BCC Minutes 08/29/2006 E (Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ernesto)
August 29, 2006
EMERGENCY MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, FL August 29, 2006
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County
Commissioners in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as the
Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board( s) of such
special districts as have been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 1 :00 p.m. in
EMERGENCY SESSION in Building "F" of the Government
Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members
present:
CHAIRMAN: Frank Halas
Jim Coletta (Telephonically)
Fred Coyle (Absent)
Donna Fiala (Telephonically)
Tom Henning
ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Leo Ochs, Deputy County Manager
David Weigel, County Attorney
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COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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EMERGENCY AGENDA
TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE ERNESTO
August 29, 2006
1 :00 p.m.
Frank Halas, Chairman, District 2
Jim Coletta, Vice-Chairman, District 5
Tom Henning, Commissioner, District 3
Donna Fiala, Commissioner, District 1
Fred Coyle, Commissioner, District 4
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER
WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE
AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2004-05, AS AMENDED, REQUIRES
THAT ALL LOBBYISTS SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING
ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO
THE BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON SUBJECTS WHICH ARE NOT ON
THIS AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING WITH EXPLANATION
TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THE MEETING AND WILL BE HEARD UNDER "PUBLIC PETITIONS".
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE
TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO FIVE (5)
MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
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August 29, 2006
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF
CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3301 EAST
TAMIAMI TRAIL, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112, (239) 774-8380; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE A V AILABLE IN
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE.
1. Call to Order
2. Updated track information for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ernesto and its effects on
the citizens of Collier County, Florida (Presented by Emergency Management
Director, Dan Summers)
3. Adjourn
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August 29, 2006
August 29, 2006
MR. MUDD: Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'd please take your
seats.
Mr. Chairman, you have a hot mic.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Thank you very much, County Manager.
And the Board of County Commissioners is back in session again
for another update.
This is an emergency meeting and this is an update in regards to
what's happening with the Tropical Storm Ernesto.
If you'd all rise please for the Pledge of Allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: This afternoon via telephone we have
both Commissioner Fiala and Commissioner Coletta on line. And are
you there?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, sir, I am.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I'm here also.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. County Attorney, is there
anything we have to address prior to going into discussion?
MR. WEIGEL: No, I think you're ready to go.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. Yesterday we had to make a
motion to make sure that the individuals that were on the phone were
also included in this discussion. So do we need to go through that, or
is it just assumed that everything is -_
MR. WEIGEL: Well, they are on the record. The protocol
actually is without a physical quorum present that you are the chair
and they are contributing -- you may call them contributing members
of the discussion today. But ultimately you are the chair. And for
purposes of record, their participation shall be noted.
If there's any motion to be taken, a motion can be made and their
statement or positions will be noted. But under the protocol of the
ordinance, actually, you are the chair and you are in charge.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion
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August 29, 2006
that we recognize Commissioner Fiala and Commissioner Coletta as
participants in this emergency meeting.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I believe it was already clarified by the
County Attorney.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. What I heard from the
County Attorney is that the chairman can make decisions. And since I
see that there's a super majority, then I think that all should be able to
participate.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I think we've established that, haven't
we, in what you -- the guidance that you gave us?
MR. WEIGEL: I did. Now, there is no physical quorum present
and so, therefore, under the ordinance that we have concerning
emergency management, the chairman is the chair of the meeting, but
also he is the one, technically the decision-maker. And the discussion,
points or anything else that is added to the record by the other
commissioners is appropriate to the record and helps show consensus,
but the chairman is the ultimate decision-maker here today.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: May I ask a question? May I ask
a question?
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Sure, ask it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What -- that wasn't clarified. So
let's say there's a motion and a second. Can all participate in the
motion, or is it just up to the chairman to make those decisions?
MR. WEIGEL: As I attempted to indicate, I think it's appropriate
for all commissioners participating, whether here physically present or
by telephone, to place their statement on the record, which I think is
perfectly fine.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: At this time I think we've answered the
question. We can proceed at this point, okay?
County Manager, would you like to give us an update, or do you
want me to turn this right over to Dan Summers?
