BCC Minutes 02/24/2009 R
February 24, 2009
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, February 24, 2009
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: Donna Fiala
Fred Coyle
Frank Halas
Tom Henning
Jim Coletta
ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Sue Filson, Executive Manager to the BCC
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Page 1
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
and
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD (CRAB)
AGENDA
February 24, 2009
9:00 AM
Donna Fiala, BCC Chairman Commissioner, District 1; CRAB Chairman
Fred W. Coyle, BCC Vice-Chairman Commissioner, District 4
Jim Coletta, BCC Commissioner, District 5; CRAB Vice-Chairman
Frank Halas, BCC Commissioner, District 2
Tom Henning, BCC Commissioner, District 3
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."
February 24, 2009
Page 1
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 VERBATIM 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 IMP AIRED 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. Father Tim Navin, San Marco Catholic 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. January 27,2009 - BCC/Regular Meeting
C. January 30,2009 Value Adjustment Board Hearing with Special Magistrate
Mark Pelletier
3. SERVICE AWARDS: (EMPLOYEE AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS)
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Proclamation designating March 1,2009 as World Friendship Day. To be
accepted by Liz Lloyd and Darrell Anderson, FFSWFL Club Members.
February 24, 2009
Page 2
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of a Donation in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Disabled
Veterans Foundation to the Collier County Veterans Council (to be
presented by Bobby Brooks, Operations Manager for Disabled Veterans
Foundation; to be accepted by Jim Elson, President of the Collier County
Veterans Council).
B. Presentation by Wright Construction Group on the construction status of the
new Sheriffs Fleet Maintenance Facility.
C. This item to be heard at 1 :00 p.m. Presentation by Lampl Herbert
Consultants, Inc. on behalf of Miami-Dade Aviation and Parks and
Recreation on the Training and Transition (TNT) Airport Lands for potential
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
A. Public petition request by Jennifer Bermudez to discuss a fence variation
matter.
B. Public petition request by William Poteet to discuss sound invasion on east
side of 1-75 between Golden Gate Parkway and Pine Ridge Road.
C. Public petition request by Michael Conway to discuss cost of unwarranted
calls to Sheriff Department, Code Enforcement, Animal Control and Waste
Management.
D. Public petition request by Joanie Griffin to discuss a permitting issue at
Joanies Blue Crab Cafe.
E. Public petition request by Francia Stevens to discuss The Gabriel Project.
Item 7 and 8 to be heard no sooner than 1 :00 p.m.. unless otherwise noted.
7. BOARD OF ZONING APPEAL
8. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
February 24, 2009
Page 3
A. This item requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by Commission members: PUDZ-A-2006-AR-
10325: Wynn Properties, Inc. and Carbone Properties of Naples, Ltd
Liability Co., represented by Robert J. Mulhere, AICP ofRW A, Inc., and R.
Bruce Anderson, of Roetzel and Andress LP A, and Carbone Properties of
Naples, LLC, represented by R. Bruce Anderson, Esq., are requesting a
rezone from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to Commercial Planned Unit
Development (CPUD) for the Sungate Center CPUD. The project proposes a
maximum of 83,000 square feet of commercial leasable floor area. The
subject 10.0 acres are located on the northwest comer of the intersection of
Green Boulevard and Collier Boulevard (CR 951) in Section 15, Township
49 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida (CTS).
B. CPSP-2008-6: Petition Requesting that the Board of County Commissioners
adopts an Ordinance amending the Capital Improvement Element of the
Collier County Growth Management Plan, Ordinance 89-05, as amended, to
approve their submittal to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, to
direct staff to initiate certain GMP amendments which ensue from these
amendments to the Capital Improvement Element, and to consider Collier
County Planning Commission policy recommendations.
9. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A. Appointment of member to the Clam Bay Advisory Committee.
B. Appointment of member to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
C. Appointment of member to the Golden Gate Community Center Advisory
Committee.
D. This item to be heard at 11 :30 a.m. Presentation by the Clerk of Courts to
update the Board of County Commissioners on the County Investment
Portfolio.
10. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. This item was continued from the January 13~ 2009 BCC Meetin2 and
the February 1 O~ 2008 BCC Meetin2 and was further continued to the
February 24~ 2009 BCC Meetin2. This item requires that all
participants be sworn in and ex parte disclosure be provided by
February 24, 2009
Page 4
Commission members. Recommendation to deny the Alternative Impact
Fee Appeal submitted by Tamiami Square of Naples, LLC (Developer) and
authorize the Chairman to execute a notice to the Developer for the
collection of the Collier County Water-Sewer District (CCWSD) Alternative
Impact Fee calculation of$120,904 for Building 300. (Tom Wides, Director
Fiscal Operations, Public Utilities)
B. This item to be heard at 10:30 a.m. Recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners provide direction to the County Attorney and the
County Manager, or his designee, related to the option to change the
requirements for the assessment of impact fees for changes of use in existing
buildings. (Amy Patterson, Impact Fee and Economic Development
Manager, Business Management and Budget Office, CDES)
C. This item continued from the February 10~ 2009 BCC Meetin2.
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves the
Wetland Mitigation and Panther Habitat Unit Option Agreement with the
Barron Collier Companies and authorizes the Chairman to sign the
document. Project #60044. (Norman Feder, Transportation Services
Administrator)
D. Recommendation to adopt the FY10 Budget Policy and to approve a
resolution directing the Sheriff, the Supervisor of Elections and the Clerk to
provide their FY10 budget submittals by May 1,2009. (John Yonkosky,
Office of Management and Budget Director)
11. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
A. Recommendation to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to
approve the 2008 annual performance evaluation for the Immokalee CRA
Executive Director and authorize a 4.2 percent cost of living adjustment.
February 24, 2009
Page 5
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) Recommendation to approve a resolution establishing the Horizon
Study Oversight Committee as provided for during the January 13,
2009 BCC public hearing.
2) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the water and sewer
utility facilities for Chase Preserve of Lely Resort.
3) Request to increase the time frame associated with the contract to
allow for the Van Buskirk, Ryffel & Associates to provide the
updating of the baseline parcel data reflecting the land use changes
approved from January 2007 through March 2009.
4) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission Members. Should a hearin2 be held on this item~ all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Amador at Fiddlers Creek.
5) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the water and sewer
utility facilities for Falls of Porto fino.
6) To accept final and unconditional conveyance of the water utility
facility for La Playa Beach Resort.
7) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the water and sewer
utility facilities for Cottesmore.
B. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
February 24, 2009
Page 6
1) Recommendation to award Bid #09-5180 for construction of Bayshore
Drive and Thomasson Drive Stormwater Improvements, Project No.
51134.1, to Kyle Construction, Inc. in the amount of$59,153.20 plus
a ten percent contingency, and to approve the necessary budget
amendment.
2) Recommendation to approve the Program Management Plan (PMP)
outlining the projects that will be eligible for Federal Transit
Administration #5316 & #5317 Program Grants.
3) Recommendation to approve Change Order No.1 to Professional
Service Agreement No. 07-4133 in the amount of $120,460.20 with
PB America, Inc., for the design ofNorthbrooke Drive improvements
from northern terminus of the Bridge to Mill Creek Road and
Valewood Drive Extension from Immokalee Road to Autumn Oaks
Lane, Project No. 60106.
4) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners review
and approve an amendment to the 2008 Transportation Disadvantage
Service Plan (TDSP) to allow for joint meetings between Collier and
Lee County Local Coordinating Boards (LCB).
5) Resolution authorizing the Chairman of the Board of County
Commissioners to execute a Transportation Post Project Maintenance
Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),
for the maintenance of a pedestrian bridge and guardrail Safe to
School project on 20th Place SW between 50th Street SW and 50th
Terrace SW.
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES
1) Recommendation to approve award of Request for Proposal Number
09-5l5l Fixed Term Instrumentation and Controls Engineering
Services.
2) Recommendation to approve Amendment AO 1 to the existing
Agreement No. ML070554 between the county and the South Florida
Water Management District that will reduce the fiscal year 2009
funding by $43,227, and to approve the associated budget amendment.
February 24, 2009
Page 7
D. PUBLIC SERVICES
1) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to adopt a
Resolution to declare a public purpose and to allow Collier County
Parks and Recreation to create a Donation Fund for the solicitation,
receipt and expenditure of donations to Collier County Parks and
Recreation to benefit youths, adults and senior citizens.
2) Recommendation to award Bid No. 09-5166, East Naples Community
Park Soccer Field, at a cost of $529,364.63 to Professional Building
Systems.
3) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves,
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, ten (10) lien agreements for
deferral of lOO% of Collier County impact fees for owner-occupied
affordable housing dwelling units located in Collier County.
4) Present to the Board of County Commissioners a summary of the
Impact Fee Deferral Agreements recommended for approval in FY09,
including the total number of Agreements approved, the total dollar
amount deferred and the balance remaining for additional deferrals in
FY09.
5) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves
and authorizes the Chairman to sign, seven (7) Developer lien
agreements for deferral of 100% of Collier County impact fees for
owner-occupied affordable housing units located in Collier County.
6) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners recognize
and approve the expenditure of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) funds in the amount of$84,375.00 for the Golden Gate Senior
Meals Program which is administered by the Department of Housing
and Human Services (HHS). This program is an expansion to an
existing HHS program which provides nutritious meals to low-income
seniors in Collier County.
7) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to approve
and authorize the Chairman to sign an agreement between Collier
County Board of County Commissioners and the Physician Led
Access Network (PLAN) in the amount of $50,000 to provide medical
February 24, 2009
Page 8
referral services for low-income residents in Collier County.
8) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to Award
Request for Quotation #09-PR-GGCP-WS Golden Gate Community
Park Water Slide under Contract #06-3971 Annual Contract for
General Contractor Services, in the Amount of $296,971 to
Professional Building Systems for replacement of existing structure at
Golden Gate Community Park Aquatic Center.
9) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve
past expenses for non-ethanol gasoline for County Parks and Marinas.
10) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to waive
the formal competitive process and approve and authorize the
Chairman to sign an agreement for $160,000 with the Health Planning
Council of Southwest Florida as a sole source provider for a health
information technology project in conjunction with the Physician Led
Access Network (PLAN).
E. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to
authorize the Chairman to sign a Safe Harbor Agreement with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for specialized management of the
Conservation Collier Nancy Payton Preserve.
2) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase
with Edward J. Tauber and Mary P. Tauber for 5.0 acres under the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program, at a cost not to
exceed $80,300.
3) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase
with Juan Rey for 5.66 acres under the Conservation Collier Land
Acquisition Program, at a cost not to exceed $91,lOO.
4) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase
with Julio C. Ponce for 1.14 acres under the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Program, at a cost not to exceed $19,300.
February 24, 2009
Page 9
5) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase
with Orlando Pacheco for 2.27 acres under the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Program, at a cost not to exceed $37,900.
6) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves
an Agreement to provide a maximum expenditure of$28,746 from the
GAC Land Trust Fund to the Big Corkscrew Island Fire Control and
Rescue District for the purchase of Fire Shelters and Equipment.
7) Recommendation to approve a change in wastewater treatment service
for the Collier County Government Complex from the City of Naples
to the Collier County Water-Sewer District and to approve the
Interlocal Service Agreement and Accord and Satisfaction with the
City of Naples to supersede an existing 1977 Interlocal Agreement, as
amended.
8) Recommendation to approve a Budget Amendment to the Freedom
Memorial Fund (620) in the amount of $70,000 in order to begin
construction on the Collier County Freedom Memorial.
F. COUNTY MANAGER
1) Approve budget amendments.
2) Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2008-09 Adopted Budget.
3) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners Award
Bid #09-5175 for Horticulture Debris Hauling and Disposal to County
Waste, Inc.
4) Recommendation to approve the Southwest Florida Consortium 2009
Legislative Priorities which will be presented by participating County
Commissioners to Legislative Delegation members in Tallahassee
throughout the 2009 Legislative Session.
February 24, 2009
Page 10
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1) Recommendation for the CRA Board to reject the sole response
received for Request for Proposal (RFP) 08-5112 from Kaye Homes
to construct, market and sell moderately priced houses on CRA-
owned land; and to approve the CRA staff to release a new RFP at a
later date through the Collier Purchasing Department.
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
budget amendment in the amount of $1,495,000.00 to recognize
USDA grant revenue in the amount of $495,000.00 and transfer
$l,OOO,OOO.OO from Airport Authority Reserves to the project for the
construction of a 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility at the
Immokalee Regional Airport.
3) To approve and execute a Site Improvement Grant Agreement(s)
between the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency
(CRA) and a Grant Applicant(s) within the Bayshore Gateway
Triangle Community Redevelopment area (2255 Davis Boulevard).
4) To approve and execute Shoreline Stabilization Grant Agreement(s)
between the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency and
a Grant Applicant(s) within the Bayshore Gateway Triangle
Community Redevelopment area. (2772 Riverview Drive)
5) To approve and execute Shoreline Stabilization Grant Agreement(s)
between the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency and
a Grant Applicant(s) within the Bayshore Gateway Triangle
Community Redevelopment area. (2736 Riverview Drive)
6) Request that the Collier County Redevelopment Agency approve the
application and recipient agreement for the Immokalee Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Commercial Faade Improvement
Grant Program for reimbursement of $20,000 for B&B Cash Grocery
Stores, Inc. for improvement to the Handy Food Store #92 located at
401 South First Street in Immokalee, Florida.
February 24, 2009
Page 11
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1) Commissioner Fiala requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose.
Will attend the Fourth Annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction on
March 20,2009 at The Club at the Strand in Naples, FL. $80.00 to be
paid from Commissioner Fiala's travel budget.
2) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for payment to attend
a function serving a valid public purpose. Commissioner Coletta
attending the Italian American Society of South West Florida Reverse
Raffle and College Scholarship Fundraiser on February 22, 2009 at
the Country Club of Naples. $100 Donation benefits local students for
college scholarships and admits two. $50 to be paid from
Commissioner Coletta's travel budget.
3) Commissioner Coletta requests Board approval for payment to attend
a function serving a valid public purpose. Commissioner Coletta
attended the Boy Scouts of America Southwest Florida Council
Executive Board (Member) Retreat in Fort Myers on January 24,
2009. $5 luncheon to be paid from Commissioner Coletta's travel
budget.
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of January
30, 2009 through February 06, 2009 and for submission into the
official records of the Board.
2) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of
February 7,2009 through February l3, 2009 and for submission into
the official records of the Board.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners ratify a
purchase order increase exceeding $50,000 for the Santa Barbara
Boulevard Extension project (Project No. 60091) in accordance with
February 24, 2009
Page 12
the Collier County Purchasing Policy (Fiscal Impact $50,000).
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners authorizes
application for tax deeds for thirty-two (32) County-held tax
certificates and the forwarding of a written notice to proceed with tax
deed applications to the Tax Collector.
3) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission Members. Should a hearin2 be held on this item~ all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve Petition CU-2005-AR-8748, to allow a Conditional Use in
the Rural Agricultural (A) zoning district to excavate in.excess of
4,000 cubic yards of earth for an aquaculture facility in the
Agricultural (A) zoning district, pursuant to Land Development Code
subsection 2.03.01.A.1.a.2. The subject property, consisting of
approximately 15.08 acres, is located at 2060 Tobias Street, in Section
22, Township 49 South, Range 27 East, Collier County, Florida.
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 requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by Commission members. V A-2008-AR-13756
Lee Wyatt, represented by Lauren Barber of Turrell and Associates, is
requesting a front yard setback Variance for principal structures in the
Mobile Home (MH) Zoning District from 25 feet to 16 feet, as required by
Land Development Code (LDC) Section 4.02.01, Setbacks for Base Zoning
Districts, to permit a nine-foot setback; and a site alteration Variance to
impact mangroves, pursuant to LDC Subsection 9.04.02.B.l. The
February 24, 2009
Page 13
approximately 0.14-acre subject property is located on Lot 77, Otter Avenue,
in Plantation Island, of Section 24, Township 53 South, Range 29 East
Collier County, Florida. CTS
B. CPSP-2007-6: Petition requesting an amendment to the Potable Water Sub-
Element of the Public Facilities Element of the Growth Management Plan
(GMP), to add reference in Policy 1.7 to the proposed Ten-Year Water
Supply Facilities Work Plan; approve the 10-Year Water Supply Facilities
Work Plan as proposed; and direct staff to implement the CCPC's
recommendations. (Adoption hearing)
C. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners adopts an
Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2002-27, as amended, which created the
Pelican Bay Municipal Service Taxing and Benefit Unit, by providing for
waiver of mail ballot requirements in the event the number of nominees for
appointment to the Pelican Bay Services Division Board in a particular
category does not exceed the number of open positions for that category.
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
February 24, 2009
Page 14
February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your
seats.
Madam Chair, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. Welcome to our Board of
County Commissioners' meeting this fine day in February, the 24th.
And I ask you all to please rise for the invocation by Father Tim
Navin from San Marco Catholic Church, and then we will say the
Pledge of Allegiance, which will be led by our own Commissioner
Halas.
FATHER NAVIN: Let us pray.
Dear God, you blessed this nation from the beginning, you
blessed us with courageous people who stand up for the idea of
freedom, you blessed us with their foundational documents to keep us
on the path of freedom, and you blessed us with their children to --
who held fast to the purpose of freedom.
Thank you, God, for these blessings. Help us to never forget
them and take them for granted. Help us to hold onto our ideals, to
cherish them and to fight for them. Help us to never give them up,
either to sudden onslaught or incremental compromise. Help us to
always remember we were born to freedom and to never surrender it.
Amen.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
And Mr. Mudd, will you lead us through the agenda, please.
Item #2A
TODA Y'S REGULAR, CONSENT AND SUMMARY AGENDA
AS AMENDED - APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED W/CHANGES
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am. Agenda changes, Board of County
Commissioners' meeting, February 24, 2009.
Page 2
February 24, 2009
The first item is an add-on Item 10E. It's a recommendation to
approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection through its Office of Coastal
and Aquatic Managed Areas, CAMA, which is C-A-M-A, and Collier
County for hydraulic restoration improvements on Shell Island Road.
That item is being walked on at staffs request.
The next item is Item 16B1. In the executive summary under
recommendations, first paragraph should read, for a total base bid of
$59,153.20 rather than for the total base bid and of$59,153.20. That
correction is at Commissioner Fiala's request.
The next item is to move Item 16D 1 to 1 OF. It's a
recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to adopt a
resolution to declare a public purpose and to allow Collier County
Parks and Recreation to create a donation fund for the solicitation,
receipt, and expenditure of donations to Collier County Parks and
Recreations to benefit youths, adults, and senior citizens. This item is
being moved at Commissioner Fiala's request.
Note on this particular item, the third whereas clause in the
resolution should read, whereas, the board finds it necessary for parks
to work with the Office of the Clerk of Courts Department of Finance,
and the office of management and budget to create a parks and
recreation donation fund for the collection and accounting of parks
and recreation monetary donations, and the board directs parks to
coordinate with the Clerk of Courts' Department of Finance to
establish and maintain said account in compliance with the Florida
Statutes.
And then in the fourth whereas clause, replace the word spend
with and authorizes the expenditure of the donations. In the last
paragraph, replace the word spend with expenditure of. That
clarification's at staffs request. And that, again, is on Item 16D1,
which is now 1 OF.
The next item is Item 16D10. The incorrect Attachment B, scope
Page 3
February 24, 2009
of services, was entered into this item. The correct Attachment B
replacement has been distributed and copies made available for
review. Again, this correction was at staffs request.
Next item is to move Item 16E8 to lOG. It's a recommendation to
approve a budget amendment to the Freedom Memorial Fund, which
is fund 620, in the amount of $70,000 in order to begin construction
on the Collier County Freedom Memorial. This item is being moved at
Commissioner Fiala's request.
The next item is to move Item 16G 1 to 14 B. It's a
recommendation for the CRA board to reject the sole response
received for request for proposal, (RFP) 08-5112 from Kay Homes to
construct, market, and sell moderately priced houses on CRA-owned
land and to approve the CRA staff to release a new RFP at a later date
through the Collier purchasing department. This item is being moved
at Commissioner Henning's request.
The next item is to move Item 16K3 to 12A. This item requires
that ex parte disclosure be provided by commission members. It's a
recommendation to approve petition, conditional use 2008-AR-8748
to allow a conditional use in the rural agricultural (A) zoning district
to excavate in excess of 4,000 cubic yards of earth for an aquaculture
facility in agricultural (A) zoning district pursuant to Land
Development Code subsection 2.03.0 1.A.1.a.2.
The subject property consisting of approximately 15.08 acres is
located at 2060 Tobias Street in Section 22, Township 49 south,
Range 27 east, Collier County, Florida. This item is being moved at
the request of Commissioners Coletta, Fiala, and Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Mr. Mudd, just to point out that that
item is -- has an error in it. It says zero dollars cubic yards. You need
to correct that. And I think -- and you also need to add, it was
Commissioner Fiala's, Commissioner Coletta's, and Commissioner
Coyle's request on the minutes in order to make them -- or this outline
in order to make it correct.
Page 4
February 24, 2009
Are you working off the same outline we are? Okay. I understand
that. But on this Item 12A--
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- it is in error, right? Are you
correcting that or are you merely moving it?
MR. MUDD: I'm correcting it, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, all right. Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Okay. And I've said that the item is being moved at
Commissioner Coletta's, Commissioner Fiala's, and Commissioner
Coyle's request.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, all right.
MR. MUDD: You have three time-certain items today, which is
Item 5C to be heard at one p.m. It's a presentation by Lampl Herbert
Consultants, Inc., on behalf of Miami-Dade Aviation and Parks and
Recreation on the training and transition airport lands for potential
off-highway vehicle (OHV) use.
The next item with a time certain is Item 9E to be heard at 11 :30
a.m., and it's a presentation by the Clerk of Courts to update the Board
of County Commissioners on the county's investment portfolio.
The next time-certain item is Item lOB to be heard at 10:30 a.m.,
and it's a recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners
provide direction to the county attorney and the county manager or his
designee related to the option to change the requirements for the '
assessment of impact fees for changes of use in existing buildings.
That's all I have, Madam Chair, Commissioners.
. CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And Commissioners, you need to
mark your index. I got the 14B move after I did the updates.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, Sue. Thank you. Do you have
anything for us this morning, County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine.
Page 5
February 24, 2009
Commissioners, do you have anything to declare or any changes
or addition to the agenda? We'll start with Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Madam Chair, I have a disclosure
for Item 16K3. That item, of course, was previously heard by the
Board of County Commissioners, so we have, indeed, discussed it,
and I have also received correspondence, emails, and had meeting
with various people concerning this item.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. Good morning, Madam Chair.
As far as the consent agenda, the only item that I have to bring
forward is the 16K3. I met with Rich Y ovanovich October the 2nd,
2007. And as far as the summary agenda, I have no disclosures, and I
have no changes on today's agenda. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
And Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Well, 16K3 has been
moved to 12A, and I have declarations to make on that, but I'll make
them at the time it comes.
I have no other declarations to make as far as the consent agenda,
the summary agenda, but I do have one request. There's a number of
people coming to speak to us on Item 12A, the excavation,
aquaculture, and I'd like -- I would like to request, respectfully
request, a time certain for that so these people have some certainly of
what time it's going to come.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Would you like to set a time for that, Mr.
Mudd?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, we have a one o'clock time
certain, the land use items, so --
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, if you're going to let those people
come and let them know it's coming, then you probably want to have
something around 3 :30 or 4:00 this afternoon so you can square it up.
Page 6
February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, the only problem with that
is, do you think we might be through by then?
MR. MUDD: No.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, fine.
MR. MUDD: Absolutely not.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Then why don't we aim for three
o'clock, if that's agreeable.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Fine. All other commissioners fine with
that?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine. That's all?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's all. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Nada, nothing, zip.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, that's easy. And same with me, I
have no changes or additions on the agenda and nothing to declare at
this time on the consent agenda or the summary agenda. Thank you.
And now may I have a motion to approve today's agenda?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So moved.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion to approve by
Commissioner Halas and a second by Commissioner Coyle.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You're opposed?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Could you tell me why?
Page 7
February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, there's an item on the
consent agenda I've been opposed to prior. There's no sense of pulling
it off the agenda because the rest of the commissioners was not
opposed it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So instead of beating the same
drum over and over and over, I just let my feelings be known.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Can you tell me the item number just -- I'm so curious.
MR. MUDD: It's 16Al, I believe, sir.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh.
MR. MUDD: It's the Horizon Study Oversight Committee.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Correct.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Thank you so much. Okay. And
then Commissioner Henning, would you like to --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Could you tell me -- yeah, I'll be
happy to.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Would you like to make a motion to
approve these minutes?
Page 8
AGENDA CHANGES
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' MEETING
February 24. 2009
Add On Item 10E: Recommendation to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection through its Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA),
and Collier County for hydrologic restoration improvements on Shell Island Road. (Staff's request.)
Item 16B1: In the Executive Summary under "Recommendation" first paragraph should read:
" . . . . for the total Base Bid of $59,153.20. . . ." (rather than "for the total Base Bid and of $59,153.20. . .").
(Commissioner Fiala's request.)
Move Item 1601 to 10F: Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to adopt a Resolution to
declare a public purpose and to allow Collier County Parks and Recreation to create a Donation Fund for
the solicitation, receipt and expenditure of donations to Collier County Parks and Recreation to benefit
youths, adults and senior citizens. (Commissioner Fiala's request.)
NOTE: The third "WHEREAS" clause in the Resolution should read: "Whereas the Board finds it
necessary for PARKS to work with the Office of the Clerk of Courts, Department of Finance, and Office of
Management and Budget, to create a Parks and Recreation Donation Fund for the collection and
accounting of Parks and. Recreation monetary donations, and the Board directs PARKS to coordinate with
the Clerk of Courts, Department of Finance to establish and maintain said account in compliance with the
Florida Statutes; and". In the fourth "WHEREAS" clause, replace the word "spend" with: "and authorizes
the expenditure of the donations". In the last paragraph, replace the word "spend" with "the expenditure
of". (Staff's request.)
Item 16010: The incorrect Attachment B, Scope of Services, was entered into this item. The correct
Attachment B replacement has been distributed and copies made available for review. (Staff's request.)
Move Item 16E8 to 10G: Recommendation to approve a Budget Amendment to the Freedom Memorial Fund
(620) in the amount of $70,000 in order to begin construction on the Collier County Freedom Memorial.
(Commissioner Fiala's request.)
Move Item 16G1 to 14B: Recommendation for the CRA Board to reject the sole response received for
Request for Proposal (RFP) 08-5112 from Kaye Homes to construct, market and sell moderately priced
houses on CRA-owned land; and to approve the CRA staff to release a new RFP at a later date through the
Collier Purchasing Department. (Commissioner Henning's request.)
Move Item 16K3 to 12A: This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by Commission members.
Recommendation to approve Petition CU-2005-AR-8748, to allow a Conditional Use in the Rural Agricultural
(A) zoning district to excavate in excess of 4,000 cubic yards of earth for an aquaculture facility in the
Agricultural (A) zoning district, pursuant to land Development Code subsection 2.03.01.A.1.a.2. The
subject property, consisting of approximately 15.08 acres, is located at 2060 Tobias Street, in Section 22,
Township 49 South, Range 27 East, Collier County, Florida. (Commissioners Coletta's, Fiala's and Coyle's
request.)
Time Certain Items:
Item 5C to be heard at 1 :00 p.m. Presentation by lampl Herbert Consultants, Inc., on behalf of Miami-Dade
Aviation and Parks and Recreation on the Training and Transition (TNT) Airport lands for potential Off-
Highway Vehicle (OHV) use.
Item 90 to be heard at 11 :30 a.m. Presentation by the Clerk of Courts to update the Board of County
Commissioners on the County Investment Portfolio.
Item 10B to be heard at 10:30 a.m. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners provide
direction to the County Attorney and the County Manager, or his designee, related to the option to change
the requirements for the assessment of impact fees for changes of use in existing buildings.
2/24/2009 8:48 AM
February 24, 2009
Item #2B, and #2C
MINUTES FROM JANUARY 27, 2009, REGULAR MEETING;
AND JANUARY 30, 2009, VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD WITH
SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MARK PELLETIER - APPROVED AS
PRESENTED
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'll make a motion to approve
these minutes of January 27, BCC regular meeting, and January 30,
2009, Value Adjustment Board with Special Master Mark Pelletier.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do I hear a second?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Hello?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a second from Commissioner
Halas.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Let's move on to our proclamations.
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MARCH 1, 2009 AS WORLD
FRIENDSHIP DAY. ACCEPTED BY LIZ LLOYD AND
DARRELL ANDERSON, FFSWFL CLUB MEMBERS -
Page 9
February 24, 2009
ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: First and only proclamation is designating March
1,2009, as World Friendship Day, to be accepted by Liz Lloyd and
Darrell Anderson from the FFS -- I think -- well, it's FF Southwest
Florida club members. I don't know what the two first Fs are for.
MS. LLOYD: Friendship Force.
MR. MUDD: Okay. Thank you, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Would you like to come up front,
please, for us. Thank you. Boy, I'm so glad I get to read this. I like all
that friendship stuff.
Come on up front. And if you would turn around and face the
audience, we would appreciate that. Thank you so much.
Proclamation: Whereas, the Friendship Force of Southwest
Florida will be celebrating World Friendship Day on March 1, 2009;
and,
Whereas, Friendship Force International was founded in March,
1977, by President Jimmy Carter at the White House Ceremony and
he has earned recognition for its people-to-people diplomacy with a
Nobel Prize nomination and has gained the respect of governments
around the world for its groundbreaking home hospitality program as
an effective means for promoting international understanding; and,
Whereas, the Friendship Force is called an exchange because you
exchange the way you currently see the world for an entirely new
perspective by exploring, which allows people to see a culture up
close, through the eyes of local residents taking you straight to the
heart of the country and its people, by understanding cultural
differences and permanently changing the way you read and watch the
news as distant places are no longer vague dots on the map. They are
now the home of your new friends; and,
Whereas, time spent together at the breakfast table creates the
kind of empathy that expands the mind and the heart. You will want to
Page 10
February 24, 2009
put friendship into action by supporting your friends in distant places
with humanitarian and educational projects showing that working
together can build a better and more peaceful world; and,
Whereas, the mission of Friendship Forces, bringing global
peoples together in friendship throughout -- through understanding
and respect.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that March 1,2009, be
designated as World Friendship Day.
Done and ordered this 24th day of February, 2009, Board of
County Commissioners, Collier County Florida, Donna Fiala,
Chairman.
And Mr. Commissioners, I make a motion that we approve this
proclamation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And I have a few seconds right there on
the dais. We'll take Mr. Coletta's as the first second.
And all those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And you gave us this book. Is that as
well?
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We can't accept a gift, but we will give
this to our library.
Page 11
February 24, 2009
MR. ANDERSON: I was hoping you would, yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, good. And our new library is waiting
for a book, so this is it.
MS. LLOYD: That's a good book on history.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, great. Thank you so much for being
here. Thank you so much.
MS. LLOYD: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: My pleasure.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And would you --
MR. MUDD: Get a picture.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- stand up here for a picture, please.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: If you want to say a couple words.
MR. ANDERSON: I can, yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, very good. Thank you.
MR. ANDERSON: Madam Chairperson, we're indeed honored to
receive this proclamation. And Friendship Force is a very important
organization, not only in the states, but worldwide.
We're going to be -- just for your information we're going to be
hosting 23 ambassadors from Russia in Belaruse and Uzbekistan next
week. They're coming in on the 28th of this month, and they'll be here
for eight days.
And we have a real exciting program set up for them not only in
Lee County but also in Collier County. They'll be home hosted by
different families that are also members of the club, and then from
here they'll be going to Sarasota. So we're very excited about that. But
.
agaIn --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, where will -- my son -- this is a
personal thing. Sorry about that, folks. You get to hear this. My son
Page 12
February 24, 2009
Todd does -- his church, he goes as part of his church -- visits
orphanages in Bella Ruse once a year, and so I was wondering where
these people are meeting. Maybe his church members would like to go
and welcome them.
MR. ANDERSON: We'll-- the club will be from Minsk,
Belaruse. We'll be meeting in various homes. We will have -- again,
on the 1 st of March we have the Friendship, of course, Day, and that
will be at -- oh, gee. Slipped my mind. Sorry about that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That's all right. That's all right. Thank you.
MR. ANDERSON: Everybody's invited to come, and we're
pleased to be here.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you very much.
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: That was Darrell Anderson.
(Applause.)
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,000.00 FROM THE DISABLED VETERANS FOUNDATION
TO THE COLLIER COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL (TO BE
PRESENTED BY BOBBY BROOKS, OPERATIONS MANAGER
FOR DISABLED VETERANS FOUNDATION; TO BE
ACCEPTED BY JIM ELSON, PRESIDENT OF THE COLLIER
COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL) - CONTINUED PER COUNTY
MANAGER MUDD
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to the presentation
section of our agenda. The first is a presentation of a donation in the
amount of a thousand dollars from the Disabled Veterans Foundation
to the Collier County Veterans Council to be presented by Bobby
Brooks, operations manager of the Disabled Veterans Foundation, to
Page 13
February 24, 2009
be accepted by Jim Elson, president of the Collier County Veterans
Council.
MR. ELSON: Bobby Brooks here?
(No response.)
MR. MUDD: I hope so. Mr. Brooks?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: The check's in the mail.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Jim, do you mind hanging around for a
while. Maybe he got--
MR. ELSON: I don't mind waiting a little bit. I do want to report
one quick thing though. The money that I gave to you that allowed the
new van to be purchased is in operation and is working beautifully and
comfortably taking our vets to the medical appointments, so I'm happy
for that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, that's great. Thank you. You've done
so much work for the veterans, Jim. We really appreciate all your hard
work that's behind the scenes. Nobody even knows that it's going on.
MR. ELSON: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Except the veterans. The veterans
know it's going on.
MR. ELSON: They know.
(Applause.)
Item #5B
PRESENTATION BY WRIGHT CONSTRUCTION GROUP ON
THE CONSTRUCTION STATUS OF THE NEW SHERIFF'S
FLEET MAINTENANCE FACILITY - PRESENTED
MR. MUDD: The next presentation is by Wright Construction
Group on the construction status of the new sheriffs fleet maintenance
facility .
Page 14
February 24, 2009
MR. NESBITT: Thank you, Mr. Mudd.
Good morning, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. For the
record, Claude Nesbitt, department of facilities management, and it's
my pleasure to introduce Mr. Mark Valin.
MR. V ALLEN: Okay. Once again, Mark Valin, project manager
for Wright Construction. Tom Stetz, project superintendent for Wright
Construction. Both Tom and myselfhave been on the fleet facility
since the beginning at Phase I.
Quick update of the project. Here's a conceptual view. Recent
aerial photography. I guess this is probably about two weeks old.
Front elevation of the facility. One of the security gates. All the
security gates are installed at this time.
Four 10,OOO-gallon fuel tanks for the fuel facility, some of the
backup power supply for the fuel facility, the transfer switches.
Interior view of the actual maintenance facility itself. The lifts are, at
this time, going in.
