BCC Minutes 04/22-23/2008 R
April 22-23, 2008
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, April 22-23, 2008
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) of such
special district as has been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
Tom Henning
Donna Fiala
Jim Coletta
Fred Coyle
Frank Halas
ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Sue Filson, BCC Executive Manager
David Weigel, County Attorney
Crystal Kinzel, Office of the Clerk of Court
Page 1
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
and
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD (CRAB)
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AGENDA
April 22-23, 2008
9:00 AM
Tom Henning, BCC Chairman Commissioner, District 3
Donna Fiala, BCC Vice-Chairman Commissioner, District 1; CRAB Chairman
Jim Coletta, BCC Commissioner, District 5; CRAB Vice-Chairman
Frank Halas, BCC Commissioner, District 2
Fred W. Coyle, BCC Commissioner, District 4
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 SPEAKERS WILL
RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY
THE CHAIRMAN.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53, AS AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 2004-05 AND 2007-24, 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.
REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON SUBJECTS WHICH ARE NOT ON
THIS AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING WITH EXPLANATION
TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THE MEETING AND WILL BE HEARD UNDER "PUBLIC PETITIONS."
Page 1
April 22-23, 2008
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBA TIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE
TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE 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; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE.
LUNCH RECESS SCHEDULED FOR 12:00 NOON TO 1:00 P.M.
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A. Reverend Mary Jane Wallace, Everglades Community Church
2. AGENDA AND MINUTES
A. Approval of to day's regular, consent and summary agenda as amended. (Ex
Parte Disclosure provided by Commission members for consent and
summary agenda.)
B. February 29,2008 - BCC/SFWMD Workshop
C. March 18,2008 - BCC/Fire Review Task Force Workshop
D. March 25/26, 2008 - BCC/Regular Meeting
E. April I, 2008 - BCC/Airport Authority Workshop
3. SERVICE A WARDS: (EMPLOYEE AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS)
A. 20 Year Attendees
Page 2
April 22-23, 2008
1) This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Lynn Evans,
Fleet Management
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation
designating the week of May 4, 2008 through May 10, 2008 as Drinking
Water Quality Week. To be accepted by Paul Mattausch, Water Department
Director.
B. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation
designating April 20th through April 26th, 2008 as Administrative
Professionals Week. To be accepted by Saundra Lockwood, Member of the
Naples Chapter ofIntemational Association of Administrative Professionals
(IAAP).
C. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation
recognizing April, 2008 as Harmony Month. To be accepted by Ron
Timmerman. Immediately following the presentation of the proclamation,
the National Anthem will be performed by the Paradise Coastmen.
D. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation
recognizing James A. McTague for his civic and business leadership in
Collier County. To be accepted by Mr. McTague's daughters: Jo Atkinson,
Suzy Goldman and Jeanne Manuri.
E. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation
designating the week of April 27, 2008 through May 3, 2008 as National
Volunteer Week in Collier County. To be accepted by Marcy Krumbine,
Director of Housing and Human Services; Sharon Downey, RSVP Project
Coordinator; Anna Galdames, 4H Extension Agent/University of Florida
IFAS Extension; Mary Margaret Gruszka, Volunteer Coordinator/Collier
County Museum; Joann Wannemacher, Volunteer Coordinator/Collier
County Public Libraries; Meryl Rorer, Volunteer Coordinator/Parks and
Recreation; Kathleen Drewe, Volunteer Coordinator/Domestic Animal
Services and volunteers for Collier County.
F. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation to
recognize April 2008, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To be accepted
Page 3
April 22-23, 2008
by Maria LaRocco, Executive Director of Project Help, Inc.
G. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation to
recognize May, 2008 as Mental Health Awareness Month. To be accepted
by Petra Jones, Executive Director of The Mental Health Association of
Southwest Florida.
H. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Proclamation to
recognize May 11-17,2008 as Tourism Week in Collier County. To be
accepted by Jack Wert, Executive Director Tourism Department.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Presentation of the
Advisory Committee Outstanding Member Award to John F. Barlow, Jr. of
the County Government Productivity Committee.
B. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Presentation of the
Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) award to the Ivey House Bed
and Breakfast, The Doubletree Guest Suites, The Inn at Pelican Bay, and
their common management company Guest Services, Inc.
C. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Presentation of
awards to the winners of the Recycling Art Contest; Rachael Doty, Palmetto
Ridge High School; Angela Vasquez, Manatee Middle School; and Tiffany
Shadden, Corkscrew Elementary School.
D. This item to be heard on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. An update by Paul
Mattausch, Water Department Director, on the return to South Florida Water
Management District-imposed Phase II Water-use Restrictions effective
April 18, 2008.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
A. This item was continued from the April 8, 2008 BCC Meetinl!:. Public
petition request by James Walker to discuss impact fees for a commercial
site in Immokalee, FL.
Page 4
April 22-23, 2008
B. Public petition request by Carl Kuehner to discuss PUD rezone for
Esperanza Place, Immokalee, Florida.
C. Public petition request by Markus Weatherwax to discuss sign permits for
Athletic Club of Naples.
D. Public petition request by Nancy Colina to discuss construction and
warranty issues with Designers Home Group, Inc.
Item 7 and 8 to be heard no sooner than 1:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
7. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
A. This item reQuires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be proyided by Commission members. ADA-2007-AR-12714,
Saundra Clancy-Koendarfer, represented by Ben Nelson of Nelson Marine
Construction, Inc., is requesting an appeal ofBD-2007-AR-12154, denied by
the Collier County Planning Commission on December 6,2007. Subject
property is located in Section 5, Township 48, Range 25, Collier County,
Florida.
B. This item reQuires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by Commission members. V A-2007-AR-12477,
Gregory W. and Beverly J. Schuelke, represented by Christopher 1.
Thornton, ofCheffy, Passidomo, Wilson, and Johnson, Attorneys at Law,
LLP, are requesting variances for a project to be known as the Schuelke
Variance. The variance petition seeks approval of a side yard setback for
encroachment of a pool deck/wall, pool screen cage, and concrete pair of
stairs. The subject property is located at 496 Flamingo Avenue, in the
Connor's Vanderbilt Beach Estates, Unit 3, Lot I, Block U on 0.27 acres,
Section 29, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida.
C. This item to be heard at 2:00 p.m. This item reQuires that all
participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. CUR-2008-AR-12955 SR-846 Land Trust Earth
Mine, Mining Venture, LLC., represented by R. Bruce Anderson of Roetzel
& Andress, is requesting a review of the approved Conditional Use
Resolution 2007-274 for earth mining in the A-MHO Agricultural zoning
district. The subject property, consisting of 2,576 acres, is located east of
Page 5
April 22-23, 2008
Immokalee Road (CR-846), approximately 2 miles north of Oil Well Road
(CR-858) in Sections 35 & 36, Township 47 South, Range 27 East, and all
of Sections I & 2, Township 48 South, Range 27 East, Less Road Right-of-
Way for County Road 846, Collier County, Florida.
S. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve the
Collier County Intersection Safety Ordinance to authorize use of unmanned
cameras at road intersections and to enforce Ordinance violations of vehicles
running red traffic lights.
B. This item to be heard at 4:30 p.m. This item was continued from the
AprilS, 200S BCC Meetinl!:. Recommendation that the Board of County
Commissioners reconsider the Land Development Code Amendment
addressing the calculation of the maximum number of wet-slips when a
shoreline is in a Conservation Easement. (William D. Lorenz, Engineering &
Environmental Services Director, CDES)
9. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A. Appointment of a member to the Collier County Water and Wastewater
Authority.
B. Appointment of members to the Bayshore/Gateway Triangle Local
Redevelopment Advisory Board.
C. To adopt a resolution authorizing preliminary alternatives of the "Addition
Lands" general management, wilderness designation and off-road vehicle
plans being developed by the National Park Service (NPS) for the
management of the "Addition Lands" annexed to the Big Cypress National
Preserve. (Commissioner Coletta)
D. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve the
County Attorney Employment Agreement with Jeffrey A. Klatzkow and
authorize the Chairman to execute same. (Commissioner Henning)
10. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
Page 6
April 22-23, 2008
A. Recommendation that the Board approve a Resolution adopting the Collier
County HUD One Year Action Plan for FY 2008 - 2009 for Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships
(HOME), American Dream Down-payment Initiative (ADm) and
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Programs and authorize transmittal to the
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
(Marcy Krumbine, Director, Housing and Human Services)
B. This item to be heard at 10:30 a.m. Recommendation from the Pelican
Bay Services Division that the Board of County Commissioners authorize
the Pelican Bay Services Division to prepare, sign and submit the Clam Bay
Management Plan to the Federal and State Agencies. (John Petty, Pelican
Bay Services Division)
C. Recommendation to accept the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) FY08
5307 grant in the amount of$I,978,706.00. (Diane Flagg, Director,
Alternate Transportation Modes)
D. That the Board of County Commissioners provide direction regarding a
request by the Economic Development Council of Collier County to amend
the Fee Payment Assistance Program to help defray the cost of impact fees
for an existing Collier County company which is considering relocating and
expanding their manufacturing facility from Western Collier County to
Eastern Collier County. (Tammie Nemecek, EDC Executive Director; Amy
Patterson, Impact Fee/EDC Manager, CDES)
E. This item to be heard at 10:00 a.m. Recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners approve changes to a current interlocal agreement
with the City of Naples for funds earmarked for Pulling Boat Ramp; give
direction considering a funding policy for capital improvements and
operations/maintenance at municipalities for Parks and Recreation programs.
(Barry Williams, Director, Parks and Recreation)
F. Recommendation to approve an Administrative Plan for the distribution of
funds for the Collier County Single Family Rehabilitation Program funded
by the Florida Department of Community Affairs Disaster Recovery
Initiative grant program. (Marcy Krumbine, Director, Housing and Human
Services)
Page 7
April 22-23, 2008
11. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
A. This item to be heard at 11:15 a.m. Recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners sitting as the Board of Zoning Appeals reject the
recommendations of the Special Magistrate pursuant to the alternate dispute
resolution process resulting from the denial ofthe conditional use for the
expansion of a church. (Petition CU-2004-AR-6384 - Golden Gate
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc.)
B. Notice is hereby l!:iven that pursuant to Section 2S6.011(S), Fla. Stat., the
County Attorney desires advice from the Board of County
Commissioners in Closed Attornev-Client Session on TUESDAY, APRIL
22, 200S, at a time certain of 12:00 noon in the Commission Conference
Room, 3rd Floor, W. Harmon Turner Buildinl!:, Collier County
Government Center, 3301 East Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida. In
addition to Board members, County Manager James Mudd, County Attorney
David C. Weigel, Chief Assistant County Attorney Jeffrey A. Klatzkow and
Assistant County Attorney Jacqueline Williams Hubbard will be in
attendance. The Board in executive session will discuss: Settlement
negotiations and strategy related to litigation expenditures in the pending
litigation cases of Bonita Media Enterprises, LLC. v. Collier County Code
Enforcement Board, Collier County Board of County Commissioners, Case
No.: 2:07-cv-4Il-FtM-29DNF, now pending in the United States District
Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division and Bonita Media
Enterprises, LLC., Brennan, Manna & Diamond (Reg. Agent) v. Board of
County Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, Appeal Case No.: 07-2035-
CA, Lower Tribunal CEB No.: 2007-35, now pending in the Twentieth
Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida, in the Administrative
Appeal Division of the Circuit Court.
C. For the Board of County Commissioners to provide direction to the County
Attorney's Office as to settlement negotiations and strategy related to
litigation expenditures in the pending litigation cases of Bonita Media
Enterprises, LLC. v. Collier County Code Enforcement Board, Collier
County Board of County Commissioners, Case No.: 2:07-cv-4Il-FtM-
29DNF, now pending in the United States District Court, Middle District of
Florida, Fort Myers Division and Bonita Media Enterprises, LLC., Brennan,
Page 8
April 22-23, 2008
Manna & Diamond (Reg. Agent) v. Board of County Commissioners,
Collier County, Florida, Appeal Case No.: 07-2035-CA, Lower Tribunal
CEB No.: 2007-35, now pending in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for
Collier County, Florida, in the Administrative Appeal Division of the Circuit
Court.
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
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16. CONSENT AGENDA - All matters listed under this item are considered to be
routine and action will be taken by one motion without separate discussion of
each item. If discussion is desired by a member of the Board, that item(s) will
be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.
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A. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
1) To accept final and unconditional conveyance of the water utility
facility for Del Mar Retail Center.
2) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the water and sewer
utility facilities for Fiddler's Creek - Phase 3, Unit 2.
3) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the water and sewer
utility facility for Fiddler's Creek - Phase 3, Unit 2 - Stage 3.
4) Recommendation to approve final acceptance ofthe water and sewer
utility facilities for Fiddler's Creek, Phase 2A, Unit 3.
5) This item was continued indefinitely from February 26, 200S BCC
meetinl!:. Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway
(private) and drainage improvements for the final plat of Augusta at
Pelican Marsh (Pelican Marsh PUD) with the roadway and drainage
Page 9
April 22-23, 2008
improvements being privately maintained.
6) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Saturnia Lakes Plat One
(Rigas PUD) with the roadway and drainage improvements being
privately maintained.
7) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Saturnia Lakes Plat Two
(Rigas PUD) with the roadway and drainage improvements being
privately maintained.
8) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Sussex Place, (Lely Resort
PUD), the roadway and drainage improvements will be privately
maintained.
9) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Tuscany Cove with the
roadway and drainage improvements being privately maintained.
10) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Saturnia Lakes Plat Three
(Rigas PUD) with the roadway and drainage improvements being
privately maintained.
11) This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all
participants are reauired to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Artesia Naples Unit One.
12) This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission Members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all
participants are reQuired to be sworn in. This is a recommendation
to approve for recording the final plat of Cameron Commons Unit
One, approval of the standard form Construction and Maintenance
Agreement and approval of the amount of the performance security.
Page 10
April 22-23, 2008
13) This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all
participants are reQuired to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Tract 5, Golden Gate Estates
Unit 44 Replat, approval of the standard form Construction and
Maintenance Agreement and approval of the amount of the
performance security.
14) This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission Members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all
participants are reQuired to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Tract 6, Golden Gate Estates
Unit 44 Replat, approval of the standard form Construction and
Maintenance Agreement and approval of the amount of the
performance security.
15) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners adopts a
Resolution to formally dissolve the Collier County Fire Review Task
Force as established by Resolution No. 2007-105.
16) To obtain approval for the annual expenditure of funds, if necessary,
beyond the $50,000 dollar limit contained in the Purchasing Policy for
the required legal advertising placed in the Naples Daily News.
17) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
Job Creation Investment Program Agreement with the March Group,
LLC, d/b/a March Performance, Incorporated, consistent with the
provisions of the Job Creation Investment Program and the company's
approved incentive application.
18) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
Job Creation Investment Program Agreement with Advocate Aircraft
Taxation Company consistent with the provisions of the Job Creation
Investment Program and the company's approved incentive
application.
19) Recommendation to grant final approval of the roadway (private) and
drainage improvements for the final plat of Reflection Lakes at Naples
Phase IA (Walnut Lakes PUD) with the roadway and drainage
Page 11
April 22-23, 2008
improvements being privately maintained.
20) Recommendation to grant final approval of the landscape and
irrigation improvements for the final plat of Reflection Lakes at
Naples Phase IC (Walnut Lakes PUD) with the landscape and
irrigation improvements being privately maintained.
21) Recommendation to approve the Release and Satisfactions of Lien for
payments received for the following Code Enforcement actions.
22) Recommendation to approve South Florida Water Management
District Local Government Agreement No. 4600001351 for partial
funding of the County's LiDAR acquisition through the Florida
Department of Emergency Management contract.
23) This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission Members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all
participants are reQuired to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Classics Plantation Estates,
Phase Three Replat of Lots 18 through 45.
B. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
1) Recommendation to approve a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
(HMGP) agreement between the State of Florida Division of
Emergency Management and the County for a Wind Protection
project and approve the associated budget amendment. ($29,997.00)
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve
one (1) Adopt-A-Road Program Agreement with two (2) roadway
recognition signs at a total cost of$150.00.
3) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve
budget amendments to recognize revenue from a developer
contribution for Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique (SCOOT)
system expansion, Project 601724 Fund (313), and permanent count
stations, Project 601727 Fund (313), in the amount of $90,000.
Page 12
April 22-23, 2008
4) Recommendation to authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute
the attached Shirley Conroy Rural Area Capital Equipment Support
Grant and the applicable documents. ($66,000)
5) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
Resolution superseding Resolution No. 2007-230 and Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) Local Agency Program (LAP)
Agreement FPN: 422165-1-58-01, which Agreement was unexecuted
by FDOT following BCC approval on September 11,2007, as Agenda
Item 16B II, and approve a new agreement superseding and replacing
the aforementioned unexecuted agreement that increases FDOT's
share of funding, for the construction of a sidewalk on Roberts
Avenue and North 9th Street from $704,375 in the original agreement
to $732,268 in the proposed agreement.
6) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
Resolution superseding Resolution No. 2007-231 and Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) Local Agency Program (LAP)
Agreement FPN: 422164-1-58-0 I, which Agreement was unexecuted
by FDOT following BCC approval on September 11,2007, as Agenda
Item 16B 12, and to approve a new agreement superseding and
replacing the aforementioned unexecuted agreement that increases
FDOT's funding for the construction of a sidewalk on I st Street North
from $170,625 in the original agreement to $177,381 in the proposed
agreement.
7) Recommendation to approve the purchase of improved property
(Parcel No. 142) which is required for the construction of the
Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Project. Project No. 60168 (Fiscal
Impact: $607,475.00 )
8) Recommendation to approve an Easement Agreement for 0.12 acres
of unimproved property for a non-exclusive easement for Pathways
and Public Utilities along Immokalee Road. ($55,000)
9) Recommendation to recognize fare-box revenues collected from
October 1,2007 through April 10, 2008 for Collier Area Transit and
to approve budget amendments.
Page 13
April 22-23, 2008
10) Recommendation to approve a First Amendment to the October 22,
2002 Sabal Bay Development Contribution Agreement for Road
Impact Fee Credits extending the duration for five (5) years and
approval of the Second Amendment to the October 14,2003
Companion Agreement providing for a change in land conveyance
means for portions of the Lely Area Stormwater Improvement Project.
(Project No. 5110 II)
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES
1) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution to approve the Satisfactions of
Lien for Solid Waste residential accounts wherein the County has
received payment and said Liens are satisfied in full for the 1992,
1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 Solid Waste Collection and Disposal
Services Special Assessment. Fiscal impact is $88.50 to record the
Satisfactions of Lien.
2) Recommendation to approve as ex-officio the governing Board of the
Collier County Water-Sewer District, to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding/Charter, establishing the Lower West Coast Utility
Council.
3) Recommendation to approve the addition of $1 00,000 to increase the
annual limit to $600,000 for the existing fixed term contract 05-3792
"Fixed Term Utility Specialized Legal Services" for de la Parte &
Gilbert, P.A. Attorneys at Law, representing the interests of Collier
County, a Political Subdivision of the State of Florida, in utility
specific litigation and regulatory matters, and approve all the
necessary budget amendments in the amount of $400,000.
D. PUBLIC SERVICES
1) Recommend approval ofa Resolution ofthe Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, to formally oppose
allowing access to a Federal Sand Source off the coast of Sanibel
Island to any counties other than those counties adjacent to Sanibel
Island, specifically Collier and Lee Counties.
Page 14
April 22-23, 2008
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, a lien agreement with Andres
Mateo and Maria Mateo (Owners) for deferral of 100% of Collier
County impact fees for an owner-occupied affordable housing unit
located at Lot 107, Liberty Landing, Immokalee.
3) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, a lien agreement with Ritha
Mercure (Owner) for deferral of 100% of Collier County impact fees
for an owner-occupied affordable housing unit located at Lot 41,
Liberty Landing, Immokalee.
4) This item was continued from the April 8, 2008 BCC Meeting.
Recommendation to approve and execute a Lease Agreement with
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. for space to
accommodate the Housing and Human Services Senior Nutrition
Program at the Roberts Center, located at 905 Roberts Avenue in
Immokalee for an annual cost of$12,000. The cost of this rental will
be paid from Older Americans Act grant funding.
5) Recommendation to approve the Summer Food Service Program
Grant in the amount of $588,400 for FY2008.
6) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, a lien agreement with Carmeta
Prime (Owner) for deferral of 100% of Collier County impact fees for
an owner-occupied affordable housing unit located at Lot 110, Liberty
Landing, Immokalee.
7) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, a lien agreement with Kristy
Brodbeck (Owner) for deferral of 100% of Collier County impact fees
for an owner-occupied affordable housing unit located at Vista III at
Heritage Bay, Unit 1403, North Naples.
8) Recommendation to authorize the Chairman to sign the amendment
between Collier County Board of County Commissioners and the
Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Florida, Inc. and approve budget
amendments to reflect the actual award amount for the Older
Page 15
April 22-23, 2008
Americans Act for 2008.
9) Recommendation to approve a budget amendment in the amount of
$200,000 from the Park and Recreation Impact Fee Reserves to pay
for an impact fee study update and the refund of impact fees to
various developers.
10) Present to the Board of County Commissioners a summary of the
Impact Fee Deferral Agreements recommended for approval in FY08,
including the total number of Agreements approved, the total dollar
amount deferred and the balance remaining for additional deferrals in
FY08.
11) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, a lien agreement with Monica
Newhouse (Owner) for deferral of 100% of Collier County impact
fees for an owner-occupied affordable housing unit located at Vista III
at Heritage Bay, Unit 1408, North Naples.
E. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1) Recommendation to ratify an addition to, a modification of and a
deletion from the 2008 Fiscal Year Pay and Classification Plan made
from January 1,2008 through March 31,2008.
2) Recommendation to approve a Statutory Deed for the conveyance of
GAC Land Trust Reserved Land required for a pond site for the Oil
Well Road Expansion Project that will provide revenue in the amount
of $200,000 for the GAC Land Trust Fund.
3) Report to the Board of County Commissioners concerning the sale
and donation of items associated with the County surplus auction held
on March 29, 2008, resulting in gross revenues of $487,526.50.
F. COUNTY MANAGER
1) Recommendation to approve the after-the-fact submittal of the
attached Assistance to Firefighters Grant application to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of 30 evacuation
Page 16
April 22-23, 2008
(stair) chairs for Emergency Medical Services in the amount of
$62,850.
2) Review of quarterly report on activities in the Collier County Tourism
industry.
3) Obtain approval for an $11,000,000 prepayment on the Caribbean
Gardens Commercial Paper Loan Number A-32-2.
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1) Approve a budget amendment for $628,800 to increase budgeted
revenues and budgeted expenses for the sale and purchase of aviation
fuel at Marco Island Executive Airport.
2) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Boards Chairman to
execute an amendment for a time extension to the Rural Infrastructure
Grant Agreement # OT-05-136 from the Florida Office of Tourism,
Trade, and Economic Development for the Immokalee Regional
Airport/Florida Tradeport Storm Water Management/Retention Pond
Proj ect.
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement
serving a valid public purpose. Commissioner attended the Coalition
ofImmokalee Workers "Human Rights Heroes in our Backyard" on
April II, 2008; $50 to be paid from Commissioner Coletta's travel
budget.
2) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement
serving a valid public purpose. He will attend the Collier County
Medical Society Annual Dinner Meeting, May 3,2008; $100 to be
paid from Commissioner Coletta's travel budget.
3) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement
serving a valid public purpose. He attended the PLAN Steering
Committee breakfast, April 3, 2008; $5 to be paid from Commissioner
Page 17
April 22-23, 2008
Coletta's travel budget.
4) Commissioner Fiala requests Board approval for reimbursement for
attending a function serving a valid public purpose. She will be
attending the Youth Haven 4th Annual Frances Pew Hayes Child
Advocate of The Year A ward Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at
the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club; $75.00 to be paid from
Commissioner Fiala's travel budget.
5) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement
serving a valid public purpose. Will attend the Leadership Collier
Class of'08 Graduation on May 9,2008; $50 to be paid from
Commissioner Coletta's travel budget.
6) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement
serving a valid public purpose. Will participate as guest speaker at
Golden Gate Kiwanis Club Breakfast on April 30, 2008; $7 to be paid
from Commissioner Coletta's travel budget.
7) Proclamation thanking The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart for his
extraordinary service to Collier County.
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
1) Miscellaneous items to file for record with action as directed.
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) Recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
document for Twelfth Year State Criminal Alien Assistance Program
(SCAAP) Grant Funds.
2) To obtain Board approval for the disbursements for the period of
March 29,2008 through April 4, 2008 and for submission into the
official records of the Board.
3) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of April
05,2008 through April II ,2008 and for submission into the official
Page 18
April 22-23, 2008
records ofthe Board.
4) Recommendation to approve a request by Sheriff Don Hunter to
officially recognize the name, the "William J. McNulty
Communications Center" for the Sheriffs Office Communications
Center located within the new Collier County Emergency Services
Complex.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to approve the proposed Agreement for Delivery
and Reuse ofIrrigation Quality (IQ) Water between the Collier
County Water-Sewer District and the Pelican Marsh Community
Development District.
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners Approve
the Proposed Joint Motion for an Agreed Order Awarding Costs
Relating to Parcel 143 in the Collier County v. Charles R. Wilson, et
a!., Case No. 02-5164-CA, Immokalee Road Project #60018. (Fiscal
Impact: $4,000.00).
3) Recommendation to approve a Stipulated Final Judgment for Parcel
Nos. 135/40, 135/40.1, 136/41, 136/41.1 in the lawsuit styled CC
v.Timothy Maloney, et aI, Case No. 92-1508-CA. (Golden Gate
Wellfield Expansion Project) (Fiscal Impact $3,600)
4) Recommendation to Approve a Stipulated Final Judgment for Parcels
862,962 and 963 in the Lawsuit Styled Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County v. Grand Cypress Communities, et
a!., Case No. 05-1053-CA. (South County Regional Water Treatment
Plant Reverse Osmosis Wellfield Expansion Project #70892)(Fiscal
Impact: $43,070.00).
5) Recommendation to approve a Stipulated Final Judgment for Parcel
170RDUE in the lawsuit styled CC v. Jorge A. Romero, et aI, Case
No. 07-2681-CA (Oil Well Road Project No. 60044). (Fiscal Impact
$15,830)
Page 19
April 22-23, 2008
6) Recommendation to Approve a Stipulated Final Judgment in the
Amount of$43,850.00 for the Acquisition of Parcel I 57RDUE in the
Lawsuit Styled Collier County, Florida v. Christopher Link, et aI.,
Case No. 07-4218-CA (Oil Well Road Project #60044). (Fiscal
Impact: $9, I 00.00)
7) Recommendation to approve a Stipulated Final Judgment for Parcel
No. 159A in the lawsuit styled CC v. H.A. Street, et aI, Case No. 03-
2873-CA (Immokalee Road Project # 60018). (Fiscal Impact $6,900)
S) Recommendation to Approve a Mediated Settlement Agreement and a
Stipulated Final Judgment to be drafted incorporating the same terms
and conditions as the Mediated Settlement Agreement in the amount
of $130,000.00 for the acquisition of Parcels 121 FEE and 121 TDRE
in the Lawsuit styled Collier County, Florida v. Christopher Link, et
a!., Case No. 07-4218-CA (Oil Well Road Project #60044). (Fiscal
Impact: $82,317.50)
17. SUMMARY AGENDA - THIS SECTION IS FOR ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 1) A
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM STAFF; 2) UNANIMOUS
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL BY THE COLLIER COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION OR OTHER AUTHORIZING AGENCIES OF
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING; 3) NO WRITTEN OR ORAL
OBJECTIONS TO THE ITEM RECEIVED BY STAFF, THE COLLIER
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, OTHER AUTHORIZING
AGENCIES OR THE BOARD, PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF
THE BCC MEETING ON WHICH THE ITEMS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE
HEARD; AND 4) NO INDIVIDUALS ARE REGISTERED TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM. FOR THOSE ITEMS, WHICH ARE QUASI-
JUDICIAL IN NATURE, ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SWORN IN.
A. This item continued from the March 25, 200S BCC Meetinl!:.
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners consider
approving a Settlement Agreement and Release with Lodge Abbott
Associates, LLC (owner of the Cocohatchee Bay Planned Unit
Development) to settle alleged claims, including an alleged Bert Harris Act
claim purportedly arising from denial of an amendment to the Cocohatchee
Page 20
April 22-23, 2008
Bay PUD to modify the Bald Eagle Management Plan, and Lodge Abbott
Associates, LLC v. Collier County, Case No. 05-967-CA, now pending in
the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida, as well as
amended Cocohatchee Bay PUD Document with attached Bald Eagle
Management Plan.
B. This item reQuires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission
Members. Should a hearinl!: be held on this item, all participants are
reQuired to be sworn in. Recommendation to approve Petition
A VESMT-2007-AR-12562, to disclaim, renounce and vacate the County's
and the Public's interest in an access easement over, along and across the
north 30 feet and the west 15 feet of the property described in Official
Record Book 4014, Page 0235 ofthe Public Records of Collier County,
Florida being located within Section 26, Township 48 South, Range 26 East,
Collier County, Florida being more specifically shown in Exhibit A.
C. Recommendation to adopt an Ordinance repealing Collier County Ordinance
No. 89-69, as amended, which created the Lethal Yellowing Disease
suppressIOn program.
D. This item was continued from the March 11, 200S BCC Meetinl!:. This
item reQuires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure
be provided by Commission members. CU-2007-AR-11394, The
Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, represented by Bruce Anderson of Roetzel and Andress, is
proposing a Conditional Use of the Commercial Professional and General
Office (C-I) Zoning District with a SR29 Commercial Subdistrict Overlay
(C-I-SR29-COSD) and the RSF-3 (Residential Single-Family) Zoning
District for a Church/Place of Worship, pursuant to LDC Section 2.04.03,
Table 2. The 16.8-acre site is located at 635 State Road 29, in Section 32,
Township 46 South, Range 29 East, Immokalee, Collier County, Florida.
E. This item reQuires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by Commission members. CU-2006-AR-9337
Barron Collier Partnership, LLLP, represented by George L. Varnadoe,
Esquire, ofCheffy, Passidomo, Wilson & Johnson, LLP; and Agnoli, Barber
& Brundage, are requesting a Conditional Use of an earth mining operation
and related processing and production of material within a Rural Agriculture
with a Mobile Home Overlay (A-MHO) Zoning District, a portion of which
Page 21
April 22-23, 2008
is located in a Stewardship Sending Area 9 (BCI/BCP-SSA-9), pursuant to
Section 2.04.03 of the LDC, for a project to be known as South Grove Lake.
The subject property, consisting of 169.57 acres, is located in Sections 17
and 18, Township 48 South, Range 29 East, Collier County, Florida.
F. Request that the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, Naples,
Florida, approve Sheriff Hunters recommended Offender Registration Fee
Ordinance to establish a policy for the collection of administrative
registration fees for the initial registration and re-registration of individuals
required by Florida Statute to register with the Sheriff as a career offender,
convicted felon, sex offender or sexual predator.
G. Recommendation to adopt an ordinance amending Collier County Ordinance
No. 97-82, as amended, which created the Bayshore Avalon Beautification
Municipal Service Taxing Unit; Amending section two (2) to delete the
word Avalon from the name of the MSTU; Amending section six (6) to
increase the membership of the Advisory Committee from five (5) members
to seven (7) members and to delete the word Avalon therein; Amending
section eight (8) to reflect an increase to the number of advisory committee
members necessary to constitute a quorum; Providing for conflict and
severability; Providing for inclusion in the Code of Laws and Ordinances;
and Providing for an effective date.
H. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approve
and adopt CPSS-06-01 Small Scale Growth Management Plan Amendment
(GMP A) petition to the county wide Future Land Use Map for the purpose
of expanding Activity Center #18 by an additional 7.3 acres.
I. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners consider
adopting an Ordinance amending the Collier County Consolidated Impact
Fee Ordinance, which is Chapter 74 of the Collier County Code of Laws and
Ordinances, by incorporating the directed changes to the Charitable
Organization Impact Fee Deferral Program.
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
Page 22
April 22-23, 2008
April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Welcome to the Collier County Board
of Commissioners' April 22, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Today's invocation will be delivered by Mary Jane Wallace from
Everglades Community Church.
Would you all rise, please.
REVEREND WALLACE: Let us pray.
Father, help us to pray for our government and community
leaders throughout our towns, cities, states, and nation, especially here
in Collier County. Give these who are in authority in our own county
wisdom in every decision, help them to think clearly, grant them
discernment and common sense so they will be strong and effective
leaders, help them to lead and govern with integrity, give them insight
to guide them and keep them on track in their deliberations, for their
decisions have a great impact on our lives. Be their defender and
protector and keep them always on guard, encourage and strengthen
them, give them the wisdom they need for this day and all the days to
come. Amen.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The Pledge of Allegiance will be led
by Marcy Krumbine.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good morning, County Manager.
Would you please walk us through today's change list.
Item #2A
REGULAR, CONSENT AND SUMMARY AGENDA-
APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED WITH CHANGES; ITEM #8C IS
BEING CONTINUED TO THE MAY 13, 2008 BCC MEETING -
APPROVED
Page 2
April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. Agenda changes, Board of County
Commissioners' meeting, April 22, 2008.
The first item is to withdrawn item 6B. It was a public petition
request by Carl Kuehner to discuss a PUD rezone for Esperanza Place,
Immokalee, Florida, and that withdrawal is at petitioner's request.
The next item is to withdraw item 6A. It's a public petition
request by Markus Weatherwax to discuss sign permits for Athletic
Club of Naples. This item was withdrawn at the petitioner's request.
Next item is item 7A. Under considerations of the executive
summary, the last part of the first sentence should read that the
provisions of the previously adopted LDC shall apply "in the event,"
rather than "even," of such a conflict. Also page 65 of 69, the August
31, 2008 date on Brad Schiffer's letter is incorrect. The letter would
have been written sometime between March 26th and April 8, 2008.
And those corrections are at Commissioner Fiala's request.
The next item is 7B. The resolution for this item was omitted
from the printed agenda packet. Copies have been distributed and
made available for review. That correction's at staffs request.
Next item is item 8A. Section Five (b), of the ordinance should
read as follows: Plus an additional, cross out $150 and replace it with
$50, appeal fee, and then the $150 crossed out again and replaced with
the $50 fee, may be amended by resolution of Board of County
Commissioners. Section Seven ( e) of the ordinance shall read as
follows: Plus an additional, cross out the $150 and replace it with
$50, appeal fee. Those corrections are at staffs request.
The next item is 9C. The first sentence under considerations
should read: The citizens of Collier County and the general public
desire to use the additional lands as such lands. There was too many
two's in there. And that correction's at Commissioner Fiala request.
Next item's to add on item 9E, and that's a recommendation for
the Board of County Commissioners to approve filling a vacant
position in the board's office as an exception to the current county
Page 3
April 22-23, 2008
policy to not fill open or vacated general funds positions. That
add-on's at Ms. Filson's request.
Next item is to add on item lOG, and that's a recommendation to
approve presenting to the U.S. Congress for consideration in the 2008
Water Resources Development Act, WRDA, two proposed Collier
County water quality projects, including Clam Bay Estuary
improvements and a Naples Bay conservation initiative entailing a
system of 10 aquifer storage and recovery wells along the Golden
Gate Canal and a City of Marco Island project request for Hideaway
Beach erosion control and beach re-nourishment. And that add-on is
at staffs request.
We have another add-on, and that's item 10H, and that's a letter
to the Florida transportation secretary regarding April 24, 2008
Alligator Industry Forum. That add-on is at staffs request.
Next item is to move item 16C2 to 101, and that's a
recommendation to approve as ex-officio the governing Board of
Collier County Water/Sewer District to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding/Charter establishing the Lower West Coast Utility
Council, and that item is being moved at Commissioner Coyle's
request.
Next item is to withdraw item 16Hl, and that's at Commissioner
Coletta's request, the board approve for reimbursement serving a valid
public purpose, will attend the coalition of Immokalee Workers
Human Rights Here in our Back Yard on April 11, 2008. The $50 to
be paid from Commissioner Coletta's travel budget. This item is being
withdrawn at Commissioner Coletta's request.
The next item is to move item 16H7 to 41 and will be read on
Wednesday, April 23, 2008. It's a proclamation thanking the
Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart for his extraordinary service to Collier
County, and that item is being moved at Commissioner Coletta's
request.
The next item is item 17D. Exhibit D, development conditions
Page 4
April 22-23, 2008
for conditional use 2007-AR-11394 that appears in the agenda packet
is incorrect. The correct Exhibit D has been distributed and made
available for review, and that correction's at staffs request.
Item 17E, the resolution for this item, was omitted from the
printed agenda packet. Copies have been distributed and made
available for review, and that's at staffs request.
The next item is move item 171 to 8C, and that's a
recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners consider
adopting an ordinance amending the Collier County Consolidated
Impact Fee Ordinance, which is Chapter 74 of the Collier County
Code of Laws and Ordinances by incorporating the directed changes
to the charitable organization, Impact Fee Deferral Program. That
item is being moved at Commissioner Coletta's request.
And we have a series of time certain items for today,
Commissioners. First, all items on paragraph 3, service awards, all
items on paragraph 4, proclamation on your agenda, and all items on
paragraph 5 on your agenda, presentations, will be heard starting on
Wednesday, April 23, 2008, beginning at nine a.m. That's tomorrow
morning at nine a.m.
Next item is 7C to be heard at two p.m. This item requires that
all participants be sworn in and ex parte be provided by commission
members. It's CUR-2008-AR-12955, State Road 846, Land Trust
Earth Mine Mining Venture, LLC, represented by R. Bruce Anderson
of Roetzel & Andress, is requesting a review of the approved
conditional use resolution 2007-274 for earth mining in the A-MHO
agricultural zoning district.
The subject property consisting of 2,576 acres is located east of
Immokalee Road, County Road 846, approximately two miles north of
Oil Well Road, County Road 858. We are basically thinking about
this particular item as the Jones Mine.
Next item is item 8B to be heard at 4:30 p.m. This item was
continued from the April 8, 2008 BCC meeting. It's a
Page 5
April 22-23, 2008
recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners reconsider
the Land Development Code amendment addressing the calculation of
the maximum number of wet slips when a shoreline is in a
conservation easement.
The next time certain item is item lOB to be heard at 10:30 a.m.
today. It's a recommendation that the Pelican Bay Services Division,
that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the Pelican Bay
Services Division to prepare, sign, and submit the Clam Bay
Management Plan to the federal and state agencies.
The next time certain item is item 10E to be heard at 10 a.m.
today. It's a recommendation that the Board of County
Commissioners approve changes to a current interlocal agreement
with the City of Naples for funds earmarked for Pulling Boat Ramp;
give direction considering a funding -- funding policy for capital
improvements and operations and maintenance for municipalities for
parks and recreational programs.
Next time certain item is item 12A to be heard at 11: 15 a.m. This
is a recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, sitting
as the Board of Zoning Appeals, reject the recommendation of the
special magistrate pursuant to the alternative dispute resolution
process resulting from the denial of the conditional use for the
expansion of a church.
It's petition CU-2004-AR-6384, the Golden Gate Congregation of
Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc.
The next time certain item is item 12B to be heard at 12 noon.
This is a shade session. It's, notice is hereby given pursuant to section
286.011(8) Florida statutes. The County Attorney desires advice from
the Board of County Commissioners in closed attorney-client session
on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 today, at a time certain of 12 noon in the
commission conference room.
The board, in executive session, will discuss settlement
negotiations and strategy relating to litigation expenditures in the
Page 6
April 22-23, 2008
pending litigation cases of Bonita Media Enterprises, LLC, versus
Collier County Code Enforcement Board, Collier County Board of
County Commissioners, case number 2:07-cv-411-FtM-29DNF; and
there's another case, same particular issue with Bonita Media
Enterprises, and that has to do with the case in the 20th Judicial Court
for Collier County, Florida.
That's all I have, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Mr. Klatzkow, do you have any changes, comments?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Commissioner Coletta, do you have any changes to today's
agenda or any ex parte on today's consent or summary agenda?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, Commissioner
Henning. First let me go through my -- declare what I have on the
consent agenda and the summary agenda.
On the consent agenda, 11A, I've had meetings; on A12, I've had
no disclosures. Bear with me here.
On the summary agenda, 17B, I've had correspondence; 17D,
meetings, correspondence, emails, phone calls; 17F, no disclosures.
But there's two things that I need to bring to the commission's
attention. One, I made an error. Very often when we're making our
calendars up and we're reviewing them, we miss something. Item
16H1 that I asked to be withdrawn because I didn't attend, I find out I
did attend. It's the same as your schedules. You know, you go to so
many different events, all of a sudden you look at it and you have
doubts that you were there. And then when you start to review it, you
realize you were.
So with your permission, I'd like to add that back on the agenda.
And the other thing, too, is that I appreciate the fact that we
moved 171 to 8C; however, with that said, I talked -- had a discussion
yesterday with our County Attorney, and -- about the item itself and
Page 7
April 22-23, 2008
there's some concern not on my part but his part about the legal
sufficiency, and I would like Mr. Klatzkow at this point in time to
address that because I'd like to continue this item for one meeting to
make sure that we have covered that. There's a couple other reasons,
too, but this is the --
MR. KLATZKOW: The primary issue that Commissioner
Coletta brought to my attention is, what happens if we do a deferral to
a charitable entity and the federal government then changes its
mandates so that they're then required to service everybody
irrespective of citizenship or residency, would the county at that point
in time -- could the county foreclose on a property?
And I told Commissioner Coletta I didn't have an answer for him.
I just don't know what the answer is now. I'd have to do that research
before I could answer his question. And--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Is there anything else,
Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, that's it. Could we continue
that one item?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. I want to address both of your
Issues.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, fine.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta wants to put
back on the agenda the travel he had in Immokalee.
MR. MUDD: 16Hl, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And also wants to continue the
ordinance of -- the affordable housing ordinance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Which one is that?
MR. MUDD: That was 171 moving to 8C.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Actually it's not affordable
housing. It has to do with non-profits getting a -- not a waiver.
Page 8
April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: The Charitable Organization Impact Fee Deferral
Program.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And Commissioner Coletta wants to
continue that, doesn't want to move it to the regular agenda.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, no. I want to continue it.
It doesn't matter what part of the agenda it's on. I want to continue it
to the next meeting. I don't want it to go away.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct. Is there -- I mean, I would
love to have full disclosure on the item to --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Mr. Chairman, based upon
what the County Attorney said, it appears to me that the Board of
County Commissioners has to provide guidance to the County
Attorney of what our intent should be. The County Attorney can't
resolve that question that was posed without guidance from us.
As an example, there was never any intent in my mind that
property would be foreclosed on if the federal government made some
change in their regulations. It just means that we wouldn't grant any
more deferrals for future property if the county -- if the federal
government created a requirement that these deferrals be applied to
illegal immigrants. So I don't know why we can't solve that today.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, there's two other issues
too, sir, why I'd like to have it continued, if! may. One of them is the
fact that when this issue first came up, as you know, I was in
disagreement with my fellow commissioners on that, which is a
healthy thing to do, by the way.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, it's not really.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, I mean, you being the one
exception, of course. But the whole thing was is that I requested staff
to give me sufficient warning before this came back so we could be
prepared.
Page 9
April 22-23, 2008
I received no warning and became -- I found it on Sunday when I
was reviewing the agenda. There's people out there in the community
that want to interact with this, and they had no time to be able to come
to this meeting with the short notice that was made on this. So with --
there's been quite a few different failings on this going forward. I
really think in all fairness to myself, I'd grant this same request to you
ifit was made.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: If you have other issues other than
the ones you originally --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I do, more than one.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Then I don't have a problem with
it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Does anybody -- any other of the
commissioners have a comment on continuing this item?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'll second it.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, before you do that, let's get your
agenda on and approved, and then after you've done that, let's go to
continue this particular item with the separate vote; and this way
you've got your agenda and it's already been locked down, just for
advertising purposes, to make sure we've got this.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta, do you have
anything else?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, that takes care of it. Thank
you SIr.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. I just wanted to ask, this
doesn't in any way harm any of the funding that we're to be receiving,
right?
MR. MUDD: No, we're fine.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, fine.
Thank you. Yes, I do have many, many things. On the consent
agenda, 16A 11, I've had meetings, correspondence, emails, and calls,
Page 10
April 22-23, 2008
and I can name those people if you'd like, but I do have them
mentioned on my agenda sheet here and -- for public viewing.
Also, 16A13, I've had phone calls on this one; 16A14, I've had
phone calls on that one; 16A23, I've had correspondence and emails.
On the summary agenda, on 17E, I've had meetings and phone
calls. The meetings -- this is on the mobile home overlay zoning
district stewardship area. I've met with George Varnadoe, Tom
Sansbury, Kevin van Asdorp (phonetic), BCC/RLSA, Rural Land
Stewardship Area Advisory Board, Tom Conrecode, Tom Flood, and
Bruce Anderson, and I've gotten calls from Tom Conrecode.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there anything else?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: One other thing --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes,
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- and I'd just like a moment
sometime maybe at the end of this portion of the agenda, just to bring
up a fast item, shouldn't take but a second, but this way I can give
direction to the County Attorney.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: With your approval, of course.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I have no ex parte on today's
summary agenda. I have correspondence, email correspondence with
staff on 16A20, and I have no further changes to the agenda.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. Thank you very much,
Chairman. Whoops. Good morning, thank you very much, Chairman.
On the -- today's consent agenda, I have no ex parte. On the
summary agenda, I'd like to say at this time that -- an item on the
agenda, on the summary agenda is 17 A, it's the Cocohatchee
settlement agreement, and I would like to say that I want to thank all
the neighbors that were involved in this process, probably starting
over two years ago working with the developer, coming up with ideas
and concerns that directly impacted the PUD and the people in that
Page 11
April 22-23, 2008
area, and I'd like to say that I want to thank staff who worked so
diligently and, of course, a real special thanks to the Planning
Commission. They had many, many meetings on this.
And I believe what we have here is a product that everyone
should be proud of, and I want to thank, again, the Planning
Commission. They had numerous meetings on this item. And today
we've come to resolve this particular item, and thank you very much.
And at that, I have no other ex parte on the summary agenda.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Chairman, I have no further
recommended or requested changes to the agenda. I have no
disclosure on the consent agenda. And with respect to 17E on the
summary agenda, I did have meetings with the petitioner and the
petitioner's agent.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Ms. Filson, do we have any public
speakers on today's agenda?
MS. FILSON: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I have a public speaker for
two items on the consent agenda. John McCormick. He would like to
speak on 16A19 and 1620. Mr. McCormick?
MR. McCORMICK: Good morning, Commissioners.
On 16,20 and--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Your name for the record.
MR. McCORMICK: Oh, John McCormick.
On 16, 19 and 20, these are just routine bond releases. We have
-- we have no doubt that this work's been done and signed off on;
however, what we have noticed, there's been a lot of changes after the
fact, and what's happening is, these bonds are getting released, it's
going back to saying privately maintained. Well, that's our HOA dues
that pay for that.
All we ask is that, in the original spirit, intent of the
commissioners' letter, I think this commissioners' letter was designed
Page 12
April 22-23, 2008
to say that, hey, there is eventually going to be a turnover. When the
turnover happens, at least some homeowners need to acknowledge it.
The developer's already in bankruptcy, he's already defaulted on
a DCA. We see a trend here; we're going to be left holding the bag.
And every time one of these bonds gets released, there goes any
protection we might have at this point.
So all we're asking is, not that the bond doesn't get released,
we're asking that we're there for the inspections. And we know that
Stan Chrzanowski's office actually invites the homeowners to be there
for these inspections; however, the developer's reluctant to let us go to
the inspections, and we think that's a little bit unfair.
We've asked for engineering reports; have been denied. We've
repeatedly asked to see what's actually being turned over and what
we're actually paying for, and we have been denied.
So we -- if you look at the letter that I originally signed off on,
my intent of signing off on that was that if I didn't sign off on it,
maybe a less savvy homeowner would have signed off on it.
And I think that the letter's very clear what the commissioners'
sample letter says, is that they want us to be there and be a part of this,
because we're going to inherit that.
And what I would like to do is, on these two items here and any
future bonds for this developer that come up, is we acknowledge that
we actually have been there for the inspection, not just that, okay, it's
okay to have your bond released. And I think that's fair.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I'm confused. We've got -- 19
is a recommendation of final approval for road -- private roadway
drainage improvements for the final plat for Reflection Lake.
MR. McCORMICK: Correct.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. And then the other one is --
okay. They're both Reflection Lake plats.
MR. McCORMICK: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coyle, did you
Page 13
April 22-23, 2008
have a question; did I see your hand?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You didn't, but I do have a
question.
I'm concerned that just allowing your presence there will not
necessarily solve a conflict ifthere is one. We can certainly, I think,
take action that would permit you to be there during inspection, but
what happens then if you have an objection to the outcome of that
inspection? The action we take on your part to allow your presence
will not solve any conflict if you disagree with the inspection.
MR. McCORMICK: You're correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So I think that it might be more
appropriate if we also continue these two items until an appropriate
arrangement can be made to protect the interests of the homeowners'
association.
MR. McCORMICK: That's all we ask, Commissioner. We just
want to be present for it. And if you look at paragraph 2 on the
commissioners' sample letter, we'd like those requirements to be met
some way. We're going to be paying for this when they get this bond
back, and we just want to know what's happening and that it's actually
happened, especially on 20, that -- if I get permitting to build a roof
and then I turn around and as soon as the inspector leaves I change the
roof, well, I'm in the wrong, and that's exactly what's happening on the
landscaping irrigation requirement.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Fiala?
MR. McCORMICK: These could be substantiated.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I was just going to say a similar
thing. I would like to see this continued until we work out some kind
of way that we can enforce whatever these things are. But I'm
delighted to see that you're here. So many times these things pass by
and nobody knows, and you did, and you took this effort. And we've
had problems along this same line with other areas. So I certainly
want to bring this back as well.
Page 14
April 22-23, 2008
MR. McCORMICK: Yes, Commissioner. And I think that's
why that letter came out to begin with, because there has been
historical problems. A lot of people are in default right now, and we
just don't want to be caught -- they're already in default because of the
bankruptcy. We just don't want them walking away and we don't
know what's going on.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Do you know how many more
bonds there are out there on this PUD?
MR. McCORMICK: The -- based on the information I have
right now, you're looking at a total of $6,777,948.70 worth. Now,
these are insurance bonds. It doesn't represent real money; however,
there's 10 bonds.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Yeah, I believe we should
bring this back for further discussion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I agree.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: To bring this back so that we
protect the people that are going to inherit this community.
MR. McCORMICK: Thank you, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Entertain a motion to approve today's
agenda as amended, including continuing 16A19 and 20.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And that would include 171?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, I was going to get there before
the motion, but --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay,
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- I guess unless there's an
amendment to the motion, we'll have to hear another motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think the suggestion was is
that we do the motion and then bring it second -- that'd be a second
motion.
Page 15
April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I understand.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I believe that's what it was.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right. Any discussion on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Then I'd --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: 171.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Right. Motion -- 171 or 8C,
whatever we want to call it, motion to continue it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that is a -- the next agenda,
which is --
MR. MUDD: 13th of May, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- 13th of May. Just a procedural
matter, we approved the agenda with this item on there. We can go
ahead and do that?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. There's a motion by
Commissioner Coletta; second by who, Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
Page 16
April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Weare going to today's public petitions, and the first public
petition is --
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir, the item -- this item was continued from
the April 8, 2008 BCC meeting. It's a public petition.
Commissioner, I think we need to slow down just a second. You
finished with today's agenda with the continuances and stuff. I think
you need to do 2B, C, D, and E before we go to 6.
Page 17
AGENDA CHANGES
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' MEETING
ADril 22. 2008
Withdraw Item 6B: Public petition request by Carl Kuehner to discuss PUD rezone for Esperanza Place,
Immokalee, Florida. (Petitioner's request.)
Withdraw Item 6C: Public petition request by Markus Weatherwax to discuss sign permits for Athletic Club
of Naples. (Petitioner's request.)
Item 7A: Under "Considerations" of the executive summary, the last part of the first sentence should read,
". . . . . that the provisions of the previously adopted lDC shall apply in the event (rather than "even") of
such a conflict." Also, page 65 of 69, the August 31, 2008 date on Brad Schiffer'S letter is incorrect. The
letter would have been written sometime between March 26 and April 8, 2008, (Commissioner Fiala's
request.)
Item 7B: The Resolution for this item was omitted from the printed agenda packet. Copies have been
distributed and made available for review. (Staff's request.)
Item 8A: Section Five (b) of the Ordinance should read as follows: "plus an additional ORe lumdred aRd
fifty dollars ($1511.1111Lfifty dollar fiftv dollar ($50.00\ appeal fee. .." "The $1511.1111 $50.00 fee may be
amended by Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners." Section Seven (e) of the Ordinance
should read as follows: "plus an additional ORe lumdred aRd fifty dollars ($1511.1111) fiftv dollar ($50.00\
appeal fee. . ," (Staff's request.)
Item 9C: The first sentence under Considerations, should read, "The citizens of Collier County and the
general public desire to use the Addition lands as such lands..,." (Commissioner Fiala's request.)
Add On Item 9E: Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to approve filling a vacant
position in the Board's Office as an exception to the current County policy to not fill open or vacated
General Fund positions. (Sue Filson's request.)
Add On Item 10G: Recommendation to approve presenting to the U.S. Congress for consideration in the
2008 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) two proposed Collier County water quality projects,
including Clam Bay Estuary improvements, and a Naples Bay conservation initiative entailing a system of
10 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells along Golden Gate Canal, and a City of Marco Island project
request for Hideaway Beach erosion control and beach renourishment. (Staff's request.)
Add On Item 10H: letter to Florida Transportation Secretary regarding April 24, 2008 Alligator Alley
Industry Forum. (Staff's request.)
Move Item 16C2 to 101: Recommendation to approve as ex-officio the governing Board of the Collier
County Water-Sewer District, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding/Charter, establishing the
lower West Coast Utility Council. (Commissioner Coyle'S request.)
Withdraw Item 16H1: Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for reimbursement serving a valid
public purpose. Will attend the Coalition of Immokalee Workers "Human Rights Heroes in our Backyard"
on April 11 ,2008. $50 to be paid from Commissioner Coletta'S travel budget. (Commissioner Coletta'S
request.)
Move Item 16H7 to 41 and will be read on Wednesdav. ADril 23. 2008: Proclamation thanking The Honorable
Mario Diaz-Balart for his extraordinary service to Collier County. (Commissioner Coletta's request.)
Item 170: Exhibit 0, Development Conditions CU-2007-AR-11394 that appears in the agenda packet is
incorrect. A correct Exhibit 0 has been distributed and made available for review. (Staff's request.)
Item 17E: The Resolution for this item was omitted from the printed agenda packet. Copies have been
distributed and made available for review. (Staff's request.)
Move Item 171 to 8C: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners consider adopting an
Ordinance amending the Collier County Consolidated Impact Fee Ordinance, which is Chapter 74 of the
Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances, by incorporating the directed changes to the Charitable
Organization Impact Fee Deferral Program. (Commissioner Coletta's request.)
Time Certain Items:
Item 3 Service Awards: Item 4 Proclamations: and Item 5 Presentations will be heard on Wednesday, April
23. 2008 beainnina at 9:00 a.m.
Item 7C to be heard at 2:00 p.m. This item requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure
be provided by Commission members. CUR-2008-AR-12955 SR-846 Land Trust Earth Mine, Mining Venture,
LLC., represented by R. Bruce Anderson of Roetzel & Andress, is requesting a review of the approved
Conditional Use Resolution 2007-274 for earth mining in the A-MHO Agricultural zoning district. The
subject property, consisting of 2,576 acres, is located east of Immokalee Road (CR-846), approximately 2
miles north of Oil Well Road (CR-858) in Sections 35 & 36, Township 47 South, Range 27 East, and all of
Sections 1 & 2, Township 48 South, Range 27 East, Less Road Right-of-Way for County Road 846, Collier
County, Florida.
Item 8B to be heard at 4:30 p.m. This item was continued from the April 8, 2008 BCC meeting.
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners reconsider the Land Development Code
Amendment addressing the calculation of the maximum number of wetslips when a shoreline is in a
Conservation Easement.
Item 10B to be heard at 10:30 a.m.: Recommendation from the Pelican Bay Services Division that the Board
of County Commissioners authorize the Pelican Bay Services Division to prepare, sign and submit the
Clam Bay Management Plan to the Federal and State Agencies.
Item 10E to be heard at 10:00 a.m.: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve
changes to a current interlocal agreement with the City of Naples for funds earmarked for Pulling Boat
Ramp; give direction considering a funding policy for capital improvements and operations/maintenance at
municipalities for Parks and Recreation programs.
Item 12A to be heard at 11:15 a.m.: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners sitting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals reject the recommendations of the Special Magistrate pursuant to the
alternate dispute resolution process resulting from the denial of the conditional use for the expansion of a
church. (Petition CU-2004-AR-6384 - Golden Gate Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc.)
Item 12B to be heard at 12:00 Noon: Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 286.011(8) Fla. Stat.,
the County Attorney desires advice from the Board of County Commissioners in closed attorney-client
session on TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008, at a time certain of 12:00 noon in the Commission conference room.
The Board in executive session will discuss: Settlement negotiations and strategy related to litigation
expenditures in the pending litigation cases of Bonita Media Enterprises, LLC. V. Collier County Code
Enforcement Board, Collier County Board of County Commissioners, Case No.: 2:07-cv-411-FtM-29DNF,
now pending in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division and Bonita
Media Enterprises, LLC, Brennan, Manna & Diamond (Reg. Agent) v. Board of County Commissioners,
Collier County, Florida, Appeal Case No.: 07-2035-CA, Lower Tribunal CEB No.: 2007-35, now pending in the
Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida, in the Administrative Appeal Division of the
Circuit Court.
April 22-23, 2008
Item #2B, #2C, #2D and #2E
MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 29, 2008 BCC/SFWMD
WORKSHOP MEETING; MINUTES OF THE MARCH 18, 2008
BCC/FIRE REVIEW TASK FORCE WORKSHOP MEETING;
MINUTES OF THE MARCH 25-26, 2008 BCC REGULAR
MEETING; MINUTES OF THE APRIL 1,2008 BCC/AIRPORT
AUTHORITY WORKSHOP MEETING - APPROVED AS
PRESENTED
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Entertain a motion to approve
February 29,2008 BCC/South Florida Water Management, or
SFWMD, Workshop; and March 18,2008 BCC/Fire Review Task
Force Workshop; March 25 and 26, BCC Regular Meeting; April 1st,
BCC/ Airport Authority Workshop.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Halas,
second by Commissioner Fiala.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
Item #6A
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY JAMES WALKER TO
Page 18
April 22-23, 2008
DISCUSS IMPACT FEES FOR A COMMERCIAL SITE IN
IMMOKALEE, FLORIDA - MOTION TO GRANT REQUEST -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to public petitions.
This item was continued from the April 8, 2008 BCC Meeting. It's a
public petition request by James Walker to discuss impact fees for a
commercial site in Immokalee, Florida.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Walker?
MR. MUDD: State your name for the record.
MR. WALKER: My name's Jimmy Walker. Hi.
I've got some backup material here that we made some copies of
that I don't think were in the package that was submitted. If you want,
I can hand them to you all, and you can look at them between now and
the next time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. WALKER: There are several packages there.
I'm a partner in FDE Immokalee, LLC, and we're building a
Family Dollar store, and a small1,200-square-foot retail building right
next to it out in Immokalee.
And we found this piece of land, and worked out the deal with
the owner, and then we confirmed on the county website and with a
call to the county on January 28th of'07, that the property was zoned
C-5.
Then we went to the pre-app. meeting with the county and -- on
February 13th of'07, and staff there confirmed -- and in your pile of
stuff there, there's all the people that were at the meeting -- and they
all confirmed that the property was indeed zoned C-5 and would fall
under the C-5 rules for the zoning and the site planning and the
construction.
So we went ahead and did our full site engineering. That
includes, of course, the building and the parking layouts, surface water
Page 19
April 22-23, 2008
retention drainage, road access, utilities hookups, building footprints,
all those things that go into the civil engineering part of the project;
and we based, of course, all this on the C-5 zoning that we had heard
from the county now several times.
On April 17th as we were getting towards completion of our site
engineering and getting ready to submit for our final site approval, we
called again and we talked with staff member David Hedrick, and he,
again, confirmed that the property was zoned C-5 and was not in any
existing overlay district.
When our civil engineer called the county to discuss formal
submittal of the plans on April 19th, staff member Christine
Willoughby mentioned to the engineer that the site might be, indeed,
part of this Immokalee Main Street overlay district zoning, which is
just over a small part of downtown Immokalee.
Now, this zoning overlay district required a whole different set of
rules be followed as to the layout and construction of the project.
She sent it up the ladder, and on April 23rd, the zoning and land
development planning manager, Ross Gochenaur, confirmed that we
were, indeed, inside of this Immokalee Main Street overlay district.
He also confirmed that his staff -- and there's a copy of the notes for
this -- that his staff had made numerous mistakes in telling us that the
property was in C-5 zoning. He apologized for the error, and he
offered to refund any money that we had spent on applications up to
that point.
Now, while that was nice ofMr. Gochenaur to admit the mistake
as well as offer the refund, by this time we were pretty committed to
this site in that we had already paid for environmental reports,
surveys, soil borings, legal fees, civil drawings, non-refundable
deposits on the land, and we'd spent over $75,000 by this time. We
also had an executed lease with our tenant.
So we decided to go ahead with the project, but we had to start
over from the beginning with an entirely new set of civil plans. All
Page 20
April 22-23, 2008
those disciplines that I mentioned before had to be redone and
re-drawn.
And we went through the process again, and this time we did
receive our permit; however, by the time we received our permit and
could apply for our building permit, this was March 5th of this year.
And when we applied for our building permit, we found out that the
county had increased the impact fees for that area as of January 1st.
Now, this resulted in an increase to us of $47,387.47 over and
above what it would have been on December 31 st.
Now, if we hadn't had the delay caused by the necessity of
redesigning the whole project because of the incorrect zoning
information we were given several times, we would have been
submitted for this building permit -- I did all the math backwards and
everything -- and we would have been in there 83 days before and --
or on or before December 13,2007 and we would have paid those
lower impact and saved $47,000. So what I'm requesting or what
we're requesting is that the commission allow us to pay the impact
fees that we would have paid on December 31 st had we not been
bumped back because of the mistakes. That's it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Questions from the Board of
County Commissioners?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I would make a motion that we
approve his request. I think he's absolutely right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And I absolutely second it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And we have a motion by
Commissioner Coyle to grant the request, second by Commissioner
Fiala.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. While I'm very interested
in what he has to say, I'd like to be able to hear from staff before we
vote on this, because these types of things shouldn't happen. But I'd
like to be able to find out what did happen and if everything is just the
Page 21
April 22-23, 2008
way it was supposed to be.
Is Mr. Schmitt or someone from staff here that can -- there we go.
Mr. Walker, we appreciate you being here today--
MR. WALKER: Yes, sir
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- and taking advantage of our
public petition process.
MR. SCHMITT: For the record, Joe Schmitt, Administrator of
Community Development/Environmental Services Division.
Mr. Walker told you exactly, or at least from his perspective,
what took place. And in fact, there was an error in the GIS map,
which -- the area where his development was going to be placed, the
Main Street overlay district, it wasn't clearly represented, and was
informed on March 23,2007 which the overlay was going to impact--
basically the overlay required parking to be in the rear of the building
rather than the front, so it was -- it was a redesign of the site to allow
the building to be placed closer to the street.
The -- and I've got -- let me just put those dates on the visualizer.
The -- though I don't argue the situation Mr. Walker was in, he could
have submitted for simultaneous review for his building permit on the
first of March -- I'm sorry, the first of November. Simultaneous
review allows for a building permit to come in upon second submittal
of plat or plan, and that certainly would have locked him in for the
date for the building permit prior to the impact fees.
The impact fees were approved in July, 2007, and there was a
six-month delay in the implementation or the effective date of those
impact fees till January 1,2008.
I had no request from Mr. Walker or anybody on his team to
allow this permit to come in. It certainly could have come in after the
first of November to beat those impact fee dates, and in fact, I've had
several requests from other developers to try and get applications in to
get the building permit dated prior to the effective date of the impact
fees.
