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East of 951 Minutes 08/19/2025 (Draft) 1 MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY EAST OF 951 AD HOC ADVISORY COMMITTTEE MEETING Naples, Florida, August 19th, 2025 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Collier County East of 951 Ad Hoc Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 6:00P.M. in REGULAR SESSION at Heritage Bay Govt. Center, 15450 Collier Blvd Naples, Florida with the following members present: CHAIR: Mark Teaters, Sr. VICE CHAIR: Robert Raines Bruce Hamels Michael Ramsey Kimberly Ellis Aaron Zweifel (Alt) Excused Douglas Rankin (Alt) ALSO PRESENT: Parker Klopf, Planner III, Staff Liaison 2 1. Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order at 6:04pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Roll Call A quorum was established with 5 regular Members present. One alternate Members were also present. 3. Approval of the Minutes Minutes from May 20th, 2025.  Parker confirmed all changes were made as requested by the board at the last meeting. Motion to approve-Robert Raines Motion seconded- Kimberly Ellis Motion approved by unanimous vote. Minutes from June 18th, 2025. Motion to approve- Robert Raines Motion seconded- Kimberly Ellis Motion approved by unanimous vote. Minutes from July 15th, 2025 Motion to approve- Robert Raines Motion seconded- Kimberly Ellis Motion approved by unanimous vote. 4. Open Discussion/Committee Recommendations Study for water flow restoration  County study done with SFWM. Under Scenario 4- It appears septic tank leech fields for multiple homes would be negatively affected. It would increase the water level in the Wilson canal by one foot. County would have to consider appropriate actions to mitigate the impact on these homes.  The largest concern of the analysis is the excess flows leaving the North Belmeade area and entering Anderson creek. The different flows may increase the wet season flows to Rookery bay. Additional project would likely be required to minimize potential impacts to Rookery Bay and the 10,000 island estuaries.  Study was done in 2013. Jaime Cook advised technology may have changed since then. There may be other options. Board can suggest that the county looks at this again if we have a valid reason. Mike Ramsey- We are discharging more water than ever to the 3 primary canals to the gulf. They are already discharging to capacity. We have been looking for new ways to assist the capacity. Only option we have at this point is to remove water from the roads swells going to the primary canals and move it to the East/West of Everglades Blvd and to the North Golden Gates estates flow way system. Douglas Rankin-If we could widen the C4 connector and keep the weirs to Naples Bay up we can divert the water back down the canal into the southern estates. Mike Ramsey- We need to keep water onsite for aquifer recharge and reduce the fire hazard. How can we do this to avoid a major increase in property taxes? 1st option is to redirect water from the road swells to the North Golden Gate Estates flow lane. It’s a natural thing and the cheapest option. 2nd option is to redirect to Winchester 3 Head. Where the edges are, take the roads out because they can’t build there anyway. Do some minor banking and maintenance around it. Mark Teaters- We could vote to ask the county to re-open the study. Mike Ramsey can come up with the points to present. Parker reviewed the points the board has already made and put on record in regard to the study at the last meeting. Robert Raines- Made a motion to have the county to re study the North Golden Gate estates flow way study. Mike Ramsey clarified Motion and added “and possible alternative management options.” Motion Made- Robert Raines Motion seconded- Bruce Hamels Motion passed unanimously Mike Ramsey-Will specifically write points that are alternative storm water discharge options for Golden Gate Estates North/East of 951. Swales Mark Teaters- County isn’t returning phone calls to answer questions board has. Douglas Rankin- Swales were installed but not connected underground or flow as intended. Crews will need to work on getting them connected to help with drainage. Mark Teaters- Has reached out to Trinity multiple times but has not heard back. Next step is to reach out to the County Commissioner. Parker Klopf- Will make contact with Trinity and ensure she returns phone call to address issues. Cell Reception  The County has a new cell phone ordinance that covers cell reception. Mirrors the state ordinance.  Verbiage for the recommendation we have is – “Support the implementation of additional cellular service towers such as within existing storm water retention areas to ensure better cell service for first responders and residents including during emergency situations and direct the county to maintain coverage maps to better identify areas with limited service.”  Numerous complaints in the Civic meetings for the Estates about spotty service East of Everglades.  The county needs to incentivize companies to put towers.  Cell tower installation and locations are at the discretion of the Cellular provider. Free system. Rural Estates Canal access for Recreation  Mark Teaters reached out to the County Attorney, Lisa Keeler reached out to SFWM attorney in California and Jeff Glascow will be drafting a written response. Canals are considered drainage easements. Recreational access is not allowed. No exceptions will be made.  Golden Gate City was built and marketed with canals that allowed Gulf Access.  