Some interior shots of the administration side, reception area and
copy area. Some MEPs, power distribution, waterless urinal, and hand
wash and emergency shower facility out in the main work area. One
of the skylights in the main work area. It's very, very nice and
appealing.
Just a quick aerial shot of the last four months or so. You can
watch it. And the present shot up there. Skylight's in.
The project is currently under budget, and the project is currently
scheduled to be completed ahead of schedule. Contract deadline is
April 25th.
The Wright objective, zero punch list and zero positive change
orders.
Okay. Questions?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, I have a question, but not for you, for
our county manager.
Was this built with government impact fees, Mr. Mudd?
Page 15
February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. See, again, I just want to point out
MR. MUDD: When I said yes, ma'am, it's a mix -- it's a mix,
because you've got some sheriff funds, you've got government
building funds, and then you do have some general fund funds on this
particular facility.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, thank you.
MR. V ALLEN: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Good job. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes. Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Excuse me.
MR. OCHS: Question, yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is the air-conditioning -- is the
bays air conditioned?
MR. NESBITT: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. So providing the skylight,
you're actually providing a natural light for less lighting.
MR. NESBITT: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Good design.
MR. NESBITT: Thank you. Donald Stacy would appreciate that.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thanks for a great report.
MR. V ALLEN: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to the public petition,
and I don't believe we have Mr. Brooks yet. Peter Creely and Jim are
out there trying to figure out where he is, but we've made multiple
contacts, so I think we're going to schedule this for another meeting.
MR. MUDD: And our 5C presentation is a one p.m. time certain,
so we go to public petitions. The first public petition is a request by
Jennifer Bermudez to discuss a fence variation matter.
Ms. Bermudez, if you could come forward, please. This could be
Page 16
February 24, 2009
a really quick meeting. Ms. Jennifer Bermudez to discuss a variation
matter. It's Item 6A.
(No response.)
MR. MUDD: Brings us to our next public petition, and if she --
and I'll -- when we get to the end of the public petitions, I'll try her
name one more time.
Item #6B
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY WILLIAM POTEET TO
DISCUSS SOUND INVASION ON EAST SIDE OF 1-75
BETWEEN GOLDEN GATE P ARKW A Y AND PINE RIDGE
ROAD - MOTION TO HAVE CHAIRMAN CONTACT FDOT TO
RESOLVE PROBLEM - APPROVED; MOTION AUTHORIZING
COMMISSIONER HENNING TO WORK WITH STAFF AND
RESIDENTS - APPROVED
Brings us to 6B. It's a public petition request by William Poteet
to discuss a sound invasion on the east side of 1-75 between Golden
Gate Parkway and Pine Ridge Road.
Mr. Poteet?
MR. POTEET: Yes. I won't make the meeting go that much
faster.
Good morning. I thank the commission for the opportunity to
come and speak before you. I'm here on behalf of the Golden Gate
Area Civic Association who are here on behalf of some citizens and
residents that live in between Golden Gate Parkway and Pine Ridge
Road between Santa Barbara and 1-75. That little quadrant there. It's
approximately -- we estimate someplace around 13- to 1,500 people
live in that area.
And since the -- since the construction of 1-75, the sound has just
become horrendous. There's days where it's only a roar, and there's
Page 1 7
February 24, 2009
other days where you think a tornado's coming through your back
yard, depending upon which way the wind's blowing.
It's not getting better, and we're here to ask the commission to
join us on our quest to find a solution. We understand that it's not your
job to go out and build sound walls. That's FDOT's position. Now,
we've been to FDOT, and FDOT says -- well, first of all, let me give
you a little history. I sat on the 1-75 Overchange Ad Hoc Committee
for three years. And at one of our meetings, I specifically asked FDOT
if there were sound walls needed because it showed one sound wall
along the exit ramp to buffer those homes that were just right on top of
the highway. And that was the only sound wall that was on the plan.
And they said, with a straight face, that, no, there's no problems.
They've done sound studies. There will be no need for sound walls.
Well, here we are five years later. You have a number of sound walls
that are already up along 1-75, so obviously someone determined they
needed to take care of this problem.
Since then, FDOT has says, yes, we recognize the fact that there
is a sound problem. It's impacting the neighborhood, and it's impacting
the neighborhood negatively, not only on prices on homes, render the
homes, things of that nature, but it's just the quality of life of the
residents has been really decimated.
So -- but at this point, FDOT says they won't -- will not build the
sound wall because our community does not meet the density
requirements.
Well, we haven't seen what the requirements are, we haven't seen
the raw data, et cetera, and even if I did see it; I personally don't know
if I'm the type of person that could evaluate it.
So what we're here to ask the commission today to do is to kind
of join our little neighborhood and to try to come up with some
solutions. When they started the highway construction, there was a
contract that was let out, and I'm not sure who let it out or who did it,
because I haven't been able to track down the source, but it was for
Page 18
February 24, 2009
removal of exotics around the highway.
So they went in, they removed the exotics, along with every other
living tree that was in the area. I mean, they just scraped it. So now
I've got highway noise with no sound wall and no vegetation stopping
it. It's just filtering right through into the neighborhood.
So what we're asking the commission is if they would join us in
trying to come up with some type of solution, whether it be creating
an MSTU to let the neighborhood create its own solution for it or
whether it be to have transportation review the DOT data to ensure
that we're getting exactly what we're supposed to be doing.
Because, you know, bottom line is, if there's a sound problem and
we meet their criteria, they have to put the wall in. Now, I don't know
if that's going to happen or not, but I, myself, as an individual, do not
have the expertise nor does the civic association have it.
And so we're coming to the people that, you know, govern us and
try to help us find a solution to this. It could be just a simple thing of
buffering with landscaping and creating some type of natural buffer
there.
But, again, we just want to open a dialogue and have the
commission join us and come to some solution for the neighborhood
instead of just saying, this neighborhood, you know, is going to be
penalized in the name of progress.
The civic association was one of the strongest proponents for the
1-75 interchange, but we did not want to do it at the detriment of our
neighborhoods, and so we're out there now trying to see if we can find
something that's going to make our community whole and sound and a
good place to live.
And I thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I've got -- move your glass.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: There's two of them on.
Page 19
February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I would like to seek the board's
approval to work with Mr. Poteet in the education, minimal staff time
to take a look at the study, and also work with Mr. Poteet to see if
there's solutions out there to mitigate the noises along that
neighborhood.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So do you want to bring it back then?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I don't think we need to bring it
back.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Leo, do you think we need to
bring it back under that scenario?
MR. OCHS: No, sir, not if the board's going to authorize you to
work on their behalf with Mr. Poteet.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Fine with me.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Well, I think
Commissioner Henning's heading in the right direction by taking this
item and moving it forward.
I would further suggest that we direct the chair to write a letter to
Florida Department of Transportation asking them to work a little
closer with the community to try to bring some sort of resolution to
this with Commissioner Henning and the community so that it shows
the support of the Board of County Commissioners.
The way Bill's talking about this, it sounds like that the Florida
Department of Transportation's just dropped out of the picture. There's
-- you have a lot more questions than you have answers, and I think
you need to get them back into the whole thing.
MSTU is -- it's a wonderful idea to talk about but, you know,
exhaust all their possibilities first.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, Madam Chair. I -- I think a
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February 24, 2009
motion to study and discuss it is really not something that goes far
enough here. We have direct access to the Department of
Transportation through the Metropolitan Planning Organization. We
meet with them every month.
There's absolutely no reason we can't put this on their agenda and
ask that they deal with this issue and ask them to conduct the study.
They're going to ultimately have to make the decision to spend the
money. Let's go directly to the source and get it done rather than
studying it for another month or two months.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So what -- you're going to handle
this then? You're going to be working with him, and then we're going
to be asking the MPO to put this on our agenda; is that -- is that how
we summarize it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Since no motion had been
made yet -- I don't think I've heard a motion.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I thought you made the motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But my motion was to ask the
county commission to write a letter to the Metropolitan Planning
Organization, ask that it be placed on the agenda for resolution, and
then at our next meeting we will deal with it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, Commissioner Henning
needs to be included in this.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Y es. We have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coyle and a second by Commissioner Halas.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, the motion -- there's
already been a study done, okay. I think what Bill is asking is for the
staff to take a look at the study and validate the study, so there's no
need for asking FDOT to do another study.
This was brought up two MPO meetings ago under general
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February 24, 2009
communication off the state staff, okay. And at this point there is no
resolution, there is no expertise, whether in the state representative's
office for the district for the residents, and I just think it -- you know,
the motion really doesn't cover -- addresses any resolution to it.
So all I'm asking for is the board's permission to work with Mr.
Poteet and staff, a little bit of staff time, to bring some kind of
resolution to this.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Which is fine with me, by the way.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I guess I don't see how we,
that is, the county commission, brings a resolution to it. FDOT built
the sound wall on the west side of the highway, they used certain
criteria to make that determination, they spent the money and they
built the sound wall. If this community's having a noise problem, they
should have a sound wall, too.
FDOT has to make that determination and build the sound wall.
We can't get the sound wall built by consulting with Mr. Poteet and
his community. We can't get the sound wall completed by validating
the study. We get the sound wall built by going to the people who are
responsible to building it -- for building it, and trying to put some
pressure on it, the same way we try to deal with the issues that
confront other -- other agencies like the City of Naples and their mast
arms.
It is a struggle sometimes getting it done, but if we -- if we keep
going back to FDOT and demanding that they treat people equally and
they provide the sound walls that this community needs, then that's
what we ought to be doing. Validating a study is not going to get it
done.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I thought I had my light on.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. At least you can see, Bill,
everybody wants to work with you and help you.
MR. POTEET: No. That's what we're asking for. We're asking
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February 24, 2009
for an overall coordination of this, and I'm not sure the sound wall is
going to be the viable option. I mean, it is the ultimate option. There's
no question in our mind, that is what the neighborhood would
ultimately want. But whether or not we're going to be able to convince
FDOT, I don't know. So I want to look at other options also, because
the problems are just not going to go away. So you get worse and
worse as the traffic --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I think that Commissioner Henning really
had the answer right there.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I do, too.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: He wants to work something out with
them, and then come back to us and tell us what their solutions are,
and that -- and then we can always bring it before the MPO and put it
on their agenda. But I think that that -- you know, he's -- I think he
should move this thing forward because he's already got a handle on it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I agree.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: But that's my opinion.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I agree. That's exactly the
way I feel is that there's several different ways to go at this, and this
problem's been ongoing for a little while. We go directly to the MPO
without researching a little bit, having our staff step in and take a look
to see the complexity of the situation and be able to advise.
I think that's the right direction to go to start with, and at that
point in time we might be able to take it to the MPO with more
information.
But I would really appreciate it, in a commissioner's district, if
we would let that commissioner take the lead and stay with it. That's
the way this should be done.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Obviously this is the responsibility
of FDOT. They made the study in regards to a sound wall prior to
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February 24, 2009
building the first sound wall. The sound wall that's presently there on
the opposite side of the highway has -- obviously has turned into a
reflective surface, and that's causing the sound to bounce back into the
community; so, therefore, FDOT needs to go back and make another
study and see if they've created a larger problem than they tried to
cure.
So whether it's a sound wall, whether it's vegetation, I believe
that that's the course of action that should be taken, and that should be
FDOT's responsibility. They should go out there and make another
sound -- make additional sound measurements to figure out if they've
caused a larger problem than they tried to rectified.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So we have a motion on the floor
presently and a second.
Any further discussion?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Just a clarification what the
motion is.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Clarification for -- of the motion.
MR. MUDD: The motion -- the motion that I heard was to have
the chair write to the MPO to get this particular item on their next
agenda.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It goes further than that, okay. It is
designed to get the people who are responsible for doing the work
involved, okay. What I'm trying to do is get it done faster. Ifwe
conduct a study and then maybe spend a month or whatever meeting
with the community and trying to evaluate alternatives and then we
take it to FDOT, FDOT is going to do the same thing. They're going to
say, okay, what are our alternatives. They'll go through the same
study, look at the same alternatives.
If we take it to FDOT, get FDOT involved right upfront working
with the community, county staff, and everybody else, then we're
Page 24
February 24, 2009
going to get this resolved faster. So that's my intent is to get it resolved
faster by getting it on FDOT's radar screen and letting them know that
the Board of County Commissioners wants the resolution, okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And, Bill, do you have a preference with
what you've heard just now? I mean, is this -- this motion is on the
floor and we're ready to vote on it.
MR. POTEET: I like both suggestions, the one from
Commissioner Coyle and from Commissioner Henning, and if they'd
run simultaneously with each other, I think that's the best for the
neighborhood because then we'd have total communication with the
county and, you know, and DOT -- transportation will be able to look
at the previous study that was done to see if there was any errors in
that, and that's the information that we don't have. Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And while this is taking place, then you'll
be working with Commissioner Henning.
Go ahead, Commissioner Henning.
MR. POTEET: That would be the ultimate, but I like the
approach of getting it done faster. I mean, the whole neighborhood
would.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, the thing is is nobody said
for the county to restudy it.
MR. POTEET: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And that's a clearly (sic)
misstatement.
MR. POTEET: We want to evaluate the existing studies to see if
they're accurate, because obviously whatever they did five years ago
on a computer --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And this -- and I'd love to
support the motion --
MR. POTEET: -- was in error.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- but this was already discussed
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February 24, 2009
at the MPO, so it's not resolving anything, but anyways.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Motion is on the floor, and there is
a second.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
Opposed, like sign?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. We have a 3-2 vote, and the two
votes that are against are Commissioners Coletta and Commissioners
(sic) Henning -- and Commissioner Henning. Okay?
So we'll move forward. Commissioner Henning will be working
with you, and by the time we get this on the agenda, you guys will
have a plan for us.
MR. POTEET: Let me just make sure. Was Commissioner
Henning authorized to work with us with that motion, because I didn't
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, that wasn't--
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, he's your commissioner.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- part of the motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: He's always authorized to work
with you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But no. To use staff time, you
have to authorize it from the commission. You didn't do it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do you need staff time with that?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Then make a motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I make a motion that we allow
staff to work with Commissioner Henning, a limited amount of staff
time, to work with the community to try to see what the options are
Page 26
February 24, 2009
that are open.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And the motion is on the floor, and
you've heard it from Commissioner Coletta, and a second by
Commissioner Henning.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That's a 4-1 vote.
MR. POTEET: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Let's hope that we can get through the rest of them a little bit
.
eaSIer.
Item #6A
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY JENNIFER BERMUDEZ TO
DISCUSS A FENCE VARIATION MATTER - PETITIONER TO
SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT HER
REQUEST TO THE ZONING DIRECTOR
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, I believe Mr. -- Ms. Jennifer
Bermudez is here, so we go to 6A. It's a public petition request by
Jennifer Bermudez to discuss a fence variation matter.
Please come forward to the podium.
MS. BERMUDEZ: Good morning. I'm here for a fence variance.
This is a code enforcement issue. It was a gazebo and a fence
originally. There was -- it was done with no permit. I'm trying to bring
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February 24, 2009
it up to code on behalf of the homeowner and the contractor.
The fence is 6 feet high currently, and apparently to bring it up to
code, we need to knock it down to 3 feet. One of my options I was
given was to apply for a fence variance, which was a thousand dollars
paid by the homeowner. I applied for it, and my biggest argument is
that it's an area that is high in crime. And it states for the variance that
at least one health, safety, or welfare issue has to be presented, and I
feel that it was, and they denied me from that.
I don't feel that there was much study done on the area. It says
that it might be, but they don't agree with it. And I'm looking for some
options to keep the fence up to of 6 feet. It's a chain link fence. It isn't
a privacy fence. And I don't -- we just can't understand why it's being
such a big issue.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. We should go right to
Susan on this. And it is a concern. I mean, the staff could make a
determination. They're capable of doing it under the right
circumstances to allow for it, correct?
MS. ISTENES: Susan Istenes, zoning director.
Yes, Commissioner. In fact -- sorry. I'm going to put this up first.
If you'll see in the letter, essentially the code allows the zoning
director to waive the height restrictions under unique circumstances.
And when we received the application, we felt it was really
lacking in an explanation of what was unique to this particular
property. We did call Jennifer and ask, before we spent her thousand
dollars on this, if she could provide more information because really it
-- it really was lacking and we didn't think we could approve it.
She called a couple days later, I understand, and said that was all
the information she could provide was what she had already given us,
and her basic argument was that the property owner has expensive
cars on his site and wished to protect them with a fence.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Question. What's -- the letter's
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February 24, 2009
addressed to Mr. Blocker when the petitioner is Jennifer Bermudez.
MR. MUDD: Bermudez.
MS. ISTENES: Jennifer will probably have to explain her
relationship to -- I believe she may work for Mr. Blocker, I'm not sure.
MS. BERMUDEZ: Brian -- yeah, I do work for Mr. Blocker. My
argument was more of the safety.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, the letter's in question right
now. I mean, I can't understand why the letter wasn't addressed to you.
It was addressed to Mr. Blocker. .
MS. BERMUDEZ: I'm here representing Mr. Blocker. He is the
contractor.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So this property is -- you
live -- and is owned by Mr. Blocker?
MS. BERMUDEZ: No, we're the contractor, sir. It's owned by
Ray Cantor. We're the contractor applying to get the permit up to
code.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: How does Mr. Blocker fit into
this?
MS. BERMUDEZ: He's the con- -- he's originally the contractor.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, the original contractor?
MS. BERMUDEZ: He's the contractor. We're building a house
for him.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. I understand now. I'm
sorry for that line of questioning.
MS. BERMUDEZ: That's okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just trying to understand this
whole thing.
What I'm hearing staff tell me is that you failed to supply the data
as far as the crime data goes -- I guess that's what you're saying; right,
Susan?
MS. ISTENES: Yeah. Well, let me clarify. I don't necessarily
know that it's crime data. I mean, there has to be a unique situation to
Page 29
February 24, 2009
this property, this property alone. If there's crime in the area, then that
is a broad problem and not a unique situation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Explain the unique situation.
MS. ISTENES: I'll try to give you an example. First of all, I'll tell
you, we -- the fence variance waivers are not given out, like you pay
your thousand dollars and you get to have your height type of thing,
and I sort of feel like perhaps Jennifer felt that as long as she paid her
thousand dollars, she was going to be able to have the 6 foot height. I
may be wrong. That's just my perception.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: This was -- this was the
determination you made, and that cost a thousand dollars.
MS. ISTENES: Correct, yes. It's called an administrative height
waiver for a fence.
And, for example, Commissioner, we have had people in the past
come in like, for example, when they've lived on very busy roads on a
corner lot and they've wanted to put up a 6 foot block wall, for
example, to buffer some of the noise. That's kind of that -- that was
one situation where we found there was a unique circumstance for
comer lot properties, because comer lot properties are restricted on the
front yards to a fence height of 4 feet in residential districts.
Now, she can have the 6- foot on the sides, but on the front it has
to be 4 feet, and then within a visibility triangle at the comer, it
actually has to be reduced to 3 feet.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But you would allow a 6-foot
masonry structure that would block the view of traffic and -- but not
allow a chain link fence.
MS. ISTENES: No, Commissioner. The -- I was giving you an
example --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, I'm sorry.
MS. ISTENES: -- of a unique circumstance where an increase in
height would help resolve a problem unique to the property because
they happen to be on a busy road.
Page 30
February 24, 2009
I think there was somebody before you that was concerned over a
sexual predator in their neighborhood, for example, and they -- their
children played out front.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Right. I remember that.
MS. ISTENES: And we denied them, and I believe they came
before you.
The proper way to do this -- and I explained to Jennifer her
options, so I'm not exactly sure what she's asking you. She said she
wanted options. I did speak to her on the phone and told her she could
appeal this determination. Now, that has to be done within 30 days,
and I think she's probably -- yeah, she is past that time. That letter's
dated January 14th. She could also apply for a variance. I did not
encourage her to do that. Again, that's not my decision to approve a
variance, but I didn't think she had -- met a lot of -- would meet a lot
of the criteria for a variance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Let me just go through what I
just heard. To apply for a variance, which would be an option that
would be open, costs like about $4,000?
MS. ISTENES: For residential, I think it's about three.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Three thousand.
MS. ISTENES: Plus advertising.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Three thousand to lower the
fence 2 feet. To be able to come up with circumstances, mitigating
circumstances, that would allow staff to off-write it, it would have to
be something other than a high-crime area, something like noise, and
it would have to be a masonry structure.
MS. ISTENES: No, it doesn't have to be a masonry structure. I
was just using that as an example --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MS. ISTENES: -- as a time when somebody wanted to construct
a masonry structure to buffer themselves from noise. I don't know that
a chain link fence -- if it had been a chain link fence we would have
Page 31
February 24, 2009
approved it because their argument would have been kind of moot. A
chain link fence doesn't do anything for noise.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Exactly. That's the -- I think the
biggest mistakes we ever made here was giving your agency the
ability to be able to write waivers for these things based upon rules
that are less than clear. I mean, right now we're having a discussion
that doesn't make any sense at all.
I don't understand what the options are that are really available. I
don't understand what your ability is to be able to waive these
.
vanances.
MR. MUDD: Okay. Commissioner -- Commissioner, you
basically asked Ms. Istenes the difference between a general versus a
unique situation. He (sic) tried to provide a unique situation.
The petitioner, in order to get an administrative variance, needs
to be very specific upon why she and/or Mr. Blocker, her client, needs
to have the variance. That information was not provided to Ms. Istenes
and to staff, so staff has no alternative --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. MUDD: -- in this regard but to deny the administrative
.
vanance.
Now, if Ms. Bermudez and/or Mr. Blocker would like to go
through the official variance request to the Board of County
Commissioners, that would be fine. But without the information, staff
can't do the administrative variance, and that's the problem.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And forgive me. I'm not going to
drag this out any longer. Just one more question to you, Mr. Mudd.
Is there a possibility with the thousand-dollar fee that was -- that
had already been paid that she might resubmit that application one
more time with more just reasons that may exist or not exist to see if it
still falls under that rather that have to spend $3,000 on a variance
after spending a thousand dollars just to get a determination?
Determination was based upon sketchy information. Can she
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February 24, 2009
refile that? Would that be a possibility that we could allow the
petitioner to do?
MS. ISTENES: Commissioner, I've asked her twice for more
information. I'll be real blunt with you. She hasn't given me any. If she
has, you know -- I mean, I'm willing to consider it again, but after two
times, I've asked --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. That's all I wanted to
hear. Now the ball's back in your court.
MS. IS TENES: I don't think there are going to be any further
down the road.
MS. BERMUDEZ: Right. She states that I was under the
assumption that just applying for the thousand dollars, that I would be
approved just submitting the thousand dollars and the application,
that's not -- that is not true. I would have expected a little bit more
review on their behalf.
And she says, you know, that she's looking for something unique.
I mean, what is something unique? Is the chain link--
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. I hear you, but the thing is,
the burden of proof is upon the petitioner to bring it in, not upon the
staff to be able to find it for you. So what I would do if I was you is
just do a little more research in this, get some guidance from staff, and
then bring it back and see if they'll reconsider it based upon the facts
that you present, high crime, whatever the rationale is you use to get
that reduction in the height there.
MS. BERMUDEZ: She's stating that she's looking for something
specific to this home, not just something in the area. So I mean, I have
the records of high crime in the area, but it's not on this exact home,
and I don't think that it should come down to the crime being directed
to this exact home for them to have -- for them to allow the 6 feet (sic)
fence up.
And if their argument is that it needs to be able -- with it being a
comer lot, you need to be able to view the lot, it's a chain link fence.
Page 33
February 24, 2009
It's not like it's blocking anything. I don't understand.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Excuse me, please.
Commissioner Halas, did you want to say something?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: First of all, this is a code
enforcement case.
MS. BERMUDEZ: That's my understanding.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: We're not the Code Enforcement
Board. So I think what really needs to do ( sic) is this needs to go
through the process of going to the Code Enforcement Board, and then
maybe possibly coming back to the Board of County Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But -- okay, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What's the address of the --
MS. BERMUDEZ: 1322 Orange Street.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Orange Street.
MS. BERMUDEZ: In Inimokalee.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. You know, my opinion is,
if, you know, Susan said she'd give it one more shot, that's being very
respectful, and you might be able to resolve this issue. There's still
going to be a code enforcement case on this, it sounds like, with the
gazebo or something like that.
MS. BERMUDEZ: I've taken care of that. I brought that up to
code. It's just the fence, the 3 feet down to the sides and then the 3 feet
and the 4 feet. He wants to stay at the 6 feet for his own safety and
concern of his family. He has small children in the area, and he has
small children at home. He feels safer with the 6 feet up.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The -- does that sound
reasonable, County Manager?
MR. MUDD: She's going to provide specific information to Ms.
Istenes.
Page 34
February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, if she doesn't --
MR. MUDD: If Ms. Istenes makes -- she needs to lay it out.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right.
MR. MUDD: And that's fine.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I'm okay with that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So do have you clear direction or
would you like anything clarified?
MS. ISTENES: Thank you for asking. I do have clear direction. I
would like to offer one other comment though.
I appreciate your comment on recognizing that there really isn't a
lot of criteria for staff to go by. That's essentially why we kind of don't
just hand these out to whoever asks. I mean, they really have to make
their case.
And you know, maybe the board should consider making the
fence height up to 6 feet in the code in general if -- you know, if they
feel that that's warranted. That's another option.
But I would be perfectly happy not to have this process in our
code or at least to adopt some very specific criteria. I still think it's
going to be really subjective though. Food for thought.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yeah. That is something that we should be
talking about possibly, huh?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. We should give our staff
some criteria to go by to do any kind of variance. We do it with
setbacks.
MS. ISTENES: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Correct? But there are other
cases in there, and that should be on the second LDC, whatever you
call it, administrative code.
MS. ISTENES: No. This actually would be in the Land
Development Code, I believe. But, you know, we could look at it or
we could just eliminate the process, and they would have to go
through a regular variance and, quite frankly, I would probably
Page 35
February 24, 2009
recommend that. At least you get public notice. I mean, people are
pretty particular about fences in their neighborhood and the
appearance of their neighborhood and, you know, at least that way
they would have public notice and be able to show up and discuss it
with you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just one last comment, if I may.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Susan, I want you and whoever's
listening to understand, it's not staff that I'm finding fault with in any
way. These are rules that the commission passes down after a long and
lengthy process, and when those rules are passed down to you, you
have to interpret it very, very carefully to what the commission's wish
was at that time, and you do a very good job in that direction.
So if some of those questions seemed to be a little bit pointed,
they weren't meant to be.
MS. ISTENES: Thank you. No, I didn't take it that way, but I
appreciate your comments, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So maybe we can, at some point in
time, bring this back to make it a little more clear for our staff and
give them better direction.
MS. ISTENES: Is that what you want to do, or do you want me
to just eliminate the process from the code?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Give us both options.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Meanwhile, you've got your
marching orders.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh. Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Can I make a suggestion to make
that more clear, the guidance to staff more clear? Rather than bringing
it back, I mean coming back and having another meeting to discuss
something, why don't you just submit to us a proposal to change it? It
could be included in our agenda package for discussion. And if you
Page 36
February 24, 2009
have a better idea on how to deal with situations like this, you know,
please give us your specific wording or the proposed action with an
assessment of the advantages and disadvantages.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I like that.
MS. ISTENES: I can do that, sure.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And that way we can just act on it if
comes back.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Absolutely, thank you.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you for coming. You will be working
with Susan.
MS. BERMUDEZ: Okay, that's great. Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, Mr. Mudd.
Item #6C
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY MICHAEL CONWAY
DISCUSSING THE COST OF UNWARRANTED CALLS TO
SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANIMAL
CONTROL AND W A8TE MANAGEMENT - COUNTY
ATTORNEY TO WORK WITH SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO
PREP ARE A FALSE REPORT ORDINANCE
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to 6C. It's a public
petition request by Michael Conway to discuss cost of unwarranted
calls to the Sheriffs Department, code enforcement, animal control,
and Waste Management. Mr. Conway?
MR. CONWAY: Madam Chair, Commissioners. I'm no stranger
to the MPO. I did six years as the chairman of the bicycle -- Pathways
Advisory Board. Many, many years ago. In fact, I adopted the
Pathways Advisory Committee MPO items with county staff, which
was Anita Chapman at the time.
Now, to come to the issue at hand, because of my county
Page 37
February 24, 2009
background, seeing -- and Mr. Mudd asking for department budget
cuts, I see at least 133 calls in May of -- no, excuse me -- 33 calls of
May of2008 and 21 calls in January of2009 from one individual, and
I can assure you there's more individuals in the county that are doing
this same thing.
My mother passed away on 19 -- or 2000, and she had dementia
and she had to call 911 all the time until I took the phone, and it cost
me about $200 for each call.
If there's any way that the board can instruct staff to look for
some kind of an option or some kind of a penalty phase for recouping
the cost -- this particular individual calls code enforcement every day,
as per Tom Keagan and Patty Patuly (phonetic). He's called animal
control numerous times.
There is a fiscal responsibility of some sort to try and recoup
some of these funds. It costs county staff a lot of money. Estimating
the Sheriffs Department can make -- can save $36,000 in one year,
and that's figuring -- I talked to Lieutenant Gibbons, and he's not sure
exactly what per-call response cost is, but estimating at a hundred
dollars, you're looking at, ifhe calls every day, and sometimes two
deputies respond -- so that's -- that's, easy, $3,000 a month. And then
you add in code enforcement, animal control, calls to Waste
Management, and Waste Management, of course, is a contractor to the
county .
So if there's any way -- I don't have a -- any idea how you can fix
it, but if you can ask staff or maybe the county attorney to relook at it,
maybe somebody can come up with some kind of a remedy to the
situation.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, my preference is to give
the county attorney some guidance to look at some ordinance or
something like abuse of fee ordinance, and in the interim, direct the
county manager that the properties in this area, there'll be no
Page 38
February 24, 2009
anonymous complaints of code enforcement or any other complaint
department.
And we also have the Sheriffs Department here. I'm not sure if
they're here for this issue, but it would be nice to hear, if they are here
for this issue, to hear their experiences.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Would you mind, Commissioner Coyle,
hearing from them first?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I think I'd like to do that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. Would you like to get up and
talk to us?
COMMANDER McDONALD: Good morning, Commissioners.
I'm Commander Bill McDonald from the Sheriffs Office. This is
Sergeant Doug Dever. We're here really just to answer any questions
there might on this matter.
Sheriffs Office is in a rather unique situation that any call we
receive may be life threatening, so we really can't make a decision not
to go on calls from certain members of the public, and we really can't
get in a position to not accept anonymous calls.
So we really -- if we have people who want to call often, as of
right now, we pretty much are going to respond to each time unless
they are, in fact, filing some sort of a false complaint. But if they truly
believe they have an issue, then we will continue to respond.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You have a different policy with
respect to burglar alarm calls, don't you?
COMMANDER McDONALD: A different policy than?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Does not the Collier County
Sheriffs Agency require that any home or business that has more than
one false alarm during a specified period of time has to pay a penalty?
COMMANDER McDONALD: Yes, sir. There is an ordinance in
which the county has assessed fines for responses to false alarms.
Page 39
February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And wouldn't it make some sense in
your mind to have the same kind of ordinance apply for any other
calls that are unnecessary?
COMMANDER McDONALD: Well, even in the alarm
ordinance, if an individual believes that they're in danger and they
push a panic alarm, then they -- they have met the reason to press the
alarm. They thought they were in danger, they thought they had a
problem, they requested services, and we don't mark those as a false
alarm per see
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And if I were to have 33 panic
alarms in one month, you --
COMMANDER McDONALD: We may look at that, yes, sir,
and I'm not sure -- that's not a decision that I can make.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Have you -- either of you
personally responded to calls by the gentleman involved?
SERGEANT DEVER: Yes, sir, I have.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: What has been your overall
impression of the urgency of these calls and the legitimacy of those
calls?
SERGEANT DEVER: In his particular mind they've been
legitimate and urgent. I know Mr. Conway mentioned 911 earlier, but
this particular individual is not calling on 911. He's calling our normal
nonemergency number requesting service from the officer or
supervisor for what, in his mind, is an issue that he needs our
assistance with.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I understand where you're coming
from, Sheriff. I think that this could also relate to code enforcement
issues. Sometimes we have individuals out here in the county that
continually call code enforcement on issues, and it costs us money
also, just as it costs the Sheriffs Department money. And in these
times, we need to be more -- do more due diligence in regards to just
Page 40
February 24, 2009
how important some of these calls are so that we have the resources
available when we really need to act upon issues and emergencies.
So I would hope that we can give the guidance to the county
attorney hopefully to come up with some ordinance that still protects
the people, but people who habitually make calls to either the Sheriffs
Department or to Waste Management or to code enforcement, that we
can, some way or another, make sure that these habitual callers, some
way or another, help fray -- defray the cost of going out to administer
complaints.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I can understand the
problem that exists. I mean, I was a victim of this in the past for quite
a few years where I was getting code enforcement violations brought
against me on a daily basis that just didn't exist.
Back then, I guess there was a little bit of leniency as far as how
code enforcement had to handle these things, and they just -- they got
to the point they wouldn't respond anymore. Of course, that was under
old rules, and we're talking about today's world.
So at this time, at this point in time, I do think we've got a serious
problem. Mr. Conway, what you're feeling, the wrath of this
gentleman's displeasure, for whatever reason, you're not the first one.
It's many people before you. I mean, we could start a -- probably a
gallery of people that would be more pictures than we have hanging
up in the hallway of former commissioners.
I do think this is something that deserves something. Possibly the
county attorney could be directed to do some research and see how
other communities handle it so we don't get in some sort of lawsuit
with someone over taking away their civil rights. That's a big issue
h~. -
You heard the Sheriffs Department state the fact that regardless
of what happens, they have to respond. I don't know how -- you know,
with the idea being that if they didn't respond and something serious
Page 41
February 24, 2009
did happen, then who would be at blame? So -- but I think this is
something the county attorney has to handle and come back with.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And if the county attorney, in preparing
this ordinance, can identify those calls that might be nuisance calls --
it must be difficult to live in a neighborhood where you have no peace,
no friendship, no cooperation. It must just be awful.
But anyway, if you could charge them for each one of these calls
that's declared a nuisance --
MR. CONWAY: It would stop.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- and send them a bill once a month,
$2,000, $10,000 or whatever it is for each of those different calls that
affects us. We're in such a dire strait as it is now financially as far as
the county goes, we just cannot waste time on frivolous calls. Calls
that have some meaning to them, that's one thing, but somebody who
habitually calls for, you know, a hangnail, we need to charge them and
let them know that they can pay for the services we provide, in my
. .
opInIon.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I would support that guidance to the
county attorney. I think he might have some guidance for us right
now.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. Our office has looked into this. Other
jurisdictions handle this problem with a false reporting ordinance, and
it does involve fining people who are habitual users of false reports on
their neighborhoods.
What I'd like is permission from the board to work with the
Sheriffs Office, come up with an ordinance that they would be
comfortable as well. And then once we've got comfort level with the
Sheriffs Office, we'll bring back a draft copy for the board for further
guidance, and then we'll go on to advertising and bring it back to the
board for vote.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll support that.
Page 42
February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Me, too.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And I've got some nods from board
members. Very good.
Thank you.
COMMANDER McDONALD: Madam Chair?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, sir.