Page 22
Apri122-23, 2008
So I understand the development -- or the predicament that he
was in, and I understand fully what it may cost him, but the facts are,
he could have submitted for a building permit in November, and that
would have locked him in on a date prior to the implementation or the
effective date of the impact fees.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So you can get a building permit
before your site plan is approved?
MR. SCHMITT: Simultaneous review allows for submittal of
building permit at second submittal of site plan. So, yes, he can
submit for his building permit or his building plan review upon second
submittal of site plan.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Was Mr. Walker made
aware of this, that this was available, or has this ever come up in
discussions?
MR. SCHMITT: That -- I can't answer that. I don't know. I
don't know ifhe was aware of the option for a simultaneous review. I
don't know.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It doesn't seem likely that he
would have passed up the money on the table ifhe was made aware of
the fact that these particular elements were coming into play seeing --
MR. SCHMITT: I know he's an out-of-town developer and may
have not been aware of the simultaneous review process. It's normally
discussed or at least is brought up during the pre-application. I looked
back at the notes. I could find nothing to confirm that, in fact, he was
advised of option for a simultaneous review.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Most of the questions were
answered by Joe.
And I guess the bottom line is that, had this gentleman requested
this, to have the permit prior to December 31 st, he could have had that
building permit; is that correct?
Page 23
April 22-23, 2008
MR. SCHMITT: Well, he wouldn't have had the building permit,
Commissioner. He would have been able to submit it and have it
dated prior to the effective date of the impact fees.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Then he would have been covered?
MR. SCHMITT: And the impact fees are based on the date of
submittal, not on the date of approval.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Great. Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries 4-1; Commissioner
Halas dissenting in the motion.
Next public petition, please.
Item #6D
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY NANCY COLINA TO
DISCUSS CONSTRUCTION AND WARRANTY ISSUES WITH
DESIGNERS HOME GROUP, INC. - MOTION TO PLACE ON A
FUTURE BCC AGENDA - WITHDRAWN
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, as per the change sheet, petition
6B and 6C has been withdrawn by the petitioners.
We are at 6D. It's a public petition request by Nancy Colina to
discuss construction and warranty issues with Designers Home Group,
Page 24
April 22-23, 2008
Inc.
MS. COLINA: Good morning, Commissioners; good morning,
everyone. My name is Nancy Colina. And if that could be given to
Mr. Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. COLINA: I am here because my family's grateful for the
opportunity given to petition the county commissioners. I'd like to see
if there's someone else here in the community that has also been a
victim of Designers Home Group or any other corporation. My
suggestion would be to contact the commissioners' office and they will
try to help you with your problems. I am very well aware that I'm not
the only one that had problems with this corporation. I have sufficient
evidence to back up everything that I'm about to say.
My husband and I decided to build our home here on our land in
Collier County, and we visited several developers prior to making a
decision and we selected to have Designers Home Group, Inc. build
our new home.
My husband and I signed a residential contract March 3,2003;
Exhibit A.
Construction of our new residence began, and work was
performed according to builder's schedule. Permits and inspections
were apparently done. Certificate of Occupancy issued March 26,
2004; Exhibits Band C.
The keys to our new home were given to my husband on May 5,
2004. We started to bring some of our belongings gradually on
weekends because we still had our existing home in Miami.
Our problems started toward the end of May, beginning of June,
2004. My husband arrived with furniture and to stay for the weekend
when he realized that the front bedroom carpet was soaked. Somehow
water was seeping through the front bedroom and living room area.
Here is when our nightmares began and our new home became a
living inferno.
Page 25
April 22-23, 2008
I contacted the builder right away regarding the problem my
husband had encountered and was told that someone would come and
check to see what the problem was. I would make arrangements with
the office to have someone go and meet me at the house, and no one
ever showed up.
I made numerous phone calls and sent several faxes confirming
the time I would be at the house, and it was all a waste of my time.
Prior to the one-year period, we are entitled to, under warranty
from Designers Home Group, Inc. against defective workmanship and
material. Considering the construction standards for our property in
Collier County, I sent a certified letter to Designers Home Group, Inc.
and the Office of Inspector General; Exhibits D and E.
I waited to see if I would get a reply regarding the letter. The
builder did not make an attempt or comply with the issues. Once
again, I sent yet another certified letter, Exhibit F. I was hoping to
finally have problems resolved. Needless to say, I did not get a
response.
I decided to file a complaint with the Department of Business and
-- excuse me -- and Professional Regulations sent certified mail;
Exhibit G.
I contacted several roofing companies in the area to come to my
home to see if they could tell me what -- the problem with my home.
The first company to arrive was Kelly Roofing on June 25, 2005. We
now know what was the cause of the problem. They told us and
showed us that the valley in front of our home had never been
finished. We pursued this issue with legal counsel; Exhibit H and I.
We also encountered yet another problem that we were not aware
of until hours prior to Hurricane Wilma threatened our area in 2005.
The shutters to the back were the incorrect size, too short; Exhibit J.
I sent another complaint form to consumer complaints due to not
having proof of the problem along with the mold analysis report;
Exhibit K.
Page 26
April 22-23, 2008
Conclusion is that we ended up with water damage in the interior
of both areas, severe damage due to roofleaks, mold contamination in
our home.
Solution to our mold problem would be remediation.
Remediation started August 10,2006. While work was in progress, we
were forced to move out of our home. We could not leave the
premises due to all my animals and my husband's equipment. We had
no other choice but to rent an RV and place it in the back of the home.
I had a very difficult situation with my 78-year-old mother. She
suffers from dementia, Alzheimer's, and is confined to a bed.
Having to care for her in the R V was very stressful and difficult.
We stayed in the RV for three weeks only because it had been
resolved previously. The next week and a half we stayed in a screen
porch because we still could not go inside our home.
On September 12, 2006, we were finally able to have access to
our home; Exhibit Land M. Finally, we received judgment in our
favor on December 20, 2007 signed by Circuit Court Judge Cynthia
A. Ellis; Exhibit N.
We honestly believed the county is responsible for all the
problems that this has brought our family. Ifthe inspector had not
signed the approval for the roof and had advised the builder to finish
the job, we would not have encountered any of these problems.
We had to take a line of credit to pay for all the unexpected
expenses. This affected us in a negative way, my relationship with my
husband of 25 years.
As a result in constant arguments, mental anguish, depression, we
were to a point that we almost lost our home.
Finally, I have -- all the information that I have provided is
because I do not wish any other family in this county or any other
county have to go through what we have been because it was a living
nightmare.
Thank you.
Page 27
April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Questions? Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. Let me get -- understand the
time line here. I believe you said that around May, 2004, is when you
got a CO for your house; is that correct?
MS. COLINA: We got the Certificate of Occupancy in March
26, 2004.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Oh, okay. And you moved in in
May and found the problem?
MS. COLINA: We were given the keys May 5, 2004.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And then what took place
after May? Was there anything done to the house between May of
2004 and June of2005 to stop the water from coming in?
MS. COLINA: We did not know what the problem was.
Unfortunately, they would claim, oh, it's probably your window is not
correctly closed. They would never show up and -- honestly, we had
no way of knowing where the water was coming from because we
couldn't see.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: But it was -- started leaking in
2004; is that correct?
MS. COLINA: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. So in June of2005 is when
you -- what'd you do, finally get -- have somebody come out to take a
look to find out what was going on?
MS. COLINA: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And then what was the
time line in September of 2006? What took place in 2006, September?
MS. COLINA: Excuse me. In September, 2006, is when the
remediation had already been finished in my home, meaning they had
already taken apart breaking the walls, taking apart the roof and
everything was fixed. It started August 10th.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Now, it's my understanding
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April 22-23, 2008
from staff -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that you had the ability to
take some monetary restitution on this, and I believe it was like
$18,000 and you turned it down; is that true?
MS. COLINA: I was never told what the amount would be. And
unfortunately, the gentleman that was doing the remediation, he told
me that his fees would be approximately $15,000. That's not taking
into consideration what the reconstruction would be.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay, all right. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions, comments? Commissioner
Coletta, Commissioner Coyle then.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So just to try to sum this
up so that we can put our arms around this, what you're saying is that
the lack of full inspection on the roof caused the leaking to take place?
MS. COLINA: That's correct, because the roof was never
finished. The valley portion, it was completely bare.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Mr. Schmitt, can I get
you to address this?
MR. SCHMITT: Again, for the record, Joe Schmitt.
My staff has been working, at least Mike Ossorio from contractor
licensing, has been working with Ms. Colina since August, 2006.
We met -- Mike met with her, or at least with the contractor, the
provider -- or, I'm sorry, the qualifier, Pablo Hernandez, and
negotiated a settlement of $18,000. That money was turned down. I
believe what Ms. Colina was looking for was an award for pain and
suffering as well, and that is something we cannot do. That has to go
to a judge.
And I know this went to court. And also it was June 2005 that
we note that Kelly Roofing went out and cited the problems with the
roof, and it wasn't until August, 2006, that the repairs were conducted.
She -- the issue here is from an inspection standpoint; our
inspectors inspect for compliance with the Florida Building Code and
not a quality control type of inspection, meaning going over the entire
Page 29
April 22-23, 2008
roof. That's the contractor's responsibility.
So I think the issue here is, what is the responsibility of the
building department in regards to conducting inspections and what is
the responsibility of the contractor?
This was clearly a contractor installation problem, which we
confirmed. We negotiated a settlement; that settlement was refused.
That settlement -- and then we -- it went to civil court, filed for breach
of contract. But unfortunately by that time the contractor was out of
business. The qualifier basically filed for bankruptcy, and now the
only recourse is to seek damages through the recovery fund, the state
recovery fund.
Mike has also been in contact with the Department of Business
and Professional Regulation, which is where these kind of complaints
go if it's a state-certified contractor. And we've been working on
trying to assist in trying to get recovery money out of the state
recovery fund as well.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I can understand why she
might have -- even if she was aware of the -- what was it, $15,000?
MR. SCHMITT: $18,000, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- $18,000, $13,000 of it was
going to be taken as processing fees by a person that was handling it.
That's totally unrealistic, you know. Why would anybody want to
accept that?
But never mind that. I appreciate the fact that you're stepping in
and you're trying to act on the part of our resident to reach some sort
of agreement for settlement. The problem goes back to the very
beginning.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: The roof itself, is there some
way when you inspect roofs that you're supposed to be able to certify
them to be sound when your inspector goes out?
MR. SCHMITT: Let me -- from a technical perspective, let me
Page 30
April 22-23, 2008
turn to my building director, because he can -- he can cite in the
building code.
MR. SCHMITT: Bob?
MR. DUNN: Hi, I'm Bob Dunn, building director, Collier
County .
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We shouldn't be doing this.
MR. DUNN: We're required by the Florida Building Code to do
a giant inspection.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Is there a background noise in
here someplace?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, Commissioner, if we want to
put this on a future agenda for a staff report, there needs to be a
motion and a second.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I make a motion to put it on a
future agenda, because I would like to have more information. And I
agree with you, we shouldn't be trying to put the whole item before us
right now.
MR. SCHMITT: But the issue here is, it's a claim against the
county, and that's -- that's why I need to turn to the County Attorney,
because we're going to adjudicate something.
MR. MUDD: Stop.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Stop.
Mr. Chairman, can I make a comment?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. There's a motion on the floor.
Is there a second to the motion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a second by Commissioner
Fiala.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The question that we debated last
time about hearing something that was a legal issue and subject to a
court of law decision, we would not take action on, we would not
Page 31
April 22-23, 2008
discuss.
Now, in the form that was filled out, the question is asked, is this
subject matter under litigation at this time? The petitioner has said no,
but yet the petition itself is a request for a judgment against the city --
I presume you mean the county -- for damages for all the pain and
suffering.
Now, it is clear that this is a legal issue, and anything we do to
discuss this in this venue at this point in time jeopardizes the taxpayers
of Collier County because that's where any money for restitution
would come from.
Now, the thing that hasn't been pointed out -- Commissioner
Halas did get to it -- but the thing that hasn't been pointed out is that
13 months elapsed from the time the owner moved into the house until
they called a roofing contractor to inspect the source of the leak.
Now, how much damage was done in those 13 months? We
certainly are not responsible for that, nor can an enforcement -- or a
code enforcement officer or a building inspector look at a roof and
guarantee that it doesn't have a leak in it. It just isn't possible to do
that.
So I would suggest we not discuss this. If the petitioner wishes to
pursue this in court, then they should have a lawyer, they should file
the papers, and our attorney should be reviewing it. This is not the
right place to deal with this issue.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. Before I go to Commissioner
Coletta, I want to say that the meeting after that, I can't abide by that
unless the majority of the board through resolution or ordinance where
an issue may be in the court or may be a code enforcement issue, you
know, that would have to be ordered by the Board of Commissioners
through a vehicle.
But I understand what you're saying, but I just want to recognize
that I didn't agree with that.
Commissioner Coletta?
Page 32
April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. I think this is very healthy
discussion.
Yeah, the -- one of the things I was concerned about -- now, I'm
not trying to advocate a settlement at this time. The only thing I'm
trying to do is establish if the way we inspect homes has a shortfalling
to it. What do we need in the future? If there is a way to be able to
prevent something like this from happening, if there's something that
the inspection is being done that's falling short, that's what I would
like to know.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Then you add fire to the legal issue
that undermines the rights of the taxpayers of Collier County.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, also, what about the rights
of the individual?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It can be done in a different venue.
You can have -- you can have the staff report on that at any point in
time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm lost on that. In other words,
bring it back for a staff report?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No. What you have in a motion, to
bring this issue back on a further agenda, and what Commissioner
Coyle responded to is what you said, is you want to -- some
information on how staff does inspection, is there a better way to do it.
And that's a reason for his comment. Okay?
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I've got some very serious concerns
about this. If this goes forward and we, as a Board of County
Commissioners, agree on this, everybody in the whole county who's
got a leak in their roof or whatever else is going to be here looking for
restitution, and I got a problem with this. I got a problem with it when
a person has a home for this length of time, as I brought up earlier, for
over a year, without addressing the problem.
Now, I can tell you if I had a brand new home, I would be to my
Page 33
April 22-23, 2008
wits end to figure out where the leak was, and it would be done very
shortly. It wouldn't take 13 months to figure out that I got a leak in the
house.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. It's the law in Florida that the county
is not liable for the negligence of an inspector, so that if the inspector
even committed negligence -- I'm not saying negligence was done
here -- but if the inspector even committed an act of negligence here,
we are not responsible for that leak.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's right.
MR. KLATZKOW: If the issue is staff coming back explaining
the inspection process, how they do it and whatnot, I think that's a fine
discussion. But to bring this issue back, in my mind, is irrelevant
because this board can't do anything for this particular person anyway
as a matter of law. We have no legal liability here, which is why I
believe she's here and not in a court forum at this time.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I'll withdraw my second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. The seconder withdraws the
second.
Commission Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. If! may, there's one more
question. If I may address that question to you. Why was there a
lapse of so many months before you repaired the roof?
MS. COLINA: Because I continued calling the builder and
setting up appointments, and he would tell me, okay, I'll be there this
weekend at this time, and he would give me dates. I'd be there, and he
was never there.
Mind you, I still lived in Miami. I would just come over on
weekends. And he would break up every single date he would give
me. I would be rushing here from my work in Miami just to meet
him, and it was useless. I would take my vacation, and I'd be sitting at
the house waiting and waiting and waiting. No phone call. Nobody
Page 34
April 22-23, 2008
would show up, nothing.
That's when I decided to have someone, you know, take a look at
my roof to see what the problem was because water started -- water
marks started showing up in the interior of the roof. That's when I
called in the roofing company because I was not aware that the roof
had never been finished until they came.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you for being with us today.
MS. COLINA: Thank you.
Item #9 A
RESOLUTION 2008-116: RE-APPOINTING JERRY P. MORGAN
TO THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER
AUTHORITY - ADOPTED
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're going to move on to item 9A.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. That's appointment of a member to the
Collier County W ater/W astewater Authority.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Entertain a motion. We have one
applicant, Jerry Morgan, a re-applicant from District 2, for the water--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Halas,
second by Commissioner Coyle.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
Page 35
April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries.
Item #9B
RESOLUTION 2008-117: RE-APPOINTlNG KAREN L. BEATTY
AND CHARLES H. GUNTHER (W/W AIVER OF TERM LIMITS
FOR EACH) TO THE BA YSHORE/GA TEW A Y TRIANGLE
LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Next item is 9B, appointment of members to the
Bayshore/Gateway Triangle Local Redevelopment Advisory Board.
MS. FILSON: On this item, Commissioners -- sorry -- I need to
point out two things. On the -- under the objective, I have the term
expiring in May 22, 2011. That should be 2010, two years from 2008.
And then if you choose to reappoint the two members, I need to waive
both their terms.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I make a motion to approve
both of the committee recommendations, both members for the
committee recommendation, and also to waive their -- how do you say
that?
MS. FILSON: It's waive section 7B of ordinance 2001-55, their
term limit.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Waive whatever she said.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Fiala with a
clarify (sic) by Sue Filson to appoint the two members, reappoint the
two members. Is there a second to the motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a second to the motion by
Commissioner Coyle.
Page 36
April 22-23, 2008
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Next item is?
Item #9C
RESOLUTION 2008-118: AUTHORIZING PRELIMINARY
ALTERNATIVES OF THE "ADDITION LANDS" GENERAL
MANAGEMENT, WILDERNESS DESIGNATION AND OFF-
ROAD VEHICLE PLANS BEING DEVELOPED BY THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) FOR THE MANAGEMENT
OF THE "ADDITION LANDS" ANNEXED TO THE BIG
CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: 9C, to adopt a resolution authorizing preliminary
alternatives of the addition lands, general management wilderness
designation and off-road vehicle plans being developed by the
National Park Service for the management of the addition lands
annexed to the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Commissioner Coletta asked that this item be on the agenda.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta's asking us to
approve the resolution.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I'll second the motion.
Discussion on the motion?
Page 37
April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Really, myself, I don't, but I
think we have a speaker.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct. Is there any commissioners'
discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Please call up the speakers.
MS. FILSON: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wish to waive if you --
MS. FILSON: Okay, Mr. Chairman, I have two speakers. Frank
Denninger. He'll be followed by Wayne Jenkins.
MR. DENNINGER: Hello. Frank Denninger here with Jetport
Conservation and Recreation Club and the Big Cypress Sportsman's
Alliance, a recently formed group about a year ago.
And I just want to say, it's a pleasure to be here before you and
see that you all are considering a resolution like this. And also I'd like
to thank, like Mr. Jenkins here, also supported it with Mr. -- our
vice-president, John Cameron in our club, the jetport club, and Mr.
McCanless, the president of the Big Cypress Sportsmen's Alliance and
some local residents like Jack Schooley at Trail Lakes Campground,
and Mr. Arthur Skip Freeman in Everglades City, and Mr. Bellman in
Ochopee.
And it's just really a pleasure to see the county taking concern to
protect this cultural community and just help access to everywhere in
Collier County so the traditions and heritage can be carried on.
Thank you now.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Wayne Jenkins.
MR. JENKINS: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Wayne Jenkins. I'm president for the Collier Sportsman Conservation
Club.
I would just briefly like to say thank you very much for your
support of this. It's a great part of our tradition and culture and early
Page 38
April 22-23, 2008
history of Collier County. The Everglades has been a lot of what
made Collier County what it is with the interaction and the use of the
facilities.
There was very bad proposals to end this addition act so far as
going to making parks of Plantation, around Everglades City, and
some of that area as proposed designated wilderness where even a
motorboat couldn't be used in the area that's been used traditionally
since the beginning of motorboats, I guess, in this area.
Also, as an avid sportsman, we appreciate the support of putting
the National Park Service on notice that we do want the Enabling Act
of the 1974 legislation of the -- that created the Big Cypress that
recreation was to be in this area.
Thank you very much.
MS. FILSON: That's your final speaker, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you.
I'd also like to recognize in the audience we have Mayor Sammy
Hamilton and his wife Brenda. Sammy Hamilton, the mayor, and the
City Council of Everglades City have been very supportive of
reasonable access to the addition lands, and I appreciate him being
here today, too.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Any further discussion
on the motion?
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, this is nothing more than to
support the sportsman that -- in regards to the additional lands that
may come about in Great (sic) Cypress area, that those people will be
able to recreate on that land; is that correct?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And the end result is still
going to be up to the park service; is that correct?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's correct also.
Page 39
April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Seeing none, all in favor of the
motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
We've got a time certain
Item #10E
CHANGES TO A CURRENT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
WITH THE CITY OF NAPLES FOR FUNDS EARMARKED FOR
THE PULLING BOAT RAMP; GIVE DIRECTION
CONSIDERING A FUNDING POLICY FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATIONS/MAINTENANCE AT
MUNICIPALITIES FOR PARKS AND RECREATION
PROGRAMS - MOTION TO BUDGET 1 MILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE CITY OF NAPLES ' PARKS AND RECREATION FOR
TEN YEARS, AND STAFF TO BRING BACK AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE BEACH PARKING AND
PERMITTING AND TO INCLUDE AN INDEXING METHOD -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. We have a time certain item, and it's at
10 a.m. It's a recommendation that the Board of County
Page 40
April 22-23, 2008
Commissioners approve changes to a current interlocal agreement
with the City of Naples for funds earmarked for Pulling Boat Ramp,
give direction considering a funding policy for the capital
improvements and operations and, slash, maintenance at municipal --
at municipalities for parks and recreational programs.
Mr. Barry Williams, your director of parks and recreation, will
present.
MR. WILLIAMS: Commissioners, good morning. For the
record, my name is Barry Williams, parks and recreation director.
Mr. Chairman, I had a brief presentation, if I may, to provide
context for your discussion.
Commissioners, with your direction, in the March, last March
meeting, we brought back the existing interlocal and have redrafted
one that reflects your intent, and you'll have the opportunity to
approve that today.
The interlocal seeks to rescind the current agreement that you
have with the city and provide for the use of $700,000 for either of the
Pulling project or Fleischmann Park as reimbursable amount.
And finally, a portion of the interlocal stipulates something that
already exists, and that is that fees charged by the city at Fleischmann
would be the same for the county residents as well as the city.
Just to provide you with a description of the Pulling property, and
on the visualizer you can see the area outlined in yellow. That's the
area in dispute.
The city still maintains the property to the north. And there have
been discussions about the use of that property as part of the Gordon
River Greenway. And there's still plans, although in talking to the city
staff, not in the next fiscal year for that to be developed, but there are
plans in the future for that to be developed.
The Pulling property in dispute, the area in yellow, our
understanding, the city is still involved in litigation with the Pulling
family. There have been some discussions about that project becoming
Page 41
April 22-23, 2008
a county project; however, that's unresolved and we don't have
anything significant to describe to you about that today.
But I did want to outline the Pulling property. Just in looking at
Fleischmann Park, very popular park, and there are a number of
improvements that have been made the last -- this past fiscal year.
And as you can see from the visual, they have done extensive work in
redoing the ball fields. They've added sports lighting.
You can see along Goodletle-Frank Road there have been some
improvements made with parking. The skate park they've improved
by approximately a half a million dollars, so they've made some major
improvements this year. And certainly, the -- in approving this
interlocal, that money will go to good use being reimbursed --
reimbursing the city.
Just to move away from the interlocal, if I may. According to
your direction, we've also met with representatives of the City of
Naples, Everglades City and Marco Island to discuss their capital
improvements and operating and maintenance needs for the respective
parks and recreation departments.
Historically the Board of County Commissioners has provided
funding for capital improvements with those three cities both -- and
some examples are in the slide. We've also been involved, from park
and recognize standpoint, in money that was provided to Everglades
City for the city hall restoration.
I've added a slide, and I just wanted to describe, this is the 2008
contribution to regional parks. And if you can see on the slide the
contribution, the FY-'08 contribution is $260 million from the
unincorporated area as well as the city.
The $55 million contribution from the City of Naples represents
21 percent. The percent that is used from ad valorem for parks in
FY-'08 through our management budget office is approximately 1.9
percent. So you can see that the park's portion of ad valorem applied
to the contribution the city has made is approximately a million dollars
Page 42
April 22-23, 2008
for the City of Naples, 700,000 for the City of Marco, and then $8,000
for Everglades City.
In providing an assessment of operating and maintenance as well
as capital improvements, let me just start with the City of Naples.
And in discussing with the city officials, they indicated that for the
most part their park system is built out, and their needs focus on
capital improvements of existing properties.
The city has provided data on current usage of Fleischmann Park.
And the park, as you're aware, is close to several regional attractions,
most notably the Naples Zoo and Coastland Center Mall. This central
location attracts a large number of regional visitors to this community
park.
As the city has made several capital improvements during last
year with their current community center, the city has also provided
data that 3,400 city residents, 7,700 county residents, and 1,600
outside of Collier County residents use Fleischmann Park.
There is a question about how seasonal residents are taking into
effect, but the City of Naples has a software program that they use
when people are entered into programs, recreational programs. They
take into account where they're living, their address, and so they're
able to call that number out by zip code. So the numbers that they are
providing we feel are fairly accurate.
The city has taken steps in the last year to mirror the current fee
schedule that the county has adopted, and these user fees offset the
maintenance and operating costs associated with running the parks
departments.
The ideal user fees offset has a cost recovery of 100 percent of
operating and maintenance; however, in municipalities, counties, that
percentage varies greatly. For Collier County Parks and Recreation,
for example, we have certain cost centers that come close to 100
percent. The water park, marinas, summer camp, for example, but
many are subsidized due to the fee structure.
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April 22-23, 2008
Just to provide you a sense of the City of Naples cost recovery,
I've added -- and this comes from the City of Naples FY-'08 budget.
Fleischmann Park, for example, in their recreational pursuits, their
cost recovery is fairly healthy, 42 percent. Athletics and school site
activities, which include some activities at Fleischmann and their skate
park, the skate park, healthy 87 percent. So they do a fairly good job
of cost recovery.
To switch a bit, Marco Island relayed that most of the amenities
were used by residents at Marco Island, and they have a tiered fee
structure for those non-city residents at the racquetball and community
center. In terms of capital needs, they indicated that there's a lO-year
master plan for revamping MackIe Park, and city residents have voted
by referendum to acquire Veterans Park, which is a seven-acre parcel,
and they are in the process of developing that park.
In addition, they discussed acquiring other parcels of land
primarily for athletic fields. There's a dearth of athletic fields on
Marco Island. When we visited Everglades City and talked to Mayor
Hamilton, they had a much lower cost recovery schedule.
As a small city, they have two major recreation--
MR. MUDD: Get your slide here. You're behind a little.
MR. WILLIAMS: As a small city they have two major
recreation areas, McLeod Park and the Everglades City Community
Center. These two areas are used, by Mayor Hamilton's count, by 98
percent of individuals outside of the city, primarily Chokoloskee and
Plantation Island.
The city identified a number of issues related to upkeep of these
properties, including new fencing, park benches, skate park
improvements, in particular, the community center. They described
how the equipment the kids use for skating is outdated and certainly
could be improved, and we've also received a letter from Mayor
Hamilton on other needs that the city has for their park and rec.
components, including new ramps for the children's skate park.l
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April 22-23, 2008
In considering funding for municipalities -- I am behind -- there
are several considerations that we'd ask and -- ask you to look at. User
fees for recreational programming, and recreational programming, and
throughout the State of Florida with the tax reform legislation, more
and more the need for recreation programs to pay for themselves to
get to that 100 percent.
Collier County and the City of Naples -- the City of Naples has
adopted a fee schedule that's very close. We're, all practicalities, close
to the fee schedule Collier County has, and we think that's important.
We do feel that there has been historically a need to fund requests
for new parks repair and replacement of existing facilities. The Parks
and Recreation Board has been a vehicle for your purposes where
recommendations made through that board are certainly available in a
good process to take those requests and bring them forward.
But specifically we have two recommendations. The first to
authorize the chairman to amend the interposal agreement, which
should be interlocal, to include Fleischmann Park. And we'd ask you
to do that, and certainly the improvements made at Fleischmann Park
have benefited many of the people in the county.
But we also wanted to seek direction. You do have this method
of taking these requests, bringing them through the Parks and
Advisory Board, and those requests brought forward to the budget
process, but we did want to get your direction this morning on how
you would like to proceed.
So with that, I will end and see if there's questions.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Here's the lineup:
Commissioner Coletta, Commissioner Fiala, and then Commissioner
Henning, and then Commissioner Coyle. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. Barry, we're not -- we're
not going so far as to try to reach out past what the agenda item is
today, other than possibly giving you directions. Of course,
Everglades City is meeting a tremendous need of the surrounding
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April 22-23, 2008
communities.
I think sometimes the assumption is is that that's a very wealthy
area of the county. It is not. There's a lot of very deserving children
there that recreate as a regular base in Everglades City. No place else
to go. They'd have to travel all the way to East Naples over about,
what is that, about 30 miles of road before they'd be able to recreate at
a park. So it's not practical for them to try to reach a county facility
through the isolation.
And the Everglades City city council should be recognized for
their generosity in the past. We need to be able to come up with sort
of a long-lasting plan that will ensure the fact that Everglades City
will be able to maintain these amenities for the county residents.
That's a side issue that we're going to have to deal with during the
budget cycle, and I hope my fellow commissioners agree that it's an
item worthy of discussion.
The other thing dealing with the exact issue of what we do with
the money from what was designated from the Pullman boat ramp.
That thing's in flux right now. We have no idea if it's going to go
forward. There's a lot of side issues, I understand, that may impede
our ability to be able to spend the money there; is that correct, just in
summary?
MR. WILLIAMS: That's correct. And we know that the city is
talking -- or there's litigation with the city and the Pulling property.
There have been some conversations with the city, but we don't really
have anything to bring forward at this point.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So we have these funds
that are being unspent on a possible future boat ramp which is fairly
isolated, and you'd have to travel quite a distance from that point to
reach the Gulf. Meanwhile, we have tremendous needs over in
Bayshore Park. We're buying properties there, and I understand that
there's still parking problems over at that park for the recreators, the
boats -- the people that like to recreate on the water and trying to find
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April 22-23, 2008
places to park, and the fact that you have to park on the road leading
into the park quite often. Where are we with that program, and how is
the funding for that?
MR. WILLIAMS: I'll let my boss talk to that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, but don't go away.
MS. RAMSEY: For the record, Marla Ramsey, public services
administrator.
Commissioner, just recently we purchased two additional lots in
that particular area to put in some overflow parking. I believe that we
have exhausted the funds that we had set aside at that point in time. I
think we got some from Heritage Bay and some others that we had put
toward it.
So as we move forward, I think the number of lots that we have is
sufficient at this moment to make some improvements there. In order
to do that, we'll have to come in with a conditional use in order to put
the parking lot in. And I have Gary McAlpin working on that project
to help with the parking issue at Bayview.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Now, do you have the funds
available now to be able to take the lots, and are they continuous to be
able to offer some sort of meaningful parking?
MS. RAMSEY: Yeah. I think that the plan that we have
currently right now looks at maybe 35 or 40 parking spaces. We're
also looking at a plan inside the park to reconfigure so that we can add
maybe another 15 or 16 parking spaces inside the park for boat
parking. You know, they're the 40-foot length ones, so --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MS. RAMSEY: -- we're in the process of redesigning that so we
can resubmit to the state for a permit there. So between the two of
them, we'll have about somewhere around 50, 55 additional parking
spaces.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So this can be done with your
present budget money?
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. RAMSEY: No. We would have to put it into some out
years, because right now we're in the design element of it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, fine.
MS. RAMSEY: So we really don't need any funds for
development at this moment in time, and there probably are some
savings. We've had some savings in some other projects that we
probably could pull down a little bit to help with the design elements
that we're going through to design and permit.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Maybe I'm asking the
question the wrong way. In other words, you're saying there's no need
for these parking spaces, that there's no over crowding, there's nobody
that's getting refused, there's plenty of parking room, and we meet the
future needs with what we've got and the immediate future with what
you've got?
MS. RAMSEY: I would not state it that way. I would say that--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Well, that's what I'm
trying to get to.
MS. RAMSEY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm trying to plan this out so
there's enough boating access for the public out there. We're talking
about taking money from one entity, taking it totally away and
reapplying it in another direction. Meanwhile, I'm trying to assess if
there's a need at the Bayview Park for more parking. And, you know,
I got a whole bunch of answers, and I'm still trying to put them
together.
In other words, you don't need money for parking, that we have
plenty of parking available, that there is not a need at this time; that's
not correct, right?
MS. RAMSEY: Well, I wouldn't say that I don't -- I don't need
the money for development at this moment in time. I do need it for
design, and we're working that process. We have not put into a project
the full amount of funding that will take care of design, permit, and
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April 22-23, 2008
build of that project, because as you know, it's a two-year project so --
or even longer, when we go through the permitting process.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Let me try to get right to the
meat of the whole thing. You have ample funds to be able to take you
to that point?
MS. RAMSEY: No. I do not have ample funds--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
MS. RAMSEY: -- to take us to that point.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's what I wanted to know.
Now, the other question I got -- and Jim Mudd, if you can help --
you can give me a little bit of help with this.
The City of Naples at this point in time -- now, I'm a tremendous
supporter of what the City of Naples does for the county. They're one
of the biggest benefactors when it comes to the beach access. They're
also a great benefactor in the fact that their parks are used by a
tremendous number of residents, and I have approved all sorts of
funding for these parks in the past and I will do it again in the future.
What are we spending now with the City of Naples as far as like
beach stickers? What do we give them for the beach stickers?
MR. WILLIAMS: If! may, just -- we budgeted remittance back
from our 3.2 million that we get for '01; it's approximately $400,000.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So you got $400,000
there. What other funds do we now direct on a regular basis? I'm
trying to see ifthere's some way we can come up with a -- what do
you want to call it -- a guaranteed funding source year by year that
would be able to allow some sort of future planning for the City of
Naples and Collier County in general.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, I will tell you -- Jim Mudd, for the
record.
Let's be fair to the City of Naples. And I -- and Barry and Marla
fight like cats and dogs to make that amount of money for beach
parking be as small as it possibly can, okay. I'm going to make sure
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April 22-23, 2008
you understand that.
The City of Naples in the same just, you know -- and we had Ann
-- Anne Marie Ricardi (phonetic), I believe was her name, finance
director from the city come by, and their -- they believe their fee for
city parking should be someplace around $650,000, if my memory
serves me correctly.
And so every year we're in a dialogue with the City of Naples.
And I remember when Mayor McKenzie, God bless her soul, was the
mayor and there was -- you know, the then city manager was Kevin
Rambosk, basically looking and saying, hey, you're a year in arrears
paying the city for beach parking, okay, and we're working through
that issue and, you know, talking to staff and saying, why?
And every year we are in a debate, audit, how many parking
spaces, how many you converted, how many you didn't, how many
are maintained? So I would say to you, I believe, that the fair cost of
the parking spaces, around a half a million dollars for our conversation
right now on the dais, best that I can ascertain.
You have some other issues. In 2006, the City of Naples came
forward with a request during your budget time that led to this Pulling
dollar amount being allocated, and then the million dollars for the
bridge, if you remember correctly, coming out of Conservation
Collier.
In 2006 they came forward and basically said, the cost to the
county -- and you had a matrix in your executive summary that talked
about the 200 -- 2006 usage report. And with that usage report, the
City of Naples came forward with a request for about $460,000 on a
reoccurring basis to basically fund maintenance and operation of their
parks because of the usage by city -- by county residents in those
parks.
So if you take the beach parking and you take a look at that
request, you're right now sitting around a million dollars a year. And I
will tell you over the years, at least since I've been the County
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April 22-23, 2008
Manager, this beach parking has always been a bone of contention
between the two organizations, and I don't know if it's been -- if -- and
I understand staff should communicate, but I'm not too sure we get to
the communication side of the house besides it almost being a fight.
In the tune, we've even had the Clerk of Courts in the middle of this at
some times during the audits of the usage. There's got to be a better
way.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: There's got to be. What would
be a round number maybe where we could have everybody agree to it
and that would be the end of it for a number of years to come so we
don't have to go through this long process and them threaten to cut off
the residents of Collier County's access to the beach because we're
trying to hold back on it, cut back on the budget? What would be a
fair way to be able to do this so we could get to where we need to be
and still be able to hold back this money for boat access?
MR. MUDD: Okay. Commissioner, I think -- I think we come
could up -- well, first of all you remember numerous years ago -- and I
don't want to be unfair to other municipalities, okay. So let's make
sure we understand what you already have on the table and an
agreement.
And there was a city manager at the time named Bill Moss, and
he's changed his job and he's sitting over there in the second row on
the left -- on your right-hand side, left-hand side to me, in the audience
at this particular juncture.
But we had an agreement with the Board of County
Commissioners with the Marco city council for a million dollars a
year, okay, for 15 years, if you remember correctly, and that was to
basically get at some of the road maintenance issues and other issues
that they had in the city because of impact fees different -- the way
that they were collecting the impact fees, and that was quite different
than the City of Naples.
And I believe the dollars that we provide to the City of Marco
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April 22-23, 2008
Island are flexible enough that the manager and the city council there
can use those dollars to basically address their needs, i.e., for roads or
any other thing that the city has at the City of Marco.
My recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners at
this juncture, based on past experience and issues, if this board
decided to come to an agreement with the City of Naples for the tune
of a million dollars a year for a five- or 1 O-year period of time and
basically cover beach parking, recreational maintenance of their
particular parks and any other particular issue that the city manager or
the city council wanted to do -- and I believe you could work that out,
and I think it would cut down a lot of the friction between the city
staff and the board staff in this particular thing.
One of the slides that Mr. Williams put up on his slide show was
the fact that that 1.9 percent of the general or ad valorem revenue that
he receives total, if you look at the percentages that the City of Naples
gives, it's about a million dollars.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We still have Commissioner Fiala--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I'm sorry --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- and Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- just one more thing and I'll
give up the microphone.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I know you haven't been talking that
much.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I know. Thank you for
recognizing that, Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Others have.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Mr. -- the only thing I'd add to
that is that I would like to have the city council recognize one little
issue out there that still needs to be resolved, and that's the -- what we
charge to -- the city charges nonresidents to launch boats.
Nickels and dimes compared to what I'm proposing that we do,
what Mr. Mudd just recommended. That's an issue that I'd like to see
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April 22-23, 2008
some sort of quality coming across the board on.
Thank you, Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, he stole my thunder, so --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, no. You did it in such a
graceful, wonderful way. That's good. I just hope that -- no, I won't
even make my comment. I'm in agreement. That's it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: If the lawsuit is successful by the
Pulling family and if the Pulling family is still agreeable to -- for the
county to build a launch facility, do you have the funds for that?
MS. RAMSEY: I do not have the funds for that, given the
impact fees -- the state of the impact fees as they are now in the
Manatee Park that I have on the books that I'll be bringing forward in
a couple of board meetings to you. I wouldn't have the development
funds but, you know, we might be able to find design funds to start.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Where are these -- where is this
$700,000 coming from?
MS. RAMSEY: It's coming from an ad valorem account.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Ad valorem in 101 or Ill?
MS. RAMSEY: Well, in mine it's a 306 fund; I think that's
where it's coming from. But there is a general fund transfer into that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's a general fund transfer?
MS. RAMSEY: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coletta took a
while to get his answer -- his question answered on the Bayview, so
I'm going to expand that. I know it has nothing to do with this issue,
but I think there's some questions that need to be answered.
And here's the question. Specifically, the funds to purchase those
properties, is it 101, 111, or TDC funds?
MS. RAMSEY: For purchasing of the property, I've been using
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April 22-23, 2008
impact fees.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MS. RAMSEY: And a developer contribution.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: My last question --I think this might
be a legal question. Can we create one parks and rec. department in
Collier County to take care of the municipalities and the
unincorporated area?
MR. KLATZKOW: I think you're going to need an interlocal
agreement with the municipalities for that, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. It would take cooperation.
This is an issue for the last seven years, over seven years that I've been
up here, and it's not going to stop whether it's beach parking, parks
facilities, boating access, it's not going to stop. It's never enough, and
it needs to be controlled by one entity oversight by the people in my
opinion. By the way, we forgot Bonita Springs in the presentation.
They are partly in Collier County. Okay.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I think Commissioner Halas --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- was next.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I had you down next.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, did you? Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: But you can give it to Commissioner
Halas if you'd like.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm not going to cede my time.
I'd like to put this in a little perspective. Let's face it, we are not
going to have enough money for all the programs we want to have no
matter what we do, okay? Whether we give Naples some money or
not, Naples is not going to have enough money to do what they need
to do no matter what decision we make. So that is largely irrelevant.
The issue here with respect to the municipalities is the same as
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April 22-23, 2008
our issues with respect to the state government. We send money up
there, we don't get it all back. We don't even get a good portion of this
back, and that upsets us because it's collected here, we need it here,
and we'd like to use it here.
The City of Naples would like to get some of their money back.
And we haven't given them that $700,000, so let's quit trying to
pretend like we have given the City of Naples $700,000. We took it
and put it in reserves and said, you can't spend it yet. So we haven't
given them that kind of money.
They're paying over a million dollars a year in their property
taxes for park and recreational facilities in the geographical limits of
Collier County. Now, I doubt seriously ifthere are that many children
from the City of Naples going out into the Collier County parks, but I
don't think they mind paying a fair share as long as they're treated
fairly in return.
And the fair way to deal with this is to give some of that money
back to the city without all these strings and conditions attached to it.
It's their money. They ought to get some of it back if they're going to
support Collier residents. And the evidence is clear, a lot of Collier
residents use that Fleischmann Park.
So why are we concerned about letting them have a little money
to improve the park that is used by Collier residents --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I could answer that --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- which helps us?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- but I won't. I'll let Commissioner
Halas go first.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, the bigger problem is that
what we are doing countywide, including the municipalities, is we are
overspending on recreational facilities because the county does not
consider these recreational facilities in the city as being available to
county residents.
So the city spends money building the facilities, the countye
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Apri122-23,2008
spends money building facilities, and we wind up with more facilities
than our level of service would normally require if we took an
inventory of all of the recreational facilities in Collier County.
The staff has taken the position that they cannot include in our
AUIR or in our inventory any recreational facilities that are not owned
and controlled by Collier County Government. I do not think that the
regulation supports that conclusion. There are ways to deal with that,
and I think we ought to start dealing with it.
But nevertheless, the issue is, are you going to give the City of
Naples some of their own money so that they can improve parks that
service Collier County residents?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas, and then we're
going to take a 10-minute break for the court reporter. Is that okay?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay, I think Commissioner
Coletta and Commissioner Coyle hit the nail on the head. These
people in the City of Naples pay taxes, so why don't we just come up
with an agreement where -- for the next 10 years, that we give them a
million dollars a year, and they can do what they see fit in regards to
how they want to address the issue. If it's dealing with Fleischmann's
park or figure it's dealing with a boat ramp, that's up to them, or if it's
dealing with doing some intersection improvements, that they --
they're not -- we're not tying their hands. They can do what they need
to get done in the city, and I feel that that's the direction we should go.
Now, as far as getting money from Tallahassee down here, the
only thing that we get is unfunded mandates. So obviously that's
going to have a big effect on our pocketbooks, and we know that we're
going to be addressing that very soon.
But I really believe that instead of tying their hands and saying,
okay, you can only use this $700,000 -- and really we've got it tied up.
They can't do anything with it right now. And I think the best thing
to do is unleash that and say, we're going to give you a million dollars
a year for the next 10 years and do what you see fit. That's where I
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April 22-23, 2008
stand on this.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We're going to take a
10-minute break.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, and everybody take their
seats, please. We're going to go to public speakers now.
Sue, if you could call the public speakers.
MS. FILSON: Okay. Mr. Chairman, I have two speakers, Doug
Finlay. He'll be followed by Penny Taylor, vice mayor.
MR. FINLAY: Doug Finlay. I'm a City of Naples resident, and
actually I've spoken to the commission at least twice before on this
issue. Once I believe was at a joint meeting with City of Naples City
Council.
It is often forgotten that the residents of City of Naples pay
property taxes to Collier County. And, in fact, we pay about three
times the property taxes to Collier County that I pay to the City of
Naples.
As you -- was pointed out by Barry Williams, a portion of that
tax does go to the operation of Collier County Regional Parks, Sugden
and North Collier Regional Parks.
Fleischmann Park, with its very heavy draw of county residents,
functions as a regional park yet it does not receive county support.
And there have been -- this kind of alludes maybe to what
Commissioner Henning was saying because there have been some
people that have said, well, why not give Fleischmann and all those
city parks to the county to operate?
But first of all, that would be giving away millions of dollars of
recent investments by city taxpayers to improvements at Fleischmann
Park in particular and the skate park, and also I'm not so sure why the
county would want Fleischmann or the city parks simply because they
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April 22-23, 2008
operate collectively at a $1.5 million deficit. Fleischmann Park alone
operates at a $600,000-a-year deficit.
It does make a whole lot more sense for the county to give back
some of the money that we pay in to Collier County for parks and
recreation, and to return that money to us, as Commissioner Coyle has
mentioned. County use of Fleischmann Park often exceeds 75 percent
and, in fact, the skate park membership is only about 10 percent city
kids.
As the county grows, the burden gets ever increasing on the
incorporated communities and level of service issues.
So I do hope that each of you will consider support for
Fleischmann, be it the $700,000 or something a little bit more
far-reaching down the road as Mr. Mudd has proposed, that will assist
the incorporated communities of the county. So thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Vice Mayor Penny Taylor.
MS. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Mudd. And I wondered if you
wouldn't put that piece of paper on the visualizer, too. Thank you
very much.
Thank you -- first of all I want to thank you on behalf of the
mayor and the city council for even putting this on the agenda and
having such a frank and candid discussion.
I don't think we always agree as bodies, but as long as we can
come together and talk about it, that's progress. I don't think we have
to agree on everything.
I'm reminded -- and Marla Ramsey, I'll never forget, when the
City of Naples citizens decided to tax themselves to buy the Naples
Preserve, it was the county that stood back and said, okay, we'll
partner with you to get more funding from Florida preservation, right,
the Florida preservation lands?
MR. MUDD: Communities Trust, ma'am.
MS. TAYLOR: Florida Communities Trust.
MR. MUDD: Communities Trust.
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. TAYLOR: That kind of cooperation is still there. I don't
think it's gone. And that was just in, what, 2002, 2004.
We have now in front of you the cost of what it takes to operate
our parks. And just as a side line, Cambier Park, in -- both
Fleischmann and Cambier Park have about 70 percent usage by the
county. So right now we're operating Fleischmann at an -- almost a
million-dollar debt. And right now Cambier is about $389,000 in the
red.
We're doing what we can. We love the county people. I think in
the city -- you know, I think the city's most important product is their
children, and I think the city's most important product is children
everywhere.
We have fabulous programs for kids, and we want to keep
supporting families and children throughout the county. We do not
want to have this -- the county here and the city there. And we
welcome county residents to use our parks.
And I'm not going to talk you out of what you're going to with a
million dollars. I'm not here to do that. I mean, we're so grateful for
this. And this will be a start of cooperation that I can see moving into
many, many other areas.
If there's any questions about boat ramps and whatnot, I have
Dave Lykins and our city manager, Bill Moss, here, and they would
be more than happy to be on the record for any questions.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Do you want to speak to Ms. Taylor?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I was just going to say
something to Ms. Taylor, but it doesn't have to be to Ms. Taylor, but
I'm so glad you're here anyway, Penny.
I love this idea of dedicating a million dollars a year to the parks.
I know from the East Naples parks anyway, we only have one park
that has a community center, so there's only one park that has a
director. And so -- and even that community center is very small. It
doesn't have a finance center or anything.
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April 22-23, 2008
So our kids are more apt to use your parks than our own parks
because there are more things available to the children, and even your
skate park is just so outstanding.
MS. TAYLOR: And so much fun.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. And with the room that you
have in there for the teens, and then you have a lot of programs for the
teenagers. So our kids, which are right over the bridge, are more apt
to use your park.
So I agree that we do a lot of -- we offer a lot of use in your
parks, and I would love to see us pay for that or pay into the park
system for that.
MS. T AYLOR: Thank you, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta, did you have
a question for Ms. Taylor?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, I did. Thank you for the
opportunity, Chairman Henning.
Regarding the boat ramps, this has been an issue with some
residents. It's a nickel/dime issue really when we get down to it. But
still, it's an equality issue among many people that we represent in the
county end of the spectrum for access.
Could we talk about that a little bit?
MS. TAYLOR: Yeah. And I'd like to bring Dave Lykins up,
who's infinitely more familiar with the -- what is -- what exists now
and what we were proposing and what we're willing to do.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. LYKINS: Good morning, Commissioners. Dave Lykins,
community services director, for the record, City of Naples.
Our boat launch fees --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm sorry. Before you continue,
Marla, would you please pay attention to this because I may ask some
questions. I'm sorry. You were in conversation. I didn't want you to
miss this.
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. RAMSEY: I'm here. Right at the dais for you, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: You've got to be kidding.
MS. RAMSEY: Right at the dais for you, sir.
MR. LYKINS: We sell an annual permit for the use of the
Naples Landing for the boat launch ramps. It's a little less than what
the county's current fee is. I think the county kind of indexed their
fees just a little more consistently than we have in the city. So it's just
a little bit less than what the county's annual permit fee is, but that will
be adjusted as we go through our budget process, and certainly be
identical, just as the rest of our user fees are.
We've been working with Barry Williams and Marla and her staff
to make the city park usage fees, participant fees, as consistent and
identical across the board as possible. Same would hold true for the
annual permit for the Naples Landing.
We currently don't charge an annual or an every-use-Iaunch fee
for vehicles and boats that use Naples Landing. That's something that
we have identified as something we want to also bring consistent with
the county's fee structure.
I think it's currently $5 fee for individual use. That's certainly
something we have no issue with and is something we were looking
forward to in our budget process, and it would be identical to what the
county's fee is as well. So again, we would provide consistency in
that fee structure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Now, you have one place down
there now -- and forgive me. I've never been there, I've heard about it
-- where you have to feed quarters into a meter to be able to --
MR. LYKINS: Well, that's in lieu of people who want to
purchase an annual permit fee.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. LYKINS: So that's something --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And that's the same for residents
or non-residents?
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. LYKINS: Same fee, doesn't matter.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Fine. That's what I'm looking
for.
MR. LYKINS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Next speaker?
MS. FILSON: That was --
MS. TAYLOR: May I just add one more caveat?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You know, you give a politician more
minutes, and they just never end. The --
MS. TAYLOR: All right. Just--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Your three minutes are up.
MS. TAYLOR: Oh it's up? Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It is.
MS. T AYLOR: All right. So you're not going to give the
politician more minutes?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think the residents have more say-so
than any politician, actually probably better guidance.
Next speaker?
MS. FILSON: That was your final speaker, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Motion to -- to budget one million
dollars a year to the City of Naples for their use in their park system
and actually wherever else they need that million dollars to be used.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Timeline?
MR. MUDD: Ma'am, does that -- does that include beach
parking?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And that definitely includes beach
parking and --
MR. MUDD: How about direction to the staff to come back with
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April 22-23, 2008
an interlocal agreement so that this board and the City of Naples board
or council can approve and put --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you for your help, Mr. Mudd.
Yes, we should definitely put together an interlocal agreement
between the city and the county for a 10-year period of time.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. There's a motion and a second
on the floor.
Discussion? Commissioner Coletta, Commissioner Coyle --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll let Commissioner--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- Coyle go first.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle, Commissioner
Coletta, Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I think that's an excellent way to
proceed. I would ask that you give the staff flexibility to evaluate the
possibility of indexing that. You know, a flat amount would be
wonderful this year, but five years from now, because of the cost
escalation, would probably not be.
And since it is, in essence, a refund or partial refund of taxes paid
by the City of Naples, maybe what we should do is index it to the
relative level of taxes paid by the City of Naples over those years, and
that way it would keep it meaningful; otherwise, we're going to be
back negotiating something.
We like -- we want to do that with our gasoline tax indexing with
Tallahassee, and they've never permitted us to do that. So we want to
do that with the funds that we get, and I think it would be appropriate
to do that with the funds that the City of Naples gets.
Now, I would -- I would question something that was raised
earlier, and that is, that they -- that they be allowed to use it for
intersections or whatever. I don't know that that's appropriate because
what you're doing is you're taking a portion of the parks and recreationm
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April 22-23, 2008
budget, aren't you, and allocating that to the city; is that what you're
suggesting, County Manager?
MR. MUDD: No, sir, that's not what I'm suggesting.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. MUDD: I'm suggesting that you're already allocating an
approximate value about a half-a-million dollars to the city, okay, for
beach access parking on an annual basis.
You increase that another half-a-million dollars, they can use the
money for their parks and rec., and what you don't do is you don't tie
the City of Naples down to what they can use the particular funds for.
If all their facilities are up to speed this year and they're -- and
they're doing quite well and -- but they have another need that they
want to use, this way they have the ability to do it based on council's
approval on how they want to use those dollars.
But it is giving back to them to try to satisfy their needs and their
operation for their particular services that they provided to residents
within the city and I and the county residents that go into the city.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, it still-- I'm still asking if the
motion maker and the seconder will give the staff sufficient flexibility
to at least negotiate with the City of Naples an indexing method that
makes sense.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I will definitely include that in
my motion as they form this interlocal agreement.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Commissioner, in regards to -- I
just want to inform you --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta's next,
Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, I'm the second, and I was just
trying to explain to Commissioner Coyle here that, since I've got a
second on this motion, that indexing could go in the opposite
direction, too.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It could.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. So just want to make sure
you understand --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yep, I do.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's in my second.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. And this is a very bold
move that we're making at a time that our budget's going to be under
severe constraints. I might suggest, just purely for discussion
purposes, that the indexing start in year three and it be based on year
two, and that gives us a little bit of recovery time to be able to go
forward, and that also would allow ifthere's any kind of negative
backward slide, which is unlikely for the City of Naples, by the way.
The other issue would be, when it comes time to finding this
million dollars, I would like to see that $700,000 that we have set
aside at this point in time for the Pullman (sic) boat ramp, that no
more than $200,000 of it go to offset the first two years, a $100,000
the first year, $100,000 second year, and the other $500,000 be
applied towards the improvement of boat ramps other places in Collier
County. That would be a suggestion. Now whether we'd have to do
that now or at budget time, I don't know.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I'm next. And we're forgetting
the other municipalities. We're dealing with one. And one of the
speakers said -- commented on what I said. I never said for the county
to take over parks and rec.
So I apologize for the misunderstanding, Mr. Finlay.
I said it should be one. And you know, I think this is a slippery
slope. I'm not going to support the motion. It's not fair to the other
municipalities, including Marco Island and Everglades City.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. Marco Island already does get
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April 22-23, 2008
a million dollars a year.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: For parks and rec?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, for use at their discretion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And if I may speak on behalf of
Everglades City. I can assure you that when we get through the
budget process, their needs are nowhere near what the City of Naples'
is. The county's been doing a good job of meeting them in the past,
and they're going to be stepping forward to do it in the future. I don't
think we could ever solve that within this particular motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other discussion on the motion?
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: If you'd permit me to make a
statement to the City of Naples that doesn't bear directly on this, but it
has some implications here.
What I would request of the City of Naples is, you're going to
find times when you need to make capital improvements to your park
facilities just as you have in the past. And you've had some difficulty
getting funding from the county to support that.
I would recommend that if you're going to look to the county for
funding over and above this for any reason that benefits the county,
try to get us involved at the beginning of the project, and that way we
can evaluate the benefit to the county as a whole and then make a
decision as to whether or not we wish to participate in the funding.
It's very hard to do that once the project has started and you've
expended money. So if you can -- if you can do that for us, it will
make the job a lot easier to get cooperation among all the
commiSSIoners.
And the other thing is that impact fees are an important source of
capital funding, and if you would keep those impact fees updated,
even indexed -- we found that indexing is very, very helpful because it
goes up a little bit every year rather than seeing huge rises about every
four or five years, and that will help you a lot from the standpoint of
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April 22-23, 2008
capital improvements and will probably minimize the debates that we
get into with respect to what we should be paying and what we
shouldn't be paying.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
Aye.
Motion carries 4-1, Commissioner Henning dissenting.
Item #lOB
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PELICAN BAY SERVICES
DIVISION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AUTHORIZE THE PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION TO
PREPARE, SIGN AND SUBMIT THE CLAM BAY
MANAGEMENT PLAN TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE
AGENCIES - MOTION FOR A NEW FIVE YEAR PERMIT TO
MAINTAIN THE HYDROLOGY AND ESTUARY OF CLAM
BAY AND FOR PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION TO
PREP ARE, SIGN AND SUBMIT THE PERMIT TO FEDERAL
AND STATE AGENCIES ~ APPROVED
We have a 10:30 time certain. How many speakers do we have
on that?
MS. FILSON: Ten.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Ten speakers, okay.
MR. MUDD: Some might waive, sir, is what I've been told.
This is lOB. It's a recommendation from the Pelican Bay
Services Division that the Board of County Commissioners authorize
the Pelican Bay Services Division to prepare, sign, and submit the
Clam Bay Management Plan to the federal and state agencies.
Mr. John Petty, your director or Pelican Bay Services Division,
will present.
MR. PETTY: Good morning. I'm John Petty, the administrator
for Pelican Bay Services Division. And what you have seen in your
summary is the basis of what I wish to present. After 10 years of
working on a Mangrove restoration program in north Collier County,
we are proud to come to you today and say that we can claim that that
is a conditional success. The only condition that we have on the
success story is that it is going to include additional maintenance.
The corrective action is a hydraulic flow that was increased by
cutting hand-dug channels, some with the different elevations of
approximately 12 inches. These can fill up rapidly due to storms or
sand or other material.
If they do clog up, we are finding that these go right back to the
stress state and that we see damages within the trees. So we are
looking to maintain them in the same fashion we have done so for the
last 10 years. But we want to come here tonight and tell you that we
have done what we consider to be a marvelous recovery of Mangroves
in that section of Collier County.
And the effort put forth by Pelican Bay with the help of Collier
County and the Pelican Bay Services Division therein, is a huge
success, and the people appreciate it in Pelican Bay.
We're asking to move forward. We know that there are other
issues. We know that there are other communities that have needs that
are addressed in the coastal zone management. We have been in
discussion with these groups and with other county staff.
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April 22-23, 2008
In particular, we have been with coastal zone management for the
last, oh, year and a half, I believe, and we do believe that their issues
are real and they need to be considered and put into a practical form.
We don't know that it works good for our permit though. We'd like
our permit to be focused on the Mangroves themselves and other
issues pertaining to water quality of specific areas with surface water
runoff or other conditions going into the bay be addressed by separate
permit conditions.
Our current permit may hinder that effort. So we do want these
communities to have a fair voice, and we have talked with a county
administrator who's considered an expert in these matters when it
comes to permits, since he's the one that wrote a lot of these, or
certainly administered most of them.
So we have taken his advice, and we think we can structure the
permit to be very specific to the Mangroves and the hydraulics, which
is where our focus needs to be in Pelican Bay for the next 10 years.
We believe we can do that in a different type of permit that
doesn't conflict with any of the efforts that we've heard spoken to date
on any other application for permits, correction or permit
improvements that would affect coastal zone and the Clam Bay
system.
So that's a short summary of why we're here. We hope you're
happy with the results of the last 10 years, and we hope that you can
help us go on to the next 10 years. If you have any questions, I stand
ready.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions? Okay. Commissioner
Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. Actually, do we really need
to go out and get a full-time permit for the Mangroves, or can we get a
permit as needed when there is a problem?
MR. PETTY: That's a very good question, and we are in
discussions with the county administrator on that. It appears that there
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April 22-23, 2008
can be a one-time application that can cover a period of years. It may
not be a 10-year period. It may be a 3-, 4-, 5-. It's something that we
hope to negotiate based on our expertise and that of the county
administrator to get the best mechanism we can that is not in conflict
with any other improvement that the county wishes to do in coastal
zone management but allows us to focus on Mangroves and the
hydraulic preservation, which is keeping those Mangroves alive.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Presently the permit is -- covers a
wide spectrum.
MR. PETTY: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And I think what we're trying to do
is make sure that we address all the issues on the permit that's
presently -- that presently is there, and I think we've got one more item
that needs to be addressed, and that's channel markers in Clam Bay,
and then we would like that to disappear. That's my understanding.
MR. PETTY: Yes, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Is that your understanding also, Mr.
Petty?
MR. PETTY: Yes, sir, it is. We know that the county has been
working with various groups on their vested interests in those
navigational signs, which we acknowledge. We have been talking
with the state agencies and the federal government as far as our permit
requirements for the signage, and we have gotten back a response
verbally that says that we are currently in compliance.
So it doesn't appear that we have to do anything more in that
regard, but we do understand that the county's response to these
people is appropriate. And since our permit is out there, it may be the
only vehicle to get the signs in.
So if it is something that the county wishes to do, it is certainly
something that we were going to have to talk to the county outside of
Pelican Bay Services about when it came to funding since a lot of this
issue goes back to when the boardwalk was put in. We kind of
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April 22-23, 2008
inherited those issues as well when we went out for the Pelican Bay
permit.
So I don't think we have a conflict there, sir. I think we can
resolve this issue within 30 days or less to everyone's satisfaction.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Petty? Sir, you're saying instead
of renewing the permit as is, that you'd revise the permit for 10 years
to take care of the Mangroves and finish up the marking of the bays?
MR. PETTY: No, sir. We're proposing to handle the
navigational signage issue -- which there's still one left to do -- before
the permit expires.
Mr. Chairman, we have a one-year extension that we are going to
be getting -- granted by these agencies, so we do have a period of time
to fix this before it expires. We should be able to accomplish this
before the new permit application.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Are you -- I'm trying to figure out
what the agenda item -- you know, what I hear, that the agenda item is
changing.
MR. PETTY: No, sir. We're still looking for -- we're asking for
the commissioners to follow -- we're trying to follow the same
protocol we did for 10 years, which is authorizing Pelican Bay
Services Division of Collier County to prepare for the permit, to sign
for the permit in the county's name, and to manage it thereafter and
submit it to the appropriate agencies.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MR. PETTY: That's basically what we're asking for today, and I
think what we're doing is fine tuning what our intentions are with the
permit. Our current permit is a 404E, which only your county
administrator can explain properly. And I do believe that what we're
going to be going after is a different numerical sequence on the
permit, which will be, I do believe, a one-time event, sir?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. What you basically have is you basically
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April 22-23, 2008
want to do habitual maintenance on the particular issue and make sure
that the flushing is there. You're narrowing the permit scope to deal
with where are you right now, a success with the Mangrove recovery,
you want to maintain it and keep it, and so your permit doesn't have to
be as vast or as broad, and it cuts down on some of your liability
issues as far as success and failure are concerned for the future.
And so that's my recommendation. You basically let this Collier
County particular permit after we get the navigational markings done,
you let it sunset, and we go after a new permit that basically goes after
Mangrove maintenance and the flushing issues that are, in particular,
of concern to the Pelican Bay residents.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Further questions?
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But that isn't what this executive
summary says.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, that's -- was my point.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. That is not what this executive summary
says, but I believe that's what I've got from Mr. Petty's presentation to
the board.
MR. PETTY: I don't see -- ifthere's a problem with this, it
escaped my attention, and we'll be glad to make that adjustment. If
you could point me in a general direction though. I didn't see anything
different in here that we asked than what this suggestion discussed
today would bring.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, your permit is a broad-based
permit.
MR. PETTY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I mean, it's dealing with the pass. It's
dealing with a whole estuarine system.
MR. PETTY: The style of the permit basically puts us in a
superior position -- the 404 basically puts us in a superior position.
Our intentions were always Mangrove, restoration, the hydraulics.
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April 22-23, 2008
We left open several other alternatives as we did trial and error on the
corrective action.
Keep in mind Mangroves have never been restored like this
before. This is the first time it's ever been done. We now know that
in Clam Bay it is due to the hydraulic characteristics. And as I stated,
we've done corrections in shallow channels as shallow as 12 inches or
less.
So in our case, for the maintenance going forward, we don't need
the what-if scenario part of our 404 permit that we had before. We
now know what we need.
If we continue with a 404, we may be in conflict with other
issues from other communities or other county objectives. So we are
taking from the county administrator's expertise, the concept of
applying to the state agencies, not for a 404, but for whatever number
is appropriate that gives us a tailored permit allowing us to maintain
and focus our attention on the Mangroves and the hydraulics.
And I'm pretty sure the summary says that. I do reference the
404 in the past, because that's what we currently have. Our new
permit would be very similar into nature since our new permit would
be focusing after Mangrove and the hydraulics, which the first permit
did as well.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle, I didn't mean to
interrupt you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, it's okay. I don't know that I'm
going to understand this until I hear the staff's presentation.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I didn't know the staff had a
presentation on this. I think we had a written correspondence on it.
