BCC Minutes 09/03/2020 BSeptember 3, 2020
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TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, September 3, 2020
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 6:00 p.m., in
BUDGET SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Burt L. Saunders
Andy Solis
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
Donna Fiala
Penny Taylor
ALSO PRESENT:
Leo Ochs, County Manager
Nick Casalanguida, Deputy County Manager
Mark Isackson, Corporate Financial & Mgmt. Svc. Director
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
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September 3, 2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB)
Airport Authority
BUDGET AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples, FL 34112
September 3, 2020
5:05 PM
Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3 – Chair
Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 – Vice-Chair
Commissioner Donna Fiala, District 1 - CRAB Co-Chair
Commissioner Penny Taylor, District 4
Commissioner William McDaniel, Jr., Dist. 5 – CRAB Co-Chair
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDING IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES TESTIMONY
AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES
UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
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September 3, 2019
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN
ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3335 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL,
SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE
IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE.
1. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. BCC Fiscal Year 2021 Tentative Millage Rates and Tentative Budget
Presented by Mark Isackson
B. Discussion of Tentative Millage Rates and Increases Over the Rolled Back
Millage Rates.
Presented
C. Review and Discussion of Changes to the Tentative Budget
Presented
D. Public Comments and Questions
1) Michelle McCormick – Re-allocating CCSO funds for mental illness
issues & affordable housing
2) Tarina Oris – Lack of affordable housing & re-allocating CCSO funds
3) Melissa Alamo – Re-allocating CCSO funds
4) Brad Estes – Poinciana Village flooding/drainage issues
E. Announcement of Tentative Millage Rates and Percentage Changes
in Property Tax Rates
Presented by Mark Isackson
F. Resolution to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rates
Resolution 2020-136 Adopted – 5/0
G. Resolution to Adopt the Amended Tentative Budget
Resolution 2020-137 Adopted - 5/0
H. Announcement of Final Public Hearing as Follows:
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September 3, 2019
Final Public Hearing on the FY 2019-20 Collier County Budget
Thursday, September 17, 2020
5:05 p.m.
Collier County Government Center
W. Harmon Turner Building (F)
Third Floor, Boardroom
Naples, Florida
2. Adjourn - Consensus
September 3, 2020
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MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, that brings us to the
overall county budget public hearing on September 3rd, 2020.
Commissioners, this is a pretty scripted agenda pursuant to
TRIM statutes, so if you'll indulge me, I'll read some things into the
record like we normally do, and then there will be some time for
public comment, and then we'll move into the actionable items on the
agenda.
Commissioners, this is the first of two public hearings on the
Collier County Government Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which begins
October 1, 2020, and runs through September 30, 2021.
The public budget hearings in September follows a very specific
format pursuant to State of Florida TRIM, truth in millage,
guidelines. Your agenda contains a specific sequence of items to be
covered. They're also on the visualizer.
Pursuant to statute, this hearing was advertised as part of the
TRIM notice mailed to all Collier County property owners on or
about the week of August 17th.
The final budget hearing is two weeks from tonight, or
September 17th, 2020. And this final hearing will be noticed as part
of the statutory advertisement requirement contained in the truth in
millage statutes.
The final hearing notice will be a notice of proposed tax increase
ad and will appear in the Naples Daily News on September 14th,
2020. This type of ad is necessary since the county's tentatively
adopted aggregate millage rate is greater than the current year
aggregate rolled-back rate. Final tax rate and budget decisions will
be made at that final hearing on September 17th, 2020.
Agenda and speaker slips are available in the hallway. This is
also a hybrid remote meeting, and I would assume that those who are
interested but can't attend will be calling in providing their
comments.
September 3, 2020
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The TRIM notice mailed to all property owners indicated that
close of business September 11th, 2020, is the deadline for property
owners to contact the Property Appraiser and file a petition for
market value adjustment with the Value Adjustment Board.
