Agenda 09/13/2022 Item #10B (Added: Resolution - Friends of the Collier County Veterans Nursing Home)EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve a Resolution authorizing the formation of a “Friends of the Collier
County Veterans Nursing Home” for the purpose of soliciting and receiving funding for developing
ancillary services generally not provided within a state operated facility at the future Collier County
Veterans Nursing Home.
OBJECTIVE: To provide a process for accepting funds dedicated for future programs and services at the
future Collier County Veterans Nursing Home.
CONSIDERATIONS:
Commissioner Saunders spoke with local Veterans wanting to contribute time, business expertise and
private funding for the planned Veterans Nursing Home, to develop and fund ancillary services
traditionally not provided at a state operated facility such as meeting space and daytime services for
veterans.
The creation of a “Friends of the Collier County Veterans Nursing Home” is an appropriate mechanism
for engaging citizens who are interested and want to be involved with these efforts.
Having approximately 1,000 beds of 5,000 needed for our state veterans, Florida is near the top of the list
of states with a defined “Great Need” for veterans nursing home beds. In 2014, in an independent, needs-
based site selection study conducted by Hoy and Stark for FDVA (Florida Department of Veterans
Affairs), Collier County was found to be the county with the greatest need for a veterans nursing home.
Our geographical location captures eight counties within a 75-mile radius, reaching 110,000 veterans
filling a Southwest Florida void of veterans’ beds that exists south of Port Charlotte and west of
Pembroke Pines on the eastern coast.
A few key milestones in achieving Collier County being designated as the location for the next Veterans
Nursing Home include:
November 2018
Collier County voters approved a one-cent sales surtax, that included $30 million in revenues dedicated to
supplement/replace the State’s share of nursing home construction costs. By providing for the State’s
35% of construction cost, Collier County was in a position to secure the next Veterans Nursing Home.
February 2019
A meeting was held in Tallahassee with Danny Burgess, Executive Director of FDVA, on the County’s
plan to offer the State $30 million to significantly augment, if not replace, the State’s 35% match
requirement should Collier County be selected as the next approved site.
July 2019
Collier County purchased the 165-acre Golden Gate Golf Course and identified two parcels of the
property as potential locations for a Veterans Nursing Home.
October 2021
A formal presentation and site visit was conducted for Bob Asztalos, Deputy Executive Director of the
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and Steve Murray, Communications Director.
June 2022
Governor DeSantis approved the state budget containing language that required a recommendation to the
Governor and Cabinet, by August 1, 2022, for the next two State Veterans Nursing Home sites. The
support and participation of Senator Passidomo was instrumental in this effort.
August 2022
FDVA formally submitted its recommendation that Collier County be designated as the location
for the next Veterans Nursing Home.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management Impact associated with this
action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board approves a Resolution authorizing the formation of a “Friends
of the Collier County Veterans Nursing Home” for the purpose of soliciting and receiving funding for
developing ancillary services generally not provided within a state operated facility at the future Collier
County Veterans Nursing Home.
Prepared by: Burt L. Saunders, Commissioner, District 3
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RESOLUTION NO. 2022- ___
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION
OF A “FRIENDS OF THE COLLIER COUNTY VETERANS NURSING
HOME” FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLICITING AND RECEIVING
FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING ANCILLARY SERVICES NOT
GENERALLY PROVIDED WITHIN A STATE OPERATED FACILITY
AT THE FUTURE COLLIER COUNTY VETERANS NURSING HOME.
WHEREAS, having approximately 1,000 beds of 5,000 needed for our state veterans,
Florida is near the top of the list of states with a defined “Great Need” for veterans nursing home
beds. In 2014, in an independent, needs-based site selection study conducted by Hoy and Stark
for FDVA, Collier County was found to be the county with the greatest need for a veterans nursing
home; ; and
WHEREAS, in November 2018, Collier County voters approved a one-cent sales surtax,
that included $30 million in revenues dedicated to supplement/replace the State’s share of nursing
home construction costs; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Saunders spoke with local Veterans wanting to contribute
time, business expertise and private funding for the planned Veterans Nursing Home, to develop
and fund ancillary services traditionally not provided at a state operated facility such as meeting
space and daytime services for veterans; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a “Friends of the Collier County Veterans Nursing Home” is
an appropriate mechanism for engaging citizens who are interested and want to be involved with
these efforts.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
The formation of a “Friends of the Collier County Veterans Nursing Home” is approved
for the purpose of soliciting and receiving funding for developing ancillary services not generally
provided within a state operated facility at the future Collier County Veterans Nursing Home.
THIS RESOLUTION PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED by the Board of County
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Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, this 13th day of September 2022.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
_____________________________ By: _______________________________
, Deputy Clerk William L. McDaniel, Jr., Chairman
Approved as to form and legality:
_______________________________
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney