan actually passed
through the CCPC. Am I incorrect or is that correct?
MR. OCHS: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So highest and best use in Collier
County usually means somebody's got an eye on this and really wants
to buy it because they want to put something into it. And then we get
into, okay, what's the highest and best use.
We had an extraordinary experience last year with Irma where the
schools were closed for two weeks because they took in so many
residents in this community that needed shelter; that they couldn't --
that they had to clean up afterwards. They couldn't get the kids back in.
We had teachers and volunteering in the special-needs shelter. I
don't understand why highest and best use wouldn't be a partnership
with the school board because, frankly, the Golden Gate is full of
children, and these buses transport these children.
I don't understand why that is -- why we have to go to market for
something that will benefit the people that can't speak, which is
children.
So I would like -- I'm not so sure we should -- unless there's some
legal prohibition to it -- and I'm not sure that's the case -- to put it out
in the market. I mean, putting stuff in the market in Collier County
means somebody wants to buy it. They want it to go out in the market,
December 11, 2018
Page 131
and I don't agree to that.
I think the school -- this has been a long plan. It's been, what,
since 2006 -- 2004, 2006. That's almost -- that's 12 years in the
making. And, yes, it would have come to fruition if it hadn't been for
the recession.
So not that I disagree with people being interested in this
property, but after reading -- and I was very carefully reading that
master plan -- I don't think the people want that. I don't think they
want more commercial. And to have buses and to have it -- I mean, it
can be screened. It can be created in such a way that it won't be
intrusive in a neighborhood. I think it makes a great deal of good
sense to be in that location for the school.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well -- are you done?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes, yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: All right. First off, you're
commingling the wishes and wants with regard to the Estates residents.
The discussion with regard to the commercial in Golden Gate
Estates was very specific. They came out loudly and spoke about not
wanting to -- not wanting to expand the commercial nodes within
Golden Gate Estates proper. This property is within Golden Gate
Estates, but it's right on Randall Curve as we have, in fact, discussed.
My concern is that the value of this piece of property is to inure
the benefits of the residents of the Estates, and there are negotiations
that have transpired that have precluded others, one of which I know
for a fact that has expressed an interest in this piece of property but
was told that that wasn't, in fact, going to be possible.
Now negotiations are being entered into again. And, Dr. Patton,
there's no secrets with this. We've had meetings since I've became the
commissioner. Commissioner Nance dealt with this piece of property
for four years while he was in this chair.
I would feel better about this -- it may well be that what's being
December 11, 2018
Page 132
proposed by our staff today is the highest and best use and the
residents of the Estates are receiving the highest value. But until we
actually make it available in the open marketplace, I don't think it's fair
for us to try to make a determination as to what that highest and best
use is.
And a simple way to do that, while these -- while these MOUs are
going on and negotiations with the contiguous property owner -- I
mean, in order for us to get access to the light, there's going to have to
be a rezone of this piece of property. There's going to have to be an
exchange of some of this property for somebody else's property.
There's a lot of other things that are going to need to transpire in
order for -- even for this MOU to go through or to come to any kind of
a contractual arrangement.
And I think it is prudent for us to make the property available on
the open marketplace to ascertain if there is someone else out there
who may be interested in making us a different offer that might be
more valuable to the community.
It's all going to come back to us. None of this is going to happen
without, ultimately, this board approving it. But I am -- because I
know of one, I can't imagine that there might not be more.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: When I'm reading this middle
bullet, the lands deeded to the county pursuant to the 1983 agreement
are required -- not to be sold at the highest and best use or be used for
-- are required to be used solely to provide government facilities for
existing and future residents of Collier County. That's what it says.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: All capital -- continue to read,
please, if you would.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: All capital improvements are to
be physically located within the geographic bounds of the Estates.
Any proceeds from the land sales, which is -- which is a land sale of
December 11, 2018
Page 133
these lands that are deeded over -- shall be utilized to facilitate capital
improvements and operational expenses for fire, police, recreation,
libraries, and police protection.
So that, to me, tells me that the property could, in fact, be sold,
and that those monies go to the land trust to be utilized as dictated
there.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Oh. But you'd have to dovetail it
with the fact that these lands have to be used solely for government
facilities for existing and future residents. And I -- you know, I
consider children future residents of Collier County. To me it's a
match made in heaven with the school board. It fulfills this bullet.
That's all I have. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think that -- we have a
motion and a second. I'd like not to vote on that motion. I'd like to ask
the second to withdraw the second and let that motion die, and here's
the reason why: We have a piece of property that has certain
underlying zoning. Clearly, we can sell it and use those proceeds for
governmental services in Golden Gate Estates, but that's not the item
that we have on the agenda.
And if we're going to sell a piece of county property, I think we
should evaluate what we want to go on that property before we go out
to the market to ask for bidders.
And so I think what we should do today is either accept or reject
the staff recommendation. If we reject it, that's fine. Then have staff
come back to us at a future date with some ideas on what that property
could be used for, and then we can decide whether or not we want to
sell it for those types of uses.
But to say to the world, we have a piece of property, tell us what
you'll pay us for it, that -- I don't think that that's the right way to deal
with our property.
December 11, 2018
Page 134
So what I would suggest is that we not vote on a motion to put
this out for some request for information or --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Interest.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- interest but that we decide
what to do with this particular agenda item. And if we decide not to go
forward with this, which is fine, then come back later with some
concepts of what could go on this property if we want to put it out on
the market.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: If I may, Mr. Chair, just
respond.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Can I add one thing? That way you can
probably respond to me as well.
And I agree with Commissioner Saunders, and I would add that if
we're going to do that and look at what we could use the property for,
I'd be interested in understanding -- because I think for me this is one
of the most important pieces of this puzzle is what's the, whatever,
economies of scale or the benefit of leveraging the taxpayer monies to
have this joint facility? Because if we don't use this for a joint facility,
then I'm assuming most likely we'll end up with two facilities. The
school district will have to have one, and we'll have to have our own,
and then we won't be leveraging, you know, the money.
And so I don't know if that's an analysis that can be done but that
would be helpful for me to understand what the benefit of doing this
jointly would be as opposed to selling it and doing separate things,
which would concern me, so...
Oh, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's all right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, go ahead.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: One of the things that nobody has
stated so far is, I'm looking -- I keep looking at your screen, I'm sorry,
December 11, 2018
Page 135
but you've got the map on there, so that's good. I wanted to see that.
It looks like it's a very busy area, and it looks like there's a lot of
houses on the other side. And does this connect to Immokalee Road?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. So that means it's a really
busy area. Now, how -- did we do any kind of a traffic impact study at
all to see if -- when the school buses roll out of there, they really roll
out. I mean, we have them over there on Rattlesnake Hammock Road,
and it's a lot of buses.
Have we ever tried to see if that could -- if that would mess us --
because there's a lot of workers also out in that area who also have to
pull out of their homes at the same time. Will that even work on this
kind of a property?
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, that traffic impact analysis would be
part of the rezoning process that every rezone goes through. So, as
Commissioner Solis said a moment ago, and Commissioner Saunders,
if you allow us to proceed and we come back with a concept that you
all agree with, then the rezoning process would begin for that land that
would include the traffic impact analysis and all of the other elements
that go into your land-use process, including NIMs and public hearing
in front of the Plan Commission and, ultimately, back to you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So before we even know if it could
really accommodate all of the traffic --
MR. OCHS: Well, I'll let Mr. Casalanguida make a quick
comment on the current carrying capacity of Immokalee Road in that
area.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Yeah. Immokalee's in good shape.
The Randall piece that comes off -- the gentleman who spoke is
correct. Randall Road is at LOS F, and that is under study right now.
The turnaround time for the Randall improvement's about two to
three years. The turnaround time for this site would be two to three
December 11, 2018
Page 136
years as well, too.
When we had done this study back in 2004/'6 for this joint
collocation, what was attractive to the county was both road and bridge
and school department buses leave before the p.m. peaks -- a.m. peaks
and come back before the p.m. peaks. So if you think about in the
morning -- my daughter gets picked up at 6:15 by the bus. Those
buses are leaving that facility very early in the morning. They usually
don't come back till after eight or nine when the peaks are over. And
then in the afternoon, they're doing the same thing when we're not in
heavy traffic.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So you're saying the kids -- there's
no buses to leave to take the kids to school after 7:30 in the morning?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: No. I think the predominant amount
of buses are already on the road by the time the rest of everybody else
is on there.
Probably Tom or someone from the school department can talk
about the hours of operation but --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Don't they get the kids to
elementary, then they go to Pine Ridge?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, that's what I thought, yeah.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: They use the same buses.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Because elementary kids start later,
so that's why I'm surprised at that. I would like to hear, you know --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, they'll only be a --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- I mean, this is really an important
part of this whole thing is to make sure that everybody can get to work
and to school all in that same little quadrant.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Yes, ma'am.
If someone from the school board wants to talk about the hours
that they leave.
DR. PATTON: So knowing where Randall Curve is in that area,
December 11, 2018
Page 137
so the buses would actually be going east. At that time of the morning
most people are coming west into town. So they're actually going the
opposite way, and we triple stack the same set of buses.
So the same buses are used for elementary, middle, high school,
hence the staggering of the time.
One of the parts I want to, you know, just to be sure while I'm
here today is to be sure that the five of you understand the county
needs two things right now from the District: They need, one, an
easement that's at Palmetto Ridge High School. You already have the
parklands over there. You can't access all those without the easement
to put the pipes and everything underneath. That's why part of this
would give you that easement that you need.
The second thing is the request that we've had for four years to
have additional space for parking in the east part for the pickleball.
Those are contingent on that.
So we don't have another answer for you other than that. That's
the one thing -- those are the two items that you've needed for the
whole time. This is the same items we need. What that allows you to
do is to still take land that was potentially for parks and continue parks,
putting all but two acres out continuous to your property already at
Palmetto Ridge, putting in more soccer fields for the community or
whatever else that was already on your books for the parks.
But don't lose sight that this isn't just about our bus barn. It's
about the fact that you need the easement that's out at Palmetto Ridge,
and you would like -- that you need. You would like the other parts to
the pickleball.
So that's reducing our middle school footprint of School JJ that
we purchased back 12 years ago. That's the only one of our three in our
inventory of owned properties, only one of three middle schools, so
that's important. It's the only one that's east of the 951.
So that piece of property is very important to us. It would make it
December 11, 2018
Page 138
the smallest middle school. We're willing to do all of that to
accommodate your need, but we do need to move forward with
something like this, and it's still keeping your land that was part,
originally, in the land trust deal is that all but two acres would still be
able to be utilized for parks and recs and all those kind of activities
contiguous to what you already have out there.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. I'm still going back to -- I
thought that that property was gifted to you by Barron Collier about --
yeah, by the Collier Enterprise people many, many years -- no?
MR. OCHS: Which lands, ma'am?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: The one she's talking about, East
Naples Community Park. Wasn't that gifted to all of us? They have --
in the Sabal Bay, they had -- when they tried to work out the Sabal Bay
thing?
MR. OCHS: No, I don't -- I'm not sure, ma'am. I'll have to do
some research.
MR. EASTMAN: The County Manager's correct. The school
district -- Tom Eastman, director of real property for the school
district. The school district purchased that property for its market
value.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay. That's interesting,
because when I talked to the Collier Enter -- no, Barron Collier -- no,
no, no -- Collier Enterprise people, I came to a different conclusion.
Okay. That isn't important, really.
DR. PATTON: July of '07.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What is terribly, terribly, terribly
important is, will everybody be able to get to work and get to school if
they're all crushing in the same area?
My son happens to live right down the street. So, you know, he's
told me, kind of, what's going on over there as far as traffic goes. I just
want to make sure that what we're providing is safe passage for both
December 11, 2018
Page 139
different transportation things.
MR. EASTMAN: The school district purchased the JJ site from
Collier Enterprises. And, as Mr. Casalanguida stated, a lot of the
school traffic with the buses, the vast majority comes off peak, and
they leave very early in the morning, the large majority of those buses,
so it's not in conflict with the highest usage of the roads.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I'd just like to -- would
like to come back around again. I mean, you know, I -- it may well be
that what staff's recommending is the best use for the residents of
Golden Gate Estates, but we don't know that because we haven't
offered the property or allowed for acceptance of any kind of -- there
may be somebody else out there, one of which I know -- I've said that
three times now -- may be interested in doing something different.
There may be other alternatives for the school district to be able to
effectuate the easement that we require for the utilities and such in
behind Palmetto Ridge. There may be other pieces of property where
the Fire Department, in fact, could go.
And I am concerned because of what I have been told since I have
become commissioner for two years, what Commissioner Nance
represented to me while he was in this seat, as to the capacities for
rezoning this piece of property and in effectuating an exchange is
exactly what's being done now when we were told we couldn't.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I believe the school district
really needs a bus barn out there. Don't get me wrong.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm not saying they don't.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I know that they do, and they should
have had it, right?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't mean to interrupt you.
I'm not saying that the school -- they don't. I mean, Dr. Patton and I
spoke about this, my goodness, the week after Thanksgiving.
December 11, 2018
Page 140
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'm just worried about the traffic
tie-up. We've been all talking about traffic. You know, we keep
saying, you know, how much is coming in and how much we should
prevent. That's just -- I'd love to give it to her. Of course, she's
dazzling right there in front of me that pickleball acreage that I really
need, right? Yes.
But the thing is, I'm worried about the traffic. I just want to make
sure everybody can get to work and get to school.
DR. PATTON: So remember, Ms. Fiala -- just to help you with
that concept. Buses are already rolling out there. This isn't adding any
new buses.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Where do they leave from?
DR. PATTON: They leave from, now, Palmetto Ridge High
School.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: They park in the back.
DR. PATTON: So they park in the back of the high school. So
this isn't really adding traffic. Buses already take kids out there
everywhere. All these services already exist.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: See, that wasn't mentioned before.
DR. PATTON: Well, so just -- that's why I was listening to your
conversation. I wanted to be sure. This isn't something new. It's a
matter of locating where they are, locating with you-all so that we're
using -- again, effective use of locations like we have in different areas.
It's just expanding the location out of there. So I just want to be sure
you understand that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, we have a
motion and a second. I'd like to dispose of that. But if it passes, fine,
but if it doesn't pass, I'd like to make an alternative motion just to give
a little bit of enticement to Commissioner Fiala to, perhaps, withdraw
her second so we don't have to vote on this.
December 11, 2018
Page 141
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I thought she did. I thought you
-- did you not?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I didn't -- I didn't second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: She did second it for
discussion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, did I? Oh, yeah. I was --
(Multiple speakers speaking.)
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I missed that.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah, she withdrew her second.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So we don't have a motion on
the floor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Right.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: In terms of the pickleball area,
from what I understand, there's a couple of acres that we're talking
about, and maybe the school district can be a little bit more flexible on
how much property is available there for pickleball.
And so when you come back with the memorandum of
understanding, let's try and see what you can do about expanding that
pickleball area offer.
So, Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we direct staff to
continue the discussion, come back with a memorandum of
understanding. That does not bind us to go forward with anything. It
just gives us the opportunity to determine whether or not we want to
make this deal happen.
At that point, assuming that the school district is a little bit more
generous on pickleball, we can move forward or not. And then if we
decide not to move forward, then we can talk about selling it on the
open market. So that's my motion.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. And,
Commissioner McDaniel, were you not -- I assumed that you were
December 11, 2018
Page 142
done, and I'm thinking incorrectly. I apologize.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's all right. That's all right.
Are we in discussion on the current motion?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. I just want to ask you in
all candor, who knows best the particular area that we're talking about?
What have I asked you for that is a detraction in my original motion
from what you are already doing other than taking away the
opportunity of another party being interested for the greater benefit of
the residents of Eastern Collier County? What am I asking for?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I don't know how --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It all happened synonymous.
This -- how long -- if I may, just from an argumentative standpoint,
how long will this entire process, MOU, public outreach, site planning,
traffic studies, and all that sort of stuff take? Six months?
And so I'm asking, interimly, in the 90-day period to -- while
you're doing that, offer the property up for sale to accept other offers.
That's all I'm asking, so -- but you -- that motion failed. So you-all can
do your thing.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Boy, we've had some tough subjects
tonight, haven't we?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No fist fights yet.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Not yet.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I understand what you're
saying. My concern was that if you do a request for some interest on a
piece of property where we don't know what -- if we don't put this on
there, we don't know what we would want to put on there.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: How would we know unless
we ask? And I've said it three times already. I'll say it again for a
fourth. I know of someone else who's not on this list who has been
told that this property was not available for them to consider to
December 11, 2018
Page 143
purchase or exchange or do anything with. I know of one. And so
that's all I'm asking for, interimly, while this process is, in fact, going
on, so it's a -- but it's --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Is there any reason why an interested party
couldn't provide an offer to purchase the property, I mean, in the
interim, while all this is working, and it could be brought to us if it is
made? Then -- I mean, I'm not sure --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: If we --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- what we're discussing about it. But to
advertise it -- I'm not sure --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: She's whispering into the mic.
We can hear her.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: May I say --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm not sure where we're going with this.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: It might be disingenuous. If we're
going to -- if we're trying to determine an MOU, we can't at the same
time put it on the open market. That's disingenuous.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't -- well, there again, I'm
-- can I make a statement? I mean, there's some sort of an eminent
emergency that has transpired with the transaction with the school
district on a piece of property that was taken out of the Land Trust and
moved into Parks and Recreation on the premise of an exchange for a
school bus barn how long ago, Tom? Eight years? Eight years ago.
And all of a sudden it's an emergency for us to go down this path. And
I am disappointed that this path is being presented in its current form
and format, period.
I'm not saying that it's a bad idea. I'm not saying that the
proposed site plan preliminarily that's in my office on my shelf is a bad
idea. I am saying there is another way to accomplish this to ascertain
whether or not the greatest benefit for the residents of Golden Gate
Estates is being accomplished.
December 11, 2018
Page 144
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think Mr. Solis had the
solution. We deal with this agenda item. We have a motion that has
not been -- I'm not sure if it's been seconded or not.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: It has been.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: It's been seconded. Let's
dispose of this motion. If it passes, then staff will be working on this
MOU and hopefully getting more land for pickleball, and Mr. Solis has
suggested if somebody wants to come back and tell us that they have
an interest in this property, then have them do that; have that property
owner come back or that developer come back and tell us what they'd
like to do with the property, and we can make a decision. We're not
making a final decision on the disposition of this property.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm well aware of that, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And, ultimately, this is going to have to go
through a zoning process and NIMs and the Planning Commission.
MR. OCHS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And there is some chance out there that it
might not be suitable anyway after we go through all that, so --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: It's not a (inaudible) --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right. So there will be opportunities, I
think, to entertain those offers. And I don't know -- I don't understand
why they wouldn't just make an offer.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And, again, forgive me for
interrupting. I don't -- I just --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's all right. You're emotional
about it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, I'm passionate about it.
It's not emotion.
It's just -- Commissioner Nance asked to rezone this piece of
property and was told it was illegal; I asked to zone this property, was
told it was illegal; and now a proposition for zoning this piece of
December 11, 2018
Page 145
property, exchanging it for other rezoned property to get access to that
light for the benefit of the residents of Golden Gate Estates is what
we're being asked for right now.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You might have been told
something that doesn't make any sense. Governments cannot contract
away their police power. Zoning is a police power.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So there's no way to say you
can have a piece of property; that it can never be rezoned. That's a
police power that can't be contracted away. I'm not sure where you got
that information.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Without -- so I am sharing with
you what I have, in fact, been told for two years; what Commissioner
Nance was told before me. And I'm parroting from him. He's not here
right now to defend himself.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I would suggest that that might
be bad information that you got.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, it potentially could be,
sir.
MR. KLATZKOW: The concept was can we rezone this to high
commercial and then sell it and then take the money and then use it for
something else. And the answer was, no, you just can't do that;
otherwise, we'd never have to tax anybody. We would just buy
property, rezone it, and sell it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's a heck of a good idea.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's a great idea. Almost as good an idea as
printing your own money.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: When he explained that to me,
I was, like, let's do that. So be that as it may -- and, Commissioner
Solis, for the record, for your information, when ready, willing, and
December 11, 2018
Page 146
able parties approach staff and are told no, that that proposition that
you're suggesting is not possible because we're too far down another
path is a disincentive for those -- for folks to come forward and
actually, in writing, make a letter of intent to join with us to rezone this
property to effectuate an exchange.
So that's the -- that's the -- I understand where you're coming
from. I've been in real estate all my life, and I know that every piece of
property, necessarily, is for sale and anyone has a right to come and
make an offer. But when you are told no, there's a huge disincentive to
even give it any consideration going forward.
So that was my rationale for asking to put it on the open market,
accept letters of intent, and go forward.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, we've, at several locations in the
past, brought unsolicited offers for county property to the board when
they come our way. If one should come from someone on this
property, I guarantee that we will bring it in front of this board and vet
it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, how about this: How about, would
the motion maker and the second consider just adding to that motion
that should an offer be made on the property that the staff will bring it
back to us?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll amend the motion if the
second will accept that, to do that.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I certainly will. Fine with me.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Say that again, please.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That we're adding to the motion that
should -- we're specifically directing staff that should a proposal to
purchase the property and effectuate a swap, or whatever, be presented,
that they bring that back to us.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, okay.
December 11, 2018
Page 147
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So that we accomplish both things.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, kind of -- yes, yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Any other -- Commissioner Fiala,
any other discussion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. I was just going to say we don't
know what the other piece of property would be.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You know, we have no idea, so --
but I think this is a good solution. I like that. So we have -- you know,
everybody can work on their idea and then move forward and see what
works out best, and we'll come up with something then. We've got all
during Christmas to do that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So there's -- the opportunity to present an
offer is open. I think that's --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes. No offers precluded.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. All in
favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
Item #11B
RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT A REPORT REGARDING
COLLIER COUNTY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
– PRESENTED; DISCUSSED
December 11, 2018
Page 148
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, that takes us to your 1:30
time-certain item. That would be Item 11B. This is a recommendation
to accept a report regarding the county's economic development
program. This was a request made previously by the Board.
Mr. Callahan, from the County Manager's Office, will make the
presentation.
MR. CALLAHAN: Good afternoon, Commissioners. For the
record, Sean Callahan, your executive director of Corporate Business
Operations.
So this follows the September 25th board meeting. There was a
request for a report on the holistic economic development program that
we run here in the county. So I'll give you a short presentation on how
that works, and we'll open it to your questions or discussion.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Excuse me. How did you
characterize it, as holistic?
MR. CALLAHAN: Correct, ma'am. So all of the different facets
of our economic development program is what we'll be discussing
today.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
MR. CALLAHAN: So since 1996 the BCC has had, as part of
their strategic plan, a goal of economic diversification. Most recently
in 2017, it was one of the focal points of the latest iteration of the
strategic plan.
You'll see throughout there specific goals that have been achieved
and, basically, we provide the resources and incentives to encourage
growth and attract new jobs and expand existing jobs to our county.
Why do we do that? Despite how healthy the economy is, it's still
largely concentrated around what we term as legacy industries:
Agriculture, hospitality, and construction, which leaves us susceptible
more to economic downturn and fluctuations in the economy. So the
BCC, for decades now, has had that as one of their main goals.
December 11, 2018
Page 149
To my right is our director of the Office of Business and
Economic Development, Jace Kentner. So the main division that we
use to produce those different programs, to oversee those different
programs, to coordinate those different programs is the Office of
Business and Economic Development.
They're here to oversee our partnership contracts, which I'll touch
on a little bit next. So we're joined -- in the audience is each of the
different economic development partners that we have.
And the Business and Economic Development Office really
oversees, sort of, three areas that we like to focus on as part of our
economic development program, and that's retention and expansion of
existing businesses in Collier County, attraction of new businesses
through marketing and site selector, tourist, and then entrepreneurship.
So in the business, in retention and expansion, we have the
Partnership for Collier's Economic Future, which we funded at
$100,000 for Fiscal Year '19. That's a partnership between the
chamber which really focuses on those retention and expansion efforts.
In the business attraction, we have the Southwest Florida
Economic Development Alliance, which we also fund to the tune of
$100,000 in Fiscal Year '19. And they focus on marketing and bring a
really regional coordination of our economic development program.
And then on entrepreneurship, we have economic incubators
funded at $600,000 for FY 2019, which runs the two accelerators that
we have: The Naples Accelerator, which focuses on small business
programs and soft landing for new businesses that come into the
community; and then the Florida Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee,
which is focused on agriculture and food industry out there.
Some of the emerging partnerships that we've been working on
lately: We recently partnered with four of the major colleges and
universities in the area. With our accelerator program, we recently had
Collier County Public Schools out to view and tour the accelerator
December 11, 2018
Page 150
program out in Immokalee, and we have a lot of established allies:
FGCU, the Small Business Development Center, Career Source
Southwest Florida, many of which you're familiar with that we partner
with on our different economic incentive programs.
And just real quick, before I drill down into the financials of our
current program, Jason and I, in September and October, went to our
sister counties and really asked them how they did their economic
development programs because we really wanted to get a feel for what
other counties that were comparable to us that were in the same
neighborhood, what they did with their programs.
So on the right side of the screen you can see we used the annual
economic development operations budget, so personnel and operating
budgets for the county offices -- it's very hard to make a comparison of
incentive programs because they're very different. You see FTEs and
then per capita, which is that spending based on the population of the
county.
So some of the general takeaways that we had from those
different visits to Lee, Sarasota, and Charlotte -- so there's no one right
way to do it, but all of the offices focused on the same things that we
did. So business retention, expansion, and attraction remain facets of
those different counties.
And without pause, when you asked what was next on their
agenda, they all wanted to launch some type of accelerator or
incubation program in those counties, some of which are under
development currently.
So we're unique with our partners. As I described a couple slides
ago, other counties handle more of those operations in-house with
county staff. There's -- like I said, there's no one right way to do it.
Then in each of those counties, there were countywide branding
initiatives that had either recently been completed or were currently
underway, that we're visiting all of the different economic
December 11, 2018
Page 151
development tools that the county had looking for synergy between
those departments. So you can think of that in Collier County as our
tourism department, our community redevelopment areas, and then the
Office the Business and Economic Development.
So with that in mind, moving onto our program. In addition to
those partnership contracts, and then Jace's office, as I showed earlier,
we fund the accelerator project and then a variety of economic
development incentive programs. The financials, incentives that are
focused on attracting high-wage jobs in the diversification of capital
investment.
So your FY'19 budget in total for economic development is a little
bit over $2 million, and then since the inception of the office, back in
Fiscal Year '12, we spent a little bit under 10 million on the program as
a whole.
A couple new programs that I'll touch on later, opportunity zones,
the innovation zones that the Board has created within our certified
sites programs, which will be coming online.
Very broadly, our incentive programs, we have a variety of
different financial incentives that we offer to businesses that we're
trying to attract or that can meet a certain amount of job creation with
wages throughout the county.
We offer a capital investment program for targeted industries
coming here, and then we partner with Florida Power & Light for rate
reduction and defined tariffs that they can offer to businesses that
create a certain number of jobs and -- or high-power users.