Item #1A
BCC FINAL YEAR 2021 TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES
AND TENTATIVE BUDGET – PRESENTED
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, Item 1A on the agenda is a
discussion of the tentative millage rates and increases over the
rolled-back rate. This is the first substantive issues that needs to be
discussed pursuant to TRIM statutes.
Rolled-back rate is defined as that tax rate necessary to generate
prior year tax revenues, and this tax rate is calculated not including
taxable values associated with new construction, additions, deletions,
and rehabilitative improvements.
The board-adopted budget guidance for 2021 included a
millage-neutral operating levy position, the same tax rate as last year
and, for that matter, since Fiscal Year 2010.
For the Unincorporated Area General Fund, the millage rate
was, once again, set at .8069 pursuant to Board guidance, with the
additional marginal ad valorem dollars above the millage neutral
operating levy of .7161 devoted to maintaining our landscape
medians.
Levies from the general fund and unincorporated general fund
together represent over 97 percent of the total aggregate taxes levied
across all Collier County taxing authorities.
The FY '20/'21 tentative General Fund and Unincorporated Area
General Fund operating and capital budgets, as presented, are based
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upon board-adopted budget policy.
Both the General Fund and Unincorporated Area General Fund
proposed tax rates are higher than the rolled back. Collier County
taxable value has increased for the past nine fiscal years, and the
increase for FY '20/21 is 6.08 percent and 6.87 percent within the
General Fund and Unincorporated Area General Fund respectively.
Within an increasing taxable-value environment, under
millage-neutral operating and capital policy guidance, the rolled-back
rate will be lower than millage neutral, and this event occurs in Fiscal
Year 2021.
The General Fund budget model places a premium on fiscal
flexibility, preserving and protecting required cash balances,
maintaining adequate reserves for a coastal location, ensuring that the
county's excellent investment quality credit rating is maintained, and
allocate resources to maintain our substantial public safety capital
infrastructure and operational investment.
Mindful of this model and fiscal philosophy, the Board each
year decides on tax-rate policy, and budget decisions are crafted
around the board-adopted budget policy.
Commissioners, referring to Exhibit 1A on Page 1, millage rates
for each Collier County taxing authority has been established
pursuant to Board guidance. The roster of tax rates adopted by the
Board on July 14th, 2020, represents the maximum property tax rates
that can be levied in Fiscal Year 2021.
I will note, Commissioners, that the new Blue Sage MSTU and
Rock Road MSTU, based upon their respective districts, the DR420,
the millage rate entry will require separate unanimous votes if all
dependent millage rates are not approved unanimously.
The cumulative aggregate rolled-back rate for all Collier County
taxing authorities, exclusive of debt service, totals 4.0614 per $1,000
of taxable value. The proposed aggregate tax rate for all Collier
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County taxing authorities, exclusive of debt service, totals 4.1848 per
$1,000 of taxable value. This represents an increase of 3.04 percent
over the aggregate rolled-back rate and necessitates a notice of
proposed tax increase ad for TRIM purposes and not simply a budget
summary ad.
Again, the final hearing on tax rates and the budget will be on
September 17th, 2020.
Item #1B
DICSUSSION OF TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND
INCREASES OVER THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATES
- PRESENTED
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, Item 1B on your agenda is
a review and discussion of changes to the tentative budget. You will
note in your booklet a series of resolutions that comprise the changes
to the budget from the July budget submittal that the Board received.
For tonight's hearing, changes from the July tentative budget, as
noted within Exhibit 1B, pertain to the receipt of the Tax Collector's
budget, which was received in August, an adjustment to the Property
Appraiser's budget reflecting final approval by the Florida
Department of Revenue, adjustments to the Pelican Bay Cap ital
Funds providing sufficient budget to cash flow planned sidewalk
construction, lake bank improvements, and other capital initiatives,
realigning the infrastructure sales tax revenue budget to reflect state
estimates and changes discussed by the Board at the June budget
workshop, board-approved changes from the July 14th meeting, and
other customary and routine revenue or expense adjustments required
to support capital projects or operations as the fiscal year begins.
