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BCC Minutes 03/28/2007 TH (District 2) March 28, 2007 TRANSCRIPTION OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOWNHALL MEETING DISTRICT #2 Naples, Florida, March 28, 2007 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County District #2 Town Hall Meeting in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 7:00 p.m. at North Collier Regional Park, Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Commissioner James Coletta Commissioner Fred Coyle Commissioner Donna Fiala Commissioner Frank Halas ALSO PRESENT: Jim Mudd, County Manager Leo Ochs, Deputy County Manager David Weigel, County Attorney Barry Williams, Parks and Recreation Director Norman Feder, Transportation Services Division Trinity Caudill-Scott, Transportation Project Manager David Scribner, Code Enforcement Officer Randy Cohen, Comprehensive Planning Director Mike Smykowski, Budget Director cJt~ County "" ~"'- - District 2 Town Hall Meeting Exhibit Hall, located at the North Collier Regional Park Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:00 p.m. AGENDA I . Parks and Recreation - . Review of Practice Fields Available and Possible Use of Public School Facilities After Hours 2. Transportation - . Overview of Road Construction in District 2 w/Scheduled Completion Dates . Update on Cocohatchee Bridge Construction . Status of Wood's Edge Traffic Signal . Bike Paths in District 2 - Current and Proposed 3. Community Development & Environmental Services - . Noise Issues - Summary of New Approach to Addressing Noise Issues in the Count . Demographics - Projected Growth of County . Permitting - Volume of Permits for 2006 4. Potential Impact of Sales Tax vs. Property Tax on Home Rule and Addressing Future Growth Issues 5. 5-Year Plan for Countywide Improvements 6. Questions and Answers March 28, 2007 The Town Hall Meeting was hosted by Commissioner Frank Halas and started at 7:00 PM. with: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, INTRODUCTIONS AND WELCOMING COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER HALAS 1. Parks and Recreation Review of Practice Fields Available and Possible Use of Pnblic School Facilities after Hours Barry Williams, Director, Parks and Recreation, gave a slide presentation regarding athletic facilities in North Naples. . Challenges related to athletic fields include multiple use versus single use; joint use with the School Board; Little League Complex; out-of-towners; practice versus game play; maintenance versus use; lighting . Community parks and school facilities are serving as practice fields . More practice fields are needed . Athletic fields must serve multiple functions . Little League complex is being planned . New lights at North Collier Regional Park employ new technology and are excellent 2. Transportation Overview of Road Construction in District 2/Scheduled Completion Dates Norman Feder, Transportation Administrator gave a slide presentation overview of road construction in District 2 with scheduled completion dates as follows: . Vanderbilt Beach Road, Airport-Pulling Road to Collier Boulevard is due to be completed by March 2008 . Immokalee, US 41 to 1-75 will be completed by the summer of2008 . Immokalee Road, 1-75 to Collier Boulevard will be completed in the summer of 2008 . Logan Boulevard Extension, Vanderbilt Beach Road to Immokalee Road to be completed by July 2007 Update on Cocohatchee Bridge Construction See "Bike Paths in District 2". Status of Wood's Edge Traffic Signal Mr. Feder stated as follows: . US 41/Woods Edge Parkway Signal, Collier County is working with the State to get the signal Bike Paths in District 2 - Current and Proposed Trinity Caudill-Scott, Project Manager, provided information as follows: . Vanderbilt Beach Drive Bridge over Big Horse Pass to be completed in the Summer of 2009 2 March 28, 2007 . Consideration is being given to keeping one lane ofthe bridge open during construction . Vanderbilt Beach Drive pedestrian bridge will consist oftwo stand-alone pedestrian bridges, the current bridge has no bike path . Bike Path will be six feet wide on the north side of Illth Avenue from Eighth Street to Naples Park Elementary and should be completed mid- Spring 2007 3. Community Development and Environmental Services Noise Issues - Summary of New Approach to Addressing Noise Issues in the County David Scribner, Investigations Officer for Code