So just to speak to those incentives a little bit more. Since the
creation of the office in 2012, the -- Collier County has paid out a little
under 3 million; about $2.9 million. Now, we think we can tie those to
direct job creations of 1,195 jobs.
We have REMI studies that we've partnered with, staff has
developed with the Regional Planning Council that demonstrated
December 11, 2018
Page 152
another 2,500 or so indirect or induced jobs that are a direct result of
the jobs created by your financial incentives. And then net job creation
in Collier County during that same time has been about 25,000 jobs.
So you can see the vast majority of that investment is attributed to
one of our more successful companies in the county, Arthrex. Just $2
million of that total pot of 2.9.
And then your FY'19 budget incentives is $580,000, and 400 for
FY'19. Just to drill into that a little bit more, you can see that even in
FY'19, the majority of our budgeted incentives are going to Arthrex to
pay for agreements that were created.
Position Logic is another company, and then ACI Worldwide is
participating in our ALPS programs. We'll make -- our first payment
is scheduled for this fiscal year. So that's the budget for this year.
And then just to touch on some new programs and future projects.
Certified sites program will be an effort that's undertaken by the Office
of Business and Economic Development to identify commercially
available sites throughout the county. Use them to put those online and
be able to market those to businesses that could be coming to the area.
The innovation zones is a program that was created in the tax bill
in 2017, in the Trump tax bill, that offers capital gains deferral for
investors in qualified zones. We have five of those in Collier County.
Innovation zones are created by the Board and offered TIF
financing. The latest one was -- a couple meetings ago we created one
in Golden Gate Estates.
We're going to work with all of our partners this year to come up
with an economic scorecard which really -- we could report back to the
board on a quarterly basis for what's going on in the county economy.
And then QTI, qualified targeted industries, is a broad list of
industries that the state designates for their financial incentives
programs. We'd like to narrow that down and really get some focus on
what we think we can attract here to Collier County.
December 11, 2018
Page 153
So with that said, that is the presentation of our Economic
Development Program as a whole. And I have Jace here from our
Office of Business and Economic Development, as well as all of our
partners in the audience, who are here to take your questions or ensue
any further discussion that we have.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. How many public speakers do we
have?
MR. MILLER: We have four registered public speakers for this
item, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Would the Board like to hear the speakers
first before questions?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Sure.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
MR. MILLER: Your first speaker is Arpi Solti, and he will be
followed by Carol Thompson Finn.
MR. SOLTI: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Arpad
Solti. Short version Arpi Solti. I'm very happy to be here.
And let me start to say thank you after three years to be a member
of the business accelerator in Naples, Florida.
After we started our business in Naples, we had -- what happened
to us that two of our office building was sold, and we have to move.
So this was just a short comment on this.
And I think being a partner and being a member of that
accelerator, we build really good metro (sic) connections with other
businesses, with the county, and we are growing our businesses here.
So we started three companies already here, and we would like to
grow and build a headquarters for our new ventures. So I would like to
say thank you to the county to (sic) funded this, and I know the State of
Florida also funded this, and also to the team who is running the
facility day by day. Thank you so much.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What kind of a company is it, sir?
December 11, 2018
Page 154
MR. SOLTI: HyperTeam. HyperTeam, IT and Business
Consulting Incorporation, and the Logiscool.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did you understand that? I
didn't understand that. Say that again, please.
MR. SOLTI: So the HyperTeam.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: HyperTeam.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: HyperTeam.
MR. SOLTI: HyperTeam, yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's an IT consulting.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh. Sorry, I never even heard of
that.
MR. SOLTI: I'm sorry. That's my accent.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Can I ask a question of both
this gentleman and staff? Because I read the article in the paper about
the teaching of kids how to code, which sounded really cool, and -- but
I got -- became a little concerned because their young -- the ages seem
to be pretty young. And I'm not sure if it was six to nine -- or whatever
the ages were, they were young kids.
MR. SOLTI: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And it was kind of billed as an
after-school type of a program, and there are state laws dealing with
background checks; there are zoning issues. And I'm not so sure -- and
I'm not trying to pick on you. It just happened to be in the newspaper.
But I'm not so sure that that's a use in that facility that's legal. And --
you know, for example, if you have an after-school program, there
have to be background checks of all the people that are involved, but I
think you'd also have to have background checks of everybody in the
accelerator if that's where they're going. I doubt that that's happened.
But I also don't believe that that's properly zoned for that use.
So we've got a problem there, and I'm not sure if staff has fully
December 11, 2018
Page 155
explored that. And perhaps staff can answer those questions.
Is this totally legal? And, again, I'm not trying to say that they're
doing something that they shouldn't be doing, but I'm just concerned
that they don't have the right authorization to do that in one of our
facilities.
MR. CALLAHAN: Commissioner Saunders, Jennifer Pellechio,
who's the chief operating officer of Economic Incubators, who
manages the accelerator, is here, and she can address that question.
MS. PELLECHIO: Hi. Jennifer Pellechio, for the record.
Yes. So before I address the question, I know Arpi's on a
three-minute window, but I have spoke in depth with him, and I would
like him and Bridget to both tell you some of the facts that they know
about the program in terms of the legal questions.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah, that's all I'm concerned
about. I don't care about the program. It sounded very interesting.
MS. PELLECHIO: Right.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I am concerned about the
underlying zoning in that building, whether it's properly zoned for that,
and I'm concerned about whether or not there were proper precautions
taken for the young children that are there, including state licensing
and state --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could I throw another question in?
And is it also an accelerator like teaching children or what?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So could I throw that in there?
MS. PELLECHIO: Okay. So let me try and address all three of
those briefly, and then I'm just going to have them jump in when it
comes to the real legal answers.
First of all, the first -- the coding school is a business. When they
came to our accelerator, they signed up as a business to expand a new
business opportunity. Their business office -- the application was for
December 11, 2018
Page 156
their business office to be located at the accelerator, which is a
permitted use because it is the business office.
The portion that's the coding school, which is teaching the
children at the different ages how to do coding, is another facet of that
business. They were using the location as a temporary location until
they found a permanent location.
They have been working with Department of Children and
Families; they've been working with their insurance partners. They've
been working with the appropriate people to find a location to house
this second part of the office building and be able to do that. I believe
-- and I could be wrong, and I'm going to probably defer to zoning. But
I believe in the use of the accelerator that these kind of things are
permitted.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. I appreciate what
you've said, but that doesn't alleviate my concern. As a matter of fact,
it increases my concern, because if they're looking for a permanent
space, I understand that, but that doesn't mean that they can use the
temporary space if it's not authorized.
So I'm going to turn to the County Attorney. And we don't need to
make a decision today, but I'm going to ask the County Attorney to
evaluate whether or not that use, the way it's being conducted today, is
authorized, and if it's not, and if there aren't proper licenses, then we
have a problem that we have to solve immediately, not two weeks
from now, not three months from now, not when you find a new
location, but immediately.
That's all -- you know, I don't want to belabor that, but I just --
I've got some concern. And if it's not an authorized legal use, it has to
cease. And I understand how bad that could be, but we can't permit
that type of activity in a county facility unless it's legal.
MS. GUERRERO: Thank you so much. I just want to introduce
myself really quickly. So I'm Bridget Guerrero, and I am the regional
December 11, 2018
Page 157
manager for Logiscool.
So as they said earlier, the idea with this would be this is a
startup. This is a company that comes in, and we are teaching school,
you know, kids how to code, program, and robotics, right? As of --
what I understand, we have many children come into the facility to use
it. Actually, high school students use it because they do recitals for
singing.
The idea of the use of this public space was to be able to support
the growth from the ideation stage to go to market for different
businesses, whether it includes, you know, startups, with, you know,
obviously, Logiscool, or any students, whether they're in high school
or college.
So this is a public space; is this correct?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No.
MS. GUERRERO: That's being used -- I'm sorry. A space to use
for the public that comes in for businesses.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: (Shakes head.)
MS. GUERRERO: No?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No.
MS. GUERRERO: People can come in and they do --
MS. PELLECHIO: Do you have the email? I don't have it with
me right now.
MS. GUERRERO: Okay. All right. So, anyways, my
understanding was that if I want to start a business, I go in and I come
to this space that the county has provided, and I use it so I can start out.
The idea of Logiscool was that we were going to start here, and
then we were going to move out to a bigger location because this is
still under the ideation stage. This grew so much because, as you said
earlier, this is a really cool idea, and so does the parents of Collier
County as well.
We hire young instructors, which are in college and university,
December 11, 2018
Page 158
which we give experiential learning. They're in school learning how to
code, programming, and software engineering, and they come in.
I can't answer your question until, of course, he comes back with
your particular. But, yes, the idea was to start out here, and then as we
grow, we would move into a different location. We are all
fingerprinted in our company, of course, and background checked as
well.
As of the rest of the staff, that hasn't -- no one told us when we
spoke to the children and -- department. We are just a registered,
because they said we were not aftercare.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You may be perfectly legal. I
just don't know that you are.
MS. GUERRERO: Okay. No, absolutely.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's my concern.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. I was just sweeping something
off my face.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So you have registered or done whatever
you needed to do with the Department of Children and Families and
Department of Education; you've done all that?
MS. GUERRERO: Yes, sir, correct. Yeah.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If you could simply verify
that, have the County Attorney verify all that.
But the other issue also, Mr. Chairman, is whether or not that type
of activity can occur under that zoning.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Zoning.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: My understanding is -- and,
again, I'm not trying to pick on you, but we have a responsibility to
make sure that we're not doing anything that's illegal, and we're leasing
that space, so that's our space. My understanding is you had 38
children there in October. Now, that's a large number of kids, and I
December 11, 2018
Page 159
just want to make sure that we're not violating some state or federal
law.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And as a point of clarification,
it's not our space. It's privately owned space that the county's paying
the rent on.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, okay. Okay.
MS. GUERRERO: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If I was a lawyer, I think I
could sort of pierce that little thing, quite frankly.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: If you were a lawyer.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: If you were a lawyer.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If I were a lawyer.
MS. GUERRERO: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, you know, Ms. Bridget
made a comment about it being public space, and the perception was
that this was an allowable use, and it's not. It's being paid for.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: May I speak to that? Usually in
schools there's an office, and then there's a classroom. You're using
the incubator as a classroom. That's not what the intention of the
incubator is. To have an office where you work and then you bring
children somewhere else is probably what the incubator's for but not as
a classroom.
MS. GUERRERO: So 38 students, you mentioned. So it's only
once a week that students come in, and we only have 38 students.
MR. KLATZKOW: We'll look into it. We'll look into it. We're
not saying you're doing anything wrong. I've just been asked to look
into it. That's all.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And we may have some differing opinions
on that.
MR. KLATZKOW: I mean, to me, would you have a school in
an office building? Doesn't make sense, but we'll look into it.
December 11, 2018
Page 160
MR. OCHS: Thank you.
MS. GUERRERO: Thank you so much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Carol Thompson-Finn, and
she will be followed by Shelly Rhoads Perry.
MS. THOMPSON-FINN: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My
name is Carol Thompson-Finn. I'm the owner of MyLegalEdge.com,
an online legal forms provider for all 50 states, and I'm currently a
member of the Naples Accelerator.
The accelerator has been instrumental in providing my company
with the resources needed to advance growth and branding, including
providing assistance needed to produce a business plan to apply for
Angel investment funding.
In addition, the accelerator encourages its members to give back
to the community. In honor of Veterans Day during the month of
November, My Legal Edge offered free estate planning forms to all
veterans. This resulted in a total of 21 veterans across 11 states taking
advantage of this special offer for a total of $900 in donated legal
forms. We are currently extending this offer through the month of
December.
The Naples Accelerator is not only beneficial to the residents of
Collier County, but it has the ability to attract businesses that provide
important services to a larger population, and that makes it an asset to
the entire country.
For these reasons, I respectfully ask that the Board of County
Commissioners continue their support of the Naples Accelerator.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Shelly Rhoads Perry. She
will be followed by Bengt Myrin.
MS. PERRY: Good afternoon, everyone.
I think I was here about eight months ago. My name's Shelly
Rhoads Perry. My company's Lasting Link Solutions.
December 11, 2018
Page 161
I've been a member of the Naples Accelerator for about a year
and a half now, and I'm happy to report that I've seen a number of new
programs and mentoring opportunities implemented in 2018 there,
which I hope to make better use of in 2019.
I'm also happy to report the reason I've been unable to take
advantage of many of the accelerator offerings is because my business
has grown exponentially in the same time period.
My company provides a range of legal and financial and fiduciary
services to the senior community, services that protect vulnerable
adults from elder financial exploitation. We are creating a new
financial caregiving profession, and we hope to train an army of
younger seniors in this new profession. But right now my firm is
being overwhelmed by the demand for our service. We need to step
back and regroup and refocus to take the company to the next level,
and in my opinion there's no better place to do that than at the
accelerator.
As a member of the accelerator, expert advice and assistance is
readily available. The FGCU small business group, the other
accelerator companies, like our previous two speakers, and even the
accelerator board of directors are available to me to help in my
business plans. I just need time to take advantage of all the
opportunities.
So I would say that my company is proof that the accelerator is
succeeding in its mission, and I hope the county will continue it.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker it Bengt Myrin. He will be
followed by Bridget Guerrero.
MR. MYRIN: Good afternoon. My name is Bengt Myrin, and
I'm a member of the accelerator. I'm a business coach, I'm a mentor,
and very often a life coach.
In one of my problem-solving exercises I have a question to the
December 11, 2018
Page 162
people I work with: How to drop an egg on a concrete floor without
cracking it. Answers coming back are often: Use a parachute; use
bubble wrap; coat it in Crazy Glue. All very creative and good
answers, but do they answer the question? Not really, because the
question was, without cracking "it." So the answer should be: Any
way you like. Concrete floors are very difficult to crack.
And I use this as an example for people to take a step back and
analyze the task at hand, not to jump at conclusions and complicate
simple matters.
And this approach is one of the many, many values that the
Naples Accelerator offers. And others are, Collier is a civic, civil, and
kind society where even strangers greet strangers. We have a beautiful
community, great schools, et cetera. We're a small society with an
endless pool of accomplished, resourceful, talented people with a
network that can reach our local markets, state, nation, and worldwide
markets. It's just very, very, unique. People here in business and
government and other professions are accessible and supportive and
want to help wherever possible. And I thank you, Commissioners, for
being a shining example of that every day. Through the accelerator,
we can attract more in kind and continue accomplishing everything of
the above.
I often remind people it takes tremendous time and effort to build
a company; that Ford, JP Morgan, IBM, Microsoft, Office, and others
were a one- or two-man company, but even at the time they did
generate jobs, tax revenues because they all are using services and
buying goods in the county. So through the accelerator, we think that
this can multiply tremendously.
And the Naples Accelerator also generates a destination travel to
this area. So I believe that continued support to the accelerator is, in
time, a very vital venture for the well-being of our county.
And I thank you, and I appreciate your listening.
December 11, 2018
Page 163
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, can I make a
comment? Because I'm --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'm the one who asked for this
item to be on the agenda. And my goal wasn't to go after the indicator
or the Chamber contract or any of those contracts. We have $800,000
in contracts. That was not my purpose in bringing this forward.
In addition to those $800,000 in contracts, we have incentives,
and staff has outlined how much those are, and then we have -- in
terms of just staff time, we have $307,000 in staff to administer these
programs.
And my question that I wanted to have addressed is are we
utilizing staff efficiently? Are we overloaded in that arena? Do we
need -- I think we have four people that are administering the three
contracts, and we have those people also administering the incentive
program, but the incentive program is based on metrics that are sort of
automatic.
And that's where I wanted to focus. I wanted the Board to know
how much money we were actually spending, which turns out to be a
little over $2 million a year, it's been almost $10 million over the last
seven years, and we're going to continue spending that at those levels
unless we determine that we need to make some cuts somewhere.
So my concern is more with are we over -- do we have too much
overhead in the economic development arena for what we're doing?
I'm not trying to pick on any individuals, but we have four people that
are administering those programs. To me that seems like a lot.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Commissioner Saunders,
there's one more public speaker.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Because I was going to ask you
that question.
December 11, 2018
Page 164
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. Because I know that
the Chamber wanted to make some presentation, and I know that the
Alliance wants to make some presentation, but this is not what that was
about.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I think you brought up some good
points.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker on this item is Bridget
Guerrero.
MS. GUERRERO: I already spoke. It's okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Very good.
Mr. Callahan?
MR. CALLAHAN: I'd go back. So we have currently three and
three-quarters full-time employees over there. We have one that's
three-quarter time that does the accounting.
I'd direct you back to the comparable county study. If you look at
it, our sister counties, if you want to call them that, but the people who
are in regional alliance, they all spent far more. Most of them do have
FTEs. In Sarasota County you're actually missing, on the Economic
Development Corporation which, I believe, adds four more FTEs and
about another $1.5 million.
So if you look at the holistic mission of the Office of Business
and Economic Development, they're not only administering
partnership contracts. They're also very involved in the community;
they're involved in marketing the different programs that are out there.
It's a partnership that works as a whole.
If you take last -- the last week when we had the site selectors
come through, we utilized the entire office, right, without -- helping
coordinate these visits along with Southwest Florida Economic
Development Alliance. They visited both of our accelerators.
I think it's a bigger mission than just administering contracts that
December 11, 2018
Page 165
they do, so -- and, like I said, I would point you back to our
comparable counties who make a much bigger investment in this and
have comparable outcomes as we do.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well, I think that's what we need
to see: What the outcomes are.
MR. CALLAHAN: Sure.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That's what's missing there.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala, you're next.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I've listened to so many of
these things. I have so many questions. But one of them is what
businesses have you actually brought to this county who are successful
-- successful now, have their own place, or making money on their
own that we don't need to provide them money anymore. Could you
name any of those?
MR. CALLAHAN: Well, I'd point you back to the incentives
usage slide. Obviously, Arthrex is here.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but you didn't bring them
here. I mean, they've been here long before that. And you couldn't do
anything to make them not successful, because they've got a leader that
just knows how to run that business, and you would never want to even
challenge him. I don't know how -- how you thought you brought
them here.
But same with Anchor Health; they've been here for a long time.
Same with Haynes Corporation; they've been here for a long time.
Now, you have Guadalupe, but that's a not-for-profit, and then they
have their own place, too. I don't know -- I'm sorry?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think there's -- that's really not
what that slide is showing.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I'm looking at this slide.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It says Naples Accelerator. There's 56
direct jobs that have been created.
December 11, 2018
Page 166
MR. CALLAHAN: Correct.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And then the Culinary Accelerator you
had 14. I think that's what we're -- I think that's what you're asking.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. Actually --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Out of the accelerators.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- I'm talking about -- I'm actually --
I'm not on accelerators. Maybe that's what it is. I'm actually talking
about bringing businesses. That's what I thought. That's what an
incentive-based organization trying to bring business in, that's what
we're paying them -- well, now it's $600,000 a year, but it was
$800,000 a year to create new businesses.
But I haven't seen that happening, and I just -- I would love them
to just say, oh -- well, like he said, Arthrex, but they didn't bring them
in.
MR. KENTNER: Commissioner, if I may, Five Star Gourmet is
a really good example of what we were able to accomplish. As you
recall, we even offered them over half-a-million-dollar incentive.
They've refused to accept that, and they've continued to grow.
They have a magnificent 60,000-square-foot building. I believe
they're over 150 employees now, so that's Five Star Gourmet. So that's
probably our achievement of being able to reroute a very large
company. They're on their way to 250 employees. They're in Costco.
They make sealed salads for school districts, Costco. So that's
probably our best example of a company we're-en able to recruit.
We offered them incentives, but they're, like, we can do this on
our own, and so those are really the poster child of a great company
that's here. We didn't list those. I guess we could. There's a few. A lot
of them are smaller companies, but they're on the grow.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'm just hoping that you can prove
your worth. I guess it's -- no easier way to say that than to prove your
worth. Look at all that we're bringing here, and this is -- I know you're
December 11, 2018
Page 167
paying out a lot of money, but this is why we earn that money. But
right now you're not paying your own salary. We have to pay it for
you. And you're not paying for your own building. We have to pay it,
right?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: He's a county employee.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I know that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So I'm just trying to make sure I
understand what we're talking about. If we're talking about the
accelerators, then let's talk about the accelerators.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I thought we were talking about
all four of them, all the things that they introduced --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: All of them.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- in the beginning. I'm sorry. If
you're just talking about accelerators, no. I'm still back to the one -- on
the -- gosh, what do you call that? Where they incentivize business --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: We're working with the number
of employees and you --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, how many people they're
bringing in.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The incentivization program.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: These are -- this is the list here.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. Well, that's the one I'm
wondering about. Those aren't really stuff that they brought here.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No.
MR. OCHS: No, ma'am. Those were incentives that the Board
commissioned years and years ago to create incentives for businesses
that are here to expand by -- if they, in fact, expand and pay wages
above a certain level, the Board will incentivize that job creation or
business expansion through a performance-based --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
MR. OCHS: -- incentive.
December 11, 2018
Page 168
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We've been doing that long before
they were created, though, right?
MR. OCHS: Yeah. You've had those in place for quite a while.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right. And that's a good thing. I
just wanted to know how they're earning money. I want to know how
they're -- you know, each year they say they're going to reduce the
amount of money we have to pay them, but --
MR. OCHS: Now you're talking about the accelerator program.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The accelerator. And I think it's
-- help me with this, but I think the incentivization or bringing in
companies are three areas that have performed or have done this: The
Chamber has been very, very helpful. They're very aggressive in this
area; Southwest Florida Regional Economic Alliance, they also are
actively recruiting. In fact, last week I was doing it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And they're very, very active, and
then -- and each of those entities have $100,000 that we give them
every year to facilitate this; and then we have the accelerator which,
unfortunately, hasn't performed the way, initially -- when you were on
the Commission -- well, you were on the Commission -- they
purported to do.
And so the question I think you're looking at is not necessarily the
Chamber and the --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, I'm not looking at the Chamber,
and I'm not looking --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think it's the -- Southwest.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- at the regional either. I'm just
looking at this, to be perfectly honest with you. And, actually -- and
this kind of can be -- accelerator, I find, is not only in Immokalee, but
then it's also over at Kraft.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The incubator's in Immokalee.
December 11, 2018
Page 169
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right. Yeah, right.
So I'm just saying that I don't see the money. How are we paying
the rent to the people that own the building that we're in? Are we
earning it? Are we making any money? I mean, can we show for
ourselves -- if we're trying to create businesses, can we show that we
are doing a good job in supporting ourselves in that effort to create
businesses?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Does that make any sense? Maybe
I'm --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, you're making perfect
sense.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I think there's something here that
is probably helpful.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Why don't we hear from staff, and I think
there's some good questions that have been asked.
MS. PELLECHIO: Sure. For the Naples Accelerator, just to give
you a quick update -- we don't have our December numbers in, but for
November we have 46 active companies in the facility. We're really
excited. This is the first time that we have crossed that 30 -- anywhere
from, like, 30 to 35 number of companies. So we're really excited.
In the culinary accelerator -- and mind you, it's only been open,
technically, since, let's just say, March -- we have 22 active companies.
So that is one way that we use to measure the number of businesses
that come through the accelerators.
We also track jobs, but jobs are a little bit different because, as
you know, these companies, some of them have more than one
employee, some of them have one employee. Some are small
companies that are expanding, some are companies that we're hoping
spin out into Collier County.
December 11, 2018
Page 170
And so there's two different programs. The culinary accelerator is
focused on the food, and then we have the business accelerator in
Naples, which is the technology, business, financial services. We
really look at three different sectors and help to grow those economies
to diversify our region.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And how do you do that with
Guadalupe?
MS. PELLECHIO: That's a different department.
MR. KENTNER: Commissioner, that is a really old incentive
that has closed, actually, the fiscal year before last. So I just -- we put
that on there to show everyone we've incentivized. I believe that
started in '06, maybe, the Guadalupe incentive, and so that was just
from the EDC time, and that was -- we just show everything. That
was, again, even before our time.
But, Commissioner, just so you know, we have 20 open projects
and, Commissioner Taylor, she pays attention to all this as far as --
we've got about four companies we just recently discussed that they
need space. Anywhere from -- our latest project is an advanced
manufacturing company that needs 15,000 square feet. They're
bringing 40 jobs. They're going to hire 40 jobs, but they need 15,000
square feet.
We have another company that's just -- you know, they need
40,000 square feet. And so we're at a point -- and the Commissioner
asked us to come back here in January with some suggestions for our
new market tax credits, opportunity zones, opportunities to incentivize
these folks that want a factory on a little bit different level because
we're kind of at the point where we need space for manufacturing, and
that is a serious issue for us.
And so we do have quite a few. Like I say, 20 open projects. We
have about four that want space, and some of these have been in the
pipeline for years. And so we're just waiting, trying to figure out how
December 11, 2018
Page 171
to get here and get the space they need to open and progress their
companies.
So it's not a short-term, but -- and I'm happy to share these
projects with you and apprize you of them so you can keep track of
them.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Maybe I can kind of wrap this
up because, again, I asked for this to be on the agenda to start a
dialogue. And there are going to be other areas where we're going to
be taking a look at our budgets and trying to decide, you know, are we
spending the right amount of money in that area.
So I think you've heard, Mr. Manager, that there are some
concerns about the amount of money that we're spending, but the real
concern is, are we getting a good bang for that buck?
And, you know, I've been sitting here for, well, just a little over
two years now, and I'm not sure that I'm seeing it, and that doesn't
mean it's not there. That means that we're not getting communication
enough to, perhaps, understand what these accomplishments really are.
And when we get reports -- you know, if you are doing a little bit
of blustering in a report, we see that. You know, there was some
recognition of -- I'm just going to pull one thing out of the air just --
that kind of hit me as a statement of an accomplishment that you had
nothing to do with, and I'm talked about our Office of Economic
Development.
The new zone that we created in Golden Gate City for economic
development. I never spoke to anybody in our Office of Economic
Development about this. No one ever approached me to say, what are
the opportunities there. That's just something I asked the County
Attorney to draft, and we put it together, and it was done.
So when you have a report that says here are things we're doing,
understand that when you put something in there that you're not really
December 11, 2018
Page 172
doing, that has an impact on the credibility of the report.
So what I'm looking for is objective evidence that we're spending
$2 million a year the right way. You know, there's an old saying that
there's no law against recessions. They haven't been outlawed yet in
this country, and there's a lot of talk about there's going to be a little bit
of a slowdown in the economy, and everybody knows that that
happens. It could be something very minor. You know, your guess is
better than mine. But we need to be prepared for those types of events,
and we need to understand how we're spending chunks of money like
this, because at some point in time, we may have to come back to you,
Mr. Manager, and say, you know, we're in a recession. We're going to
have to start laying off people. We're going to have to start doing --
make cuts.
So let's just make sure we're spending the money wisely. That's
all I wanted to accomplish today.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Now, the thing with
Logiscool, that just happened to come up. I wasn't going to mention
that until somebody mentioned it. I was going to ask staff to look into
it, but those are the types of things we just have to be careful about.
So, Mr. Chairman, that was my purpose. It was just to make sure
we're spending money in the right amounts in the right way.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And, Commissioner
Saunders, I thank you for bringing this forward. I saw this, and this
ended off heading down a path I don't necessarily think that was your
original intent.
