BCC Minutes 06/11/2024June 11, 2024
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TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, June 11, 2024
LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Board of County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) of such
special districts as have been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following Board members present:
Chairman: Chris Hall
Rick LoCastro
Dan Kowal (attending remotely)
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
Burt L. Saunders
ALSO PRESENT:
Amy Patterson, County Manager
Edward Finn, Deputy County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Crystal K. Kinzel, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Troy Miller, Communications & Customer Relations
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB)
Airport Authority
AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples, FL 34112
June 11, 2024
9:00 AM
Commissioner Chris Hall, District 2; – Chair
Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3; – Vice Chair
Commissioner Rick LoCastro, District 1
Commissioner Dan Kowal, District 4; – CRAB Co-Chair
Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5; – CRAB Co-Chair
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO PRESENTATION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO BE
ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO
THREE MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIR.
ADDITIONAL MINUTES MAY BE CEDED TO AN IN-PERSON SPEAKER
BY OTHER REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO MUST BE PRESENT AT THE
TIME THE SPEAKER IS HEARD. NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL BE
HEARD FOR PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC
PETITIONS. SPEAKERS ON PRESENTATIONS ARE LIMITED TO 10
MINUTES, UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR. ALL PERSONS WISHING
TO SPEAK ON A CONSENT ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO THE
BOARD’S APPROVAL OF THE DAY’S CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS
HEARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOLLOWING THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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June 11, 2024
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON PUBLIC PETITION
MUST SUBMIT THE REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE COUNTY MANAGER
AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE MEETING. THE
REQUEST SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION AS TO THE
NATURE OF THE PETITION. THE PUBLIC PETITION MAY NOT
INVOLVE A MATTER ON A FUTURE BOARD AGENDA, AND MUST
CONCERN A MATTER IN WHICH THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTION.
PUBLIC PETITIONS ARE LIMITED TO A SINGLE PRESENTER, WITH A
MAXIMUM TIME OF TEN MINUTES, UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE
CHAIR. SHOULD THE PETITION BE GRANTED, THE ITEM WILL BE
PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON GENERAL TOPICS
NOT ON THIS AGENDA OR A FUTURE AGENDA MUST REGISTER TO
SPEAK PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA
BEING CALLED BY THE CHAIR. SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO
THREE MINUTES, AND NO ADDITIONAL MINUTES MAY BE CEDED TO
THE SPEAKER. AT THE CHAIR’S DISCRETION, THE NUMBER OF
PUBLIC SPEAKERS MAY BE LIMITED TO 5 FOR THAT MEETING.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE
TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE
BASED.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53 AS AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 2004-05 AND 2007-24, REQUIRES THAT ALL LOBBYISTS
SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO THE
BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, THE PROVISION OF
CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION LOCATED AT 3335 EAST
TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380;
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June 11, 2024
ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE
AVAILABLE IN THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
LUNCH RECESS SCHEDULED FOR 12:00 NOON TO 1:00 P.M
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A. Invocation by Pastor David Wildman, Grow Church Estates
2. AGENDA AND MINUTES
A. Approval of today's regular, consent and summary agenda as amended (ex
parte disclosure provided by commission members for consent agenda.)
B. May 14, 2024, BCC Minutes
C. May 28, 2024, BCC Minutes
3. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. EMPLOYEE
B. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
C. RETIREES
D. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Proclamation designating June 11, 2024, as Florida Cancer Specialists &
Research Institute Appreciation Day in Collier County. To be accepted by a
Collier County representative of the Cancer Specialists & Research Institute.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Artist of the month
B. Presentation of the Collier County Business of the Quarter for June 2024 to
Harry Chapin Food Bank. The award will be accepted by Richard LeBer,
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President & CEO and representatives of Harry Chapin Food Bank. Also
attending are Kristina Park, CEO & President, and Bethany Sawyer, Vice
President of Membership and Investors, both of the Greater Naples Chamber
of Commerce.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE CURRENT
OR FUTURE AGENDA
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
A. This item requires that Commission members provide ex-parte
disclosure. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve a Resolution of the
Board of Zoning Appeals of Collier County, Florida, approving a variance
from LDC Section 4.02.01, Table 2.1 to reduce the required minimum front
yards from 50 feet to 34.38 feet on the north side and 43.58 feet on the west
side, and to reduce the required minimum side yard from 30 feet to 27.84
feet on the south side, for a single-family home on an RSF-1 zoned property
located at 438 Gordonia Road, on the southeast corner of Gordonia Road
and Carica Road, on a portion of Lot 19, Block H, Pine Ridge Extension
Subdivision, in Section 3, Township 49 South, Range 25 East, Collier
County, Florida. [PL20230014908] (This is a companion to item #9A)
District 2)
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. This item requires that Commission members provide ex-parte disclosure.
Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are required to be
sworn in. Recommendation to approve an ordinance rezoning 2.16± acres of
property from the Rural Agricultural (A) zoning district to the Residential
Single-Family-1 (RSF-1) zoning district, to allow up to two single-family
dwelling units with a maximum density of up to one dwelling unit per acre
on property located at 438 Gordonia Road, on the southeast corner of
Gordonia Road and Carica Road, also described as Lot 19, Block H, Pine
Ridge Extension Subdivision, in Section 3, Township 49 South, Range 25
East, Collier County, Florida. [PL20230013880] (This is a companion to
item #8A) (District 4)
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10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A. This item to be heard prior to Item 4: Proclamations. Recommendation
to adopt a resolution naming the helipad located at the Collier County
Sheriff’s Office District 8 Substation in Immokalee the “Larry H. Ray, LTC
ret) US Army Helipad” and direct staff to install appropriate signage.
District 5)
B. Recommendation to adopt the attached Resolution in opposition to
Amendment 4 titled as an Amendment to Limit Government Interference
with Abortion, which if enacted would amend the Florida Constitution to
greatly enhance abortions in Florida. (All Districts)
11. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase under the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program with 1) Richard L.
Woodworth for a 2.27-acre parcel at a cost of $49,600; 2) CDL Naples
Investment, LLC, for a 2.73-acre parcel at a cost of $59,650; 3) Marcos A.
and Elizabeth S. Beckert for a 1.14-acre parcel at a cost of $24,910; 4)
Peggy Anne Arnold (“Arnold Trust”) for a 7.16-acre parcel at a cost of
141,140; and 5) The Land Genie, LLC, for a 2.73-acre parcel at a cost of
62,790, for a total cost not to exceed $346,790 inclusive of closing costs.
Jaime Cook, Development Review Division Director) (District 5)
B. Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase under the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program with 1) Nelson Granados
for a 5.15 acre parcel at a cost of $106,860; 2) Nancy A. Waters, William C.
Bartelsmeyer, and Judith A. Moulton, individually and as Trustee of the
Revocable Trust Agreement No. 012645 dated December 18, 2015
Moulton Tr.”), for a 7.17 acre parcel at a cost of $141,340; 3) Ana
Margarita Taylor-Abraham as Plenary Guardian of the person and property
of Ana L. Taylor, surviving spouse of Ernesto Taylor (“Taylor”) for 5 acres
at a cost of $98,650; and 4) Nancy A. Walsh for a 1.14 acre parcel at a cost
of $19,494, for a total cost not to exceed $373,834 inclusive of closing costs.
Jaime Cook, Development Review Division Director) (District 5)
C. Recommendation to approve spending up to $10,000 for appraisal and pre-
contract expenses for due diligence and authorize staff to transmit a non-
binding Letter of Intent to commence negotiations for the purchase of 10.9
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acres of property at 299 Creative Drive, Naples for the Collier County
Sheriff’s Office District 5 Substation. (Ed Finn, Deputy County Manager)
All Districts)
D. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners accept an update
on the performance of the Florida Culinary Accelerator at Immokalee.
Cormac Giblin, Housing Policy & Economic Development Director) (All
Districts)
E. Recommendation to accept an update on current service and staffing levels
at the ten Collier County Public Libraries. The presentation discusses
realigning hours of operation to optimize service with our current staffing
levels that will best continue to serve patron demand and meet expectations.
Catherine Cowser, Library Director) (All Districts)
F. Recommendation to accept the report card and update on Parks &
Recreation aquatic facilities and projects. (John McCormick, Facilities
Director) (All Districts)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
A. AIRPORT
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Public comments on general topics not on the current or future agenda by
individuals not already heard during previous public comments in this
meeting
B. Staff Project Updates
C. Staff And Commission General Communications
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16. CONSENT AGENDA - All matters listed under this item are considered to be
routine and action will be taken by one motion without separate discussion of
each item. If discussion is desired by a member of the board, that item(s) will
be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.
A. GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and accept the
conveyance of the potable water utility facilities for Allamanda
Estates – Onsite Utilities, PL20230014153. (District 1)
2) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and accept the
conveyance of the potable water utility facilities for Allamanda
Estates - Offsite Utilities, PL20230016590. (District 1)
3) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of the potable water
and sewer utility facilities and appurtenant utility easement for
Esplanade by the Islands – Phase 3H, PL20230015548. (District 1)
4) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and accept the
conveyance of the potable water and sewer utility facilities for Groves
at Orange Blossom Phase 2A-1, PL20240003084. (District 5)
5) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of a portion of the
potable water and sewer utility facilities for Imperial Golf Course
Halfway House, PL20240002104. (District 2)
6) This item continued from the May 14, 2024, BCC Meeting.
Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the sewer utility
facilities, accept the conveyance of the sewer utility facilities and
appurtenant utility easement for Seychelles - Offsite Utilities
Relocation (PL20240001240), and Seychelles - Offsite Utilities
PL20190001953), and to authorize the County Manager or designee
to release the Final Obligation Bond and the Utilities Performance
Security (UPS) in the total amount of $9,957.64 that was submitted
for PL20190001953, to the Project Engineer or the Developer’s
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designated agent. (District 1)
7) Recommendation to authorize the Clerk of Courts to release a
Performance Bond in the amount of $234,500 which was posted as a
guaranty for Excavation Permit Number PL20190002027 for work
associated with Magnolia Pond Residences. (District 3)
8) This item requires that Commission members provide ex-parte
disclosure. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants
are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve for
recording the final plat of Caymas Phase II, approval of the standard
form Construction and Maintenance Agreement, and approval of the
performance security in the amount of $4,182,045.73. (Application
Number PL20230012032) (District 1)
9) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to
authorize a Budget Amendment in the amount of $38,000 to reallocate
funding within the Conservation Collier Caracara Prairie Fund (0674).
All Districts)
10) Recommendation to approve the Collier County Floodplain
Management Plan 2022 and 2023 Progress Report and Proposed
Action Plan for 2024. (All Districts)
11) Recommendation to approve the density for the EKOS development
under Florida Statute 125.01055(7)(a), the Live Local Act. (District 1,
All Districts)
B. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve Change Order No. 6 to Agreement No.
16-6699, Professional Design Services for the “Eleven Bridge
Replacements Project” with HNTB Corporation to extend the contract
time for post-design and related services on the project by an
additional 60 days and authorize the Chairman to sign the attached
Change Order. (Project No. 66066) (District 5)
2) Recommendation to authorize the Chairman to execute a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Florida Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for redacted crash data. (All
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Districts)
3) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for the purchase of a
drainage easement (Parcel 146DE) required for the West Goodlette-
Frank Road Area Stormwater Improvement Project Phase 2. (Project
No. 60142) (Estimated Fiscal Impact: $22,843) (District 4)
4) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
Supplemental Agreement to the Local Agency Program (LAP)
Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to
reduce grant funds by $125,024 for the construction of a ten-foot
multi-use path on County Barn Road from Rattlesnake Hammock
Road to SR 84 (Davis Blvd.); to execute the accompanying
Resolution; and to authorize the necessary Budget Amendments, FPN
438091-2-58-01. (Fund 1841, Project No. 60254) (District 3, District
4)
5) Recommendation to approve Tourist Development Tax Fund 1105
funding in the amount of $350,000 for maintenance of the Tigertail
Lagoon / Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project, authorize
the Chairman to execute a Tourist Development Tax Funding
Agreement, and make a finding that this expenditure promotes
tourism. (District 1)
6) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a
State-Funded Grant Agreement with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) reimbursing the County up to $1,050,000 for
the design, engineering, and permitting of the ‘Four Points
Roundabout’ project to control the intersection of Immokalee Road
and Camp Keais Road and authorize the necessary budget
amendments, FPN 452825-1-34-01. (Fund 1841, Project No. 33890).
District 5)
7) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a
Transportation Coordination Agreement with Hope Hospice &
Community Services, Inc. (All Districts)
8) Recommendation to approve Agreement No. 23-8159, “Post Design
Services for Stan Gober Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation,” with
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., in the amount of $91,815, and
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authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Agreement. (Project No.
66066) (District 1)
9) Recommendation to award Construction Invitation to Bid (“ITB”) No.
23-8195, “16th Avenue S.W. Shoulder Improvements,” to Preferred
Materials, Inc., in the amount of $2,449,638.72, provide for an
Owners Allowance of $75,000.00 for potential unforeseen conditions,
and authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Agreement. (Project
No. 60226) (District 5)
10) Recommendation to award Request for Professional Services ("RPS")
No. 23-8103, the “Golden Gate City Water Resource Protection –
Restoration Master Plan”, to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., for a
total not to exceed the amount of $988,912, and authorize the
Chairman to sign the attached Agreement. (District 3)
11) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
State-Funded Grant Agreement with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) reimbursing Collier County up to $1,120,000
to construct paved shoulders and widen travel lanes on Oil Well Road
from Mile Post (MP) 12.061 to MP 12.703, approximately 0.642
miles, FPN 452822-1-54-01. (Funds 1841 & 1842, Project No. 60231)
District 5)
12) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
State-Funded Grant Agreement with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) reimbursing Collier County up to $1,015,000
to construct paved shoulders and widen the travel lanes on Oil Well
Road from Mile Post (MP) 12.703 to MP 13.388, approximately
0.685 miles), FPN 452820-1-54-01. (Funds 1841 & 1842, Project No.
60231) (District 5)
13) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
Small County Outreach Program (SCOP) State-Funded Grant
Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
reimbursing Collier County up to $818,575 to construct paved
shoulders and widen travel lanes on Immokalee Road (CR 846) from
east of Tradeport Parkway to Bridge No. 034831; to execute a
Resolution memorializing the Board’s action; and authorize all
necessary Budget Amendments, FPN 451525-1-54-01. (Fund 1841,
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Project No. 60253) (District 5)
14) Recommendation to execute the Public Transit Grant Agreements
PTGA) Section 5310 (FPN 448810-1-94-02, 451147-1-94-22,
451147-2-94-22, and 451147-3-94-22) with the Florida Department of
Transportation in the total amount of $973,420, for the purchase of six
paratransit cutaway vehicles, six radios, and six tablets; to adopt the
Resolutions approving and authorizing the Chairman to to accept
Federal Transit Administration grant funding; and to authorize the
necessary Budget Amendments. (All Districts)
15) Recommendation to authorize the County Manager or designee to
provide $5,333.33 to the Trust for Public Lands for preparation of a
grant application for the acquisition of the Seminole Gulf Rail Line
and to pledge up to $241,611 toward the local match for the grant.
All Districts)
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve a $573,400 Work Order to condition and
treat three raw water production wells (LTA-32, RO-10N, RO-19N)
comprised of $548,400, together with a $25,000 allowance to cover
unforeseen work, to Wells & Water Systems, Inc., under Agreement
No. 21-7859 “Well Testing, Drilling and Maintenance,” and authorize
the Chairman to sign the attached Work Order. (Project No. 70085)
All Districts)
2) Recommendation to approve a $653,087.50 Work Order, under a
Request for Quotation under Agreement No. 20-7800, “Underground
Contractor Services,” to Mitchell & Stark Construction Company,
Inc., to replace influent screening equipment at the Orange Tree
Wastewater Treatment Plant, authorize the Chairman to sign the
attached Work Order, and approve all necessary Budget Amendments.
Project No. 70173) (District 5)
3) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact payment in the amount
of $4,735.88 from the Owner’s Allowance to Quality Enterprises,
Inc., for additional work associated with Work Directive 1, Work
Order/Purchase Order No. 4500223578 Goodland Pump Station Yard
Piping Improvements, Phase 1 issued under Agreement No. 20-7800,
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Underground Contractor Services,” which project has been
completed on time and to the satisfaction of the County. (Project No.
70276) (District 1)
4) Recommendation to approve Change Order No. 1 to extend task
timelines for Task No. 1 and Task No. 2 Grant Agreement LPA0495
with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the
Palm River Public Utilities Renewal Project - Area 4” and authorize
the Chairman to sign the attached Change Order. (Project No. 70257)
District 2)
D. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve and authorize the chairman to sign six
6) mortgage satisfactions for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership
loan program in the amount of $88,476.83 due to the death of the
borrower(s). (SHIP Grant Fund 1053) (All Districts)
2) Recommendation to authorize the necessary Budget Amendment to
reflect the estimated funding for the Emergency Home Assistance
Program in the amount of $100,000 and approve a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Centro-Campesino Farmworker Center.
Human Services Grant Fund 1837) (All Districts)
3) Recommendation to authorize a Budget Amendment to allow
continuous operation of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership
Program with an anticipated award in the amount of $3,026,866 for
State FY 2024/2025. (SHIP Grant Fund 1053) (All Districts)
4) Recommendation to approve after-the-fact contract Amendments Five
and Six between the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida
Inc., and Collier County Services for Seniors Emergency Home
Energy Assistance Program FY23 funds to replace Attachment IX-
Budget Summary and recognize additional funding in the total amount
of $1,662.15; and authorize the necessary Budget Amendment.
Human Services Grant Fund 1837) (All Districts)
5) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the
Fourth Amendment to a HOME Investment Partnerships Program
subrecipient agreement between Habitat for Humanity of Collier
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County, Inc., and Collier County, to revise language, update
information, and clarify grantor requirements. (No Fiscal Impact –
Housing Grant Fund 1835) (All Districts)
6) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign
Amendment Two between David Lawrence Mental Health Center,
Inc., and Collier County to reallocate funding for the Criminal Justice,
Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Agreement
LH823). (Housing Grant Fund 1835) (All Districts)
7) Recommendation to approve and authorize the chairman to sign eight
8) mortgage satisfactions for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership
loan program in the amount of $121,737.86 and to authorize the
associated Budget Amendment to appropriate repayment amount
totaling $61,560.01. (SHIP Grant Fund 1053) (All Districts)
8) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, and the
Board of County Commissioners (Board) acting as the Community
Redevelopment Agency Board (CRA), approve a $4,000,000 capital
project budget for the renovation of the Immokalee Sports Complex
soccer fields, providing for the conversion of two (2) existing grass
fields to artificial turf, construction of an additional restroom facility,
addressing stormwater management issues, and authorizing necessary
Budget Amendments. (District 5)
9) Recommendation to approve a revised Fourth Extension and
Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Collier County and the
City of Naples governing use of City of Naples beach parking
facilities and park and recreation programs extending the term to
September 30, 2024, and authorize the Chair to sign the City of
Naples modified 4th Amendment. (All Districts)
E. CORPORATE BUSINESS OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Collier County and
MHP Bembridge, LLC, to further affordable housing initiatives
through a $893,826.24 impact fee loan; authorize using Federal State
and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to reimburse the Affordable
Workforce Housing (1075) fund in the amount of $893,826.24;
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authorize all associated Budget Amendments; and authorize the
Chairman to execute all related loan documents. (Fiscal Impact
893,826.24, Fund 1075) (All Districts)
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving amendments
appropriating grants, donations, contributions, or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget. (The Budget
Amendments in the attached Resolution have been reviewed and
approved by the Board of County Commissioners via separate
Executive Summaries.) (All Districts)
2) Recommendation to award Request for Proposal (“RFP”) No. 23-
8180, “Tourism Fulfillment Services,” for three years to Paralegal
Consultants, LLC, d/b/a Prism Consulting, for a contractual amount of
162,000 (yearly amount of $54,000) plus reimbursable expenditures,
authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Agreement, and make a
finding that the related expenditure promotes tourism. (All Districts)
3) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact total invoice amount of
3,780.47 to REV-RTC for parts received with a final payment
amount to the vendor of $2,142.47 after receipt of a credit memo. (All
Districts)
4) Recommendation to approve a Lease Agreement between Collier
County and Patriot Place Trust, for continued occupancy of the
Sheriff’s Office District 5 Substation located at 13245 Tamiami Trail
East. (District 1)
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) Recommendation to authorize a Budget Amendment to reallocate
100,000 of remaining capital funds from the completed Runway 18-
36 Rehabilitation capital project at the Immokalee Regional Airport
IMM) to the Everglades Airpark (X01) to complete culvert repairs.
District 5)
2) This Item continued from the May 28, 2024, BCC Meeting.
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as
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the Airport Authority, award Solicitation No. 23-8080 “Immokalee
Regional Airport Hangar/Commercial Aeronautical Development-
Parcels A & E,” authorize its Chairman to execute the attached lease
agreement with Quality Enterprises USA, Inc., and approve the
termination letter for RTH Enterprise, Inc. (District 5)
3) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution authorizing execution of the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Public Transportation
Grant Agreement (PTGA) Number G2Y90 in the amount of $199,100
for the Immokalee Regional Airport (IMM) for the Purchase and
Installation of an Emergency Generator, authorize the Chair to sign
the Grant Agreement and authorize all necessary budget amendments.
Airport Grant Fund 4093 and Airport Grant Match Fund 4094)
District 5)
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) Approve a Budget Amendment recognizing $1,844,000 in revenues
and expenditures in the Sheriff's Office FY 2024 General Fund
budget. (All Districts)
2) To record in the minutes of the Board of County Commissioners, the
check number (or other payment method), amount, payee, and
purpose for which the referenced disbursements in the amount of
31,716,756.20 were drawn for the periods between May 16, 2024
and May 29, 2024 pursuant to Florida Statute 136.06. (All Districts)
3) Request that the Board approve and determine valid public purpose
for invoices payable and purchasing card transactions as of June 5,
2024. (All Districts)
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to reappoint three members to the Contractors
Licensing Board. (All Districts)
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2) Recommendation to extend the sunset date for the Coastal Storm Risk
Management Feasibility Study Ad Hoc Advisory Committee and
declare a vacancy. (District 1, District 2, District 4)
3) Recommendation to appoint Benita Staadecker to the Public Transit
Advisory Committee. (All Districts)
4) Recommendation to approve a $24,408.52 full value settlement with
Scott Commercial Contracting, LLC, for damages caused to a 16-inch
potable water main near the intersection of Tamiami Trail North (U.S.
41), 107th Avenue North and Creekside Boulevard, for County Court
Case No. 24-CC-0443; and authorize the Chairman to execute a
standard form release. (All Districts)
5) Recommendation to extend the sunset date for the East of 951 Ad Hoc
Advisory Committee. (District 3, District 5)
6) Recommendation to declare a vacancy on the Golden Gate
Beautification MSTU Advisory Committee. (All Districts)
7) Recommendation to declare a vacancy on the Code Enforcement
Board. (All Districts)
L. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
17. SUMMARY AGENDA - This section is for advertised public hearings and
must meet the following criteria: 1) a recommendation for approval from
staff; 2) unanimous recommendation for approval by the collier county
planning commission or other authorizing agencies of all members present
and voting; 3) no written or oral objections to the item received by staff, the
collier county planning commission, other authorizing agencies or the board,
prior to the commencement of the bcc meeting on which the items are
scheduled to be heard; and 4) no individuals are registered to speak in
opposition to the item. For those items which are quasi-judicial in nature, all
participants must be sworn in.
A. This item requires the Commission members to provide ex-parte
disclosure. Should a hearing be held on this item, all participants are
Page 17
June 11, 2024
required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve an Ordinance
rezoning a 4.86± acre property located at 135 Price Street from the Rural
Agricultural (A) Zoning District to the Residential Single Family-2 (RSF-2)
Zoning District to allow up to three single-family dwelling units in Section
4, Township 51 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida.
PL20220002704] (District 1)
B. Recommendation to approve an amendment of the Collier County Ordinance
No. 72-1, as amended, the Collier County Lighting District Ordinance, to
include Mission Hills Drive, Buckstone Drive, and Pristine Drive in the
Collier County Lighting District, for the benefit of surrounding residential
subdivisions including Black Bear Ridge, Sonoma Oaks, Raffia Preserve,
Vanderbilt Reserve, Falls of Portofino Condominium, the Mission Hills
Shopping Center and Vanderbilt Commons commercial developments, and
the remaining commercial parcels located on the northwest corner of the
intersection of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Collier Boulevard, lying in
Section 34, Township 48 South, Range 26 East. (District 3)
C. Recommendation to adopt an Ordinance amending the Collier County
Growth Management Plan, specifically amending the Future Land Use Map
to change the land use planning period to 2024-2050 and directing
transmittal of the adoption amendment to the Florida Department of
Commerce. PL20220006512 - Future Land Use Map Extension GMPA (All
Districts)
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD’S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
June 11, 2024
Page 2
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to
the meeting.
I just want to remind everyone to please turn your cell phones
off because it can be distracting, and it can be embarrassing, so we
want to save you from that.
I do want to remind you, if you registered to speak this morning,
you've got three minutes. When the little yellow light goes off, that's
30-second warning. When the red light goes off, that means we're
finished. So if you could please adhere to that.
Also, when public speakers come up, this is not an emotional
time. This is business. So whether you agree or whether you
disagree, I'm going to ask you to hold your applause or hold your
scoff, because I don't want to put up with that --
So Commissioner LoCastro is right on time. Everybody give
him a round of applause.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I took the District 5 roads.
They're horrible. District 1, I usually get through perfectly.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And on that note, you weren't
here, but please shut off your cell phone, sir. We don't want you to
be embarrassed.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Hi, Mama McDaniel. We
just want to make sure you're watching. We want to say hi.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Mother is watching, I saw her
at the computer this morning. So good morning, Mother.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I hope everybody made it
safe. It's pretty treacherous out there right now.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Well, we'll get the pledge and the prayer
done. That will help us.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Amen.
June 11, 2024
Page 3
Item #1A
INVOCATION BY PASTOR DAVID WILDMAN, GROW
CHURCH ESTATES
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, we have the invocation
today by Pastor David Wildman, Grow Church Estates, and our
pledge will be led by Joe Szulewski, United States Air Force Buck
Sergeant from the Korean War.
PASTOR WILDMAN: Let us pray.
Heaven Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather again
for this commissioner meeting this morning. Even if it's raining
outside, we're grateful that we get to be here safely in this place.
We thank you for this beautiful county that we get to call home,
and we don't want to take anything for granted that we've been given.
We lift up the Commissioners and every decision-maker in the
room this morning. We bless -- we pray a blessing over their
families, over their households, over their children. We request your
wisdom and your guidance as you promise us in the Book of James,
that when we ask for wisdom, that you give it to us liberally.
We pray for all the residents and visitors and people that call this
county home and all the entrepreneurs and business owners and first
responders and military personnel, and we pray protection over them,
each and every one of them, especially as they're working out in this
weather, this week especially.
We thank the Lord for the discussions that are taking place
today. We seek for your wisdom and your guidance, that the
decisions that are being made are in the best benefit and for those
who call this county home and live here and work here. We pray
that the right words will be said in the right time and in the right tone
in this room this morning.
June 11, 2024
Page 4
We emphasize your wise stewardship, Lord, that comes only
from you and from your wisdom from your word. We aim to reflect
your love and truth in all actions, and we strive to do the best for
everyone in the community, and we pray all these things in your holy
name, amen.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm going to make a motion to allow
Commissioner Kowal to join us on Zoom.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Second. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good morning, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Good morning, Chairman. I
hope you can hear me.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Oh, yes.
Item #2A
APPROVAL OF TODAY'S REGULAR, CONSENT AND
SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED (EX PARTE
DISCLOSURE PROVIDED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR
CONSENT AGENDA.) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
MCDANIEL – APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED W/CHANGES
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, agenda changes for
June 11th, 2024.
June 11, 2024
Page 5
Item 10B will be heard at 9:30 a.m. This is a recommendation
to adopt the attached resolution in opposition to Amendment IV titled
as American -- "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with
Abortion, which, if enacted, would amend the Florida Constitution to
greatly enhance abortions in Florida." This is at Commissioner
Hall's request.
Continue Item 16E1 to June 25th, 2024. This is a
recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a
memorandum of understanding between Collier County and MHP
Bembridge, LLC, to further affordable housing initiatives through an
$893,826.24 impact fee loan, authorize using federal, state, and local
Fiscal Recovery Funds to reimburse the affordable workforce
housing fund in the amount of $893,826.24, and authorize all
associated budget amendments, and authorize the Chairman to
execute all related loan documents.
Move item -- oh, that's being moved at staff's request.
Move Item 17A to 9B. This is a recommendation to approve an
ordinance rezoning a 4.86 plus/minus acre property located at 135
Price Street from the Rural Agricultural zoning district to the
Residential Single-Family 2 zoning district to allow up to three
single-family dwelling units in Section 4, Township 51 South,
Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. This is being moved at
Commissioner LoCastro's request.
And move Item 16B15 to 11G. This is a recommendation to
authorize the County Manager or designee to provide $5,333.33 to
the Trust for Public Lands for preparation of a grant application for
the acquisition of the Seminole Gulf Rail Line, and to pledge up to
$241,611 towards the local match for the grant. This is being moved
at Commissioner Hall's request.
I do have an agenda correction. Item 9A should be listed with a
District 2 rather than District 4.
June 11, 2024
Page 6
And we do have two time-certain items. Item 10A to be heard
prior to Item 4, proclamations. This is a resolution naming the
helipad located at the Collier County Sheriff's Office District 8
substation in Immokalee the Larry H. Ray, LTC, Retired, U.S. Army
Helipad.
And then as noted, Item 10B is to be heard at 9:30. That's a
resolution in opposition to Amendment IV titled as an "Amendment
to limit government interference with abortions."
We do have court reporter breaks scheduled for 10:30 and again
at 2:50.
And with that, we do have speakers, I believe, on the consent
agenda if you want to do your changes and ex parte, and then we'll go
to the speakers or vice versa.
CHAIRMAN HALL: We'll do changes and ex parte, and then
I'll address the -- before we do the speakers.
So changes and ex parte, Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I have no changes and nothing
on the summary or consent.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
I have no changes to the agenda and no disclosures on the
consent agenda.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No changes and no
disclosures on the consent or summary, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I have no changes. I have
one disclosure on summary which was 17A, but I think that's one of
the ones that we've moved. I had correspondence.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And I have no changes and no ex parte.
So do we have a motion to approve it?
June 11, 2024
Page 7
MS. PATTERSON: Do you want to hear the -- address the
speakers?
MR. MILLER: I have -- actually, I have a second
consent-agenda item I've received a speaker slip for. Maybe we'll
call that one first because I have 16 on the other item.
16D8, Manny Touron. There's Manny.
CHAIRMAN HALL: There's Manny.
MR. TOURON: Good morning, everyone.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Good morning, Manny.
MR. TOURON: I want to thank the Board of County
Commissioners, the CRA, and the county staff for all their efforts to
bring renovations of the Immokalee Sports Complex fields to the
consent agenda.
Immokalee parks have been in need of attention for some time.
The commissioners heard, and they are delivering.
Youth sports in Immokalee continue to grow. This past week,
we were able to have the assistant head coach from FGCU men's
soccer team to provide a four-day camp for 30 of our players, and last
night we had 78 players on the field at the start of our summer skills
academy.
With fields closed at the Immokalee Sports Complex, we are
fortunate to lease space at both high school and Boys and Girls Club
for daylight hours. We realize that the path to adequate field space
in Immokalee is going to be a long, bumpy road for anyone who uses
fields, but we have our eye on the prize. The renovation of the
sports complex fields is a great first step. We hope it is soon
followed by fields at the Williams property.
Thank you so much for all your recognition to our issues in the
sports arena in Immokalee. Thank you so much.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thanks, Manny.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, the other 16 speakers are all
June 11, 2024
Page 8
speaking on Item 16B14, which is a paratransit grant item.
Your first speaker is Charles Lascari.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. So before we get started with
16 speakers, if everyone is going to say the same thing, you certainly
have that right, and we want to hear it, but this is a consent item that
we plan on passing. So if there is an opposition, we want to know
that, or if you have specific questions, let us know that, and we can
get you directed to -- I believe it's Brian in the back as soon as we
pass this.
So there again, you have every right to speak for three minutes,
but if you're going to say the same thing, you know, we're all human
up here. So thank you, sir.
MR. LASCARI: Thank you. I may need some help with
knowing when my time is up, because I won't be able to see the
colors.
MR. MILLER: There will be a single beep at 30 seconds to go,
and then --
CHAIRMAN HALL: We'll help you out.
MR. MILLER: -- it will beep after that.
MR. LASCARI: Okay. Thank you.
My name is Charles Lascari, I have been a resident of Collier
County for the past 10 years after relocating here from New Jersey.
I am in District 4. I am living with macular degeneration,
which means that I have lost all of my central vision. I still have
some vision, which is peripheral vision, which means that I can find
my way back to my seat, but I can no longer read, I can no longer
write, and I can no longer drive, and I can no longer recognize faces.
That has been a life-changing event for me.
I will tell you very briefly that I spent my whole entire career
working as a registered nurse in two large medical centers in New
Jersey. I felt my greatest achievement was helping a local hospital
June 11, 2024
Page 9
to get designated as a Level 2 trauma center, and then following that I
was able to go before boards similar to this to convince the board and
the public to build a helipad for the transportation of critically injured
patients to our local hospital.
I was awarded Citizen of the Year for that because it enabled the
residents in the area to approve building the helipad in a very
residential area. I've worked in surgical intensive care units, I've
worked in emergency rooms, and I've worked in organ
transplantation.
Next month I am due to renew my license as a registered nurse
after working for 50 years. I can no longer do that. I am still
mentally able, I am still physically able, but I no longer have the sight
to be able to start an IV in your arm, look at your cardiac monitor to
make sure you're not going into a lethal arrhythmia, or be in the
operating room to guide the right kidney to the right room, to the
right patient with the right blood type. It's disappointing to me to not
be able to do that any longer.
As a result of that, I have to depend on somebody to get me
every single place I go. I have relied on the paratransit system,
which I've been riding for the past few months. I am grateful for
that system, but it is not an ideal system. Sometimes I feel like a
seven-year-old kid waiting at the window for the bus to arrive.
Sometimes I have to be ready an hour and a half early. Sometimes
the bus shows up late, and I miss my appointments.
I'm here to ask for your support for additional funding for the
paratransit system. There are many others like me who are more
blind than I am. But don't think about me. I'm a 74-year-old man.
Think about the young kids in kids camp at the Lighthouse or for the
19-year-old I ride the bus with or for the lady in a wheelchair who's
wheelchair bound. We need to get to the places we need to get.
Funding is sure. I understand there are going to be some
June 11, 2024
Page 10
cutbacks in funding because we are already, year to date,
over-budget. I am currently on the local coordinating board of the
Metropolitan Planning Organization. And I guess my time is up.
But I am in full support of a grant for more buses and more
drivers to help us get to where we need to get.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, sir.
MR. LASCARI: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Joel Monexil, and Joel
will be followed by Alan Bearman.
MR. MONEXIL: Good morning, everybody.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good morning.
MR. MONEXIL: My name is Joel Monexil. I get -- in 1989,
I'm working for Publix department. I got a big accident on the head.
After -- after that, I'm going to take the appointment for the
blind -- for the -- my vision is a problem. I'm not drive because the
doctor has got a shot on the left side. It blind me.
December -- December 2023 -- no, December -- December '23
because after January I come back and I'm blind. I tell my doctor,
he's somewhat event [sic] because before I'm see everything. Now
I'm blind. He say, "Oh, I don't know, because you got a shot on the
left side." Why?
Okay. Because I'm talk to my lawyer. My lawyer talk to their
doctor. Doctor say, "I don't know, Joel." He said, I believe -- the
doctor said -- my lawyer said, "No, Joel, before he's not blind. He
working. He's good."
Okay. After that, I'm go -- my lawyer call Fort Myers Vision
Blind. The Vision Blind help me because I'm coming for the
Lighthouse because -- now he try help me, the paratransit for a long
time. The paratransit, it help me, because now these are the
people -- new people -- new company, they coming, paratransit. He
said -- he named the Kevin guy. Anytime he changed the -- he
June 11, 2024
Page 11
changed the tablet on the left side.
Sometimes I'm leaving a good job [sic] because he talk to
people, and the people -- Immokalee world back my Lighthouse. He
said, "My home is 50 minute." Because he go to Immokalee.
Sometimes I've got two hour on the bus. I'm hungry.
I'm tell Kevin, "What happened?" It's not good. I'm call the
manager, Marty. He's going to help me because Kevin -- because
these peoples know dispatch. You go for the driver, because Kevin
is not ready for the drop.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Alan Bearman. He will
be followed by John Castle.
MR. BEARMAN: Hi. Thank you very much for letting me
speak.
I'm a little bit -- it's very confusing after hearing that there's so
much support for the program. I'm not used to getting things that I
wanted.
The last time I asked for something, a bicycle, my mother sent
me to military school. And when I heard the bugle, I wanted a
bugle, and when I called her and asked for that, she made me stay
several more years.
So it's rather confusing to find people actually in support. And
most of the others will tell you that -- many of the problems that we
get and the confusion on the bus and being driven all around. And I
know -- I know it serves so many people besides the blind
community. So the more buses, it's just -- it's just an amazing,
amazing wanting that. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Joe.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is John Castle. He'll be
followed by Martin Clive.
MR. CASTLE: Thank you. I'm not going to get into my
June 11, 2024
Page 12
personal situation or anything like that. I'm in favor of a budget
increase to the para department but throwing six buses to sit in your
yard is not going to solve your problem. You don't have enough
drivers for the equipment you already have.
Take that money, revamp the dispatch system, and revamp the
logistics as a whole, and that will solve your problem. You have
enough equipment. It's just not being run right, and that starts from
the top down. I'm sorry, I don't know who she is or him, so I'm not
trying to throw nobody under a bus here.
Solve a problem. Don't just throw equipment at it. And if you
solve the logistics problem, I guarantee you'll see about a 20 percent
decrease in your overall fuel costs, which you won't have to sit here
and keep upping the budget. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Martin Clive. He'll be
followed by Patricia Headly.
MR. DELAHEY: Good morning. My name is actually Martin
Delahay. My middle name's Clive, but never mind.
I'm here very simply to support as much help as we can get for
disabled people of all types, especially people like us who are blind
or disabled. It's very difficult, when you can't see, to lead an
ordinary life.
I'm a little more fortunate than many. I have a carer who can
drive me most places. But if that carer stops, I'll be using the buses
more.
And we've all heard the horrendous stories of people trapped on
buses for hours on end. I'm not too sure my bladder would last that
long. But I support -- I'm purely here for more buses and more staff.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Martin.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Patricia Headly. She'll
be followed by Majken Eligard -- or Elgaard. Excuse me.
June 11, 2024
Page 13
MS. HEADLY: Good morning. My name is Patricia Headly.
Oh, I have to get -- you can tell I'm blind. What's this? Okay.
I'm Patricia Headly. I am a former professional tennis coach. I
also worked for American Express in my salad years.
I suddenly lost my eyesight and my ability to read, my ability to
drive, and my ability to hit an ace. But I have to tell you, I've heard
all the scuttlebutt about budget and everything. Let me tell you
something. Naples is the richest, per capita, city in the United
States, according to the news. I don't want to hear that there's not
enough money in a budget to help people like me. And I think that
you can figure out a better way to get more buses, more bus drivers,
and better dispatch than what you have now. Because I sat on a bus
the other day for four hours. My back teeth were floating, let me tell
you.
So I think you need to do a better job and get the money from
the rich people who are knocking down hundred-million-dollar
mansions and building new ones.
So that's all I have to say, because I get a little bit mad when I
don't [sic] hear, oh, there's not enough money, because there is
enough money. You’ve got to find it.
Thank you so much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Majken Elgaard, and she
will be followed by Kent Husted. I hope I said that correctly.
MS. ELGAARD: You did not. My name is Majken Elgaard.
