BCC Minutes 08/10/2007 S (Proposed Annexation - Collier Park of Commerce)
August 10, 2007
COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT
CITY OF NAPLES GOVERNMENT
EAST NAPLES FIRE CONTROL & RESCUE DISTRICT
COLLIER COMMERCE PARK ANNEXATION MEETING
August 10,2007, Naples, Florida
Public meeting to discuss the Interlocal Service Boundary
Agreement relative to the proposed annexation of the Collier Park of
Commerce by the City of Naples, pursuant to Chapter 171, Florida
Statutes on August 10,2007 at 9:00 a.m., Naples City Hall, 2nd Floor,
Multi-Media Room, Naples, Florida.
PRESENT:
JAMES MUDD, County Manager
LEO OCHS, JR., Deputy County Manager
DAVID WEIGEL, County Attorney
MICHAEL PETTIT, Chief Assistant County Attorney
DR. BOB LEE, City Manager
ROBERT PRITT, City Attorney
ROBERT POTTEIGER, Assistant Fire Chief
ANGELA DAVIS, E. Naples Fire Commissioner
LAURA DONALDSON, Attorney-E. Naples Fire Dist.
LEO SAL VA TORI, Attorney for CPOC
Page 1
August 10,2007
DR. LEE: Good morning. Welcome to yet another meeting in a
series of meetings we've had regarding working on an Interlocal
Service Boundary Agreement for the Collier Park of Commerce.
Today is August 10th, 2007. It happens to be my wedding
annIversary .
MR. POTTEIGER: Hey, happy anniversary.
Also an opportunity -- 28 years.
DR. LEE: Also an opportunity to congratulate Laura on the birth
of her child, not today, but anyways we understand that everything is
well and we're glad you're with us today.
MS. DONALDSON: Yes. The due date was this past Monday,
so she would have only been three days old today.
DR. LEE: Today I think we were really down to two items if I
recall, Jim. We've had about 17 or so that we've deliberated over
since January.
And the two items that I have are Article 9, which is -- is in the
draft, and perhaps we might be able to address that one first.
That's the item that references involvement from others in terms
of the impact and to having this approved by respective jurisdictions.
And the other area has to do with fire district services. And my
recollection was, impact fees was where we left off in terms of who
would be receiving those of men.
Since our last meeting I received a copy of some correspondence,
Mr. Pritt provided me from Attorney Donaldson, wherein, I think she
attempted to summarize or prepare yet another draft of what they're
proposmg.
And, Jim, unless you have any other thoughts at this time as far
as proceeding, perhaps we could have Laura review that proposal right
after we look at Article Number 9.
MR. MUDD: I think you're right. There's only two things in
front of us today. It's nine and the fire, how we're going to work out
Page 2
August 10, 2007
fire services. We're going to put this thing to bed.
DR. LEE: With -- with that, on Number 9 so we can move
forward because we've all spent a lot of time on this, we would agree
to the language that the county referenced that first sentence. I think
we're all in agreement minimally on that, and specifically it's the
county and the fire district agree that they will forego objection and
challenge to the CPOC annexation, which is the subject of this
agreement.
Is that acceptable?
MR. PETTIT: Okay. Let me -- would you state that again?
DR. LEE: In the -- in the draft agreement that we have -- in past
meetings and discussions we've had, the first sentence of Article 9
under County's and Fire District Agreement, it states the county and
fire district agree they will forego objection and challenge to the
CPOC annexation, which is the subject of this agreement. That's--
MR. PETTIT: Yeah. We've always agreed with that.
DR. LEE: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: The fire district is fine with that.
DR. LEE: Okay. So, is this an item that we can TA?
MR. PETTIT: If -- if we're good, if that's going to be the sum
and substance in mind --
MR. MUDD: Ifwe cross out the rest of this stuff--
MR. PETTIT: Yeah, we're good.
MR. MUDD: -- no problem.
DR. LEE: See, isn't that a first evidence that we're really trying
to get this thing settled today?
MR. MUDD: I think you're tired of looking at me is what I
think.
DR. LEE: Unless the county has anything else, our -- our focus
is going to be, I think, fire service right now.
MR. MUDD: Fire.
DR. LEE: And -- and, Laura, would it be acceptable to you if --
Page 3
August 10, 2007
if you summarize what you put forth?
MS. DONALDSON: I attempted to revise the language based on
our discussion and understanding following the last meeting.
In Section B, basically, I changed the transition date dealing with
permitting and inspections from -- before it was September or October
1,2010, which is the -- the period -- actually, it was a two-year period,
and put it 90 days, which is something that the city has asked for in its
. .
prevIOUS verSIOns.
Basically, at the transition date, the city would -- would start
doing the inspections and the site plan reviews.
We had discussed the issue of fees, and so I put in language that
said from the transition date to September 30th, 2010, so that's
basically three years.
The fire district would continue to receive its inspection fees.
But recognizing that we weren't doing inspections, there's a later
provision that says basically we can't charge more than what those
inspection fees are unless it's a district wide increase, but allows us to
really call what it is, which is a plan review.
We don't have the authority to deny or approve. It's more of a
safety issue. We need to know what's going in, where it's spending
time.
And I believe the from the letters or e-mails sent from Leo, that
was fine with the Collier Park. So, basically, it just goes through.
The city's in charge of it, but on submission of a new application
for permit or plan review, they send, basically, it to the district so they
know the correct amount to charge.
And then I also put, recognizing that the city would be collecting
a fee on behalf of the district approved two percent administrative
charge because I know generally that's agreed to.
And I know everyone has different percentages that they charge.
For the district boundary contraction, I changed it where the
district boundary did change next year, which is something -- if we
Page 4
August 10, 2007
went under the statute, the boundaries were not changed until 2008,
and so I -- I put what the statute provides for for that, so the fire
district would receive the premium tax revenues for the upcoming
year within. The city would receive it from thereon out.