COMMANDER McDONALD: We'll be happy to work with the
County Attorney's Office, and I also think that it needs to be stated
that we prioritize our calls, so it doesn't necessarily mean that an
officer is rushing right to one of these calls, and some of these calls
are handled by a telephone rather than actually responding, especially
with some of the individuals. And this isn't the only one of these that
call and --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, we each --
COMMANDER McDONALD: -- want to discuss issues.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- have some in our districts, yes, and we
pretty well know their names. The sad thing is, when that person who
habitually calls actually at some point in time really has a legitimate
concern, it's like crying wolf, nobody -- nobody believes them
anymore, and so they only hurt themselves and shoot themselves in
the foot.
But anyway, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Conway, for coming in. I know we can work
with you, as you can see, and we'll be coming back to discuss this.
MR. CONWAY: Thank you, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, gentlemen.
Item #6D
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY JOANIE GRIFFIN
DISCUSSING THE PERMITTING ISSUE AT JOANIE'S BLUE
Page 43
February 24, 2009
CRAB CAFE - PETITIONER TO WORK WITH STAFF TO
BRING INTO COMPLIANCE
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to our next public
petition, which is a request by J oanie Griffin to discuss a permitting
issue at Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe.
MS. GRIFFIN: Good morning, Commissioners. I'd like to thank
you for this opportunity to allow me to speak to you today about my
cafe.
In 2003 I gave the running of my restaurant to my daughter, Terri
Rementeria, because I had a major shoulder replacement operation.
During this time, I was diagnosed with an eye disease called ICE eye
syndrome, which is an off-the-wall strain of glaucoma. It was during
this time'she built a deck onto the rear of my store without my
knowledge.
In 2005 of October (sic), we had a disagreement because of
money and the mishandling of store money and keeping everything
about the store from me. She threw a tantrum in front of my store that
was uncontrollable, and I called the law because I was afraid.
She threatened me with all kinds of things, one of which was
turning me in for the building of the deck illegally, which I never
knew.
In January '06 I was served papers that my daughter was suing
me and, yes, she did all the horrible things she threatened to do. The
code enforcement came out and told me to get a permit, and that is
when I went to the county to make the right.
I took a sketch of the deck with measurements. When I got --
went to get the permit, they told me I had to have a professional
architect to draw up the plan, so I found James E. Hirsch &
Associates. I paid them $500 for a professional drawing.
I go back to the county with my professional drawing, and they
sent me to the next booth, and the lady asked me if I had a site plan. A
Page 44
February 24, 2009
site plan? What is that? It's a survey. So, back home I go and I find
Florida Surveys Corporation. This cost me $1,200.
When I returned they tell me I must get a permit and tear it down.
I call my commissioner's office and speak to his secretary, and she
tells me she will speak to the commissioner. She agreed it was wrong.
I never heard from anyone, and I was so busy running my business, I
just prayed it was okay. I was afraid to call. I told myself, no news is
good news. I'm sorry for that. I just couldn't face another rejection.
My restaurant is located quarter-mile east of the smallest post
office in the United States. People love my cafe and even stop and
take beautiful pictures of it, and they bring them inside and give them
to me. It is Old Florida with porches and paddle fans, a lot of
atmosphere. I have postcards from around the world. People come
from everywhere. And this has been going on since I opened in 1987.
I'm an oasis in the middle of the Everglades, a place that is clean
and orderly and you find love and camaraderie in the air. The food is
fresh and cooked to order, soup's fresh from my gardens, I have made
music on Friday through Mondays. I hope to have music in the future
every day as I grow.
Once you stop and see for yourself, you will make a point to eat
anytime you're in the area, and sometimes you may even plan a day
around Joni's.
You'll find Joni's all over the Internet, just everywhere. Utube,
I've had commercials made there, all kinds of TV recordings.
Anyway, I could go on and on, and I don't want to get off the subject.
But my deck is the important part of my cafe from which
customers can observe the beauty of the Everglades and comfort while
enjoying the good-food and good-music atmosphere.
I have been there for 21-and-a-half years, and my advertising is
word of mouth. I have been written up in newspapers all over Florida,
Chicago even. I don't know how they find out about me, through word
of mouth and the Internet, I guess.
Page 45
February 24, 2009
I've been told I'm a novels (sic). I've had a couple stop, screech
the brakes because they saw Joni's Blue Crab Cafe, and they'd just
read a book and it talked about my store, and I've had this told me two
or three different times, different books I've yet to have the time to
read.
I'm asking you, County Commissioners, have mercy on me. Let
me keep my deck. I'm an important part of Collier County. I have
people from all over the world that come through 41, and they make a
point of coming back.
I just want to thank you for your attention and hope that you will
find in your heart to let me keep my deck.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. One thing I need
to correct for the record, a little oversight. Mrs. Griffin mentioned the
fact that she called the commissioner's office, and she asked to speak
to the commissioner, and she said, I never heard from anyone. That's
not correct.
The phone call was returned, the public petition was delivered to
her, numerous communications back and forth, and that's why Mrs.
Griffin's here today. And I'm sure that's nothing more than an
oversight, but I don't want anybody out there to think that I don't
return my phone calls. I do.
MS. GRIFFIN: Oh, no. This was -- you did return this last one.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But the problem is, that
statement was just read into the record and it indicates that I've been --
haven't been --
MS. GRIFFIN: No. You've been a wonderful commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, thank you very much. I
hope you feel like that when you get through today, but --
MS. GRIFFIN: Well, I --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Let me go right to Joe Schmitt,
ma'am, because Joe is the one that oversees the whole Department of
Page 46
February 24, 2009
Community Affairs there -- excuse me -- community development.
Joe, give us a briefing on the building that was done without a
permit. Is there any way that this could ever pass the muster in the
county? What can be done to be able to try to alleviate the --
MR. SCHMITT: Good morning, Commissioner. Joe Schmitt,
your community development administrator.
I'm putting on the overhead pictures of the deck. I have several
pictures, but I guess that's about as good as we can show. I have a few
more. This one is a little bit different angle.
Jim, will you put that one on? The problem here is this is a
commercial establishment. Legally, any addition has to be placed and
put in by a licensed contractor. I understand that this was done by high
school students or whatever, through self-help. It's -- does not meet
any element -- or does not meet the code. In fact, the railings, in
specific, do not meet the code. They're supposed to be a 4 -- no greater
than 4-inch separation between the railings. They run horizontal.
They're supposed to run vertical.
I do have -- and Jim, if you want to put -- these are the drawings
that I have that were submitted. Interestingly enough, they were
stamped and sealed. You can't hardly make out the stamp and seal, but
the -- in the lower comer there -- Jim's got his finder on it -- there's an
overview of the stamp and seal. But the drawings do not meet code
either.
Basically it would have to go through permitting. It would have
to go through a plan review. In that this is a commercial establishment,
it would also go through fire review, would have to go through those
type of reviews.
This is an area of critical state concern, which is that portion of
the county, of course, that has a special treatment for any type of
expansion of a business. The business is a legally nonconforming
structure. Whether they could expand the deck is still to be determined
as well.
Page 47
February 24, 2009
And I apologize. Certainly the applicant, in order to go through
this, should have had a professional proceed with it. She came in. We
told her that she had to have drawings. She got the drawings. The
drawings are no problem from the standpoint we have them. Whether
they're correct or not would have to be reviewed.
The survey I need as well because that would serve as a spot
survey, but we would need a Site Improvement Plan or Site
Development Plan which shows the location of the deck and whether
that would even be allowed because it is, again, expanding, what is
termed to be a legally nonconforming structure right now in the area
of critical state concern.
So I think from the board's point of view, I don't think you have
any leeway to approve this, because I believe -- and I would defer to
the county attorney -- but it may place you in a position of liability if
there was anybody hurt or -- there was any type of situation out there.
And I would point out as well this deck certainly puts the owner or the
proprietor in a very precarious situation because if anything were to
happen, this deck has not been properly permitted, not properly
inspected, and an extreme liability issue on the owner itself in regards
to anybody even being injured on this property.
So I guess from that standpoint, I don't know if you have any
questions, but it really needs to go through the proper review and
inspection process. It just simply cannot be approved here today.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, one question, Mr. Schmitt.
Is there any possibility that the -- while going through this process, the
deck could remain where it is, or is this process going to drag out for a
year or longer?
MR. SCHMITT: I can't answer that specifically, the time frame,
because I don't know whether this is increasing the nonconformity,
meaning that -- as far as the footprint of the establishment, but we
certainly can work with the owner and Ms. Griffin, is it; is that
correct?
Page 48
February 24, 2009
MS. GRIFFIN: Yes.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes. We'll work with Ms. Griffin and help her
through the process. Unfortunate she came in, she thought she was
doing the right thing. My citizen liaison can work with her and help
her get through the process, but it's going to -- she's going to probably
have to hire a professional to do the site plan.
Now, whether it stays up, it -- again, it puts the county in a
situation of exposing itself to liability. And I can't make that
recommendation. That's something that -- if you choose to allow, but
it's something that we would -- we would red tag it and not allow it for
any use until it met the code.
MS. GRIFFIN: May I say something? Code enforcement came
out and checked that deck and told me what to do to make it right, and
I did everything he told me to do. And I thought these people were
legal people. If I can't count on the code enforcement to give me the
right information and I did everything they told me to do -- I thought I
did. I mean, his legal stamp's on these papers and these are legal
businesses. How is a layperson to know that somebody's not being
honest?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Now, excuse me. We also have
code enforcement here, we have Commissioner Halas waiting. Did
you want to hear from code enforcement first, Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, to start with, this is a code
enforcement issue again, and I'm tired of hearing these code
enforcement issues, and it sounds to me like it's also a family issue.
And I'm sorry, but I just feel that there needs to be some -- this needs
to go through code enforcement first and the Code Enforcement Board
to make a determination, and then -- instead of us sitting here trying to
come up with -- addressing this thing on the fly.
Sounds to me is -- if we try to approve something like this, then
we're going to be liable. And if this thing doesn't meet the commercial
building portion and hasn't gone through commercial review or fire
Page 49
February 24, 2009
review, I've got some real concerns of this. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner --
MS. GRIFFIN: No code en---
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Excuse me, please. Excuse me.
MS. GRIFFIN: I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Joe, would you put up -- on top of
this one, I'd like to see this photograph -- maybe slide that up a little
higher on the page, and the photograph -- or the drawing, engineering
drawing, of the railings.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes. The railings do show 4-inch separation.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: They're still horizontal.
MR. SCHMITT: They're still horizontal.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But would you -- can you show that
on this slide, please, so that the other commissioners can see what's
happening. No, that's not the one.
MR. SCHMITT: Wow, that was quick. You caught that right
away.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, let's slide it down a little bit
so you can see that vertical post. That's the railing. Not quite so far.
That's the railing, and it shows two-by-fours spaced four inches apart
on that railing. You can clearly see that that diagram is not reflecting
what actually is there.
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So if that -- if that diagram, that
stamped diagram is what was supposed to have been built, it wasn't
even built in accordance with the drawings that were stamped by an
.
engIneer.
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So when we're talking about truth
Page 50
February 24, 2009
and who's telling truths, I think we need to take a look at that.
MR. SCHMITT: And the four inches, so you understand, it's so a
child can't stick its head in through the posts --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's exactly right, yeah.
MR. SCHMITT: That's exactly what it's for.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And anyway -- but I would like to
ask the county attorney for his advice about whether or not we should
insert ourselves into the process that's being considered by the Code
Enforcement Board.
MR. KLATZKOW: Joe, is this a health, safety, welfare matter?
MR. SCHMITT: I would say it is because it's not been inspected
and it's not been approved by the building department or the fire -- fire
.
reVIew.
MR. KLA TZKOW: I wouldn't touch this.
MR. SCHMITT: I mean, we'll be glad to work with Ms. Griffin.
We've got the drawing. I don't even know if that drawing meets code
because it hasn't been reviewed.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But you have to take whatever
action protects the interests of Collier County --
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- against liability.
MR. SCHMITT: I have to enforce the code.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You must be absolutely certain that
that is done, because the last thing we want to do is get hit with a
lawsuit if somebody is injured here, particularly a child.
MR. SCHMITT: That's right, and they'll go for the deep pockets,
absolutely. Anybody gets injured, the deep pockets --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: My motion is to -- that we shouldn't
touch this issue. It is a health, safety, and welfare issue and a code
enforcement issue and creates substantial liability , and we should not
get involved in it.
MR. SCHMITT: If it -- and I would answer, Commissioner
Page 51
February 24, 2009
Coletta, if it were a private residence, we might be able to work, but
you are putting yourself at risk being a commercial establishment.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And did I hear a second to this motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I guess not.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: You don't even need a motion.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah, you don't.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Well, thank you for trying anyway,
I appreciate it. I would second it, but as long as I don't need one.
Okay, fine.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just one last comment, and then
we'll let this go. And I appreciate you being here. You're here as part
of a public process that's available to all citizens. I strongly believe in
it. I'll never apologize to my fellow commissioners for bringing people
in the public on issues such as this. This is where you get to be able to
talk directly to commissioners that are up here; however, with that
said, Commissioner Coy Ie is right. The laws and ordinances of this
county have to be followed, especially on health, safety, welfare.
But with that said, your being here today, I'm sure that you're
going to be able to have some time with Joe Schmitt to find out what
is the quickest path you can get to be where you need to be as far as --
MS. GRIFFIN: I only --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- getting this permitted.
MS. GRIFFIN: -- wanted to do what was right from the very
beginning.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I understand.
MS. GRIFFIN: And I thought I was doing right. The man, the
Hirsch that came out and drew that plan, I don't know if that's what it
was supposed to be.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you so much for being
here today.
Page 52
February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And with this, we're going to take a
ten-minute break before we go to our 10:30 time certain. Thank you
very much.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Madam Chair, you have a live mike.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Thank you. And now we're back here for our 10:30 time certain.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir. Go ahead, Jim. lOB.
Item #10B
COMMISSIONERS PROVIDED DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY MANAGER, OR HIS
DESIGNEE, RELATING TO THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT FEES
FOR CHANGES OF USE IN EXISTING BUILDINGS -
APPROVED W/FOLLOW-UP REPORT IN ONE YEAR
MR. MUDD: It's lOB. It's the -- it's a recommendation that the
Board of County Commissioners provide direction to the county
attorney and the county manager or his designee related to the option
to change the requirements for the assessment of impact fees for
changes of use in existing buildings.
Ms. Amy Patterson, your impact fee and economic development
manager, business management office of community development's
environmental services, will present. You're sure getting a long title.
MS. PATTERSON: Good morning. For the record, Amy
Patterson. I'm here on the board's direction with some suggestions for
possible changes to our requirements for changes of use.
The majority of this is detailed in the executive summary. I can--
I have a brief presentation that just goes through the highlights of that
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February 24, 2009
executive summary, or I can go right to your questions. Whatever the
pleasure of the board is.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Second.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second, second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That's great. I just wanted to ask
one question, Amy. I was the one that proposed this in the first place,
and I want to thank you for putting together -- this is great. But it says
commercial. Does commercial mean retail also?
MS. PATTERSON: (Nods head.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I just wanted to ask that on the
record because I wanted to make sure it covers all types. And does it
also cover like orthodontists' offices or physicians' offices or
chiropractors' offices?
MS. PATTERSON: It will cover all nonresidential uses, so that
will be all offices, retail, general, industrial. It will be all of those
categories.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Great. Now, let's see. We have
Commissioner Henning first.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. Amy, you did an excellent
job on this. I mean, you recognized concerns of the county manager
about people paying the less impact fee and you put a limitation on
that. This is a limited program.
Once the economy turns around, you know, we can do away with
it, and I'm hoping that it's very successful. And I thank you,
Commissioner Fiala, for bringing the idea up.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, thank you.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't have any other comments. I
think it's a great program.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I would just ask one thing.
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February 24, 2009
What I would be interested in is to see how many people respond to
this, and also to report back to us in a year's time in regards to this.
And I'd like to know if it's possible from staff to tell me the
buildings that were changed from one use to another use and what
impacts that had as far as impact fees to the Sheriffs Department and
to our transportation requirements, okay.
MS. PATTERSON: Certainly.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Just -- that's all I need to know.
MS. PATTERSON: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And if you could report back in a
year's time to let us know how many took advantage of this.
MS. PATTERSON: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll be happy to make that part of
my motion, the reporting requirement at a year's --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- one year intervals.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And I will include that in my
second.
And Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you.
Amy, the -- this issue -- let me approach some questions from a
little different direction. If -- would this allow somebody that's
presently in a building as an owner or a renter that has paid the proper
impact fees to allow that person to be in the building, leave that
building to go to another building where they haven't paid the impact
fees and possibly the cost of the building or the rent may be less?
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, it would -- if there was a benefit to
them to move to another location, but if they'd already found a
location where they were doing business, it would be up to that
individual tenant.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, but staff doesn't have any
oversight on that?
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February 24, 2009
MS. PATTERSON: No, we don't have any oversight on that. The
only oversight we have is that the space -- or the building has to fit
into the criteria of this program, which is pretty restrictive.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So there's the possibility
that somebody that has paid the fee up front could lose their tenant to
another building that doesn't -- hasn't paid the fee, and that hasn't been
addressed in any form or way by this particular move.
MS. PATTERSON: No. The movement of tenants has not been
addressed by --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I know this is a nickel-and-dime
item compared to what we're dealing with out there, but I'm concerned
about the fairness issue of this whole thing. We're talking about -- and
let's get the record straight.
I had a personal occurrence happen to me, and I think
Commissioner Fiala is familiar with the person that brought it
forward. They came to me and wanted to rent a commercial building I
had that had been empty for some time, and they wanted to put a more
intense use in the place. I believe it was a girls' gymnastic studio,
dance studio. And I told them before we could get into discussion on it
to make sure that the building was suitable for what they needed it for,
to go down and check it out with community development.
They came back and they said, well, there's a $30,000 impact fee
because it's a more intense use. And I wanted the tenant bad, but after
it was explained to me how the more intense use comes into play, I
understand the fairness of the whole thing and, of course, I lost a
tenant.
MS. PATTERSON: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: So I'm having a little bit of
problem with, who do we make whole by this whole thing. Now, I
understand that the biggest issue out there has to deal with the medical
-- the medical practices that are out there, the individual physicians
that want to open an office, and the impact fees are just atrocious of
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February 24, 2009
what's being charged.
I kind of wonder if we shouldn't address it through a study, an
impact fee study as far as a physician's office goes that would justify
lowering the cost of it to something that's more realistic, because the
way we're approaching it now, it's going to -- it's going to leave all
sorts of holes open, and I would be very resentful if I had paid the full
impact fees on my building, and now my tenant's going to leave to
save another $500 a month because of the fact this commission is
going to give them the power to be able to not pay impact fees for two
years.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No, that isn't the case at all, Commissioner
Coletta. Maybe -- or at least not the way I see it. What I understand--
that same gymnastics group had also wanted to move into the
industrial section off Mercantile. They found a building that had been
used by trucking -- by a trucking organization that had warehousing
and so forth, they had trucks coming and going all the time.
They were only going to operate in the evening just as a little
dance studio. But, again, they were going to be charged $30,000 as an
impact fee. Now, the impact from the trucks coming and going all day
was far greater than the dance studio but yet the provision wasn't there
for them to move in there. They were now considered a retail store
because they didn't have a category for themselves.
What I'm saying is, if we've got a building sitting there empty, I
don't care what building, the impact fees have already been paid
because somebody's been in that building and somebody -- somebody
wants to use that spot. Rather than turn them away, let's -- in this
economy, let's give everybody an opportunity to move into these
things. Once the impact fees have been paid, let them move in.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And that's very noble, but the
problem is, Commissioner Fiala, how would you feel if you got a call
from one of your constituents that say, I just lost a tenant in my
building in these hard economic times because of the fact I paid my
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February 24, 2009
full impact fees for a more intense use and now they have left to go
across the street because they can get the rent for less? They're --
there's going to be fallouts from this that are negative. I mean, no
legislation we ever pass here is going to be perfect.
. CHAIRMAN FIALA: Right. And do you know --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But still, I got a fairness issue
about the whole thing, I really do.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We can't -- we can't determine whether
somebody charges more rent than another. That isn't our problem.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, no, it's the market. The
market determines it by the cost of the building, the cost of impact
fees, the cost of taxes. Everything relates to the actual cost of rent that
comes forward. If you don't pay impact fees, you can charge a lot less
rent.
So I submit to you that the impact fees have a direct impact on
the rent itself. And even though I could benefit myself, I can see the
logic that you should have to pay for something that you're receiving.
This is my whole thing. I mean, if this commission had
oversighting in each one of these where that person would come in
and say, okay, so John Joe wants to be able to move into this building,
this is the circumstances, brand new start-up business, it's going to get
its feet on the ground, it's going to make a big difference, wonderful.
But if that John Joe comes in and he's looking to move out of a
building just because the rent's higher and the impact fees have been
paid, then we would have the discretion.
So I mean, if you're willing to twerk it so that it comes back to us
for a quick review on consent agenda so we can just look at it, I'd be
more than agreeable.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I don't think so. But, you know, we've got
a couple more commissioners waiting, and we have two speakers.
Let's get to our speakers, and then we'll hear Commissioner Henning
and then Commissioner Halas.
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February 24, 2009
MS. FILSON: Debbi Grant? She'll be followed by Bob Murray.
MS. GRANT: Good morning. My name's Debbi Grant. I'm a
local Realtor. I do both residential and commercial here in Collier
County .
Last Friday Dr. Hank Fishkind spoke to the NABOR meeting.
Dr. Pishkind is a leading economist in Florida. He spoke about many
things.. One of the things he spoke about the most was the way Florida
had lost its competitive edge for Georgia and North Carolina for
growth. Specifically, he said that was because of land costs and impact
fees.
Five different times during Dr. Fishkind's speech, he mentioned
specifically Collier County's impact fees and the way they are a
deterrent in our growth in this current economic times.
Specifically I want to address this change of use impact fee. So
far this year, in the two months of this year, I've represented two
sellers of commercial property who've had bona fide buyers of their
property. During the due diligence period for these buyers, it was
dh;covered that a change-of-use impact fee would be -- needed to be
paid. Both of these existing commercial buildings had had impact fees
paid for general office use when they were built. They were both
zoned for medical and office use.
Because of the fact that they were changing from an executive
office center with eight different businesses running in it to one
doctor's office, the impact fee was going to be $80,000.
As we all know, credit's very tight. Very difficult to secure any
type of commercial financing. To borrow money for a commercial
building is hard. To borrow $80,000 for a change-of-use impact fee,
impossible. The deals are gone. No deals, no impact fees.
What could have happened if these deals had been able to be
saved, direct economic impact for Collier County, was over 21 local
companies would have been providing services because of this sale.
Everything from inspection companies, surveyors, movers, sign
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February 24, 2009
companies, printing companies, 21 businesses did not get the job. No
impact fees were paid. No jobs were gained. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Ms. Grant, that's exactly what this is about
is to do that. But I want to tell you about impact fees. Just as -- as a
side note, you said it's hampering our growth. We've had the highest
impact fees in the State of Florida, we've also had the highest rate of
growth in the State of Florida, and we've also had the lowest millage
rate tax base in the State of Florida. Just to clear that up. Thank you.
MS. GRANT: Right. Well, this was Dr. Fishkind's comments on
Friday. And it was not -- it was the overall use of impact fees and how
it's affecting Florida right now in this economy and the fact that bricks
and mortar in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia cost the
same as bricks and mortar in Georgia (sic). It's the other things that are
making us not competitive right now.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Could I add something to that?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That analysis is very badly flawed,
and I don't care what economist specified it. The real issue that people
take a look at is the total per capita taxation rate, not just for property
taxes, but for their employees.
Florida ranks about 39th in the nation in per capita taxation of its
residents. That puts it pretty low compared to lots of other places.
So I would have significant argument with Dr. Fishkind
concerning his conclusions. He has made some of those same
statements here, and we have -- we have shown him where we felt that
his analysis was flawed.
So it's an easy target. And I think as you learn how impact fees
are calculated, you'll understand why they're high, because it's costly
to live here. That's why it's high. Land values are high.
So I think we've got to get away from the idea that there are easy
fixes to this. All you've got to do is eliminate impact fees, okay.
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February 24, 2009
MS. GRANT: Yeah. No. And I, by no means, am suggesting
eliminating impact fees. The specific change-of-use impact fees, if not
possible to be eliminated, if we could do something about how they're
calculated, because it does seem so grossly unfair to medical offices.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, that's what we're doing now. Thank
you very much.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, we're doing all that now,
yeah.
MS. GRANT: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Your final speaker is Bob Murray.
MR. MURRAY: Good morning, Commissioners and staff. There
is a motion on the floor to approve. I'm not quite certain what's going
to be approved, but I hope it will be, in large measure, what was
proj ected.
On behalf of all of the young families who, as a result of this
action, may very well be able to stay here and retain jobs on behalf of
future entrepreneurs who may be able to start a business, I want to
thank you, and I want to thank you for your leadership, because while
our federal government is doing whatever it is doing to try to deal with
this economic problem, we know that self-help, our own growth here,
we're in charge of it. We may not feel we're in charge of it, but you
folks are making us -- helping us to understand we are in charge of it,
and we will get a handle on it.
I don't have much more to say because there is no criticism, there
is no right answer, but this is certainly a move in the right direction.
We thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Now, I think it was Commissioner
Henning next.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah, just briefly. I think every
building out there, commercial building out there, in Collier County
has paid impact fees. You can't get a permit without paying impact
fees. Unless it was built in the 70's, unless it hasn't changed uses,
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February 24, 2009
every building has paid impact fees.
And I've heard from business owners who shut their doors down
because their business is down and they went to their landlord and
couldn't get a break of rent out there.
So what this ordinance does, it tries to provide spurring business,
people opening doors in Collier County to be more competitive with
the market out there. It's good for the public. And, you know, if it
doesn't work we can always change it or we can always delete it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I believe what was put into our
agenda package was that the building had to be in existence for at least
five years, and so, therefore, the impact fees were paid, and I would
hope that this would give Commissioner Coletta a little comfort zone,
realizing that impact fees have been paid and that we're hoping that
this will help stimulate people who come to this community to look
for existing commercial buildings so they can set up their business.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I have nothing more.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine. I have a --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, I'm sorry. My button just
does not work. I push it -- I have to push it extra hard.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It's worn out.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I think Commissioner Henning--
I think Commissioner Henning rigged it in some way.
I just want to make it clear. It's not that I'm opposed to not
collecting impact fees or the additional impact fees. The only thing I'm
concerned about is the idea that -- in fact, we'll be able to tell as the
program goes forward what the results were, about the shift of people
from places that -- from one building to another where they'll be
leaving places that have paid the correct amount of impact fees and it's
reflected in the rent. May be totally wrong on it, but no one's answered
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February 24, 2009
those questions to my satisfaction.
Other than that, I don't have any problem. I wish we could just
put everything aside for seven years for everybody out there. But,
meanwhile, I want you to understand where my position is on this.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. And with that, let me call for
the vote.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay . We have a 4-1 vote with
Commissioner Coletta opposed. Thank you very much.
Item #6E
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST BY FRANCIA STEVENS
DISCUSSING THE GABRIEL PROJECT - STAFF TO WORK
WITH PETITIONER REGARDING OPTIONS
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to our last public
petition, which is a request by Francia Stevens to discuss The Gabriel
Project. Ms. Stevens?
MS. STEVENS: Thank you, Mr. Mudd, for putting me on the
agenda, and thank you, Commissioners, for giving me a few moments
to tell you about The Gabriel Project and how we need your help.
The Gabriel Project works with pregnant teens and young
women. They are usually referred to us by the Collier County
Pregnancy Crisis Center or the Department of Children and Families
or by word of mouth.
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February 24, 2009
There's a group of about 15 volunteers who work with about 15
pregnant women. The idea is that we stay with them during their
pregnancy and until the baby is two months old. What often happens
is that the relationship becomes so strong and friendly that the
relationship goes on indefinitely, and the mentors become adoptive
grandparents to the mentees' babies.
These people are often in good marriages but on the brink of
hitting rock bottom financially, some of them are leaving or trying to
escape an abusive relationship, and some of them are just teenagers
who get into trouble.
We work with them, we take them to and from their obstetrician's
appointments, we provide them with cribs and car seats and diapers
and rattles. We have some wonderful successful stories, and we have
some heartbreakers. .
My last client was a 17 -year-old who was the middle child of a
mother who had seven children by several different men. She's grown
up on Medicaid and food stamps, and I naively was sure that I was
going to be able to turn this kid around.
While she was pregnant, we were calling the baby Jeremy. At the
birth the boyfriend was there. The baby is called Nirale because the
boy thought that would make him sound like a stud. This kid is
impossible to turn around. I'm brokenhearted.
But on the opposite end, we have a young woman who had hit
rock bottom who is turning into a wonderful mother who's gotten
herself a job, who has qualified for a Habitat for Humanity home, and
she's just doing beautifully.
Our clients are Haitians, Latins, Caucasians, African Americans,
but they are all Collier Countians.
Our married women right now are facing evictions. Their
husbands have been laid off from their jobs, and they are in desperate
straits.
So I'm here to ask for your help in giving us passes to the Collier
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February 24, 2009
Area Transit for our girls so that they can get to and from jobs. They
have no means of transportation, and bicycles just don't work when
you're pregnant or a new mom.
We -- you'll find Gabriel Project from coast to coast, and in some
states, like Maryland and Texas, they are huge. They cover the whole
state. Here we are just in Collier County, and we are totally
independent of anyone else.
So I'm hoping that you'll see the value of what we're doing and
can help us provide passes for about 15 girls for a period of about six
months. Being a Pollyanna, I'm sure our economy is going to turn
around by then and we won't have to come back and ask you for six
more months.
Do you have any questions of me?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: The first one I have is -- who was it,
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I came after Commissioner
Halas.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You were first, Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I appreciate you being here today,
and I understand the concerns that you have for these young ladies.
We -- this transit system that we have in this county is very heavily
subsidized, and I'm afraid if we make an exception to one group, that
we will have other groups that are going to be in here with the same
idea.
MS. STEVENS: I won't tell anybody, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I know, but word gets around.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We'll have a secret vote then.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I would hope that there would be a
private individual or possibly a private group or a community
organization that would step up and assist your needs. As I said, that
our transit system is highly subsidized at the present time.
And so I would hope that there would be an organization out
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February 24, 2009
there that would help these 15 young ladies that you have in your
organization.
MS. STEVENS: We have our volunteers who are already
digging into their pockets for the supplies that these young women
need. And if the Collier Area Transit isn't standing room only and
there are seats available, then these girls would have a hand up on
getting to and from jobs or to and from training at Vo-Tech.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Let me interrupt you because we have
three more people waiting to ask questions, okay, if I may?
All right. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. Marcy, would you
come up front, please? There is other funds that are available that--
Commissioner Halas. is absolutely correct. The county doesn't have the
ability to go into its general funds or the revenue from transportation
and use it in this case; however, Marcy, isn't there funds available
through the license plate fund, the "Choose Life" license plates that
may be available for this?
MS. KRUMBINE: For the record, Marcy Krumbine, director of
housing and human services.
We do get funding every year from the sale of the "Choose Life"
license plates, and my office does administer that, and that is
specifically for the care of women who are choosing to continue their
pregnancies and choose adoption, and transportation is an allowable
cost. And with the board direction, I'd be happy to look in to see if
there's a connection there and to get legal opinion to see if the statute
would allow it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm for that particular direction.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner, Co- -- were you--
were you next or was Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, I was just going to say the
same thing about the "Choose Life" license plate.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, okay.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And you have one on your car?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, I used to have one on my
former car. My wife didn't like the car, so I got rid of the car and the
li cense plate.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I think that's probably the
only way we can go is to use some federal funds as a grant. But I'm
going to ask you a question. Do you check to see if any of the
recipients of these -- this aid are legal residents of the United States?
MS. STEVENS: We do, and most of them are. We do have a
couple who are not --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, okay. I think we have a very
generous community here in Collier County. I've never known a need
that does not go fulfilled here in Collier County, particularly for
women and children who are in danger in any way.
But I've asked that question because I believe that first priority
for the expenditure of Collier County tax funds should go to help
Collier County residents and not to further the illegal immigration of
people to Collier County.
But we do not have the ability to apply that kind of restriction to
federal funds or grants, so that if we get this money from the federal
agency, I would be happy to support it.
MS. STEVENS: Thank you.
MR. MUDD: The state, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm sorry, state. Well, it's the same
thing. State doesn't care whether there're illegal immigrants here or
not so--
,
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So Marcy, then our direction is that
you work through the license plate, "Choose Life" plates, for passes
for them on the CAT system. So maybe the two of you can meet and
discuss this.
MS. KRUMBINE: Absolutely. What we'll do is we'll pull up the
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February 24, 2009
statute, I'll work with the County Attorney's Office to see if that's a
legal use of the money and they are a legal recipient, and we'd be
happy to do that if all those things check out.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you very much, and thank you for
being here today.
MS. STEVENS: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Mr. Mudd, on to Item 9, huh?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am.
Item #9A
RESOLUTION 2009-42: APPOINTING DAVID H. FARMER
(W /W AIVING SIMULTANEOUS SERVICE ON MORE THAN
TWO COUNTY BOARDS) TO THE CLAM BAY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Brings us to the Board of County Commissioners
section. Appoint a member to the Clam Bay Advisory Committee.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I make a motion to appoint
David Farmer.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
MS. FILSON: And if you appoint Mr. Farmer, you'll have to
waive the two-committee limit.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And I include that in my
motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's in my second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Motion by Commissioner Coletta,
second by Commissioner Coyle.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
Item #9B
RESOLUTION 2009-43: APPOINTING PATRICK PECK
(FULFILLING THE REMAINDER OF THE VACANT TERM
EXPIRING ON OCTOBER 1~ 2011) - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to B, which is
appointment of a member to the Affordable Housing Advisory
Committee.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Make a motion that we appoint
Patrick Peck.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Motion by Commissioner Coletta, second
by Commissioner Coyle.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
Item #9C
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February 24, 2009
RESOLUTION 2009-44: APPOINTING DARRIN S. BROOKS
(FULFILLING THE REMAINDER OF THE VACANT TERM
EXPIRING ON DECEMBER 11~ 2011) - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Brings us to our next item, which is C, appointment
of a member to the Golden Gate 'Community Center Advisory
Committee.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Motion to approve Darrin
Brooks.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Second.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Second by Commissioner Coletta.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good.
Item #10A - Discussed and then continued to later in the meeting
RESOLUTION 2009-45: DENYING THE ALTERNATIVE
IMPACT FEE APPEAL SUBMITTED BY TAMIAMI SQUARE OF
NAPLES, LLC (DEVELOPER) AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A NOTICE TO THE DEVELOPER
FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-
SEWER DISTRICT (CCWSD) AL TERNA TIVE IMP ACT FEE
CALCULATION OF $120,904 FOR BUILDING 300 - MOTION
TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO DENY
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February 24, 2009
APPEAL - ADOPTED; MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT
PLAN OPTION #4 AS AMENDED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to lOA. This item
was continued from the January 13, 2009, BCC meeting and the
February 10, 2008, BCC meeting, and was further continued to the
February 24th 2009, BCC meeting.
