CAC Minutes 05/12/2022May 12,2022
MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COLTNTY
COASTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Naples, Florida, May 12,2022
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 l:00
P.M. in REGULAR SE,SSION at Administrative Building "F," 3'd Floor, Collier
County Government Complex, Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: David Trecker
VICE CHAIRMAN: Joseph Burke
Steve Koziar
Thomas McCann
Jim Burke
Robert Raymond
Robert Roth
Raymond Christman (absent)
Erik Brechnitz (absent)
ALSO PRESENT: Andy Miller, Coastal Zone Manager
Colleen Greene, Assistant County Attorney
Farron Bevard, Operations Analyst
May 12,2022
Any persons in need oflhe verbotim reco of the meeting nm! requesl a cop! of the video recording from
lhe Communicutions, Govetnment & Public Affairs Division, or view it online.
I. Call to Order
Chairman Trecker called the meeting to order at l:04 p.m.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge ofAllegiance was recited.
III. Roll Call
Roll call was taken and a quorum ofseven was esiablished.
IV. Changes and Approval ofAgenda
Mr. McCann moved to oppruve the agendt. Second by Mn Raymond. Carried unanimously, 7-0.
V. Public Comments
None
VI. Approval of CAC Minutes
March 10, 2022
Mr. McCann moved to opprove the minules oflhe March 10, 2022, meeting. Second by Vice Chairman
Burke. Carried unanimousl)), 74.
VII. Staff Reports
l. Extended Revenue Report
"FY22 TDT Collections Revenue Reporl " dated March. 31,2022.
Mr. Miller reported that the good news is that TDT collections are well above what was budgeted and what
we anticipated. For TDC dollars, we're 66% up from what was budgeted, and the 195 Fund is almost $3.5
million above what we had projected to this date.
Chairman Trecker said a 660lo positive variance overall and for the 195 Fund, a 66% positive variance?
That's remarkable. I guess there's no indication that collections are going to slow down?
Mr. Miller said we're hitting the peak as we speak, so we should get one more good month and it should taper
off aller that. But we've done very well so far, so I expect things to continue as well.
Chairman Trecker asked ifthere were any comments or questions.
Mr. Roth said he saw that it's 66olo above budgel, and that's phenomenal. I know last year we were also above
budget. I wonder if we can tell if we have the data as to whether we are above or below where we were in
actuality last year. I don't know to what extent the budget may have taken inlo account how successful things
were last year.
Mr. Miller said ifyou can follow my mouse on the screen, you can see the variance over FY2l, so we're 607o
above where we were last year.
Mr, Roth said in actual collections, not just budget?
Mr. Miller said that was correct.
Mr. Roth said that's great. amazing.
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May 12,2022
VII. New Business
l Update on FY2022 Wiggins Pass & Doctors Pass Dredge Project
Mr. Miller reported that there were two successful dredge projects with no real issues. We had some
adverse weather that slowed things down a little bit, but we wound up completing Wiggins Pass first,
about 65,000 yards. which is what we had planned and budgeted.
Then we moved down to Doctor's Pass and it tumed out there was not as much sand in the system as
there was in January 2021, so instead of getting 25,000 yards, we wound up getting closer to around
15,500. Both projects went off well and we completed them before turtle season. Everyone is pleased that
the passes are open for navigation, and we've had zero complaints.
Chairman Trecker said that like the sand hauls, these dredgings are not pro forma. They're complex. I
think they go underappreciated. You and your crew should get kudos for another very successful
job. Congratulations.
Mr. Miller said we apprecialed 1ou saying so.
Update on 2022 Anttal Monitoring Reports
Chairman Trecker told the Committee that they did a very thoroughjob, noting that the printout was
heavy. There's a huge amount of useful data in there.
Report - Collier Beaches
Mr. Miller reported that all the beaches are in good shape, ifnot geat shape. We just put a lot ofsand on
the beaches at south Naples, from Loudermilk Park south to the Pier. and we know that we filled a lot up
at Vanderbilt Beach from Marker 22 down to the Ritz, and we also put about 30,000 tons at Pelican Bay,
so all those beaches are going to be in great shape for at least a couple ofyears.
Chairman Trecker asked Clam Bay Beach to the south, about Page 20. The shoreline changes and the
changes in beach width. Markers R-39 and R-40 fall sho( but they don't reflect the sand placement from
the Clam Pass dredging, which was done before these measurements were made.
