BCC Minutes 03/06/2008 TH (District 1)
March 6, 2008
TRANSCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT #1
TOWNHALL MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, March 6, 2008
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County District #1 Town Hall
Meeting in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein,
met on this date at 7:00 p.rn. at Edison College Auditorium, Naples, Florida,
with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
Commissioner Tom Henning
Commissioner James Coletta
Commissioner Donna Fiala
Commissioner Frank Halas
ALSO PRESENT:
James Mudd, County Manager
Jeff Katzkow, County Attorney
Patricia Amodei, Aide to Commissioner Donna Fiala
Paul Mattausch, Water Administration Director
Michelle Arnold, Code Enforcement Director
Norman Feder, Transportation Director
Marilyn Mathes, Library Director
Jim Von Rinteln, Emergency Management Coordinator
Lieutenant Rich Gibbons, Commander ofE. Naples Sub-Station
Barry Williams, Parks and Recreation Director
Co~r County
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Board of County Commissioners
DISTRICT 1 TOWN HALL MEETING
Thursday, March 6,2008
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Edison College' 7007 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples
HOSTED By
Donna Fiala, Commissioner, District 1
AGENDA
Introductions and Pledge of Allegiance
1. Phase III Water Restrictions/Reclaimed Water Usage
2. Code Enforcement
3. Transportation update for East Naples
4. South Regional Library and East Naples Library
a. Staffing issues and hours of operations
5. Emergency Operations Center update
6. Sheriff's Office
7. Parks and Recreation update
a. Staffing issues and hours of operations
8. County Manager
9. East Naples Civic Association
10. Questions and Answers
March 6, 2008
The Townhall Meeting was hosted by District #1 Commissioner Donna Fiala
and started at 7:00 PM with:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, INTRODUCTIONS AND WELCOME BY
COMMISSIONER FIALA
1. Phase III Water Restrictions/Reclaimed Water Usage
Paul Mattausch, Director, Southwest Florida Waste Management gave a slide
presentation regarding Phase III water restrictions and reclaimed water usage
. Water Restriction is now restricted to one day per week
. Started building Reverse Osmosis System in 1999 and using Brackish
water
. 66% of average day demand was from Alternate Water Supplies
. Irrigation Quality water is water reclaimed from the wastewater treatment
process
. Irrigation Quality Water supply and demand must be managed daily and
needs 72 hours storage capacity with the highest demand being in dry
season and the lowest demand in wet season
. Need to incorporate water into the year-round irrigation ordinance to
equalize use and optimize the use of well water
. Need to utilize Grant opportunities to develop additional storage facilities
to take advantage ofrain events
. If permit-able and financially feasible, construct additional ASR Wells to
store large amounts of Reclaimed Water
. Expand the Distribution Infrastructure in accordance with the Irrigation
Quality Water Master Plan
2. Code Enforcement
Michelle Arnold, Director, Code Enforcement gave a slide presentation
discussing the following:
. Focusing on East Naples clean up areas in a state of disrepair causing
degradation of the neighborhood, homeless camps, unsafe conditions and
cnme
. Challenges are excessive liter, abandon properties, illegal land use,
vagrancy and vandalism
. Coordinate efforts between Code Enforcement and the Bayshore Triangle
Community Redevelopment Agency, the Sheriffs Office and the Building
Department to identify unsafe structures
. Assess property owner for the cost to the County to abate the violation
. Estimated time to resolve excessive liter and unsafe structure violations is
three to four months
. Results are in maintenance of community, preservation of quality of life
and maintaining property values
3. Transportation update for East Naples
Norman Feder, Director, Transportation Department gave a slide presentation
outlining the progress ofroad construction in Collier County.
