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CCLAAC LEMS Minutes 03/20/2026 (Draft)Mar 20, 2026 Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Naples, Florida March 20, 2026 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Sub Committee in Collier County, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:00 PM in REGULAR SESSION at Growth Management Community Development Department, Room 609/610, 2800 N. Horseshoe Dr. Naples, FL 34104 with the following members present: Chairman: Nick Pearson (elected during the meeting) Gary Bromley John Courtright Rhys Watkins Nick Pearson Kaylin Glenn County Staff Present: Summer Ferguson Alexandra Casanova Julie Motkowicz James Cook Matt Denison Summer Araque Any person wishing to appeal any decision made by the Board, Commission, or Committee with respect to any matter considered at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose 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. (§ 286.0105, Florida Statutes) Mar 20, 2026 Page 2 of 4 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by the outgoing Chair, who conducted the election of the new Chair. a. VOTE FOR NEW CHAIR OF SUBCOMMITTEE Rhys Watkins nominated Nick Pearson for Chair. The nomination was seconded by John Courtright. Mr. Pearson accepted the nomination. There were no other nominations. All members present voted in favor. Nick Pearson was elected Chair and assumed the gavel. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Rhys Watkins to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by John Courtright. The agenda was approved unanimously by voice vote. 3. MEETING MINUTES (PREVIOUS MEETING) A motion was made by Rhys Watkins to acknowledge and accept the minutes of the November 5, 2025 meeting, which had already been approved by the full Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee on January 7, 2026. The motion was seconded by John Courtright. The minutes were accepted unanimously by voice vote. 4. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Interim Management Plan – James E. Williams Jr. Preserve Julie Motkowicz presented the Interim Management Plan for the James E. Williams Jr. Preserve, an approximately 1,400-acre site located southeast of Lake Trafford in Immokalee. The presentation included location maps, current and proposed boundaries, LIDAR and surface-water features showing the central slough and marsh system, aquifer recharge designations and 20-year well-field protection zones, soils map, historical (1995) and current aerial photography demonstrating minimal change over time, adjacent conservation lands and wildlife corridors, vegetation conditions (notably dense Brazilian pepper hedges, cogongrass, coral ardesia monoculture, and woody/sabal palm encroachment in the freshwater marsh), wildlife observations (state-threatened jingle-bell orchid, bald eagle nest, black bear, and other species), current public access restrictions, proposed future recreational amenities coinciding with master planning, safety and security measures, and a draft budget with vegetation treatment as the primary expense. Mar 20, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Discussion followed regarding the red-line roadway shown on the plan (identified by staff as an existing FPL easement and a long-planned Collier County transportation extension of Little League Road). Staff noted the roadway is not scheduled within the next five years, would require South Florida Water Management District permitting, and may be constructed as an elevated road with larger culverts to maintain hydrologic flow and reduce flooding in Immokalee. Members requested additional details from the Inventory and Condition Survey Report be incorporated into the plan prior to CCLAAC review, specifically the existing pole barn, cattle pens and infrastructure, row crops, and current leases. Staff agreed to include this information for the May 2026 CCLAAC presentation. It was noted that the property is newly acquired, master planning has just begun, and this interim plan is intentionally high-level, with a more detailed final management plan anticipated in approximately three years. A motion was made by Chairman Nick Pearson to approve the Interim Management Plan for the James E. Williams Jr. Preserve, subject to the addition of the Inventory and Condition Survey Report details discussed. The motion was seconded by Rhys Watkins. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. 7. STAFF UPDATES None. 8. SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS None. 9. NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING The next meeting of the Subcommittee is scheduled for April 17, 2026. Upcoming management plans due: North Belle Meade and Winchester Head. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:58 p.m. Mar 20, 2026 Page 4 of 4 COLLIER COUNTY LANDS EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE _____________________________________________ Nick Pearson, Chairman These minutes were approved by the Committee/Chairman on ___________________, (check one) as submitted _______ or as amended _______.