BCC Minutes 02/29/2008 W (w/SFWMD)
February 29, 2008
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS/SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT WORKSHOP
Naples, Florida, February 29,2008
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County Commissioners
and South Florida Water Management District Workshop in and for the
County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:00
P.M. in Building "F" of the Collier County Government Center, 3301 E. Tamiami
Trail, Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Tom Henning
Commissioner James Coletta
Commissioner Fred Coyle
Commissioner Donna Fiala
Commissioner Frank Halas
ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Jim DeLony, Public Utilities Administrator, Moderator
Paul Mattausch, Director, Water Utilities, Collier County
Chip Merriam, Director, SFWMD
Clarence Tears, Director, Big Cypress Water Basin
George Yilmaz, Director of Waste Water, Collier County
Jim von Rinteln, Emergency Management, Collier County
Cathy Feser, Extension Service
Bruce McNail, Landscape Architect, CDES
Sue Filson, Executive Manager to the BCC
Rita Greenberg, Collier County Fire Chiefs Assn.
Hank Graham, Division of Forestry
AGENDA
February 29, 2008
1:00 p.m.
BCC/SFWMD Update
Administration Building
Collier County Government Complex
Tom Henning, Chairman, District 3
Donna Fiala, Vice-Chairman, District 1
Frank Halas, Commissioner, District 2
Fred W. Coyle, Commissioner, District 4
James Coletta, Commissioner, District 5
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER
WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE
AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC
SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME
IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2004-05, AS AMENDED, REQUIRES
THAT ALL LOBBYISTS SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING
ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO
THE BOARD AT THE BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO P ARTICIP ATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, TO THE PROVISION OF
CERTAIN ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3301 EAST
TAMIAMI TRAIL, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112, (239) 252-8380;
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February 29, 2008
ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMP AIRED ARE
AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Water Issues Presentations
3. Public Comment
4. Adjourn
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
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February 29, 2008
February 29, 2008
Call to Order
The Workshop was called to order by Chairman Tom Henning at 1:00 P.M.
1. Pledge of Allegiance was recited
2. Water Issues Presentations:
Jim DeLony, Administrator, Collier County Water Dept. reviewed the agenda and
introduced each speaker.
PRESENTATIONS
Paul Mattausch, Collier County Water Dept., recited a list of definitions of the terms that
will be used in the workshop presentation. These included:
Aquifer- geological formation providing water to tap into for use in wells
Aquifer Source and Recovery (ASR) -wells designed to inject treated water during the period of
the year having excess water & put into aquifer to store for later use
BujJer- physical strip ofland of prescribed width planted with LDC approved plants to
separated lands from each other
LDC - Land Development Code
Minimum code landscaping- minimum which meets the requirement of LDC
Draw down level-level water drops to during pumping of a well
Drought tolerance- the plants ability to survive low internal water potential
Low water drip- irrigation system that delivers water under low pressure to root system; no
evaporation or runoff; efficient irrigation method
Native landscaping - Plants native to this geographical region; able to use area's average rainfall
Pervious surface - unpaved/ unimproved land that lets water seep into the ground
Potable water- water safe and satisfactory for drinking and cooking
Re-claimed water - also known as effluent; captured water- used for other approved purposes
Supplemental water - non potable water added to effluent to increase the quantity available of
irrigation quality water
EjJluent- by-product of waste water treatment process that meets standards of Florida Dept. of
Environmental Protection for purposes like irrigation quality water
Xeriscape - (dry-scape) -irrigation technique using drought tolerant plant material to conserve
and protect water supply.
Chip Merriam, Deputy Executive Director of SFWMD, who is responsible for the District's
water - (water quality, water potable, environmental resource, permitting and research),
addressed the issue of water becoming a concurrency issue, pointing out:
. Resources have been stretched as far as they will go in a sustainable sense
. District may have to pull back some permitted allocations
. Ground water having impact on the Everglades.
. 3rd yr ofrain deficit- 63% below average. Not enough rainfall to recover deficit
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February 29, 2008
Their agency is looking to change some principles:
. 45% of potable water supply goes on lawns - not the best use of water resources
. How to define per capita, the amount that should be used in every household - what
number is achievable.
. Defining what are the goals and targets for utilities to achieve.
He concluded by stating the fact that water systems have been drawn down for decades due to
drainage for developments and if the District is to sustain or restore natural systems, new ways
need to be established to do things differently.