I am like every -- most of the people here, legally blind and
very, very, very dependent on the CAT Connect bus.
Unfortunately, -- I appreciate the service very much because without
it, I'd be totally lost. It would be even worse than it is.
However, the -- not the scheduling, but the routing is terrible.
The other day -- I live in the northern area or section of the area. We
were three people on the bus. The driver took the first person to a
June 11, 2024
Page 14
community about five minutes from the northern border of the
district; dropped that person off. Then he turned around and went
south for 20 minutes to drop another person off. Then he turned
around and went north for another 20 minutes to drop me off, which
means that 40 minutes were wasted. If they had gone from the
southernmost person to the next person to the next person, it would
have saved half an hour of time and driving. So I am definitely in
favor of getting more vehicles.
A thought I have is I am frequently one person on a bus that has
room for 12 to 14 people. I have occasionally been on a SUV that
holds four people or three people. And it may be more advantageous
to get more SUVs to service more people. I don't need one bus for
12 people for one person. So I would suggest going for the SUVs
rather than buses, but that's my idea.
And, lastly, I want to compliment CAT Connect because they
have greatly improved the telephone service, which used to be
outrageous, and now it is very good. So I appreciate that.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thanks, Majken.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Kent Husted to be
followed by David Whitney.
MR. HUSTED: Hi, gentlemen. I really appreciate all of your
work.
And we're here today just to talk about how important CAT
Connect is to us. I can't drive anymore, and I really rely on it to get
around to the doctor appointments, go to the grocery, go to the
Lighthouse where we have IOS class, where we learn about tech, we
have book clubs, and we have support groups, and it's really
important.
But recently I've started just Zooming in, because sometimes the
bus just is not -- they're not on schedule. I mean, it could be an hour
June 11, 2024
Page 15
past. They cannot show up. They could take me off the bus and
reroute me. So it gets a little -- a little annoying sometimes when
you're waiting for the bus and they don't show up, and it's hard to
schedule your day.
And I'd like to also say the employees are wonderful. The
drivers are wonderful. They help us get to our door. You know,
they're very good. And the managements, they're very good. I just
don't think there's enough buses.
And I'm on the bus by myself a lot, and sometimes I'm
scratching my head when you could have SUVs or smaller cars.
We'd be a little bit -- it would be a little bit easier to move more
people around. That's about all I have to say. And thank you very
much for listening to me.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is David Whitney, and he'll
be followed by Mike Rinaldi.
MR. WHITNEY: Hopefully I'm in the right place. Is my
microphone working?
Yeah. I'm David Whitney. I moved here 11 years ago. I was
a teacher up in Georgia, and I also worked as a professor -- adjunct
professor at the University of Georgia. Moved here 11 years. And
one of the reasons I moved here was because of the Lighthouse of
Collier for the blind and another was because of the paratransit
system because that wasn't good where I lived.
Ironically, my own brother's a computer programmer that
worked for MARTA, the rapid transit system in Atlanta, and as a
result, paratransit is a federally funded program, but unfortunately,
it's run by individual counties, which I don't think is really fair to you
guys, so thank you for doing what you're doing in listening to us
today.
But example being, when that went through up in Atlanta, they
had one guy that they'd have to pick up on a full-size bus to take him
June 11, 2024
Page 16
to wherever. You do it better, but it's not perfect. I've been
fortunate enough to ride the service in Sarasota a number of times,
run by a different company, which is, I have to just say, much better.
I will say four quick things that would make this service the way
Collier County really should be and advertises itself as being, elite,
but as visually impaired, disabled, elderly people, we're quite often
the forgotten people, bottom of the barrel. So I just want to make
my point.
First of all, when it comes to us paying our individual fees,
great, three bucks each way, four bucks, I don't care. Please take
credit cards, for crying out loud, you know. It's everything.
Whether you take Uber or -- I have to get my groceries delivered, but
they have my credit card on file. If you have my name, my address,
my phone number, you can have my credit card number, and I would
just like to call in and say, "I need a ride from my house to the
Lighthouse of Collier" or to one of my six different doctors that I
have appointments with. I have multiple sclerosis in addition to my
eye disease, so I have a lot of doctors' appointments, and I get tired of
calling and having to tell them I'm not going to be there on time.
Take credit cards. Pay the drivers more. They only get 12.50
an hour, last I heard. I hope that's gone up. But that's $25,000 a
year. No one's going to do that job for that money.
We used to have a simple program when I started here where I
simply would call in, I'd mail in a check for 30 bucks, they'd send me
ten, $3 tickets -- and I know I'm out of time -- but at least it worked.
All of a sudden, in the last few years, I'm not sure what changed,
if it was the company that changed that you hire for it or what, but the
service got to be horrendous to the point where I had to cancel and
cancel and cancel doctor's appointment after doctor's appointment
after doctor's appointment. That's humiliating, and it's not right, and
I know you guys know that it's not right.
June 11, 2024
Page 17
So please let this go through. If you want to see a model that
really is done nicely, like I said, the one in Sarasota, which, from my
research, is run by a company called Breeze, and the shuttles are
cleaner, they're quieter, they're nice, they're on time. And, yes, the
people that do work for paratransit --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Let's wind this up, Mr. David.
MR. WHITNEY: Yep.
People are very nice. And I'm in favor of this, and for the one
person at paratransit that -- when I called to say my driver couldn't
find me, she simply said, "Well, can't you just hold up your cane?"
Think of this building we're in right now. If I'm on one side of the
building going like this (indicating), and the driver's on the other side
of the building, how are they going to get to me? They're not, right?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Right, thank you, sir.
MR. WHITNEY: Thank you, again.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Mike Rinaldi. He'll be
followed by Madalena Diosomito.
MR. RINALDI: My name is Mike Rinaldi. I've lived in
Naples since 1997. I joined the blind group about two years ago
when I had a stroke. And I was clueless about disability. I had no
idea the depth of the need until I had this blindness stroke happen to
me.
So I'm here to say that you need to allocate a lot more money for
the bus service and for the vans. We also need to be more creative
in what we do, because we met with Brian Wells more than a year
ago. Last budget season he said, oh, we're getting six new
buses -- net new buses, and we're using grant money. It's, like, big
deal. They're building a house next to me that's going to sell for 10
million bucks. We need to find more money and use the grant
money and get more cash for more buses.
And it's not just the buses. It's the routing. We need people
June 11, 2024
Page 18
from the outside to come in and evaluate how the routing's being
done, because people are getting stuck on the bus for hours, as the
other person had said earlier, back and forth without a proper
logistics plan. Maybe there's better software. Maybe there's some
AI out there that can improve that.
But we're here just to show you that there's a real need out there,
and it's not being met. And if you're not disabled, you don't see it.
And keep in mind, most of us are old. This is a suburb
community. It's all spread out. It's so hard to get to places once you
can't drive. So get creative. Look to the outside for better
scheduling, and, you know, maybe you need a waiver from the
federal government. Maybe Byron Donalds can work on that for us
so we can get inexpensive vans that don't have the lifts, because
many of the people are ambulatory, but we just need the
transportation help.
Thank you for listening.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Madalena Diosomito, and
she will be followed by Jan -- I'm not sure if this is Wolf or Wolk.
Wolk.
MS. DIOSOMINO: Good morning. You pronounced that
very well, Madalena Diosomito. Say that five times, and you'll be
cured of anything.
I just want to share my experience with the CAT. As you can
see, I am blind. I have retinitis pigmentosa, and after quite a few
years, I've lost vision in both eyes.
My daughter, Kiana Diosomito, has cerebral palsy, and she's
confined to a wheelchair. Kiana and I use the CAT on different
occasions. The CAT is very important to us.
Let me backtrack a bit. I was a teacher. I was forced to retire
because I lost my vision. So you can imagine how I felt. I was very
active in my community. I would go to work every day. I'd teach
June 11, 2024
Page 19
my students. I'd go home. I'd take care of my daughter and my
husband.
And after losing my vision it was difficult, but I needed to work
towards independence, and that's what I encourage in my daughter as
well. It doesn't matter how physically challenged she is; she's
important to this world, and she can do anything or everything as
everyone else, just in her own way.
And so Kiana and I use the CAT, as I said, to get to the
Lighthouse, to get to doctor appointments, social events.
Unfortunately, there are times where -- now don't get me wrong,
we are very appreciative of the CAT. Without them, we couldn't do
a lot of things. I do have my husband, who helps us, but it's very
important for us to be as independent as we can so that I don't have to
rely on my husband or other people all the time.
But there are times that the CAT fails and either we're late to
appointments, which are very important, or to the Lighthouse or other
issues as that.
Another thing that's very difficult is that those of us who are
riders on the bus, at times, as you've heard some of them mention,
we're on the bus for hours. And I want you-all to think of this.
You've seen quite a few of us walk up here who are visually
challenged and/or blind. Close your eyes for a minute, just a minute,
and listen to what I have to say. You get on a bus. You can't see.
You tell them where you're going, or the drivers know, and they're
very well, and now you're on the bus for three hours. You don't
know where you are. You don't know where you're heading.
And you get home hours after the time that you're supposed to
be there. Just think of that. Think of your children. Think of
yourselves. At any moment in time, any of you here could be in our
position. And so we're just asking that you provide more funding so
that we can get more buses but also improve the way that they
June 11, 2024
Page 20
dispatch the buses because at times, as someone mentioned, sorry, we
go all around the town before we can get to our homes or to our
destinations.
So I just thank you for listening to us. And remember that we
are all paying taxes. You know, we're all citizens here, and we're
just looking for a better life for each and every one of us.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Madalena.
MS. DIOSOMINO: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Jan Wolk. She'll be
followed by Maria Gutierrez.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Mr. Miller, how many more speakers do
we have on this subject?
MR. MILLER: We have five.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I just want to remind you, we understand
the problem. We understand it very well, and we're empathetic with
it. We're going to try to do our best here, in just a minute, as soon as
we get through these speakers, to approve this grant. So if you have
something that's different, sure, we want to hear it. Some of the
solutions that we've heard so far, we are taking all notes, and we
appreciate those solutions.
So, Ms. Jan, go ahead.
MS. WOLK: Yeah, I don't have anything really different to
say. It's just that since I have been diagnosed with severe glaucoma,
I have -- I had to give up driving, and it's really -- it's really hard not
to be able to jump in the car and go somewhere and you have to get
somebody to take you or, you know, plan around somebody else's
workday.
I do take the CAT to and from the Lighthouse. Coming to the
Lighthouse is not too much of a problem. And I haven't been having
a problem being late. It's just coming back again, when they're to
come and get you at 2:30, you might be waiting an hour or so for
June 11, 2024
Page 21
them to come, even though they tell you you're going to come home
at 2:30.
And then again, just like the others say, you're stuck on a bus. I
live five minutes from the Lighthouse. And other people, of course,
are further away. And the other day, they came, and they went
straight through my development right past my house. And I said to
them, "I live right here." Well, of course, they couldn't stop because
they had to take somebody else way up yonder and then come back
and all this. That's the problem we're having where people should be
picked up and taken to where they -- like all the people in Marco
Island in one place, go on that bus, not all over the place.
And I think if we had more buses, we could probably do that and
have a bus for, you know, Golden Gate come and pick up the Golden
Gate people and so forth. And that's -- that's the situation that I see
happening. And I hope that we can, you know, get this resolved.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Maria Gutierrez, and
she'll be followed by Judith Townsend.
MS. GUTIERREZ: Good morning. My name is Maria
Gutierrez.
I am here just to support the funds for the transportation that you
hear some of the other people -- it's the kind of frustration when we
ride the bus.
In my case, I lost sight of my vision in 2017, and I started using
the CAT Connect services, like, two years ago. It's, like, different
story every day when we ride the transportation. Some of us we
need to use because of work or, like, social events, like others said,
but sometimes we can be on time, maybe not, too early or too late.
The CAT Connect transportation is doing a little bit better with
the phone when we call, but, for example, sometimes when I call to
cancel my trip, nobody answered the phone, or I leave a message, I
June 11, 2024
Page 22
don't know if they hear the message or not.
Even the drivers, sometimes they want to do the best that they
can to help us to be on time for the appointments, but also, we
understand that they need to follow the instructions that they have
from dispatch. I know that they need better management. I don't
know how, training maybe, or better way to schedule the trips, and
that way we are not going to be long time riding the buses.
In my case, I have a record of three hours in the bus. I think
that it's unacceptable to be in north and then go down to north -- I'm
sorry -- to southeast. In my case, I live in Golden Gate Estates, and
even when we say Golden Gate Estates, it's not like we are, like,
distance from 10 minutes away. Sometimes it's up to 25 minutes
away from place to place.
And I think they need to know the distance between places.
You know, they're to consider our time when we ride the buses since
sometimes we are not getting lunch. And it's just simple. We are
long time hour from home.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
MS. GUTIERREZ: Thank you. That's all from me.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Judith Townsend. She'll
be followed by Scott Flagel or Flagle.
MS. TOWNSEND: I'll say good morning, first of all, and I
want to let you know that -- I want you to think for a moment. I
have nothing with me, as you can see. I have no cards, nothing else.
I want you to close your eyes and think about what it was like to
get ready this morning. How quickly did you jump out of bed?
How quickly did you do all those things?
You find that it goes fast, don't you? Just like a snap of your
fingers. You've had your coffee. You've had your shower. You're
ready for work.
When you have -- when you have a vision impairment, it doesn't
June 11, 2024
Page 23
take that long. It probably took the people who are here days to plan
for the fact that they are going to be coming to this meeting. How
are you going to dress? What are you -- well, first of all, when you
decide that you're going to be coming and dressing, you have to
decide which way to put on your clothes; otherwise, they're on
backwards or inside out, which is many times.
If you have a vision impairment, you have to think about, oh,
my goodness, what color are the clothes? I hear a voice whispering.
Shh.
Forgive me. I am rambling, and it's part of me having had a
stroke, and because I have that, I tend to jump from one subject to
another.
What I wanted to do today was come here and just express the
need for the transportation, as we all know we have it. I had a
stroke. I was driving. I was working full time last November, and
all of a sudden, I found that I was lying unconscious on the bathroom
floor. I was paralyzed for approximately -- I think two months I was
in ICU. I was unable to drive. I came home from the hospital in a
wheelchair. My left hand was totally paralyzed. My left side was
paralyzed. I've had to come and go through rehab with all of those
things, and I'm better for it. It's tenacity and determination that have
made me feel what I am able to do.
And I'm determined, and I'm not going to give up this fight for
having people having transportation. I don't have it. And I need it.
It's -- it is -- I cannot express to you in words how confining -- and
somebody mentioned the word "independence." We don't have
independence when we can't jump in the car and drive and go
somewhere. I don't have that anymore. I can't jump in and, okay,
I'm ready, let's go. Your friends are ready. They can go.
I used to have a full-time job, as I said. I don't have that
anymore. I was working with children with special needs.
June 11, 2024
Page 24
And please get back -- we need transportation. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Well, Judith, you look great today. You
did well.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Scott Flagle or Flagel?
MR. FLAGEL: Flagel.
MR. MILLER: Flagel. And he will be followed by Nicole
Aguilar.
MR. FLAGEL: Good morning. I'm the CEO of the
Lighthouse of Collier, and I just want to share a few comments.
I'm not visually impaired, but I have to tell you that every
agenda that I have at the Lighthouse -- we have an advisory
committee made up of clients, and we want to set the agenda and
meet every month. And what's first on the agenda? Transportation.
Paratransit.
Let's get to the second item. What's on the agenda?
Paratransit transportation and so on. And that's what our
meetings -- where we're trying to work on all the aspects of living,
you know, visually impaired or blind. That's what we're dealing
with at the Lighthouse.
We sent out a satisfaction survey, and what comes back -- you
know, you can read different items to correct. Staff is hoping they're
going to give us some ideas about maybe new programs and
new -- you know, new ideas. What comes up first? What
comes -- I don't have to tell you because we've taken it -- you know,
an hour of your time today to talk to you about it.
And I think this is what happens sometimes when things get so
bottled up and don't get a resolution, that this -- unfortunately, we had
to take an hour of your precious time on the agenda.
We did try to go through the right process. We invited
paratransit in. We've had them in for meetings with our clients.
We've had them invited to different events. So we've tried. So I
June 11, 2024
Page 25
guess what I want to leave you with is it's a bigger problem than just
funding. It's really making sure -- and I do appreciate the grant that
hopefully is going to be passed after this is done. But it really needs
to be looked at as an important aspect of living in Naples for all the
people with disabilities to have a reliable system.
And I don't have all the answers. And there are good days.
And we're not -- and I've heard some positive notes, but it's not good
to not know. It's, like, 50/50. If you woke up this morning, you
were getting into your car and you thought there was one in two
chances that your car wouldn't start, how would you feel? Because
you wanted to be here. You had to be here. You had a
responsibility.
So that's what they're faced with is that, you know, the
probability is not good when they call and get transportation.
Sometimes they luck out. And I'll just close that we sit ready at the
Lighthouse to work with the staff and to you and any other
suggestions that you might have to help with this issue.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Mr. Flagel.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker on this item is Nicole
Aguilar.
MS. AGUILAR: Hi, good morning.
MR. MILLER: You can pull the mic down.
MS. AGUILAR: Hello. So it's a pleasure to be here on behalf
of the Lighthouse of Collier staff. Lighthouse is the only center in
Collier County to serve individuals who are visually impaired or
blind. We currently serve over 300 clients every year, and
approximately 150 clients require transportation to get to our center.
During my time working at Lighthouse of Collier, I can see that
every day the paratransit system hasn't improved. Our clients have
to wait three to -- two to three hours to be picked up and one to three
June 11, 2024
Page 26
hours inside the bus on the way home. That is why some of our
clients are here to talk about their experience with the paratransit
system. They're grateful, but they need your help.
Thank you for listening to us and have a nice day.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Nicole.
MR. MILLER: And that's all of our speakers on that item, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm going to move to approve the
consent agenda.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: I do want to say thank you-all for
coming. We've listened. We've heard every single one of you.
We -- we have empathy for you, and we understand your frustrations,
and I can promise you as a board we will empower those that are in
charge to make the right decisions and to make the changes necessary
to improve your life. So thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Mr. Chair, can I say one
thing?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just -- and this isn't -- you
know, Scott, you and I talked a couple of weeks ago when we were
on the boat ride.
It's important that -- and, again, this isn't all just about money.
There was one fellow that talked about organization and logistics.
But it's important for the community to hear, we spend -- this county
spends $7 million a year on paratransit and those efforts to help our
June 11, 2024
Page 27
folks with developmental disadvantages. Three and a half million,
approximately 50 percent of that seven million, comes from the
federal government with grants.
So from an -- for an informational standpoint, we really -- I
really appreciate hearing from the community that -- with specifics as
to what we can do better to better help our folks that are suffering
from these disadvantages.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think one of the things I heard this morning that is
troubling -- and there were a lot of things in terms of the problems
that are -- you were experiencing. But one of the things that
troubled me quite a bit was the issue of logistics and not being able to
have routing done properly. And what I'd like to suggest to the
Commission is that we have our staff come back at our next
meeting -- because we're in budget process now. But routing, that
should be something that -- with technology, it should be a whole lot
better than it is. I don't know who on our staff is in charge of the
paratransit.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Trinity.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But I'd like a report at our
next meeting on what the issues are and what we need to do to
improve that as part of what we're going to be doing going forward
with this issue.
I also want to thank everybody for being here. I do understand
how difficult it was for you to get here this morning.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I want to echo thanks as well
for coming and giving us valuable feedback, but -- and we just
mentioned her name. Trinity Scott is one of the superstars on our
county staff.
June 11, 2024
Page 28
We always know we can do things better, and you've given us a
list. We all wrote down things that were repetitive, so that tells us
that it is a problem. But leave here knowing that, you know, we
don't have Abbott and Costello running CAT. Trinity Scott is -- you
know, Ronald Reagan would consider her his kitchen cabinet. And
so I'm sure she's in the back hearing some things.
And we don't always get it right, and we definitely can get it
better. As Commissioner McDaniel said, we throw a lot of money
at, you know, transit services. This commission, especially in the
last year or so, we want to make sure we're not just spending money,
but we're investing it and we're not wasting it.
And so you've given us a lot of good things. And I can tell you
it didn't fall on deaf ears, and the top person of the organization that,
you know, you're here giving us feedback on is somebody that we
really highly respect and we meet with regularly.
So, you know, we look forward to hearing from Trinity and her
staff and figuring out how we can tighten things up for you-all. So
thank you very much for being here.
And all your clothes and shirts and everything perfectly
matched, not inside out. You guys did a great job. I was very
impressed. I actually think my shirt's inside out and -- but all
kidding aside, thank you for taking the time to come here.
And I know you're representing a much larger population of
people that use the transportation that couldn't be here. So we've
heard you, and we have a top senior leader over that entire
department.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And, Commissioner Kowal?
One Adam 12 to Commissioner Kowal.
MR. MILLER: I see him.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Can you hear me now?
CHAIRMAN HALL: There we go.
June 11, 2024
Page 29
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Okay. Sorry. I echo what my
fellow commissioners have said. And I know over the past few
weeks, I've had some e-mail communications with people from
Lighthouse.
And I've been looking into and -- along with Trinity, who is a
superstar in our staff -- and that, you know, from listening to some of
the speakers, it sounds like maybe some other jurisdictions have a
good grasp of, you know, some scheduling or how they're doing it
theirselves.
So sometimes you don't have to reinvent the wheel. You know,
I'm proud enough to go and look and see what other people are doing
and bring those ideas back to Collier County. Because definitely we
want to shine and definitely be ahead of -- and be right up there with
anybody else.
So I'm glad I got a chance to hear some people today on this
subject personally. Thank you.
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
June 1,2024
Item 10B to be heard at 9:30: Recommendation to adopt the attached Resolution in opposition to Amendment 4
titled as an Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, which if enacted would amend the
Florida Constitution to greatly enhance abortions in Florida. (Commissioner Hall's Request)
Continue item 16E1 to the June 25,2024,BCC Meeting: Recommendation to approve and authorize the
Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)between Collier County and MHP Bembridge, LLC,to
further affordable housing initiatives through a$893,826.24 impact fee loan; authorize using Federal State and
Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to reimburse the Affordable Workforce Housing(1075) fund in the amount of
$893,826.24; authorize all associated Budget Amendments; and authorize the Chairman to execute all related loan
documents. (Fiscal Impact$893,826.24, Fund 1075) (Staffs Request)
Move item 17A to 9B: This item requires the Commission members to provide ex-parte disclosure. Should a
hearing be held on this item, all participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve an Ordinance
rezoning a 4.86±acre property located at 135 Price Street from the Rural Agricultural(A)Zoning District to the
Residential Single Family-2 (RSF-2)Zoning District to allow up to three single-family dwelling units in Section 4,
Township 51 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. [PL20220002704] (Commissioner LoCastro's
Request)
Move item 16B15 to 11G: Recommendation to authorize the County Manager or designee to provide $5,333.33 to
the Trust for Public Lands for preparation of a grant application for the acquisition of the Seminole Gulf Rail Line
and to pledge up to$241,611 toward the local match for the grant. (Commissioner Hall's Request)
Notes: Item 9A should be listed with District 2 rather than District 4.
TIME CERTAIN ITEMS:
Item 10A to be heard prior to item 4: Proclamations: Resolution naming the helipad located at the Collier
County Sheriffs Office District 8 Substation in Immokalee the"Larry H. Ray, LTC (ret)US Army Helipad.
Item 10B to be heard at 9:30: Resolution in opposition to Amendment 4 titled as an Amendment to Limit
Government Interference with Abortion.
6/11/2024 8:40 AM
June 11, 2024
Page 30
Item #2B
MAY 14, 2024, BCC MINUTES - MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
Item #2C
MAY 28, 2024, BCC MINUTES - MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Items 2B
and 2C, if you'd like to take those together. Those are the approval
of the meeting minutes from May --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make a motion to accept
the minutes, 2B and 2C.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Second.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
Item #10A
RESOLUTION 2024-115: A RESOLUTION NAMING THE
HELIPAD LOCATED AT THE COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S
OFFICE DISTRICT 8 SUBSTATION IN IMMOKALEE THE
“LARRY H. RAY, LTC (RET) US ARMY HELIPAD” AND
June 11, 2024
Page 31
DIRECT STAFF TO INSTALL APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE.
(DISTRICT 5) - ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to our first
of our time-certain items. This is Item 10A. This is a resolution
naming the helipad located at the Collier County Sheriff's Office
District 8 substation in Immokalee the Larry H. Ray, LTC, lieutenant
commander, retired U.S. Army Helipad. And this is brought to the
agenda by Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. Good morning.
Larry, you want to come to the podium while I read your
resolution?
MR. RAY: I don't know.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You don't know?
This -- if I may -- if I may, I'd like to read the resolution, sir.
You know, Larry and I have been friends a long time. This
whole adventure came about -- and I'll ramble on a little bit because
we're in the process of getting our friends out who take a lot of time
to get -- to get to wherever they're going, let alone anything.
But I've known Larry a long time. He served as our Tax
Collector. And I'm going to read this resolution and talk about
everything else that Larry did back in the day.
But one of Larry's friends approached me and suggested that we
name a helicopter pad after Larry, and Larry thought the guy was
messing with him. It was one of his golfing buddies, and Larry
thought the guy was just messing with him. And then -- and really
kind of shunned it. Didn't really want to mess with it.
And then I happenstancely bumped into Larry at an event, and I
said, "Hey, how come you're not so happy about the helicopter pad
naming?"
"Were you serious about that?"
June 11, 2024
Page 32
So here we are today.
So here you go, my friend. If you'll indulge, I'll try not to mess
this up too awful much.
Lieutenant Colonel Larry H. Ray served the United States Army
between 1965 and 1987, graduating from both fixed and rotary wing
flight schools and serving two tours of duty as a helicopter pilot in
Vietnam.
His specialties included field artillery and aviation, and he was
awarded several medals and honors, including the bronze star medal,
the distinguished flying cross, and the Legion of Merit award.
Sometimes naming a helicopter pad after somebody just isn't
enough.
In 1991, Larry and wife Pam moved to Naples where he worked
on the sports staff for Naples Community Hospital. He joined the
management team at the hospital in 1995 as vice president of
facilities and construction. In this role, he managed the expansion of
several services, including construction of the Schick Heart Center,
the Lutgert Cancer Center, and the Whitaker Wellness Center, and
the expansion of the North Collier Hospital from 50 beds to 300.
In '07, he joined the staff at Collier County Tax Collector as a
compliance officer, elected the sixth Tax Collector in Collier County
history in November of '08. Larry was responsible for the collection
and distribution of all property taxes and tourist development taxes in
Collier County.
Additionally, as Tax Collector, he oversaw both Department of
Motor Vehicles and driver's license operations in the county.
Larry retired in 2021 after serving three terms.
Larry Ray has always actively supported the Collier County
community, having served on the boards of the Junior Achievement
of Southwest Florida and Health Planning Council of South Florida.
He has been a member of the Collier County's Privatization
June 11, 2024
Page 33
Committee and Transportation Citizens Advisory Committee. He is
a graduate of Leadership Collier, the Leadership Institute Executive
Management Program at Hodges University, and is a past president
of the North Collier -- North -- Naples North Rotary Club.
Naming the helicopter pad at the Collier County Sheriff District
8 substation -- that's over in Immokalee, by the way, for people who
aren't aware -- is a small token of our appreciation to a decorated
pilot who has dedicated his life to serving his country and his
community.
The Sheriff's District 8 substation is -- also happens to be
located in Immokalee government center across from Immokalee
branch, and we're going to put a plaque up there as well, just so you
know, Larry, so it will be memorialized.
MR. RAY: All right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Now, therefore, be it resolved
by the Board of County Commissioners in Collier County, Florida, in
honor of Larry H. Ray's service to his country and to Collier County,
to name the helipad located at the Collier County Sheriff's district
substation in Immokalee the "Larry H. Ray, LTC, Retired U.S. Army
helipad," and to direct staff to install the appropriate signage.
So forth, be resolved on this day -- well, it was -- I set this up
back in April, and nobody fixed the date. So we're going to do it as
of today.
MR. RAY: Okay.
(Applause.)
MR. RAY: Well, I want to thank the Commission, and
especially Commissioner McDaniel, for this honor. Certainly an
honor. Unexpected honor. But I'm proud of my service. I was
proud serving the citizens of the United States in those years in
hostile action, and I certainly was proud to serve the citizens of
Collier County as the Tax Collector and the DMV guy and the
June 11, 2024
Page 34
hunting and fishing license guy.
So thanks a lot. I appreciate it. It's been a pleasure to be down
here. I hadn't been down here in a while. I spend a lot more time
on the golf course now. I had to dig this out of --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Dust the mothballs off?
MR. RAY: Yeah, mothballs. Thanks a lot, Commissioners. I
appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Rob, you want to say a few
words? No? Yes?
I think, Larry, were you hired by Guy?
MR. RAY: I was, I was.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Guy Carlton.
MR. RAY: I was, yes.
MR. STONEBURNER: For the record, Rob Stoneburner,
Collier County Tax Collector, the seventh tax collector in Collier
County history.
I don't have a lot to say other than when we told Larry all those
things and accomplishments that he did, he said, "If you find that
guy," he says, "I want to meet him. He sounds like he's a pretty cool
dude." So that's all I have to say.
MR. RAY: Are we going to do a photo op?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Absolutely.
MR. RAY: Oh, yeah.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Ray, we're going to get this legitimized
with real signatures and real date, and then we'll forward it to you.
MR. RAY: It's going to look somewhat like this?
CHAIRMAN HALL: It's going to look just like that, all pretty,
signed, and executed and make you legit.
MR. RAY: I appreciate it.
I can only suck it in so long, so.
June 11, 2024
Page 35
(Applause.)
MR. STONEBURNER: A thorn between roses.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I really want to thank the
Board for indulging in that. You know, there's a lot of folks that are
unsung heroes that just kind of go along, and my friend Larry's
certainly one of those.
CHAIRMAN HALL: You're welcome.
Ms. Patterson.
Item #10B
RESOLUTION 2024-116: THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION IN
OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENT 4 TITLED AS AN
AMENDMENT TO LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE
WITH ABORTION, WHICH IF ENACTED WOULD AMEND
THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION TO GREATLY ENHANCE
ABORTIONS IN FLORIDA. (ALL DISTRICTS) - MOTION TO
ADOPT BY COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – ADOPTED
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Commissioners, that brings
us to our 9:30 time-certain. That is Item 10B. It's a
recommendation to adopt the attached resolution in opposition to
Amendment IV titled as "Amendment to limit government
interference with abortion which, if enacted, would amend the
Florida Constitution to greatly enhance abortions in Florida." This
item is brought to the agenda at Commissioner Hall's request.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
Yes, I did. I brought this forward to pass it because, as an
amendment -- as this Amendment IV comes to the ballot, it's not just
June 11, 2024
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the content that I'm concerned about. It's more the process. The
voters are going to vote on this in November, and I want to make sure
that they understand fully what they're voting on. And because of
the content, because of the process, we want to keep the powers to
the state legislatures [sic] that represent us.
And so that's why I brought this forward.
Troy, how many public speakers have we got?
MR. MILLER: Sir, we have 17 registered public speakers for
this item.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. All right.
MR. MILLER: All right. We'll begin here in the room with
Keith Flaugh. And they've -- these speakers have put themselves in
an order, and we'd like to go to Dr. John Littell on Zoom next. Keith
has been ceded three additional minutes from Ryan Kennedy. Ryan,
are you --
(Raises hand.)
MR. MILLER: Oh, there he is over there.
So Keith will have a total of six minutes, and I know, Amy, at
some point Ryan's going to have some things he wants to put on the
overhead for this.
Keith, you have six minutes.
MR. FLAUGH: Thank you. Good morning, Commissioners.
I want to try to be brief and not use all six minutes.
Florida Citizens Alliance is proud to stand for parental rights
and protecting Florida's children. We urge the Collier County Board
of County Commission to pass this unanimously.
On the 20th -- in 2024 general election ballot this November,
voters will have an opportunity and be presented with this very
deceptive ballot measure that would enshrine abortion access up until
the point of birth in the Florida Constitution.
Don't be deceived. This amendment will do all of the following
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if passed: It will allow access to abortion for all women up until the
point of birth. It will allow individuals other than doctors to perform
those abortions or grant access to abortions up until birth. It will
remove parental consent for minors from the law, and it will remove
any ability for the state to regulate safe medical standards in regards
to abortion.
I'd like to put on the agenda [sic] the actual language that's -- for
those that can see it online. The highlighting on this is my
highlighting, so...
The important point is starting out with the first underline "no
law." What this means is all current laws will be removed from the
books that affect abortion, and no new laws from the legislature will
be allowed under the Constitution.
It goes on to say, "shall prohibit paralyzed delay or restrict
abortion before viability." Viability is not defined. Therefore,
given today's medical environment, that's right up until the time of
birth.
One of the more important words in this thing is the next word
"'or' when necessary to protect the patient's health." Patient's health
is not defined. It can be your emotional health, your physical health,
or your financial health.
"As determined by the patient's healthcare provider." Again,
not defined.
So this literally means, in the third chart that I'm going to ask
Ryan to put up -- this chart is what's currently in law for medical
practitioners in Florida. This law does go away. But as you can
see, your massage therapist, your physical therapist, your eye doctor
can actually perform or -- support the performance of the abortion
without any medical procedure.
So Collier citizens and all Floridians need to know the truth
about this defective amendment. With this deceptive language, it
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would enshrine in our constitution allowing for unsafe, unrestricted,
unregulated abortion on demand up until the time of birth for all
women, and equally important, it will remove consent for minors
which are currently in law. And it no longer would require an
abortion to be performed by a medical doctor.
So I thank you, Commissioner Hall, for bringing this forward,
and we look forward to all of you voting for life, not only for the
unborn, but for the moms involved because abortions without
medical regulation puts their life at risk, too.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Dr. John Littell on Zoom,
and Dr. Littell will be followed by Kristina Heuser.
Dr. Littell, you're being prompted to unmute yourself. I see
you've done that. Sir, you have three minutes.
DR. LITTELL: Yes, thank you very much. It's an honor to be
able to speak to you. I want to thank the commissioners for
considering really what's going on throughout the country.
I want to let you know I've been in practice for 35 years. I'm
the medical director of five women pregnancy centers around the
state of Florida. I had the opportunity to review many, many
ultrasounds. I also -- one of the areas I'm involved with women is
preventing miscarriages and helping woman with infertility. So each
day, practically, in my office I have the joy of having women hear the
heartbeat of their babies, you know, at various stages of gestation,
women who have been trying so hard not to have another
miscarriage.
And I'm not sure if you all are aware, but 62 percent of the
abortions in the state of Florida were do-it-yourself miscarriages last
year, 62 percent of the abortions. And we had a record high number.
I don't know the number off the top of my head, but it's incredible
June 11, 2024
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that this is what's happening to healthcare.
These women, as you just heard, their lives are in danger.
They're going home and bleeding, hemorrhaging at various stages of
gestation.
And I can tell you this legislation -- this ballot initiative was
actually nixed -- it was voted down by the three female justices of the
Florida Supreme Court. All three women said this is deceptive
language, and the four men -- this is our concern -- is that many men
are going to turn out and vote, thinking that when they see the words
"limiting government interference" on the ballot -- you know, we're
freedom-loving people, and they're so smart, these Floridians
Protecting Freedom, that's the group that put this out there. They
think this is about freedom.
Of course, it's not freeing for the woman or for the baby. But
when you see "limiting government interference," you and I, we all
know that a lot of folks are going to hit the "yes" button on that
Amendment IV when, in fact, everything you just heard is absolutely
true and frightening.
Nine months of gestation, no parental consent for -- they say
parental notification. That's after the fact. No parental consent for
minors. And, yes, providers, not doctors, overseeing this really evil
process, in my opinion.
So I just want to congratulate Collier County for really being the
first county that I know of in the state of Florida willing to even
entertain a resolution like this. You can bet your bottom dollar I'll
be bringing it here to Marion County and down to Sumter County if
you guys have the courage to say to your citizens that this is hurting
women and unborn children in a way that even -- I've got doctors
who never were pro-life, OB/GYNs, friends of mine who never took
a stand, they're saying this is out of control. What they are seeing in
their practices, in the emergency rooms on call with do-it-yourself
June 11, 2024
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miscarriages is -- I won't get into all the details, but folks, it is out of
control in a way that I, in 35 years, never thought would happen in
this country. And Planned Parenthood knows no limits.
So I really thank you for considering really the savagery of
this -- of this ballot initiative and doing whatever you can in your
power to encourage your citizens to vote no on Amendment IV.
And also, by the way, I'm the chairman of Do No Harm Florida,
donoharmflorida, just on this very issue. So thank you again. I
appreciate the time to speak.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Kristina Hauser. She'll
be followed by Pastor Jeff Donaldson.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I just want to remind everyone, this is a
highly passionate and emotional subject, and in respect for everyone
in the room, whether you're for it or whether you're against it, I'm
going to ask you to hold your applause or to hold your other
comments. Thank you.
MS. HAUSER: Thank you, Commissioner Hall. And thank
you for bringing this resolution forward and thank all of you
commissioners for being thoughtful about this measure. It is very
important.
I agree with both of our prior speakers, the language is very
deceptive, and it is important for government to inform the voters
about what they will be looking at on the ballot when they make a
decision.
I don't want to be redundant with what the other speakers who
went before me said, so instead I'd like to use my time to counter
what I anticipate some speakers on the other side will say.
It's often said -- and I anticipate that the messaging that we will
hear around Amendment IV is that this is necessary to protect
women's health, freedom, reproductive freedom, and I have to say, as
a woman, myself, I find that incredibly offensive. It is not
June 11, 2024
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empowering to women to urge women or even permit women to kill
their own babies in the womb. In fact, the greatest power that we
have as women, I believe, is the ability to bring forth human life. It's
something that is unique to women, and it's something that should be
celebrated and cherished and not attacked.
I think it's incredibly perverse to instruct young women that it is
empowering to them to kill their own babies, and it makes me very
sad. And in fact, because I feel so strongly about this -- and I'm
aware of the deception in the messaging and in what young women
seeking help in times of crisis, when they go to Planned Parenthood
and they are pressured into having an abortion and told that this will
not cause them any harm, that it's just a routine medical procedure,
because I'm so committed to countering that, I do volunteer my time
as a sidewalk advocate.
And we stand on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood
and try to talk to women and tell them about the other side, the things
that Planned Parenthood doesn't tell them, which is that women who
have abortions, they suffer from depression, extreme guilt that they
will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and oftentimes commit
suicide or at least contemplate suicide because they've made this
irreversible decision. And nobody warns them about that.
As a young mother myself, I probably fit a lot of the
demographics that these women who support abortion will tell you.
We are the group that need to have access to abortion. I was young.
I was unmarried. I was not gainfully employed yet because I had
just graduated from college, but I did not choose abortion, I chose
life, and now I'm proud mother of a 20-year-old daughter who's very
successful, about to complete her college degree. She's beautiful.
She's faithful to the Lord, and I look forward to the impact that she
will have on society in her years ahead.
Every human life is valuable, and it's important that we, as a
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society, hold up that standard, that government holds up that
standard, which is that every human life has inherent value.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Pastor Jeff Donaldson.
He'll be followed by Father Michael Orsi.
PASTOR DONALDSON: Good morning. Thank you for
considering this important issue. Thank you for the way that you
serve our amazing county.
My name is Jeff Donaldson. I am senior pastor at Christ
Community Naples located in Commissioner LoCastro's district.
And we prayed this morning before we started our meeting the
God would give us wisdom about decisions that are made. Then we
stood and pledged allegiance to our country saying -- putting our
hands over our hearts, recognizing our country is under God.
And as a pastor, I'm sure people are surprised to see us speaking
about a political issue, but I don't think it's a political issue. I think
it's a moral issue. I think it's a Biblical issue.
Thank you for your consideration to educate the voters in our
county about this proposed change to our amendment. I would
remind you that the United States Constitution does not grant the
right to abortion, but the voters in Florida have the potential to be
misled and misguided by the verbiage of this bill to add the right to
abortion inside of our state constitution. That's what's at stake here.
