Immokalee CRA Minutes 01/16/2019
Enclosure 1
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MINUTES
Meeting of the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee on January 16, 2019.
CareerSource Southwest Florida
750 South 5th Street
Immokalee, FL 34142
239-658-3000
A. Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Frank Nappo, CRA Chair at 9:05 A.M.
B. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Dr. Frank Nappo led the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.
C. Roll Call and Announcement of a Quorum.
Christie Betancourt opened roll call. A quorum was announced for the CRA board.
CRA Advisory Committee Members Present:
Estil Null, Frank Nappo, Yvar Pierre, Linda Oberhaus, Patricia “Anne” Goodnight, Edward “Ski”
Olesky, Julian Morgan, Andrea Halman, and Michael “Mike” Facundo (9:16 A.M.).
CRA Advisory Committee Members Absent/Excused:
All present.
Others Present:
Kelly Wilson, Mark Lemke, Andrew Bennett, Justin Lobb, Alexi Cardona, Victoria Peters, Silvia
Puente, Michelle Mosca, Lincoln Price, Anita Jenkins, Steven Lopez, William “Bill” McDaniel.
Staff: Debrah Forester, Christie Betancourt, David Berra, and Kayla Boney.
D. Introductions.
All public present introduced themselves. All board members introduced themselves to the members of
the public.
Dr. Nappo welcomed Naples Daily News reporter Alexi Cardona.
E. Approval of Agenda.
Staff presented agenda to the board for approval. Staff announced that item F.2. Operations Manager
Report (Enclosure 2) would be removed from Consent Agenda and added under CRA New Business as
item H.1 with two action items.
CRA Action:
Action: Ms. Linda Oberhaus made a motion to approve the agenda with changes, item F.2.
Operations Manager Report (Enclosure 2) is now item H.1. Operations Manager Report. Mr. Ski Olesky
seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 8-0.
F. Approval of Consent Agenda.
1. Minutes
i. Joint CRA & MSTU Board Meeting for December 12, 2018 (Enclosure 1)
2. Operations Manager Report (Enclosure 2)
3. Project Manager Report (Enclosure 3)
4. Budget
i. Current Budget (Enclosure 4)
5. Community Meetings (Enclosure 5)
Enclosure 1
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Staff presented the board with the December 12, 2018 Joint CRA & MSTU Board Meeting Minutes,
CRA Project Manager Report, Budgets, Upcoming Meetings, and 2019 CRA/MSTU Calendar.
The CRA board approved the Consent Agenda as amended.
CRA Action:
Action: Mr. Ski Olesky made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Mr. Estil Null
seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 8-0.
G. Announcements.
1. Communications Folder
Staff reviewed the communications folder with the board and members of the public. The folder
contained the public notice for this meeting and upcoming community event flyers. The folder
included a press release regarding the approval of two grants for the Immokalee Regional Airport.
2. Public Comment speaker slips
CRA staff reiterated the public 3-minute speaker slip policy. The board will give more time if they
feel it necessary.
3. CRA Staff
Ms. Christie Betancourt welcomed the CRA’s new Project Manager, David Berra. Mr. Berra
introduced himself as a landscape architect who previously worked with Collier County Parks and
Recreation.
Dr. Nappo welcomed Mr. Berra and announced that he looks forward to work being done on Main
Street. Mr. Berra states that he looks forward to working on the CRA’s current projects. Dr.
Nappo asks if anyone has any questions for Mr. Berra.
4. Immokalee Regional Airport (Enclosure 6)
Justin Lobb of the Immokalee Regional Airport gave an update on the Immokalee Airport Master
Plan. The airport is currently incorporating feedback from the public and FAA into their draft.
Public comment is still available on their website for a limited time. The airport plans to bring their
draft before the Board of County Commissioners sometime in March or April. It is expected that
within the next five-year period the airport will receive $20,000,000 of capital investment for
various projects. The airport was recently awarded two grants from FDOT for improvements to
airport infrastructure.
*Enclosure 6 is attached to the minutes for the record.
H. New Business.
1. Operations Manager Report (Enclosure 2)
Ms. Christie Betancourt presented manger report to board for discussion. She announced that the
CRA office is fully furnished and will soon be ready for an open-house tour. Staff invite the board
to a tour of the office tentatively set for February 20th, after the CRA advisory board meeting.
