CAC Minutes 03/10/2022 March 10, 2022
MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
COASTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Naples, Florida, March 10, 2022
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee, in and
forthe County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1 :00
P.M. in REGULAR SESSION at Administrative Building "F," 3rd Floor, Collier
County Government Complex, Naples, Florida. with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: David Trecker
VICE CHAIRMAN: Joseph Burke (via Zoom)
Steve Koziar(via Zoom)
Thomas McCann (absent)
Jim Burke
Robert Raymond
Erik Brechnitz (absent)
Robert Roth
Raymond Christman
ALSO PRESENT: Andy Miller, Manager
Heidi Ashton, Assistant County Attorney
Farron Bevard, Operations Analyst
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March 10,2022
Any persons in need of the verbatim record of the meeting may request a copy of the video
recording from the Communications, Government& Public Affairs Division,or view it online.
Call to Order
Chairman Trecker called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.
The meeting was delayed due to the lack()fa quorum; Mr. Christman was in transit.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken and a quorum of seven was established.
Mr. Jim Burke moved to allow Vice Chairman Burke and Committee Member Steve Koziar to
participate in the meeting telephonically due to extraordinary circumstances. Second by Mr.
Raymond. Curried unanimously, 5-0: Vice Chairman Burke and Mr. Koziar abstained.
Changes and Approval of Agenda
Mr. Raymond moved to approve the agenda. Second by Mr. Burke. Carried unanimously, 7-0.
Public Comments
None
Approval of CAC Minutes
Jan. 13,2022
Mr. Christman moved to approve the minutes of the Jan. 13,2022, meeting. Second by Mr.
Raymond. Carried unanimously, 7-0.
Staff Reports
1. Extended Revenue Report
The Committee reviewed the"FY22 TDT Collections Revenue Report"dated Jan. 31, 2022.
Mr. Miller presented the report and made the following points:
• Revenues have been very good, at$9.65 million.
• Revenues are more than 77.8%over budget.
• After four months of collections,there's more than half of what's needed for the entire
year.
Chairman Trecker noted that nearly $4 million in rollover was not reflected in the report.
New Business
1. Update on the FY2022 Beach Renourishment Truck-Haul Project
Mr. Miller provided the following update:
• 86,000 tons were placed on Naples Beach.
• 116.000 tons were placed on Vanderbilt Beach.
• 30,000 tons were placed on Pelican Bay Beach with little or no negative incidents.
• Without the assistance of all stakeholders, it would not have been possible.
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March 10,2022
Chairman Trecker noted that there were terrific logistical challenges and praised the good
work, noting that it was the biggest beach renourishment project in the past eight years.
Mr. Miller said trucks drove four to five trips daily, a 100-mile roundtrip. (50 one way)
Mr. Trecker noted that it amounted to 10,000 overall truckloads.
2. Update on FY2022 Wiggins Pass& Doctors Pass Dredge Project
Mr. Miller displayed before and after photos of the Wiggins Pass project and reported that:
• There was an incident last summer, prior to the dredge in which a vessel was temporarily
stuck.
• After this past week, it opened up the majority of the dredging at Wiggins Pass.
• Wiggins Pass will be completed tonight.
• Work on Doctors Pass will occur in the next several days.
• Lowdermilk Beach is expected to start next week.
• The project is expected to take two or three more weeks,with a March 27 completion date,
and will be followed by fine grading and demobilization.
Mr.Raymond asked what the depth of Wiggins Pass was.
Mr. Miller said there was a-7 elevation in the interior channel and -12 in the outer channel.
Mr.Roth said he had lunch with the Calusa WaterKeeper, who showed him photos of Wiggins Pass.
He noted that it means people are watching the work, including flyovers. He explained to the
WaterKeeper that the County was conducting dredging work. He suggested that the County alert the
public to allay concerns of environmental groups and to avoid possible bad press. When he saw the
CSA Ocean Sciences report on the maintenance of Doctors Pass, that's what they were observing and
they just didn't know why it was occurring.
Chairman Trecker also suggested that the County make a public announcement.
Mr.Miller said the County did alert the media through a press release and the project was featured on
WINK news and other channels. The County also will send out another press release about the Doctors
Pass dredging.
Mr.Roth suggested the County also send those press releases to the watchdog groups.