I appreciate the other speakers who've come before us to educate
us and to plead with us about this issue. I greatly appreciate your
willingness to listen, to be engaged, and to help our community
understand what's at stake here. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Father Michael Orsi.
He'll be followed by Scott Kiley.
FATHER ORSI: Good morning. Nice to see all of you again.
I'm not here to speak about the evils of abortion. I'm here to
June 11, 2024
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speak about the evil of Amendment IV. I'm looking at it not just
from a religions point of view. I'm looking at this from a legal point
of view and a point of view of common sense.
Amendment IV is an affront to the people of Florida. Because
it is poorly crafted, it does not lend itself to an informed voting
response. Quite honestly, gentlemen, if a student in law school
handed me something like this, I would throw it back at them. "You
do not belong in law school. And, secondly, if you think you're
going to be a good lawyer, you have exhibited a lack of integrity by
how ambiguous this amendment is."
If passed, this amendment would allow for unimagined
consequences, politically, medically, economically, and morally, for
years to come. Recall that three of the seven justices on the
Supreme Court found the amendment to be ambiguous and
confusing. Now, those are the three, I believe, legal scholars. If
they find it difficult, what about the average voter? What do they
find?
What does Amendment IV call for? How many weeks will be
allowed to terminate a pregnancy? Who would make that
determination? A child? A parent? A guidance counselor? Who
would perform the procedure? And what would be its financial
impact on government revenue and on the state budget? You see, I
have a political mind, too.
As to the last question, a Leon County judge said the
amendment needs revision. Another judge says it needs revision.
She said that it is inaccurate, ambiguous, misleading, unclear, and
confusing. In fact, this applies to the whole text. The people of
Florida on either side of the abortion issue deserve better than this.
How sad when people are asked to vote for an amendment that
potentially has extreme implications which they cannot fully
comprehend and would not approve of if they did.
June 11, 2024
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Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Scott Kiley. He'll be
followed by Michelle Albergo.
MR. KILEY: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Scott Kiley, and I am a citizen living in Collier County.
I'm here today to speak in support of the Collier County
resolution urging residents to vote no on Amendment IV.
To begin, I'd like to provide some context. Commissioners,
Naples was recently voted by U.S. News as the best city to live in
America. The actions of this board, working with our constitutional
sheriff along with our citizens, addressing the forces seeking to
destroy America while the actions that you have taken are precisely
what makes Naples the best city in America.
I'd like to thank each commissioner for your bravery, for your
love of humanity, and for your love of country.
Amendment IV is crafted to deceive. It is designed to make
voters believe it provides regulations for abortion after viability.
The demonic deception comes from a broad health loophole that
would allow abortion to the moment of birth if the healthcare
provider, very loosely defined, who may be someone who doesn't
even have a medical license, claims it's necessary to protect the
patient's health, also very loosely defined. Courts have interpreted
this as justifying abortion for virtually any reason.
Let's look at the broader picture. We see the radical educational
indoctrination of our children. We see the diabolical gender-identity
ideology forced on the population. We see the global depopulation
agenda.
We witness record low fertility and birth rates. We see the
destruction of the nuclear family and the war on parental rights. In
Collier County, we are pushing back.
Amendment IV further shreds the fabric of all that is good about
June 11, 2024
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America. It is anti-Christian and is antifamily, and it is a war on the
unborn.
In summary, Florida Amendment IV is a proposed amendment
to the Florida Constitution that will be on the November 5th, 2024,
ballot. Amendment IV is abortion on demand by anyone for any
reason up to the moment of birth. We must reject Amendment IV.
I stand firmly in support of this resolution.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Michelle Albergo. She'll
be followed by Janet Hoffman.
MS. ALBERGO: Good morning, Commissioners. My name
is Michelle Albergo, and I'm here to represent the Christian Family
Coalition of Florida. Thank you for placing this important resolution
on today's agenda.
Planned Parenthood and several Soros-backed groups have
succeeded in placing an extreme proabortion amendment on Florida's
ballot. Amendment IV would dramatically expand the killing of
unborn babies in the state of Florida up to the ninth month of
pregnancy. The wording of Amendment IV is intentionally
deceptive in that it is designed to make voters believe it allows
regulation of abortion after "viability," in quotes, but includes a
"broad health," also in quotes, loophole that would allow abortion to
the moment of birth if the healthcare provider, who can be pretty
much anybody, claims it's necessary to protect the patient's health,
which courts have interpreted as justifying abortion for virtually any
reason, including morning sickness, anxiety, financial stress.
Amendment IV would repeal Florida's Heartbeat Protection Act,
which includes exceptions for rape and incest. It's going to rescind
the 24-hour waiting period and sonogram requirement, eliminate
parental consent for minors seeking an abortion, while deceptively
allowing parental notification and do away with clinical safety
June 11, 2024
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regulations for women by abolishing the legislature's power to
regulate the abortion industry in virtually any way whatsoever.
The Declaration of Independence declares it to be
self-evident -- to be a self-evident truth that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights
beginning with the right to life. Abortion violently ends the life of
an unborn child and should not be enshrined in the Florida
Constitution.
Last month, Gilchrist County Commission became the first in
the state to pass a resolution denouncing Amendment IV, and we're
asking you to please join them today by condemning this horrible
amendment.
Thank you so much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Janet Hoffman. She'll be
followed by Katy Tardif.
MS. HOFFMAN: My name is Janet Hoffman. Thank you
very much.
I'm concerned about the sanctity of a woman's life. Even with a
health and life exception, physicians have been unable to provide
evidence-based medical care for women who need it.
Being unable to get this needed care until very close to death has
meant the loss of fertility, severe organ damage, and at times death
for the pregnant woman.
The abortion ban is harming women who want to have a baby
but the pregnancy is not viable. There are many ways that -- that can
risk the woman's life and create severe consequences if it's not dealt
with. Hydrocephalus, sepsis are some of those, and they are
life-threatening, and they can damage a woman's organs.
Opposing Amendment IV, to me, is not honoring the lives of
women. It is making life very risky for pregnant women, and it is
not viewing their lives as sacred. Amendment IV includes Article X,
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which allows parents to give -- they must give permission for minors.
This amendment also does not allow abortions once viability has
been reached. Viability can vary, but it's generally around 24 weeks.
To say that this abortion [sic] would allow the unborn to be taken
right up to the moment of birth is not true. Abortions are never
performed right up to birth. It is illegal to do so in this country.
Women's lives are at stake. Women need to make the decisions
for their own lives. This is not a government role to make medical
decisions, especially ones that harm the lives of women.
I stand here because my faith is calling me to speak out, and I
believe that denying healthcare to women that threatens their life with
a fetus that's not going to survive anyway does not make sense.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Katy Tardif. She's been
ceded additional time from Katelyn Tellgren. Are you here,
Katelyn?
(Raises hand.)
MR. MILLER: I see she's back there. She'll have six minutes
and will be followed by Greg Folley.
MS. TARDIF: This will be music to your ears, but I threw out
what I wrote -- this will not be music to your ears. I threw out what
I wrote because I am so moved that I'm going to just speak from the
heart.
But I want to begin with reminding you of what you've heard
more than one time today. The language of the amendment is not
vague. It's not unclear. It's actually quite deliberate, because it's
reflective of medical uncertainties that can require one decision for
this circumstance but a different one for this circumstance because
different variables came into play. What's certain is that it does not
allow for aborting a fetus past the time of viability. And to my
thinking, there's a good argument there, too, but I'm not going there
June 11, 2024
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today. We're talking about pre-viability. So that's one thing to
make sure we are very clear on.
The frequent references to forced -- the frequent references to
the birthing process and how these women are cared for and the fake
clinics -- more fake clinics than there are real medical
services -- providers for pregnant people.
One of my favorite posters when I'm protesting is "forced births
are unfunded mandates." My mother stood in line for the cheese.
She stood in line for the week-old bread. She slaved to keep her
children clean and dressed and going to school, her first four, and
then came the next two.
And I'll share something personal. We lived with a very
abusive stepfather, and my father was a drunk who never showed up,
so my mother raised us.
And she didn't have the option of abortion. Who knows if she
would or wouldn't have, but we did grow up with a stepfather who
molested his stepchildren and who molested other people's children.
My sister was raped by the chief of police of our town. My
mother was raped in a gravel pit by a group of boys. She was a
young woman in high school and didn't know a lot. They should
have had the opportunity to abort children they couldn't afford.
And to that point, I want to remind everyone that it's incredibly
perverse that people who will look the other way when many of those
who did have unwanted births with the assurances that there are
medical facilities right around the corner that can take care of
you -- we all know that at least -- no, more than half of those are BS
medical-providing services. They lure people in.
They -- those -- more than half give fake medical tests, and they
falsely report findings of bona fide or fake tests.
They're assured that their babies will be fed, the children that
they're raising will have clothes, they will find houses, they will find
June 11, 2024
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housing, and yet, those mothers, especially the single ones, but also
the ones with two parents, struggle to survive feeding, clothing,
housing, getting them to doctor, getting them to expensive medical
procedures that they can't afford. And they knew those things before
they were convinced to have the child because there was this
marvelous mattress of support there and waiting.
Well, you all know that is not true. You know it. They will
always be unfounded, unfunded mandates.
And by the way, the people who have trouble with vision who
were here earlier today described a system that for many of those
mothers is the only transportation they have to and from their jobs.
Who's going to take care of kids when the bus doesn't show up?
Who's going to take care of their kids when they can't be there
because of the kinds of -- what do you call it? -- the programs,
the -- oh, gosh, the timing of the pickups, the number of pickups at
any one of those housing arenas where these people live.
Imagine that. You would force births but not take care of the
product of those births. What is wrong? Isn't it obvious?
But we're never going to do it, and you all know that. We are
never going to do that. We're never going to provide adequate,
affordable, decent transportation, accessible housing. We are never
going to provide for their full medical needs. We're never going to
provide for the feeding of them. We insist they be born, and we set
them free.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Thank you, Kate.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Greg Folley. He'll be
followed by Diane van Parys.
MR. FOLLEY: Good morning, and thank you, Commissioner
Hall, and all the commissioners for dealing with this issue.
I think it's very, very important. And I'm a city councilor on
Marco Island, resident of Marco Island. I hope we deal with this as
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well, and I think we'll have an opportunity to do so.
A couple of points. I think it's possible to have reasonable
debate on abortion. You can, however, only have that reasonable
debate if you recognize that there's not one life involved but two, and
then you can decide whether and how we should regulate it: six
weeks, 15 weeks, something different. It's a subject of debate.
They've had a debate in France recently. Moved it, I think, from 12
to 14 weeks.
It's still much more conservative than this radical proposal
which eliminates debate and basically just enshrines abortion as a
right with only one life of those two involved being considered.
I applaud you for making this known to the public and the
problems -- enormous problems with this amendment, because tens
of millions of dollars are going to be spent promoting it, and that's
going to be -- the funds to oppose it are going to be dwarfed by
comparison.
And so it's very important for leaders like yourselves to call this
out and make your views known. And I applaud you for it, I thank
you for it, and I hope many others emulate it as well.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Diane van Parys. I hope
I'm saying that close to right, Diane.
MS. VAN PARYS: Yes, yes.
MR. MILLER: And she'll be followed by Jane Schlechtweg.
MS. VAN PARYS: Thank you, Commissioner Hall, for
bringing this forward and for all of the commissioners.
I want to speak to this issue on a different format. The first is
that the amendment process, in order to get an amendment on the
ballot, we had to have 900,000 petitions signed, of which the
organization promoting this Floridians Protecting Freedom did get
over 900,000 petitions signed. That was over $18 million in paying
June 11, 2024
Page 51
petitioners to get the amendment -- petitions to the Florida Supreme
Court. It was then fought in the Florida Supreme Court by our
Attorney General as well as many others on both sides. The
decision -- it was bought on December 8th, and then the decision was
made on April 1st.
On April 1st, there were key decisions made in this issue. The
first was that the 15-week ban from 2022 legislation on abortion was
with -- was held up, and that went into effect on April 1st.
Following that would be the '23 legislation for a six-week ban
on abortion that went into effect 30 days later on May 1st.
At the same time, the Supreme Court ruled on April 1st, Florida
Supreme Court, ruled that Amendment IV would go on the ballot.
The language was discussed. The word "viability" is not defined.
In the discussion on December 8th, viability was given as 21 to 24
weeks, as a previous speaker mentioned; however, viability does
mean up until in the birth canal.
What I want to tell you now is $11.8 million has been raised in
two months from April 1st to May 31st to promote this bill, to
promote this amendment. Amendment IV takes away the Heartbeat
Protection Bill. That was made on April 1st. Heartbeat Protection
is enshrined in our law, and this will take away every single piece of
that. The -- I can't seem to find it.
It takes away parental consent. It takes away the ability for sex
trafficking to handle that. Sex trafficking -- suspected sex slaves can
receive an abortion, but it must be reported to authorities. We are
protecting all kinds of other things in the Heartbeat Bill, and I
applaud you for approving this, and I wish you do.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Before we go to Jane Schlechtweg, I have a
second slip for Michael Orsi. Is there a second Michael Orsi here
that's not Father Orsi? Okay. I just wanted to check and make sure.
June 11, 2024
Page 52
Jane Schlechtweg is next, and she'll be followed on Zoom by
Deborah Cruz.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: There's not two Father Orsis.
MR. MILLER: I didn't think so, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: He must be here in spirit.
MR. MILLER: I had different phone numbers on them, so I
didn't want to take any chances.
Jane is next, and she'll be followed on Zoom by Deborah Cruz.
MS. SCHLECHTWEG: Good morning, Board of Collier
County Commissioners. My name is Jane Schlechtweg. I am a
resident of Collier County, and I'm here to ask you to please deny this
resolution.
Amendment IV seeks to provide -- or protect abortion rights up
to the point of viability. That is not birth, as some people here
would lead you to believe. It's up to the point of viability, and that is
dependent on the situation. Not on a government understanding of
it, but on the decision made by the doctor and the patient.
The Florida Supreme Court allowed the wording of this
amendment to stand, and it decided that the wording was clear.
I also believe it's crucial to highlight the several key points that
support this amendment and align with the values previously
expressed by this very board.
I would like to remind the Board of the ordinance passed in
2023 which explicitly states that the Board would oppose any
legislation that infringes upon the rights of Collier County citizens
and their health. Amendment IV is fundamentally about protecting
the health and rights of women.
By ensuring the right to choose up to the point of viability, this
amendment supports a woman's health and autonomy which aligns
with the principles set forth in your 2023 ordinance.
It's also important to consider that -- the diverse beliefs and
June 11, 2024
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values of all residents in Collier County. While religious beliefs are
deeply personal and significant to many, it is crucial that our laws
reflect the separation of church and state, ensuring that personal
religious convictions do not infringe upon the rights and freedom of
others.
Amendment IV is about safeguarding our constitutional rights
and makes private medical decisions without undue government
interference.
Amendment IV does not promote abortion. It does give the
choice to people to make their own decision without government
interference. Some of you agreed in April of 2023, in your
ordinance, to protect individual liberties. I urge you to consider
voting -- or not approving this resolution.
And I think that you will be affirming what you said in 2023,
that people have the right to make their own personal healthcare
decisions.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is -- well, actually your final
two speakers are both on Zoom. Next is Deborah Cruz, and she will
be followed by Ray Nord.
Deborah, you're being prompted to unmute yourself, if you'll do
so at this time. There you are, Deborah. Deborah, you have three
minutes.
MS. CRUZ: Okay, thank you.
Government has no role to play in my or any woman's
healthcare decisions. Neither you men, nor anyone else besides me
and my doctor, should be involved in any of my healthcare decisions.
Reproductive healthcare is healthcare, period.
Women have the right and the responsibility to govern their own
bodies. You do not have that right.
Amendment IV is perfectly clear as it's stated. It's not
June 11, 2024
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deceptive in the least. It's not proabortion. It is pro "let me and my
doctor make my own healthcare decisions." It says nothing about
allowing abortion up until birth. That statement is what is
misleading and deceptive.
The amendment would not change the state legislature's
authority to require the parents of a minor to be notified if their child
is seeking an abortion.
We in America believe in freedom of religion and even freedom
to have no religion. Do not try to push your personal religious
beliefs and values on me and other people that you're supposed to
serve. I always thought Republicans wanted less government, not
more government. This resolution is clearly promoting more
government. More government right at my womb. No thank you.
Please do not support this resolution.
MR. MILLER: Your final registered speaker also on Zoom is
Ray Nord. Ray, you should be prompted to unmute yourself, if
you'll do so at this time. I see you there, Ray. You have three
minutes.
MR. NORD: Thank you. Can you hear me?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
MR. NORD: All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate
the time to speak.
I do not appreciate Commissioner Hall's outrageous last-minute
proposal. It is designed to sow divisiveness in our county, and we
don't need more divisiveness.
This amendment has been in process for more than a year. One
and a half million signatures, as best I know, were raised in support
of this, and it has followed the proper procedures to get an
amendment on the ballot in November. The language -- as has been
said, the language was challenged by the Attorney General of the
State of Florida, and that challenge was heard by the Supreme Court
June 11, 2024
Page 55
of Florida, and they approved the language as being readily
understood.
Your job is not to send -- to opine on a statewide ballot. This
issue is a Florida-wide issue, and the voters of Florida are being
asked to approve or disapprove of it, and we should let that process
go.
Commissioner Hall's attempt to introduce this now, when many
of us have left for the summer vacations and what have you, is
another attempt to insert his religious beliefs into the duty of the
Collier County Commission, and he has yet, by the way, petitioned
them earlier to include women's reproductive health in his so-called
Health Freedom Bill. He has refused steadfastly to even consider it.
I urge you to vote no on this proposition. It's divisive, as I've
said, and it is not appropriate for the Collier County Commission to
deal with.
More appropriate for you is to deal with the issues such as the
one we heard this morning about proper transportation for those
citizens who are at the -- are not able to afford -- or afford themselves
the transportations of their daily lives. More to that and less to this
ballot initiative.
Vote no. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, that was our final registered speaker
on this item.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I wasn't trying to be the first
speaker. I just wanted to make sure I was lit up. I don't know if
you wanted to start or if you want to --
Many people have sent us -- first of all, I respect the views of
everybody who came today, both sides, but, you know, we have our
views as well.
Many people have said this isn't our place to bring this to the
June 11, 2024
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agenda, but I disagree, because I'm asked all the time about my moral
compass. I'm asked about how I feel about gun rights, which we
will never vote on in the county, but people want to know, you know,
my moral compass and my thoughts on that. Gun laws, gun control,
immigration, abortion, and all kinds of other things, and I'm happy to
give those views. And I remind people that I'm not passing any bills
that are going to change those laws at the county level.
But if you want to know the depth of your elected officials and
not only their résumés and their experience and their qualifications
but their moral compass, I think when you go to the polls, you better
know all those things and not just vote for people alphabetically.
This resolution doesn't change any laws or make any medical
decisions. It merely puts us on record as to our views and our moral
compass on -- and reminding everybody that we may -- I -- I'll just
speak for me. I personally do feel that many times things that are at
the polls to vote on are very ambiguous and very confusing.
Something that's a 500-page document comes down to three
lines, and somebody reads it very quickly after they vote for the
president they want, and then they're, like, wow, I don't know the
names of any of these judges. You know, the county appraiser,
who's that, and what does that person do? Clerk of Courts, right?
Crystal's always trying to educate people. They're like, what does
she do?
And so I think what we're trying to just state with this resolution
is to remind people to do their homework when they go to the polls
and make sure you know what you're voting on.
I'm not pushing anything. I'm not telling somebody what to
vote, how to vote. Vote your conscience. I've been pro-life, you
know, my entire life. I've been honored to speak multiple times at
MC Action for Life events and, you know, I'm proud of that.
I don't let it steer my decisions in other things that are part of my
June 11, 2024
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responsibility, but it's part of my moral compass, and I'm very
consistent in my moral compass.
So I support this strongly as a reminder to my constituents of my
moral compass and how I feel. Go to the polls, do your homework,
and if you feel that you feel differently than I do, you're going to have
a chance to vote on something, but make sure that you've read all the
fine print.
I guess what I didn't hear anybody say in this room -- not one
person said the word "adoption." You know, when I was in the
military, people would fly all over the world and pay $100,000 to
find a baby in China because they couldn't adopt here in the United
States because it was a complicated process, or they had to wait for
two years.
I won't -- I won't, you know, call anybody out, but probably the
most disturbing thing I heard, in my opinion -- and I say this with
respect for the person, but not for the comment. Quote, "You should
be able to abort the babies you can't afford." I totally disagree with
that. You should be able to put those babies up for adoption so that
a family who could afford to buy expensive cheese and be able to
send them to good schools and who have been waiting for years to
have a baby in their arms that they're going to care for -- and like one
speaker said, her 20-year-old daughter is going to grow up -- or has
already grown up to be an amazing person of society. I know
adopted people here in this community that are pillars of society.
So, you know, saying that you want to make the choice early
because, you know, you don't have the means for 20 years to pay the
food bill, that's why there's adoption options. That's just how I feel.
So I'm not here telling people how to vote, but I know my
constituents ask me about my moral compass all the time, and I'm
taking a stand here today because this is on the agenda, and a lot of
times people say, it has no business being on the agenda. Things get
June 11, 2024
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on the agenda because citizens bring them to us or a commissioner
feels very strongly about something because they're talking to their
constituents. But if it's on the agenda, I'm going to take a stand and
give my views.
And I am a strong supporter of this resolution to just remind
people to look at the verbiage that -- it oftentimes can be very
deceptive and misleading, and a lot of legal folks at much higher
levels than County Commission have -- and a lot smart than me have
reiterated the same thing, that they have some concerns.
And so that's all this commissioner is saying here today is that I
strongly support this. And, you know, women's right to choose, my
strong suggestion would to them would be "choose adoption,"
because there's a lot of families out there that do have the financial
means to take care of a child, and we've heard from some of those
people in this audience.
And that's the view that I strongly support, and that's the
direction my moral compass and my parents and my upbring have
pointed me towards, and I want my constituents to know that. And
if you agree with me, then go to the polls, vote your conscience, and
feel good about your vote, because I will be doing the same. Thank
you.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank the speakers, both pro and con, on this
resolution. I think, obviously, this is a very passionate issue and one
that everyone is taking very seriously, so I just want to thank
everybody for that.
I want to thank Commissioner Hall for bringing this forward. I
remember back a long, long time ago I was in the Senate when we
voted on parental consent, and that was a very controversial issue
June 11, 2024
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back then but one that we passed by very large margins in the Florida
Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.
And it is troubling that this legislation now changes that from
consent to notification. And there's a big difference, obviously,
between notification and consent. And back in those days you had
parents coming to committee hearings pleading with the legislature to
adopt a consent law because they had their 15-, 16-year-old kids that
were having abortions -- that had abortions, and they had no notice of
it, and that was a very controversial, very sensitive issue, but we did
the right thing, and we required parental consent back in those days.
I've looked at some of the polling. Amendment IV is polling
now at over 60 percent. It's likely that it could pass. There's no -- I
don't think there's anyone in this room that doubts that when you look
at the polling numbers, and there will be a lot of money spent in
support of Amendment IV.
And I think this resolution is the appropriate thing just -- we're
stating our belief that the amendment is confusing, that it's overbroad,
and it shouldn't be part of the Constitution in the first place. It's the
Florida Legislature that should be setting what the rules are dealing
with abortion.
And so I support the amendment. I support Commissioner Hall
in this. I will point out -- and Commissioner LoCastro mentioned
adoption. And I was in the legislature when we started doing this
where we created safe places for women who had given birth that
didn't want their child for whatever reason, whether it was financial
or emotional, whatever the reason was. There are safe places where
babies can be literally dropped off, and the state will find a home for
them.
And so if adoption maybe isn't on someone's mind, there are
other options for dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. So I support
Commissioner Hall in this effort.
June 11, 2024
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CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Commissioner.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You know, originally when this resolution came forward, I was
conflicted. I actually felt that it really wasn't the place of the Board
to be taking a stance on something like this.
And I agree largely with Commissioner LoCastro's statements
with regard to the individual need to edify yourself with all of the
amendments and everything that you, in fact, vote on. Don't just go
there and vote alphabetically.
And the point that I want to make is it's a slippery slope when
you start legislating a woman's choice. We end up in parables that
have untold acquaintances, sometimes lifelong consequences.
And so my simple statement is choose life. At every
opportunity that's physically possible, choose life.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you, Chairman.
Yeah, I'd like to just say I echo what Commissioner LoCastro
was saying. You know, I can't count the number of times that, from
both sides of the aisle, that I was asked, even at my level in my
campaign when I was running, you know those questions. Am I pro-
choice? Am I pro-life?
You know, you hear some people that was either at the podium
saying that, you know it's not, you know, our place. But at the same
time we're asked of our beliefs, and we're engaged on that when we're
running for office, even at this level. And my answer's always been
the same. I've been pro-life, and -- you know, but we are asked of
that, and that's what we're -- you know, people are trying to gauge our
moral compass, you know, if they're going to support us or not
support us, if we have the same beliefs or not beliefs they do.
And I think -- you know, when I first heard about this, I didn't
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know a whole lot about the Amendment IV until we started looking
it. And then when I heard about the AG and how strong they were
fighting against this language -- and it ended up in front of the
Supreme Court.
And, you know, to find out that, amazingly, the three women on
the Supreme Court were also just as confused, that, you know, they
didn't feel that this language was up to par to become an amendment
on our state constitution, because once it's an amendment on the state
constitution, it pretty much takes our legislators out of it. You know,
it sets the rules at that point. And if it's that vague -- and then at the
same time, the AG, if somebody violates that amendment in the
constitution, the AG's the one that has to either prosecute or defend it.
And if they don't understand it, how are they supposed to do their
job?
So I think it's more of an educational thing, and that's why I
support this resolution, because I think, you know, everybody always
says the educated voter is the best voter.
And I think there are some manipulative people out there that
know how to manipulate our uneducated voters -- or maybe just not
so much uneducated, but the ones that just, you know, vote with the
first -- I guess the first read of something and don't really look into it.
And I think, by this resolution and, you know, myself sitting up
here and voting on it to support it is basically saying to my
constituents, do your homework. Please look into it and please see
that, you know, there are some people that know a lot more than we
do when it comes down to this language, and especially language
that's going to be in our constitution, that they have trouble with it,
and they're the ones that are going to have to defend it or fight for it
or against it in the future. And if they don't even understand it or
can't, you know, see the clarity of it, how are they supposed to do it?
So I mean, that's why I believe this resolution's about educating
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and giving everybody the idea that, you know, this is how we feel
about it. Do your homework before you just go and vote yes on this
in November.
So thank you, Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Commissioner.
I simply brought this forward because I believe this Amendment
IV is vague, it's deceptive, and it's overbroad at best.
And there's already a legislative process that's in place through
our Florida legislators and -- that protects life already, and that's the
process that I feel that we need to move and keep holy as
representative of the people.
And so -- and agreeing with all of my colleagues to educate the
voters. You can vote however you want to, but I want you to be
fully educated on what you're voting on, and I don't want it to be
deceptive. I don't want you to look at "limit government control"
thinking that's awesome, and then it say "for abortion" and get the
results that we've gotten.
So with that, I'm going to make a motion to join ourselves in
solidarity and approve this resolution that says "Vote no on
Amendment IV."
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we have a motion, and we have a
second. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Motion passes.
June 11, 2024
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(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. It's -- thank you. It's 11 o'clock.
We'll take a court reporter break, and let's come back at 11:15.
(A brief recess was had from 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.)
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. County Manager, what does
that bring us to?
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JUNE 11, 2024, AS FLORIDA
CANCER SPECIALISTS & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
APPRECIATION DAY IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY
A COLLIER COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CANCER
SPECIALISTS & RESEARCH INSTITUTE. - PROCLAMATION
WILL BE MAILED - MOTION TO ADOPT BY COMMISSIONER
MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO –
ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to
proclamations. There's been a change of plans on this proclamation.
It will be mailed. The doctor had to leave.
So 4A is a proclamation designating June 11th, 2024, as Florida
Cancer Specialists and Research Institute Appreciation Day in Collier
County. It was going to be accepted by representatives from the
Cancer Specialists and Research Institute; however, the proclamation
will now be mailed to them.
So if we could get a motion to approve this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So moved.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Moved and seconded. All in favor, say
June 11, 2024
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aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The gavel's been --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Excuse me, people. We're back in
business.
I'll repeat. Motion's been made and seconded to approve the
proclamation. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
Item #5B
PRESENTATION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BUSINESS OF
THE QUARTER FOR JUNE 2024 TO HARRY CHAPIN FOOD
BANK. THE AWARD WILL BE ACCEPTED BY RICHARD
LEBER, PRESIDENT & CEO AND REPRESENTATIVES OF
HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK. ALSO ATTENDING ARE
KRISTINA PARK, CEO & PRESIDENT, AND BETHANY
SAWYER, VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND
INVESTORS, BOTH OF THE GREATER NAPLES CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE – PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, I'm going to flip the
order, if it's okay with you, on -- we're to Item 5, presentations. Let's
go ahead and take 5B. This is a -- which is a presentation of the
Business of the Month, and then we'll talk about the Artist of the
June 11, 2024
Page 65
Month.
So 5B is a presentation of the Collier County Business of the
Quarter for June 2024 to Harry Chapin Food Bank. The award will
be accepted by Richard LeBer, president and CEO.
Thank you and congratulations.
(Applause.)
MR. LeBER: Wow, that's awesome.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: It doesn't get any better than
that.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: We're going to need that
back, though. It's just for the photo. Just kidding.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Speech?
MR. LeBER: Yeah, just for a minute. So good morning. My
name is Richard LeBer. I'm president and CEO of the Harry Chapin
Food Bank, a position I've been privileged to hold for over eight
years.
On behalf of the Harry Chapin Food Bank, I want to thank the
commissioners and the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce for
this award. We're deeply honored to be recognized.
Harry Chapin Food Bank is the largest hunger relief
organization in Southwest Florida. We've been serving Collier
County for over 30 years. We distributed 10.6 million meals in
Collier County in the last year. Despite the wealth of Collier
County, there is plenty of hunger here. Over 32,000 Collier County
residents will experience hunger this year. Their circumstances
vary. Some are older citizens, typically on fixed incomes and often
with significant medical issues or disabilities.
Many are working families, often with children. They live in
many communities across the county. We provide free food to them
in a variety of ways. We give food to 35 other organizations in
Collier County free of charge to help us distribute them throughout
June 11, 2024
Page 66
their communities, and those organizations include St. Matthew's
House, Meals of Hope, Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and
many churches.
In addition, we operate 12 pantries inside Collier County
Schools and 16 mobile distributions at locations across Collier
County every month.
Hunger is fundamentally a household financial issue. It's hard
enough to afford to live here if you're teaching school or working as a
nurse or a police officer or waiting tables in a restaurant. If
something bad happens, maybe your landlord raises your rent or you
get sick or you lose your job, it becomes impossible, and that's when
people come to us for food.
We hear frequently from the people that we serve that one of the
biggest issues they struggle with is the scarcity of and the cost of
housing. I know the Board of Commissioners has discussed ways to
provide more workforce housing and has already taken some action.
I commend you for that, but I encourage you to continue to focus on
it. Respectfully, much more action is needed.
There are some -- there are many who help us accomplish our
mission in addition to the Commissioners and Chamber. We're
grateful to them all. We thank Collier County Schools for
supporting our school pantries and the 35 other organizations that
help us distribute food where it's needed.
I was joined here this morning by Bethany Sawyer of the
Chamber, members of our staff, and two members of our board of
directors, who are both Collier County residents. I wish they could
have stayed to have been recognized also.
Thank you to you all.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Richard.
MR. LeBER: Thank you.
June 11, 2024
Page 67
Item #5A
ARTIST OF THE MONTH – DISPLAYS CREATED BY THE
COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUM DIVISION HIGHLIGHTING 8
REMARKABLE WOMEN WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HELPED
SHAPE COLLIER COUNTY – PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us back to
Item 5A, which is our Artist of the Month. This month's display in
the chambers was created by the Collier County Museum division to
highlight eight remarkable women whose contributions helped
shaped Collier County into the best place to live in America.
"Women Leaders of Collier County" celebrates those who dedicated
their lives to bettering their communities, leaving behind a legacy
that continues to inspire future generations. And you can direct
everybody's attention to the back of the room.
Item #7
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA
MS. PATTERSON: With that, that brings us to Item 7, which
is public comments on general topics not on the current or future
agenda.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chairman, we have three registered
speakers on this item. Your first speaker is Chris Shear. He'll be
followed by Garrett FX Beyrent.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Here comes Chris.
MR. SHEAR: Good morning, Chair, Commissioners. Sorry, I
June 11, 2024
Page 68
stepped out of the room there for one moment.
Chris Shear, McDowell Housing Partners. And as many of you
know, we are affordable and workforce housing developers here
continuing to be very active throughout the county.
I want to raise a quick concern on the motion and approval from
back in April in regards to the commercial -- the prohibition, rather,
of Planned Unit Developments with Live Local.
And we had been working to find some opportunities here.
There's a lot of funding at the state level right now, and we've done, I
think, a good job of working collaboratively with the county to
engage and produce more attainable housing options, but with that
motion, I think there may have been a little bit of an unintended
consequence there.
I completely understand the rationale that PUDs have already
gotten some incentives. The reason they're not going with straight
commercial zoning is they had a PUD. The PUD afforded them
probably something that was above and beyond what a straight
zoning classification would have otherwise gotten them.
So understood that rationale, but what we've found is by limiting
the commercial components of PUDs, we are restrained to only sites
that have straight commercial zoning, and right now those straight
commercial zoning sites are largely on the major commercial
corridors. They're largely small sites, two to four acres. And recall,
we are also limited to 25 units per acre.
So we are starting to push ourselves into much more expensive
sites because only the straight commercial zoned sites that are
available are on Tamiami. They're on Airport. They're relatively
few and far between.
So what I wanted to ask today is to kind of reconsider or give
staff the direction in regards to commercial PUDs, so CPUDs.
CPUDs are often a component of a much larger PUD that was
June 11, 2024
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approved, and those CPUDs have the same exact commercial
permitted uses as straight commercial zoning.
So there really is no difference in terms of the uses that are
permitted between a C-1, C-2, C-3, and the CPUDs. This would
open up a lot of opportunity for us. It would -- it would alleviate us
of the constraints of trying to fit a lot into a very small site. We want
to be able to make sure we're meeting the other requirements for the
green space/preserve parking requirements, and it's becoming very
challenging here.
And just anecdotally, in finishing up, Hillsborough County is
very akin to Collier County, a lot of Planned Unit Developments, and
they have, as permitted, that commercial PUDs are allowed to utilize
the Live Local incentives. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Garrett FX Beyrent, and
he will be followed by Francis Cook.
MR. BEYRENT: For the record, Garrett FX Beyrent. I'm
speaking on behalf of the Golden Gate Farmers Market. I've been
representing them since they were accused of being gypsies by a
former County Commissioner who's no longer a commissioner. He's
something else, and we won't go into that.
And I'm here specifically to speak for the Krakows. Those are
the father and son team, the Rakows, not crack house. They happen
to be Jewish. So that's a Jewish joke. Nobody got it. Maybe Burt.
But in any case, I'm here to thank Burt Saunders on their behalf
because Burt has helped us for many years when he wasn't even
involved with anything. But I can tell you something, we are very
happy with all of the work that Burt Saunders has put forward to help
the farmers market.
We went from just leasing a parking lot in front of the
community center which, unfortunately, got about a foot of water in
June 11, 2024
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it this weekend, but it did go out eventually within a couple hours.
And we also have the farmers market in front of the -- it's not
the library. I always forget. It's the property on 951 which nobody
can miss, even when the cars are going 97 miles an hour. It's a great
place.
And we -- actually, the farmers market has more restaurant
facilities in it than regular users of hats and sweaters and whatever,
the whatnot there. But it's amazing to me because in the 15 years
I've been involved with these guys, they've got people out there
cooking from Guatemala, Honduras. I mean, it's -- all of South
America wants to come to Golden Gate Estates, and they are
welcome to come as long as they're legally here and ICE doesn't
bother us. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Francis Cook. He'll be
followed by Jay Kohlhagen.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Francis.
MR. COOK: Francis, that is correct.
Good morning, Mr. Chair. Good morning, Commissioners.
I'm here to talk about identity as Americans and my personal
identity as well. I wrote down Francis Cook. I wrote down Francis
Cook. I went by Francis before I moved here to Naples. And that's
actually my middle name, so it's not like I'm just bizarrely choosing
to go by a different name.
But my -- the reason why I'm bringing this up is I want to talk
about, like, our identity as a country. What is our identity as
Americans? What is it based on? Is it based on popular opinion?
Is it based on what the government says? Is it based on what the
media says?
I'd say that our identity as Americans, at least for me, is based
on the foundation of America. What is America about? I look at
our founding documents to guide me in telling me what it means to
June 11, 2024
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be an American.
So, you know, again, that -- what is that belief system based on?
The Bill of Rights. It's the Constitution. It's the Declaration of
Independence. So I want to take a little bit of time here with public
comments, this being the public square, to talk about our identity as
Americans and the importance of these documents, right.
So these three documents, the Bill of Rights, we've got freedom
of speech, freedom of religion. By the way, the term "separation of
church and state" is not mentioned in the First Amendment anywhere.
We've got our right to bear arms. We've got our Fourth
Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Due process rights from the Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment,
Seventh, Eighth.
Ninth Amendment, which is the right to eat tacos. That's a little
inside joke with my daughter. The Ninth Amendment actually says
the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained in the Constitution.
So, you know in the Declaration of Independence it says we
have the rights to -- that among these rights are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. The Ninth Amendment protects the word
"among." So we have the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of
happiness, but our rights are unlimited. Our rights come from our
creator, which you guys know.
But coming back to our identity as Americans, I believe it's
based on our founding documents, the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution. What's the purpose of the Constitution? Our rights
don't come from the Constitution. The purpose of that -- or that
document is to provide government with their parameters. So the
term "constitutional rights," I think, is a misnomer.
Coming back to identity, though, because I see I've got 30
seconds left to kind of explain why I'm introducing myself as Francis
June 11, 2024
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Cook here today. My ancestor, Francis Cook, came over on the
Mayflower Compact -- or came over on the Mayflower. It's not the
Mayflower Compact, which I find as one of our foundational
documents that established the right -- or the principle of government
by consent as well as the advancement of the Christian faith.
So I just want to spend my last 15 seconds here and say that I'm
here to reaffirm my identity in Jesus Christ and the Biblical
foundations established under the Mayflower Compact, and I'm going
to be going by Francis Cook from here on out to tap into my roots
and to tap into my identity as an American. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Francis.
MR. MILLER: -- item -- your final speaker under Item 7 is Jay
Kohlhagen.
MR. KOHLHAGEN: Jay Kohlhagen, for the record.
Nice job, Francis.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Lighten up, Francis.
MR. KOHLHAGEN: I'm here today --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Can we call you Frank for
short?
MR. COOK: No, definitely not.
MR. KOHLHAGEN: No, he's Francis.
I'm here today to speak about the Golden Gate and the Eagles
Lakes aquatic facilities. Apparently, they got -- their slides aren't
operating. They're moldy and pretty much shut down. And I got
some nieces and nephews in town. That just breaks their heart.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Excuse me, Jay. Excuse me, Jay. This
is on the agenda for -- in just a little bit, so we're going to talk about
that. If you want to come back and talk about it when we have the
agenda item?
MR. KOHLHAGEN: I didn't even know that it was on there.
June 11, 2024
Page 73
CHAIRMAN HALL: This is general topics not on the agenda
or future agenda.
MR. KOHLHAGEN: Well, you guys got what I said, so, you
know.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That's why it's on the agenda.
MR. KOHLHAGEN: See what we can do then. Sorry about
that.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That's why we put it on the
agenda.
MR. MILLER: That was our final speaker for Item 7.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, we do have a series of
land-use items. The suggestion is that we take item -- the former
17A to 9B first. I believe that one's going to go quickly, and then we
will handle 8A and 9A together.