Am I wrong?
MR. MUDD: Mr. McAlpin will help you --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala, before Mr. Petty
goes away.
MR. MUDD: Mr. McAlpin -- Mr. Petty is your staff.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, yeah.
MR. MUDD: Just, you don't see him often, that's all.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You can wait?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, let's cut through the fog here,
okay. Now, we've got an executive summary here that was prepared
by Mr. Petty, who is, in fact, a county employee. We have another
document that was submitted to us as backup information from the
staff taking issue with this executive summary. I want to hear
somebody stand up and tell me why they take issue with it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MR. McALPIN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the record, Gary
McAlpin, Coastal Zone Management.
Mr. Chair, the -- a little bit of background. The -- on the permit
and staffs comments and maybe some alternatives.
The permit that was issued 10 years ago was for a very large
overarching, complete estuary permit. It included two pieces; one was
the work to alleviate Mangrove die off and the rest of it was for a
management plan for the entire estuary. And there was no question
that Pelican Bay Services Division did an outstanding job relative to
the Mangrove recreation, the restoration of the Mangroves, and also
the water quality issues relative with -- to their property.
However, there's a larger issue here that the original permit took
into -- into account, which was the entire estuary. The City of Naples
has been excluded from this process for a variety of reasons. They've
come to us in the past and said that the permit is in violation, of which
it is, and they would like to work with us to get these items corrected.
We did an investigation, Mr. Chair, and we determined that there
is a number of issues that needed to be addressed from a larger scope
point of view.
What Mr. Petty has done is he is now looking to narrow the
scope of the new permit that is for -- and put a new permit in for
strictly Mangrove restoration.
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April 22-23, 2008
I have had conversations with DEP, and as clarifying points to
what Mr. Petty has said, let me offer these clarifying points. DEP
believes that the existing permit can be closed out as Mr. Petty has
said, but they also believe that no new long-term permits should be
issued.
What they're looking to do is have us issue new permits that are
very -- for very specific work activities that can be managed by
community groups like the Mangrove Action Committee. Those
would specifically be in Collier County's name because Collier
County is the legal permit holder. There would be some level of
oversight by Collier County staff on those work groups.
So with the understanding that these permits would be very
specific in nature, they would be short term in duration, they would be
issued to Collier County, Collier County would have some level of
oversight working with the Pelican Bay Services Division on that, and
that we would continue to work to address the rest of the issue,
estuaries countywide wherein we would be very supportive of this.
And the issue is, is that the scope of the work Pelican Bay is not
looking to move forward with is very much tailored down, Mr. Chair.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. So -- first of all, on this report
that Pelican Bay wrote, it barely mentioned that we were participating.
Have we been participating -- in fact, it didn't mention at all in the
first couple of pages. It just said something about Pelican Bay doing
all the work. Have we participated with them?
MR. McALPIN: For the first lO-and-a-halfyears of this,
Commissioner, we have not participated to any large extent. We've
participated financially. About half the money has come from Collier
County. From a work product execution point of view, we have not
participated.
The county got involved in this when the city of -- residents from
the City of Naples brought it to our attention that the permit was in
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April 22-23, 2008
violation and they couldn't get some of their issues addressed.
MR. PETTY: May I respond, Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. So can they apply for two
permits? Can we apply for one for Pelican Bay to continue what
they've been doing to continue to rescue and invigorate that Mangrove
section so that they will never -- it will never go backwards again to
where it was and, of course, help that estuarine area as well?
Meanwhile, can the city and -- the City of Naples and the county
apply for another permit to address all of the other issues that need to
be addressed aside from the Pelican Bay Mangrove area?
MR. McALPIN: Commissioner, we could apply for as many
permits for specific work tasks as we want, and we could apply for
specific tasks for Mangrove maintenance or for water quality or for
anything else. They would be short in duration and they would be
very specific in scope, not a large 10-year project.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And we could be working with the
City of Naples again, another agreement with them so that we can
agree on those issues that affect them as well as those that affect the
county area?
MR. McALPIN: We could work with the City of Naples,
Commissioner, yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Great. Yes, please.
MR. PETTY: Mr. Chairman, if I could. The one thing I do want
to clear up is, we are Collier County. Pelican Bay Services Division
has the face of the residents of Pelican Bay. We are Collier County.
So we have been working out there.
How much has Collier County been participating? It is not 50
percent. It is 100 percent. Pelican Bay does not have assessment
capabilities nor does it have taxing capabilities. All of the money
comes from Collier County. Keep in mind though that Pelican Bay is
a donor community and they understand that their tax bills, when they
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pay them, just like we all do -- so they understand that a lot of the
money is theirs anyway.
We have always worked under the benevolence, if you will, or
under the powers of the county at Pelican Bay Services Division. So
when Gary asks for participation by county staff and the permit
process, they have always had that ability, always.
We're not asking for any independence increase here. We're
looking to do the same stewardship job that we did in the first 10 years
and the next 10. Certainly, if the county has issues, particularly with
Gary and your county administrator's expertise in these matters, of
course, we keep that door wide open.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, Mr. Petty, you have done a
marvelous job on those Mangroves.
MR. PETTY: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just a marvelous job, and all we can
do is commend you for that.
MR. PETTY: The residents have done well.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Just to try to shorten this up
for timing issues and future speakers, the request is to extend this
permit for how many years?
MR. PETTY: Sir, it is to prepare, sign as a member of Collier
County, and submit to the appropriate agencies for the longest degree
of time we can get, and that's -- hope to be multiple years, but it's
called a single-use permit. We wouldn't go past the lO-year limit.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So in order to make a motion, it
would be for as many years as we can?
MR. PETTY: Not to exceed 10, which is our current limitation.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. So Pelican Bay, or the
MSTBU, is asking for -- to continue to maintain the Mangroves and
address the hydrology system in the estuary system, Clam Bay --
MR. PETTY: Mr. Chairman, we're currently doing that, and we
have a one-year extension that recommits us for that. What we're
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asking for --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Just for the Mangroves.
MR. PETTY: This is for the Mangroves.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MR. PETTY: We're looking for the next lO-year period after
this one-year extension, which is really preparation time for, are you
guys going to stay involved. We're looking for the next 10-year
period or the next three-year period or the next five-year period, the
best we can get. So we want to stay involved with maintaining the
Mangroves.
So we're looking for the county commissioners to authorize us as
a county division to prepare, sign, and submit the Clam Bay
Management Plan for the future to the federal and state agencies.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Is there a motion on the floor?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Motion on the floor to come up
with a new permit that takes care of the Mangroves and of the
hydrology in that area, and that's where we stand at this point in time
for a period of time of five years.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. There's a motion by
Commissioner Halas to renew the permit for the hydrology and the
Mangroves.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Not to renew. This would be a new
permit. The old --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It is a new permit.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: It's a new permit for the --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thanks for the clarification,
Commissioner Halas, and I'll second the motion.
MR. PETTY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And before we -- do we have any
discussion on the motion before we go to the public speakers?
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Maybe I should wait till after
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public speakers. Why don't I do that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's fine.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Me, too.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Me, too.
MS. FILSON: The first speaker is Marcia Cravens. She'll be
followed by Alice Kay Potter.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And I must remind everybody, we
have a time certain at noon. So if I can ask the next speaker to line up,
and you're allotted three minutes. If you can make your point and let
the next speaker move on.
MS. CRAVENS: Yes, sir. First off, thank you, Commissioners,
for doing the right thing today and supporting conservation in the
long-term management and stewardship of the Clam Bay natural
resources protection area in which the Mangrove forest resides.
It's a great start in reaching out to the Collier County community
to demonstrate that you do value unspoiled nature.
Thank you for listening to your citizens' voices when we say, no
more development projects within this area.
We would like to just mention that there are too few and precious
Mangrove habitats, quiet beaches, and calm undeveloped waterways,
and that's what makes our area so special.
The Mangrove Action Group would like to call upon our coastal
communities such as the North Naples coalition memberships within
the Vanderbilt Beach communities and environmental activists to be
proactive rather than reactive about issues that affect our communities
and our coastal areas.
I do have to comment on some suggestions and things about
Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
I, myself, have had many, many, many conversations with many
departments ofFDEP. I have spoken with the office in Fort Myers
and Tallahassee, and I must interject here, that they welcome
long-term management plans for the Mangrove system and the
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estuary .
They are not asking any governmental agencies, local or
otherwise, to have short-term plans. They very much would like to
see long-term plans. And I do believe that 10 years is certainly
something that they would welcome. They actually have a way for us
to submit management plans for even longer than 10 years.
So I would ask that you not limit a management plan to five
years and make us go through this whole process all over again in that
short period of time.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Alice Kay Potter. She'll be
followed by Mary Bolen.
MS. POTTER: Good evening, or -- goodness gracious. I'm so
nervous. However, I must tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that I do
share something that you are now going through.
Years ago in Virginia, I served on the town council. It was -- I
was elected, and I do know the heavy burden that you bear. I know
it's often emotionally draining.
And so when I tell you that, I understand and I also know that
you do have our interests at heart. I know it's hard to resolve conflicts
when they come from good people. But I will tell you that Mangrove
forest is a treasure, that once we lose it, we will never again get it.
The people in Pelican Bay have -- we've had a hard time learning
what to do. We planted so many Mangroves that immediately dried
up in the hot summer. Alas, we do know what to do, and we've been
rewarded by beautiful, thick, green forest.
Please, let us continue to do what we so enjoy doing.
You know, a Mangrove forest is God's gift to us. It is His bridge
between the Gulf and the land. That watery, soft earth and those
Mangrove roots are the nursery and the home to the tiniest of God's
creatures.
And when they get sufficiently strong, they go back out to the
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ocean, and that is where most of our commercial fishing comes from.
They say that you shouldn't give advice until you have worked --
until you have walked a mile in the other person's moccasins. Well, I
have walked a mile in your moccasins, and I do know that when
something is successful and people want to continue to do it, it's best
to let them do it.
And there's an old saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And I
appeal to you, Honorable Commissioners, to let us continue to take
care of the Mangroves.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Mary Bolen. She'll be
followed by Penny Taylor.
MS. BOLEN: I am Mary Bolen, a resident of Pelican Bay, a
member of the Mangrove Action Committee and a volunteer naturalist
for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
I sent all of you an email over the weekend enumerating the
many essential benefits that the Mangrove estuary system at Pelican
Bay and other areas provide.
The efforts at protection and restoration as overseen by the
Pelican Bay Services Division have been groundbreaking and
successful by any measure. The report released months ago of an
independent study commissioned by you, the Board of
Commissioners, verifies this. The past 10 years have been a success.
It's still an ongoing work, and it still needs help. Please approve
the recommendations of the Pelican Bay Services Division to prepare,
sign, and submit the Clam Bay Management Plan to the state and
federal agencies.
And thank you for your cooperation. The Mangroves mean
everything to us. They're very important. But they're not only
important to the residents of Pelican Bay, they are very important to
the residents of Collier County and the State of Florida.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Penny Taylor. She'll be followed by Coleman
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Connell.
MS. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
County Commission, I'm speaking on behalf of the mayor and
city council. Weare not suggesting that the Mangroves be ignored,
but we are supporting your staff, not the consultant's concept of the
management of Clam Bay.
We have been involved in Clam Bay since 2006 when our natural
resources manager and his assistant snorkeled outer Clam Bay to find
out that there were dead sea grasses. There is some issue -- whether or
not it's true we don't know. There's not enough scientific data -- but
maybe what we're doing here is affecting there, and the health of the
bay is being affected. And in the area where we snorkeled, it really is
adjacent to part of the City of Naples.
What we would suggest is not to piecemeal this ecosystem but to
look at it as a whole, to follow your staffs guidance on this, not to
ignore the Mangroves, not to undo the great work that the public
services division has done -- the Pelican Bay Services Division has
done, but instead to look at the entire system as a whole.
We as a city are going to budget money towards this process.
Weare going to be looking at it, I'm assured by our natural resources
manager. He's going to come before the city council for a request for
money to help in this process.
So as you deliberate, please remember these comments, and
thank you for your time.
MS. FILSON: Coleman Connell. He'll be followed by John
Domenie.
MR. CONNELL: Thank you, Commissioners. I'm Coleman
Connell, and I'm with the Pelican Bay Services Division, and I chair
that board.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak with you this
morning on a subject of the utmost importance, not only to Pelican
Bay, but to the community in general.
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In July of this year we will have completed 10 years of the permit
which delegates to the Pelican Bay Services Division the
responsibility for managing the well-being of the Mangrove forest, as
well as water management within the defined area of Pelican Bay.
The effective stewardship of that responsibility was borne out
with the results of a scientific study commissioned by Collier County.
Weare now being directed to delay the submission of the renewal
application for another 10-year permit pending the formulation of an
expansive plan for water management within a much greater area
beyond the area defined in the existing permit.
What is the problem? Well, in one word, uncertainty.
Uncertainty as to the scope of activity and responsibility as contained
in an eventual conjoined agreement and permit. That uncertainty will
only compound the adverse affecting -- the adverse forces affecting
property values now at work in the marketplace.
The Mangrove forest, as has already been said, is the crown
jewel of Pelican Bay and the total community. It is a key element in
sustaining property values. For the past decade, its restoration and
day-to-day maintenance had been willingly funded by the taxpayers
living in the Pelican Bay community.
On the other hand, proceeding with a renewal of the existing
permit should not in any way hinder or delay the issuance of another
permit which will describe the scope of activity resulting from the
work of the Clam Bay estuary improvement study group. Pelican Bay
applauds that effort, has participated in it and hopes to be invited to
continue to do so.
So to repeat, we respectfully ask that you authorize the release of
the permit application to the appropriate governmental bodies. With
me this morning -- I've already -- you've already heard from John
Petty, who has supported in a scientific manner what we're saying.
And thank you very much for listening to me.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is John Dominie. He'll be
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April 22-23, 2008
followed by Estelle Fishbein.
MR. DOMINIE: Good morning, Commissioner. My name is
John Dominie, a 21-year-round resident of Pelican Bay, past board
member, Mangrove Action Group, last seven years, board of Pelican
Bay Services Division, and recently reappointed as chair of the Clam
Bay Committee.
I ask you to permit us to apply without delay for a new permit to
manage the 580-acre county-owned Mangrove Preserve within Pelican
Bay. Today is Earth Day, and appropriately, our request is to continue
to restore, protect, and maintain this precious asset.
In fulfillment of the Pelican Bay Services Division obligations
under the present permit, we prepare and distribute to county, state,
and federal regulatory agencies four annual reports. Such reports have
been prepared yearly, and we have never received any challenges
from any regulatory agency about our work or results.
I would just like to highlight a few facts. Pelican Bay has a
two-and-a-half-mile dam or dike we call the berm. It separates the
upland freshwaters environment from the saline Mangrove preserve.
All stormwater which falls on the Pelican Bay neighborhoods is
funneled through six systems containing 46 retention and filtration
lakes before reaching east of the berm.
From east of the berm, storm water is slowly released into the
Mangroves through a system of weirs and weep holes.
Dr. Tomasko states that historically there were 1,206 acres of
Mangroves in the area which extends from Vanderbilt Beach Road
down to Banyan Way. Today, again, according to Dr. Tomasko, there
are only 429 acres of Mangroves, all in the county-owned Pelican Bay
Mangrove Preserve. This includes 50 acres of Mangroves the services
has rehabilitated.
Seven hundred seventy-seven acres of Mangroves have been
destroyed to make way for homes, Venetian Village, and condos.
This will not happen in the county-owned Mangrove preserve.
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April 22-23, 2008
Some comments have been made that the water quality in the
Mangrove preserve is not pristine, yet Dr. Tomasko himself has stated
that it is highly unlikely to attain pristine waters in the Mangrove
preserve due to the tannin which flows down from the Mangroves.
The tannin darkens the water, which in turn blocks sunlight. Yet
in winter with less rain and cooler water, the dissolved oxygen levels
rise to nearly seven milligrams per liter, 40 percent above the
minimum five milligrams per liter desired level.
Do you want Mangroves with possible less pristine waters, or do
you want pristine waters and no Mangroves?
Please permit us to go ahead to manage the county's unique
Mangrove preserve for 10 years. We have been good guardians and
will continue to provide county, state, and federal authorities yearly
with reports.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. DOMENIE: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: -- Estelle Fishbein.
MR. DOMENIE: May I ask --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Your--
MR. DOMENIE: -- will somebody cede time to me?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Your time's up, sir.
MR. DOMENIE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I wish you would have said that
before you started.
MR. DOMENIE: Oh, sorry. Thank you.
MS. FILSON: She will be followed by Doug Finlay.
MS. FISHBEIN: Good morning. My name is Estelle Fishbein.
I'm the secretary of the Mangrove Action Group.
And I think that you've heard a lot of factual information about
our permit and so forth and what's been accomplished in 10 years, and
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April 22-23, 2008
I do not aspire to be more eloquent than the lady of the Mangroves,
who is Kay Potter.
And it was Kay Potter who, some six years ago when I moved to
Pelican Bay, got me interested in Mangroves. I knew nothing about
Mangroves. And I've been her student.
My purpose in addressing you is very simple. I want to make a
point and -- that it is very important that whenever permit or
application for a permit is submitted to any authority, that the
permittee, authorized entity, be identified exactly the same way as it is
under the current permit, and that is Collier County: Pelican Bay
Services Division, and that's terribly important because we want the
services division to be the responsible entity for seeing the action of
any -- that's required by anything in the permit to be taken. That is the
responsible authority.
And I believe that in keeping the Pelican Bay Services Division
name on the permit, it will aid the review and approval by any federal
and state authorities and will accelerate that approval. Changing the
identity of the permittee, either by deleting the services division name
-- I think, will be detrimental to the quick approval of the permit.
Because, as has been pointed out, particularly by Mr. Petty and --
well, others as well, that it is the services division that has shepherded
the recovery of the Mangroves and has proven the ability to do it in a
responsible and a successful way.
Thank you very much for your time.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Doug Finlay. He'll be followed by
Ted Raia.
MR. FINLAY: Doug Finlay, City of Naples. I kayak in this
system about 12, 13 times a year. In fact, I kayaked in it this Saturday
from the south end to the north end completely. So I've also been
interested in it.
I attended my first Pelican Bay/Clam Bay Meeting in November
of 2006. It was, without a doubt, the worst public board meeting I had
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ever attended. I was so dismayed that I ordered audio tapes of the
meeting and sent copies of those tapes to the Florida FDEP and the
Army Corps of Engineers. I believe Mr. Ochs also received a copy.
It made me question Pelican Bay's objective stewardship of the
estuary. Please keep in mind that Pelican -- that the nearly 600 acres
of Clam Bay is Collier County property. And although access is
limited except from the south, the estuary has the ability to be enjoyed
by all the residents of Collier County; those in Golden Gate, Lely,
Naples, as well as Pelican Bay.
And whereas, the Mangroves will always be a major, if not,
perhaps, the most important part of the management plan in the next
10 years, or whatever years it might be, other broader issues must be a
part of the equation. Our future is not necessarily our past.
The Pelican Bay Services Division is not being eliminated from
the management of the estuary, but they do need to share
responsibilities with the county and even the city. Your County
Manager and Gary McAlpin are doing exactly what the permitting
agencies will demand, which is to broaden the scope, not allowing
anyone to rush anything through, and bring all interested parties
together.
The permit application that is being sought by Pelican Bay
should not move forward, and I really don't think the agencies are
going to accept it until the entire estuary is addressed. The one-year
permit extension is the way to go with a new, longer, more
comprehensive permit or permits to follow later, after the science and
all of the great discussion group work that Mr. McAlpin has set up is
completed.
And there was a comment made by the Pelican Bay
Administrator in the last Pelican Bay Services Division Meeting that
may be of interest to you, and it was stated that if Pelican Bay were to
incorporate Clam Bay, which was a part of the original PUD, would
become a part of Pelican Bay. And this is a major reason why I feel
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the county staff recommendations should be followed. Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Ted Raia. He'll be followed
by Ted (sic) Buser.
MR. RAIA: Good morning. My name is Ted Raia. I'm a
member of the Pelican Bay Services Division and served on the Clam
Bay Committee.
I think it is imperative that you do move ahead and approve a
very specific permit that will take care of the Mangroves that belong
to the county. People bring in incorporation. It has absolutely nothing
to do with the Mangroves. As far as I understand, if there's
incorporation or no incorporation, that is county property and will
remain county property, and we would like to continue taking care of
it no matter what happened to government.
The important issue here is that people who dedicate their time
and effort to improving a natural resource of county should be
rewarded by continuing the efforts of what they are doing.
I can understand the concerns of the city, but the city really
brought on these concerns themselves when they destroyed all the
Mangroves put in Seagate road that cut off a linkage of flow of water
from the south to the north. We want to cooperate with them to fix
that. Weare not saying we don't want to fix that. We want to fully
cooperate with any other permit that the county commissioners decide
to pursue. You can count on that.
But please let us take care of the Mangroves. It appears they
belong to Pelican Bay. They are in Pelican Bay, but it's really your
property to steward. Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Mr. Chairman, the next speaker is registered
twice. He wants to read something in the record for someone else.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Three minutes.
MS. FILSON: David Buser.
MR. BUSER: For the record, David Buser. I am the president of
the Seagate Homeowners Association and also serving on the Collier
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County Coastal Advisory Committee.
I'd like to put an overhead up for view, if possible. I've been
asked by City Councilman John Sorey to read a sealed statement. I
have not been able to view it myself at this point, so I'd like to read his
comments first as the first speaking opportunity, if that is okay with
the chairman.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You have three minutes, total of three
minutes.
MR. BUSER: For both?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You have three minutes.
MR. BUSER: I've registered for two slots, one for John Sorey.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You have three minutes total.
MR. BUSER: Okay. For the record -- this is John Sorey's
statement. First, for the record, I am John Sorey, 220 Gulfshore
Boulevard North, Naples, Florida, and these comments are from me
individually, and I'm not representing the Naples City Councilor the
Coastal Advisory Committee. Thank you for allowing this statement
to be read into the record.
Pelican Bay Services Division is requesting to have Pelican Bay
Services Division prepare, sign, and submit the Clam Bay
Management Plan to the federal and state agencies.
I endorse the position taken by the staff document from Mr. Gary
McAlpin, Coastal Zone Management, and Ms. Colleen Green, County
Attorney's Office, dated April 14, 2008.
It is essential that we view the Clam Bay waterway as a whole
versus the two elements of Mangroves and stormwater.
I congratulate the Pelican Bay Services Division on the progress
they have made in these areas, but it's time to move to a more
conclusive status.
Since the lower portion of Clam Bay is within the City of Naples,
the city and its citizens must be involved in this restoration. With this
request comes both a funding and involvement responsibility.
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Based on my discussion with a number of citizens in this area, it
appears they're committed to do their part in this effort. I've had the
honor to be part of a broad-based work group considering Pelican Bay
-- or considering Clam Bay.
At what point -- at one point we had an agreement with the
Pelican Bay Services Division to extend the existing permit for one
year and allow the work groups to address the nine items that were
identified and required analysis and recommendations.
Unfortunately this decision was changed to make an immediate
request for a new 10-year permit. It would appear that this is not the
appropriate action based on the facts that have been determined.
Please support the staffs recommendation and do not allow the
Pelican Bay Services Division to go forward on the permit renewal.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments.
Since I only have three minutes, I'll try to be fast.
Personally I feel this is a Trojan horse. This is the county beach
under the current hydraulics management. And when the term
hydraulics is addressed by Mr. Petty, it's continuation of this state of
management for county citizens, okay.
What I would propose is that the county commissioners pass a
resolution to direct county staff to work directly with the Pelican Bay
Services Division Board to make Mangrove restoration a focal point
of any new permit but not give Pelican Bay Services Division Board
the permit to hold.
If Pelican Bay does incorporate and is their own city, you,
County Commissioners, will be going to Pelican Bay, the City of
Pelican Bay meetings asking for a request to manage that beach
differently, and that's unacceptable.
I, once again, would like to request additional time since I did
sign for two speaker slots, please, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I know. Next speaker? We need to
move on. We have many time certains. We have an 11: 15 that I
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guess we're going to have to get to this afternoon.
What is -- who's the next speaker?
MS. FILSON: He's the final speaker.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, Mr. Buser.
Commissioner Coletta, you had something, and then
Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: What I'd like to know -- and I'm
not too sure who to address the question to. Possibly our staff if I
may.
MR. PETTIT: Which staff, Commissioner?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: County staff, thank you. I mean other
than Pelican Bay. No offense.
My concern is how we're going to do this thing fairly and
equitably for everybody in everybody's best interest.
The last speaker, I had met with him previously, so I had the full
benefit of his presentation, and he left me with great concerns after
that meeting as far as the beach and the condition of the beach. He
also pointed out how the -- and I can't remember the terminology that
was used, how the sand builds up outside of the pass there and how, if
it's not managed properly, it will cause the beach to deteriorate, and he
raised all sorts of concerns.
From what you've heard, does that raise concerns for the county
and our right to be able to manage a public amenity?
MR. McALPIN: One of the issues that was not addressed in the
first lO-year permit was management of the sand bypassing in the ebb
tide shoal so we could put sand on Clam Pass, the county park, the
Clam Pass beach park.
We will -- as -- when we move forward with this, Commissioner,
we will -- what we will do is we will apply for our own permit, the
county's own permit, to manage the ebb tide shoal to manage the past.
We will do that in conjunction with the rest of the estuary so that we
maintain the proper hydraulics for the flow and the estuary, but we
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would intend to move forward, work out an agreement so -- with the
state so that we could -- we could control the pass and the sand
bypassing.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Now, help me a little bit with
this, too. This past 10 years that this permit's been in effect, did we
accomplish the goals that that permit was for as far as the restoration
of the Mangroves?
MR. McALPIN: The restoration of the Mangroves and water
quality has been very successful. The water quality has been through
stormwater runoff relative to the area of Pelican Bay; been very
successful. Pelican Bay has been good stewards on that.
The issue is that if you apply for another 10-year permit, it's
larger than just those two items. There are another -- there are a
number of other items that need to be addressed; however, what we're
looking to do is -- what I heard County Manager indicate, we're
looking to narrow the scope of that permit so that the scope of the
permit would just address maintenance of the Mangroves, and that's
fine. There could be a county permit issued to whomever to manage
the scope of those permits, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Now, why is the permit
issued to the county but Pelican Bay Service Division gets to manage
it?
MR. McALPIN: The original permit was applied for 10 years
ago. I can't deal with the specifics on why that it was issued to Collier
County/Pelican Bay Services Division. That would not be the way
that we would choose to manage that -- the issue of -- that permit
would be issued at this point in time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, the present motion we
have before us is to issue that permit in whose name and who would
be controlling it?
MR. McALPIN: Our recommendation from the county staff,
from a direct county staff point of view, is that the permits be issued in
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Collier County's name and that we would work with the local
community, the Mangrove Action Committee/Pelican Bay Services
Division, and that they would work to execute that work task with
some level of involvement by the county.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Now, the Pelican Bay
Services Division -- and please, bear with me a few minutes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We've got another four
minutes. Do we -- can we finish this item up, or do we have to go to
our 12 noon --
MR. KLATZKOW: No. We can finish this item up, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And then go into the closed session.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Take your time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.
The Pelican Bay Services Division is a local entity that's solely
contained within Pelican Bay. They can't represent the interest of the
City of Naples?
MR. McALPIN: You know, I can't comment on that. I would
ask our County Attorney to comment on that, if you would.
MR. PETTY: I could do that, if you'd like.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, I'd rather hear from the
County Attorney, to be honest with you.
MR. MUDD: They're a division -- they're a division of Collier
government, just like any other division that works under the County
Manager.
Now, there's some differences based on an ordinance specifically
that the board basically gave some powers to the Pelican Bay Services
Division in the last update. But for all practical purposes, they're a
division of Collier government under the County Manager. They have
a separate board that has some powers that you gave them as a board
that I don't have in other divisions, but that's okay. You --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Then what you're saying
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is that they do have the ability to be able to make decisions
independent of the county commission, or would everything have to
come back?
MR. MUDD: No, sir. Their budget comes to you, everything
comes to you. If you want to designate them as your agent for this
permit, you can do that. Just like Mr. DeLony applies for a permit
after he comes to you and asks you for permission to apply for that
permit. They're applying for that permit in Collier County's name in
order to get that done.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So--
MR. MUDD: You cannot -- you cannot give up that right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, fine. So we have final
control over anything that takes place. They can't act independently to
go forward with any particular direction no matter what the permit
says or whatever? In other words, we set the parameter for what can
be done?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. They come and apply for that permit, and
when that permit gets done, it will come back here for your review to
make sure it's what you want it to be, and then -- and then it gets
signed off.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So why is staffs
recommendations to have it directly under the county rather than
under --
MR. MUDD: You make that decision. You have a coastal zone
manager, okay, and it's Gary McAlpin, okay, and we've set that up at
the request of your Coastal Advisory Committee. So he would look at
the entire coastal estuary system and the beach aspects of Collier
County, and that's what he does for a living at the request of Coastal
Advisory Committee and the board's direction to add that particular
position.
So Gary's got some say to it, and I believe he'll work with Mr.
Petty in this particular regard to make sure it gets done.
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April 22-23, 2008
You also have an item on your agenda which is lOG. And one of
the items is the Water Resource Development Act submission for
Clam Bay Estuary water quality improvements, because what we're
trying to get at -- what Dr. Buser had talked about, what
Councilwoman Taylor had talked about, and what Mr. Finlay had
talked about earlier, is there's a big issue here, okay.
It's a big area, and there are some water quality issues, especially
down in the southern end of the bay that need to be addressed, and it's
going to cost money, and that's why we want to try to get an
authorization so that you in the later years can go for an appropriation
and get the federal government to help you cost share with the county
and the municipalities and whoever else wants to join in order to get
things resolved.
So we're not just saying it's just going to be done with the
Mangrove. There's a whole particular look at this in a holistic aspect,
and we're going to take it on in digestible doses in order to get it
resolve.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, Mr. Mudd.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is that it?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's it, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I'd like to emphasize that
every speaker and every member of staff and all of the commissioners
have exactly the same goal in mind, and we have to remember that.
Our goal is to protect the estuary and the Mangroves. It impacts
Pelican Bay very, very directly. It impacts the City of Naples. It
impacts the entire county, because we have a responsibility to make
sure those things are done.
My problem is that there is nothing here to vote on. There is no
program, comprehensive plan for us to vote on here. We have a
proposal by the Pelican Bay Services Division that says, we want to
get a 10-year extension or any other amount of an extension that you'll
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April 22-23, 2008
give us, but up to 10 years. We have a proposal by another department
that says, no, we don't think an extension of this -- this restoration plan
is necessary. No new management plan or long-term permit is
needed, nor should it be applied for.
Execution of the new work-specific tasks and permits can be
accomplished through local community organizations like the
Mangrove Action Committee with some degree of oversight by
Collier County, and so forth.
We have two documents from our own organization specifying
two different ways of doing this. We can't vote on this. This should
have been resolved before it ever came to us. What should have
happened is that we should have a comprehensive management
program presented to us for approval that would cover all of the issues
in this estuary and involving all of these stakeholders in this process.
But if we make a decision on the proposal submitted by the
Pelican Bay Services Division, it's going to piecemeal it. It's not
going to be a comprehensive process. Ifwe take the contrary
recommendations, there really is no plan or organization identified to
do what the contrary recommendations would suggest.
So we're sitting here expecting to make a decision that is not
going to make anybody happy and I think will be quite destructive if
we make a decision.
So I would suggest to the commissioners that we direct our staffs
to go back and sort this out. We've got two divisions within our
County Manager's purview who should be able to sit down and work
this thing out and come back with a comprehensive, coherent proposal
about how this is done.
And I would also say that I think it makes us look terrible to the
people who have been working on this project for a long, long time.
After not participating actively in helping do anything with these --
saving these Mangroves, we are now acting like, now that it's finished,
we want to take it away from you and we're going to do it. That's not
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April 22-23, 2008
what is going to happen here, and -- at least it's not what I'm going to
vote for.
So I think we need a comprehensive management plan, Mr.
Chairman. I know there's a vote -- or there's a motion on the table, but
I could not support it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas, then
Commissioner Fiala, then I'm going to go.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I think what we're trying to do here
is not only protect the county, but we're trying to protect the citizens
of Pelican Bay in regards to addressing the issue of only the
Mangroves and the hydrology that's in the back there.
If we expand this permit that we're discussing today to make it as
widespread as it has been for the last 10 years, then I think that we get
ourselves in a tremendous -- the possibility is that we could get
ourselves in a tremendous problem here.
I think what we need to do is address the issue of the Mangroves
in Pelican Bay today, and then what we need to do is find out if we
really have a problem with the rest of the estuary system along with
the WRDA that we're trying to address, and I think that we can work
together with all parties involved to address the other issues.
But I don't think we want to tie in the Mangroves and tie in
everything else because then I think we're --we, as the county, could
be in serious jeopardy because of the fact that we are the ones that
sign that permit, and we're responsible for what happens back there.
And I think that's where we're trying to go at this point in time.
Am I right, County Manager? I'm asking you for some guidance
here.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Just short, please.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the permit's been a success. We
have some outliers where we, as staff, we as -- and we have some
disagreement.
Mr. Petty, in his conversations with FDEP have said that the
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April 22-23, 2008
markings on the navigational canal are fine. Our conversation with
FDEP says the markings aren't fine.
Mr. McAlpin is working on the last piece of compliance on this
permit, and that has to do with the navigational marking in the
channel, and he's getting with a Pelican Bay Services Division and
he's also getting with the City of Naples in order to try to resolve
where those markers should be.
With that, we have satisfied this permit, and it has been a long
journey. And that's where we are in this particular regard.
I believe there's a lot of work that needs to get done here, there's
a lot of stormwater issues that need to get resolved here, and I believe
there's going to be a significant expenditure of funds in order to get it
right, and that's why I've tried to include that into WRDA so you can
get some comprehensive issues.
But I believe if you keep this permit on board without solving
some issues that are out there right now for stormwater runoff from
other parts of the community that go into this bay, you are going to
have some serious problems with water quality issues based on the
permit as it stands, and you'll be out of compliance, and you'll get a
consent order or two.
And I'd suggest to you that you let this permit expire and start
working on those particular issues with some help with some federal
dollars.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. Now, that's about what you
said, wasn't it, Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, that's the way I understood it.
And what I said in the beginning is, I think there ought to be two
permits. This one, because Pelican Bay has already done a marvelous
job in cleaning up the estuary, but there's another job that needs to be
done that hasn't been done so well, and I think we ought to apply for
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April 22-23, 2008
that permit along with the City of Naples, work together to clean up
the rest of that bay area. Isn't that something that we can do?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am. We're trying to do that.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good. You -- and then
Commissioner Coyle after me.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I don't -- I like the motion because the
citizens always had a special interest in Mangroves, and there's no
reason why government needs to be all to all, and let the citizens of
Pelican Bay deal with that issue as it states on the motion.
There are so many things happening in and around Pelican Bay
that upsets that community. Why not the county commissioners give
them a piece of something, and let's move on with that.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Two points. And number one,
what has been motioned is not what the staff has said, okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It is not what the staff -- Gary
McAlpin has said in his memo to us, okay.
Secondly, I do not believe that you can deal with the hydrology
of Clam Bay and the health of the Mangroves without taking the rest
of Clam Bay into consideration. You can't play around with
hydrology and expect it only to impact Mangroves, okay.
So when you -- when you involve -- when you have a permit that
says, okay, all you're going to do is deal with Mangroves and the
hydrology in Clam Bay, but you're going to let somebody else deal
with some other portion of the same Clam Bay, how you going to rash
-- how you going to work that out?
Suppose the people who are responsible for the hydrology where
the Mangroves are do something that is harmful to the rest of the bay?
It's not likely, but you can't separate these things. You've got a bay;
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April 22-23, 2008
you've got an estuary. You can't parcel it out and say, okay, you
manage this part and somebody else manage that part and somebody
else manage this part, and you don't even have a plan to do that here.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't think you can.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I mean, it's really -- it really doesn't
make sense. You really shouldn't settle for a piecemeal approach.
We should have the staff go back and give us a comprehensive
plan to do the job for the entire estuary, and then you can parcel out
the tasks to whoever you want to. But to just give somebody a permit
to go out and do something without creating a comprehensive
management plan is irresponsible.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other discussion before the
motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just a short note. I've listened to
this argument go back and forth, and believe me -- and I come to the
conclusion, everybody's right. I think you could probably approach it
either way and you'd still get there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But the simplest thing is, is for
the past 10 years it's worked well as far as the management of the
Mangroves. Why change that at this point in time? Just as long as the
cost is going to be realistic. But then again, on the other hand, we do
have to make sure that we bring all the rest of the players in to be able
to preserve what's there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries 4-1, Commissioner
Coyle dissenting in the motion.
Item #12B
IN ADDITION TO BOARD MEMBERS, COUNTY MANAGER
JAMES MUDD, COUNTY ATTORNEY DAVID C. WEIGEL,
CHIEF ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY JEFFREY A.
KLATZKOW AND ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY
JACQUELINE WILLIAMS HUBBARD WILL BE IN
ATTENDANCE. THE BOARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL
DISCUSS: SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND STRATEGY
RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES IN THE PENDING
LITIGATION CASES OF BONITA MEDIA ENTERPRISES, LLC.
V. COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD,
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
CASE NO.: 2:07-CV-411-FTM-29DNF, NOW PENDING IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF
FLORIDA, FORT MYERS DIVISION AND BONITA MEDIA
ENTERPRISES, LLC., BRENNAN, MANNA & DIAMOND (REG.
AGENT) V. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPEAL CASE NO.: 07-2035-CA, LOWER
TRIBUNAL CEB NO.: 2007-35, NOW PENDING IN THE
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL
DIVISION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT - CLOSED SESSION
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're going to go into our closed
session. We have to come back out at one o'clock, sir?
MR. KLATZKOW: We don't have to come out at one o'clock.
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April 22-23, 2008
We will--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, we're going to convene and do
our closed session and return at II -- or I: II.
MR. KLATZKOW: 1:11?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Or 7-11, whatever.
MR. KLATZKOW: Just for the record the--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, go ahead.
MR. KLATZKOW: The closed session involves a discussion of
negotiation strategy related to litigation --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Can you quiet down in back, please.
MR. KLATZKOW: - related to Bonita Media Enterprises. In
attendance of this will be the board members, County Manager James
Mudd, Chief Assistant County Attorney Jeffrey A. Klatzkow,
Assistant County Attorney Jacquelyn Hubbard. We expect it to take
approximately a half hour, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
(A closed session was held during the luncheon recess, and the
proceedings continued as follows:)
Item #12C
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PROVIDE
DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS TO
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND STRATEGY RELATED
TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES IN THE PENDING
LITIGATION CASES OF BONITA MEDIA ENTERPRISES, LLC.
V. COLLIER COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD,
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
CASE NO.: 2:07-CV-411-FTM-29DNF, NOW PENDING IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF
FLORIDA, FORT MYERS DIVISION AND BONITA MEDIA
ENTERPRISES, LLC., BRENNAN, MANNA & DIAMOND (REG.
Page 102
April 22-23, 2008
AGENT) V. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPEAL CASE NO.: 07-2035-CA, LOWER
TRIBUNAL CEB NO.: 2007-35, NOW PENDING IN THE
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL
DIVISION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT. - MOTION TO DIRECT
ST AFF TO AMEND THE COUNTY SIGN CODE TO MAKE IT
CONSTITUTIONAL - APPROVED; MOTION TO HAVE CODE
ENFORCEMENT COMPLY W/COURT ORDER AND NOT
ENFORCE PROVISION OF SIGN CODE - APPROVED;
MOTION FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MOVE
FORWARD TO REACH SETTLEMENT, INCLUDING
MEDIATION IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURT UNLESS A
SETTLEMENT IS REACHED AT WHICH TIME IT WOULD BE
BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Board's back from its Closed Session
and lunch. We're going to do 12B.
MR. MUDD: 12C, sir, it would be 12C.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: 12C.
MR. MUDD: For the Board of County Commissioners to
provide direction to the County Attorney's Office as to settlement
negotiations and strategy related to litigation expenditures in the
pending litigation case of Bonita Media Enterprises, LLC, versus
Collier County Code Enforcement Board, Board of County
Commissioners, case number 207-cv-411-FtM-29 delta, N -- excuse
me -- DNF, and there's also a similar case in the Circuit Court, and
that's 12C. Ms. Jack Robinson will present -- Hubbard.
MS. HUBBARD: Hubbard, thank you.
MR. MUDD: I'm sorry.
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. HUBBARD: Yes. At this time I'm asking on behalf of our
office for direction particularly as it pertains to going forward with our
sign code. And I would ask that the board entertain a motion directing
staff to revise, delete or meet or amend the sign code to conform to the
first amendment dictates as expressed in the preliminary injunction
issued by Judge Steel.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there a motion to do so?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to do so.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Is that the intent of the motion?
Aren't we also going to direct the County Manager to stop enforcing
the sign code unconstitutionally and to enter into mediation
concerning -- do we want to include all these or you going to do them
one at a time?
MS. HUBBARD: Well, I'd like to do them separately--
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You would.
MS. HUBBARD: --- because that one that I just mentioned I'd
like to file a copy of that with the Court upon acceptance by the board.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So moved.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by Commissioner
Coletta, second by Commissioner Coyle. Yeah, but --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: He made the motion?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: He did, he did. He spoke up.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: To direct staff to amend the sign code
so it would fit the first amendment right, free speech and also direct
the County Manager not to enforce --
MS. HUBBARD: No, just the first motion. Secondly,
Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MS. HUBBARD: To amend, delete, or add to the sign code to
make it constitutional.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct. Discussion?
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April 22-23, 2008
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
MS. HUBBARD: Second motion that we're requesting is that the
county code enforcement authorities comply with the Court's order
and not enforce the provisions of the sign code as to Bonita Media
Enterprises, LLC, as described in the Court's order.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And actually that would be a
direction to the County Manager.
MS. HUBBARD: Correct, sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second by Commissioner Coyle.
Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Seeing none, all those in favor of the
motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
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ApriI22-23,2008
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
MS. HUBBARD: Thank you.
And the third motion, particularly in response to Commissioner
Coyle, is that the Office of the County Attorney be instructed to move
forward in attempting to reach a reasonable settlement of this case
including using, if necessary, mediation in the federal court and state
court matters.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So moved.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by Commissioner
Fiala, second by Commissioner Coyle to give direction to the County
Attorney's Office to go to mediation to settle this lawsuit.
MS. HUBBARD: Unless we can reach a reasonable settlement
with the opposing counsel, which we would bring back to the board
for your approval.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct, and that's a part of your
motion.
MS. HUBBARD: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And the second.
Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
MS. HUBBARD: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're going to go to our 11:30 --
II: 15 time certain.
Item #12A - Tabled to later in the meeting
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SITTING AS THE BOARD OF ZONING
APPEALS REJECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
SPECIAL MAGISTRATE PURSUANT TO THE ALTERNATE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS RESULTING FROM THE
DENIAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE FOR THE EXPANSION
OF A CHURCH FOR PETITION CU-2004-AR-6384 - GOLDEN
GATE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, INC.-
DISCUSSED AND THEN TABLED TO LATER IN THE
MEETING
MR. MUDD: 11:15 time certain. That's item 12A. It's a
recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners sitting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals reject the recommendation of the special
magistrate pursuant to the alternatives dispute resolution process
resulting from the denial of the conditional use for the expansion of a
church. Condition CU-2004-AR-6384, Golden Gate Congregation of
Jehovah Witnesses, Inc.
Ms. Marjorie Student, principal from your County Attorney's
Office, will present.
MS. STUDENT-STIRLING: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Before we go into the discussion on
this, if my colleagues don't mind me saying, I don't want to deviate
from what the Special Master Brousseau has suggested to the Board of
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April 22-23, 2008
County Commissioners. I think that we should try to settle this issue.
Is that okay, or do you want to go into presentation?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, I'm more interested in
hearing the speakers than I am having the presentations. I've heard
them before. But then, again, maybe the public might want to hear
them.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So what you're saying is you want
to abide by what the special magistrate said?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct. But there's two things, what
the special master said. One thing, he gave direction to either buyout
the neighbor. So we need to know if that has been discussed, and was
there any resolution to that? And the second thing is amend the Site
Development Plan.
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: Right. The resolution on the
church's buyout of the neighbor, as far as I know at the meeting that
was discussed, and it was not -- they both to succumb to fruition. You
may wish to address that, Mr. Fox?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Cox (sic)?
MR. FOX: Good afternoon, Chairman Henning, Members of the
Commission. We did discuss this issue extensively with the adjoining
property owner, Mr. Jeff Raimer, and another adjoining property
owner, Mr. Cranale (phonetic), who does not live there but has a lot
nearby.
Our discussions were not fruitful, so I requested of Judge
Brousseau that he come in and meet with the parties and personally
attempt to work out a settlement. He graciously did that at our
mediation, and we were still not able to reach a -- any kind of
resolution.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Is Mr. Raimer here? Is he part
of -- is he one of the speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coletta, did
you have anything?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Once again, I'm waiting to hear
from the speakers before I move on this.
MS. STUDENT-STIRLING: One of the things that I would just
like to point out -- and I'm going to ask Mr. DeRuntz, the planner that
was involved, to step up. I believe it is on your visualizer, however --
the enhanced site plan that was recommended by the special
magistrate which involves moving the parking area toward the county
park, enhanced buffering, a wall with buffering outside of the wall
between the wall and the property line.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Can you call up the speakers,
please?
MS. FILSON: I have two speakers. Mike Casady. He'll be
followed by James Fox.
MR. CASADY: Good afternoon, Commissioners, and thank you
for hearing us. This is a very important project for us. We're talking
about building a small building approximately 4,000 square feet,
which is not relatively a large building. Probably a little bit larger --
just a little bit larger than this room in itself, a single-story building
painted the colors of earth tone colors that blends in with the
landscaping.
We have met several times and have made several things that we
put before the neighbors' concessions, and have bent over backwards.
And as you see from the site plan, the buffer has changed, has really
increased largely on the south side of the property, including on the
east side of the property where the neighbor lived.
And we've incorporated a wall in the project for the concern
about noise. And we did a study, sound study, which came up very
positive for us, that there was no issue, and we followed the standards,
the sound standards of Collier County. So we have done a lot of
things, you know, to try to work this situation out.
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April 22-23, 2008
Just a little bit about our meetings that we have there. We have
our meetings, and it's -- we feel it's a great benefit for the
neighborhood, for the people in the area. It builds good families, our
meetings. It helps our children to be respectable children in school,
they excel in school. Many are providing good grades and are on the
honor role.
So there's many good things. Good businessmen come out of our
meetings, and we just feel that if you could, we appreciate a favorable
vote to allow us to build this project.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is James Fox.
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: One thing --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Do you have anything else, Mr. Fox?
MR. FOX: I have a couple things I would like to say, in may.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All Right. I didn't mean to interrupt
Marjorie.
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: I neglected, I wanted to mention at
the outset, because of resolution 709, this requires a supermajority
vote, so that's what I wanted to put on the record.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. So we have no one
speaking in opposition, from what I gather. You have no other
speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Pretty amazing. And the reason
for us to go through this process is many years ago, as you can
remember, Commissioner Henning, it used to be in Golden Gate
Estates you could do these types of things just by permitting.
It was the first master plan that put together the necessary thing
to make these conditional uses so we can meet the needs of the
residents. I know it's been a long and laborious process for the people
that have been involved, but there's been a good reason for it.
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April 22-23, 2008
With that, the fact that there's no one here raising objections and
we have reached out to touch the people and let them know about this
meeting taking place today in many ways and they're not here to speak
against it, so I no longer have any objections.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Mr. Fox?
MR. FOX: Okay. I will be very brief, Chairman Henning.
Again, I'm Jim Fox with Roetzel and Andress. We represent the
petitioner.
I just want to make one point. We advised our client about the
available option after the BZA turned them down which, of course,
includes a lawsuit, Bert Harris action, a petition for cert.; and our
client, being a church, wanted to try something new. This LUDRA
petition is a new thing in the legislature that allows us to sit down and
try and work out our problems.
And we did that; we chose Judge Brousseau, who has some 25
years on the bench and a lot of experience with land use, to sit down.
And the two -- at end of the day there were two concerns that the
property owners had. One had to do with sound, and the other had to
do with sight lines.
I just wanted to briefly point out what we've done. We've moved
this -- this was, where the arrow shows here, is where the wall used to
exist on the boundary, and we've moved it some 140 -- about 50 feet
back. We hired a sound engineer to determine what kind of sound that
would then emanate from the property as a result of that, and he said
that once we did that, the sound reaching the adjoining property would
be less than it is now. It would be quieter.
The other concern was that, well, my sight lines are going to be --
Mr. Raimer said, my sight lines were going to be destroyed by this
wall, and so by moving the wall 40 feet, at a considerable expense, we
were able to provide a natural barrier, and we committed to filling that
in so that he has a nice, natural look of 40 feet of trees.
This new plan went through the county staff. It was approved by
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the county staff. It was recommended by Judge Brousseau.
I'm happy to answer further questions, but I don't want to belabor
this, and thank you for giving us this time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, but we also need to have the
staff inform the board exactly what the changes are and exactly what
is going to stay in the conditional use. But I --
MR. DeRUNTZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta, do you have --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Basically that was it. I would
like also to be able to point out where the home residence is now in
relation to the map and the buffers that are being put into place.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MR. DeRUNTZ: Yes, sir. For the record, my name is Mike
DeRuntz. I'm a principal planner with the Department of
Comprehensive Planning. I was the principal planner in Zoning and
Land Development Review at the time this land application came
forward.
We have -- this plan has been amended from what the Board of
County Commissioners had seen previously in June 26, '07, when you
moved to deny this request.
This -- the buffer -- this is the house here of Mr. Raimer on the
west side of this -- of the subject property. And the buffer -- they had
a wall that was along the side, like it was explained, and a minimum
of a 25-foot buffer, landscape buffer along here.
Now they have a full 50-foot-wide buffer here, and the wall is on
the back side of that landscape buffer area. It runs the length, the
eastern side here, along then to the south here, and there was also a 25
-- a wall was along the roadway here of I st Avenue Southwest, and
that wall's been moved back. And this entire area has a varying width
of some 50 to 75 feet back in this corner.
So that is one of the revisions that has been made, so they have
increased the buffering area and moved the wall. By moving the wall,
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April 22-23, 2008
it puts the wall adjacent to the parking area and the driving area
which, as it was suggested from the sound study that was mentioned,
it's going to reduce a lot of the noise.
They've reconfigured the parking area. This area to the south
here had a lot of parking, and they moved that entire area down here.
If you would, I'm going to flip to the previous site plan and you can
see how they had a lot more parking over here on the south side of the
property, and this area here was just -- you know, is open, and they
flipped that parking into this area here.
You see how narrow the buffer was along there in here, and you
could see by reconfiguring the layout of the parking, they've gained a
lot of additional green space and buffering. There's a lot of existing
trees that are along that area. I could flip -- show you some
photographs I've taken there.
One of the concerns that they had at the Planning Commission
and was reflected from the fire district, that there was only one access-
way here to the site. And the fire district wanted an additional access-
way which has remained on the site plan, and that will be controlled
with a gate with the fire district having a key so they could have easy
access into the site.
Ifthere's any questions, I'd be more than happy to address those.
We would need to --like I say, there was some conditions that would
need to be modified from the original conditional use permit, and the
major one would -- that it would need to reflect that the conditional
use would be based upon this revised site plan.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala has questions,
Commissioner Coyle has questions.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. Can you tell me who is going
to maintain that buffer, the -- including the water, the electricity,
mowing, planting, and so forth?
MR. DeRUNTZ: That would be the church's responsibility. It's
their property.
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COMMISSIONER FIALA: And if they don't maintain it, then?
MR. DeRUNTZ: Then it would be -- could be a code violation.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The -- can someone tell me why
the staff recommended that we reject the special magistrate's findings?
There was no justification for the rejection mentioned in the executive
summary .
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: Yes. It was my opinion that we
had -- that we could win the cert. case if it proceeded to a petition for
Writ of Certiorari, and also, the board had addressed concerns about
the number of congregations and the number of days that the
congregation might meet in the original discussion in June of'07, and
that was not addressed by the special magistrate. So those were part
of the reasons.
The board is free to do whatever they wish, however.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The original motion for approval
restricted the use to four days a week?
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Is that something that the staff is
recommending, or what is the recommendation here?
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: That was not -- that was not part of
what the special magistrate addressed was the number of meetings. It
was his opinion that this revised site plan would take care of the issues
that the board had for the project's impact on the neighborhood.
But you are free under the law to either accept, accept with
modifications, or reject the special magistrate's recommendations. So
you are free to add whatever conditions might be able to be agreed
upon.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I understood that, but what
I'm uncertain about now is if we merely accept the special magistrate's
recommendations, what other factors are we leaving out? How about
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April 22-23, 2008
traffic impacts; are there any problems there with respect to traffic in
the neighborhood? I guess we need to have some answers from staff
on that.
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: I believe the special magistrate
found that there were none, but I can defer to staff. Originally, I
believe, that there -- it was found that there were none, but I'm going
to --
MR. DeRUNTZ: Nick?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: For the record, Nick Casalanguida
with transportation. There were no detrimental impacts. It was
off-peak hours and it was four days a week, and the restrictions that
were there did not pose a traffic problem.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, the petitioner's
representative is saying that four days a week doesn't apply. He's
shaking his head about four days a week.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: If it's six days a week, because of the
nature of the church, the issue of transportation was access, and that
wasn't really a traffic impact issue. It was more the residents did not
want them to access I st Street.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But you said it's off hours.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: It's off hours, the use of the church,
compared to peak-hour traffic.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Based upon what, four days a week
use or every day a week use?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Even every day, from the hours they
presented in the original traffic impact statement, it was not during the
a.m. peak rush or the p.m. peak rush.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, Commissioner Halas's
motion at the time was for approval with the stipulation that they only
be allowed to meet four weeks -- or four nights a week.
Okay, thank you.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: You're welcome.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Other questions? I have a question.
If the board approves the Site Development Plan or this modification,
does the other stipulations from the Planning Commission or staff -- is
still adhered to?
MS. STUDENT -STIRLING: I don't -- I don't think that they
necessarily do, but I think you can make that part of your motion.
And I don't think anybody would have any objections, so I think
you're free to make that part of your motion, and we could bring back
that conditional use with the site plan and the stip -- original
stipulations.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Now, let me ask another question.
MR. FOX: Mr. Chairman, if I may, just with respect to your last
question. The revised site plan does incorporate all the
recommendations of the staff and all the recommendations of the
Planning Commission.
The changes were those that Judge Brousseau specifically wanted
to increase the buffers and reduce the sound. There was also a change
to put in a no right turn at the exit and entrance so that cars couldn't go
out I st Avenue, which was a concern that's been expressed before the
board.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The Planning Commission's
recommendation that a six-foot wall be on top of a three-foot buffer.
MR. FOX: And that's the wall that we said has been moved.
There will be a three-foot berm and a six-foot wall. It's just been
moved so it's now 50 feet inside the property to provide a nice, natural
buffer and to, according to our sound engineer, to send the sound off
into the stratosphere.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioners, County
Attorney did receive a message that the neighbor, Jeff Raimer, objects
to the property owner -- well, objects to the settlement.
Now, staff cannot amend this Site Development Plan? Because it
says in here the director of the department of zoning and land
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April 22-23, 2008
development may approve minor changes to location of sighting,
heights, and building.
If we approve the Site Development Plan, does the director have
any ability to move buildings around or any other thing on the Site
Development Plan?
MS. STUDENT-STIRLING: That is standard language because
the site plan is usually conceptual. And I would say there's probably
really not much ability to move the buildings with the parking and so
forth shown where it is and the wall being closer in and the buffering.
But I think -- and Mike, you can maybe address this a little better
than I. I think that's just to allow for just minor little things that aren't
really going to affect where the buildings and footprint and so forth
appears on the plan to that great of an extent. Isn't that correct?
MR. DeRUNTZ: Yes, ma'am, that is correct, that is standard
language for conditional uses so that when they come in for an SDP,
that it can -- these can be tweaked a little bit. But the buffering would
need to stay there. If it just -- if we're off a foot or something along
this line, it gives them a little latitude.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So you're saying that a minor change
would be a foot to move the building or any other structures or
improvements; is that -- is that the definition of minor?
MR. DeRUNTZ: It would be insignificant. And I just said a
foot.
But Ray, do you want to address that, please?
MR. BELLOWS: Good afternoon. For the record, Ray Bellows
with zoning and land development review.
The idea is to allow, at the time of Site Development Plan, if the
engineer or -- has to accommodate a different water management area
or slight building configuration, that it doesn't trigger the conditional
use having to come back before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Well, being that we're settling
on a particular site plan, I want to know if it's this much, this much, or
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April 22-23, 2008
this much (indicating). I think that has to be maybe in the motion.
MR. BELLOWS: Yes. We can include that, that there's no more
than a foot margin of error.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I'm willing to go ahead
and make a motion for approval.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Bellows?
MR. BELLOWS: Just one other comment. We can also
stipulate that any change to this concept plan would require it to come
back.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And that would be included in
my motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Close the public hearing.
Commissioner Coletta, if I understand, makes a motion to
approve the special master's recommendations, the revised site plan.
All the stipulations still stay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And those stipulations would
also include four days a week.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And the -- is that your motion, in
your motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I believe -- why, is there
a problem with that?
MR. FOX: Yes, sir. That was not a stipulation, as Ms. Student
testified, of the special magistrate's position. And I would be -- I
would have to speak with my client, but I would advise my client
about not entering into an agreement with the government about when
it could hold worship services and when it can't. That was not in the
Planning Commission. It wasn't in any of the other.
So we are more than happy to accept all of the Planning
Commission recommendations, all the recommendations of the staff,
the recommendation of the special magistrate, which we spent a lot of
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April 22-23, 2008
time and money to meet, and to go back through site development
process.
When we proposed this plan and made sure it was okay with the
staff, one of the things we wanted to do was to avoid the site
development problem. But we are stating on the record, of course, that
we -- if there are site development problems, that we are willing to
work those out. But when they can worship and when they can't, that
is not something that's acceptable.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I remember correctly when
we were -- when this discussion came up before, previous meetings,
where it failed by a lack of a supermajority, you were in agreement
with it then, but you're not now?
MR. FOX: I would have to take time to confer with my client on
that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: With the permission of the
chair.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, most definitely we can do that.
Actually, we can probably even table this, do something else, and
come back to it. But let's formulate a motion --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- first.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That motion includes the
limitations to four nights a week for service. And what were some of
the others? I'm trying to recall. It's been a long time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think that pretty much --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Covered it?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Pretty much handles it. The -- now,
would this be -- your motion to include, improve -- to approve for the
Golden Gate congressional-- Congregational Jehovah Witnesses and
its members' use?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Absolutely correct. In other
words, limit it -- I'm at a loss.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The only reason I'm saying that, I
have a church right down the street from me that is a conditional use
for a church that has several other churches meeting in it. And I just
want to make sure that it is a petition for this congregation to meet.
And is it in your motion that it's for this congregation and no other
churches?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Absolutely. I think that was
understood before when this came before us.
MR. FOX: Mr. Chairman, I was just advised that at the last -- I
was not present at the last meeting, but I was advised that that issue
was discussed but it was not formally a part of the motion because the
adjoining property owner wouldn't agree to it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Agree to what?
MR. FOX: To four days.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Oh, okay.
MR. FOX: So it was not a part of the previous vote.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: What we're going to do, Mr. Fox, is
we're going to have a motion and a second, and then we're going to
table this. You talk to your client, and come back to us, if you don't
mind.
MR. FOX: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, thank you.
MR. FOX: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Does that formalize your motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It does unless there's something
I missed along the way.
MR. KLATZKOW: During the last discussion, the motion was
for four nights, and the petitioners did agree to it on the record.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Is there a second to the
motion? I'll second the motion.
And now we want to give Mr. Fox and his client time to discuss
the motion before we take finalize (sic). So we're going to table 12A.
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Pardon me?
MR. DeRUNTZ: Excuse me. Mike DeRuntz again. Did you
want to include that statement that any revisions to the site plan would
be required to come back to the board?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I thought we did.
MR. DeRUNTZ: I didn't hear that, but I just wanted to make
sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, I include that in the
motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that's a part of the second.
Mr. Klatzkow, are we okay to table this?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We're tabling 12A. We'll
move on to another item.
Item #7 A
RESOLUTION 2008-119: PETITION ADA-2007-AR-12714,
SAUNDRA CLANCY-KOENDARFER, REPRESENTED BY BEN
NELSON OF NELSON MARINE CONSTRUCTION, INC.,
REQUESTING AN APPEAL OF BD-2007-AR-12154, DENIED BY
THE COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION ON
DECEMBER 6, 2007. SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN
SECTION 5, TOWNSHIP 48, RANGE 25, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA. - MOTION TO APPROVE APPLICATION -
ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Brings us to 7 A. This item requires that all
participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure be provided by
commission members.
It's ADA-2007-AR-127 14, Saundra Clancy-Koendarfer,
represented by Ben Nelson of Nelson Marine Construction, Inc. is
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April 22-23, 2008
requesting an appeal of BD-2007-AR-12154 denied by the Collier
County Planning Commission on December 6,2007. Subject property
is located in Section 5, Township 48, Range 25, Collier County,
Florida.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And if I could just ask for everybody
wishing to participate in this item, please rise to be sworn in by the
court reporter.
(The speakers were duly sworn and responded in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there any further ex parte
communication besides what we had the last time we heard this?
Commission Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Meetings -- or, no.
Correspondence, emails.it.s the -- I believe it's same as the last time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner--
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Correspondence.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Myself, I briefly talked to Mr.
N elson, and I watched the Planning Commission meeting.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Only thing I had, it's probably a
continuation of the last meeting, and that was correspondence and
emails.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Chairman, I had
correspondence concerning this.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I -- maybe -- I might be able to get
through this quite -- in a rapid pace. The Board of Commissioners
asked the Planning Commission who voted to deny it the reason why
they denied it. It is on page 65 of 69.
And what I see -- and staff can correct me if I'm wrong -- is
because of the ability of the property owner to put a boat lift on there,
which is in our ordinance by right.
And, also, it says, if the intent was to request to support for a
larger vessel, it should have been noted in the application. Looking at
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April 22-23, 2008
the primary and secondary criteria, I see that that does not fit the part
of the criteria whether they could put a boat lift in it or not or whether
they put -- what size vessel they want.
Did I miss anything? Who's the staff member who is the --
assigned to this?
MS. CASERTA: Ashley Caserta, Department of Zoning and
Land Development Review.
I have the same memorandum from Brad Schiffer, and I -- I'm
not able to give a reason for him. But I can just read, the request to
design reached out further into the water greater than necessary, and
the 20- foot by 10- foot deck is excessive. Those were clear reasons
why he gave.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I'm going to make a motion to
approve the application.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second the motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Do we have any speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. All in favor of the motion,
signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #7B
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April 22-23, 2008
RESOLUTION 2008-120: PETITION V A-2007-AR-12477,
GREGORY W. AND BEVERLY J. SCHUELKE, REPRESENTED
BY CHRISTOPHER 1. THORNTON, OF CHEFFY, P ASSIDOMO,
WILSON, AND JOHNSON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, LLP, ARE
REQUESTING VARIANCES FOR A PROJECT TO BE KNOWN
AS THE SCHUELKE VARIANCE. THE VARIANCE PETITION
SEEKS APPROVAL OF A SIDE YARD SETBACK FOR
ENCROACHMENT OF A POOL DECK/WALL, POOL SCREEN
CAGE, AND CONCRETE PAIR OF STAIRS. THE SUBJECT
PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 496 FLAMINGO AVENUE, IN
THE CONNOR'S VANDERBILT BEACH ESTATES, UNIT 3,
LOT I, BLOCK U ON 0.27 ACRES, SECTION 29, TOWNSHIP 48
SOUTH, RANGE 25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. -
ADOPTED W /STIPULA TION
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to 7B. This item
requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure be
provided by commission members.
It's variance 2007-AR-12477, Gregory W. and Beverly 1.
Schuelke, represented by Christopher 1. Thornton ofCheffy,
Passidomo, Wilson, and Johnson, Attorneys at Law, LLP, are
requesting variances for a proj ect to be known as the Schuelke
Variance.