Specifically -- and I've brought it up before -- what is the rate of
return on the investment that we're making with regard to these
incentivizations? Is it necessary at all? Would these jobs have been
December 11, 2018
Page 173
created without an incentivization program in place or not? And do
we, as a government, want to be involved in this type of
incentivization? And those are the hard questions that actually need to
be discussed.
So having that -- it isn't about the accelerator or the incubator or --
and, again, there are other programs that aren't as heavily subsidized as
what Collier County's, in fact, doing that show large successes. And
are we -- are we maxing our efforts in this arena to the greatest extent
that we probably can?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well, as your representative from
this commission for economics, I firmly believe in the incentives, and I
think that you'll see if we get -- and maybe we need to discuss this
further. But this is a very high-quality, expensive community to live
in, and to have businesses willing to locate here is a wonderful thing.
But the government has to give to that. That's just part of it.
The question, it should be, maybe -- and I don't mean this in a
negative way -- is what is our return on that investment? How many
jobs are created? That's the benchmark.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's what I said; the ROI.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah. And, you know -- I mean
-- and, again, I'm not questioning what was presented except when you
have 501(c)3's sitting in an accelerator, I don't think it should be
counted as part of companies associated with the accelerator.
And, Commissioner Fiala, you asked a question. This slide kind
of answers the return on investment. And this is from the county
Clerk's Office, but you can see the business plan of the accelerator and
the actual cost, what they've actually given, and you can see the
difference in the income gap.
So we are giving -- we are supporting this, and, you know, I think
maybe what we should ask for -- Commissioner Saunders, as you
December 11, 2018
Page 174
brought this up -- is for another meeting whereby we analyze these
areas if that's -- if that's your --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think we're going to be
getting into budgets here pretty soon, believe it or not.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah, February.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And that's the time, and I just
wanted everybody to be prepared that there's going to be some hurtles
in terms of some areas -- this is one of them -- where they need to
justify what we're doing. So I think the budget process is the right
time.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I mean, we've made the
commitment to support these programs as, in fact, they are for this
particular year in this cycle, so -- but having that discussion during the
budget process is a good idea.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good. And I would just like to ask a
question about this graph that's on here, because this graph shows the
projected business income for EII in relation to EII's actual income. I
mean, from our standpoint, that's not the relevant question. What we're
talking about here is how much money the county is investing in that.
That's not our spread.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That's their spread.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That's their spread, that's right.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So the question is, what is our investment
in the accelerator function of economic development and whether or
not there's -- the return that we're receiving in terms of job creation,
economic diversification, and the like is worth it. That's the question.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That is the question.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I just want to make sure that -- I think
people can see this and say, well, the county's losing, you know, this
much money, and it's getting worse, and that's not what we're doing,
December 11, 2018
Page 175
because we've actually reduced the amount that we're supporting the
accelerators with.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: But I do believe the amount we've
paid the accelerator over a four-year period is -- and I'll bow to the
Clerk on that, because you've kept back of that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well -- but we've also -- I mean, I just
want to make clear that --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: But I'd like that answered.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- this is not -- this is not --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No. It's just to show -- to show
the dreams and what can happen with the reality of what's happened.
That's all.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. But that -- again, but this -- that
difference isn't the county's difference. I mean, we have a fixed
amount that we're contributing to the accelerators every year which
we're reducing, and we have a plan to reduce that every year, and the
accelerator will have to figure out its own way of dealing with this gap
eventually, right?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Why did we reduce it this year; do
you remember?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: We reduced it had from 8- to 6-.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Eight- to 6-, and then next year -- you
know, there's a plan going forward for the accelerators to be
self-sufficient.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but we reduced it because we
lost Marshal Goodman. That was his salary. I don't think we reduced
-- I mean, we might as well just say what it is, you know. Let's not
play any little games. You might not know that, but --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm not playing a game.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. I didn't mean you're playing a
game.
December 11, 2018
Page 176
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: All right. I'm just trying to figure out what
that meant.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You were looking at me quizzically,
but that's how we reduced the salary -- or how we reduced our
expenses from 8- to 6-.
MR. OCHS: No, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No?
MR. OCHS: No.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We reduced --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: How was it, then?
MR. OCHS: We reduced the Board's funding by $200,000 in
your budget last year.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Period, the end.
MR. OCHS: Period.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No rationale. We just did it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. Okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think Madam Clerk would like to --
THE CLERK: Well -- and just -- Commissioner Solis, just so
you know, this was prepared previously for one of the presentations
regarding what EII's original business plan had told you versus what
they had performed. So this goes back to 2014 with the projection that
they were going to be self-sustaining, which would require the amount
of income equal to their expenses.
In fact, the red line is what they've actually been able to produce
over that same period of time. That's what the -- this was for a different
issue when we provided you the audit --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Correct.
THE CLERK: -- but this very specifically says, this is what they
told you they were going to do, and in the last five years, this is what
they've done for generating income. You have been filling in the gap
with the 800- and 600,000 you've been providing them as an award
December 11, 2018
Page 177
from the county.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So the --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Supporting it.
THE CLERK: That's what that was -- correct.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Understood.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So I think -- County Manager, I
think when we do discuss this, I think we need a -- sort of a reality
check of the businesses associated with the accelerator and that
501(c)3's are noted as such, please.
MR. OCHS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I had just one last point. You
know, one of the slides that came up early on in the presentation --
there's necessarily not one right way to do this. You know,
Commissioner Taylor's rather adamant about incentivizations coming
from the government for new job creation. I don't necessarily concur
with that in how people count jobs. There's a lot of ancillary revenue
that comes into the community through the economic incentivization
programs that are out there.
So -- and how you actually finally determine a specific rate of
return, it's very, very difficult. It's very, very difficult to ascertain what
that rate of return is based upon a hard expense.
So I think this is a really good discussion that we're having. It's
evolved into specifically a discussion about the accelerators, but I
believe we've made the commitment to support them, and we'll
continue to do so in some form or format, so...
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So what I would just like to say,
just briefly, is -- well, let's talk about rate of return for incentivization.
How about a $200 million development in Commissioner Solis'
district?
December 11, 2018
Page 178
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That's an investment.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: How about a hotel that is going to
bring doctors from around the world to view our community? And if
we keep the quality of our community up the way we have -- and I
think our County Manager is clearly dedicated to that -- the potential
investment from these doctors, not even talking about the tourist tax
that Arthrex brings in for the amount of medical visitation and visitors
he brings in. That is return on investment.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't disagree.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Quick question.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Quickly. We need to move on.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: In this perfect world, and we create a
bunch more jobs, where are we going to get the employees to fill
them? Just a simple question.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I hate to say it, but I have to finish
with this: Affordable housing, ma'am; affordable housing.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. And at that, I'm going to call an
end to this discussion before we spend the rest of the day.
MR. OCHS: Thank you.
Sir, it's time for your court reporter to have a break --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm sorry.
MR. OCHS: -- before your 3:45 time-certain hearing.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. We'll be back in 10 minutes.
MR. OCHS: Ten minutes.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, you have a live mic.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your seats.
Mr. Chairman, before we move on to the time-certain hearing at
3:45, there's a couple of items I think we could move quickly on, with
your permission.
December 11, 2018
Page 179
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes, sir.
MR. OCHS: Thank you.
Item #9C
RESOLUTION 2018-231: RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE
PETITION VAC-PL20180001007 TO DISCLAIM, RENOUNCE
AND VACATE THE COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN
A 70’ X 439’ PORTION OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY KNOWN AS
RECREATION LANE, AS RECORDED IN ROAD BOOK 3, PAGE
26 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF A
MILE EAST OF SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD, IN SECTION
33, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST, COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA – ADOPTED
We are moving to Item 9C. This item requires ex parte disclosure
be provided by commission members. Participants are required to be
sworn.
This is a recommendation to approve Petition
VAC-PL20180001007 to disclaim, renounce, and vacate the county
and public interest in a 70-foot by 439-foot portion of the right-of-way
known as Recreation Lane.
If you'd please give us some ex parte disclosure on this, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Disclosures. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yes. I have had some
conversations with the representatives of the petitioner and I believe
maybe some emails. I'm not 100 percent sure of that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes. I've had conversations with
the representative of the petitioner, with staff, some emails,
December 11, 2018
Page 180
correspondence.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I've had conversations with Mr. Mulhere
and, I believe, Mr. Beyrent as well.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Commissioner, I've had a meeting
with -- you're not commissioner, are you? Maybe sometime.
MR. MULHERE: No.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: With Bob Mulhere.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, and see the file. I've had
meetings with regard to this item.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I believe we
heard this, and it was continued.
MR. MULHERE: No, it was -- you had -- your first hearing was
you had to have notice of intent to have a public hearing, so that's all
that was discussed.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So we didn't hear all the
details? I thought we did.
MR. MULHERE: No. I'll be as quick as I possibly can be and
still allow the court recorder (sic) to keep up with me.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Let me just stop you for a minute.
Do we have any speakers?
MR. MILLER: One, ma'am.
MR. OCHS: Hold on. You still have to swear in anyone who's
going to participate.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. KLATZKOW: If you wanted to move just to the speaker,
you could do that, too.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Pleasure of the Board.
MR. MULHERE: I don't want to be at a disadvantage. I'm happy
to do that, but I do want to --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Go ahead.
December 11, 2018
Page 181
MR. MULHERE: Thank you.
Real quick, the subject site is on your screen. I'm showing you
Forest Park right here. This is your Golden Gate Community Park right
here. This is Santa Barbara. Here's Golden Gate High School.
So this is Recreation Lane, and Recreation Lane stops right at the
entrance into Forest Park except for this portion that we are requesting
a vacation for.
And I'll go real quick through it. That shows you the area to be
vacated. There is no connection between this strip of land which was
originally part of the state-owned access to build I-75. Later on that
was all given to the county, then Forest Park was constructed, and
everything else was vacated and re-platted -- or platted with the
exception of this area that has been maintained by Forest Park for the
last 20 years, which I've confirmed with your Road and Bridge staff.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Is that a gated community --
MR. MULHERE: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- going in there?
MR. MULHERE: Yes. So here's a picture right here of our
entry. And if you look at where the sign is -- so from right about this
curb to that curb is the area that we're talking about. Here's a gate here
and a gate here.
This community is open for bicycle -- to the public for bicycle
and pedestrians. So they can get from Golden Gate High School
through our community to the park or back to Golden Gate High
School. And we have -- this will not have any effect on that.
This is language right out of the plat. This is the language that's
dedicated to the HOA, and it says, "Tract R for roadway purposes shall
be available for use and benefit of the property owners and their guests
and is not intended for use by the public at large." So, no, there's no
vehicular access through our community, but there is pedestrian and
bicycle access.
December 11, 2018
Page 182
This is Golden Gate High School right here, and if you look at
this little pathway right here, this paved pathway is the bicycle and
pedestrian access that runs from Golden Gate High School through our
project all the way back out to the park, and it's maintained and open.
This is the language from the plat that says bicycle access
easement as shown hereon with no responsibility for maintenance for
the purpose of public use for pedestrians and cyclists, and that's being
maintained.
So to cut to the chase, I do want to show you one other slide.
This is Golden Gate High School. The area that you see overlaid in
yellow there is owned by Collier County School Board.
And you can see they actually own a portion of Magnolia Pond
Drive. This is Forest Park. This is the interface between the high
school property and the community known as Forest Park.
And the next slide shows you the school board has erected this
gate. They have -- for security purposes, they don't allow traffic to run
through, the school board, into our community or vice versa.
So, in conclusion, this will have no impact on the rights of the
public or any individual property owner. We've been maintaining it
for 20 years. It makes sense; there's really no reason.
Staff is recommending approval. We've got letters of no
objection from all the providers, and your resolution actually reserves
county utility easement, bicycle and pedestrian access, and for the fire
-- emergency access. So the resolution actually preserves those rights
or enhances those rights. We're not having any effect on those.
That concludes my presentation.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Speaker?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Mr. Chairman, your one
speaker on this item is Garrett Beyrent.
MR. BEYRENT: For the record, I'm Garrett Beyrent. And you
probably remember last meeting I brought this up, this particular item.
December 11, 2018
Page 183
I argued about a consent-agenda item that I objected to you consenting,
okay. This is a revision of that, okay. It's very simple.
If you notice, like -- did anybody notice that Item C, that there
was no application name on it? You ever seen that done before? That's
a really good angle to work if you're a developer or an engineering
company or whatever you are.
What I want is I want to be represented as a public person, and I
do not want you to vacate my interest in Recreation Lane. The reason
I don't want you to do that is because -- the same reason I brought this
to you at the last commission meeting. Items are placed on the agenda
as consent-agenda items that the adjacent property owners are never
made aware of. And for somebody to come up here and say, you know
what, I'm getting a -- I'm going to eliminate your easement because
you happen to be a member of the public, but I'm going to get the
County Commissioners to take away your rights, and that's exactly
what's happening here.
And what I want to do with Recreation Lane is going to be
coming up in the next six months to a year. What I'm particularly
going to do with my rights relative to that piece of land that's 924 feet
long and called Recreation Lane. That just happens to be an access
onto Santa Barbara Boulevard.
Many years ago the other property owner -- the actual developer
was a partner of mine many years ago. It was David Brennan. And
our design plan was to extend Santa Barbara Boulevard all the way to
Collier Boulevard via the road I built, Magnolia Pond Drive, which is
my PUD.
And I'm working now -- only as of this morning I started talking
to members of the school board about incorporating a design plan that
will basically benefit the concept of the innovation zone.
In particular, the one commissioner that's going to benefit the
most from the extension of my plan of Magnolia Pond Drive to
December 11, 2018
Page 184
Tropicana Boulevard, if I can get together with the school board -- and
this is relative to a public charter school -- is Commissioner Saunders
with the renovation of his innovation zone at the end of Tropicana
Boulevard, which is -- I need the easement, see.
So I don't want you to give away my easement. I am the public.
Okay. You can give away your part of the easement. I don't want you
to give away my 924 feet.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Only public -- that was the only public
speaker?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'd like to make a motion then -- or,
Commissioner Saunders, would you like to make the motion?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No. Go ahead. I'll second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I'd like to make a motion
then. I took a look at it. I've taken a drive around there. It's cut off
from the public, that particular spot, because of the gates on both sides.
And it's -- and it's on the property that -- whatever the Forest Park is
on, so I cannot see the reason not to vacate it. It's right there within
their own property, so I make a motion to not vacate -- to vacate that
property.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll second the motion. I'm not
sure I see any reason to not second it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. Any other
discussion?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 185
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MR. MULHERE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, we have a 9:45 -- excuse me, a 3:45.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It could be 9:45.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Boy, oh boy, are we slow.
MR. OCHS: Freudian slip.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: At this pace it could be.
Item #9E
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 04-41, AS AMENDED, THE
COLLIER COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH
INCLUDES THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND REGULATIONS FOR
THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, TO ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES
IN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICTS AS PHARMACIES
INCLUDING CERTAIN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICTS, THE COMMERCIAL CONVENIENCE DISTRICT (C-
2), COMMERCIAL INTERMEDIATE DISTRICT (C-3),
GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C-4), HEAVY
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C-5), BUSINESS PARK DISTRICT
(BP), RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, SANTA BARBARA COMMERCIAL
OVERLAY DISTRICT (SBCO), AND GOLDEN GATE
DOWNTOWN CENTER COMMERCIAL OVERLAY DISTRICT
(GGDCCO), AND TO CODIFY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
December 11, 2018
Page 186
FOR SECURITY MEASURES AND DESIGN AND SIGNAGE, BY
PROVIDING FOR: SECTION ONE, RECITALS; SECTION TWO,
FINDINGS OF FACT; SECTION THREE, ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, MORE
SPECIFICALLY AMENDING THE FOLLOWING: CHAPTER
ONE – GENERAL PROVISIONS, INCLUDING SECTION 1.08.02
DEFINITIONS; CHAPTER TWO – ZONING DISTRICTS AND
USES, INCLUDING SECTION 2.03.03 COMMERCIAL ZONING
DISTRICTS, SECTION 2.03.04 INDUSTRIAL ZONING
DISTRICTS, SECTION 2.03.06 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICTS, SECTION 2.03.07 OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICTS;
CHAPTER FIVE – SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS, ADDING
NEW SECTION 5.05.16 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES;
CHAPTER TEN – APPLICATION, REVIEW, AND DECISION-
MAKING PROCEDURES, INCLUDING SECTION 10.03.06
PUBLIC NOTICE AND REQUIRED HEARINGS FOR LAND USE
PETITIONS; SECTION FOUR, CONFLICT AND SEVERABILITY;
SECTION FIVE, INCLUSION IN THE COLLIER COUNTY LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE; AND SECTION SIX, EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO APPROVE – FAILED DUE TO LACK OF A
REQUIRED SUPER-MAJORITY
MR. OCHS: Yes, it could be.
But we have a 3:45 p.m. time-certain item. It's Item 9E, and this is
a recommendation to approve an ordinance amending the Collier
County Land Development Code to allow medical marijuana
dispensaries in the same zoning districts as pharmacies.
Mr. Bosi?
MR. BOSI: Good afternoon, Commission. It's Mike Bosi,
Planning and Zoning director.
Last November we were -- this past November we provided the
December 11, 2018
Page 187
Board an update of any changes from a legislative perspective related
to medical marijuana dispensaries of which there were not changes
from the legislature. It's only still a binary option: You either disallow
them or you treat them like a pharmacy with a 500-foot restriction
from the schools.
We also provided you some information related to the delivery
service accessibility, a narrative of our staff. We went out and visited
a couple dispensaries. At that time, at the conclusion of that item, it
was a 3-2 vote to move it forward to a second hearing. The second
hearing, though, does require a 4-1 vote if we were to adopt a -- the
ordinance which would propose the marijuana dispensaries as
pharmacies. A 3-2 -- we need a supermajority. So a 3-2 vote would
essentially -- would keep the position that they're prohibited within the
county. A 4-1 vote would allow for the dispensaries to move forward
as suggested within the ordinance.
There's no other -- real other information that I can provide to
you. And just a clarification as that the actions of the Board's taking
requiring a supermajority if you want it to move forward.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. Do we have speakers?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir, we have 14. Would you like to begin?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I'm sorry?
MR. MILLER: Would you like to begin?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes. And when we start the speakers --
last time we were here, I think things got a little more, let's say,
boisterous than was probably good for everybody, and so I would just
ask everyone to be respectful, and comments should be made to the
Chair and not singling out specific commissioners for any reason.
So let's proceed.
MR. MILLER: Your first speaker is William Tolp. He's been
ceded additional time from Jason Shook, who is here, Susan Dunn,
who is here, and Leola Shook, who is. He will have a total of -- did I
December 11, 2018
Page 188
get that right -- 12 minutes, and he will be followed by Alexander
Popoff. Mr. Tolp.
MR. TOLP: Good afternoon. Thank you, Commissioners.
I'm here representing myself, personally, and also the Libertarian
party of Collier County, of which I am the chairman.
I'm a father, a grandfather, a veteran of the United States Air
Force during the first Gulf War era under both late President George
Herbert Walker Bush and President Clinton.
I am here to voice my support for the passing of the zoning
ordinance for medical cannabis. I have a son-in-law who lives here in
Collier County who is 100 percent PTSD disabled with 512 combat
missions in Iraq and Afghanistan as an army ranger, Special Forces.
Beyond the horrors of war he has endured, he has also had to endure
the loss of his fellow soldiers to opioid overdose, addiction, and
suicide.
You have repeatedly heard arguments based on science in favor
of medical cannabis, and they are substantial. Some veterans' lives
have literally been saved by medical cannabis, and they are undeniable
that this has happened. They are -- we are here two years since its
passage of medical cannabis, and patients within Collier County still
have no access whatsoever inside the county.
Please, I do not appreciate the assertion that someone would
support the troops and at the same time deny them access to medicine
that could literally save their lives. We already know and we've heard
many times before that in the veterans community that, on average, 22
veterans per day commit suicide. Every veteran within Collier County
who commits suicide, their life could be saved if they only had access
to this medicine which treats them not only physically but also helps
them with their mental problems in addition to their counseling and so
forth that they seek with the VA and other medical professionals.
And because we have focused -- and many times others have
December 11, 2018
Page 189
focused on the scientific aspect of this, I would like to focus on how
egregious of a violation of individual liberty, not only to veterans but
to our medical cannabis patients, Collier County's opposition to the
passing of these zoning laws is.
Our county was -- our country was founded on the principles of
individual liberty. Personal choices of what substances we place into
our bodies is not a privilege granted by government. Our rights don't
come from this body nor our state government nor our federal
government. Our rights are inherent within our humanity and, as many
of our founders refer to it, as being granted by our creator.
Therefore, all of our rights exist whether or not a constitution or
any state legislative piece of paper says we have them or not. They
still exist, and we still have the right to exercise those rights.
Personal choice of what substances we put in our bodies is
something that is a personal choice, just as many who take a position
when it comes to abortion, which is a very controversial issue, about a
woman's personal right to chose what she does with her body. That is
in keeping with our constitution. We have a right but, at the same
time, government is -- the purpose of government is not to prevent
people from harming themselves.
With liberty comes responsibility, and with that liberty, if I make
a choice to place something into my body, to partake of something that
I should not partake of, then there are going to be consequences, and I
must accept the responsibility for those consequences because with
liberty comes responsibility.
Thomas Jefferson, in his first inaugural address stated, "A wise
and frugal government which shall leave men free to regulate their
own pursuits of industry and improvement and shall not take from the
mouth of labor the bread it has earned." This is the sum of good
government. In other words, good government is the kind of
government that stays out of people's personal lives. It is that which
December 11, 2018
Page 190
leaves people to do as they see fit. That's real freedom; to do what you
wish so long as what you are doing does not invade or impede or
infringe upon the rights of our neighbors.
As a body you should be in support of this, and I would ask that
you would be in support of this and you would give it the
supermajority yea, even a unanimous vote today.
Benjamin Franklin stated, "The ordaining of laws in favor of one
part of the nation to the prejudice and oppression of another is certainly
the most erroneous and mistaken policy, and equal dispensation of
protection, rights, privileges, and advantages is what every part is
entitled to and ought to enjoy," end quote, from 1774.
In essence, what he was saying was that the purpose of
government is to ensure that those people in one part of the country
also enjoy the very same rights as people in another country. So if we
apply this principle at our county level, our medical cannabis patients
within the county of Collier County should have the same rights, the
same access as the people in Lee County or Dade County or any other
of the other counties within the state of Florida. Equal access, equal
rights. It is unfair for those who are patients here in this county to not
enjoy the same liberties, same ease of access as those who live in
neighboring Lee County.
The fear-mongering stories about the danger of a substances for
which there is not a single overdose attributed in all of recorded history
would be laughable if it weren't so brazen, false, arrogant, and
misguided.
I urge the Commission to fulfill their constitutional responsibility
to represent the medical cannabis patients in Collier County and pass
this ordinance before the county endures lawsuits which are sure to
happen if we do not get something passed here. This would only add
insult and injury to the citizens of Collier County by then placing on
them another tax bill to be paid for for legal fees which could have
December 11, 2018
Page 191
been avoided.
Thank you so much for your time.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Alexander Popoff. He has
been ceded additional time from Jeff DeMond, from Tara DeMond,
from Andrew Felix, and from Jamie Cain for a total of 15 minutes. He
will be followed by Victor Espinosa.
MR. POPOFF: All right. Good afternoon, County
Commissioners. My name is Alex Popoff. I'm a college student here
at FSW. I'm also an Air Force veteran, just as Mr. Tolp. I'm a
cannabis patient, and I work for a medical device startup company.
I'm a resident of Naples. I grew up on Marco. I went to Collier
public schools. And when I graduated high school here at Lely and
joined the Air Force, I'd come back here to attend college here.
And I just had two back surgeries. I was taking opioids daily.
And I started doing some research into a safe alternative, and I
determined for me that that was medical cannabis. And it's worked
great. I've actually -- I've lost weight. I felt clear minded, and the
really only negative, because of this cause, I've missed some school
because of it, but, no, not to get high, actually to come to your
meetings to speak about this, because it's unfortunate that people can
be in political positions but have little to no education about a topic
that's so important.
And it's sad, because you see it with doctors too. Only 12 percent
of doctors even know what the endocannabinoid system is. So it's hard
to make an educated decision, so we're trying to help you guys.
But I'm not here to tell you about myself. I'm here -- or about how
this has saved my life. There's plenty of people that will do that and
already have done that. I'm just going to bring up some data from
research and the few common-sense points about why dispensaries
actually bring value and why you should want them instead of saying
that, you know, delivery is okay.
December 11, 2018
Page 192
The data suggests we should welcome them because it will give
our population convenient access to an alternative to opioids, and this
is evidenced by a study by Rand, which is a nonpartisan think tank that
does studies for the U.S. Military, and they determined opioid usage
and Medicaid Part D costs went down and overdoses went down but
only where dispensaries were authorized. So in states that authorized
cannabis use -- counties like Collier that didn't allow them didn't see
those improvements. So just because they have delivery, they're not
going to see the same tangible improvement. That's how the numbers
work.
And regarding financial incentives, a study showed in states
where cannabis is legalized, property values actually increase. And
this wasn't just one study. This has been replicated, and I can email
you the results. One was quoted saying our estimates show that
legalization leads to an average 6 percent increase in housing values,
indicating that the capitalized benefits outweigh the costs. And just
because delivery may be an option, it should not result in being the
only option.
The Department of Veteran Affairs is willing to deliver by mail
endless amounts of opioids. I received a prescription mailed to me
from them. You don't even have to be present. You could get synthetic
heroin in pill form by 90 or 120 in a bottle in your mailbox for
someone to come take. It doesn't -- you can't even do that with
cannabis. You have to be physically present there. It's actually more
restrictive than more harmful substances that kill people in Collier
County probably weekly, if not daily.
We should not inconvenience those with legitimate need to access
solely to prevent abuse. Solely being scared of someone smoking so
much dope that they take a nap on their couch should not be a
legitimate fear to prevent legitimate medical patients from having
access. That's foolish, especially because they can't even die from
December 11, 2018
Page 193
these compounds.
Good parenting and responsible adults is what's going to stop kids
from getting these drugs, not banning dispensaries. They're going to
get the drugs whether there's a dispensary here or not; I'm sure of that.
So banning dispensaries, like Rob said, is sacrificing liberty and
quality of health for a perceived ounce of safety that you're never
going to get by doing so; however, like I said, children are going to
find them anyways, and adults will, too. And all of these substances
that you can buy, such as alcohol, NyQuil, even Tylenol, are killing
people, and there's no limit to the purchase of them, and this is a safer
alternative that could be medically used with the supervision of a
doctor who's most likely more qualified than most of the
commissioners, who I do not know if they have medical backgrounds.
And as also mentioned and will be mentioned, cannabis still has
never killed anyone, and that medically is because there is not
cannabinoid receptors in the brain stem which controls things such as
breathing.