Item #9B
ORDINANCE 2024-29: AN ORDINANCE REZONING A 4.86±
ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 135 PRICE STREET FROM
THE RURAL AGRICULTURAL (A) ZONING DISTRICT TO THE
RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY-2 (RSF-2) ZONING DISTRICT
TO ALLOW UP TO THREE SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
UNITS IN SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 51 SOUTH, RANGE 26
EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [PL20220002704]
(DISTRICT 1) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
LOCASTRO; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL –
ADOPTED
So with that, former Item 17A, now 9B, is a recommendation to
approve an ordinance rezoning 4.86 plus/minus acre property located
at 135 Price Street from the rural agricultural zoning district to the
June 11, 2024
Page 74
Residential Single-Family 2 zoning district to allow up to three
single-family dwelling units in Section 4, Township 51 South,
Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. This item did move to the
regular agenda at Commissioner LoCastro's request.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. Mr. Chairman, I just
wanted to say I wasn't trying to lengthen the meeting, but just to put
some like subject matters together so -- and also to have Mr. Bosi
come to the podium and separate rumor from fact between 9B, 9A.
They sound very similar to the average citizen who maybe read
this agenda quickly that we're just dividing parcels and why would
we vote one way over another. So I didn't want 9A -- or, I'm sorry,
17A, which was on the summary agenda, obviously -- to look like we
buried it somehow when we were voting on some of the others things
that sounded similar, and so that's why I thought if we put them all
together and we started with Mr. Bosi explaining now what is 9B,
and then it might set the table a bit better for 9A, was my thought,
and the County Manager agreed. So thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: I'm sorry, yes. We need to -- all
participants need to be sworn in. If you could stand up and raise
your right hand for the court reporter.
THE COURT REPORTER: Do you swear or affirm the
testimony you will give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth?
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. BOSI: Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning director.
9B, which was on the summary agenda, was unanimously
recommended by the Planning Commission for approval. Just over
four-acre lot on Price Street, zoned agricultural, but it's in the urban
residential designation. What that means is our Future Land Use
Map would expect, if you were seeking a rezone, that you would be
eligible for up to three units an acre.
June 11, 2024
Page 75
What the applicant is requesting is to take the four-plus acres
and create three individual lots utilizing the Residential
Single-Family 2 zoning district regulations.
Average density comes out to 1.62 units an acre, well below
what they would be entitled to at three units an acre. So they're
leaving a lot on the table. It's been -- like I said, it's been reviewed
by staff against the Growth Management Plan and the LDC.
Planning Commission heard it in a public hearing setting, and it was
a unanimous recommendation of approval.
It's something you would expect within the urbanized area
going -- going down to just over a unit an acre. Relatively benign in
terms of impact from a transportation standpoint, from an
infrastructure standpoint, a well arrangement of infrastructure in
place to handle the loads that come from taking this one lot and
creating three individual lots from it.
So with that, I'll ask [sic] any questions that you may have.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It will never be a farm again,
right?
MR. BOSI: No, it would never be a farm. And remember, the
majority of our county was at once zoned agricultural, and as it -- as
rezones have come about, we do have some leftover pockets of
agricultural land within our urbanized area.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Right.
MR. BOSI: There's -- and you'll see 9A, which has a
companion of 8A, which has the similar type of a situation, but I
don't want to confuse the two.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. No, I think you
explained it. I just wanted it to go on the record that we're
partitioning that lot in pieces that actually are less than what they
could be.
MR. BOSI: Yes, correct.
June 11, 2024
Page 76
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So thanks.
MR. MILLER: We have one registered speaker, Dean
Bremerman.
MR. BREMERMAN: Hello. My name is Dean Bremerman,
and I live at 149 Price Street.
To clarify what that other man said, he's going to divide the lot
into three lots, but each lot is capable of having a guesthouse also, so
it's more than just three units.
I've lived in Naples all my life, but I bought property on Price
Street 35 years ago. I bought there because of the large lots and the
agricultural zoning, which allows my wife to have her horse.
For most people to not know what it's like to live on two and a
half, yet alone, 5-acre lots, it offers more privacy, space for a large
vegetable garden, the ability to have animals, allows your children
and grandchildren to build forts and camp out to enjoy the outdoors.
It also allows you to build a big garage where you can store stuff and
you don't have to pay storage fees somewhere else.
There are very few places left in Naples that allow this way of
living. When you moved there, we were considered out of town.
41 and 951 were two-lane roads. No shopping centers, no PUDs.
Now we're an island of large lots in a sea of urban sprawl. I'm
afraid that granting this zoning change that would subdivide
Mr. Grille's will set a precedent and that others in the future will
follow, and in doing so, the quality and way of life that this
neighborhood allows us to enjoy would be changed forever.
I ask you please consider this, that this does not only affect the
Grilles but all the long-time residents on Price Street.
Thank you for your time.
MR. MILLER: That was our only registered speaker.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Mr. Bosi, do you have a
comment? Just because I know you've been deep into this with the
June 11, 2024
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residents.
MR. BOSI: And I did. I failed to mention that the Planning
Commission did place a restriction upon the number of guesthouses.
Currently, if you have over one acre, you'd be entitled to have a
guesthouse with your lot, but because these lots are still on septic
system, the Planning Commission put a condition of approval that
there can only be one guesthouse on one of the individual lots. The
other two would have to wait until the extension of sanitary sewer for
those facilities to be -- for the guesthouses to be constructed.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I don't want to put words in
your mouth -- and this will be my last comment, but -- and then we'll
move on to the ones that are a little more complicated. But what's
your thought on precedent? And before you answer, what I think we
always say up here is we look at every action separately. So just
because something was approved on one place doesn't make it a
rampant type of rubber stamp.
But when you and I spoke, it didn't seem like -- and, of course,
the planning board thought the same thing -- this wasn't setting some
sort of automatic precedent that all these lots are going to be divided
automatically now, correct?
MR. BOSI: No, this wouldn't set precedence. We know each
individual petition is evaluated upon its own merits. What I would
say is this parcel of land does abut commercial zoning to the -- to the
east and to the north, so there's some uniqueness about it.
But if you were to look at the Future Land Use Map, this is the
type of action that would be promoted by GMP, this type of a rezone.
But by no means, every individual petition has to stand on its own
individual merits based upon the characteristics of the land and the
surrounding property that abuts it.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. Based on this one
being unique and separate, I make a motion that we approve.
June 11, 2024
Page 78
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm going to say because the district
commissioner is wanting this, that I'm going to support him.
So all in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
Item #8A
RESOLUTION 2024-117: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF
ZONING APPEALS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA,
APPROVING A VARIANCE FROM LDC SECTION 4.02.01,
TABLE 2.1 TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM FRONT
YARDS FROM 50 FEET TO 34.38 FEET ON THE NORTH SIDE
AND 43.58 FEET ON THE WEST SIDE, AND TO REDUCE THE
REQUIRED MINIMUM SIDE YARD FROM 30 FEET TO 27.84
FEET ON THE SOUTH SIDE, FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
ON AN RSF-1 ZONED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 438
GORDONIA ROAD, ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF
GORDONIA ROAD AND CARICA ROAD, ON A PORTION OF
LOT 19, BLOCK H, PINE RIDGE EXTENSION SUBDIVISION,
IN SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 25 EAST,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [PL20230014908] (THIS IS A
June 11, 2024
Page 79
COMPANION TO ITEM #9A) (DISTRICT 2) (RESOLUTION OF
DENIAL) - MOTION TO DENY BY COMMISSIONER HALL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS – DENIED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to our
companion items, Items 8A and 9A. Both will require your ex parte
disclosure.
I will read them both into the record, and then we'll get everyone
sworn in.
8A is a recommendation to approve a resolution of the Board of
Zoning Appeals of Collier County, Florida approving a variance from
LDC Section 4.02.01, Table 2.1, to reduce the minimum -- the
required minimum front yards from 50 feet to 34.38 feet on the north
side and 43.58 feet on the west side, and to reduce the required
minimum side yard from 30 feet to 27.84 feet on the south side for a
single-family home on an RSF-1 zoned property located at 438
Gordonia on the southeast corner of Gordonia Road and Carica Road
on a portion of Lot 19, Block H, Pine Ridge extension subdivision, in
Section 3, Township 49 South, Range 25 East, Collier County,
Florida.
Item #9A
RESOLUTION 2024-118: AN ORDINANCE REZONING 2.16±
ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM THE RURAL AGRICULTURAL
(A) ZONING DISTRICT TO THE RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-
FAMILY-1 (RSF-1) ZONING DISTRICT, TO ALLOW UP TO
TWO SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS WITH A
MAXIMUM DENSITY OF UP TO ONE DWELLING UNIT PER
ACRE ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 438 GORDONIA ROAD,
ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF GORDONIA ROAD AND
June 11, 2024
Page 80
CARICA ROAD, ALSO DESCRIBED AS LOT 19, BLOCK H,
PINE RIDGE EXTENSION SUBDIVISION, IN SECTION 3,
TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA. [PL20230013880] (THIS IS A COMPANION TO ITEM
#8A) (DISTRICT 4 – SHOULD READ DISTRICT 2) (PER
AGENDA CHANGE SHEET) (RESOLUTION OF DENIAL) –
MOTION TO DENY BY COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS – DENIED
MS. PATTERSON: This is a companion item to 9A, and 9A is
a recommendation to approve an ordinance rezoning 2.16 plus/minus
acres of property from the rural agricultural zoning district to the
Residential Single-Family 1 zoning district to allow up to two
single-family dwelling units with a maximum density of up to one
dwelling unit per acre on property located at 438 Gordonia Road on
the southeast corner of Gordonia Road and Carica Road also
described as Lot 19, Block H, Pine Ridge extension subdivision, in
Section 3, Township 49 South, Range 25 East, Collier County,
Florida.
Let's start with ex parte, and then we'll get everyone sworn in.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I have e-mails on both items.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I also have e-mails on both
items.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I also have e-mails on both
items.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Same, e-mails. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And I have correspondence and e-mails.
June 11, 2024
Page 81
MS. PATTERSON: Very good.
All participants now need to please stand up, raise your right
hand, to be sworn in by the court reporter.
THE COURT REPORTER: Do you swear or affirm the
testimony you will give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth?
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MS. PATTERSON: Mr. Bosi -- or, oh, we're going to start
with the applicant. Very good. Thank you.
MR. OLIVARES: Good afternoon. My name is Eddy
Olivares, the property owner. I am here to petition for the rezoning
of 438 Gordonia Road.
The proposed rezone aligns with the planned vision for Collier
County and integrates seamlessly into the Pine Ridge Estates
neighborhood, of which this property is a part of.
The current zoning designation is agricultural. The lot is
currently nonconforming, and the use case is a single-family
residence.
I am requesting a zoning change to RSF-1, and the use case
would remain the same, single-family residence.
The ultimate goal of the rezone is to lay the framework to split
the lot into two parcels, one parcel for the existing single-family
residence and another to host a new single-family residence.
To put it extremely simply, I am requesting that the parcel go
from one nonconforming agricultural lot to two conforming RSF-1
lots.
If there are any questions, please, I'm happy to answer.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Mr. Bosi, do you have anything to add?
MR. BOSI: Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning director.
Again, this is an instance where you have agricultural zoning
June 11, 2024
Page 82
squarely within the heart of the urbanized area. This is a parcel of
land that would be eligible for four units per acre in terms of -- from
what the Density Rating System would allow for.
This is simply taking that two-acre parcel, requesting a lot split
to create a second parcel to be in line with the single-family
environment that's promoted within the Pine Ridge Estates.
There is a large tract -- or continuous tract of agricultural zoning
that sits on the easternmost portion of the Pine Ridge Estates that
abuts Goodlette -- Goodlette-Frank Road that is zoned agricultural.
The majority of those parcels are nonconforming, meaning that they
don't meet the minimum lot size. But what I would say is the
prominent land use that occupies the majority of those parcels is
single-family development.
What's being proposed here is consistent with the single-family
that's across the street.
It was heard by the Planning Commission. The
recommendation on the variance was 5-1. I believe the
recommendation on the rezone was 5-1 as well. But it was -- it was
recommended for approval from the Planning Commission.
Staff is recommending approval to the Board of County
Commissioners and would entertain any questions that you may have.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And that was -- my
only question had to do with the variance. Is the variance going to
cause, in advance, a hardship on a contiguous property owner other
than the applicant?
MR. BOSI: No. The majority of the variances are where they
have the two fronts. It's a reduction of the two fronts, 37 feet and
then 47 feet. So it won't -- it won't affect an adjoining property
owner. They adjoin the right-of-way, sort of, more or less. So it
won't have -- it won't have an encroachment upon an adjoining
June 11, 2024
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property owner.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, we have 10 registered speakers for
this item. I'd ask the speakers to queue up and use both podiums for
expeditious purposes. Your first speaker is Louise Taylor, and she
will be followed by Clifford Schneider.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Mr. Miller, you said 10?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thanks.
MS. TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, good morning.
I'm Louise Taylor, and as the owner of the property at 617 Gordonia
Road in Pine Ridge Estates in District No. 2, which has been in my
family for more than 50 years, I strongly object to the rezoning and
variance applications for the property at 438 Gordonia Road and
request they be denied.
I urge the Commission to continue its long history of protecting
homeowners' property rights as outlined in the Pine Ridge Estates
Declaration of Covenants, which date back to 1954 and prevent spot
or preferential rezoning. Such rezoning would set a dangerous
precedent not only for Pine Ridge Estates but for all communities in
Collier County.
I ask for a no vote on this petition. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Clifford Schneider. He'll
be followed by Sally Seefried.
MR. SCHNEIDER: I'm Cliff Schneider, resident of the Pine
Ridge community since 1972. I'm a founding board of director of
the Pine Ridge Civic Association, and I've served on the Pine Ridge
Architecture Control Committee for 40-plus years. I'm a
professional engineer with both military and civilian service.
My personal goal has been preserving -- trying to preserve the
most unique subdivision in Collier County, Pine Ridge. Pine Ridge
June 11, 2024
Page 84
is the lowest density subdivision in the Collier County coastal area,
and this was by design.
I only have three minutes to request a denial of the zoning
change and variance which could affect our community for eternity.
The Collier Development Corporation planned Pine Ridge with
specific land uses and is described in our covenants and restrictions.
The plat and land uses were approved by Collier County beginning in
1950. Our covenants run with the land. Our covenants do not
expire. I repeat, the Pine Ridge covenants do not expire.
Pine Ridge is different because the Collier Development
Corporation had a vision for a different community covering two and
a half square miles with yet 550 parcels, land parcels. Many people,
including your staff and the Planning Commission, don't understand
the concept of Pine Ridge. They think because there's land that's
zoned agriculture along the way, that that was just like a remnant of
old agriculture zoning. No, the concept of Pine Ridge is in the
public record.
The subject parcel is one of approximately 60 lots designated as
the agriculture area parcels in our covenants. Said action is in
specific conflict with our Pine Ridge community and how it was
planned and approved.
The applicant requests four separate zoning variances in order to
divide his land into two RSF-1 parcels. Who benefits from the
action? One individual does, the applicant, at the detriment of the
rest of our community. It's wrong.
Please deny the applications, and I'm available for questions.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, real quick housekeeping matter. I
know Commissioner Kowal can unmute and mute himself. I'm
being told we did not hear him cast a vote on 9B. So when we're
done with this item, maybe we can address that.
June 11, 2024
Page 85
CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure.
MR. MILLER: And I will remind you, Commissioner Kowal,
make sure you're unmuted.
Your next speaker is Sally Seefried. She'll be followed by
Robert Kaufman.
MS. SEEFRIED: Good afternoon. I am Sally Seefried, a
resident of Pine Ridge since 1986. I object to the rezoning and
variance application for 438 Gordonia Road.
The Collier Development Corporation planned Pine Ridge
originally as a unique community. It had land use and restrictions
and covenants which really directed and protected the community.
And as you know, it's a very unique area.
And living there, we started with kids with go-carts and, you
know, jumping the road and with Goodlette Road and, you know,
we've kind of grown past that.
But previous developers have respected and abided by these
covenants and, unfortunately, I feel this applicant wants to change the
variance and zoning for, you know, financial reasons. And I
understand that, but other developers have not.
I ask that the current zoning be continued to be enforced, and I
thank the Commission for listening. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Robert Kaufman. He'll
be followed by Margot Kaufman. Mr. Kaufman's been ceded three
additional minutes from Jose V. -- I can't read your writing here. Is
it Satarini?
MR. SARTARELLI: Sartarelli.
MR. MILLER: Sartarelli, sir.
So Mr. Kaufman will have six minutes.
MR. KAUFMAN: Good morning, Commissioners. Thank
you for the rain, by the way. We appreciate it this time of year.
Before I begin, my name is Robert Kaufman. I've lived in Pine
June 11, 2024
Page 86
Ridge Estates for over 25 years. I live at 149 Tupelo Road in Pine
Ridge.
And before I start, I want to give you a little history. I have a
copy of the book and page that the Collier family put in place back in
the early '50s, even before my time.
They set up the zoning, the setbacks, the roads, and they
established three areas: Residential, commercial, and churches.
They also had set aside some ag, and that's what we're here talking
about today.
We haven't had it modified in 70-plus years. One of the things
that's part of the county record is that these terms that those were set
up, the zoning and the setbacks, had a term of 25 years. That was
brought up at the planning board meeting. They thought that that
was the end of it. But it says in the county records that it's 25 years,
and then renewed automatically every 10 years. So that should still
be in effect.
We have one property owner requesting a change. It's a typical
dollars request. Instead of having one lot, there would be two lots.
This would change -- this is not one lot. There are 37 additional lots
that meet the same criterium. It's more than two acres. Split them
in half, that would give you 37 lots that would be affected.
This would change the character of the community. It's kind of
set now. You don't need to do a traffic study to know if you added
37 houses, that would be probably 37 times two cars. Nowhere in
Pine Ridge are there any septic systems [sic]. So as the Price
discussion took place earlier, that was a concern of the planning
board. This would be 37 more septic systems. About 20 to
25 percent of the properties in Pine Ridge are on city water. The rest
of them are wells. And the properties were set aside by the Collier
family to know we have this much, this much for ag, and that
shouldn't make a deterrent for the clean water for the people who
June 11, 2024
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have wells there, which is a vast portion of the community.
Collier County specifically set up covenants and restrictions that
follow the deed. They're still in place today. I've looked up many
of the deeds in Pine Ridge Estates, and they all show restrictions that
are on those lots, and these covenants and restrictions still hold water.
One of the changes that was made years ago was the church, the
Covenant Church, big church located right on 41, where the church
came to the Pine Ridge Civic Association and explained that they
wanted to expand the school that they had there, which we thought
was good for the community.
We, in fact, went to the NIM meeting that they had, and we
sided with them. We wrote letters of support to have that done. We
are good neighbors, and the church is about the best neighbor you
could have there. We have all our meetings there, which brings me
to another point.
When this originally began, they were supposed to have a NIM.
There was a meeting held, not in North Naples. It was held
downtown. This was a meeting, I think, that was set up to be under
the radar.
You have the library in North Naples that the commissioner has
his meetings in. The church is there. We have our meetings at the
church, but yet this so-called NIM was held downtown.
There were signs placed on the property. I think his name is
Ortman was the person from the county who was going to be
handling this. We made several calls to them. He was out. I think
he had a broken shoulder. He was out for a while, and you couldn't
leave a message because his mailbox was full.
I called him since then and asked him for a copy of the minutes
of the NIM. He said there were no minutes taken. He said, "There's
notes."
I said, "Could I get a copy of the notes?" Which I have. The
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notes were written by the applicant.
I think I have more time.
The applicant had written the notes, and one of the questions
that was asked of Mr. Ortman at the meeting was, "This is one
property. What would happen to the other properties?"
And he said, "They can apply for it as well." So that's from the
county.
I had met with Mark Strain and with Nick Casalanguida prior to
this, probably eight or nine years ago. And eight or nine years ago I
asked them specifically -- we had some issues -- that we'd be notified,
the Pine Ridge Civic Association be notified if there are any changes
down the pike on this zoning request.
Well, they said they would do that. So the county was notified.
I know Nick and Mark are long gone since then, but they spoke for
the county.
The rules which were put together, Commissioner LoCastro is
the one who was the chairman at the time when the new NIM rules
came out in 2023.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Mr. Kaufman, if you can wind it up.
Thank you.
MR. KAUFMAN: Is this six minutes, or is this three?
CHAIRMAN HALL: No, you've already had six.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You started with six.
MR. KAUFMAN: It went by so quickly, I didn't realize.
CHAIRMAN HALL: It did go by fast.
MR. KAUFMAN: Okay. Well, I'm requesting that the request
for this zoning change be denied. It changes the character of Pine
Ridge Estates.
Thank you, Commissioners.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Margot Kaufman. She'll
be followed by Matthew Slaughter.
June 11, 2024
Page 89
MS. KAUFMAN: Good morning. My name is Margot
Kaufman. I'm a long-time resident of Pine Ridge Estates.
I believe what Mr. Kaufman was saying was -- oh, well, let me
go on to mine. He had his thing.
I'm speaking to express my very, very strong objections to the
petition for rezoning, lot splitting and variances to reduce setbacks
for the property at 438 Gordonia.
I'm requesting that you deny the petitioner's request for the 438
Gordonia property. It doesn't serve any good beneficial purpose for
Pine Ridge Estates community. The lot was platted out by Collier
County -- by the Collier Company, excuse me, in 1954, '57, and '71
with deeded restrictions. They are on our deeds. These restrictions
and covenants have served the residents of this community for 70
years and have helped to make it the wonderful place it is. Let's
keep it that way.
People have bought property in Pine Ridge because of the type
of community it is. Please don't allow negative changes to our
community. Again, I'm asking you to deny the petitions, and I agree
with what else -- whatever has been said prior to this. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Matthew Slaughter. He'll
be followed by Al Jones.
MR. SLAUGHTER: Good morning, Commissioners, or
afternoon at this point. I'm the direct neighbor to this petitioner. I
have -- I share the longest -- I am basically the direct neighbor to this
petitioner.
And I absolutely respect the rest of the association members and
their opinions and my neighbors of this neighborhood. I was born
and raised in this neighborhood, and happy to be here again when I
was able to move to this property that is adjacent to the petitioner.
But I am not adamantly opposed. I think maybe if the
June 11, 2024
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petitioner worked with the association, worked with the county, and
did the right things in this rezoning, that potentially there's a path
forward for them to do so, but I understand it's a -- it's a tough issue,
and it does set a bit of a precedent.
But given, I think, that you end up with acre-lot properties, that I
am not imposed [sic] as long as that maybe some due diligence is
done and that this petitioner would be required to connect to at least
city water if it's available or any other utility services. So that if
they're asking for increased density, they should bring in services that
are a benefit to other adjoining property owners but also a developer
there.
As an example, there's been some lot splits, but there's also been
a lot of assemblages in the neighborhood. There's all sorts of homes.
There's old homes that were built in the '70s that get renovated.
There's homes that were built in the 2000s that are getting demoed
and rebuilt with new properties at the moment.
An example is the DeAngelis Diamond project next door. I
would -- I would see that there maybe is an opportunity for all these
new developments to start to bring in utility infrastructure and other
things to this neighborhood that does have ag zoning and components
to it that are a bit of a vestige from how development used to be, and
as redevelopment continues in this neighborhood and at the pace that
it does, that the new development should at least be bringing in
services that are more in line with what's required of most
developers.
So currently I would recommend to deny the application, but
maybe with some conditions or changes, the applicant could have my
support.
That's all I have to say.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Al Jones. He'll be
followed by Elona Dreni.
June 11, 2024
Page 91
MR. JONES: Good morning. My name is Al Jones. I live in
Pine Ridge on Trail Boulevard, and I've been here for 35 years.
And looking at the history of the zoning, we have some 60 or so
ag lots now, and they run all the way from East Street all the way
around and end up at Carica.
Now, for the most part, they're at least an acre and a half. Some
of them are two acres. And what's been happening is the ag lots
have actually been acquiring -- we have less ag lots than we had at
the beginning, because they're acquiring adjacent properties in part or
in whole. So the people who are on the ag lots actually are
demonstrating that there is a desire to have ag lots, and it gives you
the various uses that you're not going to get on a residential. You
can have horses. You can have goats. You could have chickens,
and a large garden, anything else that, you know, you might find on
an ag lot, and they are being used.
Now, if somebody wanted to use a lot, buy a two-acre lot, split
it, that's fine, that's okay. I have no problem with that. But there
are plenty of residential lots. There's some 500 residential lots
available for that. Maybe not all of them are two-acre, but a good
portion of them are, and that's being done.
And speaking of the splitting of the lots, over time, there have
been some five or six -- I mean, this is recently since 2017. There's
been, like, five residential lots have been split, and the people that
split them are developers. They're not there any longer. They're not
residents of the community; whereas the people who have bought
adjacent lots in the ag area are still with us. So that will give you an
idea of what the -- what's people's impression when they come in
there to buy a lot and what they're going to do with it.
So I would say that you should deny the rezoning on this
because what it will do, if you approve this one, and other ones will
follow, you're going to have the same chain of investors coming in
June 11, 2024
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and following suit, buying the ag lots, and that will change the entire
complexion of the area, and we just don't want that.
And each time that a lot is split, that adds another septic tank,
which I think that not just here, but all across the state is -- a move
afoot to get rid of some of the septic tanks. We don't have any
sewerage in there, and only some of us have county water. So it just
aggravates the whole situation more if the lots get split.
But, definitely, in the middle of the ag area, to change one over
to residential, just doesn't make sense. The adjacent properties may
want to, you know, come in there and buy a portion of a lot that he
wants to sell. Okay.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Elona Dreni. She will be
followed by George Leamon.
MS. DRENI: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Elona Dreni. I'm the current president of the Pine Ridge Estates
Civic Association, so I'm here to speak on behalf of the board.
We would like for you to deny this petition for rezoning and
variance of the applicant. One thing that I want to mention that I
believe Bob was trying to get to, didn't get a chance, is that when the
NIM was held, the civic association should have been notified.
Pretty much none of us knew that this was happening. We
didn't know about this meeting. We found out much later. We then
found out there was only one family that showed up at the meeting.
There was a notice in the paper. There was a meeting
downtown. This should have been handled much better. If
something like this needs to happen, we need to talk about it as
residents of this community. The Pine Ridge Civic Association is a
great forum to do that.
We're not an HOA. We don't enforce anything, but we have a
voice to speak to each other to get together and to discuss issues that
affect all of us.
June 11, 2024
Page 93
This would change the character of our community. We don't
appreciate that. And I believe it would set a precedent also. As
they mentioned, there's 37 other lots that they want to be able to do
the same thing. And talking about more sewage issues that we have
that -- we don't have sewage or water, so they would have to
add -- that would complicate matters even more.
So we ask that you please deny this petition. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final registered speaker is George
Leamon.
MR. LEAMON: Chairman, Commissioners, George Leamon.
I've lived in Pine Ridge for over 50 years. I can't imagine counting
all the campaigns I was involved with for county commissioners over
the years, but they always had a pledge: Bring back or maintain
common sense politics. Well, guys, I think this is a chance to do
exactly that.
So I ask you to deny this application. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: That was our final speaker, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. So I'm a resident of Pine
Ridge Estates.
MR. OLIVARES: May I have a comment?
CHAIRMAN HALL: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Actually --
CHAIRMAN HALL: You want to hear him?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, he's entitled to rebut.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. I want to make a comment. Go
ahead. We'll let you rebut.
MR. OLIVARES: Okay. Sorry. I'm going to be very short
here.
I just want to say it's a little disappointing, because after the
Planning Commission I did reach out to the Pine Ridge Civic
Association to kind of work out whatever issues needed to be worked
June 11, 2024
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out. And it's just upsetting because they're still a little bit confused
about the application itself. I just want to make a few minor
clarifications.
There are three variances requested. If there was no house on
the property right now, there would be no variances requested for this
petition. The rezoning does not require any variances. The only
new variance would be for the side yard. The house is existing as it
is right now. So the two front yard setbacks exist as they are right
now.
I also find it a little bit ironic that some of the people that have
said they're against this actually also have front yard and side setback
variances on their own properties.
And the only other thing I would just like to say is that, yes,
there may be 37 agricultural lots that they think may be affected, but
those other lots would not meet the land -- the LDC requirements to
actually split the lots. So there are maybe a handful of lots that
would meet the LDC requirements to be able to be split.
Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, sir.
So I live there as well, and what we have, or what we've
experienced as residents of Pine Ridge Estates is an epic process
failure.
There was a notice given in a dying entity that was not seen by
but one couple that lived across the street. The NIM was met -- the
NIM requirements was met, but it was down in the library downtown.
I didn't even know about it. The way that I found out about it is I
rode my bike by the signs and then had Louise call and find out what
this was all about. That's how I found out about it.
So this -- the house that sits on the two acres right now, it's
called a legally noncompliant house, meaning it was built back in the
'70s. It was built before the setback requirements were changed, and
June 11, 2024
Page 95
because it was done before then, it's grandfathered in. So it's legally
noncompliant. It's noncompliant to the current setbacks, but it's a
legal house as long as it stays there.
The covenants that were mentioned, you know, Growth
Management -- I discussed this with them. So Growth Management
says, "Well, we don't take into consideration the covenants. That's a
legal matter between the residents and somebody that wants to move
in," so I understand that.
Staff is limited to the Growth Management Plan, the Future
Land Use, the densities that have been allowed in the past.
So it's not -- it's not so much this is technically bad. It's just
that the people have -- they've come out in droves. I mean, I've had
phone calls. I've had e-mails. I have not had phone calls. I've had
letters and e-mails once they found out about the ag lots.
Now, the ag lots run along between Gordonia and Ridge Street.
They run along between those and Goodlette-Frank. There's horses
out there. The lots are large. This particular lot is in a curve there
on Gordonia, and it's an odd-ball lot, meaning it's not square.
And so the petitioner's asking to split it, and then the variances
would have to come in so that he could fit two residences, you know,
on there.
You know, like I said, the staff doesn't consider the covenants,
but the people do. And Pine Ridge is a special place. It's a special
place. The lot that -- the lots that are there are unmatched in the
county. I mean, they're nice, and they're close.
Would the split be allowable? The answer is yes, if we
approved it. Is it preferable? The answer is no. We've heard from
the people loud and clear about it. Had they have known about this,
they would have voiced their opinion.
At the Planning Commission, this came up, and they basically
had to ask for a motion to pass it, and then when no second was done,
June 11, 2024
Page 96
the Chair seconded the motion, and then they had a 25-minute
discussion. The discussion was basically about whether the
covenants were current or not, or whether they had expired.
And so after a 25-minute discussion on the covenants, they
approved it. And what we find out now is the covenants are in
perpetuity. They matter to the people.
So representing the people of District 2 and the residents of Pine
Ridge Estates, I'm not going to be in favor at all of this petition.
Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you. I'm not
supportive of it either. I had a couple other questions. Because
we've been dealing with variances -- and as a matter of fact, I want to
bring something up under counsel communications later on dealing
with variances.
But the request is to divide the lot, which then necessitates
variances. And the law is that you can't have a -- they're supposed to
be land-related hardships, and there's supposed to be hardships that
are not created by the landowner.
And so we have a request to split lots and create several needs
for a variance. And just a question for County Attorney, just like
your legal opinion as to whether -- I'm not going to support doing
this, but I just want your opinion as to whether or not approving a lot
split and creating a need for variances would justify having variances
under the law that requires the variances not to be created by the
landowner -- or the hardships not to be created by the landowner.
MR. KLATZKOW: Variances in Florida, by statute, require a
showing of substantial hardship to the applicant. I've not seen that.
I don't know how you can do the rezone without the variance.
If the Board's belief is that the variance shouldn't be granted, I
would suggest that both items be voted down.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I mentioned one other
June 11, 2024
Page 97
variance that was granted by the Hearing Examiner -- and I'll get with
you during the lunch break, because I want to discuss that during the
counsel communications.
But I agree with Commissioner Hall that I don't support this. I
think it changes the character of the neighborhood. It has the
potential of creating some issues there, but I also don't like the idea of
us splitting lots and requiring variances to make those lots buildable.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, I agree. I -- I
appreciate your comments, Commissioner Hall, and certainly the
comments from the community.
I found it interesting that we were -- and that was one of the
reasons why I asked the question at the beginning as to whether or
not the variance requests were going to have a negative impact on a
neighbor.
I found it interesting that we were asking for approval of a
variance in order to effectuate a rezone and a lot split. And I
didn't -- I didn't -- I didn't find -- I didn't find good flavor in that. So
I'm going to support the -- I'm assuming the inevitable motion that's
going to come forward for denial.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yeah, this is one of the reasons why I pulled 17A forward. And
maybe to the average citizen who's watching this and hasn't done the
deeper dive that we've done and that the Planning Commission has
done, they sound very similar, and in some cases they are, but they're
very, very different.
I don't support this one either because -- there's a reason why the
planning board in the case of the -- what we voted on in my district,
they were unanimous in recommending it. Correct, Mr. Bosi? Just
say yay or nay.
June 11, 2024
Page 98
MR. BOSI: (Nods head.)
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Unanimous. But in this
particular case they weren't for very many -- very many reasons that I
definitely can see as well.
Totally different neighborhood, totally different reasons. So it's
not a matter of the exact same thing of just splitting lots. This one
brings with it much more complication, and it's a totally different
unique circumstance.
So, I mean, you know, like Commissioner Saunders always
says, you know, you can sort of count noses on this one. I mean, we
have yet to hear from Commissioner Kowal, but I had a lot of
reservations with this one.
And as the County Attorney said, you know, you don't vote for
the change if you're against the variances. I mean, they sort of go
together. And so, you know, that's how I feel.
In the case of my district, it didn't have those complications. It
was something much different and much cleaner and made more
sense, and the Planning Commission agreed. This one, there's a
reason the Planning Commission split, confused, and pushed it to us,
I guess.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes.
So, Commissioner Kowal, are you unmuted? Because we're
going to call for a vote.
I'm going to make a motion to deny the petition on 8A and 9A.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll second that,
Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we have a motion and a second to
deny both 8A and 9A, both the rezone and the variance. All in
favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
June 11, 2024
Page 99
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, could we poll Commissioner Kowal
about 9B real quick?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes. Commissioner Kowal?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Yes, I wanted to clarify that.
Yeah, it was my fault. Human error. I hit the mute button too late.
I voted "yes" in support of 9B with the rest of the Commission. You
just didn't hear me because I was muted.
CHAIRMAN HALL: We could feel you.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So if that helps clarify.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you, Dan.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: All right.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that -- we took a vote on
that one, correct? Yes, everybody voted.
Okay. That brings us to the County Manager's agenda. I don't
know how you-all are feeling about lunch or if we want to keep
going. We have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven items on the
agenda. Some of them should go quickly. So if you want to push
through a couple more, it's at your pleasure.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I think we should go for a couple more.
I know that we're going to have several comments in commission
comments before we get started with you-all, so let's -- we'll just go
till 12:30, then take a break.
MS. PATTERSON: Okay. Well, let's see if we can knock out
the two Conservation Collier items. I think we can do that in 10
minutes. Those are the next ones up. That would be -- and
June 11, 2024
Page 100
we'll -- and let's hear them together. So that's Item 11A and
Item 11B. And they have long titles, so I'm going to go ahead and
read them in while Jaime gets ready.
Item #11A
AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE UNDER THE
CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM
WITH 1) RICHARD L. WOODWORTH FOR A 2.27-ACRE
PARCEL AT A COST OF $49,600; 2) CDL NAPLES
INVESTMENT, LLC, FOR A 2.73-ACRE PARCEL AT A COST
OF $59,650; 3) MARCOS A. AND ELIZABETH S. BECKERT
FOR A 1.14-ACRE PARCEL AT A COST OF $24,910; 4) PEGGY
ANNE ARNOLD (“ARNOLD TRUST”) FOR A 7.16-ACRE
PARCEL AT A COST OF $141,140; AND 5) THE LAND GENIE,
LLC, FOR A 2.73-ACRE PARCEL AT A COST OF $62,790, FOR
A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $346,790 INCLUSIVE OF
CLOSING COSTS. (JAIME COOK, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
DIVISION DIRECTOR) (DISTRICT 5) - MOTION TO APPROVE
3) MARCOS A. AND ELIZABETH S. BECKERT AND 4) THE
“ARNOLD TRUST” PROPERTIES BY COMMISSIONER HALL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – APPROVED;
MOTION TO APPROVE 1) RICHARD L. WOODWORTH
PROPERTY BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – APPROVED (COMMISSIONER
HALL OPPOSED); MOTION TO APPROVE 5) THE LAND
GENIE, LLC PROPERTY BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS;
SECONDED BY MCDANIEL – APPROVED (COMMISSIONER
HALL OPPOSED); MOTION TO APPROVE 2) CDL NAPLES
INVESTMENT, LLC PROPERTY BY COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL –
June 11, 2024
Page 101
APPROVED (COMMISSIONER HALL AND COMMISSIONER
KOWAL OPPOSED)
MS. PATTERSON: 11A is a recommendation to approve an
agreement for sale and purchase under Conservation Collier Land
Acquisition Program with, one, Richard L. Woodworth for a
2.27-acre parcel at a cost of $49,600; two, CDL Naples Investment,
LLC, for a 2.73-acre parcel at a cost of $59,650; three, Marcos A. and
Elizabeth S. Beckert for a 1.41-acre parcel at a cost of $24,910; four,
Peggy Anne Arnold and the Arnold Trust for a 7.16-acre parcel at a
cost of $141,140; and, five, the Land Genie, LLC, for a 2.73-acre
parcel at a cost of $62,790; for a total cost not to exceed $346,790,
inclusive of closing costs.
Item #11B
AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE UNDER THE
CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM
WITH 1) NELSON GRANADOS FOR A 5.15 ACRE PARCEL AT
A COST OF $106,860; 2) NANCY A. WATERS, WILLIAM C.
BARTELSMEYER, AND JUDITH A. MOULTON,
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE REVOCABLE
TRUST AGREEMENT NO. 012645 DATED DECEMBER 18, 2015
(“MOULTON TR.”), FOR A 7.17 ACRE PARCEL AT A COST OF
$141,340; 3) ANA MARGARITA TAYLOR-ABRAHAM AS
PLENARY GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON AND PROPERTY OF
ANA L. TAYLOR, SURVIVING SPOUSE OF ERNESTO
TAYLOR (“TAYLOR”) FOR 5 ACRES AT A COST OF $98,650;
AND 4) NANCY A. WALSH FOR A 1.14 ACRE PARCEL AT A
COST OF $19,494, FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED
$373,834 INCLUSIVE OF CLOSING COSTS. (JAIME COOK,
June 11, 2024
Page 102
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW DIVISION DIRECTOR) (DISTRICT 5)
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER HALL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Then Item 11B is a recommendation to
approve an agreement for sale and purchase under Conservation
Collier Land Acquisition Program with, one, Nelson Granados for a
5.15-acre parcel at a cost of $106,860; two, Nancy A. Waters,
William C. Bartelsmeyer, and Judith A. Moulton, individually and as
trustee of the Revocable Trust Agreement No. 012645 dated
December 18th, 2015, for a 7.17-acre parcel at a cost of $141,340;
three, Ana Margarita Taylor-Abraham as plenary guardian of the
person and property of Ana L. Taylor, surviving spouse of Ernesto
Taylor, for five acres at a cost of $98,650; and four, Nancy A. Walsh
for a 1.14-acre parcel at a cost of $19,494; for a total cost not to
exceed $373,834, inclusive of closing costs.
Ms. Jaime Cook, your Development Review division director,
will present on both of these items.
MS. COOK: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Jaime Cook,
for the record.
So the nine properties that you have before you for consideration
between the two items, eight of those properties are within the Gore
Preserve and one within Red Maple Swamp.
Troy, it's not working. There we go.
So the first five that are in Item 11A are highlighted in pink on
this map of the Gore Preserve. The Gore Preserve was established in
2018 as a multi-parcel project. To date, about 220 acres, which is
about 55 percent of the project area, has been acquired.
The Gore Preserve is located in the southern Golden Gate
Estates. DeSoto Boulevard runs through the middle of the preserve,
and it is just north of I-75.