This item requires that all participants be sworn in and ex parte
disclosure be provided by commission members. It's a
recommendation to deny the alternative impact fee appeal submitted
by Tamiami Square of Naples, LLC, developer, and authorize the
chairman to execute a notice to the developer for the collection of the
Collier County Water-Sewer District alternative impact fee calculation
of$120,904 for Building 300.
Mr. Tom Wides, your director of fiscal operations for public
utilities, will start this presentation.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good. Sue, do we have any speakers
on this item?
MS. FILSON: No, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Question.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do we really? Have to be sworn in? Okay,
very good. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry . We all have to declare ex parte. Let me start with Jim
Coletta.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Give me just one second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, then with Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I met with staff, I also met with
the appellant and the representatives.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I have met with staff, I received
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correspondence, and that correspondence is included in my public file.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you. I have had meetings
with Jim DeLony, Tom Wides, Jennifer White, I believe it is now, and
Mr. Gill Monsovias. I'm sorry if I butchered your name. And we've
had a couple of discussions in regards to this with staff, and so -- I've
had correspondence and meetings. That's the end of it, and I believe
it's all listed here in my file.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. I've had
meetings, correspondence, emails, phone calls, and they're all in my
file for anybody that wishes to see it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And I, too, have met with staff and have
had meetings and correspondence, and we've had a few things given to
us to read thoroughly. And I'll just show for the audience that we have
them here and on file.
And would you like to swear everybody in, please.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
MR. MUDD: Madam Chair, it's -- I said Tom Wides would start.
He's started. He's going to sit down right now. But this is an appeal,
and it is brought by Tamiami Square, LLC. Their counsel representing
them is a Mr. Douglas A. Lewis, I believe.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Henning has a
question.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It's about the proceedings and
the material. Do -- and this is -- is this the same as an appeal of an
official interpretation?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Now, is it -- we can only
consider items that are in our agenda?
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLA TZKOW: You can consider all items that have been
previously submitted to you on this, which are your agenda items, as
well as anything that's submitted during the course of this hearing.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. So anything -- anything--
MR. KLATZKOW: Anything.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- that is submitted. Should we
allow a certain amount of time for presentations?
MR. KLATZKOW: The recommendation that I talked about with
the chair was that -- well, I had a memo on this in January, but this has
been continued so many times, it may have gotten lost in the shuffle.
My recommendation was that each party get an hour to present
their main case and each party have ten minutes to ask questions of the
other side, and then each party can have, you know, the ten minutes to
wrap it up after that, starting with the petitioner since they are the ones
who started the appeal.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And if they hurry through it and don't take
a full hour, we wouldn't mind that at all.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, Commissioner, you want
to give the process the route that -- the ample time to do so.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I guess my concern is, we're
going to get started with this process, we have -- in another 15 minutes
we have a time certain, at one o'clock we have a time certain. And is
everybody okay with that, I guess?
Personally, I don't think it's the correct way to do it. I think we
need to hear it, hear both sides, and make a determination or decision
all at once.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, let me ask --let me ask other
commissioners, but first the 11 :30 time certain, we don't have one
anymore, do we?
MR. MUDD: We have -- we have a letter from the Clerk of
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Courts that he -- saying that he will not be here for the 11 :30 time
certain.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So that's off the board.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Not necessarily. We might want
to be able to discuss what our -- what actions we can do to make sure
we understand what we do have in reserves.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh. Okay, fine. Very good. Well, board
members?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'd just as soon that we would go
forward with this, and since the clerk isn't going to be here for the time
certain, then we can move on with this, and then afterwards or
sometime in the afternoon we can pick up the discussion in regards to
the clerk.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That sounds like a time saver to me.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I -- I don't know of any way
we can hear this all at one time without a break. So, you know, we
may as well go after it. Now, I will say that there is absolutely -- in my
mind, there is absolutely nothing about this that anybody can talk for
an hour on. It's a very, very simple issue.
So if people want to talk for an hour, they can talk for an hour, I
guess, but that means this whole process is going to be fragmented in
little bits throughout the day. So I guess we need to get on with it. I
think we need to complete it, it's been postponed so many times. We
need to get this thing out of the way today.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yep.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. We shall move forward, sir.
Thank you, Commissioner Henning, for your suggestion.
MR. LEWIS: Good morning, Commissioners. Commissioner
Coyle, I'll do my best. I understand what you're saying, and we were
put on notice that we had an hour to present, and we'll try to be very
concise where we can. But we want to make sure that you have the
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full light.
My name is Doug Lewis, for the record. I'm a partner with the
law firm of Roetzel & Andress, and I'm also a registered lobbyist. I'm
here today representing Tamiami Square of Naples, LLC, on this
appeal item. I'm also here with Jack Crifasi, Jr., who's the president of
Crifasi Enterprises, the manager of Tamiami Square.
I'm also here with Mr. Gerald Hartman. He's a licensed Florida
professional engineer with GAl Consulting, Inc., and they're out of
Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Hartman obtained his bachelor's degree from Duke
University in 1975, his master's from Duke in 1976. He's highly
qualified in environmental engineering with special expertise in utility
management, facility planning, rate charges, and impact fee studies.
Mr. Hartman is a qualified expert witness in the areas of water
supply and treatment, wastewater treatment and affluent disposal, rate
making service areas, utility system appraisals, and utility creation.
He has over 30 years of experience and practice in Florida on
impact fee matters and is accepted in civil court mediation as an
expert on testimony for such impact fee cases.
Mr. Hartman personally appeared -- prepared and certified the
alternative impact fee study calculation that was denied by public
utilities. Mr. Hartman's complete resume is found in Attachment I to
the alternative impact fee study calculation.
As an introductory note and in order to establish the record for
my client in this quasijudicial proceeding, I would like to confirm that
the following documents are in the record and it's part of your board
packet for this appeal and that they are now incorporated by reference
into the hearing and testimony that's being provided today.
The first document is a letter dated August 1, 2008, by Jennifer
Belpedio, now Jennifer White, County Attorney's Office, delivering
the alternative impact fee study calculation, the alternative impact fee
study calculation prepared by and certified by Mr. Hartman, and that's
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February 24, 2009
dated July 23, 2008. That's really the meat of the study that our client
did and was really forced to do in order to examine the amount of
ERCs that were due the county.
There's also a letter dated August 29, 2008, from Mr. Tom Wides
of public utilities, and in that letter there are Exhibits 1 through 3 and
a letter from public Resource Management Group.
In addition, there's an appeal that we filed and there's a letter that
we did as well, and it was an appeal of the letter that Mr. Wides wrote,
and it was dated August 29, 2008, where we denied the alternative
impact fee calculation.
With that, there was also memorandum in support of the appeal
that we delivered on January 17, 2009, and in that there were Exhibits
A through E attached. We also filed a second memorandum in support
of the appeal on February 13, 2009, with Exhibits A through E, and
these were done to address certain statements that were prepared in
your executive summaries and other items that appeared after our
initial appeal.
Many of these items that we address in these documents are very
legal in nature. We understand that, and I wanted to make sure they're
in the record. Today I will focus, given our time constraints, on the
big-picture items before the board.
And I'd ask that while I do that, this initial part at least, if you
could hold any questions until after my introductory remarks.
Commissioners, I'd like to start by saying that at a very
significant legal expense and cost to my client, our client has worked
very hard to amicably resolve this appeal with public utilities, and I
can tell you that we do not enjoy bringing this item before the board
today. We are working very diligently not to do that; however, our
client wants to make sure that he's treated fairly in this process, and
water and sewer impact fees charged by public utilities must be fair
and reasonably related to the demand created by this development.
We're not here today to talk about, you know, the dollar amount
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that we charge per ERC. We're talking about this project and how
ERCs are being assigned to this project.
Unlike many alternative impact fee disputes that you may have
had come before you or this board before where development has not
occurred -- and that's typically how it arises, where development has
not occurred -- and disputes involve what estimated future flows might
look like or not look like. Tamiami has over 24 months of historical
data to support its historical -- or to support its alternative fee
calculation.
Based on what we will present to you today, our expert's opinion
is that public utilities' calculation of the water and sewer ERCs for this
project is excessive and does not meet the rational nexus test that our
impact fees need to meet for projects.
By way of introductory background, I thought I would address
the following initial question which you may have, why are we here?
Why are we here? Well, we didn't want to be here, but we're here
today.
And like any -- many other alternative calculation appeals you
may have heard, we have a dispute with staff over ERC calculations.
That's clear. We do have a dispute.
Unlike other petitions you may have had before you, however,
property owners in those cases where they have to go through a
process -- they have to go through this process before development
can occur, our project is developed.
And we have from today's -- from today, where we are today, we
have almost five-and-a-halfyears from the first time that our client
filed its first building application for development known as Building
300. That's significant. It's five-and-a-halfyears later, and we're here
today talking about impact fees that were not collected by staff.
Again, we're not here to challenge the amount. We appreciate the
difficult work that staff does and the county does to provide water and
sewer. We need to have a water and sewer. We understand that, and
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February 24, 2009
we need to have the impact fees. We understand that.
We're here today to talk about how specifically they're arriving at
the calculations for our project.
Tamiami filed an application for its initial building permit on
September 26, 2003. This date was 16 days after the county
substantially changed its impact fees pursuant to resolution 2003-300.
I'd like to put on the visualizer a copy of this resolution and enter
it into the record as Exhibit 1. Under resolution 2003-300, impact fees
are charged based on estimated water and sewer flows. Estimated
flows of 350 gallons per day were charged at one ERC, and $2,500 per
ERC. Estimated sewer flows of250 gallons per day were charged at
one ERC at $2,950 per ERC.
And for a 3-inch meter that has an ERC range of eight ERCs on
the low end to 54.9 ERCs at the maximum end, you would have an
ERC range in that ballpark. Today we don't have a flow range for
ERCs. It's just -- there's no flow range tied to a meter.
Prior to resolution 2003-300, water impact fees were fixed, that's
important. And they were based on meter size. The methodology did
not look at flow range within a particular meter size.
So, for example -- and this is kind of the illustration. I think it's
helpful to see this. On September 9, 2003, total water and sewer
impact fees due on a 3-inch meter were $88,000, about. One day later,
September 10th, under this resolution, September 10, 2003, the
amount of water/sewer impact fees due on a 3-inch meter generating
estimated flows of 54.9 ERCs was $300,000. It's a 343 percent impact
fee increase for that project if it generates those kinds of flows.
Resolution 2003-300 states that staff reviewed -- and I want to
put that up on the visualizer -- it's part of the back page -- reviewed
over 25 building permits, and the results showed that the application
of this new methodology had no negative impact on revenues.
What resolution 2003-300 does not say is whether this
methodology has a positive impact on revenues.
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On October 16, 2003, Tamiami paid public utilities the full
amount that was charged for Building 300 based on staffs calculation
of ERCs that were due at that time.
The amount paid by Tamiami was 19,275 for water, and 22,125
for sewer. Now, we both agree that they underpaid. We're not
disputing that, okay, but that's the amount. I think it's helpful to say
that's what they were charged and that's what they paid.
Over the next four-year period, as future building permits came
in for tenant build-out within Building 300, and as Building 300
expanded, an additional ten units, staff repeatedly failed to charge or
collect additional impact fees based on resolution 2003-300.
Now, that's staffs end. Our client, obviously, didn't pay
additional fees. So here we are, you know, five-and-a-halfyears later
trying to sort through this.
I can list for you all the different tenants going from October 19,
2004; November 4,2004; January 31, 2005; February 15,2005; July
18th, there's awhole series of permits all the way up until June 13th
where Harvest Moon came in to do a permit for its build-out. In all of
these permit applications, no one was charged, which is consistent
with the meter -- the meter approach, which is, you pay one fee for a
3-inch meter.
More than four years after the time that Tamiami paid the county
in full the amount of water and sewer ERCs originally invoiced by the
county, staff contacted Tamiami -- and we're talking four-and-a-half
years a little over four years after that date -- and they demanded an
additional payment of 46,920. Now, that's not the amount we're
talking about today, but that was the initial calculation that we got
from staff.
This initial calculation was based on the difference between the
amount charged and paid by Tamiami on October 16th and the
amount of impact fees due under resolution 90 -- 2003-93 using a flat
fee based on meter size.
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Shortly thereafter -- this is in February, 2008 -- staff recalculated
water and sewer impact fees and demanded an additional $288,000.
Now, put yourself in a development's position. Four-and-a-halfyears
after, banks are gone, some of the tenants are gone, staff comes in and
asks for $288,000.
Now, we are not disputing that additional monies are owed,
okay? What we are trying to say is we need to figure out how much
they are and why are we here today.
Tamiami disputed this calculation. My laptop went off. Tamiami
disputed this calculation -- if you can get someone to help with that --
and we're here today. We entered into an agreement to hire a
consultant to evaluate how the county arrived at this number and how
many ERCs are owed the county; that's why we're here today.
At this point I'd like to walk through with you the power point
presentation. I've got a visualizer, and at this point as we go through, if
you have any questions, feel free to ask.
This is kind of a -- really an aerial of the site. And I did want to
point out a couple things because I think you'll see it. First of all, there
is a significant conservation area. It's about an acre and a half of
wetland native preserve area, and we're required by South Florida
Water Management to irrigate that area per district permits. So when
we start talking in a minute about where this water is going, think
about irrigation and think about Building 300, because staff is going to
tell you that we're using X amount of gallons for Unit 300, which is
this, and you can see it on the arrows; these red arrows depict
building.
We're going to -- we're going to show you that the water isn't all
going there, that the water is going to irrigate to comply with
requirements that the state and the county have imposed on the
development, and they're doing that.
There are different impact fee charges for irrigation water, and
there's different charges for other uses, and we're going to talk about
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that as well.
By way of background, what is an ERC? Well, one water ERC is
equal to 350 gallons per day based on annual average daily flow,
water being provided to the site includes Building 300 water and
irrigation water. So when we think about water that's going there it's
not all going to the building, and we're going to show that. There's
water going to irrigate and there's water going to the site.
One sewer ERC back in 2003 was equal to 250 gallons per day
based on annual average daily flow. Currently and based on ordinance
2007-57 effective January 1,2008, the sewer ERC is equal to 350
gallons per day. That's important. Now, it appears from your
ordinance that it's at 350 gallons per day versus the 250 gallons per
day.
Now, public utilities, what are they saying? Where are we here
and how do they get to their amount that's owed? Well, they're getting
there by looking at sewer and looking at water. Well, first of all, they
really don't specifically talk about sewer.
There's no methodology that they've been -- they've provide to
me that I can see or that my consultant has seen that supports 32 sewer
ERCs on their perspective. They came in at 55 point -- 55.9. Historical
flows do not support 32 sewer ERCs for Building 300. We supported
27 ERCs for Building 300, and we'll get to that shortly.
With respect to the water is calculation at 55.9, that's one ERC
for the 3-and-a-quarter-inch meter, and 54.9 ERCs for the 3-inch
meter. Public utilities methodology has a 32.8 -- and we're going to
show you today through our consultant, there's a 32.8 variance
between what they're asking you to charge us today and what we
think, when you look at annual average daily flows for the last 12
months, what we're actually using.
We're not talking estimated, and that's what's unique about this
project. You have a real opportunity, Commissioners, to see in a
real-life project what people in the community are being charged with
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respect to -- not amount of ERC, but in terms of the actual ERCs and
looking at reconciling that with historical flows.
When historical -- the historical data that they're going to show
you -- and they're going to come up and show you historical data. We
have the data, and we all -- the data is what it is, and we accept that.
But that data includes both irrigation and Building 300 flows, and I
want you to understand that and remember that.
When irrigation flows are removed from this historical data,
Building 300 -- for Building 300, when you take out the irrigation and
you look solely at water that's going to that building, that we're using
in that building, their methodology, when you compare apples to
apples, has 128 percent variance between what they're asking for in
their charge and what the historical data supports.
Let's start with sewer historical data. The first thing is that in our
report and our methodology, we provided historical data, and that was
the alternative fee calculation methodology, and it's in the letter dated
July 23, 2008, by Gerald Hartman. In that we show 4,450 -- 56 gallons
per day for a 2007 year at a level of service at 250. Now, now it's 350,
which would actually lower that ERCs number from 18 down to about
18 down to about 12, but at the time it was -- it was a level of service
of 250.
But at that gallons per day, we're at 18 ERCs, 18 ERCs. Now,
that's not disputed. I have seen no historical data. My consultant today
will be happy to talk to you about how we arrived at the sewer data. It
hasn't been challenged by staff. We were invited by Attorney
Klatzkow to bring it in. We laid it out and said, here's the data. We're
telling you, here's what we're generating on sewer.
That's important, because what we're going to show you is, when
water comes through that meter, some of it goes to irrigate, some of it
goes into the center, and it has to come out through a pressurized
gravity sewer system.
Well, this number can tell you a lot about how much water we're
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using in that center. But remember that number of 4,456 gallons per
day historical data.
Public utilities calculation of water -- now we're going to turn to
water. They're looking at -- at the peak four months. If you look at a
24-month window of data for this site, the very -- starting from the last
month in February going all the way back 24 months and you pick out
-- you cherry-pick the four largest consecutive months, that's the
number staffs using to support their conclusion of 55.9 (sic), this
number of 54.9. And there's really only four months when you
exclude a month where we had a substantial leak that's documented in
the report.
Now, when you contrast that with the past four months of use of
the site -- and, again, this is for Building 300 use and irrigation, both
for the building and to irrigate, 33.9 the last four months. This is
January. This is in season. This is also a time where we don't have a
lot of rain.
Annual average daily flows last 12 months, 42.1, 42.1. That's
what -- that's what the data, historical data -- again, this is unique in
that we're not -- we're not arguing about what we think in the future
will happen. We're looking at actual -- actual numbers that have not
been disputed.
Annual average daily flows over the last two years. When you
look at the historical record for two years, 39.4 percent. Now, think
about that when you think about the standard that we're going to --
we're going to have to examine in terms of whether or not these fees
are fair and how that 54.9 is generated. And, again, this excludes
water that's being -- to be used for irrigation, purely looking at
historical flows.
The next slide we have is a comparison of the four peak months
versus annual average daily flows. And when we met with utility staff,
we kept hearing the mantra, it's peak. We built plants to peak. It's
peak, peak, peak, peak, peak.
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Well, this is a comparison that shows you when you look at the
peak four months to annual average daily flows, when you take their
calculation of 55.9 and you compare it to historical data at 42.1 ERCs
for the last 12-month cycle, there's a 32.8 percent variance in what
staff is asking you to impose on this development.
When you look at the last 24-month period at a 39.4 ERC count,
there's a 41 percent variance in what they're asking to charge for ERCs
and what's actually occurring on the site.
Now, at this point -- and I want to point out in our memorandum
in support of our appeal, there's Exhibit C and E. Exhibit C kind of
shows the historical data that I'm talking about. We actually went in
month by month and showed you, here are -- based on the water bill
that we're paying, here are the numbers.
And then we gave you Exhibit E and we said, in your
consolidated impact fee ordinance that you did in 2006, you look at
annual -- annual average daily flows. You do not look at peak. And
we're sitting here, and we've been asking staff, why are you looking at
peak? Where are we not -- why are we not talking about annual
averages? Here are the annual averages. Why can't we agree on this
number?
Now, I'm going to ask Mr. Hartman to walk through with you in
your ordinance why -- in your consolidated impact fee ordinance, why
it is that we look at annual averages and we're not looking at peak and
how peak is already built into the price of the ERC.
MR. HARTMAN: Thank you, Doug.
This is page -- this is Page 18 and shows the footnotes. The same
thing -- maybe you can't see that. It's the same thing for both water
and wastewater other than the 350 versus 250. Clearly stated that the
impact fee study is based on annual average daily flow. It's Exhibit E
to the filings. It's repeated throughout the county documents in your
ordinances. It's also in your resolutions.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can we zoom in on that. I mean,
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February 24, 2009
I can't --
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, what I -- have you used this already
while I was gone for a second?
MR. LEWIS: No.
MR. MUDD: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: You can see it? Can you see it?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I can't. No, I can't.
MR. HARTMAN: Well, while that's being done, the situation is
very simple. It is in your studies. It's the basis of your calculations. It
shows up in every table. It shows up in every discounting of capacity,
and impact fees are generally set on annual average daily flow. That is
different than peak. Two totally different numbers.
How you can see -- I can go ad nauseam on this, but we have
multiple indications of it. Here's one right there on Table II, how your
actual impact fee was calculated. They plan capacity, sure. It's signed
for the peak, but it's discounted, that very second line, to average
annual daily flow. So the flow applied to your impact fee is annual
average daily flow, not the 40. It's a lower number.
To give you another feel for this -- it's true for water and
wastewater -- the peaking factors are shown in the reports, in all your
technical data backing it up. This is not just pRMG, not just Greeley
and Hanson, not just every one of your consultants in their actual
technical reports. They discount and they show the actual peaking
factor to average annual daily flow and then discount the capacity and
then divide that capacity into the number.
When you do that, you're calculating annual average daily flow.
There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that's the right way to do it.
It's just that the staff, while being told by the engineers we design for
-- and remember what you design for and how you apply capacity are
two different things.
You may design for a regulatory requirement, but then you
convert that requirement to the effective capacity you can sell. It's that
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effective capacity you sell on annual average daily flow basis that
your charge is based upon, because not every facility has the same
peaking factor.
Your pipelines have a four-and-a-half peaking factor. Your
storage facilities have tremendous peaking factors in those for
different emergency conditions. Your high-service pumps have
different peaking factors, your treatment plants have different peaking
factors, et cetera.
So what is used in the analysis is to bring everything to an
average annual daily flow, and that's commonly done. That's the
typical practice, if you look at the manuals of practice, and that's how
it's done.
So the staff is a little confused. Yes, you design to the peaks; yes,
you want to make sure your plant works; yes, you want to make sure
your plan meets the regulatory conditions; but no, the capacity is
being sold on an annual average daily flow basis. If you sell capacity
on a peak basis, when you calculate the values, the unit values on an
average basis, you're overcharging, and that's the difference.
MR. LEWIS: Thank you, Jerry. At the conclusion with that
thought, when you look at the historical data and you look at the
annual daily average from the last 12 months, you're at 42.1. And so
that's what we're asking for you to think about what you think about
staffs numbers.
Now, the second thing I'd like to discuss here is I'd like to kind of
think about, how did staff derive at 55.9? How did that number come
about? Where did we get there?
And I asked that question of staff, and I'd like to enter this as
Exhibit 3, and I'd like to read to you the response, but I have reviewed
your ordinance, and I reviewed your ordinance that was amended as
recently as 2007 that described specifically how is it -- how is it that
we look -- how do we get projected flows, because now we're talking
about developments in the typical sense that haven't got a permit and
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they're not operating so we don't have actual flows.
How do we look at projected flows? And here's the answer that I
got. The information we use for the Florida Plumbing Code
calculation, and your ordinance, your current ordinance -- this was
done as recently as 2007 -- says it's the greater of the Florida
Plumbing Code or the Florida Administrative Code, but it talks about
in this response, that we use the Florida Plumbing Code calculation,
and there's various tables in that. There's not a simple reference point,
so it's difficult for people to figure out when you look at your
ordinance.
And, you know, I'm a lawyer and I had a hard time figuring,
okay, well, what does this mean? I mean, how do you -- how do you
mechanically -- when I go in and try to calculate flows, how do I get
there?
Now, with respect to -- and you have to understand, the plumbing
code is a fixture base. It's based on, not how much volume or how
long the volume's going in. It's looking at fixtures. You know, how
many sinks do you have in there? How many toilets? It's a fixture
base.
With respect to the reference in 2007, this is your -- this is your
ordinance 2007-52 for Florida -- Florida Administrative Code, it's a
general reference and does not provide a specific reference. It's
common practice we use the sewage flows referenced in Florida
Administrative Code 64E.6.008.
And if you can put up the next part of that exhibit. I want to put
up for you so you can see. This is where you actually get into
projected flows based on the kind of use. You know, is it a restaurant,
is it a -- and so this is the ordinance, and I want you to look at what
they're looking at.
First of all, you'll notice -- and I want you to see the site again. I
don't know if you can see it on the visualizer. It's again, Florida
Administrative Code, 64E.6.008, Florida Administrative Code.
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February 24, 2009
Now, I've highlighted here -- these standards are, number one, for
on-site -- on-site sewage, okay? That's the first thing. Our
development, we're not on-site sewage. We have, you know, central
system, gravity system, and also, these guidelines are guidelines, if
look at Table I, for system design. So when we start talking about how
they got to 55.9, they're applying these ratios, and I want you to see
the next page, shows the actual -- for example, we have some
restaurants. Their formula that they're using for a -- a restaurant
operating 16 hours or less per day or per seat, 40 gallons per day is
their standard. We need to think about where they're getting these
standards.
Now, I can tell you as a lawyer, when a client comes in my office
and says, these fees are completely out of whack with the flows or
what's going -- they're excessive. What's the remedy? They have to
file an appeal. They first of all have got to pay -- they've got to pay the
full amount that staff says that's owed based on these numbers for that
restaurant. They've got to pay the full freight, which we've shown you
is 42.1 percent overstated. They've got to go out and hire a consultant
-- and just so you're -- Commissioner Halas, I saw your head go up.
When I said that they're overstated, when you look at the
historical data, when you look at -- this is the chart I have up here
right now, if you can flip over to the laptop. How do we do that?
MR. HARTMAN: Can we flip over to the lap top?
MR. MUDD: Sure, hang on.
MR. LEWIS: That chart I showed you, when you look at annual
average daily flows -- I mean, these aren't disputable. These are
annual numbers -- 42.1 ERCs based actual -- actual flows. That
number, it's actually 32.8 percent overstated, I apologize, and it's 41.9
overstated when you look at the last 24-month period.
So if we can flip back. So for this res- -- this person that's going
in for a restaurant, they're calculating on 40 gallons. Now, I'm going to
have Mr. Hartman explain to you why estimated flows for design
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February 24, 2009
purposes do not equate to flows in operation and actual use.
MR. HARTMAN: All right. Thank you, again. I think I talked
before how you have a design parameter, you have safety factors. This
is for septic tanks being applied to your regional sewage system.
Septic tanks are small systems with high peaking factors, okay.
And on-site sewage system that your staff is applying these standards
to is a septic tank standard. Why is it a higher gallonage per seat? I
can tell you why. There's no storage in the system. There's no
dispersivity of demand. That means, when that flow hits that -- comes
to the septic tank from that unit, it's got to take all the different peaks,
okay.
But in a central sewage system, you have a gravity collection
system that takes peak dampening, your lift station has storage, which
has peak dampening, and then your system has dispersivity of flow.'
That means multiple users going into the flow system. That's why
central systems do not reference that code. That's inappropriate.
MR. LEWIS: With respect to the issue of water ERCs, I think it's
helpful to understand that, again, we need to think about how staff is
getting to the 55.9. And the standards, the flow standards, the
estimated flow standards that they're using, they're clearly wrong. And
it's supported by the annual daily average for the last 12 months that
show a completely different flow.
And so the general public, our client, has to hire a consultant, get
into the numbers, and try to refute what staff is telling them the
projected flows look like. Now we know. We have the flows. So I
think that's very helpful.
Now, we've talked about the issue of annual daily average versus
peak four months, which, again, they've cherry-picked the biggest
water months. And we have -- you know there's fluctuation in
irrigation. There's fluctuation in use, depending on season. We know
that. The standard's annual daily average daily flows.
Now, I want to talk now about the concept ofwhere's the water
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going? If you think about -- there's a 3-inch meter and a five-eighths
meter on the site, and there's no irrigation meter on the site. Where's
that water going?
The next slide indicates that historical flows that they're going to
show you include both irrigation water and Building 300 water. As
part of our calculation, we have requested -- and we requested in our
letter when we did this, we said, let's look at how we can get to a
solution here -- we requested an irrigation meter and we said, we'd like
to put an irrigation meter in the proj ect.
I don't know why in Collier County, when you see a site plan that
has irrigation plans and you know what kind of sprinkler heads are
going in there, the type of equipment, where they're located, how
many zones, why don't we allow -- why don't we just put in an
irrigation meter? Let them pay the tapping fee. I don't understand that.
Well, I have some reasons why I think that occurs. But I don't -- I
really don't understand that.
As part of this calculation, we requested that. Now, we have a
letter, and I'd like to put up as Exhibit 4 -- we have a letter from staff
confirming that the ERCs assigned to irrigation, and this is -- by the
way, this is included in my supplemental memorandum, the second
supplemental memorandum, and it's already part of your record, but
I'd like to just make sure we get it. But it's an exhibit to my
supplemental memorandum.
That letter indicates that there's 6.1 ERCs that are attributable to
irrigation, and that's because currently we treat irrigation flows
differently in terms of calculating the ERCs than we do uses within a
development; restaurants, offices.
We don't have any disagreement with that amount. We accept
that amount. We're willing to do that. It will save us on our water bill,
which, by the way, when we get the monthly water bill, we're charged
for irrigation on the sewer side, for the water/sewer bill, we're paying
for that. So we want to do that, and there's no disagreement with staff.
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February 24, 2009
As part of this, we want to -- we want to have an irrigation meter
on site and we want to pay the 6.1 ERCs.
Yeah, if we can go back to the laptop.
The peak four-month average that they've used is 591 -- 591,000
gallons per month, and these numbers include both irrigation and
Building 300 water. Historical flows attributable to irrigation should
be excluded from historical data used to support Building 300 ERCs.
As such, historical data used by public utilities would need to
support 49.8 ERCs for Building 300, and I -- I have a chart that shows
you how that works. When you look at the 6.1 ERCs that we all agree
on that should be charged -- and that's really at the high end. I mean, if
you look at the way it's calculated based on the plumbing code, we're
at the very high end ofERCs that you can charge on a 2-inch meter. It
doesn't go any higher. 6.1 is about the highest you can charge. And
again, we have an acre and a half of preserve area.
So when you back that 6.1 out from irrigation, what you're left
with is 49.8 ERCs for water that's going into Building 300. So they
have to demonstrate by historical flows that we're using water in
Building 300 that equates to 49.8 ERCs.
We're going to show you, based on the historical data, that we're
using about 21.8 when you look at annual daily average for Building
300 ERCs. And there's a slide here that's very telling.
This slide breaks down irrigation flows from -- when you look at
historical data, and then water flows for Building 300. In 2007, sewer
flows were approximately 136 gallons per month, which equates to
approximately 159 gallons per month for water.
Now, I'm going to ask Mr. Hartman at this point to explain to you
how we can derive, when you have water going out through the meter,
into the proj ect, coming back through the sewer, how is -- when we
know those sewer numbers, how is it we can derive the approximate
flow for the center?
MR. HARTMAN: For nonmanufacturing, nonindustrial uses, this
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February 24, 2009
does not apply to those uses, but for general commercial and
restaurant use, there is a factor of approximately 17 percent or 20
percent. Right in that range is the manual practice for -- to
differentiate the amount of flow in the building that may be lost and
not coming back through the sewer system.
Around the trade, many people see 85 percent to 80 percent,
numbers like that, and how you gross up sewer flows for usage flows.
There's nowhere else for it to go in this type of building. It has to go
back down the drain.
You gross it up, if you will, by that percentage, and it's not that
big of a percentage, so, therefore, it does not induce very much air.
MR. LEWIS: So in terms of the analysis, what we've done is
we've said, look, in 2007 the water flows are clear, 375,000 gallons.
That's not -- there's no dispute between staff and applicant. That's the
flow that occurred per month on average in 2007.
We took that number and we deducted the estimated irrigation
flows, and we ended up with the percentage of irrigation flows and
flows that are going to -- for the building. And you can see here in
2007, when you reduce the flows -- when you take the 375, take out
the 159, which is -- which is used by the building, you're left with
irrigation flows of about 216,000 gallons, the sum of 159 and 216 is
375. That's the water. And so that's very helpful.
And so when you compare the 49.8 ERCs that they're ascribing
to what we're using actually in the building, we're really at 21.8 ERCs.
And the way we get there is we look at annual average daily flows for
the last 12 months, which is 448 gallons per month, we reduce from
that irrigation flows of 216 gallons per month in thousands, and then
we're left with the flows for the building, which are about 232 gallons
per month for 21.8 ERCs.
Now, when you look at those numbers and you compare apples
to apples, water going into Unit 300 and the ERCs that are being
assessed for that, the deviation is 128 percent between what they're
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February 24, 2009
charging for ERCs for Unit 300 and what's actually occurring on an
historical data side. That's significant. It's extremely significant.
Our calculation on irrigation, there's no disagreement. We agree
with staff. With respect to irrigation, per your ordinance, per your
code, it's 6.1 ERCs. We're okay with that. We'd like to, as part of this,
install an irrigation meter, separate out the systems, and then, you
know, have an opportunity to look at the flows.
Our consultant's telling you it's going to be 27 ERCs based on his
unit county methodology, 27 ERCs total.
On the sewer side, we have historical data that shows 18 ERCs.
There are 27 units in that building. There's a nine ERC differential. In
other words, we've offered nine ERCs more than historical data
shows. That's to account for vacancies during the study period, 18
ERCs. That's what the data shows. And we're prepared to pay 27
based on the unit count method to account for the vacancies during the
study period.
On the water side, we've calculated 27, 27 units based on the unit
count. Historical data, as I showed you, when you look at apples to
apples, unit -- water going into Unit 300 and historical data for that,
21.8 ERCs. There's a variance of5.2 ERCs. It's higher. We're offering
more than there. We're doing that because of the vacancies.
And essentially, I think that's really our summary of what we're
offering and where we are and how we've dealt with staff.
I did want to remind the board that when you look at their
numbers, on the water side, there's a32.8 variance when you look at
the annual average daily flows.
On the -- on the irrigation, when you separate out irrigation, that's
128 percent variance. I think it's fairly significant. Again, we have
tried very diligently to try to get this resolved. It's been very
time-consuming and expensive. You can put yourself in my client's
position, you know, four years after the initial permit, now it's
five-and-a-half years later, we're in this dispute with the county.
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February 24, 2009
This is a very difficult economic climate. We'd like to get a
deferral on any fees. We agreed that there's going to be some monies
that are owed. We're willing to pay the impact fees that are due on 27
water and sewer ERCs. We've paid for 21.8. We'll pay the different.
We'll put an irrigation meter in, we'll get that irrigation meter
separated, we'll pay the fees for that.
We understand that there's moneys that are owed and we want to
pay those and we appreciate the work the county does to provide
quality water and sewer to its citizens.
Appreciate your time. If you have any questions, we're happy to
take those.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You did a fine job, Mr. Lewis. Look at
that. You've got that in 45 minutes, and we're ready for lunch. Did you
want to ask a question before we leave, Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I can -- I can wait, but yeah, I do
have questions.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: If they're not involved, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, I don't know if they are or
not, but we can also -- you can stop me and we can continue.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, usually I like to ask questions at the
end, as you all know, you know, just write your questions down, and
then we all ask them at that time.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We have to build to capacity.
MR. LEWIS: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We have to build to peak
capacity because our seasonal -- we are seasonable.
MR. LEWIS: No disagreement.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And we have to charge for that
peak capacity. And I don't know why you're disputing charging for
those months of the peak time.