I also left -- I'm sorry. Going back to the term, the fire district
would be the service provider until 2013, except as it relates to the
permitting and inspections.
The user charges and impact fees. One of the things that we
discussed was making sure that the fire district did not target the
annexed property and basically charge a really high fee because, you
know, how dare they annex.
So, in order to make sure that legally we could charge them a fee,
I put in a provision that states that we're allowed to adopt the fee
which is charged the park that's been annexed. It just can't be more
than the total fees.
I was trying to make sure that we provided some protections to
the property owners and at the same time gave the district the
authority -- you know, we -- we're not trying to restrict the authority
because I think at one point the city had requested that we put in that
the fee could only be charged district wide.
This would be the same. The fee would be charged district wide,
but it would only be charged to those lands that had been annexed by
the city, but the district continue to provide services.
And then I also left under current law the district can collect
impact fees to the property.
I left that in, but included a provision that the city collects it, and
that that's the two percent collection fee.
Once again, one of the arguments that the city has made dealing
with the permitting and inspection was to streamline the process and
to have you go to one place and you pay everything, you have one
entity do everything.
It would be confusing to have you go to the city, pay them a fee,
Page 5
August 10, 2007
and then go to the district and pay them a fee. Just pay the city the
fees and then the city deducts.
It's kind of what I believe you do with the impact fees for the
county, impact fees that you collect.
DR. LEE: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: And the last provision, H, just said that if
the annexation does not occur this year and it occurs next year, we're
the fire service provider beginning October 1 of2009, so it pushes it
back.
My only concern with drafting H, there are other provisions in
the agreement; for example, the transportation costs that the land -- the
property owner has agreed to pay for.
I don't want to get into a situation where, let's say, for some
reason I know you're leaving, Dr. Lee, that annexation doesn't go
through for two years, not because of a lawsuit but just you're leaving,
there's city election in February, it gets pushed off.
I don't know if we want to be bound by an agreement for five
years and the annexation not occur until year three or four, not
because of something we're doing, but just because of, you know,
political winds, and then the land improve -- or the road improvements
are three times as much three years from now and then we're on the
hook for it because we've got an agreement for a lower amount.
I don't think that's going to happen but I have to think worst case
scenano.
And I think that's it.
I may -- I think the only -- I tried to encapsulate what we agreed
to at the last meeting. You know, we left the last meeting saying we
could not agree to giving up the issue of impact fees.
This language has us still doing the impact fees.
DR. LEE: A couple -- a couple comments.
Let me preface it by suggesting again, if -- if anyone would like
to caucus, we can do that at the appropriate time.
Page 6
August 10, 2007
The first item has to do with the transition date, September 30th,
2010, in terms of charging fees, what you would be charging up till
that point.
I think one of the concerns that we had, and we expressed it at
the last meeting, is if we're going to be doing the inspections, which in
this particular case is proposed, would be 90 days after the annexation,
effective date of the annexation, that we should be collecting the
inspection fees and that in this case property owners on CPOC would
only be paying those who are doing the inspections, the inspection
fees.
If I'm -- I think you touched on it but it wasn't real clear to me
from reading this.
But you're not suggesting that there would be double charges; in
other words, the city would be charging when they started inspections
after 90 days, and that you would also be able to charge up to a
two-year period for inspections.
Is that what you're suggesting?
MS. DONALDSON: No. I -- I think it -- and -- and maybe I did
not do it properly.
The district would be able to charge basically a site planner
review fee, but a maximum amount would be what it currently charges
as inspection fees.
I think the property owner did not, and I think the city stated it as
well, it did not want us to just go out and charge someone whatever
we wanted to charge them, but I can't say we're charging them an
inspection fee when we're not doing an inspection.
Really what the district would be doing is reviewing the plans,
not approving them, but we'd be getting the plans and reviewing them
to make sure, you know, that, one, we know it's there in case there's a
fire and an emergency.
DR. LEE: I guess what I'm getting at typically there's a fee that's
charged that would -- would include site plan review inspections that
Page 7
August 10, 2007
would be part of the fee.
And we're going to be obviously charging to do site plan review
as well and the -- and the subsequent inspections.
Do I hear you saying then that also part of this process you would
like to charge a fee for site plan review?
MS. DONALDSON: Correct.
DR. LEE: And have you carved out what that fee would be?
MS. DONALDSON: It would be -- excuse me -- no more than
the total of its existing inspection fees amount.
DR. LEE: But -- but let me -- let me further clarify.
Right now when you charge a fee, does that include site plan and
inspections?
MS. DONALDSON: I believe it's separate. It's separate fees.
DR. LEE: Okay. That helps me at least understand what we're
talking about. Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: And -- and what I was trying to do was
limit -- and I guess maybe the confusion is because I put a total of
existing inspection fees and that's what causing the confusion. We're
not doing an inspection --
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: -- but trying to somehow cap the amount
that we're going to be charging and it would not just be for Collier
Park. It would be for any future annexed land.
And what I envision is basically if we reached this agreement and
the property is annexed, the fire district will have to adopt the
resolution that sets a site permit review fee for those properties that
have been annexed.
Right now it's -- well, we do have some other properties that have
been annexed, but as relates to this agreement, it would be Collier
Park.
DR. LEE: And we would be just addressing this particular
annexation in this interlocal though.
Page 8
August 10, 2007
MS. DONALDSON: Correct.
I'm just --
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: -- trying to explain what the process would
be. Right now we don't have a fee.
DR. LEE: For site plan review.
MS. DONALDSON: For site plan review for properties that
have been annexed that we're still providing the services to.
Well, no. Let me take that back.
Technically, under the law right now, properties have been
annexed by the City of Naples over the last four years. We should
still be paying the district an inspection fee and the district should still
be doing inspections because under the current law we have that
authority.
Now, that has not occurred. But, technically, that is what should
be occurring.
