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CCLAAC Minutes 03/05/2025 March 5, 2025 1 MINUTES OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Naples, Florida, March 5, 2025 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00A.M. in REGULAR SESSION at the North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall, Naples Florida with the following members present: CHAIR: Michele Lenhard VICE CHAIR: Ron Clark Gary Bromley Rhys Watkins John Courtright (Excused) Nick Pearson Austin Howell Oriany Brito Christopher Satter ALSO PRESENT: Summer Araque, Environmental Supervisor, Conservation Collier Jamie Cook, Director, Development Review Division Sally Ashkar, Assistant County Attorney Melissa Hennig, Environmental Specialist, I Matthew Denison, Environmental Manager Victoria Carter, Environmental Specialist, I Julie Motkowicz, Environmental Specialist, II DRAFT - Pending Approval March 5, 2025 2 1. Roll Call Chair Lenhard called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was established with 6 Members present. A. Approval of CCLAAC Members attending the meeting remotely All Members were present in the Conference Room 2. Approval of Agenda Mr. Howell moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. Clark. Carried unanimously 6 – 0. 3. Approval of February 5, 2025, Meeting Minutes Mr. Clark moved to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2025, meeting minutes as presented. Second by Mr. Satter. Carried unanimously 6 – 0. Mr. Bromley and Mr. Watkins arrived at 9:03 a.m. and a quorum of 8 was present. 4. Old Business A. Acquisition Updates - Current Acquisition Status report updated monthly in advance of CCLAAC meeting provided as part of meeting packet and under Acquisition News at www.conservationcollier.com for information purposes. The report will be updated monthly (last updated 2/24/25) including parcels the County has acquired to date, offers made by the County, pending acquisitions and those properties where the owner withdrew the application. Ms. Araque reported: • That a total of 5,062 acres has been acquired by the Program since 2004. • Cycle 10, 11A, 11B and 12 – 107 properties acquired totaling 715.92 acres. • Cycle 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B and 2024 – 15 properties pending acquisition totaling 2,319.31 acres. She noted that at the February 11, 2025, Board of County Commissioners meeting, a decision was made to halt acquisitions until a review of the appraisal process was undertaken. During Staff and Committee discussion, the following was noted: • The concern mainly revolves around appraisals for properties in the multi parcel project areas and if factors such as the status of the wetlands are being considered. • Commissioner Saunders was not in favor of a long-term delay in acquisitions. • Commissioner McDaniel raised the issue and may potentially provide an update at the next BCC meeting. • It is unknown if the item will be referred to the Committee given it is an appraisal issue which is handled by the Real Property Management. Speaker Brad Cornell Audubon of the Western Everglades and Audubon Florida noted that the motion approved by the BCC was in relation to multi parcel projects and after his review of recent appraisals they are accurate with wetland areas discounted. He expressed concern about pausing the acquisition of all properties and issuance of target letters to landowners as it conflicts with program’s goal of expediting the process. He recommended the acquisition process continue except for the review of the appraisal process for multi parcel project. DRAFT - Pending Approval March 5, 2025 3 Chair Lenhard requested Staff to provide the Committee any information they forward the BCC on the issue, so they are kept apprised of any developments on the item. B. Update on Williams Farm Ms. Cook reported: • That the Board of County Commissioners is seeking to extend the contract for the due diligence period which ends in March of 2025. • Environmental testing continues in the farm field areas slated for residential development. • Surface and groundwater testing was conducted in the FLUE areas which Conservation Collier would be acquiring and 1 test showed a positive result for fecal coliform with no other issues reported. 