Mr, Miller said that was corect.
Chairman Trecker said that just walking the beach there, you can see that a lot ofthese shortfalls have
been corrected, so that's certainly good news. (Mr. Miller agreed.) That's not reflected in here. The other
thing that caught my attention was Page 3 l. the southem portion ofthe Naples beaches. Markers 82 to 84
and some ofthe areas south ofthat show significant erosion. I know that you're working with those folks
to come up with a plan. My understanding is that there's a beach access issue there, as there is in Pelican
Bay, and these folks are going to have to fork up the money themselves.
Mr. Miller said that's correct. [t's beyond our permit limits, which is 79, around l8th Ave South and
after you get past thal area, Ihe access becomes kind ofsparse until you get to 32"d, 33rd Avenues. But
there's a lot of stretch in there without any access, and again, it's beyond our permit limits. But we are in
discussions with some players, some stakeholders in that are4 for a potential future project. Obviously,
they'll have to go through the permitting process and get some funding in place. But we've told them
we'll be happy to entertain the idea ofa project similar to what we do in Pelican Bay, which is basically a
piggyback effort.
Chairman Trecker said, Sure. So, no real impending issues there that you see?
Mr. Miller said there were none.
Chairman Trecker noted that the conclusior5; on pages 4l and 42 suggest no maior proiects.
May 12,2022
Mr. Miller said no major projects this year, baning a hurricane.
Chairman Trecker asked: So any minor things, touch-up, small sand hauls?
Mr. Miller said there are a couple places that we've had interest in possibly fixing up, some of the
narower sections. We met with Moorings Park residents this week and they have a little concern because
there is a 90-foot, as opposed to I 00-foot. . . Our monument right at the north side of their park. What we
have asked is that we monitor again, which we are required to do at Doctors Pass, anyway, in October.
And we'll see how the summer systems come through. If all goes as we hope, some of the sand that we've
just placed at Lowdermilk and Naples Beach to the north and to the south of that area will hopefully
migrate to Moorings Park Beach. If it becomes critical in October, if things haven't settled down and
they've become worse, we may look at what we're referring to as a micro-project. But we'll wait until
October to find out.
Chairman Trecker asked if there were any comments or questions.
Mr. Burke asked where the sand from the Clam Pass dredging goes. I know we don't do dredging there.
Chairman Trecker said they place it north and south.
Mr. Burke asked: Both sides?
Chairman Trecker said yes, both sides and there's migration from the placement. It sometimes happens
very rapidly there.
Mr. Burke said it looks very healthy.
Chairman Trecker said for the moment. Yeah, absolutely. Any questions or comments?
Report - Central Marco and South Marco beaches
Mr. Miller reported that Central Marco Beach and South Marco Beach are in similar shape to the Collier
beaches. We just renourished South Marco in April of 2020 and reports all show that a good majority of
that sand is still in place. Typically, we'll do South Marco Beach on a seven-year cycle, so if we did it in
2020, we've got at least a couple more years, barring storms.
Central Marco is one of the widest beaches we have in Collier County. The only issue we have on Central
Marco is sometimes we get a little bit, or a lot, of depression closer to the shoreline, but what happens
down there is if we get a depression, the rainwater sits in there and we get a black algae mat that
forms. We're going to keep a close eye on that this year and, hopefully, head that off as it
arises. Obviously, we can't do a whole lot of work before turtle season ends in November, so it would be
more of a monitoring effort than anything until then.
3. ES - Humiston & Moore Engineers - South Marco Beach Restoration
USACE Permit Application
Mr. Miller said, as he mentioned earlier, we just renourished South Marco Beach in2020 and our permit
for that effort expired in January 2021, so this effort by Humiston & Moore is to get that permit
reestablished for another l5 years and it'll be in time for our next planned renourishment at South Marco.
The recommendation is to approve a Work Order with Humiston & Moore Engineers to provide
professional support services for the application preparation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permit
for the South Marco Island Beach Restoration under contract No. l8-7432 CZ, for time and materials not
to exceed 534,132, and to make a finding that this item promotes tourism.
Chairman Trecker asked if that work was consistent with previous support work of this sort.
Mav 12.2022
Mr, Miller said it rvas.
Chairman Trecker asked ifthere were any questions or comments.