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August 29, 2006
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir, Mr. Summers will come to the podium
and give you an update.
As you -- just kind of a -- in case you don't get a good lead-in,
and he normally does a very good job, yesterday when you looked at
this track, the track was coming into Miami, going between Lake
Okeechobee and Fort Lauderdale.
You'll notice that the track, the official hurricane track now is to
the west of Lake Okeechobee and now encompasses a large portion of
Collier County in -- with winds that are going to be greater than 58
miles per hour. And that's basically your yellow area that you're
looking at on your map. And Mr. Summers will take that through the
time step.
Today in the audience you also have Superintendent Ray Baker,
and you also have Under Sheriff Rambosk and Captain Storrer here
from the Sheriffs Department. You also have Mr. Calvert, your
stormwater manager -- and I haven't seen Clarence Tears. Is Clarence
here?
MR. TEARS: I'm here.
MR. MUDD: All right, Clarence is here, too -- to give you an
update.
And more on a distinguished note, Mayor Hamilton is also here
from Everglades City to talk about preparedness in his particular city,
if the board so desires.
Without further ado, Mr. Summers?
MR. SUMMERS: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and
Commissioners by telephone, Dan Summers, director of the Bureau of
Emergency Services/Emergency Management Director.
Thank you very much for your time today. And as Mr. Mudd
said, yesterday and the previous days we were thinking life was pretty
good, but it looks like Mother Nature has kind of given the State of
Florida yet another test with these continuous changes in the weather
pattern. And that's what is our cause for concern today.
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August 29, 2006
If we can go to the graphic and again show you -- we'll show you
the circle that we monitor the radius of gale force winds of Tropical
Storm Ernesto.
I advance it in time. And as you see, at 1 :00 Tuesday, which is
the current time, is somewhat of a decision point where these two
rings, the distance ring from the closest point of approach from Collier
County and the distance of the gale force winds indicate that that's a
decision point for us in Collier County for any protective action
recommendations, and hence the timing and where we are today.
Since the storm has given us a little bit more of a shift, I'll
advance the storm on up into Collier County where the yellow ring
indicates a potential of 58-mile-per-hour winds or greater. And we
now see that somewhat out -- we sort of humorously refer to this as
the left lane of 29, as this storm is starting to approach, where we
thought it might in fact split the Broward, Dade and Collier line.
So we've seen a shift a few degrees to the left and hence some of
the protective action recommendations I want to go over with you here
shortly.
I'll advance the storm. And again, it shows the storm moving
forward with about the center of the storm. Although the storm is
somewhat flattened on the west side, it does basically take the center
of this storm as it's currently predicted -- and again, 29 is a pretty good
reference point -- and goes just a few degrees to the east of Lake
Okeechobee and then continues on straight to Orlando. So we've had
changes in the bow that we were looking at over the last few days with
it coming up the peninsula.
Now, some good news/bad news. Some of the good news here is
that we're maintaining a pretty consistent forward motion from 11 __
anywhere from 10 to 14 miles per hour. That's good.
The bad part of this is that the storm doesn't have a lot of
symmetry to it. We came up with yet another new weather term, and
that was a blob. And it's somewhat of a blob in terms of how it's
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August 29, 2006
going to scatter rainfall around southern Collier and basically the
southern peninsula of Florida.
So again, we're fluctuating on rain estimates right now. We're
going to maintain with the Hurricane Center at six to eight inches of
rainfall is possible. And as we continue to remind everyone, we have
an unstable atmosphere, so it is not unlikely that a tornado watch or
warning would be forthcoming.
Let me just show you one other graphic of interest. And again,
we're pretty lucky at this point with the current track. And this
particular graphic that we have from the Hurricane Center, and as this
particular graphic loads, it will run by itself, but we do have an early
indication that these storm surge model runs -- and I know it goes very
quickly, I can't stop this particular model.
But at the worst case right now, we're looking at about a
three- foot above mean, and we can tolerate that very well with our
storm surge inundation. We just received this storm surge slosh run
from the Miami Weather just a few minutes before the briefing started.
But basically we're in good shape as it relates to potential for storm
surge, and that indeed is good news.
