CCLAAC Minutes 07/12/2021July 12, 2021
MINUTES OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Naples, Florida, July 12, 2021
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory
Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this
date at 9:00 A.M. in REGULAR SESSION at Administrative Building "F", Yd
Floor, Collier County Government Complex Naples, Florida with the following
members present:
CHAIRMAN:
VICE CHAIRMAN:
Bill Poteet
Michele Lenhard
Michael Seef (via Zoom)
Gary Bromley
Brittany Patterson -Weber
Thomas J. Iandirnarino
Hannah Rinaldi
David Corban (Excused)
Carl Kuehner (via Zoom)
ALSO PRESENT: Summer Araque, Conservation. Collier Program Coordinator
Jennifer Belpedio, Assistant County Attorney
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July 12, 2021
Any persons in need of the verbal n record of the meeting maY request a copy of the video recording
from the Collier County Communications and Custoiner Relations Deprzrtnrenf of- vieiv online.
I. Roll Call
Chairman Poteet called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Roll call was taken and a quorum was
established by those present in person.
Mr. Ia ndimarino proved to allow Mr. Ifuehner and Ali% Seef to participate via Zoom dire to an
extraordinary, circumstance. Second by A11s. Lenhard. Carried unanhnously 6-0.
It. Approval of Agenda
1YIr. Lenhard moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. landimarino. Carried unanimously 8 --
0.
111. Approval of May 10, 2021 minutes
Als. Patterson -Weber moved to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2021 meeting as presenter.
Second by Alln landirnarino. Carried unanimously 8 — 0.
IV. New Business
A. Acquisition Cycle 10
1. Big Hammock Initial Criteria Screening Report (ICSR)
Ms. Araque presented the "Big Hammock Initial Criteria Screening Report Upckrted.l`i•onr 2009
& 2018 Reports - Stcf Report Dafe:.July 2021 " for informational purposes.
Property Owner: Barron Collier Partnership, LLLC
Property Location: South of Pepper Ranch
Parcel size: Area 1-- 235 acres; Area 11— 799.4 acres; Total � 1,034.4 acres
She noted that the lands were evaluated in Cycle 9 and ranked at 8 and 9 for potential
acquisition. The Report presented today is the same as the one reviewed during Cycle 9.
The following was noted during Committee discussions:
• That the properties are in Stewardship Sending Area 413 (SSA 13) of the Rural Lands
Stewardship Area, a voluntary landowner program in the County designed to protect
environmentally sensitive lands (Sending Areas) while allowing development in other
suitable areas (Receiving Areas),
• The Sending Areas allow development credits to be obtained by dedicating the lands to
conservation and transferring the credits to areas allowed for development. Hour credits
are eligible when a Restoration Plan is riled for the lands (RI) and an additional 4 are
garnered when the Restoration has been completed (R2).
• A Restoration Plan was filed for lands in Area 11 which enabled development credits of 4
units per acre (RI) for the 261 eligible acres. The restoration required has not yet been
completed and the 4 credits per acre are held in escrow for potential use by the
landowner in the future.
• If the County acquires the properties, the developer intends to retain the credits obtained
for development.
• The current appraisal identified in the 1CSR is fro€n 2019 and if the County moves
forward with the purchase, a new appraisal would be sought.
Austin Howell, Barron Collier Partnership, LLLC reported:
• That all acreage eligible for restoration in Area 11 is included in the plan filed by the
owner.
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® They would be willing to waive any oil and gas `'surface eights" which allow a party to
install equipment or fixtures on the property for oil and gas exploration/extraction,
• When Pepper Ranch was purchased by the County, the landowner retained the credits c
Clue to him under the program. 04
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® if the County acquires the properties, they will be retaining an easement through the y
property for restoration purposes and access to other lands they own adjacent to these 0
parce Is. a
• The intent is to also retain the rights to any Panther f4abitat Unit Credits available on the
lands. d
® Alt lands in SSA 913 are owned by Barron Collier Partnership, 1,11.C.
Speaker
Meredith Budd, Florida Wildlife Federation supports acquisition of the lands but expressed
concern over the County acquiring the property at market value and allowing the owner to retain
the land use credits. The acquisition of the Pepper Ranch property brought this issue to light,
and she recommended that if the owner retains the RI credits, a maintenance endowment be
provided to the County. If the R2 credits are realized, the owner provides maintenance of the
area as required under the plan into perpetuity.
The other option which should be considered if the credits are retained by the owner, the market
value of the lands be adjusted to reflect retention of the credits. It would be unfair to the
taxpayers if the properties are purchased at current market value without some form of value
adjustment or endowments.
Alr. landimarino uroved the rrpplicrrtiorr forivrrrcl far fir1l analysis. Second by Ms. Patterson- ti
Weber. Carried unanimously 8 — 0.
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Discussion occurred on whether the Current report is the final analysis for the property and if the N
approval should have been subject to the outstanding items being addressed by the applicant
(i.e., the status of the credits should the County acquire the property). 21
Ms. Araque reported that the current ICSR is the final analysis for the properties however, they
will be reporting back to the Committee on the outstanding items discussed today.
Mr. Seef expressed concern on moving the application forward to the ranking process given the
outstanding items and the ICSR may need to be amended based on the owner's responses.
Ms. Belpedio noted that she is requesting the owner provide responses to questions raised today.
Mr. Howell noted that he could report back to the Committee in August on outstanding iterns.