June 11, 2024
Page 103
The preserve provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including
listed species, such as the Florida panther, wading birds, the bonneted
bat, and black bear. It contributes to the wildlife corridor of public
and private conservation lands, including the North Belle Meade
Preserve, which is in the bright yellow to the far left of the map. The
Rural Fringe Mixed-Use district sending lands, panther refuge, which
is the bright green/teal to the eastern part of the map, to the right, the
Rural Land Stewardship Sending Areas 6 and 18, as well as Picayune
Strand and Fakahatchee Strand State Park.
The first parcel on this -- in this agenda is the Woodworth
parcel. It is 2.27 acres in the northwest section of the preserve. The
property contains both wetland vegetation and soils, and the purchase
price is 95 percent of the appraised value of the property.
Although it's not currently connected to any other Conservation
Collier parcels, because this is a multi-parcel project that has
continued to be approved by the Board the last six years, staff does
continue to engage with those owners surrounding this parcel to try to
connect the parcels.
The CDL Investment parcel is 2.73 acres in the northeast section
of the preserve and does contain 100 percent wetland vegetation and
soils. It does connect to an existing Conservation Collier parcel on
its southern boundary. And, again, the purchase price is 95 percent
of the appraised value of the property.
The Beckert parcel is 1.14 acres of mixed scrub-shrub habitat
and wetland soils. The property is entirely surrounded by
conservation parcels and, again, this purchase price of $24,910 is
95 percent of the appraised value of the property.
The Arnold Trust parcel is 7.16 acres of cypress wetlands and
wetland soils in the southeast portion of the property. Directly east
is another property for consideration, which is part of Item 11B, and
the three parcels that are directly to the east of that were approved by
June 11, 2024
Page 104
you-all in September and October and closed in December. So those
are existing Conservation Collier parcels. Again, the purchase price
is 95 percent of the appraised value of the property.
And then, finally, for Item 11A, the Land Genie parcel is
2.73 acres in the northern section of the preserve. Approximately
half of the property contains wetland soils, but it does contain cypress
wetland vegetation. It does abut an existing Conservation Collier
parcel on its southern boundary and, similarly to the Woodworth
parcel, which is to the west of this, we continue to engage with those
surrounding homeowners/property owners as part of the multi-project
that you continue to approve each year.
These five properties consist of a total of 16.03 acres of land,
and if acquired these -- this acreage would be added to the Gore
Preserve.
With that, staff recommends acquiring these five parcels as part
of the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program at a cost not to
exceed 346 -- $346,790.
With that, I can take any questions or go on to Item 11B.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Ms. Cook, can you go back to the first
map, please. So what is -- so that's -- so the ones that are outside of
the existing Conservation Collier lands is Woodworth, Land Genie,
CDL, and the other two are tied in there. So those are the three that
are out there. Is that the only three that are not really attached to the
rest of the preserve?
MS. COOK: Correct. CDL is connected on its southern
boundary but, for the most part, yes, you're correct, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Let's go to the
next -- whatever the Chair wants to do.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Let's go to the next one.
MS. COOK: Troy, can you help?
June 11, 2024
Page 105
MR. MILLER: Sure.
MS. COOK: Okay. So, again, I won't go through all of this
again since we're kind of hearing this together, but three of the four
parcels are still within the Gore Preserve. They are indicated in the
blue on this map; the Granados parcel, the Moulton Trust parcel, and
the Taylor parcel. And then the fourth property is within the Red
Maple Swamp, which is in the Northern Golden Gate Estates, just
north of Twin Eagles.
So we'll go directly to the Granados parcel which, again, is in
the northern part of the Gore Preserve. It consists of 5.15 acres of
mixed hardwood wetlands. It is non-hydric soils, so it wouldn't
require as much mitigation if it were to be developed by the state.
It is not currently connected to any other parcels owned by
Conservation Collier, but for awareness, the parcel directly to the east
has accepted an offer, and that purchase agreement is slated to come
before you within the next couple of meetings depending on the rest
of the schedule. The purchase price of $106,860 is 100 percent of
the appraised value of the property.
The Moulton Trust parcel is 7.17 acres. It is 100 percent
wetlands and wetland soils, and it is adjacent to the Arnold Trust
parcel, which we just discussed, as well as three parcels directly to its
east, which were acquired by Conservation Collier in the fall.
And then, finally within the Gore Preserve, the Taylor parcel is
five acres directly west of DeSoto Boulevard on 40th Avenue
Southeast. The property consists of wetland hardwood vegetation,
and about 40 percent of it contains wetland soils. It is surrounded by
existing Conservation Collier parcels on its east, west, and north. So
this one would kind of fill in an existing hole within the preserve.
And then finally, the last parcel is within the Red Maple Swamp.
We haven't really discussed much about Red Maple Swamp. But it
was established as a multi-parcel project similar to Gore and
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Page 106
Winchester Head back in 2005. The preserve is off of Shady Hollow
Boulevard in the northeastern Golden Gate Estates. It's adjacent to
both public and private conservation lands, including Corkscrew
Swamp Sanctuary, CREW district lands, including the Bird Rookery
Swamp, as well as private Conservation Collier lands including those
belonging to Twin Eagles, Heritage Bay, the Quarry, Esplanade
Country Club, Bonita Bay, and Riverstone, as well as Old Cypress.
To date, Conservation Collier has acquired about 80 percent of
this project area and has 22 remaining parcels inclusive of the one
that you will be reviewing.
Red Maple Swamp consists of habitat for wildlife, including the
Florida panther, black bear, and wading birds. The habitat is mostly
cypress, as well as Red Maple Swamp. And the area provides
significant floodplain storage and protection of the surface and
groundwater resources in this area in the county.
The Walsh parcel is 1.14 acres consisting of forested and scrub
wetlands, and it is 100 percent wetland soils. The parcel is
surrounded by Conservation Collier parcels in green to its north,
west, and east, and the purchase price of 19,494 is 95 percent of the
appraised value of the property.
These four parcels would add 18.46 acres of land to the
program, mostly within the Gore Preserve, but also within Red Maple
Swamp.
And with that, staff's recommendation would be to
purchase -- to approve the purchase agreements for these four parcels
and acquire the parcels as part of the Conservation Collier Land
Acquisition Program at a cost not to exceed $373,834.
And with that, I will take any questions.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. If you would, go back
to the map for both Red Maple Swamp and the Gore Preserve.
June 11, 2024
Page 107
MS. COOK: That one?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You're a quicker clicker than
I am.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Quicker clicker.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Quicker clicker.
Has this area been designated as a TPA?
MS. COOK: Red Maple Swamp? It is TPMA, but when it is
approved as part of the multi-parcel project, every year we do send
letters to this area.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. How about the Gore
Preserve?
MS. COOK: Same with that. The Gore Preserve, there is
a -- north of this project boundary is where the TPMA is.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You threw an M in there.
TPA is Target Protection Area. What's the M stand for?
MS. COOK: Target protection mailing area.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, okay.
MS. COOK: So just north of this is a Target Mailing Area.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just north of --
MS. COOK: The preserve boundary.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Are all these parcels that are
delineated in gray -- I know the green we already -- the Conservation
Collier already owns.
MS. COOK: Correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And the ones that are
delineated in gray are part of that TPMA?
MS. COOK: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No.
MS. COOK: So the ones in gray are part of the multi-parcel
project boundary, and then the TPMA, which would expand the Gore
Preserve, is directly to the north of this.
June 11, 2024
Page 108
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And obviously over to the
east off of Everglades we've got a TPA over there, TPMA over there.
MS. COOK: Correct, correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So the people in gray that are within the
Gore, they are not receiving mail?
MS. COOK: They do.
CHAIRMAN HALL: They do, okay.
MS. COOK: They receive them yearly, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Just counting, we're talking
about eight lots in total, right? You presented five and then three?
MS. COOK: There's nine.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Nine, okay.
MS. COOK: Eight within Gore and one within Red Maple
Swamp.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I gotcha. Okay.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm just going to throw it out there. I
see the value in the properties that are adjacent or filling holes. I'm
not a fan of the Woodworth and the Land Genie and the CDL
Investment. They're just kind of willy-nilly out there on their own.
I understand that in the future we could join those, and that would be
my preference is to put those in when we have something that would
join up and fill the puzzle, so to speak.
So I'm going to make a motion to approve everything except for
those three, and that would be with the exception of Woodworth,
CDL, and the Land Genie. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, just on the
motion, assuming that motion's approved, I assume that we can make
a subsequent motion on the other three?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you want to take them
June 11, 2024
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individually?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: One at a time, I would say.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Do you want to
go -- do you want to go back to the beginning on 11A and have a
discussion on those five parcels on 11A, or however many are in
there, and pull out the ones you want, because --
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm all about it. So we can talk about
Woodworth, the 11A, No. 1. I'm not -- I'm not a fan.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Go back to the Woodworth
slide, if you would.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's on there right now.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Well, it's all of them. But
didn't you have a separate one for Woodworth? I just wanted to look
at the specs again.
I agree, too. I hate seeing these little puzzle pieces, but then,
you know, two months from now, they come back saying, oh, the
adjacent lot wants to sell, and if we would have bought
Woodworth -- and, I mean, I'm just speculating. But, you know, I
like buying the things that are in the heart of a Conservation Collier,
you know, footprint already, and this is the last piece of the puzzle.
But then, you know, there are several people that could be at the mic
right now saying, "Well, you've got to start with the first piece."
And that's why I just wanted to take a look at this slide, see what we
were paying. This was 95 percent of appraisal, right?
MS. COOK: Yes.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Right. But, like, out in the
middle of nowhere.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah. I think there was -- I
may be guessing, but I think there would have been general support
for the motion that you make to purchase the five [sic] parcels, and
June 11, 2024
Page 110
the question would be what to do with the other three, and that's why
I was going to ask if we can do a subsequent motion.
So I'm suggesting that we go back -- unless Commissioner
McDaniel and Commissioner LoCastro have some problems and
Commissioner Kowal have some problems with those five, why don't
we take those off the table by supporting your motion to acquire
those and then go one by one on the other three?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, there's nine total.
MS. COOK: Correct.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Red Maple Swamp will be good. I'm
not including -- I'm not including -- I mean, I'm including approving
the Red Maple Swamp one. I'm just talking about these ones right
here in the Gore Preserve, these three properties in the Gore.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So you would have six that
you support?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes. And then these three we can
discuss.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And those are all connected.
So why don't we take your motion and then deal with the other three
individually.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second that motion.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. So we have a motion and a
second. So we'll have some discussion on these three properties, the
Woodworth, the CDL, and the Land Genie.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, let's vote on that
motion.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. So we have a motion and second
to approve the six without the Woodworth, the CDL, and the Land
Genie.
June 11, 2024
Page 111
All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye (delayed response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: We got you.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: A little late.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Now we can discuss the three
at the top there.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Is there somebody
ahead of me?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Oh. Well, you were up there.
Commissioner Kowal?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I'd put my hand up because I
can't see what you guys are seeing sometimes, and I know the
Woodworth, the Land Genie, and the CDL, I think, were the three
we're discussing now.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I know at one point somebody
said they wanted to see it again. It never popped up for me, but just
giving [sic] you aware that sometimes I can't see exactly what you
guys are looking at.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah, we can't see the slides.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, she was flipping
through -- would you go to the map where they're delineated with
pink and blue?
There we go. That has them -- that has all of the ones in the
June 11, 2024
Page 112
Gore Preserve area, and the Red Maple, I think, is off on its own,
correct?
MS. COOK: Correct, yeah.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: All right.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And, Jaime, pop in if there's
something we're missing. I mean, I agree with Commissioner Hall
as well, you know, when I see these lots sitting out in the middle of
nowhere, you know, I'd rather use the money for something that is
more specific, but if there's something that you know in further
planning, like the lots adjacent to these lots are about to come up for
a purchase or, you know, if you want to reiterate the value of these
lots, you know, this is a big panther preserve. It's a big -- you know,
something that maybe we missed as you're going through nine
different lots. You know, I don't want to miss anything.
MS. COOK: You know, I will say that to Commissioner
McDaniel's question about the target mailing area, there are several
parcels just north of this that have applied to the program, so those
are expected to come forward with the Active Acquisition List.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Now I'm ready. Can you
call --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That will just expand the
Gore Preserve area.
MS. COOK: Correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. And I'm -- and I'm
going to say this. I mean, this is a hugely environmentally sensitive
area. We've always had discussions with regard to wildlife
traversing out of the -- out of the panther preserve through this area.
Hopefully someday we'll talk about a wildlife crossing on Everglades
Boulevard over into the eastern side of the North Belle Meade, in that
area that's established over there.
June 11, 2024
Page 113
So, I mean, based upon my reading of the description of the
hydric soils, the environmental sensitivity of these -- of these lots, I'm
not opposed to the acquisition of them. I would have originally
approved the acquisition of all of them.
I understand, with deference, the thought process of theoretical
piecemealing, but sometimes when you're putting a puzzle together,
you don't get to start on one corner and work your way through.
This area's been designated as an extremely environmentally
sensitive area. And I'm not in -- I'm not going to throw myself on
the sword on these acquisitions, but these are acquisitions that
the -- that the program can and will add to over time filling in that
puzzle.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
I think we all know where we're going to be on these. I'm
going to go ahead and make a motion just on the Woodworth
just -- I'll do one at a time. The Woodworth property, I make a
motion to go ahead and acquire that.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Was that to acquire
it? I missed that.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yes, to acquire it. I'm
sorry. Yes, to acquire it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Motion and second to
approve the Woodworth. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
June 11, 2024
Page 114
Aye.
THE COURT REPORTER: I can't tell if he's for or against.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Are you for or against, Commissioner
Kowal?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I said aye. Sorry, for.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. For; 4-1.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. I'll make a
motion, Mr. Chairman, on the Land Genie parcel, to acquire it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye (delayed response).
THE COURT REPORTER: So I don't know if he's delayed
or --
CHAIRMAN HALL: He's delayed.
MR. MILLER: There's a slight delay there. We might want to
pause.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'll wait -- I'll wait for the next one, but
he was for it.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And then, Mr. Chairman, I'll
make a motion to approve the purchase of the CDL Investment parcel
as well.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Motion is made to acquire CDL
Investment. All in favor, say aye.
June 11, 2024
Page 115
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I opposed that one. Sorry. So
it was 3-2.
MS. COOK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. That brings us to lunch.
So it's 12:43. Is 1:30 soon enough? Can everybody get 'er
done by 1:30? Let's do it. We'll be back at 1:30.
(A luncheon recess was had from 12:43 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Ms. Patterson, where does
that bring us to?
Item #11C
TO APPROVE SPENDING UP TO $10,000 FOR APPRAISAL
AND PRE-CONTRACT EXPENSES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND
AUTHORIZE STAFF TO TRANSMIT A NON-BINDING LETTER
OF INTENT TO COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE
PURCHASE OF 10.9+/- ACRES OF PROPERTY AT 299
CREATIVE DRIVE, NAPLES FOR THE COLLIER COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE DISTRICT 5 SUBSTATION. (ED FINN,
DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER) (ALL DISTRICTS) - MOTION
TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – APPROVED
June 11, 2024
Page 116
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to 11C, which is
recommendation to approve spending up to $10,000 for appraisal and
precontract expenses for due diligence and authorize staff to transmit
a nonbinding letter of intent to commence negotiations for the
purchase of 10.9 plus/minus acres of property at 299 Creative Drive,
Naples, for the Collier County Sheriff's Office District 5 substation.
And Mr. Ed Finn, your Deputy County Manager, is here to present.
MR. FINN: Thank you, Ms. Patterson, Mr. Chairman,
Commissioners. I'm Ed Finn, Deputy County Manager.
Item 11C seeks Board authorization to make a nonbinding offer
to purchase 10.9 acres to construct a District 5 substation for the
Collier County Sheriff and utilize up to $10,000 to do -- to do some
appraisals and some other work leading up to a contract to be
presented to the Board.
General -- general location, the upper middle of this map shows
the current location at Patriot Place. That's a lease that the Sheriff's
office has been in since 2017. In the lower section, towards the
right-hand side, is the proposed 10-acre site.
A little closer view of the 10-acre site. And I will flip back.
Commissioner Saunders seems to be scrutinizing that location.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
MR. FINN: That's the way the location looks.
And if I may, some considerations. Since at least 2019, the
Sheriff has included this substation as well as a north District 1
substation on his AUIR relative to Category B, law enforcement
facilities. They've indicated that the subject site is suitable for a
District 5 substation. It is, as I understand it, located in agricultural
zoning, which will allow for this essential service. The property is
listed at 2.5 million. In-house appraisal is roughly $2 million.
If approved, the County Manager or designee will transmit a
June 11, 2024
Page 117
letter of intent for $2 million. We will initiate the appraisal process.
And if agreeable terms are reached, we will return to the Board for
approval.
With that, it is our recommendation to approve this. I will
answer any questions or concerns that we might have.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I guess my question would be, you
know, I'm -- this is fine and dandy for the 10,000 for the appraisal
and all that, but then what? What are we -- what are we looking at
down the road? If we purchase this for $2 million, then what are the
taxpayers looking at to -- as the whole picture?
MR. FINN: We would probably be building a facility in the
3,500 to 5000-square-foot range. We would be providing storage on
this location for the Sheriff as well. In all probability, the
construction costs would be between 4.5 and $6.5 million in addition
to the acquisition costs.
And I'm going to quickly say that all of this would be part of our
due diligence. We would be working up this very thing. When we
bring it back to you, we would have a little -- little more thorough
analysis than square foot times assumed square footage. We would
actually put a little pen to paper and do a little more work so the
Board was fully informed.
I will tell you that in next year's budget, as we develop it, we are
continuing the County Manager's desire to ensure that some funding
is available for purchases of property that provide a good opportunity
for us. This is an opportunity for us to do this.
And as importantly, our colleague, the Sheriff, relative to the
strategic plan is certainly ranked up high in terms of public safety.
We have an obligation to try to advance the ball for his needs.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure. Is -- the current lease, is it in
jeopardy?
MR. FINN: No, sir. The current lease is approximately
June 11, 2024
Page 118
$78,000 a year. And, in fact, on this agenda, you renewed that lease,
so we are in good shape.
But as you know --
CHAIRMAN HALL: He just wants his own house.
MR. FINN: He certainly does. The speed of government is
such that if we don't start relatively soon, it's going to take forever.
And things only cost more as you delay, as you well know.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, you hit on my points.
I was just wanting to know when you're putting pen to paper, just the
rate of return, how long it's going to take for actual construction,
where we're at with the current outgo, you know, as far as paying as
rent goes and approximately what the -- what the term is on that.
MR. FINN: Yes, sir. Completely agree.
With that, it is our recommendation to proceed. I hope that
meets with your approval, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'll make that motion.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I have one quick question.
The funding, as Commissioner Hall was saying, from start to finish,
is that all Collier County, or the Sheriff's throwing in some dollars
when this building finally gets designed and built. Or if it got that
far, what pots does it come out of?
MR. FINN: Commissioner, it is the Board's responsibility to
provide the Sheriff's facilities. It's the County Manager's
responsibility to carry those plans out. This would, in fact, be
general county funds insofar as impact fees aren't available.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And how long has this been
talked about?
MR. FINN: This has been on the AUIR since 2019. The
Sheriff moved to the current facility he is leasing in 2017. I suspect
when that was done, I'm sure there was a desire at that point to
construct the facility.
June 11, 2024
Page 119
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Anybody got any other
questions or -- I'll second the motion unless there's a question. I'll
second it.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Motion and second to
approve the 10,000 for the appraisal and all that. All in favor, say
aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
MR. FINN: Thank, you gentlemen.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Commissioner -- Chairman?
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Chairman, if I may, I have
to -- I'm probably going to excuse myself at 7:45 -- or 7:45 my time
but I guess 1:45 your time, for the rest of the meeting, if it's okay.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Night, night.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We'll dock your pay.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I've got to get ready to come
back.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Commissioner Kowal, as
soon as you sign off, that's when we vote to have you chair a whole
bunch of subcommittees, and I think it's going to be unanimous.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: That's okay. Whatever. I'm up
for it. Thank you.
(Commissioner Kowal signed off Zoom and is absent for the
remainder of the meeting.)
June 11, 2024
Page 120
Item #11D
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACCEPT AN
UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FLORIDA
CULINARY ACCELERATOR AT IMMOKALEE - ACCEPTED;
MOTION WITH SOME SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO STAFF
INCLUDING DIRECTION TO PUT OUT AN INVITATION TO
NEGOTIATE (ITN) BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, Item 11D is a
recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners accept an
update on the performance of the Florida Culinary Accelerator at
Immokalee, and Mr. Cormac Giblin, your Housing, Policy, and
Economic Development director, is here to present.
MR. GIBLIN: Good afternoon, Commissioners. For the
record, Cormac Giblin.
I want to run through a little bit of a brief slide show about -- a
little bit about what the culinary accelerator is and some of the
activities going on out there.
To start with, what is the accelerator? It is a licensed
commercial space certified for food production. The county
operates it. We rent it -- essentially, rent it out by the hour, day, or
month depending on levels of membership -- levels of memberships
that are purchased from the county.
Everybody using the space needs to have their own licenses and
permits, which are renewed annually. And what we do is provide
equipment and space for startup food businesses requiring minimal
capital investment from them so they can easily achieve the necessary
licensing that they need.
It provides a beneficial environment for like-minded
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entrepreneurs to collaborate and exchange information and ideas on
contacts.
In the picture, you have our food scientist from UF/IFAS
assisting one of our members, who is Reshma from Carina's
Manufacturing.
Where is the accelerator? It's located at the Immokalee airport.
We've been there since about '19 -- I'm sorry. We'll get that in the
next slide. But it's in Immokalee near the crossroads of a couple
major state arterials.
The mission of the culinary accelerator is to promote economic
development through diversity and local economy through growth
and development of food-related businesses. The accelerator was
designed to allow new business startups to capitalize on the county's
abundant agriculture and transportation resources while stimulating
innovation in the local economic resiliency for the Immokalee area
through food service, education, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
A little bit of history. On May 13th, 2014, the Board of County
Commissioners approved that the Collier County accelerator project
be run by a non-profit organization called Economic Incubators, Inc.,
EII, and the Florida Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee was opened
in '18. Later, in April of 2019, the Board directed the County
Manager to assume all management and operational aspects of the
accelerator programs, and then in late -- in late Fiscal Year '23, those
responsibilities were transferred over to the Growth Management
Department.
The picture here is Chef Daniella, a member of the accelerator
working on some of her pastries.
The accelerator was majorily [sic] outfit while using grant
funding. There was an initial grant of $2.5 million from the Florida
DEO, of which 568,000 went to the culinary accelerator.
There was another $112,536 grant from the USDA for the
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purchase of commercial kitchen equipment with additional matching
funds that came from EII at that time, and then another $1.2 million
grant from the DEO to EII was in 2016 for the -- for build out of the
facility and equipment necessary to build out the food scientist's
laboratory, the commercial kitchen, and the packaging facilities.
Of note, all of the grants that have been received by the facility
have met or exceeded all of their performance requirements, and their
period of performance have since expired.
Steps for membership in the food accelerator: We help
entrepreneurs form businesses. They must form their business
through an LLC, a corporation, or other entity. They need to register
with Sunbiz. They register with the Florida Department of Revenue.
They pay their county tax receipts. They -- they achieve food safety
training certifications. They get their permits. They must have
proof of liability insurance, a process authority letter, which has to do
with package -- how certain foods are packaged, and they sign a
contract with the county for use of the accelerator.
And this picture is an organization called Canine Kitchen, which
are -- they are a human-grade pet food manufacturer who are
members out at the facility.
The facility itself is licensed by several regulatory agencies
including DBPR and USDA, FDA. That is one of the major hurdles
and advantages that the accelerator provides to new businesses is
achieving those licensures or license approvals and having a facility
that is regularly inspected is quite an upfront cost, and so the county
provides that for them.
The types of food businesses that are created at the accelerator
have been restaurants, catering companies, bakeries, food trucks,
coffee and beverage, produces, manufactured goods and even as I
mentioned before, the human-grade pet foods. This picture
is -- Judy from Judy's Cakes is in this picture or -- I'm sorry -- Judy's
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Bakery. She was actually one of the -- she was the first member of
the accelerator and also its first success story where she has since
graduated from the program and opened a real brick and mortar
business of her own that is still in business today in the Golden Gate
area.
There are other shared commercial kitchens in Florida. Here's a
sampling of some of them. Some of them are publicly run, as is
Collier County's. Some are public/private partnerships, and some
are private, but they range -- there are commercial kitchens around
the state in existence, and we are by no means trying to reinvent the
wheel here.
Some of the community benefit that's been -- come from the
accelerator is that there have been 46 businesses created with
over -- or about 130 jobs, and we've had 23 businesses graduate and
move on to permanent locations in Collier County.
There are 29 of -- 29 businesses of the -- or the 46 are, in fact,
still existent today, with 21 of them right here in Collier County.
And then of the total created, 10 lasted less than two years, but
33 lasted for more than two years, which is quite a success story,
especially when you're talking about the food-related industries
where they have a failure rate of more than 50 percent in the first year
or two. So these are exceeding the national averages.
Some of the program alumni that are highlighted here we have
Chef Hyde from Hyde and Chic restaurant, who has his restaurant in
Naples. We've got, I mentioned, Judy's Bakery, Judy Jessica's [sic]
in Golden Gate; the Wholesome Hound, which is a pet store in
downtown Naples. They were members of the accelerator doing
their food-grade pet food. Habaneros Cafe and Catering, which is
actually right downstairs in the government center, they are members
of the accelerator. And Food Rock restaurant and food truck is
another business that has graduated from the accelerator.
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Today, if you'd be so inclined, you have a few options that you
can consider. One is to consider current operations and direct staff
to keep doing what we're doing. Another may be to explore possible
revenue-generating or net cost-saving opportunities through
enhancement of opportunities. This would be providing
refreshments and food for county activities such as
Commissioner -- Coffee with the Commissioner, new hire
orientation, work anniversaries, even so far as providing food for
Parks and Rec areas, festivals, that sort of thing.
We also have a strategic partnership with our -- or possible
partnership with the Emergency Management folks. The center is
out of the hazard area for -- when a disaster hits the coastal areas, it
has a backup generator that has enough fuel to run for seven days off
the grid and has enough cooking fuel to last for a month. It has
refrigeration that can make ice and store cold foods and prepare
meals for hundreds of people if needed.
Another option would be to seek an alternate operator for the
facility through some type of ITN process. You could decide to
close the facility and liquidate all the assets, or any other – any other
ideas you may have.
With that, that's the general update on how the accelerator's been
running, what it does, and I'm happy to take any questions.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. Do you have a current
budget with regard to income and expenses? Because I didn't see
that as part of the backup here.
MR. GIBLIN: Sure. The current budget is a little over
$300,000 a year. Of that, about $40,000 comes in from the
membership -- sales of memberships or collection of membership
dues.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Budgeted expenses or
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budgeted revenue?
MR. GIBLIN: The revenue is $40,000 in membership dues,
and the rest of the balance of the budget is made up of the Seminole
compact grant that comes to the county through the state government
from the Seminole Tribe.
CHAIRMAN HALL: You said expenses are 300,000-plus?
MR. GIBLIN: Correct, per year.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's what I was looking
for.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Cormac, how many current
businesses are using the accelerator right now or operating out of
there?
MR. GIBLIN: There are 13 right now.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. And they're in there
permanently or just sort of -- you know, they go in there periodically?
I mean, I know, like -- correct me if I'm wrong, because we sort of
tout the salsa company as a big success. She's in there pretty much
permanently, right? She never went to brick and mortar even after
being, I think, three years in business, correct?
MR. GIBLIN: Correct. She's looking for a spot, but yes.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. Are there other
people that have been in there that long or that permanent? Because
I like what you said when you said this -- and I'm summarizing.
This is sort of a catalyst to get them jump started to sort of get their
own thing.
But when I hear somebody's been in there for three years paying
us what I understand -- because I had a little briefing on this -- maybe
we all did -- that, you know, she's a successful company and, you
know, everybody applauds that, but she pays about $2,000 for the
space, and -- which is a great deal. If I was her, I wouldn't be
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looking very hard for a brick and mortar place, especially if I wasn't
being chased out of this "startup" accelerator factory.
So I don't love that. I'm not looking -- I'm not slamming her
business or not looking for it to go out of business. But, you know,
an accelerator is just that; it helps you jump start, and then you turn
into a brick and mortar.
And so I'll go back to my original question. So she's pretty
much permanent. But like you said, we hope, looking.
The other -- you said there's 13?
MR. GIBLIN: Correct.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Give me a rough idea, are
they all about the same? They've been there for several years?
They're kind of looking but they pay us, you know, $2,000 to use a
$25,000-a-month facility? I mean, if a company was using this
permanently, it would cost them way more than $2,000, because I
understand it's full of top-of-the-line equipment and all of that.
But as you said, it was stocked that way when it was
first -- when a ribbon was cut on it to jump start businesses and then,
you know, force them out the door at some point. Of these 13 other
businesses, do you know offhand, like, how many of them have been
there more than a year? More than two years? I mean, I think the
salsa company's probably the one with the most seniority.
MR. GIBLIN: She is. She's the only one who's been there for
an -- what I'd call an extended --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Who else would you say? I
mean --
MR. GIBLIN: Well, right now we have, as I said, 13; seven of
them are food manufacturing. They do sauces --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But more than a year are
those places, the seven?
MR. GIBLIN: They're close.
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COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Do we do anything to, you
know, kind of wean them off of the, you know, accelerator factory
and say, you know, you need to -- you need to kind of move on?
This isn't a permanent great good deal where you pay us $2,000, and
we keep the $300,000 facility open. Because, I mean, if you do the
math, you know, if you have 10, 20 people in there, this is a -- this is
an investment the county is making at a loss to start up businesses,
but if they sort of linger in the -- in the accelerator warehouse for a
while, I don't know that it really is doing what -- you know, fully
doing what at least I as a taxpayer would want it to do. And what
can you tell us?
MR. GIBLIN: And, Commissioner, that's one of the things that
I think was lost in the program in the transition from EII to the
county. EII, their board, was made up of local entrepreneurs with
connections to universities and other businesspeople in the
community, and so they had more of a soft landing after graduation.
There were those resources that were available to them to find, you
know, their eventual brick and mortar location. That's one thing that
we strive to improve on is we need to develop a clear graduation
strategy to help these businesses make that move. Because it is
very -- I have worked with Reshma trying to help her find a spot
where she can put her operation.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But she's not really enticed
financially because she has a pretty good setup.
MR. GIBLIN: What's enticing her right now, she's basically
outgrown the facility. She needs more than the facility itself can
even offer her anymore. So she is motivated. It's just difficult to
find --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But she doesn't have a
timeline. Like you said, it's sort of a loose, hey -- and, you know, I
mean, you could make the case and say, would you want to have a
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dozen businesses in there operating in perpetuity at $2,000 a month?
No.
Because my position would be if after a year, they were all
forced to leave and some of those businesses didn't survive and it's
like, well, if you need this sort of nearly free space provided by the
county to keep your business profitable, then maybe you really have a
hobby; you don't have a business. You haven't grown it to the extent
like the cake lady did where she can go to a brick and mortar.
And if everybody was graduated after a year or two and there
was -- there weren't enough new businesses to come in to replace,
then maybe the program's sort of outgrown its shelf life. I'm just
talking out loud. I'm not saying that's my position.
But, you know, 300,000 to keep a high-end kitchen available
for, you know, a handful of folks is something that I think we
definitely want to talk about.
Lastly -- and this came in my pre-brief yesterday. So the
money we get from the Indian tribe, right, that's not a guarantee every
year, right? And we're waiting -- we don't know yet if we're going to
get it for this next, whatever it is, fiscal year, correct?
MR. GIBLIN: Correct. The compact was just renegotiated by
the Governor and the tribe.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So we're waiting to say.
MR. GIBLIN: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So one of the questions you
have for us is, if we didn't get that money -- and maybe you don't
need that answer today -- what would our position be as
commissioners? Hey, keep it going but take 300,000 out of the
General Fund or, hey, sell it off and, you know, the state program, the
Indian tribe program has ended, right? I mean, we're at that sort
of -- that's a decision point as well, right?
MR. GIBLIN: Yes, sir.
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COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think I saw some
documentation in the backup, the depreciated value of the assets.
MR. GIBLIN: 219 -- $219,807.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. I'm going to
make -- I'm going to make a suggestion here that we -- if it meets
with the Board's approval, of course, but that we go out for an ITN,
put this -- put this piece of this asset that the county has up for bid,
sell those assets.
I'd like to know -- I know what our depreciated value is, but I'd
like to know what the market value is as well before the actual ITN
goes out, because I don't want to just dump it for the depreciated
value if there is room there for it.
And within the ITN, I would like to have -- because there are 13
users that are there now, and I'd like to have some kind of a -- if a
new operator that would like to utilize the facility -- I would like to
have some kind of an accommodation for what to do with the
businesses that are current members that are there now so that we're
not just throwing people out.
Now, if somebody comes and wants to buy it and they don't
have any intention of running it as an accelerator anymore, then that's
a decision that we'll make once we actually go through this ITN
process. But I'm -- if it is the decision of the Board to continue to
operate this as an accelerator, we have to -- we have to establish some
definite parameters on how long folks can stay, so ons and so forth.
This isn't -- this isn't a place to come run your business forever. It
was -- I -- you saw my ugly mug on that ribbon cutting there, and --
CHAIRMAN HALL: I saw it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. And I mean,
this -- the advent of this project came in advance of my tenure as
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commissioner, but I've watched it go through. And we lost some
time with the debacle with -- I call it a debacle with the issues with
the EII and so on and so forth, and we certainly don't want to travel
down that path. But my -- if you're looking for a motion, Mr. Chair,
I'll make a motion that we go forward on that ITN.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I agree with just about
everything you said. I'm a little concerned --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Except my ugly mug thing.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No, that I certainly agreed
with. I was going to second that part of it. I think we've got 13
users in there, and I think we ought to put them on notice that this
facility is going to close, because it sounds like that's -- you're going
to do an ITN. We don't know what we're going to get from that.
But I think we need to let the 13 tenants know that -- pick a date, July
31, 2025, Collier County is no longer funding anything there, the
facility theoretically could close, so that they can start -- they'll have
a year to make some other arrangements to go somewhere else, or
they can flip a coin and run the risk of staying and hoping that
somebody else comes in and takes it over, but I think it's probably
time for us to get out of that -- out of that business. So if that's a
motion, if we can kind of add a little bit to it to put some notice in
there, that sort of thing, I would support that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm okay with making the
motion for the ITN. I'd rather not, today, pick a date certain that it's
going to close. I think it's the will of the Board -- at least if I'm
hearing what I'm hearing, it's the will of the Board for us to not be in
this business any longer.
I would rather we explore the opportunity for the disposition of
the assets, the release of the facility, ask in that ITN for a new
operator's consideration for the existing people that we have.
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Then -- and then we can make a -- we could pick a time-certain as to
when we're going to be out of there.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And the only reason I
suggested giving a date now and giving it a fairly long lead, that was
we'll spend the next three or four or five months developing the ITN,
getting responses, and then evaluating it. And we don't know what
the outcome of that's going to be. But at that point in time, if we
don't get something that's satisfactory, then we're going to be faced
with the same question: Do we close this? And how much notice
do we give them?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sure.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And I was just thinking in
terms of, if I was a businessperson in there --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You know, I'm not -- if I
heard June '25 out of you --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: July 31, 2025.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: July 31, 2025, as the date
certain we're going to close it, then I can make that as part of my
motion, if that's --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: If the Board is of the opinion
that --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm not opposed to that.
Candidly, I think that's a minute premature until we get an actual look
at the ITNs, because based on our -- Jamie's moving up to the mic
now. But based on my conversations yesterday, I think this ITN can
go out in fairly short order. We can keep the term fairly short as far
as the length of time for propositions to come in. So we could be
back here in 60, 90 days. Do you think?
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir, thank you. For the record, my
name's Jamie French. I'm your Growth Management Department
head.
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Commissioners, the only thing I might suggest is that we give,
perhaps, first right of refusal and offer the ITN -- or at least advertise
the ITN for the current applicants that are -- I'm sorry. For the
current participants that are there, if there's a level of interest, and to
acquire this asset.
The other thing is that you're fully funded through the end of
this budget year, unless Mr. Finn corrects me. So we've got until
September 30 to actually -- we're funded through then. Outside of
that, this would be included in next year's budget for your
consideration if there was any future funding, but we'd like to get this
back to you much sooner than that, go through the ITN process, at
least offer -- at least allow the people that are there -- it's going to be
advertised anyway, but maybe pay special attention to those folks to
let them know that this has gone to ITN.
We don't know what the -- we won't know unless -- whoever
buys it, what the future for this facility may look like and, of course,
whoever would come in would certainly have to qualify with the
Board of County Commissioners to be able to take over that lease,
because it is on your airport property.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, I have no problem
with -- drop the subject that I just brought up and just go with your
motion. That would be fine. Maybe come back in --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'm not interested in a
first right of refusal for the existing.
MR. FRENCH: My apologies. Just --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's not a -- and just to correct
the statement, you start to put precedent on someone else's ability to
make an offer on the facility over someone that's not already
currently where -- now -- and that's part of what I -- after we get done
with this, I want to make sure that we're advertising this to the world,
to as many people as is possible so that -- and, you know, there again,
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we can certainly notify all of the current members that we have.
And, Commissioner Saunders, do you want me to withdraw the
date-certain portion?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah, I think --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think we're going to get
there in short order.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And by the end of
September, we're going to be able to say we're only going to fund this
for another six months or something like that. We can make that
decision in September.
So my motion will be to go out with an ITN to sell the assets
and someone to take over the lease. And within that, I would
like -- within the ITN, I would like some sort of statement, if a new
operator comes, their intentions to work with the current membership
that we have.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So just to clarify, because I'm confused a
little bit, are we selling the building, or are we just selling the
business of it?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, no. Just the assets of the
business.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Just the operation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, not the building itself.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: The equipment.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. So whoever comes in would
lease that back to us at a certain point.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's correct. We own the
building already, if I'm not mistaken.
MR. GIBLIN: The airport owns the building. We lease it
from the airport.
June 11, 2024
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COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The Airport Authority.
We're the Airport Authority.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And what happens to the grant money if
we terminate this? Do we still get to do anything we want to do with
the money, or is it specifically tied to the accelerator?
MR. GIBLIN: You've met all the obligations of the grants, so
you do not need to worry about any clawback.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So if they decided to continue it, then
that's free money.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's money that doesn't have
to be paid back. It's not free.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Well, it's not tied to it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No.
CHAIRMAN HALL: It's not limiting, so --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Wait. I just had a question.
CHAIRMAN HALL: -- by not being limited, free to do. So
one of us has a sign on their door, if you find yourself in a hole, to
quit digging, and I totally concur with that statement when it comes
to this incubator.
So, Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Let me ask a question.
Cormac, the 300,000 that we currently have in our hands right now
from the current funding, that expires when?
MR. GIBLIN: Well, it's the county budget, so it would go
through 9/30.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay.
MR. GIBLIN: The 2025 budget would kick in -- pick up on
10/1 should you wish to include it in the 2025 budget.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. But if the Indian tribe
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comes to us down the road with another check, and we're in the
middle of possibly selling the business or what have you, we have to
say no to that money?
MR. GIBLIN: Those funds are not limited to only the
accelerator activities.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. And you sort of said
that. So I just wanted to clarify that, okay. And then we could
brainstorm other things. I got it.
MR. GIBLIN: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. And that -- that
compact money has nothing to do with the accelerator. It's just been
revenue that our administration's been utilizing to offset the deficit of
the operations here. So when the -- it's not "if." When the compact
money does come to us, we have the capacity to utilize it in any
manner necessary.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It doesn't sound like right
now it's best utilized for this, you know.
MR. GIBLIN: Well, the original language in the compact was
that it's intended to offset the effects of legalized gambling. And the
casino is in Immokalee, and so it was, let's use it somewhere in
Immokalee to lift up the local economy.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And we have been doing that.