5. New Business A. Preserve Updates Ms. Motkowicz and Mr. Carter presented the PowerPoint “Conservation Collier Preserve Updates” and provided the following updates: Caracara Prairie Preserve - prescribed burn for 46 acres. Railhead Scrub Preserve - new plant species identified. Pepper Ranch Preserve - exotic treatment for 750 acres in April; trail blazing project underway and new trail map created; Swallow Tail Kite monitoring. Barfield Burrows Preserve - 2 eaglets from Bald Eagles nesting; Gopher Tortoises and Burrowing Owls moved into restored areas on site; nesting Burrowing Owls were “tagged.” Red Maple Swamp Preserve - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Service grants received for treatment of exotics on 116 acres, the plant and wildlife surveys ongoing. B. Initial Criteria Screening Reports (ICSRs) and Rankings Ms. Hennig presented the PowerPoint “Initial Criteria Screening Report, March 5, 2025, Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee” for the following properties: 1. Dr. Robert H. Gore III Preserve TPMA a. Harden The parcel is 2.73 acres, has an assessed value of $18,305 and scored 284 out of 400. b. Rivera The parcel is 2.27acres, has an assessed value of $24,833 and scored 284 out of 400. Staff recommends the parcels be placed on the A-List for acquisition. Speaker Brad Cornell Audubon of the Western Everglades and Audubon Florida supported the acquisition of all the parcels under consideration today. Mr. Howell moved to place the parcel on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Bromley. Carried unanimously 8 – 0. 2. I-75 & Everglades Blvd. TPMA a. Tran The parcel is 2.27acres, has an assessed value of $42,375 and scored 193 out of 400. Staff recommends the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition. DRAFT - Pending Approval March 5, 2025 4 Mr. Watkins moved to place the parcel on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Pearson. Carried unanimously 8 – 0. 3. Panther Walk Preserve TPMA a. Wilcox The parcel is 1.59 acres, has an assessed value of $55,650 and scored 207 out of 400. Staff recommends the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition. Mr. Satter moved to place the parcel on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Bromley. Carried unanimously 8 – 0. Ceasing of Acquisitions by the Board of County Commissioners The Committee discussed the BCC’s decision to halt acquisition of properties noting that if the appraisals for lands in the multi parcel projects is a concern, the process for these acquisitions should be reviewed. Delaying all acquisitions within the Program is not beneficial for the applicants given the goal of expediting the process and it would advantageous to provide input to the BCC on the matter. Ms. Lenhard moved to emphasize the importance of the expedited timeline for the application and acquisition process to maintain the balance of the expedited timeline. Second by Mr. Watkins. Carried unanimously 8 – 0. 6. Subcommittee Reports A. Lands Evaluation & Management – Chair, Ron Clark – Last meeting June 5, 2024 No update necessary. B. Outreach – Chair, John Courtright – Next meeting April 23, 2025 C. Ordinance Policy and Rules – Chair, Michele Lenhard - Last meeting December 18, 2023 No update necessary. 7. Coordinator Communications A. Miscellaneous Ms. Araque noted that there will be an event at the Gore Nature center this weekend and if a Committee Member attends, they should not discuss County business with another Member. B. BCC Items Related to Conservation Collier Ms. Araque provided the following updates: 1. Previously Heard a. 2/11/2025: Purchase Agreements – Descoteau (Gore), Fish (Panther Walk) both approved; Barfield Burrows naming (approved) 2. Upcoming a. 3/11/25: Commissioner item to revise Conservation Collier Purchasing Policy (purchase agreements on hold until this is revised); February Active Acquisition List b. 3/25/2025 or future meetings: Purchase Agreements – HK Investment, VanCleef (both Marco Island), Lautz (Panther Walk), Hendrix House (I-75 TPMA), Golden Land Partners (NBM), Hendrix House; March Active Acquisition List; Caracara Budget amendment. DRAFT - Pending Approval March 5, 2025 5 8. Chair/Committee Member Comments None 9. Public General Comments None 10. Staff Comments None 11. Next Meeting – April 2, 2025 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the chair at 10:20 A.M. Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee _________________________________ Michele Lenhard, Chair These minutes approved by the Committee on________________________________________________ as presented ____________ or as amended ___________. DRAFT - Pending Approval