Chairman Trecker noted that they have a long email list of those groups. He asked when the
shoreline monitoring report would be completed.
Mr. Miller said survey work was completed and the consultant will be sending a draft report for
review, possibly next week.
Chairman Trecker asked where he expected the action to be.
Mr. Miller said they completed Vanderbilt, Pelican Bay, and Naples Beach from Lowdermilk Park to
the pier and they don't have much work left. They did South Marco Island Beach in 2020. They may
do a small grading project on Marco Island. but are hoping to take a year off.
Mr. Christman asked about Naples Beach south of the pier.
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March 10. 2022
Mr. Miller said it was well excess of the 100-foot design width.
Mr.Christman asked if the County took a year oil, would the money budgeted for beach
renourishment roll over?
Mr.Miller said beach renourishment is not included in the budget for the next two years. Beaches are
renourished on about a four-year cycle. Parkshore Beach Park will be next, but preliminary numbers
from this years survey look good.
Chairman Trecker said that was barring any unexpected storm damage, of course.
Mr.Christman agreed that was true.
3. Update on USACE Collier CSRM
Mr. Miller reported that there was not much more to add since the last meeting. As it stands now,
around October 2021,the Army Corps of Engineers was on the verge of submitting its report to the
chief for his signature, but changed course when they realized that the costs for concrete, steel and
other supplies had increased to the point where they were not comfortable presenting the cost-benefit
ratios to the chief.They were advised to redo the numbers and since it was getting to the end of the
three-year deadline,the North Atlantic District decided to put in a waiver request for an extension of
time and money,as well.
That waiver request has been circulating for approvals since October. We should be getting a decision
soon.
Chairman Trecker said if it's accepted by the federal government. he understood there would be a
recommended reduction in the scope of the project.
Mr. Miller said that was correct,a reduction of scope of the program. The waiver request included
some recommended courses of actions,a very much reduced-scope project,which is essentially a
beach-only project.They removed all the gates and walls and a lot of the controversial items. It's
essentially just a beach-renourishment project. about 11 miles.
Chairman Trecker called the project a big deal. He noted that the bulk of objections involved
hardening, which were anathema to environmental groups. The major environmental criticisms should
be blunted with that reduced project, and work will be faster and much less expensive.
Mr.Miller agreed it would be much less expensive.
Chairman Trecker noted that a lot of areas would not be included in beach renourishment, including
Pelican Bay and parts of Marco Island.They could pay to have their regions included in the heavy
renourishment.
Mr. Miller said they could take advantage of the County's unit costs and piggyback with the County
project, use the County contractor and fund their portions of the beach themselves,and probably save
a lot of money.
Chairman Trecker agreed and noted that Pelican Bay residents are used to paying their own way.He
said there was a question at the last meeting about how much the County has spent already on the
feasibility study.
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March 10, 2022
Mr.Miller said$170,000, but that's strictly for consulting services.
Chairman Trecker said that would fulfill the County's obligations.
Mr.Christman said he wanted to make a small amendment to a comment Chairman Trecker made
earlier,about environmental groups being strongly opposed to the hardening or physical
infrastructure. That's true. However,at least in the city of Naples, the resonant groups were as strongly
or more strongly opposed,or more vocal. The HOAs,single-family neighborhoods and condos were
very concerned about what was conceptually proposed in terms of sea gates and flood walls and this
sort of thing.
He also wanted to ensure he understood the answer to the chairman's question a moment ago. If this
revised project were to be approved and focused on beach nourishment,down the road it would have
to go through authorization and appropriations. But would that then theoretically—the funds that
might flow from that—essentially replace the need to use TDC funds for beach renourishment?
Mr. Miller said we know there will be a cost share regardless of what the project is. It was 65/35 in
the last study, so it will certainly make a healthy dent in what we might have put on the beach. But
obviously, this will be a bigger project than we typically do. Each year,we renourish to a certain
elevation, which is closer to 4'/2 or 5. And the elevations that were in the prior report were coming in at
12, and 14 on Vanderbilt. That's not to say that those elevations in a revised study might be lower, but
at this time we don't have that information.
Mr.Christman asked if this would allow there to be creation, replacement or enhancement of dunes
or replanting of mangroves or other landscaping that would help protect the beachfront.
Mr.Miller said that was a possibility.Nature-based solutions were explored last time but they didn't
pay out. But with a revised effort,you don't know.