Also of note, international cannabis legalization is eminent, not
just in the U.S. where over 31 states have approved it. But
internationally, when you look at Canada, the UK, Mexico, the
Caribbean Islands, many U.S. territories, more and more it's going to
look like if we do not pass this, there's going to be Collier County on a
map in gray, and the rest of the world is green and has approved this
because they've looked at the research.
Banning dispensaries out of a perceived future recreational
cannabis movement is also foolish because the studies that showed an
increase in property value, those were actually conducted on the
recreational cannabis dispensaries, which I prefer to call adult use,
because no one says recreational alcohol. It's just people are
responsible with it or they're not, but it's not the substance. That's
recreational.
December 11, 2018
Page 194
So over the past 12 months -- and I know many others here have
kept up with some of the headlines. And currently a majority of
Americans actually do have access to cannabis and support its full
legalization. And just like this has been mentioned, 71 percent of
voters approved medical cannabis in Florida. I think it was 65 percent
of Collier voters were also in favor, and those trends are going to
continue.
Something I wanted to mention as well is the root of prohibition
in general, which some of these myths that were perpetuated in the '30s
are still around, but what's really sad was the motivation behind them
was from racism. Harry Anslinger was the first commissioner of the
U.S. Treasury's Department of Federal Bureau of Narcotics -- that was
a precursor to the DEA -- and, essentially, in the 1930s he campaigned
a smear campaign against cannabis and influenced the usage of the
term "marijuana," which has no scientific basis. It's used in state's
medical programs, which is foolish.
And the reason for this term was to make it sound exotic and
Mexican, but it's not exotic. It's an East Asian plant, is where it
originated from. He used racism to fuel hatred towards the plant, and
his motivation was the end of alcohol prohibition, which also didn't
work and led to more crime and suffering.
Another one was he wanted to keep his friends and family
involved in the textile industry away from competing with hemp,
which is also the same species, plant and cannabis sativa.
And alcohol prohibition, again, did not work, and cannabis
prohibition does not. Just like we still have a few of these very
conservative counties that are dry counties for alcohol. They're really
not protecting anybody from anything by doing so. You're creating a
problem.
And this behavior has been repeated by past presidents where
they've refuted their own government studies showing this to be safer
December 11, 2018
Page 195
than alcohol and recommended national approvement as far back,
again, as the '60s.
It appears preserving the status quo has just been an easier
decision for many past leaders regarding this matter, from presidents to
local county commissioners. Doesn't making a hard decision make
you a better leader? But this shouldn't even have to be a hard decision.
The data is all in favor of approval, although there are some financially
motivated prohibitionists, who I actually went to go see here in Collier
myself, and they've made fortunes campaigning against it claiming that
they're protecting children.
In reality, they're stopping people like myself, Jeff, Rob, other
veterans that just want an alternative to opioids where we don't have to
spend hours reading and watching videos and buying expensive books
and doing research that most doctors aren't even exposing themselves
to to figure out how to feel better about ourselves.
We shouldn't have to drive an hour or plan a whole day around a
delivery when we could have a dispensary here. I'm sure there's plenty
of companies interested in providing that.
So several months back, as I'm sure you probably remember, I
came and voiced my opinion. Since then, community members have
spoken in favor at just about every meeting possible.
So I'm sure you're tired of hearing it, and I understand that since it
isn't something that directly affects you, it's hard to understand the
significance. But put yourself in a young mother's shoes who needs
cannabis oil for her epileptic daughter who just found one product that
works that stopped her seizures but to get it she has to buy it in bulk,
she has to drive an hour or plan an entire day around a delivery. And if
that was you, you probably wouldn't even be able to make it here and
come speak.
So those are your constituents, and they're angry, and they're tired
of hearing of it, too, and they want you to do the right thing, as I do
December 11, 2018
Page 196
and everyone else who is going to speak.
So if the moving, emotional testimony of others doesn't get to
you, think about it at a very likely increase in property values and
giving people a nice alternative to opioids.
So thanks for your time. I think that you'll make the right choice.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Victor Espinosa. He will be
followed by Yvette Stafford Jones.
MR. ESPINOSA: Hi. I only have three minutes, so I'm going to
speak fast. I apologize.
My name is Victor Espinosa. I'm 27. I was born and raised in
Naples, Florida. I am also a writer. I mainly write science fiction,
fantasy because I'm a nerd, but I've written for plenty of other avenues
over the years as well. I also have Crohn's disease. I've had Crohn's
disease for 14 years, and I am lucky to even be able to stand here and
address you today because I have spent years of life in bed with pain.
Now, I'm here because I was at the last meeting, and I wasn't
happy with the outcome, not just because of the vote, but because of
the complaining and the name calling and the bellyaching. I don't
agree with it, but I totally understand it, and I'm hoping I can help you
understand it as well.
If you take all the active patients in the medical marijuana
database in Florida and you average it across the 67 counties in
Florida, you get about 2,000 patients per county. That's not 100
percent accurate, but it's a pretty good number, because that means
that's 2,000 people in this county whose lives are made a little bit
harder because of this vote. It's 2,000 people whose lives could be
made easier because of this vote. Last meeting, that was 2,000 people
who were angry that their vote was denied yet again.
Last meeting Commissioner McDaniel put a challenge to the rest
of the commissioners to maybe visit a dispensary and a clinic and see
for yourselves how the security is, the kind of patients that are there,
December 11, 2018
Page 197
and how the system works. I sincerely hope you have done that.
There's really no excuse to have not done that.
If you have gone there, you've probably seen the type of patients
that are in there. First of all, the waiting rooms are full and, second of
all, you see people with walkers, with canes, people who have cancer,
people who are clearly sick and in need of help.
And, if you visited, you've probably seen the security. You
probably had to go through security. You've seen the way they handle
the money. You've seen the way they handle patients.
I agree with what Commissioner Saunders said at last meeting,
which is at the end of the day, this is a really simple decision, because
it is a really simple decision. You either vote to give sick people
access to medicine or you vote to deny sick people access to medicine.
Thank you for your time.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Yvette Stafford Jones.
She'll be followed by Toni Smith. I think I'm reading that last name
right.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: If the next speaker could go ahead and
come up to the other podium, that would be helpful.
MR. MILLER: Just real quick. Toni, is it, Smith, S-m -- you'll
wait at the next podium. Thank you.
Ms. Jones?
MS. JONES: Hi. My name's Yvette Stafford Jones. I am the
founder of the Crohn's Charity Service Foundation here in Collier
County. We've been in existence here since 2011. I have been in
connection with Johnson and Johnson, HUMIRA. We've dealt with a
lot of different organizations that helped our clients.
Victor is one of the clients, you just heard, that spoke here. Our
Crohn's patients need this medicine to stay -- to live and to stay in -- to
live a normal life. I'm sorry I'm getting emotional.
And I started this foundation because of my son, who is 6-foot-2,
December 11, 2018
Page 198
at the age of 19 was diagnosed with Crohn's. They didn't know what
to give him or anything, and he was 98 pounds. So what I did was buy
burial insurance because nobody knew what to do, so -- but today we
want to talk about having access.
My son, Victor, veterans, everyone else, would like to have better
access, easy access here in Collier County for their medicine. I picked
the word "choice." We've got CVS, Walgreens, Publix, we have
Walmart pharmacy, we have compound pharmacies. Choices.
Schools, we have different schools: Naples, Barron Collier. We have
different schools. We have choice here.
Is there any way possible that the commissioners can consider us
having a choice here for our dispensaries, like VidiCann, Liberty
Health Science, even KNOX, Trulieve, Surterra? That's what we're
looking for, just to have a choice.
That's all I have to say. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Toni Smith. She'll be
followed by Mac Strong.
MS. SMITH: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm a veteran, I'm a
mother, a wife, and a patient. I served in the United States Air Force
as a meteorologist. I now work in the medical marijuana business. I
am foremost an educator, and I was once even a teacher.
When patients come into my medical marijuana treatment facility,
I make them feel at ease about the process and the products. I may
spend an hour with them if that's what's needed. Some have more
questions than others. I will answer them all. I love my patients and
my job.
I have a degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics that the
Air Force helped me get because I had a GI bill, and I get to use it
every day to help patients.
Words like milligrams, dosage, recommendation, milliliters,
vaporizer, inhalation, sublingual, metabolize, mucous membranes,
December 11, 2018
Page 199
concentrates, ratios, CBD, THC, psychoactive effect, entourage effect,
and endocannabinoid system are some of the words that are used in the
medical marijuana business.
But why I come to you here today is to make a bid to you to allow
this in your county, as a wife, as a mother, as a veteran, as the spouse
of a veteran who suffers with PTSD who served 21 years in the
military but still works for the government and can't use it. Some day
he will, when he retires, because he needs it, just as my fellow veterans
need it. I'm a patient, because I also need it, because I have PTSD.
Please take the time to visit at least one medical marijuana
treatment facilitate. You'll come across people just like me. We're
your average people who have experienced many things in our lives
and gone many places, but we need this to function daily.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Mac Strong. He will be
followed by Nick Garulay.
MR. STRONG: Good afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen of the
Collier County Commission, thank you, again, for your work
protecting the health, safety, and welfare of citizens of Collier County.
As we're coming to season will prove, your diligence and hard
work has, again, made this one of the most desirable places to be on
the entire planet.
A very special thank you to Commissioner Fiala for joining us
recently at our educational and certification facility here in Naples. I
hope that you got a glimpse into the positive impact that this can have
in the community, that it is having in the community.
We have witnessed countless miracles now, thousands, in fact, for
PTSD, for cancer, for MS, for counts of other debilitating conditions.
Florida's medical marijuana program establishes safeguards around the
access to these compounds. It is a safe method that must go through an
official doctor that must certify patients. This will not lead to rank
December 11, 2018
Page 200
abuse. This will not lead to the risk associated with concerns about
children using it.
If you look at our You Tube or read one of the hundreds of
five-star reviews that we've gathered, the question and the debate
should no longer be is this safe to bring into our community. It should
be how can we deny our friends, family members, and fellow citizens
safe and convenient access to a better life?
As you're well aware, many great Collier County public health
initiatives are in flight, but the unfortunate truth for far too many
people is that synthetic drugs just don't work, and they often leave
people sick, hurting, and in need of another solution and another pill
and another side effect, and it's a terrible, terrible disaster that needs to
end.
Here in Naples we do enjoy a great life with countless things for
which it should be grateful. But, unfortunately, many people have a
very hard time being grateful when they're sick, when they're hurting,
when they're traumatized. Currently we're forcing these emotionally
and physically traumatized people to drive up to an hour and, again, as
you've heard, schedule very inconvenient deliveries to their homes.
This is not easy. These are people that are hurting very significantly.
So, as you may assume, if delivery's available, what's the
problem? Well, as holidays are going to show and as schedules show,
delivery's not always an option. Logistics issues happen. Delivery
issues happen. They lead to major problems that leave people that are
in need really, really hurting.
If we take a step back and look at the situation with a clear mind
and an open heart, we really can see that the science has settled; that
medical marijuana is saving lives; and that with a safe system in place,
it can be an effective medicine that will keep our county safe and in
better health.
We implore you to see that the current options are not working
December 11, 2018
Page 201
and that a better way exists. We just need to give people access. This
is the cause we've committed our lives to, just as you've committed
your lives to Collier County, and we appreciate that.
We look forward to working with you all for many years to come
to spread the knowledge, science, and patient results with medical
marijuana here in Florida.
Please vote yes on allowing the dispensary here in Naples so that
our fellow citizens and community can heal, thrive, and live happily in
this incredible place.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Nick Garulay. He's been
ceded additional time from Jack Morris. Mr. Morris, are you present?
For a total of six minutes. And this is your final speaker on this item.
MR. GARULAY: Great job, Mac Strong. Mac Strong works
with me with My Florida Green. We had -- just like Victor, had
ironically up with that equation. We've certified thousands of medical
marijuana patients in our county, and I'm proud to say that.
Two-and-a-half years ago I committed and drained all my bank
accounts and risked my family and freedom to move forward with
certifying patients for medical marijuana, and the results have been
absolutely amazing.
How have we -- how have we denied the fact that we are all
victims of an intricate system that has been put together by big pharma
and our United States government? How? How have we not put the
two and two together of the fact that the vaccinations and the flu shots
and the medicines and the pills and the side effects all lead to the
addiction of more pills?
The doctors are doing a great job prescribing medicines to
patients, and when they have side effects, they have more pills to
prescribe to them. It's a highway of profit for big pharma, it's a
highway of profit for doctors, and it's absolutely disgusting.
December 11, 2018
Page 202
And it's now -- the time is now to really take action and make
sure that we can put precautionary measures for our -- in front of us for
our children in the next generation that we're going to raise because, I
don't know if you-all have noticed, but society is kind of a mess right
now, and it's sad.
I mean, alcohol kills 100,000 people a year annually. You can
Google that. Cigarettes kill 400,000 people a year annually. The
opioid epidemic is at 186 people per day of dying from opioid
overdose, and you know that number is suppressed. But at the end of
the day, those same people that control our food are the same people
that control our water, the same people that control the medicines and
the vaccinations.
If you go to Publix, you can buy the GMO modified food, and the
symptoms and the side effects from that food, you can get the medicine
at the pharmacy, and then you can buy the alcohol and the cigarettes.
So don't tell me that you don't see the intricate system that we're all a
victim of.
Today we have the ability to change that. Out of the thousands of
patients that we've certified for medical marijuana in this county -- we
have many locations all over the state -- I would say 80 percent of
them have advanced; 80 percent of them have rid themselves of most
of the synthetic medicines they take every day. That's amazing. People
that are taking Xanax and benzodiazepines and opioids to get through
their everyday life are now not taking those medications. Those
medications are extremely addicting, and they're destroying lives.
I mean, things really hit home for me two years ago when I
started this business. My son was in third grade, and his third-grade
teacher of Collier County school systems -- I won't name the name or
the school -- diagnosed my son with ADD and ADHD. Why?
Because he didn't conform with the curriculum of our society and the
curriculum of the school system. So his teacher suggested that he was
December 11, 2018
Page 203
ADD and ADHD, and he was put on medication, against my consent.
Longer story there that I won't get into; however, I protested and
was able to move my son to a private school, which I now pay for. But
I realized at that time that children -- these are innocent children that
are also falling victim, and we see these kids that have been put on
medication in their early -- the age of 10, 11, and 12 years old that are
now on three and four different medications at 16 and 17 years old,
and they're strung out. They're done. They don't know what else to
do. These are our kids. This is the next generation.
So here we are. I mean, here we are again. I'm hoping that we
don't kick the can down the road, because we've proven -- I have the
data, and I'll be happy to show it to all of you -- and big thanks to Ms.
Fiala for visiting our certification center and seeing that we're not drug
pushers. We're actually getting people off of drugs.
David Lawrence sends drug addicts to us, ladies and gentlemen;
David Lawrence. Probation officers in this building, or maybe the
other building, the courthouse, actually sends probationers to us.
Ironic, right?
Police officers -- I pass my business cards out to police officers
every time I see them. You want to know why? Because they know
people that need access to medical marijuana probably better than
most, all right.
We're in a society now that is a pill-popping society, and we're all
a victim of it. And it's up to us to become aware, to build awareness,
and to unite as one and say, enough is enough. I mean, we're not going
to do this anymore.
I'm sure that everybody in this room is pretty fed up. And you
have liquor stores. You have pharmacies. You have grocery stores
that supply all these damaging chemicals and toxins for us, and now
you have the opportunity to open up a dispensary or two to give
patients with qualifying debilitating conditions access to a plant-based
December 11, 2018
Page 204
medicine that's never killed anyone. In fact, it actually promotes the
natural body's ability to heal. And all this data's been suppressed by
our United States government, by the way, and that was implemented
back in the '50s with Nixon and big pharma.
So this plant has the same cannabinoids that's almost genetically
the same as in our human body, and it promotes our natural ability to
heal. And it actually starts with breast milk. That's right. When the
baby is attached to the breast and breastfeeding from mom, the eyes
roll back in the head and they relax. And it's more politically correct to
say that they're milk drunk. They're actually milk stoned. Google it.
Kind of funny, I know, but cannabinoids are passed from our mom, but
then the babies are loaded up with vaccinations and poisons and fed
the genetically modified food.
So it's up to you, ladies and gentlemen, and I thank you for your
service, and I thank all the veterans in here for their service. And I just
want to say that --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. GARULAY: -- we're doing amazing things, so I want you
to join us. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: That was our final speaker, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm thinking we can just cut to
the chase, and I'll make a motion for approval of the LDC
amendments.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll second that motion, but I
think we have to have some discussion.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We probably are going to, sure.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I can count to three, but I
haven't been able to count to four on this issue. I'm looking over at
Commissioner Fiala and Commissioner Taylor, and maybe there will
December 11, 2018
Page 205
be a change of a vote here.
This is not particularly relevant, but it's interesting. If you take a
look at what they've been doing with marijuana and medical marijuana
in places like Israel, they've been using that to treat people with
Alzheimer's people in nursing homes for decades. So the United States
has been pretty far behind the curve on dealing with people that need
this type of medicine.
You know, there was talk about cigarettes. It's interesting not too
long ago, well, a couple years ago, there was an effort to try to get the
FDA to regulate tobacco. That would have put an end to the cigarette
industry in the United States. And there's a reason why cigarettes are
legal. Cigarettes are designed to get you addicted to nicotine, and
there's no safe use of cigarettes. Everybody knows it. Everybody
knows how many people die from cancer. I think somebody said -- or
from cigarettes. I think somebody said 400,000 a year, or whatever the
number was.
You know the reason why cigarettes are legal? It's because of
money. Purely tax dollars. Every state gets hundreds of millions, if
not billions and billions of dollars in tax revenue. No one's going to
make tobacco illegal because there's so much money involved in it.
I think we have an opportunity to help some folks that seriously
need it. I don't think we're opening up Pandora's box. I know at the
last meeting I said to Commissioner Fiala, if there's going to be an
effort to legalize cannabis as a recreational drug in Florida, if there's
going to be an effort to put that on the ballot, what we do here will
have no impact on that issue.
And Commissioner Fiala said, well, how do you know? And I
think that the answer to that is that there are folks that may put that on
the ballot, and there will be tens of millions of people voting on it, and
that's a whole different issue. But legalizing a medical marijuana
dispensary in Collier County is not a step in that process.
December 11, 2018
Page 206
And I would ask Commissioner Fiala and Commissioner Taylor
to reconsider their position. Let's help these folks that have been
coming here. We're not opening up the door to some strange and
dreadful phenomenon here in Collier County.
I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel, can I say
something?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sure. You're the Chair.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You're next on the list, but I do want to say
something, because it just occurred to me that when we started today
Commissioner Taylor and I took an oath, and it was an oath to support
the Constitution in the state of Florida and the United States, and
specifically the state of Florida. And the right to the access to medical
marijuana is in the Florida Constitution. And we just swore to uphold
that and support it.
And so when I'm asked this question, it's not a matter of whether
or not -- even if I think it's a good idea. I mean, we took an oath to
support the Constitution of the State of Florida, which provides now,
whether I like it or not, whether any of us like it or not, that there will
be access to medical marijuana.
And I would hope that my colleagues would think about that
when we decide on how we're going to vote.
Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And I appreciate you
sharing that. That's been my number one contention since this whole
issue, in fact, came up, Commissioner Saunders. I've watched you
evolve from where we were two years ago when this first came along
to where you are, in fact, now.
I want to compliment you for taking -- because the grapevine was
talking. I knew you were out visiting, talking with people, educating
yourself, and I appreciate you, in fact, doing that.
December 11, 2018
Page 207
I know that there's been -- I've watched both of you with having
serious reservations with regard to allowing these dispensaries and the
theoretic -- and the misnomers. They're not theoretical. They are
theoretical misnomers of what can, in fact, transpire. So I want to
thank you for taking that initiative to educate yourself irrespective of
how you vote today. I know you're going to do the right thing, but I
want to compliment you on that.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thanks.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any other comments on the Board? So
there's a motion and a second. Any other discussion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I have a comment.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I was, you know --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Stay up on the mic. My
mother's listening and she can't hear you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Are you listening?
You know, naturally I'm wavering, because I can understand the
need for medical marijuana, you know. My fear has been not people
just taking medical marijuana but then slipping right on into
recreational and then -- as it has happened in every other state. This is
not unusual, and then it gets bigger and bigger, and then they have to
hire extra security. And all throughout this agenda item it mentions
security, security, extra security. You never have to have security to
go buy a quart of milk, but you have to have security around medical --
marijuana dispensaries.
And then Morgan and Morgan announced that they'll make sure
that by next year this is switched to recreational. And I thought, bingo,
that's exactly what's happening in the other states. And I thought, oh,
my goodness. And here I'm just wavering on the medical, and already
he's guaranteeing us that next year he's going to make sure that we are
open to -- and it hit the newspapers. I'm sure you all read them as well.
December 11, 2018
Page 208
And I pushed back and I thought, if dispensaries can deliver them
and there's more and more popping up, why do we need to open the
door to, then, recreational here?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: But I think that's -- there's no connection
between what the voters of Florida approved and recreational. I mean,
it doesn't relate to recreational marijuana. This is marijuana that has to
be prescribed to a patient by a doctor.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right. Well, when it turns to
recreational, then what happens? They don't have to have any
prescriptions. They just go on down to the dispensary, right?
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, if you could use your microphones,
please.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah.
Well, you know, recreational marijuana is not legal in the state of
Florida, and they'd have to be breaking the law. I mean --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's a whole 'nother vote.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If I could add to that, it takes
60 percent plus one voting in the affirmative to amend the Florida
Constitution. And just because Morgan and Morgan is going to,
perhaps, get enough signatures to put it on the ballot doesn't mean that
it's going to pass in Florida. I think a lot of people that voted for
medical marijuana certainly are not going to vote for recreational
marijuana.
So I think trying to mix these two together is a mistake because
they are separate issues, and I don't think -- I mean, you'll have an
opportunity if it's on the ballot to campaign against that, to get your
friends to vote against it. And to get to 60 percent plus one on a
recreational marijuana vote in Florida will be a very difficult
challenge.
So I don't think -- what I would ask you to do is not let that
potential vote be the determining factor as to whether or not these folks
December 11, 2018
Page 209
can get medical marijuana here in Collier County without having to
travel.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Why do you have to have so much
security around dispensaries?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's a good question, and the
reason is is that the Florida legislature is making sure that these
facilities are secure, making sure that you have to have the right
prescription in order to get medical marijuana. It's oversight by the
State of Florida. Nothing wrong with it. But that should -- the fact that
they have security should give you comfort as opposed to making you
more concerned about it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You know, I've listened, and I
just want to assure the speakers -- and some of you I've seen you here
almost every time, and I really appreciate it, and I have no doubt how
important medical marijuana is to your health, to your well-being, and
to your future. That has never been a question in my mind.
What has been a question is to take the inability the county has to
regulate where these dispensaries should go. And now I understand
from the press that even the question of whether we can have more
than one dispensary has now been pretty much -- it's been challenged
in the courts, and apparently the State of Florida's not willing to defend
what they passed three or four years ago.
It's always been about the zoning, always, for me, never the value
of what you take and the importance of it to your health, so I want to
make that very clear. But I am not willing to have the rights of people
who do not want dispensaries next to a school -- I'm not going to take
those away from those people.
And, yes, we have to uphold the Constitution, of course, and we
will. I'm not banning medical marijuana from the use of people in
Collier County, but what I am saying is until we have more ability to
December 11, 2018
Page 210
determine where these dispensaries should go -- which I have a feeling
is coming down. I think -- frankly, I think the hill that you have
climbed over these few years since this has been approved, I think
you're coming down the downside. I think things under this new
administration are going to change so fast that it's going to be done.
But until that time, I'm going to have to stay with my original vote,
which is no.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And I, too.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. One of the other things, if
you notice I have marked here a lot of writing on these pages in
oranges and everything, because -- it's interesting, because the zoning
for it, it said wherever pharmacy -- it didn't say exactly "wherever." In
the same zoning districts as pharmacy. Well, there's a pharmacy on
every corner, or maybe on every other corner, but they're just all over.
So how many dispensaries does that make? That's plenty.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The number of dispensaries are
limited to the --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Now.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- the patients that are actually
receiving the cannabis.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Right now.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Correct. And there again --
well, you know --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But they get --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I mean, let me just -- I just want to say, if
that logic was true, there would be a dispensary on every corner in Lee
County and in Sarasota County and all the other counties in the state of
Florida, and there isn't.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: How do you know?
December 11, 2018
Page 211
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Because --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Because it's a fact.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's a fact. There's two in Lee County, so
-- well, very good. I think we are where we are. There's a motion and
a second.
All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Those opposed?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Opposed.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion fails.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, that moves us to Item 11C.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Is that Riviera?
MR. OCHS: No, ma'am. Would you like to take --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. There's a whole bunch of
people out here that have been waiting most of the day.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That's fine. We can move to that one.
Item #11J
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY
MANAGER TO CAST TWO AFFIRMATIVE VOTES FOR THE
RIVIERA GOLF ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT FOR
THE ACQUISITION OF THE 93-ACRE GOLF COURSE AND TO
BORROW UP TO $3.3 MILLION FOR THE LAND PURCHASE
AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT FOR USE AS A PRIVATE
COMMUNITY PARK. COLLIER COUNTY OWNS TWO (2) LOTS
AT 767 AND 771 CHARLEMAGNE COURT IN RIVIERA GOLF
December 11, 2018
Page 212
ESTATES AND THUS HAS TWO (2) VOTES IT CAN CAST –
APPROVED
MR. OCHS: We move to Item 11J. This is a recommendation to
authorize the County Manager to cast two affirmative votes for the
Riviera Golf Estates Homeowners' Association Board of Directors to
negotiate a contract for the acquisition of the 93-acre golf course and to
borrow up to $3.3 million for the land purchase and maintenance
equipment for uses of private community park.
Collier County owns two lots in Riviera Golf Estates and,
therefore, has the ability to cast two votes.
Commissioner Saunders has asked for this item to be moved to
the regular agenda for discussion, and I understand we do have some
public speakers as well, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I asked for this
to be taken off the consent agenda because I do not think it's
appropriate for the county, owning two vacant parcels in that
community, to cast the vote. That may be enough to sway the election,
and I don't think it's right for the county to participate in that.
The residents there will experience, I think, a $4,000 assessment,
and then $12 a month per parcel in assessed fees. And I have no
problem with the residents approving that, obviously, but I don't think
the county should participate. So that's why I asked this to be
withdrawn from the consent agenda.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: May I ask you -- I mean, I
understand, sort of, in my common way of looking at it, but is there a
legal issue to this, or is it just a sense of right or wrong?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, you know, we're going
to be asking the taxpayers of Collier County to participate in this on a
-- you know, it's a small amount of money, but it's tax dollars that
we're spending in that community. I don't think there's any particular
December 11, 2018
Page 213
legal prohibition to us doing this, but I just don't think it's an
appropriate use of our authority to do that.
You know, if there's a majority in the community that want to
purchase it, that's fine. If there's a majority that don't want to purchase
it, that's fine, but I don't think we should be part of the decision-making
on that acquisition.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: May I weight in on that a little bit?
And I don't even know if I'm speaking for you properly or anything.