Ms. Lenhard moved to accept the ICSR report. Second hY Ms. Rinaldi.
Mr. Seef recommended that the motion be subject to the outstanding items raised in today's
meeting being addressed.
Chairman Poteet noted that the iterns will be discussed at the August meeting.
Motion carried % "yes" --- 1 "no. " Mr. Setif Voted "no. "
Cycle 10 Update
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Ms. Araque provide the update noting 18 applications have been tiled as follows: In the area of
Panther Walk Preserve 7; In the area of the Robert 1-1. Gore, III Preserve 2; In the area of
Rivers Road Preserve — 4 and in the area of Shell Island Preserve - 1. In addition to those, 3 were
heard at May's meeting (preliminary reports for Rivers Road 19.4 acres parcel, Bethune Road/
Sanitation Road properties and the HHH Ranch Section 33) and I today for Baron Collier
Partnership, I.LL,C Big Hammock lands,
2. Multi -Parcel projects Appraisal
Ms. Araque provided updated maps for the Red Maple Swamp and Winchester Head multi -
parcel projects and the report "Real Eslale Appraisal Report --- June 12, 2021, Red It/faple �Yivarnp
and Winchester Hems' for informational purposes. She queried if the Committee desires staff to
send out a letter to landowners in the project areas to determine their interest in selling their
property to the County.
Speaker
Brad Cornell, Audubon of the Western Everglades expressed support for the multi -parcel
projects and recommended acquisitions continue as the lots are not suited for development due
to their wet conditions.
Ms. Araque noted that the lots located within the boundaries of the projects may be considered
for acquisition at any tune and are not part of the Cycle/Ranking process,
Mr. Seef moved to direct staff to contact the property o►vners via US mail to determine if they
are interested in selling their lands to the County. Second by iVs. Lenhard. Carried
unaninto usly 8 — 0.
V. Old Business
A. Railhead Scrub Preserve updates
1. School site coordination
Ms. Araque reported that a site plan has been developed which depicts 6 parking spaces
allocated to Railhead Scrub Preserve, in the area of the proposed Sheriff s ho€.ising on the
property where the new high school will be constructed. The spaces are adjacent to the Preserve
which will allow visitors to park and enter the site on foot.
2. Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Ms. Araque provided a copy of the Transportation Department's PowerPoint "Collier Counl)�
Project #60198 Veterans 1Lfemorial Boulevard Extension FDOT PD&E Coordination Meeting
June 10, 2021" for informational Purposes. She noted Phase I is under construction at 32
percent completion. Construction for Phase 11, connecting the school entrance road to US41 is
anticipated to initiate in 2023 with completion estimated for the su€nmcr of 2025, Phase 11
includes an asphalt roadway, bike path, sidewalks and a stor€nwater retention pond.
Speaker
Meredith Budd, Florida Wildlife Federation addressee! the Committee noting that she met
with representatives of the Transportation Department to address the Gopher Tortoises in the
area, and discussions are underway for construction of a wildlife underpass for the roadway to
provide connectivity to the two areas utilized by the species. Fencing is also under consideration
to deter the species frorn crossing the roadway.
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VI. Coordinator Communications
A. BCC Items
Ms. Araque noted that the Board of' County Commissioners approved: c
® Gore Memorandum of Understanding Amendments. 04
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Filing grant applications fo.r State funding to assist in exotics removal on preserves in 2022. y
® The new Camp Host Agreement for Pepper Ranch effective in the Fall of 2021.
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B. Preserve Updates
Ms. Araque provided the following updates:
Rattlesnake hammock Preserve A workday was held on June 19"' where County staff, FGCU
students and other volunteers assisted with projects on the property. Construction of the fencing is
on hold due to the increase in construction costs.
Pepper Ranch — A survey of the deer population was conducted, and it is estimated the current
Population is 84. Staff is monitoring the sunflower plants to determine the feasibility of holding the
Sunflower Festival in the Fall.
C. Move meetings for 2022
Mr. Araque reported that staff is requesting the Committee's regular meeting day be changed as N
Monday's make it difficult for them to prepare for a meeting as it needs to be done l — 2 days in t
advance given the items which may arise just prior to the meeting. This timeframe currently Q
encompasses a weekend due to a Monday meeting.
At this point, the following days have been tentatively identified for the meeting:
ISP Wednesclay gfthe inonth— Iptri.
2"" Wednesday o0he month Ipm, �
2»" 1 hurstlay of the trash — 9am.
3" Tuesdq)J of the inon1h.
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Committee Members noted the 2" d Wednesday and 2" d Thursday are not feasible based on
scheduling conflicts and Ms. Araque noted she would review the input and notify the Committee of
the new date.
D. Miscellaneous Iteins
None
VII. Subcommittee Reports
A. Lauds Evaluation & Management — Chair, Bill Poteet
The next meeting is anticipated to be convened on September 8, 2021.
B. Outreach — Chair, Brittany Patterson -Weber
The last meeting was held on March 24, 2021.
C. Policy and Rules
Chair to be selected at next meeting; meeting July 28, 2021.
VIII. Chair Committee Member Comments
None
IX. Public General Comments
None
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X. Staff Comments
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XI. Next Meeting Date y
ALIgLISt 9, 2021
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There being no fut-then business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order
of the chair at I0:40 A.M. d
Coil seiw tion Collier Land Acquisition Adviso3•y Committee
f`�
Bill Poteet, Chairman
These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on �o`� as presentedor as
amended . -
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