Enforcement, provided information as follows: . Work on noise issue is being worked on jointly with the Sheriffs Department . Code Enforcement Officers are provided with training and certification regarding noise issues . Collier County has four ordinances that govern noise and must be read sequentially . Volume and octave are elements to be considered in noise level determination . Noise level standards differ in residential and commercial communities and from day to night . Higher density results in higher noise levels Demographics - Projected Growth of Collier County Randy Cohen, Director, Comprehensive Planning, discussed projected growth and permitting as follows: . Population proj ections have been accurate . Most growth is in Eastern Collier County . Land use activities have remained steady . Growth is anticipated in future in Eastern Collier County Permitting - Volume of Permits for 2006 . Permitting activity has slowed for 2007 . There may be as few as 2,000 or less new starts for this year . Commercial construction is up 4. Potential Impact of Sales Tax vs. Property Tax on Home Rule and Addressing Future Growth Issues Mike Smykowski, Budget Director, gave a slide presentation addressing the following points: . Legislature's goals are to provide tax relief and equity . Local government's revenue will be substantially reduced if proposals become law 3 March 28,2007 . Collier County residents have high expectations oflocal government; expectations would have to be reduced since a reduction in revenue must result in a reduction of services . Sales tax increase has been proposed to replace revenue lost by local government . Ad Valorem tax revenues tend to be stable; sales tax revenues fluctuate 5. Five-Year Plan for Countywide Improvments Jim Mudd, County Manager, discussed the five-year plan for countywide improvements as follows: . Golden Gate City library is being built . South regional library is being planned . Improvements will be done to the museum . Water-sewer utility is being expanded . Brand new water-sewer plant is being planned . Parks facilities are being expanded . Boat ramp expansion is planned on 951 Commissioner Coyle stated that the proposed reduction in property taxes would make local government dependent on the State for funding, asked residents to write all legislators and inform them of their views. Commissioner Fiala spoke of her appreciation of the other Commissioners and the employees of Collier County. Commissioner Coletta stated property taxation is complex; local legislators are sympathetic to problems of Collier County; encouraged residents to contact legislators to express their views. Commissioner Halas stated 98% of legislators in Tallahassee believe local government overspends and is out of control. Believes that services expected by Collier County residents are being delivered. Tax dollars should stay where the electorate is. 6. Questions and Answers SPEAKERS Dyrel Delaney stated he is more concerned that his rights are being taken away by Tallahassee than he is by taxes; he appreciates Collier County's excellent government. Gary Eidson of the Citizens' Transportation Coalition wants a traffic light at Woods Edge Parkway. Mr. Mudd stated a special permit would be required, it has to come thru his office and must be for something extraordinary; a special permit requires informing all neighbors and cannot involve a lot of noise, and he would look into it. 4 March 28, 2007 Gina Downs stated construction at Benderson at 41 and Wiggins created noise at 4:15 a.m. that could be heard two miles away; she wanted to know if a special permit had been issued. Mr. Mudd stated he does not recollect a special permit being issued and he would look into the matter. Richard Caldarone stated Commissioner Halas personally helped him with a noise problem. George Eckhardt would like the level of service returned to EMS and the Fire Department. Commissioner Halas responded that matter had been discussed with staff. There being no further business for the good of the County, the Town Hall Meeting was adjourned at 8:52 PM. ***** COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /fl~ 4Jf Chairman Jim Coletta ATTEST: DWIGHT E. BROCK, CLERK ~,:.'~~"~ llia~\ 21[ ,.:;, ,~ A a$ 0 Ch411'114l1 S " ,,' 1 QIl rtllre J)Ill . ;~'<'\ -:.' -. ;;: Th!ls~ Miutltes,ipprove by the Board/Committee on <.j> ~ .-, '." ,', ~flre.sented ' or as amended . L{ I JL/ /0+ , , as 5