Couple of points that I want to go over with you that I'm aware of
at this point, and that is, just as a matter of information, we understand
Lee County will convene later this afternoon for a consideration of a
State of Emergency Declaration. We also know that Lee County is
also reviewing the status of its schools.
Couple other information bullets that I have for you. We had a
very detailed EOC briefing at 10:00 this morning with very good __
literally all agencies present. We spent a great deal of time working
on an incident action plan for this afternoon, and I'm going to give you
the summary of that in just a few minutes.
I think we are very well poised for the next 24 hours with
supplies and equipment and manpower, and all of our internal and
external agencies are on board. And I really do want to thanki
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August 29, 2006
everybody, from the school board to the municipalities to the public
safety agencies and non-profits. Once again, everybody stands up to
the plate arm-in-arm and I couldn't be more proud of the cooperation
and coordination all across the board. So unfortunately we're getting
too much practice, but we've got a great team there.
I also want to mention to you one discussion item about C.A. T.
buses after I finish my briefing as well, and then a couple of key
agencies here I believe would like a moment at the podium.
My recommendation to you, and really the purpose of our
convening today, is to stress to you and to get your endorsement for
what we're terming a voluntary, and I stress voluntary, evacuation of
Collier County and the portions of Collier with the greater exposure
from Tropical Storm Ernesto. And let me qualify that, please.
We're recommending a voluntary evacuation of mobile home
residents, homes under blue roof or homes under repair in the areas of
Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Goodland and Immokalee. And let me
qualify that further.
Voluntary evacuation as well for registered special needs
individuals in those same areas: Everglades City, Chokoloskee,
Goodland and Immokalee.
Approximately 69 of those special needs individuals are
registered with us. We have identified them geographically . We're
making individual calls. Our special needs task force is calling those
folks individually to assess their needs and to coordinate individual
care or referral for the next 24 hours or so. And again, these might be
oxygen dependent or electrically dependent individuals.
That is a voluntary evacuation. And the reason we stress
voluntary is because our storm surge values are very much within
reasonable limits. Had we had a -- had this -- should this elevate to a
storm surge event, which we don't think it will, then we would
encourage you to go along with a mandatory evacuation. And that
coincides with our general policy and that is that we want to hide from
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August 29, 2006
the wind but we want to run from the water. Well, we don't have
much water, but we do want to hide from the wind. And for that
vulnerable population or those who have properties under repair, we
want to offer some shelter services.
Collier County Schools, we've been in consultation with them.
They in fact had an early dismissal today, which will allow us to use
some of their facilities in preparation for sheltering tonight. And
they've made a determination to close schools for tomorrow as well,
since we do expect these wind conditions to be with us through late
morning tomorrow.
We're offering the following locations as voluntary evacuation
shelters: That's Immokalee High School, Village Oaks Elementary
and Palmetto Ridge for both general population and if we have any
special needs clients that we can't find alternate safe housing for. The
health department and all the other partnering agencies are prepared to
support that as a special needs shelter later today.
Immokalee Friendship House, we have a mutual aid agreement
with Immokalee Friendship House. They have capacity, as well as a
standby generator, so they will be engaged in that service delivery as
well. We expect to have those shelters set up and ready to go later this
afternoon. We'll make a formal announcement when they are in fact
open and ready.
And in terms of C.A. T. buses, traditionally we've sought your
approval to waiver fares on C.A.T. for those who are in need of
evacuation, transportation or transportation to a depot or staging area
for subsequent bus change to go to an evacuation shelter later today.
All of our dialysis patients have been identified and most of those
received treatment today. Those folks are in very good shape and so
we don't anticipate any problem with some of the other critical
transportation services that we provide.
Again, I want to make sure that -- I am aware right now and it's
our confirmation that there will not be any trash pickup tomorrow.
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August 29, 2006
They will be in the process of closing the landfill, securing the landfill
site. That takes a little bit of time.
And I understand that we are coordinating with Jennifer Edwards
as it pertains to any of the voting sites for early voting. We'll work
with her tomorrow and the guidance of the state related to those
facilities in terms of reopening.
