CCAC Minutes 01/15/2026Yoting members present -Non-votins members prescnt -
RegBuxton Chamber/Charr
Walt Jaskiewicz USCG Auxiliary
John McKinnon American Red Cross
Barry Gerenstein - CERT
Charlotte Nal - RSPV
Voting memtrers not present
Josh Starrett - CCEM
Liz Appling ARES Collier County
Mike Shaw - CCEM
Camillo 'Iorres - DOH
Vincent Mazorra - DOH
Ashley Jones Collier Resource Center
DRCC no member
Chris Byrne - Fire Chiefs Association
l'iffani Mensch United Way
Captain William Conely Salvation Army
Agenda:
I. Meeting called to order by Chair Reg Buxton at 10am
a. Pledge of Allegiance
b. Roll Call/Quorum Determination - MET
II. October 30th, 2025, Minutes: Motion made by Barry Gerenstein, Seconded by Walt
Jaskiewicz - motion passed unanimously
III. New Business:
L) Membership Update: (updates provided by Joshua Stanett)
a. Red Cross: Josh Starrett welcomed new voting member, John McKinnon to Citizen Corp.
b. United Was: Tiffani Mensch, unable to attend, approved by BCC to fill vacant role.
c. DRCC: Ashley Maher's contract ended. Spot now vacant. Working with Collier
Community Foundation to fill.
d. Secretary role: With Ashley leaving, Secretary role open. Charlofte Nal agreed to fill but
needs 1o check with supervisor.
2.) Citizen Corn Communitv Ideas - 2026
a. Josh Starrett mentioned that Citizen Corp used to work on communi{ preparedness and
had various community facing preparedness events in past. Suggest group discuss
possibly bringing these back to the group.
b. Walt Jaskiewicz described past communit1r events including pre-hurricane season events
at Home Depot and Lowes. Walt also described videos on "how to secure/tie up one's
boat"-
c. Barry Gerenstein mentioned HOA s holding preparedness presentations hosted by CCEM
and/or meteorologists.
Collier CounW Citizens Corp Advisorv Committee:
.James V Mudd Enrergency Semices Center:
(8075 Lely Cultural Parkway)
January lsth' 2026
d. Charlotte Nal discussed the 9/l 1 Day of Service and working with CCSO to host
traveling preparedness seminars based on the Day of Service. Also mentioned workino
with 55+ community on Bone Builders an exercise class for seniors.
e. Liz Appling mentioned working as a realtor and working with various associations. This
could be an in to getting some sort of preparedness event scheduled. Suggested a video
that could be shared with HOAs, communities, non-profits, for them to then pass along as
well. Mentioned School District as well.
f. Walt inquired about grants. Josh suggested there were but would need to look into it.
Mike Shaw stated there are EM grants, but that there were limitations and that we would
investigate the possibility of incorporating preparedness events or plans ifpossible.
g. There is plenty ofcontent and ideas, but it needs to be narrowed down, compiled, and
agreed upon how to present and share.
h. Ashley Jones inquired ifthere were any videos or information already out that could be
used. Mentioned the idea that perhaps insurance companies would help to fund with
grants some sort ofboat preparedness literature or video.
i. Reg Buxton stated that taking ideas or items from others is great, but we want to promote
Citizen Corp as well.
j. John McKinnon found several videos on YouTube. Suggest not reinventing wheel, unless
material is not suitable. Witl investigate best videos and bring back results. Will work
with Walt on information in videos and relevance.
k. Many speakers agreed on creating something on our own for branding reasons, to make it
"ours".
3.) CCSO- Josh Starrett reported on behalf of Cpl. John Amabile, who was unable to attend.
a. Upcoming CERT course at Naples Church confirmed for Feb 9- I lt, 0900 to 1630 each
day.
b. Upcoming CERT course is at Pelican Bay Community Center on February 14fi,21"', and
28ft, alt Saturdays, from 0900-1630 each day.
c. Upcoming CERT course at Naples Italian American Foundation March 76, 14th, and 21't,
all Saturdays, from 0900- I 630 each day.
d. Traffic Control Class at the Personnel Development Cetner Jan I 5ft, 0900- I 700.
e. CERT assisting with Swamp Buggie Parade on Jan 17ft.
f. CERT holding a CPR class at the Personnel Development Center Jan l9s at 1800.
4.) Fire and EMS Chiefs Association - Josh Starrett reported on behalf of Chief Chris Byme.
a. Fire Chiefs' Association currently holding press conference about Brush Fire Season and
currently planning and preparing both local and regional response capabilities.