MR. HARTMAN: Let me help you there. You already are.
You're already charging for the peak capacity because you've taken
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February 24, 2009
the peak, the design peak, which is a peak that you do not hit, it's a
design peak that is never reached, hopefully, or you're under
moratorium. It's a design peak.
And then what you've done already is taken that peak and
converted it to average annual daily flow. So you are -- that factor is in
the $3,515 impact fee. That's already in there. You're paying for the
peak.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Show it to me. How did they
calculate it? When we went -- I know we were doing meter charge or
per meter size charge, and now we're going to this new methodology,
ERCs for building.
MR. LEWIS: On the cost side, you have a total cost for the
system. That's the cost side, okay. Now the question, how do you
allocate the cost to the actual use?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right.
MR. LEWIS: How do you marry it? On the use side, they look at
capacity and they discount that and they say, okay, we may have -- we
have 40 -- what's the term, 40 -- it's a big number, 40-something, in
terms of the amount, and they discounted it. They said, we're not
going to -- we're going to only allow 30 on the adjusted.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thirty what? What's 30?
MR. LEWIS: What's the term?
MR. HARTMAN: It's millions of gallons per day. It's your total
treatment plant capacity. Let's look at Table II. You can see it. The
cost numbers are not --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Use your microphone so I can
hear you.
MR. HARTMAN: I'm sorry. The peak capacities up on the very
top, the first line, it is then adjusted to an annual average daily flow.
The cost numbers are for the peak capacity.
So when you divide into the peak capacity cost numbers your
average annual daily flow, the peak factor's already in your impact
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February 24, 2009
fee.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. How does it -- maybe
staff could answer the question if you can't. How does that -- how do
you break it down to each ERC?
MR. HARTMAN : Well then you take your level of service,
which is an average annual daily flow basis, and you divide -- let's say
you have 35 million gallons per day, and you would divide that by
350 gallons per day per unit, okay, and that division goes into the 30,
not to the 40. So your number ofERCs that you're selling is on an
annual average daily flow basis.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MR. HARTMAN: If it was 3,500 gallons, to make the math easy,
and 350 LOS, you'd be selling ten ERCs.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Did you get your answer?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I have that answer. I do
have some more notes down here. That did answer that question.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine, thank you. We will all take a
one-hour lunch break. When we come back, I believe we continue on
with this; is that correct?
MR. MUDD: Nope. You have a one o'clock time-certain
presentation from the Miami-Dade folks about the jetport and off-road
vehicles.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine.
MR. MUDD: That shouldn't take but about 10,15 minutes.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It's one minute after the hour.
You going to give us that time?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, Commissioner Coletta has requested
an extra minute. And by the time we get up, it will be two, so we'll see
you back here at 1 :02.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
(A luncheon recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your
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February 24, 2009
seats.
Madam Chair, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
Item #5C
PRESENTATION BY LAMPL HERBERT CONSULTANTS, INC.
ON BEHALF OF MIAMI-DADE AVIATION AND PARKS AND
RECREATION ON THE TRAINING AND TRANSITION (TNT)
AIRPORT LANDS FOR POTENTIAL OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE
(OHV) USE - MOTION DIRECTING STAFF TO OPEN CYCLE
FOR NEW APPLICATION (BY END OF APRIL) WITH THE
STIPULATION TO MEET WITH SFWMD FOR DISCUSSION,
WITH THE OPTION OF INCLUDING THE LAND IN HENDRY
COUNTY IN A JOINT EFFORT WITH HENDRY AND LEE
COUNTY AND IT NOT TO COST THE COUNTY ANY MONEY
- APPROVED
MR. MUDD: The next item on your agenda is a time-certain
item for one p.m. This -- it's a presentation by Lampl Herbert
Consultants, Inc., on behalf of the Miami-Dade Aviation Parks and
Recreation on the training and transition, TNT, airport lands for
potential off-highway vehicle use.
State your name for the record.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name
is Pedro Hernandez. I'm the division director for Miami-Dade
Aviation Department. And to my left -- to my right here is Dr. Herbert
from Lampl and Herbert. I'm actually going to be doing the
presentation, and Dr. Herbert is going to assist me with any technical
questions that go right over my head.
First of all, thank you for listening to us on this idea that we have.
We've prepared a short presentation. I promise to be brief. But first of
all, I'd like to say that Commissioner Peppy Diaz wanted to express
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February 24, 2009
apologies for not being able to be here. His days in the Washington--
he's up in Washington with a series of commissioners on behalf of
Dade County so -- otherwise, he would have been here to talk to you
directly. So his apologies on that.
First of all, this idea came to us through our parks department,
and it talks about the necessity of addressing OHV s and A TV s out in
the tri-county area, but basically right now between Dade and Collier
Counties. And I'd like to go into -- we have -- we have a property
which is -- we call it a transition and training airport. It's out -- it's the
old jetport property that Dade County owns. It is partially -- or mostly
in Collier County, and a portion of it is in Dade County.
It is near the -- I don't know if you -- if it's better -- do you see
this or you want me to point some other way?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We can see that.
MR. HERNANDEZ: This is fine? Okay.
So it is just north of U.S. 41 and right on the Dade/Collier
boundary, all right.
The airport basically has a 13,000- foot runway, and there were
some borrow pits that were dug up in the '60s and '70s to build the
runway, and those borrow pits can be seen here. These are shallow
lakes at about 25 feet deep and with very sharp steep walls, and
they've been there some time. They're surrounded by fill, and we will
go through that. And this site was actually identified -- and we will go
through there -- identified and a planning study done by the county,
Dade County Parks Department.
And in this area we can see all of the different options that we
have available. We can build 20-plus miles of trails and highways for
vehicles, especially A TV s. We can actually do camping grounds for
veterans at this point in time on the -- and I'll go back -- veterans camp
grounds in this area here. We can have A TV ers, we can have the
parking spaces.
The idea of why this property has been selected is basically
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February 24, 2009
because we already have the sheet flow that comes -- the water's
already being impacted by the runway and it's also isolated by U.S.
41.
So this area here is already used currently by some of the legacy
campers, the Everglade Mens (sic) and to the north. Where -- we
basically are looking at taking this area and turning it into a park, and
-- go back this way.
Some of the lakes will be improved to do fishing. This fishing
would be aided to -- to have ADA accessibility to the lake. We have
some ideas for floating islands and improving the environment around
each one of the lakes. We would flatten the slopes on the lakes so that
it would not be vertical so we can get back the fauna and the flora
around the lakes and we can have an ecological better impact.
We have ideas of having an archery ranch in the area. There's not
too many of those around,' and this would be a good idea. We want to
try to restore the distressed lands and mitigate in the area that we're
building, and especially the -- our commissioners are very much
interested, and I believe your commissioners are too, to make this
facility accessible to veterans. Not a lot of facilities for veterans for
parks and camping sites for them.
And we want to also incorporate safety and security within the
A TV community that wants to be doing this.
The need for the project spans from trespassers issues concerning
the ATVs. The ATVs have been infringing on private property and in
other park areas, and they've been impacting environmental lines as
well as private lines with this type of -- their use.
We have had -- we have had a lot of incidents in our county, and
I believe there have been a lot of incidents in your county; and
therefore, this is an area where they can be sent and directed to
operate.
We have a bill that is about 54,000 vehicles registered within a
hundred miles of this park. You have about -- a population, you can
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February 24, 2009
see there, about 6.5 million people within a hundred miles of this park.
And this would provide a park where these people can actually go and
do what they like to do in these areas without trying to reduce the
impact on other more sensitive land.
Why TNT? As I explained before, this was select- -- already this
site was identified in 2007 in the planning study by the parks
department. Other sites in Miami-Dade County were too close to the
neighborhood, so we're infringing on other properties. The acquisition
of property was through the roof, so we couldn't even begin to touch
it.
South Florida Water Management District, as you well know,
have grown out of basically sites and lands that they can offer. The
same thing applies to the Fish and Wildlife, the FPL, the National Park
Service, and a lot of other entities out there just simply do not have the
area to do this.
You -- I know for a fact that Collier County has been searching
for an OHV site, and they haven't been able to find one that is suitable
and amenable to everybody, and the county -- the Collier County staff
has also been interested in this site. It happens to be the park. The
entirety of the park will be ow the Collier County side of our property,
which is the most accessible site and will be the least amount of
impact to the area.
These pictures -- these four pictures show you three of the -- it's
actually three of the borrow pits that were dug up. This is their current
condition. As you can see, there are trails from buggies and users in
the area. These are the areas that we would go in and try to excavate
the side slopes and create shallow areas where birds and fish can
populate, create the recreational area.
These are areas that are already impacted so we're not im- --
we're not having a great impact into the environment surrounding it.
And we have -- if you look into a couple of these, right here -- if you
look here, there are trails that leave out this particular quarry lake and
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February 24, 2009
go onto the following quarry lakes, and you can see those trails as they
come in and out of the quarries that are being used somewhat in that
manner. So we would be doing this.
What is next? Next for us is, we're here presenting this idea to
you, and we're considering whether we actually need an inter-county
agreement to proceed within the two governments to work on this.
We've been told that we need to amend the land use designation for
TNT and to proceed with a Compo Plan to allow the project to go
forward.
And then we have been aware that the last weekend, or the last
weekend of April is the last deadline for submitting your -- in your
Compo Plan to submit the amendments in there, and there -- that's
basically our presentation.
And I'll open it up for whatever questions you have for Lampl
and myself.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: First off, how many acres are we
talking here?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Right now --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
MR. HERNANDEZ: -- we're talking --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Total acreage.
MR. HARTMAN: -- we have 2,500 acres--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: -- available for this.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Will this meet the criteria of the
South Florida Water Management or any other governmental agencies
as far as getting permitting to permit this land for this particular use?
MR. HERNANDEZ: We have met -- we have met -- we have
had meetings with -- by the way, we have had meetings with both the
National Park and the Big Cypress.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And?
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February 24, 2009
MR. HERNANDEZ: And we have met with the Army Corps, the
Southwest Florida Water Management District, both the State and
Federal Fish and Wildlife.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Their permitting process is, this is doable. It
will require an EIS and it will require -- so far, we have not heard any
of the agencies tell us it's doable.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: They just have to follow the procedures.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Do the lakes -- since you're going to
knock down the banks and everything, will that pose a problem of
A TV s actually entering into the lakes unexpectedly?
MR. HERNANDEZ: I'll let Dr. Lampl -- Dr. Herbert answer that
one.
DR. HERBERT: Commissioner, the situation is that the lake--
the side walls of the lake are vertical right now. If there's -- if there's
an issue, the issue is now where the buggies and people are around it
because it goes directly into 25 feet of water.
The plan is, is to lay the slopes back, leave enough room around
the perimeter, but come back with like a one-in-ten or one-in-12 slope
and slope it down. This would create a larger, much larger -- doubling
the littoral fringe around it. That would be wading bird habitat --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
DR. HERBERT: -- much better fishery habitat, and the oxygen
regime in the pond -- or in the lakes would be much better for
propagation of fish and wildlife.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. My concern was with those
borrow pits out there, being that it may be a problem with A TV s
happening to get into those lakes and drowning.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yeah. I believe the slope will be shallowing
off --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
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February 24, 2009
MR. HERNANDEZ: -- that they would be into the water and
stop before they get to a 25-foot drop.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Is there any interest in creating a
shooting range out there, or is there any prohibition against it?
MR. HERNANDEZ: The idea has been thrown around, has been
thought of. It is not in this current plan. There's sufficient acreage out
there to do that. But at this point in time, as -- it will be part of what
we would present as an option in the CDMP plan that we will be
asking for, but it's not something we're planning to do right now.
I failed to mention that I have a representative from the
Miami-Dade Parks Department to support me on this, too. Don't think
it's only me. Behind me is a whole host of people.
So if you have any questions about the park, Howard is assistant
director from our parks department, and he would help me answer any
other questions.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Could you show me on the slide,
this slide, exactly which areas are going to be available for
recreational opportunities and which areas would be retained for the
use of the airstrip? Are you going to continue to use the airstrip for
training purposes?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yes. Let me point out this to you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Right now -- right now this yellow line you
see here is an active -- is an existing fence line that surrounds the
airport --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: -- property. That fence line will still be
there, and that will be the airport itself.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Okay. This -- this whole area here would be
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the area that will be used for the A TV ers and camping in this area.
This particular lake -- lake is too close to the runway, so this would be
the lake where we would create the park, where there will be the
fishing and more passive-type recreation, okay. We haven't yet
thought of where we would be putting the archery range that we talk
about or any rifle range. This whole -- we own all this property.
This is all happening just right here on the southernmost portion
of this. So we still have all this acreage to the north, and we are going
to retain the use of the airport. It is a very vital piece of property for
the FAA and for the county in terms of aviation uses.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Tell me about the area north of the
airport. How much of that area is -- is owned or used for airport
functions and activities?
MR. HERNANDEZ: The area to the north is not used for
aviation.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But it's still owned or operated --
MR. HERNANDEZ: We own it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You own it.
MR. HERNANDEZ: We own the surface and we own a portion
of the mineral rights. The area to the north right now is only being
used by the Everglades -- Evergladesmens and legacy people who are
-- have camps in the area, and they actively operate out of -- out of a
club they have here, and they follow their own trails into the -- into
our property to where they have hunting camps and station camps.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Some of those camps predate us buying the
property and they go back to -- as long as their aerial photograph,
we've been seeing camps out there.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So this particular slide shows the
northern extent of your property, or does it extend even further?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Which -- the one that's up, no. That one just
concentrates on the southern portion of our property.
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. February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, okay. So it extends quite a
ways further north?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Yeah. If you look at the first slide, the
yellow line that you see there, that's our property, okay. What you're
looking in the first slide, it would be only like this little square here.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, really, okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Only that area there.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Good, good. Thank you very
much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And Commissioner Henning?
MR. HERNANDEZ: I'm sorry. The whole -- the whole area is
about 37 -- this whole yellow square is about 37 square miles.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Who owns the land?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Who owns the land? Dade County.
Miami-Dade County Aviation Department owns the land.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And that is a -- that is an
authority?
MR. HERNANDEZ: It's a county department.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. That is that -- referring to
TNT land?
MR. HERNANDEZ: When we refer to the TNT land, yes, we
refer to the entire property.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And that's how it's titled?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Well, the title -- the titleship is owned --
Port Authority? The original title is named in Port Authority,
Miami-Dade Port Authority.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Port Authority?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Because that was in the 1960s and '70s.
Seems then the Port Authority was abolished and replaced by the
Dade County Board of County Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I see, okay. Now, out of the
2,500 acres, how much of that is in wetlands?
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MR. HERNANDEZ: All of it, except for the runway and -- the
2,500 acres is in wetlands.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And you feel that the state and
federal agencies would allow A TV use in wetlands?
MR. HERNANDEZ: I believe so, Commissioner. The reason --
we have had discussions with the agencies, and your own
commissioner has been at some of those -- some of those meetings.
The reason they're contemplating this use is because the idea is
that they will be removing the illegal impact that's taking place and
other sensi- -- environmentally sensitive lands. And the idea is that
these lands, these wetlands, are less valuable to them than the
wetlands that are being impacted right now by the A TV ers in other
areas.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And who's going to be doing that
restoration of the wetlands?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Outside of our property?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. What I'm hearing is there's
impacts to wetlands somewhere on that piece of property that the
agency would like to have restored. And correct me if I'm wrong, that
will be your mitigation for the impacts of more heavier intensive
recreational uses on the 2,500 acres.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Let me -- let me go back a -- take a step
back --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: -- and try to explain the concept. The
concept comes from the idea that there are other lands, not this area
here that we're talking about, other areas in Collier, Miami-Dade, and
in Lee County.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MR. HERNANDEZ: That are being impacted, okay, by ATVers.
The problem is there's no park where to direct these ATVers to and
tell them, this is the park you're supposed to be off (sic). Get off these
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other sensitive lands, included the Big Cypress, okay. So everybody's
looking for a site where to direct these ATVers to.
So the plan is that, if we would take this southern portion of the
TNT property and sacrifice those wetlands in order to direct the
A TV ers in that area in the spaces that are around the lakes, mitigate
the lakes themselves, and create a situation where the A TV ers can be
directed there, then there will be less incentive for them and
enforcement can then begin to be applied to those who are trespassing
on those more sensitive lands in your county, in our county, and in
neighboring counties.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I understand that.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Do you have any written
correspondence from the Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water
Management, DEP, stating that impacting these wetlands in this 2,500
acres would be no cost?
MR. HERNANDEZ: Okay. I don't have any written
correspondence. The first -- we are at the very early stages. We have
had maybe a few meetings with them, and we thought we'd -- the idea
was to bring this to your commission here so that we can hear what
the problems would be before we take the first step of applying for
EIS as I'm moving forward in the Army Corps process to obtain the
dredge field permits, and those would trigger the EIS, and that would
trigger the valuation of everybody's comments.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Thank you very much.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coletta, and then we
do have a speaker.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. One of the things we do is
you have to recognize a couple of facts. One, this is the initiative of
Commissioner Peppy Diaz from Miami. He's the one that came up
with this brain child, and nothing more than just initial discoveries
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February 24, 2009
have been taken at this point in time to be able to gather enough
information to be able to get this commission to be able to give the
green light to proceed or not to proceed with it with the next phase.
I was getting a little uncomfortable at the last meeting. It got
pretty involved. We had representatives from Fish and Wildlife; from
-- well, our own sheriff went, Kevin Rambosk; we had the sheriff from
Miami-Dade; we had numerous other law enforcement offices. There
was about 60-some people. It was quite impressive who showed up.
It was at that point in time I realized this was taking on a life of
its own, and I didn't think it should proceed until the commission had
been totally briefed on it and could weigh in to which direction they'd
like to see it go. I think it's got tremendous possibilities.
What's been missing -- the element that's been missing at this
point in time and was pointed out by Fish and Wildlife who seem to
be somewhat supportive of the whole thing -- of course, they've been
the key point that has brought these things to their knees several times
in the past, these types of projects -- was the fact that we didn't have
representation from the environmental groups.
And we all agreed that we would -- before we held another
meeting or -- we'd make sure that the invitation went out to all the
environmental groups and also other user groups who weren't there at
the last meeting we held; however, with that said, there is some
involved on the part of our staff to get to this point.
You've been briefly -- you've been briefed to some extent from
Jim Mudd in the past about, this effort is underway and being looked
at. But at this point in time, you need to know all the particulars that
we know and to be able to give it the blessing to proceed to whatever
the next step would be.
And I'd like to have Barry come up and just share a little bit too
from his perspective at parks and rec.,which would be helpful, too, in
some of your decision making that will take place today~
MR. WILLIAMS: Commissioner, for the record, Barry Williams,
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parks and rec. director. I don't know that I have a lot more to add. I
just would say that, you know, we've been following this issue,
certainly, in trying to find a location. And this is a unique property in
the sense that it is mostly in Collier County.
There's a question of the distance it takes for people to get to a
site to ride. But, you know, anyplace that we select is going to have
that issue. So it's certainly been something that we've had some
interest in and have been working with the Miami-Dade Parks
Department and Miami-Dade Aviation just to understand how this is
going forward.
So I agree with Commissioner Coletta. We're just looking to see
whether this seems like a plausible idea for us to continue to pursue or
not. So we wanted to work with the commissioner in getting the group
here to give you this briefing.
So with that, that's all I would add.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. And we have one speaker.
MS. FILSON: Yes, ma'am. Nancy Payton.
MS. PAYTON: Thank you. Nancy Payton, representing the
Florida Wildlife Federation. We don't have a position whether this is
good or bad. We're in a learning mode and collecting information, but
we certainly do have a lot of questions.
And the first question is, how do we know the ORVers (sic),
ATVers, whatever the correct term is, are really going to use this site?
I don't see any in the audience today stepping forward. Maybe I'm
wrong -- that this is something that should be pursued, so I think we
have to establish that. If we're going to be sacrificing wetlands and
wildlife habitat to supposedly save lands elsewhere, we have to know
that it's going to work or some sort of indication that those that are
causing the harm now will truly go and use this site. There are wetland
issues, there are wildlife issues, there are transportation issues.
I saw a slide that said that there are 54,000 of these vehiclese
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February 24, 2009
within a hundred miles of this site. That potentially could put a lot of
cars and trucks and other vehicles on 41. Can 41 safely handle that?
And lastly, I was seeking confirmation that if this moves forward
it does require a Comprehensive Plan amendment, and thought that
process, we would find out a lot of -- more information about the
impacts on it.
And those are my comments, and thank you very much for
allowing me to speak.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, Barry?
MR. WILLIAMS: Commissioner, if I'd just -- if I may add. And I
appreciate Ms. Payton's comment about the Comprehensive Plan
amendment. That is one of the items that we were seeking some
direction today, whether or not with the current cycle, if this could be
considered.
And the time frame is such -- I know staff is working on a
deadline of this April, but if it could be considered and that direction
provided, that would be very helpful.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Barry, do you think there's a
possibility we might get water management to step up to the plate and
pay the cost for the comprehensive amendment and the staff cost?
They're obligated to us bigtime on this one.
MR. WILLIAMS: Commissioner, I'm not sure how to answer
that. I know that there is a commitment to us. Certainly they could be
approached with that. I don't believe Clarence is in the room today,
but we could certainly approach them if you so desire.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. So what direction would
you like this commission to go to reach the next step, and what level
of involvement are we going to have at this point in time, or
commitment?
MR. WILLIAMS: I think at this point, you know, the direction
for the Growth Management Plan amendment, getting into this current
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February 24, 2009
cycle, I think as Ms. Payton indicates, a lot of the questions that need
to be answered would be answered through that process.
I would ask as well if we could get direction for parks and rec.
staff to continue to work with Miami-Dade staff to -- as far as this will
take us. The interlocal agreement -- or interlocal agreement, we could
begin to work on that and craft that, that would be helpful as well, if
there was a desire for an interlocal agreement between the two
counties. So those three things in particular.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I'm in agreement. I'm not
too sure --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sounds great.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't think we can do a motion
because we haven't advertised it as an action item, have we?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We can provide guidance to staff.
MR. MUDD: Sure, you can give guidance to staff. Barry's
looking for guidance for staff. If you want us to go forward -- if you
want us to go forward with the Growth Management Plan amendment,
we'll do so. We'll meet with the folks from the South Florida Water
Management District and see if they can defray the cost of that
particular plan amendment and get us moving in that particular regard.
As far as the EIS is concerned, we're going to have to talk to the
folks from Miami-Dade a little bit to figure out how they want to go
with the EIS because the EIS is going to be a big portion in this
process in order to get it approved or not and get your permits that you
need so--
,
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I just wanted to add a little to the
conversation here. I recently talked with Clarence Tears about this.
And Clarence felt that there was going to be some difficulties in
getting this permitted. He said that he was also working on a large
piece of land that was going to be in Hendry County just north, and he
found some land there that might be more advantageous to something
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February 24, 2009
of this nature, because he had concerns that it might be a problem
getting all the necessary permits for this particular piece of property.
So just -- that was the conversation I had with him.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. And I understand the particular piece of
property because I've seen the particular piece of property. Somebody
came through Commissioner Coletta's office with some photos and
whatnot, and I passed them over.
Yesterday, as late as yesterday, Mr. Dunnuck and Mr. Ochs had
conversations about that particular parcel. And what they want to
know, and rightfully so, if they go out and purchase this piece of
property for 3.5 or $4 million, will it satisfy the 640-acre agreement,
and that's what they want to know. They're not interested in -- if you
say, yes, they'll go out and buy it and then that's it. It's over. They're
not going to -- they're not going to --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Are you talking about the piece of
property up in Hendry County?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. You're going to have the same problem
though in Hendry County because you're going to have to get -- you
might have to get a GMP amendment in Hendry County in order to
get that particular property to be used as an OR V park, plus you're
going to have to go through the permitting with another county, too.
So I don't believe any of these particular ideas, concepts, places,
are going to go without having some issues with them.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: What a wonderful thing to be discussing.
Before we couldn't find anyplace at all for ORVs, and now we've got
two places. I just love it.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm in favor of moving forward
under some conditions. We already know that South Florida Water
Management owes us 640 acres.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I don't -- I don't want to have to
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February 24, 2009
spend monies to go through the process. That should be South Florida
Water Management's to do so.
At the end of the day, if we fail here and take the districts out of
their commitment, we're even in worse shape.
And also I would like to have some kind of indication from the
Collier residents whether this is suitable.
But, yeah, I would like to proceed forward in the interlocal
agreement understanding the recognition of South Florida Water
Management's commitment. So it's going to have to be, yeah, three
people and three entities involved in that. Three hundred sixty
(sic )acres is very costly in Collier County. It was supposed to be in
Collier County, correct? That's what the interlocal agreement said.
MR. MUDD: Six hundred forty.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Six hundred forty acres.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. It's one section.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: One section of land, supposed to
be in Collier County?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. So that's -- it's a very
costly piece of property. And. You know, hey, if it works, it works.
I'm fine with it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I think we'd be foolish not to
at least proceed with Miami-Dade County to evaluate this. We don't
know how this alternative or the one in Hendry County will actually
work out.
And I think it's important that we try to select the alternative that
will provide us the best facility for the amount of money that we're
spending. And so let's find out which -- which facility is going to do
the best job for us.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, Commissioner Coletta, you're the
last one. Do you want to wind this up?
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I would love to. I hope we wind
it up.
First I'd like to thank the delegation that came here from
Miami-Dade for coming all the way over and taking the time to meet
with us, and hopefully we get to see you many more times in the
future. I think we've got a wonderful opportunity that we're going to
be proceeding with and going forward with.
If we can get by Fish and Wildlife, that's going to be the big one.
Of course, this part of discovery and what has to be done and what has
to be given up, it's going to be a big factor.
The item of the Hendry County land, I was going to bring that up
at the -- under comments, but I'm going to bring it up now since the
subject's been broached.
There's nothing wrong with looking to see if there's dual
possibilities. This land up in Hendry County probably has more
problems to it than the land would have out there at the airport where
the land has been impacted; however, with that said, why don't we see
-- and I'm pretty sure there's some interest. Both Lee County and
Hendry County have had grants for off-road vehicle parks, and they've
been considerable, over a million dollars.
And Lee County could not find a location, so they gave up their
grant, but I understand if they reapplied they could get it. Hendry
County put in for a grant for a place called Pioneer Acres, and
everything was fine. The only problem is is within a couple -- well,
about 500 yards or so, there was a house, and that person got other
people to agree it was a bad idea and they actually killed the whole
idea, which is pretty common anymore. We've seen that happen many
times in the past. So that went away.
They're looking at a temporary site. Forgive me if I'm going on,
but you need to be briefed on the whole thing.
Down where the state will be building a massive reservoir to
capture the runoff from the lake and be able to store it, it's going to be
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February 24, 2009
quite a while. So in the meantime they're talking about a temporary
site for around Hendry County for them to use there, but that grant
money can't be used at a water management site. That grant money's
still good for Lee County, still good for Hendry County. From what I
understand, they only have to reapply.
So there's a possibility there might be a chance if we could direct
staff just to look at the possibilities and see if there's a partnership. In
the best of all worlds, we can end up with two parks at different
locations, one that would serve Collier County, Miami-Dade, and
Palm Beach, and another one that would serve Lee, Hendry, and
Collier.
And so I would also like to see if we could direct staff just to
look into that possibility with a minimum amount of time spent.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do we need a motion on this, by the way?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, we're just directing staff. We
can't. We didn't advertise it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Three nods.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, not that there's no pork in
the stimulus package, but there are a heck of a lot of money for A TV
trails. Yeah. That's not pork.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: How about limerock driveways?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think there would be something
in there.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's definitely pork.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Well, it looks like -- yes, Mr.
Mudd?
MR. MUDD: I do need a motion.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
MR. MUDD: You need to direct Mr. Schmitt to open up the
cycle to accept this application.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I so move.
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February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: And by the way -- and I want to make sure
everybody in Miami-Dade and Collier County staff understand, by
opening up the cycle doesn't mean you're going to delay the cycle.
You're just going to open it up for a new application. This is it.
So we've got a time constraint that they've got to get this thing in
by the end of April in order to not delay everybody else that's been
waiting in that cycle, because this is the 07/08 cycle.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And I make that motion with the
stipulation that we get together with water management and they
recognize this as part of their overall agreement that they had with us.
Just the carryforward interest on it would -- would even cover this,
what they've owed us and what they haven't been able to produce, and
I include that in the motion. What else?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'll second the motion. Maybe
we could just give Joe Schmitt an IOU.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But that was a maybe.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coletta and a second.
Any confusion on the motion? Everybody understand the
motion?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Now, just a clarification
to it. We did direct staff to look into the possibilities of the Lee,
Hendry, Collier County joint effort?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, we did.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, good.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: As long as it doesn't -- does not cost
the county money.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Money?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, money, M-O-N-E-Y.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you very much for being here
today.
MR. HERNANDEZ: Thank you, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Have a good day. Thank you.
MR. MUDD: Madam Chair, Commissioners, your pleasure. We
can continue the item that we started before lunch, which was Item --
which item was that? I'm sorry -- which was 10A, or based on the way
it's been advertised, you have advertised public hearings. You have
two items under 8; 8A and 8B. Your pleasure. You want to start with
8A?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That should be pretty simple actually, I
would think. So why don't we just do 8A. Would that be, okay, and
then we'll go back?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Whatever the chair would like.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Let me see. Well, if I do 8A--
MR. MUDD: Here we go.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
Item #8A
ORDINANCE 2009-06: PUDZ-A-2006-AR-I0325: WYNN
PROPERTIES, INC. AND CARBONE PROPERTIES OF NAPLES,
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February 24, 2009
LTD LIABILITY CO., REPRESENTED BY ROBERT J.
MULHERE, AICP OF RW A, INC., AND R. BRUCE ANDERSON,
OF ROETZEL AND ANDRESS LP A, AND CARBONE
PROPERTIES OF NAPLES, LLC, REPRESENTED BY R. BRUCE
ANDERSON, ESQ., ARE REQUESTING A REZONE FROM
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) TO COMMERCIAL
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (CPUD) FOR THE SUNGATE
CENTER CPUD. THE PROJECT PROPOSES A MAXIMUM OF
83,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL LEASABLE FLOOR
AREA. THE SUBJECT 10.0 ACRES ARE LOCATED ON THE
NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF GREEN
BOULEVARD AND COLLIER BOULEVARD (CR 951) IN
SECTION 15, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA - ADOPTED CCPC
RECOMMENDATIONS & TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENTS
MR. MUDD: This item requires that all participants be sworn in
and ex parte disclosure be provided by commission members.
It's PUDZ-A-2006-AR-I0325; Wynn Properties, Inc., and
Carbone Properties of Naples, Limited Liability Company,
represented by Robert J. Mulhere, AICP, ofRW A, Inc., and R. Bruce
Anderson of Roetzel Andress, LP A, and Carbone Properties of
Naples, LLC, represented by R. Bruce Anderson, Esquire, as
requested -- are requesting a rezone from the planned unit
development, PUD, to a commercial planned unit development,
CPUD, for the Sungate Center CPUD.
The project proposes a maximum of 83,000 square feet of
commercial leasable floor area. The subject 10 acres are located on the
northwest corner of the intersection of Green Boulevard and Collier
Boulevard in Section 15, Township 49 south, Range 26 east, Collier
County, Florida.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Halas has a question
before you're -- before you even begin.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And the question is, what are the
transportation commitments that are to be met by this PUD? Just to
make sure that we meet the transportation commitments.
MR. ANDERSON: There are right-of-way donations and an
agreement to accept water management from the expanded Green
Boulevard, whenever that happens, and those are the -- those are the
commitments.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Good.
MR. ANDERSON: And that's without any impact fee credits.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay, good.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Would you like to continue, Bruce?
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Can I make a motion to approve?
MR. ANDERSON: Please interrupt me.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Don't we have disclosure, and
we haven't sworn anybody in.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, oh, I'm sorry. We have to disclose?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, sorry about that, everyone.
Okay. First of all, disclosures by commissioners. Let's start with
you, Commissioner Coletta.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. I had a meeting with
Bruce Anderson on 2/23. I talked to TJ Wynn on the phone on 2/24. I
chaired the Golden Gate Master Plan in 1992 when this issue first
came up and they received their first commercial designation.
And I want to clarify with the county attorney that there's not a
conflict of interest, but I own a commercial property in the adjoining
block that -- I can't see where there would be any benefit one way or
the other, that property that I own as far as this item goes, but I'd like
to hear it from you, sir.
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. We discussed it yesterday, and it was
your opinion this would not enure to your financial gain. As far as,
you know, you're of that opinion you can vote on this.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas -- Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The other H?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yeah, the other H.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I don't believe I've spoken to
anybody on this one. Correct me if I'm wrong? Nobody's going to
correct me.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I have met with Mr. Bruce
Anderson.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And I have no disclosure on this.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And I have met with Mr. Anderson, and
I've spoken to staff about this.
And so would you please swear anybody in who wants to speak
on this subject.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Did you say I do, Nick?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I didn't see your mouth move. Sorry, just a
little levity.
Go ahead, Bruce.
MR. ANDERSON: Quite all right. I believe Commissioner Coyle
had been interrupted.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Do we have any speakers?
MS. FILSON: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I was going to make a motion
for approval. It was approved by a vote of 7 -1 by the Collier County
Planning Commission. You've accepted all of their conditions. The
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February 24, 2009
LDC doc- -- or the document has been modified to incorporate those,
and you have recognized your contributions for transportation
improvements that Commissioner Halas has brought up. I incorporate
those also in my motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And I have--
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- a second by Commissioner Halas. Just a
minute, Kay.
Commissioner Henning has something, and then I'll let you put
whatever you need on the record.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, actually I'm glad Kay's up
there.
MS. DESELEM: No, no. I'm kidding.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No, come. Now you have to stay.
MS. DESELEM: Yeah, I see.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: On Page 80 of our executive
summary -- it's the last page of the ordinance.
MS. DESELEM: Okay. Let me go get it. I'll be right back.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Just bring the whole ordinance
up.
MS. DESELEM: Yes. For the record, Kay Deselem, Collier
County Zoning, yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It says that the attached herein to
Exhibit A, which is incorporated into the reference made in part
thereof. That is the only exhibit that's attached to this PUD ordinance.
Is the other attachments not a part of --
MS. DESELEM: I'm trying to follow where you are. I'm sorry.
I'm not following where you are. You're reading from the ordinance
itself?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. There's only two pages to
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February 24, 2009
the ordinance, right?
MS. DESELEM: Okay. Exhibit A. Okay. The PUD document
itself is ordinance -- is Attachment A.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MS. DESELEM: Yes. And everything that goes with it, that's all
part of the PUD document.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, let's clarify what
everything else that goes with it is, or that is -- that is -- is is is ( sic) all
the exhibits?
MS. DESELEM: Yes. If you go to the list of exhibits within the
PUD document, small letter i, you will see all of the exhibits listed, A
through F, which are attached to the PUD document itself.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So those cannot be changed
unless there is a PUD amendment, those exhibits?