Question & Answer Period:
Commissioner Donna Fiala questioned the movement in Tallahassee to remove concurrency
and would it affect the SFWMD.
Chip Merriam (Senate Bill 360, 2005) gave a more technical based concurrency and asks, in
effect, -- Will the demands equal the resource. May change through the remodeling process;
but is set out as a separate requirement of water management districts in their reporting
requirements.
Commissioner Henning questioned why the District approves PUDs in communities with
water permits (Transportation and/or Water). If drought conditions are so severe, why are they
issuing permits or are they changing how permits are issued.
Chip Merriam responded they don't approve PUDs, but are just part of the process. They
receive a request after a project has gone through PUD approval and zoning process, and gets
to the permitting stage for water supply.
Part of Senate Bill 360 vision is how to get into process before development orders get issued.
Re-use program looking at new and alternatives ways such as going deeper into aquifer. Not
looking for new water out of the ground but for an offset and how to lessen or sustain current
resource impacts without making them any worse.
Commissioner Fred Coyle asked a question regarding concurrency and the understanding of
the State Growth Management Plan. It is the County's obligation to provide whatever amount
of water for whatever future development requires; whether that requires building a
desalinization plant or other source of water. Under water restrictions aquifers are being drawn
down. He stated there must be a way to determine the capacity of aquifers and equate to growth
potential. The number of permits issued should be scaled to that capacity and potential. He
asked when will SFWMD be able to say what percent of growth per year is permitted to be
drawn out of the ground. He sees a concurrency conflict between the obligations to provide
what development requires and the amount of water permitted to be drawn out of the ground.
Chip Merriam stressed the following points:
. Desalination is costly and power intensive.
. If concurrency is planned at a certain percentage over the next 20 years, how that
growth is capitalized will dictate the percentage rate of growth.
. Position of SFWMD is where the system is at (baseline), where pumping has occurred
on a certain date and anything above that has to be an alternative, such as capture of
rainfall and hold and diversify demand.
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February 29, 2008
. Challenge to Commissioners was how they want to look at concurrency and build
projects out, with Utilities, Building and Planning Departments, looking to what
percentage of growth should be and match that up with capital projects as they come in.
. The District matches up the resource with the projects.
. Collier County Utilities are one of the more aggressive users of alternatives.
. If the County doesn't develop resources, water won't be there for future permits.
. Working together, but most of the burden rests on the BCC shoulders.
Commissioner Coyle noted the dilemma of having no option to stop growth under State
Growth Management Plan, while having the obligation to provide whatever water demands are
requested, even ifthere are no funds to develop new systems.
In doubting that the aquifers will ever recover, he questioned if draw down of aquifers is the
result of decades of excessive growth and draw down from northern aquifers.
Chip Merriam responded:
. Northern aquifers - where the water comes from and from which system would have to
be considered.
. The critical problems of South Florida - in order to live in what is basically a swamp,
getting rid of storm waters as fast as possible is crucial. Drainage and restoration is
not just a "stop consuming" solution. Consumption use and how to hold water in
systems and to recharge systems is the issue.
. The SFWMD began as a flood control district, changed to a water management district,
and is now challenged to provide adequate water supply. Need to provide balance.
. District takes direction from science; but is sometimes legislatively directed.
. South Florida water comes up from deeper sources, is older water; more chlorides,
more costly.
Commissioner Halas' questions:
I. Ifwetlands are used for recharging system for aquifers, why tear out more wetlands?
2. How do we recharge our aquifers?
3. Some DRI's and PUD's have large shopping centers; acres of blacktop for parking.
Dispersing water rapidly is part of the problem.
Chip Merriam responded:
]. Wetlands are surficial, organic and create layer which prevents water from seepage
into aquifer - very self-sustainable. Wetlands do leak into the system. Concentrate on
areas between wetlands for recharging. Wetlands are now built into design projects.
2. Bilateral flow and systems that are not yet in development. Holding onto more water
longer and changing control structures and drainage processes
Determine how to handle dai(v maximum loads and where to put projects in place to
create water quality to achieve goals established by EP A and other agencies.
3. At what point do you not allow development - Depends on definition of degree.
Re: rapid discharge rate, agency will look to revise rules so applications must now go
outside corners of the application to show where system is historically, if water can be
connected and can hold water.