I'm just relaying what I've heard and what I've been involved in.
I've gone to the meetings, and the people are fearful, of course, of
what -- who can buy that property, and they've seen, you know, other
places where something, not that they're desiring, could be built right
into the middle of their community, and they're a little fearful of that.
But there are others there that say -- and this is a -- this is a
55-and-older community, okay, a big community, by the way, 55 and
older.
And some of them say, I'm too old. I'm going to die before that
anyway. Why should I put my money into it? And that means
everybody else is stuck, you know, shouldering it, and that didn't work
out either.
I just -- I don't know how a vote would even go. But why don't
you give us your opinions, because those are just the things I've heard
and seen, and so I'd love to hear from you all.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Public speakers.
MR. MILLER: Certainly, sir. Your first public speaker is Steve
Campbell. He will be followed by Lea Cassetta.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: How many do we have?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Could we have Lea go first? Is
that appropriate?
MR. MILLER: Sure. Lea, come on down. How about Steve
Campbell after that.
December 11, 2018
Page 214
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: How many speakers do we have after that?
MR. MILLER: We have four total, sir.
MS. CASSETTA: Good afternoon, Commissioners.
MR. MILLER: Please pull the mic over.
MS. CASSETTA: My name is Lea Cassetta. I'm one of the
members of the Riviera Golf Estates Board of Directors. I'm speaking
today both on my behalf and on that of Mike Flaherty, who's our
current president of the board of directors. But he's dealing with issues
that require his presence, and he's not able to be here today at this
session.
I understand what you were saying, Commissioner Saunders, but
by your not voting, you are voting; you're voting no. A non-vote is a
no vote. So you're voting one way or the other, just so you understand
that.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: We could cast one vote "yes"
and one vote "no."
MS. CASSETTA: You could do that, but at least you're still
casting a vote. But by not -- a non-vote, you are voting no, just so you
understand that.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If it would be neutral for us to
cast a vote "yes" and cast a vote "no" so that we're not impacting the
election, I'm fine with that.
MS. CASSETTA: You can cast your votes -- you can cast your
votes either way you want, that is true. I just wanted to let you know
that you are voting one way or the other. Even if you don't vote, you're
voting.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That's fine.
MS. CASSETTA: Commissioners, Riviera Golf Estates board
appointed a committee who spent two years and thousands of hours of
their own time studying the pros and cons of purchasing Riviera Golf
Course, which is located in the midst of our community. It was
December 11, 2018
Page 215
originally deeded by the owner as a golf course in perpetuity.
The current owner challenged that several years ago, and the
courts decided that that deed restriction expires in 2020. So in 2020
the golf course can be sold and rezoned for development. It doesn't
have to stay a golf course.
The committee that put that together, after doing that study for
two years, explained the results in numerous member sessions, and not
only that, but published that 80-plus page report on our community
website for all of our residents to be able to access.
Once this current board was in place, we agreed fully on two
steps. First, we endorsed the Board-appointed committee's report and
gave a strong recommendation to our community residents to purchase
the land if it can be negotiated for a fair price and, second, if
purchased, to maintain the acreage, as Commissioner Fiala said, as a
green space, not as a golf course, and that way all the residents could
enjoy it.
Our reasoning for the recommendation was to have the land under
our control. We are, as you know, a deed-restricted community of 55
and older, and most of those residents right now are in their 80s and
90s. We believe the development of the property would be extremely
disruptive to the community and to the property values, and we have a
very real concern that the development would increase the potential for
flooding of our community homes during storms and other more
serious inclement weather, as the community -- as the current building
requires that new development has to be raised up to a level that's
higher than most of the homes in our community.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you. I'm sorry. Your three minutes
are up. Thank you.
MS. CASSETTA: Okay.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Steve Campbell. He will be
followed by Michael Flaherty --
December 11, 2018
Page 216
MS. FLAHERTY: Michelle.
MR. MILLER: Michelle Flaherty. My apologies, Michelle.
MS. FLAHERTY: It happens all the time.
MR. CAMPBELL: Good evening, Commissioners. My name's
Steve Campbell, a Riviera Golf Estates resident.
I'll just cut to the chase here. Collier County officials, Ms. Donna
Fiala, Mark Strain, and Abe Skinner, have repeatedly told Riviera Golf
Estates residents, for your own protection, to buy the golf course land
because the county can only do so much.
RGE residents are in the midst of voting to negotiate for the
purchase of Riviera Golf Course to preserve our quiet retirement
homes. To me, the expert advice from our county representatives
gives us valuable guidance and support.
Our board of directors was elected on the basis of their stand to
purchase Riviera Golf Course to preserve our quality of life, property
values, our safety, and welfare. Our covenants read, quote, Article 3.1,
Paragraph D, "Assessments levied by the association shall be the
amounts determined necessary to and shall be used exclusively to
promote the recreation, health, safety, and welfare of the owners and
residents of the lots subject to this declaration and for the purchase,
financing, improvement, operation, maintenance, and leasing of the
common areas and recreational facilities as the same may exist from
time to time," unquote.
And talking about the cost. At the present time, there is the
faction of RGE residents sabotaging our board of directors in their
efforts to get a representative vote by the people. For over a year, RGE
residents have received anonymous letters with distorted facts, outright
lies, and misinformation.
The HOA formed a committee that produced the pamphlet that
was delivered with the ballot to the county. They also produced an
85-page report listing pro and con concerning the golf course land, and
December 11, 2018
Page 217
the board of our directors recommended purchase of the land.
We urge our county representatives to vote yes on this important
issue that will affect RGE residents for decades to come. Look what
happened to Tam O'Shanter or Crystal Lake Golf Course over in
Pompano Beach. Riviera Golf Course and our community could be
next.
And if you go look on the Internet, they're really nice. You can
book times. Tam O'Shanter is now a cemetery, and Crystal Lake is
back-to-back housing.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Michelle Flaherty. She will
be followed by Robert Montuori.
MS. FLAHERTY: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I'm going to
put a little different slant on this. Also, for your information, it's going
to take 67 percent of our owners in order to pass, so two votes can be
very important.
And I ask that you consider that, because -- our community is
certainly not Port Royal, and it is a middle-class community. We've all
worked hard. We've gotten to retirement, and we're able to enjoy
Naples because Riviera exists. It's a wonderful community, very
active. We are active in the community in terms of money, donations,
and volunteer work.
This is a place that I never thought I would be, and because
Riviera exists, I can be here. I live in Naples, and I love it, and I enjoy
it. And there are people that want to take that away from us if we don't
buy this land.
And I urge you to do two yeses, because it's really important for
the people who are there over 55, some of us even over 65. But it's
really a very important -- it is a very wonderful community to live in,
and I enjoy being there, and I really do not want it to be compromised
by whatever.
And I know you've passed some new ordinances that increase the
December 11, 2018
Page 218
setbacks and all of that, but in my previous life I worked with many
boards and -- anyway, I worked with contractors, and you name it, and
what I know for a fact is that these kinds of regulations are written in
invisible ink depending how deep the pockets are of the person
wanting the land. So I'm frightened about that.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: May I speak to that?
MS. FLAHERTY: Sure. Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That's not going to happen here.
It's not going to happen here. We are as appalled as you are with the
greed of people and the idea that you could take a golf course and put
housing back to back in your front yard or your backyard.
So we created as much as we could possibly do, created strict
regulations. We have actually -- at this point, knock on wood, we've
actually backed one developer off the project, and we suspect that
these regulations are as onerous as possibly could, that I don't think it
would be clear sailing at all. And you, as a neighborhood, have the
ability -- he has to come to you. He has to make it pleasing to you of
what they're building.
The other thing is -- and I'm listening to you, and I know Riviera
Golf Course. I've seen it for years, and I've actually been on it -- not
playing golf, but I have some friends there. And I know that you are of
modest income, and I know we've got to save what we have. But think
long-term and think about maintenance. One of the reasons the
county's not going into the golf course business is because of the cost
of it.
MS. FLAHERTY: But we're not going to operate a golf course.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
MS. FLAHERTY: So it will be open space. That's the
recommendation of the Board.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Oh.
MS. FLAHERTY: So it will be walking trails, and we're going to
December 11, 2018
Page 219
keep it as open space for people to enjoy, and I think, again, that's
another part of making our community very attractive.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: It will be wonderful for your
community. And, you know, I'm not trying to talk you out of
anything, but I just want you to know that there's not one -- well, at
least at one point there was never a sympathetic, not one bone for this
what I consider just obnoxious way of maximizing land in Collier
County.
MS. FLAHERTY: Yes. Well, thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You're welcome.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker on this item is Robert
Montuori, and he's not here. So that was your final speaker.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Commissioner Fiala, you didn't
know if what --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't know that we can stop this --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, we can't, but we have
regulations in place.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: The golf course conversion ordinance.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That could stop it?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well, it won't stop it, but --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: They have to do a lot.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: -- they really have to bend over to
make it very good.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I have a question. As an
owner, are we -- are we going to be assessed an equivalent amount as
the other property owners in the community with the acquisition?
MS. MOTT: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: It can be paid monthly.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Saunders.
December 11, 2018
Page 220
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Fifteen years, then it goes away.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I didn't realize it took a 67
percent vote. I assume that's a 67 percent vote of all the property
owners?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: It's not the property owners
voting, but it's all of them --
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Six hundred ninety-two.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Including non-votes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So, Commissioner Fiala, I
assume you're in support of this. Maybe you can persuade me.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I am in support of the community,
and I -- in fact, they just asked me one day when I was a speaker, and I
said, if it were me, I would want to control my own destiny. You were
probably all there, and I said, so I would buy it.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Have we received any -- I
know we've received some folks saying that they don't want us to vote
for this, and I think we had a series of emails which is really -- I mean,
philosophically, I have a little problem with us weighing in on an
election like that.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Take your vote, and if you need
us, let us know.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So I'd --
(Multiple speakers speaking.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I would make a motion that we do
vote, and we use our two votes.
(Multiple speakers speaking.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I make a motion that, yes, we do
vote in favor of Riviera Golf Estates.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's a "yes" vote.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's a "yes" vote.
December 11, 2018
Page 221
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's correct, and I'll second
that motion.
MR. OCHS: Two yes votes?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The motion is to make two yes
votes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Whose district is this in?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. Whose district is it?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It's mine.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I just want to know.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I just want to say something.
And, again, you know, I spoke to the folks that are here. The prior
president, George Danz, I believe is his name. He's my friend. When
they were soliciting us to buy the golf course, I'm like, oh, no, no, no.
You need to go together. You need to do an individual homeowners'
assessment, protect the value of your community in some form or
format. It doesn't need to come from government subsidization. I've
said that -- I've said that since the beginning.
So I'm in support of moving forward, especially if we're, on an
equivalency basis, going to participate in that expense.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I'm going to do
my typical 180 here. I'm going to support the motion but hopefully,
when they do purchase this, that our county residents can come out
there from time to time and walk on the open space.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: There you go. That's a guarantee,
right, folks?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a motion and a second to
approve two yes votes. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 222
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You have your votes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You've got your votes.
MR. OCHS: How's our court reporter doing?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. How's our --
THE COURT REPORTER: Didn't we just have a break?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: About an hour ago. Do one more. Okay.
Let's go. Have we got another one?
MR. OCHS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We're going to have to go eat more
candy.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Do you want to do the
mental-health and addiction?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Why don't we go through some fast ones.
I don't see Pam Baker. I had asked --
(Multiple speakers speaking.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: The mental-health and addiction?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: This is easy. I'm not going to --
I'm not going to torpedo it at all.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, that would be nice. Okay. Let's do
that one.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You've got your humor on there.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah.
Item #11K
RESOLUTION 2018-232: RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A
December 11, 2018
Page 223
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE COLLIER COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION AD HOC ADVISORY
COMMITTEE – ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: That's Item 11K. It's a recommendation to adopt a
resolution establishing the Collier County mental-health and addiction
add hoc advisory committee.
Commissioner Taylor moved this to the regular agenda.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: All right. So, Troy, can you --
can someone pull up the resolution? I mean, I can't do this --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: What do you want to do?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Just read it, yeah, on the -- can we
put it on there just quickly?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It was --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It was originally 16F --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: 16F8.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: 16F8. Okay. So here it is.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And there were two things. First
of all, I did notice right away that the children were not part of it, and I
accept that except I kind of disagree with it because of my -- you
know, these kids, especially within the dependency, the foster care
system, they're the kids that need attention to --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (Inaudible.)
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes. And I'm concerned that, oh,
we're going to take care of all these others, and they're an afterthought.
And I think they should have equal footing. But then the second thing
is, in this resolution it does talk about --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Whereabouts?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: At the beginning it says what the
-- the purpose of it, creation and purpose of it, mental illness advisory
committee.
December 11, 2018
Page 224
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And it talks about present to the
Board of County Commissioners a report and recommendation as to
what action the Board of County Commissioners should take to
maximum accessibility, et cetera, et cetera.
I think we need to have as well on this committee -- I think we
need to have someone from the county on this committee, whether it's
in the budget office, whether it's -- we just need someone, because it's
very, very important. It is the community, but I think they need to be
represented. And I couldn't see that they were represented there.
So I guess it's just to add two representatives, one from the
children's and then also to have someone from the county on this.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And that was it.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I mean, the county staff is going to be --
will be -- you want the county to be a voting member of the
committee? Do we do that?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I don't know if they would be a
voting member as just there to say, oh, you want $300,000. Well, our
budget is -- or, you know, to bring some --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That's Sean.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Liaison.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Liaison. There, we've got the
word. There's the word. Okay?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: The technical. Okay. I think
that's important.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not a voting member, though.
MR. OCHS: No.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, but you don't need to put that in the
resolution.
December 11, 2018
Page 225
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah.
MR. KLATZKOW: You have staff liaisons for all your
committees.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay. And then to put someone
--
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well -- but I will tell you, you know, then
mental-health professionals -- all of these individuals that are listed as
mental-health professionals, behavioral-health professionals,
psychologists, psychiatrists, I mean, we're not limiting it to these
professionals that only relate to adults.
And, really, just so you know, the school board has been involved
in all of these meetings, and it was really a -- the consensus was that,
one, there's so much in flux with the children's mental-health services
and things through the school districts. There's actually -- as I was
saying before, it's, actually, in terms of funding, Medicaid actually
pays more for children's mental-health services than adults.
So this -- the decision to start with the strategic plan that relates to
adults initially was, you know, that was -- it was Scott Burgess from
David Lawrence, Pam Baker. I mean, this was -- we talked a lot about
this. And that was the consensus, that -- let's get something in place.
We set the priorities, get a strategic plan, and then ultimately we would
have a strategic plan that included children as well. It's just that it
involves so many other issues that I don't even understand the
recommendation was, let's take it a step at a time because I think the
children's -- while it's not perfect, it needs a lot of assistance, or needs a
lot of work, the system, it's at least a little bit ahead of the adult side.
And I would also say that the facility, the centralized facility,
receiving facility, will also have a children's aspect to it. So it's not --
it's not that it's completely being disregarded. It's just not going to be
the initial focus.
Commissioner -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.
December 11, 2018
Page 226
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well -- and I guess, again -- and I
respectfully would urge you to add someone, especially from the
dependency system, because, in my mind, when I read that, I just went
back to the young man that shot children who was a former foster child
adopted. These kids come into the system damaged, and oftentimes,
even though they may have that ability to go to services, those services
are not consistent, and they're not readily available. It takes a lot of
advocacy. So that's -- I guess that's where I was going with that.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel, before his head
explodes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. You know, I've been very
intimate with this. I spent a lot of time in Washington, D.C., with
health and services and -- because I'm working on funding. Everything
we're talking about here is really nice, but without funding, it's just all
we're doing is talking about it. And I really applaud Commissioner
Solis' efforts in moving forward.
One of the specific questions that was asked to me -- asked of me
while I was in Washington, D.C., was what's your mental-health plan?
And I'm like, ugh, I don't know that we have one. And I applaud you
for the aggressive maneuvers with regard to timing, establishment of
the committee, and then -- and specifying that it is for the adult care.
So I would, number one -- also, at the same time, I want to make
-- I don't want to take away your motion to approve or move this
forward (sic), but I think we ought to move this forward as is and, at
the same time, address what Commissioner Taylor's, in fact, talking
about.
I sat in on the symposium that was held by our sheriff.
Commissioner Solis, you were there. And when they talked about
some of our jail population and so on and so forth and the
mental-health issues that are transpiring within our jail system, in the
back of the room I raised my hand and I said, what are you doing about
December 11, 2018
Page 227
the pipeline? And, of course, there was silence. And I said DJJ. And
the efforts that are going along with the management of our adolescent
population, it's a whole 'nother can of worms.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yep.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And so, with that, I would
recommend we leave this alone, because it's imperative that we have
this to allow for the funding and the sources of funding to come forth,
and then we specifically move forward on the pipeline that feeds that,
and that is the adolescent care.
In conjunction with that, Commissioner Taylor, Michael Ellis, the
CEO of Healthcare Network, is in the process of opening up an
adolescent bed facility in Southern Lee County. One of the issues we
have in Collier County is we don't have a population base to be able to
justify and warrant the expense associated with the care for the
adolescence.
And so that is happening, as we speak, per -- as, you know, I'm
chair of the Public Safety Coordinating Committee, and I invited the
caregivers into that just to mingle them with the judicial side, the
prosecution side, the law enforcement, and such as far as the
incarceration goes, and that came out of that information. So there are
efforts in place that are being moved forward.
So I would highly recommend we leave this one alone, approve it
as-is, and go forward, and then work separately with those that are
working with the adolescent population to assist them in any manner
possible.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Absolutely. And just -- I'm sorry. I think
you were next, but I was just going to say --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I was.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You were next, okay. The adolescent
issue is certainly -- it's of great concern to everybody that's involved.
It's just that we need to start somewhere, and this was the
December 11, 2018
Page 228
recommendation from the stakeholders. So it's on the burner.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All I was going to do was
second the motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a motion and a second.
And, Commissioner Fiala, you hit your button, so you go last.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I did. All I wanted to know
was -- and you're kind of explaining it, is there's so much help that's
needed in the adolescent range, and it starts, like, in school with the
little ones, and then it moves up into some of the incarcerated kids
because of their problems.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It moves on into -- excuse me. It
moves on into places like Youth Haven where they -- you know, those
kids are so damaged already --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- and more, and there's so much
help that's needed for these kids. I'm sure that they feel tortured by
what's going on in their lives. And we can't do much about it, but I'm
glad you're saying that there's going to be a separate --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- network out there helping those
people.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You're going to work on that, too?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes, I am. I'll commit to you that I'm
going to work on that as well.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I'm going to take that to the
bank. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. All in
favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 229
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You're welcome. No, thank you.
MR. OCHS: Where do you want to go now, Mr. Chairman, back
to the regular order?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: How about -- let's give her a break.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: You need a break?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Ten minutes. What do you think,
15?
THE COURT REPORTER: Ten.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: What do you need? Ten minutes at the
most.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seat.
Mr. Chairman, you have a live mic.
Item #11E
RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT STAFF TO ADVERTISE, AND
BRING BACK FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE
REPEALING THE FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE NO. 2011-07, TO BE REPLACED BY
THE NEW FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE –
APPROVED
We're moving to Item 11E. This is a recommendation to direct
December 11, 2018
Page 230
staff to advertise and bring back for a future public hearing an
ordinance repealing the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to be
replaced by the new Floodplain Management Ordinance.
Ms. Caroline Cilek.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make a motion to approve.
MR. OCHS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: For discussion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: For discussion, okay. Discussion.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'm not opposed to it. I
just have a concern. I mean, the right that's being corrected or wrong
that's being corrected with this delineation of the 1.5 estimation of the
sea level rise, I have a concern with regard to the potential impacts,
unintended consequences that are going to come from that delineation.
MS. CILEK: Okay. So the sea level rise is actually in the
floodplain management plan.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Isn't that what we're doing?
MR. OCHS: No, sir.
MS. CILEK: And that's coming back at a later date.
MR. OCHS: That was on the consent agenda, the update to the
Floodplain management.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye. I'm sorry. My bad.
Misunderstood.
MS. CILEK: So this is the Floodplain Management Ordinance,
which I'd still be happy to take a vote of confidence to move for
request to advertise in January, but I'm happy to give you an overview
as well.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. I think we
December 11, 2018
Page 231
took care of the discussion. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion carries.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Good report.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Great presentation.
MR. OCHS: Thanks.
MS. CILEK: Thank you very much. Have a great evening.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Thank you.
Item #11C
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ADVERTISE
AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 2002-63, AS
AMENDED, WHICH ESTABLISHED AND IMPLEMENTS THE
CONSERVATION COLLIER PROGRAM – APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Okay. That takes us back to Item 11C. This is a
recommendation to authorize the staff to advertise an amendment to
Ordinance No. 2002-63 as amended, which established and
implements the Conservation Collier program.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And, Mr. Chairman, this is
first reading. This will come back to us; is that correct?
MR. OCHS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I know that there may be some
questions, but I'm going to make a motion to approve this going
December 11, 2018
Page 232
forward. It's going to come back. We'll have plenty of opportunity to
discuss it at an earlier time during the day.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We have public speakers, though.
MR. MILLER: Yes. I have two public speakers.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I'm sorry.
MR. MILLER: Gladys Delgadillo will be followed by Meredith
Budd.
MS. DELGADILLO: Hi. My name is Gladys Delgadillo. I'm an
environmental policy specialist with the Conservancy of Southwest
Florida.
The Conservancy has been following the proposed changes to the
Conservation Collier ordinance. We really appreciate the thought
CCLAC members have put into discussion of these changes and are
grateful that they've rejected many of the proposed changes the
Conservancy was concerned about.
In general, however, we still feel that with the exception of a
couple staff-recommended changes, the proposed changes to the
Conservation Collier ordinance before you are not needed. The
Conservation Collier program is not broken, and we would ask you not
to move forward with changing the ordinance at this time.
One of our main concerns is the removal of language in the
whereas clause on Page 2 which limits the use of Conservation Collier
dollars.
The Conservancy opposes the proposed change to open use of
Conservation Collier funds to unknown outside purposes. Voters
supported levying ad valorem property taxes for the express purpose of
supporting conservation land acquisition and management. They
expect Conservation Collier dollars to be used for this purpose.
Though the ballot initiative has expired, we still believe any other use
of these funds violates the public's trust.
December 11, 2018
Page 233
In addition, the Conservancy hopes that in 2020 voters will pass a
referendum which will limit the use of Conservation Collier dollars to
conservation. In the interim, the proposed change is not only
premature but may hamper public support for the conservation
program.
We also have questions about another proposed change on Page
2: Replacing reference to an ad valorem assessment with language
stating lands will be purchased through a funding source to be
determined by Collier County.
And ad valorem tax has always been the heart of this program,
and we plan to renew this funding method in a referendum in 2020. If
there's another funding source contemplated to replace this source,
we'd like that funding source to be identified and vetted before this
ordinance change is made.
During the last CCLAC meeting, one of the members raised a
concern that this change may result in less funding for the
Conservation Collier program, which the Conservancy would be
opposed to. In general, we're concerned about moving away from ad
valorem funding for the program without fully understanding the
implications of the move.
Finally, there's been much discussion about further prioritizing
urban acquisitions. The Conservancy does not feel this is necessary.
Half of Collier County's preserves are located within the urban area,
and CCLAC members have stated they were able to prioritize urban
acquisitions in their Cycle 9 list.
The Conservancy believes CCLAC and the Commission already
have the flexibility to prioritize urban parcels, and there's no reason to
stray away from current acquisition goals which are consistent with the
Conservation Collier mission and which focus on acquiring the most
environmentally sensitive lands, wherever they may be.
There's no need to fix what isn't broken, so at this time we ask
December 11, 2018
Page 234
you not to move forward with the changes to the Conservation Collier
ordinance.
MR. MILLER: Your next and final speaker is Meredith Budd.
MS. BUDD: Good evening. Meredith Budd on behalf of Florida
Wildlife Federation. I will not take much of your time.
Everything that Gladys articulated is something that the
Federation is also in agreement with. I did provide you-all with a letter
yesterday. I did send it relatively late, but I hope that you were able to
receive it.
The Federation has been involved in the CCLAC meetings over
the past discussions with the changes, and most of the discussions are
actually not reflected in the ordinance before you today, and we are
happy about that. But there are still changes in there that we just
believe are unnecessary, with the exception of the staff-recommended
administrative changes and other staff-recommended changes.
But my recommendations and thoughts were articulated in that
letter, and I do hope that it is helpful in future discussions and in,
perhaps, this discussion.
If the inclination is to move forward today, perhaps we could
continue it as opposed to approving it so we can look deeper at the
exact changes being proposed here today. So I appreciate that. Thank
you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think all of -- all that we're
doing today, if this passes, is simply moving to a public hearing where
all of these changes can be considered.
The problem with trying to go through these changes at 5:30 at
night is just, you know, going to be difficult. So that's why I said, let's
move this to the second reading. We'll have plenty of opportunity to
go through each one of these.
MS. BUDD: Understood. Thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Is that the last speaker?
December 11, 2018
Page 235
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel, you turned your
light off.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, I did.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah. I am concerned about a
whereas that basically says there's other funding sources, if I'm not
incorrect on that. I believe it's one of the first whereases in the
ordinance. It kind of -- to me it weakens the whole effort of the
Conservation Collier. I know we can discuss it at the second reading,
but I think this needs to be fully vetted now, because the whole crux of
Conservation Collier is that the people decide they want it, and they do
it through ad valorem, and they're willing to assess themselves the
money.
And to say that there's other funding sources to do the same thing
flies in the face of the reality of what we have. So to me, that's a
whereas that doesn't -- is not appropriate.
So I'm concerned about, sort of, the heart of everything, and I'd
like to have a little bit of discussion, just a little, on that. And if it's the
will of this commission to go forward, that's fine, too, with that in
place.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. There's a motion, right, and a
second? I think we need to vote on that, if we're going to move
forward or not.
All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I'm opposed for reasons stated.
December 11, 2018
Page 236
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Thank you.
MS. SULECKI: Thank you very much.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, before Alex departs, I did want to
take the opportunity to thank her for her many years of dedicated
public service to the organization. It's been a pleasure working with
her and knowing her, and we wish her every great success in the
future. She'll be retiring here within days, I believe, huh?
MS. SULECKI: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Ochs.
MR. OCHS: All right. Well, thank you very much, Alex.
Appreciate it.
(Applause.)
MS. SULECKI: It's always been an honor working for the
citizens of Collier County, and I appreciate the opportunity. Thank
you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Have a fun retirement.
MS. SULECKI: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah. Enjoy the outdoors.
Item #11D
RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE
COUNTY’S DELIVERY PLAN FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE
PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND A MAJORITY OF
THE ELECTORATE TO BE FUNDED FROM THE PROCEEDS OF
THE ONE-CENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX (SALES TAX)
WITH OVERSIGHT FROM A CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
– APPROVED; COUNTY ATTORNEY TO SEND APPLICANTS A
LETTER CLARIFYING THE COMMITTEE’S DUTIES
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, that moves us to Item 11D, and this
is a recommendation to review and approve the staff's proposed
December 11, 2018
Page 237
delivery plan for the execution of the projects approved by the Board
and by a majority of the electorate to fund through the adoption of the
one-cent infrastructure surtax with oversight from the Citizens'
Advisory Committee.