MS. DESELEM: With the exception of those allowances within
the LDC that allow for insignificant small changes to be done
throughout the process.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Page 2 of the ordinance,
or the PUD exhibit, which is on Page 80 -- 184 --
MS. DESELEM: I apologize. I don't have your page numbers, so
I have to have a little bit more information to know what you're
looking at.
Okay. He's got it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It's Page 2 of the PUD
document. Starts out with, in bold, Sungate Centers CPUD.
MS. DESELEM: Okay. Statement of Compliance. Are we
looking at the same thing?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Paragraph 2, it tells me that these
are going to comply with the C 1, C2, and C3 districts adopted by
ordinance 91-102 as adopted in October 30, 1991. Is that how I'm
reading that?
MS. DESELEM: That's how that reads. That's a quote from that
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February 24, 2009
subdistrict of the GMP.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So any changes to the new
ordinance, which is 91-102, correct me if I'm wrong, that's the old
Land Development Code?
MS. DESELEM: I believe you're correct, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So we're going by the old Land
Development Code and not the new one?
MS. DESELEM: The citation sites that, but it does talk about,
shall be similar to, and normally when we do things like this, unless
it's specifically prohibited, it goes to the amended ordinance, or it will
say something to the effect of, that ordinance, as amended.
As you see at the top of the ordinance on the first page, it talks
about ordinance number 04-41, as amended. That's the next ordinance
in line after 91-102. This was basically a reference to compliance with
the Growth Management Plan, and that's where that citation comes
from.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, that was in the old PUD
ordinance.
MS. DESELEM: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow, is this correct to
form?
MR. KLATZKOW: It's confusing. It is correct as to form, but it
is confusing. I mean, Kay, is the intent to use the current code --
MS. DESELEM: Yes, sir.
MR. KLATZKOW: -- for this?
MS. DESELEM: The current code as amended. That's wherein
the condition comes where --
MR. KLA TZKO W: Right. The reason for this language is, is that
how the GMP reads?
MS. DESELEM: Correct. That is a quotation from the GMP.
MR. KLATZKOW: So we never updated the GMP, correct?
MS. DESELEM: It's not been updated, that's correct.
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay. But you are applying the current Land
Development Code?
MS. DESELEM: Yes, sir. And that was the intention of the
CCPC when they made their motion on the mini-warehouse 'use,
because they stated specifically that that use would be allowed if the
LDC were to be amended to allow it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And just two more things.
It's your understanding that self-storage will be allowed if the 04-41 is
amended to allow it in the C3 district?
MS. DESELEM: That's my understanding, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And then one more thing.
Is there anything in the ordinance -- if the motion passes, is there
anything in this ordinance that you can see that might be added to the
ordinance after we pass it?
MS. DESELEM: I'm not sure I follow your question.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: In other words, are you okay
with this ordinance as it stands if the board passes it?
MS. DESELEM: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Won't be any other changes?
MS. DESELEM: Not to my knowledge, sir, no. This is -- this is
the way it's proposed to be acted upon today. This reflects staffs
position, the applicant's position and all the changes from the CCPC.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Because I just seen one that we
passed recently that was changed after we passed it, so we have to
deal with that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Kay, did you want to put anything
on the record?
MS. DESELEM: Yes, thank you. I'd almost forgotten. I just
wanted to put on the record that staff is recommending that this
petition be found consistent with all elements of the Growth
Management Plan as applicable, and we are recommending approval
with the ordinance that you see in front of you today.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And Bruce, did you want to say
anything else on the record? We have Commissioner Coletta waiting,
but -- '
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. I -- same questions that
Commissioner Henning had.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Kay, I know you had said in my
office something about they weren't even considering self-storage
anymore; is that correct?
MR. ANDERSON: That's correct. There was an interest at one
time. Maybe there will be again in the future, but we can't have that
use unless the code is amended to specifically allow it in the C3
zoning district.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So that's on the record.
All right, folks. We have a motion to approve by Commissioner
Coyle, a second by Commissioner Halas.
Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: AU those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: It's a 5-0.
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And we're going back to water.
Item #8B
ORDINANCE 2009-07: CPSP-2008-6: PETITION REQUESTING
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February 24, 2009
THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPTS
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
ELEMENT OF THE COLLIER COUNTY GROWTH
MANAGEMENT PLAN, ORDINANCE 89-05, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROVE THEIR SUBMITTAL TO THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TO DIRECT
STAFF TO INITIATE CERTAIN GMP AMENDMENTS WHICH
ENSUE FROM THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT, AND TO CONSIDER COLLIER
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: No, that brings you to 8B. This is the one o'clock
business as it's advertised. This is --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh.
MR. MUDD: This is CPSP-2008-6. It's a petition requesting that
the Board of County Commissioners adopts an ordinance amending
the Capital Improvement Element of the Collier County Growth
Management Plan ordinance 89-05, as amended, to approve their
submittal to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, to direct
staff to initiate certain GMP amendments which ensue from these
amendments to the capital improvement element, and to consider
Collier County Planning Commission policy recommendations.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Mr. Mudd, isn't this all just our own staff?
Could we just wait and finish the other where we have a lot of
speakers if it's only just staff?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It will only take a few minutes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, will it? Never mind. Okay.
Commissioner Henning says this should go quickly, all right.
MR. MUDD: Going to hold him to that. Corby?
MR. SCHMITT: Good afternoon, Commissioners. In front of
you, and part of your packets, the staff has included materials, your
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. February 24, 2009
executive summary, the adoption ordinance for the Capital
Improvement Element updates, Exhibit A, which is that Capital
Improvements Element, including the schedule of capital
improvements, and Appendix H, and that is the schedule of capital
improvements for the out-years or the second five years of ten, and a
copy of the Planning Commission's staff report, including its two
appendices, A and B.
Participating and working together to prepare the capital
improvement element for you with the comprehensive planning
department were the transportation division, public utilities, public
facilities, as well as the management and budget office.
The last Capital Improvement Element was adopted or amended
in January of2008.
What's recommended to you now is a schedule of capital
improvements and some text updates that covers the five-year
planning period from fiscal year 2009 through 2013, and it follows
from the AUIR, which was adopted by you in November of last year.
From the time of the AUIR to now, there have been some
changes with project scheduling, saw additional adjustments resulting
from decreased demand, reduced costs and other factors.
I have one of those with me now as a handout that was not part of
your packets, that was more recent than the provision -- or to you of
the packets that I'll share with you now.
If you'd please go to Exhibit A and that schedule of capital
improvements, which is about 16 pages back, and I'll point out the
change to the page you'll be receiving now.
This is a change to the stormwater management proj ect page in
the capital improvement schedule. And based on a very recent
agreement with the South Florida Water Management District, the
numbers in this fiscal year, '09, have been adjusted according to that
agreement. That agreement is about one month old. So new
information was vested where we could bring you a financially
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February 24,2009
feasible CIE.
If you look at the handout, the changes were in the column for
fiscal year '09, and those numbers were adjusted to show a reduction
from what were projected figures in the AUIR for $2.2 million of
funding from grants and other reimbursements to be reduced down to
the 1.5 million found 'in that agreement with South Florida Water
Management District.
The numbers have been adjusted accordingly; the staff from
stormwater management and transportation have taken a look at this
and agree with what you have in your hands. This is the only change
from what you were provided in your uploads and that are in your
booklet.
The AUIR is different or was different from the CIE. I said that
backwards. The CIE is different than the AUIR for this reason, our
very recent change, and some others. Certainly, we've tried to provide
as much information as we could about the differences between the
AUIR and the CIE, and those were explained in the Planning
Commission's staff report in both Appendix A and B. A listing there
provides for projects that were completed ahead of time, costs coming
in lower than they had been previously, and a number of other things
that we've tried to show you there.
The total amount of spending in this Capital Improvement
Element is, with the change that was shown to you just now, 6.77
million -- I'm sorry -- 677 million, and that was 97.9 percent of the
AUIR figure, so very close, and the figure in the AUIR projections
was for 691 million.
Both staff and the Planning Commission recommended only
minimal changes to the text of the Capital Improvement Element, and
those also are reflected in your Exhibit A. For future consideration but
not related to the document, the Capital Improvement Element itself,
the planning commissioners also recommended that in the future, in an
effort to reduce costs, consider studying once-a-week refuse pickup as
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February 24, 2009
a schedule alternate to the current twice-a-week arrangement.
A second recommendation from the Planning Commission, also
in an effort to reduce and localize costs associated with landscape
improvements on county roadways, that you consider utilizing
municipal taxing -- municipal services taxing units for targeting those
people benefiting most directly from those improvements as
alternative to the current municipal services taxing district
arrangement.
And pursuant to Florida Statutes, we bring the Capital
Improvement Element to you with only a single public hearing
necessary, and that is for this adoption hearing. And as allowed by
Florida Administrative Code, the Capital Improvement Element is
exempt from the twice-a-year limitation on Compo Plan amendment
. .
reVISIons.
So the staff recommendation at this time, that you adopt by the
ordinance in front of you, with the change to the single sheet with the
stormwater management page and the schedule of capital
improvements, these updates to the Capital Improvement Element,
approve the submittal of the materials to the Department of
Community Affairs, direct staff to initiate those changes, and to
consider the policy direction recommended by the Planning
Commission.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner -- let me ask you what you
consider the policy direction offered by the CCPC means. I mean, do
we -- do we have to do that? That's just -- that's just something that
they want us to do, but is that worthy of putting into this motion?
MR. MUDD: You don't have to do it, ma'am. You're just
considering the fact that they wanted to talk about once-a-week refuge
pickup and to use municipal services taxing units versus the district
for landscaping. And I believe you heard --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: But that's -- to consider does not mean it's
anything -- anything other than just consider?
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February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: That's right.
MR. SCHMIDT: That's right. Not part of your motion, but
agreement to consider in the future.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. I had spoke with Norm Feder
yesterday, and I think there's also some CIE proposed changes for
transportation that I'm not sure is on here. I realize that this is going to
be a moving target and we'll probably be seeing a CIE probably
another three, four months from now because of what's taking place in
the real world here.
So maybe, Norm, you can kind of enlighten us here.
MR. FEDER: Commissioner, yes. What we reviewed yesterday
and what we have in the CIE is included in what you have in your
documents.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. FEDER: The only thing I showed you -- and I'll put it up on
the graphic.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. I think you ought to show
that so everybody's well aware of what we're -- the changes are.
MR. FEDER: For others, it's a quicker illustration of what is
already included in the document you have in front of you for
transportation. Basically because when we did the AUIR, we already
saw that in fiscal year '08, 72 million from the prior year and impact
fees were going down, we had estimated about 35 million and carried
that over into the '09 when we came into budget with the AUIR.
What we experienced in '08 was about 28 million in collections.
Right now we're projecting 25. So coming from 35 to 25 necessitated
some of these moves, and in outer years, reduction in the impact fees
as well. And so that's what's reflected here.
You had some projects that moved to the right. One that,
unfortunately, went out of the five years, and we moved all of the Oil
Well money into '09 awaiting the completion of those permits and the
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February 24, 2009
ability to move on that, at least to that level of funding here in '09.
So it is all in your documents there. What I was providing you is
just an easier graphic to see what exactly changed from AUIR to CIE
in transportation.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: The other -- the other thing that I'd
like to comment on is the proposal that the Planning Commission
came forward with in regards to maybe garbage pickup once a week.
You have to take into consideration there's a lot of homeowner
groups whereby people have to store garbage cans in their garage, and
that may pose a real problem. So for those people, it might get pretty
ripe. That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Just so there's no misunderstanding,
I'm going to ask you to explain the comments in the summary portion
of the executive summary pertaining to concurrency management and
the fact that no project is subject to proportionate share, okay. That
will be on Page 3 of77 in the packet, bottom of the page.
We don't have any takers?
MR. SCHMIDT: I'm sorry. I just don't have the same page
numbering as--
MR. MUDD: You do now, Corby. Right there.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, it's -- last paragraph on Page
3 of the executive summary.
MR. SCHMIDT: I'm there. The state requires certain financial
feasibility and concurrency as well as locally adopted provisions so
that those first five years are those portions of the Capital
Improvement Element to meet those requirements.
Last year was the first year that the Department of Community
Affairs required us to show them a second five years for a schedule of
improvements for the out-years. And this statement is the -- appears
the same on every page of the schedule of capital improvements to
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February 24, 2009
denote that -- and clarify for DCA and any other reader that those
out-years, the years six through ten where we're only projecting and
estimating what our proj ects will be and what our revenues and
expenditures will be associated with them, that in no way constitute
concurrency management, and to distinguish that from those first five
years that are.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I'll ask my question again.
Can anybody explain to me what that means?
MR. COHEN: For the record, Randy Cohen, comprehensive
planning director. If you recall, you adopted, according to statute, a
proportionate fair-share ordinance. None of the projects that are
enumerated and listed in the CIE are subj ect to that ordinance at this
time.
So you have the opportunity under that ordinance, okay, to say,
build roads or other capital infrastructure by entering into a
proportionate fair-share arrangement with a developer or a builder or
whatever the case may be, but at this point in time there are none and
therefore none reflected in the CIE.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. We're going to try this one
more time. It says that we do not have a long-term concurrency
management system.
MR. COHEN: Okay. I'll do that one, too, sir. By statute, a
governmental entity can establish concurrency management systems
beyond five years.
We do a five-year Capital Improvement Plan, and by board
policy, you have a two-year concurrency management process in
place. The statute allows for you to also choose to, if you would like,
to go to a 10-year or 15-year concurrency management system.
The reason we have that footnote on years six through ten is to
make sure that DCA clearly understands that this Board of County
Commissioners has not elected to go to any long-term concurrency
management system and is staying with its adopted concurrency
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February 24, 2009
management system as well as the policy direction that you've given
us with respect to capital improvements.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, in your mind, is this a rolling
two-year concurrency management system?
MR. COHEN: From our perspective and the direction of this
board, we are not supposed to put any projects in the first two years
unless they're either under construction, funded, or will be completed
within those two years.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Unless the infrastructure for those
projects is completed?
MR. COHEN: That's correct, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: What happens for a project that falls
into the third year?
MR. COHEN: For projects years three, four, and five, our
instructions from DCA and the instructions as part of our process,
unless we have either guaranteed funding or an alternative funding
resource, we shouldn't put those in years three, four, and five.
So many times you'll see projects in years six and seven that
won't roll into year five, or you'll see a project, like Norm just said,
that he moved out of the five ye,ars into year six because he couldn't
guarantee funding.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That is a very convoluted
description of what our concurrency management system is, in my
opinion, and I think it leads to great misunderstanding.
You're approaching it from the standpoint of placing capital
improvement projects or distributing capital improvement projects
over the five-year period of the Capital Improvement Plan. I approach
concurrency management from the standpoint of construction projects
that come to us for approval, and we then make decisions on approval
based upon whether there is adequate infrastructure available for the
time when they are expected to have the impact.
The phrasing that you have here essentially says to most readers,
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February 24, 2009
I believe, that as long as you want to build something in years three,
four, and five, there is no concurrency requirement. That's what it says
when it says there is no long-term concurrency management system,
nor does the county commission intend to establish a concurrency
management system beyond two years.
Now, I have to presume that the reason you've done this is to
meet some technical requirement from DCA. But I want to be very
clear about what our concurrency management system is.
Does everybody understand that?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. And I believe what Randy put in there
about the long-term piece and the proportionate share is because there
have been some changes to Senate Bill 360 that basically said, if you
have a long-term plan to ten or 15 years, then there have been
instances where they're saying that development can go forward and
not pay certain proportionate fair share and pay at the end of the
15-year period.
So staff has been very, very specific by putting that in there so
that we don't get caught in that Catch 22 because that would be -- that
would be contrary to anything that this board has ever done with
concurrency since you've been there and I've been your county
manager.
And it's been, you've got a two-year concurrency issue with your
infrastructure, and that's where staffs going. And more definitively,
this board said, not only is it going to be two-year concurrent, but it's
got to be two-year concurrent with guaranteed funding.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do you have your questions answered,
Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm not at all sure that we really
have a meeting of the minds on this issue. I find this very, very
confusing. First time I've heard this language. I've -- I have never
heard it used in this way.
MR. COHEN: One of the reasons, Commissioner, that we put the
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language in there, is we're required to provide, as part of the CIE,
years six through ten for them to view. Under no circumstances by
providing years six through ten do we want them to have a
misunderstanding that this board is giving them years six through ten
as part of a concurrency management system. So you see that footnote
that's there.
The other concern that we have is that this board, by policy, has
set up the two-year concurrency management system, but the statute
allows now for -- if, for instance, you did not finish something in year
two, what you said you were going to finish in year two, the statute
allows you all the way up to the end of that five-year period to finish
it, and that's not the direction of this board.
So we want -- we don't want to confuse what the statute allows
and what this board has directed. And same thing with DCA. We don't
want them to confuse what this board has actually directed by what
the statute could permit.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I'm not going to debate it any
longer. But let me say to you that concurrency -- the term concurrency
means nothing if it's used only in reference to a Capital Improvement
Element of a Growth Management Plan. It means absolutely nothing.
Concurrency has relevance only when you take the Capital
Improvement Element and relate it to proposed development orders.
That's not what this does. So when you're saying we don't have a
long-term concurrency management plan, most people, I believe,
would interpret that as saying, we don't really care what happens after
year two. You can go ahead and start building if you want to. We don't
have any basis for disapproving it.
MR. COHEN: Commissioner, it may work better if we clarify
the footnote to state that Collier County has not adopted a long-term
concurrency management pursuant to that appropriate section of the
Florida Statutes, and that way maybe they'll understand -- and it's
using a specific type of concurrency methodology, and that way it
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February 24, 2009
would be very clear and straightforward for DCA.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That would make me feel better.
But it does appear to me that you're trying to respond to some DCA
technical requirement which does not recognize concurrency as we
.
recognIze concurrency.
And I see nothing wrong with that, if that's what you're doing,
but we need to have a clear understanding that concurrency means not
permitting development to proceed until such time as we have
adequate infrastructure to support it.
MR. COHEN: And we'll modify that footnote accordingly
throughout the document if that's the consensus of the board.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I agree.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. I think we've had this
discussion in one of our workshops when 360 was upon us a couple of
years ago, and I know that at that point in time we did some -- trying
to hash out the verbiage so that we were protected to make sure that
our concurrency was upheld in this county. And I realize where you're
going, Randy, is the fact that the people up there in Tallahassee play
games, and so we've got to figure out how to play games in
accordance with them so that we match them move for move as they
address other growth management issues that may be coming down
the pike here.
MR. COHEN: That's correct, sir. We're trying to provide this
board and the residents of this county with ultimate protection in the
CIE.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, and I'm going to take you
a little different route. I was looking at the Planning Commission's
recommendations, and one of them that was in here was concerning
the once-a-week refuge pickup schedule, and I'd like to call Mr.
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February 24, 2009
DeLony up, if he's still in the building.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We're not even discussing that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: What, did he step out for just a
moment? Just to be able to clarify this.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, if I could just say
something. That's not on the agenda right now.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's not a part of this submittal
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay, I--
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- to DCA.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I understand, but it was in there,
and I just wanted to be able to have it addressed. If it's something -- it
would just take just a minute to do it, because I think there's some
misconceptions about where we're going with the --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That's just something to consider at a
future time, isn't it though? That doesn't have anything to do with this
submittal.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. I just seen it in there and I
wanted to share it with the commission.
Thanks anyways, Mr. DeLony.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thank you, Mr. DeLony.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Your presentation was
wonderful.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: With that, I'll make a motion to
approve the submittal of the CIE/ A UIR.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll second that.
MR. SCHMIDT: And is that understood it's with the page as
amended and the handout and with the suggestion from Commissioner
Coyle?
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's part of the motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And the second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Henning and a second by Commissioner Coletta.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
Item #10A - Continued from earlier in the meeting
RESOLUTION 2009-45: DENYING THE ALTERNATIVE
IMPACT FEE APPEAL SUBMITTED BY TAMIAMI SQUARE OF
NAPLES, LLC (DEVELOPER) AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A NOTICE TO THE DEVELOPER
FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-
SEWER DISTRICT (CCWSD) AL TERNA TIVE IMP ACT FEE
CALCULATION OF $120,904 FOR BUILDING 300 - MOTION
TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO DENY
APPEAL - ADOPTED; MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT
PLAN OPTION #4 AS AMENDED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, I think that brings us back to lOA,
which is -- was started at 11 o'clock this morning, and we continue
now.
And this item requires, again, that all participants be sworn in and
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February 24, 2009
ex parte disclosure be provided by commission members.
Commissioners have already done the ex parte. If any member of
this discussion have come late and if you're going to speak, then when
you go to speak, let the court reporter know -- oh, by the way, that was
Corby Schmitt from comprehensive planning that presented the last
item for the court reporter because he didn't identify his name.
If there's anybody that hasn't been sworn in, before you get up
and speak, please state so to the court reporter, and we will do a quick
. .
swearIng In.
This is a recommendation to deny the alternative impact fee
appeal submitted by Tamiami Square of Naples LLC, the developer,
and authorize the chairman to execute a notice to the developer for the
collection of the Collier County Water/Sewer District alternative
impact fee collection of $120,904 for Building 300.
You previously have heard the petitioner's presentation, and I
believe at this time Mr. Tom Widis, your director of financial
operations for public utilities, will present.
MR. WIDES: Commissioners, good afternoon. As Mr. Mudd
said, I'm Tom Wides, the operations director for public utilities.
I'm joined today by Jennifer White from the -- the assistant
county attorney, also by Robert Orry, the principal for PRMG, which
is the Public Resources Management Group. That is the group that
does our rate studies and impact fee studies for the last -- at least for
the last eight years I have been here.
Finally, I'm also joined by one of my staff members who is very
involved in the impact fees, which is Gilbert Moncivaiz.
To reset, as Mr. Mudd said, you can -- you can view the
recommendation up on the board, which is to deny the alternative
impact fee request submitted by the developer. And what we've found
is that over time -- let me get this back up. The buildings, again, to
remind you from what you saw this morning, the buildings at
Tamiami Square are -- there's actually three buildings. One, Building
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February 24, 2009
100, is proposed; Building 200 is constructed with no occupancy at
this point; and Building 300 is constructed with occupancy.
You saw a discussion this morning, the chart that looked very
similar to this, and I wanted to readdress some things we talked about
this morning. First off, there is a consolidated impact fee reference to
average daily flow. And to bring back a very -- I think a very
important question that Commissioner Henning asked this morning,
the ordinance, in fact, addresses average daily flow, not annual
average daily flow.
And let me just put this up on the visualizer for you for a
moment. As you read -- as you read this part of the ordinance, it
specifically states projected average daily flows for nonresidential
uses. There is no reference to annual average, and that will become
important as we go a little farther in this discussion.
Further, within that same ordinance, Section 74-504, again, we
reference average daily flow, ADF, not annual average.
And if you'll bear with me, we'll bring that to -- we'll bring that
back to you in a moment.
And as you'll see, our calculation, using historical data, was 54.9
ERCs for water. It was questioned this morning as to how we came to
54.5.
In fact, included in your packets is a document that shows what
the usage was from an ERC basis throughout the period from
approximately March of'07 through August of'08.
And if you'll remember from the time lines we talked about this
morning, there was a lot of activity in terms of letters being written
and the actual alternative fees being calculated right at the end of
August, and that's the period of time we looked at.
And, again, if I can go back to the visualizer for you. It's a little
hard to read, but we might be able to pull it in a little bit.
What you're going to see on this record is our calculation using
the four months of 54.- -- excuse me -- 54.9 ERCs. And if you look
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February 24, 2009
down the right-hand side of this column, what you'll see is, again,
starting in March of '07, you'll see on the very far right-hand side the
number of ERCs on an average-month basis, consistent with the
ordinance. And what you'll see is, we had a period of time in the early
part -- late part of '07 and the early part of '08 where the developer's
representative stated to us unequivocally that they had problems with
the irrigation system, that they had line breaks, et cetera.
And you'll see at one point in time the actual peak flow was 63.8
ERCs. We avoided that period. We instead waited tell the period,
April, May -- excuse me -- April, May, June, and July, till actually
after all their work was completed, after all the damage had been
repaired. We selected the period after that, and that period averages
out -- the monthly averages average out to 54.9. That is actual usage.
There was a discussion this morning that talked about that -- we
spent a lot of time talking about separating irrigation from the actual
indoor use. In our case for impact fee assessment, there's no
difference. We originally received a request from the developer in
March of2008 for an irrigation meter. Nothing was ever done with
that.
The 6.1 ERCs that we calculated was based on data provided by
the developer. So these were not staff numbers. And all I'm trying to
say to you is, whether the water was used as irrigation use or indoor
use, it was 54.9 ERCs, which is what we calculated our water impact
fees based on.
Further, what I'd like to do is ask our consultant to spend just a
few moments with you talking about that whole concept of the
average daily flows versus the annual impact of it.
MR. ORRY: Good afternoon. For the record, my name is Robert
Orry, principal with Public Resources Management Group and was
the principal in charge for the impact fee calculation that was adopted
a year or so ago, I'd say now.
What I'd like to do is talk a little bit about that report,
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calculations, and then talk about the property in particular.
In the development of the impact fee study, that report which was
adopted by you all had a lot of scrutiny in terms of utility staff, their
consultant engineers; it went -- had to stand before the Development
Advisory Services Committee and the Productivity Committee to not
only review the results of the calculation but also the methodology
involved and determination of the fee.
And there's really two parts to that fee that need to be looked at.
One is the capital side or the dollar side. I think, Commissioner, you
mentioned or talked about the capital earlier today, and the other is the
capacity allocation.
I don't think there's any dispute on the calculation itself, how it
was done. The question is -- is some of the theory behind it.
In terms of the capital dollars, all the capital costs that were
assigned to service the Collier County Water and Sewer Service
District for the next ten years or so was recognized. That would
include the peak demand for that capacity.
The key is your level of service that you've adopted is an average
daily demand, I think 350 gallons a day for water, 250 gallons a day
for wastewater. And in our calculation, as correctly pointed out by Mr.
Lewis and Mr. Hartman, we made adjustments on an annual average
daily flow basis to get to an average-day type of flow in an attempt to
link the capacity of the facilities with the adopted level of service,
which is an average day capacity.
We talked that -- as we did that assumption, we talked with your
engineers, et cetera, was that a reasonable assumption to use, and we
all figured it was a reasonable assumption to use. Brings that down to
an average daily flow.
If you really look at the calculation, it really is a daily-type
calculation, because what -- there's two other issues here. One's
availability of capacity and one's an applicability issue here.
We've assumed in our analysis that capacity, I think it was like
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February 24, 2009
30.4 MGD, I believe, average daily flow, is available 365 days a year.
It's not available one day. It's available every day, and that links to
your capacity; however, when you turn around and apply an impact
fee to a consumer, we don't care how they use capacity. It's the
capacity reserved for that property. They may use it one day, they may
use it 50 days, they may use it 300 days, but you have to have the
capacity to serve you. That's the applicable provision.
And I've kind of done a very simple presentation of how this kind
of works. I've got customer one and customer two. Obviously it's a
little bit more difficult than this.
But customer one. Customer one is the blue here. That customer
on an average daily-flow basis uses 350 gallons per day every day for
365 days. What's his capacity? Three hundred sixty-five -- 350 gallons
a day. Excuse me. If I said 365, I meant 350. What's his annual
average daily flow? Three hundred fifty gallons a day.
Customer B. He uses 350 gallons for about three months, 91
days, and uses no capacity for the other nine months. It's kind of
hypothetical. We doubt that would really happen, but to show you
this. What is his demand on the system, average daily flow during that
period of time? Three hundred fifty gallons a day. What's his average
annual daily flow? Eighty-seven, because you take this capacity,
divide it by -- this use, excuse me -- divide it by 365 days, would give
you 87 gallons per capita -- for annual average daily flow.
And if you think about that, that just doesn't really make a lot of
sense that we charge somebody less than the amount that their
capacity demand on the system would be relative to the level of
service. And that's the intent of the ordinance. I believe that's what the
ordinance is trying to say, and that's why you adopted an average
daily flow in the ordinance. Again, this is a very simplistic diagram.
I wanted to show you that's how I think it works. This capacity
here is just unused, and many people use less than their allocated
capacity. Some use more. For example, myself, I've been out -- I live
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February 24, 2009
in Winter Springs, Florida. I've been allocated 350 gallons a day of
capacity, like you, about 10,000 gallons a month. I use about six. I
don't use all my capacity, but the reservation of capacity allocated to
me is 10,000 gallons.
And with that, I'll turn it back over to you, unless you have any
questions.
MR. WIDES: Thank you, Rob.
Commissioners, any questions for Mr. Orry? Okay, then -- sir?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The -- is it true that that peak
capacity is already calculated into the -- each ERC?
MR. ORRY: Technically I'd say yes. The total capital cost to
meet the peak demand is in the fee calculation. In other words, if my
wastewater plant or water plant was $40 million to construct that
facility, $40 million in the calculation.
Because your level of service is an average daily flow, a
daily-flow basis, I adjusted the -- that peak capacity for that plant
down to an average day, as was pointed out earlier to you in the
previous presentation. So the rate itself would recover those capital
costs.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We were previously charged by
meter size on what your impact fees were. Would it be a correct
assumption -- and you were involved in that fees back then. Would it
be a correct assumption that the larger the meter, the more impact fee
that you paid?
MR. ORRY: Under the meter-based approach?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes.
MR. ORRY: I would say it really depends on the capacity of the
customer itself. I've seen some -- 6-inch meter, they -- I think the
6-inch meter has an equivalent meter factor -- I believe it's 50. I have
to write that down and check -- but I've had -- seen some, like a
mobile -- multi-family unit or a large commercial customer have
capacity and uses well in excess of 50 ERCs, and that's why -- that's
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February 24, 2009
why you --
MR. WIDES: I'm sorry, Commissioner. I think, I -- if I may?
Back when we were using the meter size in Collier County, yes, in
fact, the bigger the meter, the larger the impact fee. Is that your
question?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes. Is that a true statement --
MR. ORRY: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- what Mr. Wides just said?
MR. ORRY: I'm sorry. 1 thought you were talking about the
customers within that meter size. Yes, as the meter size increased by
size of a meter, 6-inch versus 2-inch versus five-eighths, the fee was
greater for the higher the meter size, that's correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Now, you charge by ERC per
the use category; is that correct?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, we charge by ERC. We do not look
to the size of the meter. Now, there's a very important--
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No, I know that. That wasn't the
question.
MR. WIDES: Okay. We do charge by use.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Hang on. You have different
uses out there. Give you a parable. Transportation impact fees. You
have different-size houses, you have different-size transportation
impact fees. You have different businesses, you have different
transportation impact fees. How do you do your impact fees for each
of the uses?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, we, in fact, use the Florida
Administrative Code or the Florida Plumbing Code, whichever is
greater, to assess the types of fixtures and usages within the unit.
And the attempt is, in fact, where you have a restaurant side by
side with a real estate office, you assess a more appropriate use to the
restaurant rather than charging everybody the same.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But it was pointed out to us
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earlier, that's with an on-site sewer plant.
MR. WIDES: Yes, sir. And first off, I'm speaking to water. And
then to answer your question on, there is no exact code that we can
find that would give you an exact reading of sewer. As we are very
well aware, sewer is not under pressure as water is as it moves through
the pipes. Meters are generally less than 100 percent accurate in --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: If you have an on-site sewer
plant, you shouldn't be charging sewer impact fees anyways because
they're already provided. What I got out of the appellant is you're
tying the rate studies according to what administrative code -- was that
64 or something like that?
MR. WIDES: Yeah, 64E.6.00008 (sic).
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So we're charging impact fees,
water impact fees, based upon that part of the administrative code?
MR. WIDES: Not water for -- not -- we don't base water on
sewer, first off, okay . We're basing water on fixture counts and flows.
It's the sewer side that has less -- less accuracy to it because --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can you show me the
administrative code that shows you where you're charging the
different user categories for -- for water?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, I'm going to ask Gilbert
Moncivaiz, who works with this every day, to give you a little insight
on exactly how he makes these calculations, if that is okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is that a part of the impact fee
calculations? Wouldn't your consultant know that?
MR. WIDES: Well, this is -- this is actually -- this is actually
application of the impact fee process, which is done by our staff.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay, that's fine.
MR. MONCIV AIZ: Yes, sir. Commissioner, you were correct
that we are using a table of sewer flows for the calculation. This is
actually to the advantage of the customer. There is a water table in the
-- a level of service water table that is available that actually has
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February 24, 2009
higher rates.
So we decided in order to keep a uniform, and one calculation,
that we would use the lower value, which in this case was sewer flow
rates.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is that the Florida Administrative
Code?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: This is an example of the excerpt of the
Florida Administrative Code. As you can see, that they have different
categories for the different type of business use and allocate difference
usage in gallons per day for the different type of business. So this is
what we use as a guide in order to do the calculations.
Originally for the development, if we just look at Building 300,
using Florida Administrative Code, we came to 55.9 ERCs with
Florida Administrative Code. When we looked at historical data from
the time that it was relevant, we came to 54.9, a variance of around 2
percent. So we feel that this is a very accurate representation.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Now, Mr. Wides, do you
-- are you aware of -- in the impact fee ordinance, about the
definitions of average flows?
MR. WIDES: I believe I am, sir. Is there a further question you
want to elaborate on?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. Can you show that to us,
what that says in the ordinance? But that's not a definition though.
MR. WIDES: An average def- -- an average daily flow would be,
by definition, literally the amount of water going through a use on an
average day.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So how would you calculate -- I
mean, you're calculating it -- the calculations that you showed and the
appellate showed was by month, not daily.
MR. WIDES: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So I need to know why you're
picking out certain months out of a year when we're dealing with
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February 24, 2009
average daily flows.
MR. WIDES: Yes. Commissioner, this -- I'll put this chart back
up again. That chart shows -- about the third, fourth column over
actually shows the total usage during a month. We take that number,
divide it by the 350 gallons for ERC, divided by the number of days in
a month to get an average flow.
So we get the total flow for the month and bring it to back to a
day. And oh, by the way, those are not peak days. Those are average.
And I believe you asked me in your question as to why we
picked the certain months we did. The months we picked were May,
June, July, and August. They had irrigation piping issues at Tamiami
Square, as told to us by the developer, prior to that period of time, and
so we excluded that period of time. And we tried to work forward and
give them a reasonable estimate based on what they actually used after
they resolved their issues.
We didn't -- I heard a term this morning that really wasn't
accurate. We didn't pick a period of time. We chose it based on after
all their irrigation and piping issues were resolved. It would have been
unfair on our part to go back into a period of time when they had the
irrigation issues.
We tried to -- we tried to eliminate that. But, quite frankly, that
water was still used, and we could have chosen to go back there. That
-- and 63.8, I believe, was the ERC at its peak. That water was used.
That had an impact on the water plants, but we chose to try to be
reasonable here, to ignore that period and move forward and stay
within the confines of the ordinance.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Halas?
MR. WIDES: You're welcome.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: There was something that was
brought up that we use septic tank calculations. Can you clarify that?
MR. WIDES: Yes. And I'll ask Gilbert to help us here a little bit
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also.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Sure.