Chairman Trecker said that the original proposals had the beach expanded from a standard of 100
feet to 150 feet. Dune buildup and stabilization is what you're talking about. Any more comments?
Vice Chairman Burke said everyone knows his opinion on this, which is we're missing an
opportunity here to do some more protection. Without those structures, we're not accomplishing a lot
to protect inland waterways. Part of the resistance has been a lack of education on what the structures
are,what the risks are and how they're deployed.
Chairman Trecker said many of us from the Northeast are used to these projects and have come to
accept the need. He noted that beach hardening is pro forma in the Northeast, but the environmental
lobby here is very strong.
Vice Chairman Burke asked, Right. but do they lire in the neighborhood that is at risk?
Mr.Roth said that as an engineer, he agrees with Vice Chairman Burke. We have a problem and need
to solve it. He noted that the Collier WaterKeeper is putting on a program for Earth Day at Cambier
Park on April 23, a Saturday.One of the main focuses will be sea-level rise and they have invited the
Army Corps of Engineers to attend to learn what's going on here. He(Mr. Roth) plans to attend. He
doubted there would be many answers, but believed there would be a lot of questions.The Army
Corps may have a prepared response about the County's project. He noted that the subject causes a lot
of emotions.
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March 10,2022
Chairman Trecker noted that the WaterKeeper held an event at Norris Center and said there was a lot
of uncertainty about sea level rise. Nobody can deny it's happening, but they don't know the timing.
It's happening in Miami now, but no one knows when it's going to happen on this coast.
4. Discussion—Water Quality Subcommittee Update
Chairman Trecker wanted to remind the Water Quality Subcommittee, which Bob Roth is so ably
running,about its limited scope, what it can and should do. The scope is really very limited. Water
quality was added to the list of responsibilities for CAC in a 2019 ordinance and one of the limitations
was coastal water-quality issues, not inland, not Lake Okeechobee or the Caloosahatchee or other
water bodies. It's very much local to coastal Collier County and specified bays, estuaries, inlets and
shorelines. The subcommittee is permitted to review, report and propose,but not implement.
He noted that he tried to push for implementation years ago when the CAC was promoting this, but it
was not approved, so the subcommittee is limited to reviewing,reporting and proposing.The
subcommittee can implement, if directed by the BCC, which can provide a budget and ask the
subcommittee to head a project.Otherwise,the subcommittee is very budget restricted.
The initial proposal was focused on control of the nutrients that washed into the Gulf,the inlets and
other water bodies.The subcommittee made several very specific proposals about nine months ago
and they were all accepted by the BCC but have not been implemented yet. Whether anything is going
to happen there or not remains to be seen.
Mr.Roth (chair of the subcommittee)reported that the subcommittee met in early February with staff,
including Andy Miller, Rhonda Watkins and Danette Kinaszczuk. They will have a follow-up meeting
next Tuesday.They'll see a presentation by Erin Hodel from CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc.,a vendor the
County uses for hardbottom monitoring,and she'll talk about seagrass replacement,the re-
establishment of areas where seagrass has been lost.
Mr.Miller said Erin Hodel will attend the meeting virtually.
Mr.Roth said the presentation will help the subcommittee determine whether they'want to bring the
program to Collier County. and whether they'll recommend to the CAC committee to forward to the
BCC for consideration. We need to find the causes and locations, how to identify that and where to use
it.They're doing it on the East Coast and Indian River Lagoon because there's not enough to forage
for manatees. We haven't seen the extent of manatee problem they've seen on the East Coast, but we
have seen a loss of seagrass.
Chairman Trecker asked if seagrass would play a role in water quality.
Mr.Roth said it does and it's two-fold. It is kind of like a canary in a coal mine. It's an indicator that
maybe there was a problem with the water quality and what killed it in the first place, so we can't just
haphazardly start planting it again. We need to make sure we have the right location. We'll learn more
from Erin Hodel about that, how we might identify those locations,or conduct a study to find out
where such a program might be effective.