Under this agreement, it says we're giving up the ability to do
inspections. We're retaining the ability to do a site plan, not approval
of a site plan. But we're going to be reviewing site plans. And, so,
this allows us to recoup some fees.
I tied it to our existing inspection fees amount so that the
property owner would have some idea what they are going to be
charged, and that we're not going to go after them for ten times the
amount that we would be charging everyone else.
DR. LEE: And we would -- and then that would be something
you couldn't do anyways, but I think, again, what I'm hearing is if you
want to be able to charge a separate site plan review fee period.
MS. DONALDSON: Correct.
DR. LEE: Okay. The second item under C, District Boundary
construction --
MR. PETTIT: Contraction.
DR. LEE: You're saying -- contraction. I'm sorry.
Page 9
August 10, 2007
The boundary of the fire district shall contract to delete the
annexed area on September 30,2008.
Why would we not want it to contract on the date of annexation
because the -- I'm looking at the previous item. We're actually going
to be doing inspections within 90 days.
Why would the -- we would propose that the contraction should
occur when it's annexed?
MS. DONALDSON: Well, I think the law allows -- well, not I
think.
The law allows for a fire district and cities that have overlapping
boundaries. I mean, it happens all across -- all across the state.
The reason why we had 2008 is, in all honesty, the fire district
wants it to be through the end of this agreement, but during the last
meeting I thought we had agreed to maintaining at least the existing
laws that relates to the district's boundaries, which is what the 2008 is.
Under current law, when land is annexed, our boundaries would
change September 30th, 2008.
So, that -- that's why we -- that's why there's that 2008 date.
We -- we want the 2013, but in order to try to reach some
agreement between us, we agree to, well, okay we won't go to the
2013. We'll just do what the existing law allows, which is the 2008.
DR. LEE: Okay. And I think as -- as we would agree, the -- the
existing law does also provide, as you've mentioned before, four years
and out and some other changes.
We were trying to negotiate something that -- that if we're
allowed to do, that may vary from that.
The third -- third question or comment is under impact fees.
And if! understood you correctly, you want the city to collect
that and retain two percent and refer those fees to you.
I did not have a chance to look to see what the fire district fees
were. I don't know if anyone provided that, but I did look at the city's
impact fees, and -- and I think the -- the one question I would have is
Page 10
August 10, 2007
-- maybe CPOC has an answer to this -- is to what the real difference
IS.
In other words, if -- if you're collecting impact fees versus -- I
mean, we're collecting them on your behalf, or if we're collecting them
on behalf of the city, and we're using the city's impact fee schedule, do
we know what that difference is?
MS. DONALDSON: I know that the -- that the association -- I
think you said some impact fee e-mail, but it was -- I think what you
expect long term of the development within the property based on the
city's impact fees.
MR. SALVA TORI: I remember there was a tax reference. I'm
not sure if we looked at the impact.
MS. DONALDSON: That was a tax reference.
MR. PRITT: I thought the county was going to help us a little bit
on what the county's side of it is.
Did we -- Leo or anybody, could you -- were you able get any
information for us?
The county -- remember, we were talking about the county
impact fee and if we could figure out the rate of the county, I guess it's
just the fire impact fee, but figure out the -- the county's rate on that
and some kind of an estimate as to what happened in the last X
number of years, then maybe we can project forward as to what
amount might be in controversy --
MS. DONALDSON: Well, I--
MR. PRITT: -- because we were wondering whether or not it
was a -- a minor amount rather than a major amount. And we did that
for the city, I guess, but I'm not sure that we have for the county.
The county would continue to have a fire impact fee even though
it's in the city.
Is that correct?
DR. LEE: No.
MS. DONALDSON: No.
Page 11
August 10, 2007
DR. LEE: Then we continue -- then, I mean, there's impact fees,
but the fire would be something separate. And that's the one --
MR. OCHS: Correct.
DR. LEE: -- that we just want to --
MR. OCHS: Correct.
DR. LEE: -- identify.
If you all have that information, maybe we could --
MS. DONALDSON: We -- we can make a call. You know, the
-- the impact fee is something that the district adopts by resolution,
and then we have an interlocal agreement with the county and the
county collects it.
But can you go ask Paul to --
MS. DAVIS: Yeah. Yeah. Impact fees?
MS. DONALDSON: Thanks.
DR. LEE: Yeah, that may help us.
MS. DONALDSON: And, so, we can get that amount but, of
course, unless we know what type of development is going on in the
next five years, or, actually, I tied it to four years.
No. Actually, it's five years.
We don't really know what the costs will be. If they don't do any
development out there for the next four or five years, then they're not
going to be paying the fire district's fee. They're going to be paying
the city's fee, because at that point, the interlocal agreement won't be
in place.
So, I -- I mean, we can tell you how much we charge per square
foot and what type of facility, but we can't tell you this is how much
they're going to pay because we don't know until we get what you're
going to be developing out there.
MR. PRITT: Well, maybe I had a misunderstanding.
Connie, is that -- this -- this is not a county ordinance for the fire
impact fee for fire districts?
The imposition that the impact fee is something that's done by the
Page 12
August 10, 2007
district themselves.
Is that correct?
It's different from Lee County. Lee County has an ordinance that
covers everybody and the --
MR. MUDD: Well, I believe the fee --
MR. PRITT: -- and all the districts who in that are not, and I
thought --
MR. MUDD: -- schedule -- I believe the fee schedule gets
attached to our consolidated impact fee ordinance as -- as an
addendum, so to speak, okay --
MR. PRITT: Right.
MR. MUDD: -- but it's -- but it's based on their resolution
coming back to the board, then the board --
MR. PRITT: Okay.
MR. MUDD: -- brings it up.
MS. DONALDSON: And I believe they all charge the same.
MR. MUDD: They do.
MR. PRITT: So, maybe we're looking to the wrong source for
the information as to what the --
MR. OCHS: Right.
MR. PRITT: -- impact fee.