Mr. Casalanguida will take you quickly through the presentation.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Thank you, Mr. Manager.
Commissioners, I'll be brief, but I'll cover all the points that are in
the executive summary through the presentation.
Commissioners, as you know, the sales tax passed, and we're in
the process of the implementation phase. A lot of questions have come
up. Sales tax collections begin on January 1st. We will not start to see
revenue from the sales tax till about the third month or so.
There are no agreements with the municipalities, so the
distribution will be by formula. In the front page of the executive
summary, I updated the Department of Revenue forecasts. We might
be done in under seven years, maybe six depending on the update to
the revenue slide that's there that was in the presentation, or at least in
the executive summary.
We went from about 70 million to about 81 million in forecast
collections in each fiscal year based on the DOR forecast.
We're planning to seat the committee and bring them in front of
you in January. There are, right now, as of a couple days ago, 40
applicants that applied. Seven-member committee, one from each
commission district, two at-large. And I know that Mark's office is
working with the Clerk to set up a tracking system for the revenues
coming in and the disbursements that are going to go out.
Part of the organizational management structure, as it's laid out in
front of you, has the oversight committee reporting directly to the
Board working with a liaison from the Manager's Office and working
through OMB with the different groups.
Over the summer we worked with a new legislative requirement
December 11, 2018
Page 238
that was put in last year with Office of Program Policy Analysis and
Government Accountability, acronym OPPAGA. They hired an
outside consulting firm to come forward and review the county.
That firm looked at six different categories for the county:
Economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; structure of design; methods
of providing services and products; goals, objectives; adequacy of
public documents and reports; and process for insurance compliance
with policies.
They worked with both the facilities team and the transportation
team, and they passed in each one of those categories in two areas they
wanted us to look at, which was in-sourcing and out-sourcing and
better efficiency to the accounting. We're taking both of those up with
the Productivity Committee. So I'm happy to report that OPPAGA
found that we are very well qualified to deliver these projects.
The way we're going to do this is very simple. They're in two
categories: Transportation projects and facilities projects. As we
normally do, a project manager will be assigned that will be overseen
by a senior project manager and division director.
The community projects will be a little different. We'll use
something similar to the sports complex where we'll put together a
delivery team. Those are those projects such as the mental-health
facility, the workforce training center, because they're going to require
a little bit more public input, as well as the sheriff's evidence building.
Providing reports to the committee. The way it was structured in
the ordinance, we will bring them the revenues -- well, actually, the
expenses, what we plan to expend the money on. They, as written in
the ordinance, will only validate that those expenses are compliant
with the ballot language, compliant with the Florida Statute, and
compliant with the definition of infrastructure that's there.
I've provided for you in your package the handbook and the ballot
language as well as the Florida Statutes section that refers to that.
December 11, 2018
Page 239
We in the county have a Caps-Track program that we do
quarterly. We meet on this fifth floor. All the project managers deliver
project updates. We review budgets and timelines. These projects will
be no different. They'll be added to that group, and that report will be
put on the website and provided to the oversight committee.
A project information report will be developed for each one of
these. We have them already for most projects. They get into the
design, construction, CEI, land acquisition. Anything that's involved
in the project, it breaks it out in detail, and we would ask the
committee to validate the expense, and the project would come to the
Board like any other project does.
In the executive summary, we would note if it's a sales tax project
so you're well aware of it, and we'll note that the committee has seen
the project and brought it forward. Each one, obviously, will have a
schedule and a milestone as well, too.
We put together a seven-year tentative project delivery chart, and
the categories of the projects in blue are transportation. They'll be
handled through GMD. Many, if not all -- there's a few projects that
still need to be touched, but are in progress in one way or another.
Vanderbilt Beach Road is the best example.
We'll use January 1st as the delivery date and beginning of any
expenditure dollar amount. So if an activity has taken place after
January 1st of 2019, we'll count that as eligible, we'll place the
expenditure in front of the committee, have them validate it and bring
it in front of you for final review and approval.
The orange projects are facilities projects, and then the yellow
projects are the community projects, and, obviously, those will be
treated a little bit differently as well.
Project prioritization. Obviously, first is health, safety, and
welfare; second is condition of asset and cost of ongoing maintenance;
and third is market conditions and availability of funds.
December 11, 2018
Page 240
And I want to stress that, because we've got plenty of time, but
we're not going to, you know, dillydally with these projects. The last
thing we want to do is flood the market with projects. As I put out in
the executive summary, and Commissioner Saunders rightfully pointed
out, we're in the ninth year of an expansion. This chart is from Turner
Building Cost Index, and we've got 1.5 percent inflation every quarter
since 2014. We expect that to level out. We will have some projects
that must go out in '19 and some that must go out in '20, but we will
get these projects ready to go and try and time some of these projects
to be efficient in the market either by grouping them or waiting,
depending on where the market is.
A lot of budget considerations that are involved in this as well,
too. Mark and I have spent quite a bit of time with the Manager
discussing it, and I'll have Mark talk a little bit through these slides.
MR. ISACKSON: Thanks, Nick.
Commissioners, Mark Isackson, the Office of Management and
Budget.
I take no ownership in the $81 million estimate that the State's put
out for sales tax collection, just for the record. We'll wait to see what
happens with that.
As Nick mentioned, we're working with the Clerk's Office, but
you can rest assured that there will at least be a separate fund and
capital accounting structure set up to capture all of the expenditures for
the various capital projects that are in this list.
The executive summary talked about the use of gap financing,
depending upon project timing and sales tax revenue streams. We can
talk a little bit more about that, obviously as we get into this process,
but that is available in case projects are ready -- willing and ready to go
but yet our revenue streams aren't quite there yet. There's an option for
the Board to consider as we get into it.
I want to point out that the sales tax simply reduces a level of
December 11, 2018
Page 241
capital finance required to fund the priority infrastructure
improvements. It doesn't eliminate it.
What do we have there, Nick? Where's the page up? Thanks.
Capital financing. Outside the sales tax umbrella includes our
stormwater infrastructure, the Public Utilities northeast expansion
project, and a lot of our road network improvements.
Our operation and maintenance obligations will continue:
Stormwater, parks, landscaping, and general governmental.
And that's it. Nick and I are available for questions.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: One other thing, Commissioners. I
think you -- just for clarification. Some questions came up. You
authorized the staff about $100,000 to do public education, and I want
to put education in quotes.
We only spent $30,000 on the website, and we had five public
meetings. The rest of the money's still sitting in the account. I think
we've spent $8,000 for a mandatory TRIM notice. So out of the
100,000 that you've let us spend, it was only for the website and five
public meetings.
MR. OCHS: Yes. There was some concern out there that county
dollars were going to some advocacy campaign with signage and those
kinds of things. That is not true.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: That's it. I think we've got a good
plan, a good team. We passed the audit report, and we're ready to
begin the delivery process, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well constructed.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Do you need a motion to
approve the plan?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We have a couple of public speakers.
Public speakers?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir. We have four speakers. Everyone has
December 11, 2018
Page 242
ceded time to one speaker, Steven Bracci, who has been ceded time
from Dr. Joseph Doyle, Sandy Doyle, who are both present, and
William R. Tolp, who is also present, for a total of 12 minutes. Give
me just a second, sir.
I'll bring your presentation up for you.
MR. BRACCI: Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners. My
name is Steve Bracci. I'm here on my own behalf. I'm a local attorney
as well.
The premise of tonight, this agenda item, is that the county has
requisite authority to enact the sales tax come January 1.
And this may sound preposterous and inflammatory, but I'm
proposing to you that the county presently does not have the authority
to enact the tax.
In order to substantiate this, I've prepared a PowerPoint
presentation because, again, I recognize, you know, the issue here. But
again, the timing isn't really ours, and I think if you give me a chance
to walk through this, you'll understand that -- you know, what I have to
say.
This is titled, by what authority -- "By What Taxing Authority the
BCC Lacks Authority to Implement The One-Cent Sales Surtax."
Starting point is Florida's constitution. And Commissioner --
Chair Solis earlier tonight said, correctly, that you guys have all sworn
an oath to uphold the constitution, and we also heard tonight the
Commission's talk about making sure that we have requisite authority
as a county commission to do things. For instance, run the accelerator.
Well, that same mindset applies in spades when you're going to
enact a $500 million sales tax upon the people.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sir, can I just ask a question?
MR. BRACCI: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's almost 6 o'clock. Is your presentation
related to what staff has presented and asked us to consider in terms of
December 11, 2018
Page 243
the prioritization of these projects, or is what you're going to explain a
legal challenge as to why we shouldn't impose the sales tax? Because I
don't know that any of us are interested in hearing that.
MR. BRACCI: Well, I'm looking at -- for one, I think under
286.0114, I have a statutory entitlement to speak.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Well, I'm asking a question.
MR. BRACCI: And on the agenda item here it says, a
recommendation to review and approve the county's delivery plan for
the execution of the projects, the projects approved by the Board, and a
majority of the electorate to be funded from the proceeds of the
one-cent infrastructure surtax.
So I'm challenging the premise, the very premise of the words
that are before you that -- whether or not you have the authority to
approve the delivery plan and that -- the underlying premise is whether
you have the authority to tax. So it's directly related to this agenda
item.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But didn't we already vote it in?
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: We've already voted to put it on the -- I
mean, if this is a --
MR. BRACCI: You did. Commissioner Solis --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- legal challenge -- excuse me. Wait a
minute.
MR. BRACCI: Sure.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I mean, if this is a legal challenge to the
sales tax, then I don't know that this is the right place for that. And I
understand you have a right to speak. I just -- I hope you're going to
keep your comments related to the delivery plan, not whether or not we
could have properly enacted, through a referendum of the voters, the
sales tax.
MR. BRACCI: I'm -- I think I pointed out that I'm challenging
the premise of this agenda item; that you have the authority and that --
December 11, 2018
Page 244
it says here, majority of the electorate -- approved by the Board and a
majority of the electorate to be funded. I'm saying that that didn't
happen.
So I don't see how, from a legal standpoint, you can say that my
comments, all of them, aren't directly relevant to the agenda item. I'll
try to be as quick as possible, understanding that I've had several
minutes here that were taken kind of going back and forth that really
weren't --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Go ahead.
MR. MITCHELL: The clock was paused each time the chairman
interrupted you, sir.
MR. BRACCI: Okay. So the starting point is the Florida
Constitution, Article 7, Section 1, on taxation. Now, that's a really
long constitutional provision, but the very first sentence is, no tax shall
be levied except in pursuance of law.
So, okay, what does that mean? The Florida Supreme Court has
told us what that means. The word "law" means a statute adopted by
both houses of the legislature.
So when you guys enacted your sales tax ordinance earlier this
year, you did it under Section 212.055 Florida Statutes. The beginning
of that statute specifically says, "It is the legislative intent that any
authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales surtax shall be
published in the Florida Statutes as a subsection of this section. Each
enactment shall specify the procedure which must be followed to
secure voter approval."
So it talks about the fact that you have to follow this subsection of
212.055. So let's go to the next slide. That subsection here is
Subsection 2, titled "Local Government Infrastructure Surtax." It's
kind of a long statute. It basically says that you have to give a brief
statement of why you want the tax, and then the very end of it says, the
following question shall be placed on the ballot for the X-cent sales tax
December 11, 2018
Page 245
or against the X-cent sales tax. This is the statutory language.
The Board of County Commissioners, earlier this year, did it
right. You guys got it correct when you enacted your Ordinance
2018-21. You -- an this is pulled directly from your ordinance that you
guys passed as to what would go on the ballot.
And it follows the requirement, and it says at the end that the
question to be posed to the Collier County electorate is whether it's for
the one-cent sales tax or against the one-cent sales tax. And, in fact,
you, as a commission, when you made this policy, actually bolded the
words "for or against."
Now, this is the actual ballot referendum. It's exactly the same as
your ordinance, but it doesn't pose the "for or against the sales tax"
question. It just says, yes or no. That was the question posed to the
electorate after a long verbose referendum question with the sales tax
language at the very end.
So, what happened? Well, there was a narrow passage: 50.87,
yes; 49.13, no.
So, essentially, a one-point swing would have changed the
outcome entirely.
The legislature required clarity on the sales surtax question; for a
tax or against a tax. Instead, you guys said yes or no, or you didn't say
it. The ballot said yes or no.
So what does yes mean? Does yes mean that the electorate was in
favor of the projects that were desired, or does it mean, yes, it's in
favor of the tax? One thing's for sure: 0 percent of the Collier County
electorate have voted for or against a sales tax as specifically required
by the Florida legislature.
The Florida Attorney General has opined on Subsection 2, the
same subsection, and in it it says -- it specifically says back in the 2001
advisory opinion, Subsection 2 of the statute authorized counties to
levy a local government infrastructure surtax under precisely defined
December 11, 2018
Page 246
conditions. These conditions prescribe the procedure to be followed
for approving the taxes.
The Supreme -- Florida Supreme Court has also looked at this --
has also talked generally about taxation, and it says, "It is a
fundamental rule of construction that tax laws are to be construed
strongly in favor of the taxpayer and against the government and that
all ambiguities or doubt are to be resolved in favor of the taxpayer.
This salutary principle is found in the reason that the duty to pay taxes,
while necessary to the business of the sovereign, is still a duty of pure
statutory creation, and taxes may be collected only within the clear
definite boundaries recited by statute."
So what were the clear definite boundaries recited by the statute?
There had to be a vote posed to the electorate of Collier County
whether you're for the one-cent sales tax or against the one-cent sales
tax, not yes or no.
The conclusion is that the Board of County Commissioners has
no authority to enact this surtax. The for or against the one-cent sales
tax question has not been posed to the electorate. That was a condition
precedent to you as an agency having taxing authority. That condition
was not met. You did not follow your statute, and you did not follow
your own commission ordinance.
So what do you do? These are just suggestions. I can't convince
you guys you're right or wrong. Either you have the authority or you
don't. I can give you my opinion. You guys can have your opinion.
I'm not here to convince you, but I'm here to inform you.
One thing you can do is request an advisory opinion from the
Florida Attorney General. Conscientious government attorneys and
boards do this all the time. In fact, I quoted one from earlier. Ask the
Attorney General, did we do it right? Was the yes-or-no language
sufficient? Because, guys, think about what happens if you're wrong.
You're going to put -- you're going to make all these commitments,
December 11, 2018
Page 247
binding commitments, contracts to third parties? What if one of --
what if that gets challenged? What if you don't have that authority and
you've made these binding commitments?
I would suggest you might hold off on any commitments that
depend upon sales tax revenue until your question's answered or,
alternatively, I would suggest that the County Commission implement
its funding Plan B. I mean, obviously, there was a pretty significant
question as to whether this was going to pass. There's a lot of articles
being written about the surprise that the electorate passed this.
So, certainly, this Commission has a Plan B to fund those
projects, which I'm not saying aren't necessary. But what I'm saying is,
guys, I don't think that you followed the statutory requirement to vest
upon yourself to enact the one-cent surtax in which case, circling back
to the agenda item, I don't see how you can approve these projects and
implement this until this question and this cloud is clarified.
Thank you for your time.
MR. MITCHELL: That was your only speaker, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Only speaker.
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I've forgotten what I was going to
say anymore. Just --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Was there a motion to --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Was there a motion? I think there was, but
then -- no motion yet?
MR. OCHS: No. There was no motion to accept the delivery --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I remember what I was going to
say. Wait a minute. I just wanted to know, in the body of this under
fiscal impact, it said something about economic development
obligation associated with CRAs, and I didn't know what that meant.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: I think Mark was -- Mark's here. I'll
December 11, 2018
Page 248
let him explain it, but I think he was talking about obligations outside
the sales tax.
Mr. Isackson.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay.
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioner, I was simply referring to the
continuing obligations that you're going to have, and it really is going
to come to the forefront when you get your budget policy in February.
I just wanted to give you an advance preview of some of the items that
are coming up. That's all.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. Well, I know on that
note, that wasn't the first time that I've heard Mr. Bracci's presentation,
and I'd like to ask the County Attorney with regard to what his
interpretation is and whether or not we fulfilled the statute and are
within the guise to enact the tax or should take precautionary action.
MR. KLATZKOW: All right. Short story is that we were aware
of the discrepancy, contacted the Supervisor of Elections who
informed us her software did not allow for the "for" or "against." It was
physically impossible, which is why it was yes and no. We are not the
only county to have had this issue, because that software is fairly
standard in the industry, because the software goes with the voting
machines, which are also fairly standard in the industry.
It was an impossibility because of the computer software for the
Supervisor of Election to comply with the Board's ordinance. Simple
as that. As far as the challenge goes, my understanding is that you've
got 10 days after the certification of the results to challenge an item
such as this, and that time has passed. And so I'm not concerned about
any ramifications at this point in time.
If there were any true beliefs that this was improperly passed, a
lawsuit should have been timely commenced, and I don't believe it
December 11, 2018
Page 249
was.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Number two, I might make a
suggestion on the project list. There was a delineation early on of the
project list of the estimated expenses associated with those projects,
and I'd like that to be carried forward in this information along with
those project lists. It wasn't in the information that I had, and I just
want to make sure that we're -- that's going to give us a base -- give me
a baseline as to how we're going to be moving forward.
And, you know, some of the discussions with the general public
folks that have come out with it that have expressed interest in serving
on this advisory committee just assisting with the baseline on those
estimated expenses, I'd like to see that.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: It was in the backup, sir. It was a little
hidden in one of the backups, the ordinances. The Schedule A that we
showed, it was on the website. I have it here if you want to put it on
the viewer. You want to see it?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, I don't need to see it now.
I just -- when I was reviewing it, I didn't see it. So I'm looking at my
notes here from when I was looking at it.
And the third is the bridge projects that are on this list. I have
said from the beginning I do not want to use the 2006 East of 951
Horizon study committees that I chaired in 2006's analysis with regard
to those bridges.
I would like to reengage the community again before we go
forward with that, please. I just want to make that as clear as possible.
Because we're operating on that bridge study. You and I did that in
2006 when you were a lowly transportation department guy.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: I'm still a lowly transportation guy.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So there's an entire -- there's a
reason why they do census information on 10-year basis, and we're 12
years past that time frame. And I think it's sorely warranted. There
December 11, 2018
Page 250
were things -- there are things that have occurred subsequent to that
that we didn't even think of back then. So as a footnote.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: All right.
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, we're looking for a motion and a
second to approve the delivery plan --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner Saunders, you --
MR. OCHS: -- if possible.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I was just going to make the
motion to move forward.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. Any other
discussion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just a question. Gosh, just like that
it went. Oh, talking about the committee that we're forming, did you
give us the name of all of the -- I'm getting a lot of applicants. I'm sure
you all are. Do you give us all the names, and then --
MR. KLATZKOW: We're coming back, I believe, the next
meeting, and you've got a lot of very qualified people.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah.
MR. KLATZKOW: You're going to have a difficult job,
Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So you'll have to tell us what we can
do with that list then so we --
MR. KLATZKOW: You get to appoint from your district.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: One per district --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: At our next --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- appointed, and then two at
large.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Our next meeting we do the
appointments?
MR. KLATZKOW: I believe that's the County Manager's plan.
December 11, 2018
Page 251
MR. CASALANGUIDA: That's the meeting.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So can you give us some
guidance, then? I mean, I'm sorry, but this is --
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: -- huge. Will you give some
guidance --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did you close the time frame
for the list or for applicants?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, we're still taking applicants. We'll take
applicants for another couple of weeks anyway.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Can I make a suggestion? Because I've
had a couple discussions with people that have put their name in. And
I think there is a lot of misunderstanding as to what this committee's
going to do. I mean, I think some people that are applying that I've
talked to are of the understanding that they're going to be involved
until the oversight of the construction of some of these projects.
MR. OCHS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: No, I'm just telling you that there's -- or
the financing, the details of the financing.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Or the prioritization of the
projects.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Right. And I think there's -- so I don't
know if there's a way of writing something up and sending it to the
people -- because I've talked to a couple people. And when I said, you
know, I don't think -- that's not what this committee's going to do, they
went, oh, well, then I don't want to --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: -- you know, I don't want to do it.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: That's what I mean.
MR. OCHS: The Board spelled it out fairly clearly in the
ordinances that you --
December 11, 2018
Page 252
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, no. You need to spell it out
outside of the ordinance in a letter. This is -- this is what we're doing,
this is what we've done, and this is what this committee's --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think it would be helpful. And I'm not
trying to make work, but I think we might end up with a shorter list,
number one, and two, we might end up with people on the committee
that when they realize what it's really going to do, are going to go,
well, I thought we were going to do more than that; that's why I have a
Ph.D. in finance.
MR. KLATZKOW: I would be happy to send each applicant a
copy of the ordinance with a quick email saying, you know, we
understand you may think -- we thank you for your application.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Just to clarify.
MR. KLATZKOW: We've had some people who are slightly
confused about the scope of the committee. Please review the
ordinance and make sure that you really want to do this. If you don't,
let us know.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And if you have any questions, please ask.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'd be happy to get that out.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think it might significantly reduce the
number of people that are wanting to be on it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I agree.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well -- and just as footnote, I'd
like to have the list -- I'd like to have the list of applicants given to each
one of us for -- because we have to make an appointment per district,
and then we've got to vote on two at large, if I'm not mistaken.
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, you'll have the full information. We
just --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sooner than later.
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, your next meeting.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: No, no, for us to review in
December 11, 2018
Page 253
advance.
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, you -- yeah, not to belabor this, but
to your point, sir, we talked about this. Jeff, are they actual
appointments, or do they need majority vote of the Board for --
MR. KLATZKOW: Oh, no. It's always majority vote.
MR. OCHS: Unlike the Plan Commission where you just appoint
your district representative, the full board is going to have to vote on
each one.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: All seven, then?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: But, again, I go back to, are there
salient qualities of these applicants that need to be underlined? I know
this is kind of thin ice to walk on, but financial experience in managing
construction projects --
MR. CASALANGUIDA: No, ma'am. The way we wrote the
ordinance and the way we laid it out is they validate the expense.
There is the four corners of the ordinance that you have that says the
ballot language. In other words, does the project comply with the
ballot language under that list? The Florida Statute, that specific
section, defines what infrastructure is in terms of being five-year useful
life. So they would validate that that expense meets that language, that
Florida Statute language.
But they wouldn't get into, well, I think there should be two
driveways or the building should be -- you bring them a project --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You should have done it another
way. I don't believe this validates the expense.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Yeah, that's not -- the question we will
have is --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: There's a lot of misunderstanding
out there.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: There really is.
December 11, 2018
Page 254
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think there is.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: A lot. And even if you give them
the ordinance, you know, I don't know about -- but I think there needs
to be a letter in addition to.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I think that's a good idea, yeah, so
that we are well versed also, even when people talk to us, because I
don't remember what all --
MR. OCHS: We'll work with the County Attorney and draft that
letter, get it out to all the applicants, try to refine what the requirements
are.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Maybe talk about what it is that
this committee will not do. I know it's a negative way, but --
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: -- this is not going to be to do this
or this or this or this.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And then by sending it to our
offices, our aides, if anybody calls in, they have an idea of what to tell
them.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Oh, that would be --
MR. KLATZKOW: I will give you a list of everybody we've had
apply, and the County Manager and I will work on what you've asked
for.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: I think I -- personally, I think I've talked to
four people that, when I went through with them, they said, oh, well,
wait a minute. That's not -- I thought it was going to be more --
MR. KLATZKOW: It's an oversight committee.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. I think that's good. So there's a
motion and a second?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
December 11, 2018
Page 255
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #11F
RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT OR REJECT BIDS
RECEIVED FOR COUNTY-OWNED SURPLUS LANDS
ADVERTISED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION
125.379, FLORIDA STATUTES AND DIRECT STAFF TO TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BASED ON BOARD DIRECTION –
MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FOR MINGO DRIVE AND REJECT
BID FOR LIVINGSTON WOODS SITE – APPROVED
That takes us to Item 11F. This is a recommendation to accept or
reject bids received for county-owned surplus lands advertised
pursuant to provisions of Florida Statutes, and direct staff to take
appropriate actions.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Ochs, is your
recommendation to approve the bids?
MR. OCHS: My recommendation is to accept the bid on the
Mingo property but to reject the bid from -- help me with the address,
Toni -- on the one at Livingston Woods.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make that motion.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I just want to make a
December 11, 2018
Page 256
comment. This I talked to you about in my office already.
And one of the things -- I don't know if it's on the Mingo property
or which one it is. No, it isn't. It's on the Livingston Woods. It says in
here "permanent affordable." It should remain permanent affordable.
We talked about that.
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. That's the requirement in this
provision of the statute. The staff is recommending that you reject the
offer for that property on Livingston Woods.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But on further ones, if we're going to
do it -- you know, affordable housing, after 15 years, really looks bad,
and if you -- if it has to remain permanent, I don't know what that
would do to the rest of the neighborhood as it continues to decline in
appearance and how much that -- how that would affect the other
neighbors and their property values.
So maybe they can address that or check with whoever makes up
these laws to say, we don't really thing permanent is good, because it
could sit there 60 years permanently.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: That's a statutory requirement.
MR. OCHS: Yes, but what happens is the staff brings you,
periodically -- I think this list came to you back in 2017, and you
decide whether or not these items or this inventory of properties that
you own you want to make eligible for consideration for sale under
this provision of the statute, which has to do with preserving them for
affordable housing or selling them at the bid price and using the
proceeds and put that into your trust fund.
We're suggesting that you sell the one on Mingo and use those
proceeds for your affordable housing program and reject the bid in
Livingston Woods.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'm not talking about these in
particular.
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. You're talking about changing the
December 11, 2018
Page 257
statute.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Or even if there's a way to modify,
just so that neighbors -- I mean, these are pretty nice neighborhoods,
and you just don't want the affordable housing thing to stay in there
and decline and affect everybody else's property values.
MR. OCHS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: If you can't change it, well, then, I
just wanted to bring it up.
MR. OCHS: I think the thing to do is have that discussion at the
time we bring you the proposed list of properties for consideration for
sale under these terms.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Maybe in the meantime they can
start looking it up a little bit.
MR. OCHS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just to get that registered with other
communities as well.
MR. OCHS: Will do.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I just would like to know
about more information on comparable sales within the area for
surrounding parcels. And then who developed the two scenarios to
offer these properties up for sale?
MS. MOTT: The three scenarios --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, there was three, and then
we ended up with two.
MS. MOTT: Sorry. Toni Mott, real property, for the record.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Hey, Toni, 30-year employee,
plus.
MS. MOTT: Florida Statute governs how we advertise these
properties. They had been vetted internally. They had been put on a
December 11, 2018
Page 258
surplus list. The Board approved/reaffirmed us advertising and selling
them.
So the three scenarios were actually developed right from the way
that the Florida Statute reads. And, yes, we only did receive bids on
two of the scenarios.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But, Toni, is there a way to check
with somebody to see, for future, that -- is there a definition for
permanent maybe or something? Because 15 years, and it doesn't look
very good anymore.