These fundamental adjustments occur as a matter of normal
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operations or are necessary in accordance with previous Board action
or direction. No other material adjustments to the July tentative
budget were made.
Detailed budget resolutions are found in Exhibit 1B, Pages 3
through 13 of the packet, and a summary of these actions is described
within Exhibit 1B, Pages 1 through 2.
Total gross budget change amounts to 5.9 million, of which
30.7 million is the customary submittal of the Tax Collector's total
commission budget by the Department of Revenue on August 1.
Further changes total 25.2 million, and this amount, the most
noteworthy adjustment was a 21.3 million realignment of the Local
option Infrastructure Sales tax Capital Budget reflecting new State of
Florida estimates.
There are no proposed changes to the maximum millage rates set
by the Board on July 14th, 2020.
Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, it would be appropriate at
this time to go to public questions and comments.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Let's see if there are
any questions or comments from the Commission, and then we'll go
to the public comment. Any -- I don't see anybody's light lit up. If
no one has any questions or comments, let's go to the public
comment.
Item #1D
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Mr. Chairman, we'll begin. I
assume you'll do the customary three minutes on these speakers.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Yeah. I think, you know, there's
been a lot of -- there are a lot of issues that have been very heated. I
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think if people need a few more minutes, so let's -- and there's what,
four?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Four, sir.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Let's give everybody five minutes
each if the Commission has no objection to that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Three.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Just the three? You have no
objection to going to --
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: I have no objection.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Then we'll do -- we'll
give them five minutes. There's only four of them and --
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Very good. Public speakers, we
have two podiums you can begin at. If we can begin with Michelle
McCormick, if you want to come to the podium, and I'll begin your
time, you'll be given five minutes to speak, Michelle. You'll be
followed by Tharina Oris, who may use the other podium when
called up.
MS. McCORMICH: Hi. Good evening. My name is
Michelle McCormick. And I have a short story to retell that is
relevant, I promise.
I recently met a young man, a black man from Collier County,
who I will call Sam. I met Sam after he had been mauled by a
CCSO canine a while back, and in my efforts to help this man obtain
legal counsel, I realized that he had considerable mental health
issues; bipolar schizophrenia and now PTSD who, untreated, had
become homeless.
I had persuaded, after understanding his condition -- and I
actively had to persuade -- David Lawrence Center to take him in as
in-patient treatment, because he is uninsured, because he was
hallucinating and hearing threatening voices.
And so he was taken in, and he was stabilized. And after a few
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days, the only place that he could seek additional resources, after
being discharged, was St. Matthew's House, literally the only
resource for him to go. And after a few days of being at St.
Matthew's House, they made it clear to me that he was -- he needed
too much assistance for a place like David Lawrence -- I'm sorry -- a
place like St. Matthew's House. They need people to be more
independent, and he just isn't. Too level -- you know, too high level
of care.
Sam's medication was stolen while he was at St. Matthew's
House because he didn't know that he needed to ask for a lock for his
locker.
And once again, was destabilized and had to go back into David
Lawrence Center, so this revolving door for the crisis unit. And then
after being released from the David Lawrence Center the second
time, St. Matthew's House said that he couldn't come back because he
just was not a good fit. He needed to be more independent, so they
gave him a couple of days hotel voucher, and he was released to the
street after that. Once again, to homelessness with no resources.
And I have called every single organization, government entity,
including to Tallahassee, but everywhere from Collier government,
for anything related to mental health services, housing, homelessness,
and there is not a single resource, not one, in this county for
somebody like Sam, not one. And we know from his own report,
Sheriff Rambosk says that the largest provider of mental health
services in this county is CCSO and our jail. And it is immoral, it is
irresponsible, and it's, frankly, infective to use our jails to warehouse
people with critical mental illnesses. It's not okay. We have to do
better, and we can do better, right?
If we were to reallocate some of this funding from CCSO and
fund a county position similar to what we have for the Department of
Veteran Affairs. We have a Vetera n Affairs office in the county
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whose job it is to make sure our vets here in Collier County are
accessing federal dollars.