MR. WIDES: But most importantly, the Florida Administrative
Code speaks to the on-site septic situation, okay, but it's a -- it's a good
benchmark for data, because we don't have real solid, accurate ways to
measure sewage flow because it's not under pressure. But it's a good
benchmark. It's used -- as a understand from talking to our consultant,
it's used by other communities.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Because we -- they are
hooked up to the Collier County sewer system. We're not talking
about a septic system at all.
MR. WIDES: That is correct.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: But they brought that in. Was that a
red herring or was this -- how do we come to this conclusion with the
septic system?
MR. WIDES: I'd be speculating, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. I think maybe --
MR. DeLONY: I got it. Tom, I got it. Excuse me.
For the record, Jim DeLony, public utilities administrator.
We have to have a benchmark, a standard of understanding to
apply these forward-looking fees of what is the impact of a facility's
usage of wastewater on the system.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: And so what this code provides is, say, by usage,
you know, how much flow you can expect for this usage.
Now, I understand today that the developer's representatives
thought that that was somehow, you know, only applies to sewage--
septic tanks. It's at the point of service. Ifwe were a septic tank
system, we'd have it flow into the septic tank. This is no different, just
because we pick it up at a gravity pipe, maybe move it for pressure
eventually to the plants. It's point of service calculation that we're
trying to find or seek or establish in establishing the allocation of
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February 24, 2009
impact.
So I don't know if it's a red hearing or not. I mean, it's a
point-of-service calculation. Whether it's a septic tank or whether it's a
sewage plant, you're still getting a certain amount of gallonages or
flows --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: -- and that's the purpose of having that
benchmark, sir. Did I answer your question?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: You sure did.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do you want to continue, Tom?
MR. WIDES: Commissioners, that really -- you know, we've
talked about water; we've talked about irrigation, which are important
points this morning; we've talked about the sewer flows, the -- and
we've talked about the consolidated impact fee ordinance and how, in
fact, it speaks to average daily flow.
At that point, I really moved back to our recommendation.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Are you now summing up, Tom?
MR. WIDES: Yes, I am, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I mean, Mr. Wides.
MR. WIDES: And, again, this takes us back to our
recommendation. It is to deny the alternative impact fee submitted by
the Tamiami Square of Naples and to -- and to authorize the chairman
to execute a notice to the developer for the collection of the Collier
County Water/Sewer District alternative impact fee calculation of
$120,904 for Building 300 within Tamiami Square.
That's all I have unless you have any further questions.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I think Commissioner Halas has one.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. This is for the attorney on this.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Our attorney?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Our attorney, yes.
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February 24, 2009
Do you believe that the system that we currently have in place in
Collier County for commercial hookup for water and sewer meets a
dual rational nexus and -- in regards to the impact fees that are
charged?
MS. WHITE: Jennifer White, assistant county attorney. That is
not a question for me as the legal adviser; however, what I can tell you
is that the ordinance was proof for legal sufficiency brought before
this board heavily relied upon by a methodology report. And so based
on all the past history, yes, the answer is yes.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Do you have anything to
offer?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, the answer is yes. The question though
is whether or not it's fair in the context of this particular use that we're
talking about.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have Commissioner -- oh, did you
have more?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I just --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And I'm trying to get a clarification
on that. So maybe somebody from staff can tell me that this is a
proven -- a way of addressing impact fees that -- in the county here
and that it meets a dual national nexus in regards to making sure that
we treat -- whether it's residential or in this case, it's commercial. We
treat these people in a fair and honest manner.
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, Tom Wides for the record, again.
Yes, I believe it is a fair method, and I can also tell you that over
the years, as Commissioner Henning spoke to, we've moved along a
path of trying to get closer and closer and better at the way we assess
our impact fees. And one step further is, yes, we used to use meter
size, which means everybody was treated the same; there was no
differentiation.
We worked to try to separate the fact that a meter has a very wide
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range of flow, and folks at the lower end of a meter range would pay
differently and lower than folks that were using at a higher end of the
range. So we're trying to differentiate our customers by the types of
use.
Did I respond to your question?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, you did.
My final question is, the chart that you presented as evidence in
regards to the flow rate, this was the actual water that flowed through
the meter?
MR. WIDES: This is the actual water that flowed through the
meter on -- and what was actually on the utility bills.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay. Thank you very much.
MR. WIDES: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coyle, and then we
also will have a summation by the appealing party.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Would you put up that table of
average -- average monthly flows, I guess it was.
MR. MUDD: This one, sir?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, that's the one. Thank you.
Now, the petitioner's agent has represented that you used peak
daily flows to calculate the water charges. Is that what you understood
him to say?
MR. WIDES: Well, I understood -- I heard the word peak a lot
this morning.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, a lot of peak.
MR. WIDES: I heard a lot of peak this morning, and I've tried to
differentiate this afternoon that, in fact, I looked at a month utility bill,
and I divided it down to get to an average daily flow within that
month, month after month after month.
Now, I did select the four months that were after the irrigation
damage, et cetera, right up to the point we were meeting and moving
forward. So yes, I did select a short -- you know, a fourth-month
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period, but you also saw a chart from Mr. Orry just a few minutes ago
that showed a three-month period and what happens. I'll stop.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, this is an actual
measure of water usage. There's no dispute about this. This is -- is this
correct?
MR. WIDES: Sir, there's no dispute. It's a utility bill and the
actual usage on the utility bill going through the meter.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Now, I also heard Mr. Lewis say if
you remove the irrigation amounts from these, they would be
substantially lower. Well, of course. Why would you remove
irrigation? Aren't they using the water?
MR. WIDES: Well, they -- they being the developer -- had the
option when they built Tamiami Square to separate the irrigation use if
they so choose.
Now, by leaving the irrigation use on the one single meter, they
are being charged for sewer. By removing and setting up a separate
flow for irrigation, there's no charge for sewer. I mean, that's fine. But
there's also been a year period now where there's been inaction, no
action, on trying to get that irrigation meter, up until literally about a
week ago, or maybe two weeks ago.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. So the only relevance of that
point is that it has an impact on the sewer rates?
MR. WIDES: Yes, it does.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: All right. Now, do I, as a
homeowner, have the option of making that separation?
MR. WIDES: There are a couple options as a homeowner. In
some cases you may be serving your community to dual piped with
literally reclaimed irrigation water.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I'm not talking about
reclaimed. This is not a reclaimed water system we're talking about.
MR. WIDES: Just want to cover the landscape. Or we have had
people come in and ask to have their irrigation separated, okay, but
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they pay an impact fee for that use, okay, and then they are separately
metered if they so choose.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Now--
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I -- okay. Yeah, I'm finished. I can
hold my other questions till later.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Good. Because now we have
cross-examination by the appealing party. Please.
MR. LEWIS: Thank you, Commissioner Fiala. Just a few
questions.
In calculating the 55.9 water ERCs for the project, did you base
your calculations when you looked at the site on Florida
Administrative Code 64E.6.008?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: That's correct. The original calculation was
taking that into account.
MR. LEWIS: Okay, thank you. How does the 40 gallons per day
seek requirement of the Florida Administrative Code compared to the
gallons per day standard in other jurisdictions?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: We want to know -- I'm sorry.
MR. WIDES: Excuse me. We don't know. And -- quite frankly,
we don't know.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Could you ask the question again?
MR. LEWIS: Sure. I wanted to ask how the 40 gallons per day
that's out of the Florida Administrative Code provision that you recall
we put the slide up that dealt with when you're building projecting
capacity for an on-site system, the 40-gallon per day, my question is,
how does that 40-gallon per day flow estimate compare to other
jurisdictions in estimating flow for a restaurant? And his answer was, I
don't know; is that correct?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: The answer to that is that the Florida
Administrative Code, which is by the State of Florida, is what we use
as a guide. So specific county use or different other entities using that
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February 24, 2009
different basis we wouldn't have the knowledge of, but we use Florida
Administrative Code as a reference, and Florida Administrative Code
designated 40 gallons per day.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. And did you use the Florida Administrative
Code reference or were you required to use the Florida Administrative
Code before 2007 and the 2007 ordinance that tied projected flows to
the Florida Administrative Code provision? Did you use other
standards before 2007?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: What happened with -- the change happened
in 2003, which changed to evaluation from strictly meter side to ERC
calculations, and use ofERC calculations in 2003, we had to put
something in place that allowed us to look at flows of particular
establishments.
So Florida Administrative Code was used and the evaluation of
ERC value from 2003 forward -- actually it was August of 2003
forward.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. Because I'm looking at ordinance 2007-52,
and I have reviewed all of your ordinances. And in that ordinance it
says, the projected flows is based on the then-current edition of the
Florida Plumbing Code and the then-current editions of the
administrative code, and it's whichever's greater.
Before that ordinance, did you have a requirement that you had
to use the Florida Plumbing Code or the Florida Administrative Code
in determining projected flows for a project, before 2007 -52?
MR. WIDES: We'd have to go back and review that.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. Did you -- as a utility department, did you
accept applications from another applicant who presented an
alternative flow of 15 gallons per day supported by another
jurisdiction as a standard to calculate ERCs on restaurants?
MR. WIDES: Do you have a specific in mind?
MR. LEWIS: I'm ask- -- I do, that's why I'm asking. I'm asking
you to corroborate.
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February 24, 2009
MR. WIDES: Well, I guess the point being is, we get many types
of --
MR. LEWIS: Okay.
MR. WIDES: -- forms and questions coming through and--
MR. LEWIS: Do you recall an ice cream store that was turned
into a 50-seat restaurant at the corner of Vanderbilt and
Airport-Pulling, the shopping center where they provided you with a
different flow basis for seating?
MR. WIDES: If you don't recall, you don't recall.
MR. MONCIV AIZ: I don't recall that specifically.
MR. WIDES: We don't recall that.
MR. LEWIS: Okay, that's fine. Okay.
Does the county charge ERCs differently when you're looking at
water being used for irrigation under an irrigation meter versus water
being used for a specific purpose within a particular development, like
a restaurant use or retail? Do you use a different formula to do that?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: Yes, and that goes into a totally different
calculation, because the information that's applied to us for irrigation
meters is applied in gallons per minute.
What we deal with for ERC calculations is gallons per day, so
that is supported by the Florida Administrative Code. So, yes, there is
a different calculation that's undertaken, but we always translate it into
the lowest common denominator, which is the value -- the unit value
of an ERC, equivalent residential connection.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. And for an irrigation meter, your largest
meter size is a 2- inch meter; is that correct?
MR. MONCIVAIZ: No. You have the option to install a larger
meter if you wish. The county can only install up to a 2-inch meter.
MR. LEWIS: And what's the maximum ERC that you're able to
charge on a 2-inch meter for irrigation purposes?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: I don't have that calculation in front of me
because, once again, that calculation's done in gallons per minute. I
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February 24, 2009
believe the top range for a 2-inch meter is 144 gallons per minute.
MR. LEWIS: Could it be 136?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: I have --
MR. LEWIS: While you're looking that up, is -- the question is,
do you -- when you look at that, are you looking at run times, how
long the sprinkler systems are running, how long they're irrigating, are
you looking at the size of the head and the number of heads in a zone?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: There's an application form that you would
have to fill out. So based on the information that you give to us, that's
what we look at.
MR. LEWIS: So --
MR. MONCIV AIZ: So all of those details would have to be done
by your development or your -- whoever you're representing.
I just checked with the current range that we have in existence for
the 2-inch meter. It is 144 gallons per minute.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. And is that based on flow, or is it based on
the -- again, the type of sprinkler and the number of heads?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: Once again, it's gallons per minute, which is
a totally different calculation than what we've been talking about with
Florida Administrative Code and flows.
MR. LEWIS: So it's not a flow-based; is that correct?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: What happens is the gallons per minute is
converted, so the only thing that we have to go on is gallons per
minute, which is a flow that goes through.
MR. LEWIS: For example, in your application do you ask the
applicant how long are they going to run their sprinklers, or do you
ask how many zones and what type of equipment are in the zones?
Do you ask or do you limit how long they can water, when they
can water, how long those zones can operate for in your application?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: Once again, you're giving us the information
or a potential customer is giving us the information. We take that
information and then we convert it into an ERC value.
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February 24, 2009
MR. LEWIS: I'm asking about your form.
MR. MONCIV AIZ: The form does not ask for a specific type of
a question. The form asks for the number of zones that you'll have
operating, and the form also has the calculation on it so that someone
could determine what their ERC value is before they turn in the
application.
MR. LEWIS: The LOS water table that you refer to -- when you
mentioned that you felt that the standard -- the 64E.6.008 was a fairer
standard to use than others, what specific LOS water table were you
referring to in the Florida Administrative Code? Is it 25-30.055?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: I don't know the exact reference of that since
it's not used on a consistent basis. That's why we used the sewer flows
as the only means for Florida Administrative Code.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. So that -- you used 64E.6.008; is that
correct?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: (No verbal response.)
MR. LEWIS: Okay. And are you familiar with Florida
Administrative Code 25-30.055 that deals with systems with capacity
or proposed capacity to serve 100 or fewer persons and the ERCs that
that would provide?
MR. MONCIV AIZ: I'm not familiar with that.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. Based on Florida Administrative Code and
the FDEP requirements, do they look at annual average daily flows, or
do they look at peak or average daily? That's my last question.
MR. WIDES: Let me ask our water department director to make
comments to that. We cannot answer that from this position.
, MR. MATT AUSCH: For the record, Paul Mattausch, water
department director.
Counselor, again, what is your question?
MR. LEWIS: My question is that when you look at 64E.6.008 to
determine water/sewer flows, projected flows, do they take into
account annual average daily flows in those flow numbers?
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February 24, 2009
MR. MATTAUSCH: What we are talking about here, I believe,
is the Collier County ordinance that was vetted and passed by this
Board of County Commissioners that we are basing billing on, and
that talks about average flow.
MR. LEWIS: Okay. But my question was, does the Florida
Administrative Code, which you've used, and I go in and apply for a
project and I rely -- and we're looking at the Florida Administrative
Code, is that expressed in annual daily average or annual average
flows?
MR. DeLONY: For the record, Jim DeLony.
Counselor, I believe that it's an apples-and-oranges things you're
asking us here, if I may. And I don't mean to be confrontational.
But we look at what you use or what you demand and we make
the calculation based on the ordinances at hand; the Florida
Administrative Code, as I said earlier, with regard to it as an indicator
and a guide as to what those projected demands would be.
And I don't really know if I could answer a question nor is my
staff prepared to answer the question with regard to average actual
daily flow or daily actual flow. I think I've kind of been as clear, and
we've been as clear as we possibly can for you and everyone else to
ensure that we are working very hard to ascribe the impact
commensurate with the ordinance and that this leveling of service that
we prescribe by the ordinance is what you pay for.
And so I don't know if I can really get into the nuances of the
FAC with you today, sir.
MR. LEWIS: I appreciate that. The reason for the question was, I
asked specifically, when you calculated 55.9 on our project, did you
use 64E.6.008 to determine projected flows, and the answer was yes.
MR. DeLONY: The answer's yes, but more importantly,
Counselor, if I may, what we have prescribed in this agreement or in
this situation is observed flows, the metered flows that went across the
meter, and we selected fourth -- a four-month period of time with
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regard to that impact of that water.
We've expressed -- we've laid that out very carefully today. And
it was not the most highest time that you impact. I think we've
established clearly that the ordinance is clear that we have to charge
your impact on the system, what you actually use in the way of
capacity on that system to service your development.
MR. LEWIS: I appreciate that and I respect what you're doing,
and my question to you -- I'm just trying to get an answer here.
Again, when we look at 64E.6.008 and when you see a restaurant
use and you see 40 gallons for a restaurant per seat, my question is, is
that 40 gallons expressed as an annual average daily flow, yes or no?
That's all I'm -- and I understand everything else you're trying to tell
me, and we're going to talk in a minute about the actual data and
historical flows. That's my question.
MR. WIDES: Gallons per day?
MR. LEWIS: Florida Administrative Code, okay.
MR. WIDES: Gallons per day.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Now, we'll have cross-examination
by staff. Then we'll take a break and we'll come back and each side
can do a summary, and then we'll vote. Okay. Yes?
MR. WIDES: Commissioners, in the interest of moving this
along and with the effort we've put into this, trying to get these
numbers right, we're very confident in the validity of these numbers.
And as such, I have no further questions for the developer.
We stand by our numbers. We're confident in what we've
calculated, and we feel it's fair and very, very reasonable.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Then at this point we'll take a
ten-minute break, we'll come back, and each side can summarize, and
then we'll close the public hearing.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. MUDD: Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd please take your
seats.
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February 24, 2009
Madam Chair, Commissioners, you have a hot mike.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good. Thank you.
N ow we will have a summation, first by the appealing party, and
then by staff. That would be ten minutes for each.
MR. LEWIS: Good afternoon, Commissioners. It's been a long
afternoon. We appreciate your time and, Commissioner Coyle, we've
tried to accommodate your request. I know it's tedious at times, but we
do appreciate your time. It's very important to my client that he feel
that he's treated fairly and we have an accurate assessment of the fees
that are due.
There were a couple questions I'd like to address that came out
from staffs report preliminarily, and then I have my concluding
remarks.
The first topic is this concept of average daily flows versus
annual average daily flows. And I'd like to put up for us on the
overhead visor language from your impact fee ordinance.
And if I can point out to your attention, the language that reads
that the LOS expressed as 250 gallons per day. This is from the report,
not the ordinance. I understand that. This is how you came up with the
ERC calculation, is based on average annual daily flow.
In other words, when we look at a one-ERC charge -- there's
$3,000 per ERC -- that is derived based on the annual average daily
flows. It's not -- it's not disputed.
What we're asking you to do is compare apples to apples. If in
your calculation, you're deriving the fee based on annual average daily
flow, we would like the benefit of looking at annual average daily
flow. And in fact, that's exactly how Florida Administrative Code
calculates these gallons per -- is based on an annual average basis --
annual average daily flow.
In addition, there's other language in the ordinance that was done
as well to kind of buttress what we're talking about in terms of how we
arrive at the ERC charge. There's an example. This is for wastewater,
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and it's dealing -- expressed in annual average daily flow, AADF.
For purposes of water, annual average daily flow. Again, this is
how you in Collier County determine your impact fees in terms of the
dollar that we charge. It's accounted for, annual average. We'd like to
be able to be treated that way when we look at our actual flows.
In terms of flows, there was discussion about peak versus annual
average. And I'd like to, first of all, show you your staffs own exhibit.
And you can see there where I highlighted in yellow, they're
acknowledging that annual average is 41.6.
Now, they've taken, as I've told you, the four peak months. And
if we can show the other exhibit. And if you look, I've numbered
them. Those are the months that they're looking at. There are months,
for example, as recent as February, 30 ERCs, 41, 49. Look at
November and October, 16 and 14 ERCs. That's an operating center. I
suspect the water (sic) was turned off, but that's 16, 14 ERCs that
came through that meter. We're telling you -- I'm sorry -- irrigation
was turned off, irrigation was off.
That's a center that we've asked -- that is generating those kinds
ofERCs. Again, the peak months that are there for the 55.9 are the
highest four months. That's not been denied.
The irrigation meter, Commissioner Coyle asked a very, very
good question, and his question was, does everybody have the
opportunity to get an irrigation meter? And my question is, why aren't
we getting the irrigation meters when we have a site plan process that
allows us to look at things like landscaping and irrigation when we
know what's there?
The answer to that is, yeah, you can get an irrigation meter, but
you need to pay for that meter. You need to pay ERCs in addition to
the ERCs that you're charged when you go in for your development
based on your use, based on that Florida Administrative Code use in
addition. .
And so that's -- that's the impediment here, because, again, at
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$40,000, when we get a -- when we're at a -- when we're looking at a
single meter and we're asked to pay $40,000 based on a 3-inch meter,
there's no need for an irrigation meter.
When we get a bill for $288,000, it makes sense to get an
irrigation meter, and that's exactly what we're trying to do here. Again,
we're trying to separate out the irrigation, obtain a meter. Staff and
applicant are in agreement, 6.1 ERCs for that irrigation water. We're
willing to pay that as part of the agreement. We'd like to defer that and
pay that on a three-year deferral, but we'd like to separate out the
systems so that we can do that.
On the water side, I think you've seen some very strong
testimony that the Florida Administrative Code provision that we've
been talking about that utility staff used to calculate ERCs on this
project, that those numbers are based on estimated flows for project
design and for an on-site sewer system. And you've heard testimony
from our consultant that these numbers are inflated.
And so we think that those numbers are overstated. That's the
number your staff used to get the 55.9.
You've had testimony that the Florida Administrative Code
provision the public utility used to calculate ERCs for this project
overstates flows as it's based on a 40-gallon per day seat requirement,
for example, for the restaurants.
In the past public utilities staff has accepted lower thresholds.
You've had testimony that public utility's methodology has a 32.8
percent variance when compared to annual average daily flow for the
past 12 months. That has not been disputed. In fact, it's shown on their
own slide.
You've had testimony that when we establish for purposes of
irrigation flows of 216,000 gallons per month, because we have a
one-and-a-half acre preserve area on site that we have to irrigate,
when those irrigation numbers are removed, you've had evidence that
historical data shows that their methodology of 55.4 ERCs or 9 ERCs
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February 24, 2009
for our site, 300, has 128 percent variance. It's that far off when you
remove that irrigation number of 216 gallons per month.
You've had testimony that annual average daily flow is 42.1
ERCs. And when you look at the past two years, it's 39.4 ERCs, not
54.9 ERCs. This includes both water for Building 300 use and for
irrigation use. And when irrigation use is removed, you've had
testimony from our consultant that has not been refuted, that historical
data supports 21.8 ERCs. That's what we're using, folks, with respect
to Building 300 use.
On the sewer side, historical data shows 18 ERCs, and Tamiami's
calculation at 27 ERCs for Building 300 accounts for vacancies, it
allows us to have nine other units. Unit count methodology, one ERC
per unit. The data shows 18 ERCs. That's what we're doing on sewer.
On the irrigation side, we agree with staff that we'll pay an
additional 6.1 ERCs for irrigation, separate out the irrigation. We'll
allow that. I think it's very significant that out of the only four months
-- and you saw the chart that I showed you -- the last 24 months, only
four months exceed 54.9 ERCs, and staff has picked the four
consecutive months with the highest monthly ERC averages.
Now, you can call that peak, you can call it whatever you want,
but those numbers don't lie. And you look at those numbers, and the
four highest months, that's what they've picked.
There's only one person with something to lose in this petition,
that's my client.
On the other hand, our consultant is telling you that after
irrigation and potable water are separated, that Building 300 will not
exceed 27 ERCs for water and sewer flows.
If during the next 12 months it turns out that our consultant is
wrong, you can come back to Tamiami, and we can -- we'll agree to
add that amount to the deferral amount that we're requesting. We're
that confident that our numbers are correct.
Today we've paid 21.8 ERCs for Building 300. We've proposed
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to pay an additional 5.2 water ERCs, 5.2 ERCs, and that includes all
the historical data for the historical uses that we would vest, 6.1 ERCs
to be paid for irrigation, Tamiami would pay the tapping fee, we'd
agree to do that, and a 2- inch meter. Once the system is separated, we
could verify our findings.
And we appreciate your time. And we would like to get this
resolved. Again, we really are trying hard to really get at the real
numbers, and we feel very confident that if we separate out the
systems, get the irrigation meter in place, that for the retail in the back,
for water and sewer, we're not going to exceed 27 ERCs.
Thank you for your time.
MR. WIDES: Commissioners, Tom Wides, for the record.
I think the -- probably the most important thing here, as I've
stated to you earlier, that we've gone through these numbers, we've
looked at actual usage. You just heard testimony that said we picked
the highest four months. I've, in fact, showed you the document that
showed you prior periods in 2007 that were at 63.8 ERCs.
We tried to be reasonable and look at a reasonable period after all
the reconciliations. There was, in fact, lower usage in two months late
in 2008. You also heard testimony just now that basically said they
turned off the irrigation flow because they knew we were getting close
-- my words -- we knew we were getting close to a settlement. Those
numbers jumped back up again in November, December, and January.
Also, what we've done, we've followed the ordinance and we've
tried to still be reasonable with the -- with the development here.
We've used actual flows. We've just heard testimony again on
irrigation meters, separating the flows, paying later. We've spent a
year waiting for them to come in and make an effort to separate the
flows.
And what we've told the developer's representatives, at this point
in time, freeze the facts. The facts are, you've used the water. If you
choose to get an irrigation meter later, that will be fine. It will be a
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deduction, a credit from the impact fees you've paid. Why make this
any more complicated at the last minute?
Also, one thing that we also have done, when you saw the prior
version of the executive summary, we had a higher number in there,
196. We worked with the developer, we realized the sewer flows that
we were charging were high, and we worked with the developer and
brought it down to 120,000, the developer's representatives. We've
already come down, in essence, $70,000.
I believe at this point in time, as I said a few minutes earlier, it's
time for us to come to conclusion. We've given you our
recommendation of$120,904, and we believe at this point in time all
that really remains is to determine the final basis for payment.
And we believe -- and I'll ask our attorneys here to step up for
just a moment. We believe that the ordinance does not allow for a
deferral of impact fees for this type of a development.
If I may , Jennifer?
MS. WHITE: Jennifer White, assistant county attorney. I'm just
going to put the provision from the consolidated impact fee ordinance,
provision 47-203, on the overhead for you to read. This is verbatim
from the ordinance. It specifically contemplates deferrals being
allowed only for charitable organizations and charitable trusts. And I'll
place this here for record purposes.
So, therefore, it's my opinion that we cannot, under the
consolidated impact fee ordinance, enter into an impact deferral
agreement for this matter.
MR. KLA TZKOW: But there could be a payment plan.
MR. MUDD: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: Is that correct? Okay.
MR. MUDD: Yes, there could be a payment plan.
MR. WIDES: And we do have some options there if you wish to
see those.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Is that the end of your summary?
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February 24, 2009
MR. WIDES: That is the end of my summary, thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Mr. Lewis, did you -- we're going to close
the public hearing now.
MR. LEWIS: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
MR. LEWIS: If I may?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And with that, I will close the
public hearing. Thank you.
MR. LEWIS: On the deferral question, I just wanted to point out
a few provisions. I'm not sure that's the case.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Give you one minute, please.
MR. LEWIS: Okay, sure. 74.202 indicates that unless deferred or
waived by written agreement by the county, fees are due at building
permit. Here, four-and-a-half years later, we get notice that we didn't
pay enough and we owe $288,000. I think you're able to defer.
The section she refers to says it needs to be a not-for-profit
charity, not just any charity that -- when you're talking about charities,
we're dealing with not- for-profit charities with respect to deferrals. I
think you're able to do that, and we'd like -- we'd like the ability to
defer the fees.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
MR. LEWIS: It would greatly help our client who has spent a lot
of time and energy trying to work through this with the county.
MS. WHITE: When I came to this conclusion, I did not look
specifically at the provision that I gave you in isolation, as Mr. Lewis
is doing with the provision that he brought you.
I've looked at the aggregate of the ordinance provisions, and
there is no provision in the consolidated impact fee ordinance that
contemplates a deferral for a developer who is, you know, dealing
with whether it's economic hardship, whether it's miscalculation in
advance at the time of building permit.
In fact, the agreement that we had reached that authorized this
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process specifically contemplates that there be -- let me see if I can
find the provision for you -- this would be paragraph six of the
agreement -- that once this board makes its decision, that there is the
opportunity for the developer to enter into a three-year payment plan
with statutory interest.
So even if you wanted to take what the developer's representative
is saying as being true, he's waived that opportunity and entered into
the agreement with the county allowing for a three-year payment plan
with statutory interest.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Thank you.
And with that, I will close the public hearing.
And now, I have a -- Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, the impact fees have
already been waived or deferred, because they should have been
collected at building permit. And it's -- obviously this building has
been in, at least, in existence for a year.
The problem that I have with average daily flow -- and I guess
the example of what our staff has provided us -- you can pick and
choose what average flows that you want. And, in fact, where it says
in our ordinance, annual average daily flows. So you have to take the
average of the -- of the year and come out to your calculations.
, The -- and I also find that the ordinance is flawed, and it needs to
be corrected. The administrative code, 64E-6.008 (sic) does pertain to
a sewer system, and it does apply numbers for different uses. I think
there's many a flaws in here that needs to be corrected, but I think the
appeal is correct in the application of our code and the study of an
annual average daily flow, but they -- but they -- the impact fees do
need to be paid.
So I don't know if I agree with the appellate ( sic) in total, but I
agree that the calculations that they did is correct according to our
code.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You mean the appealing party, the
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February 24, 2009
calculations the appealing party made?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Correct.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I take an entirely opposite
viewpoint here. But I'll preface my statement here saying I have
absolutely no intention of putting the petitioner in financial jeopardy
because of late collection of the impact fees. I'm very amenable to
working out a payment plan.
We've made mistakes early on, we admit those, but we as a
Board of County Commissioners has an obligation to correct those
mistakes. We don't have the option of just waiving it and saying, okay,
staff made a mistake and it didn't get all the impact fees, so you get a
free ride. We can't do that.
As a matter of fact, we have a long history of going back and
getting impact fees whenever people were not assessed properly or
failed to pay them. So I -- I believe that the staff has been reasonable
in their calculations. And if you don't like the four months or so that
the staff collected, I went back and did six months, and it comes out to
almost exactly the same number.
So if you go for an entire year, you probably are down in the 47,
48 range or maybe 49 range. So it's -- I don't know of anything that is
more accurate than taking actual flows that can be documented with a
water meter.
We can play around with interpretations of the ordinance, but the
point is, our obligation is to try to reach the most accurate calculation
we can reach, and I think the staff, in agreeing to a $120,000 --
$120,940 settlement is good, but I don't want to apply that in a way
that places an unreasonable financial burden on the petitioner.
I think we should accept whatever payment option is fair, and we
would have to protect the county's interest with respect to this. But I
think that I would be quite flexible in agreeing to a payment option
going forward.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I agree with Commissioner Coyle in
the area that we need to go, but also that the petitioner, since this has
been an ongoing thing, we don't want to jeopardize them not being
able to have the business there, or businesses. But I think they need to
also pay the interest in regards on that, because we're trying to work
with them. And obviously we've worked with them from where the
initial costs were. So if it's a three-year program, that's fine.
And if no one will make a motion, I make a motion that the
people are charged the going rate of what the staff has come up with,
and that's $120,940 that is owed, and that it's paid over a three-year
program or three-year period and that interest is applied to that, a fair
and just interest. That's my motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I personally have a problem with applying
interest. I think that there have been so many -- so many problems
along the way, I don't want to charge them interest. As it is, this is a
lot more than they think they can pay. I -- it's just like somebody
having their electricity turned off and then you charge them interest
when you turn it back on. They couldn't afford it in the first place, and
now you're charging them a penalty. So I don't care for the interest
part of it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Well, we've made some -- we've
come a long ways from what -- the original impact fee that was
supposed to be charged to them. I think that staff and our county
attorneys have worked with them over a period of time, and that's--
and today we're here, and I think that everything that I saw that was
presented to us by staff because -- that they measured the flows that
justifies the impact fee that they need to pay.
And I can assure you that it's taken a lot of effort and time to
have staff get where we are today, and I'm not sure what the interest
rate would be.
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, we can do this two ways. We can just
take care of the appeal issue right now -- and we have staffs
recommendation -- take a vote on that.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
MR. KLATZKOW: And depending upon the outcome of the
vote, then discuss what are the payment options there might be,
.
assumIng --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So you need another motion then?
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, that's one approach is to bifurcate this
into two motions. One is just based on the appeal, and you have a staff
recommendation.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Now, Commissioner Coletta's
waiting here to speak.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. But there's still a motion
on the floor and a second?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: There is.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: There's a motion on the floor. I'll
rephrase the motion that we take staffs recommendation, and that is to
deny this appeal.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And the second?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second it with the expectation
we'll have a follow-on motion that will provide a time payment plan
that's reasonable to the petitioner.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And will that be okay with your
motion that it includes that?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Anything that you want to add --
staff wants to add?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, just to support that position, I have
four options for payment plans here.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay . We'll discuss that after the vote.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And my comments are going to
be on the payment plan, what takes place afterwards. So if we could
take that vote and I can speak afterwards.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And Commissioner Coyle, are you
finished?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine. I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Halas, to deny the motion per staffs recommendation,
and with the provision that we will discuss a payment plan, and a
second by Commissioner Coyle.
Any further discussions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify--
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Are we clear on the motion?
MR. MUDD: It's denial of the appeal.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Right.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Denial of the appeal, yes.
Okay. Go ahead.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. All those in favor, signify by
.
saYIng aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That's a 4-1 vote. Commissioner
Henning opposed.
Now to discuss the payment plan.
COMMiSSIONER COLETTA: Yes. I'm still in line. That's
where I wanted to go.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, you first.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Question. Was there fees paid up
front by the applicant or the petitioner to be able to cover our staff
cost, or is that something that we're carrying?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, there is a $2,500 fee that was paid
up front for the alternative impact fee calculation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And allowing for everything, did
that cover the costs that we incurred?
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, I did a -- just a quick number.
Today's effort alone, since about nine o'clock this morning, has been
over $1,400 of staff time, assuming a very low rate, not to include our
consultant who's also here today. So, you know, if you just look at it
from that point of view, just today we've burned up probably the
whole $2,500.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And that tells me
something, but it doesn't tell me everything. To prepare for today,
what did you spend, what do you think?
MR. WIDES: We spent over a year, probably 14 months, four
staff members, my personal involvement during a great deal of that
time. I'd be estimating somewhere in the range of 20- to $30,000 of
staff time and consultant time.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. That might be guidance to
us as we move forward with additional questions to come up with a
direction.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioners Coyle? I thought you had
your hand on the button.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I've got my hand on the button, I
just haven't pressed it yet. I'm afraid it might detonate.
You know, just for everybody's benefit here, I was ready to make
this a settlement and vote this way six months ago when this thing first
came to our attention. We've both wasted a lot of time dealing with
that.
And I have never felt we should do anything that would harm a
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February 24, 2009
businessman from pursuing his business, and we should make this as
easy as possible. If the -- if the commissioners feel they have to charge
interest, I would suggest it be something like the interest on a
three-month treasury bill.
MR. KLATZKOW: That's like no interest at all.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's my point. But you've got
some ideas, Tom?
MR. WIDES: Yes, Commissioner. Maybe if I could help this
along a little bit, if Mr. Mudd would put something up on the
visualizer here today.
I see four options, or something close to them. Pay the full
balance within the 30 days, obvious option.
Level monthly payments for three years at an initial interest rate
of 1 percent -- and I'll explain why at 1 -- an initial interest rate of 1
percent adjusted annually with a recognition of a lien. This is what
was contemplated in the alternative impact fee agreement.
The next option which I have presented to the developer's
representatives before, before we met here today, was 25 percent, 25
percent, 50 percent payments at the beginning of each year at an initial
interest rate adjusted annually of 1 percent with the lien.
Last alternative, which is closer to what the developer's
representatives had requested, was $500 a month for the three years
with a balloon payment at the end of the amount that's left over.
Again, 1 percent interest of -- with an annual adjustment.
And the only thing I would reserve there -- and, of course, the
lien. And the only thing I would reserve there is something else that
was contemplated in the alternative impact fee agreement that was
approved by both parties, was that staff would monitor the monthly
usage for two years to make sure that the impact fees did not exceed
what has been paid out. Those are four options that I present to you as
ways to think about this.