MS. MOTT: Well, per the statute, they need to remain in
perpetuity, so it's forever. It has to be affordable forever, the way that
the statute was written.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I ought to take you on a little tour.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And, you know, in that light, it
is a long time, but it's also a part of the answer that we've been talking
about with the 15-year density bonus program that we allow for
affordable housing and how that rolls off, and developers actually plan
on that. They're planning for 15 years, and we actually, I think,
extended it to 30 years.
And I had made a suggestion that we start to do in perpetuity with
regard to those bonus programs just to not have the community issue,
because real estate property values go up, construction costs go up --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but take a look at --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- cost of living goes up.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- Naples Manor.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm with you. I'm not
disagreeing with what you're saying.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And maybe there's some other
-- and we've had discussions about that -- other things we can do with
regard to -- I don't want to get down a different rabbit hole.
December 11, 2018
Page 259
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, because this is a whole
different thing. I just wanted to see what we could do about future
sales, because we want to keep our community looking nice.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Sure. It's a different subject for a different
agenda.
MR. OCHS: Yeah. You-all ultimately control what property you
declare a surplus and what you want to sell and what you don't.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Very good.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't mean to malign Naples
Manor; don't get me wrong. It's just that --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's actually doing quite well,
so...
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second to approve
the sale of one and reject the other.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Yes. There's a motion and a second. All
in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #11G
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD CONTRACT NUMBER 18-
7469, CEI SERVICES FOR BIG CORKSCREW ISLAND
December 11, 2018
Page 260
REGIONAL PARK, TO WOOD ENVIRONMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,932,314 AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE
THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT – APPROVED
That takes us to Item 11G. This is a recommendation to award a
contract for construction engineering and inspection services for the
Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park to Wood Environment and
Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $1,932,314 and
authorize the Chairman to execute the agreement.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Move for approval.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: There's a motion and a second. All in
favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MS. BISHOP: Thank you.
Item #11H
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD INVITATION TO BID NO. 18-
7305, “MASTER PUMP STATION 306” (PROJECT NUMBER
70237), TO PWC JOINT VENTURE LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$10,719,008, AND AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS – APPROVED
December 11, 2018
Page 261
MR. OCHS: Item 11H is a recommendation to award the bid for
the Master Pump Station 306 Project, PWC Joint Venture, LLC, in the
amount of $10,719,008 and authorize the necessary budget
amendments.
Mr. Chmelik --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Tom, I took a look at the pictures
you sent over, and that really answered my questions. I thank you for
that. So I make a motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Second.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Motion and a second. All in favor, say
aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MR. CHMELIK: Commissioners, thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Good presentation.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Almost there.
Item #11I
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 26, 2018 BY
AND BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
EVERGLADES CITY TO CLARIFY THE COLLECTION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF BUILDING PERMIT AND RELATED FEES
UNDER THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT – APPROVED
December 11, 2018
Page 262
MR. OCHS: That moves us to Item 11I. This is a
recommendation to approve the first amendment to the interlocal
agreement between the Board and the City of Everglades to clarify the
collection and distribution of building permit and related fees under the
existing interlocal agreement.
Mr. Kovensky can give a report or respond to questions.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I can move for approval.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I can second it.
MR. OCHS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: A motion and a second. All in favor, say
aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: It's approved.
MR. OCHS: Good job, Ken.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Another great report.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I want to thank staff,
before they go away, with regard to what you are doing in Everglades
City. It's been a huge assistance with the residents down there. That
continuity with our government's involvement assisting them with their
permitting and zoning and the like, it's been amazing.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It really has, kind of like Goodland.
You guys stepped in and kind of saved a community, and here's
another one. That's really great.
December 11, 2018
Page 263
Item #15
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MR. OCHS: Mr. Chairman, that takes us to Item 15, staff and
commission general communications.
Just a reminder, you've got a busy early 2019 workshop schedule
in front of you. Those are the dates and the times. We've coordinated,
I believe, all those with your aides and the calendar.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, good.
MR. OCHS: Okay. And other than that, that's all I have. Wish
you all a great holiday season since we won't see you officially,
although I'm sure we'll see you before the break.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Merry Christmas to all.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Madam Clerk?
THE CLERK: Ditto. Merry Christmas to all.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Troy said it, too, right?
MR. MILLER: Merry Christmas.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I have a happy -- while he's
sitting over there trying to hide, I had a meeting with staff last week
with regard to the Big Corkscrew Regional Park, and I had my parks
and rec folk there, and I learned that they were charging the residents
of Immokalee to attend the Christmas gala at the park after our
Immokalee Christmas parade on Saturday night, and I think it
happened on Thursday. It must have been on Thursday.
And Dan happened to be in the room, and I was chirping to the
staff about -- because it's a mess, really. They charge everybody a
dollar a person to get into that park to attend the Christmas festival, see
Santa Claus, do the thing. It's a mess. It's a mess for staff to account
December 11, 2018
Page 264
for and everything else, and I was chirping about the expense and why
are we even doing that.
And I was actually going to make Parks and Rec bring me a
breakdown of what the expenses are so I can get the dang fees waived.
And Dan leaned over and said, how much do you need?
And Berry said 5,000.
He said, when have you got to have it by?
Pretty soon.
He goes, give me till this afternoon, 4.
And so I never heard any more. And so I go do the thing, get in
the parade, and I'm riding in the parade, and waving and doing my
thing, and Estel Lome (phonetic), my driver, said, yeah, we had a late
customer to the contributions side, and -- the Waste Vision -- Waste --
Dan, the name? I don't want to mispronounce the subcontractor.
MR. RODRIGUEZ: Waste Connections.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Waste Connections
subcontractor for Waste Management that does our trash collections in
Immokalee, through some assistance with Mr. Rodriguez, stepped up
and made the contribution and allowed for our residents to attend at no
charge.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That was nice.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So, yay. Thank you.
MR. RODRIGUEZ: Thank you, Commissioner. And, actually, it
was Jim Wheatly. He's the general manager for Waste Connections.
They've always been involved in the Immokalee community for the
last six years, so --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Absolutely. Thank you very
much. I appreciate that. That's a happy. I just wanted to say.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That was good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, it was. And Merry
Christmas to you-all.
December 11, 2018
Page 265
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's a nice Christmas message.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I have a bunch of them, but I'll try
and make this real, real simple.
The CRA that we were talking about earlier -- well, I talked with
Leo about this already -- it was on here, and it was talking about a little
bit -- it's a CRA. And I thought, you know, we're trying in this CRA
over on Bayshore, trying to really increase it and improve it. And
we've had a great -- what do they call that, it's not a planner -- planner
working with us, but he's not like Andre Stuanna (phonetic). And
Penny just brought him up recently again. The marvelous stuff he did
when he went in there. They hired a planner who had a vision for what
it could look like, not how the infrastructure could be.
And so I was talking to these guys, and I said, I think it would be
wonderful if we had him step in and take a real good look at the
Bayshore/Thomasson Road CRA and see what it could -- and the
whole Bayshore CRA and see what it could look like. With his vision,
I think it would be wonderful, so -- but I couldn't talk to Penny on a
private note, so I have to ask her over here. I just -- that was prompted
from what you had said, you know. So I think that's a great idea.
So I'm going to talk to the CRA people, or you can talk to the
CRA people, but I think we need that little spark. That's number one.
Number two, the median landscaping, it's -- we have beautiful
median landscaping except for one -- two little areas, and they're both
in East Naples. And I was wondering if Leo would take a look at -- or
Nick, whoever wants to, take a look at that median landscaping and see
if maybe the firm that we hired who doesn't seem to enjoy that and
they don't seem to come to work, I've heard from our staff, could they
take another look at it, and maybe get it to look like all the other
median landscaping. That would really be great. That's the second
December 11, 2018
Page 266
one.
And the third one is -- and I'm sorry that what's-his-name left, but
in the Affordable Housing Committee, they've got four openings on
their committee -- their Affordable Housing Advisory Board, and
they've been open for a while. And I was wondering if -- I don't know
why they keep overlooking them, but let's just take them so we fill out
that committee rather than have four empty spots on there.
Is there a reason -- we could -- they could give them to us, and we
can decide. But I don't see -- you know, part of the public wants to
submit their applications, let's take them.
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. I'll get after that.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. That's it. No, it isn't it.
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope you-all have a
wonderful holiday. I'm baking cookies next week for some people,
so...
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You need my address?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Huh? No. I'm going to deliver them
to -- so if you happen to drop by, they will be here, too.
Thank you very much everyone, and enjoy your family. That's so
important.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Commissioner Taylor?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: We are going to be discussing, I
believe, in January, February -- and I have to be very correct, but our
pollution ordinance. And in the conversation with staff, the advantage
we have as a county that hasn't been put under a basin management
plan was brought forward, as Lee County has a basin management
plan. And the cost to Lee County is about a quarter -- $25 million
additional for the cost of not taking care of pollution.
So I was -- I would like to ask our representative to the
Productivity Committee if the Productivity Committee could take a
study on if we don't handle the pollution what is it going to cost us?
December 11, 2018
Page 267
So really to do maybe an examination of what Lee County was
through, what they didn't do, and the cost. So it would be an
examination of it to help us in our decision-making. Because, you
know, it may cost a little bit more money, but as the water bodies in
Collier County are not getting any better -- in fact, I've been told by
staff they're going the other way, we are -- it's incumbent upon us to be
careful with taxpayers' money.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think that's prudent, and I'd be
happy to, you know, do that and bring back a report or -- you know,
and remember that we specifically designated the Productivity
Committee to be working with our staff with regard to the stormwater
utility.
MR. OCHS: Stormwater utility.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you. I was going to say
the t-a-x word, and I didn't want to say that outlawed. So that's all that
came to me.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: T-a-x.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But I'll be happy to ask them if
they would -- because it's a fairly short fuse on the stormwater utility.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Well -- and it dovetails --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Kind of sort of lines right up in
a long line. So I'd be happy to bring -- and let you know in January if
they're interested.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And I'd like to wish everyone a
very Merry Christmas, and certainly to the people who are still with us,
and also a very wonderful, healthy, and peaceful new year.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: And I hate to rain on the parade, but I
think, just as a point of order, if we're going to direct the Productivity
Committee to look at something, I think we're supposed to direct them,
so maybe we need a motion for that. I think that's the way we wrote
the ordinance.
December 11, 2018
Page 268
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, my suggestion is -- and, I
mean -- and if I saw regular -- I saw head nods, I go to the Productivity
Committee, speak with them about it, and then come back in January
with a recommendation such as suggested --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- that we can informally vote
on giving them direction. They're not going to do anything until --
except for the utility fee.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So you're going to float the
balloon?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: They're not going to do
anything until January anyway, so...
MR. OCHS: You can't even say it, can you?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, I can't.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Okay. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I don't have anything to add
other than to thank staff. It's been a good year and looking forward to
great things next year, and Happy Holidays.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I just have one more thing. I just
have a new great grandbaby girl.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: She was born Saturday, so that's my
Christmas gift.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Oh, that's lovely.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Kyle's youngest?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Huh?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's Kyle's youngest? Kyle and
Sherry's youngest?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. It's the oldest one, Samantha.
December 11, 2018
Page 269
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: So all I have is to wish everybody a Merry
Christmas, Happy New Year. It's been an honor to be the Chairman
after a hurricane. It was -- what a wild ride that was.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: The ride's still going.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: The ride's still going, but let me tell you, it
was a real challenge and a wonderful experience.
And I wasn't here for the prior longest meeting I think that we've
had this year, but I was here for the longest meeting that we've had this
year, and it happened to be my last as Chair. So I don't know if I
should say thank you for that or not.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We haven't voted yet.
CHAIRMAN SOLIS: But it's certainly been my pleasure to act
as Chair this year, and it's really been an honor. So thank you for your
confidence in me. Thank you to the staff for making it a great
experience. I think we did some good work this year, so...
MR. OCHS: Thank you for your leadership.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Merry Christmas, everyone.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Merry Christmas.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Merry Christmas.
*****
**** Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Fiala
and carried that the following items under the Consent and Summary
Agendas be approved and/or adopted (Commissioner McDaniel
voted “no” on Item #16A9 and Item #16D10) ****
Item #16A1 – Moved to Item #11I (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16A2
December 11, 2018
Page 270
APPROVAL OF A PROPOSAL DATED OCTOBER 22, 2018
FROM HUMISTON & MOORE ENGINEERS TO UPDATE THE
2018 AERIAL IMAGE BOOK AND COMPLETE THE WIGGINS
AND DOCTORS PASS MONITORING REPORTS UNDER
CONTRACT NO. 15-6382, AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO
EXECUTE THE WORK ORDER FOR A NOT TO EXCEED
AMOUNT OF $15,898.25, AND MAKES A FINDING THAT THIS
EXPENDITURE PROMOTES TOURISM – UPDATING IS
REQUIRED POST HURRICANE IRMA
Item #16A3
RELEASE OF TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS WITH AN
ACCRUED VALUE OF $8,333.23 FOR PAYMENT OF $1,133.23
IN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ENTITLED BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS V. WAYNE RAY FINZER,
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD CASE NOS. CENA20140013503
AND CENA20170011622 RELATING TO PROPERTY LOCATED
AT 2675 STORTER AVE, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA –
VIOLATIONS FOR GRASS/WEEDS IN EXCESS OF 18 INCHES
IN HEIGHT AND ABATED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER
Item #16A4
RELEASE OF A CODE ENFORCEMENT LIEN WITH AN
ACCRUED VALUE OF $18,101.62 FOR PAYMENT OF $6,000 IN
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ENTITLED BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS V. ORANGE BLOSSOM NAPLES,
LLC, CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD CASE NO.
CENA20130010827 RELATING TO PROPERTY LOCATED AT
6619 YARBERRY LN, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA –
December 11, 2018
Page 271
VIOLATIONS CONSISTING OF THE ACCUMULATION OF
PROHIBITED EXOTIC VEGATION ON AN UNIMPROVED
PROPERTY AND BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE ON APRIL
23, 2014
Item #16A5
CLERK OF COURTS TO RELEASE A PERFORMANCE BOND
IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,020 WHICH WAS POSTED AS A
GUARANTY FOR EXCAVATION PERMIT NUMBER 60.085-3,
PL20160000540 FOR WORK ASSOCIATED WITH ESPLANADE
GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB OF NAPLES – DILILLO PARCEL
Item #16A6
A STANDARD TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT
FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT AND TO REMOVE THE
REQUIREMENT FOR DUNE PLANTINGS FROM THE
TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT FOR BEACH
RENOURISHMENT FOR THE MARCO ISLAND CENTRAL
BEACH REGRADE PROJECT AND MAKE A FINDING THAT
THIS ITEM PROMOTES TOURISM – TO RE-SLOPE THE
BEACH TO CREATE POSITIVE DRAINAGE, NOT BEACH
RENOURISHMENT
Item #16A7
DIRECTING STAFF TO BRING BACK FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE TO MODIFY DESIGN STANDARDS
FOR SIGNS ADVERTISING THE PRICE OF FUEL, IN
December 11, 2018
Page 272
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 553.79(20), FLORIDA
STATUTES, AND ALLOW APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH SIGNS
TO BE PROCESSED UNDER THE PROPOSED NEW ZONING
STANDARDS WHILE THE LDC AMENDMENT PROCESS IS
PENDING
Item #16A8
THE COLLIER COUNTY FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN
2017 PROGRESS REPORT AND PROPOSED ACTION PLAN
FOR 2018 AND 2019, WHICH INCLUDES A 1.5 FEET RATE OF
SEA LEVEL RISE BY 2060 PLANNING STANDARD TO BE
ADOPTED IN THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN
Item #16A9 – Commissioner McDaniel voted “no”
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO ADVERTISE FOR A FUTURE
PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATING TO THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS ON THE COMMUNITY
HOUSING PLAN (CHP)
Item #16A10 – Commissioner McDaniel voted “no”
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND
SEWER FACILITIES FOR NAPLES MOTORCOACH RESORT,
PL20160001454, AND ACCEPT UNCONDITIONAL
CONVEYANCE OF A PORTION OF THE POTABLE WATER
AND SEWER FACILITIES – LOCATED OFF OF TAMIAMI
TRAIL EAST, EAST OF COLLIER BLVD
December 11, 2018
Page 273
Item #16A11
FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND UNCONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE
OF THE POTABLE WATER UTILITY FACILITIES FOR ISLES
OF COLLIER PRESERVE PHASE 8 – DOG PARK,
PL20180001856 – FINAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED ON
AUGUST 8, 2018 FOUND THE FACILITIES TO BE
SATISFACTORY
Item #16A12
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND
SEWER FACILITIES FOR THE WAREHOUSE, PL201700001163,
ACCEPT UNCONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE OF A PORTION
OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES, AND TO
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE,
TO RELEASE THE UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
(UPS) AND FINAL OBLIGATION BOND IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF $9,659.41 TO THE PROJECT ENGINEER OR THE
DEVELOPER’S DESIGNATED AGENT - FINAL INSPECTION
CONDUCTED ON OCTOBER 31, 2018 FOUND THE FACILITIES
TO BE SATISFACTORY
Item #16A13
FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND UNCONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE
OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES
FOR ISLES OF COLLIER PRESERVE PHASE 8, PL20170000553
AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY MANAGER, OR HIS
DESIGNEE, TO RELEASE THE FINAL OBLIGATION BOND IN
December 11, 2018
Page 274
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,000 TO THE PROJECT
ENGINEER OR THE DEVELOPER’S DESIGNATED AGENT –
FINAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED ON NOVEMBER 5, 2018
FOUND THE FACILITIES TO BE SATISFACTORY
Item #16A14
RESOLUTION 2018-209: FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PRIVATE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR
THE FINAL PLAT OF MARSILEA, APPLICATION NUMBER
PL20130001985 WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIVATELY MAINTAINED;
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLAT DEDICATIONS, AND
AUTHORIZING THE RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE
SECURITY – LOCATED OFF OF LIVINGSTON ROAD, NORTH
OF VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD
Item #16A15
RECORDING THE AMENDED FINAL PLAT OF ESPLANADE
GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB OF NAPLES PHASE 5,
(APPLICATION NUMBER PL20180002972) APPROVAL OF THE
STANDARD FORM CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE AMOUNT OF THE
PERFORMANCE SECURITY – W/STIPULATIONS
Item #16A16
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DEP) AGREEMENT NO.
LP11030 WHICH PROVIDES GRANT FUNDING FOR STORM
December 11, 2018
Page 275
WATER, WATER AND WASTE WATER IMPROVEMENTS
ALONG 95TH AVE N. AND 96TH AVE N. IN NAPLES PARK
BY EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF AGREEMENT BY 730
CALENDAR DAYS AND UPDATING LANGUAGE WITHIN
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE AGREEMENT – EXPECTED
COMPLETION DATE OF OCTOBER 2020
Item #16A17
APPROVAL OF THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF A SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL APPLICATION WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE AMOUNT OF
$761,514.74 TO FUND THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF
A SIDEWALK ALONG LINWOOD AVENUE TO
SHADOWLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A LOCAL
MATCH OF $89,942.69 FOR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
AND INSPECTION
Item #16A18
A BUDGET AMENDMENT RECOGNIZING PAYMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $29,842.20 RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF
NAPLES FOR THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF POTABLE
WATER LINES FOR THE WEST GOODLETTE-FRANK ROAD
JOINT STORMWATER-SEWER PROJECT (PROJECT #60142)
Item #16A19
AN AGREEMENT FOR INVITATION TO BID #18-7476 “PINE
RIDGE CANAL WEIR #1 REPLACEMENT” TO THOMAS
MARINE CONSTRUCTION, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $
December 11, 2018
Page 276
793,939.75 (PROJECT NO. 60119), AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT –
LOCATED WITHIN THE CREEKSIDE COMMERCE PARK
Item #16A20
APPROVAL OF THE EXPENDITURE $49,698 TO PROVIDE
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FROM HUMISTON
AND MOORE ENGINEERS TO DEVELOP A CONCEPTUAL
PLAN THAT PROVIDES TEMPORARY SHALLOW DRAFT
BOAT ACCESS INTO VANDERBILT LAGOON VIA WATER
TURKEY BAY AND AUTHORIZE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS – UNDER WORK ORDER #15-6382 WITH AN
EXPIRATION DATE OF JUNE 8, 2019
Item #16A21
APPROVAL OF TWO FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH THE
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO
FUND THE I-75 CANAL AND COCOHATCHEE CANAL
INTERCONNECT AND EMERGENCY PUMP FACILITY
PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 AND TO ASSIST
WITH FUNDING FOR THE PALM RIVER AND
COCOHATCHEE RIVER CONVEYANCE PROJECT, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $388,000 – TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING IN THE I-
75 SUB-BASIN AND IMPROVING CONVEYANCE CAPACITY
OF DOWNSTREAM RECEIVING WATERS
Item #16A22
POLICY CONSTRAIN ON ORANGE BLOSSOM DRIVE FROM
December 11, 2018
Page 277
WEST OF AIRPORT ROAD TO GOODLETTE-FRANK ROAD
TO TWO LANES – ASSURING RESIDENTS THAT STAFF IS
NOT PLANNING ON WIDENING THE ROADWAY BEYOND
ITS EXISTING TWO LANES
Item #16A23
AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY TO ISSUE STANDARD
COUNTY PURCHASE ORDERS BY PIGGYBACKING OFF OF
THE PRICING OBTAINED FROM FIRMS THAT ENTERED
INTO AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY OF NAPLES’ UNDER
ITS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (“RFP”) #16-014, BUILDING
INSPECTION AND PLAN REVIEW SERVICES, LIBRARY OF
FIRMS – OFFSETTING THE INCREASE IN VOLUME OF
INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE IRMA
Item #16B1
INCREASING THE ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT CAN BE SPENT
UNDER CONTRACT NO. 17-7197, IMMOKALEE MUNICIPAL
SERVICE TAXING UNIT (MSTU) ROADWAY LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE, TO A&M PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, LLC
TO $200,000 – PROVIDING AN INCREASED LEVEL OF
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE IMMOKALEE
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Item #16B2
AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO
TAKE ALL ACTION NECESSARY TO CLEAR TITLE ON
December 11, 2018
Page 278
THREE DEVELOPED PARCELS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY
LOVE AND LEGACY LLC AND, IF NECESSARY, FILE QUIET
TITLE ACTION ON 15 LOTS SOLD TO LOVE AND LEGACY
LLC IN 2014 – LOCATED AT 3037 LUNAR STREET, 4032 FULL
MOON COURT AND 4048 FULL MOON COURT WITHIN THE
BAYSHORE GATEWAY TRIANGLE CRA
Item #16C1
AWARDING AN AGREEMENT FOR INVITATION TO BID #18-
7399, “AIR FILTRATION SERVICES,” TO FILTER PRO USA,
LLC, FOR COUNTYWIDE AIR FILTRATION SERVICES – THE
BASE ANNUAL AMOUNT IS ESTIMATED AT $190,000 PLUS
ANY ADDITIONAL AND UNANTICIPATED SERVICES
Item #16C2
RESOLUTION 2018-210: REMOVING UNCOLLECTIBLE
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND THEIR RESPECTIVE
BALANCES FROM THE FINANCIAL RECORDS OF COLLIER
COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $59,034.99
Item #16C3
ACCEPTING AN OFFER FROM FERGUSON ENTERPRISES,
INC. D/B/A FERGUSON WATERWORKS FOR REPLACEMENT
OF A POTENTIAL FAILING COMPONENT IN 15,000 WATER
METERS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED IN THE COUNTY'S
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO ACCEPT AND SIGN THE OFFER LETTER –
December 11, 2018
Page 279
REPLACING HOT ROD RADIO ENDPOINTS (RADIO
MODULES) USED TO ENSURE ACCURANCY AND
RELIABILITY IN METER READING AND BILLING SYSTEM
Item #16C4
A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH COLLIER PLAZA, LLC, TO
CONTINUE OPERATING THE FORMER FGUA CUSTOMER
SERVICE CENTER IN GOLDEN GATE CITY, NOW KNOWN AS
UTILITY BILLING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE – GOLDEN
GATE – CURRENT RENT IS $2,967.36 PER MONTH PLUS
COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE OF $777.48 MONTHLY FOR
OFFICE SPACE OF 1,584 SQUARE FEET
Item #16C5
A SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR THE
PROVISION OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND
FACILITIES WITH VERTICAL BRIDGE S3 ASSETS, LLC, FOR
THE INSTALLATION OF ANTENNA EQUIPMENT FOR THE
COUNTY’S EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM - AUTHORIZING
THE COUNTY TO OCCUPY ADDITIONAL TOWER CAPACITY
TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING ANTENNA SYSTEM TO
IMPROVE RADIO SYSTEM COVERAGE ALONG THE
EASTERN PORTION OF US 41 AND VICINITY
Item #16C6
AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE OPERATIONAL COSTS
AND TERM OF THE SOLE SOURCE WAIVER AND MASTER
SALES AGREEMENT WITH ITRON INCORPORATED FOR
December 11, 2018
Page 280
AUTOMATED METER READING SERVICES FOR THE
UTILITY SYSTEM ACQUIRED FROM THE FLORIDA
GOVERNMENT UTILITY AUTHORITY APPROVED AT THE
JULY 10, 2018 BOARD MEETING (AGENDA ITEM #16C1)
Item #16C7
APPROVAL OF A $245,909 WORK ORDER UNDER REQUEST
FOR QUOTATION NO. 16-6663-1 TO BONNESS INC., TO
CONSTRUCT THE PELICAN MARSH IQ PUMP STATION SITE
IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES A NEW ACCESS
DRIVEWAY INTO THE SITE, CONCRETE STEPS AND
RETAINING WALL, SIDEWALKS SURROUNDING THE PUMP
STATION, INTERNAL DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS,
LEVELING THE PUMP STATION FLOOR, AND REMOVAL OF
EXOTIC VEGETATION, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT (PROJECT NO. 70166)
Item #16C8
APPROVAL OF A $583,000 WORK ORDER UNDER REQUEST
FOR QUOTATION NO. 14-6213-128 TO HASKINS, INC.,
UNDER PROJECT NUMBER 70182, “WILDFLOWER WAY
WATER MAIN LOOPING,” WHICH INCLUDES INSTALLING
4,000 FEET OF 12-INCH AND 14-INCH WATER MAIN ON
WILDFLOWER WAY FROM ST. ANDREWS BOULEVARD TO
LELY HIGH SCHOOL BOULEVARD, AND AUTHORIZE THE
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT
Item #16C9
December 11, 2018
Page 281
APPROVAL OF A $529,692 WORK ORDER UNDER REQUEST
FOR QUOTATION NO. 15-6469-4 TO WELLS & WATER
SYSTEM, INC., UNDER PROJECT NUMBER 70085,
“ACIDIFICATION OF EIGHT PRODUCTION WELLS – PHASE 2
GOLDEN GATE WELLFIELD,” AND AUTHORIZE THE
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT - COMPLETING WELL
REHABILITATION WILL EXTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF
THESE EXISTING WELLS IN LIEU OF CONSTRUCTING NEW
WELLS
Item #16D1
RESOLUTION 2018-211: AUTHORIZING THE REMOVAL OF
AGED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$114,451.70, CONSIDERED UNCOLLECTIBLE OR SHOULD
OTHERWISE BE REMOVED FROM THE FINANCIAL
RECORDS OF THE COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
(CCPL) IN ACCORDANCE WITH RESOLUTION NO. 2006-252
Item #16D2
DISTRIBUTION, RELEASE, AND REFUNDING AGREEMENT
FOR THE HARVEY M. SHREVE JR., AND SARAH ANN
SHREVE CHARITABLE REMAINDER ANNUITY TRUST, TO
ACCEPT A DISTRIBUTION FROM A TRUST IN THE
ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $53,080.56 TO THE COLLIER
COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY
MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND COMPLETE ANY
REQUIRED FORMS, AND TO AUTHORIZE ANY NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
December 11, 2018
Page 282
Item #16D3
RECOGNIZING CARRYFORWARD FOR INTEREST EARNED
DURING THE PERIOD APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2018,
ON ADVANCED LIBRARY FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO SUPPORT LIBRARY
SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF COLLIER
COUNTY RESIDENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,006.76 -
PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH FREE LIBRARY SERVICES,
INCLUDING LOANING LIBRARY MATERIALS AND
PROVIDING REFERENCE AND INFORMATION SERVICES
Item#16D4
RESOLUTION 2018-211A: THE SUBMITTAL OF REVISED
FY18-19 SECTION 5310 GRANT APPLICATION PAGES TO
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
FOR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT TO ADD THREE (3) MOBILE
RADIOS, THREE (3) TABLETS, AND ONE (1) PARATRANSIT
VEHICLE – FOR USE WITHIN THE PUBLIC TRANSIT &
NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT DIVISION
Item #16D5
AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
TO REFLECT THE ESTIMATED FUNDING FOR CALENDAR
YEAR 2019 OLDER AMERICANS ACT (OAA) PROGRAMS IN
THE AMOUNT OF $1,212,820.23 AND THE REQUIRED MATCH
OF $130,165.44 – FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: #33598 -
LEAD AGENCY OPERATIONS), #33599 - CONGREGATE
December 11, 2018
Page 283
MEALS, #33600 – HOME DELIVERED MEALS AND #33601 –
CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM
Item #16D6
RESOLUTION 2018-212: DECLARING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PTAC) MEMBER POSITION HELD
BY KERRU DERA, TO BE VACANT AND DIRECT THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION
CONFIRMING THE DECLARATION OF VACANCY AND TO
PUBLICIZE THE VACANCY – SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT IN
OCTOBER 2017, MR DERA HAS ONLY ATTENDED TWO OUT
OF THE TEN MEETINGS HELD
Item #16D7
FIRST AMENDMENT TO STATE HOUSING INITIATIVE
PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) PROGRAM SUBRECIPIENT
AGREEMENT WITH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION OF SW FLORIDA, INC. D/B/A HELP TO
INCREASE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,500 FOR
HOMEBUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING PROGRAM
FOR STATE FY16/17
Item #16D8
APPROVAL OF THE FY2018-2019 STATE AID TO LIBRARIES
GRANT AGREEMENT, CERTIFICATION, AND THE COLLIER
COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (CCPL) 2018-2019 ANNUAL PLAN
OF SERVICE – RECEIVING AN ESTIMATED $197,247 IN
STATE AID
December 11, 2018
Page 284
Item #16D9
RESOLUTION 2018-213: THE COLLIER COUNTY
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND
EVALUATION REPORT FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP, AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018 AS REQUIRED; APPROVE THE
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND
EVALUATION REPORT RESOLUTION; AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO CERTIFY THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL
PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR
SUBMISSION TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Item #16D10
RESOLUTION 2018-214 (5310), RESOLUTION 2018-215 (5311)
AND RESOLUTION 2018-216 (5339): AUTHORIZING THE
SUBMITTAL OF FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
(FTA) SECTIONS 5310, 5311, AND 5339 RURAL FY2019/2020
GRANT APPLICATIONS AND APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS TO
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
THROUGH FDOT TRANSCIP TO SUPPORT TRANSIT
OPERATIONS AND SYSTEM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
(TOTAL ANTICIPATED FISCAL IMPACT OF $2,511,158 WITH
A FEDERAL SHARE OF $1,585,101.40, STATE SHARE OF
$169,840.80, AND LOCAL MATCH OF $756,215.80.)