I can attest to you right now there is it not a single person in this
county in any agency that can help Sam fill out a Medicaid
application; shocking. Fill out a Social Security Disability
application; shocking. Doesn't -- I mean, like, literally not one
agency anywhere can help somebody do that.
So we're not only hurting people by using our jails to warehouse
them; we're missing out on the opportunity to access federal dollars
to provide services for our residents, right? They do live here even
if they are homeless. And we can be doing better, and we should be
doing better.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Mr. Solis, you want to spend just a
quick second kind of letting this lady know some of the things that
we are trying to do with mental health and --
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: Sure, sure.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Because we agree with you
completely.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: And I think Commissioner Solis
has a good story to tell in terms of what we're trying to do.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: This is good news because of
what Commissioner Solis has headed up two years ago. This is
important.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: The last two years we have spent
coming up with a strategic plan and now moving forward with,
number one, creating what's called a central receiving facility where
everything's going to start. And there's $25 million from the
one-cent sales tax that's going specifically to build this facility, which
we hope to start next year.
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But the idea is just that, is to stop using the jail as the largest
mental health facility and to have a central place where, whoever
comes in there, whether they come from law enforcement, whether
they come in off the street, whether they come in from the schools,
they can be directed to services that they need.
So, number one, we are doing everything that we can do, and it's
moving forward. This isn't a concept anymore. We are in th e
middle of studying where to actually build it, and we're going to start
building that facility. So if -- I think we're shifting how we're
dealing with mental health issues in Collier County in the right
direction, and it's really what you're saying. It's using our funds in a
different way to get people out of the jail that don't need to be in the
jail because they're there because they have mental health issues.
And the Sheriff is on board with this. He doesn't want to be a mental
health services provider. That's not what a sheriff's roll is. So I
think we're moving in the right direction.
If you leave your number and your name at the front desk, we'll
find somebody that can help him figure out what he can do.
MS. McCORMICK: That would be great.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Commissioner Solis, there's no
front desk there, so maybe she can leave it --
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: Yeah, just to leave it and we'll
certainly -- there's the Homeless Coalition of Collier County.
MS. McCORMICK: No help.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: No help?
MS. McCORMICK: NAMI, no help.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: I will get you all the names that I
have, and maybe -- I see Mr. Carnell in the back back there, but we
are trying to address these issues, and I thank my colleagues, because
they have all supported this effort.
MS. McCORMICK: And I think that's great, and I think that is
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really good news, and I'm very glad to hear that, you know, but I
don't know that it is even necessary to have a $25 million brick and
mortar project to be able to fill in, you know, literally a desk with a
phone and a -- you can -- for the extra million dollars; extra. From
over last year to this year, you have an extra million dollars just in
your helicopter line item; one million dollars in your helicopter line
item. It went from one million to two million. That one million
dollars, if you just took a fraction of that, you could fund an LCSW
or two social workers, MSWs, that can fill out Social Security
applications and Medicaid applications and start helping, you k now,
people to access resources, but you're also going to need to put some
money in your affordable housing budget.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What is LCSW?
MS. McCORMICK: It's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Say it again.
MS. McCORMICK: Licensed clinical social worker, and
MSW is a master's in social work.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Thank you very much. I think,
Mr. Carnell, did you want to give her a card or something. That
young man over there will take that.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Your next pubic speaker is Tharina
Oris and, Tharina, if you could use the other podium. Tharina, you'll
be followed by Melissa Alamo. Tharina, you have five minutes.
MS. ORIS: Hello. My name is Tharina Oris, and I'm going to
be furthering Michelle, basically, and just talking about some of the
more systemic issues that we have in Collier County, one of them
being a lack of affordable housing.
Just in the small amount of research I've done in this county, I
found that a 2019 homeless count done by the Hungry and Homeless
Coalition found a number of 498 homeless adults in Collier County,
and this number was only created in 24 hours.
