Agenda 09/24/2019 Item #16F 6 (Sports & Special Event Comples landscaping design)09/24/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve a pilot program and partnership with the Naples Botanical Garden
for the landscaping design and construction at the Collier County Sports and Special Event
Complex.
OBJECTIVE: To take advantage of the expertise provided by the staff of the Naples Botanical Garden
(NBG) in order to enhance the landscaping, improve the plant palette, increase resiliency, reduce water
consumption, fertilizer, and maintenance cycles of the landscaping at the Sports and Special Event Complex.
CONSIDERATIONS: On September 4, 2019, staff met with the CEO of Naples Botanical Garden, Donna
McGinnis. She was accompanied by her senior horticultural staff and presented some of their research,
findings, and projects. The team discussed our existing landscape palette, median beautification and
maintenance, and lessons learned from their research. The NBG team offered to work with our staff to evaluate
our landscape code and median beatification with an emphasis on maximizing beauty, resiliency,
sustainability, water conservation, fertilizer usage, and lifecycle management. The NBG team already has
relationships with local growers, landscapers and landscape architects.
The Growth Management Department (GMD) is going to take the lead and coordinate a follow-up workshop
with the NBG team to discuss how we can move forward in evaluating the following areas:
1. Median Beautification (GMD)
a. Grades and standards
b. Plant Palette & Maturity Levels
c. Sustainability & Resiliency
d. Best Management Practices (BMPs)
e. Water Consumption & Fertilizer Usage
2. Land Development Code (GMD)
a. All the Above, with the Addition of Size and Location
3. County Buildings and Grounds (Parks & Facilities)
a. All the Above
Each functional area will work with the NBG at their own pace to bring forward ideas, concepts, pilot
programs, and possible Land Development Code amendment suggestions. The largest County project currently
under design and construction is the 180-acre Sports and Special Event Complex. NBG has offered to review
the landscaping plans and work with the landscape architect and local growers to maximize the beauty of the
facility and evaluate the concepts referenced above. In order to do so, staff is recommending that we allow the
NBG team the flexibility to vary the plant palette, size, and recommended maintenance. There will be no
reduction in the amount of plants. In fact, the current plan is to exceed the minimum number of plantings
required.
The County staff and the NBG team will document any modifications to the code, monitor plant development,
and prepare an evaluation of the outcomes within five years of the plantings. Any areas that do not meet the
intent of the code after that period will be augmented to comply.
FISCAL IMPACT: Landscaping is a required component of development and is funded in each construction
phase.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney. By approving this
Pilot Program, the Board would be implicitly waiving any given landscaping and planting requirements set
forth in the Land Development Code, as by its very nature any pilot program necessarily deviates from current
practice. With that noted, this item is approved as to form and legality, and requires majority vote for
16.F.6
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approval. -JAK
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board approve a pilot program and partnership with the Naples Botanical
Garden for the landscaping design and construction at the Collier County Sports and Special Event Complex
allowing for varying plants and sizes.
Prepared by: Nick Casalanguida, Deputy County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. NBG Bios (PDF)
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09/24/2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.F.6
Doc ID: 10169
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve a pilot program and partnership with the Naples
Botanical Garden for the landscaping design and construction at the Collier County Sports and Special
Event Complex.
Meeting Date: 09/24/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: MaryJo Brock
09/16/2019 7:10 AM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
09/16/2019 7:10 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Department Thaddeus Cohen Additional Reviewer Completed 09/16/2019 9:33 AM
Budget and Management Office Mark Isackson Additional Reviewer Completed 09/16/2019 9:35 AM
Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Skipped 09/16/2019 7:09 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 09/16/2019 9:54 AM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/16/2019 1:56 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 09/24/2019 9:00 AM
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Chad Washburn
Vice President of Conservation
Chad Washburn joined Naples Botanical Garden in 2006 as a Horticulturist. He played a
significant role in the construction and management of the Garden, especially the creation
of the stormwater system, 90-acre Preserve and other natural areas that have become
functioning restored ecosystems. Since then, Chad has held the positions of Deputy
Director and Director of Conservation and Education. In his current role, Chad oversees
the Garden’s fast-growing Conservation initiatives in Florida and around the world. Before
joining the Naples Botanical Garden, he worked in native habitat restoration and
stormwater design in Indiana and helped create the Belize Botanical Garden in Central
America. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Hanover College and a Master’s
Degree in Applied Ecology from Indiana University. He currently serves as a courtesy
faculty member of Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a graduate of Leadership Collier,
Past President of the Naples chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, a Chanticleer
Scholar, and currently heads the International Community of the American Public Gardens
Association.
Brian Galligan
Vice President of Horticulture
Brian Galligan has played a significant role in the development of Naples Botanical
Garden, joining the staff in 2007 as the Horticulture Manager and influencing the design,
plant selection and creation of our display gardens. After several promotions, Brian now
manages the largest staff group and is responsible for all of the Garden’s plants including
collections, growing facilities, design and maintenance. Brian led the teams that restored
the Garden after the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Before joining Naples
Botanical Garden, Brian installed and managed the landscapes at the Hyatt Regency
Coconut Point and Coconut Plantation and was a Project Manager for the Ritz Carlton-
Tiburon. He is an expert in tropical plants and frequent speaker in Naples and around the
country. He maintains a personal collection of more than 1,000 plant species, a working
farm and an orchard of rare fruit trees. Brian has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Horticulture from Auburn University with an emphasis on Landscape Design. He is a
member of the 2019-20 class of Leadership Collier and was included in the 2018 “40
Under 40” class by Gulfshore Business magazine.
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Packet Pg. 2466 Attachment: NBG Bios (10169 : Landscape Sports Complex Naples Botanical Garden)
Britt Patterson-Weber
Director of Education and Visitor Experience
Britt joined Naples Botanical Garden in 2009, shortly before the Garden opened to the
public, to manage the Smith Children’s Garden and develop programming for children.
Before coming to the Garden, she worked as a leader and educator at Calusa Nature Center
and Planetarium, Pigeon Key Marine Science Foundation, South Seas Island Resort, and
Ambassadors of the Environment by Jean-Michel Cousteau at the Ritz-Carlton Grand
Cayman. She is now responsible for the strategy, delivery, and measurable outcomes of all
visitor experiences and educational programs for youth, adult, and family learners. Britt
holds a Bachelor’s Degree Anthropology with an emphasis in Linguistics. She serves on
the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee.
Donna McGinnis
President & CEO
Donna joined Naples Botanical Garden as President & CEO in 2017. She is a native of
Seattle but spent many years in St. Louis, most recently serving in leadership roles at
Missouri Botanical Garden. She served on the faculty of Washington University in St.
Louis for a decade leading its Nonprofit Management master’s degree program. Before
gardens, she worked in opera, ballet and museums and as a capital campaign consultant.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Washington State University and
an MBA from Webster University, and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive
credential. She serves on the Board of Directors of the American Public Gardens
Association and holds a leadership role with the American Alliance of Museums.
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Packet Pg. 2467 Attachment: NBG Bios (10169 : Landscape Sports Complex Naples Botanical Garden)