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March 6, 2008
. Rattlesnake Hammock, Collier Boulevard to Polly Avenue, behind
schedule approximately 79%
. Santa Barbara Boulevard, Davis Boulevard to Copper Leaf Lane,
scheduled for completion mid 2009
· Santa Barbara Boulevard Extension, Davis Boulevard to Rattlesnake
Hammock Road, scheduled for Fall, 2008 pending budget
. County Barn Road, Davis Boulevard to Rattlesnake Hammock Road,
design plans complete, commencement to be determined and construction
will take approximately 2 years from when it starts
. Collier Boulevard, Immokalee Road to Golden Gate Boulevard
completion scheduled for Spring, 2009
. Collier Boulevard, US 41 to Davis Boulevard, scheduled for completion
Fall, 2009
· Collier Boulevard, Davis Boulevard to Golden Gate Main Canal,
scheduled to start construction Spring, 2009 pending budget
· Collier Boulevard, Green Boulevard to Golden Gate Boulevard, scheduled
to start construction Spring, 2009
· Davis Boulevard, Collier Boulevard to Radio Road, scheduled to start
construction, Spring, 2009 pending budget and will receive payback by
state starting in 2012
. US 41, Collier Boulevard to Naples Reserve Boulevard, construction
anticipated to start in early 2010
4. South Regional Library and East Naples Library
Marilyn Mathes, Director of Library gave a slide presentation discussing
staffing issues and hours of operations.
. Library usage has increased approximately 5% over 2007
. Budget reductions, hiring freeze and elimination of temporary employees
and elimination of overtime has staffing down 15% and the lmmokalee
staffing is down 20%
· Reducing hours at all locations to start April I, 2008
· South Regional Library scheduled for completion at the end of October or
November, 2008
· Emergency Operation Center will be providing utility services for South
Regional Library when the facility is opened
· Tax issues and Impact Fees are affecting funds for operation, staff and
books for new South Regional Library
5. Emergency Operations Center update
Jim von Rinteln, Emergency Management gave a slide presentation with an
update on the Emergency Operations Center.
. The new center will be housing our Emergency Operation Center,
Emergency Medical Service Office, the East Naples Sheriffs Sub-Station,
the New Sheriffs 911 & Dispatch Center, IT Hard Site, Emergency
Management Offices, EMS Warehouse plus a Press Area
· Building will have a total space of 130,000 square feet, 10,000 sq. ft. will
be used for Emergency Operation Center that will be a Category 5
resistant facility with 100% backup power
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March 6, 2008
· Project is on schedule and approximately 50% completed and is currently
scheduled for occupancy in December, 2008
· Project is within budget, all technical work still needs to be done and
Center should be in full operation in April, 2009
6. Sheriff's Office
Lieutenant Rich Gibbons, Commander of East Naples Sub-Station gave a
slide presentation on Immigration Information and Criminal Alien Task Force.
· Community now divided into five zones. Zone Coverage is covered by 12
hour shifts that overlap to give better service to the community
· Always have 2 shifts working during critical hours of three o'clock in the
afternoon to three o'clock in the moming
· Special Forces only job is to go after the known criminals in the County
· Golden Gate Lighting Initiative and also in Naples Manor has had an
effect and is detouring crime
. Steady decline in Part I Crimes in Collier County since 1998
. Part I Crimes are the serious crimes that the FBI tracks
· Crime Aliens Task Force components are Street Gang Investigators, Jail,
Marine Patrol, Fugitive Warrants Bureau, Criminal Investigators,
Intelligence Investigators, Driver's License Investigators, Strategic
Enforcement Team and Road Patrol
· Immigration and alien crimes are a problem
. 250 Illegal Aliens have been removed by ICE
· Marco Sub-Station now housing marina, but still open for walk-ins for
claims and any other issues
7. Parks and Recreation update
Barry Williams, Director, Parks and Recreation gave a slide presentation on
staffing issues and hours of operations.