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Albeit, this number actually may be larger than as reported by
this coalition, but even then this number is still staggering and speaks
to a larger systematic issue of Collier County of affordable housing.
The executive director, Chris Weldon, said our highest growing
number is seniors. It's almost alarming how many senior citizens are
becoming homeless on a daily basis: Verbatim, those are his words.
And in addition, this is also something that's not only
disproportionately affecting the elderly population in Collier County
but also our students.
In addition, the Collier County School District found that they
had 1,001 homeless students in their district; 333 of these being
students who have no adult or parent figure.
And, even besides this, we also have -- for those currently
housed, we have such a high rent cost in Naples that it's basically
unlivable. The median gross rent in Collier County is $1,228. And
according to the U.S. Census for Collier County, with a per capita
income of 43,256 or 3,604 a month -- and this is, like, before
taxes -- like, your rent would still burden you. You would still be
considered rent burdened.
So, obviously, with this small amount of information I have, we
clearly have a systemic issue of a lack of affordable housing, and that
only speaks to one of the systematic issues in Collier County.
As Michelle referenced, there's a lack of mental health facilities.
I know you guys said you are working on it. But, clearly, you know,
as a citizen here, not just a tourist, it's very hard to live in Collier
County. And I think we, as a community, can be doing better, and
we can start doing that by taking some money from the Collier
County Sheriff's budget, who has 44 percent of the budget, and start
reallocating and funding our community.
And regardless of how you feel about Black Lives Matter, the
movement, or anything like that, these are issues that are affecting
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your real-life constituents and their daily lives regardless. So we
just, as a county, need to be doing more and holding ourselves
accountable to making sure that we're giving our community the
funds it needs to actually prosper.
Thank you.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Could we --
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Commissioner Taylor.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yeah, if we could do an update
so you understand. We've been acutely aware of the lack of
affordable housing for quite a long time, and we are now building
affordable housing on county-owned land. We're also taking the
Golden Gate Golf Course in partnership with the Community
Foundation and Moorings Park because elderly -- the elderly are
having a terrible time that are not, you know, high income, to find
housing that they can -- they can live in. And we are building on the
Golden Gate Golf Course.
So we are addressing this. And, again, it's a process, but we are
on this. And we agree with you totally on this.
MS. ORIS: And I understand that it's a process, and this is
something that continuously I've been met with is the process
but -- and I know change doesn't happen fast, but in the meantime of
this process, a lot of people are suffering. So I'm just proposing
some remedies that are faster and would allow us to get more funding
quicker.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And there's something that you
probably -- because I think you're very much attune to your
community wherever you live, we do have monies from -- CARES
money from COVID due to the COVID pandemic that we're facing;
that there are applications that you can apply -- or a person can apply
if they are having problems paying the rent with utilities, things like
that. And it is done through the county, and Mr. Carnell can help
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you. It's a very limited time, but it is open. The portal is open for
you to apply and for anyone that you know.
MS. ORIS: I have heard of some of these resources, but also on
something that is in my community is a big -- a high population of
people of color. So a lot of people of color aren't necessarily aware
of these resources and also, as you said, a lot of them are
COVID-related resources, so they do have, I imagine, some type of
window where you have to meet it, and it 's not something that's a
long-term solution. So the perpetual problem here, a lot of
the -- like, the remedies you just said, other than, you know, building
affordable housing, these seem to be a short-term solution and don't
really necessarily address the deep-down wealth inequality that exists
in Collier County. That's very obvious to see.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Yes, and I would agree with
you, but let me assure you that we are addressing it. It never moves
fast enough, but we are definitely addressing it. We must address
the lack of affordable housing in our community, and our
commission supports this.
MS. ORIS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Thank you.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Your next public speaker is Melissa
Alamo, if you could step to the podium near me, ma'am. She'll be
followed by Brad Estes.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I'm sorry. What is her name?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Melissa Alamo.
MS. ALAMO: Alamo.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Good afternoon.
MS. ALAMO: That's okay.
Okay. So good evening, Commissioners. My name is Ms.