DR. LEE: If the -- I think we're going to -- and what we could do
is once -- I have one other point here, is if you want to take a brief
recess and get that information also, I can consult with Mr. Pritt on
some of these points and we can come back and -- and see if there is
some further progress we could make on this particular service area.
The only other question that -- that I had at this time is on H,
where it talks -- where it begins with failure to annex by December
31st.
And I guess the -- you reference about -- and you -- you made
some -- make a very good point about control of the decision making.
This will be with the elected bodies.
Page 13
August 10, 2007
But I think that in that same concern is reversed relative to if the
city, if it's -- if it's no -- no fault of the city.
If you follow what I'm saying, if it was no fault of the city and it
goes beyond December, then that's a problem, I -- I think, for us.
Perhaps what we may want to at least consider, if it does not
occur by December 31 st, we have to look -- we have to rediscuss the
fire service portion.
It may be that the -- again, what we will agree to with the county,
whether it's all in one agreement, or we end having two separate
agreements.
But I think the focus here is with the fire service in terms of not
having it annexed by December 31 st. That may be a -- an alternative.
If it isn't done, then we need to revisit what we talked about.
MS. DONALDSON: You know, I -- I think, Dr. Lee, the reason
why we had changed it to 2009 was based on our negotiations of the
last meeting, and -- and that was something I thought that the city had
-- was okay with.
The more I thought about it though, because it's more than just
the fire.
As I mentioned, we do have the transportation improvement costs
that the property owner has -- or some of the property owners have
agreed to pay, and if it's -- let's just say it doesn't occur until three
years from now --
DR. LEE: Uh-huh.
MS. DONALDSON: -- regardless of why it doesn't occur, those
transportation costs could be much more expensive.
One way around that potentially might be is recognizing the
city's concerns about the litigation or someone challenging it, is to
have a provision that maybe says something to the effect that as long
as the city takes the appropriate steps, adopts the two ordinances, if
you go through the process --
DR. LEE: Right.
Page 14
August 10, 2007
MS. DONALDSON: -- then the agreement applies.
I just don't want to be in a position where -- I mean, obviously, if
there's a lawsuit, there's a lawsuit. The annexation doesn't become
effected. And I know that there's a whole trust issue as it relates to
that.
But it was made very clear that the city does not trust the district
or its employees or agents.
And, so, if we tie it to the city's actions and not so much a
lawsuit, I don't know if that would give you much more comfort,
because then the city would clearly have control of the process if the
city adopts its -- its two ordinances, then it would be acceptable and
that section would not apply.
But if the city doesn't take the necessary steps, annex the
property, then I think that we should have the agreement pushed back,
because I can tell you that my client does not want to be on the hook
for --
MR. PETTIT: Well, Laura, can I ask -- just ask you a question?
In Paragraph 6, and maybe I'm not following the train of thought,
it says neither the county nor the fire district shall be obligated to
contribute to any maintenance or repairs to the public road
right-of-ways required by the city part of the annexation of the CPOc.
And that doesn't seem to have a time limit on it.
MS. DONALDSON: Right. But I also think that the property
owners have only agreed to pay us 175,000.
MR. PETTIT: That's the city's problem --
MS. DONALDSON: Okay.
MR. PETTIT: -- from my point of view.
MS. DONALDSON: Well, then I guess it would just be a -- then
I guess it would just be a fire district issue. We would not --
MR. PETTIT: Hey, I'm just pointing that out. I think I'm trying
-- I was trying to follow your -- what you were saying and I was
thinking about it as -- I was looking at that. I don't know whether that
Page 15
August 10, 2007
helps.
MS. DONALDSON: Yeah. At the same time under the -- I -- I
just don't want to get in the position that we have to pay additional
moneys because the agreement's pushed back.
I also don't want to get in the position where it's -- if the city does
not take action, at least as it relates to fire, for three years, that we lose
the five years that we've negotiated under this agreement.
DR. LEE: I understand.
MS. DONALDSON: But I think it's something that we can
easily revolve by -- as long as the city takes some necessary steps and
exclude any delays as a result of challenges.
DR. LEE: I understand.
MS. DONALDSON: And I -- and I think we -- we do have our
impact fees. It's 26 cents a square foot for commercial, and that's
really the only thing that matters, not residential.
DR. LEE: Okay. By the way, on the -- in terms of trust, that's a
great job that -- that you've done and we've all done in working
together here.
We -- I think we came right out of the box with that first item and
-- and agreed to that, so I just wanted to get that on the record in terms
of the concern about trust.
Secondly, with the -- with the information on square footage, I
would like to take a brief recess and take a look and compare that
what we have, I think we will be able to address this from an informed
standpoint information which we hadn't had in the past.
Is that all right with everyone? Okay.
(A recess was had from 9:34 a.m. until 9:55 a.m.)
DR. LEE: Okay. Welcome back. We appreciate the courtesy of
giving us an opportunity to have some review for Attorney
Donaldson's language.
I would like to address the four points in response and in an effort
to, again, try to get -- reach some compromise that's going to be in the
Page 16
August 10, 2007
best interest of all parties.
The first item had to do with a post transition period as far as a
planned review fee, and we will agree to that, provided that it's capped
at your inspection fee rates that are currently in place.
And also that is for review only. It's not for purposes of
approval, but this is for review so that you know what's there and can
make your -- be prepared for the purpose of response.
The second item, and we're -- this -- what I'm proposing is --
should be considered as a package.
The second item, we would agree to the contraction date of
9-30-08, as you've referenced.
The third item has to do with the impact fees. And for the record,
it appears that we may have the lowest impact fee rates. I think there
was a reference made otherwise, but it's very close.
In our particular case I think it's our -- it shows that it's $25.20
per square foot. And -- I'm sorry. Twenty-five cents point two per
square foot.
MR. POTTEIGER: And, sir, that's not the lowest.
DR. LEE: We do have the worst writing in this particular case
and then some.