· East Naples Community Park and Sugden Regional Park have been
offered a Buyout Incentive Program for existing staff
. Manatee Park not programmed for Staff at this time
· East Naples Community Park, now leasing land from Avalon Elementary
School
· East Naples Community Park improved lighting will be completed this
Spring
· East Naples Community Park working on permitting for the Future Soccer
Field and maintaining Velocity Skate Park
· Eagle Lake Community Park is a great park for birding
· Eagle Lake Community Park has improved the Soccer Field Lighting
. Manatee Community Park working with CTS on a Conceptual plan that
will be going to the Board of Collier County in March or April
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March 6, 2008
8. County Manager:
James Mudd, County Manager, discussed the following:
. In 2007 the House Bill 1 B was passed, it cut the County Budget back 9%
. 6% turnover on County positions have not been met
. Employees are hanging onto their jobs
. Freeze on vacancies in effect
. Maybe a need for involuntary staff reductions
. Voluntary Incentives for retirees between 62 and 65 years are staying on
for medical reasons and for Medicare Benefits
. 25 employees have taken the Voluntary Incentive
. 234 frozen positions are vacant in Collier County
. Impact Fees are down and are a major impact on services
. 200 plus tax reduction bills are now in Tallahassee and are awaiting
outcome on May 2nd
. Amendment One passed by Board of County Collier Commissioners that
basically reduces budget by 2%, which will not be an easy task
9. East Naples Civic Association
Ted Beisler, Secretary of East Naples Civic Association discussed the
following:
. Due to Environmental Sensitive Land issues, they have limited land to
build on
. Strategic Planning Committee working on a Master Plan to guide the
growth on the land that is remaining to build on
. Encourage planned commercial growth to develop area on Tamiamj Trail
between Airport Pulling Road and County Road 92 compatible with the
Community
. Develop plan to bring to the citizens for public bidding and then to the
Board of Collier County for approval
10. Questions and Answers
Lavonne Peters asked who pays for abatement costs for clean up on properties.
Dave Scribner responded that County bids each project out and the abatement
costs are passed onto the property owner and if not paid, would result in a lien on
the property.
Lavonne Peters asked why not finish one road at a time?
Norman Feder responded it takes 2 years to complete a road and ifthey did one
road at a time they would not be able to keep up with the growth of the area
Some concerns were expressed on the abandoned homes andforeclosure
problems and the impact on the Community
County Manager Jim Mudd responded that County does not want the
foreclosure look. The properties that have been foreclosed on are being
maintained and are watched by the Sheriffs Department and Code Enforcement
to make sure the properties are kept up and not being used for a free rental
property. When the need arises the County will go in and maintain the
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March 6, 2008
property and pass on any abatement charges to the property owner and if
necessary, place a lien on the property.
Some concerns were expressed on the Manatee Park project moving too slowly.
Barry Williams responded that since 2002, Gary Scribner is working with a
Design Consultant firm working on the project and that it will be submitted to the
Board of County Commissioners either on March 25 or April 9.
Phil Cannon expressed concerns regarding the Collier County Priority Plan for
the coming year and wanted to know if we have the results of the study performed
on the Affordable Housing Deficit.
County Manager Jim Mudd announced that the Board has received the results
of this study. We had a deficit of 10,000 units for future homebuyers now renting
with a 35% Debt to Ratio. There are approximately 4,000 single family homes
below $350,000 in MLS at this time and there are 4,000 homes in the
development stage. Along with the County plans allowing 1,000 affordable
housing for the next two years, that will help assist in meeting the deficit.
Commissioner Frank Halas commented that the average single family home in
2004-2005 was $500,000 and in 2008 it has dropped down to $350,000.
Many questions and answers were given concerning the facilities that once the
Emergency Medical Center building is in full operation the buildings that house
the Sheriff's and EMS will be left vacant and wonder what the future of these
buildings will he.
Many questions and answers were given concerning the County Barn and Santa
Barbara's Davis Boulevard to Copper Leaf Lane and the Santa Barbara
Extensions, permitting and Right-of- Ways.
Commissioner Frank Halas asked how well the EMS and 911 System are
working with ICE and the Illegal Immigrant problems.
Lieutenant Rich Gibbons responded extremely well and they are happy with the
results.
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March 6, 2008
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the Townhall Meeting
was concluded at 9: I 0 PM.
C~:igUN ~ BOARD OF COUNTY
C~N .
Chairman, Tom Henning
ATTEST:
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Attest U" to Cl\f'IMIIlII S
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These Minutes were JPf'1'oved by the Board on
presented v'" or as amended
4)e>,c~
, 2008, as
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