Melissa Alamo, and I am a community member of Golden Gate City.
So I'll just be reading some of my notes, if you can bear with me.
September 3, 2020
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So I am asking that, as a board, you please critically examine the
Collier County Sheriff's budget. So according to the 2020 budget,
the county spent over $200 million on the Sheriff's Department but
less than $5 million on healthcare and mental health, yet Collie r
County has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
Even if we didn't, it is inexcusable as to why the Sheriff's Office
is receiving so much financial support when other sectors of our
community are more deserving of these funds and oftentimes lacking
them.
So I am asking for some of these funds from the Sheriff's budget
to be reallocated. So, for example, one to provide more funding for
non-CCSO 24/7 mental health crisis units that can respond directly to
911 calls where mental health issues are involved.
Another great example of where some of these funds can be
reallocated is, well, one, like, further assessing the CCSO officers
within our public schools funding and how we can better reallocate
these funds to support more social workers and mental health
counselors within each school. And I understand that this is part of a
state mandate, but this is an unfunded mandate that the county should
be challenging.
Thirdly, it's so important for more direct investment to be put
into neighborhoods where people of color are prominently living.
So, for example, East Naples, River Park area, Lely, Immokalee
Road, Golden Gate City. These investments should be in the form
of increased transportation routes and the development of
community-based centers like art centers and community parks
within these areas.
And then, finally, I also ask to end 287(g) and the use of Collier
County resources towards federal measures to target communities of
color.
Finally, I ask that, as a Collier County community, and
September 3, 2020
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especially starting with you, the people who have the power to make
these decisions, that we start to have these important conversations
here locally following a lot of the conversations that are happening
nationally and that we begin to not only center the voic es excluded in
our community but also we begin to shift our thinking into long -term,
more sustainable and community-based public safety approaches that
don't just rely on the police for safety.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Thank you.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Mr. Chairman, your final public
speaker is Mr. Brad Estes. Brad, at the podium right there, and
you'll have five minutes.
MR. ESTES: Good evening, Commissioners. I'm here to talk
about water. That's no surprise. I'm here to talk about and to share,
make sure that the Phase 2 project for Poinciana Village remains in
the budget, and I see that it is. And I was holding my breath, but
there were no changes tonight.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I'd like to make a motion to
remove that from the budget. Second?
MR. ESTES: I could not go home.
It's $250,000 for engineering evaluation -- and I cannot get rid
of the steaming of my glasses. It's $250,000 for the engineering
evaluation and project planning, and then Phase 3, of course, would
be replacing some of the infrastructure, maybe revising some of the
infrastructure that doesn't work very well.
We have infrastructure pipes that are over 50 years old, probably
approaching 60 years old. And we have some that don't work. And
right now we've done -- and you all, your stormwater group, they
became like family to us, and have put the swales' capacity back to
the original design so we can hold the water. We're not -- all the
water's not rushing down the streets to the drains like it used to, but
September 3, 2020
Page 17
now the drains are dysfunctional. We've got about probably four or
five that don't work at all.
So there's a degree of urgency there as well, and so we do want
to emphasize the need to have that remain in the budget for 2021.
And appreciate -- and we've seen the results of your additional
funding for stormwater. And this goes to compliments to Leo and
Nick, too, for proposing it. Came into our ditch and found drains
that had been covered for years, ends of drains that weren't emptying
into the ditch because they've been covered for years. So we
appreciate that.
And I just wanted to say my comments about water are over for
the evening.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: And encourage us to go
forward.
MR. ESTES: There you go. Encourage us to go forward
without change.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And if I may. And things
are -- Brad.
MR. ESTES: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Things are better than what
they were with the first phase that's already been done?
MR. ESTES: Yes. What happens is the flooding doesn't occur
as badly, but we still get street flooding. And you're familiar with
Ponce de Leon.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Of course. You are the bowl
over there.