Vice Chairmnn Burke moved to opprove a Work O er with HumMon & Moorc Engineerc to
provide professional suppofl servicesfor the application preparation of lhe U.S. Amr! Cotps of
Engineers Permit Jbt the South Marco Island Betch Restoralion under contruct No. l8-7432 CZ,
for time and materiols not to exceed $34,132, and made a fmding lhal this item ptomotes
loafisnl The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 74,
ES - Water Quality Subcommittee Report IMr. Roth, Subcommitee Chairmanl
Vertical Oyster Gardens Video
Mr. Roth said that before we get into the written summary, he wanted to make a few comments and
then show the video. The committee looked at several possible things that could be done about
promoting good water quality around Collier County. We focused seriously on a seagrass-restoration
proposal. We had a presentation by CSA (Ocean Sciences Inc.) about a project they were involved in.
And from what we saw, it doesn't seem to be something that would be practical to apply down here, at
least right now.
That program was for something up in North Carolina in lhe Outer Banks. The Department of
Transportation put a bridge in. They had to mitigate lhe impact oftaking out about 5 acres ofseagrass,
so they constructed a barrier in the bay between the Outer Banks and the shoreline. That was huge and
after three or four years, it's starting to show some promise, but I just didn't see it being applicable to a
location down here. and I can imagine what it cost. The State was paying for it. lt was probably a
mitigation measure that came out of their own Environmental Impact Review with the Army Corps of
Engineers getting the permits for the bridge. so it didn't seem as simple as planting cuttings of seagrass
and hoping they would grow.
So, we zeroed in on a Vertical Oyster Garden Program and there's a video you may have already
looked at. lt's on the links that you had and will generate some questions that we can discuss.
[The Video. How to Adopt and lnstall Vertical Oyster Gardens, was viewed.]
Mr. Roth said this isn't for everyone, but we thought it was kind ofa cool thing and it might induce a
befter level ofpublic engagement. which is something that we could all use more of in terms of water
quality here, and just bringing awareness to the issue. One thing that's interesting is they were talking
about seawalls not providing enough surface area for oysters in this organic groMh, but at least I see in
Marco, a lot ofpeople are getting their seawalls replaced with these corrugated plastic walls and the
oysters and the bamacles don't adhere to those. So, they're not even having a place to get footing in
the canals. That was really the notion ofthe program. We could see the County maybe making an
initiative or getting some volunteers and community-based organizations to deal with the mechanics of
something like they have in Sarasota.
The initial thought was that we might form a working committee that would consist ofCounry staff
and people to help rvith this, to reach out, but I see we still have some more work to do as a
Subcommittee on this. If this Committee thinks this is a worthwhile thing to pursue, we would try to
meet with the Conservancy and Rookery Bay and see if we could get more ofan interest in something
like this. I'd like to hear from the committee.
Chairman Trecker asked whether he was looking for concunence from this group that you should
study this further and gather more information.
Mr. Roth said before we go out and say we're representatives of Collier County, we should explore if
this is something we'd like to do in Collier County and talk to some ofthese organizations, rather than
iust do it. I think this Committee needs to be behind it and to whatever extent we need permission from
May 12,2022
anyone else to do something like that, we should seek that.
Chairman Trecker asked ifthere was any sense that putting in these Vertical Oyster Gardens really
could cut nutrient levels substantially? ln other words, is there some indication whether it's really
worth the trouble?
Mr. Roth said probably not. I don't think you're going to see the water clear up from this effort, but I
think it's public education, more so, that will begin to get people interested and businesses to donate
these shells. Maybe they could market that, like "We donate to water quality efforts in Collier
County," or something like that. It needs that marketing spend to get that kind ofengagement because
that's kind of lacking. Everybody talks about water quality. This is a way that people can actually do
it. to have one on their dock.
There was a program a few years ago that became very popular and it's still growing, the ocean
habitats that a lot of people in canal homes have floating under their docks. They're just horizontal
layers of material with space in between. The baby fish and ffabs and others inhabit it. I have two
under my dock and I have a ton of fish. Is that making the water better? Well, it's not making it worse,
that's for sure. BUI it certainly got me engaged with the whole process, so that's what we're thinking.
It certainly isn't going to hurt, spreading the word about water quality and efforts that people can do
themselves. This is not going to pertain to people inland, living on a golf course. [t's a limited focus
group. But again, we're talking about water quality, not transportation or traffic.
Chairman Trecker noted that the Commiftee is limited to coastal efforts.
Mr. Roth said, dght, so this is perfect.
Chairman Trecker asked ifthe group promoting the VOGs have any sense ofhow many nutrients are
being removed per string or per square area.