But it's twenty-five cents point two-tenths for a square foot. And
I think theirs is around twenty-six something, you said.
And what we would propose, they're very close, and I think that
what we would propose to move forward with this so we're not
rangling (sic) with the time, is that we actually split those impact fees.
It's -- it's acknowledged that there's some anticipation of those
from you in terms of work that you've done, but also we have to
acknowledge that there's an anticipation on the city's part that we're
going to need those impact fees for work that we would do as part of a
long-term plan of the fire station at the airport.
The fourth item has to do with a -- and, Laura, you mentioned it,
concerns about -- and this is H, the failure to annex by December 31 st,
Page 17
August 10,2007
of '07, and we acknowledge that, the concerns that you had and we
proposed language that would provide that failure to annex by
December 31 st, 2007, and we would add action -- we would add
language that would provide for action or inaction attributed to the
city, and then we can leave your language.
We would propose to add one other section to this particular
subsection here, and that is we would add that a failure to annex by
December 31 st, 2008 for any reason, any party may effectively
terminate this agreement.
And I think that -- that addressed some of your concerns about
three years out, you know, in terms of what costs were, although I
think Attorney Pettit may have addressed that.
But, anyways, we've listened to what you said and we're trying to
get there, something that's going to be reasonable.
MS. DONALDSON: Two questions; one, as it relates to Section
8 and the change that you just said, is it to any party can terminate
that's a party to section -- this Section 2, or is it the entire agreement?
MR. PRITT: The entire.
MS. DONALDSON: I don't think the county would want the
entire agreement if it's just a fire district related issue to be terminated.
DR. LEE: I think that's the suggestion of our legal counsel was
the entire agreement because we haven't annexed, that -- that we
would have that option to do the quorum.
MR. PETTIT: We need to caucus on that before we can respond
to that.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: And then my other question as it relates to
impact fees before we caucus on it, apparently we have that the city
would deduct a two percent collection fee.
DR. LEE: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: Since we're splitting it, would we still--
would we split it and then you collect the two percent, or would we
Page 18
August 10, 2007
eliminate the two percent collection fee since, really, it's the splitting
of fees?
DR. LEE: Well, I think that we're -- we'll still be collecting it
and we'd be turning it over to your -- your -- your percentage, which I
think is -- is the normal, I think.
MR. MUDD: So, let me --let me make sure I understood that.
So, it's basically going to a split, 50/50, and there's no
administrative fees to split the collection as far as fire -- fire fees are
concerned.
Is that correct?
MS. DONALDSON: No. I think --
DR. LEE: No.
MS. DONALDSON: -- what he said is it's 50/50 and then off of
our 50 percent, they're going to collect a collection fee on top of that.
DR. LEE: That is what was proposed.
MS. DONALDSON: So, we'll need to caucus.
MR. PRITT: Just before you do that, there is one other thing that
-- it might be a small thing. I don't know. Maybe it's a big thing.
Am I mistaken or did you add alarm fees? I don't recall alarm
fees being discussed before. And it showed up in your July 23rd
rewrite.
Was that there before?
Had we talked about that?
MS. DONALDSON: No. That -- that actually came about I'd
asked the fire district to give me all of their resolutions and all the fees
that they charge to development, and that was one of them.
Since the district can charge a user charge, I just wanted to make
it clear that, I guess, the first thing, it says that the fire district shall
continue to collect user charges to make it clear that that includes false
alarms, because I know that can be a problem for the fire district with
those issues.
That's why that popped up, is I just wanted to clarify that user
Page 19
August 10, 2007
charges included the false alarm fees.
MR. PRITT: Well, that's a user charge -- a false alarm fee may
not be a user charge, which is probably why you added that
specifically.
Is that correct?
MS. DONALDSON: I just didn't want there to be any doubt. I
-- I didn't --
MR. PRITT: Is that a big deal?
You guys make a lot of money on false alarm fees?
DR. LEE: I hope not.
MS. DONALDSON: I don't think it's -- it's the issue about the
money. I think the issue with the false alarm fees is that it's a
deterrent to make sure that the property owner --
MR. POTTEIGER: We just want it fixed.
MR. PRITT: Well, we had one, too, and -- and we collect and do
the same thing that -- that you're probably doing.
But we -- we would want to make sure that if -- you know, if
there is a problem with this being annexed property, we would want to
make sure that it's not going to -- we're not going to continue to have a
problem either.
In other words, we do have some interest as far as the city is
concerned in making sure that those false alarm problems are taken
care of rather than just be out there and being a fee generating thing.
MS. DONALDSON: Well, for the first five years, we're the one
who's going to be responding to them.
MR. PRITT: Yeah.
MS. DONALDSON: And, so, that's why that's there. Ifwe
weren't responding to the fires or the farm alarms, I don't think it
would be an issue --
MR. PRITT: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- but since we're the ones who are going
to be responding for five years ifthere's a false alarm, we felt the
Page 20
August 10, 2007
district should be able to collect that fee.
But I -- I agree. I mean, once the city takes over --
MR. PRITT: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- you can continue to collect your fire fee,
because it's the same thing. You don't want to keep going out to a
property if it's no fire.
DR. LEE: Okay. I think we're good.
MR. MUDD: We've got to caucus on one issue.
DR. LEE: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: And where can we go?
DR. LEE: We can get you a place if you'd like.
(A recess was had from 10:04 a.m. until 10:18 a.m.)
DR. LEE: Okay. Are we ready to resume?
I think everyone is back.
And I think perhaps we could -- Jim and you all may want to go
first after your caucus and then we can go to the fire district.
MR. MUDD: Sure. Go ahead, Mike.
MR. PETTIT: Yeah. I think our position is that, yeah, we can
add a provision to the agreement that says that if the annexation
doesn't occur by the 31 st of this year, that --
MR. MUDD: 2008.
MR. PETTIT: 2008, I guess, that the Interlocal Agreement
would be terminated.