MR. ESTES: Still floods. We are the bowl. And it floods
because the drains don't exist like they should be. They're old and
dilapidated. From the streets to the ditch, that's what we're talking
about now. From the streets to the ditch. Swale water runs to the
side streets, settles there, goes into drains, and then goes through
September 3, 2020
Page 18
culverts into the ditch, and the ditch goes into the estuary canal and
into, eventually, the Gordon River.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Thank you very much.
MR. ESTES: Thank you for asking.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Any other speakers?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: No, sir. That's your final public
speaker.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. We'll close the public
hearing. If you could kind of guide us through the motions and
things that you need for this evening.
Item #1E
THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES AND PERCENTAGE
CHANGES IN PROPERTY TAX RATES – PRESENTED
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, Mr. Chairman, I regret to
inform you that I have to announce the tentative millage rates, the
percentage change in the property tax rates over the rolled-back rate
before we get into our --
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Yeah. We will all be studying
our phones while you're doing that.
MR. ISACKSON: My favorite part of the agenda, of course.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: You've got your computer to look
at.
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, the General Fund, proposed
millage rate, 3.5645. The rolled-back millage rate, 3.4587. That
has a percent change from the rolled-back rate of 3.06 percent.
Our Water Pollution Control Fund 114, the proposed millage
rate, .0293. The rolled-back millage rate, .0283. That's a
3.53 percent increase over the rolled-back rate.
September 3, 2020
Page 19
The Unincorporated Area General Fund, the proposed millage
rate, .8069. The rolled back millage rate, .7821. The percent
change over the rolled-back rate of 3.17 percent.
The Golden Gate Community Center, the proposed millage rate,
.1862. The rolled-back millage rate, .1736. That's a percent change
from the rolled-back rate of 7.26 percent.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Can you tell me what page you're
on, please.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: 1A. 1A.
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioner, do you have the booklet, or
are you going off the --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I've got the book.
MR. ISACKSON: Yeah. We're agenda item, what is it, 1E?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: 1E.
MR. ISACKSON: It says millage rates.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: E as in Edward.
MR. OCHS: You have a tab for millage rates.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: You know what it says, it says
millage resolution.
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, thank you.
MR. ISACKSON: Victoria Park Drainage, Commissioners, the
proposed millage rate, .0300. The rolled-back millage rate, .0300.
That's no change from the rolled-back rate.
Naples Park Drainage MSTU, the proposed millage rate, .0052.
The rolled-back millage rate, .0052. No change from the rolled-back
rate.
The Vanderbilt Beach MSTU, proposed millage rate, .5000.
The rolled-back millage rate, .4880. That's a percent change from
the rolled-back rate of 2.46 percent.
The Ochopee Fire Control District, the proposed millage rate,
September 3, 2020
Page 20
4.0000; the rolled-back millage rate, 3.8536. That's a percent change
from the rolled-back rate of 3.80 percent.
The Goodland/Horr's Island Fire MSTU, the proposed millage
rate, 1.2760; the rolled-back millage rate, 1.1890. A percent
increase over the rolled-back rate of 7.32 percent.
The Sabal Palm Road MSTU, there's no proposed millage rate.
The rolled-back rate is zero, therefore no change.
The Golden Gate Parkway Beautification MSTU, the proposed
millage rate, 5000; the rolled-back millage rate, .4507. A percent
increase over the rolled-back rate of 10.94 percent.
The Lely Golf Estates Beautification MSTU, the proposed
millage rate, 2.0000; the rolled-back millage rate, 1.8902. Percent
increase over the rolled-back rate, 5.81 percent.
The Hawksridge Stormwater Pumping MSTU, the proposed
millage rate, .0365; the rolled-back millage rate, .0635. There's no
change.
The Radio Road Beautification MSTU, no millage rate
proposed. No -- the rolled-back rate is zero. No change from the
rolled-back rate.
The Forest Lakes Roadway and Drainage MSTU, the proposed
millage rate, 1.3781; the rolled-back millage rate, 1.3435. A
2.58 percent increase over the rolled-back rate.