We set aside a large portion -- you know, if you'll recall, there was a
subdivision that was -- the land was donated by Collier Enterprises
over on the east side of Immokalee. They spent a million dollars to
put in a road and water and sewer, and then we did -- I think it's
called the Learning Center.
MR. GIBLIN: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think it's called the
Learning Center. It's 13, 14 houses, and they brought -- BCB,
Boran, Craig, and Barber, were general contractors in that
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development, and they brought kids from I-Tech, that were in
electrical and engineering and plumbing and carpentry and the whole
kit and caboodle, and those kids are actually working on the
construction of those homes.
MR. GIBLIN: And they're still building them.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And we offset the -- we
offset the impact fees for those 13 or 14 homes out of that compact
money, one --
MR. GIBLIN: Early Learning Coalition.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, a couple of years ago.
So we're -- that money that comes from the compact is discretionary
money that the county can utilize for virtually anything. I know one
of my remembrances is it got put into the Immokalee fire
department -- some money got put into the Immokalee fire
department. We used it for the offset for the expense on the
Immokalee -- or the fire department in Ave Maria several years ago,
well before both of you came online.
So with that, that's my -- do you need me to repeat it, or you
got --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. What's your motion
again?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I can't remember now. I
forgot.
CHAIRMAN HALL: The motion is to put -- a direct staff to
put out an ITN to the world.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And then --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Liquidate the assets of the --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And make sure we have the
notice where the publications are going. Make sure we have notice
where all those -- where all that advertisement is, in fact, going.
MR. GIBLIN: Sure. Just a point of clarification. Is the ITN
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to solicit a new operator for a shared commercial kitchen, or the ITN
to -- someone just to come in and do whatever they want in the
kitchen?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's an offer to -- it's an ITN
to sell the assets of the -- excuse me -- of the facility, and that could
be an operator, but it's to dispose of those assets and lease the facility
back.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I think in fairness to the
people that are in there, though, I agree -- maybe we don't set a date
today -- making them aware that we're moving in that direction, you
know, so that they have as much, you know, lead time as possible,
because it's not going -- it's no longer infinite.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: They're aware. I was on the
phone with Reshma's husband this morning on the way to this
meeting. So, I mean, I would assume they're aware.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So I guess I have a question. With the
ITN to liquidate the assets, to find market value based on -- and not
the depreciated value, are we also going to include in that ITN to
open it up to anyone who wants to come in and operate anything else
in that building, or are we going to do that separately? Like, what if
somebody wanted to come in and --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think that would be a bridge
we cross after this. This facility is -- have you ever been there
before?
CHAIRMAN HALL: I have not, no.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. So it's set up to be a
commercial kitchen with refrigeration and cooking facilities and
storage. There's office space. There's meeting space. There's all
kinds of space that's in this facility.
So let's do the ITN to dispose of the assets and take over the
lease of the facility, and then based upon what responses we get for
June 11, 2024
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that, then we can make a determination as to -- if somebody wants to
buy the assets and take them to another building, then we'll have that
building to be able to lease out to do something with.
CHAIRMAN HALL: But if someone wants to come and put an
auto parts store in that building, we're going to put that -- address that
at a separate time?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: They're going to pay us for
the restaurant equipment in order to do that. They can't put an auto
parts store in there without buying the commercial ovens.
CHAIRMAN HALL: No. I gotcha.
Okay. So the motion is for an ITN to liquidate the assets, and
it's been seconded. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
MR. GIBLIN: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #11E
ACCEPT AN UPDATE ON CURRENT SERVICE AND
STAFFING LEVELS AT THE TEN COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARIES. THE PRESENTATION DISCUSSES REALIGNING
HOURS OF OPERATION TO OPTIMIZE SERVICE WITH OUR
CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS THAT WILL BEST CONTINUE
TO SERVE PATRON DEMAND AND MEET EXPECTATIONS.
(CATHERINE COWSER, LIBRARY DIRECTOR) (ALL
DISTRICTS) - MOTION TO CONTINUE TO JUNE 25, 2024,
June 11, 2024
Page 139
MEETING BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
LOCASTRO – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to
Item 11E. This is a recommendation to accept an update on current
service and staffing levels at the 10 Collier County public libraries.
The presentation discusses realigning of hours of operation to
optimize service with our current staffing levels that will be
best -- that will best continue to serve patron demand and meet
expectations.
Ms. Catherine Cowser, your library director, is here to present.
MS. COWSER: And we've got it up here.
I would like to say good afternoon to the Board. Most of you
know me, but I'll introduce myself again. I'm Catherine Cowser,
division director of libraries.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Stay on the mic.
MS. COWSER: Don't walk around, okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My mother will be chirping
at me here in a minute.
MS. COWSER: That she can't hear me. Okay.
I have just a short presentation for you. So we have Collier
County provides clean, safe, and inviting spaces to the public with 10
library locations.
Collier County libraries provide approximately 475 public
service hours weekly at our three regional libraries, there's five
community libraries, and our two neighborhood libraries.
The Immokalee branch library's open about 40 hours a week,
and our Everglades branch is open 32.5.
The library provides multiple services and programs for the
public which face pressure to continue as to current quantity and
quality offered due to staffing shortages.
June 11, 2024
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This slide just shows our adult programming, some statistics,
youth programming, library spaces, circulation, and references that's
offered, and our technology services. If you have questions about
that later, I can come back to one of those slides.
But early literacy and story times have always been a priority at
Collier County Public Library, and in Fiscal Year 2023, we held over
1,100 programs for children and teens across our nine locations with
an attendance of almost 45,000.
Here, this slide just shows an average story time at our
headquarters library that attracts a weekly audience -- a biweekly
audience. We have two story times every week of over 70 people.
Adult programming. In Fiscal Year '23, we held 724 programs
with a total attendance of almost 82,000. Our last big event was the
eclipse that we had in April 2020 [sic]. Nobody else offered eclipse
glasses or eclipse programming, and we had over 587 people at the
courtyard at our headquarters location.
And the public knows how many unique services we provide
and the skills and commitment of staff who do what it takes to
provide relevant materials and programs to all ages. What the public
doesn't see directly is the background operations of the library. We
have a collection, development, and maintenance team that acquires,
develops, and manages library collections, both our physical
materials and our digital offerings. We purchased and processed
over 45,000 physical materials valued at approximately $800,000,
and over 24,000 e-books were purchased, valued at approximately
400,000.
This group also provides collection and acquisition analysis, and
they balance in proportion to actual use and evaluate the cost
effectiveness of current and future resources.
We also do -- business operations, communications, marketings,
and professional development are performed by librarians,
June 11, 2024
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accountants, and managers.
The next slide shows some benchmarks about staffing. So the
libraries total FTEs have decreased since Fiscal Year '19, and most
recently, just between Fiscal Year '24 and '25, we've had another
reduction of four FTEs.
And you probably all know this, but when I say "FTEs," that's a
full-time, and then when I say "positions," the library has lots of
part-time positions also. So I'll interchange those, but most of the
data kind of gives you a comparison of that.
What I need to tell you now is that -- is Collier County
overstaffed? Are Collier County libraries overstaffed to begin with?
No. This graph shows comparable staffing. This is -- Collier
County's staffing level remains below comparable library systems in
Florida.
Every year, the state library and the department -- Florida
Department of State puts out a comparison so that you can see where
we are. This is library FTEs per 10,000 residents. Collier is near
the lowest of the counties that we compare ourselves to.
The next slide just shows details of the distribution of current
staff. Just so you can see, you know, similar, you know, that the
regional libraries have similar staffing and our neighborhood
libraries -- and our neighborhood libraries.
But we've averaged more than one resignation per month over
the past fiscal year. This shows what our current staffing is. Empty
positions range from managers to entry level library specialists. An
entry-level position in the library pays close to the lowest of the
classifications at an entry-level pay of $17.57.
To realign our hours of operation and to optimize our services,
we have proposed the following changes to weekly hours: The far
left column shows the branch, what district it's in, what our current
hours are, what our proposed hours are, and what the change in hours
June 11, 2024
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are for each of those branches.
The graph to the right shows, you know, just a small collection.
You'll see that Everglades City isn't going to change, and the
Immokalee branch library is not going to change, and then you'll just
see the weekly hours.
Okay. My next slide shows, where do we get the proposed cut
in hours? This is because we have an integrated library system that
actually shows circulation per hour, and I can pull door count stats
per hour, per location, except for Everglades.
But what this data shows is that at our regional libraries, when I
look at my hourly data, this shows that both Naples Regional, South
Regional, have significant drop-offs starting at 5 p.m. So less than
10 percent of our daily footfall occurs after 5 p.m. at these two
locations.
The next slide shows my branch visit data where I'm considering
cutting Saturday hours at the community libraries. We can reduce
four hours at three of our community libraries, Estates branch,
Golden Gate, and Marco Island. A shift of 10 to 2 makes sense in
terms of staffing and visits.
The next slide shows the largest proposed cut in hours for our
two neighborhood libraries, East Naples and Vanderbilt Beach
libraries. This shows a distribution of patron visits each day. We
have a planned decrease in 20 hours per week per location.
The hours that we plan to stay open at these two branches show
between 55 and 60 percent of our footfall that we would still retain or
could be pushed to other near regional libraries.
I can give you an example just at East Naples. If I take one day
at East Naples, I can show that from 9 to 10 I have eight people walk
in. From 10 through 2 p.m., I have about 24 people walk in during
each of those hours, and then after 3 p.m., I'm down to 10 or 11
people, and that's during season.
June 11, 2024
Page 143
With ResourceX and priority-based budgeting, you have asked
us to reflect on the minimum staff levels. And with reduced hours,
we could propose a savings in this number of staff.
So I broke down every library starting with South Regional and
the proposed staff that I could get by with if we were going to
continue these hours, whether the cut in the hours was permanent or
just temporary. I need to increase one staff member at South
Regional. East Naples, I could -- I could get down to one FTE there,
two part-time people, for the whole week. Marco Island, I could
retain five FTEs; we're only cutting four hours a week from them.
Headquarters, I have 16 FTEs; Vanderbilt Beach, I could get down to
one FTE; Golden Gate, five FTEs; Naples Regional, nine; and Estates
branch, four.
Immokalee we wouldn't change. Immokalee we have staffed
right now with four full-time people, and I'm hoping to bring on one
part-time person, because it's hard coverage. Somebody's out on
vacation or somebody's out sick, it's hard to be down to two or three
people in Immokalee and get somebody out there right away.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Silvia's there all the time,
so...
MS. COWSER: Silvia. Silvia's there all the time, you're right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Don't need any extras.
MS. COWSER: What we wanted to show, too, with the data is
the minimal impact to service. The maximum impact to all the other
locations is less than 5 percent. East Naples and Vanderbilt, of
course, would be affected a little bit more, but we think we can
recover those impacts to library visits and circulation by -- the
regional libraries are real close. So what I wrote down was
Vanderbilt is 3.9 miles to Headquarters. It's 7.9 miles to Naples
Regional; and East Naples is 5.4 miles away from South Regional
and 5.1 miles away from Naples Regional.
June 11, 2024
Page 144
And as always, I'd like you to consider we always and have
always offered -- people who can't come to the library, we have "mail
a book." "Mail a book" offers, through direct mailing through the
Friends of the Libraries, they contribute over $10,000 a year to allow
us to mail books to people who cannot come into the library. So I'd
like you to keep that under consideration that, you know, if we do
have a patron at East Naples or Vanderbilt who says, "I can't drive. I
can't drive to a regional library," I can mail them a book.
And we kind of have a concierge service. They call -- they call
up and they phone and say, "This is what I like to read," and we send
them out books once or twice a week or maybe once every two
weeks.
We have 1.2 million titles available on our digital service. So
reducing services hours will not impact patron access to the library's
digital collection. We have three different platforms available. We
see digital collections increasing everywhere, and Collier County is
no different. Every year we see an increase to our digital use.
We also get bigger bang for the buck on the digital. We have
almost 5.6 checkouts at the rate purchased on digital titles. Our
physical items are a little bit more; two to three per checkout.
Lee County has two times as many e-books per capita, Manatee
has seven times as many e-books per capita, and Sarasota, 10 times as
many e-books per capita as Collier County.
Library partnerships, these are some of our great partners, and
we've participated in events with these partners over last year in 44
different outreach events with over 50,000 attendees.
I just have three more points to finish up.
We'll continue to use data and analytics to guide us in
responsible allocation of resources and spending. We recommend
the decrease in service hours, which are 17 percent, 80 hours a week,
for a minimal impact to services, and we'll return to the Board this
June 11, 2024
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fall to course correct based on patrons' comments and concerns.
And at this time, I really would like to publicly thank our
dedicated library staff, our library advisory board, Friends of the
Library, and our Public Services Department and staff and
administrators who've supported our patrons and the library and
helped us exceed expectations.
That's all I have. Any questions?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Of course.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Ma'am, can you go back to
the slide that showed all the libraries, what districts they were in, and
how the hours were changed? It's a little bit further -- it wasn't the
FTE thing. It was the hours.
MS. COWSER: Right here.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah, that one.
MS. COWSER: This shows the current hours, proposed hours,
and the change.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Here's a couple of just
observations, not -- not totally directive, but maybe to just take a look
at something. I can only speak for my district, because I think I
know the load, although you gave a good reminder. You know,
when people think the libraries are packed, and eight people walk
through the door in three hours, you know, that's not great.
But what I didn't like on this slide from my district is I didn't
like that the East Naples library, which is, we know, one of the bigger
ones, biggest one in my district, is now closed on Saturday. And I
think Saturday, unless you show me some stats showing that is not a
busy day, I think it's -- you know, it doesn't -- I'm not saying there's a
thousand people there, but that jumped out at me as the biggest
change.
The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you already proved to me that that's
June 11, 2024
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where the spike is, but closing fully on Saturday, don't love it, you
know, especially when Marco Island and South Regional will still
have Saturday hours.
I just know the clientele around East Naples. They get a lot of
walk-in. You know, the Arlington's right across the street. There's
a lot of people that live in Lely that use the East Naples. So
knowing that, you know -- that have no option on Saturday was just,
you know, one observation.
The second thing -- and I mentioned this when I met with
Ms. Patterson yesterday and we were talking about libraries. I
wasn't a commissioner then, but during the height of COVID when I
was campaigning and you-all went to the drive-through-only option, I
can't tell you how many citizens said to me how awesome that was
and said, wow, I really hope when COVID's all over that the library
has some sort of, you know, unique -- keeps a unique program like
that, because I really just want to drop off the book and not get out of
the car, or I want to call ahead and get a certain book and have
somebody run it out to my car, or however you were doing it. It was
very popular, at least, you know, in my district with people who
could drive but maybe were a little less ambulatory or, you know, just
wanted to get the book very quickly and not make a federal -- you
know, a two-hour, you know, visit with it.
MS. COWSER: We still have people who do that.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. So we still --
MS. COWSER: They'll call us up and say, "I don't want to get
out of my car. I can't get out of my car," and we -- we take their
holds -- they usually request a hold, and we'll take them out to the
car.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So I'm just throwing this out
there. If you're going to close my East Naples library on Saturday,
could it still have one person there from a short amount of hours to
June 11, 2024
Page 147
only offer drive-through or something so that the door isn't locked.
There's no way to get in there. It just seemed like that was a big
leap, and I think Saturday is not an unbusy day. It may not be a
thousand customers, but I just throw that out there, and --
MS. COWSER: No. And we could switch it. Right now I
had it switched Monday through Friday just to support more staff on
Saturday, because what I'd like to do, Commissioner LoCastro, is
Saturday is so popular for kids, that I really need to have a lot of staff
available on Saturdays at my regional libraries, because this Saturday
I probably had 60 children and their parents every single hour in our
Headquarters library.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But in East Naples, you don't
see that --
MS. COWSER: We do not -- yeah, we do not see that, you
know. But I could -- I could also open Tuesday and keep Tuesday
through Saturday hours at East Naples 10 to 2.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I mean, you would know
more than me as far as, like, the clientele. I'm not here trying to,
like, jimmie this whole slide with the minimal information that I
have, but I don't have zero information. And just seeing it totally
closed on a weekend, you know, on a Saturday, especially when it
was open from 9 to 5 on Saturday and now it's zero hours -- so maybe
I'll just --
MS. COWSER: Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: -- let that simmer.
And the last thing I would say is regardless of what gets decided
here, how this might tweak, please aggressively advertise when this is
advertised -- and, of course, there will be a huge uproar among the
hand -- you know, the medium-sized group of people that go to the
libraries seven days a week.
But you mentioned some great programs, the online, you do the
June 11, 2024
Page 148
drive-through. If all that stuff isn't advertised together, it just looks
like alls we did was close the libraries and reduced the hours and we
didn't remind people that there's programs that maybe they've never
used because they've had all the hours at their disposal to visit. But
now, you know, to readvertise to these folks a program that you
maybe have never used could still get you the book via online,
mailing, drive-through, you know, that sort of thing, so...
MS. COWSER: Absolutely. My marketing and
communications group, we've already bullet pointed 20 different
points of what to market and advertise, you know, in extended
service, because, as Commissioner McDaniel says, you know, it's
like -- it's easy to point out what hasn't gone right -- you know, what
hasn't gone right, but look at all the wonderful and great things we've
done and we'll continue to do.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But from my district, take a
look at East Naples --
MS. COWSER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: -- and if you think there's a
day of the week -- you know, like you said, if the tradeoff is, you
know, Tuesday's usually the slowest day, we're going to stay open
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and see four customers, but we're
going to close all day Saturday, and we would have maybe seen
more -- you know, there's still a lot of families and children that live
in that part of East Naples. It's not all retirement communities. So
that's the only thing that just jumped out at me from my district.
MS. COWSER: Agreed. I could look at the days, and we
could say we agree to open five days a week, and we'll look at the
data and see what is the least visited day.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioner, I just want to make sure
that you're -- the libraries we're talking about, so there's South
Regional, which I believe is the one you're talking about over by the
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Arlington and the EOC.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: That's the big library with all the
big -- that's not one we're proposing to close.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It's the one --
MS. PATTERSON: East Naples Library is the --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Is that that tiny one?
MS. PATTERSON: The tiny library out on the golf -- out by
Saint Andrews, so just --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I still hate that it's closed on
Saturday.
MS. PATTERSON: Understood. But I just wanted to make
sure that people don't misunderstand. We're not proposing to close
South Regional. Absolutely not.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. I gotcha.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. A couple of -- I got
two questions and a comment.
My first question is, your last slide you talked about a minus
eight FTEs based upon your -- based upon your analysis with the
cutting of the hours and so on and so forth, and that's in conjunction
with consultation with ResourceX, which is good.
MS. COWSER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you.
My question is, at the beginning, the first slide, I saw positions
by each one of these services that the library offers that are -- there
was 50 or 60 positions that aren't filled.
MS. COWSER: You're absolutely right. We have 24
positions, and I had a resignation yesterday and another one this
morning while I was sitting here. It's just in the current economic
climate when I'm hiring positions that have an entry level of 17.57.
June 11, 2024
Page 150
The last external positions I filled were last summer, and out of the
six positions filled, I only have two of those employees still. I just
hired on 1.5 FTEs, and one girl who's worked here for three weeks
has given me a resignation today.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So this minus eight is not
really going to be a reduction because you're already shy 20 --
MS. COWSER: I'm already shy 25 positions, but we would not
have to re-hire 18 of those.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Gotcha. In the event that we
were going to make an effort to hire those --
MS. COWSER: Yes, yes, yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- then you would not have to
reach out to fill eight, per this analysis.
MS. COWSER: Correct, correct. If --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
MS. COOK: -- we continue that reduction of hours.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Now, my next statement
is -- and this is just a thought to bring up and have a discussion -- it's
difficult for me, with this limited amount of information, to see -- you
talk about hours of operation, but there's not -- I didn't see people
counts here. You mentioned in one -- at one of the slides that there
were eight people coming through between 9 and 11 in the morning,
or something along those lines, but these -- this is your staffing thing.
MS. COWSER: Oh, that's my staffing. Okay. So this is a
distribution.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And stop for a second, if you
would. Forgive me, because Terri gets mad when I talk when you
talk. She gets mad all the time.
This slide doesn't tell me anything other than there's a
percentage change between these hours, but a percentage of what?
Is this -- and so one of my suggestions here today is that before we
June 11, 2024
Page 151
make any decisions without enough information, enough data for us
to be able to assist with the decision, that we actually see people
counts here as opposed to percentages of patron visits.
MS. COWSER: Yes. So I do have -- I do have that data, and
what that data looks like is the neighborhood library, same as this.
This is our daily distribution. So our software allows us to take out
an hourly rate, and this is what it shows you. So we're taking this
hourly rate. And we're open Monday through Saturday, and this
gives you the distribution of people who walk through the door.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I understand, Catherine.
MS. COWSER: Yeah. Do you want the raw data?
CHAIRMAN HALL: We want numbers and not percentages.
MS. COWSER: Okay. All right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. This doesn't mean -- I
mean, you should -- and forgive me. I'm not your enemy here, by
any stretch.
MS. COWSER: No, no, no.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's just this computes really
well for you, but this doesn't compute for me at all. This percentage
of patronage doesn't mean anything to me. You've got a counter at
every one of your doors where people come and go, but I don't know
this percentage that you're talking about here, what this correlates to
with population of Collier County residents that use any one of our
libraries.
And so I'd like to suggest that we -- if it's not an emergency to
make this decision today, that we continue this item until our next
board meeting, have a brief report, not that this isn't already, but with
data that computes so that I can see as to where the suggested
changes are and what the impacts for the community and the
patronage that we're actually going to -- we're actually having is
done.
June 11, 2024
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MS. COWSER: Okay. Yeah. And I have those store counts
in front of me. I just don't have a slide. But we approximately have
about 850,000 people walk through the library a day [sic]. East
Naples is about 3 percent total of those numbers, so let me give you
an idea to date.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And we don't -- we don't
have to belabor that right now --
MS. COWSER: You don't want to, okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- because you have that data,
we don't have that data, and you lost me when you were showing this,
because I'm sitting -- and when I say "you lost me," you didn't lose
me.
MS. COWSER: You want those fine numbers.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
MS. COWSER: You want that fine-tuned.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
MS. COWSER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Because you have more
information there that makes this make a whole bunch of sense.
MS. COWSER: I've got it. I've got it. I'll present it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, see, I don't have that.
And so in order for me, personally, to make a legible decision with
regard to the impacts of the hours of operation, closure of the East
Naples branch, so on and so forth, I have to see -- I would like to see
the patronage, number-wise, not a percentage of daily visits or
anything.
MS. COWSER: Okay. Perfect.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And in addition -- in addition to the
actual numbers of people that walk in each location, I would like to
know the cost.
MS. COWSER: Oh, I have that for you, too.
June 11, 2024
Page 153
CHAIRMAN HALL: And -- yeah, but we don't have it in front
of us.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Per library.
MS. COWSER: All right.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So. Yes, per library so that I can --
MS. COWSER: That's good. Now I know what -- yes.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Right. That way when we have that
kind of data, we can make -- we can determine whether it's smart to
reduce hours or whether we ought to, you know, seriously consider
doing something else. So if you could get that information to us.
MS. COWSER: All right. Yes, and I do have that. Okay.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And you did good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, by the way. I mean, I
hope you didn't take offense to what I was doing. I just --
MS. COWSER: Commissioner McDaniel, no, no.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Good.
MS. COWSER: Not at all.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sometimes I come across as
being aggressive, and I didn't mean to. I just -- this data wasn't
sufficient for me to be able to --
MS. COWSER: No problem. It's a start to the presentation,
and now I know what I need to come back with. And I do have all
the data, so it's just presenting it. It won't take me long.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Outstanding. I'll make a
motion to continue to the next meeting.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. What I would add is
this is a next-meeting presentation, not, you know, in two months.
But I would also like to see the marketing piece. Like you said,
we have marketing folks. We're not -- this isn't building the Empire
State Building here.
June 11, 2024
Page 154
The county is always guilty of making some sort of change like
this to our marinas or our parks, and then we all get 100 e-mails from
people going, "Oh, my God, I went to the park, and this was closed"
or -- and then, you know, the answer is, "Oh, well, we put it on our
website," and, you know, my impression was we were going to blast
it out a little bit more.
And all of us have newsletters that go to our constituents. I'd
love that after -- in two weeks when we hear from you, to be able to
not only digest all of this -- and put it in my newsletter and the
reasons why so it doesn't sound like, you know, five angry
commissioners just closed a bunch of libraries, but it has the reasons
why and the metrics, but then it also has the other programs that
maybe the average library visitor has never used before but we
could -- we could help advertise those, as you should also be doing,
you know, in ways more than just, you know -- I would expect to
walk into one of our libraries after all this is settled and see a big
giant poster board on an easel that says "changes to hours and
reminders of programs."
I mean, we really have to blast out the marketing so it doesn't
look like we just slashed and dashed. This is the same thing that we
got thrown under the bus for improperly about Conservation Collier
when people just heard what they wanted to hear and didn't -- didn't
absorb the whole program, and we don't want to screw this one up.
Yeah, we're going to make some changes. It's off season, and,
you know, there's some population numbers that don't support the
library just being open to be open, but then I really think the missing
piece here is you have a lot of really cool programs that probably not
a lot of people use because they don't need to, but to advertise now
that they have those at their disposal and can still get, you know, the
books that they want and the services they want just through a means
that they maybe weren't familiar with.
June 11, 2024
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MS. COWSER: Yeah, I agree. You know, when you tell
people why you do something or why you made the decision, they
go, "Okay, that's reasonable." I mean, none of us are being
unreasonable, and we don't want to be. We want to provide
exceptional services. I agree.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And by continuing this, it's
coming to light. People that are going to be impacted by it are going
to be communicating with us, and we'll be able to add that into the
mix when we come back in a couple of weeks.
MS. COWSER: Absolutely. Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN HALL: We actually have someone wanting to
chirp in.
MR. MILLER: We have one registered speaker for this item,
Dr. Dmitriy Shoutov.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Dmitriy.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
DR. SHOUTOV: Hi. Good afternoon, distinguished
commissioners and county fellows.
Dmitriy Shoutov. I'm CEO/president, non-for-profit Tech For
Life. Thank you very much for the opportunity to address the
meeting today.
And it's a little bit uncomfortable -- I feel uncomfortable talking
after you already discussed very many items on this agenda, but I try
my best.
Okay. The library director, Ms. Cowser notes, it's very
important and very, very informative. On one hand -- and also it
outlines some problems, the note. On the one hand, the library
services, as is stated, place pressure to quantity -- quantity and quality
due to staffing shortage. On another hand, the note calls for further
reduction of services hours and even possible closure of the branch.
The branch closing written on the note relates to some kind of
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duplication not quite logical to me why closing the branch where we
can just address the problem of duplicating. The note also points out
the Sarasota libraries have better statistics. In February, we visited
Sarasota Gulf Gate Library, one of the best in the country, an
exemplary, exemplary library that shows how the library can be
transformed itself from just book depository into the center of
exchange of information on a wild -- on a wide-range spectrum.
There are remarkable high-voltage programs like Socrates Ideas
Club, Entrepreneurs Club, film Cinematography show with real film
showing every week, and then even jazz club. Two programs are
running -- it's advisory group for kids, parents, and adults English
group, too.
Today I'm very glad to say that our non-profit Tech for Life and
Collier County library close -- close to conclude -- concluding an
understanding -- memorandum of understanding for cost-sharing for
space-sharing in Naples Regional Library. Our project will be
aiming -- publishing and put -- digitizing book written and illustrated
by kids -- kid -- children, students, and adults. This is -- this is kind
of an innovative program. Already many have -- we have many
followers.
Thank you very much, Mr. Rodriguez, counsels, commissioners,
and Ms. Cowser, for flexibility and thoughtful guidance. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And, Dmitriy, did you hear,
we're not making a decision today. We're going to have this come
back in two weeks.
DR. SHOUTOV: So --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You don't have to. You can
just share your thoughts.
DR. SHOUTOV: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we have a motion to postpone. Do
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we have a second?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not yet.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
Item #11F
ACCEPT THE REPORT CARD AND UPDATE ON PARKS &
RECREATION AQUATIC FACILITIES AND PROJECTS. (JOHN
MCCORMICK, FACILITIES DIRECTOR) (ALL DISTRICTS)
MOTION TO ACCEPT WITH DIRECTION GIVEN TO STAFF BY
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to
Item 11F. This is a recommendation to accept the report card and
update on Parks and Recreation aquatic facilities and projects.
Mr. John McCormick, your director of Facilities Management,
is here to present.
MR. McCORMICK: Thank you, Ms. Patterson.
Chair and Board, good afternoon.
For the record, John McCormick, Facilities director.
Real quick, a little background on myself. I'm still fairly new.
I'm a professional engineer in Florida and Ohio, mechanical engineer
by trade. I have a master's degree from Ohio State. I've been in this
business of facility management, construction, consulting engineering
June 11, 2024
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for 35 years, and very similar to my position now here at the county.
I've been with the county eight years. I started at GMD for
three, moved to Facilities for the last five, and the two of which have
been as your director.
I appreciate the opportunity to present this grade card and update
the capital aquatics program, but it's not going to be a -- it's not going
to be a good-news story. We've got some problems that we are
focused on fixing, and I've been getting a lot of questions myself, as
I'm sure you have as well. But I hope this presentation will answer
some of them.
Real quick summary. Parks and rec aquatics facilities, of
course, we've got six major ones. The oldest, back in the 1980s.
Sun-N-Fun was completed in 2006; Eagle Lakes, 2018; and the
newest one is the Big Corkscrew. It was just completed last year.
Our report card, generally, is Big Corkscrew has an A. It goes
to B, C -- two Cs, a D, and an F. And, of course, F is the
Sun-N-Fun, which is our major problem. Wading pool is still
functional, but we have to discuss about that.
We have made renovations and improvements, but the aquatic
facilities, particularly at Sun-N-Fun, require significant additional
attention.
We feel this is due to a short-term focus, rather than more
comprehensive, and inadequate attention and resources dedicated to a
preventative maintenance program and the lack of strategic long-term
capital renewal. To bring this in greater focus, the County Manager
elevated parks aquatics to a strategic priority project during this
year's strategic plan update. In addition, Facilities Management was
asked to take over the renewal and replacement program from Parks.
This change does provide for a dedicated project manager,
shared project management resources, along with a program-level
oversight and make sure the aquatics program is prioritized. Quite
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frankly, that fits in our wheelhouse anyway, so it's really a good fit.
In addition to this, we've started a parallel move where staff has
initiated a procurement action to explore the option of privatizing the
operations of our aquatics, also long-term maintenance management
of all our facilities. I'll talk on that a little more coming up.
Okay. Briefly, here's a map showing the geographic locations
of our parks. I've included the Vineyards splash pad. Not much
there, but -- as you can see, and we've labeled them green, yellow,
and red. I guess, you know, A and B are green. The Cs are
Immokalee, Vineyards, and Golden Gate. Golden Gate fluctuates
between a D and a C, quite frankly, and unfortunately, Sun-N-Fun is
a solid F.
We tried to consolidate this into more of a matrix form as a
quick oversight to see the tasks we have ahead of us and where we
feel each park is at today. Big Corkscrew, again, all green, of
course. It's brand new. Eagle Lakes, about the same. We have a
water slide, one half of it, but that's going to be repaired by July.
The Immokalee pool, some problems, but a wading pool, again,
will be up and running by June, end of this month.
Vineyards, operational.
Golden Gate, same, except the water slide is down. We've also
had some issues there with our -- with our geothermal, which we're
addressing as we speak.
And, of course, then, Sun-N-Fun. The only thing truly
operational today is the wading pool. Everything else is down.
And we've tried our best to get them up and running. We know it's
summer, 95 degrees outside. Kids are out of school. We just
couldn't get there.
We try to do a lot ourselves through maintenance and, quite
frankly, we pushed the envelope a little bit without pulling permits,
doing all we can under a maintenance umbrella rather than going the
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route -- since it's commercial work, getting a consultant and permits
and following the procurement process.
But that's where we hit the wall, and that's where we're at -- why
the rest of this is going to have to be November, which obviously is
way past our prime swimming time.
As you can see, we've got two stragglers there. The water
slides and then interactive water features that -- we're in the middle of
engineering design. And we can try to push them for maybe a July,
more likely August, completion, before we can start looking at
getting any execution work done through procurement.
We took a couple aerials to give you an idea. The good news is
we've got a lot of great properties here. Of course, this, the
Corkscrew, brand new and, again, Grade A. We list -- I'll buzz
through these because we can come back to them if you have specific
questions. But kind of what we're doing there and the current status.
Eagle Lakes, same thing there. I mean, it looks great from the
air, you know, and this one here is still in pretty good shape. You
can see the blue and yellow slides, and the one slide there, yellow, is
down now, but we'll get that repaired. Again, Grade B.
Immokalee Sports Complex, you see the two pools there. We'll
get the wade pool up and running. There's a future project planned
there. We've got fenced-in money to replace these pools, to
consolidate into one pool. It probably won't happen until the
summer of -- well, we're going to work around the summer. Get
through the summer of '26, we think, and build a new pool. About
three-plus million dollars.
Vineyards splash pad, again, very little maintenance, and it's
basically functional.
Golden Gate, again, another really nice facility. We've had
some issues with the slide. Right now it's shut down. And we've
had some on-and-off issues with the pump house, with the
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geothermal units again. That's kind of a constant theme on all of our
pools, which we're going to address. But, again, I think it's
something we can -- we can certainly deal with.
Sun-N-Fun Lagoon -- actually, I like the next picture better. It
kind of labels all the specialties throughout and what we're dealing
with. You can see the wading pool clear on the southwest corner is
still operational. I thought we had labeled pump house -- yeah,
Pump House 1. There we go. Pump House 1, the lower left.
That's really the nerve center for all these pools. All the pumps go
there. All the filter pumps are housed there, and basically that's the
issue we have, electrically and mechanically.
And then right behind that building are all the geothermal, 24 of
them, and quite frankly, they're all hanging on. Most are not
operating correctly.
We think we have -- in addition to mechanical issues, I think we
have well issues with them as well. But, again, we're going to take
time to sift through all that.
The slides, you can see. I know it's been a major headache not
having that slide. We've done some preliminary work, temporary
work. We've cleaned the inside of the slide itself. We've -- the
sump was leaking, couldn't hold water. We couldn't figure it out.
So we fixed that temporarily, so it holds water now. But we have
significant issues, and the biggest problem we have is the structural
integrity of the platform and the stairway.
We're having a mechanical engineer look at it, and he's putting
together a proposal. We're almost there. But it's probably in the
neighborhood of a $800,000 ticket to fix. A lot of the connections
are bad, rusted through, and these are structural bolts. You can't go
buy these down at Walmart.
And, quite frankly, it's just not safe, and I don't feel like we
could just paint over them and continue using it. Guardrails are
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loose, things like that, but it's --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You can get those structural
bolts in Immokalee.
MR. McCORMICK: Okay. I'll remember that.
So, anyway, we're really waiting on the engineer's plan. We
hope to have that here maybe July or so, but I still need the pumps.
You know, we've got -- we've got pumps -- two types of pumps:
One to circulate the water, and the other is to filter it, and they all go
back to Pump House No. 1.
We've been able to, through maintenance of ourselves, and with
the help of our Utilities friends, Dr. George, we've rebuilt the pumps
in Pump House 3. We've -- and these are 15-year-old pumps. You
know, they're not supposed to last this long. But we -- in order to
keep things moving, trying to get this thing up and running, we pulled
the impellers, and we've rebuilt some VFDs, things like that.
But through the process of all this -- and we see that throughout
all the pools. You know, every design was a little different, and
we've got 12 different sizes of pumps, and there's no, you know,
common, you know, pump size, things like that.
So we took some time to really generate a good scope where we
tried to consolidate common sizes, bump up all the horsepowers,
because we were just meeting minimum flows for the Health
Department with the existing horsepowers we had. We're moving
up -- these are, like, 60 horsepower pumps. Off the shelf, they're
probably $25,000 each.
So we're working on that, trying to get that -- all those replaced,
and -- and I think it's -- like I said, we've got a couple months of
engineering, and then it will be November before we get those things
running.
We're talking wiring had to be -- had to be cleaned out. It was
all corroded wiring, VFDs. The whole ventilation system in the
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pump house was not working, and that created a lot of extra
corrosion, so we're basically rebuilding the guts of that Pump House
No. 1. Again, these are all individual grades for all the components.
As you can see, they're all Fs.
And I'll head to the summary page. The projects currently
underway to maximum safety, reliability, and redundancy of current
facilities, which includes restoring SNF operations, Sun-N-Fun.
We've got pumps, VFD, electrical, mechanical, geothermal heating
and cooling systems.
Future major projects are, again, replace those slides both at
Golden Gate and at Sun-N-Fun. Stairs, water features, all primarily
Sun-N-Fun. Immokalee aquatics, a new pool there. Golden Gate
aquatics, we've got the engineering done on a new pump house and a
new slide, and we've got money fenced off from the revenue bonds to
do that.
The lazy river and interactive feature, the lazy river -- and we've
talked to a couple consultants -- they're typically money pits. And
we think in November we can get it running again but not fully. So
we have to run it at a lower level because the top coping leaks, and
there are -- and, of course, that's all curved, you know. So they're
talking in the millions to replace that.
The complexity of the lazy river, they have a series of pumps.
Some of them create, like, a rapids effect. Some are more just an
easy floating, and none of them were working right. So that goes
into the overall repair of that structure. Again, we've got
some -- about four million, I think, fenced off for that, for
Sun-N-Fun, out of the industrial revenue bonds.
So what are we going to do different? Some actions. And
what we've witnessed is kind of like in our building, our culture's
been break/fix, and trying to move that to a preventative maintenance
culture is not the easiest. There's a lot of inertia to that.
June 11, 2024
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But we've got to get ahead of that, at least on the curve or
hopefully ahead of the curve with preventative maintenance. It's
very difficult for me to budget based on this break/fix because I never
know what's going to fail, so -- because we don't have our hands and
eyes and ears on this equipment. So that's huge for us, to get -- to
change that culture. Along with that goes to allocate and prioritize
the proper funding to support that.
Then I've got what I call a three-legged stool. Procurement
action, one, the privatization of the operation of the pools in the
county, along with an engineering component, preventative
procurement action for maintenance and repair, and also, like, an
architectural for all the pools and related features, all the things that
people touch and can see.
I need more of an architect for that. I need the engineer for the
back-of-the-house stuff. And what we've found over the years, for
whatever reason, the back of the house was pretty much ignored.
People didn't see it, didn't think about it. So that's how we aim to go
forward, because I do not want the Corkscrew to end up like a
Sun-N-Fun, and if we don't change something, it's going to.
I've got a good team on this, and they've been putting a lot of
hours into this. And I think we've got a good plan, but there's
some -- the realities of both permitting and procurement, the things
that we're locked into, you know, we're no different than any other
contractor; we've got to pull permits.
And there's safety issues to be concerned with. You know,
that's paramount for me. You know, I look at the critical path being
there's four items that I really push: The structural issues, the
pumps, the electric, and the geothermal. The geothermal's taking a
bad rap but, quite frankly, I don't -- we have not properly maintained
them. They are basically air-conditioners. They're heat pumps.
They can both heat and cool water, but they use a well for condenser
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water rather than like a cooling tower like I had over here at the
chiller plant. All those need maintenance. The wells can plug.
But nowhere in there did they ever do what we call an N plus 1
where you can take one of them down without affecting the operation
of the pool to do proper maintenance. That could be a well. It
could be one of the geothermal units.
So one of the things we talked about with our consultant, you
know, is to drill extra wells. We can do a lead lag on a well, use this
one so many days, this one so many days, so you have a backup. If
one well collapses -- we lost a pump down at the bottom of a well
just the other day because nobody's looked at this stuff.
And -- but the good news is, it's fixable. And this isn't rocket
science. You guys know that. I mean, it's kind of common-sense
things that you do at your house.