I believe there's a representative here, if not, Sheriff Hunter is
here from his staff, that might want to make a few comments, as well
as Ray Baker and Mayor Hamilton.
I do want to stress to the public one additional remark before I
turn the floor back to you, sir, and that is our reminder, 3-1-1 for
emergency infor -- general information in Collier County, as well as
774-8444.
We want folks in the next 24 hours to avoid any unnecessary
driving. We want everyone to shelter in place while we get through
this storm event. This is not a sight-seeing opportunity tonight, nor is
it tomorrow. And we want everyone to use extreme caution with the
use of their generators, as we do expect some periodic hopefully
short-term power outages. Reminder not to run your generator in the
lanai or in the garage, but to follow those instructions accordingly.
So I'll stop with that brief right now and entertain any questions
or any other comments from our other key players that are here.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Do we have any questions or comments
from the commissioners on the phone?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Not from me.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Go ahead, Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. Mr. Summers, if you
would, please, in Immokalee is there provisions being made to be able
to bus the people from mobile home parks to shelters when that need
does come? And also, is the Sheriffs Department going to participate?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, we are -- your question is very good in
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August 29, 2006
terms of additional transportation needs that are made. We're going to
make sure that that announcement gets firmly broadcasted on the
Spanish-speaking stations in that area.
Our transportation element will continue to assess that all
afternoon and evening. We do expect everyone to have reasonable
travel conditions up until about 8:00 tonight. After that, conditions are
such that we'll continue to monitor those cases on a -- or those
situations, rather, on a case-by-case basis. So we will absolutely go
back and reevaluate our need to run routes in that area this afternoon.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I appreciate that. And also, too,
the generator situation at the coalition for Immokalee workers to be
able to use their FM radio to reach out?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, that's correct. We have not received any
formal request from them. Our first line of responsibility with them is
to see if they find anything in the private sector for that. And in the
absence of that sector, in terms of emergency communications we do
have a portable generator that we could loan them for the short period.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I take it that somebody
will check with them to make sure that that's covered. Because if the
other radio stations do what they did before in the Immokalee station,
abandon their post, they're the only way to be able to reach the
Spanish-speaking population.
MR. SUMMERS: Yes, sir, we'll make sure we validate that this
afternoon.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: If you do have evacuation of people
from Immokalee, where were you going to shelter them at, most of
those people in mobile homes?
MR. SUMMERS: Again, this is not mandatory, this is voluntary.
And again, this is -- we're looking at this much like we did after one of
the storms of the heat refuge. This is a wind refuge, and ample time to
get there this afternoon.
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August 29, 2006
That's Immokalee High School will be the primary location.
Immokalee Friendship House has capability and resources, as well as
Village Oaks, Palmetto Ridge for general population, as well as
special needs, should that become necessary.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. Any other questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I've got one additional one. What do you
determine will be the wind velocity through the morning hours?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, again we've been all over with the
Weather Service on particular wind velocity. We're going to go ahead
and maintain a potential for 65, or gusts to 65. And we hope it's only
gusts and not sustained to 65. But we do suspect we might run into
sustained periods greater than 45.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. Are there any other questions?
(N 0 response.)
MR. MUDD: Mr. Summers, do you need a motion to waive
C.A.T. bus fees for those folks that are going to use C.A.T. facilities to
go to the shelter? I believe we're going to need a motion for that, sir.
MR. SUMMERS: That would be my preference, please.
RESOLUTION 2006-205 : WAIVING CAT FEES FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED TO EV ACUA TE TO SHELTERS DUE TO ERNESTO
-ADOPTED
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Do I -- I entertain a motion in regards to
waiving C.A. T. fees. And help us with the time line this is going to
be.
MR. SUMMERS: We're going to work this from approximately
2:00 on until dusk tonight, until it's safe to transport or safe for our
vehicles to move.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: What about a return trip?
MR. SUMMERS: Return trip, that's your discretion, sir.
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August 29, 2006
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion
that we waive the C.A. T. fee buses for the residents in need to get to
shelter and after the event to get back to their -- their residence.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, we have a motion on the floor.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I'm sorry?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll be happy to second it.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Commissioner Fiala already beat you to
it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Forgive me. I couldn't hear it.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I'm sorry.