The Immokalee Beautification MSTU, the proposed millage
rate, 1.0000; the rolled-back millage rate, .9428. The percent change
over the rolled-back rate, 6.07 percent.
The Bayshore Avalon Beautification MSTU, proposed millage
rate, 2.3604; the rolled-back millage rate, 2.2320. The percent
change from the rolled-back rate, 5.75 percent.
The Haldeman Creek Dredging MSTU, proposed millage rate,
1.000; the rolled-back millage rate, .9633. A 3.81 percent increase
over the rolled-back rate.
September 3, 2020
Page 21
Rock Road MSTU, proposed millage rate, 3.0000; the
rolled-back millage rate, 1.2338. That's a 143.15 percent increase
over the rolled-back rate.
The Forest Lakes Debt Service, proposed millage rate, 2.6219;
the rolled-back rate, 2.4809. Percent change from the rolled -back
rate, 5.68 percent.
Vanderbilt Waterways MSTU, proposed millage rate, .3000; the
rolled-back millage rate, .2906. That is a 3.23 percent increase over
the rolled-back rate.
The new Blue Sage MSTU, proposed millage rate 3.0000; the
rolled-back millage rate, of course, is zero on a new MSTU there.
Collier County Lighting MSTU, the proposed millage rate,
.1391; the rolled-back millage rate is .1391. There's no change from
the rolled-back rate.
The Pelican Bay MSTBU proposed millage rate, .0857; the
rolled-back millage rate, .0837. That's a 2.39 percent increase over
the rolled-back rate.
Finally, Commissioners, the aggregate millage rate for all
Collier County taxing authorities under your umbrella, the proposed
millage rate, 4.1848; the rolled-back millage rate, 4.0614. That's a
3.04 percent increase over the rolled-back rate.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Any questions?
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No questions. Just a
comment. Somebody, before the next meeting, get me where we're
at with the Rock Road MSTU. I mean, I thought we sunsetted their
existence. And I don't want to belabor the point tonight, but I just
want -- I want some input as to why that was 150 percent increase.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
Item #1F
September 3, 2020
Page 22
RESOLUTION 2020-136: ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE
MILLATE RATES – ADOPTED
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, 1E is a resolution to adopt
the tentative millage rates. And, Commissioners, one motion would
be appropriate for the adoption of the FY '20/'21 millage rates as read
into the record. If it's not done unanimously, I would recommend a
separate vote for the Blue Sage MSTU and the Rock Road MSTU.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So moved.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. We have a motion.
Would you explain again what this motion is.
MR. ISACKSON: Mr. Chairman, this is a motion to approve
the tentative millage rates that I read into the record.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay.
MR. ISACKSON: If it's done by unanimous vote, we're good.
If it's not, we need to call out the two separate MSTUs that I
mentioned.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. I just didn't understand
exactly what you were saying.
Any discussion on the motion? Commissioner Solis.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: I was going to second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. We have a motion and
second. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
September 3, 2020
Page 23
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Item # 1G
RESOLUTION 2020-137: ADOPTING THE AMENDED
TENTATIVE BUDGET – ADOPTED
MR. ISACKSON: Commissioners, Item 1F on your agenda is
a resolution to adopt the amended tentative budget. Commissioners,
your action on this item will include the changes discussed under
Agenda Item 1B, and the amended tentative budget can be adopted
with one single majority vote.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Any questions or
comments on tentative budgets?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Seeing none, is there a motion?
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SOLIS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Item # 1H
September 3, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL PUBLIC HEARING AS
FOLLOWS
MR. ISACKSON: Finally, Commissioners, your final public
hearing on the FY '20/'21 Collier County Budget is Thursday,
September 17th, 2020, at 5:05 p.m. And I have no further
comments.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. If there's no other
business, and correct me if I'm wrong, there is nothing else for us to
do this evening. We are adjourned.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 6:46 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
At4„).1t,atze.....40—
BURT SAUNDERS, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK
\i5jes
stature arty:
These miutes approved by the Board on Cypplernb ,
as presented ✓ or as corrected
Page 24