We're also going to bring to the CAC a video of another program the subcommittee reviewed,an
ocean-habitat program in Sarasota in which people with canal-front homes can purchase a device to
float, like a crate under their docks. It's like a safe harbor for fish, crabs and other sea life. There's
another program,a Vertical Oyster Gardens(VOGs) program. They're taking oyster shells and
stringing them together and hanging them in the tidal zone, where barnacles and oysters grow,and
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March 10, 2022
these become a framework for the VOGs. There's a video on it. We thought about showing it to the
CAC,along with a presentation on that and seagrass.
Hopefully we can get close to wrapping things up and come back with a written recommendation at
the next meeting or the May meeting.
Chairman Trecker said that sounded like good progress. He asked for comments and suggestions.
5. ES—APTIM Environmental& Infrastructure LLC—Preparation of the 2023-2024 LGFR for
Collier County's shore protection projects
Mr. Miller said that every year there's an effort by the County to seek funding from FDEP,the Local
Government Funding Request Applications.The County consultant, APTIM,typically handles the
applications for the County.This year.they're proposing a Local Government Funding Request for
South Marco Beach and the North County beaches, and a Doctor's Pass and Wiggins Pass LGFR
application,as well.
This consultant is well-versed in dealing with the FDEP and trying to get the highest scores because
these projects and applications are competitive statewide. The higher the score the County receives,
the better its chances are of getting funding.
The recommendation is to approve a work order with APTIM Environmental & Infrastructure LLC to
provide professional engineering services for the 2023-2024 Local Government Funding Request
under contract 18-7432-CZ for time and materials not to exceed S26,052, and to make a finding that
this item promotes tourism.
Chairman Trecker said he thought it was interesting that historically the DEP funds about 40%, so
that's significant and worthwhile to go after.
Mr. Miller said that was correct. It is t�picall\ 42%on beach projects and sometimes as high as 50%-
75%on inlet projects.
Chairman Trecker said he mentioned that the cost last year was almost identical.
Mr. Miller agreed it was nearly identical.
Mr. Raymond made a motion to recommend approving a work order for APTIM Environmental&
Infrastructure LLC to provide professional engineering services for the 2023-2024 Local
Government Funding Request under Contract No. 18-7432-CZ for time and material not to exceed
S26,052,and made a finding that this expenditure promotes tourism.Second by Mr. Burke. Carried
unanimously, 7-0.
6. ES—Ardaman & Associates Inc.—Sediment Testing as per DEP requirements in relation to the
Wiggins Pass and Doctors Pass Dredge Project
Mr. Miller said the County is finishing the Wiggins Pass dredging today and will be dredging Doctors
Pass in the upcoming weeks. The requirement from the agencies is to test the sand that went on the
beaches at Barefoot Beach and Delnor Wiggins State Park,as well as Naples Beach. This work order
will allow our Ardaman& Associates Inc. to conduct sand testing for FDEP compliance, as required
by the FDEP permit.
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March 10, 2022
Chairman Trecker said he understood that the beaches were pleased with getting the free sand.
Mr. Miller said they were.
Mr. Raymond made a motion to approve the recommendation.
Mr. Burke seconded it.
Mr.Christman asked how the sand-testing process works, if it goes to a lab for analysis and then to
the FDEP for compliance. Who will receive it?
Mr. Miller said it will be taken to the Ardaman&Associates lab for analysis on beach sand quality,
which will show whether it should remain on the beach.The results are sent to the FDEP.
Mr. Christman asked what would happen if tests didn't show beach-quality sand.
Mr. Miller said that's never occurred before, but if it did, it would be remediated.
Chairman Trecker noted that the test is an after-the-fact verification that looks at color, silt and
carbonate content.
Mr. Miller said the consultant takes daily samples of what goes through the dredge pipe so they can
remove anything that isn't beach quality.
Mr.Raymond made a motion to approve the recommendation for sand testing by Ardaman 8c
Associates Inc. and made a finding that the expenditure promotes tourism. Second by Mr. Burke.
Carried unanimously, 7-0.
7. ES—CSA Ocean Sciences Inc.—2022 Hard-bottom Monitoring
Mr.Miller said hard-bottom monitoring is also an annual effort.The County hires a consultant, CSA
Ocean Sciences Inc.,to work with staff and go out on the County's boat to dive and find out where the
hard-bottom is. It typically doesn't move a lot,but sometimes sand uncovers or covers certain sections,
so they need to document that. They also want to know the condition of the organisms that inhabit the
reef.