Enclosure 1
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Ms. Betancourt announced that the CRA will be applying for the upcoming Community
Development Block Grant for current CRA sidewalk development project. The CRA was awarded
$200,000 for the previous cycle. The CRA would like to apply for the remaining amount of the
project’s estimated costs. Submission for the upcoming CDBG grant will close February 11th at
12:00 P.M. Staff would like board support for the submission of an application for the 2019/2019
CDBG grant cycle.
Staff announced that after the application is submitted, the CRA will submit an After the Fact
request to the Board of County Commissioners.
CRA Action:
Action: Ms. Andrea Halman made a motion to recommend that the Immokalee CRA submit an
application for the upcoming CDBG 2019/2020 grant cycle. Mr. Ski Olesky seconded the motion and it
passed by unanimous vote. 9-0.
Staff announced that there are two applications pending the Commercial Façade Grant Program.
One of the applicants is looking into warehouse storage for furniture and will present to the board
at a future CRA meeting.
Staff announced updates for the Residential Options of Florida (ROOF) Grant program. The CRA
awarded ROOF with a grant for $30,000. It was noted that ROOF did not begin the project within
the 90 days stated in the grant agreement. As a result, the CRA would like to move forward with
an amendment to the grant agreement to extend the time given to begin the project.
CRA Action:
Action: Mr. Ski Olesky made a motion to approve an amendment to extend the time given in the
Residential Options of Florida (ROOF) grant agreement. Ms. Andrea Halman seconded the motion and
it passed by unanimous vote. 8-0. Dr. Frank Nappo abstained from voting as he serves on the ROOF
board.
Dr. Nappo announced the opening of the two homes completed by the ROOF project will be held
January 27th at 2 P.M. He reiterated that the two homes are still in need of furniture.
CRA staff announced updates on Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity (FHERO).
Debrah Forester announced that she attended a FHERO meeting in Sebring on Monday, January
14th. The CRA will participate in an upcoming Skills Gap analysis conducted by FHERO on
February 7th from 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Topics of focus will be construction and
manufacturing, healthcare, and workforce and education. The goal of the analysis will be to
determine the skills needed to expand employment opportunities for the residents of Immokalee.
Staff also announced that they will be attending a Rural Economic Summit on February 11th in
Orlando, FL. Staff will share updates on Immokalee projects, and will be returning February 13th.
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I. CRA & MSTU Old Business
1. Immokalee Stormwater Master Plan update
Ms. Michelle Mosca had no official updates for the Immokalee Stormwater Master Plan. She
provided updates on swale maintenance that will be done in the Lake Trafford area and announced
that staff will continue to work with transportation and road maintenance to address road and flood
issues in the area. Ms. Mosca would like any concerns regarding road maintenance be directed to
her.
2. Immokalee Area Master Plan Update- Collier County Planning Commission Special Meeting to
discuss the IAMP on January 31, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at CareerSource
Ms. Anita Jenkins provided updates on the Immokalee Area Master Plan. She announced that the
IAMP will go before the board on January 31, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at CareerSource. Ms. Jenkins
also announced that she, CRA staff, and Dan Summers of Emergency Management discussed
Policy 3.3.4 of the IAMP regarding alternative routes. Emergency Management voiced concern
over the inclusion of the term “evacuation” within this policy, as this term is legally associated
with hurricanes. As a result, Ms. Jenkins recommended that this term be replaced with “public
safety”.
Commissioner Bill McDaniel requested that Ms. Jenkins ask the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) what term should be used to ensure that it is viewed as high priority.
Commissioner McDaniel reiterated that the language used should present the alternate routes as a
high priority for the community.
Victoria Peters of FDOT announced that she would look into the issues of language and
terminology for the alternative routes.
Ms. Jenkins announced the process that will take place for the IAMP. The planning commission
meeting is the first step in the process. It then goes to the Board of County Commissioners for
transmittal, where it is reviewed by the state. After being reviewed it is returned and given 180
days before the process begins again for adoption. Ms. Jenkins announced that issues that arise
can be worked out in the 180 days that follow transmittal. Ms. Jenkins estimates that the IAMP
will go before the planning commission for adoption sometime in May.
3. TIGER Grant- Immokalee Complete Street (Enclosure 7)
Staff provided board with updates on the Tiger Grant.
Summary of the TIGER Project:
The project will construct complete streets improvements in Immokalee, Florida, including
approximately 20 miles of new sidewalks, a bike boulevard network, a shared-use path, street
lighting, bus shelters, a new transit center, landscaping, drainage improvements, and intersection
and traffic calming retreats.