The variance petition requests approval of a side yard setback for
encroachment of a pool deck/wall, pool screen cage, and concrete pair
of stairs.
The subject property is located at 496 Flamingo Avenue in the
Connors Vanderbilt Beach, Beach Estates, Unit 3, Lot I, Block U ofa
.27-acre lot, Section 29, Township 48 south, Range 25 east, Collier
County, Florida.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All wishing to participate in this item,
please rise and be sworn in by the court reporter.
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April 22-23, 2008
(The speakers were duly sworn and responded in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Ex parte communication from
the board members.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. Meeting with Rich
Y ovanovich.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I had a meeting scheduled but
cancelled with Rich Y ovanovich.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: None for me.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I've had emails and phone calls
from the attorney on this, Christopher Thornton.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And I have no disclosure on this
one.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Mr. Thornton?
MR. THORNTON: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I'm Chris
Thornton with the Cheffy, Passidomo, Wilson and Johnson law firm
representing Greg and Beverly Schuelke today.
This is a Vanderbilt Beach pool and pool screen cage
encroachment issue. The house and pool have been in the same place
since they were built in 1985/1986 time frame by Mario LeGrasta. Mr.
LeGrasta sold the home to individuals named Kleiner in '89, and my
clients, the Schuelkes, bought the property in 1997.
The pool itself and the retaining wall for the pool have not
changed since they were built 22 years ago.
In 2004, a hurricane knocked down the existing pool screen cage.
We did obtain a permit to put the cage back. Due to some code
issues, we needed to build a new stair and screen off the old stair, and
we got permits for those.
At the time of CO for those new improvements, we discovered
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April 22-23, 2008
that the property line wasn't exactly where everybody always thought
it was, and it turns out that our pool retaining wall, our new cage and
our new stair and the old stair encroach somewhat into the side yard
setback.
Because this is a corner lot, it's got two fronts and two sides and
no rear. So we're not dealing here with an issue you might be familiar
with where if your wall is a certain height, you have to meet a 20- foot
rear instead of a 10- foot rear. This isn't that. This is just a corner lot
that only has fronts and sides.
So we have numerous Letters of No Objection. We have a staff
recommendation of approval.
When the Planning Commission considered this item on March
6th at their agenda, we did get an 8-1 favorable recommendation of
approval from that Planning Commission. The only holdout was
Donna Caron, and her issue had to do with the fact that she would
have preferred to see the old stair removed rather than bless it where it
sits.
If we're going to get all of our new improvements, get the old
pool, get a variance for the old pool, get a variance for the cage, get a
variance for the new stair, let's get rid of the old stair. And we are
willing to commit to doing that if that's the direction of this board as a
condition of the variance approval for the other items.
And any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. What's interesting here, as
you look -- read through the agenda, you find out that this developer
didn't go and obtain a final CO on this property. He built this
particular house and all the pool deck and so on, and it was never fully
inspected. Now we have a third owner that's involved in this process,
and the only way that they got caught in this mess was when
Hurricane Charley took down their pool cage, and this started this
whole fiasco.
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April 22-23, 2008
It's amazing that, as you see, we've got four different variances
on here just because of this whole scenario, and nothing was ever
caught in this whole transition of one property attorney to another. So
now we have someone that's -- was caught in the web here, and here
we are.
And this particular person is going to remove the stairs at some
point in time, like 60 days or 90 days or something of this nature?
MR. THORNTON: Ninety days is acceptable, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good. I make a motion for
approval on this.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by Commissioner
Halas, and seconded by Commissioner Fiala to approve the variance.
Is there a question by commissioners?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No questions?
Okay. Oh, County Manager has a question.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. I just want to make sure, in that motion,
the removal of the stairs, and 90 days is included?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's in my motion, 90 days to
have the stairs removed.
MR. THORNTON: That's the old westerly stair.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's the old westerly stairs, yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
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ApriI22-23,2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously. Thank
you.
I don't see 12A back, so we need to move on to another item.
Item #8A
ORDINANCE 2008-22: APPROVAL OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
INTERSECTION SAFETY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
USE OF UNMANNED CAMERAS AT ROAD INTERSECTIONS
AND TO ENFORCE ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS OF VEHICLES
RUNNING RED TRAFFIC LIGHTS - ADOPTED W /CHANGES
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to -- we can start on
this one, but I don't think we're going to get there before the two p.m.
time certain, but it's 8A. It's a recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners approve the Collier County intersection safety
ordinance to authorize use of unmanned cameras at road intersections
and to enforce ordinance violations of vehicles running red traffic
lights.
MR. MUDD: I believe Undersheriff Rambosk is here, and Mr.
Tipton, Bob Tipton, is here, your director of traffic operations, can
also help.
MR. RAMBOSK: Good afternoon, Commission, Chairman.
In 2007, we came before you to look at how we could better
enforce red light violations in Collier County.
As we made you aware, we had a very active and progressive
program and issued thousands of violations per year for violations of
red light running.
As you also know, the state had been looking at the potential for
an opportunity to create state statute that would allow for installation
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April 22-23, 2008
of detection cameras, more simply known as red light cameras, to
assist in enforcement.
And we provided you that overview and made a request to work
together with your staff to bring back an ordinance that would allow
us, at a local level, to put an enforcement procedure in place, which is
what we've done.
The Collier County Sheriffs Office is currently and continuing to
work on a comprehensive approach to reduce red light violations, and
it really is a combination of safety information and public
participation, engineering recommendations, and then enforcement by
the Collier County Sheriffs Office as well as other law enforcement in
Collier County.
One of the elements that we believe will assist in our
enforcement, and particularly for the purpose of reducing violations of
red light running, is that of the installation of unmanned cameras for
enforcement.
In the ordinance we are asking for your consideration in three
areas, that the ordinance sets forth the ability for us to issue -- us
meaning the designee as the Collier County Sheriffs Office -- to issue
notices of violation or violations of red light running.
Two, that violations may be appealed to a special master and
utilizing the same process that is used for parking citations currently in
Collier County and that the civil fine for this violation be $125.
A simple review of what this would allow us to do is that we
would also ask, if approved, to prepare a request for proposal for the
installation of cameras, which would be brought back to you at
another meeting.
Once installed, the cameras would have a specific procedure, and
in every incident, would be reviewed by a law enforcement officer to
ensure that a violation had been committed, that that Notice of
Violation would be provided to the owner of the vehicle, who would
be currently responsible for who was operating their vehicle, and that
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April 22-23, 2008
there would be an appeal process much like there is in traffic court to
allow people who believe they were not involved in the running of
that light the opportunity to pursue that element.
It also allows for exemptions that can be petitioned to this appeal
process. With that said, I would ask that the County Attorney provide
you information on the specifics of the ordinance. We have our
attorney here as well, and really open it up to you for any questions
that you might have about the process, about the ordinance, and about
our role as law enforcement with regard to this request.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: For the record, that was Collier
County Undersheriff Kevin Rambosk.
You want to ask a question now or you want to wait for Colleen
Green to give the legal --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Either way, either way.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Go ahead.
MS. GREEN: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Colleen Green,
Assistant County Attorney.
We're here today to present this ordinance in conjunction with
the Collier County Sheriffs Office. The ordinance has been drafted.
As drafted, it is legally sufficient. It's been advertised, so it's ready to
be passed today.
There is one change to the ordinance that did not make the
change sheet that I would like to bring to your attention, and that is
under penalties.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Page?
MS. GREEN: It's page 4 of 8, section 5, subsection B, under
appeal fees and costs.
The appeal fee was previously changed on the change sheet from
$150 to $250. Actually this needs to be rewritten to take out the
language that includes the appeal fee because the language that says,
plus all prosecutorial costs incurred by the county and/or the special
magistrate will encompass any necessary appeal fee. So the language
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April 22-23, 2008
referring to the $50 appeal fee must be deleted from the ordinance.
This also appears in the last sentence of subsection 5B, and one
place in section 7E. But, again, the only thing we're changing is
striking the $50 appeal fee.
Are there any questions?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I have several questions, but I'm
going to go to Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Great. My questions are for
UndersheriffRambosk. The first thing is on -- oh, gosh -- on page 3
of 8, or 6 of II, whichever way you want to look at it, under section 3,
item A, and it talked about running a steady red traffic light. And the
driver of the vehicle shall not allow any portion, any portion of the
front-most part of that vehicle to encroach over a vertical extension of
the nearest part of the intersection, intersection line, crosswalk line, or
stop here on red line.
Now, that causes me some concern because I just drive a regular
vehicle, not an SUV or anything that's very tall. And when I'm
nearing a light and I've got a truck in front of me, I can't really see that
light until he's gone through it. And if I find that it's red, I'm going to
stop, but probably the front part of my vehicle will be over the line in
some way. So that means then I would get a ticket even though I
couldn't see the light and I'm stopped.
MR. RAMBOSK: Commissioner, that's where the review by a
law enforcement officer really comes into play. Where we see
something that would cause you, in that situation, to be yet over the
line but have not entered or gone through the intersection, a Notice of
Violation would not be issued.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. The second thing, people
might be concerned that they're going to get too close to the line and
they wouldn't even know that their bumper might be over the line even
though they're, you know, rolling to a stop without even having to be
told to do that.
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April 22-23, 2008
So you see this all the time where people will stay way back from
the line then and, of course, then they don't trigger the light. That
could also cause a problem. I don't know what to do about it, but --
MR. RAMBOSK: Well, the failure to trigger the light would
require the vehicle to just move forward until it does.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
MR. RAMBOSK: Again -- again if the light were -- say the light
were to malfunction and a vehicle had waited a sufficiently safe period
of time, looked through the intersection, determined it was clear to
move forward as malfunctioning, that would have been recognized
and reviewed by the officer. And while technically a violation,
certainly that's where the judgment of observation would come in and,
there again, would not issue a Notice of Violation.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, we have people actually now
not pulling up to the light. I've actually had, on occasion, and not just
once or twice, had to get out of my car and knock on their window and
say, would you please pull up to the light so you can trigger that thing
because you're sitting there waiting, and by the time you've gotten
through two lights and they're just sitting there wondering what
happened. So I was just concerned with that wording.
And the last question I have for you is, have we considered trying
one light, one major light, say, Airport and Pine Ridge, and just
activating a camera there to see what reactions we're going to have
and how it works before we put it in other intersections?
MR. RAMBOSK: Well, we certainly would like to select an
intersection or two. This ordinance would allow us to do that, and we
would review the results of that at the six-month mark and then at the
one-year mark to determine whether it's accomplishing what we
believe it will.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And would you review it with us?
MR. RAMBOSK: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. Thank you.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I understand some of the
concerns that my fellow commissioner related to, but I can tell you
that four years ago red light running was very sporadic. Today it's
almost in epidemic proportions.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: This morning, as an example, I was
traveling eastbound on Pine Ridge and I had stopped to make a
right-hand turn to go southbound on Goodlette. The light for people
on westbound Pine Ridge had turned so that they could head
southbound on Goodlette.
The light changed in their direction. The light in my direction
going southbound had turned green, and five cars went through that
light. And it's getting to the point where, as long as the cars are
making a left-hand turn, that traffic is moving, it's like, you're going to
wait for me because I'm coming through that light.
And I believe that an ordinance of this nature is something that
needs to be addressed. And it's not only at that intersection. It's at
every major intersection. And it's becoming, as I said earlier, an
epidemic proportion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I agree.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MR. RAMBOSK: And Mr. Halas, the simple element of the law
which is existing, which we sometimes forget, is that a yellow signal
-- even if you look at a green signal. A green signal should be
approached with and run through in a cautious manner. A yellow
signal let's us know that we need to be prepared to stop, and more
often it does the opposite of that. And certainly, a red light says that
we need to stop before that stop line or that crosswalk.
So it's really the simplicity of trying to gain compliance and
change driver behavior, but it really does require all the elements that
we've discussed in our future plan. This is but one of them.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I have a question, several questions,
and then I'm going to go to Commissioner Coyle.
On the ordinance, page 4 of 8, section 5, paragraph A, or
parenthesis A, it goes down -- well, it says, civil fee and appeals fee,
but it's $125 fee shall be assessed against the owner. Why doesn't that
say fine instead of fee? It almost seems like you're giving --
somebody pays $125, you give them a permit to run a red light.
MR. RAMBOSK: And I think that would be appropriately
answered by the attorney.
MS. GREEN: Commissioner Henning, it is a penalty for
violating the red light, and $125 is consistent with the statutory fine
assessed.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. But it says fee, not fine, and
it's throughout the whole document. It says fee.
MS. GREEN: Certainly, Commissioner, we may relook at that
and see whether fine would be more appropriate. It is a penalty. It is
the charge assessed for running the red light.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is it a charge to run a red light or is it
a fine to run a red light?
MS. GREEN: It's the penalty. It's the fine.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's a fine. So is it appropriate to
change this to fine?
MS. GREEN: Yes. We could change it to fine.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Throughout the whole document?
MS. GREEN: Where it refers to that $125 amount, yes, it could
be changed to fine.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Now, let me ask my next question. Is
it the ability of the special master to apply civil fines?
MS. GREEN: Yes, it is.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MS. GREEN: This is within the jurisdiction of the special master
to enforce ordinances in the county.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Through a fine?
MS. GREEN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Civil fine?
MS. GREEN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The next question is, you corrected a
piece of the legislation eliminating $150 and eliminating plus all
prosecutorial costs?
MS. GREEN: What was changed was to remove the amount of
the appeal fee. So if you're reading the sentence, it would read, the
vehicle's owner must pay the civil fine, and then strike, plus the $150
appeal fee, and continue reading, plus all prosecutorial costs incurred
by the county and/or special magistrate. That would include the actual
cost of bringing the appeal to the special magistrate.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And if the special magistrate finds
that the prosecution has failed in its deliverance, would they still have
to pay that $50 fee?
MS. GREEN: No, Commissioner. We would be in compliance
with the way the code enforcement challenges are brought before the
special magistrate. And if the person appealing prevails, they would
not be awarded that fee.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. In the exemption, can you
give to a quasi-judicial judge the ability to enforce an ordinance that
gives her the ability to make good-faith judgments?
MS. GREEN: Commissioner Henning, I'm not sure in
understand your question.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, here we have in H -- and if we
go to exceptions.
MS. GREEN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It says in H that we -- if the appeal is
based upon any other valid reasons for the vehicle owner to be -- in
good faith believe justifies the special master voiding (sic) the Notice
of Violation or --
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. GREEN: Commissioner, this is the way that, for example,
parking violations are brought before the special master, special
magistrate, and she is able in this case to hear evidence and make a
determination.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, she has to base it upon the
board's ordinances, and the only question that I have is, the
exemptions, in my opinion, are not enough because there are other
circumstances that a person needs to violate this ordinance.
Like you and I discussed, there's an exemption in here for
emergency vehicles not to -- they can violate this ordinance because
they're going to an emergency. But if I'm in front of them, in get out
of their way, that doesn't exempt me from this -- from this law.
MS. GREEN: Well, Commissioner Henning, I understand your
concern. And in fact, it's something that the undersheriff addressed
before. A law enforcement officer will watch these videos and make a
determination as to whether it is appropriate to issue the ticket. It
won't be automatically issued by this traffic control device. It will be
reviewed and evaluated by a law enforcement officer.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I'm done with my questions.
MS. GREEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Who else? Commissioner Coyle, I'm
sorry .
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. We've been trying to do this
for six years now, and I'd like to thank Undersheriff Rambosk and the
sheriffs agency for helping us get this done. People told us we
couldn't do it when we first started out here, and we appear to be right
on the verge of doing it. So thank you very much for your help.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The only problem that I have is, do
we have the legal ability to do it? Because remember when
Commissioner Carter was a commissioner, it was one of our priorities
to get the legislators to give us the ability to do this, and nothing has
really changed in the statute.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I think -- I think the County
Attorney would advise us that, yes, we can do it in the form of a civil
penalty. So we're really making it a local violation collectable by the
Sheriffs Department but collected through a special magistrate so we
get the money rather than the state getting the money.
So I think that there is good argument to do this. In fact, it's
being done in other counties in the State of Florida, isn't it?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes, sir. This is not the first time this is
happening. Other communities are doing this. This is an extension of
the home rule power.
Am I going to tell you that if the Supreme Court of Florida
looked at this they would uphold it or deny it? I don't know. I think
they would uphold it. I would hope they would uphold it under the
home rule powers.
MS. GREEN: And Commissioner Coyle, in answer to your
question, there's several municipalities in the State of Florida that have
had this enacted since the year 2005. And just recently in March of
2008, Hillsborough County is the very first county to enact an
ordinance substantially similar to the ordinance which we've presented
today.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Good. And by the way, I
would not mind at all if you ticketed Commissioner Fiala for crossing
the crosswalk and failing to stop. In fact, you should even ticket her
for getting out of her car and harassing the drivers in front of her.
MR. RAMBOSK: Well, I know that she would make sure that
crosswalk was cleared one way or the other, so she wouldn't be in
violation.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: You might be able to give
Commissioner Fiala a badge to wear?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We have how many public speakers?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, I do have one more issue.
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April 22-23, 2008
I'm sorry. I had to lead off with a little humor.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's fine.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: This is for the County Attorney,
Mr. Klatzkow. Suppose this becomes, what do you want to call it,
obnoxious in the way it's being handled and we have numerous
citizens' complaints, some of the issues that we brought up today? At
that point in time, could we bring a stop to this particular action and
address it --
MR. KLATZKOW: This is your ordinance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- readdress it?
MR. KLATZKOW: This is your ordinance. You can change it
at your leisure, at your pleasure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, sir.
MR. RAMBOSK: And, Commissioner, that's exactly why I
believe it is very important that we return to you and provide
information specifically on how its operation is affecting driving
habits and any other issues, or not, that we might find, and come and
make recommendations to you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just one other question, sir.
When these are activated, is it going to be a short period of warning
period, or is it just automatically going to go into the fine mode?
MR. RAMBOSK: No. There is a period, a 60-day period of
notice. What we would prefer to do, again, is we are rolling together,
along with this, a comprehensive red light effort, and the first part of
that effort is public information and education well in advance of what
we're seeking at this time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Fiala, then we
go to the public speakers.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Very good. Just a simple one. Ifwe
approve this today, when do we get these things operational?
MR. RAMBOSK: We would have to come back to you with an
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April 22-23, 2008
RFP, and it would have to go through the RFP process, so we're still
several months out before returning to you with that element.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, thank you.
MS. FILSON: Mr. Chairman, we have three speakers. Mr.
Victor Ortino. He'll be followed by Ed Kant.
MR. ORTINO: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Victor Ortino, and as a sheriff candidate for this upcoming election, I
feel compelled to express my opinion on this matter.
At a debate on April 7, 2008 in this same room under the
representation of the Collier Republican Executive Committee, of
which most of you attended, this topic arose. I responded at that time
stating I was generally against having red light cameras because of the
big brother approach to law enforcement but that I would have to
conduct some research on this matter so that I would be better
informed to make a more proper decision.
After that meeting I was contacted by a number of citizens who
expressed their concerns and was told that other states are now
banning red light cameras due to safety issues.
Then I read Mark Strain's article in the April 18th issue of the
Collier County Citizen of which you may have read. According to
this article, two major studies, a 57-month study of the Urban Transit
Institute of North Carolina, and a 72-month study by the Virginia
Transportation Research Council both stated that traffic accidents
were increased up to 50 percent due to the cameras.
I did a little more homework and found that researchers in
Florida conducted vigorous and rigorous studies that clearly show that
red light cameras do not work.
A report released last month by USF, University of South
Florida, College of Public Health, further stated that improving
motorist safety, red light cameras significantly increased crashes and
are higher -- or ticket a higher insurance premium.
In addition, Governor Crist and the Florida Department of
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April 22-23, 2008
Transportation do not allow red light cameras as enforcement tools on
state highway systems, so that would include any intersection with
U.S. 41.
Further research found that last year Minnesota Supreme Court
delivered a unanimous decision striking down the legality of red light
cameras stating this program -- this program offered the accused fewer
due process protections and created a new type of crime: Owner
liability for red light violations.
As a legal investigator I can foresee the potential for lawsuits
against the county due to this knowledge.
Please note that I am strongly against red light runners and I feel
that the Sheriffs Office should do everything within its powers to
prevent red light violation; however, it is very clear and evident that
the use of a red light camera system would be in place solely as a
revenue-generating tool and is not in the best interest of the safety of
Collier County citizens; therefore, I'm asking you not to support a
county ordinance in favor of using the red light camera system.
Respectively submitted, and I have copies, please.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Ed Kant. He'll be followed by
John Mincigly (sic).
MR. KANT: Good afternoon, Commissioners, Mr. Rambosk.
As I'm looking around the room, I think with the exception of
Mr. Tipton, I'm probably the only one in here who can say I'm a little
bit of an expert on this subject, and I say that with -- very lightly,
because I don't consider myself much of an expert on anything these
days.
I had written to you, and I would like to repeat some of the things
which I had written now for the public consumption, in an email over
the weekend. Basically I'm concerned with the proposed ordinance,
and I'm not sure you've received good advice, technical or legal, with
the practicality of implementing this proposal. But I'm not an
attorney, so I'm not going to discuss the legal implications.
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April 22-23, 2008
One of the things that you have to be aware of and that the public
needs to be aware of is that all traffic control devices must be vetted
by the FDOT and must be put on the approved products list.
I've had a number of conversations since I found out about this
proposal with FDOT central office in Tallahassee, and they had
nothing now approved that would be permissible to be placed within
the state or local highway system within the right-of-way.
Their -- these devices called traffic infraction detectors, is the
technical term -- and it may be clever or innovative to call a proposed
ordinance a civil infraction enforceable by the Code Enforcement
Board or some other such board via a citation from the sheriff.
The fact remains that the equipment must be placed such that it
may be within the public right-of-way if it is to function effectively.
If so, the equipment and the poles upon which it is mounted must be
placed outside the clear zone. The clear zone's a technical expression
which is further defined in the Manual of Uniform Minimum
Standards and the Florida Plans Preparation Manual. And the
potential costs and possible technical issues that may be encountered
have not been investigated, as far as I'm able to tell.
I know that according to what I hear from Mr. Rambosk, they
have talked with some manufacturers and that they have -- to prepare
a proposal, but we don't know what that proposal's going to be saying
or what they're going to be proposing.
And as Mr. Ortino pointed out and saved me the time of doing so,
there was a recent study in North Carolina and in Virginia that
questioned the efficacy of these devices.
I want to be clear, I am not either a proponent or an opponent of
these devices. In my work as an adjunct professor at the University of
Florida in safety education, we look at these things, and our emphasis
is on education. And I want to get to that point in one second.
My concern is that I don't believe -- may I ask your indulgence,
please, for another minute or so.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: If you could wrap it up, I'd appreciate
it.
MR. KANT: I will. My concern is that I don't believe this
proposal has been well thought out nor has it reviewed -- has it
received adequate technical analysis, and apparently has not received
any public review prior to this meeting.
If the proposal's meant to be a revenue source for the county,
that's sad. This technology, when properly applied, may yet prove to
be a way to improve the safe operation of the highway network but it
should not be looked upon as any type of a cash cow.
There are currently two bills in the Florida legislature, House Bill
351 and Senate Bill 816, and this is probably as close as the legislature
has ever gotten in the last 10 years to getting a bill like this through.
And if they do, a lot of what we might be doing down here is going to
become moot.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, Mr. Kant.
MR. KANT: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is John Mincigi (sic).
MR. MINCIELI: Mincieli.
MS. FILSON: Mincieli.
MR. MINCIELI: Hi, thank you. I'm John Mincieli at 4188
Skyway Drive. Thank you for hearing me.
I would like to, first of all, agree with Mr. Ortino, first of all.
And next thing -- first I would like to say, as a lifelong resident, this
whole camera idea is a big step in a big-brother agenda. Another way
to extract even more money from the people.
This is being presented to you as a way to generate revenue. It
was not presented in the name of public safety, simply because the
statistics show that once these systems are installed in an intersection,
there's a big increase in the amount of accidents, particularly rear-end
accidents, from premature breaking due to paranoia of being ticketed.
These accidents often lead to serious injury or death.
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April 22-23, 2008
Next, our rights and freedoms are being taken away as we speak.
Go to or talk to anyone from England -- and I don't mean their police
department, government, or media, I mean the people. You'll find that
these cameras that they have installed over there are only the first step
in a 24/7 surveillance and the people do not like that.
See, when it's eventually reported that these cameras are doing
such a good job and there are no more red light runners, let's add some
more monitors to speed the traffic -- you know, to -- for speeders or
other traffic habits.
Eventually, the result is 24/7 surveillance. Sound like freedom?
Amsterdam had this system and eliminated it, along with what else
you heard before.
I am a law abiding citizen, and I abide by the laws because I
choose to, which gives me my sense of freedom. Remember when the
seat belt law was presented? Now I'm an avid believer and a wearer
of seat belts and I have been before the law was ever introduced. I
firmly believe in them.
But remember when it was presented? It was not going to be a
primary reason to pull you over, so we bought it. And what I mean by
that is we said that you could -- you know, if they pulled you over for
speeding or whatever the other infraction is and they found that you
weren't wearing a safety belt, we could ticket you for that.
Twenty-some-odd years later, it's click it or ticket.
So I don't wear seat belts because it's the law. I wear them
because I believe it's a good idea. I don't need law enforcement to tell
me to do so. The point is, you see how our freedoms are slowly being
taken away? We're handed one thing under one guise and then, you
know, years later it gets shifted, and that is my concern.
The law in this country -- the laws in this country were placed as
a guideline. I don't know of one perfect driver, including myself.
Heck, just last week I went to change lanes and almost cut someone
off. I was so shaken up by the realization that someone could have
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been hurt, I was shaking. I waved and immediately apologized to the
driver.
Believe me, I learned a lesson. I didn't need a camera or ticket to
learn it. I even watch many deputies make mistakes in their driving.
But when you add cameras to the equation, you get a ticket every
time, no freedom.
As taxpayers, we are taxed on our income, our gas, sales tax, my
house, and property. We don't need the sheriff also covertly
extracting money from us. Whatever happened to public service or
serve and protect? All I see is them looking at a way to extract more
money for us.
I have like three more lines.
And for the budget that -- and it creates an us-and-them
mentality, which is a mentality that serves no one.
The Sheriffs Department needs to cut spending instead of trying
to figure out ways to spend more dollars. This is a big step in the
wrong direction. We need less government, not more.
As my representative in this matter, meaning you, the county
commission, I strongly urge you to vote no to any cameras anytime.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Now, may I just set the record
straight?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You may.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Great. Just--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You don't -- you stop before the stop
bar, is that what it is?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just to set the record straight. This
wasn't activated by the sheriffs office. This was activated on this
commission years ago when the first -- I think it was the father and
son who were killed by the red light runner, and we were -- we just
felt something finally needed to be done.
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April 22-23, 2008
So we started checking into this to see -- and then we were told
that Tallahassee probably wouldn't go along with this. It had nothing
to do with money.
Then when the mother -- the pregnant mom was killed by a red
light runner, again, we spoke of this. Never, ever, ever has it been
motivated by money. It's always been motivated by the safety of our
residents. We're trying to save lives. That's all. And nobody has to
pay a buck if they don't run a red light.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Before I go to Commissioner Halas,
the discussion -- did I miss you?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, you did, a couple times,
but that's all right.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, well go ahead, please.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, go ahead. Finish your
sentence.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, thank you.
I'll be honest with you, I took a few minutes to do a little bit of
research on the Internet, and I can't find anything that does not say that
they do not cause accidents. Every article that I'm coming across
indicates that there's been an increase in accidents due to the red light
cameras.
Now, I'm more than willing to put this off for a week to be able
to get more research done, possibly you may wish to do the same. But
I find it very disturbing. Normally you find conflicts within the
Internet one way or the other. In other words, some that in favor of
something and some that are opposed to it. In this case, everything
that I've seen -- and I've been through like 60-some different articles --
are all saying the same thing, that they are causing accidents.
Knowing what I know without more time to be able to research it or
maybe have staff look into it, I don't know if I can support this.
MR. RAMBOSK: Mr. Chairman?
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: Are you done?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I want to -- I had a discussion with
the County Manager's Office -- or the County Manager, and he said
for two years each traffic intersection is going to generate a million
dollars to the Board of County Commissioners, so I really question
what this ordinance is all about.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, if people obey the stop lights,
the traffic laws here -- and this isn't just a problem here in Collier
County. This is statewide -- we're not going to generate any income,
and that's what the main reason is.
When the light turns green and people are still running through
that light that -- on their side -- remember, now, there was an amber
light and then it turned red, and then in my direction it's turned green
and five and six cars go through that intersection, that's what I'm
concerned about.
And I just -- I don't believe that it's going to generate that many
more accidents. If anything, that tells me that people are in too much
of a hurry to pay attention to what's going on in front of them.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I really think that you have
to be realistic about these studies. I can get a study that will show just
about any conclusion I want to get.
These studies are absolutely worthless unless they are controlled
and they also have a study at the same intersection at the same -- over
the same period of time with the same traffic volumes and a
calculation of the number of red light running accidents that were
caused.
I don't think they have any of this information. I think, you
know, you just look -- follow the money, and I think you'll find out
why the state is trying to discourage us, why FDOT is trying to
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discourage us; other people are trying to discourage us because they
want the money.
You see, if we collect it here, it doesn't go to Tallahassee, so
everybody wants to discourage you from doing something like this.
And not a one of them, to the best of my knowledge, has produced a
study that shows the effect upon red light running and red light
running caused accidents and the severity of those accidents.
There's absolutely no reason why any safe driver should have a
problem if someone suddenly stops at a red light. You're supposed to
maintain an appropriate distance behind vehicles so that you can stop
at the speed at which you're going.
If people are having accidents, they're violating the safe driving
habits. And the only way you're going to teach them is to do this.
This is the worst community I have ever seen in my entire life as far as
red light running and stop sign running is concerned.
And I've said this before. I have lived in II states and 22 cities in
the United States alone, and I have never seen anything like what
we've got here in Collier County.
We either have the worst drivers or we have people who just
don't care. And the only way you're going to get their attention is to
hit them with a fine, and I wish we could do a $500 fine for it, and I
think -- I'm fully behind you, and I think this program will payoff in
lives saved and accidents prevented.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Rambosk?
MR. RAMBOSK: Mr. Chairman, just a couple of points. The
first thing is with regard to dollars generated. As you all know -- and I
want to make sure that the public knows -- the Collier County Sheriffs
Office does not receive any dollars from state statutes other than a $2
communications fee, nor would they receive it here. That is not our
intent. Our intent is to change driving behavior with this as only one
of many things, including a commitment that we're going to be asking
from the public to abide by the existing law. We're not talking about
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generating something new. We're talking about enforcing a law that is
existing on the books today.
There are a number of studies that are available, Mr. Coyle
appropriately reviewed the questions amongst them. We've been told
that the University of South Florida study is a comprehensive study. I
would vehemently disagree with that. It was excerpts out of other
reports. So you've got to be very cautious about what the study relates
to, whether it is the same intersection, the same type of intersection.
And I will tell you that the studies don't do that. So that is a dilemma.
Is there the potential for increased rear-end accidents? Rear-end
accidents in Collier County are our number one problem. But, again,
you must always have your vehicle under control with the ability to
stop even in an emergency condition. So, again, all we're asking for is
that people abide by the existing law.
There is, from the Insurance Institute, there is, with the initiation
of a program such as this, the potential for an increase of rear-end
accidents up to 15 percent, but the longer-term result -- once you've
changed the driving behavior, the long-term results are a reduction of
accidents.
So, one last thing. The Virginia study, which has stated that
they're not in favor of this. I'd like to read you the recommendation
from their report, their final recommendation. Because they appear to
meet three tests, technical, fiscal, and operational feasibility, and
because they show some indication of improving safety, photo red
programs in Virginia should continue, and they make several
recommendations.
The first is, to continue red light programs in Virginia. These
programs have the potential to improve safety in the State of Virginia.
So while there are some initial negatives, what they're saying is
that the long-term effects will ultimately become safer drivers. And I
agree with the gentleman that spoke and said, you know, we as drivers
not only have the responsibility, but we should not violate the law, and
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sometimes we do. We make a mistake. That's going to happen. But
with this particular issue in Collier County, there are too many people
that are involved in deliberately proceeding through a red signal, and
that is what we're trying to stop.
So with that information in mind and the fact that we've got to
come back before you with a proposal on how a camera would work,
where it would be located and ensure to you that it would be in
compliance with the law, we ask your consideration in approving this
today.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Entertain a motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coyle,
second by Commissioner Halas to approve the ordinance.
Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And the motion carries 3-2;
Commissioner Coletta and Commissioner Henning dissenting in the
motion.
Do we need a break before we go to our time certain?
Mr. Fox?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: She says yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I don't see Mr. Fox. Let's take a
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lO-minute break and be back at 2:47.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your
seats.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think Mr. Fox is ready to go back to,
what is it, 12C?
MS. FILSON: A.
Item #12A - Continued from earlier in the meeting
RECOMMENDA TION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SITTING AS THE BOARD OF ZONING
APPEALS REJECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
SPECIAL MAGISTRATE PURSUANT TO THE AL TERNA TE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS RESULTING FROM THE
DENIAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE FOR THE EXPANSION
OF A CHURCH; PETITION CU-2004-AR-6384 - GOLDEN GATE
CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, INC.-
MOTION TO ACCEPT MODIFIED SITE PLAN AND BOTH
SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AND CCPC RECOMMENDATIONS -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: It's 12A, sir, and this has to do with the Board of
Zoning Appeals and the reject recommendation from the County
Attorney on the Special Magistrate's basic recommendation pursuant
to the alternative dispute resolution.
Again, it's 12A, conditional use 2004-AR-6384, Golden Gate
Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses.
Mr. Fox?
MR. FOX: Thank you. Mr. Chairman -- Mr. Chairman, we
seriously considered the motion. It took us a lot of time. There's
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April 22-23, 2008
extensive discussion. Ultimately a call had to be made to the church's
headquarters in New York, and the decision was that the church
cannot agree as to limit when they can worship.
And with all due respect, sirs, I'm a Roman Catholic. Holy week
for me is Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil,
and Easter Sunday, and that's five days already. What's good for me
as a Roman Catholic, what's good for us all in this country is some law
that applies equally to everyone.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas had something.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, I was thinking this over
during the break. And my concern is, what about funerals and
weddings and any other type of ceremonial activities that your church
may be involved in or the church that you're representing?
MR. FOX: Oh, that's very --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So I have a problem with limiting
worshipping four days a week or whatever.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Let's talk about this just
for a minute. Originally some time ago when we were in discussions
in previous meetings, we brought this up. Because you've got to
remember, unlike your church which was zoned properly for where it
was, this was something that went into a residential neighborhood
with the idea that it was not going to impair the ability of the people to
enjoy what they consider the peace and tranquility of a rural
environment.
Your church most likely was placed in a place that it was
accepted, it was part of the zoning process and the neighborhood built
up around it.
The original agreement that was made with the church was for X
number of days of use. The conditions of time and everything was
supposed to be such and such.
And my understanding -- now, I don't have everything in front of
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me going back to day one -- was that the church did not adhere to the
original agreement. So, of course, the neighbors were quite upset.
Even though there's few, they were quite upset.
The discussions that pursued from that point forward had to deal
with, how could we make everybody live together in peace and
harmony? And one of the suggestions that came forward that I
believe -- and you correct me, Mr. Klatzkow -- was the fact about four
days a week, which was not objectionable before, but now it is. And
I'm not too sure why.
When it comes to weddings and everything else, four days -- four
evenings a week. Didn't say anything about during the day. All sorts
of activities could take place then. This was something that was
acceptable before but it isn't now. Why is that?
MR. FOX: Okay. I think there are two issues you're speaking to,
Commissioner Coletta. The first one, with respect to the original
conditional use which was granted in 1996, you are correct that there
were a number of conditions that were discussed; however, none of
those conditions was formally a part of the conditional use and,
therefore, as a matter of law, the congregation was free to use the
property.
And with respect to why the congregation went there, the Golden
Gate Area Master Plan, before it was amended in 1997, was designed
to attract churches to these very transitional areas between parks and
residential neighborhoods. It was a decision that this county made
that these are the kinds of institutions that we wanted in this place, and
so the church came there for that very reason and they built just on the
northern half of the property.
So I think it's fair to say that they were following the law and
they were well within the law, which is why they got that original
conditional use without any conditions for hours and times. That's
your first one.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Well, going back to that
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April 22-23, 2008
again. Did the conversations that took place within this room, wasn't
it something that we were leaning to that the church said that's
something they could live within before it got refused at that point in
time?
MR. FOX: You're talking about the four days now?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's correct. I mean, that's the
whole issue, isn't it?
MR. FOX: Yeah. It has been pointed out to me by the County
Attorney that that was agreed to by Ms. Stuart. My client has
informed -- who was representing my client at the time. My client
vehemently denies that he ever agreed to that or that Ms. Stuart had
his authority to agree to that. That's all I can tell you, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, my concern is -- and
you're right, before '97, before the master plan came in effect, that
master plan is what helped to establish a balance in the Estates once
and for all whereby conditional use had to be brought before this
commission. It couldn't be issued at the permitting department.
But even with that said, they have not followed the directives that
were agreed to in the original time they came before the commission
to be able to go forward. There was all sorts of complaints that came
forward. There was violations of the understanding.
So my concern is to try to come up with some way to be able to
assure that even though there's only maybe one or two residents in that
whole area that is going to have to carry the brunt of any extra noise of
late-hour use, that they are protected in any possible way that they can
be protected.
So you can understand where I'm coming from. This is a concern.
MR. FOX: I do understand where you're coming from,
Commissioner; however, I must say that as a lawyer and as a citizen, I
only know what the law says, not what was discussed before a law is
passed. I know of no violations by the code enforcement that were
even alleged against the property. I don't think they've been in
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April 22-23, 2008
violation at all, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And you as a lawyer, I
can understand about how you have to follow certain codes and ethics
and everything, but I'm an elected official, and I represent the people
that live in that area, and I want to make sure that their rights are
protected to the letter of the law and to whatever's reasonable. And
that's the reason why I'm looking for some sort of limitations on that.
Did you have some compromise you wanted to make?
MR. FOX: No, sir, I don't. I would say to you, however, that
there is a difference when you are sitting in a legislative capacity and
when you're sitting in a quasi-judicial capacity. I have a court case I'd
be happy to quote from for you, but essentially it says; when you sit in
a quasi-judicial capacity, you are acting as a judge and you must
follow the law.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I got a County Attorney
that's telling me that the recommendation's not to approve this and she
can easily handle -- or reasonably sure she can handle it, so you know
-- and that's in the court of law, also, sir.
MR. FOX: Well, I don't want to get into that. Suffice it to say --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, what I'm saying is there's--
MR. FOX: We will.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- counterpoints to everything
you have to say. But the whole thing boils down to one simple
common denominator, and that's the people that I represent.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner, may I point out
something? This is -- there's a motion and a second on the floor with
limitations. The -- Mr. Fox, representing the church, is stating that he
cannot live up to that time.
I can tell you when this country was founded there was a
separation of church and state, that whole argument, and the reason for
that is the king of England wanted for everybody to go to his church.
And I'm afraid you're stepping -- if they don't agree to it and it fails,
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we're going to be in another court of law because of constitutional
Issues.
There is nothing in our code that states in conditional uses,
church or worship services, the time of services. I understand where
you want to -- where you want to be with there (sic) in protecting the
residents around there. But I have fear when government says where
you have to worship and how long you have to worship. So I would
strongly recommend that you amend your motion at this time. It is
your motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Commissioner Henning, once
again, I want to remind you how we got to where we are today. We
had all sorts of problems with living up to the intent of the original
guarantee, and that brought on numerous complaints in that particular
area, and that's why we are here today and why I have some
reservations about this thing going forward.
I compliment them on working with the neighbors in that area.
In spite of the fact they worked with them, there's still one out there
that has objection that isn't here today to be able to express that
objection.
However, with that said, this has nothing to do with the rights of
religion. It has the rights to do (sic) with the people and the personal
enjoyment of their property.
But in any case, I got a motion on the floor. I believe you're the
second. Who's the second?
MS. FILSON: Commissioner Henning is the second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Henning is the
second?
MS. FILSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I thought it was Commissioner Fiala.
I'm going to withdraw my second.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And that was going to be
the suggestion I made. Now you can have a motion that either gets a
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second or it dies for the lack of a second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right. Entertain a motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, wait. Announce the fact
that it is -- either ask for the second or the fact that it died.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It did die.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Technicality.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It did die because I removed it.
Is there another motion on the floor?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Motion to approve this. Let me get
back on the right page here. Motion to approve that -- their new Site
Development Plan and also the special issues that they brought
forward in regards to a wall, or conditional use that was presented to
us today. And this is in regards to petition CU-2004-AR-6384.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I will second that if you will add
just one thing, and that is, if it becomes -- because there are so many
congregations meeting in these two buildings all week long, as we've
been told, if there -- if it becomes problematic to the community
surrounding them, that they have a place to go to try and remedy that.
Is there something that they can do?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I would think that they should, they
being the congregation, should realize that there are other neighbors
around the area and that they need to make sure that they do not step
on their rights. But I don't feel that I'm going to dictate in my motion
the time and place that they can worship. I think that should be left up
to the parishioners of that church.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. That didn't have anything to
do with time and place of worship. I just wanted to make sure --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, I know where you're going,
and that is I'm hoping that these people realize that they can't impact
their neighbors, and that if there is an issue, that whoever the pastor is,
that he would sit down with the neighborhood and work through that
issue at the time.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Would that be the only place that
they would have to turn would be to their pastor?
MR. KLATZKOW: It depends on the motion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I just -- I didn't even know
where somebody could go. Yes?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, if it's noise, you've got the
Code Enforcement Board. If it's noise at night, you've got the same
problem -- issue. They already -- our transportation department has
already told us there's no transportation issue, so it can't be a problem
with traffic.
So it appears that the only potential source of irritation to the
other neighbors is noise, and the noise ordinance would govern under
those circumstances.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, fine. Thank you.
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay. Just for clarification, we're accepting
the magistrate's recommendation of taking the modified Site
Development Plan together with the Planning Commission
recommendations and staff recommendations?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's correct, County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And my second holds.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Marjorie?
MS. STUDENT-STIRLING: I have one other item. You had
said earlier, if there are any modifications at all to the site plan, that it
would come back to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Is that still part of
the motion?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's in my motion.
MS. STUDENT-STIRLING: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is that in your second?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And my second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any other discussion?
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April 22-23, 2008
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries 4-1, Commissioner
Coletta dissenting.
MR. FOX: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Now we have another time certain.
Item #7C
PETITION: CUR-2008-AR-12955, SR-846 LAND TRUST EARTH
MINE, MINING VENTURE, LLC., REPRESENTED BY R.
BRUCE ANDERSON OF ROETZEL & ANDRESS, REQUESTING
A REVIEW OF THE APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE
RESOLUTION 2007-274 FOR EARTH MINING IN THE A-MHO
AGRICUL TURAL ZONING DISTRICT. SUBJECT PROPERTY,
CONSISTING OF 2,576 ACRES, IS LOCATED EAST OF
IMMOKALEE ROAD (CR-846), APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES
NORTH OF OIL WELL ROAD (CR-858) IN SECTIONS 35 & 36,
TOWNSHIP 47 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST, AND ALL OF
SECTIONS I & 2, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST,
LESS ROAD RIGHT -OF - WAY FOR COUNTY ROAD 846,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. - MOTION TO CHANGE
CONDITION OF USE TO ALLOW FOR 2 DAYS PER WEEK OF
BLASTING AND REVIEW IN 6 MONTHS ON THE SUMMARY
AGENDA AS AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING -
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April 22-23, 2008
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: You have a time certain, sir, and that's 7C. This
item to be heard at, again, two p.m. or a little -- we're running a little
late. This item requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by the commission members.
It's CUR-2008-AR-12955, State Road 846, Land Trust Earth
Mining Venture, LLC, represented by R. Bruce Anderson of Roetzel
& Andress, is requesting a review of the approved conditional use
resolution, 2007-274 for earth mining in the A-MHO agricultural
zoning district.
The subject property consisting of2,576 acres is located east of
Immokalee Road, County Road 846, approximately two miles north of
Oil Well Road, County Road 858, in Section 35 and 36, Township 47
south, Range 27 east, and all of Sections I and 12, Township 48 south,
Range 27 east, less road right-of-way for County Road 846, Collier
County, Florida.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All wishing to participate in this
discussion, please rise and be sworn in by the court reporter.
(The speakers were duly sworn and responded in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Do we have to give ex parte
communication on this one?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's -- Commissioner Coletta, I'll
start out with you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, sir. Meeting with Damon
Jones, Bruce Anderson, Don Barber, tour of Jones Mine, phone calls
with David Prudy, numerous other people, many, many, many, emails.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I also have met with Damon
and Bruce Anderson, Don Barber, Chris Thornton, Jones Mining
neighborhood, I've gone out to the site, I've gotten emails, phone calls,
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ApriI22-23,2008
correspondence.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I met with the owner of the property
and its representatives and received an email.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I've had meetings and many,
many emails the last time that we discussed this particular item.
Recently I haven't received that many emails, and I also received
phone calls.
I had the opportunity on December 13th of '07 to tour the mine
with Professor Charles Dowding and Bruce Tyson and Bruce
Anderson in regards to witnessing some charges that were set off at
two different depths, and also had teleconference this past weekend
with Bruce Anderson and Professor Charles Dowding.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Chairman, I have also a file of
phone calls, emails, correspondence, dating back to 200 I on this issue,
although nothing very recent. I have also had a meeting with Bruce
Anderson and Bruce Tyson and representatives of the petitioner.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I believe it's Mr. Anderson. Do you
go first?
MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
My name is Bruce Anderson from the law firm of Roetzel & Andress,
and here on behalf of the applicant.
The purpose of the hearing today is to comply with the
requirement that the ongoing mine operations were to come back for a
review by you approximately six months after you approved the
expansion of the mining area.
The mine has not yet expanded into the larger area that you
approved in September of 2007, but they are pursuing an excavation
permit which will allow them to expand into the new area.
As your staff report states, the mining operation has met all the
conditions of approval. Weare requesting that you accept the report
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and approve the staff recommendation that no additional stipulations
are necessary from the county's perspective.
Weare requesting two modifications to the conditions of
approval. One of the modifications concerns conditions number 12
and 13. They presently limit blasting or blasting activities to 18 times
a month. Eighteen times per month could mean 18 separate days of
blasting or it could be half as many days, nine days of blasting, or
some other number.
My client would propose to modify that language to eliminate
any ambiguity by stating that blasting activities shall not exceed eight
days per month, period, instead of the 18 times a month.
The rationale for this modification is that my client has been
attempting and wants to continue to reduce or eliminate the feelings of
the blasts by having a series of smaller blasts instead of several larger
once.
Damon Jones, the manager of Jones Mine, is going to tell you
more about that ongoing effort. The other modification that we wanted
to request is really a clarification about when we need to come back
before you for another review. That's condition 13.
Blasting was first approved for this property in June of 2006, and
at that time the commission added a requirement that this project
needed to be reviewed at least on an annual basis by the staff.
We filed that annual report, and the internal staff review was
conducted, and it was wrapped into the application that was pending
and that you ultimately heard in September 2007 that expanded the
boundaries of the mine. As the conditions are currently, it would
require us to come back before you again in September of this year.
Now, although we do enjoy your company, we would like to go
back to the original schedule of having the annual reviews in June of
each year. That would mean this product would come back before you
in June, 2009.
The manager of the earth mining operations at Jones Mine is Mr.
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Damon Jones, and I'm going to turn the podium over to him so that he
can share with you the efforts that he has made for community
outreach and to reduce the amount of blasting that people feel.
MR. JONES: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, fellow
commissioners. My name's Damon Jones, representative of Jones
Mining.
We came in September to discuss -- to acquire expansion. Again,
as Mr. Anderson stated, you guys requested that we come back in six
months to -- with a -- for a time period to see how we've done, how we
can change the blasting, and coordinate and communicate with the
neighborhood.
Since September, you know, our industry's kind of followed the
economy as a whole. It wasn't necessary to blast extensively through
the end of the year. I believe we only blasted approximately six times.
Starting at the beginning of the year, and in February, the market
has picked up slightly. But more importantly, we saw the initiative to
start collecting data and, most importantly, we wanted to work on that
no-blasting zone.
In September we had created -- the commissioners approved this
no-blasting zone, which approximately limits us to more than a half a
mile around the perimeter that we wouldn't blast.
What we did in February is start blasting along this southern line,
and we blasted all that up to date, and now we're working along this
eastern line and doing our second cut there.
The intent there was to sever that lower rock layer in order to
help prevent and, you know, lower the vibration levels that the
residents to the south and east would feel.
The other reason was to create a water feature that we hope will
also -- have been told by engineers, that that will also help with the
vibration levels as we dig that out and create a lake essentially around
those eastern sides.
So moving forward, we continue to blast and operate and
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excavate from that eastern corner to the northwest and away. It's
important, as we blasted now, that essentially in -- closest that we're
going to be to those neighbors to the south and to the east.
When we started up in February, we tried a different procedure in
order, again, to lower -- those, the feelings or the vibrations that
neighbors would be feeling. What we worked on was doing multiple
blasts as we called them, instead of shooting 80 holes at one time,
which we were permitted to do.
What we tried to do was detonate two 40 holes, wait a time
period in between to let the seismographs reset, just long enough for
them to reset, and then finish the detonation of the next 40 holes. A
couple we broke it up into 20 holes, all in an attempt, again, to see if
that would -- and lower those vibration levels, and we had good
effects, good results. The data -- our numbers have been increasingly
low.
This graph just reflects -- and just to reiterate, with the vibration
and the sound levels, it's the number of holes and pounds per delay,
how much explosives are you putting in those holes.
This graph shows you historically how those number of holes,
how we've lowered that number of holes per blast and the pounds per
delay that we've been using on those. Again, with good data, with
good effects, with good low vibration levels and low decibel levels.
Historically, our vibration levels, especially since September,
we've averaged a .05 PPV or peak particle velocity. The county has
stipulated in September that we not exceed a monthly average .2. This
graph is from the test house, which is located on the south side of the
mine where we have one seismograph. As you see, we haven't even
exceeded the .2. Again, our average is roughly around .05.
They've ranged from .033 to .115. But again, as you can see, we
haven't even reached that monthly average. So it is working.
This is -- this is a graph, our seismograph located on the east side
of the property. As you can see there, those readings have also been
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extremely low and well below any of the permitted levels.
This last one is the seismograph on the north side of the mine.
As you can see, there isn't -- the seismograph didn't even trigger on the
north side of the mine, that the vibrations were that low that it didn't
even trigger. Again, you know, all good results.
We still are maintaining the test house. Professor Dowding of
Northwestern University is -- actually was able to be here today.
They are conducting an independent study outside of what we have
Geosonics doing. They've set up their own independent research,
have their own equipment there, and he'll be here to share some of him
and his colleagues' research and results that they've discovered.
Professor Dowding's one of the country's foremost authorities on this
subject.
And I guess -- and the primary concern is how does all this
translate into complaint? I would -- I would -- it's safe to say that I
think the communication between all the shareholders involved has
drastically improved. We've been taking a much more proactive role.
We now have a -- I now have a blast calendar on our web site along
with the no-blast zone. We try to post that as far -- as many days in
advance, so anybody who wants to see when an upcoming blast will
occur -- I also have an email notification list, so any neighbors who
would like me to email them ahead of time. That list is currently five
or six people that we email out when I post it on the calendar.
The big thing, I think, that's come up is just -- is communication
and cooperation. In cases where people have contacted me, we've
immediately responded. We've gone out. You know, I've met with
people. You know, we've taken pictures. If they haven't had a pre-
blast inspection done by Geosonics, we've done a few of those, had
them come out and create that baseline.
But moving forward, again, with that -- with better education,
better communication, I think the results have been what -- have been
what we've expected them to be. You know, do we still get calls?
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Yes. A lot of them people, you know, are people that I tell to call me.
I encourage them to notify me if they feel a blast.
What I like to do is get with the blaster, we mark where that
came from, we look at how we blasted that day, what depths we were
at. If they want me to come over, if they believe they've -- there's
some kind of damage, we'll go over there, and those numbers have
been far and few between.
You know, I would assure you that someone couldn't say that we
haven't tried to address their concerns.
One of the stipulations was that we form the Neighborhood
Engineering Selection Committee. That's been done. They've chosen
two firms, Forge Engineering and W.J. Johnson, so that's -- that is now
readily available.
If -- again, that first line of communication is contact me, let us
talk about it, let us resolve it. I stand by being a good neighbor and
what we've done. And you know, there's a few neighbors out there
that, I believe, you know, if they had the time, could be here to state
that, you know, we've gone above and beyond -- you know, above and
beyond the call of duty.
But, again, it goes back to -- it needs to be a cooperative effort.
We understand our role out there. We understand, you know, people's
lives and their property and their personal property, and it's their
homes, and we're fully aware of that.
My partners, from the landowners to the blasters to, you know,
consultants to the engineers are all on the same page, that this needs to
be a collaborative effort, and the first concern is, how can we do our --
how can we go about our business out there and still keep the
neighbors happy and it be a cooperative effort.
Again, to reiterate, you know, the remedies are in place. You
know, if anybody has concern that first line that -- that first remedy is
to contact me, and people are doing that, and I think they're meeting
that with satisfaction.
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April 22-23, 2008
You know, if we can't resolve it, like I said, the engineering
committee has now picked the firms, we'll sent the engineer out there
of their choice, and we've said, we'll abide by whatever the engineer
says and even beyond, above that, we've still addressed issues.
You know, beyond that, we still have our state blasting bond
that's there if we can't work something out. Both the mining company
and the blasting company carry million- and two-mill ion-dollar
liability and hazard policies.
How do we move forward and guarantee that we'll keep this
effort up? You know, it's my livelihood. You know, it's that
important that if we don't -- if we don't do right by the neighbors, if we
don't work cooperatively and reach out, that we won't have an
operation out there.
And I think it's important from, you know, from the county's
economic standpoint -- you know, we employ up to 20 employees
directly. We -- there's upwards of 50, you know, truckers in there
daily. There's the outreach of the value that's saved by mining that
material locally for local road projects, local commercial projects,
local residential projects.
You know, with the rising cost of fuel, you know, trucking costs
have skyrocketed. You know, and to bring that material here, you
know, from other locales is not cost effective.
So there's larger ramifications here and, you know, and it touches
pretty much everything. But, you know, any kind of assurance would
be, you know, that this is important to us, and I think we stand by our
good neighbor policy.
I believe that's all I have. If there's any questions.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions? Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Not right at this point in time.
Thank you, Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Melissa -- I think Melissa Zone.
MS. ZONE: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Melissa Zone,
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April 22-23, 2008
Principal Planner with the Department of Zoning and Land
Development.
We are here to review this continual use. On September 25,
2007, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved Resolution 07-274,
which is conditional use 2004-AR number 6904 for an earth mining
activity in the rural agricultural mobile home overlay.
Weare here today to come back to -- staff has reviewed the
conditions of approval, and to determine if the applicant has met those
conditions. From the documentation that has been provided by the
applicant, from the individual departments, engineering and services
administration, environmental services have reviewed, transportation
services have also reviewed this, and have found that they have met
the conditions currently that are in place.
If you have any questions, I'd be happy to address them. There
are other staff here from the divisions that have conditions in place.
And all of the conditions that had documentation, I have made sure
they are in the main file of this earth mining operation, as well as with
the different departments that would be doing that individual
monitoring.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. The level of
blasting that they're using now, I think it was .05; is that correct?
MS. ZONE: That's what they showed us, correct.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. How can we be assured
that they won't go back to high levels of explosives in the future,
maybe just for the sake of expediency or to hold down costs? I mean,
what kind of guarantees do we have in place, and what kind of action
could we bring if they did?
MS. ZONE: Well, what we have in place with their conditions of
approval are sort of like their own little regulations that they have to
meet in addition to the blasting requirements that are in our ordinance
that's for excavation.
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Here they have regulations that they cannot exceed a certain
level. This being .20 inches. We -- we have -- from the engineering
services department, they have a staff person who comes out to
monitor the blast, and the monitoring report is then presented or given
to staff to look at, so they're not only there, but they also have the
report.
If they do go over the limit that you have put on their mining
operation, that gives them enough authority to stop the operation and
do an investigation.
So far they haven't exceeded, but we watch them. They have to
contact staff, county staff, before any blast is going. They have to let
them know so staff is there as well. So there are mechanisms in place
that allow staff to monitor along with them.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Fine. Stan, maybe you can
answer a question. We've seen a graph put up or a map of the
property, and it showed where they were excavating, it looked like an
inverted L, to try to draw a barrier between their property and the
residential property. Is this an effective means of being able to control
vibrations is by opening up something like that?
MR. CHRZANOWSKI: Good afternoon. Stan Chrzanowski
with Engineering Review. I don't know. They have blasting experts
here. Whether or not the blast would travel through the water and
through the groundwater, I don't know.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm sorry, sir. I thought maybe
that might be one of your expertise.
MR. CHRZANOWSKI: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Thank you very much.
MR. CHRZANOWSKI: And we do have an inspector out every
time that they blast, and so far they've had no problems.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Go to public speakers, please.
MS. FILSON: Mr. Chairman, I have 12 public speakers. The
first one is David Purdie. He'll be followed by Truman Gay.
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. PURDIE: Dave Purdie, 4860 14th Street Northeast.
I hope I don't run out of time. Mr. Halas, you were talking about
December 13th when you were on site when they did a blast. I had
just recently had some type of construction done to my house.
I didn't notice it right away because the holiday season was upon
us. There was a crack the entire width of that concrete pad.
Now mind you, they did offer to tear it out, rebuild it. I said
absolutely not. I did not want to look at that mess again. They did
reimburse me for the concrete. I want to go public in saying that.
That is one of the requirements that they have to do, either replace
something or repair it.
But what doesn't sit well with me -- and if it wouldn't have
caused an argument between me and my wife, I would have ripped
that check up and mailed it back to them, because I'm not going to
start selling off bits and pieces of my home.
The other thing is, I was home April the 10th, it's about two
weeks ago. About II o'clock they blasted. It's not as bad as when the
previous blaster was there, but the second shock wave that come
through -- I sit on that committee, I read the engineer's report.
And just for the record, those engineers are not officially hired by
that committee yet, okay. When I read his report, I could go with the
fluff that he sent out there.
Now, I'm probably the least-educated person in this room. But if
you're going to sit here and tell me I don't know the difference
between thunder, a door slamming, and a space shuttle coming in,
now, I ain't that dumb. I was home. What came through the bottom
of my house can do damage.
Now, from what some of my neighbors are telling me, it's not
always like that, so maybe they need to be a little more consistent in
what they're doing, okay?
There are people here today -- that aren't here today that just
couldn't make it. Economy's bad. They don't have the luxury -- I
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April 22-23, 2008
wouldn't say the luxury. I'm in a different situation where I'm allowed
to be here. They can't be here because that might be the difference
between them not having a job tomorrow, but they still have a house
to pay for.
If anything, if there's anybody in this room that wants to give
these guys an A on their report card, it would be me, okay. Because
I'm tired of coming up here and I'm tired of fighting with them. And as
long as they're blasting and as long as people are complaining, I'm
going to keep coming up here, until I sell the house or I have to
foreclose on it, however it goes, and that's the brutal truth of what
today really is.
Thank you, and have a good day.
MS. FILSON: Truman Gay. He'll be followed by Terri Burket.
MR. GAY: Good afternoon. I'm not very good at this, but what
I say is the truth. I've been in concrete for about 44 years. And it
don't matter whether it's blasting, sun is shining, no blasting, or
whatever it may be, concrete will crack when it wants to, whether it's
hot or cold, daylight or dark.
And I talked to one man out there -- I feel sorry for the people
that has problems with their homes. But I talked to one man, he told
my wife and I that he didn't have any problem, and then a man told me
that he told him that he had problems, so I don't know -- and I have a
friend that lives there and lives on 18th Street and 4 7th Avenue, and I
asked him about it. And he said, yeah, it shook the shit out of the
house a couple of Sundays ago. And, sorry, but that's what he said.
And I said, well, did you have any damage? And he said no. He
said, the only cracks in my house, he said, they was there when I
bought it. They're stucco cracks. So other than that, I just hope that it
works out for the best for everybody.
I know Jones Mining, I've talked to them, and they worked with
me real well. I went up one time when they blasted. And when they
set the charge off, I didn't feel anything. All I heard was just a puff,
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April 22-23, 2008
and that was it. No vibration, none of that. So they're working on the
problem.
Like I said, again, I feel sorry for the people that's got problems,
but that's the truth. Thank you very much.
MS. FILSON: Terri Burket. She'll be followed by David
Garrett.
MS. BURKET: Good afternoon. I do give a kudos to Damon
Jones. I have been in contact with him, and he is working with me on
my house. There are a lot of cracks on my house, but it's not from the
blasting. It's from the vibrations there are in the ground.
I've done a couple of cheap man tricks to find out just how bad it
was vibrating my ground. One of them is a plumb bob that you can
get at any hardware store. And first it was hooked to a tripod. And
every time he blasted, or the mine blasted, it would vibrate it and it
would move.
One of my friends was like a scientific whiz, and he said, hang it
from the ceiling instead because you'll get a true thing of what it did.
So I decided to hang it from the ceiling April 10th.
They've blasted twice since then, the 10th and the 17th. Since
that time I have had the most wonderful sand cycles in my little thing,
because when this thing moves, it just starts going around in circles.
I sat on the floor April 4th. I was on vacation, and I watched
every blast he did, and they were seven to eight minutes apart. Each
one of them moved this.
Now, my floor is vibrating, my walls are vibrating, and what's
happening is that they're calling it settlement cracks, and it's going to
be settlement cracks. When your house shakes, the dirt vibrates
underneath it and the dirt comes out the sides. That's causing your
house to continue to settle over a period of time.
He was real good about sending Forge Engineering to my house.
He came out there -- and like Dave Purdie said, we got him as a trial.
We wanted to see if we felt comfortable with what they said. He came
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April 22-23, 2008
out there, and it was all probably, maybes, and said that there's no way
he can determine whether the damage is caused by the blasting, and he
didn't think anybody could.
He was saying that although in 10 to 15 years these cracks would
probably happen, they may have been accelerated by the blasting.
That's not the type of answers we want to hear. I've already talked to
Damon Jones about this. He's waiting for the report from Forge
Engineering.
And all I can say is that a review every six months is a good idea
because it keeps everybody on the up and up of what their blasting
levels are. I'm asking them to keep the blasting levels at what they
were at the beginning of February; they were very low.
December 13th was strong and April 4th, 10th, and the 17th were
strong levels. They shook my house more. They rattled the windows.
And all I'm asking them to do is keep it down.
I know a blasting permit will never be pulled. It conveniences
everybody. Like he's saying, as far as costs go and everything, it's
better for our county that way.
But they need to be -- they're concerned about us, but they need
to be a little bit more concerned about the blast levels and keep them
down.
The only question I have of you is, there was a thing in the report
about a biannual thing for neighborhood improvement. I want to
know who's in charge of that and what it's supposed to entail, because
it's not real clear in the 26 -- the things in here.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Could we get that answer?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. And Commissioner Halas has
a question. I wrote it down.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: How close do you live to the mine?
MS. BURKET: The state fire marshal said it was 1,250 feet from
the property line. I'm not sure exactly where they're blasting, but it's
1,250 feet from their property line.
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April 22-23, 2008
And they did -- Damon Jones was great, he sent a seismograph
out there so they could take the readings. And like I said, the ones
toward the end of -- or in April, I just call them squiggly lines. They're
pretty squiggly.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. In that diagram that they
had up earlier, I'm not sure where it is, in that L-shaped area, are you
in that vicinity of the -- where the blasting is taking place at the
present time?
MS. BURKET: I live almost at the end of 20th, off 47th. The
blasting was occurring at the end of 20th. I'm not sure where it goes
as far as the diagram.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Could someone kind of give us
some orientation on this?
MR. MUDD: Immokalee Road is over here, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. MUDD: As best I can see on the diagram.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: No, in relationship to where her
home would be.
MS. BURKET: Where's 47th?
MR. JONES: That is the -- this is Damon Jones. This is the
actual property. This is the actual property line. 47th is
approximately 1,300 feet from that property line.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Could you take your pen and
basically show us about where the proximity is?
MR. JONES: This is 47th right here. She is between -- just past
18th. She's right here.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And where is that in
relationship to the diagram we have up on the -- had up on the wall
there?