MR. MUDD: But we would like that -- we would like that
section added or --
DR. LEE: Not that either party -- not that --
MR. MUDD: Yeah.
DR. LEE: -- either party, but it will terminate, you're saying. Is
that --
MR. MUDD: Yeah. The -- you basically had talked about age,
and you said adding something by 31 December, 2008, any party can
terminate or whatever that is.
Page 21
August 10, 2007
DR. LEE: That's okay.
MR. MUDD: But we don't have a problem with that.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. MUDD: We would prefer that that section not be in the fire
section, that it be used someplace in one of the --
DR. LEE: Let's mark as a stand alone provision.
MR. MUDD: -- paragraphs outside the fire.
MR. POTTEIGER: Okay. Stand alone document.
MR. PRITT: The -- the only -- the only reason for saying any
party can terminate as opposed to automatic termination is it may be
that things are going well enough that we don't want to do that, and
then we would all have to get together to keep it from terminating as
opposed to somebody taking a -- the --
MR. WEIGEL: Termination action.
MR. PRITT: -- of actually -- yeah, termination action, so that
was the idea of saying any party can terminate.
MR. PETTIT: That's fine with us.
MR. MUDD: I want to -- just put it in --
MR. PRITT: Just make it -- we'll make it 16 --
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. PRITT: -- or something, or put it somewhere.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: The fire district is fine with that. The fire
district is fine with that.
MR. PETTIT: And I misspoke. I said 12-07. It's 12-08.
MR. PRITT: Okay. Now, the -- the 12-07 --
MR. POTTEIGER: It's 12-08.
MR. PRITT: Okay. On the 12-07, if! understand correctly, that
would -- the language you have is that if it's attributable to the city,
then it will move forward everything by one year.
DR. LEE: Yeah. And if it says it's for -- if it's for action or
inaction attributable to the city.
Page 22
August 10,2007
MR. PRITT: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: Right. And we're fine with that as well.
MR. PRITT: And that's okay with -- okay.
MS. DONALDSON: Yes.
MR. PRITT: So, the idea is that, look, if something happens, it's
not going to get done by December 31 st, 2007, because it's not that far
away, we think it will move back a year but if it's not done by
December 31 st, 2008, then any party can terminate the agreement.
That way we're not hanging out there with an agreement that
maybe there's not an annexation to support it or anything like that.
MR. PETTIT: So, the 12-07 would still be operative if it was an
action by the city.
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MR. PETTIT: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: Well, I think it would be we'd leave -- that
would just be for Section H and then you'd have the separate provision
that has the agreement maybe terminated --
MR. PETTIT: That's--
MS. DONALDSON: -- if -- ifno action by--
MR. PETTIT: That's fine.
MR. PRITT: Correct.
MS. DONALDSON: As it relates to the impact fee -- can we
move on to the impact fees?
DR. LEE: Uh-huh.
MS. DONALDSON: We discussed it and we proposed back that
we agree splitting with splitting the fee, which would be the higher
amount of the fee that's charged.
But I don't think we discussed -- do we take the average of what
you charge and what we charge and then -- I -- I think that might get
confusing, but that there's no collection fee. If we're splitting the fee,
we're splitting the fee.
DR. LEE: Okay.
Page 23
August 10, 2007
MR. MUDD: And you're saying the higher of the two fees?
MS. DONALDSON: Yes.
MR. MUDD: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: Well, I think part of that goes to -- ifnot,
you would be collecting a fee. I think it could get confusing because
you'd be collecting a fee that you actually hadn't adopted --
DR. LEE: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- an ordinance setting if you do some
average between --
DR. LEE: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- the two, whereas up here you did say
you're collecting the fire district impact fee or the city impact fee,
whichever is higher.
So, we actually would have a resolution or an ordinance
someplace that sets that fee that's not just a fee that we can come up
with that hasn't been adopted by either board.
DR. LEE: Does that create any issue for us in terms of our other
areas in the city?
MR. PRITT: I think that we should say the applicable impact fee
and kind of punt on any details of that, reason being is because of
what Ms. Donaldson just said.
I don't want to do anything that would be interpreted as the city
agreeing that it will -- will or will not change its impact fee ordinance.
And you can't do that either. You cannot agree that you will or
will not impose an impact fee, I don't think, or -- or make a change.
I've been trying to avoid that. We've all been trying to avoid
agreeing that we're going to adopt something or not about something
because that's a -- that -- that would kill the legality of the deal.
MS. DONALDSON: My only question to you is if we just put
the applicable impact fee, leaving it so we punt, want to potentially
lead to some issue with what fee is charged.
MR. PRITT: Well, there might be an issue as to what fees are
Page 24
August 10, 2007
charged anyhow.
DR. LEE: What if we had something -- and I think the concept
we may have an agreement on is how to get there.
What if we had something to the effect that we would collect 50
percent of what our rate is and you collect 50 percent of what your
rate is?
MS. DONALDSON: I don't think we can do that. I mean, I don't
think -- because at that point you're charging a different impact fee,
whereas if we just say the higher, it's just you're deciding which
impact fee is being charged.
DR. LEE: Why don't we go on to the next -- the other item if
there's any others that we need to discuss and we can --
MR. PRITT: Well, the concept of splitting impact fees, if we can
figure how to do it, is something that we're have -- saying it's okay?
DR. LEE: I think we have -- I think we have an agreement on
the --
MR. PRITT: Acceptable.
DR. LEE: -- concept. And if it -- if it's the deal breaker as far as
no collection fee, I'm again trying to get an agreement here. I would
support that if we can come up with -- Leo, it looks like --
MR. SALVA TORI: I was going to say why don't you just define
the applicable impact fee as the impact fee charged by the entity
providing the emergency response service?
MS. DONALDSON: That's fine.
MR. PRITT: The entity providing what?
MR. SALVATORI: The emergency response service.
MS. CHIRGWIN: Which would be the fire district's fee.