Mr. Roth said the best we're going to get is each oyster is capable of20 Io 50 gallons offiltering a
day. That's what the video said. It's a matter ofhow many oysters do you actually get to grow. Is it a
failure, or is it not? But I think it's a step in the right direction.
Chairman Trecker said it's clean and understandable.
Mr. Roth said and it's fun. It's like having a goldfish tank. You go outside and say, 'Oh, I got a new
colony ofoysters today' or 'lt's working.' That alone has a benefit. So, I'd like to hear from the
Committee.
Vice Chairman Burke said he thinks it checks the sustainabiliry box. This is really non-invasive, it's
not a chemical treatment, it's low-cost and it's something that's sustainable. One question I have is do
we harvest these at some point?
Mr. Roth said no, these are not for consumption.
Vice Chairman Burke asked how long each strand would last, two yearc, three years?
Mr. Roth said he asked that about his dock habitat and was told that at some point, it would get
choked and it would end up in a dump. You're not going to be able to rehabilitate it. You're going to
have to find a way to dispose of it.
Vice Chairman Burke noted that they're not marketable due to a concem of contamination. What can
we do with them then? Is there something else we can do with them?
Mr. Roth said they could be recycled and they could make more VOGs out of them.
Vice Chairman Burke said that from a sustainability standpoint. my druthers would be to see this
May 12,2022
married with FGCU. They could conduct a turbidity study because that's a good indication of water
quality.
Vice Chairman Burke said it's a relatively easy thing. It's just a secchi disc. It's another disk and you
drop it in the water and you measure at what depth do you lose sight of that disk.
IVIr. Roth said but that changes, right? I have one myself.
Vice Chairman Burke said at least it would track the data and it also gives us some ability to look at
whether we're pushing a rope here because inland development is getting worse. We look at the data and
we're not looking at days, weeks, months, but you want to collect, ideally, years of data because if you're
seeing an upward trend and you're doing things to improve it, and it keeps degrading over time, that
should be a wakeup call.
Mr. Roth said that's for sure. But that's a bigger conversation we can have. I don't think these
Vertical Oyster Gardens are going to alter that. There are bigger things that have to be done.
Vice Chairman Burke said that's why he'd like to see this program married with data to see if it's
going to improve water quality, and to possibly get $ant money through the County, NOAA or
FGCU. Maybe it could be a college project.
Mr. Roth said there may be someone at the water school who is on top of this. Hopefully that data is out
there and on our next step, we can find that.
Mr. Koziar said he thinks the greatest benefit will probably be public awareness of water quality. When
you start seeing these projects, it just reminds me of my children coming home from school with little
victory garden projects, school experiments. It was a great way to get younger children involved in the
water quality because public awareness is going to be very important, and that's really the key. When the
various agencies are seeking funding, you have to have the public awareness. Just little things like that.
On Marco Island, the City has a Burrowing Owls Program where if you put up a little fence around your
yard and have a Burrowing Owls there, they'll pay you $100 a year or something. It increased public
awareness about the owls and tortoise nests.
IVIr. IVlcCann noted that the Subcommittee struggled to obtain the authority to get involved in water
quality. It was quite a struggle. Not everybody liked the idea. Now that we have it, it seems to me that
we've got to start doing something about it and this may not be a home run, but I'd love to get at least on
the base path to the Coastal Advisory Committee being identified with water quality and the efforts to do
it. So, whether or not it's a home run, it looks like it could certainly be successful to an extent. The Tampa
video showed that and we could learn more as we go along. They said we could get in the game, so let's
get in the game.
Mr. Raymond said one of the objectives here was to get the community involved, but to even do that, we
have to get CAC approval. Do you think we should move forward? There are plenty of things we can do,
like contact Manatee County and find out in a little more detail what they've done. It's a start. It's not
going to solve all problems, but it will definitely get the community and students involved. You could
work through the Conservancy and maybe Rookery Bay. They have tours all the time, so I think it'd be
interesting to at least get started.
Mr. Burke agreed it's a start. Where do the VOGs come from? Does someone market them?
Vice Chairman Burke said the Conservancy in that area is involved.
Mr. Raymond said the restaurants also are involved.
Mr. Roth said someone has to make them, to string the oyster shells.
IX.
May 12,2022
Mr. McCann asked if they're best hung in inlets.