December 11, 2018
Page 285
Item #16D11
THE COLLIER COUNTY UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
DIVISION’S REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM THE COLLIER
COUNTY 4-H ASSOCIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $79,880;
APPROVE A SUBSEQUENT ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED
FUNDS; AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH
COLLIER COUNTY 4-H ASSOCIATION; AND AUTHORIZE
THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT – RECOGNIZING
$79,880 IN FUNDS
Item #16D12
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE STARNES CATTLE
LEASE AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE LEASE
– EXTENDING THE LEASE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2019 WITHIN THE
CARACARA PRARIE PRESERVE
Item #16D13
AWARD OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) #18-7470
SERVICES FOR SENIORS MARANTHA HOME CARE, INC.,
D/B/A A BETTER HEALTH CARE; THE ADT CORPORATION
D/B/A ADT, LLC; SUMMIT HOME RESPIRATORY SERVICES,
INC. D/B/A SUMMIT HOME HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS;
SOUTHERN HOME CARE SERVICES, INC. D/B/A RESCARE,
INC.; VIP AMERICA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LLC;
BIDWELL HOME CARE SERVICE, LLC D/B/A HOME
INSTEAD SENIOR CARE); OMEGA HEALTH SERVICES, LLC
D/B/A OMEGA CARE SERVICES AND ALMOST FAMILY PC
December 11, 2018
Page 286
OF SW FLORIDA, LLC AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO
EXECUTE THE ATTACHED AGREEMENTS, AS SET FORTH
HEREIN – PROVIDING IN HOME AND OUT OF HOME
SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY IN COLLIER COUNTY
Item #16E1
RECOGNIZING ACCRUED INTEREST EARNED BY EMS
COUNTY GRANT REVENUE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR
A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,053.22 – FOR THE PERIOD OF
APRIL 1, 2018 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
Item #16E2
AWARD REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION (RFQ) NO. 18-7443
“MOTOR OILS, LUBRICANTS, AND FLUIDS” TO PALMDALE
OIL COMPANY AND FLAMINGO OIL CORPORATION – FOR
THE COLLIER COUNTY FLEET MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Item #16E3
AWARD RFP #18-7284 “CREDIT CARD PAYMENT
PROCESSING AND RELATED SERVICES” TO JETPAY
PAYMENT SERVICES FL. LLC
Item #16E4
THE PURCHASE OF ZOLL CARDIAC MONITORS UNDER A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (“RFP”) AND AGREEMENT
ISSUED AND APPROVED BY VOLUSIA COUNTY (RFP #16-P-
64AK) AND TO APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE
December 11, 2018
Page 287
AMOUNT OF $1,450,956.55 - REPLACING CURRENT
CARDIAC MONITORS THAT HAVE REACHED THE END OF
THEIR LIFESPAN WITH NEW MONITORS THAT HAVE
UPGRADED TECHNOLOGY
Item #16E5
AN ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT TO ASSUREDPARTNERS OF
FLORIDA, LLC, DBA IRMS, ASSIGNING ALL RIGHTS,
DUTIES AND BENEFITS, AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER
AGREEMENT #16-6613 “PROPERTY AND CASUALTY
BROKERAGE SERVICES”
Item #16E6
AN ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT WITH MARANATHA HOME
CARE, INC. D.B.A A BETTER HEALTH CARE, ASSIGNING
ALL RIGHTS, DUTIES AND BENEFITS, AND OBLIGATIONS
UNDER AGREEMENT #12-5856 “SERVICES FOR SENIORS”
Item #16E7
THE ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT PREPARED BY THE
PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION FOR DISPOSAL OF
PROPERTY AND NOTIFICATION OF REVENUE
DISBURSEMENT – ON-LINE SALES OF $6,073.50 FOR
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT
Item #16E8
THE ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS PREPARED BY THE
December 11, 2018
Page 288
PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION FOR CHANGE ORDERS
AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL MODIFICATIONS REQUIRING
BOARD APPROVAL – CONSISTING OF FOUR CHANGE
ORDERS THAT MODIFY CONTRACTS BY $42,542.52, ZERO
AMENDMENTS AND FOUR AFTER THE FACT MEMOS WITH
A FISCAL IMPACT OF $11,147.50
Item #16F1
AWARD AN AGREEMENT FOR INVITATION TO BID NO. 18-
7445 FOR "PELICAN BAY STREET SIGNS REPAIR
REPLACEMENT" TO AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SERVICES, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $483,630, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENT - REPLACING 265 DECORATIVE STREET
SIGNS AND REPAIR A MAIN COMMUNITY ENTRANCE
MONUMENT DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IRMA
Item #16F2
AFTER-THE-FACT APPROVAL FOR THE ELECTRONIC
SUBMISSION OF THE FEDERAL AGENCY MANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATION (FEMA) PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION
(PDM) GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (FDEM) FOR HARDENING THE
COLLIER COUNTY SPORTS AND EVENT COMPLEX FIELD
HOUSE TO HURRICANE STANDARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$9,500,000 – WITH A 25% REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH OR
$2,375,000
Item #16F3
December 11, 2018
Page 289
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX PROMOTION FUNDS TO
SUPPORT EIGHT UPCOMING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
2019 SPORTS TOURISM EVENTS UP TO $73,900 AND MAKE A
FINDING THAT THIS EXPENDITURE PROMOTES TOURISM –
FOR THE DIMITRI CUP – 1ST WEEKEND, JANUARY 12-14,
2019; 2ND WEEKEND, JANUARY 19-20, 2019; 3RD WEEKEND,
JANUARY 26-27, 2019; 4TH WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2019;
MEN’S TRANSITION TOUR TAKING PLACE JANUARY 11-20,
2019; NATIONAL JUNIOR USTA L3 TAKING PLACE
JANUARY 26-28, 2019; WEST COAST SUPER SENIOR GRAND
PRIX, JANUARY 21-27, 2019 AND THE WINTER CLASSIC –
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT, JANUARY 25-27, 2019
Item #16F4
THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO VISIT
FLORIDA IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,500 FOR COLLIER
COUNTY’S SHARE OF A RED TIDE TOURISM RECOVERY
REGIONAL MARKETING GRANT REQUEST, AUTHORIZE
THE COUNTY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE AWARD AND
PROCESS ANY NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND
MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS ACTION PROMOTES
TOURISM – PROMOTING THE “OUR BEACHES ARE OPEN”
CAMPAIGN
Item #16F5
RESOLUTION 2018-217: AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING
GRANTS, DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS OR INSURANCE
PROCEEDS) TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 ADOPTED
December 11, 2018
Page 290
BUDGET
Item #16F6 – Moved to Item #11J (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16F7
A REPORT COVERING BUDGET AMENDMENTS IMPACTING
RESERVES AND MOVING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT UP TO
AND INCLUDING $25,000 AND $50,000, RESPECTIVELY –
BUDGET AMENDMENT #19-115 AND #19-116 (IMMOKALEE
CRA)
Item #16F8 – Moved to Item #11K (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16G1
(AA) RESOLUTION 2018-218: APPROVING THE PROPOSED
RATE SCHEDULES FOR THE EVERGLADES AIRPARK,
IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT AND MARCO ISLAND
EXECUTIVE AIRPORT FOR 2019
Item #16G2
(AA) RESOLUTION 2018-219: AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF
JOINT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT CONTRACT NO. G0V81
SUPPLEMENT ONE WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW
REFUELING TRUCK AT THE IMMOKALEE REGIONAL
AIRPORT. (FISCAL IMPACT: INCREASE FDOT
PARTICIPATION $38,782; DECREASE LOCAL MATCH
$42,497)
December 11, 2018
Page 291
Item #16H1
DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO DEVELOP A
PROPOSAL AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION REQUESTING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS SIDEWALKS AND STREET
LIGHTS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF BROWARD STREET,
TEXAS AVENUE, CAROLINA AVENUE AND GEORGIA
AVENUE, ALL LOCATED IN NAPLES MANOR, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE SUCH
APPLICATION FOR TIMELY SUBMITTAL TO COLLIER
COUNTY’S COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION
Item #16J1
ACCEPTING THE REPORT OF INTEREST FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 PURSUANT TO
FLORIDA STATUTE 218.78 – FOR LIBRARY INVOICES #50409
AND #49212, TOTALING $524.46
Item #16J2
RECORD IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, THE CHECK NUMBER (OR OTHER
PAYMENT METHOD), AMOUNT, PAYEE, AND PURPOSE FOR
WHICH THE REFERENCED DISBURSEMENTS WERE DRAWN
FOR THE PERIODS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1 AND
NOVEMBER 28, 2018 PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE
136.06
December 11, 2018
Page 292
Item #16J3
BOARD APPROVAL AND DETERMINATION VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE FOR INVOICES PAYABLE AND PURCHASING
CARD TRANSACTIONS AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2018
Item #16K1
RESOLUTION 2018-220: RE-APPOINTING ROBERT CRAIG,
JOEL ANTHONY DAVIS AND TIMOTHY JON SMITH, SR. TO
THE OCHOPEE FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Item #16K2
RESOLUTION 2018-221: APPOINTING MARK MCLEAN AND
JOHN CHRISTIAN ENGLISH TO THE DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Item #16K3
RESOLUTION 2018-222: APPOINTING FRANK W. COOPER TO
THE RADIO ROAD BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Item #16K4
RESOLUTION 2018-223: APPOINTING JACALYN LOWRY
AND KATHLEEN SLEBODNIK TO THE LELY GOLF ESTATES
BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
December 11, 2018
Page 293
Item #16K5
A MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR FINAL
COMPENSATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $94,000 FOR PARCEL
380RDUE, PLUS $13,826 IN STATUTORY ATTORNEY FEES
AND COSTS, AND $14,000 FOR EXPERT FEES AND COSTS, IN
THE LAWSUIT STYLED COLLIER COUNTY V. GEORGE A.
NESTORY, ET AL, CASE NO. 16-CA-1347, REQUIRED FOR
THE GOLDEN GATE BOULEVARD EXPANSION PROJECT NO.
60145. (FISCAL IMPACT: $64,596)
Item #16K6
A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL GENERAL
RELEASE WITH HANNULA LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION,
INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,0000, CONCERNING A
PAYMENT DISPUTE ARISING UNDER ITB NO. 16-6537R, THE
“ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE,”
FOR WORK PERFORMED BY HANNULA BETWEEN MARCH
28, 2017 AND MAY 2, 2017 – DISPUTE FOR WORK
PERFORMED ALONG LIVINGSTON ROAD
Item #16K7
AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REJECT THE
PLAINTIFF’S PROPOSAL FOR SETTLEMENT FOR $100,000.00
IN THE LAWSUIT CAPTIONED MICHAELLE PETIT-DORT V.
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 2018-CA-2356,
PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE TWENTIETH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER COUNTY,
December 11, 2018
Page 294
FLORIDA – DUE TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE THE
PLANTIFF FAILED TO YIELD TO AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE
WITH LIGHTS AND SIRENS ACTIVATED
Item #16K8
AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF FULL COMPENSATION IN
THE AMOUNT OF $14,500 FOR THE TAKING OF PARCEL
224RDUE, AS DETERMINED BY THE JURY IN THE EMINENT
DOMAIN CASE ENTITLED COLLIER COUNTY V. ARABEL
SUBIAUT, ET AL, CASE NO. 14-CA-2762, REQUIRED FOR THE
WIDENING OF GOLDEN GATE BOULEVARD, PROJECT
NUMBER 60040. (FISCAL IMPACT: $6,570)
Item #17A
RESOLUTION 2018-224: VAC-PL20170003027 TO DISCLAIM,
RENOUNCE AND VACATE THE COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC
INTEREST IN A PORTION OF THE CONSERVATION
EASEMENT LOCATED IN TRACT B OF VILLAS AT
GREENWOOD LAKE, PLAT BOOK 31, PAGES 87 THROUGH 91
IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST
QUADRANT OF RATTLESNAKE HAMMOCK ROAD AND
COUNTY BARN ROAD, IN SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 50
SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
(THIS IS A COMPANION TO AGENDA ITEM #17B)
Item #17B
ORDINANCE 2018-57: AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 93- 74
December 11, 2018
Page 295
AND ORDINANCE NO. 98-73, AS AMENDED, THE WINDSONG
PUD, TO AMEND THE MASTER PLAN TO RECONFIGURE
THE PRESERVE AREA LOCATION ON THE EAST SIDE OF
THE PUD, FOR PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF THE COUNTY BARN ROAD AND
RATTLESNAKE-HAMMOCK ROAD INTERSECTION, IN
SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 50 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONSISTING OF 37.6 ACRES;
AND BY PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(THIS IS A COMPANION TO AGENDA ITEM #17A)
Item #17C
ORDINANCE 2018-58: AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 09-
37, THE AVOW HOSPICE COMMUNITY FACILITY PLANNED
UNIT DEVELOPMENT; AND BY AMENDING ORDINANCE
NUMBER 2004-41, THE COLLIER COUNTY LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE BY AMENDING THE APPROPRIATE
ZONING ATLAS MAP OR MAPS BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION OF 4.89+/- ACRES OF LAND ZONED
RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY-5 (RSF-5 (0.4)) TO THE
AVOW HOSPICE CFPUD; BY ADDING PERMITTED USES
INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICES
(SIC 8322) LIMITED TO COMMUNITY CENTERS AND ADULT
AND/OR HANDICAPPED DAY CARE CENTERS; BY ADDING
ACCESSORY USES; BY AMENDING THE MASTER PLAN;
ADDING DEVIATIONS; AND REVISING DEVELOPER
COMMITMENTS. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF
PINE RIDGE ROAD ON THE WEST SIDE OF WHIPPOORWILL
LANE, IN SECTION 18, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 26
EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA CONSISTING OF 20.55+/-
December 11, 2018
Page 296
ACRES; AND BY PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
[PL20170002501]
Item #17D
ORDINANCE 2018-59 (FLUE), ORDINANCE 2018-60 (HOUSING
FLUE), ORDIANCE 2018-61 (GG AREA MASTER PLAN) AND
ORDINANCE 2018-62 (IMMOKALEE ARE MASTER PLAN):
THE 2018 STAFF-PROPOSED OUT-OF-CYCLE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE COLLIER
COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN, ORDINANCE 89-
05, AS AMENDED, AND TO TRANSMIT TO THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. (ADOPTION
HEARING) (PL20180001205/CPSP-2018-4)
Item #17E
ORDINANCE 2018-63: AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER
1989-12 AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 81-43, THE YOUTH
HAVEN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, BY ADDING
GROUP HOUSING FOR SENIORS AS A PERMITTED USE, BY
ADDING 10 BEDS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 250 GROUP
HOUSING BEDS, AND ADDING ACREAGE; BY AMENDING
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2004-41, THE COLLIER COUNTY
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, BY AMENDING THE
APPROPRIATE ZONING ATLAS MAP OR MAPS BY
CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF AN
ADDITIONAL 1± ACRES OF LAND ZONED RMF-6 (3) TO THE
YOUTH HAVEN COMMUNITY FACILITY PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT; BY AMENDING THE MASTER PLAN AND
REVISING DEVELOPER COMMITMENTS. THE PROPERTY IS
December 11, 2018
Page 297
LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WHITAKER ROAD WEST
OF SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD IN SECTION 17,
TOWNSHIP 50 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA CONSISTING OF 25± ACRES; AND BY PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE. [PL20180000646]
Item #17F
RESOLUTION 2018-225: RENAMING CREEKSIDE STREET TO
INNOVATION DRIVE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE
SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE IMMOKALEE ROAD AND
GOODLETTE-FRANK INTERSECTION WITHIN THE
CREEKSIDE COMMERCE PARK IN SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP
48 SOUTH, RANGE 25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
[SNR-PL20180002011]
Item #17G
RESOLUTION 2018-226: RENAMING A PORTION OF
CREEKSIDE BOULEVARD TO INNOVATION BOULEVARD.
THE SUBJECT STREET IS LOCATED SOUTH OF IMMOKALEE
ROAD, ON THE WEST SIDE OF GOODLETTE-FRANK ROAD,
EAST OF THE VACATED PORTION OF CREEKSIDE
BOULEVARD, IN SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE
25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [SNR-PL20180002012]
Item #17H
RESOLUTION 2018-227: RENAMING CREEKSIDE TRAIL TO
ARTHREX WAY. THE SUBJECT STREET IS LOCATED WEST
OF GOODLETTE-FRANK ROAD, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
December 11, 2018
Page 298
IMMOKALEE ROAD, IN SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH,
RANGE 25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
[SNR-PL20180002013]
Item #17I
ORDINANCE 2018-64: CREATING THE VANDERBILT
WATERWAYS MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING UNIT FOR THE
SHORT-TERM DREDGING OF WATER TURKEY BAY AS
WELL AS THE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF THE
CHANNEL
Item #17J
RESOLUTION 2018-228: AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING
CARRY FORWARD, TRANSFERS AND SUPPLEMENTAL
REVENUE) TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 ADOPTED
BUDGET
*****
December 11, 2018
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 6:20 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
AN DY SOLIS, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK
bq, -
bOo
Attest as tt ai 's
signature`oply. �
These minutes approved by the Board on OatmUeLnii ap ,
as presented `/ or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF U.S. LEGAL
SUPPORT, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, COURT REPORTER AND
NOTARY PUBLIC
Page 299
FORM 8B MEMORANDUM OF VOTING CONFLICT FOR
COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, AND OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICERS
LAST NAME—FIRST NAME—MIDDLE NAME NAME OF BOARD,COUNCIL,COMMISSION,AUTHORITY,OR COMMITTEE
Taylor, Penny Collier County Board of County Commissioners
MAILING ADDRESS THE BOARD,COUNCIL,COMMISSION,AUTHORITY OR COMMITTEE ON
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor WHICH I SERVE ISAUNIT OF:
CITY COUNTY ❑CITY 21 COUNTY ❑OTHER LOCAL AGENCY
Naples Collier NAME OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION:
Collier County
DATE ON WHICH VOTE OCCURRED
MY POSITION IS:
December 11, 2018 C ELECTIVE ❑ APPOINTIVE
WHO MUST FILE FORM 8B
This form is for use by any person serving at the county, city, or other local level of government on an appointed or elected board, council,
commission, authority, or committee. It applies to members of advisory and non-advisory bodies who are presented with a voting conflict of
interest under Section 112.3143, Florida Statutes.
Your responsibilities under the law when faced with voting on a measure in which you have a conflict of interest will vary greatly depending
on whether you hold an elective or appointive position. For this reason, please pay close attention to the instructions on this form before
completing and filing the form.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 112.3143, FLORIDA STATUTES
A person holding elective or appointive county, municipal, or other local public office MUST ABSTAIN from voting on a measure which
would inure to his or her special private gain or loss. Each elected or appointed local officer also MUST ABSTAIN from knowingly voting on
a measure which would inure to the special gain or loss of a principal (other than a government agency) by whom he or she is retained
(including the parent, subsidiary, or sibling organization of a principal by which he or she is retained); to the special private gain or loss of a
relative; or to the special private gain or loss of a business associate. Commissioners of community redevelopment agencies(CRAs)under
Sec. 163.356 or 163.357, F.S., and officers of independent special tax districts elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis are not prohibited
from voting in that capacity.
For purposes of this law, a "relative" includes only the officer's father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, father-in-law,
mother-in-law, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law. A"business associate" means any person or entity engaged in or carrying on a business
enterprise with the officer as a partner, joint venturer, coowner of property, or corporate shareholder(where the shares of the corporation
are not listed on any national or regional stock exchange).
ELECTED OFFICERS:
In addition to abstaining from voting in the situations described above, you must disclose the conflict:
PRIOR TO THE VOTE BEING TAKEN by publicly stating to the assembly the nature of your interest in the measure on which you are
abstaining from voting; and
WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE VOTE OCCURS by completing and filing this form with the person responsible for recording the
minutes of the meeting,who should incorporate the form in the minutes.
APPOINTED OFFICERS:
Although you must abstain from voting in the situations described above, you are not prohibited by Section 112.3143 from otherwise
participating in these matters. However, you must disclose the nature of the conflict before making any attempt to influence the decision,
whether orally or in writing and whether made by you or at your direction.
IF YOU INTEND TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT WHICH THE VOTE WILL BE
TAKEN:
• You must complete and file this form (before making any attempt to influence the decision)with the person responsible for recording the
minutes of the meeting,who will incorporate the form in the minutes. (Continued on page 2)
CE FORM 8B-EFF. 11/2013 PAGE 1
Adopted by reference in Rule 34-7.010(1)(f),F.A.C.
APPOINTED OFFICERS (continued)
• A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the agency.
• The form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
IF YOU MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION EXCEPT BY DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING:
• You must disclose orally the nature of your conflict in the measure before participating.
• You must complete the form and file it within 15 days after the vote occurs with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the
meeting,who must incorporate the form in the minutes.A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the
agency, and the form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
DISCLOSURE OF LOCAL OFFICER'S INTEREST
Penny Taylor hereby disclose that on December 11 20 18 •
(a)A measure came or will come before my agency which (check one or more)
inured to my special private gain or loss;
inured to the special gain or loss of my bucinoccmoccociate, landlord
inured to the special gain or loss of my relative, •
inured to the special gain or loss of , by
whom I am retained; or
inured to the special gain or loss of ,which
is the parent subsidiary, or sibling organization or subsidiary of a principal which has retained me.
(b)The measure before my agency and the nature of my conflicting interest in the measure is as follows:
On December 11, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners will consider Agenda Item 8-A, a recommendation
to determine that the proposed land use for a veterinary clinic, excluding outdoor kenneling, and dog grooming
are comparable, and compatible uses within the Mixed Use area of the Vanderbilt Commons MPUD, Ordinance
Number 2005-19, as amended, and are therefore found to be permitted principal uses.
I currently lease property from a principal of the owner of the parcel. As such, in an abundance of caution, I will
abstain from voting pursuant to Section 286.012, Fla. Stat. to avoid any perceived prejudice or bias.
If disclosure of specific information would violate confidentiality or privilege pursuant to law or rules governing attorneys, a public officer,
who is also an attorney, may comply with the disclosure requirements of this section by disclosing the nature of the interest in such a way
as to provide the public with notice of the conflict.
December 11, 2018 �7�t
Date Filed Signature
NOTICE: UNDER PROVISIONS OF FLORIDA STATUTES §112.317, A FAILURE TO MAKE ANY REQUIRED DISCLOSURE
CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR AND MAY BE PUNISHED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: IMPEACHMENT,
REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, DEMOTION, REDUCTION IN SALARY, REPRIMAND, OR A
CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.
CE FORM 8B-EFF. 11/2013 PAGE 2
Adopted by reference in Rule 34-7.010(1)(f),F.A.C.