And that's the culture we want to bring, and we've got the
commitment. And, you know, when I look at this thing, guys, it's
embarrassing to me because I know the public relies on these to be
open. And, again, I -- and I think it's easily fixed. There's a lot of
unforced errors on this thing that we never had to go through,
but -- so anyway, that's the quick rundown. I'm sure you guys have
some questions. I'll do my best to answer.
CHAIRMAN HALL: First of all, John, I'm glad that you're at
the helm of this thing, and I've got confidence that you can get it
done. I do have questions about the stairs at Sun-N-Fun. Are you
talking about tearing the whole thing down and rebuilding, or are you
just talking about rewelding where we have structural failure?
MR. McCORMICK: Yeah, I'm not tearing it down. It's not all
that old, and the repairs we did, we can supplement a little bit. But
the slide itself is good. We have to do some more in-depth repair of
the sump. We've done some temporary there to keep from leaking.
It's a tube structure. It's a latticework. There's some bolted
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connections, some welded, and some may need to be reinforced.
That's what we're waiting on the engineer to tell us, really, what's the
best way to do this, because he knows we're waiting.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Are we talking about outsource engineer
or in-house engineer?
MR. McCORMICK: Outsource.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. I think you alluded to it, because
my ears kind of tuned in, but is there any -- in the design, is there any
methodology to standardize the equipment so that we can move it
from one park to the next, you know, and limit our inventory?
MR. McCORMICK: Absolutely, amen. That's one of the
things we identified early on. You know, I think we had 12 different
size of pumps. And like I said, it was kind of like -- it's kind of a
specialized industry, you know. When these consultants come in
and design a pool, you know, everybody does it, and they really don't
overengineer it or give you much play in the operational integrity of
the -- you know, they want you to call them, you know.
So we're standardizing that, and the way we're doing that is
we're upping the horsepower, but we're putting the bigger VFD,
which is a variable frequency drive, so it can act as if it's a
30-horsepower. But we've got a lot of play in that.
So if one pump goes down, we can replace it with another. We
can keep some attic stock of the common pump sizes and -- so we
don't have all those extra spare parts.
Same thing with the geothermal. You know, there's a lot of
things we can do differently. A lot of times they drill -- I don't know
much about wells, but I learned a lot over the last few months. They
drill usually, like, a 3-inch diameter.
And I said, "Well, why don't they drill a 6-inch?" You know,
it's not that much -- like, $60,000 more, but it can feed a lot more of
these units, and I could have one as a backup, you know. Those kind
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of things because, you know, like we're doing at our chiller plant, you
need an N plus 1.
And if I can get some of these procurement actions to take hold,
depending on how much they cost, where they can do every six
months -- I mean, these are, essentially, air conditioners. I know at
my residence I get my air conditioner serviced twice a year. We
ought to do the same for these, but we haven't.
Same thing with the pumps. You know, the pump seals, we
had -- when I first walked in there, I mean, we had pumps literally
vibrating almost off the base, but it was running, it was pumping;
only about a third of what it was supposed to, but it was running.
So, yeah, I think that's a key component to this.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good. So I love the fact that you
recognize that we've had a break-and-fix culture and that we're going
to move to a create-and-keep culture.
MR. McCORMICK: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And in that -- you know, it's simple to
me in my little pea-brain business mind. We have a capital
replacement plan, and we have a preventative maintenance plan.
And we plan our work, and we work our plan, and we live happily
ever after. Obviously, that hasn't been done. We're at there now.
That's where we're at.
MR. McCORMICK: Right.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Permits. Let me know if you have any
problem getting your permits. Let me know firsthand.
MR. McCORMICK: I will. Truth is, they've been -- I came
from there, you know. I'm a code official, and I know how Jamie
runs it, and he's been very cooperative.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Now, on the geothermal, is that the
best -- is that the best option, or is it just the best option for the
money?
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MR. McCORMICK: I'm not sure it's the best option, per se. I
mean, I know it's kind of a standard in Florida because of the high
water table and things like that. It's fairly inexpensive to operate.
It's less energy. It's more environmentally friendly. And the good
thing about geothermal, if you use the groundwater, you can stack
these units close. The minute you start air-cooled, you've got
to -- you need, like, five-foot clearance to the next unit.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Sure.
MR. McCORMICK: So if you go back, especially at
Sun-N-Fun, you can see they're racked, and they're one after the
other, and that does give you that flexibility. But you do have the
loose end and the complexity of the well, which I'm not a big fan of.
CHAIRMAN HALL: What's -- what's your guess -- and I'm
not going to hold your feet to the fire on this. But just a big swag for
all the parks, money-wise, to get it back, create it like you want it so
that we can keep it running?
MR. McCORMICK: From a capital outlay, I'm going to use up
all those industrial -- those revenue bonds, and I'm going to need
about an additional 10 million.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. So I was going to bring this up in
commissioner comments, but I'm going to go ahead and bring it up
now.
I understand that there is a process that we have to go through to
use TDT funds to make repairs to Sun-N-Fun, and we have to find
that it promotes tourism. And, County Attorney, if you could -- is
that correct, I mean, is that what we have to do or --
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes. There's a process where a capital
report gets prepared and an analysis, how does it affect TDC, and it's
a statutory requirement.
CHAIRMAN HALL: What do we have to do to implement
that, to get that rolling quickly?
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MR. KLATZKOW: Direct staff to go to the TDC on it.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Do I need -- do I need a head nod from
everybody?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You need to call on us to talk
before you go doing that rabbit hole.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I was just -- okay. I was just -- I was
spit-balling.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Well, cut it out.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I don't want to go back into
ancient history, but one of the things I always say is, "When the
history is poor, you've got to look at it so you don't repeat it."
I guess the question I would have for you -- and this is with all
due respect, you know. I know you have a deep résumé, and you're
here representing a team, a team of people that aren't all brand new.
Some have been around.
All of these things that are an F, when they were a C, why
wasn't anybody standing at this podium talking to these five
commissioners? You know, when it was a B minus sliding to a C
minus, where were all the briefings and the slides and the scorecards
and, you know, all the stuff about geothermal pumps and money that
we needed? You know, we were moving money around, throwing it
at the sports complex, giving it away to other people and, you know,
going from -- you know, I'll use my Air Force term. We just went
from Mach 10 when everything was an A to now a dead stop and
everybody -- now we need $10 million.
MR. McCORMICK: Right.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And so -- I mean, I know that
whatever answer you give me doesn't help us today, but we need to
hear that answer so that never happens again. And we've been
saying this to a lot of departments. Before you get to an F,
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somebody come up here to the podium and tell us that we're on a
slippery slope, not "everything is broken," and then, you know,
hearing that the pools are going to be great in November, you know.
MR. McCORMICK: Thanks.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That's -- you know, need I
say more? But what did happen? You know, this is honest
conversation here. Why weren't, you know, we having this
conversation when everything was a C minus?
MR. McCORMICK: Yeah. I really can't answer that directly.
All I know is that we, in Facilities, were blessed. We've got -- we've
got some really good people with some deep résumés, PEs,
construction people that we just know that when we see it walking
by.
And, honestly, I don't think Parks had the resources and the
technical ability to recognize the issue. They just knew the pump
was running, so they figured it was okay kind of thing. It's much
easier. And, literally, you know, I call it putting lipstick on a pig.
You know, they can see the rusty handle, or whatever, and they'll
paint that. But, you know, when I see that, you know, it's like being
in a restaurant, they give me a dirty water glass, the first thing I think
of, what's the kitchen look like? You know, and that's what --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But this is the room where
you get the resources, so, you know -- and I know you know that.
So I'll end it there.
I think Commissioner McDaniel's got a little bit of a meatier
question -- question with a little more meat on it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The County Manager wants
to address you. She's over there waving at you.
MS. PATTERSON: So, Commissioner --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Talk to me, Amy.
MS. PATTERSON: John put it nicely, but the respons -- this
June 11, 2024
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current responsibility now has been transferred back to Facilities
where they do have the depth of bench to be able to understand the
complicated portions of this.
I think what John was saying is correct, is that when we -- when
you saw folks in front of you before, which is how money was
allocated -- so we have to remember that, is that we aren't
saying -- we are standing here, and we have everything broken and
no money.
What happened is there were -- there were needs identified, but
they were the apparent needs, things were -- superficially didn't look
good, or we had leaks and cracks in the pools, which, again, you hear
me say a lot about stormwater is we don't drive around every day
going, "Look how beautiful that stormwater infrastructure is,"
because you don't see it.
And so what John is explaining is that the emphasis was placed
on the wrong thing. Rather than thinking about how we were going
to run these pools, we spent time thinking about how to make them
look really nice for the public, and we had gotten into the habit of
Band-Aiding things and just making it work good enough to get us
open for the summer and have the pools look really nice. And that is
not how this can happen again, and John stated that.
We have a brand-new facility at Big Corkscrew Island. We
cannot take the same approach with that pool that we've taken with
this one and some of the other ones. We have to pay attention to
those very temperamental and expensive components that keep the
pool running, because it looking beautiful and nobody being able to
swim in it is not -- that is not the answer for the public.
But John has just reassumed responsibility for this, so for him to
be able to answer why the focus was on it looking good versus it
actually working is not a question that he can answer, but I can tell
you that in a lot of areas we have fallen victim to that, is it looks
June 11, 2024
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really nice on the surface and not digging too far into it, and
that's -- we're really trying to shift away from that type of behavior.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And on that note, I'm really
happy you're here as well, by the way. Commissioner Hall said it.
You have the depth and the knowledge and the capacity to
distinguish between pretty and glitty and necessity at the same time.
So your leadership in regard to us moving forward with this new
culture of quality is going to be imperative. And I would like to see
an action plan out of you with -- and almost do it in a counterintuitive
way. I mean, the best pool we have is Big Corkscrew, and that is
because it's the newest.
MR. McCORMICK: It's new, right.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It works great.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So put your action plan in
place to keep that one humming, and then work your way
backgrounds to Sun-N-Fun --
MR. McCORMICK: Right. That's our plan.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- number one.
MR. McCORMICK: Yep.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Number two, if you all will
recall, Commissioners, I brought up in January that we needed to
look at privatization of our aquatic centers. And so I would like to,
today, make -- before we -- at the same time, Commissioner Hall,
that we're exploring the expenditure of the TDT funds, I think our
new -- our new executive director of the Tourist Development -- the
TDC -- Jay.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Jay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Jay, I mean, he's got it going
on. He understands what our board's actually looking for.
I would like to explore the availability/expenditure of those
funds for the upkeep and maintenance and such of our -- of all of our
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parks facilities while we're exploring how to do that. I'd like to go
out for an ITN on Sun-N-Fun to privatize that facility. I'd like to put
it out to the community, to the business community to see, because
what I'm hearing -- Commissioner LoCastro asked what I thought
was an extremely valid question. How did we get here?
Well, we got here because we're not geared for this. We're not
geared for these operations. Now, we're better geared with you
looking at things as far as maintenance and upkeep and how do we do
what we do better, but how do we reach sustainability, long-term
economic sustainability going forward?
MR. McCORMICK: Understood.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So I suggested this quite
some time ago. I think it's part of the impetus as to why we're here,
but I'd like to suggest that we go out for an intent to negotiate to
privatize Sun-N-Fun, use it as our pilot program, and see what kind
of responses we get back from the community, what type of -- what
type of opportunities that we, in fact, have while -- because until we
actually enter into an agreement, it's still our baby. We still have to
care for it. We still have to maintain it. We still have to meet these
proposed deadlines and so on.
We can still do what Commissioner Hall requested with regard
to the TDT tax to be able to assist with those repairs and
maintenance. But I would really like us to -- you know, and then I
would really like us to move away from that type of an operation and
privatize that one first.
So on -- and my third point, when I was looking at your fix,
repair, and replace issues on a pool basis, on an aquatic center basis,
the number-one thing that kept popping up was the slides. The
slides were the number-one thing.
And so maybe from a business decision standpoint, we move
away from slides at all, just stop using them, take them out of service.
June 11, 2024
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When they go out of service, when they become in such ill repair,
take them out.
I mean, that -- rather than -- rather than going and fixing
it -- because somebody decided it was a good thing to have a slide
there at some stage in the past, rather than going ahead and spending
the money and fixing it, repairing it, and keeping it up, take it out.
And then my last question is to the County Manager or Deputy
County Manager. In our AUIR process or CIE, Capital
Improvement Element, process, do we have a delineation of how
many pools per capita or distance or population or anything along
those lines? Have we -- and then the second question is, have we
ever compared ourselves to other municipalities with how many
pools other counties have in relationship to their population? Have
we ever -- have we ever done that analysis?
MS. PATTERSON: Not that I'm aware of. It may have been
done as part of the last parks master plan, but the level of service for
the AUIR and the CIE is driven by acreage. It is not a facility-driven
level of service.
We do inventory everything that we have. And to your point,
from time to time, especially in the past as trends in recreation
changed, we would look at things like tennis courts, racquetball
courts, pickleball courts, whether or not pools have been looked at,
again, maybe a while ago, but we could certainly do that with -- you
know, we have kind of a group of counties that we compare ourselves
to. We could easily look at those population municipalities, because
that does come into play, and then the number of aquatics facilities
that they have.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Because, to me -- there again,
it's a -- it's a nice thing for a community to have a public swimming
pool, but an actual aquatics center with wading pools and slides and
all of the other niceties that we have been putting into our facilities
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over the years, I think it's a bit extraordinary. I was thinking about,
you know, when I was a kid, you know, there was a swimming pool
in the whole county.
CHAIRMAN HALL: With a high dive.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: With a high dive, yeah, and a
low dive, and so --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Easy to fix.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, and not a lot of -- not a
lot of --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: You get the bolts anywhere.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We only ran them in the
summertime, of course. But the bottom -- where I'm going with this
thought process is that maybe as we're going through this analysis
with care, upkeep, maintenance, you know, whether or not -- how
we're paying for this care, upkeep, and maintenance. We're also
applying some comparisons to what we're doing in relationship to
other municipalities and how other municipalities are arriving at the
decision of an aquatics center or not. Maybe, you know --
MR. McCORMICK: Sure.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Maybe at some stage -- just
as we're having discussions about all of our other assets, maybe at
some stage we don't need as many.
And so my thoughts are for now, Sun-N-Fun's an asset. We've
got it there. Enormous amount of expense coming up. So I'd liked
for us to -- we have to continue on the path you're on, but I'd like for
us to move into an intent-to-negotiate process just to see if there's
enough interest in the community or from the business community to
line that out.
MR. McCORMICK: Understood.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Can I just add one thing? I
agree with Commissioner McDaniel. And less complicated, you
June 11, 2024
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know, water features, I mean, sitting there and spending millions on
something that is a sucking chest wound. It doesn't mean we can't
have a water slide, but maybe it's not something of the capability of
what you'd find at, like, Disney World, you know. We're not
Disney. And so at some point, swapping it out for a different feature
that is easy to maintain and doesn't have so much infrastructure.
MR. McCORMICK: Good point.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I mean, I personally scream like a girl
when I get on the top of the slide.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: We heard, yeah.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
Don't take this as a criticism, because it is definitely not. I don't
know if we have the expertise on our staff to evaluate what we would
need in an aquatic center. I mean, we can certainly look at other
communities, but -- and how we maintain these and how -- what kind
of schedules we have, because you're great at -- our staff is great at
building roads and water and sewer plants and things that we do day
in and day out, but aquatic centers, obviously, we're lacking there.
And I think there's probably a certain expertise needed to really
understand how to fix these. We're talking about doing an ITN, then
we're going to be looking at staff to figure out what the heck to put
into the ITN, and they have to evaluate it. And I think I would make
this similar to the radio system. We're looking at doing an entire
new radio system, a $60 million system. And as we were discussing
that, we all agreed that we really needed a consultant on our side to
look at how we can deal with the issues that we have to deal with,
and we did that with Motorola and the Harris system. Before we
went out to do a bid, we hired someone to help us determine what we
really need, and I think that's kind of what we need to do here.
MR. McCORMICK: I would agree.
June 11, 2024
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COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: There are water parks all
over Florida. This is something that there's got to be all kinds of
consulting firms out there, and we're really into the business in a big
way here. We're talking -- I think we're probably talking, 15,
$20 million by the time we fix everything that needs to be fixed, if
not more, and I'd like to make sure that we do it right, even if it
means we have to spend a little bit of money making sure that we
have the right consultants. So I'm just throwing that out there.
Mr. McCormick, I don't know if --
MR. McCORMICK: No, that's a great idea, because, again, it's
a specialty. And you're right, no one here is really formally trained
in pools and what's -- and really how to run them and what's
anticipated. So I would really welcome that because, quite frankly,
yeah, this has been transferred to Facilities, but we'll fail, too,
because we've got another mountain of projects that we're doing as
well.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You're busy.
MR. McCORMICK: We're busy. And we don't have
that -- it's not like we're building another building. I got that. This
is -- these are pools. And like you said, that's a specialty that we
don't have.
CHAIRMAN HALL: You can't YouTube it?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We have two billion in assets
he's keeping up.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: We have -- you know, one of
the things that we've all emphasized is the importance of our parks
system and how that's really one of the services that people really
rely on. And when something goes wrong in a park, we hear about
it.
And so I just want to make sure we do this right. So I'm just
throwing that out there, Mr. Chairman. I think it would be a wise
June 11, 2024
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decision for us to ask staff to come back in a couple of weeks with
some ideas on how we can hire the right consulting firm to guide us
through developing the ITN, evaluating what we have. I think that
would be money well spent.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can I make -- I don't
want -- you want us to light up or --
CHAIRMAN HALL: No, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My thought is -- or -- my
thought is is engaging the consultant to help us with the best first
maintenance plan, upkeep plan, operation plan for what we have, I
don't see the need yet to go out for a consultant, because he pretty
much knows what it's going to take to make Sun-N-Fun go. He's
already got a schedule of what needs to be done.
But the engagement of a consultant for the asset that we -- for
today, we know we're going to keep, which is Big Corkscrew
Regional and not be in this position when Big Corkscrew Regional's
20 years old. That, I totally agree with. But I -- and I don't know.
I don't feel like we need a consultant to go out for an intent to
negotiate for X amount of property for the asset of Sun-N-Fun to
engage the community -- the business community to offer up
suggestions on how we can manage that asset. I don't think we need
a consultant for that.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Are you talking about the ITN just for
the operation? Just take the operations of the aquatics off of the
county?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. How many acres does
that encompass plus/minus, 10?
MR. McCORMICK: At least.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So they would still be our asset.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We still own -- well, yes.
We're not going to sell it.
June 11, 2024
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CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It would be our asset, and
then someone else would come in and lease it from us.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And then we could ensure
that -- and -- we could ensure that within that lease revenue there was
a capital asset replacement and maintenance fund, whether they
carried it and took care of those things in order to maintain their
business, or we appropriated out of the rent structure to facilitate that.
But I'm all about the consultant thing as far as the pools and aquatic
centers that we have that are operable.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that's something that we
can do. We'll look at our existing catalog of contracts and see if
there are any that have the expertise we're seeking, and if not, then
we'll, you know, take the next step to find the proper consultant.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm okay with that.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And do it pronto like.
MS. PATTERSON: Yeah, like yesterday.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Pronto like?
CHAIRMAN HALL: That means quick.
So do we need to make a motion, or have you got direction you
need to go with or --
MS. PATTERSON: We just need a motion to accept the report,
if you're so willing, and then we have the direction from you-all on
the things that you -- next steps that you want to see.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Gotcha.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So I'll make a motion to
approve -- to accept the report, but I want you to explain to me again
what you're going to do in terms of some expertise.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'll second his motion.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I don't know that I fully
understood it.
June 11, 2024
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MS. PATTERSON: Oh, of course. So, you know, the county
has a number of catalog -- contracts, continuing services contracts
with engineering firms, so we need to look at those to see if any of
those firms have expertise in aquatic facilities, which they may very
well. That would be one way we could look at this procurement
action. The other way would be that we would have to go out for
some type of solicitation. So we'll look at that first.
I would anticipate, with the size of the engineering firms that we
have on contract, that type of peer review services and helping us
develop a maintenance plan is something that's in the wheelhouse of
one of our big consulting firms, and we can do that pretty quickly,
and we can report back to you at the next meeting.
MR. McCORMICK: I agree. I agree.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good. Motion and second with staff
direction, all in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And do you need a motion on
the ITN for Sun-N-Fun?
MR. FINN: I don't think so, sir. That's been staff's purview.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Just so I understand, with the
ITN for Sun-N-Fun, what are you going to ask for?
MR. FINN: We're asking for operations and maintenance and
technical assistance on long-term maintenance.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. Right now the
issue at Sun-N-Fun isn't maintenance. It's replacement of what's out
there, and that's a whole lot different than trying to get an expert to
tell us how to fix what's there, because that's not what we're going to
wind up doing. We're going to replace everything that's there. And
June 11, 2024
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I want to make sure that we get the best stuff that we can get at the
best price we can get it for the need that we have.
And so I'm not sure that this ITN for maintenance is going to get
us where you want to be, but if that's the will of the Board, that's fine,
but I just don't think it does what we want to do.
MR. FINN: If I may, sir, what I heard the County Manager say
is that we were going to seek an aquatics maintenance specialist to
aid us in developing our action plan and coordinating our action plan.
That's what I heard.
MS. PATTERSON: The ITN would travel a parallel path,
because you-all -- some of you have been asking about the potential
privatization or partial privatization of these facilities. That's
something that we're going to need to work through.
Now, part of that, once everything's up and running, may very
well be that that company has the depth to be able to do some of that
maintenance, or maybe they don't. We don't know. I know that
many of you, as have I, been getting e-mails from various consultants
that run water parks saying, "Hey, we hear you've got some
problems. We can help you." Expect that those people would
probably be providing us their ideas about an ITN in the future.
But these are two distinct actions that you're asking us to take.
Absolutely, we're going to get a consultant with expertise to help us
right now and for making decisions in the future, and then the ITN
idea of maybe this isn't our wheelhouse, and we need to have help
once everything's up and running.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My note that I didn't say but
Commissioner Saunders did, without any offensive, is we're not
geared for these type of operations. That's not our expertise, and
we've proven that. So that's why I suggested the privatization
aspect, Commissioner Saunders, of the ITN.
And just to share with you, you know, one of the propositions
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that came out of the breeze a couple of months ago when I was
talking about this was someone -- someone said to me, "Well, you
know, if I can enter into a long -- a longer-term lease, I can make a
capital investment into that asset, get it up, get it running, and make it
profitable, but I need to know that I've got longevity for a rate of
return on my capital investment," where we, the county, doesn't have
to expend those funds.
Now, if we don't get something that comes back that's palatable
in that regard, then we've got to go down the avenue of actually doing
the replacement and fixing ourselves.
So that -- there are two separate requests, the ITN for
privatization on Sun-N-Fun and then the consultation to help us be
better geared to operate our aquatics facilities.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. It's 3:30. Let's take a court
reporter break, and let's come back at 3:40.
MR. McCORMICK: Thank you.
(A brief recess was had from 3:30 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Does that bring us to 16B15?
Item #11G
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO
PROVIDE $5,333.33 TO THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS FOR
PREPARATION OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF THE SEMINOLE GULF RAIL LINE AND TO
PLEDGE UP TO $241,611 TOWARD THE LOCAL MATCH FOR
THE GRANT. (ALL DISTRICTS) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
LOCASTRO – APPROVED
June 11, 2024
Page 183
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, 16B15 -- formerly 16B15, now 11G.
This is a recommendation to authorize the County Manager or
designee to provide $5,333.33 to the Trust for Public Lands for
preparation of a grant application for the acquisition of the Seminole
Gulf Rail Line, and to pledge up to $241,611 towards the local match
for the grant.
This item is moved to the regular agenda by Commissioner
Hall's request, and Ms. Trinity Scott, your department head for
Transportation Management Services, is here to present/answer
questions.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So I brought this forward because we've
got a mile and a half that we're looking at purchasing the railhead
from just north of Wiggins Pass up to Alico Road. And I understand
that the grant's $2.4 million, and our portion's, what, the 241,000, and
that's -- that's for the grant. That's our match portion for the grant.
But my question -- and then after that, this is, like, an $82 million
land purchase that our portion is $7.7 million, if that's accurate. I
think it is.
And my question -- and the reason I brought this forward just for
the public is, what do we want -- what do we want with the railhead?
What purpose -- what purpose is buying the railhead going to
serve -- serve us?
MS. SCOTT: So for the record, Trinity Scott, Transportation
Planning -- I'm sorry. I'm not Transportation Planning manager
anymore. I demoted myself -- Transportation Management Services
Department.
So this goes back to 2020. The Trust for Public Lands was
working very closely with the Village of Estero and the City of
Bonita Springs to acquire this portion of the Seminole Gulf railroad
which would become a portion of a very large passive recreation trail
June 11, 2024
Page 184
network. It would connect in with our Paradise Coast Trail that is a
70-plus-mile trail within Collier County, and then it certainly
connects much further north, north of Lee County into Charlotte,
Sarasota, Manatee Counties.
Ultimately, the acquisition for the corridor would be -- it would
be what is called "rail banked," and it would be utilized for
multimodal transportation, essentially a recreational trail through the
corridor.
Rail banking means that in the future, should someone desire to
re-establish rail along the corridor, they could do so through going
through the Federal Railroad Administration. With that, we would
recoup our dollars that we put into it for the acquisition, plus a CPI,
an annual CPI as well. That is what the Trust for Public Lands has
negotiated within their contract.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, I -- she said what I
wanted to hear, and that is the rail banking aspect of. This
acquisition would greatly benefit the enhancement of the trail, et al.,
and then having the capacity to be able to come back someday and
potentially utilize it as a rail as well, the two could coexist within the
right-of-way, and that's -- that's what I wanted to -- what I wanted to
hear.
MS. SCOTT: If I could, sir, the other options are -- there are
three Conservation Collier pieces here. This is from the county
Property Appraiser. The starred areas are already acquired Collier
County Conservation Collier Lands. It's the Railhead Preserve.
The railroad goes right between those parcels. It is a disturbed area.
There is -- if this is acquired, there's a potential of being able to
do what -- in the transportation world we call it "trail head," which
would be some parking, typically some -- it could be some bathroom
facilities to where people could drive to that facility to take their bike.
June 11, 2024
Page 185
They would put their bike maybe on their back, and then ride it up
the trail. That could also be dual purpose use for our Conservation
Collier as well.
So instead of taking some of that really nice, pristine area and
dozing it for parking spaces, we could utilize an already disturbed
area for that.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So that's what you're talking about,
OPM?
MS. SCOTT: Other people's money? We talk about other
people's money.
What the Trust for Public Lands right now is doing -- and this is
going to be the first of probably several grant applications that they're
going to be pulling together -- is to try to go after other state and
federal dollars. And when they presented -- they did present to the
Metropolitan Planning Organization in April, and I stole their slide.
So, Mr. Hathaway, thank you for providing those to me.
But they're going to be going after Suntrail money, which is
Florida specific money, Florida Communities Trust grants. They're
going to be going after several federal sources as well, RAISE.
They've also been working with some of our delegation members to
try to have specific dollars set aside for this.
But this is one specific grant. It's the Active Transportation
Infrastructure Investment Program that they are going to be putting in
for. Lee County will actually be the applicant on it. The grant
deadline is June 15th, and it does require a 20 percent match.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. Good. With that, I'll make a
motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
June 11, 2024
Page 186
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thanks, Trinity.
MS. SCOTT: Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 15,
staff and commission general communications.
Item #15A
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA BY INDIVIDUALS NOT
ALREADY HEARD DURING PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN THIS MEETING
Item 15A is public comments on general topics not on the
current or future agenda by individuals not already heard during
previous public comments in this meeting.
MR. MILLER: We have none registered.
Item #15B
STAFF PROJECT UPDATES
MS. PATTERSON: Item 15B is staff project updates, which
we do not have any today.
Item #15C
June 11, 2024
Page 187
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MS. PATTERSON: And Item 15C is staff and commission
general communications. I just have one item for you.
Troy, can you put the visualizer on?
MR. MILLER: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Rain. You're not putting up
a rain thing, are you?
MS. PATTERSON: I am.
Just so that I can provide you the low and high expectations.
This is as of yesterday, and only through Wednesday, the rainfall
totals -- or potential rainfall totals. So you can see, there's a -- there's
quite a spread between the worst case and the best case or reasonable
case of lowest, but still it's a lot of rain.
Now, the good news is, it's been very, very dry, and we have a
lot of space in the system. But I'm showing you this not because you
don't know this, but because for the public out there, the ground is
very dry, and it's going to take a little time for the water to soak in.
So we just need people to be cautious; however, if we continue
to get rain through the rest of the week, we may see places where we
have some nuisance flooding, particularly in those areas that are also
subject to tide. This is a great exercise for us. Road maintenance is
already out and about checking things out. So if folks are seeing the
system not responding, if water is standing and not starting to retreat
after a few hours or if things just seem weird or different from prior
years, we absolutely want you to call our road maintenance division.
I'm going to put it up on this visualizer in just a second here.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can 311 work?
MS. PATTERSON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can 311 work?
MS. PATTERSON: 311 does work, but this is also the direct
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number for Road Maintenance, and there's an on-call service at night.
So if they are seeing standing water that is not receding or any
other -- any other cause for concern, how this helps Stormwater
Maintenance/Road Maintenance is this prepares us for the incoming
rainy season, so we're really working to get the system in its best
shape for rainy season. So if we have blockages, if we have things
that have happened over the winter, this is a really great test for the
system, and we want to get out and respond to that.
So for anybody that -- we have some bullet points. We're
putting this out on social media for folks so that they know where to
call and what they're looking at, what's normal under this type of
rainfall situation, and what might be abnormal, and we will have
folks responding all throughout the week as we experience this
rainfall.
And with that, that's all I have. County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Nothing, thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, let's go to the top of the
list. The burn ban late in getting initiated, when will we make the
decision to lift that?
MS. PATTERSON: Well, I'd like to see what happens with the
rain this week. I'll consult with the fire chiefs, only because
sometimes when we get this very early rain, we jump the gun and
think we're fully in rainy season, and then we have three weeks of no
rain. So let's see -- let's see how it goes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Fair enough, and that's a fine
response. I think that's an extremely prudent path to travel.
Number two, I don't know if you folks experienced it or not, but
our IT division decided to do a major update with our computers this
Friday. I was looking at my government calendar, and it went away.
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All of my appointments, prior and future appointments went away. I
had a minor panic attack. And so my suggestion is, if IT's planning
on a revision, let's do it on a Wednesday after a Board meeting when
things are leveler, more level.
Number three, Jamie -- and this -- we all have been receiving
correspondence from a constituent that used to live in Golden Gate
Estates. Irizarry is his name, I think, and I'd like to have a
discussion about this and bring forward a resolution to the
circumstance.
MR. FRENCH: Thank you, Commissioner.
For the record, I'm Jamie French, again, your Growth
Management/Community Development department head. I have
Mr. Tom Iandimarino, your Code Enforcement director, with me as
well. Tom is intimately involved with Mr. Irizarry's case.
Bottom line is, is that this was a long-standing code enforcement
case that ran up to about $160,000 in fines that resulted in a lien
against Mr. Irizarry's property. Mr. Irizarry did comply eventually
over the years to resolve it, and he did make an attempt -- or at least
he started to have negotiation talks with us regarding the settlement
portion of your ordinance that you recently adopted this year.
Unfortunately, Mr. Irizarry had an open permit -- an open
electric permit for solar panels on his garage, detached garage. And
the reason why it failed was that either Mr. Irizarry or the previous
owners of that property converted that garage to living space. So
there was electrical work done within the garage where we could not
pass the solar panels.
Bottom line, Mr. Irizarry simply needed to close out that permit.
He could have canceled the permit. I think he owed us $60 in
inspection fees -- or in back fees.
I know he worked for just about a month with Mr. Iandimarino.
He chose not to do it, so when he sold the home, the $160,000 was
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held by the title company, and they paid the county.
Now, the new owners have come in, and they have paid the $60.
The permit is closed out, but unfortunately, because now we know it
has created a code enforcement case for the new owners, that they
either have to get this illegally converted -- it's not enclosed. It's
a -- imagine it's a garage that was permitted and built that someone
has gone back in and now made living space.
So I've got FEMA regulations, I've got state law. We have state
law that we must -- that we must work with -- or work within the
boundaries of the Florida Building Code, and so now we have a code
enforcement case on a brand-new owner.
So they did come in. They did pay the $60. Mr. Irizarry, he
wants to just -- I think he wants to pay just the 10 percent of what the
property value is so he's not fully responsible. Unfortunately, we
don't have a path, and I believe Mr. Klatzkow, I don't think -- because
the ownership has transferred, Mr. Irizarry no longer can come
forward to you and say, "I just want to pay the 10 percent." If he
would have just paid the $60, closed out that permit, he wouldn't
have been on the hook for the full $160,000 that we collected.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So we can give you a path.
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir. The Board sets policy.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. So my suggestion
is -- you've got two cases. You've got the old case that's been -- the
permit's been closed. You've got the new case with a not permitted
fix for a residential use that cannot continue on. So that new owner
will have to take care of that code issue. So my suggestion is, is that
we hold back the 10 percent and refund the balance back to Irizarry
from the previous code case.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we're going to give him back the
150,000 --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: 140-, plus or minus,
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whatever, whatever it works out to be.
CHAIRMAN HALL: And then the new owners are buyer
beware. They've got to take care of their own deal.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Buyers -- the new buyers will
have to fix the code case that we're aware of now and bring it back on
their own. That's not -- they're not participatory in this lien that was
created by the old code case in the first place.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Have the new owners got a way out
besides just ripping everything out and redoing it?
MR. FRENCH: They could demo it. They would have to
demonstrate that they meet the FEMA floodplain, because this is a
special flood hazard area, and to avoid us ever being like Lee County,
we'd like to maintain the 25 percent discount for our flood insurance
policyholders. But they're going to have to adhere to the Florida
Building Code.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you want that in a
motion?
MR. FRENCH: If that's the direction of the Board, we'll bring
back an item at the next meeting.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'd like to make that a
motion.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'll second it.
Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Now, the motion is for
this -- for staff to come back at the next meeting with some resolution
of this, or are you resolving it right now? Is that --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, the resolving of it is
now that we -- they may have to come back to us in two weeks to
finalize everything, but we withhold the 10 percent of the property
value, approximately 16,000, and refund the balance.
MR. FRENCH: About $141,026 -- I'm sorry -- $26 -- 26,000
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we would retain.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I can say I know absolutely
nothing -- I can say I know absolutely nothing about this case or this
issue.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I know a lot.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But I'm wondering if you
could share that with us and have us come back and do this, because I
feel uncomfortable voting for something I just have no idea what
we're doing. I mean, I'm not --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- saying that I don't support
what you want to do. I just don't understand it.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Especially that big of a
refund, you know. I wanted to --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'd be happy to -- you want to
bring it back in two weeks and have an actual hearing on that?
MR. FRENCH: We'll bring back an item that -- based off of
your direction --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You can put it on the consent
agenda. Just get us some information, and then --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Perfect.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- if we wanted to pull it off,
we can pull it off.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Perfect. Perfect. I had long
communications with him in advance of the sale of the home all the
way through the process. There's no argument that -- and he even
admitted -- he was here once and spoke to us, I think maybe even
before you got elected, before Commissioner Hall and
Mr. -- Commissioner Kowal got elected. He was here, and I've had
an enormous amount of information and communication with him
over -- over the years. So I'd be happy to do that. Put it on the
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consent agenda.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Give us the history.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But the bottom line is, is
we -- with Commissioner LoCastro's leadership, we implemented the
new policy and have been leaning towards this 10 percent of the
property value as a far more equitable path for us to travel in these
voluminous code cases that are out there. So, plus/minus, it's
refunding about 141,000, plus a little bit to -- back to -- back to him.
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir. We'll bring back an item.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. Sounds good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I have one more, and
this leans into what I think you might be talking about, so I don't
want to -- I'll steal your thunder a little bit, and then you and I can
engage.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Go ahead, because you know
more about it than I do.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: This is the Sycamore -- we
recently had -- and did you find out, are we within the time frame to
recall --
MR. FRENCH: Mr. Bosi is -- he's saying yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
MR. KLATZKOW: You can appeal it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Hum?
MR. KLATZKOW: You're within the time frame to appeal the
decision.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: At our next meeting?
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, whenever staff can get it back to
you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. There was a Hearing
Examiner's decision that was rendered on a side-yard setback
encroachment with our -- with a property owner off of Sycamore, and
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we just learned this yesterday when Jamie was in my office.
Mr. Bosi was talking to him -- that a property owner off of Sycamore
filed for a permit, a building permit, for a building, about a
4,000-square-foot building on his property. And the site plan that
they submitted showed the building being in the appropriate location,
meeting all of the side-yard and rear-yard setbacks.
He then engaged a private provider to manage the construction,
which was a contractor, and the permitting -- or the inspections on
the permits.
So we -- and when that happens, we, as a practice, don't go to
the property. So all of a sudden, he's done, and there's a building
that's now been built in the side-yard setback and the rear-yard
setback. And so his only avenue, before he could get a CO for that
building and utilize it, was to acquire a variance.
So he went to the contiguous property owners, got letters of
acceptance for his building to remain, and then several of the
members of the community showed up to speak, and the Hearing
Examiner granted the variance.
Now, I want to say this out loud. I don't -- I don't have a want
to make this man move his building. What I want is to establish a
set of processes and procedures for our staff to issue a stop work
order because there's a disconnect -- even though they're standing
next to one another right now, there's a disconnect between the state
building code and zoning.
And so zoning's looking at a properly placed building on the
site, and the Building Department is not able to actually go and do
inspections because of the private provider that got between our
Building Department and the owner.
And so we didn't know that the building had been
inappropriately sited. The spot survey showed that it was where it
was supposed to be, and then when we got to the final CO, it was
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encroaching on the side-yard setback. If I'm not mistaken, it was the
side and rear. So there was two setback encroachments.
CHAIRMAN HALL: How far?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: A minute? I mean, it was
30, 40 feet. It wasn't two feet. It wasn't -- it wasn't --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Oh.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It wasn't a -- it was -- now,
the property owner to the north is a nice gentleman, so I'm told,
who -- and it's at the back of his property. You know, all of the
properties in the Estates are 660 feet deep. So if a guy -- if a person
builds too close to the property line, it really isn't -- his comment was,
"Well, I never go back there anyway," but it may be -- it may have a
negative impact going forward.
And so what I'd like to do is have a discussion if we need to
appeal the Hearing Examiner's decision, not necessarily to remand
the owner of this building to tear it down and move it, but to establish
some procedures for us so that we're not in -- we're in a position here
of having a building up and built and then requiring a variance before
the CO. But a variance -- we're aware of a violation of our side-yard
setbacks.
Because the majority of the people try to adhere to our code and
our side-yard setbacks and rear-yard setbacks, but we can certainly
not, you know, ever ascertain whether this was done on purpose or
not. But bottom line, it's a violation of our codes.
And we -- when people -- when people ask the proper way, we
make them adhere to our codes and our regulations, and this -- this
didn't occur with this instance, and then the man that built the
building went and got the letters of approval of its location from the
contiguous property owners.
But I want to establish -- as much as anything, I want to
establish going forward -- so that our Building Department and
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Zoning Department aren't handcuffed by the Florida Building Code
that prohibits inspections and a stop work order when a zoning
violation, in fact, transpires.
MR. FRENCH: Thank you, Commissioner.
If I could just summarize very quickly -- and I will try to be
brief. But since 2004, the State of Florida -- and many of you know
this. Ever since Hurricane Andrew, there used to be independently
adopted building code based off municipalities, authorities having
jurisdiction or counties.
After Hurricane Andrew, the State of Florida adopted a
state-wide building code, and it simply said this: You, as a county,
will still be in the building permit business, but you're going to
operate under our code, and the State of Florida has "the" building
code. You don't have a local county code.
And any amendments to that code that would be more restrictive
must be approved by the Florida Building Commission, which those
members are assigned by the Governor.
At the end of the day, in 2004, there was legislation because so
often in some of these smaller communities they struggled with being
able to get building permits out. So they allowed for these private
providers to exist.
Now, private providers must be licensed building officials, and
up until recently they were qualified by a professional licensed
engineer that could demonstrate that they were qualified in this
practice.