The recommendation is to approve a proposal by CSA Ocean Sciences Inc.to continue the required
post-construction, hard-bottom monitoring for the Collier County Beach Renourishment Project in the
summer of 2022,and for time and materials not to exceed $286,067.27 under contract No. 17-7188,
and make a finding that this item promotes tourism.
Chairman Trecker asked if this was required by both the FDEP and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Mr.Miller said that was correct.
Chairman Trecker asked if the $286,000 was for this year only.
Mr. Miller said it was.
Chairman Trecker noted that he indicated there was an increase over last year because of the need for
another diver.
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March 10. 2022
Mr. Miller said that was correct.CSA teams with County staff and uses a County boat, but
unfortunately,the County is unable to provide one staff member due to an injury, so CSA will bring an
extra diver to help the County finish the work in time.
Chairman Trecker asked if this was work carried out every year and a different work order is needed
for subsequent years.
Mr. Miller said that was correct,the same contract with a different work order.
Chairman Trecker asked if there were any comments or questions.
Mr. Koziar said it took him about a half-hour to read the proposal. There is a lot of work to be done.
Mr. Miller said the County and CSA staff have fun doing the monitoring, but noted that underwater
work is dangerous and the County can't do hard-bottom monitoring during rough seas, so they need to
complete it within the weather windows.
Mr. Raymond made a motion to approve the recommendation for 2022 Hard-Bottom Monitoring by
CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. and made a finding that the expenditure promotes tourism. Second by Mr.
Burke. Carried unanimously, 7-0.
IX. Old Business
None
X. Announcements
None
Xl. Committee Member Discussion
Mr. Koziar said people have been asking him about the permit for Collier Creek and how it's being
coordinated with the City of Marco Island permit, which is for opening up the spit near Hideaway
Beach. He believed there were some meetings scheduled to discuss that.
Mr.Miller said there was a meeting last [Tuesday] with the City of Marco Island and County
Commissioners. You can watch that online if you weren't able to see it or hear about it. We did sit
down and talk about both projects.
Mr. Koziar said he did see it. What he's hearing is that there are some objections by Hideaway Beach
residents to the sand-management issues.
Mr. Miller asked if it was related to Collier Creek.
Mr.Koziar said it was.
Mr.Miller said the County will continue working with the City of Marco Island on the language in the
permit. We had the initial meeting last week to talk about Collier Creek and Tigertail Lagoon,but the
discussion will continue to the point where the County and City are satisfied with the language in the
permit application,which will then be forwarded to the agencies.There is some additional coordination
needed.
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March 10, 2022
Mr. Koziar asked if there also was a funding discussion.
Mr. Miller said there was.
Mr. Koziar thanked him and said he had no further questions.
Mr. Roth said he had a question about that because it was on WINK News last night. Is the permit
coming from the FDEP or the Army Corps of Engineers because they said on WINK News that they
were awaiting a permit from the Corps of Engineers. Does that mean that FDEP already issued a permit
and there's a subsequent permit or is there a lot of misinformation going around?
Mr.Miller said the project they're talking about is Collier Creek.
Mr. Roth said he was asking about Hideaway Beach.
Mr. Miller said that to his knowledge, the FDEP has issued its permit.
Mr. Koziar said it received the FDEP permit, but not the Army Corps permit.
Mr. Roth said,Oh, so there are two permits. He said he was confused after seeing it on the news last
night. Is this the Collier Creek project that was talked about many years ago,that Hurricane Irma
caused. I think there was some interim work that had to be done.
Mr.Miller said this project in Collier Creek will basically widen the channel and dredge it and install a
permeable groin perpendicular to the shore at Hideaway Beach on the east side.
Mr.Roth said that was in the works a while ago and he believed Hurricane Irma caused some of it to
be delayed.Or it was talked about a long time ago and then that building on the corner was wiped out
by Hurricane Irma,right?
Mr. Miller said that was right.
XII. Next Meeting
1 p.m.April 14,2022—CANCELED
(The CAC Water Quality Subcommittee will meet on that date.)
Chairman Trecker said they should consider holding a meeting on Marco Island.
There being no further business for the good of the County,the meeting was adjourned by order of
the Chairman at 2:09 p.m.
Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee
/C. )
David 1fr ker,Chairman
l'hcse minutes were approved by the Committee on .5 ' Z 2 Z . as presented. X or as
amended 1 c