MR. JONES: The no-blasting zone is right there.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Is that the L area that was -- the
shaded L area?
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. JONES: 47th sits here. Here's the no blasting.
COMMISSIONER HALAS. Okay.
MR. JONES: It's four sections of no blasting. The no-blasting
zone stops -- starts about right there.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
She lives -- Ms. Burket lives approximately right around there,
just down on 4 7th Avenue.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Neighborhood improvement fund?
MS. ZONE: Excuse me. Melissa Zone, again, Principal Planner
with Department of Land Development.
We have here on the monitor, you will see that the county was
given a receipt that there -- they have started a biannual fund where
each year the applicant provides $20,000 for neighborhood
improvements.
There isn't a clear direction as to when or whom can draw on that
fund. Staff feels that that would be something that would come in
front of the board to make those decisions when -- but, again, if it's
something that you want to direct to the neighborhood committee,
staff certainly supports your direction on that.
The applicant has gone ahead and has with -- the fund is
established in their attorney's office. And if the direction of the board
is to have, when the money is drawn, to come in front of you prior to
that fund being drawn on, then staff will, you know, make sure that's
the case.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Probably for another day.
MS. BURKET: Is biannual twice a year or once a year or -- I
know what semiannual is.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Two.
MS. BURKET: So when this says biannual $40,000 a year and
it's been seven months already, that's what's in the account?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: $40,000--
April 22-23, 2008
MS. BURKET: That's what this paper says.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- a year?
MS. BURKET: Biannual.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Biannual. We'll have to get Mr.
Anderson to answer that question.
MR. ANDERSON: We put in the -- my client put in the $20,000
last month, and it was a six-month time then. If another 20- is due,
they'll put it in within the next month. We're required to do that as
long as the blasting is going on.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
MS. BURKET: And just to you, Mr. Coletta, I did -- I wanted
you -- or after your meeting, everything said and done, take a look at
the jars that I gave to the lady that's in there. They are soil samples
from my property. They have been vibrated to the fact of, well, they
were packed really good, wax was poured on the top of them. They
have been vibrated 12 times for 10 minutes, which doesn't even equal
the amount of blasts for the time they blasted.
And the dirt has separated to more than a distance of this from
the wax, and the dirt has no place to disburse to, like is does
underneath a house. So I just wanted you to take a look at that
because there has never been a soil test done in East Florida -- West
Florida.
The last soil test ever done anywhere was in '78 in Miami-Dade.
So I just want you to take a look at those because, like I said, it's a
cheap man's thing to try to show you what's going on with the houses
out there and --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: You're a very creative person.
MS. BURKET: Oh, I did a -- there's another one, triangle-shaped
weight. I set it on a pile of sand; when they blast, it's actually sinking
into the sand and the sand's disbursing out the side. I mean, I don't
have a big degree like these people sitting over here, but basically it's
telling you that the dirt underneath the homes is vibrating, and that's
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April 22-23, 2008
what's causing house settlement. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We need to move on.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is David Garrett. He'll be followed
by Don Cox.
MR. GARRETT: Hello. I moved there in '93. I live probably
1,700 foot from the blasting zone which is there now.
I like you all's talk about the church and how you all didn't want
to disturb any neighbors. I'd rather live by a church than a rock pit
blasting.
And I don't think there's a time limit on how many hours they can
work a day or how many days they can work a week, because it was
6:45 yesterday when they finally shut down and had some peace and
quiet. They work, you know, pretty much all day on Saturday and
some Sundays. So we need to address on some hours for the working
hours.
They've had some blasts. To me it seems like the blasts are still
vibrating the house. Not for any kind of blasting. I'm not against
Jones Mining but, you know, when they first started, I let them go
ahead and do their pit because I figured that's their property, they can
do what they want to.
Now I'm looking the other side of it. This is my property. The
noise level, I can hardly go outside in the evenings on the weekends or
whatever. The noise level is too great. They work too many hours.
So it's invasion of privacy, you know. And I reckon that I'll let
somebody else talk now. But I wish you all would reconsider of this
blasting permit because it is pretty aggravating having to listen to all
this is.
MR. MUDD: Sir, just state your name for a second, who you
are.
MR. GARRETT: David Garrett.
MR. MUDD: Thank you, sir.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Don Cox. He'll be followed by
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Charles Dowding.
MR. COX: My name is Don Cox. I live at 232 60th Avenue
Northeast, have since 1980.
Basically the ground is very unstable in that whole area. It
changes very much within 50 to 100 feet. I physically watched the
whole area completely change in the period of time I've lived there.
I really don't have a lot to say, but I think most of it's already
been covered from the last two people that have spoken, you know. It
really needs to be something done because the homes are very settling
quite a bit, and I thank you for the time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Charles Dowding. He'll be followed by Jose
Gutierrez. And I know I got that wrong.
MR. DOWDING: My name's Charles Dowding. I'm a professor
of civil environmental engineering from Northwestern University, and
I'm pleased to be here.
I can sympathize, you know, with your concerns about your
homes shaking, and that sympathy has induced me to develop the
gauges that I am showing here on these PowerPoint slides.
These gauges are able to measure crack opening and closing to a
number of differing phenomena, basically long-term phenomena
caused by climatological change, and the short-term vibration
phenomena caused by blasting and ground motion.
So this same gauge across the same crack then can measure both
these phenomena as well as that vibration caused by human
occupation and other climatological phenomena such as thunder.
So we have affixed these gauges to three different cracks. The
first gauge I showed you was on the outside on the stucco. This
second crack is on the interior of the home between two different
building materials.
That on the screen on the left is concrete masonry units. That on
the screen to the right is the interior drywall and wall studs. And so
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those two differing materials, as they expand, contract thermally, then
have caused that particular crack.
And then lastly, this is another crack on the south facing side of
the home. It's hidden behind the hot water -- the water softener, and
that's a -- a crack on the exterior stucco.
So what I've prepared here are several comparisons now between
these various climatological responses. Remember I said, there were
three cracks, and each has a color. So the red is crack five, the first
one I showed; the green is crack seven, that's on the interior; and then
the blue is crack nine. That's on the exterior behind the water softener.
The three -- see if I have a -- I don't have a scribe here. So these
three groupings here now are three different types of weather
responses of all three cracks. Here's crack five, crack seven, and crack
nine to the maximum daily temperature effects. You can see the height
of the bar now is given the intensity or the amount of crack opening
and closing caused by one daily temperature cycle.
The small responses over here, here is the response on the test
blast on December 13th. You can see the relative amplitude of those
responses. Remember, this is from the same -- across the same crack
with the same gauge, measuring two different phenomena with the
same physical principle.
So you can see by the relative height here that the
weather-induced change and opening and closing of those cracks far,
far exceeds that of the blast-induced change. That's it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. DOWDING: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner--
MR. DOWDING: I'm available for questions if anyone else
needs to ask.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I know, but if we keep on doing that,
asking questions of the public, we'll never get done.
MR. DOWDING: Well, I'm happy to leave.
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: No, no. I'm speaking to my
colleagues, sir.
MR. DOWDING: Oh, I see.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: But it's whatever the board wants to
do, but Ijust remind you that at a certain point we have to call it a day.
MR. DOWDING: You have everybody else speak, then if there
are questions for me, I can come back.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No. You're a public speaker and we
need to treat everybody equal.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, I think he represents the
petitioner.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Anderson, is that true?
MR. ANDERSON: No.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: No? Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No.
MR. DOWDING: I'm not a lobbyist. I cannot sign that -- I'm
not allowed to lobby for the university and I'm not being paid by them.
So this is -- these funds come from the federal government for us to
develop techniques for communicating with people about these
relative effects.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Jose Gutierrez. He'll be
followed by Roger Nunez.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Nunez is coming up.
MS. FILSON: I think -- oh, you're Jose.
MR. NUNEZ: He had a dental appointment.
MS. FILSON: Okay. So you're -- and then he'll be followed by
Maggie Kemy (sic).
MR. NUNEZ: Hello. My name is Roger Nunez, and I'm the
blaster with Jones Mining.
Since day one I've been working with Damon Jones and the
Jones family, and ever since we've been there, we've made a lot of
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adjustments. We've cut our pounds per day in half, our holes per shot
in half.
And just looking at the readings here, you can tell, I mean, we've
made a big difference. And we continue to do that on a daily basis. I
work for Damon here and there, and he's done everything he can do to
keep this from getting any deeper, we try.
I've been blasting in Collier County for almost 20 years now.
I've done a lot of residential blasting as close as 350 feet from homes,
and we've always had to adapt, make adjustments. And we've always
had good results. I mean, if you look at our track record, I mean, we
haven't had any claims.
We assure you we do a good job because that's our livelihood
also. That's all we have ever done around here. The economy's slow,
so we can't do -- we've got to make sure we do a good job. That's
what supports my family and my company. So I can assure you we do
that on a daily basis. So thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Maggie Kemp. She'll be followed by Ken Courts.
MS. KEMP: Hi. My name's Maggie Kemp. I live at 2179 47th
Avenue Northeast, which is near 22nd Street, which is down where
the majority of the blasting is going on.
I bought my home two years ago basically at the top of the
market. And when I got the notification that they were going to be
doing blasting a couple weeks after I moved in, I was not happy.
I went to the neighborhood meetings where the Jones Mine met
with the neighborhood. The first meeting, I heard a lot of issues from
the residents, and I was very concerned.
The second meeting where Mr. Barber presented to us, he had
listened to what was said in the first meeting and he had really
addressed a lot of the issues. One of the big things that changed my
mind in basically being okay with what's going on was an aerial map
that was shown where they were implementing the no-blast zone.
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And I'm sure you can't see it, but essentially with that perimeter
around, they showed another chart where there were dots notifying
where the complaints were -- identifying where the complaints were.
If you kind of eyeball where that no-blast zone would have been
imposed over the complaints, you would see -- and it's not showing
there -- you would see that most of the complaints wouldn't exist with
the implementation of that blast zone. That made me feel a lot better.
It also made me feel a lot better that the business is making a
huge concession financially by implementing that area. When they
talked about the reduction in the size of the blasts, I've been home for
about the past year and a half about five different days while they're
doing the blasting. My perception is, it is definitely not as bad as it
was.
I was home sick about a month ago, in about 10 minutes there
were three or four blasts. If it would have been raining, I would have
just expected it to be thunder.
I've gone to several local meetings lately. Commissioner Coletta,
you were at one a couple weeks ago, where they were talking about
the crime in the Estates, the vacancies in the home. And interestingly
enough, that meeting didn't seem to get the reception that this did, and
I think that that's a neighbor issue as well. So I'm just kind of
wondering why there wasn't such great participation by some of these
other folks.
What disturbs me more about the value of my hone is not the
vibrations. It's about seeing the negative news about our
neighborhood in the newspaper. That's going to keep my home value
down a lot lower.
And the other thing that I think was interesting that Mr. Barber
mentioned in the meeting in September was with the three-second
blasts over the time period of five years, it would have equated to
about 24 minutes. If I'm not comfortable in my house for 24 minutes
over five years with vibrations, I better not sit in my house during a
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hurricane.
And I think they've done a good job in interacting with us. I've
called many times, and this really odd thing happens, a human
answers the phone. So I think they're making an effort. I'm pro
business, not pro blasting. Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Ken Courts. He'll be followed by
Kathy Raimondi.
MR. COURTS: Hello. I'm like the gentleman back there, not
very good at this. But my name's Ken Courts from A&A Truck
Brokers. We're Aggregate Haulers, and I'm here representing myself,
my business, and a lot of truckers that work for me.
And the truckers that are in Collier County, for example, living --
most of them live out in that area, from the Estates area. And besides
the fact that it's very important to these people, you know, having this
mine here, it's very important in my opinion to Collier County in
general because, you know, everybody likes their favorite restaurant
being built or the new mall and -- or a new house or whatever, and
they've got to realize that that stuffs got to come from someplace.
I know mining, just like trucking, it's kind of a bad word but, you
know, we're good people, and I do know that -- Jones Mining. I've
been associated with them for quite a while. They do a very good job.
We do business with a lot of different mines around in Lee County
and stuff, and these people do -- I'm not going to say the best job, but
they do very, very well. They do one of the best jobs of anybody
around. And they do care about the people. So thank you.
MS. FILSON: Kathy Raimondi. She'll be followed by Timothy
Nance.
MS. RAIMONDI: I would appreciate you giving me a couple
seconds and then start your three minutes. I'm not a good public
speaker. I already have two minutes and 45 seconds.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Would you like for somebody else to
go first prior to you --
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MS. RAIMONDI: Doesn't matter.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- to give you time?
MS. RAIMONDI: As soon as I get up here I get nervous. So if
you could start the three minutes when I start talking, I'd appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Would you like me to come
down there and stand next to you?
MS. RAIMONDI: That would be fine. It doesn't matter. I'd just
appreciate if you'd set the clock back because I don't even have three
minutes right now.
Thank you, Jim.
My name is Kathy Raimondi, I'm at 4290 8th Street. Technically
I'm not supposed to be close enough to the mine to be concerned. I do
hear the blasts.
At the last Board of Commissioner meeting I asked you to vote
no for Jones Mining expansion based on the following risks: They
had conflicts of interest that there were six blasts being increased to 18
a month; 10 feet to 45 feet depth but wanted 65 feet; a public meeting
was scheduled only under pressure from you, thank you; another
meeting was billed as being public but they sent out private letters to
selected people by invitation.
There were comments by the Planning Commission and county
engineers that the blasting causes vibrations no matter what. To my
understanding, there's never been a hydrologist.
At the end of the meeting, you appeared sympathetic with the
homeowners, but you voted yes against the opposition with a set of
conditions. Also you indicated that if there are still complaints from
residents, you may reverse your approval; therefore, I want to bring
forth the following issues: The mine blasting quit for nearly five
months, which seems very questionable despite the real estate market
falling.
As this meeting became closer, blasting reassumed but they were
baby blasts in my opinion, yet were still heard and felt, which still
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resulted in unneeded, unnecessary, and vehemently unwanted for our
homes.
As for the second provision in your set of conditions, this has not
been met, and they stood before you today and said it has been. It has
not been met.
We have never approved an engineer, and I would like to have a
few minutes to read the minutes that I took at our meeting at the Jones
Mining Committee in which Damon Jones agreed that we have not
selected an engineer and it's open for further engineers. If I have time,
I would like to read that, and I have a tape recording to prove we have
never approved an engineer.
Three, despite the fine -- the fact that the mine is not taking
responsibility as of yet for any damage, they are paying people,
selective people, for the damage to their home to keep them quiet.
I, therefore, am asking that this commission set another provision
that the mining company should provide full exposure to whom they
are paying. They are paying to whomever speaks out.
I would ask you to give me a couple more seconds.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Please wrap it up.
MS. RAIMONDI: All right. The people who have received
money from the mining committee absolutely now have a conflict of
interest and should recuse themselves from the committee. If they
don't take themselves off, they should be removed. That's not ethical
to get money from the committee and stay on the committee.
In summary, the complaints were due -- no complaints were due
to no-blasting. Condition of the approved qualified engineer is not
met. There have been payoffs to keep people quiet. Please ask them
to open --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. RAIMONDI: -- their books and also to provide funds so
that we can --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
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MS. RAIMONDI: -- get more people on a good committee.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. RAIMONDI: I would also like to say that some of the
people are up for reelection. We like our commissioners. I would
love to --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. RAIMONDI: HENNING: -- support our commissioners.
They're respectful, kind people. Please --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. RAIMONDI: -- give us your support.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Next speaker, please.
MS. FILSON: Timothy Nance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: You're okay, Tim?
MR. NANCE: I'm good. You can come over there though. I'm
offended.
I'm Tim Nance. I'm the president of the Golden Gate Estates
Area Civic Association. The commission has a very complicated and
difficult decision to make on this one.
There's significant proximity of the mining operations to homes.
There's been a multitude of complaints over many years, and
according to the information I have, there's been -- over 100 requested
inspections have been performed of people's residence -- residences
that are obviously concerned about the blasting.
There's been some suggestions of payments or settlements that
indicates damage has, indeed, occurred.
There's bound to be a significant increase in blasting from the
three blasts that occurred between September and February 13th in the
information that was sent out prior to this meeting, and the eight days
per month that are going to go forward over the next five years if the
petition is granted.
My recommendations and hope from the commissioners are that
the staff reviews the process and concerns of the citizens' engineering
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selection to provide a little more formal oversight and to put this into
the official record. I hope that significant stipulations will be attached
to any approval going forward until the controversy can be resolved.
I recommend that you maintain a very frequent review going
forward. And in summary, I hope the county will provide a proactive
oversight approach from the county staff to protect existing citizens
and residences from loss. Obviously it's unacceptable; however much
we need engineering-grade fill, it's unacceptable to have loss and
damage to people's homes.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: That's your final speaker, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, great.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Wow. I've been taking notes.
There's a whole bunch of things that I've heard from a number of
people, and I appreciate the fact that they all showed up.
I took the time and the liberty to send everyone that I had an
email address for that expressed any interest in this subject, an email
of this agenda item to try to draw everybody out of the woodwork we
could. I think it's very important that we get public participation for
something like this.
Going through everything that I heard, I hear things where there's
still a considerable amount of citizen concern out there. They like
what they see to a degree, the fact that they believe that there's
positive action being taken place. But I think Tim Nance just about
summed it up, there's still the unknown out there. Where is it going to
go from this point forward?
Now, it sounds like Jones Mine is doing a sincere effort to try --
moving these things forward to try to keep everything on the front
burner to be able to answer the complaints; however, with that said,
my concern is, what happens when this is approved?
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I have to, one more time, have it explained to me what kind of
oversight this commission has, what kind of oversight the county
government has, and what kind of oversight the state has to be able to
interject themselves at some point in time if they go back to do
blasting at a rate that's totally unacceptable to pre -- these pretest
blasts that they've been doing in the recent past.
MS. ZONE: Commissioner Coletta, you have the regulation, and
it was one of your concerns which we put as a condition of approval,
that the applicants had to come back six months after the initial
approval and then a year from there, and then every two years.
With that in place, the mine operator, Jones Mine, their
representatives will have to come in front of the Board of Zoning
Appeals every other year and report to you if they are meeting these
conditions.
And staff will continue to document if there are phone calls,
address the issues, contact those residents who've called, as well as to
make sure that the traffic counts and any other improvements are
being met.
And with that being said, you also have the authority, if at any
time they are not meeting these conditions, you can revoke that
condition -- conditional use for the blasting, if they are not meeting the
requirements that are set forth in your resolution.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Now just to make sure, I
heard you say six months, then I heard you say two years.
MS. ZONE: How you have it -- and I'm going to take you to that
page. It's number 3 of the conditions of approval. It's on page 6 of
your packet. And it says, the conditional use approval shall be
reviewed by staff and brought back to the Board of Zoning Appeals
after six months from the date of this conditional use approval, on the
first anniversary of this conditional use approval and every two years
subsequent to determine whether additional stipulations or mitigations
are necessary.
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So -- and it goes on further, but it's basically saying that they had
to come back. This is their six-month review. Then they have to
come back. It would be September of'09, and then -- or of2008, and
then every two years from that to come in front of the Board of
Zoning Appeals.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Would it make more sense to
shorten up that time for review just in case there was concerns? My
problem is the fact that this whole thing is supposed to be completed
in five years --
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- in understand correctly, and
that's one of the parts of the agreement. Okay. If you got it every two
years, you know, and you're going six months into it, you're only
going to get two reviews in there.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And at that point in time it
might be a little bit difficult to be able to react to it. Tim Nance was
right, you've got to have sufficient government oversight.
Now, what I would suggest, to try to keep it so that it's as user
friendly as possible for all parties concerned, is that there's a
mandatory six-month review if it moves forward by complaints, in
other words, if we receive substantiated complaints that activity
exceeding what it was agreed to is taking place, and it would come
before the commission directly on the regular agenda. Or if it's not, it
would be on the consent agenda where somebody that may not have
had a chance to interact would be able to come before this commission
when it was on the agenda, have it pulled for regular discussion, and
we'd be able to handle it. Where, if they do their job and there's
complaints and they're good neighbors and they can keep this thing
flowing, it would be on the consent agenda every six months.
MS. ZONE: Correct. We would--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And if there is complaints, then,
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of course, we would be before this commission with the possibility
that we'd be pulling their permit.
MS. ZONE: Staff is, you know, of course, willing to comply
with the wishes of this board.
I would just suggest that if we are going to go forward with the
six-month review, that we make it so that it's very clear what will
trigger them to be an open discussion as opposed to a consent agenda.
So it would become an advertised public hearing or consent agenda
item and make that very clear.
One of the things -- and I'm not saying that -- to alleviate a cost
burden to the applicants, but every time they come in front of you,
they have to advertise, notify the residents, which staff, you know,
definitely wants them to do. They have to put up, because of the
length of their property, four very large public hearing signs.
There's a lot of detail involved in this. So just to say, I had a
phone call, someone said they heard blasting or they have vibrations
in their home, does that one phone call give it a full public hearing, or
do we have to have -- so I think we need something that's more
measurable.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I understand. I understand what
you're saying. But first what we have to do is establish the level of the
blast that's permittable. And obviously the type of blasting that they're
doing now with the low levels is bringing in a minimal amount of
complaints compared with what it was before.
MS. ZONE: Certainly.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Somehow we've got to be able
to arrive at the number, whatever it is. And I want to make sure that
that number is correct. If they exceed that for any reason, that would
trigger it being on the regular agenda.
MS. ZONE: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: As far as the signs go, couldn't
they use the same signs over and over again and just put on -- a sticker
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on it with the new date that it comes before the commission?
MS. ZONE: Well, that would be my suggestion to them. But
I'm just saying -- and if they had to get new signs, I'm certainly fine
with that. I'm just saying, we want to have something more
measurable for -- that's going to trigger the public hearing so that we
know and staff has enough time to prepare to bring in front of the
board the proper documentation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Well, I'm sure I'll have
more, but I'd like to hear from my fellow commissioners on this.
MS. ZONE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: What surprises me is the concerns
that we had today from the residents in that area, and I really haven't
gotten any emails in the last couple of months. And prior to that, back
in December, there was a number of emails that I was getting on this
particular item.
So I'm concerned in regards to the amount of people that are right
now being affected and how many people are not being affected that
live in that general area.
And so I guess what I'd like to have is some kind of a base to tell
me how many people now do not have any problem, or it's minimal,
okay, because, as I said, the emails just doesn't -- they're not there
compared to what I heard today. And I'm not sure how the other
commissioners, if they -- how their emails were.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. Couple other things.
Somebody brought up who and when -- who and when can they draw
from that fund that they have, and that was never determined that I
know of.
MS. ZONE: Well, staff had felt that it should come in front of
the Board of Zoning Appeals since you are reviewing this, to
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determine when and if you are going to be going back and having
them come every six months to review this petition, that would
probably be an excellent time to then say these are -- this fund can be
drawn from.
I just want the commissioners here to know that that $40,000 is
not improvements to a home. There is a bond set up that the blasts --
the mining operators have, and that would also have to come in front
of the board for approval to disburse those funds.
The $40,000 was set up for neighborhood improvements, and I
believe that that would be something that either Commissioner Coletta
would want to address with the residents or in front of the Board of
Zoning Appeals, which staff had recommended, feeling that, you
know, it would be a collective vote.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I have another couple
questions. Who and when are the -- rather, what are the hours of
operation and what days? Somebody mentioned that.
MS. ZONE: The hours of the mine operation are seven a.m. to
six p.m., Monday through Saturday. The mining operation for blasting
is nine a.m. to four p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a
stipulation in your conditions of approval, it's on page 9 of your
report, it's number 22, and it says, hours of pit operation shall be
limited to seven a.m. to six p.m., Monday through Saturday, which is
consistent with all mining operations in the county.
But it says, if there was a complaint from the surrounding
residents, that -- for the rock crushing activity -- because that seemed
to be what was, at one time, the largest complaint. Wasn't so much the
blasting, but the rock crushing because it was so loud and it was
constant. Then it would be limited to seven a.m. to six p.m., Monday
through Friday, seeing that most people are home on the weekends.
And, again, we can implement that through your action.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Now, one gentleman said that at
6:45 it was still going on. Who does he contact to report that?
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MS. ZONE: That would be going through the code enforcement,
would be the proper channels, because they have the authority to go
investigate to ensure. Of course, certainly they can contact myself,
who I would direct -- make -- you know, contact code enforcement.
They could contact the engineering department. If you want someone
specific, one particular department to make sure that that's where the
calls will be directed, then we follow your direction again.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. Last question. One of the
privileges they were asking was to blast eight days a month, not to
exceed eight days a month. Of course, there was no limitation as to
how many blasts. You could -- you could do 180 blasts on one day,
eight days a month, and that's a lot of blasting. Right now they're
limited to 18 blasts.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Possibly if they're blasting just on
eight days, they can use reduced blasting and not impact the
neighborhood as much. I don't know if that would happen or not. But
I would think that whatever we do, we should see them again. If we
permit something like that to go on, we should see them again in
September just to see how the neighbors feel about all of that and how
it's impacting them; is it a lesser impact now that they were able to
blast more times in a day?
MS. ZONE: And we received the reports. Geosonics provides us
the reports of the blasts, Jones Mines provides us, as well as
engineering department staff do monitor them. So we have those
reports and can provide them to you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: One gentleman was up and talking
about they were blasting on a Sunday?
MS. ZONE: I wasn't sure, and I know I couldn't address them,
and that would definitely be violating their conditional use approval.
And you know, I haven't heard -- that was the first of -- I heard of it.
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COMMISSIONER HALAS: What was the discussion? That
gentleman was up and they were talking about -- maybe they -- I just
want to make sure that there is no blasting out there on Sundays.
MS. ZONE: Their blasting is limited Monday through Friday
from nine to four, so they shouldn't be blasting at all on the weekends.
The pit operation is limited from Monday to Saturday. So Sunday
there should be no activity at all.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. I just wanted to follow up
on that statement, that's all.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All right. What's the pleasure of the
board?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, just a couple more
questions, if I may, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sure, yeah.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. One, the committee that
they have now that's supposed to be working that was originally
designed to bring on an engineer?
MS. ZONE: Correct, yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think that if at all possible and
if they're willing to do it, I'd like to see this committee continue, and
maybe as we get into it, offer us a report every six months when these
things come up of where it is.
In other words, you heard mentioned about the lack of emails.
Well, I did receive emails and some phone calls; not a lot, about --
probably about five or six from the residents down there over the last
three months.
You know, it's not necessary for people to have to send a
measurable amount of emails to be able to have a serious concern. I
mean, the fact they're here today means more to me than 2,000 emails,
I'll be honest with you.
But with that said, this committee could offer a report
independent of everyone else back to us of what they're seeing, going
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through the whole thing, agree to the report, you know, what the
majority wants, and just keep it going forward.
Now, I'm not saying they have to do it. They're volunteers and
they only belong to this committee because they care enough about
their neighborhood to make sure it happens. Also I'd like to hear
feedback from this committee when we get a sizable amount of money
in this pot to see about such things as some neighborhood
improvements, possibly bus shelters or whatever else they deem to be
appropriate for the neighborhood.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Another issue that came up was
the presentation that was made by Professor Dowding regarding the
expansion and the contraction. The thing he didn't deal with, even
though he dealt with the cracks, was the fact that the ground could
settle. And so -- or would that have been directly tied into it? Maybe
the professor could tell me. Is the professor still here? Yes, he is.
MS. ZONE: Yes, he's still here.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: May I, Commissioner, Chair
Henning?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
MR. DOWDING: Well, we've not made any measurements of
that particular -- that particular issue. We've been merely monitoring
the effects that the cracks cycle open and close. I could show you
time histories of these that might elaborate.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. Let me put the question
back to you. Would these be an accurate indication about the ground
settling?
MR. DOWDING: No. They would not give information about
that. They're merely comparing the opening and closing of the cracks
to all effects. They wouldn't filter out one or another. So they're
measuring all of the long-term effects and, therefore, we're merely
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comparing the blasting part, which is very small.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Well, I'll tell you where I
am with this, and this hasn't been an easy one. And God knows we
put Jones Mine through the ringer on this, and they about died on the
stake a couple of times. It's been close for you, Gentlemen, I'll tell
you that.
Could you do better? Yes. I don't think anyone ever reaches a
level of performance that we can call perfection around here. Need to
do even better. You need to work more with the residents in that area.
You need to maintain those seismographs that you have at the
different locations. You need to be able to keep staff and the
commission apprised, along with the neighbors. You need to keep
your web sites open. You need to keep your phone lines open, because
what's going to happen is every six months we're going to be looking
over your shoulder with the greatest of care.
And with that, I make a motion to approve with the conditions
that I mentioned as far as a review every six months, the committee
being kept in place, the monitoring moving forward, and I'd like to
also, too, see if -- and I hate to do this to you out in the open, but
you're a public figure, see in can get Tim Nance to sit on that
committee, but that's up to him, and it's just purely an invitation. I'd
like to -- Tim's very involved in the community, and I think he might
be able to shed some more light on what's taking place and even give
-- help us with better direct. But that will be up to that committee to
decide. Hopefully an invitation comes forward and hopefully you
accept.
Now, what am I missing here, Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Did you want to include their
request to blast eight days a month?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Or just keep as it is?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't know.-
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Commissioner Halas, you're the engineer.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, the concern is that when I
was out there observing these explosions -- now, I don't believe that
they salted the mine, as such, but I couldn't really differentiate that
much between the explosion that was at the mine itself and then at
their test house.
So -- and then looking at the proximity pickup, which the
professor pointed out there in his explanation, in his presentation, the
-- I thought they were also doing some work with accelerometers
buried in the ground. Has there been some of that work done where
they were going to plant accelerometers or velocity pickups down in
the ground?
MR. JONES: Damon Jones, again. Yeah, that's one ofthe
reasons the professor's down. We've been waiting for the tenants to
move out. So they've recently moved out, so the professor's coming
and that's -- and Geosonics are all in discussion of what additional
equipment they want to set up at the house.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, this may have a big answer.
In six months if they are allowed to -- or get access to this home where
they can plant instrumentation that's in the ground, that may answer
some questions in regards to some of the issues that were brought
forth by some of the residents of the settling, because then they'll be
able to measure directly, hopefully in the rock bed or whatever, that
they decide how far they decide to go down. If they go down to the
rock level, then that would be equal to the mine, and that way they
should get some idea of what the vibration is that's being transmitted
up through the ground in those pads.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: The question we're still at is
how the blasting sequence should take place. Should it be more blasts
in one day? Then again too, that's not really an engineer's question.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'm not going to --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't know. Is there a report
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from the committee? Is there one person that represents the
committee that could speak on this?
MR. MUDD: I will tell you, Commissioner, if you limit the
number of blasts, okay, you're at risk of having the blast be more in
magnitude as far as pounds of TNT increase, okay.
And so, you know, he was telling you how he was trying to use
smaller blasts using 20 holes, holding down the TNT, and then waiting
a time before he does the next one, each one of those smaller blasts
could be counted, okay, against the maximum number of eight, and
you run that risk. So just make sure that you understand that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And, once again, what's
staffs recommendations on that?
MS. ZONE: Well, you know, I'm -- not being an engineer on
vibrations and levels, I would --
MR. MUDD: There's Stan. He's right there. He's been so silent.
MR. CHRZANOWSKI: Yes, sir. I'm a civil engineer, but I'm
not a geologist. You might be better off asking one of them. But
basically I think the County Manager was correct. The type of
explosive they use is a low-velocity explosive, right-hand flow,
something like that, not a high velocity explosive. You're talking
3,000 feet per second detonation velocity as opposed to something
with maybe 20- or 30,000 feet a second detonation velocity.
If you have a smaller charge, you can set off more of them a day
without causing any damage as opposed to one massive charge which
is going to shake the ground and cause damage. If it were me, I'd set
off a bunch of them very small within a half hour or something. I
don't know how the residents would feel about that though. But you
know, from an engineer point of view I would prefer many small
charges as opposed to a few large ones.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Stan, the whole objective is to
try to come up with something that would be the least obtrusive for the
residents that live there. And, you know, I'm just trying to figure out
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what's the best way to formulate this.
The way you're doing it now, is these small, little blasts that are
multiple blasts; is that correct?
MR. CHRZANOWSKI: I assume eight times a month is meant
to give him twice a week, and if he wants to produce a certain amount
of flow, he has to blast so much to stay ahead of it. So I would guess
that that is the measure of how much you're going to blast every day?
MR. JONES: We're still limited to -- Damon Jones, again.
We're sti11limited to the 1,680 holes per month, so we won't be
blasting any more holes than we are now. The thought process was
the -- if we can break them down into smaller blasts. But again,
instead of asking from 18 times a month to 36 times a months to do
that, we think it's simpler and it takes out the ambiguity of, just give us
two days a week, essentially, eight days a month.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: May I make a suggestion that --
include eight days a month in the motion, but let's leave this up to -- I
mean, if all of a sudden we start to get a flood of calls where this is a
real problem where we might be able to address this in short order to
be able to go forward --
MR. JONES: That's definitely the intent. You know, if we get
feedback --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't want to do something
that's going to make it worse than it has been.
MR. JONES: Right. Ifwe get feedback from the community
that, you know, they don't like the three or four a day, then, you know,
we can still adjust accordingly. I mean, it's always an ongoing process
with the community. And that's why I said, I always encourage that
feedback so we can plot where we've been, how we've blasted, where
we've blasted, if we got a call, and then we can look at the data, and
that's what -- we're always constantly, me, Roger, you know, the
Geosonics, we're always in constant communication about how we
can do this and do it better.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And, of course, my motion
would include any stipulations that were previously put on you for
every -- transportation, water retention.
MR. JONES: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Just to clarify the motion, are
you talking about six months for the board members to have a written
correspondence to our office?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: In six months' time, it would
appear on the consent agenda for approval ifthere was no objections
out there, then the people would still have a right to pull it. It would
go in six-month segments right on through the remainder of the -- of
the project.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Five years.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It wouldn't necessarily be a
hearing like this. Hopefully if it's on the consent agenda --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes, it will.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- it wi11 stay on the consent
agenda.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We'll sti11 hear it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, we could pull it and
address it, but we don't have a year and two years between times that
we can really act to bring down the hammer.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: How about a year time, you know?
It's -- this is -- we're married to this. And, you know, I'd love to see
this issue less than my wife, you know. And here it is 4:30, we've still
got other issues and we're continuing tomorrow. I may see my wife
tonight before she goes to bed.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, then if I may suggest?
The petitioner had no problem with six months. Let's stick with the
motion and the second and go with it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, but we have to deal with it
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April 22-23, 2008
every six months, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Ifwe need to.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: How about you deal with it in your
district every six months. And if you find a need for it to come to the
Board of County Commissioners, put it on item 9 and let the board
discuss it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Commissioner Henning? We've just
changed some of the requirements here, and that is that now we're
telling them they can blast eight days a month, but we're not limiting
them. Before they were limited to 18. Wouldn't we want a report as
to how this change is affecting the neighbors? And maybe we won't
have to come back again.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You have -- please, we must have
order or I must ask you to step outside.
We have less days that are blasting. Is that better or worse? No,
I don't think it's less days, is it? It's 18 times a month. That's the
requirement now.
MS. ZONE: Correct. It's 18 blasts a month, which would make
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're going to eight days a month
now. So is that less intrusive or more intrusive?
MS. ZONE: According to the applicant, that it would be less
intrusive, but --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Chairman, could I --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- help shed some light on this?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You don't know, okay. The level of
effect of the explosive is going to depend upon the amount of
explosive that you put in each hole --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Absolutely.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- and the number of holes that you
detonate simultaneously. That's going to result in a single blast shock
that is going to cause some vibration. You don't know what that
vibration is unless you keep track of the amount of explosive you use,
the number of holes you detonate, and then how many times a day you
do that.
When you go to eight or four -- two days a week, eight days a
month, it means you can do 210 holes per day. Now, there's nothing
wrong with that if you use a relatively small charge and you don't
detonate all 210 at the same time.
So the thing that I think we should get out of this is, let them go
to two days a week blasting. That means the people don't have to
worry about blasting the other six days -- five days of the week.
That's right. I keep getting confused because there are eight days a
week in our schedule.
But look, it's a perfect opportunity to arrive at the optimum
charge level and the optimum number of detonations to be -- to be
handled in each event.
So let's keep track of them, they monitor the effect on the
community, they come back in six months, they present the results of
this, and if they have arrived at a charge level per hole and a number
of holes that can be detonated on a daily basis without causing any
difficult, then we don't have to review it every six months, okay.
So let's give it a try for six months and then evaluate what the
results are. Then if the results are good and the people are not having
any more problems, then we'll review it in another year or two.
MS. ZONE: They have to come back in six months per their
conditions of approval anyway.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Right now they have to come back
in six months.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But there's no reason for them to
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April 22-23, 2008
come back six months after that.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. So if they come back in six
months, we evaluate the results of these tests, and I'm sure they're
going to vary these things to find out what's best, and then we'll know.
And at that point in time, we'd go for a one- or two-year review
process.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, great.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I believe that they've already said
the maximum amount of holes that they're going to blast per month, so
there's the -- there's the caveat for limiting how many times they're
going to blast and how long.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: We're missing this. We're apples
and oranges here. We're talking about bringing it back within six
months, bringing it back in a year or two. We've already been through
the discussion on how many holes and what the blast was. We just
don't know if they're going to be able to do what they say they're
going to do. You know, the proofs going to be in the performance
over a period of six months.
Let's do this. Let's get it back here in six months, possibly on the
consent agenda if nobody has a problem. If they do have a problem,
then we have a chance to be able to open the whole thing up again and
then decide where we're going to go from there. I'd still like six-month
review from now till the end of five years.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Whatever it's going to take to
get this through.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Hold on. Is the motion clear?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No. Restate the motion.
County Manager, what is your understanding what the motion is?
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April 22-23, 2008
Let's --
MR. MUDD: Basically everything on it. And the only issue
that's contentious is the six-month review.
I just want to make sure that -- Melissa stated it, and so that -- if
you caught it or not. The first year of this you get reviewed every six
months. You get six months after you review it. This is that six
months. And then you have an annual review that happens at
September of 2008, okay. So you've got it coming back to you in six
months.
The only issue that you've got that takes place in September is,
the next time to review based on the agreement you did is two years
hence from September. And if you want it to be more frequently, you
can decide that in September or whatever you'd like to based on what
you hear in September as far as the feedback is concerned.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's just what I said.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And I'll amend my
motion to say that. Six months, a year, and then from that we've got a
chance to be able to reevaluate it. You don't want it back in six months
or a year?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I said six --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. I'm talking to --
Commissioner Henning's shaking his head no.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The audience wants to get up and talk
again, and I was responding to them.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, I thought you were talking
straight to me.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. So what is the motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: The motion is what the standard
procedure is at this point in time, comes back in six months, comes
back in another six months, which is the year review. At that point --
I'm sorry. Did I miss it?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Y eah. You said what the standard
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April 22-23, 2008
procedure is, but we just changed it to eight days a month.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: We're talking about a review.
We're not going to review this every eight days.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I'm sorry, blasting.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Can I try this?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think we're ready for a break.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We're going to have another review
in six months from today.
MS. ZONE: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We're going to permit no more than
two days of blasting each week. They will still be able to blast 1,810
or 8 --
MS. ZONE: Sixteen hundred.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- 1,600 holes per month, they will
evaluate the results of this blasting program over the next six months,
come to us with the results, we will review them, assess the impact on
the residents. And if it is acceptable, then they will not have to come
back for another year.
MS. ZONE: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MS. ZONE: Then we really will only be revising the conditions
of approval, which I think our County Attorney should address, would
be number 12, which would be the two days per week. Everything else
is sti11 in place. We're still on schedule. And then, again, as the
County Manager said, in September, if we need to revise or alter these
conditions, we can do so.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's right.
MS. ZONE: But do we need a -- I guess I would ask our board
to address the County Attorney about revising condition number 12,
and would we need a resolution for that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I just want to make sure what the
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April 22-23, 2008
motion is.
MS. ZONE: Also number 23 mentions 18 times a month as well,
which reflects number 12.
MR. KLATZKOW: I think I understand the motion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You --would you -- don't repeat it
back, but would you -- let's see. That should be a resolution then?
MR. KLATZKOW: We're going to need a resolution.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Bring that back --
MR. KLATZKOW: They're coming back in six months. Bruce,
keep your signs because you're going to need them. It's going to be a
noticed hearing. It can go on summary, and then it can get pulled, but
can't go on consent.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MS. ZONE: And we would be modifying -- sorry,
Commissioner -- number 12 and 23 --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right.
MS. ZONE: -- to make it so that it's eight times a month, two
times a day (sic).
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Plus we're going to --
MS. ZONE: Or two times a week, I mean, I'm sorry. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Plus we're also going to keep
the committee going forward.
MS. ZONE: Right. And that's set forth in there. And what I'm
going to do is I'll push a little harder with the applicants to provide
that information from the meeting so I can have it to the board for
your review at the next review.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further discussion on the
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
Let's take a --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Forty-minute break.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Take a 15-minute break.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The next item is the 4:30 time certain,
Commissioners. We have 830 -- 18 speakers. Just asking the board if
-- we have some other members of the public on other issues, is this
going to be the last item that we speak on tonight?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes, be wonderful.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, okay. And then we are
continuing tomorrow morning at nine o'clock with the awards,
proclamations, and presentation.
MR. MUDD: And then whatever items that we don't get to,
finish up nine and go to 10.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And all the other ones. Okay?
Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, what about 8C? That was a
four o'clock time certain. Are we going to let that go to tomorrow?
Didn't we have a four o'clock time certain?
MR. MUDD: No, sir. We have a 4:30 time certain, and that's
8B.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Oh.
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: 8C was 171, and the board voted this morning, 5-0,
to continue to until 13 May.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. And let's announce the next
item.
Item #8B
RECONSIDER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
AMENDMENT ADDRESSING THE CALCULATION OF THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WET -SLIPS WHEN A SHORELINE IS
IN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT - MOTION TO REDRAFT
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC ACCESS
AND OTHER CHANGES AND TO GO THROUGH LDC CYCLE
- APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. This item was continued from the April
8, 2008 BCC Meeting. It's a recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners consider the Land Development Code
Amendment addressing the calculation of the maximum number of
wet slips when a shoreline is in a conservation easement.
And Mr. Bi11 Lorenz, your Engineering Environmental Services
Director for Community Development's Environmental Services, wi11
present.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Before we go to Mr. Lorenz,
Commissioner Fiala has something that she wanted to do in the
beginning of the meeting. So if you would indulge us for just a
minute.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you very much. I had spoken
a long time about, what is that, vagrancy ordinance? What do you call
that? No camping?
MR. KLA TZKOW: Anti-camping ordinance.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Anti-camping ordinance. And I've
talked with the County Attorney, and he said it's very outdated and
woefully inadequate, and he was hoping to update that, revise it, and
bring it back to us, and I was just asking if my fellow commissioners
would let him do that. Just simple. You can just say yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We have one no -- one yes, one no,
two no's and two yeses. So, yes, I guess the answer is yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: But you might want to put it on the
agenda for us to discuss it before you advertise.
MR. KLATZKOW: It wi11-- you'll see a draft before it gets
advertised.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. This next item, I would like
for everybody who is going to participate to be sworn in. So if you
have any public speakers, including staff, they need to be sworn in.
(The speakers were duly sworn and responded in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Lorenz?
MR. LORENZ: Yes. For the record, Bill Lorenz, Engineering
Environmental Services Director.
The objective today is to reconsider the Land Development Code
amendment that addresses whether shoreline and conservation
easements should be excluded from the shoreline used to calculate the
maximum allowable wet slips pursuant to the Manatee Protection
Plan.
The board may recall that it was about a year ago that staff
presented the board a presentation where we noted that staff had
understood the application of the criteria of the Manatee Protection
Plan to exclude any shoreline in the calculations that was within
conservation easements.
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Apri122-23,2008
At that time we also noted that neither the Manatee Protection
Plan nor the Land Development Code specifically addresses shoreline
and conservation easements.
At that point the board directed staff to prepare a Land
Development Code amendment to bring through the process that
would exclude the shoreline and the conservation easement from the
calculation for maximum allowable wet slips, and that would be for
the ability for the stakeholders to provide information through the
public hearing process.
During the public hearing process, various issues, of course, were
brought up, and the board rejected the amendment on February 12th.
We're here today subject to a reconsideration by the board on
March 11 tho If the board chooses not to proceed with the amendment,
staff would respectfully request that we receive guidance as to how we
should be applying the calculations, and that's really my goal, is to
receive direction from the board so that we can sufficiently implement
your policy directives.
Just a few observations on my part in terms of trying to maybe
pull together some information, at least I've heard through the process,
the public hearing process. The calculation that we -- we're talking
about affects wet slips only. So it's -- so then there was some
discussion about boat ramps or dry storage. It doesn't affect boat
ramps or dry storage. It just affects the maximum amount of wet slips
that a particular property could have subject to the Manatee Protection
Plan rating criteria.
Also note that the calculation -- and the calculation simply
provides for that maximum number of slips. It doesn't guarantee that
those slips can be applied on a particular property. That will depend
upon the property's site specific characteristics, where there's proper
location or depth, or whatever restrictive requirements that there may
be that would actually allow for or, through the permitting process, to
get permitted for the number of wet slips.
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Apri122-23,2008
So, again, the calculation provides a maximum number for
Manatee Protection Plan purposes but, of course, it doesn't guarantee
it, and that's subject to permitting processes in the future.
And just in terms of just the spectrum of the options, if you will,
that the board would have -- and I'm going to just briefly talk about
the impacts of two options on the spectrum.
The least restrictive, if you will, with regard to a property owner
in terms of getting the maximum amount of wet slips would be, of
course, if the application was that all of the shoreline is utilized for the
calculation. That would generate the maximum number of wet slips
as opposed to some other type of restriction.
And as I said before, those wet slips can only be used along the
shoreline that would be allowed for within -- with regard to what the
property has either in zoning or in easements.
For instance, if you have a portion of your shoreline that's in a
conservation easement and that conservation easement precludes you
to put water structures, such as boat slips, within that conservation
easement, of course, you would not be able to locate your wet slips,
your multi-slip facility within that particular area.
So, again, even though you're calculating total maximum wet
slips, that if you do have a situation where you have shoreline that's in
a conservation easement, you're not going to be able to physically
locate those there. You have to locate the number of wet slips in areas
that would not -- would be un-encumbered by that kind of restriction.
And the other thing to note that, if -- when you have the -- all the
shoreline that would be used for that calculation, that essentially sets
up a fairly simple process in terms of expectations.
You know, you've got this amount of shoreline. It's this amount
of wet slips that you can make your calculation for, and in -- and over
time that will not change, because I want to contrast that with, the
other alternative which you're looking at, would be the shoreline, take
-- to exclude the shoreline within conservation easements from your
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calculation. So let's take a look at that.
Obviously that lowers the total number of maximum allowable
wet slips that that property owner can have, and it's proportional -- that
lower number is proportional to the shoreline that's in the conservation
easement. So the rationale there is, if you've got shoreline in the
conservation easement and that conservation easement does not allow
you to put your boat slips in that area, you've reduced the maximum
amount of wet slips proportionately along those lines.
However, one thing to note, again, even under that situation,
you're only going to be able to put the calculated wet slips in those
areas that -- that are un-encumbered from those conservation
easements. And the number that you can put in those areas is also
subject to other agency restrictions, so it doesn't -- that still doesn't
even guarantee you that maximum amount, but it does reduce the
maximum first off.
Another point I think that came up, at least from my listening to
some of the testimony and further discussions, is that over a period of
time, if you -- especially with the agency permitting, if the agency
permitting starts to put as a permit requirement of them granting you a
permit for wet slips, for some type of multi-slip facility, typically the
agency wi11 then require conservation easements to be placed on your
property in a shoreline.
So over time you could see the number of maximum allowable
wet slips when you exclude shoreline in conservation easements to
decrease over time. And I bring that up because one of the issues that
the board raised and debated on was access, whether it's public access
or private access.
So you can see that alternative excluding shoreline within
conservation easement could have an effect over time, total amount of
wet slips that you can actually calculate starts to decrease, especially
in redevelopment scenarios and situations. So I just wanted to make
that as an observation.
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Another observation is just in terms of administering the process.
The most simplest way of administering the process would be for the
shoreline in total shoreline. We don't have to, if you wi11, worry about
what part of the shoreline is in conservation easements.
In fact, during the discussion, when we had the -- raised the issue
of the Goodland, the county project at Goodland, my staff wasn't
aware that there were conservation easements placed on that shoreline
through previous permitting. So just getting that information is
somewhat difficult. So administrating that process is more difficult
with conservation easements to be excluded from that calculation
because we have to ensure ourselves where those conservation
easements are.
Now, that particular example is, in effect, the county's or the -- it
sti11 came in as much more wet slips than what the county staff is
proposing, but there again, that's a point that I just simply want to
make in terms of administering a process, that we would have to
ensure that we gather that information, and we understand what
conservation easements are in place in the shoreline and what was the
nature of those conservation easements.
Sometimes the conservation easements are written a little bit
differently, and there's maybe some nuances there that we have to
evaluate. Indeed, that is one of the comments that was made as the
project moved forward back in 2006 from the County Attorney's
Office where the advice to staff was, well, wait a minute, you need to
look at the conservation -- the nature and language of the conservation
easement. And that was in Fisherman's Creek.
So that's -- those are some observations that I just wanted to
make -- provide for the board that, through your deliberation -- and as
I noted before, however -- however the board's policy direction goes,
we're -- staff simply is interested in making sure that we have -- we're
able to administer it according to what your directives are.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coyle, this is
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your item.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. The reason I asked that this
be reconsidered is that essentially the board took no action whatsoever
last time except to reject the staffs recommendations. That left us in
the position where you sti11 had the same LDC requirements and you
had the same decision-making processes that you had before.
We didn't provide you any guidance as to how you should
proceed from that point on. And there's been too much controversy
over the way it has been applied in the past.
At our last meeting there were people alleging that the staff really
had not been consistent in applying it the way they said they had been
applying it. The staff said, of course, they had. There were some
allegations that -- supporting the position that it would eliminate or
reduce our ability to provide public access to the water, and there was
no substantial evidence submitted to the contrary at that point in time.
So that's the reason I felt it was essential that we get this back and
get it solved; otherwise, we're going to have this same problem every
single time.
So I would -- I would prefer to hear from the public speakers, and
then I will have a -- what I think is a reasonable solution to the
problem.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Does anybody have any staff
-- questions from staff, or you want to just go to the public speakers? I
do but I'll hold off.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So some of the allegations that
were brought up in the last meeting, which I had to leave early,
weren't true; is that what you're saying? Or were misinterpreted?
MR. LORENZ: Well, some of the examples that were used
weren't applicable to the Manatee Protection Plan, which I think I've
illustrated in the -- in your executive summary.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Thank you for that
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clarification.
MS. FILSON: Mr. Chairman, I have 18 speakers. The first is
Gigi Bensel.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Not there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Next speaker?
MS. BENSEL: Susan Snyder is taking my time.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Who is?
MS. FILSON: Susan Snyder. She's the second speaker.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. She has six minutes.
MS. FILSON: She'll be followed by Nicole Ryan.
MS. SNYDER: For the record, I am Susan Snyder, a retired
middle school science teacher, co-author of 150 science textbooks,
and the University of Florida certified master naturalist.
At the commissioners' meeting in February, Commissioner
Henning, you asked for the intent of the Manatee Protection Plan.
Since that meeting I've researched that plan. I've discussed this issue
with Patti Thompson, one of the original members of the MPP
committee, and I've researched government documents on line.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 designated the West Indian
manatee as an endangered species. In 1978 our state passed the Florida
Manatee Sanctuary Act. This law established Florida as a refuge and
sanctuary for manatees.
Mandated objectives for county manatee protection plans by the
FDEP include reducing the number of related manatee mortalities,
achieving an optimal sustainable manatee population, protecting
manatee habitat, promoting boating safety, and increasing public
awareness of the need to protect manatees and their environment.
The 1995 Collier County Manatee Protection Plan that you asked
about was prepared by the Natural Resources Department and it states
that the purpose of the plan is to provide countywide protection of the
West Indian manatee. To effectively provide manatee protection, this
plan contains criteria for marine and boat facilities sitting shoreline
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and submerged land development, manatee/human interaction, habitat
protection, educational programs, law enforcement, and
intergovernmental coordination.
The August, 2000, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission Bureau of Protected Species Management Boat Facilities
Sitting Guide -- quite a title, a proponent -- excuse me -- a component
of the Manatee Protection Plan and the commission-approved
countywide plan addresses expansion of existing and the development
of new marinas, boat ramps, and other multi-slip boating facilities.
It specifies preferred locations for boating facilities, development
based on an evaluation of natural resources and manatee protection
needs and recreation and economic demands.
The main goal of the boat facilities sitting criteria is to minimize
the amount of interaction between manatees and boats. Part of this
goal is also to evaluate impacts of boat facility developments on
manatee habitats.
In 2003, Florida Statute 370.12 called the Marine Animals
Statute was amended to include mandated manatee protection plans.
By reference, attachment K -- I don't know whether you want me to
put this up or not -- but it states the purposes of the MPPs. And this
became part of the statute.
This document states that to increase manatee protection in any
Florida county, there needs to be identification of land acquisition
projects to increase refuges, reserves and preserves for manatee
protection.
Commissioners, my opinion is that it isn't logical for the federal
and state governments to identify conservation easements and for the
county to set aside preserves and then allow overdevelopment of these
identified areas by permitting marinas to maximum size of the marinas
and count preserves and easements in their calculations for permitted
wet slips.
According to a document published by the Florida Fish and
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Wildlife Conservation Commission last year, 2007, there were 16
manatees killed in Collier County. Here's that. Thirty-eight percent
of these were caused by boat injuries. That's the highest percentage of
manatee deaths caused by boats in the entire state. I compared all of
them, and the list is right here.
By allowing large marinas to be built near preserves and
conservation easements, we can expect these numbers of manatee
deaths to increase.
This past December 5th, the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission adopted a management plan that will guide
the state's efforts to recover the species. Commissioners, my research
shows that the intent of the 1995 Collier County MPP, the 2003
Florida Statute 370.12, and the 2007 Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, is to have a management plan to protect
the endangered manatee.
The amendment you're considering today for the LDC would be
a major part of Collier County's management plan. And in addition to
helping manatees, this amendment will assure that the little guys in
our county will continue to have access to these waters for canoeing,
kayaking, boating, fishing, and enjoying the solitude.
This amendment wi11 help assure that these areas are protected
and available for future generations of people, both residents and
vacationers, to enjoy. This amendment will not affect the little guy
who wants to build his or her own private dock. It wi11 prevent
overdevelopment of marinas adjacent to preserves and conservation
easements. And remember your definition of a marina is more than 10
or more docks.
Isn't it timely that we're discussing this amendment on Earth
Day?
Those of you in the audience who came because you're in favor
of this amendment, please stand. Commissioners, I would like to thank
you for allowing me to speak on behalf of everyone here who's
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standing. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Nicole Ryan.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: If you're speaking for everybody who
stands, then have you more time.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, it means they can't speak.
MS. SNYDER: I timed it. It was five minutes. Maybe it was a
little longer, but five minutes. I only needed --
MS. FILSON: Six.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No, it was six minutes. If you're
speaking on behalf of them, then you have more time, but they need to
Waive.
MS. SNYDER: Do you have questions for me?
MS. RYAN: You didn't see me wave.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Please.
MS. FILSON: Nicole will be followed by Bruce Burkhard.
MS. RYAN: Thank you. For the record, Nicole Ryan, here on
behalf of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. And I think your
staff summary really gave a good overview of the issue, and Bill gave
some good examples of the spectrum of options.
But I think we need to bring this back to what started this. And it
was almost a year ago to the day that staff brought all of those menu
of options to you, and the option that you selected through a
unanimous vote was a motion made by Commissioner Coyle to state
that the shoreline in a conservation easement is not to be allowed for
the calculation of boat slips. And that was the language, that's what
was seconded and voted on. So staff was simply bringing back what
you asked them to bring back.
We also need to keep in mind that this language, these provisions
when we talk about how the shoreline is calculated, isn't something
new. It isn't a new policy, it isn't a new direction. It's simply codifying
how staff has been applying this provision in the past. Staffs bringing
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it back at your request.
Now, during the public hearing process in January and February,
some other issues were brought forward, some other concerns dealing
with the government-owned parcels and the marinas that would be
open to the public.
There was also concern about how this would impact the little
guy. I believe that staff has dealt with some of those specific issues on
how it would or would not impact the smaller property owner, and it
does need to be pointed out again that when we're talking about the
little guy, the MPP is only applied to the marinas and for the
residential boat docks of 10 slips or more.
The importance of having this language adopted deals with the
fact that staff needs your direction to be able to consistently apply the
provision. They want to have that codified. So we need to get
something in place and passed this evening, and we thank you very
much for bringing this back for reconsideration.
As a way to try to move this forward, at the February hearing it
seemed that the controversy was really about the -- should the
government exempt itself from its own provisions and how do you
make sure that 100 percent public marinas that would be exempted are
not finding some loophole and not being those 100 percent public
marinas?
A suggestion that I would make, the Conservancy would make, is
that the four items that you're going to be dealing with be decided and,
perhaps, voted on separately. The first being the definition of
shoreline, the second being, should shoreline be within the
conservation easement and county-required preserves be used for
calculating wet slips, the third item being those government-owned
parcels, and the fourth item been the 100 percent public marinas.
We would ask that you adopt the first two, the definition of
shoreline and making sure that they -- the conservation easement and
preserve areas aren't exempted. Dealing with the government-owned
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April 22-23, 2008
lots, that's something that you need to make a decision on and for
those marinas that are going to be open to the public, potentially
having that come back as a conditional use case-by-case basis.
But because they are at least three really separate issues here,
we'd like for them maybe to be parceled out so that we don't lose
everything because you're concerned about one or two of the items.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Bruce Burkhard. He'll be
followed by Jim Snyder.
MR. BURKHARD: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name
is Bruce Burkhard, and I am the zoning committee chairman of the
Vanderbilt Beach Residents Association.
And I'd like to point out that it's very seldom that a group of
citizens gets excited enough to take time to closely follow a proposed
change in an LDC amendment cycle. Today's rehearing is, indeed,
something to get excited about. The entire world is finally waking up
to the fact that overdevelopment, especially in sensitive areas, has
been causing great damage to the environment that we all are charged
with protecting.
Both the county and the state have recognized this and have
attempted to mitigate some of the destruction the development
inevitably causes. The concept conservation easements was
developed for just that purpose.
Typically, developers have agreed to set aside land, often
wetlands with little value in them in order to be granted development
rights or greater density for their uplands projects. Essentially, a
social contract is made, and the populous would expect the terms of
that contract to be followed.
What this amendment is meant to do is to protect the
environment from large-scale developers who want to bulldoze
through promised conservation easements and use other easements to
more densely pack their development with unforeseen private,
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exclusive marinas which contribute nothing to the public at large.
Opposition to this clarification of the code is really not about
helping boaters get a little more access to Florida's waters. It's about
helping developers have their cake and eat it, too.
The amendment should be all about preserving and protecting a
few relatively small undeveloped areas, areas that we apparently
naively believed were set aside and protected.
The citizens that we represent believe that your development
staff and your Planning Commission have spent countless hours
reviewing all aspects of this issue, as it is their job to do. And they
have come up with reasonable conclusions.
It makes no sense whatever to aid and abet denser development
as some would have you do. Make no mistake about it, this is exactly
what you will be doing should you overthrow this amendment and the
practices implemented to protect us and our environment, actually
since 1995.
Common sense and justice say that this amendment is absolutely
the correct course of action. For the good of the majority, we urge
you to pass this amendment and not count the shoreline within
conservation easements. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Jim Snyder. He'll be followed by
Susan Stiefel.
MR. SNYDER: Good afternoon. I observed you folks on TV,
and you do put in eight days a week. I was tired just watching you.
My name's Jim Snyder, and I'm a Florida licensed electrical
contractor. I volunteer for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. I
am a boat captain, and I do their electrical maintenance problems pro
bono.
I'm also a resident of Collier County. I highly favor this
amendment. It would help protect a species of animal that's been on
this earth for five million years. These harmless animals draw huge
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crowds wherever they appear. Their single biggest threat to their
existence is the human race.
A huge part of this is boating and the threat it poses to the
manatee's existence. The fact is that many manatees are now
identified by the scars on their backs, the propeller scars.
Almost all boat slips mean more boats sitting above or in the
water, all boats, almost all boats except ours at the Conservancy which
are electrical. We have long extensions cords that -- almost all boats
pose a threat of leaking oil and gasoline through seals or gaskets.
More boats suspended above or are left floating in our waters
mean more hydrocarbons that can leak into our already fragile
aquifers. This endangers habitat by affecting vegetation upon which
manatees and other aquatic animals depend. Our preserve areas
should have extra protection. This amendment would address that
need.
While volunteering at the Conservancy last year I pointed out a
manatee that was in our lagoon to a nine-year-old girl. She was
thrilled, and I told her about manatees. And I said, you know they are
mammals and do you know you're a mammal. And she looked at me
very indignantly and said, I'm not. I'm Irish. Well, I had to keep her
mother from falling off the bench.
The population ofIreland, by the way, is not endangered. By last
count, there were over four million Irish people there, and I suppose
I'm of Irish extraction, and maybe many of you are, too, but certainly
they're not endangered there. By last count I heard there're about 36-
to 3,800 manatees in existence. This is hardly a sustainable
population. The Irish will survive. The manatee may not.
Please consider your decision study can help, and I emphasize,
just help, determine that this species on animals continues to exist on
our planet. Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Susan Stiefel.
MS. STIEFEL: I'll defer to the statements already made.
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MS. FILSON: B.J. Savard-Boyer.
MS. SAVARD-BOYER: I do the same.
MS. FILSON: Lew Schmidt? He'll be followed by Tim Hall.
MR. SCHMIDT: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I am Lew
Schmidt. I live at 405 Pine Avenue in the Vanderbilt Beach area.
I do not own a boat, but when our children and grandchildren
come to visit we rent a boat and we go boating and fishing up on -- in
Water Turkey Bay area and in the estuary to the north of Wiggins
Pass. That's always a good day, and if we bring home some fish that
we can eat, it's a great day.
Anyone who lives in Collier County or visits Collier County can
enjoy this beautiful area and this experience. They can rent a boat or
they can launch their boats at the county boat ramp that's in the area.
This is a special Collier County attraction for all of us residents and
visitors, and it may be in jeopardy.
As I understand it some years ago you and your predecessors had
the foresight to enter in negotiations with landowners and developers
to exchange higher density allowances on buildable uplands for a
promised conservation easement, county conservation easement. That
seems like you made a fair deal.
We can measure the financial benefit to the landowners and
developers, and I'm confident that it would show that your allowances
were very generous.
So what did the county get? No public access to the conservation
area has been granted or promised. As an example, one of the early
PUDs for one of these developments shows a boardwalk through the
conserved area to an overlook of Water Turkey Bay. The access to
this boardwalk is inside the gated community and not available to the
public.
I don't have a serious problem with that, but we should
understand we did not get that benefit. So what did we get? I think we
got three things. We being the people of county or -- Collier County,
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excuse me.
One, is the delightful view of the conservation area from the
adjoining waterways. Two, is wildlife has a free access to the
conservation area, and that includes manatees. The natural vegetation
and plant life has been preserved. I think the exchange may have been
challenged or will be challenged in the future. I understand -- and
there has been a motion presented or a plan presented -- did I start my
five minutes over too soon?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No. You have three minutes, sir.
MR. SCHMIDT: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I ask you to wrap it up.
MR. SCHMIDT: The landowner has asked for or will be asking
for boat docks to be built on the navigable waterways. They will be
entirely on submerged lands. Not only do they want what the LDC
calculations would allow them for the navigable shoreline, they want a
credit for the entire conservation shoreline. The docks will not be
offered to the general public. They will be excluded and expensive. If
granted, I want to show you what happens.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Your time is up, sir.
MR. SCHMIDT: May I use one of the other two?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Whoever is next who hasn't waived or
MS. FILSON: Lee Lyar, L-Y-A-R (sic), looks like?
MR. SCHMIDT: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. SCHMIDT: I would like you to just look at this, and I'll
leave it for you. That's what happens.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, sir.
MR. SCHMIDT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Next speaker?
MS. FILSON: Lee L-Y-A-R?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Lee Lyons (sic), L-Y?
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. FILSON: It looks like L-Y-A-R.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Lyon?
MR. LYON: That's Lyon, L-Y-O-N.