We have a motion on the floor by Commissioner Henning in
regards to waiving C.A. T. bus fees, both going and coming from the
shelters. And it was seconded by Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Clarification.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Any further discussion? If not, I'll call __
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Clarification. That was for
people who need to evacuate.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Exactly. Got that on the -- okay.
Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Ifnot, all those in favor, signify by
saYIng aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Opposed by like sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Motion carries.
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August 29, 2006
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Chairman, I also make a
motion that the Board of Commissioners of Collier County
recommend a voluntary evacuation for people in mobile homes, blue
roofs or homes or shelters under construction.
MR. SUMMERS: Under repair.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Under repair.
And that was in all of Collier County?
MR. SUMMERS: No, sir, we're focusing in on -- and we
wouldn't prohibit anyone, but we're zooming in on Everglades City,
Chokoloskee, Goodland and Immokalee, as well as Everglades City.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And that's part of my motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I'll second that motion.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, motion on the floor in regards to
providing shelter for people who have got problems with mobile
homes or are still working through the problems with Hurricane
Wilma with blue roofs.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Opposed by like sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Motion carries.
MR. SUMMERS: Thank you, Commissioner.
Just a few other general announcements. Let me restate, make
sure that we're clear on the trash pickup for tomorrow. We know
those cans could potentially be missiles tomorrow, as well as landfill
operations being secured as soon as possible.
I may also mention here to see if there are any comments from
Mayor Hamilton, the Sheriff and Superintendent Ray Baker, and I'll
offer that back to you, sir.
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August 29, 2006
CHAIRMAN HALAS: We'll start off with the Sheriffs
Department and then we'll go with the Mayor of Everglades City,
Mayor Hamilton.
MR. RAMBOSK: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Kevin
Rambosk, Under Sheriff with the Collier County Sheriffs Office.
First we would like to concur with Mr. Summers that we had a
very good meeting this morning. I want to reinforce a very sound and
comprehensive plan that has been put together by Emergency
Management. And I think the community should feel very
comfortable with where we are so far.
Particularly with regard to law enforcement, we wanted to let
everyone know that we are standing up our command center. We will
be modifying our shift schedules. That will allow for more proactive
patrol in those areas and at those times during the evening hours that
are necessary.
We will be covering shelter security, and obviously we'll be
focusing on those areas of the county that may receive more active
storm addressed than other areas at this point in time.
We want to remind everyone that emergency response should be
requested through 9-1-1. And if for some reason that system goes
down, we have alternative sites that we will put up throughout the
county to allow for that to occur.
F or those people who may need assistance, we ask that they call
early. And there could come a point in time throughout the evening
where winds get to the point where there will be no response. So if
there is a question, a concern that we can assist with, please get to us
earlier than that.
As a reminder from yesterday, the Sheriff mentioned that we
should really restrict pedestrian vehicular traffic, particularly in those
early morning hours when we take our people off the road. We are not
going to describe how and when we do that, but we reassure the public
that we will be out there.
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August 29, 2006
But we are asking the public, unless they need to be out there,
and they really shouldn't need to be out there at that hour of the
morning, that they don't be out there at that hour in the morning.
To respond to Mr. Coletta's concern, we will assist as needed or
requested, Mr. Coletta, on any transportation or evacuation needs in
the Immokalee area.
And any questions from the commission or staff?
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Are there any questions from the
commissioners that are on the phone at the present time?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: None from me.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: None here.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Thank you very much, Sheriff.
Mayor, do you have any comments?
MR. HAMILTON: Not now, sir. Thank you, though.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Anybody from the school board?
MR. MUDD: Superintendent Baker?
MR. BAKER: Good afternoon. I wanted to commend the
County Manager, as well as Mr. Summers for their communication in
working with us, planning with us.
We've already notified all of our schools, as well as issued a
press release in regard to school closing for tomorrow, as well as this
evening. We will continue to provide child care in those programs
that do that at our elementary schools. And we will cancel adult
education classes as well.
