Agenda 10/22/2024 Item #10A (Promote a Public Hearing for the Okaloacoochie Slough Forest)10/22/2024
Item # 10.A
ID# 2024-1632
Executive Summary
Recommendation to promote a Public Hearing hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
Florida Forest Service, and the Management Plan Advisory Group for the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest on the draft
10-Year Land Management Plan of the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest.
OBJECTIVE: To promote a Public Hearing hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
Florida Forest Service, and the Management Plan Advisory Group for the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest on the
draft 10-Year Land Management Plan of the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest. This Public Hearing will take place at
10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Hendry County UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension Services facility at
1085 Pratt Boulevard, Labelle, FL.
CONSIDERATIONS: Per the attachment to this item, a Public Hearing notice was posted by the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service, and the Management Plan Advisory Group for the
Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest to take public comment on the draft 10-Year Land Management Plan of the
Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest. This Public Hearing will take place at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, November 19, 2024,
at the Hendry County UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension Services facility at 1085 Pratt Boulevard, Labelle, FL.
The date and time listed on the attached Public Hearing notice is for the public to attend and provide their comments
following a presentation regarding the management plan. The second meeting referenced in the Public Hearing Notice
cover letter is on the same day and at the same location at 1:30 pm for the Management Plan Advisory Group
Committee to discuss the draft Land Management Plan and discuss the public’s comments from the first meeting.
The public is welcome to attend the second meeting. However, they will not have an opportunity to provide further
comment at that time. Leading up to the November 19 meeting, other modes of advertisement will be released to the
public for both meetings (i.e. newspaper ads, kiosk flyers at the state forest, etc.).
FISCAL IMPACT: None
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal issues at this time
and requires a majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATIONS: To promote a Public Hearing hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service, and the Management Plan Advisory Group for the Okaloacoochie Slough
State Forest on the draft 10-Year Land Management Plan of the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest. This Public
Hearing will take place at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Hendry County UF/IFAS Cooperative
Extension Services facility at 1085 Pratt Boulevard, Labelle, FL.
PREPARED BY: William L. McDaniel, Jr. - Commissioner, District 5
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Agenda Addition Request - CollierBOCC - Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest - Management Plan Advisory Group Meeting
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October 14, 2024
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
District 5 Representative
Collier County Board of County Commissioners
3299 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, FL 34112
(239) 252-4311
Dear Mr. McDaniel,
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service and the Management
Plan Advisory Group for the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest will be conducting two in-person meetings
on November 19, 2024, to take public comment on the draft 10-Year Land Management Plan of the
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. Details of these proceedings are included in the enclosed Public
Notice.
In compliance with subsection 259.032(8)(b), Florida Statutes, the Florida Forest Service is requesting that
an informational item be placed on the Collier County Board of County Commissioners meeting agenda
for the next available meeting, October 22, 2024, to briefly announce the Forest Service’s draft plan.
Enclosed is a copy of subsection 259.032(8)(b), Florida Statutes, a copy of our public notice with the agenda
for the public hearing. Also, I will be attending the meeting to answer any questions you or any of the
county council representatives may have.
Thank you for your cooperation regarding this matter. Please let me know if you have any questions at this
point.
Sincerely,
Michael Weston, Forestry Resource Administrator
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
Michael.Weston@fdacs.gov
(239) 690-8021
Enclosures: - Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest MPAG Public Meeting Notice & Agenda
- Subsection 259.032(8)(b), Florida Statutes
Page 882 of 7162
PUBLIC HEARING
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER
SERVICES, FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE
&
THE OKALOACOOCHEE SLOIUGH STATE FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN ADVISORY GROUP
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
@ 10:30 A.M.
Hendry County UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension Services
1085 Pratt Boulevard, Labelle, FL 33935
AGENDA
Call to Order, Introductions, and Remarks
Summary of Draft Plan
Questions/Answers on Plan Content
Public Comments
Summation and Adjournment
Copies of a working draft of the plan and the management prospectus are available before the date of the public
hearing online at https://www.fdacs.gov/News-Events/Event-Calendar; by contacting the Okaloacoochee Slough State
Forest in writing at 6265 County Road 832, Felda, FL 33930; or by contacting Michael Weston at (239) 690-8021.
Special accommodations for persons with a disabling condition should be requested in writing to the Okaloacoochee
Slough State Forest at the above listed address at least 72 hours in advance of these proceedings. You are hereby
notified in accordance with Chapter 286.0105, Florida Statutes, should you decide to appeal any decision made as a
result of, or take exception to any findings of fact with respect to any matter considered at the hearing and meeting
referred to above, you may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Such record shall include
the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Florida Statute 259.032(8)(b)
259.032(8)(b) Individual management plans required by s. 253.034(5), for parcels over 160 acres,
shall be developed with input from an advisory group. Members of this advisory group shall
include, at a minimum, representatives of the lead land managing agency, comanaging entities,
local private property owners, the appropriate soil and water conservation district, a local
conservation organization, and a local elected official. If habitat or potentially restorable habitat
for imperiled species is located on state lands, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall be included on any advisory group
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required under chapter 253, and the short-term and long-term management goals required under
chapter 253 must advance the goals and objectives of imperiled species management without
restricting other uses identified in the management plan. The advisory group shall conduct at least
one public hearing within the county in which the parcel or project is located. For those parcels or
projects that are within more than one county, at least one areawide public hearing shall be
acceptable and the lead managing agency shall invite a local elected official from each county.
The areawide public hearing shall be held in the county in which the core parcels are located.
Notice of such public hearing shall be posted on the parcel or project designated for management,
advertised in a paper of general circulation, and announced at a scheduled meeting of the local
governing body before the actual public hearing. The management prospectus required pursuant
to paragraph (7)(c) shall be available to the public for a period of 30 days before the public hearing.
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