Commissioner Coletta asked the following questions:
1. What about protecting sustainability of private wells.
2. Talked of expanding utilities east of951. Wanted more information on offsets in
order to keep the public informed.
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February 29, 2008
Chip Merriam responded:
I. Elevation from which you draw is not guaranteed. Changes in development created
drawn down leading to shifting to 4" wells and deeper wells.
2. Suggestions -look where services are going and offsets go into place. Offsets and
expansion of Utilities have been in talking stages for some time. No actions taken yet.
Jim DeLony's comments were that they are not looking to take anyone off wells. Talk was of
taking land off agriculture in Ave Maria area when a change ofland use occurred, followed by
re-evaluation and freeing water up for treating for potable use. Discussed also was methods of
transfers and chemical balances needed in N.E. production facility.
Any permit issued is looked at and information to the Public is through a hearing process.
Chip Merriam concluded by announcing a significant rule development about to be brought to
their agency.
. Agricultural and other users were approached saying they could have no more water to
start base condition until it was demonstrated they had pumped with no harm for two
years previous. A lot of water was taken away from many agricultural users.
. The requirement when systems are impacted and have significant harm is to create
minimum flows and levels and build recovery plants to restore those systems to make up
some volume of water.
. Determination is what happens to the unused water in change from agriculture to urban
- a shift in type of burden. Choices are all up for discussion and decision by the policy
makers.
More risky for Collier County is the requirement to have a reservation of water for Picayune
Strand restoration project. The wetland water is not available for other uses in this Federally
authorized project and it has to have reservation on it by October as per the agreement. Public
hearings are in process in Collier County.
He reiterated - wetlands are important and their water supply is important and need caring for.
Clarence Tears, Big Cypress Basin Report provided an outlook on present conditions with a
Power Point presentation.
. Highest demand - winter dry season.
. Last three years - deficit in amount of rainfall at a historical low of 2 ft below normal in
headwaters; 20+ inches behind normal
. Cheap water, surface water and Tamiami Aquifer is rain driven -easy to produce.
Sandstone, Hawthorne and Deeper aquifers are brackish, a degradation in quality, more
costly to produce requiring disinfection and other processes.
. Three main users of water - residences, agriculture and golf courses
. 60% water goes for landscaping - better uses for available water try to reduce potable
water use for this purpose.
Trying to manage System with the best available data.
. Capture at start of dry season
. 30% reverse osmosis, 30% reused water alternative sources
. Agriculture - off season hold water recharge for water management
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February 29, 2008
. District 45% cutback for golf courses
. Water restrictions on wells
Collier County was commended for moving in the right direction:
. Cheap water is used up. Looking at using alternative sources.
. Collier County was in the forefront - 60% of water usage is from alternative - 30%
reverse osmosis - 30% re-used
. Using resource wisely
Landscape irrigation using xeriscape- in cities- 60% to 70% potable water supply being used
for landscape irrigation and is not a good use of that supply.
Commissioner Halas asked how SFWMD will stop the millions of gallons of Golden Gate
Canal from going into Naples Bay
Clarence Tears responded by working with the City and County ASR to store underground in
the wet season, diverting flows to restore some of the flow-ways and looking for every
opportunity to divert surface flows. Many areas are private! public ownership.
Commissioner Coletta complemented Clarence Tears and his Board of Directors for the
excellent job of managing the weirs. He asked if monitoring is done on ground water levels and
can information on well depths, heights of weirs and the levels fallen to now be posted on the
Big Cypress Basin web site. The public needs to know where the scope of their comfort level
lies.
Chip Merriam responded that USGS has a site with real time data and they will post a link on
the Big Cypress Basin web site. They will work with Collier County staff to highlight wells
important in the Collier County ground water levels they use as indicators. People will have to
determine depths of their own wells to correlate. He will send the information to Commissioner
Coletta.
Commissioner Coyle asked how the water usage had declined since irrigation water restrictions
have been implemented. Also, what assistance could BCC give, in the plan to divert water from
Golden Gate Canal so it is retained before discharge, in the face of being hampered by lack of
available Right-of-Way land to install a system?
Clarence Tears responded that Transportation had offered a corridor alongside theirs. They
and Planning and other staff have worked together throughout permitting projects. Staff has all
been cooperative and proactive.
Golden Gate Canal's three different corridors- # 1 complete; #2 retrofitted and # 3 in final
design. He projects less than 3 years to completion. Already, through improvements made,
they have reduced 25 to 30 million gallons a day going into Naples Bay.