We are ready to open additional shelters, as well as provide
transportation services as needed.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, thank you very much.
Any other discussions?
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is the general government going
to be open tomorrow morning?
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August 29, 2006
MR. MUDD: That's what I need to talk to you about.
Mr. Summers, I'd ask you to play the National Hurricane model
one more time. Because he stopped at 8:00 a.m. on the 30th.
Let's talk about where the yellow bands come into Collier County
in the south first, okay? So we're going to start seeing yellow bands
which are greater than 58-mile-per-hour winds come in the southern
part of Collier County at around 3 :00 a.m. in the morning.
Mr. Summers, if you could move forward. Okay, stop. Come up
one more. Well, we're basically centered around Immokalee at around
8:00.
Keep going. And they clear out of Collier County at around
11 :00 a.m. And then the blue bands come out right around noon, 1 :00
p.m.
Commissioners, I'd like to have the authority, if that's exactly
what we see at 5 :00 tonight, it's moving a little bit, okay, as far as
things are coming and some people are going to the left, some people
are going to the right. But if the majority of that yellow blob, so to
speak, in the model is sitting in the middle of Collier County in the
morning hours between 8:00 and 11 :00, like we just saw on this run, at
5:00 tonight if I still see the same thing, I'd like to have the board's
permission to basically declare tomorrow morning for non-emergen __
or for those people that aren't designated for emergency services in the
county, that they basically stay home until -- and then we'll start our
workday at 1 :00 p.m.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Sounds good to me.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: County manager, I think you
call that the two step. Left, right.
But anyways, Sue Filson, do you see any need to have the
County Commissioners' office open during the morning event?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Well, I'm going to make
a motion that we close the County Commissioner Office for those
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August 29, 2006
employees that take proper shelter and also attend to their families.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second that motion.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, we have a motion on the floor __
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I could, I'd like to discuss that
just a little.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I'm just a little leery
about automatically closing the County Commissioners' Office, so that
formal government can just more or less disappear. Couldn't we have
it as -- put it on like a skeleton crew, possibly one person might be
able to maintain the office, just to be able to take any telephone calls
that come in, maybe redirect --
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I think we do that--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- not hurricane related, but it
might be an emergency?
I just -- that's my only concern. I do want those people who have
kids or have extraordinary needs that if they have to stay home to be
able to do so. But if we have one person to maintain the office, I'd
almost like to see them there to be able to take care of whatever may
come down.
CHAIRMAN HALAS : Well, I think that was under the
assumption that Ms. Filson would be there, that she would be one of
the people that would probably be there in case there was any
emergencies that needed to be directed.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: In that case, I don't have a
problem. Just as long as we have -- the general public has the ability
to be able to contact the commissioner office.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We'll give them your cell phone
number.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, ifit comes to that, fine.
We'll give them every commissioner's cell phone number.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I think we've got it covered,
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August 29, 2006
Commissioner. I believe that we'll just have -- since she's one of the
essential personnel; I believe that Ms. Filson can probably cover those
duties, okay?
Any other discussion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: There's a motion on the floor
and a second.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I know there is.
There's a motion on the floor that we're going to close the County
Commission Office, other than the fact that Ms. Filson will be there as
one of the essential personnel to take any emergency calls on the
Board of County Commissioners. And I believe we have a second by
Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Opposed by like sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, motion carries.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, can I get the board's permission to
make that call after we get the 5:00 National Hurricane prediction?
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I'll make that motion.
Do we have a second?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah, I'll second that we give
the County Manager latitude to see fit whether to close certain
operations.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Any further discussion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: The only thing I'd like to see is
that whatever the county manager is going to do, that they have
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August 29, 2006
someone call or notify us of what's taking place.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I'm sure that will be -- that's in the
motion. Would you put that in the motion, sir?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure, I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: All in favor signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
Any other discussion?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, just to state one more time, there
will be no trash pickup tomorrow in Collier County. The landfill
operation will start buttoning down this evening, and it will stay
closed until 1 :00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon and then we'll open it back
up again. Because there are other people that use the landfill outside
of the curbside collection contractor. So just to be very specific about
those hours for the board.