That legislation has since changed, and it continues to change so
much to a point where we probably spend more time with private
providers. We're forced to charge them less money, it costs us more
as an organization because we are a fee-restricted, fee-funded
organization that does not impact the independent taxpayers but those
who actually -- that apply for building permits, but what happens is
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that -- Commissioner McDaniel's absolutely right, unless we're
invited to the site or unless we can demonstrate that it is a violation of
the life-safety code, we have no -- our only role here is you as a
Board, you as the authority having jurisdiction, having that state
license -- state-issued licensed building official that you must have in
order to be in this business, you must issue a building permit, you
must issue a certificate of completion or a certificate of occupation if
they've met all those conditions.
And a private provider makes that determination, and we have
no right of appeal other than to file a willful ethics or a willful code
violation back to the state; and willful is very, very hard to prove.
So is it suspect that we have a -- we had a survey that came in
after 10 days when they poured their slab that said, nope, I am fully
in compliance with the setbacks, and then on final inspection we find
out they're off. And they're not just off by inches, not an
indiscriminate amount, but a lot.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I think if you -- if I can
paraphrase a little bit, you shared that you had the administrative
capacity for, like, 10 percent. If there's a -- if there's an
encroachment of 30 feet and the building's 32 feet, you can -- you can
approve that administratively?
MR. FRENCH: We can do that. And we're still charged -- we
have to audit. Every time they do an inspection, it's our job -- we
have to audit their inspection to make sure it's compliant, and that's
where we spend a lot of time. The recordkeeping is all on us as well
to do that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And the other side of it is we
withheld the CO on this particular building so it couldn't legally be
occupied, but there are other remedies other than just a variance
request.
The fellow has civil issues with his contractor and the private
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provider who supplied us with documentation that everything was
okay. He could have -- as opposed to being issued the variance, he
could have been forced to either relocate the building or buy land
from the contiguous property owners and do a lot-line adjustment in
order to effectuate the proper setbacks and not negatively impact the
surrounding areas, so...
MR. FRENCH: You're absolutely correct.
And, Commissioner, this code once existed in Collier County.
It was removed in 2004 for some reason.
So we are currently working with Mr. Klatzkow's office, Doug
Sposito and Fred Clum. Our deputy building official as well as our
building official are working with Jeff's office. And so we are
revisiting the process based off of this and others. This happens
often. Swimming pools, outbuildings, homes that are set in the
wrong place. But we'll be bringing back an item for you to consider
in future months.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And when you do do
that -- now, I guess my question is, do I -- do one of us need to file an
appeal to the Hearing Examiner's decision, or is --
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, the appeal will be by majority vote
of the Board. If you're going to do that, you have to do it this
meeting; otherwise, you're out of time.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I guess my question is, is an appeal
necessary to have the discussion to change what we need to change?
MR. KLATZKOW: I'm simply saying if you don't appeal
it -- if you don't appeal it now, you lose that right later.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So if we appeal it, we're saying we don't
want the variance?
MR. KLATZKOW: No. If you're appealing it, you're saying
you want to hear it, and as part of the hearing, Jamie could talk about
alternatives.
June 11, 2024
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COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Okay. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: So the decision by the
Hearing Examiner was just last week, and so --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Two weeks ago.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Has it been two weeks?
MR. BOSI: It was issued on May 17th.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Oh, I thought it was -- okay.
Now I understand why time is of the essence.
I want to make sure this doesn't happen again. This may be one
of those cases where, literally, the horse is out of the barn on this one.
But maybe it's worthwhile, as part of our evaluation of not having
this happen again, to go ahead and appeal this, bring it back in two
weeks or whatever time you can bring it back in, and let's hear what
happened and then make a decision as to -- I mean, I don't really want
to make somebody move a building, but at the same time, I don't
want to reward somebody for doing something that, quite
frankly -- you know, who knows if it was intentional or not, but...
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We'll probably never know,
in all sincerity.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But somebody listening to
this may very well be thinking, well, that's all we've got to do is get
a --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right. Get a private
provider, and I just --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Get a survey and --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- got to use a whole bunch
more of my property that I was previously prohibited from doing,
so...
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But we don't need to appeal
this in order to correct the problem that led to it. So the question is,
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do we want to appeal this; bring the property owner to explain what
happened?
CHAIRMAN HALL: That was my question. Is an appeal
necessary for us to change the process?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Bosi's raising his hand.
MR. KLATZKOW: The appeal is not necessary to change the
process. The appeal will be limited to this one particular instance of
it. I'm simply saying if want to hear this, you have to appeal it now.
That's all.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay.
MR. BOSI: And I was just going to add -- and this may not
have any bearing, but as it's been indicated, from every adjoining
property owner that touches that individual's lot, we have received
letters of no objection, and there was an additional letter of -- or
condition of additional landscaping to provide additional buffering
for the -- from the facility, from the neighbors.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You know, the problem that
I have with all -- with the variance is that getting neighbors to agree
to it isn't really the standard for determining whether there should be
a variance. It has to be a land-related hardship not created by the
property owner.
And so there really isn't any basis for a variance. So, you
know, the idea that the property owners next door didn't object to it
is -- to me is irrelevant. What's relevant is why did this happen, and
can we keep it from happening?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, and that's where the
appeal may be requisite. I don't mean to interrupt you, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You know, the hardship was
created by somebody. Now, it didn't create a health, safety, and
welfare for the contiguous property owners, but the hardship was
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created by a third-party provider and/or the property owner that
allowed for it to transpire, and then, per our laws, per our code, the
only way he could occupy it was to receive the variance, but the
variance isn't technically -- it was -- it was a created need for a
variance.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, I'll do this -- because I
think we need to hear from the property owners as to what happened.
So I'll make a motion to appeal that decision so that we can at least
hear what happened, and that will help us make a better decision,
perhaps, going forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I think -- I'll second that
motion.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Bosi, you had your hand up.
Do you want to add?
MR. BOSI: Just to put on the record that the staff's original
recommendation was for denial, but just another is -- and hardship is
a consideration that the decision-making bodies, the HEX or the
BZA, can incorporate. Staff looked at it more as just inherent
configuration of the land is what guided us to our recommendation of
denial on the -- you know, based upon the survey.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: If for nothing else, the
hardship determination can help us going forward with other variance
requests and other circumstances that are prevalent by actually
defining that hardship requisite in advance now, and then we can also
have an update on our policies and procedures so that when another
one transpires, we're ahead of it, not after it's built.
MR. BOSI: And speaking of policies and procedures,
traditionally summertime you don't like to hear controversial items.
Would this be an exception?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I would say yes, because it's
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already been granted by the Hearing Examiner, so we're just
reviewing his decision that's been, made, so...
CHAIRMAN HALL: I'm not worried about who's here or
who's not. If we only have a certain time to appeal, we need to do it.
So we have a motion and a second. All in favor, say aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So moved.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you.
And that, by the way, is all I had.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Thank you. Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That was your summary
closing comment? Holy -- Dot, did you -- I mean, right? I mean,
come on. Really? Seriously? Right? Unbelievable.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: She's the timekeeper.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I want you to know I kept
time of all four of us. Dan doesn't count.
You, my friend, tripled my time.
Anyway, two quick things. Let's make sure we use Alert
Collier if we need to during this heavy rainstorm. Road washes out,
lights are all down, you know, and we have to send out something
that says, "Remember, if lights are out, it's a four-way stop," anything
like that. You know, pavement collapses, severe flooding
somewhere where it's extremely deep and hard to tell, let's make sure
that, you know, we're -- if we can get use out of Alert Collier.
You know, lastly -- and all of us will go back and check our
e-mails after this meeting -- I'm really appreciative but very
disappointed in some of the e-mails that we're all getting from some
citizens about Amendment IV. I'm appreciative for the people that
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sent us really nice notes and said, you know, "Thanks for letting us
know what your moral compass is." I agree with it, I disagree with
it, whatever, but understood that we weren't here telling people how
to vote.
You know, the e-mails that say, "I can't believe five old men just
decided what women should do with their bodies," that's not what
happened up here. I didn't tell anybody. Go to the polls and vote.
This will probably pass, as Commissioner Saunders said.
I'll just speak for me, but I told people to vote their conscience,
vote their opinion but know the details of the fine print of what you're
voting on, and I want my constituents -- just as they ask frequently
what my moral compass is on gun control and, you know, abortion
and immigration and all kinds of things that I don't have jurisdiction
over, but they want to know the kind of elected official they have in
the seat.
So I was proud to voice my personal views today, but I respect
the views of others, and that's why it's on the ballot. But as we often
see, sometimes people don't do their due diligence and they think
they're voting for something very specific, and they are. It's just not
the specific thing that they actually understand.
So I'll just say that as a closing comment. I think that, you
know, we all stated our views today unanimously. We're reminding
voters to do their due diligence, and it's an important vote on the
ballot. And like anything else, we don't want people to vote
alphabetically.
That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Great. Thank you.
Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I don't have anything. That was the issue I was going to raise
was the one that Commissioner McDaniel raised. I just want to
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thank everybody for --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I want the record to
reflect that half of my time goes to Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And Rick LoCastro still wins
the award for the most time.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All-time award.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I hate all of you.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I've just got a few things I wanted to talk
about.
I visited DAS last week, and Mr. French and his crew have done
a lot out there to turn this thing around.
And one of the things that we talked about, you know, in
Building 5, to get rid of the rodent problem, they've got to get rid of
the -- they've got to pull the ceiling down and clean things up and
then put it back, so we have to rehouse dogs.
They're doing a pretty good job of adoption back there, but
there's still 10 to 15 dogs. And so one of the things that we talked
about maybe that we could encourage the public. Every day that
goes by, it costs us 30 to $50 per dog, per animal to house, and the
fees that we're charging range anywhere from 30 to 80; 80 for a
puppy, 30 for an old dog.
And so we're obviously never going to make money or never
going to break even with those fees. So we thought about what if we
just waive the fees for a certain amount of time to encourage the
public to get these things, and waive -- what's the -- it's the animal
control officer? I want to say dogcatcher.
So if your dog gets out and he's brought to DAS, we're charging
people 100 to $150 to reclaim their dog. I would like to see us be
able to waive that on a first-time offense, and then if they -- you
know, if they don't fix the hole in the fence or the dog, you know,
June 11, 2024
Page 205
continues to get out, then we charge them. So that's one of the
things.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN HALL: All right. So --
MR. FRENCH: I apologize. I stepped out briefly.
Commissioners, we'd like to -- we intend to bring this back
almost like we do Contractors Licensing. We really go with a
three-strike rule. We talk to you. We educate you. And as
Mr. Iandimarino, who spent 32 years in federal law enforcement, he
explained to the animal control officers -- I also used to call them
dogcatchers. He said, "I can't tell you how many times I had people
in cuffs that never made it to jail."
So just because we take the custody of an animal doesn't mean
we need to impound it. We certainly want to focus on reuniting
families.
One of the policies we've put out is that if we find a stray, we're
going to go door to door. And I don't care if we've got to use Code
Enforcement or if I've got to go out myself, we will go door to door
to try to reunite them. And we'll take a look at their fence, their
enclosure, figure out what we need to do to keep that family together
with their pet versus putting it on the backs of the taxpayers and
putting that burden on staff.
So we are committed to this. I've been in it now for about a
month and a half, and I can tell you that we've been there every day.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So I'm all for waiving the fees, and I
think -- did you second it?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: You've got a fee schedule that this board
implemented. I would suggest Jamie come back with an amendment
to that fee schedule.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just do it.
June 11, 2024
Page 206
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, we can -- we can go
ahead and agree today --
MR. KLATZKOW: Today, and then Jamie can bring it back,
yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- that we're going to waive
fees. I know staff does that periodically anyway.
MR. FRENCH: It's by resolution. So it could be one and
done.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we have a motion. We have a
second. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Congratulations. That's a good idea,
Jamie.
Second -- second, we had a -- Mr. Shear stepped up and talked
about the CPUD, which I thought he had some valid -- I thought it
warranted discussions as far as us, you know, not using the PUDs in
our Live Local stuff.
I guess my question is, do we want to discuss that, or do we
want to send that to the AHAC and let them bring back some
recommendations? Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You want to -- you want to --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I was going to say, I would
suggest just putting it on our agenda, because we know what the issue
is.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: We've already dealt with it,
and AHAC's going to support whatever we do to expand.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: AHAC's going to support
June 11, 2024
Page 207
opening it up as much as possible.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And none of -- personally, I
don't need to hear it. Personally, I don't need to hear it. We already
made a determination to exclude PUDs at all. I don't think
Mr. Shear is precluded from offering to purchase a piece -- I say
"him" -- or an affordable housing developer is precluded from buying
a piece of commercial property and rezoning it to a higher density
residential, and we can look at its impacts individually.
But I don't want to open Pandora's box to the CPUDs or PUDs at
all, period. I'm -- as I've already expressed, I'm not -- I'm not all that
skippy about Live Local in the first place because of the preemption
on local government to have a say-so on its people, and I don't think
we need to open that Pandora's box. He's not -- when he was
talking, I was listening. And he's not precluded from pursuing a
piece of property. He just can't rely upon a theoretical approval
through the Live Local Act on a --
CHAIRMAN HALL: So he could still purchase a property
within the CPUD --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN HALL: -- and ask for -- and ask for the increase
in density?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We've got --
CHAIRMAN HALL: That solves that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- commercial zoning pieces
of property that -- we just converted one, I think, before you became
a commissioner at Goodlette and Pine Ridge Road that used to be a
Publix or a Winn-Dixie center, and we converted it -- Barron Collier
owned the site, and we converted it to -- it was C-3, and we went to
16, and I think we even gave them more than 16 because there was a
provision for some income-restricted housing.
June 11, 2024
Page 208
CHAIRMAN HALL: Gotcha. So we have our strategic
initiatives that will handle that. So I didn't know that he could -- he
could still --
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't think he can. I don't think you can
purchase a portion of a PUD and separate it from the rest of it, but
that doesn't mean the Board can't, on an application, do that. So I
don't think it's as of right. I think it's going to require the Board --
CHAIRMAN HALL: No, not as of right. He would have to
come and ask.
MR. KLATZKOW: He would have to ask for it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: He's asking for an "as of
right," and I don't want to -- I don't want to --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Gotcha.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't want to do that. It
has to be a specific application, and then we have to weigh all of the
impacts on the nearby surrounding area, the traffic, ingress and
egress, the whole thing.
CHAIRMAN HALL: I didn't know that he -- as long as he's
got the right to purchase and come ask, I'm happy with that.
And then lastly, coming up on a future agenda item, I've been
working on -- you know, in light of encouraging adoption for babies,
throughout the state of Florida in various locations, there's what we
call safe -- safe haven baby boxes that could be attached in the wall in
an EMS station and be a place for a woman to place her baby in a
controlled environment for that long (indicating) and not be
condemned for giving her baby up. It's a safe place to put that -- and
the baby -- the baby comes out for adoption.
So I was going to ask the County Attorney if -- to explain the
feasibility between using fire stations or the EMS. There's a fire
station typically, like, in Ocala, but I think we have other options.
MR. KLATZKOW: The Board has the power -- on all of the
June 11, 2024
Page 209
EMS stations, that's ours. As far as a decision to put these boxes in a
firehouse, that would be the fire district's decision. A lot of our units
are collocated, so I'm not sure it makes a difference practically, but --
CHAIRMAN HALL: Well, we can do the EMS stations
without further permission from anybody else.
MR. KLATZKOW: You could do your EMS stations without
any permission, yes.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Dot, do you have any idea how much
one of those boxes are?
MS. HALL: Around 20,000. And the alarm goes off
immediately when the baby's put in the controlled environment, and
then that fireman adopted that baby .
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Say that on the microphone
so that it's record.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Can you go to the microphone, Babe.
MS. HALL: Oh, sure.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Babe. Put that on record.
THE COURT REPORTER: "Babe," I did.
MS. HALL: Did you get that, Terri? He called me "babe."
THE COURT REPORTER: I did.
MS. HALL: They're about 20,000, just guessing, around that.
There's a few maintenance fees. Action For Life is actually going to
take it before the Board to see if they could pay for one of those, if
the county could maybe pay for a couple of them also.
And just so you understand, as soon as that baby's placed in the
safe haven box, an alarm goes off immediately. And a story was just
told in Ocala that a baby was placed in there, and the fireman that
rescued the baby -- sorry, we've been working on this for a
while -- but he adopted the baby, so...
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Nice.
CHAIRMAN HALL: That was awesome. Thank you.
June 11, 2024
Page 210
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Outstanding.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So we'll bring that for future.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, I'll get you a list of the
owned EMS stations. There aren't that many that are stand-alone.
Then we have collocated where we have ownership, so that would be
in the ownership, and then there are the collocated stations that are
owned by Fire, and we're there by lease. So we've got 26 locations
in Collier County that are EMS, and we can get a breakdown of
those.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Yes, sir [sic].
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And check the Florida
Statutes, because there's statutory language dealing with where you
can drop the babies off.
MR. KLATZKOW: I have. I've checked the statute, and we're
fine here.
CHAIRMAN HALL: So I'll get an executive summary
prepared, and you can include that in that.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. And we're happy -- I can have
Chief Choate talk with the fire districts as well to see if there's any
willingness to participate.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I love it. That's a great idea.
CHAIRMAN HALL: Good. All right. Good day today.
Thanks, everybody.
We're adjourned.
*****
****Commissioner Hall moved, seconded by Commissioner
McDaniel, and carried that the following items under the
consent and summary agendas be approved and/or adopted****
June 11, 2024
Page 211
Item #16A1
APPROVED FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPT THE
CONVEYANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR ALLAMANDA ESTATES – ONSITE
UTILITIES, PL20230014153. (DISTRICT 1) - FINAL
INSPECTION ON NOVEMBER 09, 2023, FOUND THESE
FACILITIES SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE
Item #16A2
APPROVED FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTED THE
CONVEYANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR ALLAMANDA ESTATES - OFFSITE
UTILITIES, PL20230016590. (DISTRICT 1) – FINAL
INSPECTION ON NOVEMBER 17, 2023, FOUND THESE
FACILITIES SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE
Item #16A3
APPROVED FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER
AND SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPTED THE
CONVEYANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND APPURTENANT UTILITY
EASEMENT FOR ESPLANADE BY THE ISLANDS – PHASE 3H,
PL20230015548. (DISTRICT 1)
Item #16A4
APPROVED FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTED THE
CONVEYANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
June 11, 2024
Page 212
UTILITY FACILITIES FOR GROVES AT ORANGE BLOSSOM
PHASE 2A-1, PL20240003084. (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16A5
APPROVED FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER
AND SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPTED THE
CONVEYANCE OF A PORTION OF THE POTABLE WATER
AND SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES FOR IMPERIAL GOLF
COURSE HALFWAY HOUSE, PL20240002104. (DISTRICT 2) -
FINAL INSPECTION ON APRIL 09, 2023, FOUND THESE
FACILITIES SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE
Item #16A6 – Continued from the May 14, 2024, BCC Meeting
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF
THE SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES, ACCEPTED THE
CONVEYANCE OF THE SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES AND
APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR SEYCHELLES -
OFFSITE UTILITIES RELOCATION (PL20240001240), AND
SEYCHELLES - OFFSITE UTILITIES (PL20190001953), AND
AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO
RELEASE THE FINAL OBLIGATION BOND AND THE
UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY (UPS) IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF $9,957.64 THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR
PL20190001953, TO THE PROJECT ENGINEER OR THE
DEVELOPER’S DESIGNATED AGENT. (DISTRICT 1)
Item #16A7
THE CLERK OF COURTS RELEASED A PERFORMANCE
June 11, 2024
Page 213
BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $234,500 WHICH WAS POSTED
AS A GUARANTY FOR EXCAVATION PERMIT NUMBER
PL20190002027 FOR WORK ASSOCIATED WITH MAGNOLIA
POND RESIDENCES. (DISTRICT 3)
Item #16A8
RECORDED THE FINAL PLAT OF CAYMAS PHASE II,
APPROVAL OF THE STANDARD FORM CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, AND APPROVAL OF
THE PERFORMANCE SECURITY IN THE AMOUNT OF
$4,182,045.73. (APPLICATION NUMBER PL20230012032)
(DISTRICT 1)
Item #16A9
AUTHORIZED A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $38,000 TO REALLOCATE FUNDING WITHIN THE
CONSERVATION COLLIER CARACARA PRAIRIE FUND
(0674). (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16A10
THE COLLIER COUNTY FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN
2022 AND 2023 PROGRESS REPORT AND PROPOSED ACTION
PLAN FOR 2024. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16A11
APPROVED THE DENSITY FOR THE EKOS DEVELOPMENT
UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE 125.01055(7)(A), THE LIVE
June 11, 2024
Page 214
LOCAL ACT. (DISTRICT 1, ALL DISTRICTS) – LOCATED AT
6360 COLLIER BOULEVARD, AT THE SOUTH-EAST
QUADRANT OF THE COLLIER BOULEVARD/HENDERSON
CREEK DRIVE INTERSECTION
Item #16B1
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 6 TO AGREEMENT NO. 16-
6699, PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE “ELEVEN
BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS PROJECT” WITH HNTB
CORPORATION TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TIME FOR
POST-DESIGN AND RELATED SERVICES ON THE PROJECT
BY AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS AND AUTHORIZED THE
CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED CHANGE ORDER.
(PROJECT NO. 66066) (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16B2
THE CHAIRMAN EXECUTED A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR
VEHICLES FOR REDACTED CRASH DATA. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16B3
APPROVED AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF A
DRAINAGE EASEMENT (PARCEL 146DE) REQUIRED FOR
THE WEST GOODLETTE-FRANK ROAD AREA
STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE 2.
(PROJECT NO. 60142) (ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT: $22,843)
(DISTRICT 4)
June 11, 2024
Page 215
Item #16B4
RESOLUTION 2024-99: THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED A
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO THE LOCAL AGENCY
PROGRAM (LAP) AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) TO REDUCE
GRANT FUNDS BY $125,024 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
TEN-FOOT MULTI-USE PATH ON COUNTY BARN ROAD
FROM RATTLESNAKE HAMMOCK ROAD TO SR 84 (DAVIS
BLVD.); EXECUTED THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION;
AND AUTHORIZED THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS, FPN 438091-2-58-01. (FUND 1841, PROJECT
NO. 60254) (DISTRICT 3, DISTRICT 4)
Item #16B5
APPROVED A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FUND 1105
FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000 FOR MAINTENANCE
OF THE TIGERTAIL LAGOON / SAND DOLLAR ISLAND
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT, AUTHORIZED THE
CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX
FUNDING AGREEMENT, AND MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS
EXPENDITURE PROMOTES TOURISM. (DISTRICT 1)
Item #16B6
RESOLUTION 2024-100: THE CHAIRMAN EXECUTED A
STATE-FUNDED GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
REIMBURSING THE COUNTY UP TO $1,050,000 FOR THE
DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND PERMITTING OF THE ‘FOUR
June 11, 2024
Page 216
POINTS ROUNDABOUT’ PROJECT TO CONTROL THE
INTERSECTION OF IMMOKALEE ROAD AND CAMP KEAIS
ROAD AND AUTHORIZED THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS, FPN 452825-1-34-01. (FUND 1841, PROJECT
NO. 33890). (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16B7
THE CHAIRMAN EXECUTED A TRANSPORTATION
COORDINATION AGREEMENT WITH HOPE HOSPICE &
COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16B8
APPROVED AN AGREEMENT NO. 23-8159, “POST DESIGN
SERVICES FOR STAN GOBER MEMORIAL BRIDGE
REHABILITATION,” WITH STANTEC CONSULTING
SERVICES, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $91,815, AND
AUTHORIZED THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NO. 66066) (DISTRICT 1)
Item #16B9
AWARDED A CONSTRUCTION INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”)
NO. 23-8195, “16TH AVENUE S.W. SHOULDER
IMPROVEMENTS,” TO PREFERRED MATERIALS, INC., IN
THE AMOUNT OF $2,449,638.72, PROVIDE FOR AN OWNER’S
ALLOWANCE OF $75,000.00 FOR POTENTIAL UNFORESEEN
CONDITIONS, AND AUTHORIZED THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN
THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NUMBER NO.
60226) (DISTRICT 5)
June 11, 2024
Page 217
Item #16B10
AWARDED A REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
("RPS") NO. 23-8103, THE “GOLDEN GATE CITY WATER
RESOURCE PROTECTION – RESTORATION MASTER PLAN”,
TO JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP, INC., FOR A TOTAL NOT
TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF $988,912 AND AUTHORIZED
THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT.
(DISTRICT 3)
Item #16B11
RESOLUTION 2024-101: THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED A STATE-
FUNDED GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
REIMBURSING COLLIER COUNTY UP TO $1,120,000 TO
CONSTRUCT PAVED SHOULDERS AND WIDEN TRAVEL
LANES ON OIL WELL ROAD FROM MILE POST (MP) 12.061
TO MP 12.703, APPROXIMATELY 0.642 MILES, FPN 452822-1-
54-01. (FUNDS 1841 & 1842, PROJECT NO. 60231) (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16B12
RESOLUTION 2024-102: THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED A STATE-
FUNDED GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
REIMBURSING COLLIER COUNTY UP TO $1,015,000 TO
CONSTRUCT PAVED SHOULDERS AND WIDEN THE
TRAVEL LANES ON OIL WELL ROAD FROM MILE POST (MP)
12.703 TO MP 13.388, APPROXIMATELY (0.685 MILES), FPN
452820-1-54-01. (FUNDS 1841 & 1842, PROJECT NO. 60231)
June 11, 2024
Page 218
(DISTRICT 5)
Item #16B13
RESOLUTION 2024-103: THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED A SMALL
COUNTY OUTREACH PROGRAM (SCOP) STATE-FUNDED
GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) REIMBURSING COLLIER
COUNTY UP TO $818,575 TO CONSTRUCT PAVED
SHOULDERS AND WIDEN TRAVEL LANES ON IMMOKALEE
ROAD (CR 846) FROM EAST OF TRADEPORT PARKWAY TO
BRIDGE NO. 034831; EXECUTED A RESOLUTION
MEMORIALIZING THE BOARD’S ACTION; AND
AUTHORIZED ALL NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS,
FPN 451525-1-54-01. (FUND 1841, PROJECT NO. 60253)
(DISTRICT 5)
Item #16B14
RESOLUTION 2024-104; RESOLUTION 2024-105: APPROVED
THE PUBLIC TRANSIT GRANT AGREEMENTS (PTGA)
SECTION 5310 (FPN 448810-1-94-02, 451147-1-94-22, 451147-2-
94-22, AND 451147-3-94-22) WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF $973,420, FOR THE PURCHASE OF SIX
PARATRANSIT CUTAWAY VEHICLES, SIX RADIOS, AND SIX
TABLETS; TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRMAN TO ACCEPT FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION GRANT FUNDING; AND
AUTHORIZED THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
(ALL DISTRICTS)
June 11, 2024
Page 219
Item #16B15 – Moved to Item #11G (Per Change Sheet)
Item #16C1
APPROVED A $573,400 WORK ORDER TO CONDITION AND
TREAT THREE RAW WATER PRODUCTION WELLS (LTA-32,
RO-10N, RO-19N) COMPRISED OF $548,400, TOGETHER WITH
A $25,000 ALLOWANCE TO COVER UNFORESEEN WORK, TO
WELLS & WATER SYSTEMS, INC., UNDER AGREEMENT NO.
21-7859 “WELL TESTING, DRILLING AND MAINTENANCE,”
AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED WORK ORDER. (PROJECT NO. 70085) (ALL
DISTRICTS)
Item #16C2
APRROVED A $653,087.50 WORK ORDER, UNDER A
REQUEST FOR QUOTATION UNDER AGREEMENT NO. 20-
7800, “UNDERGROUND CONTRACTOR SERVICES,” TO
MITCHELL & STARK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., TO
REPLACE INFLUENT SCREENING EQUIPMENT AT THE
ORANGE TREE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT,
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
WORK ORDER, AND APPROVE ALL NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS. (PROJECT NO. 70173) (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16C3
APPROVED AN AFTER-THE-FACT PAYMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF$4,735.88 FROM THE OWNER’S ALLOWANCE
TO QUALITYENTERPRISES, INC., FOR ADDITIONAL WORK
June 11, 2024
Page 220
ASSOCIATEDWITH WORK DIRECTIVE 1, WORK
ORDER/PURCHASE ORDER NO. 4500223578 GOODLAND
PUMP STATION YARD PIPING IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE 1
ISSUED UNDER AGREEMENT NO. 20-7800, “UNDERGROUND
CONTRACTOR SERVICES,” WHICH PROJECT HAS BEEN
COMPLETED ON TIME AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE
COUNTY. (PROJECT NO. 70276) (DISTRICT 1)
Item #16C4
APPROVED A CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 TO EXTEND TASK
TIMELINES FOR TASK NO. 1 AND TASK NO. 2 GRANT
AGREEMENT LPA0495 WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE “PALM RIVER
PUBLIC UTILITIES RENEWAL PROJECT - AREA 4” AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
CHANGE ORDER. (PROJECT NO. 70257) (DISTRICT 2)
Item #16D1
THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED SIX (6) MORTGAGE
SATISFACTIONS FOR THE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES
PARTNERSHIP LOAN PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF
$88,476.83 DUE TO THE DEATH OF THE BORROWER(S).
(SHIP GRANT FUND 1053) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D2
APPROVED THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
REFLECT THE ESTIMATED FUNDING FOR THE
EMERGENCY HOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE
June 11, 2024
Page 221
AMOUNT OF $100,000 AND APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH CENTRO-CAMPESINO
FARMWORKER CENTER. (HUMAN SERVICES GRANT FUND
1837) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D3
APPOVED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ALLOW CONTINUOUS
OPERATION OF THE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WITH AN ANTICIPATED AWARD
IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,026,866 FOR STATE FY 2024/2025.
(SHIP GRANT FUND 1053) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D4
APPROVED AN AFTER-THE-FACT CONTRACT
AMENDMENTS FIVE AND SIX BETWEEN THE AREA
AGENCY ON AGING FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC., AND
COLLIER COUNTY SERVICES FOR SENIORS EMERGENCY
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FY23 FUNDS TO
REPLACE ATTACHMENT IX-BUDGET SUMMARY AND
RECOGNIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF $1,662.15; AND AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENT. (HUMAN SERVICES GRANT FUND
1837) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D5
THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO A
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN HABITAT FOR
June 11, 2024
Page 222
HUMANITY OF COLLIER COUNTY, INC., AND COLLIER
COUNTY, TO REVISE LANGUAGE, UPDATE INFORMATION,
AND CLARIFY GRANTOR REQUIREMENTS. (NO FISCAL
IMPACT - HOUSING GRANT FUND 1835) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D6
THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED AMENDMENT TWO BETWEEN
DAVID LAWRENCE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, INC., AND
COLLIER COUNTY TO REALLOCATE FUNDING FOR THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE REINVESTMENT GRANT AGREEMENT (LH823).
(HOUSING GRANT FUND 1835) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16D7
THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED EIGHT (8) MORTGAGE
SATISFACTIONS FOR THE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES
PARTNERSHIP LOAN PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF
$121,737.86 AND TO AUTHORIZE THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO APPROPRIATE REPAYMENT AMOUNT
TOTALING $61,560.01. (SHIP GRANT FUND 1053) (ALL
DISTRICTS)
Item #16D8
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BOARD) ACTED AS
THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD
(CRA), APPROVED A $4,000,000 CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGET
FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE IMMOKALEE SPORTS
June 11, 2024
Page 223
COMPLEX SOCCER FIELDS, PROVIDING FOR THE
CONVERSION OF TWO (2) EXISTING GRASS FIELDS TO
ARTIFICIAL TURF, CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL
RESTROOM FACILITY, ADDRESSING STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT ISSUES, AND AUTHORIZING NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS. (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16D9
APPROVED A REVISED FOURTH EXTENSION AND
AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN
COLLIER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF NAPLES GOVERNING
USE OF CITY OF NAPLES BEACH PARKING FACILITIES AND
PARK AND RECREATION PROGRAMS EXTENDING THE
TERM TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIR TO SIGN THE CITY OF NAPLES MODIFIED 4TH
AMENDMENT. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16E1- (Continue to the June 25, 2024, BCC Meeting)
THE CHAIRMAN SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY
AND MHP BEMBRIDGE, LLC, TO FURTHER AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INITIATIVES THROUGH A $893,826.24 IMPACT
FEE LOAN; AUTHORIZE USING FEDERAL STATE AND
LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS TO REIMBURSE THE
AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING (1075) FUND IN THE
AMOUNT OF $893,826.24; AUTHORIZE ALL ASSOCIATED
BUDGET AMENDMENTS; AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN
TO EXECUTE ALL RELATED LOAN DOCUMENTS. (FISCAL
IMPACT $893,826.24, FUND 1075) (ALL DISTRICTS)
June 11, 2024
Page 224
Item #16F1
RESOLUTION 2024-106: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING
AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS,
CONTRIBUTIONS, OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO THE
FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 ADOPTED BUDGET. (THE BUDGET
AMENDMENTS IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VIA SEPARATE EXECUTIVE
SUMMARIES.) (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16F2
APPROVED AN AWARD REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (“RFP”)
NO. 23-8180, “TOURISM FULFILLMENT SERVICES,” FOR
THREE YEARS TO PARALEGAL CONSULTANTS, LLC, D/B/A
PRISM CONSULTING, FOR A CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT OF
$162,000 (YEARLY AMOUNT OF $54,000) PLUS
REIMBURSABLE EXPENDITURES, AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT, AND
MAKE A FINDING THAT THE RELATED EXPENDITURE
PROMOTES TOURISM. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16F3
APPROVED AN AFTER-THE-FACT TOTAL INVOICE
AMOUNT OF $3,780.47 TO REV-RTC FOR PARTS RECEIVED
WITH A FINAL PAYMENT AMOUNT TO THE VENDOR OF
$2,142.47 AFTER RECEIPT OF A CREDIT MEMO. (ALL
DISTRICTS)
June 11, 2024
Page 225
Item #16F4
APPROVED A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLLIER
COUNTY AND PATRIOT PLACE TRUST, FOR CONTINUED
OCCUPANCY OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE DISTRICT 5
SUBSTATION LOCATED AT 13245 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST.
(DISTRICT 1)
Item #16G1
APPROVED A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REALLOCATE
$100,000 OF REMAINING CAPITAL FUNDS FROM THE
COMPLETED RUNWAY 18-36 REHABILITATION CAPITAL
PROJECT AT THE IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT (IMM)
TO THE EVERGLADES AIRPARK (X01) TO COMPLETE
CULVERT REPAIRS. (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16G2 – (Continued from The May 28, 2024, BCC Meeting)
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ACTING AS
THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AWARDED SOLICITATION NO.
23-8080 “IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT
HANGAR/COMMERCIAL AERONAUTICAL DEVELOPMENT-
PARCELS A & E,” AUTHORIZED ITS CHAIRMAN TO
EXECUTE THE ATTACHED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH
QUALITY ENTERPRISES USA, INC., AND APPROVED THE
TERMINATION LETTER FOR RTH ENTERPRISE, INC.
(DISTRICT 5)
Item #16G3
June 11, 2024
Page 226
RESOLUTION 2024-107: ADOPTED A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT (PTGA) NUMBER
G2Y90 IN THE AMOUNT OF $199,100 FOR THE IMMOKALEE
REGIONAL AIRPORT (IMM) FOR THE PURCHASE AND
INSTALLATION OF AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR,
AUTHORIZED THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE GRANT
AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZE ALL NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS. (AIRPORT GRANT FUND 4093 AND
AIRPORT GRANT MATCH FUND 4094) (DISTRICT 5)
Item #16J1
APPROVED A BUDGET AMENDMENT RECOGNIZING
$1,844,000 IN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE FY 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET. (ALL
DISTRICTS)
Item #16J2
RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, THE CHECK NUMBER (OR OTHER
PAYMENT METHOD), AMOUNT, PAYEE, AND PURPOSE FOR
WHICH THE REFERENCED DISBURSEMENTS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $31,716,756.20 WERE DRAWN FOR THE
PERIODS BETWEEN MAY 16, 2024, AND MAY 29, 2024,
PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 136.06. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16J3
June 11, 2024
Page 227
THE BOARD APPROVED AND DETERMINED VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE FOR INVOICES PAYABLE AND PURCHASING
CARD TRANSACTIONS AS OF JUNE 5, 2024 (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16K1
RESOLUTION 2024-108: REAPPOINTED THREE MEMBERS
TO THE CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD. (ALL
DISTRICTS) – APPOINTING RICHARD E JOSLIN, TERRY
JERULLE AND MATTHEW NOLTON, WITH TERMS EXPIRING
ON JUNE 30, 2027
Item #16K2
RESOLUTION 2024-109, RESOLUTION 2024-110: EXTENDED
THE SUNSET DATE FOR THE COASTAL STORM RISK
MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY AD HOC ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND DECLARE A VACANCY. (DISTRICT 1,
DISTRICT 2, DISTRICT 4)
Item #16K3
RESOLUTION 2024-111: APPOINTED BENITA STAADECKER
TO THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (ALL
DISTRICTS) (29036) – WITH TERM EXPIRING ON MARCH 22,
2027
Item #16K4
APPROVED A $24,408.52 FULL VALUE SETTLEMENT WITH
June 11, 2024
Page 228
SCOTT COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING, LLC, FOR DAMAGES
CAUSED TO A 16-INCH POTABLE WATER MAIN NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF TAMIAMI TRAIL NORTH (U.S. 41), 107TH
AVENUE NORTH AND CREEKSIDE BOULEVARD, FOR
COUNTY COURT CASE NO. 24-CC-0443; AND AUTHORIZE
THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A STANDARD FORM
RELEASE. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16K5
RESOLUTION 2024-112: EXTENDED THE SUNSET DATE
FOR THE EAST OF 951 AD HOC ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(DISTRICT 3, DISTRICT 5)
Item #16K6
RESOLUTION 2024-113: DECLARED A VACANCY ON THE
GOLDEN GATE BEAUTIFICATION MSTU ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #16K7
RESOLUTION 2024-114: DECLARED A VACANCY ON THE
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD. (ALL DISTRICTS)
Item #17A – Moved to Item #9B (Per Change Sheet)
Item #17B
ORDINANCE 2024-27: AN AMENDMENT OF THE COLLIER
COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 72-1, AS AMENDED, THE
June 11, 2024
Page 229
COLLIER COUNTY LIGHTING DISTRICT ORDINANCE,
TO INCLUDE MISSION HILLS DRIVE, BUCKSTONE DRIVE,
AND PRISTINE DRIVE IN THE COLLIER COUNTY LIGHTING
DISTRICT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF SURROUNDING
RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS INCLUDING BLACK BEAR
RIDGE, SONOMA OAKS, RAFFIA PRESERVE, VANDERBILT
RESERVE, FALLS OF PORTOFINO CONDOMINIUM, THE
MISSION HILLS SHOPPING CENTER AND VANDERBILT
COMMONS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND THE
REMAINING COMMERCIAL PARCELS LOCATED ON THE
NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF
VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD AND COLLIER BOULEVARD,
LYING IN SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE 26
EAST. (DISTRICT 3)
Item #17C
ORDINANCE 2024-28: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
COLLIER COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN,
SPECIFICALLY AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
TO CHANGE THE LAND USE PLANNING PERIOD TO 2024-
2050 AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE ADOPTION
AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE. PL20220006512 - FUTURE LAND USE MAP
EXTENSION GMPA (ALL DISTRICTS)
June 11, 2024
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 4:26 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
CHRIS LL, CHAIRM N
ATTEST
CRYSTAL K..KINZEL, CLERK
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r 9 < L6 6,:, ntoah1,14
These minutes aP'pyived by the Board on t l'/a9f zy as
presented or as corrected .
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS
COURT REPORTING BY TERRI L. LEWIS, REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL COURT REPORTER, FPR-C, AND NOTARY
PUBLIC.
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