Commissioner Fiala questioned issues confusing to the public, citing car washing being
allowed and lawn watering restricted. Also, being told of water shortages, but then there's
plenty of water.
Clarence Tears addressed the issue regarding car washing. They looked at all the concerns
and enforcing the issues. He stated the public is to be very considerate in using a shut off
nozzle and wash the car on a pervious surface.
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February 29, 2008
He announced a great opportunity they have of co-operative 50-50 funding up to $50,000 grants
for technology based conservation projects. A video conference will be set up in their office
March14th at I :00 pm. It's a good way to take advantage of obtaining money to implement
conservation proj ects.
Commissioner Coletta asked when the District will declare that use ofFloritan grasses are a
waste of resources and ban its use.
Chip Merriam commented that Floritan is a weed; but some communities have laws requiring
Floritan. District is working with them to change that thinking. Cited Sub-tropical nature of the
District dictates the need for Florida style laws that don't need fertilizers or water ifnative and
is adaptable to area conditions.
Paul Mattausch, in answering questions on aquifer status, said they are monitored on a regular
basis. He explained the graph showing measurements in Tamiami well field. They have been
using brackish water and reverse osmosis.
Distributed back to customers-l 13 fresh potable 1/3 brackish potable 113 reclaimed water
redistributed. On Collier only 27% of potable used for irrigation. About 2/3 is alternative water
supply that goes to irrigation.
Foresight ofBCC allowed this to come about.
Commissioner Fiala told of a tour of the water district plant she set up and how advanced the
tour members found the system to be.
George Yilmaz, Director of Waste Water reported that the County's Wastewater is collected
from over 900 lift station through 850+ miles of pipe and sent to the two reclamation plants. He
explained the treatment process with its strict quality control and its delivery to customers
through 5 master pump stations
In Oct 2007 the BCC approved a policy of an irrigation quality (IQ water policy) that formally
recognized the need to:
I. Optimize existing IQ water supplies and
2. Posture for the future by developing lQ water master plan and rate study.
He thanked the Commissioners for that vision.
He explained increasing short-term and long-term storage:
. Important piece in planning is to take time and do it right the first time
The challenge of managing peak supply and demand:
I. Incorporate IQ water into year round residential irrigation ordinance for managing peaks
with synchronized and normalized demand, using consistent watering days while still
serving customer's need
2. Optimizing supplemental well water by enhancing current infrastructure.
3. Continue to develop long-term storage system including ASR.
4. Peak demands and sustainable demands
5. Public Utilities- committed to provide outstanding service to customers, highest quality
water with no interruptions, continuously delivered to customers as outlined in IQ
policy.
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February 29, 2008
Commissioner Halas asked about status of ASR on Livingston; and, private ASR wells not
having to jump through so many hoops.
Jim DeLony explained the next steps:
. Need Operations permit to DEP, a phased test in which everyone has to comply
. Meet regulatory challenges due to recent revision of arsenic rules.
. Working with technical staff at DEP staff as well as EP A consultants
. Strategy of Everglades Restoration Project-be able to pump down and pump up
through ASR
. Operational compliance
Commissioner Fiala asked how many water supply systems in Collier County have ASR
processes (inject water in and bring up when needed).
Jim DeLony replied there at least 4 or 5 - but not for potable water.
Jim Mudd explained there are three kinds of ASRs wells -
I. Potable - Many precautions needed to insure effluent is not getting into drinking water.
2. Reclaimed that is treated - is a harder process, which is being worked on.
3. Surficial, not treated, but sits on top-is sucked down below and brought up later for
irrigation.
Surficial ASR wells are the answer to using irrigation water, non-potable, all throughout the
County. The ideal is to have ASR wells all along Golden Gate Canal so that when it rains and
water pushes into the gulf, it could be pushed down into the ASR wells and brought up in the
dry season for irrigation.
Jim Delony concurred, stating the ability to do just what Mr. Mudd said is the critical
component. Will keep Commissioners posted as to the progress.
Break - 2:45 PM
Reconvened - 3:00 PM
Jim von Rinteln, Collier Emergency Operations Bureau (EOB) provided a brief overview of
his department's public outreach efforts for wildfire prevention
Introduced, were Hank Graham, Division of Forestry, Rita Greenberg, Fire Chiefs Assn.,
Michelle Arnold and Susan Mason, Code Enforcement.