I don't think we missed anything, Mr. Summers?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Jim? Jim Mudd?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just wondering. Now, if indeed we
do have quite a storm and a lot of rain and so forth, even though it will
have passed by 1 :00, as far as the landfill goes, do we really need to
open it back up ifnobody is collecting anything during the storm?
MR. MUDD: Ma'am, there's a lot of waste haulers in the county
outside of like Waste Management in district one, and Immokalee
disposal in district two that use that landfill. And if we do have a large
debris fall, you get a lot of --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay.
MR. MUDD: --landscapers that want to use it. So I think it's
prudent that we open her back up around 1 :00 p.m. It's situational
dependent. But right now from what we know, that around 1 :00 p.m.
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August 29, 2006
we open it back up again in case those folks need it and they have a
place to put their debris.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Any further discussion? Commissioner
Coletta, do you have anything to offer?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, you covered it very well,
thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Is there anything else we need to
discuss?
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, yes. Dan Summers.
Just a couple of little announcements. We're honored to have
with us Lieutenant Rodriguez from the Florida National Guard is here
with us as a liaison officer, we have him here. Ken Stevens is also
with us from State Emergency Response Team as well, so we have a
guard and a state --
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Would these two gentlemen--
MR. SUMMERS: -- representative.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: -- people stand up to be recognized.
MR. SUMMERS: Both of those folks are with us today as part
of this deployment. We welcome them.
And also, our tourism folks advised us we have ample hotel
rooms in Collier County right now, approximately 3,000 available for
tonight and tomorrow. So that in itself would provide an alternate
resource for many, many folks who might have some concern about
tonight, to come farther inland and to have a change of venue tonight
for the storm. So that certainly is a big asset. And thanks to our
tourism folks for assessing that information for us.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Can I comment there? We heard
that last night on television on the Weather Channel. I guess they
were saying that the people over in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, that
they can move to the Naples area because there were 3,000 rooms
available.
Page 20
August 29, 2006
MR. SUMMERS: That's all I have.
MR. MUDD: Mr. Chairman, the Conservancy political debate
tonight at 6:00 p.m. in this chamber is still on.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay, any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: If not, we are adjourned.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 1 :34 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
.~~
FRANK HALAS, Chairman
ATTEST:~' '
DWIGHT'E,. J3ROCK, CLERK
llit- (\111 ~ t u4\UL (}C. .
. Attest .. to ~ trwu I
11"'lturtOll~
These minutes app)Oved by the Board on
as presented -/ or as corrected
q -6lc- D to
,
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICE, INC. BY CHERI:g' NOTTINGHAM.
Page 21
August 29, 2006
That's Immokalee High School will be the primary location.
Immokalee Friendship House has capability and resources, as well as
Village Oaks, Palmetto Ridge for general population, as well as
special needs, should that become necessary.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. Any other questions?
(N 0 response.)
CHAIRMAN HALAS: I've got one additional one. What do you
determine will be the wind velocity through the morning hours?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, again we've been all over with the
Weather Service on particular wind velocity . We're going to go ahead
and maintain a potential for 65, or gusts to 65. And we hope it's only
gusts and not sustained to 65. But we do suspect we might run into
sustained periods greater than 45.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Okay. Are there any other questions?
(N 0 response.)
MR. MUDD: Mr. Summers, do you need a motion to waive
C.A.T. bus fees for those folks that are going to use C.A.T. facilities to
go to the shelter? I believe we're going to need a motion for that, sir.
MR. SUMMERS: That would be my preference, please.
RESOLUTION 2006-205: WAIVING CAT FEES FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED TO EVACUATE TO SHELTERS DUE TO ERNESTO
-ADOPTED
CHAIRMAN HALAS: Do I -- I entertain a motion in regards to
waiving C.A.T. fees. And help us with the time line this is going to
be.
MR. SUMMERS: We're going to work this from approximately
2:00 on until dusk tonight, until it's safe to transport or safe for our
vehicles to move.
CHAIRMAN HALAS: What about a return trip?
MR. SUMMERS: Return trip, that's your discretion, sir.
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