Agenda 04/22-23/2008 Item #10H
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Letter to Florida Transportation Secretary Regarding April 24th 2008 Alligator Alley
Industry Forum
OBJECTIVE: For the BCC Chairman to sign a letter to Ms. Stephanie Kopelousos,
Florida Secretary of Transportation, protesting the timing and location of the April 24,
2008 Alligator Alley Industry Forum and requesting additional public forums to be held in
or near Collier County to facilitate adequate opportunities for public participation and input
before fillY official decisions are made regarding the possible privatization of Alligator
Alley.
CONSIDERATION: On Friday, April 18, 2008, Mr. Johnny Limbaugh, FDOT
Southwest Area Office, armounced at the Joint Collier-Lee MPO Board meeting that there
will be an Alligator Alley Industry Forum on April 24, 2008 at Lake Buena Vista Florida to
explore the possibility of leasing the Alligator Alley toll road to a private concessionaire.
The MPO members of both Lee and Collier County were alarmed about the timing and
location of the fonun, more than 180 miles from Collier County. The Joint MPO
Chairman, Commissioner Jim Coletta, directed the MPO staff to draft a letter expressing
the community's concerns to be added as a walk-on item at the April 22, 2008 Collier
County BCC meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: Unknown at this time.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT: None at this time.
RECOMMENDATION: For BCC to approve the Chairman's signing and transmission
of a letter to the Florida Secretary of Transportation expressing the community's concerns
regarding the April 24, 2008 Alligator Alley Industry Forum.
Prepared For: BCC Chairman by Collier MPO Staff
Attachment: Letter to Secretary Kopelousos
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April 22, 2008
Ms. Stephanie C. Kopelousos
Secretary of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450
Re: Alligator Alley Industry Forum
Dear Ms. Kopelousos:
As elected officials and community leaders of Collier County, we, the Board of County
Commissioners, feel compelled to express serious concern regarding the Alligator Alley
Industry Forum planned for April 24, 2008 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. We understand
the purpose of the forum is to discuss "possible" leasing of the Alligator Alley toll road to
a private concessionaire, but we firmly believe the public should be consulted first on this
type of proposal.
Our citizens deserve a fair opportunity for public comment at each step of the process.
The decision to conduct the first public forum more than 180 miles from the most
potentially impacted community docs not lend itself to that end. We urge the Department
to conduct additional public meetings on this subject at a more suitable location before
any decisions are made regarding privatizing of Alligator Alley. Collier County will be
happy to assist with staff support and facilities for a public information meeting. Please
have your staff coordinate any follow-up action through Collier MFO Director Phil
Tindall, (239) 252-8192, philtindall@colliergov.nct.
Sincerely yours,
Tom Henning, Chairman
Commissioner, District Three
cc: Stanley Cann, FDOT
Johnny Limbaugh, FDOT/SW AO
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Norman Feder, Collier County Transportation Administrator
Nick Casalanguida, Director Transportation Planning
Phil Tindall, Collier MPO Director
Sen. Burt Saunders
Rep. Garrett Richter
Rep. David Rivera