MS. FILSON: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Then after Mr. Lee Lyons?
MS. FILSON: Butch Morgan.
MR. LYON: Tim Hall was supposed to be first.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Tim Hall?
MS. FILSON: We put him last because he called and said he
was on his way. Do you want him to go first?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
MS. FILSON: Okay. Tim Hall. Followed by Butch Morgan.
MR. HALL: I apologize for being a little disorganized here. I
did catch some of Bill's initial statements and all, and I would agree
with most everything he said as -- in terms of our discussions that
we've had since the last commission meeting.
I'd also like to take this time to apologize to staff. The last time I
was up here I said I was not aware of any projects where this policy
had been -- had been enacted on those. Since that time I was given
one example where it was actually discussed in the conversations;
however, it wasn't actually applied because the easement was being
voided. It was to a non-existent third party, and so there was
clarifications being made.
I'd like to start just with, the objective of this is to -- is to have the
board give the man -- the County Manager or his designee direction as
to the manner for calculating available wet slips when a project
shoreline is within conservation easement.
A lot of the examples that I had given and the reason I said we
were unaware of any projects that had had this applied was because
every project that goes in should be -- is subject to a Manatee
Protection Plan review. And this, in my opinion, would apply to all of
those, even those projects which are proposing less than the 10 slips.
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The objective is to say, how many slips could be done there?
And this policy, as it was originally proposed, would affect that
number. And if I'm reading it right, as long as you propose nine or
less, it doesn't matter what this says. But if you propose that one extra
slip and try to have 10 and your entire shoreline's under an easement,
you couldn't do any.
So taking this to the extreme, I guess any project in the future
that came in could propose nine slips and not be subject to this at all.
That doesn't apply for the smaller marina facilities where you have
maybe only one or two slips being proposed.
Because they're defined as a marina the policy is applicable to
any of those projects, not just ones that are over 10 slips. The 10 slips
is a designation for residential -- residential slips. So that was kind of
one of the issues we had.
As Bill said, one of biggest concerns is that over time this is just
going to result in a net reduction of slips that are allowable within the
county and would limit the public's access. Even though it's through
private properties, the people that live there are sti11 part of the public
and it will limit their access to the water.
I think -- I see they have 15 seconds left. I guess I can stop right
there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Butch Morgan. He'll be
followed by Frank Donohue.
MR. MORGAN: Hello. My name is Butch Morgan. I'm a
full-time resident and member of the Marine Industries of Collier
County .
To go back a little bit, I first appeared -- well, not first. But I
appeared in front of this same commission in 2003. And say--
everybody was the same. And the -- expressed dissatisfaction on two
issues that relate to this amendment.
The first was a dock moratorium that was proposed by Fish and
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Wildlife because of some overzealous pressure from the Save the
Manatee Club. There was a resolution issued by this committee and
adopted on the 14th of January. One of the first sections in it says that
Collier County affirms the worth of all fish and wildlife and the rights
of property owners and the marine building industries.
Section three said that Collier County believes it will be
irresponsible to implement proposed regulations without the necessary
scientific data to support the intended goals. We achieved the
solutions in that issue as the dock moratorium was lifted.
The second issue was Collier County environmental services
interpreting the Manatee Protection Plan on their own accord
pertaining to water depths at that time. What we did achieve on that
issue was the direction from this commission that implemented a
review of the Manatee Protection Plan with involvement of
stakeholders.
The letter I received prior to that process from Commissioner
Halas wrote about -- thanking me for writing about my comments
about this issue and stating that the boating issue is a key economic
engine in our area and recognizing this and the need to have all parties
involved.
What we achieved was creating a stakeholders meeting. That
was brought up in the beginning of this meeting. It was also brought
up last meeting of this -- on this issue by Frank Donohue where those
stakeholders meetings were.
The State of Florida and Fish and Wildlife recognizes
stakeholders should be comprised of local government officials,
environmentalists, industry representatives, fishermen, water skiers,
and boaters when reviewing the Manatee Protection Plan.
What appears to be happening is environmental service, in
conjunction with the opinion of some environmental representatives
are taking it upon themselves to issue their own opinions in order to
change -- and I want to make that clear -- to change the Manatee
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Protection Plan. You can walk in the back door of the house, but it's
the same house. This is the doorway way of changing it.
Every time that we seem to get a clarification from
environmental services, it seems like the boaters and the fisherman
boating industry always end up on the short end of the stick.
I'll ask you to include the total shoreline in the boat slip matrix.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Frank Donohue. He'll be
followed by Phil Osborne.
MR. OSBORNE: Somehow or another, I apologize, but Lee
Lyon got put out of order.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good afternoon.
MR. DONOHUE: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Thank you.
My name is Frank Donohue. I'm a resident, recreational boater, and
I've worked in the recreational boating industry in Collier County
since 1972.
I also serve as the vice-president of Marine Industry Association
for the entire State of Florida and on the Collier County Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board.
I'd endeavor to address this board on a proposed change to the
Land Development code concerning using conservation easements and
measuring shoreline. Staff is requesting that the conservation
easements not be used to measure shorelines to determine credits for
the number of slips allowed to be constructed at that location.
I firmly believe that no change be made to the present code
where these easements are now included in determining the shoreline
as is set forth in the Manatee Protection Plan and in the Land
Development Code.
Why? Changing the code to eliminate this measurement credit
adversely affects all future marina development and construction in
this county. In a time when water access is at the thrust of the
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April 22-23, 2008
forefront, why would we throw another roadblock up?
Affecting a person's property rights is another reason not to
change. Boat slip rental costs also come into play here as well.
Building less slips means higher rental costs to the end user. The
marina owner costs for securing a permit, whether it's 100 square foot
to 75 square foot, they're the same soft cost.
Yes, you would have a lower construction cost, but most other
costs would still be consistent with the original slip plan. Who pays in
the end? The boater. Not to mention the trickle-down effect of
building less slips, i.e., less visits to dock builders, boat sales, service
companies, fuel vendors and the like.
In these economic times, we should be helping people
accomplish their goals, not throwing another roadblock up in front of
them.
You've been handed out a marina structures permit flow chart. In
this handout, it shows that you now have to traverse through and
secure permits to 23 different agencies, all of multiple parts to their
permits. I would think there's already more than enough
environmental oversight to construct a marina or any kind of marina
structure.
On the marina plan review, manatee plan review, if the manatee
plan needs fixing, let's call a real stakeholders meeting and get down
to work and do something with it.
Mr. Lorenz alluded to meetings about this in the past year, and
I'm one of the stakeholders in the original plan and I never was
notified.
In your executive summary the staff has an option D. It's leave it
as it is. I would leave it like that. Thank you very much, and thank
you for the opportunity to speak.
MS. FILSON: Lee Lyon. He'll be followed by Phil Osborne.
MR. LYON: Commissioners, pleasure being here. About 18,20
years ago I stood before you all again on the Manatee Protection Plan.
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April 22-23, 2008
My name is Lee Lyon. I've been an officer of the Marine
Industry Association both of Collier County, State of Florida, and on
various other commissions.
About 18 years ago the state mandated that 13 counties formulate
a Manatee Protection Plan, and that had to be approved by them.
Collier County was one of those 13. After a couple years ofa long
period of trying to reach an agreement with DEP, Collier County
Commissioners voted at that time to turn the issue of the Manatee
Protection Plan over to your attorney to try to get them to settle the
case.
At this meeting several of us requested permission to try to come
to some agreement with DEP and Collier County. The commissioners
then appointed several of us to an ad hoc committee representing
Collier County, and gave us 90 days to get an agreement that we could
all live with.
As one of those members of the ad hoc committee, along with a
couple of others in this room, we worked many hours at our own
expense, we made several trips to Tallahassee, met with the
Federation of Wildlife, the Conservancy, the Save the Manatee Club,
the Audubon Society, the City of Naples, and the City of Everglades.
We all worked together after many months and came up with a
Manatee Protection Plan we could all agree with.
We then met with DEP and negotiated the final plan. It was
presented to Collier County Commissioners at that time and DEP, and
we were issued the final approval.
At this time there was no mention or regard given to the question
at hand. It was not in the Manatee Protection Plan regarding the
conservation easement or preservation areas.
We realize that with all the changes in administration since the
plan was enacted, it would be impossible for each of you to go back
and read all the past minutes of all the meetings and you must rely on
staff to keep you informed. Unfortunately, the one staff member that
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April 22-23, 2008
was involved with all of our meetings is no longer in this department.
It's also unfortunate the staff has appeared to misinterpret the
intent of the Manatee Protection Plan as it was written. It's
unfortunate that some of our counterparts whose agencies are also a
part of the original Manatee Protection Plan have chosen to ignore
what they originally agreed to.
The plan was formulated not only to protect the manatee, but also
more importantly, it was a plan best for all the people concerned and
not just a few. We would hope that you would all reconsider the
Manatee Protection Plan and enforce it in the intent in which it was
written and not the way the staff has interpreted it.
If the Manatee Protection Plan is to be changed, it should be done
in the proper procedure and not for personal development or in a
fashion that will be best for all concerned; not only for the present, but
also the future. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Phil Osborne. He'll be followed by Rich
Y ovanovich.
MR. OSBORNE: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Phillip Obsorne. I represent my company, Naples Boat Mart and its
officers, the residents, and the boaters of Collier County.
I'm here to speak to the continued assault on the $41 billion
industry that makes up the marine industries -- that the marine
industry provides for the State of Florida.
It should be no secret that the economy itself has made it very
challenging for even well-run and managed boat dealers and marinas.
A recent article that ran in the front page of the local paper in its
business section spells out clearly the actual, tangible losses that have
been incurred, as well as jobs lost.
Even our own local boating industry, previously believed to be
immune from national economic pressures, has lost four of its
businesses serving the boaters of Collier County in just the last year
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April 22-23, 2008
and three months.
So with real tangible problems facing folks that have made the
boating industry their chosen livelihood, we certainly don't need to
make up or dream up additional pressures that may encourage people
to pass on the great family benefits of boating in the most attractive
areas that boating has to offer.
It should be noted that many, many people, boaters, have chosen
Collier County to reside for its obvious benefits that this area provides.
It's been made clear earlier by the authors and the founders of the
1995 Manatee Protection Plan as to what the intent and the
interpretation of this passage was. It should not be allowed to be
twisted, misconstrued, to place additional unwanted pressures on an
already hurting boating industry, especially ones I've outlined earlier.
We have enough real problems to address.
We all know full well that Collier County, over the last few
years, has lost six of its eight public access marinas and dry stacks.
These facilities have all converted from public access paid by the foot
by the month to private-club-type condo style upscale places.
The average Collier County Resident Earnings Research
established annual incomes of about $45,000 cannot afford to keep a
boat in a country-club-style facility that charges upwards of 250,000
or more for average-size boat slips; therefore, it becomes that much
more important for you to not succumb to this staff interpreted or
misinterpreted property punishment.
We have already lost too much, so please, let's not invent ways to
further punish our industry that contributes greatly in many ways to
Collier County and its resident boaters. Please allow this code to
stand as it was originally written and has been outlined by some of the
original authors that you've heard from earlier.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Rich Yovanovich, Kit Sawyer.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Good evening. For the record, Rich
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April 22-23, 2008
Y ovanovich. I pulled off your website today the Manatee Protection
Plan to make sure I had the current version, and this is it. And
nowhere in this document does it say you don't include the shoreline if
there's a conservation easement across that property.
Your staff acknowledges that in their executive summary, yet
they somehow come up with the interpretation that you don't include
the shoreline, although it's never mentioned in the definition of
shoreline that their interpretation is correct.
At the last meeting we had asked that they provide us examples
of when this interpretation first began to be applied to particular
projects. We had thought that some projects that we cited it had been
applied to, and we later found out that it did not -- it was not applied to
them.
I reviewed your executive summary and I can't find any
examples yet where it's been applied. It may have been applied in
Fisherman Vi11age, but I'm not really sure. And based upon my
conversations with Mr. Schmitt, it's really not when it was first
applied, and that happened sometime in the year 2002/2003.
I think that date's relevant to a lot of people who had property
rights that they allegedly gave up through the PUD hearing process,
namely -- and it was referenced many times at the last hearing -- the
Dunes project.
One of your staff members mentioned that Commissioner
Henning, in the year 1998 -- I'm sorry, Commissioner Hancock in the
year 1998, only approved that PUD with the representation that there
would never be docks.
Well, if you go back and look at the hearing minutes from that --
and I'll enter them into the record -- what the motion said was, is that
docks for the Dunes project would go through a conditional use
process. They never gave up the right to construct docks. So they
always believed that they had the riparian rights to have docks.
In the year 2000, there was a PUD amendment that, again, went
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April 22-23, 2008
through the hearing process, and in both the Planning Commission and
the BCC hearing, there was extensive discussions regarding the boat
dock issue.
At that time it was determined that they would go through
whatever the PUD -- whatever the LDC process was for boat docks. If
they needed a boat dock extension, they would go to the Board of
County Commissioners. If they didn't need a boat dock extension,
they would follow the LDC provisions.
And, again, I'll enter all of that into the record.
But what the board asked then at that hearing -- and I'd like to put
this on the visualizer so there's no mistake that the issue came up in
the year 2000. And he asked Mr. Griffin the question -- and it was
Commissioner Carter who asked that question, and he asked -- and I'll
read it to you for those of you that can't see it.
It's Chairman Carter, well, I guess I would like the principal just
to step to the microphone and make the commitment that you would
do that and it will be a part of the public records so that there's never
any confusion.
And what Mr. Griffin responded was, Jerry Griffin, Signature
Communities, yes, we'll do that and we will limit it. If we ever do get
them to 60 -- that would be boat slips -- and we will -- and we wi11 put
covenants that we will never go into Turkey Bay Lagoon.
So Signature Communities at that time was very clear that they
were retaining their rights for boat docks, and the representation that
they had given that up at the last hearing is not an accurate reflection
of what occurred. And thank you for your time. And difficult to get
all that in in three minutes. I'll just register extra speakers next time so
I can make sure I can get some more time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Are you going to leave that for the
record?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes, I will. I'll leave all that.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Kit Sawyer. He'll be followed
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April 22-23, 2008
by Don Malarchik.
MR. SAWYER: Hi, Commissioners. Sorry I'm here again. Last
time I was here I asked you all to look at this, that I was really worried
that this would affect me as a landowner, as a marina owner. Been
here all my life.
I sti11 feel that this could affect me. I had staff tell me it wasn't
Friday before the meeting, and then I game to the meeting, had some
problems after the meeting, and what I'm still scared of, that this is
going to affect me.
You guys say 10 boats or less. I have copies in here of 13 boat
slips, 14 -- 15 boat slips, and I want to keep growing, and I don't -- if
it's due to Mangroves, I want to be able to go through Mangroves.
Right now I'm just doing a ramp and a pier because I can't afford
to go any further, but when I want to go further, I want to go further. I
bought the property to be -- have a marina. That's been my dream.
I think you've heard a whole bunch of people here -- and
somehow I need to back -- way back up and see the real true intent to
the Manatee Plan. I don't know how else you guys can do it. But I --
last time here I saw three of you guys ask staff questions and never did
really get an answer, and that worries me again, that you're just told
pieces, and I think I was just told pieces, too.
So please look at this and finish this, get this thing taken care of,
because something's wrong here, and I thank you all very much.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Dan Malarchik.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And?
MS. FILSON: Clay Brooker. He'll be followed by Rachel--
MS. LOIACANO: Loiacano.
MS. FILSON: Thank you.
MR. BROOKER: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name's
Clay Brooker with the law firm of Cheffy, Passidomo, Wilson, and
Johnson. I'm here on behalf of Lakeview Drive of Naples, LLC,
which owns a Fisherman's Village parcel. That's a parcel that abuts
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April 22-23, 2008
Haldeman Creek.
It's been cited in your package. It's been referenced today. The
only reason I'm here today is our existing conservation easement
expressly contemplates docks both within and adjacent to the
conservation easement area. It's in the easement itself. That easement
was created in 1993 before the Manatee Protection Plan even came
into an existence.
So what -- in my conversations with Bill Lorenz on the phone,
it's my understanding that that particular conservation easement is not
going to be affected by the proposal as drafted in your documents
today. And that would be my only request, that whatever comes out
of this process, make sure that our conservation easement isn't caught
up in the net, so to speak, because we specifically and expressly in our
conservation easement are allowed docks.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: And your final speaker is Rachel--
MR. LOIACANO: Loiacano. My name is Rachel Loiacano. I'm
with RL Opportunities. I'm an independent consultant.
I've been blessed in the last few years to represent many marinas
throughout Southwest Florida, one of whom is a relatively large
marina down on Marco Island, Cedar Bay Yacht Club. While they are
a dry slip marina, they are actively involved in the Clean Marina
Program as well as the -- being involved with the Conservancy and
Rookery Bay.
They've asked that I come and speak, and I was going to come
and speak regardless of my client's request, because I would like for
the board to not approve this recommendation from staff. I believe
that it will detrimentally affect the Marina Industry (sic) Association.
I work with many marina owners who are struggling in this economy
right now. It is just a fact that it is very hard for marina owners today
to maintain and grow, to maintain their business.
The little man that was referred to earlier by some of the other
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April 22-23, 2008
members of this committee here, as a little man, I have to say that we
rely on marinas to be able to have boats and boating activities. Those
of us who live in the uplands and are not graced with the ability to live
on the water will not have any other access if, in fact, marinas cannot
grow.
I believe that in my experience with permitting for marinas, that
the DEP and the South Florida Water Management District do a very
good job at regulating the maximum number of slips allowed to a site
based on environmental research and criteria, and I do not believe that
the Collier County Manatee Protection Plan should be altered in any
way to additionally include limits for maximum number of boats
because of conservation easements.
I think many of my clients would be reluctant to dedicate some of
their property towards conservation easements if they thought, in the
long run, it would decrease the overall property value that they have.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: That's your final speaker.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I have a question. I have an
exhibit that the board passed back a couple years ago, I think it was,
and that is the boat park in Goodland. And you can see the docks, the
fishing platform, and another platform, and potential docks in the
back, but all around this site, if you really zoom in that, it has
preserves.
Now, the way I read -- Mr. Lorenz, you can correct me if I'm
wrong. The way I read the Land Development Code, any preserves
that you have, you have to put a conservation easement over it Is that
correct?
MR. LORENZ: That's currently correct, yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's currently correct. Okay.
MR. LORENZ: The reason I say currently is because we are,
through the EAR-based amendments, the Growth Management Plan
amendments, we are bringing forward a set of Land Development
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April 22-23, 2008
Code amendments to determine when a conservation easement is to be
placed upon a county preserve.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. If it has a conservation
easement over it, then that would prohibit any future board, or even
this board, to put more docks than what was contemplated with the
conditional use unless we have a -- an exemption for government.
MR. LORENZ: Correct. If -- once you put a conservation -- the
way the language proposed in the Land Development Code
amendment, proposed amendment is, is once you put a conservation
easement over that shoreline -- and at the moment whether it's a state
conservation easement or a county conservation easement, that that --
and that conservation easement doesn't prohibit -- doesn't specifically
prohibit boat docks, then that shoreline would not be utilized in the
calculation for your maximum allowable wet slips.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. The -- and if anybody has an
existing shoreline conservation easement over it, whether it be state or
whatever, but still -- let's say the criteria -- if we dredge a pass, I
mean, that's -- I think that's the way you're presently applying it,
where the depth is over four feet, then you get a more preferred rating
than if you had a two-foot draw; is that correct?
MR. LORENZ: Yeah. The rating criteria of preferred, moderate,
and protected is dependent upon the adequate water depth, and the
adequate water depth is, right now, is the four-foot depth. So if you --
if you were able to dredge --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Dredge.
MR. LORENZ: -- dredge your channel to that adequate water
depth, that brings your rating up for the Manatee Protection Plan. So
you could go -- and I'd have to have the code in front of me, but you
would -- the concept is, is getting that adequate water depth and
everything else being appropriate, you could increase your rating level
to go from, for instance, 10 boat slips per 100 feet of shoreline --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: To 18.
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. LORENZ: -- to 18 boat slips per shoreline.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right. And let's say that you had a
protected rating, you dredge the area, and now you qualify for a
preferred rating but you have a conservation easement over it -- over
the shoreline, but you can't count that.
MR. LORENZ: That's right. The conservation easement over
the shoreline would be excluded from any of the -- any calculations
for any of the ratings.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right.
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that's why I have a problem with
it. You're limiting the people's access to the water, and not all people
golf. I don't. But I sure love the water. Can't afford a dock.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. The criteria that the state
presently uses, is this the same criteria that we've been using?
MR. LORENZ: The state -- the state uses the county's Manatee
Protection Plan, and they will request from us a statement as to
whether a particular project or application is consistent with the
county's Manatee Protection Plan.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. So in the past, or even at the
present, if someone came in and wanted particular boat docks in an
area that was a conservation area, does the state look at that differently
than just looking at it as open waters?
MR. LORENZ: Well, for purposes of consistency with the
Manatee Protection Plan, they will -- the state wi11 ask staff, is it
consistent or not, and then we'd provide that information back to the
state.
In my executive summary of a year ago, I do have a listing of the
state's evaluation criteria, and it's somewhat complicated in terms of
the state's criteria because they will look at a conservation easement
for purposes of vegetation protection. That may not be the same
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Apri122-23,2008
conservation easement that limits or restricts what they call in-water
structures, and that's why, in the documentation when we reviewed the
Fisherman's Village example back in 2005, the County Attorney's
Office, in reviewing and working with staff, said, well, wait a minute.
You need to look at that conservation easement because the wording
of that conservation easement is important.
That's why in this Land Development Code, this proposed Land
Development Code amendment, we have the language in there that
doesn't say just simply because it's a conservation easement, but
whether it's a conservation easement that -- I'd have to look at the
exact language, but that does not allow for boat docks within it. So
that's where we're trying to make that discernment as well.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So when you were drawing up this
LDC amendment, was the amendment -- how much change was there
in this amendment versus what we were using for criteria in regards to
addressing the manatee protection program?
MR. LORENZ: The amendment -- let me make it a point in
time, which is about 2005, June, 2005, when the County Attorney's
Office worked with us on the Fisherman's Village project. Before
that, our advice and our application, as the best we understood in
terms of when a project came in, is that if it was in a conservation
easement, we would not include the shoreline in that calculation.
When Fisherman's Village came through and the County
Attorney's Office looked at our application, they said, well, wait a
minute. You have to look at -- and they were the ones that pointed out
that we don't have that discernment within the Manatee Protection
Plan nor the Land Development Code.
They said, since it's absent there, you need to look at your
conservation easement language. And within that conservation
easement language, if it prohibits the presence of docks, then that's
appropriate to apply the conservation easement exclusion in that
situation.
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April 22-23, 2008
And that's the example that Clay Brooker just came up with in
terms of looking at that analysis, and that's why in the proposed Land
Development Code amendment we have that condition, that caveat
that says, unless it's not -- unless boat slips are not prohibited in that
conservation easement.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I have another question. You're
familiar with the Dunes project.
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Does that have a conservation
easement over it restricting boats, boat docks?
MR. LORENZ: As I understand -- as I understand it, they are--
they have proposed a conservation easement. We're reviewing it. Our
initial review doesn't -- does not look like it's consistent with what we
understand is the PUD. The PUD shows a preserve that also includes
the water in addition to the Mangrove and other areas.
So if that's the case that the -- that the PUD preserve area would
contain all of the shoreline, then under this amendment and the way
we would be -- have then applied it in the past, it would get zero wet
slips because of -- there is no shoreline outside of what would be a
conservation easement.
So that would be the impact of it if, indeed, the PUD is requiring
all of the preserve area to be -- all of the shoreline to be in that
preserve area.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's not consistent, what you said
just a minute ago. You said Fisherman's Village had a conservation
easement over it and that won't be affected.
MR. LORENZ: Fisherman's Village -- the wording in
Fisherman's Village is, at least being represented by -- from Clay --
and I haven't read it myself, but he is indicating that the conservation
easement does allow for boat docks. In other words, there's language
in there that envisions boat docks to be in that particular conservation
easement.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. So you're saying that the
Dunes did not provide for boat docks, the conservation easement?
MR. LORENZ: Well, my understanding -- and I haven't gone
through, myself, the record. But my understanding is the preserve
area in the PUD is all of the shoreline. Now, if that's -- if that's the
case and we were to -- and we were to put a conservation easement
within that whole area and that conservation easement also precludes
boat slips, then that's correct, and --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Based upon the PUD?
MR. LORENZ: Based upon the PUD.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Let me read November 14,2000.
Dick Lydon. Do you know Dick Lydon?
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: He's a gentleman up in North Naples.
He was there for the amendment of the Dunes PUD. They own all of
Turkey Bay. They have considerable frontage. Now the Land
Development Code as -- we have provisions that says that every 100
foot linear of the linear waterway, you're entitled to many boat docks
within a multi-slip project; however, it's still consistent with the
provisions of the Land Development Code and -- in that no docks and
no dock configurations may protrude over 20 feet.
I don't know -- understand how the citizens in 2000 understood
there's going to be 60 docks at the Dunes but now in 2008 nobody
understands that. And I know where -- I think we all know where this
is targeting. In fact, there's even a web site stating what the citizens
across Turkey Bay need to do, letters to the editor and come to the
board.
We all know what this is all about. I know what the end as a
result is going to be if we count shoreline conservation easements. It's
going to be another challenge in the courts. And it just doesn't seem to
end. And the taxpayers is always at risk. Boaters' rights are being
depleted by this development and by this amendment.
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April 22-23, 2008
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could I just ask a question, and that
is, you mentioned the Dunes. And they already have preserve area.
There's no conservation easement on it now. With the property as it
sits, how many boat docks can they build?
MR. LORENZ: Well, my -- the working assumption that I have
is that if all of the preserve area contains all of the shoreline with this
amendment, and the conservation easement to be recorded does not --
does not prohibit -- or prohibits the water boat docks within that
conservation easement, then this amendment would then translate into
having no boat docks for the Dunes, if all of those conditions are met.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Even though it's in the PUD?
MR. LORENZ: Well, Commissioner, that's what I'm saying. If
the -- if the point is the PUD, if you read the PUD and the PUD is
allowing for -- is allowing for boat docks specifically, then I think the
conservation easement that would then come into the county should
allow for that and, therefore, the proposal in terms of the Land
Development Code proposal would fit to that level of allowance, so to
speak.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. So what does the PUD say?
MR. LORENZ: Well, that's -- I'm not an expert on the PUD
language.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but the lawyer is.
MR. SCHMITT: And I'm going to turn it over to Rich. But
ma'am, it's not in the PUD. It's an accessory use. They can come in
and apply under the SDP process.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, I see. Okay.
MR. SCHMITT: If, in fact, it is not -- if it meets the criteria in
the LDC, if it exceeds the 25 percent protrusion or the 20-foot
extension, then they have to go through the boat dock extension
process.
So it's an accessory use, but their attorney can certainly answer
April 22-23, 2008
that as well.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And it was always intended that we
would follow the county's permitting process to implement that
accessory use and now we're being told that -- and, frankly, we intend
to submit a conservation easement that specifically says we can use
the preserve area for purposes of calculating the number of boat slips.
I fully expect that -- and that's what we did with the -- at the state
level. The state basically says to you, you use all of this area, you
come up with a number of slips. You can never use that area again,
and that's what their conservation easement says.
We would follow the same process with the county. We would
calculate the number. It wi11 far exceed the 60 that was committed to
on the record, and we would come in and ask for a multi-slip facility
for 60 slips, and then the conservation easement would say we will
never be able to use that area again to exceed the 60. That's the way
the state does it, that's the way -- we would expect the county's
easement to mimic the state's easement.
I don't know if we'll get through your staff review of that
easement, but that would implement the accessory use provisions of
the PUD, which would get -- which would get us around the LDC
language, as long as our conservation easement says we can do that.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Sounds a little bit like Goodland
where it had all of the preserves around there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
Commissioner, Mr. Klatzkow wanted to say something,
Commissioner Coyle wants to say something, Commissioner Halas
did.
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't know if they're allowed to put in the
boat slips as we speak. I just don't know. What I will tell you is that
if they have the present legal right to put in those boat slips and we
take that right away with this LDC amendment, okay, that is Bert
Harris and we will be writing a check.
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Now, I don't know that they have that right, okay. That's to be
determined. But if they do, I caution you, not carving out a vested
rights exclusion in any LDC amendment would be a hazardous thing
to do.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle, Commissioner
Halas?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I absolutely agree with that.
And I'd like to explore some cause-and-effect relationships.
And by the way, if I have to choose between Irishmen and
manatees, it's going to be Irishmen every time, okay? Now, I've been
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: How about Germans?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I like Germans, too. No French.
But you know, I'm a boater. I own a boat. And until I became a
commissioner I used it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's true.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't use it anymore. It's a bird
sanctuary now.
But for -- I've been boating in Florida for over 50 years, and so I
understand what has happened in our boating industry, but some of the
reactions, I think, are incorrect. I think we all view boating as
something that we should encourage everyone to engage in and
provide opportunities for them to own and dock boats.
But I know for an absolute fact there are more boats in Collier
County today than there were in 1958. The nature of our boating
community has changed. We've lost our working waterfronts. We've
lost our working waterfronts not because of government regulation but
because of the failure of government to do something to preserve
them, okay.
So I want to dissuade you from the fact -- from the assumption
that government rules have caused the problem we're faced with.
Government rules did not force the sale of Boat Haven or Turner
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Marine or any of the other facilities that we enjoyed in Collier County
and that provided facilities for us.
Had the government required that some of those boat slips had to
be used for public access, we would still have public access on those
waters. We don't -- in those areas. We don't have public access there.
It's very hard for the average person to get to the water nowadays.
So it is not government regulation or this Manatee Protection
Plan that has caused problems for boaters. There are more boaters
here than we've ever had in history. It's just that it's changed and it's
different. It's more expensive, and it's more expensive because private
corporations or developers buy up the waterfront because it's valuable
and they use it for private purposes, okay.
Now, what we're trying to do here is to do three things. Maybe
just two. Protect the manatees and Irishmen and to provide public
access to the water and the opportunity to have docks or boat storage
facilities or something.
And this is an irrelevant point, but there is absolutely nothing
about the length of waterfront that has anything to do with how many
boat slips should be built there. If it's not navigable space, why would
you have a boat slip there anyway, but it's an irrelevant point now.
But what I'm -- what I'm suggesting here is we have to do
something to protect manatee. We have to do something to encourage
the retention of waterfront property and boat slips for the public, and
we have to respect private property rights, in particular those people
who have vested rights to boat docks.
So here's what I would propose. I would propose that we go with
potential option B which is somewhere in the middle of the two
extremes, and it would exclude shoreline within county-required
preserve areas and state and federal conservation easements which do
not allow wet slips within their conservation easements, okay, when
calculating the maximum allowable number of wet slips.
And then I would add, except where public access is going to be
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provided, and that should be a conditional use so that we could have
the flexibility to permit more boat docks if you provide more public
access and you have fewer boat docks if you don't provide more
access. And what that does is, it encourages people who buy up this
waterfront property to set aside a reasonable portion of those docks or
docking facilities for public use rather than converting it all to private.
So it gives the opportunity for the entrepreneur to make some
decisions that would maximize their gain, their profits, and at the same
time serve the interests of the public.
So that is my proposal. Had we had such a rule in place before,
we would never have lost all of that -- all those docks that we have
lost in Collier County through conversions and developments. So
that's my proposal for the --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll second it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I'd like to ask Commissioner
Coyle a question.
When you say public, does this mean that Joe Six Pack wi11 have
the ability to go into a gated area and use a dock if it's available to
them?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Ifhe's Irish.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Ifhe's Irish, okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Well, look--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I guess --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- that's the purpose of the
conditional use. We have to evaluate the ease of access by the public.
If a developer is going to buy up this land and say, okay, we're going
to have -- we want to build 100 slips and we're going to have 10 of
them available for the public and -- but they've got to -- got to go
through security and everything to get into our property, well, maybe
we won't approve it, okay.
But if they say, look, we'll make 50 percent of these available to
the public and they'll have direct access to these things, they won't be
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harassed, they won't make it difficult, then, you know, you'll approve
more boat docks under those circumstances because it serves a public
purpose.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I have a couple of questions I'd like
to ask, first the County Attorney here.
I wasn't sitting on the Board of County Commissioners at the
time that this PUD came before the Board of County Commissioners.
It is my understanding that when this PUD was addressed for an
amendment, that the developer went out and purchased additional land
and then was able to move the density off of that land and put it into
the uplands.
Now this same piece of property is being negotiated for boat
docks. Would this be classified as double dipping?
MR. KLATZKOW: If at the time the LDC said something about
this issue, Commissioner, or the PUD said something about this issue,
then yes, but if it was silent as to this issue, okay, then he's just
exercising whatever property rights he acquired.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. I think -- and I don't know
this for sure -- but I think that one of the promises they made was that
they wanted to increase the density. And so they said that if you'll
allow us to strip that of development rights, we will then put that
property in perpetuity as a preserve, conservation easement, and that
they would take care of it. That was my understanding.
But at the time I wasn't as connected as I am today, and that's just
one of the reasons -- one of the things that I wanted to ask.
The other thing that bothered -- bothers me that when developers
came into this community, they bought up a lot of these working
marinas. And what bothered me is that I see the outpouring of the
marine industry.
And when we had a marina that was up for rezoning from
commercial to residential, there was nobody there fighting for the 500
boat docks or the 500 storage areas for the people. And all of a
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sudden now we've got a crisis on our hands.
And, of course, when Turner Marine went down, I don't think
that there was that much outcry about that because the end result was
that we could make -- privatize that and we could sell boat slips. That
really took out the working person that likes to boat, and so they lost
that opportunity, and then we had Boat Haven we lost.
So I'm hoping that if there are any other marinas out there, that
we look very carefully at that and that we have the outpouring from
the marine industry to jump on board to say, we can't rezone these
areas. That's my concern. I have some problems, as I said, that I
wanted to know if this was double dipping.
And the motion that Commissioner Coyle made, I have some
concerns that we're just -- we're only looking at one part of the aspect
of this, and that is that we're here to address this particular issue on a
particular area of the county which really doesn't have any other effect
on other parts of the county because this borders on outstanding
Florida waters, this whole area. And that's one of the concerns that I
have.
I don't believe it's going to affect other areas of the county, as has
been brought out here earlier. And I think that's one of the main
things that people here are concerned about, is to make sure that we
protect this area.
We're not saying you can't boat in this area because it's a very
pristine area. It's the idea of the proliferation of big, huge marinas, or
whatever else that may take place here, if we don't address the issue at
hand.
And I -- and I didn't think that when we -- this amendment was
addressed. It was aired pretty heavily by the Planning Commission. I
believe they had three or four hearings on this thing, and I don't
believe that there was any intent here of taking anybody's rights away.
It was the idea, is to try to protect an area so that we didn't have -- end
up with where you could put maybe 60 boat slips in, that you couldn't
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-- that you were going to end up with 4- or 500 boats in there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Are you done?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, I am.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: The question to your answer (sic)
about outstanding waterways doesn't apply to Manatee Protection
Plan. That was stated in the last hearing on this, but --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, I wasn't here for the whole
hearing, excuse me.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, it was a direct answer to your
question, but if you're still concerned about it, if I can so suggest,
make all docks in outstanding waterways non-conforming, and that
way you can really get to the issue to clean up the water.
But the motion and the second on the floor is no different than
the amendment of the Land Development Code. Docks are not
conditional use. Multi-docks and marinas are not conditional uses.
There is a section in our Land Development Code, 5.06, I believe,
5.03, that spells out how you do that.
And the last issue is, can any of the board members show me in
the Manatee Protection Plan to where it states that conservation
easements will be a part of the calculation?
Because I've done word searches, I've visually looked at it from
the front to back to the back and front. I can't find it.
Okay. So if you want them public docks, I can tell you this
amendment will make them public docks, but it's going to cost a hell
ofa lot of money.
Is there any more discussion on the motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. The -- you know, we can
change land development codes and definitions. It can be an
accessory use, it can be a conditional use. We can define that however
we wish in order to achieve the goals we want to achieve. Let's not let
definitions get involved or to complicate the process of reaching a
solution.
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So -- but you deserve an answer to the question about where and
why has the staff applied this exclusion for preserve areas. I think the
logical answer is essentially this, if it's a preserve area, why do you
want to develop it?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That wasn't my question.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, that's what you asked.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No, I didn't. Not at all.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You asked, where does it say that
the staff would use those criteria for determining the number of boat
docks.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No, I didn't.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You want to read it back?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sure. Let's read it back.
(The court reporter read back the requested statement.)
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, do you want an
answer to your question or not?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. I would like not -- not the way
you asked it. I asked --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You ask it then.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I asked in the Manatee Protection
Plan where conservation easements on shorelines is applied or is
stated.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's exactly what I said earlier.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well. Mr. Lorenz?
MR. LORENZ: Yes. The -- or no, there is no place in the
Manatee Protection Plan or in the Land Development Code that talks
about shoreline to exclude shoreline within conservation easements.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Wait, wait. I haven't finished yet.
Then tell me why we've been doing it.
MR. LORENZ: That was the discussion we had with staff back
in the mid '90s of looking at, well, what do you count as shoreline in
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terms of generating yield for boat slips when there are conservation
easements that would not allow for that to be consider, and that was
application through the discussion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So it was a rational determination
that when something is a preserve or conservation area that it shouldn't
be used for calculating development?
MR. LORENZ: That's correct. That was at a staff level that was
not verified by the -- with the board until we came to the board a year
ago.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And you've been operating under
that assumption or that interpretation for a long, long time?
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. There's a motion on the
floor, if! remember correctly, by Commissioner Halas, for item D,
allow all shorelines to be used in calculating the maximum allowable
number of wet slips pursuant to the Manatee Protection Plan. Well,
we just got through saying that the Manatee Protection Plan doesn't
address this, right?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Wasn't it B?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: D, not B.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner, it was D.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: B. Oh, I was going to say, D's a
great idea. Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Can I just ask a question, and
hopefully it can be answered simply. This B, how wi11 it affect people
like Kit Sawyer, how wi11 it affect people like the Dunes?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: If -- Mr. Lorenz, you could help me
out. If Mr. Sawyer is going to build a boat ramp, if the county or
nobody else requires him to put a conservation easement over his
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shoreline, then he can build over what he said, 13 slips, I think he said
he was going to build.
MR. SAWYER: Thirteen.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thirteen to 15. But if there is a
conservation easement, all he can do is build nine.
MR. LORENZ: Yeah. The boat ramp -- the boat ramp wouldn't
enter into it. But what you -- but what you ended up with is correct.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right.
MR. LORENZ: If the conservation easement that he has on his
shoreline and that conservation easement is specific and does not
allow for wet slips, then the -- then the calculation of number of wet
slips would be based upon the shoreline outside of the conservation
easement, whatever that number times his rating number is would be
the allowable boat slips. And, of course, I don't know the exact
number at the moment, but it could have the potential of limiting his
number of boat slips below which he would like to propose. But I
don't know what his proposal is.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any further discussion on the
motion?
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Just a quick point in elaboration of
that. Under my proposal, if he was going to provide access to the
public, he would have the opportunity to provide more boat slips,
right?
MR. LORENZ: As I understand the -- your proposed wording.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, just to make sure we
all understand where this is going, this is going to require four votes,
as I understand it, for it to pass. If it doesn't pass, the staff has the
same language they have before and the same interpretation of that
language that they have before unless we tell them to interpret it
differently. That's going to take three votes.
So either we agree on this language or we're then going to have
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to debate about whether or not we're going to direct the staff to change
their interpretation of the existing Manatee Protection Plan. And if
there are not three votes to tell them to change their interpretation,
they'll keep interpreting it exactly the same way. Is that not correct?
MR. LORENZ: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. So you see our choices are
this: We can agree on making the modification with an opportunity
for conditional use or accessory use, whatever you want to call it, for
greater public access, or we reject the staffs proposed changes, and
then we've got the problem of how do we change the staffs
interpretation of the unchanged Manatee Protection Plan.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow?
MR. KLATZKOW: And, Commissioner Coyle, do we want a
vested rights exclusion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Absolutely, absolutely. Vested
rights have to be protected.
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other discussion on the motion?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: How do we determine how much
public access -- if this motion passes, how are we going to determine
the amount of public access, real public access, and not just the access
from a gated community?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, that's why it comes back to
us. It comes back to us and we listen to the petition and then people
tell us what they're planning to do, how easy it's going to be for the
public to get in there, how much of it's going to be available to the
public, and then we get to make a rational decision based upon public
input.
And if it makes sense, then we vote to approve it. If it doesn't
make sense, we vote to deny it or we choose some solution
somewhere in between.
But you see, the reason I suggest doing it that way is, we can't
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write a rule that governs all those variables, and it gives us the
opportunity to hear the petition and make a decision based upon the
best interest of the public.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, the other part of the equation
here is, how do we protect areas that should be protected, or don't we
-- aren't we going to take that into consideration?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, we're already saying we're
excluding areas where conservation easements exist which do not
allow wet slips. So if the conservation easement exists there and it
doesn't allow wet slips, we're not going to count that at all.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. So we're not going to count
the conservation easements when it comes to --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: If they do not allow wet slips.
There are some conservation easements that don't have that specific
exclusion. We will have the opportunity to make that decision.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I think, Mr. Schmitt, you need
to clarify for the board the process of a marina or a multi-slips, which
is nine, or over nine. Does it come to the Board of County
Commissioners?
MR. SCHMITT: Currently right now -- for the record, Joe
Schmitt. Currently under the LDC, it only would come to the -- it
only goes to the Planning Commission if it involves a boat dock
extension. And for 10 slips or more, then it kicks in the Manatee
Protection Plan. It only -- it involves a boat dock extension if it is 25
percent protrusion or greater into the channel width or 20 feet,
whichever is greater or less, David? Greater.
So it's -- so other than that, if it falls in the criteria under the
LDC, then it's an administrative process approved as an accessory use,
normally either to -- if it's listed in the PUD as accessory use on
residential, or if it's commercial it can be approved through the
administrative process. I think is -- that basically answers your
question?
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. So what Commissioner --
MR. SCHMITT: It's not a conditional use.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's not a conditional use, and --
MR. SCHMITT: Unless specified in some form or fashion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And you know what, it ought to be in
the Land Development Code, and that is not what's on the table today.
So just for the record, so we don't get a whole bunch of petitions
coming to the Board of Commissioners, we're not changing that
process. That has to go through several committees and then
ultimately the Board of Commissioners, okay. So we're not going to
make the determination whether it is public or semi-public or
anything. All right?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't understand, but go ahead.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, you said when the application
comes through as a conditional use, we would make that
determination when we get that application. We don't do that,
Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Okay. You see, I don't care
what term you use to describe it. All I'm suggesting is that if
somebody wants to build a wet slip in an area where there are
conservation easements, and they want to provide public access, I
want them to come before us so that we can make a decision as to how
much public access they're going to provide in order to get the number
of slips in there.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, that would be a Land
Development Code amendment.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, whatever it is. You know,
our job is to create the law that achieves the objectives that are in the
best interest of the public. I'm not going to let the -- let the semantics
and procedures interfere in getting an appropriate solution to this
thing.
We haven't had a solution to this for a long, long time, and we
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can leave it like it is now and continue to struggle with it and achieve
no results or we can try to do something that makes more sense.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there any more discussion on the
motion?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I just want to -- I just want to make
sure I have this straight in my mind. If there's -- how is this going to
affect conservation easements again? I just want to make sure I've got
this clear in my mind and the audience has it clear.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, there are two kinds of
conservation easements. There are conservation easements that do not
exclude wet slips and there are conservation easements that do
exclude wet slips. If they do exclude wet slips, if they say that you
can't have wet slips there, then they're not going to be included in the
calculation at all, right? Are we straight now so far? Okay.
Now, ifthere are preserve areas where wet slips are possible,
then we can make exceptions to that if there is public access. Okay?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Got it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And so that that's what I'm
suggesting. And what that does is it -- it keeps someone from taking
the property and using it exclusively for private purposes. It requires
public access if they want to build X number of slips, or if they want
to build any slips in a required preserve area.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And you have explained it
several times, and I am going to ask staff one more time. I got some
questions I'm going to ask directly to them.
Bill, I guess you'd be the person. At this point in time we did
have areas out there that have been specifically separated from the rest
of Collier County and identified as preserve areas. I mean, that --
where wet slips aren't allowed, if I understand.
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: A limited number of places that
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exist today under present law?
MR. LORENZ: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. LORENZ: There are conservation easements that exist--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. LORENZ: -- that would exclude wet slips.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Ifwe did nothing today,
those things would still exist?
MR. LORENZ: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Ifwe try to change anything in
here, there's nothing in here that addresses changing those areas that
are already prohibiting it, that have been part of the Land
Development Code since God knows when? That would all stay
status quo, would stay where it is.
MR. LORENZ: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: We're talking about the rest of
the lands out there that are preserve lands that do not have this
attachment to them saying that they're prohibited from being applied
towards using for boat docks. That particular land is the land we're
talking about using for the -- to be able to figure out how many docks
could go into place, or did I say that?
MR. LORENZ: Well, I'm parsing out -- parsing your language
here. When you're saying there are preserves, if those preserves
through, let's say a PUD amendment process, have excluded use of
boat docks, then a consistent conservation easement to go along with
that preserve would also exclude boat docks.
And so -- and so at that point staff would review it against the
proposed conservation easement language against the preserve
requirements that are in the PUD.
If those -- if the PUD allows for some degree of boat docks -- and
I think that was a discussion here with regard to the Dunes -- then a
conservation easement could be crafted consistent with the preserve
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PUD requirements for that particular situation, in which case the wet
slip or wet slip calculation would be allowed, and that would be an
instrument that would work for the future. I'm not sure if I answered
your question.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, you did to a point. We're
dealing with an element that wasn't originally contemplated in this
whole thing, and that's the troubling part. We've had people speak
from both sides. I don't know how this particular issue would fit into
any of their needs, pro, con, or what, and that's a little troubling.
Now, if this is approved here today, this has to be crafted into
legalese and then brought back to us one more time?
MR. LORENZ: Speaking with Joe Schmitt, that would be
certainly staffs intention. I'm looking at the County Attorney also.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: At least one more time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Through an ordinance?
MR. SCHMITT: Commissioner, I think we're probably treading
on thin ice because you have in front of you an advertised amendment
that deals specifically with one portion of the LDC. If you want to
expand this, I think we're going to have to --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I'm --
MR. SCHMITT: -- we're going to have to provide what it is,
then go back through the advertising process, go through the process,
hopefully work with some folks to craft language to come back to you
that is acceptable to at least working with the industry and whomever.
We can craft something that seems to be -- meet the direction of the
board, once we get the direction of the board.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think Commissioner Coyle's
onto something. I just can't get my hands around it this quick. If we
could have this thing drafted and brought back.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Doesn't bother me. I think the
more exposure it gets, the better off we are.
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: So you're removing your motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No. What I would do is revise the
motion to provide guidance to staff to bring us back a proposal in an
advertised meeting, which includes the issues that we have discussed,
and we'll make sure it's properly vetted. I don't have a problem with
that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's the clarification of your
motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Would it have to go back
through several committees before it came to us or -- I don't know.
I'm just trying to get a feel for how this --
MR. SCHMITT: Yes. I think it would have to follow a normal
LDC process. And I believe -- and what you talked about, we may
have to go back and actually look at the section involving boat dock
extensions, boat dock and boat dock extensions as well. I'm just
trying to put all the pieces together here, so --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Don't forget that language he
was talking about, about the public use.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. There's a motion on the floor
and a second, put this in the LDC amendment cycle --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, okay. Now I haven't done my
second yet.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I thought I seen your head going up
and down. I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I just wanted to make sure. Now--
so in other words, now we're not voting on this anymore. Now we're
going to -- what I thought was we were going to have them write it up,
but now we're going to change it and we're going to go through an
LDC cycle as well, or are we going to vote on this and then after we
vote on this, go through an LDC cycle? Let me know exactly what
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we're doing.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I understand -- understood staff to
say that they had some concerns that we had gone beyond the subj ect
which was advertised for public hearing. If that is true -- and you
think it's true?
MR. KLATZKOW: I think we need to go through the process,
SIr.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- then we ought to go through the
process, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we want to go through a
Land Development Code change at this point in time, because we
have not vetted it completely, and if people are uneasy about how it's
going to work or they're confused about how it's going to work, we
need to get that clarified, bring it back to the board in a public hearing,
and then if we agree upon the principles, then we can get it into the
process and get some -- the Land Development Code change.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: My problem is, being that this is
already written out, this is what you did and you added something to
it, which we do all the time in our deliberations, how is that not
advertised, the same words?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You see, I don't -- I don't
understand that either but --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- the point is, ifthere's the
slightest question about it, I would rather err on the side of caution and
get it done right. I, quite frankly, don't see a thing wrong with --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It's got the same words here.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- yeah -- but no, I added
something to this, so --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, except when public access is
provided, but that's the only thing you added.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, that's it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Not like we're going onto a different
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April 22-23, 2008
subject or something. I'm just needing clarification.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Can we add impaired waterways, that
docks and in general are nonconforming?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't want to add it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas brought up
about impaired waterways.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What's an impaired waterway?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Dirty water.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: One that has too many boats on it.
No.
Okay. I've had enough of this stuff. Let's get it done, and I'm
finished.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: So you say we have to bring it back
because this isn't what was advertised?
MR. KLATZKOW: I think the prudent thing to do at this time,
given the discussion, is to bring this back and probably go through
another LDC cycle on this, get it back to the Planning Commission,
have the public vet this through before you get it back.
I remember what this LDC looked like when we started out, and
it's nothing like this looks like now.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I agree.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yep.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I just want to make sure that we
also protect the surrounding waters, especially if they're outstanding
Florida waters.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's what I'm suggesting, make
those nonconforming docks and impaired waters nonconforming.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. So that would then add that
to -- okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All docks. Okay. Do you need a
vote on that?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, let's -- just--
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We sti11 have a motion and a
second.
MR. MUDD: I heard the motion and it's there, and I got a
second, and we haven't had a vote yet. But I also want to say to you
that, you know, you're going to start the EAR-based Land
Development Code cycle here real soon. Doesn't mean that we can't
take this language, get it where it needs to be, vet it through
everybody that it needs to be vetted through and add it to that
particular cycle, instead of waiting till next year.
I think this has been -- I mean, I can remember 2003, okay. I
remember -- starting to look like it's almost a bad dream, and we've
been going on this thing for now almost five years, and let's get her
someplace close and in the relatively near term.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sir, 2003 was the issue about the
four-foot depth.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Not the conservation easement. And
we directed in 2003 for staff to work with the stakeholders, the
original authors of the Manatee Protection Plan. Your staff hasn't
done that yet. They failed to do that.
So they need to reconvene those meetings and do what the Board
of County Commissioners asked them to do, okay.
There's your motion on the floor and a second, bring it back
through the cycle.
Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 4-1.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Was that really the motion, to bring
it back?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow said because it's
changed so much.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I mean, I thought the motion was
this one.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Right, modified. Weare -- we are --
MR. MUDD: Adjourned until tomorrow morning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Adjourn this meeting ti11 tomorrow,
Wednesday, at nine p.m.
MR. MUDD: Nine a.m.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Nine a.m.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is that good, nine a.m.?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We're recessed.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Recessed.
MR. MUDD: Recessed.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Not adjourned.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're going to go down to the
playground.
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April 22-23, 2008
TRANSCRIPT OF THE CONTINUED MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, April 23, 2008 (Day 2)
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board( s) of such
special district as has been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
Tom Henning
Donna Fiala (absent)
Jim Coletta
Fred Coyle
Frank Halas
ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Sue Filson, BCC Executive Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Crystal Kinzel, Office of the Clerk of Court
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your
seats.
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, you have a live mike.
Item #3A
SERVICE AWARDS: 20 YEAR ATTENDEES - PRESENTED
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Welcome back to the
Board of Commissioners, now the April 23rd meeting of 2008, and
we're going to start out with service awards.
And the first award is?
MR. MUDD: Is to Lynn Evans from fleet management for 20
years working for Collier County.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Wonderful.
(Applause).
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. It's managing well, right?
MS. EVANS: Yes, absolutely. Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Hi, Lynn. Thank you so much for
your servIce.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Congratulations.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We get a picture.
MS. EVANS: Oh, sorry.
MR. OCHS: Congratulations.
MS. EVANS: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Thank you very much.
MS. EVANS: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MAY 4, 2008
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April 22-23, 2008
THROUGH MAY 10, 2008 AS DRINKING WATER QUALITY
WEEK; ACCEPTED BY PAUL MATT AUSCH, WATER
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to proclamations
your agenda. First proclamation is designating the week of May 4,
2008, through May 10,2008, as Drinking Water Quality Week to be
accepted by Paul Mattausch, your Water Department Director.
Mr. Mattausch?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good morning, Paul.
MR. MATTAUSCH: Good morning.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Gives me great pleasure to read
this proclamation for all the hard work that the water department has
there.
Oh, here comes the drip.
Whereas, the water follows a natural cycle from earth to air to
earth again; and,
Whereas, water is the basic and essential need of every living
creature; and,
Whereas, our health and standard of living depend upon an
abundant supply of safe drinking water; and,
Whereas, the citizens of Collier County should have a safe and
dependable supply of water both now and in the future; and,
Whereas, we are calling upon each citizen to help protect our
water resources from pollution, to practice water conservation, and to
be involved in local water issues.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that the week of May 4th
through the 10th, 2008, be recognized as Drinking Water Week.
Done and ordered this 22nd day of April, 2008, Board of County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, Tom Henning, Chair.
And Chairman, I proclaim that -- or make a move that we accept
Page 266
Apri122-23,2008
this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Halas to
move the proclamation, second by Commissioner Coletta.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I need to reset my clock, right?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Is it drip or drop?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Congratulations. Hi, Drip. Thanks
very much.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It's drop.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's drop.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Drip or drop.
MR. MUDD: Got to get a picture.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Did you say his name is Bob Drop?
MR. DROP: Wayne.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wayne Drop.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Wayne Drop.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wayne Drop.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Known as W.D.
(Applause.)
MR. MATT AUSCH: Commissioners, thank you very much.
Paul Mattausch, for the record, Water Department Director, and with
me this morning is Wayne Drop. And Wayne -- Wayne, I appreciate
you being here with us this morning.
Page 267
April 22-23, 2008
It's important that we proclaim water -- Drinking Water Week,
and I thank you for that proclamation.
I placed in front of you a copy of the 2007 Collier County water
quality report. This is the Consumer Confidence Report that will be
distributed to all of our customers, and it let's them know what -- what
our water quality is. And as you well know, with half of our water
being produced with reverse osmosis, it's very high quality water.
And I thank you again for your time this morning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioners, due to extraordinary
circumstances, Commissioner Fiala can't be here in the present (sic),
but she is telephonically with us, and I make a motion that we include
Commissioner Fiala as part of our deliberations today.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second by Commissioner Coletta.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Commissioner Fiala? Commissioner Fiala?
(No response.)
MS. FILSON: That was Sam testing the phone, Chairman.
Commissioner Fiala's -- when she comes on, I told her to say hello
when she's between flights.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Did we take care of that item,
or do we have to do it again?
MR. KLATZKOW: We're good.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Item #4 B
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING APRIL 20, 2008 THROUGH
APRIL 26, 2008 AS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS
WEEK; ACCEPTED BY SAUNDRA LOCKWOOD, MEMBER OF
THE NAPLES CHAPTER OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS (IAAP) - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to our next
proclamation, which is designating April 20th through 26th, 2008, as
Administrative Professionals Week, to be accepted by Saundra
Lockhart (sic), member of the Naples Chamber ofInternational
Association of Administrative Professionals -- excuse me -- Ms.
Saundra Lockwood.
Ms. Lockwood, if you'd come forward, please.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Whereas, the Administrative
Professionals Week and Day was created as an annual opportunity to
recognize the valuable contribution of office support staff in
businesses and government; and,
Whereas, Administrative Professionals Week is always held
annually during the last week of the full week in April, Sunday
through Saturday, and the Administrative Professionals Day is always
helped -- held on Wednesday, that day of the week; and,
Whereas, since its inception in 1952, the Administrative
Professionals Week has been sponsored solely by International
Association of Administration Professionals, IAAP, organization; and,
Whereas, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of
the largest work observation (sic) celebrations worldwide; and,
Whereas, IAAP's objectives for Administrative Professional
Week are to educate the public about the administrative professionals'
Page 269
Apri122-23,2008
expand the (sic) roles and value to the business world, enhancing
professional image, encourage people to consider administrative
careers, and to promote life-long earning, certifications, and
professional development; and,
Whereas, Administrative Professional Week is an excellent time
to open lines of communication and an opportunity for further raising
awareness of exemplary service provided by office support staff.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of Commissioners
that the week of April 20th through April 26, 2008, be designated as
Administrative Professional Week.
Commissioners, I make a motion that we move this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second by Commissioner Coyle.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: (Absent.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 3-0.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Congratulations, thank you.
Item #4C
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL, 2008 AS HARMONY
MONTH; ACCEPTED BY RON TIMMERMAN. IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROCLAMATION,
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE
PARADISE COASTMEN - ADOPTED
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, our next proclamation is
recognizing April, 2008, as Harmony Month, to be accepted by Ron
Timmerman. Immediately follow -- this is for the people in the
audience. Immediately following the presentation of the proclamation
if you would stand, because I believe we have a Barbershop Quartet
that's going to sing the National Anthem.
Could I have Mr. Ron Timmerman and his group of four, I hope,
or five or six, come forward. The Paradise Coastmen. Okay. Front
and center. We'll get the presentation done first, and then we'll sing.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, Gentlemen. It gives me
great pleasure to read this proclamation.
Whereas, the Barbershop Harmony Society is dedicated to
sustaining and preserving an American tradition of a distinctive style
of vocal music, encourages harmony amongst all people of the world
through the universal language of music and promotes music
education through music scholarships and other means; and,
Whereas, the Barbershop Harmony Society is engaged in
laudable civic service and enrichment of our cultural life through the
fostering of traditional values in entertainment and community
endeavors all across America; and,
Whereas, the Paradise Coastmen, as members of the Barbershop
Harmony Society perform at many civic and social events in the great
City of Naples, Florida, and are noted for singing the National Anthem
at any event where it is required; and,
Whereas, the Paradise Coastmen were honored with a 2006 Stars
in the Arts Award from the United Arts Council of Collier County;
and,
Whereas, the Barbershop Harmony Society is celebrating its 70th
anniversary April the 11th, 2008.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that April, 2008, be
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April 22-23, 2008
designated as Harmony Month.
Done and ordered this 22nd day of April, 2008, Board of County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, Tom Henning, Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I move that we accept this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coyle to
move the proclamation, second by Commissioner Coletta.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: (Absent.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 3-0.
(Applause.)
(The National Anthem was sung by the Paradise Coastmen.)
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wow. That was impressive, very
. .
ImpreSSIVe.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Did we get a picture? We haven't
got the picture. You can't leave.
MS. FILSON: Do they have the proclamation?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No. They have to have a picture
before they get the proclamation. Here's the proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, good work,
gentlemen.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wow, I don't know if we're going to
beat that one, huh?
Item #4 D
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April 22-23, 2008
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JAMES A. MCTAGUE FOR
HIS CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP IN COLLIER
COUNTY; ACCEPTED BY MR. MCTAGUE'S FRIENDS AND
HIS DAUGHTERS: JO ATKINSON, SUZY GOLDMAN AND
JEANNE MANURI - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, our next proclamation is
recognizing James McTague for his civic and business leadership in
Collier County, to be accepted by Mr. McTague's daughter, Joan
Atkinson, or excuse me, Jo Atkinson, and Suzy Goldman and Jean
Manuri. If you could come forward, please.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: As a matter of fact, why don't
all the friends of Jim McTague come forward. Come on Ms. (sic)
Senior -- Senior, come on up. Everyone. And this is an absolute
privilege to be able to read this proclamation. I've known Jim
McTague, oh, over 15 years with Catholic Charities. We served
together on the board of directors.
He's been not only a good friend, but a mentor for all these years,
and it's an absolute honor to be able to read this proclamation. Please,
right up front here. Good morning.
Whereas, James A. McTague demonstrated love and concern for
the disadvantaged; and,
Whereas, Jim served Catholic Charities for many years as a
director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, a director
of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Venice, director of Catholic
Charities of USA in Washington, D.C., chairman and founding
director of the Catholic Charities foundation of the Diocese of Venice,
as well as members of the Advisory board Of Catholic Charities of
Collier County; and,
Whereas, he is steadfast in his faith, a model Catholic and a
dedicated husband and father; and,
Whereas, he gave generously from his skills as a business
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April 22-23, 2008
entrepreneur and community leader, fundraiser, consultant and
mentor; and,
Whereas, he was loved, respected and admired by his numerous
friends; and,
Whereas, he is always positive -- he was always positive and full
of good cheers with a special sense of humor; and,
Whereas, he was given special recognition by his peers as the
Humanitarian of the Year; and,
Whereas, it is the desire of the advisory board of Catholic
Charities of Collier County to recognize and promote the continuation
of these outstanding qualities in our community.
And, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, that James A. McTague be
recognized for his civil and business leadership in Collier County in
our hopes that his legacy wi11 serve as an inspiration for the citizens of
Collier County.
Done and ordered this, the 22nd day of April, 2007 (sic), Tom
Henning, Chairman, and I make a motion for approval.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second by Commissioner Halas.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 4-0.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Right up front here. Ifwe can
have you all face towards the camera for a moment, right along the
dais here.
Page 274
Apri122-23,2008
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Are you going to sing?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: A little tighter in here. We
definitely want you in there, Senior. No, don't hide.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You must be proud. He was a great
man.
Item #4 E
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF APRIL 27,
2008 THROUGH MAY 3, 2008 AS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER
WEEK IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY MARCY
KRUMBINE, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES; SHARON DOWNEY, RSVP PROJECT
COORDINATOR; ANNA GALDAMES, 4H EXTENSION AGENT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IFAS EXTENSION; MARY
MARGARET GRUSZKA, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUM; JOANN WANNEMACHER,
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARIES; MERYL RORER, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
PARKS AND RECREATION; KATHLEEN DREWE,
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR FOR DOMESTIC ANIMAL
SERVICES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR COLLIER COUNTY -
ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to our next
proclamation, which is designating the week of April 22, 2008,
through May 3, 2008, as National Volunteer Week in Collier County,
to be accepted by Marcy Krumbine, director of housing and human
services; Sharon Downey, RSVP project coordinator; Anna Galdames,
4-H extension agent/University of Florida, IFAS extension; Mary
Margaret Grusaka (sic) --
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. GRUSZKA: Gruszka.
MR. MUDD: Gruszka. Thank you, Mary Margaret -- volunteer
coordinator and Collier County Museum; Joan Wannemacher,
volunteer coordinator/Collier County Public Libraries; Meryl Roer,
volunteer coordinator/parks and recreation; Kathleen Drewe, volunteer
coordinator/Domestic Animal Services, and volunteers for Collier
County.
MS. KRUMBINE: We lost some people.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It gives me great pleasure to read
this proclamation.
Whereas, April 27, 2008, through April 3, 2008, is designated at
National Volunteer Week; and,
Whereas, volunteers are an integral part of Collier County; and,
Whereas, volunteers have shown that they truly care and they
share their generosity;
Whereas, volunteers reflect the power to inspire by example; and,
Whereas, volunteers both encourage those that help and motivate
others to serve; and,
Whereas, Collier County offers many opportunities for citizens
who wish to volunteer in a variety of different service areas; and,
Whereas, Collier County is the proud sponsor of the retired and
senior volunteer program; and,
Whereas, Collier County utilizes the volunteers in Domestic
Animal Services, public libraries, all museums, parks and recreation,
veterans services, university extension services through the 4-H and
master gardener's programs; and,
Whereas, Collier County has 1,489 volunteers who help the
county further its mission and concentrate -- and contribute 72,397 --
72,397 hours of service annually, representing over $1,358,891.60 in
savings for Collier County Government; and,
Whereas, we wish to honor and to thank the dedicated citizens of
Collier County, Florida, who give so freely of their valuable time,
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April 22-23, 2008
energy, and abilities.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that the week of April 27,
2008 through May the 3rd, 2008, be designated as National Volunteer
Week in Collier County.
And in doing so we call all citizens to help renew and sustain the
spirit and vitality of this great nation by committing a portion of their
time in addressing the needs of your community through voluntary
action.