Goals for the year regarding:
. Awareness and preparation
. Outreach and education
Public Television as well as County Web-site
. Local media
. Printed assets-All Hazards in Naples Daily News insert
. EOB provides logistical support to the others and coordination with State Officials
. Wildfire workshop on Feb. 14 over 70 key people from Collier and surrounding areas
. Looking to elected officials for support rental equipment, funding, sheltering and
evacuation issues
. Work relationship with independent fire districts before, during and after wildfires
. Proscribed burns and mitigation
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February 29, 2008
. Commissioner Coletta suggested making personnel along with CERT team go house to
house, give appraisals to mitigate and advise of dangers and hazards and to document as
much as possible and keeping a record.
Rita Greenberg can call fire districts to do home inspections and evaluations
Fireservice Steering Committee has funded 60 second Public Service Announcements to radio
and television for use as fillers during the day.
Victor Hill of the Golden Gate Fire Dept. put it together and has been approved for
distribution.
Commissioner Henning had questions regarding rules of tree cutting - what is liability if done
in fire or hazard situation.
Susan Mason, Engineering and Environmental Services Dept, responded with clarifications:
. Original building permit comes with an okay to clear up to one-acre.
. Large house or outbuilding can get vegetative permits for an additional 30 feet.
. After 1991, the Code states a must-clear for non-native vegetation.
. Required firebreaks allow additionally permitted clearing as needed.
. On smaller lots than one acre, should contact adjacent owners
. Exotics, if in wetlands need DEP permit; not in wetlands, can mechanical or hand cut
. Addressing safety issues could lessen costs.
. Declare emergency situations-can force clearing around house.
Cathy Feles, Extension Service, gave an informative slide presentation and talk on:
. Xeriscaping and water conservation techniques
. Drought tolerance plantings
. Efficient irrigation
. Suggested plants and tree lists are available at the County Extension Service
Bruce McNail, Landscape Architect, Zoning and Land Development Review provided a
slide presentation on the Minimum Landscape Code showing how it:
. Protects property values and encourages economic development
. Improves the appearance of developments and parking lots
. Screens service areas and buffers incompatible uses
. Balances the ratio of paved areas to green areas
. Examples of minimum code landscaping were shown for commercial, public and private
sites.
. Rotor system of irrigation now used is worst type of system for best water use
He spoke of the pro-active stance being taken by Collier County in a proposed 2008 LDC
Amendment requiring, among other things:
. Mandatory inspection of all code required irrigation systems for Certificate of
Occupancies as with Landscape 802 inspections.
. Dedicated low pressure drip systems for all trees and shrubs and the reduction of sodded
areas
. Specifically reference water irrigation Ordinance 2002-17 irrigation hours and
operational requirements (superseded by SFWMD phased water restrictions)
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February 29, 2008
. Reference design standards for landscape irrigation in Florida (FS 373.228)
Questions:
Commissioner Coyle stated the medians need proper design and planting. Changes need to be
done with what they know now. He stated the primary concern for holding the Water
Workshop was not addressed
. How the County is going to supply the water.
. How to accommodate future demand of water that requires huge investments in capital
project without transferring huge costs to residents.
. If growth pays for growth, who should pay and how much will it cost, both capital and
operational.
No information or solutions on how to approach the fundamental problem had been provided.
Commissioner Henning suggested those topics be a presentation to a regular BCC meeting.
Jim DeLony stated issues of the Master Plan solutions, current concurrency rate structures and
impact fees had been discussed at earlier meetings and through Chris Merriam's presentations.
The Water Department will continue to search for different means and solutions. Costs will
always increase in expansion of obtaining water demand and quality. Can't grandfather
different rates and distribution systems.
Discussion and questions followed on various aspects of the issues of costs, services and impact
fees as well as growth, finances and reliability.
3. Public Comment:
Jack Pointer commented on being a long time resident who resides on the north side of
Immokalee Road and when no water came from the tap as that area was far from being settled.
Today, he has plenty of water and power. He attributed that to the vision and provisions of
Collier County Officials and Administrators. He uses Collier County tap water that is good and
is economical, a commendation to the Commissioners and water management departments.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, tbe workshop was concluded
by the order of the Chair at 4:15 P.M.
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February 29, 2008
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
.
ning
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These minutes approved by Board on ~;I '21, 'lj)()~
or as amended .
as presented
.....--
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