5.) Local Mitieation Stratesy Update (LMS): - Josh Starrett reported on behalf ofAmy Howard.
a. LMS will be holding next meeting the following day, January l6'r', at the South Regional
Library at 0930.
b. Hoping to vote in new chair and vice chair.
c. Corrections made to LMS plan on behalf of Everglades City.
d. Three jurisdictions need to rati! LMS plan.
e. Preparing LMS to submit to the state.
f. Lost two jurisdictional members Collier Mosquito Control and Naples Airport.
g. Marco Island has new Floodplain manager.
h. Working on LMS WG bylaws.
i. Elevate Florida has 3 82 applications in Collier County - as of last meeting, only I 0 were
advancing.
j. Collier contributed 100% of Helene and Milton hazard mitigation funds to the Elevate
Florida initiative.
k. Over 12,000 applications have been submitted for Elevate Florida.
6.) Trainins and Exercise - Josh Starrett
a. G-489, Management of Spontaneous Volunteers and Donations taking place Jan 2l ", at
the EOC at 0900.
b. G-288, Local Volunteers and Donations Management will be Jan 22d and 23'd at the
EOC. This is a day and a halfcourse. Both days begin at 0900.
c. Please sign up for either ifinteresled.
d. G-400 course taking place Feb lStr'and l9s at the Personnel Development Center. Sign
up on Sert Trac if interested.
e. G-300 course being planned for Spring/Summer.
f. Amy Howard and Josh Starrett will be attending Turkey Point lngestion Pathway tabletop
exercise on Jan 21't.
7.) DOII- Camillo Torres
a. DOH going to assist with homeless counts. One in Immokalee on Jan 29th and one in
Naples on Jan 30th. These are being ted by the Southwest Coalition to End
Homelessness.
b. DOH Collier is working on getting stafftrained in CPR. Currently, about 80o/o are trained
or being trained.
c. Respiratory illness has been high in Southwest Florida. Want to remind everyone to get
their vaccines.
IV. IndividualReports:
l.) Collier Resource Center Ashley Jones
a. Ashley has new role as Executive Director for Collier Resource Center.
b. CCRcompliments2llandCollierCares. Has acase manager that will answer phone,
Mon-Fri, 0800-1630 and a strong team of24 volunteers that help with follow-up from
cases.
c. All has senior service program. Over 500 seniors served in 2025.
d. New case management system in works.
e. Hope to work with DRCC and if a MARC is needed.
2.) RSVP - Charlotte Nal
a. Currently have l2 non-profit partners and hoping to get more with MOU agreements so
they can place RSVP senior volunteers.
b. Bone Builders is an exercise program fiom seniors, mentioned earlier.
c. Ready to start with Day of Service planning committee.
3.) ARESCC - Liz Appling
a. Members are conducting regular field tests ofthe repeater, which is working well.
b. Working on the "telway forleit fold dipole" on the EOC antenna. Nate Hinkle, with
Comms team is the county contacl and assisting as needed.
c. CCSO "K4 CCS repeater" with be in use by CCSO during emergencies. Tested that
channel with members and all worked great.
d. Two members currently completed oxcom course.
e. Members will be assisting in the Naples Marathon, providing comms support.
f. Group has a hurricane plan in place and ready for action.
4.) American Red Cross - John McKinnon
a. Currently building capacity in Collier and preparation for disaster large and small.
b. Area offocus is building local DAT (Disaster Action Teams) volunteers. These teams
respond to home fires and dispatch to teams to assist residents of fires.
c. Have trained 30 new shelter workers in Collier.
d. Looking to identifu more shelter facilities in Collier - must be at least 2000 sq foot.
e. Continuing to build relationships with local Fire Departments.
f. Funding comes from donations and not government, which helps to provide reliefto
people like those impacted by house fires.
5.) CERT- Barry Gerenstein
a. Greater Naples Fire Rescue CERT Team - teams are continuing to conduct month
meetings, drills, and recruiting new members- These teams are largely HOA
communities. Possibly holding district wide meetings. Hoping to start in near future but
awaiting instructors. Looking to acquire a budget to purchase new supplies.
b. CCSO CERTteam-Josh provided update. CCSO is doing greatjob. They will train all
CERT members, not just CCSO teams. Five Greater Naples members participated in
CCSO training.
c. North Naples has not done training or meetings for several years. Unsure why.
6.) USCG Aux - Walt Jaskiewicz
a. USCG districts have changed. Florida, which was 7'h District, is now the Southeast
District which includes Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina" and Georgia.
b. USCG Aux entering 59th years on March lsland
c. Hold boating classes often, which are always filled.
d. USCG used to inspect boat, but State of Florida and started issuing their own inspections
with a five-year inspection sticker which seems too long, as things expire during that
span.
Additional Updates:
a. Mike Shaw - Interim Director of Collier County Emergency Management
i. Team working hard through change.
ii. Looking at implementing new Lifeline model.
iii. CCEM will have an intem staning soon.
iv. Working on new public outreach.
v. Working on June exercise which will help set up future funding on updated to
EOC audio/visual technology and capabilities.
vi. Working on communications capabilities such as StarLink and other radios.
yL Adjournment: motion for meeting to be adjourned by Walt Jaskiewicz, seconded by Barry
Gerenstein. Approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned at I l: l6 am.
Minutes submitted by Joshua Statrett, CCEM Liaison
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