RLAAOC Minutes 03/26/2001 *Revised
RURAL LANDS ASSESSMENT AREA OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
March 26, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Floyd Crews Stephen Bortone (exc.)
Ron Hamel, Chairman Fred Thomas (exc.)
Rodney Harvey
James Howard
Dawn Jantsch
Andrew Mackie
Grady Miars
Ann Olesky
David Santee
Neno Spagna
Sonya Tuten
Joseph Boggs
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Linda Bedtelyon, Planning Services Fritz Roka
Bill Lorenz, Natural Resources Director Thomas H. Spreen
Bob Mulhere, Planning Services Director Al Reynolds
Margie Student, Assistant Co. Attorney Richard L. Woodruff
David Weeks, Comprehensive Planning Michael Kirk
Commissioner Henning
CALL TO ORDER
(Item I.) The meeting was held at Corkscrew Middle School, 1165 Oil Well Road (C.R.
858), Naples, Florida, with a quorum present. Chairman, Ron Hamel called to order at
6:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
(Item Il.) The meeting minutes of January 22, 2001 and February 26, 2001 as amended
were approved unanimously.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item III.) The committee unanimously approved the agenda as written; Chairman
Hamel recognizes Commissioner Tom Henning in the audience
OLD BUSINESS
(Item IV.) A discussion of the Rural Assessment website, "public survey" section began
with Sonya Tuten commenting that the survey tended to present leading questions;
Dawn Jantsch and Neno Spagna agreed; Bob Mulhere responded that he is in the
process of amending the survey with Chuck Mohlke and suggests pulling the survey until
it can be re-worked; Dawn motions to direct county staff to pull survey and here after be
able to review survey questions before they are posted on the public website; Floyd
Crews seconds, and the motion passes, 11:1.
NEW BUSINESS
(Item V.) Al Reynolds introduces speakers for the agricultural workshop saying that the
Final Order as it relates to agriculture is to "promote measures to protect prime
agricultural areas, to prevent the premature conversion of(ag) lands to other uses, and
maintain the economic viability of agriculture and other predominant rural land uses". Al
went on to say that the findings of the Stage One report of the Study Area (195, 000
acres), showed 90% of the land has agricultural purposes; Al also stated that while
agriculture in Florida faces stiff competition from global markets, ag business will survive
if it is economically viable.
Dr. Fritz Roka of the University of Florida, Southwest Research & Education Center,
Immokalee extension office begins PowerPoint presentation with discussion on growth
management and agriculture saying: Demographic changes in the United States have
placed the population further away from food production than at any other time in history;
2% of the population produce food, while the remaining 98% consume; the economic
viability of agriculture business contends with national and international competition and
competes with economic forces within the development community; Dr. Roka explains
the financial standpoint of agriculture producers, saying factors such as annual
production costs and break-even conditions are some of the challenges producers face;
product and price need to work together to be feasible; he also states that agricultural
lands provide other values to the public than the crops being grown on them such as,
water storage and recharge areas, wildlife habitat, and the aesthetic value of open
space; he called these factors, "public goods" and suggested compensating land owners
for providing these "services"; he commented that lands under public ownership cost the
individual taxpayer approximately $30.00 per acre annually. In summary, Dr. Roka
explains that 1)Agriculture is a business, 2) Investments are significant, and 3)A
reasonable rate of return to the grower is necessary to stay in agriculture business;
Dr. Tom Spreen, research specialist in marketing and policy issues relating to agriculture
in Florida begins his presentation with an international perspective of the three main
crops grown in Collier County: citrus, vegetables, and livestock, calling producers in
Collier County, "price-takers",saying production is not sufficient to influence price; Dr.
Spreen says the citrus industry is relatively new to Collier county, though Florida is the
world's second largest producer in the world, behind Brazil, with 90% of citrus produced
into "process citrus" (juice);Collier County ranks 9th in the state as citrus producer, with
Polk and Hendry counties as the highest producers; Statistically, the U.S. imports 300
million gallons of orange juice annually to keep pace with demand; Dr. Spreen discusses
the challenges facing the Florida citrus growers listing: 1) Diseases (canker, etc.), 2)
Weather, 3) Labor costs, and 4) Possible elimination of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba
as significant; He stresses that since the freezes of the 1980's, much of the established
citrus production in the north-central area of the state has moved south and southwest,
citing the 35, 000 acres of citrus currently in production in Collier County; he also
suggests that because of the costs incurred by growers of shipping produce long
distances, a citrus processing plant in southwest Florida could be viable; Dr. Spreen also
comments that the Florida east coast production of vegetables for the fresh market is
vanishing, stating that south of the 1-4 region is the most important area for supplying
the domestic, winter market, citing tomatoes and bell peppers account for 45% of the
revenue produced; he also comments that Mexico is Florida's chief competitor and
Canada is 2nd with the production of"hot house" tomatoes; In conclusion, Dr. Spreen
lists five challenges to the agricultural community as 1) Increased competition from
imports, 2) pesticide phase-outs (Clean Air Act), 3) Increasing labor cost, 4) EPA
requirement to re-register pesticides used, and 5) Cuba, if embargo lifted (large supplier
of fresh market vegetables); he briefly spoke of the beef cattle industry saying it has less
risk, but fewer employment opportunities; he concluded that the agriculture industry in
Florida has a "tenuous future";
Ron Hamel asks for committee and public comment: Sonya Tuten asks how many
acres of land are developed into golf courses and Bob Mulhere responds, saying, "none
in the Study Area but for the two which are exempt"; Dr. Roka says that as development
erodes the agricultural base, the infrastructure that supports agriculture will also erode;
Joe Boggs asks in so far as the Study Area is concerned, how important is Collier
County to the state of Florida in maintaining agriculture; Dr. Spreen replies that Collier is
important to the state in vegetable production, but that regulatory practices can
effectively put agriculture out of business; he goes on to ask the question, "What does
Collier County collectively value?"; He also says that the county can lower the cost
structure to insure agricultural production; Ron Hamel asks how the ag experts would
rank the industry importance of export products and Dr. Roka says, cattle, citrus, and
vegetables though Dr. Spreen declined to agree; some comments were offered instead
about diversification into sugar, tropical fruits, and ornamentals, as the Everglades
restoration project will inevitably put some producers out of business; the presentation
concluded after Q and A;
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
(Item VI.) Additionally, none
FUTURE MEETING DATES
(Item VII.) The committee agreed unanimously to meet again on Monday, April 23, 2001
at 6:30 p.m., same location
ADJOURN
(item Viii.) The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.
A copy of these minutes, when approved in final form, are available at the Clerk of Courts,
Minutes and Records Office, Building F, Collier County Government Complex