CCLAAC Subcommittee Minutes 09/05/2018Conservqtion Collier: LEMS Subcommittee
Summary Minutes September 5, 2018
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee
Meeting of the Lands Evaluation and Management (LEMS) Subcommittee
Summan' Minutcs - I)RAFT
Thursday, September 5, 2018
Golden Gate Community Park
3300 Santa Barbara Blvd.
Naples, l-L 34116
.lutlio I ile ,lyoiluhle f:pon Rrquast
Subcom mittee Members sta ff
Bill Poteet (BP)
Pat Sherry (PS)
Michael Seef (MS)
Alex Sulecki (AS)
Melissa Hennig (MH)
Christal Segum (CS)
Molly DuVall (MD)
Gladys Delgadillo -
conservancy of SW
Florida
1
Items distributed: Previously distributed:
. Pepper Ranch Land Management Plan - 5 year update
. fxecutive Summary for CCLAAC 9/10/18 meeting - update of Pepper Ranch Projects
The meeting commenced at 3:00 pm.
New business was addressed first: Elect New Chair. PS made a motion to appoint Bill Poteet chair with a
second by MS. No other nominations were heard, and PS made a motion to close nominations with MS
seconding. BP was elected chair unanimously.
Approve Meeting Minutes from 2-15-18: PS made the motion to accept and was seconded by MS. The
meeting minutes for 2-l5-l8 were unanimously accepted.
3. Old Business:
a. Pepper Ranch Final Management Plan - 5-year update: CS had sent a link to members before the meeting
as the document is very large. MD presented the text on the computer, so changes could be made directly
as members discussed. CS went through the plan using the computer and projector and identified changes:
o Consolidated parcel numbers
o Amended verbiage to reflect accomplished activities. MS questioned why we needed "management needs" and "management goals" sections, as possibly
redundant. BP cautioned against making too many format changes. AS noted that the format was
developed to meet multiple grant program requirements.
o MS asked who the plan is geared towards? CS responded - for land managers. MS suggested it
would be helpful to the reader to add an Executive Summary in the front of the plan to identify
what changes were made and what accomplishments were made since the last plan was developed.
CS will work on an Executive Summary and put accomplishments in the front.
o Exotics percentages updated and FLEPPC list updated. New animal species observed added, particularly frogs as surveys have been done by MD, and
nesting swallow-tail kites. New invasive frog added.
I
2
Public/Other Agenc\
Con.se-*tttion Collier: LEMS S bcommittee
Summary Minutes September 5, 2018
. Historical status of Visitor Centcr updated
. Planned Uses and assessments of impacts - CS asked ifthis is where visitor information is wanted?
CS showed data pie chart on types of uses. Members would like to add pie chart and data to the
plan. CS will determine best place to add it.
o Cattle lease information updated.
o Apiary lease added. CS asked status ofapiaries concept from other land managers. AS noted that
there are concems about allowing apiaries in remote locations due to access difficulties in wet
season when the ranch is closed and concerns about danger to people. MI'l advised that there is
only one bidder and he lost interest as there was a limit to the number of hives.
. Prescribed fire management section of the plan updated - including noting MOU with Wildlife
Restoration Internalional. Currently their only availability is in June this coming year, but it is a 5-
year MOU.
o Goal 6 was changed from "Develop a plan for public use" to "Monitor public use." This may be
the place for visitor information as well as Exec. Sum.
. Language amended to identi! what amenities have been built at Pepper Ranch. Exact cost
information cannot be added yet. BP asked ifthere are restoration grants. AS agreed to look and
see ifthere are grants available.
o Mountain biking trails extent limited under Conservation Bank. Phase 3 removed from the plan
and location ofother future trails constrained to forest edges per US Fish and Wildlife Service.
BP asked what user groups use the ranch and asked for a short identification of what user groups
are there. CS will add in public involvement section and add info for scale of involvement in Exec
Sum.
. Hunt Program information was updated.
o Recreational drone use section added. Recreational drones prohibited. There was discussion about
FAA rules and drones. BP asked that language be added regarding permits for special requests
including drones.
o Public comment given during public meetings last year was incorporated.
o Goal nine changes were updated regarding upcoming Conservation Bank status of Pepper Ranch.
MS asked what the benefits are of having the Conservation Bank. MH advised that benefits to the
program are getting money for land management, the benefit to the County are reduced costs for
panther mitigation. The Conservation Bank is going to the Board on November 9, 2018.
o Wildlife Utilization and Surveys information updated through data collected by wildlife cameras,
both program cameras and Tom Mortenson volunteer cameras. BP asked that some of Tom
Mortenson's wildlife pictures be included.
. Budget table revised - actual numbers from past budgets added. Final quotes not in for building
maintenance and construction improvements. This can be added later. MS noted that years in future
look to have cost reduced. MH noted that the portion for the bank will need to go into a separate
fund, so what he is seeing is SSA maintenance.
o Appendix maps updated.
. Plant survey to be updated by a botanist at l0-year point.
o Cattle Lease - current lease inserted. There was discussion about when to reduce cattle in the
future. The current lease goes through 7021, and then the cattle situation will be reevaluated. BP
would like the economics ofcattle leases identified.
o Compatibility matrix updated. "Apiaries" was not listed but can be added
o Parcel maps were updated to reflect consolidation of parcels.
There was a motion by PS to accept the changes and plan to bring it for recommendation to an upcoming
CCLAAC meeting. MS seconded and there was a unanimous affirmative vote.
b. Pepper Ranch RV pad: AS advised that the RV site development went back out to bid, with bids cunently
due on September 11,2018.
c. Pepper Ranch Cottage Demolition:
2
Tasks assigned.
a
a
C ons ervel ion C olli er : L E MS Subcommitt ee
Summary Minutes -- September 5, 2018
AS to explore grants for repair of Visitor Center
CS to incorporate discussed changes and bring plant to CCLAAC for recommendation in
November/December.
Staffto identifl economics ofcattle leases.
Staffwill look at access options again for Wet Woods Preserve.
Notice Pepper Ranch Sunflowers.
Staff to invite NABOR's Govemment lssues Committee or Board of Directors for a tour of GRG.
6. Set next meeting date: Date not set. Staff to review work of committee and provide update at CCLAAC meeting
on Sept. 10,2019.
Additional Item l)iscussed: BP asked MS if he has anyhing new on Wet Woods parking? There was discussion
about the proposed sale of 2 acres to Germain a few years ago in retum for allowing access, using parking and
developing a trail head, which tumed out not to be allowable under the ordinance. MS has not follou,ed up as it seemed
there was no opportunity. There was discussion about lots and a commercial center on the east side of U S 4 I . Future
Citizens was not interested in helping provide access - MH and MS met with them last year. BP said we might look at
acquiring a small piece of property in the area.
Tree Policy: AS asked whether we still want to pursue as the specific issue that it arose out ofhad resolved. Members
wanted to look at it again at the next meeting.
Pepper Ranch Sunflower viewing - CS advised that sunflowers are coming, and the Ranch will be open last weekend
of September and first weekend of October. A Press release has been put out, a professional photographers group is
coming again, a notice will be placed on 'Eventful'community calendar, Immokalee flyers will go out, FB and website
notices will be posted, and we will remind people at the CCLAAC meeting on Monday.
BP asked staffto invite NABOR to a personalized tour ofthe Gordon River Greenway.
Bill Poteet, Chairman
as presented or as amended
J
7 Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
These minutes approved by the Board./Commiuee "" X f q f q