Done and ordered this 22nd day of April, 2008, Board of County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, Tom Henning, Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I make a motion we accept this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coyle to
move the proclamation, second by Commissioner Halas.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Who's going to hold the
proclamation?
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, we get a gift, do we? A rubber
band.
MS. KRUMBINE: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, county and
deputy managers, it is both an honor and a privilege to accept this
proclamation for National Volunteer Week on behalf of the volunteers
and departments in which they serve for Collier County Government.
Page 277
Apri122-23,2008
The public services division, under the direction of Administrator
Marla Ramsey is home to almost 1,500 volunteers working hand in
hand with county employees to serve the public and further the
mission of Collier County Government.
Domestic Animal Service volunteers, under the direction of
Kathleen Drewe, provide companionship, care, and attention to shelter
animals, while also promoting adoption and responsible pet
ownership.
Housing and human services hosts the national award-winning
Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, RSVP, under the leadership of
Sharon Downey, project coordinator. RSVP connects volunteers to
over 100 local non-profit organizations throughout the county and also
coordinates bone builders program with parks and recreation.
The library uses volunteers to keep our bookshelves, assist with
programs such as reading to children, sending books out on tape
through the elderly outreach program, and so much more under the
direction of volunteer coordinator Joanne Wannemacher. Mary
Margaret Gruszka, volunteer coordinator for the museum, explains
that our volunteers work with the museum library, gift shop, greet
museum visitors, and assist with special events.
Parks and recreation volunteers with Meryl Rorer as the
volunteer coordinator, coach youth sports teams, assist with children's
programs, including therapeutic recreation, help out at the skate parks,
and help maintain the park community centers and grounds.
At the university extension, volunteers serve under the 4-H
extension agent, Anna Galdamas, as 4-H leaders, who put the interests
and needs of others first in an effort to build and develop new
programs for youth.
Finally, volunteer drivers transport our veterans to medical
appointments locally and throughout the state.
Recognizing the value of volunteers and potential of using
volunteers throughout the county, housing and human services has
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April 22-23, 2008
worked with all of these volunteer coordinators to create a volunteer
program and training manual, which is here, for the entire county to
use as a template as a volunteer program, and that is part of your
approved 10-year strategic plan.
And right now we're working in conjunction with County
Attorney's Office and human resources to put the final touches on it
and to see how volunteers can be used throughout the county.
During this time of significant budget constraint, the position of
our volunteers will become even more significant to all of us.
Commissioners, thank you for recognizing the importance of our
volunteers. And would you join me in recognizing -- they might not
be in the audience -- but they're out and about in Collier County. Let's
give our volunteers a round of applause.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's well over 200 volunteers at
domestic animal control on a regular basis, and I'm really, really
impressed with that. That's amazing, besides the other ones.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's great to have people involved in
our community.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. And with that said, too,
we're at a point in our cycle where we could use all the help we could
get. If we're going to be able to maintain Domestic Animal Services
and the library at a service level acceptable to the public, we're going
to need every individual to step up and do his fair share to be able to
make it happen.
Budget cuts have their ramifications, and ramifications are drops
of service. However, with that said, the best form of government is
the individual that can step forward and fill the gaps. So please, don't
hesitate to come forward.
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April 22-23, 2008
Item #4 F
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2008, AS SEXUAL
ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH; ACCEPTED BY MARIA
LAROCCO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROJECT HELP, INC.
- ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioners, our next proclamation is to
recognize April, 2008, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To be
accepted by Marla (sic) LaRocco, Executive Director of Project HELP,
Inc.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good morning, Marla.
MS. LaROCCO: Maria.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Whereas, sexual assault continues
to be a major social crisis in our society; and,
Whereas, sexual assault effort -- affects every child and adult in
Collier County as a victim/survivor or as a family member, significant
other, neighbor, or co-worker of a victim/survivor; and,
Whereas, volunteers and service providers in our community are
working to provide a continuum of care to sexual assault survivors
through 24-hour hot lines, counseling, support groups, advocacy,
medical care, and education; and,
Whereas, ProjectHELP, Incorporated, seeks to improve service
for victim survivors of sexual assault and prevent future sexual assault
through public awareness and services for the victim; and,
Whereas, the community recognizes the vital importance of
designating a time devoted to increasing the general public's
awareness and support of agencies providing services to rape victims;
and,
Whereas, we hold forth a vision of a community free from sexual
violence.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
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April 22-23, 2008
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that April, 2008, be
designated as assault -- Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Done and ordered this 22nd day of April, 2008, Board of County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, Tom Henning, Chair.
Chairman, I move that we accept this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Halas to
move this proclamation, second by Commissioner Coletta.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries 4-0.
MS. LaROCCO: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Keep up the good work. Awareness is
very important.
MS. LaROCCO: I'd like to thank you today for doing something
very important within our county, and that's giving survivors of sexual
assault a voice. That's something that is very rare these days.
It is so important that we continue to increase awareness and that
we use moments like today through proclamations, through different
events that we're having throughout the month of April, like Denim
Day, bringing awareness to survivors and letting them know that they
have a voice and that they have power.
Today with us we have members from Naples Police
Department, from Collier County Sheriffs Office, who every day
stand beside survivors and help to give them a voice, to give them
their power. And I thank you very much for being part of that. Thank
you.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #4G
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY, 2008 AS MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. ACCEPTED BY PETRA
JONES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. -ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, our next proclamation is to
recognize May, 2008, as Mental Health Awareness month, to be
accepted by Petra Jones, Executive Director of the Mental Health
Association of Southwest Florida.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you for being here today.
Whereas, mental health is essential to everyone's overall physical
health and emotion well-being; and,
Whereas, mental illness will strike one in five adults and children
in a given year regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or economic
status; and,
Whereas, people who have mental illness can recover and lead
full, productive lives; and,
Whereas, an estimated two-thirds of adults and young people
who have mental health disorders are not receiving the help that they
need; and,
Whereas, the cost of untreated and mistreated mental illness and
addictive disorders to American business, government, and families,
has grown to $113 billion annually; and,
Whereas, community-based services that respond to individuals
and family needs are cost effective and beneficial to consumers and
the community; and,
Whereas, Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida and its
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April 22-23, 2008
national partners observe Mental Health Awareness Month every May
to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and illness.
And now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of Collier
County Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, that May, 2008, be
designated as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Done and ordered this, the 22nd day of April, 2008, and signed
by Chairman Tom Henning.
And I make a motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coletta to
move the proclamation, second by Commissioner Halas.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries, 4-0.
(Applause.)
MS. JONES: Good morning. I would like to thank the
commissioners for proclaiming May Mental Health Awareness
Month. With me today I have Dorothy Demichele, board chair; Don
William, program coordinator; and advocate, Jeffrey Ryan.
The Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida has been
providing services to the community for over 50 years. We have
several advanced plans for May. If anyone is interested and would
like to participate, please call our office at 261-5405 to learn more of
who we are and what we are doing in the community and what kind of
activities we have planned for May. Again, thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
(Applause.)
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April 22-23, 2008
Item #4 H
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 11-17,2008 AS
TOURISM WEEK IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY JACK
WERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOURISM DEPARTMENT-
ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, our next proclamation is to
recognize May 11 through 17th, 2008 as Tourism Week in Collier
County, to be accepted by Jack Wert, Executive Director of the
Tourism Department.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Wasn't sure if you were going to be
here or not. I'm glad you are.
MR. WERT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Whereas, travel and tourism industry
is the largest industry throughout Florida and employs more than a
million people and produces more than $6 billion in revenue of
taxable sales; and,
Whereas, the travel and tourism industry supports the vital
interests of Collier County, Florida, and the United States by
contributing over 31,000 jobs to the community, economic prosperity,
peace and understanding and good will; and,
Whereas, 1.4 million visitors contribute nearly $1.4 billion to the
economy in Collier County in 2007; and,
Whereas, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Collier County
to inform them that -- the direct and indirect benefits of tourism; and,
Whereas, in light of Collier County's outstanding beaches, golf,
shopping, and restaurants, its natural and historical and cultural
activities, travel and tourism has become an increasingly important
aspect in our lives, of our citizens; and,
Whereas, May 11 th through May 17, 2008, has been observed
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April 22-23, 2008
throughout the State of Florida and United States as National Tourism
Week; and,
Whereas, given the contribution of travel and tourism to the
economy, social and cultural well-being of the citizens of Collier
County, it is fit -- fitting for -- that we recognize the importance of
travel and tourism in our community.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of Commissioners
of Collier County, Florida, that May 11th through 17th, 2008, be
designated as Tourism Week in Collier County.
Done in this order, the 22nd day of April, 2008.
And I'm going to make a motion to move this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second by Commissioner Coletta.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Keep up the good work. You do an
outstanding job for all of us, and I appreciate that.
MR. WERT: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thanks, Jack.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Take a picture, Jack.
MS. FILSON: Turn the proclamation around.
MR. MUDD: It's just to prove you're here, Jack.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There wasn't a message to my
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April 22-23, 2008
statement.
MR. WERT: None at all, sir.
Chairman Henning, Commissioners, Mr. Mudd, and on behalf of
the Tourist Development Council, which Commissioner Henning does
chair this year, and the over 31,000 people who are employed in the
tourism industry, I want to thank you for this proclamation and
recognizing the importance of the tourism industry to our community.
We will be celebrating this National Tourism Week May the 14th
at the Marco Island Marriott. This is our 6th annual tourism awards
luncheon, and we'll be recognizing 16 people in the tourism industry
who have gone above and beyond to really deliver excellent customer
service to our visitors to Collier County.
So I invite all of you to attend that. I think that it would be a
worthwhile recognition of some people that really work hard for our
community. So, again, thank you so much for recognizing the tourism
industry for its contribution to our community. Thanks much.
(Applause.)
Item #4 I
PROCLAMATION THANKING THE HONORABLE MARIO
DIAZ-BALART FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO
COLLIER COUNTY - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, our next and last proclamation is
thanking the Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart for his extraordinary
service to Collier County. And I believe this proclamation is going to
be given to the congressman on Friday by Chairman Henning at 11
o'clock at the emergency services center; is that correct, sir?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes. I know it's Friday, yes.
MR. MUDD: And there's a rumor that he's going to probably
give you a large check.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Really?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is it a birthday present?
MR. MUDD: I don't think so, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well-- and it's an honor to read
this proclamation. The congressman has been a true friend, not only
of this commissioner and all the commissioners here, but Collier
County and South Florida in general. And I -- it's an honor to read
this proclamation.
Whereas, Collier's 25th Congressional District has been
effectively and responsibly represented by Mario Diaz-Balart since he
was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2002;
and,
Whereas, Congressman Diaz- Balart assisted the county in
securing $3 million in federal funding to enhance its public safety
communication capabilities, design safer transportation alternatives,
sustain water infrastructure needs, promote healthcare assistance to
uninsured residents, and construct a new recreational center for our
youngest citizens; and,
Whereas, Congressman Diaz-Balart has been an energetic and
enthusiastic contributor, working to ensure that Collier County
remains an exceptional place to live, work, and visit; and,
Whereas, Congressman Diaz-Balart has been a valued, tireless
and dedicated advocate who, on behalf of our community, has
continuously represented the needs of our citizens through his service
on the House Transportation Infrastructure Science and Technology
and Budget Committee; and,
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of Collier County
Commissioners, Collier County, Florida, recognizes the Honorable
Mario Diaz-Balart, U.S. House of Representatives, and thanks him for
his extraordinary service to Collier County.
Done and ordered this 22nd day of April, 2008, Tom Henning,
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April 22-23, 2008
Chair.
And I make a motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coletta to
move the proclamation, second by Commissioner Halas.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Congressman will be in the office Friday afternoon if any
members of the public wishes to stop by and say hello. Also at the
emergency -- the new emergency service operations center, that would
be from 11 :00 to 12:30. Thank you.
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD TO JOHN F. BARLOW, JR.
OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY
COMMITTEE - PRESENTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to the presentation
portion of the agenda. The first presentation is a presentation of the
Advisory Committee Outstanding Member Award, to John F. Barlow,
Jr., of the Collier Government Productivity Committee.
John Barlow repeatedly seeks out opportunities to make Collier
County the best possible community and he shares passion for the
community wherever he goes.
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April 22-23, 2008
With his strong management background and his ability to define
issues and offer solutions, John has been an invaluable asset for
Collier County Government.
John is a dedicated member to both the Affordable Housing
Commission and the Productivity Committee where he recently served
as chairman.
In addition to serving as chairman of the Productivity Committee,
he has participated in several of its major subcommittee studies.
Examples are impact fees efficiency and effectiveness, the AUIR
studies.
He has applied his knowledge of computer programs and systems
and outreach efforts to the various county government entities urging
their progress toward optimum use of total resources.
John's friendly and low-key leadership style along with his
problem-solving abilities truly make him an outstanding advisory
committee member.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to present Mr. John Barlow, the
Outstanding Advisory Committee Member.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Thank you very much.
MR. BARLOW: Thank you very much for everything you do.
MS. FILSON: You're welcome.
MR. OCHS: Congratulations, John.
MR. MUDD: Congratulations, sir.
Item #5B
PRESENTATION OF THE WASTE REDUCTION AWARDS
PROGRAM (WRAP) A WARD TO THE IVEY HOUSE BED AND
BREAKF AST, THE DOUBLETREE GUEST SUITES, THE INN
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April 22-23, 2008
AT PELICAN BAY, AND THEIR COMMON MANAGEMENT
COMPANY: GUEST SERVICES, INC. - PRESENTED
Commissioners, our next presentation is a presentation of the
Waste Reduction Awards Program, WRAP Award, to the Ivey House
Bed and Breakfast, the Doubletree Guest Suites, and the Inn at Pelican
Bay and their common management company, Guest Services, Inc.,
and Mr. Dan Rodriguez is going to help us with this, I hope, your
Director of Solid Waste.
MR. RODRIGUEZ: Good morning, Commissioners. Dan
Rodriguez, your Solid Waste Director. We're here to recognize the
Doubletree group for their excellence in recycling. I have a
presentation for you quickly.
The school and beverage container recycling challenge grant
adopted by the board -- I'm sorry. We've got two.
The mandatory non-residential recycling ordinance adopted by
the Board of County Commissioners on July 27, 2004, established a
Waste Reduction Awards Program called the WRAP A ward, to
recognize businesses and institutions for enhanced and innovative
recycling programs.
The solid waste management's WRAP program is consistent with
the guiding principles adopted by the Board of County Commissioners
at our workshop on December 5, 2006, environmental and growth
management compliance, airspace preservation, operational
excellence, and best valued service.
Board of County Commissioners were pleased to recognize the
Ivey House Bed and Breakfast, the Doubletree Guest Suites, and the
Inn of Pelican Bay and their common management company, Guest
Services, Inc., for their efforts to contribute for the greater good of all
Collier County by going green at all of their properties thereby
helping to prolong the useful life of the Collier County Landfill.
All three hotels and lodging properties are reducing their solid
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April 22-23, 2008
waste stream through enhanced recycling programs evidenced by
placing recycling containers throughout the hotel property to
encourage guests to recycle newspapers, cardboard, aluminum cans,
and plastic.
They promote source reduction by purchasing products in bulk
concentrate. They require vendors to take back pallets, non-recyclable
boxes, and crates. All three hotels have an excellent training program
for all administrative hotel staff and especially for their housekeeping
staff to sort, recycle and reduce waste.
Guest Services, Inc., managed properties -- manages the
properties at Ivey House Bed and Breakfast, the Doubletree Guest
Suites, and the Inn at Pelican Bay, were all awarded a green lodging
designation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
These three properties are all outstanding examples of hotel,
motel and lodging institutions that are in compliance with the
non-residential recycling mandatory ordinance.
The WRAP Award program includes a certificate, a trophy, the
use of the WRAP logo, and space on our Collier County website to
showcase their waste reduction and recycling program; therefore, the
solid waste management department, on behalf of the Board of County
Commissioners, congratulates the Ivey House Bed and Breakfast, the
Doubletree Guest Services (sic), the Inn at Pelican Bay, and their
common management company, Guest Services, Inc., on their
continued efforts to promote waste reduction and recycling. Their
recycling leadership is a positive example to the hotel/motel and
lodging industry and will have a significant effect on sustaining usable
life of our Collier County Landfill.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: If! may present a trophy and a
certificate as the Inn of Naples or the Inn at Pelican Bay.
MS. FILSON: These are the ones we're going to give for this
one.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, for this one? I'm sorry,
Doubletree Guest Suites. The Ivey House, the Inn of Pelican
Bay, and the Guest Services, Incorporated.
Maybe if we get a group picture and then individual company
picture. Come on in.
Now, if we could just have Doubletree to start off with, and then
I'm sure you'd enjoy hanging that up in your establishment, especially
since Commissioner Coletta's standing in the picture.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm sure Commissioner Henning
won't scare them away.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Next?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Congratulations. It means a lot to
us.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Appreciate what you're doing.
My people from Everglades even wear green.
Thank you. Good to see you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you for preserving our
landfill.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Thank you very much. It's
appreciated.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You do some great work.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thanks for preserving the landfill.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: All by yourself.
MS. LAMIANE: That's me. Good men behind me.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
MS. LAMIANE: Thank you, Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. LAMIANE: Thank you, Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. LAMIANE: Thank you, Commissioner Halas.
Thank you, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Thank you.
MS. LAMIANE: Thank you, Crystal.
MR. MUDD: Thank you all for your wonderful efforts to help
our earth and the community go green. Thank you.
(Applause.)
MS. LAMIANE: Wonderful. Thank you, County Manager.
Thank you, Collier County Commissioners. On behalf of the
Doubletree Guest Suites, the Inn at Pelican Bay, the Ivey House Bed
and Breakfast, and all of our properties here in Collier County for
Guest Services, we are very proud members of the green lodging
establishment which was set by Governor Charlie Crist.
And first and foremost, Collier County's first lodging was the
Ivey House, and the third and forth were the Doubletree and the Inn at
Pelican Bay. And I challenge all the other hoteliers and
non-residential businesses, step up to the plate. We're all aware of
what Earth Day was yesterday. We have all the resources here. Let's
protect them, and have a beautiful day. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #5C
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE WINNERS OF THE
RECYCLING ART CONTEST; RACHAEL DOTY, PALMETTO
RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL; ANGELA VASQUEZ, MANATEE
MIDDLE SCHOOL; AND TIFF ANY SHADDEN, CORKSCREW
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-PRESENTED
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Our next presentation is a presentation of awards
to the winners of the recycling art contest. Rachel Doty, Palmetto
Ridge High School; Angela Vasquez, the Manatee Middle School; and
Tiffany Shadden from the Corkscrew Elementary School.
Are they all in school or are they all here?
MS. COMPTON: They're all in school.
MR. RODRIGUEZ: They're all in school.
Good morning, Commissioners. Again, your Director of Solid
Waste, Dan Rodriguez.
The School and Beverage Container Recycling Challenge Grant
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on October 9th of
2007 helps promote a recycling environmental art contest as one of the
five elements of the competition.
This state-funded grant pays for 2009 calendars featuring the
winners of the recycling and environmental art competition to
encourage students and staff to enhance the recycling programs.
This state grant is consistent with the guiding principles adopted
by the Board of County Commissioners at the 2005/2006 workshop
that includes environmental growth management compliance, airspace
preservation, operational excellence, and best value service.
The Board of County Commissioners -- on behalf of the Board of
County Commissioners, we are pleased to host today Keep Collier
Beautiful unveiling of the top three 2008 recycling art contest winners
by school level.
High school winner, Rachel Doty, 12th grade, Palmetto Ridge
High School; teacher, Barbara Mundy. There we go. The one at the
top. Middle school winner, Angela Vasquez, 7th grade, Manatee
Middle School, teacher, Rosalind Donovan; and then elementary
school, Tiffany Shadden, 2nd grade, Corkscrew Elementary, teacher,
Gloria Topczynski.
The students are outstanding examples of Collier County school
and Collier -- and county recycling promotion programs. The
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April 22-23, 2008
recycling environmental art winners will be featured by 12th to 1 st
grade level on each of the 12 months of the 2009 calendar to showcase
their artwork and remind students, faculty, and the community of
enhance recycling efforts.
Therefore, the Solid Waste Management Department on behalf of
the Board of County Commissioners congratulates contest of winner
(sic), Rachel Doty, Angela Vasquez, and Tiffany Shadden and their
teachers, on winning the recycling, environmental art contest. These
students and their teachers, art creations and recycling leadership, is
an inspiration to students, staff, and our community.
(Applause.)
MS. COMPTON: These are the winners.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, wow. How special.
MS. COMPTON: And they'll all go into this year's calendar.
This wi11 be the cover, and these two will be one on each month.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's great. It sure is.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Did Commissioner Henning
submit a drawing?
MS. COMPTON: Grades 1 through 12 only.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That would apply to Commissioner
Coletta.
MS. COMPTON: Thank you for this recognition. My name's
Cher Compton, and I'm the executive director of Keep Collier
Beautiful.
This artwork and several other pieces are going to be going into
our 11 th annual calendar that we put out. This calendar is done with
close cooperation with the Solid Waste Management Department of
Collier County as well as local businesses.
We're really proud of the artwork that the kids have put forth this
year. We especially asked them to target recycling, and they came
through for us. They've made a great effort. We had a little more than
30 entries, as we usually do. And as I said, we're very proud of what
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April 22-23, 2008
the kids have produced, and I want to thank you for this special
recognition on their behalf.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. COMPTON: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #5D
AN UPDATE BY P AUL MATT AUSCH, WATER DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR, ON THE RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA WATER
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT-IMPOSED PHASE II WATER-USE
RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2008 - PRESENTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioners, our next presentation is an update
by Paul Mattausch, water department director, on the return to the
South Florida Water Management District imposed Phase 2 water use
restrictions, effective April 18, 2008.
We thought it would be a good way to try to get this out, because
we went from phase -- we went from Phase 2 to 3, and now we're back
to 2 again, so that Paul can at least get the mandatory days out to the
community.
MR. MATT AUSCH: Good morning, again, Commissioners.
Again, for the record, Paul Mattausch, Water Department Director. I
had to send Wayne back to work providing drinking water for our
people, so Mr. Drop will not be with us.
I'd like to just briefly talk about the return to Phase 2 water use
restrictions. That -- and I'd like to real quickly cover the schedule, the
education and outreach that we're doing and the enforcement that will
take place.
On April 10th, the governing board of South Florida Water
Management District issued a new executive order that essentially
rescinded the Phase 3 restrictions and placed us back on Phase 2
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April 22-23, 2008
restrictions effective April 18th, and what it does is allows for
irrigation on two days a week, as we were prior to January 15th of this
year.
And those days, in case anybody has any questions, landscape
irrigation will be permitted two days a week; no more than two days a
week. Irrigation is allowed -- and this is a change in hours, and I want
to make sure that everybody is clear on this change in hours.
Irrigation is allowed between 12:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., and between
4:00 p.m. and 11 :59 p.m. on that irrigation day.
So it's and/or. People can water during either of those time
frames. And essentially what this says is, people cannot water,
nobody should be watering from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the
hottest time of day during that period when we have the most
evaporation taking place. So it does change the hours.
Odd addresses, those addresses ending in one, three, five, seven
and nine, can water on Wednesdays and/or Saturday. And obviously
if we're getting rain, people don't need to water two days a week. They
can water only one, or if we have plenty of rain, they don't need to
water at all. This is an and/or situation.
Even addresses, those ending in zero, two, four, six, and eight --
and this also includes those places where irrigation systems cover odd
and even addresses. In some homeowners association, condos,
multifamily kind of situations, we have irrigation systems that run in
both odd and even addresses, so that happens on both Thursday and
Saturday (sic), as well as in our rights of ways. So that irrigation will
take place on those two days, Thursdays and Sundays. Again, odd
addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; even addresses on
Thursdays and Sundays.
Irrigation with surface and groundwater sources is restricted.
That means all water resources. If you're watering from private wells
or watering from canals or lakes, that is restricted as well.
Hand watering of stressed plants because we know that certain
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plants take a little bit more water, with a single hose with an automatic
shutoff nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per day on any day. So if you
have those impatiens that need a little more water, those can be
watered for 10 minutes with a hose any day that they need a little bit
more water.
Vehicle washing is not restricted. Best conservation practices
should be used. Boat washing should be limited to 15 minutes if the
boat has been in saltwater. Pressure washing is allowed anytime, just
as it was under Phase 3 but, again, you know, you want to use best
conservation management, and voluntary conservation is encouraged.
And we will be -- we will be making sure that this gets out by all
of the outlets that we have within our capacity. South Florida Water
Management District will be helping us. We work jointly with them.
We'll get this out and -- in the media and utility bills and public
meetings and forums just like this. And it will also be posted in
several places on the Colliergov.net website.
Enforcement April 18th through 30th, we're going through
another period of notice. We're allowing people some time to get their
irrigation systems readjusted, and we will begin enforcing on May 1 st.
But we've got a lot of people out there that will help -- be helping us
get this message out. And May 1 st we'll begin to issue citations.
And I'd be glad to answer any questions about this return from
Phase 3 to Phase 2 that you may have.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions by the board.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I wonder how good this
enforcement is going to be. I felt that the enforcement in the third
phase was weak at best. There was a number of communities, I think,
that were watering. In fact, some people were trying to circumvent
the watering laws by watering at one o'clock in the morning, two
o'clock in the morning, and the streets would be wet, then -- and they
weren't on reclaimed water. This was all potable water. So I'm
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wondering how we're going to enforce it.
MR. MATTAUSCH: I appreciate that, and I'm well aware. You
and I had communication regarding that.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
MR. MATTAUSCH: We tried enforcement as best we could.
We had people out at that time. We can't -- we can't cover the entire
service area, but we certainly -- and I just want to compare us to some
of the other utilities and locations.
Collier County has done an extremely good job overall in
enforcing. In fact, as part of the Phase 3 restrictions, we had to report
that enforcement to South Florida Water Management District. And
by far, Commissioner, we were -- we were well out in front on
enforcement, number of citations issued, number of notice of
violations issued, well out in front of other utilities in the lower west
coast planning region.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Paul Mattausch goes out personally;
is that correct?
MR. MATTAUSCH: On occasion, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And I hear that Mr. DeLony does,
too.
MR. MATTAUSCH: We all do, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. The -- I have a question, Mr.
DeLony.
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir, go ahead.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: How much will this lower the
ratepayers' water bill?
MR. DeLONY: I'm going to have Tom Wides come up and
speak to that directly, sir. We're prepared to answer that question.
Tom?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. WIDES: Commissioners, good morning. For the record,
Tom Wides, the Director of Operations for Public Utilities.
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As you can see on the attached chart here, when we were in
Phase 3, we had a 30 percent surcharge for certain structures of our --
of our water bill rates. With the inception of this reduced restriction,
that surcharge will fall to 15 percent.
Commissioner -- and I will get to your question. The surcharge
is applied to -- for single-family and multifamily accounts. It is a
charge to the consumption greater than the second block, which is
basically at 10,000 gallons a month.
So anyone who uses water less than 10,000 a month, there's
basically no impact to their water bill. Folks that use greater than
10,000 a month, they will see a reduced surcharge, which will
probably account for about a dollar and a half per water bill.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
MR. WIDES: But again, that's for the upper levels of the usage.
We also find, if I may, about the average use in the county about
8,000 gallons in the household.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. Paul, I think
this question would be for you. Is the reason for these restrictions, is it
due to a lack of the resource or the lack of ability to be able to supply
the resource, sir?
MR. MATTAUSCH: For Collier County, it is neither, okay. We
have resources available, and we also have sufficient capacity to
provide water for our customers.
This is the first time that South Florida Water Management
District has begun to recognize that restrictions need to be on a
case-by-case, basin-by-basin look at the resources available. In the
lower west coast planning area, of which Collier County is part of, our
resources have been sufficient throughout this drought to be able to
provide water.
It essentially has been an east coast problem related to Lake
Okeechobee, and a lot of the east coast gets their water supply from
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Lake Okeechobee. And so we not only had the resources available,
but thanks to the foresight of this Board of County Commissioners and
the support of public utilities and the water department specifically,
we have sufficient capacity as well, Commissioner, to meet the needs
of our customers. I hope I answered your question.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. The reserves within the
ground that you draw from haven't really fluctuated that much in the
past year?
MR. MATTAUSCH: Actually -- actually no. We -- and that's
really what I was kind of beating around the bush on without coming
-- without being forthright on saying.
Our water resources were not sufficiently, or have not been
sufficiently impacted by the drought. When this board in April of
2002, went to three-day-a-week restrictions, essentially placing us on
Phase 1, the equivalent of Phase 1 restrictions, we saw that our water
resources in this basin stabilized.
And, in fact, today we are slightly above -- even though we are
still in drought, our water resources, the level of water in our aquifers
is slightly above where we found ourselves last year and the year
before.
And, in fact, if you want to go back to the drought of2000/2001,
we are significantly above that water level that we were at back then
in that drought. And the reason why is because of our wise use of
resources, placing ourselves on Phase 1 restrictions, three-day-a-week
irrigation, and properly utilizing the resource.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, Paul. Good work.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes, thank you. You do a wonderful
job on conservation of our water. Appreciate it.
MR. MATT AUSCH: Thank you, sir.
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Item #9D
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
WITH JEFFREY A. KLA TZKOW AND AUTHORIZES THE
CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE SAME - APPROVED W /CHANGE
TO TERM OF CONTRACT FROM 4 YEARS TO 3 YEARS
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to -- back to the
Board of County Commissioners section, which is paragraph 9. And I
believe we're on 9D, which is a recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners approve the County Attorney employment
agreement with Jeffrey A. Klatzkow and authorize the chairman to
execute same.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioners, I put this on the
agenda per the board's direction. Previously board members have
stated that they would like the County Manager's contract and the
County Attorney's contract similar. That was our goal.
Met with Sue Filson and Andrea Sims. We went over the contact
(sic) -- contact with Mr. Klatzkow, provided some changes. Those
changes were accepted. The salary was based upon coastal
communities in Southwest Florida. So it is what it is. And I'll
entertain any questions or comments. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. I have no
problem with the salary. I think it's a fair amount for a County
Attorney to get paid. The only thing I question is the length of the
contract, and I'd like to bring that up for discussion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Four years; I believe that's what
we've got it set up for. Is that it, four? Wouldn't it be more practical
to ease into this a little bit with one year, recognized like a
probationary period, and then from there continue it with additional
three years? And that's purely a suggestion, and I'd like to hear the
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opinion of my fellow commissioners.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coyle and
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I think it's not a good idea to do
that. Essentially, you're not really making a commitment to a County
Attorney and you're merely encouraging that person to look for
another position during that period because they have no idea what's
going to happen.
I think the contract as it's written is good. I think giving a
four-year term is good. We all -- we have the opportunity to terminate
it at any time.
So I don't see the need for any transition period here. We will be
evaluating the County Attorney's performance. And if we decide that
we need to make a change, we can terminate it at any point in time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I have some -- probably some of
the same concerns that Commissioner Coletta brought up. I was
looking at a contract of two years to see what the deliverables were
going to be in that office of the County Attorney. I also have some
concerns about --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Where we at?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: The merit raise. Well, this would
be page 4 of page 9.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Page 4?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Under item B. I think that we
should treat the County Attorney as far as pay raises the same as any
other employee. We have in here that -- a 10 percent maximum, but I
think that since most of our employees for the last couple of years
have been at a lot lower rate, whatever the rate of the other employees
are, I believe that the executive branch is no better than the rest of the
employees. So I feel the pay raises, that -- that's where I think they
should be.
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: Can we address each?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'm not done yet.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I know, but can we address each
issue?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. This is the same that was
-- that's in the County Manager's contract.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, the County Manager, if!
recall, he just takes a lump sum. He doesn't put something in his base
salary .
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So I have concerns here that we are
-- every year that we'll end up with a 10 percent merit raise, and the
employees end up with either cost of living or nothing. So I have
some concerns on that portion.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So you'd want to change that to lump
sum instead of merit?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: No. I'm saying that it could either
be -- it's his prerogative if wants to take a lump sum, but I don't
believe that it should be as high as 10 percent.
I believe in the corporate world that pay raises of this magnitude
are no longer acceptable. And if you're asking the employees to
relinquish pay raises, then I believe that we should, as stewards of
taxpayers' money, make sure that the executive -- executives of this
county also adhere to the same rules.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. So -- Mr. Klatzkow wants to
say something, Commissioner Coyle wants to say something, so does
Commissioner Coletta.
MR. KLATZKOW: I am comfortable taking the last paragraph
of 7B out. The only reason it's in there is because I used Mr. Mudd's
contract. Mr. Mudd has always waived that portion. I was going to
waive it anyway. So I don't mind if it's deleted.
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COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. The other -- on page 6 of
page 9 under C, where it says that term life insurance of employees
shall be provided a level of three times the employee's annual base
salary. I believe that the rest of the employees are on a -- are on two
times base salary. And I feel that, again, we should adhere to the same
as we expect our employees.
MR. KLATZKOW: But my understanding is all contract
employees are on three. I'm just asking to be -- County Attorney's
Office be treated the same way.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. That's my concerns.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. So we're going to amend
section 7, paragraph B, by taking out the last sentence.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: By taking out the -- where he's
entitled of a maximum of 10 percent. It's whatever the percentage is
that we give our -- the remaining -- the rest of our employees here in
the county.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, why not be fair to all contract
employees? If we're going to do that for one, then we should do it for
all.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's right. And when those
contracts come up, I think that's where we need to go on this.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So you're saying -- now, it was -- Mr.
Klatzkow said he'd take out the last sentence, but that isn't it what you
mean. You want to leave the last sentence and the merit to be, not to
exceed whatever the rest of the employees get?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's right.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that would be -- well, the merit is
based upon -- County Manager, if you can help me out. You do that
for the employees. Merit is like a bonus each year; is that correct?
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. And right now, in the plat -- in the last
year or so we've made it a non-reoccurring issue. It doesn't get put
into employee's checks, and it has to do with where we are with some
of the legislative implications to our budget process.
This year in the budget guidance that you -- that you presented --
that I presented to you, there is no bonus merit this year. It's zero.
And when I bring my stuff forward at the end of the year, it will be
zero for me, and that's my recommendation. Not only will it not get
put into my salary, but I'm going to recommend that I get zero, just
like the rest of the employees do.
That's what the board -- that's what the board put down in their --
in their guidance, that's what you approved, and that was my
recommendation to you, and that's just to get us over where we are
right now with amendment one and some other things that were
passed.
MR. KLATZKOW: And I'd be happy to go along with whatever
the County Manager does.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So we want to change that, such
annual performance base merit would be the same as county
employees?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that would be the change to this
contract.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And the other item that I brought
up for discussion, it was similar to what Commissioner Coletta
brought up, is that I believe we ought to start in the contract with two
years to see what the deliverables are in this department. And then at
the end of two years, we can then say, hey, we're going to extend the
contract for four years, and I have no problem with that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow?
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't really have a problem with two
years, frankly. What I will say that -- what that means on the terms of
this contract is that approximately a year after this board reconvenes
after this summer recess, we will be reviewing this contract. I don't
know that I'm going to have enough time to do what I need -- what I
think I need to do with this office then. So I could do that in three
years. I'm not entirely --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Three years?
MR. KLATZKOW: Three years. I'm not entirely sure that I can
do it in two. Because it's really not two years. It's really a year and a
half then.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Three years?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is that okay, Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Sure.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And when it came to the
time period, I was concerned, and maybe somebody could clarify how
this all works. Whatever the time is, whether it be a year, two years,
three years, or four years, at that point in time, Mr. Klatzkow would be
locked in on a contract. The only way he could leave would be -- ifhe
left at that point in time, what would be the penalties to him? I know
what it is on the other end. Then I have additional questions.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, I lose--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Suppose you left for whatever
season.
MR. KLA TZKOW: If! just left, and no employer's going to hire
me knowing I would leave high and dry my current employer. But if I
just left, I would lose whatever I would have accrued as far as
universal leave and what have you. It would -- at this point in time I
believe this contract contains 360 hours of universal leave as a
maximum that gets paid out upon my leaving. I lose that. It's just
gone.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Now the other way
around, if the commission decided to let you go for whatever reasons,
possibly at a review at the end of a cycle or -- well, I mean, if it was at
the end of your contract, that wouldn't be a problem, if it was at the
three-year review. But we would have to -- we'd be obligated under
this contract anytime during that three-year period, I believe that's the
way we're going right now, to pay you a year's salary?
MR. KLATZKOW: Six months.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Six months.
MR. KLATZKOW: What I have is that -- and I took this from
the County Manager's contract. Up until my vesting period, which is
this July 15th, it would be a year. After July 15th it's six months.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: After July 15th would be six
months?
MR. KLA TZKOW: Yeah. For whatever reason you have or for
no reason at all you can terminate -- you can terminate me on six
months severance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And we could also terminate
you but have you stay the six months, or would he still be obligated to
stay the six months?
MR. KLATZKOW: I have to tell you, sir, if you decide to
terminate me, I would not hang around for six months.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Fine, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further questions?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Entertain -- Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I think these suggestions are
good. I think they provide some complications.
We have other contract employees, and we're not going to be
able to make the changes to all those contract employee agreements at
the same time.
The point is that the changes that we're talking about are already
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April 22-23, 2008
changes we can make at any point in time. As an example, it says a
maximum of 10 percent. It doesn't say we have to give 10 percent or
7 percent or 8 percent or even 3 percent. It says a maximum of 10.
So we're in control of what we want to do. Ifwe make a decision
that because the other employees are not getting salary increases, that
we shouldn't give salary increases to contract employees, then we
should tell all contract employees that.
But we have to be careful that we don't get into a situation where
we tell the County Attorney that he's not going to get an increase, but
we give an increase to one or more of our other contract employees.
But you see, we can control that. When it comes up -- time to
decide on the increase, we just have to say, hey, other people are not
getting increases except us, okay. We're the only ones who will get an
increase. Now, I have a problem with that. I really do, and I think we
need to take a look at what our options are for supporting the
examples that are being established by these two contract employees.
I don't know what our options are, quite frankly. But in any event I
think it's something we need to do.
We need to treat these things consistently. And I don't -- I guess I
do not agree that we should take one contract employee and write that
contract differently than our other contract employees.
I do believe that in our deliberations to determine what the salary
increase might be or the bonus, we have the right and probably the
obligation to say, since our employees are not getting any increases,
our contract employees are not going to get any increases, and the
Board of County Commissioners are not going to get any increases. I
think that's the proper way to deal with this thing.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner, you bring up a very
good point, is, by leaving it in there, it gives the board flexibility --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's right.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: --- to do, because it could be -- it
could be zero, it could be 9.98 percent. It just gives us some latitude
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instead of boxing us in.
Commissioner Halas, would that be acceptable to you?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, I've had some concerns over
the last couple of years when we go through the performance review
of contract employees that report directly to us. In the past, the
County Attorney, I believe, was getting, I think, outrageous sums of
money because it was ranging anywhere from 7 to 8 percent, and I
don't believe that there are many areas of even industry that give those
type of merit raises anymore.
And so I have some concerns about where we're going. And I
know that other contract employees that have answered to us, that
when we've discussed merit raises, I felt that they were kind of out of
the ballpark compared to what's going on in the general economy with
people other than Fortune 500 CEOs that seem to get a huge amount
of raises and also golden parachutes, and I don't believe that that's the
way this county should be run.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And I would agree with
Commissioner Halas in that respect. The reason that these things
happened in the past -- and we had a discussion about it last time, and
I expressed my displeasure with the way we did it. And
Commissioner Coletta said, you know, well, if there's a better way,
let's -- you know, let's talk about it, and I think everybody's willing to
talk about that and resolve it.
In the past what generally happened was we would take the
relative score of the evaluation and apply that against the 10 percent
range, and then whatever that yielded became the increase.
I think we're in a different environment, and I think we do need
to establish a more effective way to deal with that, and -- at least for
this year, it's very simple. You know, County Manager's not going to
get an increase, he's not giving his people any increases, County
Attorney has said he's not going to take an increase.
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April 22-23, 2008
I think it's simple. We've already solved that problem. We know
it's not going to be 10 percent this year.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: You bring up a good 'point. And
if! may, there's a little bit to this that enters into it that might change
Commissioner Halas's thought on this.
The contract's going to run most likely for three years, it might be
four years. We haven't actually determined that. Why do we want to
put something in there that's going to make sure for that whole period
of time there's going to be no increases of pay? I mean, that's not
realistic.
We might have to adjust this thing as we get out there the second
or the third year or else we might box ourselves in to a position that
will force the County Attorney to have to go at the end of the contract
to another position.
So at this point in time, do I think that we can say no? I believe
we can. I think we just set the mood for it right now. So I think
Commissioner Coyle's right on this.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But it achieves Commissioner
Halas's goal is the point.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And I think it's best to do it that
way. I mean, trying to write it into a contract, only one contract at this
point in time, creates some complications.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. What's taken place before
has been basically a mindset that if it's 10 percent, that we're going to
try to achieve as high as possible to the 10 percent category in merit
raises, and I have a problem with that kind of thinking.
So I'm hoping that this discussion has been beneficial so that all
of us understand that we have to tighten the belt and that merit raises
that were given out in the past, that's not going to happen from --
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April 22-23, 2008
whether the economy gets good or bad, that we're not going to
continue to give the gift that's continually giving here at such high
rates as 10 percent merit raises.
I think normally in the corporate environment, they look at merit
raises somewhere around 4 to 7 percent, and 7 percent would be
somebody that has an outstanding performance review.
And so I think that maybe 10 percent is too much, and maybe we
ought to look at all the contracts and say that it -- the limit is not going
to be 10 percent or 15 percent, whatever's been written in those
contracts, and get more in line with what's going on out in the real
world, somewhere between 4 and 7 percent.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, Commissioner, I think that you
stated your position very well, and we agree with that. I think we all
have stated that we agree with you.
And during the evaluation, I can tell you that I'm going to make
sure that I hold your comments at that time because we're in a place,
like you said, that has changed from the years past.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I was going to say, I
think we've worked that issue to death. The only thing that was left is
the issue of how long the contract runs. Three years?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Three years.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: We're all in agreement on that?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: You want to make a motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I make a motion that we
approve the contract with the one change being the three years; four
years to three years.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. There's a motion on the floor
by Commissioner Coletta to approve the contract as amended. Is there
a second to the motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I'll second the motion for
discussion purposes.
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a second on the motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta -- Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: First time I did that.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Where's the sign? Where's
the sign?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Somebody took it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: It's in the trash.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I would ask after this motion that
we, as a commission, direct the County Attorney to investigate how
the Collier County Commissioners can refuse a salary increase for this
year, or can we have that salary increase directed into some other
area?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: After we vote on it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Because it's just guidance to the
County Attorney to look into the issue to see if it's even possible.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You know, so the public
understands, we don't set our salary. It comes from the state, and it's
based on a formula they use up there.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Population.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And so we don't have control of it.
We don't know what they're going to do with it. They might eliminate
it entirely the way they're going. But I think that if -- if the County
Manager and the County Attorney are not getting increases and our
employees are not getting increases, we shouldn't be entitled to
increases either.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: We might end up getting a
decrease. I think it's based on population. So if -- population, I think,
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April 22-23, 2008
has been leaving the state's area, so we might get a decrease.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, in that case--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. I understand. I just heard
this morning that they have attached a rider to the clerk bill saying that
all elected officials' salaries would be cut in half, including
constitutional officers.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's good, that's good. I love it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any more discussion on this
motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And Mr. Klatzkow, you're okay?
Aye.
Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 4-0.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'd just like to thank the board. This is an
honor and a privilege being your County Attorney, and I hope to be
here through the remainder of my working life and be known as the
best County Attorney this county ever had.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Good. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And the best office, thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'm counting on it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Let's take a 10-minute break for the
court reporter.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Could we just do that guidance to
the County Attorney?
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think we just did.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We want to -- the board wants to--
MR. KLATZKOW: I've got it.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- ask the County Attorney to look
into Commissioner Coyle's salary. Was that it?
No, the board's salary.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes, okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're on a lO-minute break.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: All right.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Mr. Chairman, you have a live mike.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Next item?
MS. FILSON: Oh, Mr. Chairman, also I received a message
from Commissioner Fiala. It was too busy in the airport so that's why
she didn't call in.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: How can you get busy in an airport?
MS. FILSON: Too noisy, I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, noisy.
MR. MUDD: It can be too busy, sir, if everything quits flying
and you're stuck there with all the other hundreds and thousands of
people that are looking to try to get out.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: That's why it's noisy.
MR. MUDD: Been there, done that.
Item #9E
TO FILL A VACANT POSITION IN THE BOARD'S OFFICE AS
AN EXCEPTION TO THE CURRENT COUNTY POLICY TO
NOT FILL OPEN OR VACATED GENERAL FUND POSITIONS -
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April 22-23, 2008
APPROVED
The next item is 9E, and that is a recommendation for the Board
of County Commissioners to approve filling a vacant position in the
board's office an as exception to the current county policy to not fill
open or vacated general fund positions.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: (Absent.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries, 3-0.
Item #10A
RESOLUTION 2008-121: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE
COLLIER COUNTY HUD ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN FOR FY
2008 - 2009 FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT (CDBG), HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS
(HOME), AMERICAN DREAM DOWN-PAYMENT INITIATIVE
(ADD I) AND EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT (ESG)
PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZE TRANSMITTAL TO THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, next item is 10A. This is a
recommendation that this board approve a resolution adopting the
Collier County HUD one-year action plan for FY-2008 through 2009
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April 22-23, 2008
for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home
Investment Partnerships, (HOME), American Dream Downpayment
Initiative, (ADDI), and Emergency Shelter Grant, ESG, programs and
authorize transmittal to the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
Ms. Marcy Krumbine, director of -- your Director of Housing
and Human Services, will present.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
MS. FILSON: I have speakers.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion on the floor to
approve.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll give it a second for
discussion purposes, because there's some speakers that want to
address a couple of issues.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: They want to talk us out of it?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MS. FILSON: I have three speakers, Mr. Chairman. The first is
Carol Yates. These speakers were from yesterday. Carol?
MS. YATES: You want me to come now?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes, ma'am.
MS. FILSON: Yes. She'll be followed by Steve Hart.
Yeah, right up to the podium right there.
MS. YATES: I didn't know I was going to be first. Good
mornmg.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Good morning.
MS . YATES: I had an opportunity to watch you all yesterday. It
was quite fascinating. I don't get that opportunity very often, so --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, you poor thing.
MS. YATES: I'm a Realtor in Naples, Florida. I've been here for
15 years. And for the most part I worked in the affordable housing
arena. Marcy and I have worked together. I was a volunteer
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April 22-23, 2008
instructor with her classes for seven or eight years. So this has been a
real important issue to us, and is also now a very important issue to
NABOR. They haven't always been on board, but they are now.
We have an opportunity now to put some distribution of
affordable housing out into the community that we haven't had in
probably five years at least. We had nothing affordable given the
guidelines for the SHIP funds and the consortium. And so I'm really
excited that we might be able to make a program work that I think
John Barlow's going to speak to you about in a few minutes.
There are a lot of foreclosures going on, as you're aware, a lot of
short sales that are trying to happen which, if they don't happen, will
end up in the foreclosure arena.
I pulled up some figures a couple days ago. In the Naples MLS
system, we have 148 active listings for single-family homes under
$150,000, and a majority of those are short sales. We have 377 active
condo listings for villas under $150,000. That's inventory that we have
not seen in a very long time.
Now, I'm aware that the Sheriffs Department also has some
issues with foreclosures in abandoned homes out in the Estates and
Golden Gate City and some other locations, and this program that
we're talking about would allow for some of these homes to be
occupied and, therefore, not a problem with vandalism and squatters.
So there are just so many aspects of this, I could go on and on,
and I'm sure my three minutes are about up. Anyway, I urge you to
listen to Mr. Barlow. He's got some really good information, and
certainly excitement for the first time in a long time.
MS. FILSON: The next speaker is Steve Hart. He'll be followed
by John Barlow.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: What a novel idea. You're saying to
try to capture the vacant homes now, and rehabbing them.
MS. YATES: Rehab.
MR. HART: Correct. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, my name
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April 22-23, 2008
is Steve Hart with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, senior
vice-president for public policy. And if I could, perhaps, I could yield
my time to Mr. Barlow to explain this further, and I'll come back up
after he's done and finish up. Would that be -- would that be
allowable with you?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Are you yielding or just loaning some
time?
MR. HART: Loaning some time to Mr. Barlow.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Barlow?
MR. BARLOW: I probably don't need all this long time. But
after watching yesterday, I got quite an education. It was great.
Amazing.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I wish I shared your thoughts.
MR. BARLOW: As Carol just mentioned, there is a unique
opportunity right now because of a situation where many of our fellow
Collier citizens and former citizens are sharing pain relative to the
deterioration of our marketplace here, but it's created -- on the flip side
of that, every time there's a problem, there's an opportunity -- created
an opportunity to link these houses with people who've become
income qualified. And this phenomena has happened relatively fast.
We've had a lot of print put in the newspapers about affordable
housing for years, but we've never been able to solve it in any
meaningful way.
Now, what the proposal is that we would like to accomplish is
make an application for CDBG funding on this cycle, which, as to
why we're here, it requires an amendment to the action plan that you're
referring to.
I asked Marcy to go back and see if additional reprogram funds
are available to fund this initiative so we can actually go out with the
homeowner and purchase a home, and if necessary, refurbish that
home. They'd have to be income qualified. And they'd move them
into that home, and once we go to the mortgage company and get a
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April 22-23, 2008
secure mortgage, the money comes in, and we're able to continue to
roll this, keeping the houses affordable and keep it in a decent living.
We're not sure how long this window of opportunity will exist.
As I read the newspaper, just like you do, some people say it's turning
now, some people will say it's turning next year, and there are others
that say it turns several years from now.
I don't know, but I know right now, regardless of when it does
turn, the time is to put the engine in place to make sure this thing can
work in the future for us so we just don't have to depend on going out
and building new homes, and then we've got all of the problems with
where they're concentrated, impact deferral fees, cost of labor, and a
developer usually will spend his time in 4-,5-, $600,000 homes rather
than building $150,000 homes.
So I think this is an opportunity. In business I'd call it a nest on
the ground for us to act. And I think if we can get the commission's
charge to Marcy to go back and take a look at the amendment of it --
of this plan and see if we can come up with funding for it -- and had
this happened yesterday, I was -- I brought the Naples Daily News
editorial, which some of us agree with sometimes and some of us
don't.
But yesterday -- and I thought I timed this pretty good but I had
nothing to do with it -- it said, whether used for hurricane proofing or
mortgage programs, that money could be used, good money -- this is
federal and state money -- intended for the use right now. This is no
time to pull back. This is the time to accelerate.
And what I'm suggesting, this is the time to put in place a new
tool to put in our toolbox that we can extend in future years as things
get better.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Barlow?
MR. BARLOW: Thank you very much for your time.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Don't go away. Commissioner Coletta
and Commissioner Halas has questions for you.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Obviously you received the
award earlier today for very good reason. I appreciate your
forethought on this issue. I mean, sometimes the solution is right in
front of you. It should be absolutely obvious. I couldn't agree with
you more.
How we get to there from where we are is another question, and I
think Marcy might be able to tell us if we've got some sort of time
restraint (sic) on this money. Are we in some sort of push/shove type
of situation where we could address this?
MS. KRUMBINE: Yes, Commissioner. For the record, Marcy
Krumbine, director of housing and human services.
We do have a time constraint with the action plan. It has to go
before -- it has to be sent to HUD by May 15th, and we did have an
application cycle, that started in the fall. That was kind of part of my
presentation, but I'm glad to not go through it all.
So we had an application at that time that talked about buying
foreclosures. And unfortunately, it didn't score well. And so the
projects that you have before you in the action plan are what -- are
kind of the typical track that we've taken in the past five years, which
is to assist some of the non-profits with infrastructure to build
affordable housing, and -- and so that's what we've -- we've kept with
that.
And so in order to take on a new project, what we would have to
do -- well, first we have to send the action plan in, and then if the
board directed staff to come back and look at this, we would need to --
one, you'd need to direct us, do you want to take from this current
action plan or do you want us to look to see if there's other money
from past projects that weren't completed; and then, two, we would
have to advertise it to be fair to everybody just like we did this.
There'd have to be an advertisement for applications. There would
have to be applications submitted and reviewed and 30-day comment,
and then I'd have to come back to you with an amendment.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Marcy, a couple things.
One, we do have a meeting before the 15th, and I don't know if we
could get something resolved before then.
MS. KRUMBINE: No, because we need to have a 30-day
comment.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Then we'll have to address the
situation here. I mean, it makes absolutely no sense to be building
new infrastructure when we have so many empty buildings out there.
Isn't that the goal of this community to be able to remove the
infrastructure, the unused homes that are out there, the abandoned
homes to be able to fill them? Why do we want to exacerbate this
problem by building new dwellings while we still have many, many
dwellings out there that are unoccupied? So I mean, we've got to use
some simple logic in this whole thing.
Now, I know there's going to be some very upset people. And
I'm looking at this right now. One thing, St. Matthew's House, there's
no way we can -- other than to deal with it in this situation, there's no
way we could address this with foreclosed homes?
MS. KRUMBINE: No, and you -- and that's special money for
emergency services, and that couldn't be taken away from them. The
only monies that would be available would be Community
Development Block Grant or the HOME monies.
And again, because there has to be a 30-day comment and there
has to be public hearings, there's no way that the board can change this
action plan now, but you can direct me to -- for staff to go back and do
the projects all over again and come back with an amendment to this
plan that really does need to be submitted to HUD.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I know I'm going to take a
lot of -- a lot of comments from -- negative comments from the
industry out there, because I am the point person for affordable
housing, but I can't disagree more with the direction we're attempting
to go.
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April 22-23, 2008
I really do think that the direction should be a program that
would be able to capture some of those dwellings that are out there
and a blight on the community. That's my personal feelings. I don't
know how we get there, but there's got to be a way.
MS. KRUMBINE: Well, Commissioner, if you remember, you
know, I've been director of housing and human services now for about
15 or 16 months, and I have said over and over again that we need to
put kind of a very flexible program in place so that yearly I could
come to you and say, where do you want us to go this year because
things changed so much? And you know, quite frankly, we're the
government, and we're going in one direction, and sometimes it's
difficult to turn and steer the ship in another direction.
So as I said, you know, for years we've been putting in
infrastructure, we've been helping organizations like Habitat for
Humanity, and that's the direction that we've been in, and those are the
proposals that we got.
I think that this is a great idea. Unfortunately, the timing of it is
such that we have to address it through an amendment.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Halas, Commissioner
Coyle.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, I'm sorry I come in in the
middle of this discussions when it was -- during the presentation. But
I see great benefits here, and the benefits are that we don't have to give
impact fee deferrals. The impacts fees have already been paid on
these homes, and so, therefore, I think that really -- when you look at
it, it's good business practice to go out there and -- when you talk
about refurbishing, most of these homes, probably we wouldn't have
to do that much refurbishing because there was people that were living
there, unless they just let the place really go down, but normally
people have pride in it.
So refurbishing would probably be nothing more than maybe
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April 22-23, 2008
painting and maybe planting a few shrubs here and there, but if there
was -- where we had to replace plasterboard and stuff, it's still a lot
cheaper than replacing a whole new structure and paying the impact
fees.
MR. BARLOW: Well, my thought on that is the initial selection
process, because we have such a large inventory now we probably will
not need to do a lot of extensive refurbishing. And as far as painting
and things like that goes, I would hold the homeowner to do that,
moving into a home.
I think the refurbishing aspects will probably come in more when
you get the less inventory. The people who have vacated these houses
could well have taken their appliances with them or created some type
of destruction in the house, which we do find when houses are
foreclosed on and things like that. But I would think that that's on a
subsequent phase and not necessarily this one.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And in looking at the home sales or
looking at the price of homes that are now on the market, it's amazing
-- there's an awful lot of homes that are in the $150,000 category, or
some of them, in fact, are even lower, so they would fit in the category
of the 60 percent to 80 percent --
MR. BARLOW: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: -- percentile of wages. So that
makes that real affordable. And like I said, we don't have to end up
giving impact fee deferrals.
MR. BARLOW: It eliminates an awful lot of problems, it does,
yes, SIr.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I think it's a good idea. I
would -- but realities are we've got to submit this action plan.
MS. KRUMBINE: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. We've got to approve the
action plan as it is now, submit it, and then come up with a program
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April 22-23, 2008
that will accomplish what you're trying to do here.
And I don't know that we need to reach a solution on how you go
about accomplishing that here because the idea, I think, is very sound.
In fact, it's essential. I mean, why would you leave these places out
there vacant?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We have to understand a couple of
other opportunities and, perhaps, unfavorable consequences.
Opportunities are a potential partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
They have a large group of volunteers who do things like build
houses. They could also, perhaps, renovate some.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Somebody's going to have to buy
these houses. You can't buy a lot of houses for a million dollars, even
if you got that much in this program. So trying to work out a
partnership with somebody else who has the resources to not only
acquire the property but renovate it and then control it after it is sold
to someone, we could even approach it on a rental basis with some
other organizations if you wanted to do that. So I would encourage
you to look at partnerships with already existing organizations, that
way we can leverage the impact of the money we get.
Now, the downside is going to be that by doing this, we're going
to be taking away, I believe, some of the potential buyers of
low-income housing that is currently being built, and it is likely not to
be sold to those people, because if these are cheaper, they're probably
going to go for these. So you're taking some people off the market.
Anytime you reduce the market, you're going to slow down sales of
these newer homes.
So in any event, it's worth pursuing. I think it's a great idea, but
let's approve this plan and then provide the staff with the guidance to
proceed with the suggestion and evaluate partnerships that will
leverage our investment.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Marcy, did you, in your huddle, did
you come up with any solution?
MS. KRUMBINE: No, Commissioner Coyle just -- well,
Commissioner Coyle just really brought it down to the bottom line,
and that is that we need to go ahead with the action plan. And then if
you provide me direction, we would be happy to go back and, again,
put out an RFP, work with the existing organizations, work with John
Barlow and his group to see what are the options out there, and come
back with a proposal to you.
I'd also like to just draw your attention to the plan as it exists.
We did put money in there, about $215,000 for single-family rehab,
although we weren't looking at buying the homes. We were looking at
people who would initially buy some of these foreclosures and be able
to provide some assistance right away with them bringing the home up
to a certain code.
In a couple of more agenda items, I'll be coming to you with the
disaster recovery initiative, single-family rehab program, and we
could also combine the monies with that to put on windows and doors
and strengthen the roof. So we have a lot of tools in place that we
could use to supplement a program like this.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Halas, then
Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I think, if anything, it's a
good incubator program. And I think once it's instituted, I think that
we'll have probably some other people getting actively involved in
this, because I think it's a win-win situation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm very excited about it, John.
I kind of hope that I might receive an invitation to those meetings that
you have with your group. I think there's some tremendous
possibilities. Habitat for Humanity could probably -- possibly join
into it with some of their resources, and this could be one of the
solutions to bring Collier County up by its bootstraps.
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April 22-23, 2008
MR. BARLOW: Commissioner, we have talked with Habitat.
The thinking along the line, that it would be nice just to expand their
horizons a little bit. They've got the resources, they've got the process
all down.
Sometimes it's difficult to get people from -- getting out of their
knitting, and I think we're going to have to really encourage them in a
little bit more direct way. But the best thing to do is to make
something successful, and then I think everybody will jump onto this.
I mean, I've talked to people at the CBIA, and he said, well, I'll
put in a hundred thousand to supplement the -- whatever grant monies
are available if you'll put in a hundred thousand. So it's got
possibilities of bringing in the private sector --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good.
MR. BARLOW: -- to also help this engine go faster.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Count me in, John.
MR. BARLOW: Thank you very much, gentlemen.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Count Commissioner Coletta in for a
hundred thousand.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I'm borrowing the money
from Commissioner Henning, no interest.
MR. HART: That's very generous of you, Commissioner. That's
very nIce.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's quite all right. Now your
hundred thousand's also following, I'm sure.
MR. HART: Again, my name is Steve Hart, Greater Naples
Chamber of Commerce --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: One minute.
MR. HART: -- making lemonade from lemons department. The
Chamber has fully committed to helping organize this effort in
bringing together any number of experts, rehab contractors, people
from the CBIA. Some of our volunteer leaders have had discussions
with some of the EDC leaders, and we're happy to help in this in any
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April 22-23, 2008
way that we can. We think it's a good idea, too, to pursue.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I was kidding, Sue.
Any more discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you. All in favor of the
motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
MS. KRUMBINE: Thank you.
Item # lOC
TO ACCEPT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
(FT A) FY08 5307 GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,978,706.00 -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to 10C, and that's a
recommendation to accept the Federal Transit Administration, FT A,
FY-'08 5307--
,
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion--
MR. MUDD: -- grant in the amount of$I,978,706. Ms. Diane
Flagg, your Director of Alternative Transportation Modes, will
present.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by Commissioner
Coletta to approve, second by Commissioner Coyle.
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April 22-23, 2008
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. It's my understanding that
this money's going to be used for maintenance; is that correct?
MS. FLAGG: A portion ofthe money can be used for -- Federal
Transit Administration considers portions of fleet maintenance,
specific parts and labor, as part of capitalized operating. So, yes, you
can use the FT A grant for that.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And I think you're going to
what, purchase four buses?
MS. FLAGG: That's the plan. We're holding off on the actual
purchase right now until we get a better cost idea of the passenger
transfer center at the government center.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. And that money can also be
used to -- for the transfer center, too, or not?
MS. FLAGG: What we would have to do at this point is amend
the grant. But, yes, any capital expense such as bus purchases or
building buildings. If you build buildings, you have to go through a
pretty significantly long process with the feds to be able to use the
money, whereas buses you can just outright purchase.
But, again, we're holding off right now on the actual bus
purchase. If we do purchase the buses, we'll come back to you with
approval to purchase. We just want to get a better idea of the cost of
the passenger transfer before we do that.
We have other grants allocated for the passenger transfer center.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Thank you very much.
MS. FLAGG: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
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April 22-23, 2008
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries, 4-1 (sic).
Item #lOD
THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROVIDE
DIRECTION REGARDING A REQUEST BY THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF COLLIER COUNTY TO AMEND
THE FEE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP
DEFRAY THE COST OF IMP ACT FEES FOR AN EXISTING
COLLIER COUNTY COMPANY WHICH IS CONSIDERING
RELOCATING AND EXPANDING THEIR MANUFACTURING
FACILITY FROM WESTERN COLLIER COUNTY TO EASTERN
COLLIER COUNTY - APPROVED W /FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR
ARTHREX'S EXPANSION
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, next item is 10D, that the Board of
County Commissioners provide direction regarding a request by the
Economic Development Council of Collier County, to amend the Fee
Payment Assistant Program to help defray the cost of impact fees for
an existing Collier County company which is considering relocating
and expanding their manufacturing facility from western Collier
County to eastern Collier County.
Ms. Tammie Nemecek, the EDC executive director, and Amy
Patterson, your impact fee -- will present.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: If I may?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. As this is not going to be
drawing any new resource into this particular fund and it is limited to
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April 22-23, 2008
the limits of the fund itself, I make a motion for approval.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion to approve by Commissioner
Coletta, second by Commissioner Henning.
Discussion?
MS. FILSON: I have a speaker, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions from (sic) Ms. Nemecek.
You want a presentation?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I -- my concern on this project--
and I can tell you right off the bat that I'm not going to approve it. I'm
not going to sit here and make promises for funds that we don't have,
and under the light of what's happening here up in Tallahassee, I think
it's going to be very, very difficult for us to meet a lot of these
commitments.
So I'm just going to put it right on the line. I can't approve
something that -- if I can't deliver, so --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Ms. Nemecek?
MS. NEMECEK: Commissioner, the allocation in this year's
funding is $1.1 million, but about a hundred thousand has been
expended. There is a million dollars left in that fund.
The SDP for this project is expected to come in prior to the end
of the fiscal year, which would allocate those funds to this project.
We understand that there mayor may not be funding next year. It
does not -- the programs are established based on funding availability
in each fiscal year, so it does not obligate the board to funding prior --
or future fiscal years. So we would not be --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: So the money's there?
MS. NEMECEK: The money is there today, correct.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Does that answer your question,
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Answer's my question, but --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You're saying all of the money's
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going to be used on this one project?
MS. NEMECEK: The remaining -- the facility that the company
is looking to build is a 200,000-square-foot facility. The impact fees
on this facility are in excess of $2 million.
When they submit their SDP this fiscal year, it will require 50
percent of that to be paid this year, so it will pay up to whatever funds
are available this fiscal year, not in excess of what the existing funds
are allocated.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And they're not going to get it
unless they build a facility and get the additional employees?
