CCWWA Minutes 02/29/2024 February 29, 2024
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MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER & WASTEWATER AUTHORITY MEETING
Naples, Florida
February 29, 2024
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County Water & Wastewater Authority
in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this
date at 2 P.M. in REGULAR SESSION at the Collier County Growth
Management Department Building, Conference Room 609/610, 2800 Horseshoe
Drive N., Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Eloy Ricardo
VICE-CHAIR: Patricia Sherry (excused)
Bryant Collins
Eugene Wordehoff
Vacant Position
ALSO PRESENT: Michael Stark, Director, Ops & Regulatory Management
Derek Perry, Assistant County Attorney
Julie Chardon, Ops Support Specialist II, GMCD
Monica Leon, Budget Analyst II, GMCD
Rey Torres Fuentes, Staff Liaison, GMCD
Kevin Summers, Mgr., Tech Systems Ops, GMCD
Alexandra Casanova, Management Analyst, GMCD
February 29, 2024
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Any persons in need of the verbatim record of the meeting may request a copy of the
audio recording from the Collier County Growth Management Department.
I. Call to Order (Determination of Quorum) and Roll Call
Mr. Stark called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum of three
was established.
A. Annual Election of Officers
Mr. Stark told the Authority:
• As part of Ordinance 96-6 of the Collier County Water & Wastewater Utilities
Regulation Ordinance, Section 1.3, Collier County Water & Wastewater
Utilities, the powers and the duties, the members of the authority shall select a
chairman and a vice chairman, and such other officers as is deemed desirable by
the authority.
• Each officer should generally be appointed to a term of at least one year, and
each officer may be reappointed to his or her same office, but no member shall
serve in the same office for more than three consecutive years.
• No member may be appointed to an office that extends beyond his or her
remaining appointment to the authority.
Mr. Collins nominated Eloy Ricardo to serve another term as chairman. Second by
Mr. Wordehoff. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.
Mr. Collins nominated Patricia Sherry to serve another term as vice chair. Second by
Chairman Ricardo. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.
II. Approval of Agenda – Meeting of February 29, 2024
No changes
III. Approval of Minutes – Meeting of September 18, 2023
Mr. Wordehoff moved to approve the September 18, 2023, meeting minutes. Second by
Chairman Ricardo. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.
IV. Items Requiring Action by the Authority
A. Final Order 2024-1 – Annual Price Index
Mr. Stark told the Authority:
• Under Ordinance 96-6, Collier County’s Water & Wastewater Utilities
Regulation Ordinance, Section 1-6, Rates, Rate Indexing, and Section 1, on or
before May 15th of each calendar year, the authority shall adopt a price index for
water and wastewater utilities, which price index shall be equivalent to the price
index established annually by the Florida Public Service Commission.
• The index shall be the price index used for all franchise utilities until the
authority authorizes a change.
• This year, 2024, the price index is 3.24%. This is controlled by the Florida
Public Service Commission.
February 29, 2024
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• Each utility has been notified by mail about the change to 3.24%, and in the
upcoming months, if the utilities decide to, they may increase their rates up to
3.24%, which we would then bring to the authority for approval.
Mr. Wordehoff moved to approve the Final Order 2024-1–Annual Price Index. Second
by Chairman Ricardo. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.
V. Staff Discussion
Mr. Stark told the Authority:
• Under Section 1-14, the Annual Financial Reporting Requirement, Section A, each
utility shall annually within 120 days of the close of the fiscal year file with the
authority a financial report of its operation in Collier County during the fiscal year.
This is page 29 of the ordinance.
• The due date is Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
• At our next scheduled meeting, we will bring the results of our review after we
receive the report.
• There is an extension written into the ordinance and they need to respond in writing
or by email to let us know if they need a further extension.
VI. Open to Public
(No public comment)
VII. Authority Members Discussion
Mr. Stark asked if there were any questions.
Mr. Wordehoff asked about the historical genesis of this authority. We oversee Ave
Maria, one facility. What’s the logic or the rationale for it just being one facility when
there are a number of facilities here in the county?
Attorney Perry said the Water Wastewater Authority used to oversee a number of
different utilities but as time has gone on, they’ve shrunk down and we just have Ave
Maria. All the other water servicing providers in the county are granted that authority by
the state legislature, meaning they’re special districts tied to municipalities.
Mr. Wordehoff asked why Ave Maria is different.
Attorney Perry said it doesn’t have a special grant from the state legislature to operate.
Its grant comes from this authority, so in time, he and staff anticipate that at some point,
maybe 20, 50 or 100 years, they may move to become a special district authorized by the
legislature. If that happens, then we would have no more districts, unless others pop up
and start.
Mr. Wordehoff asked what mechanism would trigger that action.
Mr. Stark responded:
• Communication through the state Florida Public Service Commission.
• Staff also monitors meetings happening at the state and federal level and we’re
also in communication with Public Utilities, where Dr. George Yilmaz oversees
water and wastewater for Collier County.
• We have a lot of discussions with peers and many meetings are happening.
VHI.
February 29,2024
o lfthere's a utility happening that would check certain boxes, such as Orange Tree
previously did, that would lead to that utility coming under our purview.
o We researched how far back this went, with 96-6 going back as far as it does, but
it seems like there's more consolidation happening for public health and safety.
Atomey Perr! told lhe Authotity:
o Ave Maria is a large utility and it's much bigger than a subdivision.
o When we think of utilities, it's traditionally something smaller.
o There may be another development in eastern Collier County that needs to have
its own infrastructure.
o What we saw most recently when we did The Villages, our Sewer District agreed
to head out there and handle that, but there was a real possibility of either
establishing a new water authority under this authority or going to the state and
genin8 a spec ial district.
Adjourn
Mr. Collins made a motion to adjourn lhe meeting. Second by Mr. lYordeholf, The
motion passed unanimously, 3-0.
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was
adjourned by the order of the chairman at 2: I I p.m.
COLLIER COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER
AUTHORITY
Elol' Ricardo, Chairman
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