Mr. Roth said they're for saline water, estuary water, canals. The water is perfect for it here because if
you have oysters growing and barnacles, we don't get too many barnacles down on Marco, but we get a
ton ofoysters and they can grab on. But as I said, they're losing ground because the seawalls that are
going in are all plastic now and they don't adhere to it. I think they like the concrete because they get the
lime out of the cement. But at least they would get that out of the expired shells.
Vice Chairman Burke said eventually they're going to grow on there once that plastic gets scuffed up a
little bit. They have marine paint that's supposed to be no bamacles. Barnacle-free paint?
Chairman Trecker said that as this moves forward, an objective should be that the County takes the lead
and can push interest. I would like this to be headed by us. Everything sounds positive. Let's entertain a
motion to approve further planning by the Water Quality Subcommittee on the use of Vertical Oyster
Gardens to improve water quality in Collier County.
Mr. McCann moved to approvefurther planning by the llater Qualily Subcommittee on the use of
Vertical Oyster Gardens to improve water quality in Collier County. Second by Mr. Raymond.
Carried unanimously, 7-0.
Chairman Trecker noted that once this is formulated, the next step would be to go before the Board
of County Commissions to get their concurrence on the program. It sounds like a great program.
Election of Officers
Chairman Trecker noted that the election of officers usually occurs in May or June, but we aren't
certain we will have a meeting in June.
lVIr. Roth said if it has the Coastal Advisory Committee's name on it, all the better.
Chairman Trecker asked for nominations for Chairman and then closed the nominations before the full
committee vote.
Mr. Raymond moved to re-elect Chairman Trecker. Second by Vice Chairman Burke. Canied
unanimously, 7-0,
Chairman Trecker asked for nominations for Vice Chairman and then closed the nominations before the
fullvote.
Mr. Burke moved to re-elect Vice Chairman Burke. Second by Mr. Raymond. Carried unanimously,
7-0.
Old Business
Chairman Trecker asked for a brief update on the U.S. Army Corps project.
Mr. Miller said he didn't have much more to add that what he told the Committee at the last meeting. ln
October 2021,the report was on the verge of going to the chief for his signature and it was basically
sidelined because ofsome cost issues that would have had a negative effect on the benefit-cost ratio, so
the District was advised to go back and relook at the study. But since the deadline and the funds were
expiring within the month, the District asked for a waiver request for a time extension and some
additional funding. That is still being reviewed by headquarters. We have heard no additional
information, so we're just in a wait-and-see mode.
Chairman Trecker said he recalled him saying earlier that the Army Corps is weighing all the projects to
see which should get priority.
May 12,2022
Mr. Miller said that was correct. The good news, as far as our project goes, is that the initial project
involved some veq, controversial, expensive walls and gates that were part ofthe escalation ofthe cost of
the concrete and steel work skyrockeling. So, those items were pulled from Recommended Course of
Action No.4, which is essentially a beach and dune projecl. So, a lot ofthe controversial ilems are no
longer in the Recommended Course of Action. But again. that's still being reviewed by headquarters.
Chairman Trecker noted that the waiver request started in October, so we know govemment is slow. Do
we have any sense when we'll get an answer?
Mr. Miller said it would just be a guess, so he's just waiting.
Chairman Trecker noted that Gary McAlpin was involved. Does he know?
Mr. Miller said he has been communication with the Army Corps, and there's no new information.
Chairman Trecker noted that Vice Chairman Burke doesn't believe in this approach.
Vice Chairman Burke noted that it's a step in lhe right direction, but it provides less protection and you
haven't solved the flooding problem, so it's a risk.
Chairman Trecker asked ifthere were any other comments or discussion.
Mr, Koziar said he understood that there will be a meeting between the County and Marco Island to
further resolve any permit issues with respect to Collier Creek and the City of Marco Island's permit for
the dredging ofthe lagoon in front ofHideaway Beach.
Mr, Miller said that was conect. They hope it will be an informative meeting regarding Collier Creek
and its permit. We hope to get support from the City and move forward with FDEP and getting thal
permitted and ready for construction as quickly as we can.
Announcements
None
Committee Member Discussion
None
Next Meeting
June 9,2022, I p.m.
There being no further business for the good ofthe County, the meeting was adjourned by order ofthe
Chairman at l:.16 p.m.
Collier Qounty Coastal Advisory Committee
x.
xt.
XII.
David
These minutes were approved by the corn*itt". on t S'JJ . u,0,.r.n,.0. X o,u.
amended