MS. NEMECEK: Correct. There's a lien put on the property
based on them performing to the criteria in the program for 10 years
actually. They have to keep the jobs in place for 10 years.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Call the speakers up, please.
MS. FILSON: I have one speaker, Kevin, it looks like Grieff.
MR. GRIEFF: Grieff.
MS. FILSON: Can you spell that for me, sir?
MR. GRIEFF: G-R-I-E-F-F, as in Frank.
Good morning. I'm Kevin Grieff, the operations VP for Arthrex,
Incorporated. We're looking to expand out into eastern Collier County
because of our growth that we've had over the 15 years, 16 years that
we've been here.
Weare a medical device company in orthopedics, a division in
the United States and worldwide that continues to grow. We started
with two employees here in 1991. We're up to 580. We're out of
space at our current Creekside complex up in North Naples, and it's
necessary for us to expand.
So we're about to make an economic decision to expand and
build about a $20-million facility, along with the land and the capital
equipment, and we're looking for some economic relief to help making
that financial decision.
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CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I think this is absolutely
wonderful, and the reason is, you're putting a facility near the
workforce. They don't have to come to the coast every morning to get
to their work, and Arthrex has been a -- great to the community by
staying here in Collier County.
MR. GRIEFF: We're very loyal to the county. We want to stay
here and keep our employees here.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MS. NEMECEK: The company currently employs 550
employees at that facility. There'll be at least 100 to start with out in
eastern Collier County. And I can't stress enough the importance of
having catalyst type company make the commitment, especially a
company like Arthrex, make the commitment to eastern Collier
County and start that process of saying yes, eastern Collier County's a
valid place where you can have your company.
In addition to the jobs out there, the relief of the facility in the
coastal area at their Creekside facility, they're also going to be
increasing employment there. That's not really captured in their
application because it's site specific, but I can't stress enough -- I
mean, this is a company that could have a thousand employees in
Collier County going forward, and we want to make sure that happens
here.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thanks, Tammie, for bringing this
forward. I think it's a great opportunity.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I couldn't agree with you more.
And there's another aspect of this that's going to mean a big difference.
The foreclosure rate that's taking place in eastern Collier County,
especially in the Estates, the far Estates, is phenomenal. It's the largest
amount anyplace in the county. Something like this taking place,
along with some of the efforts that we heard of today, could turn that
whole market around --
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MS. NEMECEK: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- and help to stabilize a market
out there that's in disarray.
MR. GRIEFF: I was thinking the same thing when I hear about
foreclosure. These people can live out in that area and they don't have
to commute with gas at $3, $4 a gallon. Huge.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you for your
commitment to the community.
MR. GRIEFF: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any further discussion on the
motion?
MS. NEMECEK: One clarifying point is that the applications
are on a first-come/first-serve basis because we'll need to bring back
the revision to this. Can we go ahead and state for the record that
these funds will be earmarked specifically for this project, just to make
sure that, from a timing standpoint, we're --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: My motion states that.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And so does the second.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I thought that you also came in on
another item in regards to where some of these funds were going to be
allocated for another firm.
MS. NEMECEK: That was $49,000.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Seeing no further discussion, all in
favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 3-1, Commissioner
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April 22-23, 2008
Halas dissenting.
MS. NEMECEK: Thank you.
MR. GRIEFF: Thank you.
Item #10F
AN ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF
FUNDS FOR THE COLLIER COUNTY SINGLE F AMIL Y
REHABILITATION PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE FLORIDA
DEP ARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DISASTER
RECOVERY INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to 10F, and this is a
recommendation to approve an administrative plan for the distribution
of funds for the Collier County Single Family Rehabilitation Program
funded by the Florida Department of Community Affairs Disaster
Recovery Initiative Grant Program.
Again, the running Marcy Krumbine, Director of Housing and
Human Services, will present.
MS. KRUMBINE: I'm giving you the option, Commissioners.
Come on, you know how to say this. Come on. No? Okay. You want
me to --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
MS. KRUMBINE: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coyle,
second by Commissioner Halas to approve the item.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, nothing to add.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Carries unanimously.
MS. KRUMBINE: Thank you so much. Have a great day.
Item #10G
PRESENTING TO THE U.S. CONGRESS FOR CONSIDERATION
IN THE 2008 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
(WRDA) TWO PROPOSED COLLIER COUNTY WATER
QUALITY PROJECTS, INCLUDING CLAM BAY ESTUARY
IMPROVEMENTS, AND A NAPLES BAY CONSERVATION
INITIATIVE ENTAILING A SYSTEM OF 10 AQUIFER
STORAGE AND RECOVERY (ASR) WELLS ALONG GOLDEN
GATE CANAL, AND A CITY OF MARCO ISLAND PROJECT
REQUEST FOR HIDEAWAY BEACH EROSION CONTROL
AND BEACH RENOURISHMENT - APPROVED W /REMOV AL
OF THE CLAM BAY ESTUARY IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE
PROPOSAL
MR. MUDD: Commissioners, that brings us to our next item,
which is 10G, and this is an add-on item. It's a recommendation to
approve presenting for the U.S. Congress for consideration in the 2008
Water Resources Development Act, WRDA, two proposed Collier
County water quality projects, including Clam Bay Estuary
improvements and a Naples Bay conservation initiative entailing a
system of 10 aquifer storage and recovery wells along the Golden
Gate Canal and the City of Marco Island project request for Hideaway
Beach erosion control and beach re-nourishment.
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April 22-23, 2008
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Motion to approve.
MR. MUDD: Mr. Ochs --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
MR. MUDD: Could I just give you -- just for -- because I
received an email from Mr. Brad Cornell that had concerns upon this
particular WRDA request. And I just want to make sure that the board
is aware -- because I'm not too sure the board's got this one down pat,
and I'm not too sure the Audubon of Washington, D.C., understands
that particular directive that your Congressman that represents this
county in Washington, D.C., have received.
Water Resources Development Act is a two-year -- it's in the past
been a two-year appropriation cycle for water projects, and it also has
environmental consequences and things like that.
We received notice last week from our lobbyist and from the
congressional offices in Washington, D.C., that there is a special
cycle. Normally we would have had two years because they just
passed the WRDA bill of2007, and the next one should be WRDA
2009.
The WRDA 2007, we were very lucky in the fact that we had
four projects that affected Collier County on them.
This is an appropriation cycle. It is not -- excuse me. It's an
authorization cycle. It is not an appropriation cycle. It's an
authorization -- Washington does it a little bit different than the State
of Florida and most states of the union do, where they authorize and
appropriate at the same time.
Washington authorizes projects, and then in a subsequent year,
you can go out and try to get appropriations on an earmark system that
they have in Washington.
If you don't have the authorization, you can't ask for money. You
don't get it. The -- most congressional offices and committees will
say, has it been authorized; and if the answer is no, then it basically
falls on deaf ears.
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So with that request that we got from Washington last week to
say, hey, what are your WRDA requirements, it kind of took staff off
guard. But we sent out an emergency request to our staff to please tell
us what things are out there.
And Ms. Wight will present those five particular items -- or
excuse me -- the three particular items that came forward.
I will make a correction on your -- on the executive summary.
It's on the last page of the executive summary, and it's under
Hideaway Beach erosion control and beach re-nourishment. If you
could please strike -- and it's in the first paragraph, sixth line down,
and it says, and aid to restore navigable pass to Big Marco Pass. The
Marco Island representative yesterday -- and I'm not sure she is here --
but basically said in that particular proposal that that needs to be
stricken from their project.
Ms. Wight?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Does she need to present?
MS. WIGHT: I think they just said a motion and a second to
pass.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. I'm -- let me recognize the
motion, then we're going to have discussion and public speakers.
Commissioner Coyle made a motion to approve, second by
Commissioner Halas.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. I have -- now, how time
sensitive is this? Is this something that could be put off by one
meeting?
MS. WIGHT: No, Commissioners. You received a letter --
MR. MUDD: Excuse me. You were passed out by Mr. Ochs a
directive that's signed by the committee chairman in Washington,
D.C., that basically says the congressional offices have to have the
projects filed, okay, with them by April 25, 2008.
And as of Friday, we had to have our worksheets up, but they
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April 22-23, 2008
need to have a letter by the chairman of the board, and that's why it's
on this agenda today, and that's why it's a walk-on. We didn't have--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, and I understand it, and I'm
not going to vote against it. But here's two problems. One, you're
right, I do have the letter. It was just handed to me. I haven't had a
chance to read it. So you know, what you're telling me is all brand
new news.
These things could be provided ahead of time; it might make a
little more difference. But I do have to go on the record by telling you
I had a request from both the Audubon and the Conservancy to have it
delayed. I'm not going to ask for it to be delayed because I don't want
to lose the opportunity. If something goes terrible wrong with this and
it's a terrible project, I'm sure we'll have some people intercede to be
able to have it removed. They wanted the chance to be able to come
before us to be able to talk about it, and that chance didn't exist;
however, circumstances are what they are. Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. And I received this directive yesterday
around three o'clock in the afternoon when Brad Cornell in the email
mentioned that, you know, he wanted it delayed, and his Washington
office says there's time.
I called our lobbyist; I called the congressional offices and said,
what's the big rush? I know we were told we had to have it at
congressional offices. What's the issue? And this is what I was --
what was sent to me.
Commissioner, the other reason I gave my introductory remarks
to this particular item, it's an authorization. The authorization goes for
an appropriation, and then it has a debate in Congress.
Ifit gets appropriated, every one of these projects will have a
study prior to any construction being done to make sure that there's a
federal and a public purpose, that there's a cost share partner, okay,
and at that time the environmental community or anybody else can put
in comments into that particular study. And if it's determined that the
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-- that it isn't a project that should be done, that's when it dies.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Further questions? We've got
two speakers.
MS. FILSON: I believe one's left over from yesterday. Nicole
Ryan. Marcia Cravens?
MS. CRAVENS: Hello, again. I want to thank you again for
your approval of the agenda item yesterday for PBSD to continue
managing the Clam Bay Mangrove forest, which is somewhat relevant
to this request also.
As you know, this is still an issue that is under discussion, and I
actually am part of the work group in the Clam Bay Estuary
Discussion Committee. And it would seem that this project is
circumventing that Clam Bay Estuary discussion work group. Also
Pelican Bay Services Division was not aware of this, has had no input,
residents of Pelican Bay were not aware of this, have had no input.
The conservation and environmental group that I am a member of, the
Mangrove Action Group, was not aware of this and has had no input
in it.
And it would just seem that this is a major project for Clam Bay
Estuary. It may include construction, and I would hope that those
stakeholders that it will impact will have some ability to be informed
and have some input in it.
I don't know what else to say other than I also know that the other
environmental organizations such as Audubon and the Conservancy
had expressed wanting to have some input into it as well.
I understand you have the time constraint here, but it does not
seem like it follows the discussion that occurred yesterday,
particularly for Clam Bay. I can't speak to the Golden Gate or Marco
Island issues. But for Clam Bay Estuary, as a member of Mangrove
Action Group and as a resident of Pelican Bay, I feel very vested in
this, and I have to speak up for those people.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay.
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. CRAVENS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Commissioner Coyle and Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, we have two alternatives.
We can delay it and get input from everybody and miss the deadline
and not get funding -- is that sticking up for the people -- or we can get
it on the project list.
If we get the funding, we still have to approve the expenditures,
we'll have public hearings concerning that, and everybody will have a
chance to provide their input to us.
So it seems to me that the smart thing to do is, let's get in line for
the money, because if we don't do that we're not going to get anything;
and then if we get the money, before we expend the money, we have
to get -- develop a project plan, and all of the stakeholders then will
get to participate. That's the process.
We don't like it any more than you do. We would -- you heard us
say we got notice on Friday. How are we going to get people together
before the deadline?
MS. CRAVENS: I understand, sir, but yesterday part of our
discussion was also not rushing into a management plan or activities
for particularly -- as, again, I can only speak to Clam Bay Estuary, and
maybe just that portion of it could be removed. There is funding for
what needs to be done for Clam Bay Estuary and many other
environmental programs. I have a thick bundle of funding
opportunities for that. I actually will be going to a meeting this
afternoon.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I understand your point. I would be
happy to make a recommendation we drop the Clam Bay funding
request from this request here and we submit it for the rest of the
items.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, you made the motion, but
before --
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April 22-23, 2008
MS. FILSON: Commissioner Halas did.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Before you amend it, I would like to
say something about that.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. I believe that did come up in
yesterday's discussion briefly. I believe the County Manager made
reference to the possibility because there was some discussion about --
the people in Pelican Bay were worried about their Mangroves. We
took care of that issue. We said there was some other issues that
needed to be addressed down in Clam Bay and below. And I think
that's what this funding is going to try to do is to assist in that manner
there.
So as far as the Mangroves, it's not going to hurt anything in the
Mangroves or whatever's going on there by the Pelican Bay Services
Division, okay.
But I think this is a great opportunity -- it's not to say that we're
going to get the money, but it's a great opportunity for us to get at least
in line. And then as Commissioner Coyle said, it will have a full
vetting when that point in time comes.
And I believe that we need to address that, because I think it has
concerns not only in Pelican Bay, but it also has concerns with the rest
of the estuary system that's connected with the City of Naples.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I would like to modify my motion
then, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend approval with the
elimination of any request for funding for the project that the Pelican
Bay Services Division is going to be overseeing with respect to the
Mangroves.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. I'll second that.
MS. CRAVENS: Can I comment on that?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sure.
MS. CRAVENS: Just that when you're discussing hydraulics
and construction in Clam Bay Estuary, you are affecting the
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April 22-23, 2008
Mangroves, and it's something -- at least there should be some
information and some discussion for -- again, I belong to this work
group that is meeting this afternoon that is supposed to be discussing
the management for this.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's right.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, Ms. Krumbine (sic.)
Thank you.
Okay. So we just don't want to -- make sure any of those funds
don't go to the -- to the Mangrove, whatever Pelican Bay Services --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mangrove management.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. We understand that, and we'll --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I don't want to go against
my fellow commissioners, especially the one that represents that area,
but are we missing a golden opportunity to be able to get some relief
for the taxpayers of Collier County? That's my concern.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We just heard that there's plenty of
money available.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: What we're going to do is we're
going to get this for the City of Naples and all the other areas.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, I see. I see. In other
words, just segregating one little bit.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I hope that we don't -- and I
especially hope that Pelican Bay doesn't come to regret this moment.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, they have their spokesperson
that's here representing that Mangrove group, so --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, we could have made this
decision down the road. But once again, I'll follow the will of the
commissioner of that district.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any further discussion?
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(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No. Do we have any more speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 4-0.
Item #lOH
LETTER TO FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
REGARDING APRIL 24, 2008 ALLIGATOR ALLEY INDUSTRY
FORUM: MOTION TO MOVE THE LETTER FORWARD -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to 10H, and 10H is a
letter to the Florida Department Secretary regarding the April 24,
2008, Alligator Alley Industry Forum, and your MPO Director, Mr.
Tindale, will present.
MR. TINDALE: Thank you, Mr. Mudd.
On last Friday, April 18th, at the joint Lee/Collier MPO Board
Meeting, it was announced by FDOT that there will be an industry
forum tomorrow, April 24th, in the Orlando area, host -- this forum
will be a meeting and discussion regarding the possible leasing of
Alligator Alley, to toll facility, to a private concessionaire.
The Board members from both MPOs are very concerned about
this, and staff was given direction to, as soon as possible, prepare
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correspondence expressing those concerns.
The agenda of this forum first will involve a briefing on the
facility and its history, and then there will be a discussion of the
anticipated method and schedule for selecting a concessionaire.
The concerns mainly had to do with timing and location.
Obviously it was short notice, and there was very little and really no
coordination with the MPOs between the FDOT and the state, and
also, with the location, which is located some 180-plus miles from this
area.
So as directed by the MPO board, I went ahead and prepared this
correspondence. If it's the pleasure of the board, I can read the text
into the record. And this would be addressed to transportation
secretary Stephanie Kopelos.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I wonder what else we're going to
have up for sale here.
MR. TINDALE: That's--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Basically--
MR. TINDALE: -- with the fiscal environment we are operating
mnow.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: County Manager, a brief conversation
that you had yesterday about this letter. Actually, you received it --
MR. MUDD: On the 22nd, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah. I received it on Friday at 1553,
which -- what time is that?
MR. MUDD: That's around three.
MR. TINDALE: 3:53 p.m.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All right. And our clock is late, so I
really didn't get this till Monday when I came into the office. It was in
there. And -- first time I read it this morning, so --
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. They didn't give us a lot of notice on this
one, and they've invited -- they've invited the industry forum to come
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in and take a look at selling the particular asset and see what -- they
can spark any interest.
I will tell you I drove on Alligator Alley last weekend, and just --
it's almost repaved, the -- both sides, and all restriped. So I don't --
this has been -- it's been their thought process for a while.
Normally when you get ready to sell a home, you paint it and
make it look like it has good curb appeal. And so, I think that's kind
of where we're at right now. And Norm got kind of shortsighted on
this, and I know it came up the at Regional Planning Commission and
it came up during your MPO meeting, and I believe Johnny Limbaugh
was the lightning rod that stood there and basically made that
announcement.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coletta, Commissioner
Halas.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. What's taking place here
is a travesty to the residents of Florida. I hope that this meeting on the
24th -- I'm fully booked that day, I can't go, but I hope we authorize
staff or direct staff to make sure we have representation there, and I'd
urge any commissioners free on that day to be sure to go to that
meeting on the 24th.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: What's surprising is that I don't
believe that anybody had any idea that this was going to be on our
plate this quickly. The other thing that bothers me is that they just
raised the toll on there to 2.50.
There's already been talk that for a vehicle, a car, they're looking
at possibly as high as a $5 toll. This doesn't tell you what the toll is
going to be for trucks that bring the commodities into this community.
I would hope that we get some support not only from Lee County
and this county, but that we get some support from Miami-Dade area
and the Broward County area.
I believe that the citizens here are being shortchanged. And I
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think that with the advent of the -- the people up in Tallahassee that
are thinking about raiding the transportation fund for the next five
years at a sum of $750 million a year to try to balance the budget --
and then, of course, turning around and selling assets that the State of
Florida basically owns, or the citizens here, and put it up for the
highest bidder so then, therefore, they can try to get some of their road
projects done, as Commissioner Coletta said, is a travesty.
And I think that there needs to be an outcry by the citizens here
throughout the State of Florida. This is just the beginning. And the
reason they picked Alligator Alley is because it's the only direct link
from here to the west coast -- excuse me -- the east coast, and there's
no other good avenue that you can travel to get back and forth. So I
believe that we're being held bondage here and are being blackmailed.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Feder?
MR. FEDER: For the record, Norman Feder, Transportation
Administrator.
I'll be very brief, but I do want to point out, first of all, we heard
about this early Thursday also. It was finally advertised, as I
understand it, east coast and west coast papers, on Thursday, which is
interesting because obviously you do not pull 40 members of an
international industry together in Orlando in that short time frame.
But that's when they let this area know because they came to the
Regional Planning Council that Thursday. So first of all, very little
notice.
To us it's very important, not only from the aspects that have
been mentioned, what's going to happen relative to rates, the fact that
they just spend all of this money to resurface it to get ready to send
out, but this is not your typical public/private partnership where there's
some issues that we've been discussing in other areas, but this is an
area where you have a facility that already exists, is already a revenue
stream.
So one might ask, if it's a profit revenue stream, why is the state
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April 22-23, 2008
giving it up? And the answer has to be that they want money up front.
Then you say, why can't they bond it? But then you say, okay, well,
you can only get so much out of it at the current toll rate, so obviously
the prospects are the tolls will be allowed and will go up as an
inducement to the industry. So we've got the first issue of the cost for
us to commute back and forth.
I will tell you, unfortunately, Commissioner, the east coast is not
aware of this either. We called them as soon as we became aware of it
and talked to the MPOs both in Broward and Dade, Phil did, and he
was the one providing them that news. So that is a great concern, so
obviously your letter is telling them you need forums down here.
It also presents other issues to us. We're trying to pursue an
Everglades interchange. We have a concessionaire operating this.
What is that going to mean to us? Are they likely to want to get
involved in any cost sharing of a construction of an interchange in that
issue; and the other one, of course, is we're trying to get the state to
assist us in our cost for providing services, emergency response and
the like along the alley, and one likely to get help possibly with a
concessionaire, unless that's all written into the initial part of those
discussions, if it even goes.
So we've got a lot of stake in this. I'm asking Phil, given the
short time frame, obviously having elected officials would be the best
-- but asking Phil with the short time frame to bring the letter if you
concur in that today, up with him to Orlando, make sure that they
understand we have the concerns. I think the concessionaires need to
hear that there are issues relative to what they're proposing.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Mr. Feder, you're very familiar
with the hierarchy in Tallahassee. Is this something that the governor
and his cabinet are driving and they make the final decision, or this
has to go back to the House of Representatives in the Senate?
MR. FEDER: First of all, it's my understanding -- first of all,
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April 22-23, 2008
they just passed legislation allowing the privatization of roadways last
year, so I think your legislative action has already been taken.
My understanding -- and this is at least third, if not 20th version
down the line -- is that this is being driven by the governor. The
governor is the one that wants to pursue this action.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So the best course of action for
citizens that would like to intervene in some meaningful way, would
be to contact the governor's office by phone or by email?
MR. FEDER: Florida DOT and your legislators and your
newspapers and anyone else you can get ahold of.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We're going to take a lunch
break at noon.
Is there a motion on the floor on this item?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to move the letter
forward.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion by Commissioner Coletta to
approve this item. Is -- the second by Commissioner Coyle.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #101
RESOLUTION 2008-122: AS EX-OFFICIO THE GOVERNING
BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER
DISTRICT, ADOPTING RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A
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April 22-23, 2008
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING/CHARTER,
ESTABLISHING THE LOWER WEST COAST UTILITY
COUNCIL - ADOPTED W /CHANGES
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, next item is 101. 101 used to be
16C2. This is a recommendation to approve as ex-officio the
governing board of the Collier County Water/Sewer District, to enter
into a Memorandum of Understanding/Charter, establishing the Lower
West Coast Utility Council. This item was asked to be pulled from
the consent agenda to the regular agenda by Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind,
maybe I can shortcut a lot of the discussion here merely by getting
straight to my point.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes, please.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: With respect to membership on this
committee, I have no problem with the committee and its purpose. I'm
just concerned that it is not clear how these people are initially
appointed. I am concerned that any new members will be elected by
the executive board of the committee rather than being appointed by
the Board of County Commissioners in their respective counties or the
municipalities, and I'm also concerned that although other
municipalities are listed here, Marco is not, and I --
MR. DeLONY: Sir -- if! may clarify for you, sir? On page 2,
voting member shall be any water resource, potable water supply, or
waste water management utility representative, public or private,
located in Lee County, Collier County, and it goes on.
Now, we -- Marco is part of Collier County. We can certainly
add that to that in this regard. It was intended to be inclusive.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach
are part of Lee County.
MR. DeLONY: Understand. Now, again, it was -- again, to get
after some concerns about whether it was just county utilities
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April 22-23, 2008
whatever, we can put -- the intent is to put every utility, public or
private, in the area of that map that's attached on figure 1, page 9 of 9
of your packet. That was never intended to exclude anybody.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. But can we be complete --
MR. DeLONY: Sir, we can.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We listed Naples.
MR. DeLONY: We can put Marco into that piece if you'd like.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, are -- now, it specifies that
only one voting member per utility.
MR. DeLONY: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You're going to have a utility, I
presume, from the Immokalee area who will be there.
MR. DeLONY: That's correct, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, the thing is, how do we
decide who our representative is going to be from Collier County?
MR. DeLONY: In my view, the decision would be mine, as
we've given the chart here, that our representative would be either Mr.
Mattausch or Dr. Yilmaz would be two members, but one of them
would be our voting member. And the availability of them to go to
their meetings would be based on their schedules.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Why wouldn't that be a
responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners?
MR. DeLONY: Can be. Didn't specify it as not a responsibility.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It didn't specify it was.
MR. DeLONY: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: In fact, it didn't specify it at all.
MR. DeLONY: That's correct. And I assumed that you'd want
someone from your utility function to be a voting member.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, yeah, maybe so, but I --
when we appoint people to advisory boards or committees, it's the
Board of County Commissioners that does that. We did it with the
Tollway Authority, we do it with everything else we do, and I'm
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April 22-23, 2008
wondering why this is different.
MR. DeLONY: If! may, sir? This is more of a -- this committee
doesn't have the kinds of authorities that your Tollway Authority has.
It's really to be a consortium, council of consortium as laid out in its
mission state. It has no taxing authority, no collecting authority, no
regulatory authority. As much as just a forum for utility managers
within the area of consideration to sit down and discuss and then, in
turn, hopefully speak with one voice to the water resource issues of
this region.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. People who are speaking
with one voice representing Collier County should be appointed by the
Collier County Commissioners.
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir. No problem. I will bring back to you
for recommendation through executive. You know, once this is set up,
who would be the council representing the county, sir, for your arrival.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, does the term utility
-- is that sufficient to identify that the municipalities can appoint
someone, Collier County can appoint someone, and any of the private
utilities --
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- can appoint one --
MR. DeLONY : Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- person?
MR. DeLONY: I believe it's clear within the Charter to do just
what you suggested.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, all right. Then that satisfies
-- now, the -- under selection it says, new members will be elected to
the executive board by a majority of the voting members voting at the
annual meeting. I would hope that in our case that "board" would be
ratifying the selection of the Collier County Commissioners.
MR. DeLONY: That's correct, sir. There won't be any conflict
with that. Primarily the idea of the members is the members of the
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April 22-23, 2008
executive board, not members of the body itself. It deals with voting
for the executive board, that is the chairperson, the co-chairperson, the
secretary/treasurer. That's what that refers to.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I would ask that you say the
new officers will be elected --
MR. DeLONY: That would be fine.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- to the executive board.
MR. DeLONY: We will make that change.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: All right, fine. Then that satisfies
my problem.
MR. DeLONY: All right, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is that a motion to approve as
amended?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes, it is.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: And there's a second by
Commissioner Coletta.
Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of the motion, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries unanimously.
So Sue, you're going to take care of the advertisement on the
appointments?
MS. FILSON: I don't know if that's what I heard.
MR. DeLONY: Yeah. As I understood the direction, Chairman,
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April 22-23, 2008
if! may, I'd bring you back an executive summary making a
recommendation of who would sit as our voting member from --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: What was your intent,
Commissioner?
MR. DeLONY: -- the water district, water/sewer district.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Since Collier County has
jurisdiction over -- only over Collier County -- we don't have
jurisdiction over any of the municipalities. The only person we would
be appointing would be our one member, okay. There's absolutely
nothing wrong with you recommending who that member should be,
but we should ratify --
MR. DeLONY: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- we should approve that and
appoint that member. That member then should be ratified by the
membership of this regional committee.
MR. DeLONY: It will be.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, the problem comes with
respect to the private utilities and the municipalities. Somebody has to
notify them that this is happening. How is that going to be
accomplished?
MR. DeLONY: We'll take that on. We'll make sure that the
word gets out. The council itself as is set up is largely the efforts of
our department, our division, Collier County Water/Sewer District, us,
and Lee County, and that's the two of -- the genesis of this idea.
And it's our intent to conduct outreach and to solicit as much
participation as possible. So we'll take that burden on to make sure
that the city utilities and the private utilities within Collier County are
aware of this council, that they're invited to attend and to become a
part of this, encouraged to do that, because it certainly will serve best
if everyone participates in the mission statement that we've outlined,
SIr.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, one final point, and that
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April 22-23, 2008
relates to Hendry and Glades Counties.
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You're including only a small
geographic area for both those counties. It is conceivable there could
be a private utility from that area, and according to the way this is
written, that means that that county could have two representatives,
one for the county and one for the private utility.
MR. DeLONY: If the county -- if they have a county utility,
obviously that private utility will have a member. If there are private
utilities, obviously they'll have a member. It's a one-utility,
one-member situation.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So they could have a member for
the county and there could be a member for a private utility?
MR. DeLONY: Just like us.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: Just like us. We're going to have a member
from your water/sewer district, I assume, and I -- not assume, I hope
that the City of Naples will have someone, that someone from the
Immokalee Water/Sewer Service will be there, someone from
Orangetree, someone from the Lee Cypress, Everglades City, FGUA.
We hope that all these utilities, public or private, would choose to
have representation in this council.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I don't have a problem with
that. I was just addressing the issue that you're only taking a very
small geographic portion of those counties and the entire counties are
not involved. Is that going to cause any problems?
MR. DeLONY: I don't think so. The planning area from the
purposes of water use or water planning that you see in that map
correspond to South Florida Water Management's district basin's
delineation, and the interests that are delineated on that map, the
utilities that would fall into that geographic area, have the joined and
linked interest.
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April 22-23, 2008
Anybody outside that interest, certainly we can address that.
Probably won't have the same interest that we do. This represents an
exact overlay of the lower west coast planning area of the water
management district, and that's the reason we chose this particular
delineation to keep it focused on those that deal with basin issues
within that regulatory area, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: Have I answered your question on that concern?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Next item?
MR. DeLONY: Thank you.
Item #11
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to public comments
on general topics.
Ms. Filson?
MS. FILSON: I have two speakers--
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We voted on it.
MS. FILSON: -- for public comment. The first speaker is
Aisling Swift, and she signed -- actually signed up yesterday, but she
was going to monitor it, but I don't see her here.
The second speaker is Kenneth Thompson.
MR. THOMPSON: You know, I need some help with this 2854
Becca Avenue. This boy is 17 years old and he's dragging every
damn thing in Collier County that you can get in there.
And I'm having a hard time with my health. I'm facing to have to
have my neck cut from here down to the middle of my back Monday
morning, and I'll be damned if I can live there.
And I don't think a renter should be able to bother people that
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April 22-23, 2008
own property. It -- that place, I don't give it anywhere (sic) they come
from, Russia, China, everywhere, they will find that dump. Ever since
Dale Steinberg owned it.
Then you have a man named Jackson's got it, now you got this
one owns it. And boy, I thought we really had somebody, but he--
hell, he's worse than all three of them. Anybody worse than Dale
Steinberg, you got it bad.
I came here, I think it was December the 11th, though that you'd
help me clean the neighborhood up, but the three of you, Mudd and
Coletta -- Coletta, there ain't nobody that spent no more damn money
than you have over there cleaning up your neighborhood. And then
you're knocking me here.
And I'm missing Mr. Weigel. He's a very good person, but he
had no choice.
And then you got a guy at 2679 Becca Avenue, it's about four
houses down from me, he keeps putting these box trailers in there
working on the weekend and building all kinds of stuff and hauling it
out. And these stilt house, 29 -- 29 -- 2695, he built a thing going up,
stairway all the way up, all the way across and all the way down.
And I think you allergic to me, you know. You don't want to
help me. But these people breaking the law. I want you to have the
money. I think you need the money.
And some of these things that you're building here, I'll be
damned if! can see anybody hurting people.
The Sheriffs Department was over there the other night, Ricardo
Garcia. I had this little blond-headed boy come flying through the
window. You won't believe it. It wasn't enough of him for EMS to
pick up.
Then on Cypress side, again, they throw him through the
window. I just don't know where you going to go with this thing.
But I'm going to have to leave my wife and move from there
because I don't need the humiliation, I don't need Michelle Arnold's
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April 22-23, 2008
humiliation, I don't need what's her name's humiliation, I don't need
Dave -- everybody's name, I can't think of his name. He's took over
out there. He thinks he's Jesus or something. You call him and
somebody else will answer. He's telling me not to call nobody but
him. Hell, I call him, you can't find him.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Thompson, I think the County
Manager took some notes on your comments. Thank you for being
with us.
MR. THOMPSON: Well, I need that County Manager to get this
guy straightened out, because I can't handle it no more. I'm going
down bad.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes, sir.
MR. THOMPSON: So don't -- a suit (sic) Michelle Arnold in
federal court. I see she's done it here. Why can't I do it? I slapped it
to her in a minute, and I told her I will.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: No further speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Eight minutes for-
Item #15
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MR. MUDD: Brings us to staff and --
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Manager's comments.
MR. MUDD: -- communications.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Go ahead.
MR. MUDD: Sir, the only thing I have is just a clarification of
something that was said yesterday. And Ijust -- for the record -- and
it came out in the paper. I talked to every one of the commissioners
about red light running and the possibilities of -- and the intent was to
decrease the number of red light runners.
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April 22-23, 2008
I also mentioned to every commissioner that in some cities and
busy intersections, those intersections with red lights that people go
through, there has been about a million dollars in revenue that comes
from that particular red light.
I also gave every commissioner a warning, I said, please don't get
attached if there is any revenues from those red light runners, those
violators in this particular case because the revenues are short lived
because the illegal habits of running through red lights have a
tendency to change once people get a ticket, one or two, even though
there's signage and everything else in front of those.
And then approximately two years after the lights are installed,
people don't go through the red lights anymore at that particular
intersection.
I also provided Commissioner Coletta an emaillast night that
talked about 12 successful cities as far as cutting down on accidents as
far as red lights are concerned.
So I just wanted to make sure, for the record, you know, I wasn't
out there trying to look for a money generator. I just wanted to let the
board know what some of the past experiences have been from
municipalities and to also basically warn the commissioners that if
there's any monies that come from that -- and I hope we don't get any.
I hope everybody obeys the laws and they don't go through red lights
anymore, and that's basically the intent -- but to make sure that they
understand that any revenues are short lived.
That's all I have, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Could you forward that email to me
that you forwarded Commissioner Coletta, please?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Anything else?
MR. MUDD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow?
MR. KLATZKOW: I have one item, sir. It involves Mr. Weigel.
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April 22-23, 2008
I need permission from the board to create a position. It would
be a three-quarter full-time employment position. It would be for six
months. It would be a position reporting directly to me as up counsel
to the County Attorney. Mr. Weigel would have no direct reports
himself. It'd be for the purpose of my transitioning into the Office of
County Attorney.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think it's reasonable.
Anybody have any concerns?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I do.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Anybody else?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm with Jeff.
MR. KLATZKOW: Could I get a motion to approve if that's the
intent of this board to create this position?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So moved.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coletta, second by Commissioner Henning.
Discussion on the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Seeing none, all in favor of the
motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries, 3-1. Commissioner
Halas dissenting.
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Anything else? Thank you.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I just want to say this is -- the
last two days have been great. I really enjoyed it. Subjects were
Page 360
April 22-23, 2008
interesting, kept moving it forward, public was interacting in a
positive way. Thank you for a great meeting.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: I recognize your comments, I just
don't agree with it, and that's the only thing I have.
The -- and before we -- Commissioner Coyle goes, we need a
motion to adjourn. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So moved. Sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by Commissioner --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That was a second, right?
CHAIRMAN HENNING: There's a motion by --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- Commissioner Coyle, second by
Commissioner Halas to adjourn.
All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN HENNING: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're adjourned.
*****Commissioner Halas moved, seconded by Commissioner Fiala
and carried unanimously that the following items under the Consent
and Summary Agendas be approved and/or adopted; By separate
motion, Item #8C to be continued to May 13,2008 - Approved*****
Item #16Al
FINAL AND UNCONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE OF THE
WATER UTILITY FACILITY FOR DEL MAR RETAIL CENTER
Page 361
April 22-23, 2008
- W /RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE
SECURITY
Item #16A2
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR FIDDLER'S CREEK - PHASE 3, UNIT 2 -
W /RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
Item # 16A3
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
FACILITY FOR FIDDLER'S CREEK - PHASE 3, UNIT 2 - STAGE
3 - W /RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE
SECURITY
Item #16A4
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR FIDDLER'S CREEK, PHASE 2A, UNIT 3 -
W /RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
Item # 16A5
RESOLUTION 2008-101: THIS ITEM WAS CONTINUED
INDEFINITELY FROM FEBRUARY 26, 2008 BCC MEETING.
FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ROADWAY (PRIV ATE) AND
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF
AUGUSTA AT PELICAN MARSH (PELICAN MARSH PUD)
WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
BEING PRIV A TEL Y MAINTAINED - W /RELEASE OF THE
MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Page 362
April 22-23, 2008
Item #16A6
RESOLUTION 2008-102: FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
ROADWAY (PRIVATE) AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF SATURNIA LAKES PLAT ONE
(RIGAS PUD) WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIV A TEL Y MAINTAINED -
W /RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item #16A7
RESOLUTION 2008-103: FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
ROADWAY (PRIVATE) AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF SA TURNIA LAKES PLAT TWO
(RIGAS PUD) WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIV ATEL Y MAINTAINED-
W /RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item # 16A8
RESOLUTION 2008-104: FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
ROADWAY (PRIVATE) AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF SUSSEX PLACE, (LEL Y RESORT
PUD), THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
WILL BE PRIV A TEL Y MAINTAINED - W /RELEASE OF THE
MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item # 16A9
RESOLUTION 2008-105: FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
ROADWAY (PRIVATE) AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
Page 363
April 22-23, 2008
FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF TUSCANY COVE WITH THE
ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS BEING
PRIV ATEL Y MAINTAINED - W/RELEASE OF THE
MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item #16AI0
RESOLUTION 2008-106: FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
ROADWAY (PRIV ATE) AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF SATURNIA LAKES PLAT THREE
(RIGAS PUD) WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIV A TEL Y MAINTAINED -
W /RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item #16All
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF ARTESIA NAPLES UNIT
ONE
Item #16A12
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF CAMERON COMMONS
UNIT ONE, APPROVAL OF THE STANDARD FORM
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND
APPROVAL OF THE AMOUNT OF THE PERFORMANCE
SECURITY - W/STIPULATIONS
Item #16A13
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF TRACT 5, GOLDEN GATE
ESTATES UNIT 44 REPLAT, APPROVAL OF THE STANDARD
FORM CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
Page 364
April 22-23, 2008
AND APPROVAL OF THE AMOUNT OF THE PERFORMANCE
SECURITY - W /STIPULA TIONS
Item #16A14
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF TRACT 6, GOLDEN GATE
ESTATES UNIT 44 REPLAT, APPROVAL OF THE STANDARD
FORM CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
AND APPROVAL OF THE AMOUNT OF THE PERFORMANCE
SECURITY - W/STIPULATIONS
Item #16A15
RESOLUTION 2008-107: RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY
DISSOLVE THE COLLIER COUNTY FIRE REVIEW TASK
FORCE AS ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2007-105
Item #16A16
ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, IF NECESSARY,
BEYOND THE $50,000 DOLLAR LIMIT CONTAINED IN THE
PURCHASING POLICY FOR THE REQUIRED LEGAL
ADVERTISING PLACED IN THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS - FOR
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Item #16A17
JOB CREATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
WITH THE MARCH GROUP, LLC, D/B/A MARCH
PERFORMANCE, INCORPORATED, CONSISTENT WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THE JOB CREATION INVESTMENT
PROGRAM AND THE COMPANY'S APPROVED INCENTIVE
Page 365
April 22-23, 2008
APPLICATION - AS DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Item #16A18
JOB CREATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
WITH ADVOCATE AIRCRAFT TAXATION COMPANY
CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOB
CREATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND THE COMPANY'S
APPROVED INCENTIVE APPLICATION - AS DETAILED IN
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16A19 - Continued to the May 13,2008 BCC Meeting
FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ROADWAY (PRIVATE) AND
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF
REFLECTION LAKES AT NAPLES PHASE lA (WALNUT
LAKES PUD) WITH THE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIVATELY MAINTAINED -
W /RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY
Item #16A20 - Continued to the May 13,2008 BCC Meeting
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN ROADWAY AND
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF
REFLECTION LAKES AT NAPLES PHASE 1 C (WALNUT
LAKES PUD) WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION
IMPROVEMENTS BEING PRIVATELY MAINTAINED -
W /RELEASE OF THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY AS
DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16A21
Page 366
April 22-23, 2008
RELEASE AND SA TISF ACTIONS OF LIEN FOR PAYMENTS
RECEIVED FOR THE FOLLOWING CODE ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS - AS DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item # 16A22
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT NO. 4600001351 FOR PARTIAL
FUNDING OF THE COUNTY'S LIDAR (LIGHT DETECTION
AND RANGING) ACQUISITION THROUGH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Item # 16A23
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF CLASSICS PLANTATION
ESTATES, PHASE THREE REPLAT OF LOTS 18 THROUGH 45
Item #16Bl
HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (HMGP)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE COUNTY FOR A
WIND PROTECTION PROJECT AND APPROVE THE
ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT ($29,997.00) - THE
INSTALLATION OF SHUTTERS WILL PROVIDE PROTECTION
FOR THE TOAD MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATION
BUILDING
Item #16B2
ONE (1) ADOPT-A-ROAD PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH
Page 367
April 22-23, 2008
TWO (2) ROADWAY RECOGNITION SIGNS AT A TOTAL
COST OF $150.00 - RECOGNIZING THE BETHESDA
CORKSCREW AND 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AS THE
SPONSORS OF THE SEGMENT OF ROADWAY KNOWN AS
IMMOKALEE ROAD/CR 846 - ONE MILE NORTH AND SOUTH
OF LILAC LANE
Item #16B3
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO RECOGNIZE REVENUE FROM A
DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTION FOR SPLIT CYCLE OFFSET
OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUE (SCOOT) SYSTEM EXPANSION,
PROJECT 601724 FUND (313), AND PERMANENT COUNT
STATIONS, PROJECT #601727 FUND (313), IN THE AMOUNT
OF $90,000
Item # 16B4
RESOLUTION 2008-108: SHIRLEY CONROY RURAL AREA
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT GRANT AND THE
APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS ($66,000) - FOR A
REPLACEMENT PARA TRANSIT BUS
Item #16B5
RESOLUTION 2008-109: RESOLUTION SUPERSEDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-230 AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAM
(LAP) AGREEMENT FPN: 422165-1-58-01, WHICH
AGREEMENT WAS UNEXECUTED BY FDOT FOLLOWING
BCC APPROVAL ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2007, AS AGENDA ITEM
16Bll, AND APPROVE A NEW AGREEMENT SUPERSEDING
Page 368
April 22-23, 2008
AND REPLACING THE AFOREMENTIONED UNEXECUTED
AGREEMENT THAT INCREASES FDOT'S SHARE OF
FUNDING, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIDEWALK ON
ROBERTS A VENUE AND NORTH 9TH STREET FROM
$704,375 IN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT TO $732,268 IN THE
PROPOSED AGREEMENT - THE SIDEWALK SITE IS
ROBERTS AVENUE FROM NORTH 18TH STREET TO NORTH
9TH STREET AND NORTH 9TH STREET FROM ROBERTS
AVENUE TO SR 29
Item #16B6
RESOLUTION 2008-110: RESOLUTION SUPERSEDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-231 AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAM
(LAP) AGREEMENT FPN: 422164-1-58-01, WHICH
AGREEMENT WAS UNEXECUTED BY FDOT FOLLOWING
BCC APPROVAL ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2007, AS AGENDA ITEM
16B12, AND TO APPROVE A NEW AGREEMENT
SUPERSEDING AND REPLACING THE AFOREMENTIONED
UNEXECUTED AGREEMENT THAT INCREASES FDOT'S
FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIDEWALK ON
1ST STREET NORTH FROM $170,625 IN THE ORIGINAL
AGREEMENT TO $177,381 IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT-
THE SIDEWALK SITE IS 1 ST STREET NORTH FROM ROBERTS
AVENUE TO SR 29
Item #16B7
PURCHASE OF IMPROVED PROPERTY (PARCEL NO. 142)
WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
V ANDERBIL T BEACH ROAD EXTENSION PROJECT.
Page 369
April 22-23, 2008
PROJECT NO. 60168 (FISCAL IMPACT: $607,475.00) - AS
DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16B8
EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR 0.12 ACRES OF UNIMPROVED
PROPERTY FOR A NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FOR
P A THW A YS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES ALONG IMMOKALEE
ROAD. ($55,000) - LOCATED WITHIN HERITAGE BAY,
NORTH OF IMMOKALEE ROAD
Item #16B9
F AREBOX REVENUES COLLECTED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2007
THROUGH APRIL 10, 2008 FOR COLLIER AREA TRANSIT
AND TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS (FUND 426-
$467,608.00 AND FUND 427 $46,443.80)
Item #16BI0
A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE OCTOBER 22, 2002 SABAL
BAY DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT FOR
ROAD IMPACT FEE CREDITS EXTENDING THE DURATION
FOR FIVE (5) YEARS AND APPROVAL OF THE SECOND
AMENDMENT TO THE OCTOBER 14,2003 COMPANION
AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR A CHANGE IN LAND
CONVEYANCE MEANS FOR PORTIONS OF THE LEL Y AREA
STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (PROJECT NO.
511011)
Item #16Cl
Page 370
April 22-23, 2008
RESOLUTION 2008-111: SATISFACTIONS OF LIEN FOR SOLID
WASTE RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS WHEREIN THE COUNTY
HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT AND SAID LIENS ARE SATISFIED
IN FULL FOR THE 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, AND 1996 SOLID
WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT. FISCAL IMPACT IS $88.50 TO RECORD THE
SATISFACTIONS OF LIEN - FOR ACCOUNT NUMBERS: 2545,
2891, 2901, 25551, 27054, 29654 AND 137708
Item 16C2 - Moved to Item #IOI
Item # 16C3
ADDITION OF $100,000 TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL LIMIT
TO $600,000 FOR THE EXISTING FIXED TERM CONTRACT
05-3792 "FIXED TERM UTILITY SPECIALIZED LEGAL
SERVICES" FOR DE LA PARTE & GILBERT, P.A. ATTORNEYS
AT LAW, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF COLLIER
COUNTY, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA, IN UTILITY SPECIFIC LITIGATION AND
REGULATORY MATTERS, AND APPROVE ALL THE
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$400,000
Item #16Dl
RESOLUTION 2008-112: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, TO FORMALLY OPPOSE ALLOWING ACCESS TO
A FEDERAL SAND SOURCE OFF THE COAST OF SANIBEL
ISLAND TO ANY COUNTIES OTHER THAN THOSE
COUNTIES ADJACENT TO SANIBEL ISLAND, SPECIFICALLY
Page 371
April 22-23, 2008
COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES
Item # 16D2
LIEN AGREEMENT WITH ANDRES MATEO AND MARIA
MATEO (OWNERS) FOR DEFERRAL OF 100% OF COLLIER
COUNTY IMPACT FEES FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT LOCATED AT LOT 107,
LIBERTY LANDING, IMMOKALEE - DEFERRING $12,442.46
IN IMP ACT FEES
Item #16D3
LIEN AGREEMENT WITH RITHA MERCURE (OWNER) FOR
DEFERRAL OF 100% OF COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT FEES
FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT
LOCATED AT LOT 41, LIBERTY LANDING, IMMOKALEE-
DEFERRING $12,442.46 IN IMPACT FEES
Item # 16D4
LEASE AGREEMENT WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. FOR SPACE TO
ACCOMMODATE THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM AT THE ROBERTS CENTER,
LOCATED AT 905 ROBERTS AVENUE IN IMMOKALEE FOR
AN ANNUAL COST OF $12,000. THE COST OF THIS RENTAL
WILL BE PAID FROM OLDER AMERICANS ACT GRANT
FUNDING - THE COST WILL INCLUDE ELECTRICITY,
TELEPHONE, WATER, SEWER, JANITORIAL SERVICE AND
PEST CONTROL
Page 372
April 22-23, 2008
Item #16D5
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM GRANT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $588,400 FOR FY2008 - FOR DISADVANTAGED
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT QUALIFY
Item # 16D6
LIEN AGREEMENT WITH CARMETA PRIME (OWNER) FOR
DEFERRAL OF 100% OF COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT FEES
FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT
LOCATED AT LOT 110, LIBERTY LANDING, IMMOKALEE-
DEFERRING $12,442.46
Item #16D7
A LIEN AGREEMENT WITH KRISTY BRODBECK (OWNER)
FOR DEFERRAL OF 100% OF COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT
FEES FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNIT LOCATED AT VISTA III AT HERITAGE BAY, UNIT 1403,
NORTH NAPLES - DEFERRING $19,411.94 IN IMPACT FEES
Item #16D8
AMENDMENT BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE AREA AGENCY ON
AGING OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. AND APPROVE
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL
AWARD AMOUNT FOR THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT FOR
2008
Page 373
April 22-23, 2008
Item # 16D9
BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FROM
THE PARK AND RECREATION IMPACT FEE RESERVES TO
PAY FOR AN IMP ACT FEE STUDY UPDATE AND THE
REFUND OF IMP ACT FEES TO VARIOUS DEVELOPERS -
WHO CANCELLED BUILDING PERMITS OR REQUESTED AN
IMP ACT FEE DEFERRAL AND TO PAY TINDALE-OLIVER
AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE COST OF THE UPDATED STUDY
Item #16DI0
IMPACT FEE DEFERRAL AGREEMENTS RECOMMENDED
FOR APPROVAL IN FY08, INCLUDING THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF AGREEMENTS APPROVED, THE TOTAL DOLLAR
AMOUNT DEFERRED AND THE BALANCE REMAINING FOR
ADDITIONAL DEFERRALS IN FY08 - AS DETAILED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16D11
LIEN AGREEMENT WITH MONICA NEWHOUSE (OWNER)
FOR DEFERRAL OF 100% OF COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT
FEES FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNIT LOCATED AT VISTA III AT HERITAGE BAY, UNIT 1408,
NORTH NAPLES - DEFERRING $17,104.22 IN IMPACT FEES
Item #16El
RATIFY AN ADDITION TO, A MODIFICATION OF AND A
DELETION FROM THE 2008 FISCAL YEAR PAY AND
CLASSIFICATION PLAN MADE FROM JANUARY 1,2008
Page 374
April 22-23, 2008
THROUGH MARCH 31, 2008
Item # 16E2
STATUTORY DEED FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GAC LAND
TRUST RESERVED LAND REQUIRED FOR A POND SITE FOR
THE OIL WELL ROAD EXPANSION PROJECT THAT WILL
PROVIDE REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FOR THE
GAC LAND TRUST FUND - LOCATED AT TRACT 94,
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, UNIT 64
Item # 16E3
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONCERNING THE SALE AND DONATION OF ITEMS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY SURPLUS AUCTION HELD
ON MARCH 29, 2008, RESULTING IN GROSS REVENUES OF
$487,526.50
Item #16Fl
AFTER-THE-FACT SUBMITTAL OF THE ATTACHED
ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT APPLICATION TO
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR
THE PURCHASE OF 30 EVACUATION (STAIR) CHAIRS FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF
$62,850 - TO REPLACE WORN AND OUT OF DATE MODELS
TO HELP ASSURE THE SAFE AND EFFICIENT EVACUATION
OF PATIENTS/VICTIMS WHILE PROTECTING EMS
PERSONNEL FROM INJURIES
Item # 16F2
Page 375
April 22-23, 2008
QUARTERLY REPORT ON ACTIVITIES IN THE COLLIER
COUNTY TOURISM INDUSTRY - AS DETAILED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND REPORT
Item #16F3
$11,000,000 PREPAYMENT ON THE CARIBBEAN GARDENS
COMMERCIAL PAPER LOAN NUMBER A-32-2
Item #16Gl
BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $628,800 TO INCREASE
BUDGETED REVENUES AND BUDGETED EXPENSES FOR
THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF A VIA TION FUEL AT MARCO
ISLAND EXECUTIVE AIRPORT
Item #16G2
AMENDMENT FOR A TIME EXTENSION TO THE RURAL
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT AGREEMENT # OT -05-136 FROM
THE FLORIDA OFFICE OF TOURISM, TRADE, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE IMMOKALEE
REGIONAL AIRPORT/FLORIDA TRADEPORT STORM WATER
MANAGEMENT/RETENTION POND PROJECT - THE
EXTENSION WILL BE FROM DECEMBER 31, 2007 TO JULY
31, 2008
Item #16Hl - Withdrawn; Motion to remain on Consent Agenda-
Approved
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST FOR
Page 376
April 22-23, 2008
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING
A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE. ATTENDED THE COALITION OF
IMMOKALEE WORKERS "HUMAN RIGHTS HEROES IN OUR
BACKYARD" ON APRIL 11, 2008. $50 TO BE PAID FROM
COMMISSIONER COLETT A'S TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED
AT ST. WILLIAM PARISH, 750 SEAGATE DR., NAPLES,
FLORIDA 34103
Item # 16H2
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST FOR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING
A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE. WILL ATTEND THE COLLIER
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER MEETING,
MAY 3, 2008. $100 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER
COLETTA'S TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED AT 2400 GREY
OAKS DRIVE, NAPLES, FLORIDA 34105
Item # 16H3
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST FOR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING
A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE. ATTENDED THE PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE BREAKFAST, APRIL 3, 2008. $5 TO
BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S TRAVEL
BUDGET - LOCATED AT 6101 PINE RIDGE ROAD., NAPLES,
FLORIDA 34102
Item #16H4
COMMISSIONER FIALA'S REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT
FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
Page 377
April 22-23, 2008
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE YOUTH HAVEN 4TH
ANNUAL FRANCES PEW HAYES CHILD ADVOCATE OF THE
YEAR AWARD LUNCHEON ON THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008 AT
THE NAPLES SAILING AND YACHT CLUB. $75.00 TO BE
PAID FROM COMMISSIONER FIALA'S TRAVEL BUDGET -
LOCATED AT 896 RIVER POINT DRIVE, NAPLES, FLORIDA
34102
Item # 16H5
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST FOR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING
A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE. HE WILL ATTEND THE
LEADERSHIP COLLIER CLASS OF '08 GRADUATION ON
MAY 9, 2008. $50 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER
COLETTA'S TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED AT THE NAPLES
HILTON, 5111 TAMIAMI TRAIL, NAPLES, FLORIDA 34102
Item #16H6
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REQUEST FOR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING
A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE. HE WILL PARTICIPATE AS
GUEST SPEAKER AT GOLDEN GATE KIWANIS CLUB
BREAKFAST ON APRIL 30, 2008. $7 TO BE PAID FROM
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED
AT THE GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY CENTER, 4701
GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY NAPLES, FLORIDA 34116
Item #16H7 - Moved to Item #4I
Item # 16I1
Page 378
April 22-23, 2008
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE - FILED AND/OR
REFERRED:
The following miscellaneous correspondence, as presented by the
Board of County Commissioners, has been directed to the various
departments as indicated:
Page 379
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
April 22, 2008
1. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TO FILE FOR RECORD WITH ACTION AS DIRECTED:
A. Minutes:
1) Affordable Housing Commission:
Minutes of February 7,2008.
2) Collier County Planning Commission - Form I:
Minutes of February 7, 2008.
3) Contractors Licensing Board:
Minutes of January 16,2008.
4) Historical/Archaeological Preservation Board:
Minutes of August 29, 2007; September 19, 2007; November 21,
2007.
5) Parks and Recreation Advisory Board:
Minutes of February 20,2008.
6) Pelican Bay Services Division Board:
A) Clam Bay Committee
Minutes of January 29, 2008.
Other:
B. Minutes:
I) South Florida Water Management District
Public Notice of Final Agency Action of January 29, 2008.
April 22-23, 2008
Item # 1611
RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS APPROVE A DOCUMENT FOR TWELFTH
YEAR STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(SCAAP) GRANT FUNDS - FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
INCARCERATION OF ALIENS
Item # 16J2
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF MARCH 29, 2008
THROUGH APRIL 4, 2008 AND FOR SUBMISSION INTO THE
OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item # 1613
TO OBTAIN BOARD APPROVAL FOR DISBURSEMENTS FOR
THE PERIOD OF APRIL 05, 2008 THROUGH APRIL 11,2008
AND FOR SUBMISSION INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF
THE BOARD
Item #16J4
SHERIFF DON HUNTER TO OFFICIALL Y RECOGNIZE THE
NAME, THE "WILLIAM 1. MCNUL TY COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER" FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER LOCATED WITHIN THE NEW COLLIER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES COMPLEX
Item#16Kl
PROPOSED AGREEMENT FOR DELIVERY AND REUSE OF
Page 380
April 22-23, 2008
IRRIGATION QUALITY (IQ) WATER BETWEEN THE
COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER DISTRICT AND THE
PELICAN MARSH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT -
AS DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16K2
PROPOSED JOINT MOTION FOR AN AGREED ORDER
AWARDING COSTS RELATING TO PARCEL 143 IN THE
COLLIER COUNTY V CHARLES R. WILSON, ET AL., CASE NO.
02-5164-CA, IMMOKALEE ROAD PROJECT #60018. (FISCAL
IMPACT: $4,000.00)
Item # 16K3
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT FOR PARCEL NOS. 135/40,
135/40.1,136/41,136/41.1 IN THE LAWSUIT STYLED CC
V TIMOTHY MALONEY, ET AL, CASE NO. 92-1508-CA
(GOLDEN GATE WELLFIELD EXPANSION PROJECT) (FISCAL
IMPACT $3,600.00)
Item #16K4
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT FOR PARCELS 862, 962 AND
963 IN THE LAWSUIT STYLED BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY V GRAND CYPRESS
COMMUNITIES, ET AL., CASE NO. 05-1053-CA. (SOUTH
COUNTY REGIONAL WATER TREATMENT PLANT REVERSE
OSMOSIS WELLFIELD EXPANSION PROJECT #70892)(FISCAL
IMPACT: $43,070.00)
Item #16K5
Page 381
April 22-23, 2008
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT FOR PARCEL 170RDUE IN
THE LAWSUIT STYLED CC V JORGE A. ROMERO, ET AL,
CASE NO. 07-2681-CA (OIL WELL ROAD PROJECT NO. 60044).
(FISCAL IMPACT $15,830.00)
Item # 16K6
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$43,850.00 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PARCEL 157RDUE IN
THE LAWSUIT STYLED COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA V
CHRISTOPHER LINK, ET AL., CASE NO. 07-4218-CA (OIL
WELL ROAD PROJECT #60044). (FISCAL IMPACT: $9,100.00)
Item #16K7
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT FOR PARCEL NO. 159A IN
THE LAWSUIT STYLED CC V B.A. STREET, ET AL, CASE NO.
03-2873-CA (IMMOKALEE ROAD PROJECT #60018). (FISCAL
IMPACT $6,900.00)
Item # 16K8
MEDIA TED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND A
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT TO BE DRAFTED
INCORPORATING THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS
THE MEDIA TED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $130,000.00 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
PARCELS 121FEE AND 121TDRE IN THE LAWSUIT STYLED
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA V CHRISTOPHER LINK, ET AL.,
CASE NO. 07-4218-CA (OIL WELL ROAD PROJECT #60044).
(FISCAL IMPACT: $82,317.50)
Page 382
April 22-23, 2008
Item #17A
(THIS ITEM CONTINUED FROM THE MARCH 25, 2008 BCC
MEETING) SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE WITH
LODGE ABBOTT ASSOCIATES, LLC (OWNER OF THE
COCOHA TCHEE BAY PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT) TO
SETTLE ALLEGED CLAIMS, INCLUDING AN ALLEGED BERT
HARRIS ACT CLAIM PURPORTEDLY ARISING FROM
DENIAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COCOHA TCHEE BAY
PUD TO MODIFY THE BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT PLAN,
AND LODGE ABBOTT ASSOCIATES, LLC V. COLLIER
COUNTY, CASE NO. 05-967-CA, NOW PENDING IN THE
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS WELL AS AMENDED
COCOHATCHEE BAY PUD DOCUMENT WITH ATTACHED
BALD EAGLE MANAGEMENT PLAN - AS DETAILED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #17B
RESOLUTION 2008-113: PETITION A VESMT-2007-AR-12562,
TO DISCLAIM, RENOUNCE AND VACATE THE COUNTY'S
AND THE PUBLICS INTEREST IN AN ACCESS EASEMENT
OVER, ALONG AND ACROSS THE NORTH 30 FEET AND THE
WEST 15 FEET OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN OFFICIAL
RECORD BOOK 4014, PAGE 0235 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA BEING LOCATED WITHIN
SECTION 26, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA BEING MORE SPECIFICALLY
SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A
Item #17C
Page 383
April 22-23, 2008
ORDINANCE 2008-18: ORDINANCE REPEALING COLLIER
COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 89-69, AS AMENDED, WHICH
CREATED THE LETHAL YELLOWING DISEASE
SUPPRESSION PROGRAM - DUE TO A LACK OF
CONSISTENT EVIDENCE OF POSITIVE PROGRAM RESULTS
AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
Item #17D
RESOLUTION 2008-114: PETITION CU-2007-AR-I1394, THE
CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS,
REPRESENTED BY BRUCE ANDERSON OF ROETZEL AND
ANDRESS, IS PROPOSING A CONDITIONAL USE OF THE
COMMERCIAL PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL OFFICE (C-l)
ZONING DISTRICT WITH A SR29 COMMERCIAL
SUBDISTRICT OVERLAY (C-I-SR29-COSD) AND THE RSF-3
(RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-F AMIL Y) ZONING DISTRICT FOR A
CHURCH/PLACE OF WORSHIP, PURSUANT TO LDC SECTION
2.04.03, TABLE 2. THE 16.8-ACRE SITE IS LOCATED AT 635
STATE ROAD 29, IN SECTION 32, TOWNSHIP 46 SOUTH,
RANGE 29 EAST, IMMOKALEE, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA
Item #17E
RESOLUTION 2008-115: PETITION CU-2006-AR-9337 BARRON
COLLIER PARTNERSHIP, LLLP, REPRESENTED BY GEORGE
L. VARNADOE, ESQUIRE, OF CHEFFY, P ASSIDOMO, WILSON
& JOHNSON, LLP; AND AGNOLI, BARBER & BRUNDAGE,
ARE REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE OF AN EARTH
Page 384
April 22-23, 2008
MINING OPERATION AND RELATED PROCESSING AND
PRODUCTION OF MATERIAL WITHIN A RURAL
AGRICUL TURE WITH A MOBILE HOME OVERLAY (A-MHO)
ZONING DISTRICT, A PORTION OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN A
STEWARDSHIP SENDING AREA 9 (BCI/BCP-SSA-9),
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.04.03 OF THE LDC, FOR A
PROJECT TO BE KNOWN AS SOUTH GROVE LAKE. THE
SUBJECT PROPERTY, CONSISTING OF 169.57 ACRES, IS
LOCATED IN SECTIONS 17 AND 18, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH,
RANGE 29 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
Item #17F
ORDINANCE 2008-19: SHERIFF HUNTER'S RECOMMENDED
OFFENDER REGISTRATION FEE ORDINANCE TO
ESTABLISH A POLICY FOR THE COLLECTION OF
ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTRATION FEES FOR THE INITIAL
REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION OF INDIVIDUALS
REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTE TO REGISTER WITH THE
SHERIFF AS A CAREER OFFENDER, CONVICTED FELON,
SEX OFFENDER OR SEXUAL PREDATOR
Item #17G
ORDINANCE 2008-20: ORDINANCE AMENDING COLLIER
COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 97-82, AS AMENDED, WHICH
CREATED THE BA YSHORE AVALON BEAUTIFICATION
MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING UNIT; AMENDING SECTION
TWO (2) TO DELETE THE WORD AVALON FROM THE NAME
OF THE MSTU; AMENDING SECTION SIX (6) TO INCREASE
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FROM
FIVE (5) MEMBERS TO SEVEN (7) MEMBERS AND TO
Page 385
April 22-23, 2008
DELETE THE WORD AVALON THEREIN; AMENDING
SECTION EIGHT (8) TO REFLECT AN INCREASE TO THE
NUMBER OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE A QUORUM; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICT AND SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR
INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF LAWS AND ORDINANCES;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
Item #17H
ORDINANCE 2008-21: CPSS-06-0 1 SMALL SCALE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT (GMP A) PETITION TO
THE COUNTYWIDE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE
PURPOSE OF EXPANDING ACTIVITY CENTER # 18 BY AN
ADDITIONAL 7.3 ACRES - LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF U.S. 41 APPROXIMATELY ONE-FOURTH MILE EAST OF
COLLIER BOULEVARD (SR-951) IN SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP
51 SOUTH, AND RANGE 26 EAST
Item #17I - Moved to Item #8C
Page 386
April 22-23, 2008
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 11:56 a.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL D STRI TS UNDER ITS
CONTR .
TOM HENNING, Chairm
A TTESf~. "0 .'" '.
DWIQHT E.j~:ROCK, CLERK
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These minutes ~ by the Board on ~-;) +-()6
presented or as corrected
, as
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS.
Page 387