MR. SALVATORI: Yeah.
DR. LEE: That's -- that's acceptable.
MS. DONALDSON: We're getting our 50 percent of what our
fee is.
MR. PRITT: Right. I knew there was a reason for having the
Page 25
August 10, 2007
property owners representative attend.
MR. SALVATORI: I will -- I'll be silent again.
MS. DONALDSON: Just so that I know it, we'd be splitting the
fee that's of the entity providing service and there would be no
collection amount.
DR. LEE: Are we agreed on every other issue now?
MS. DONALDSON: I believe so, yes.
DR. LEE: Okay. So--
MR. MUDD: Okay. I want to make sure if! could say.
Bob, you mentioned two other things. You talked agreed and
contraction on 9-30-08. Are we okay with that one? That was the
number two bullet that you brought up.
DR. LEE: Yes. That was your proposal --
MS. DONALDSON: Well, that's our agreement.
DR. LEE: -- and we agree with that. I've agreed.
MR. MUDD: Okay. And the last -- and the first one was agree
to post fee for review, cap that inspection fee is what I took down in
my notes and everybody agrees for that fee.
DR. LEE: A plan review fee.
MR. MUDD: Yeah.
DR. LEE: Post transition plan review fee. And -- and also with
that it's review, not -- not authority to approve.
MS. DONALDSON: So, we'd have to specify. Just -- I mean, I
don't have a problem making it very clear that we don't have an
approval --
DR. LEE: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- ability for that.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: And that also the two percent collection
fee.
DR. LEE: Okay. Well, then, I think that we tentatively agreed
on -- on everything. It's just the case of getting it now in the language
Page 26
August 10, 2007
that the final document --
MR. PETTIT: Dr. Lee, what I'd ask is that not others. It's Bob or
Laura should do it, but I would really like one of them to codify what
you want in Paragraph 2 and what you've agreed on.
DR. LEE: Agreed.
Perhaps we could have correspondence between us, and if we can
agree to that, then we can forward it to you.
MR. PETTIT: Just shoot it over to me.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. PETTIT: And I'll take care of putting it in the other
provision we talked about regarding the termination if the annexation
doesn't happen.
MR. PRITT: And so that we don't forget everything the minute
we walk out of here, is there a chance that we can get the transcript of
the last, oh, the last ten minutes?
Is that something that we can --
DR. LEE: Yes. We have the Clerk's --
MR. PRITT: I'd, rather the whole thing, at least get the -- this --
this portion of it so that we can go back and look at it when we're
sitting at our desks.
THE CLERK: Today?
DR. LEE: Oh, no.
MR. PRITT: No. I'm -- I'm sorry. I was looking at the wrong
person. Anyhow, probably.
In -- in the next few days, just -- just the portions that we're
talking about here.
MR. PETTIT: Maybe the last 15 minutes?
MR. PRITT: Right. Since our last caucus.
MS. DONALDSON: And I would think just based on -- it won't
be that much change. I think -- I mean, at least for the fire district
section. It would be a change to date towards the end of section fee to
make it clear that the fees, we're just reviewing it. We're not
Page 27
August 10,2007
approving it.
And then the change to G, and then for H, it's the last sentence in
H. All other dates provided shall also concurrently be extended.
DR. LEE: I like the suggestion from the county to -- you know,
we'd shoot them over a draft that we -- that we agree upon.
And if we can get something within the next few days for Mr.
Pritt to look at.
And I don't know. Mrs. Donaldson, do you want to try to modify
the language based on our discussion and send that to Mr. Pritt or how
do you --
MS. DONALDSON: That's fine.
DR. LEE: Will that work for you?
MR. PRITT: That's fine with me. I -- I -- presumably you have
this saved on your computer and that we would have to scan it in. It
would only take a few minutes, but let's just go ahead and go with
yours.
MS. DONALDSON: And -- and what I'll do just so that you
know, I'll accept all the changes and then show the new changes and
deletions so we'll know which one's new and which one we've already
agreed to.
DR. LEE: Do we want to shoot at a time certain to have maybe
over to the county within ten days, two weeks, some final language
put in?
MS. DONALDSON: I can have it to the city or -- next week.
MR. MUDD: That's good, because I -- I want to get this item in
front of the Board of County Commissioners on 9-11, their -- their
next meeting, okay.
MR. POTTEIGER: And our board will be Tuesday, next
Tuesday.
MR. MUDD: And what's your meeting after next Tuesday?
MR. POTTEIGER: The second Tuesday in October.
Don't we have some --
Page 28
August 10, 2007
MR. MUDD: Don't you have any meetings in September?
MS. DAVIS: October 9th.
MR. MUDD: We can work these dates.
MR. POTTEIGER: September--
MS. DAVIS: September 11th.
MR. POTTEIGER: September 11th.
DR. LEE: September 11th then.
MR. MUDD: Okay.
MR. POTTEIGER: But we've got some --
MS. DAVIS: Workshops.
MR. POTTEIGER: -- work -- not workshops, but we've got a
couple of budget hearings that we -- if we had to do a special meeting.
MR. MUDD: Yes. That would -- that would be helpful to know
that you're on board and then -- to bring it to the board and then --
MR. POTTEIGER: But we can -- we can have an answer next
Tuesday.
MR. MUDD: Okay. Give it to me in some kind of a memo
form, that would be great.
DR. LEE: Well, you'll need to have -- we need to have the final
language agreed upon, I think.
MS. DONALDSON: Yeah. I can get my language to you on
Monday. There won't be any emergency C-sections this time, so I
won't have any delays of getting the language to the city, but I think it
is such minor changes that it won't be difficult to put into writing.
MR. PRITT: Once again, just for clarity of the record, the -- the
one provision concerning the termination of the agreement, what
actually would go in to the general section as opposed to -- as opposed
to an H.
That's correct?
MR. MUDD: Correct.
MS. DONALDSON: Correct.