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Summary of Project’s Estimated Schedule and Milestones (please note these dates may be
adjusted as necessary):
Notification of TIGER Grant: Spring 2018
Coordination with FDOT and FHWA: On-going
Collier County budget/funding available for match: October 2018
Planned Completion of National Environmental Winter 2019
Policy Act (NEPA) Review (by FDOT and FTA):
Planned TIGER Agreement Execution: Spring 2020
Planned Start of Project Design/Build: Winter 2020
Planned Construction Substantial Completion Date: Winter 2023
Final TIGER Grant Reporting Requirement: Spring 2027
Commissioner McDaniel requested that TIGER grant updates be an ongoing item on the agenda.
CRA staff announced that they will distribute updated maps.
4. Immokalee Zocalo Plaza Updates
Ms. Christie Betancourt announced updates on the Immokalee Zocalo Plaza. All holiday
decorations were removed and placed in the storage pod at Parks and Recreation, as well as a small
amount in the CRA Office. Ms. Betancourt announced that the top section of the Zocalo Christmas
tree had broken in half due to storm winds. Staff are attempting to have the tree repaired and are
looking into the matter with Risk Management. Other updates will be brought to the board in
February.
5. Code Enforcement Updates
Steven Lopez of Code Enforcement provided the boards with an update on current open cases. Mr.
Lopez announced that the abandoned properties on Eustis Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, and Carver
Street will be demolished.
Mr. Mike Facundo suggested that code enforcement cases be referred to the Immokalee Unmet
Needs Coalition. Dr. Nappo suggested that local nonprofit organizations work as a connection
between the Unmet Needs Coalition and families with open code enforcement cases.
6. Office of Business & Economic Development (OBED)
Lincoln Price of the Office of Business and Economic Development provided an update on OBED
pilot sites for landowners. Mr. Price announced that there will be a government contractor round
table on April 24th, 2019 at the Naples Accelerator.
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7. Other Agencies
Ms. Victoria Peters of FDOT announced that the FDOT tentative work program has been updated
and is now available. She also provided updates on local FDOT projects.
Ms. Peters and the boards discussed the repair of light poles located on Main Street. Commissioner
McDaniel suggested that funding for the light pole repairs be discussed at the upcoming Budget
and Action Plan Workshop. Ms. Peters suggests that the boards submit an application for funding
to improve the lights.
Staff announced that the joint CRA and MSTU Budget and Action Plan Workshop will be held
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 10:00 A.M at CareerSource.
J. Citizens Comments.
No additional comments were provided.
K. Next Meeting Date. CRA will next meet on February 20, 2019 at 9:00 A.M. at CareerSource.
L. Adjournment. Meeting Adjourned @ 11:09 A.M.
Dear Valued Customers, Tenants and Stakeholders of the Immokalee Regional Airport:
I am pleased to report that The Board of County Commissioners today approved two
grants for more than $550,000 for upgrades at the Immokalee Regional Airport (IMM).
A Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant for $352,000 is earmarked for
design to rehabilitate Runway 18/36, one of two runways at the airport, and an
additional FDOT grant for $200,000 will help cover costs for design and permitting of
security enhancements. The existing terminal building was built in 1996, prior to when
many aviation security recommendations were adopted. With this grant the Airport
Authority will be able to design and permit enhanced security and provide a safer and
more secure airport environment.
The two FDOT grants are part of an ongoing initiative to modernize the airport’s
infrastructure to create a safer and more efficient operating environment for airport
users.
Upon completion of the design phase associated with the Runway 18/36 Rehabilitation,
the Collier County Airport Authority and FDOT plan to invest nearly $7.3 million of
additional funding to reconstruct the original pavement, which dates back to the airport’s
activation as an army training base during WWII (1942); construction is expected to
commence in late 2019.
Collectively, these vital improvement projects, and their associated construction costs,
represent over $8.5 million of imminent capital investment in the Immokalee Regional
Airport, of which 80 percent will be funded by FDOT with 20 percent local/county
participation
“These grants are a boon to the Immokalee Airport which will help to boost the economy
in the Immokalee area as well as countywide,” said Board of County Commissioners
Chairman W. L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5.
These projects would not be possible without the continued support of our valued
clientele. If you have any questions regarding these two projects, or any other airport
matter, please feel free to contact me directly.
Regards,
Justin E. Lobb, CPM, ACE | Airports Manager
Collier County Airport Authority
2005 Mainsail Drive | Naples, FL 34114
tel (239) 642-7878 | fax (239) 394-3515
website | map | email | flyMKY flyIMM
*Note email address has changed: Justin.Lobb@colliercountyfl.gov
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