Mike Ramsey- For Private Property Rights, 1. The Coast Guard establishes a knee-high water line of Seaward and landward. On that public access and trespass is defined. 2. In working with Us Army Corps and DEP permitting wetlands adjacent to the canals, I have had the office of General council at DEP make the finding that the canals are connected to the Gulf of America. Permits were issued based on those properties having houses built that they 4 were permitted under US Army corps Section 404- Connections to the waters of the United States. Therefore, the finding from the office of General Council was the canals for drainage easements in the Estates are connected to the Ocean. Therefore, as long as the water line is above the Knee-High water line, it is public access. 3. If you own property that goes to the other side of the canal, there are trespass rights that are allowed to be invoked for the land access. But the water in the canals is public access.  Mike Ramsey recommends outside council review the information provided and make a decision.  Lisa Keeler has requested the documents and/or contacts for the information board has in regard to seaward and landward use.  Coastguard, US Army Core, DEP are the contacts. Robert Raines- Suggested that Mike Ramsey pursue and come back with tools. Mike Ramsey- Will do this if he is officially representing the committee. Douglas Rankin- Requests that Parker reach out to the county attorney and get documents related to the Dwaney plan. Parker will look into it. Landfill  Mark Teaters- Made contact with Joe Filmsheimer. He runs an organization called Florida Waste to Energy Commission. It’s a group that was put together to assist municipalities and contractors who build Waste to Energy facilities to get together and work together. Joe put me in contact with Mike Duff who runs Re World which is the Waste to Energy facility in Ft Myers on Buckingham Road. They currently operate and run 7 facilities in Florida. He is going to meet with one of our commissioners along with a commissioner from Lee County to tour the facility in Ft Myers.  Waste to Energy facility will produce 15 Megawatts per year. Enough to power 60,000 homes.  Broward County currently has a commission that is discussing all options including home composting.  The current landfill was supposed was supposed to last 50 years. Then they said it would only last 25 years. The landfill is currently at 103ft. We have reached a critical point.  Incinerators are good for 25-30 years with normal maintenance Mike Ramsey- “Can we make the recommendation to pursue options for the Immokalee Landfill?” Parker Klopf- As is sits right now the recommendation states “East of 951 committee would like there to be a feasibility study for a new landfill within Collier County that includes Waste to Energy, creation of partnerships with local businesses to pull recyclable material from the waste stream, including but not limited to tire shredding. Possible partnerships with neighboring municipalities to consolidate waste and the feasibility of landfill mining on existing or closed landfills” Ranking  Position points need to be ranked in order of importance.  Parker suggests ranking each one on a scale of 1-10 for importance. 10 being the most important, 1 being the least.  The average ranking on each one will be the final ranking. Discussion on Fire Suppression position point and upcoming communities. 5  Mike Ramsey- From the intersection West of Everglades Blvd and 45th Avenue NE up to Immokalee road there are now Hydrants at every intersection. Not confirmed if pressure is up yet.  Parker Klopf-Recommendation from the board currently states. “East of 951 committee supports the creation of a fire suppression system in Eastern Collier County that considers all fire suppression options in a phased approach, utilizing all available technologies in collaboration with three fire districts, the City of Naples, Collier County Water and Sewer. Furthermore any new water lines planned in Golden Gate Estates to serve the proposed villages in Eastern Collier County shall be required to provide fire hydrants along the water line route.”  Bruce Hammels- Impacts fees for affordable housing. To put a new level to start at 2000sqft not 4000 sqft. 4000sqft homes are currently at 1 million plus right now.  Parker Klopf- Whether you’re building a home a 1000sqft or 4000sqft the impact fees are the same.  Bruce Hammels- We need affordable housing, we need people to build affordable housing.  Parker Klopf- What we have right now is “East of 951 committee would like there to be special provisions for impact fee deferrals within the study area following the Immokalee Pilot Impact Fee Deferral program so that those qualifying income levels or those considered to be first responders/essential service”. What was discussed previously was the impact fee be spread out of the life of a 30-year mortgage. Do you want to change this recommendation?  Bruce Hammels- Leave the recommendation as is but add to it augmented by a new level starting at 2000sqt and lower, and a 4000sqft.  Parker Klopf- I will confirm with the Impact Fee committee if that’s how they handle it and we will have this as part of our recommendation. 4. Public Comment – Up to 5 minutes per person unless adjusted by Chairman None 5. Adjournment Motion to adjourn- Bruce Hamels Motion Seconded- Kimberly Ellis There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the chair at 8:02PM. Collier County East of 951 Ad Hoc Advisory Committee _________________________________ Mark Teaters, Sr., Chair These minutes approved by the Committee on________________ as presented_______ or as amended ___________.