MR. PRITT: All right. Okay. We all that have that.
Page 29
August 10, 2007
MR. PETTIT: I -- I've got that language, although it would be
helpful for me to get that transcript from the last few minutes also
because I think that discussion is in there.
And I'll make that change and then whenever I get your agreed --
what I'd -- hopefully you get -- you guys will work out your language,
and I'll get an e-mail from one of you saying Laura and I have agreed,
Bob and I have agreed.
That would be the document we would then put into our agenda
package for the recommendation to our board.
DR. LEE: Before we adjourn, we do have some members of the
public here. I think at the last meeting we gave an opportunity for
everyone to make some comments if they'd like to do so.
I would like to offer that opportunity again today.
MS. CHIRGWIN: First of all, I want to thank all of you guys
because I've listened to --
MR. PRITT: Could you identify yourself for the record, Ms.
Chirgwin.
MS. CHIRGWIN: Oh, excuse me.
Judith Chirgwin, City of Naples resident, property owner,
taxpayer and voter.
I want to thank all of you because I realize how earnestly you all
have interacted with each other and seriously worked through this, and
I realize you're at the very end now, and it sounds like it's going to
probably be the end of my opportunity to say something.
So, I would like to ask for -- which I cannot quite figure out from
all of this. I do understand a lot of it, but I know that you've
negotiated quite a few things and one of the things that I would like to
ask for is an accounting of the costs to the city up to the point of this
contract, this negotiation, the cost of it, because then it comes to the
point of annexation and then after annexation it continues until 2013,
if I'm correct from reading this, there are costs to the city.
As -- as a taxpayer within the city, I would like to have some idea
Page 30
August 10, 2007
of what the financial consequences are to us as a result of your
negotiations, which I do appreciate very, very much but I would like
to know that.
DR. LEE: It's a very good -- a very good point, a very good
question, and that will be something that we will -- will be a requisite
in terms of any proposal to the city council because they're going to
want to know what the costs of the annexation is, so I think -- I
appreciate you letting --
MS. CHIRGWIN: I would like to have to have that for the next
week here before it goes to council.
DR. LEE: I -- I understand that, but this -- I think this -- this
group here is -- the intention is to come forward with an agreement on
__ on language and then present to the city council in our particular
case several things including costs.
This language, interpretation of what this language means,
because there's provisions beyond even costs that -- costs is an
important component, but there are other components as well.
And -- and, so, that's what I would recommend. Once we get the
language here, then we put a package together to the city council,
which will be available to the public.
And the public will certainly have an opportunity to weigh in at
that time as well.
Is there any other comments from the public?
MS. SMITH: Yes.
MR. PRITT: Just one other thing.
I don't think we're going to have another meeting unless we can
__ unless it turns out that there is a problem. I don't think this group is
going to be meeting again unless we not come to an agreement.
DR. LEE: Is that what your all understanding is --
MR. PETTIT: That would be my understanding.
DR. LEE: -- as well?
MR. MUDD: That's my understanding, this is the last meeting.
Page 31
August 10, 2007
DR. LEE: Right.
Mrs. Smith.
MS. SMITH: Yes, please.
I am Sue Smith. I reside in the City of Naples, which means that
I'm a citizen of this city as well as a city -- citizen of the county.
I would like to know -- I think we all are very much interested at
any time when there's a proposal of an annexation.
We, as taxpaying citizens, are very anxious to know why is there
__ what is the intent or the reasoning behind that of annexation from
the standpoint of why would the county be agreeable for this
annexation?
More importantly, as a citizen of my city, why would my city
want this -- desire this annexation?
And then also, what is the intent of the group who are the Collier
industrial group who are requesting the annexation?
What is your intent in -- in what you are designing for that
property in development?
We need to know those things. It's very important to us to have
an insight to that before we go into a completion of an agreement.
I.e., I am thinking, as you talk about coming into our city with a
raw piece of land in part, because that is. It's an undeveloped piece of
land, quite extensively so, but it also brings other -- other facility.
It brings industrial, it brings our offices, it brings other, I believe,
residential.
Now, what we as citizens of the city are looking at in our hearts
and minds, we have a city that has some problems of its own,
challenges, at this time and we need addressment (sic) to those.
So, that gives us a rather full plate, before we go out and extend
the borders of our area.
But most importantly, as I sit here today, and listen to you, two
things come to mind: One, that is an addressment that I think I might
have been trying to get on board and listen to this and review these
Page 32
August 10, 2007
papers, I might have missed this point.
If you have a city, if you have, as the city is bringing you in and
then you're saying, well, the annexation could be disturbed by either
party, then rather than as I did hear the represent -- the representor for
the fire group say that she would prefer that perhaps that not be just
for the fire, fire group.
It would be -- she would prefer that it would be in this -- not in
this particular instrument but it would be for all.
Then it seems to me a pressure is being brought on the fire group
to be not aggrieving to the completion of this annexation, which
would be city-county.
But the other thing that I, as a citizen of the city, find to be very
disturbing, we have a set number of -- well, we have a limited city as
far as our land area.
Now, we have a limited number of recreational facility. We have
a limited space of beach access. And, so, when you're talking about
bringing in a property that is yet undeveloped, has potential for
significant development, you're looking at an overloading of facilities
that we have and we don't have an addressment area to enlargen (sic)
those areas.
I just think we have -- you have a good bit of presentation to the
public before this is brought before my city council for vote, and
perhaps before it's brought before your County Commission for vote
which, as I say, is my County Commission, too.
I thank you for listening to my thoughts.
DR. LEE: Thank you, Mrs. Smith.
MS. SMITH: Thank you.
DR. LEE: Is there anyone else from the public?
With that said, thank you all for coming today in cooperation in
getting this proposed agreement together, and we will have that
information to you, hopefully, within the next two weeks; that is,
information for your county.
Page 33
August 10, 2007
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned.
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY ROSE WITT, RPR.
Page 34