The 1 percent -- if I may? The 1 percent, we've checked with the
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February 24, 2009
finance department, and that approximates very closely our
opportunity costs on not having that money today, a reflection of the
market.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, then. Let me ask you a
question. If you monitor the flows, are you going to reduce the impact
fees if the flows are less than anticipated?
MR. WIDES: No, sir, that is not our intent. In following the
ordinance, we don't reduce impact fees.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It only goes one way, huh?
MR. WIDES: It only goes one way.
Commissioner, again, if I may -- if I may, remember the usage,
the flows that I showed you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You're right, Tom. I was getting
usage and impact fees mixed up in my logic here. So I understand.
Thank you very much.
And then I would recommend the last alternative, the $500 a
month for the balloon payment at the end of three years, initial 1
percent interest adjusted annually with a lien, and staff will monitor
the flows for two years to determine if there are additional impact
fees.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll second it for discussion,
because I do have a --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. A motion on the floor to select the
last of the four options for payment by. Commissioner Coyle and a
second by Commissioner Coletta. And you have the floor,
Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, ma'am.
Question regarding the monitoring of the flow to see if there's
additional impact fees. Are we at this point of no return where
possibly we go in there, and staff time and everything be involved
over a period of time back and forth on it that we might not even be
able to cover our costs with what the additional impact fees would be?
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February 24, 2009
MR. WIDES: Commissioner, there's really two answers to that,
and I think they both run the same direction. Number one, we did
contemplate this when we -- way back in May of '08, that we would
monitor for two years. We agreed on that.
The other thing is to monitor our water bill for two years to
calculate the ERC. If it's as -- if it's allowed to be as clean as it is,
here's what you used, it's up two consecutive months over what you
paid for, a bill is due and payable.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
MR. WIDES: Now, if we get into issues of, you know, can I
defer it or can I stretch it out, that's a whole 'nother question.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, we've got a -- hopefully be
able to put together an agreement that both sides could fully
understand so when that day of reckoning comes, whichever way it
goes, there isn't going to be a lot of discussion and it doesn't have to
come back before this commission.
MR.WIDES: I understand.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor and a
second.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Which option is it?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Four, $500 a month with a balloon
payment at the end of three years, at initial 1 percent interest adjusted
annually with a lien, and staff will monitor monthly flows for two
years for possible additional impact fees as contemplated in the
alternative impact fee agreement.
Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: Just for clarification. When we say adjusted
annually, how are we adjusting it? What's your basis?
MR. WIDES: We have, from the state comptroller's office, we
have a statement on an annual basis of what the interest rate is, the
opportunity costs on the money each year, and that's readily available
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February 24, 2009
through the financial department.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you for that clarification, okay.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I wasn't done. You know,
looking at what the motion and second is, if I was a business owner
and a resident, and that last sentence pretty much states, I'll never get
out of this predicament with government; therefore, I have no option
but to take -- to appeal this to a higher court, and it's going to cost the
ratepayers -- I mean, not ratepayers, in this case it would be impact
fees -- more. I mean, this is not -- this is not the end of it. I mean, if
you want finality, my opinion, I would remove the last sentence.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So the motion maker and the second?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm okay with the way it is.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And you are, too, second?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second was down there.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm the second. Yeah. I mean,
considering the fact that there's been a considerable amount of money
already spent on this, and like Commissioner Coyle said earlier, this
could have been settled a lot sooner, probably with the same results
and a lot less legal fees, I can only see this as a fair way to be able to
try to recoup some of the money that we've spent of the taxpayers'
money.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: In keeping with Commissioner Henning's
concern there may be litigation here, one approach that you do not
have to take this would be to condition this payment plan on the fact
that this is the finality, that there is no appeal and this should be -- if
there be an appeal, that this offer comes off the table, and then
whatever a court would rule, the court would rule. There would be no
payment plan. Something to consider. You don't have to do that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We haven't voted. Motion maker's still
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February 24, 2009
here.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, you know, I think I like it the
way it is, and I'll tell you why. Tying the petitioner's hand when we
have the opportunity to adjust impact fees, trying to tie their hands
with reference to an appeal, I think, is unfair. Ifwe try to adjust impact
fees and the petitioner feels they're unreasonable, I think they have a
right to pursue it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Mr. DeLony, is there something
that you wanted to say on the record?
MR. DeLONY: For the record, Jim DeLony. I was just asking the
board's indulgence for about five minutes here with regard -- that with
the petitioner, given advice from Mr. Klatzkow. If I could have that
before we take the final vote and ask Mr. Mudd if we could just give
us just a minute, Madam Chair.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Surely.
MR. DeLONY: Could we do that --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes.
MR. DeLONY: -- and adjourn to the hallway?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You've got five minutes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We can do another thing? Just
table this one.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I don't know that there's anything else we
can do in five minutes.
MR. MUDD: Well, we're waiting for -- let's do the next item.
What do you think? I think we can get to it. I think this is doable.
Item #10C
WETLAND MITIGATION AND PANTHER HABITAT UNIT
OPTION AGREEMENT WITH BARRON COLLIER
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February 24, 2009
COMPANIES AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN
THE DOCUMENT - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: And it's 10C. This item is continued from the
February 10, 2009, BCC meeting. It's a recommendation that the
Board of County Commissioners approves theW etland .Mitigation and
Panther Habitat Unit Option Agreement with the Barron Collier
Companies and authorizes the chairman to sign the document, project
number 60044.
Mr. Norman Feder, your transportation services administrator,
will present.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You were right about that, hmm?
I have a motion on the floor and second.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: To get my question answered,
when was the evaluation of mitigation credits performed?
MR. FEDER: The evaluation was done as part of the biological
opinion for Federal Wildlife Federation. It established a number of
required PHU s and wetland credits.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No. You're basing it -- we're 20
percent below what market is.
MR. FEDER: 2007, when we started working with Barron
Collier and Ave Maria on this. At that time they offered 20 percent
below the then-going rates. Actually those rates have gone up higher
today for us for the wetlands and the PHUs. So actually it's more than
a 20-percent reduction that they're offering, although we are looking
to the PHU s, as you note in here, to come from the Starnes property
rather than from them.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thanks for the answer.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor by
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February 24, 2009
Commissioner Coy Ie to approve this item, and this is 10C, and a
second by Commissioner Halas.
Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We could do 14A, too, couldn't we? That's
Penny Phillippi.
MR. MUDD: I think we can, ma'am.
Item #14A
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) APPROVE
THE 2008 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE
IMMOKALEE CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AUTHORIZE
A 4.2 PERCENT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT -
APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Okay. 14A is a recommendation of the Community
Redevelopment Agency, CRA, to approve the 2008 annual
performance evaluation for the Immokalee CRA executive director
and authorize a 4.2 percent COLA adjustment.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to disapprove.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I have a motion --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- on the floor by Commissioner Coletta to
approve and a second by Commissioner Coyle.
Penny, would you like to say anything on the record?
MS. PHILLIPPI: No, I don't. My name is Penny Phillippi. I'm the
executive director of the Immokalee CRA, and I just want to say, this
has been one of the most interesting years of my entire life in Collier
County. And --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You ain't seen nothing yet.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Penny, I enjoyed reading all of the
evaluations from all of your members. They were just glowing.
MS. PHILLIPPI: They were.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So it says that you're doing an outstanding
job, and we all enjoy working with you, I'll tell you.
MS. PHILLIPPI: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
And with that, I have a motion on the floor by Commissioner
Coletta to approve and a second by Commissioner Coyle.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
MS. PHILLIPPI: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. Well, is there anything else?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: What about lOG?
Item #10E
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February 24, 2009
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF COASTAL AND AQUATIC
MANAGED AREAS (CAMA), AND COLLIER COUNTY, FOR
HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION IMPROVEMENTS ON SHELL
ISLAND ROAD - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Well, let's do -- let's do 10E, which is the Shell
Island Road agreement, and that was a walk-on, of course. It's a
recommendation to approve a memorandum of agreement between the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection through its Office of
Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas and Collier County for hydraulic
restoration improvements on Shell Island Road.
This is -- and we can go -- Shell Island Road has been a thorn in
this board's side for at least a decade, and it's been a thorn in the side
for Rookery Bay, because during the wet season, that limerock road
potholes pretty heavily, and they put in for a grant to put in nine
culverts and to restore the borrow pit area originally used probably for
Shell Island Road in order to get that done.
The dilemma that the Rookery Bay folks have is the fact that
their grant for this restoration and this -- and this culvert project runs
out in the end of March, and they came -- and the -- Gary came to see
me in February, kind of late in the process, but he got to the point in
time when he was getting -- he was getting to the dead-end where he
knew he wasn't going to get it. And he says, is there anything you can
do to help us?
And then I've engaged our staff in order to do that. Staffs not
going to get any money to do this. We're going to be this middle man
to try to get this project done. This will save us transportation money
in the long run, because there isn't a year that goes by that Norman
doesn't have the road crew out there grading or something trying to
help them so it becomes a passible road.
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February 24, 2009
So that money will be a savings to us on an annual basis, just to
get this fixed.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I have a motion to approve by
Commissioner Halas and a second by Commissioner Coy Ie and
Coletta.
Any discussion? Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is this paving, including paving?
MR. MUDD: No. This is culvert and remediation. I believe
there's a paving grant that comes forward later, and it will be a
pervious surface, but that's another grant, sir. We're working on
culverts and restoration of the borrow pit area in this particular
contract.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, that's just great. That road is so awful.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm not finished.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I would think the
environmentalists would be very concerned about paving Shell Island
Road.
MR. MUDD: Oh. Shell Island Road is paved, per se, it's Shell
Island Road, and it's impervious in its state. So I understand your
issue, sir. This is a contract for Rookery Bay for the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Something they requested.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir, and the road connects with the
Conservancy.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Any further comments?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Nope.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That is a 5-0.
All right. It looks like we have --
MR. MUDD: We're back to lOA.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- Jim DeLony back up at our podium
here.
MR. KLATZKOW: We made some sausage.
MR. DeLONY: Commissioners, I have a recommendation with
regard to the payment plan. We agreed earlier on the amount in the
previous motion that was made, and now here's a recommendation that
I believe has been agreed to by our client here, our customer here, and
it is expressed here in this document, by reaching out, that we're going
to do the relook.
And what this provides him is certainty. What he's got, he's paid
for. Now, if there's a change of use down the road or there's areas in
your building, sir, that doesn't have any occupant and you come in for
permits, we're going to recalculate the impact.
But where he is today, we'll essentially accept that as proposing a
position, and with this amount, it buys into -- it allows that to proceed
and -- with regard to that certainty.
Is that in agreement with you, sir?
MR. CRIFASI: Yes. There's a couple other items. We need to
make sure we have them covered.
MR. DeLONY: We'll work it out. But that's essentially it. We
leave him where he is, and go forward, you'll apply -- we will apply
any impact fees per the current ordinance about any change in use or
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February 24, 2009
additional development associated with Building 300. And we would
not do a relook with regard to the situation now.
And the payment plan as outlined here is option four, which is
the one that appeared to be the one that you all were most favorable --
disposed to support. And that is our recommendation.
MR. KLATZKOW: And just for the record, if I could get the
developer to say whether or not he agrees with this.
MR. MUDD: Sir, on the record, just state your name and your
agreement or disagreement.
MR. CRIFASI: Jack Crifasi. I do agree.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'd modify my motion to reflect this
change, and it will read a motion that the petitioner will pay $500 a
month with a balloon payment at the end of three years, an initial 1
percent interest adjusted annually with a lien.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And the second?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: My motion agrees.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: My second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Motion on the floor has been -- what do
they call it, adjusted --
MR. MUDD: Modified.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: -- amended, and the second has agreed.
Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
Page 185
February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HENNING: With that, I have a question
about what takes place now. The lien will be signed by the
chairperson. Will that come -- that lien come back to the Board of
Commissioners for ratification?
MR. DeLONY: Counselor, with regard to disposition of lien --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Will the lien document come
back to the Board of Commissioners or --
MR. KLA TZKOW: There will be a resolution that comes back to
you outlining this, as well as a lien document.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thank you.
MR. DeLONY: Okay. Anything else?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No, sir, that's plenty.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Item #12A
RESOLUTION 2009-46: PETITION CU-2005-AR-8748;
ALLOWING A CONDITIONAL USE IN THE RURAL
AGRICUL TURAL (A) ZONING DISTRICT TO EXCA V ATE IN
EXCESS OF 4,000 CUBIC YARDS OF EARTH FOR AN
AQUACULTURE FACILITY IN THE AGRICULTURAL (A)
ZONING DISTRICT, PURSUANT TO LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE SUBSECTION 2.03.01.A.1.A.2. THE SUBJECT
PROPERTY, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 15.08 ACRES,
IS LOCATED AT 2060 TOBIAS STREET, IN SECTION 22,
TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 27 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY,
FLORIDA - MOTION TO APPROVE THE 12 CONDITIONS IN
THE ORIGINAL CONDITIONAL USE PETITION - VOTE
COUNT 3/2 - NO SUPERMAJORITY; MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE MOTION - APPROVED; MOTION TO
APPROVE THE PETITION REQUIRING ALL FUNDS FROM
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February 24, 2009
THE SALE OF THE FILL BE HELD ESCROW AND INCLUDING
THE 12 CONDITIONS IN THE ORIGINAL CONDITIONAL USE
PETITION - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that brings us to our time-certain
item at three p.m., and it is basically -- used to be 16K3, which is now
12A. It requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by commission
members.
It's a recommendation to approve petition for conditional use
2005-AR-8748 to allow a conditional use in the rural agricultural A
zoning district to excavate in excess of 4,000 cubic yards of earth for
an aquaculture facility in the agricultural A zoning district pursuant to
Land Development Code Subsection 2.03.01.A.1.A.2.
The subject property consisting of approximately 15.08 acres is .
located at 2060 Tobias Street in Section 22, Township 49 south,
Range 27 east, Collier County, Florida. This item was moved at
Commissioner Coletta's, Fiala's, and Coyle's request.
You have to do ex parte, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, thank you.
And we will start ex parte with Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Madam Chair, since this item was
heard by the Board of County Commissioners before, of course we've
all talked about this and we've received -- I've received
correspondence, emails that were revealed at that point in time. Since
that point, I have only received some emails concerning this particular
item.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commission Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's Halas.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, yeah. I'm looking at you and saying
Coyle. It's getting late, I guess.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes. We've had this up for
discussion once before, and I've had meetings and emails and I met
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with Rich Y ovanovich on October the 2nd, 2007, and I don't recall
any emails in the present in regards to this item.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And we have six speakers on this.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you. Yes, I have had
meetings, correspondence, emails, phone calls. Of course, this goes
back into ancient history. And we've got a number of residents from
the area that are interacting today.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I've had only one
correspondence with this settlement agreement, and that's from Nancy
Payton.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And I have spoken to staff. Of
course, we heard this before. I don't remember if I've met with you,
Rich. I didn't think so. But I did get an email from Nancy Payton as
well, and I've received -- I think I've received a couple other emails,
and I have them in my folder for public display.
And with that, would we swear in anybody who wants to speak.
We have six speakers signed up.
(The speakers were duly sworn and indicated in the affirmative.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And with that, Rich, would you like to
begin, or should we have -- yeah, why don't you just begin.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Let me, if I can, and I'm sure the county
attorney will jump in, since it's his agenda item.
As you know, there was originally a conditional use application
request for the removal of dirt related to a fish farm. It was denied. We
took an appeal to the Circuit Court, and the Circuit Court issued an
order essentially saying that there was no competent substantial
evidence to support the denial, and that's what the agenda item today
is, is to approve the conditional use.
I think there's some confusion because there were a couple of
items that were not included as backup in your agenda item, and I
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have copies for each of the commissioners as well as -- and I provided
Nancy Payton a copy.
When I spoke to her, she said her concern was, okay, Rich, we
understand what the Court said, but what is it that's being approved
today? And it was the conditional use and the original resolution
which -- I don't know if the best way to do this is to just give you each
a copy. And there's more than enough.
And these are from the agenda that -- of that day, and there was
condition -- there was a resolution for approval, and attached to that
was an Exhibit D that had 11 conditions for approval, and I think Ms.
Payton wanted to confirm that those 11 conditions were part of the
action that was being taken today.
And also, if you will recall, I committed -- there was an
agreement between the residents and the owner of the property. There
was an agreement that I committed during that hearing would also
become a condition of the approval, and I've provided a copy of that to
you all as well.
So should you -- should you agree with the recommendation of
your staff, the conditional use would be approved with those 11
conditions plus the 12th condition, which would be the agreement that
was reached with the neighbors regarding the access to and from the
site while they were removing the dirt.
We're hoping at this point that the commission will approve the
conditional use. Mr. Fawzy would like to go forward with his fish
farm. If there's any question that he really wants to do a fish farm in
today's economy, I think that that's been resolved. There was some
concern that perhaps he was really an earth mine disguised as a fish
farm because of the price of fill at the time. I can assure you at the
price of fill today that he is really a fish farm and not a fill farm, as
people might have been concerned.
So I would hope at this point we can approve the conditional use.
I hope I've clarified the record as to what the conditions related to that
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are, and I think that summarizes the agenda item.
And Mr. Klatzkow, if I've missed anything, I'm sure you'll
correct me.
MR. KLATZKOW: I would like to hear the speakers before I say
anything.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, I would, too. So will you call them,
please.
MS. FILSON: The first speaker's Rich.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I wasn't sure how it was going to go
today, so I signed up in. an abundance of caution.
MS. FILSON: Okay. Second speaker is Timothy Nance. He'll be
followed by Greg Bower.
MR. NANCE: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Tim
Nance. I'm a member of the -- of the Frangipani ago community civic
association.
When Mr. Fawzy first proposed to dig his fish farm, he spent
quite a bit of time talking with the residents of the area. He met with
our little local civic association and many of the residents on Dove's
(sic) Tree Street.
And the main concern was the use of Dove Tree Street as it is a
privately owned and maintained road and the only access and egress
for all the residents and small businesses in that area.
Subsequent to talking over many months, Mr. Fawzy sent us a
letter of understanding. Mr. Bob Matherly can give you a copy of that.
I think Rich may also have given it to you. I'm not certain about that.
But it outlines his letter of understanding with the Dove's Tree Street
community residents over how he would handle maintaining the road
and several of the basic agreements, whether he was going to maintain
Dove Tree Street in a safe and passible condition. He was going to
have some transport procedures to regulate truck speed, control dust,
and reasonable hours of operation.
He agreed to time periods when he wouldn't have truck traffic
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February 24, 2009
when children were going to and from the schools, and basically
would have a contact system with the residents to make sure that the
road was handled properly.
Subsequently, the civic association sent a letter of endorsement to
the county commission, which I believe was delivered to you under
the earlier activity. Basically, if these provisions are followed by Mr.
Fawzy, the community residents on Dove Tree Street think that a fish
farm would be a good addition to our neighborhood. It's very
compatible with the other nurseries, small businesses, landscaping
companies, et cetera.
And we're looking forward to contacting Mr. Fawzy when he
begins and making sure that these provisions are followed. We would
hope that you would adopt these provisions as part of the conditional
use. Thank you very much.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Greg Bower. He'll be followed by
J ames Matherly.
MR. BOWER: Good afternoon, again. I was here last time we
did this. I was president of the Frangipani Association and was part of
this letter that we submitted to you and agreed to.
I heard some things mentioned after I sat back down and I had a
very hard time understanding. Number one was regarding storks up in
the Corkscrew area and how this pond was going to affect them.
I have a 150-by-a-100-foot pond, and the only thing that has
shown up that might interest the environmental people is a bald eagle
that appears to seem to be making a home on my property, which we
look forward to.
And another one relating to the type of subsoil. And I think all
they need to do is look at the pit, which is less than a mile away, to
find out what type of subsoil exists in that general area, and -- or they
can come out to my house and look at the rocks that's left over from
the digging. But I think this is a win-win situation for our community.
And as they mention, and as you all are, I'm sure, very well
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aware, there's not a lot of demand for fill right now. And so it's going
to be sitting for a while before somebody's making money off of it.
And I don't think that that was the original intent.
And with that, I thank you, and I hope that you all agree to this.
Thank you.
MS. FILSON: James Matherly. He'll be followed by Nancy
Payton.
MR. MATHERLY: Hi. James Matherly, 1220 Dove Tree Street.
My only concern is the road. I've worked on that road for the past ten
years, along with a few other neighbors, put a lot of money, a lot of
time in it, cleaned it up. It won't support trucks. It barely supports cars.
It's mostly spoil from the banks of our canals, wherever we could get
it at the time they were removing it. Little -- very little base rock unit.
We grade it. We grade it with anything we can get ahold of, tractors,
backhoes, loaders.
These people want to run up and down the road, that's fine. We
just have a problem getting in and out the way it is. We just graded it a
couple weeks ago. We used Jack Queens out of Immokalee to grade it.
It cost us $500. We do this whenever we can scrape up the money,
which is very hard to come by right now.
The amount of material it's going to take to stabilize the road --
and a stabilizer is just basically sand and usually lime dust, which, if
it's not watered all the time, it just softens up like talcum powder. It
makes a mess. It would need actually some gravel put on it. And I
don't know exactly how much. They're offering 2,000 cubic yards.
That's about 20 dump-truck loads.
I don't know. It's just a big concern for us out there how we're
going to get in and out after the trucks come up and down the road,
even though they're agreeing to it. We just hope that it does get
maintained. And if we have any problems, who do we call? Mr.
Coletta. That's who we'll call.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's right.
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February 24, 2009
MR. MA THERL Y: Thank you.
MS. FILSON: Next speaker is Nancy Payton. She'll be followed
by Brad Cornell.
MS. PAYTON: Nancy Payton representing the Florida Wildlife
Federation. In an ideal world, we'd like you to appeal this, but I'm
going to spend my time talking about the specifics of the conditional
use permit, specifically three of the stipulations.
Number seven talks about the wildlife agencies, and we want to
make sure that, indeed, it's more than talking, that, indeed, it will be
consultation and that agencies will have to sign off, provide a letter or
appropriate documentation that it is acceptable to move ahead based
on Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers.
On number nine it says, copies of all required agency permits.
Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't issue permits. That's done through
the Army Corps of Engineers. If there are no wetland impacts, there
will be no federal permitting nexus; therefore, it would have to be a
separate consultation under Section 10 under the Endangered Species
Act, and I'm just concerned that there's not this loophole that exists
that Mr. Fawzy will not consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and
produce documentation to the county that he has met their obligations.
And lastly, under the wildlife crossings issues, if that is a factor
in the road, that Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Wildlife
Commission should be consulted about the design of the crossings and
the appropriate fencing.
I don't know if there is staff currently that would have that
expertise, so I would seek that clarification.
Question: Can the conditional use be amended? Some additional
stipulations and time frame. For instance, Jesse Hardy had three years
to fully establish his aquaculture operation, so I'm suggesting three
years from approval, and that includes the 18 months to haul the dirt
off. And if it's not done within that time frame, then the land has to be
restored.
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February 24, 2009
And most importantly, I would urge you to have staff and
interested stakeholders pursue LDC standards to regulate aquaculture
in all sending lands, not just North Belle Meade, but throughout the
rural ~ending lands and also the rural land steward sending lands. And
in fact, the RLSA committee, in their report which you will be
reviewing next month, has a recommendation to do just this because
they identified this issue of aquaculture and sending lands is to be
somewhat incompatible, is there a way that they can be compatible
and pursue that.
So that is a very important goal for us in this discussion, that
looking forward we establish some standards on how aquaculture is
conducted, if it is allowed to be conducted, in sending lands. Thank
you.
MS. FILSON: And your final speaker is Brad Cornell.
MR. CORNELL: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I'm Brad
Cornell and I'm here on behalf of Collier County Audubon Society.
We believe that this conflicts with the rural fringe mixed use district,
the North Belle Meade overlay in that district and those Growth
Management Plan policies, which were established -- which
established this area as a sending area and protected it for its listed
species and natural resource value. That was supported by a three-year
rural study, as you all know, and provided substantial evidence in
support of that designation.
The county, the Department of Community Affairs, Collier
County Audubon Society, and the Florida Wildlife Federation
subsequently defended those policies against a Chapter 120 challenge
in 2003, and we successfully defended those.
We agree with the county attorney's opinion that excavating and
removing 300,000 cubic yards of earth is mining and that that is
prohibited in sending lands, regardless of the aquacultural use that
would come afterwards.
The county has a legal obligation to not issue development
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approvals in conflict with federal listed species protection, such as
Endangered Species Act. This site is mapped as primary panther
habitat, and this was a significant part of the reason for its county
designation as sending lands.
The county should request Section 10 consultation from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service for the Florida panther and any other species
that would be involved. That's what Nancy Payton was referring to
just before me.
Collier County Audubon Society recommends denial to be
reaffirmed based on substantial evidence which does support this
property's sending designation in the Future Land Use Map.
It is clear the Circuit Court missed this overriding question and,
therefore, Collier County Audubon Society also recommends appeal
of the Circuit Court decision. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you.
Mr. Y ovanovich, I know where the people from Dove Tree are
coming from. This has been an issue going way back in ancient times
regarding the road and the lack of service to it.
You may -- they made some pretty bold statements in here and
promises of how the road will be maintained. The problem is, is what
kinds of, what kind of leverage is there for us to make sure this takes
place?
MR. YOVANOVICH: Well, first of all, as I suggested -- and I
handed out the same document, I think, that Mr. Nance handed out. I
suggested that this document, which is the agreement with the
residents, become condition number 12 of the conditional use.
So now it would be that -- you would not only have the
agreement between the residents and Mr. Fawzy, but you would have
it as a condition of the conditional use, and you would have the
county's ability to also enforce the commitments that are in this
agreement else you terminate the conditional use or you find him in
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violation of the conditional use. So there are enforcement mechanisms
to back up -- back up what was committed to.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, I want to concentrate a
little bit more on the road, too.
Nick, can you help me on this? I hope you had a chance to read
this agenda and what they're promising to do as far as the road itself.
Now, the road is of primary importance. I mean, the only reason
the residents would ever agree to it in this area would be that they
would benefit from a road surface that would be stable for way into
the future.
What's missing from this or what's in this that -- does it meet the
needs for what this area's going to need or --
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- does this fall short?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: For the record, Nick Casalanguida with
transportation.
Our initial stipulation is that they grade and maintain the roads.
The fact that they're agreeing to do additional work on the roads and
provide 2,000 cubic yards, if the residents are happy, that was above
what our recommendation was. So the fact that they've coordinated
with the residents, the residents seem to support it, and if you make
that a condition of the conditional use, as Mr. Y ovanovich has stated,
I'm pretty comfortable that they've gone above and beyond what the
county's comments were when we originally reviewed this.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. And Rich, I noticed the
Planning Commission was evenly divided on this, 4-4 split. I -- what
was the bone of contention with them? Was that the environmental
issue?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: The issue in my mind and -- and I still
believe this -- is that there was confusion as to what was actually
being considered. I -- we were requesting a conditional use to remove
dirt. The whole debate in front of the Planning Commission and I
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think in front of the Board of County Commissioners was, can we
even have a fish farm. So that's why I think there was a deadlock.
There was so much discussion as to, you can even have a fish
farm out there under the current rules. And so that's why I think it was
split. Some of them said you shouldn't be allowed to have the fish
farm and some of them said, yes, you should. So that's why I think
there was the even debate.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Now, what you're hearing
and what brought this to an end before was the environmental
concern. And you heard Nancy Payton's recommendation for different
steps that should be taken if this was to go forward. Could you be able
to incorporate most, if not all of those recommendations?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I think that my client should be required
to follow the law, and we have agreed to follow the law regarding
environmental permit.
My client -- we came to this board back in October of 2007 with
those 11 conditions, which included several environmental conditions,
and we can live with those 11 conditions, plus the 12th one being the
agreement.
To require my client to now enter into a new permitting process
through this Section 10, you're adding a couple more years of
permitting. He's already been delayed from moving forward. We're
happy to do what we're required to do, which is get consultation, and
we'll follow that process. We'll follow the environmental permitting
rules that are applicable to the process.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you, Mr. Y ovanovich.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I'm sorry. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I've got some real concerns here.
As I said, when this came before the Board of County
Commissioners, did research on fish farms; and fish farms in this
nature, this size, is really not profitable.
My concern is, if he's really avidly involved in this idea of a fish
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farm, when's he plan to start excavating?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: When he -- you know, he doesn't have the
right to go forward. He's got to get a Site Development Plan. He can't
do any of that --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So it would be five years from now,
right?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: No, sir. He can't move forward on doing
any of that until the conditional use is approved.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: But this could be five years from
now?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Or it could be as soon as possible. He's
got to hire an engineer to do the engin- -- the Site Development Plan
work. And then once he does that, he can then start -- he gets that
through the county's process, he can then begin the excavation
process.
The county's Site Development Plan process takes six to nine
months, and then he's got to do the design work before he can submit
that.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: From what I read, that the -- what
the county attorney has suggested, it is the opinion of the county
attorney that the Court completely missed the larger issue of this case,
which is the proposed use, self violate (sic) -- which is that the
proposed use itself violates the county's GMP and that no
development order can be issued which is not consistent with the
GMP.
It further goes on to say, it is the further opinion of the county
attorney that an appeal of this order to the District Court of Appeals
stands a fair chance of prevailing.
Having said that, the question now becomes whether an appeal is
worth pursuing given the chance in circumstances, since the matter
was heard and the impact pursuing an appeal would have upon Mr.
Fawzy.
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And then it says, the approval of this petition will have no further
financial fiscal impact to the county. It is the direction of the BZA that
the county attorney commence an appeal, and all work will be done
in-house, and the fiscal impact to the county will be limited to court
filing fees.
So my feeling is that there's a possibility that the judge
misinterpreted exactly what the intent is here and -- in regards to the
area where this supposedly (sic) fish farm is located.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, county attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes. And just so I'm not -- to get the full
understanding of this. I think Judge Hayes missed the larger issue.
And yes, I think we can appeal this, and yes, I think we have a fair
chance of prevailing in this. The question is, if you want to eliminate
this issue forever, the way to do it is not through an appeal, which
only affects Mr. Fawzy and this 15 acres. The way to do that is to
direct staff to come back either with a change in the LDC or the
Compo Plan that does -- eliminates this issue for all of the county's
environmentally sensitive areas.
And by legislative act, we end this issue so that, yes, I can go
through the appellate process, okay, and that's going to be a
devastating effect on Mr. Fawzy, all right, or we can just end the issue
right now by directing staff to come back with a legislative solution.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Which I would like to see done, by the
way.
Next we have Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm going to make a motion to
approve and include the 12 conditions of the original conditional use
petition, and I'd like to put this into the record so there's no mistake of
what the 12 conditions are.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: That's the 12th condition right there,
Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It is. It's the Frangipani
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Community Civic Association Incorporated.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And you just put the cover sheet
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I think the agreement should be right
behind it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: That would be condition number 12, and
we reference this as an exhibit, or however you want to do it. I
understand.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning, does this -- do
these 12 -- I'm sorry, but I didn't read it. Do they include grading the
road and keeping it -- keeping it drivable all through this procedure?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Correct.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Good, thank you. That's all?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm sorry. He's got a motion on
the floor.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, wait a minute. He has a motion to the
floor.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, and I'll be -- I'll be happy
to second it, see where we can go with it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, thank you, Commissioner Coletta.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: My problem was in the past, and
still is now, what happens after we exca- -- Mr. Fawzy excavates this
area and the fish farm is not feasible or it's not profitable and it's
deserted? How can we make sure it's restored?
Is there any opportunity for negotiation about protections to do
that, the posting of some bond to make sure that we can restore the
property if, in fact, the plans for a fish farm are scrapped?
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February 24, 2009
We've probably got several years before a fish farm will become
operational at that site. I, quite frankly, like the idea of -- I think if we
can attract something like this here and it's successful, it's going to be
beneficial to Collier County, but I can't ignore the fact that we've had
people in the past attempt the same kind of thing and it turned out to
be a hole in the ground.
So I need to resolve that problem somehow. And I don't want to
be unfair, but I can't support the current motion for that reason. We
have no protection whatsoever, and we could very well be left with a
big hole in the ground.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Commissioner, I don't know how to give
you -- we have to go through a Site Development Plan process and the
lake has to be properly constructed. It will be properly constructed.
At the end of the day, let's just say the fish farm doesn't work. It
will serve as a man-made lake, if you will. There will be some value
from a water management standpoint because it will hold some water
when there's storms, but it will function as if that lake had been there
forever. There'll be fish in that lake, it will attract wildlife, wildlife
will use that lake.
So I think there will be value to it even if it turns out to just be a
lake that, you know, turned out to not work as a fish farm. I mean,
because you'll have -- we'll have had to get this lake properly
permitted through the SDP process.
We're in an unfortunate situation that had -- you know, had we
not lost two years, I might be able to offer you something in the way
of a bond or something like that. But we're two years further down the
road. You know, Mr. Fawzy has had two more years of interest
carrying on the land and lost opportunities, not to mention the -- you
know, the -- it may even cost him money now to remove the fill in
order to get into further operation.
I'd love to get there for you, but I think worst-scenario, you're
going to have a very nice man-made lake that will serve a function,
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February 24, 2009
you know, for the environment, and it will be a positive thing even if
it fails. But I don't think I could post a bond to bring those 300,000
cubic yards of dirt back. Is there something short of that that -- you
know, that would help you get there?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I can't think of anything right now.
We've got a motion on the -- on the table, so see where it goes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Motion is on the floor, and the second.
The motion does not state that we would like the county attorney to
put together some type of an ordinance or LDC amendment.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's separate.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That would be a separate one? Okay. Also
it doesn't say anything at all -- but I was just handed this thing, so I'm
afraid I didn't look through it.
One of the things I'm worried about is our aquifer is right there if
he's just seeking a fish farm. Mines, they have to watch how deep they
dig and what they do, but there's -- is there any protection that he's not
going to permeate the aquifer and then contaminate the water?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We still have to go through the county
site development review process to get the permits. And I believe that
there are -- those are issues that are reviewed as part of the Site
Development Plan process.
Plus we're required to follow the best management practices. I'm
trying not to reargue the hearing we had a couple of years ago, but
there are best management practices in place for the digging of these
lakes and making sure that they're operated properly.
And, you know, we did go through -- we went through the
conditional use process, we went through -- at least one judge in an
appellate capacity agreed with us. If you kick it up to the next level,
the burden is even more difficult for the county to overcome.
You may win, you may lose. We've already won at one level.
Mr. Fawzy truly wants to be a fish farmer. I think he's shown you that
by staying in this process as long as he has.
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I would hope that since the community around him has said this
is an acceptable -- an acceptable practice in their community and that
the true fix is, as your county attorney is saying, change your code. A
15 -acre fish farm in this vast area that's known as the sending areas is
not going to hurt. It's not going to hurt.
The only one that will be hurt if this isn't resolved today, will be
Mr. Fawzy. And I hope we can get past that because, you know, he
wants to be a business, and I think it can prove to be a very good
business for Collier County.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. I just want to let you
know, I don't see a problem with the fish farm as far as what the waste
will be in it. If it ever got to a toxic level, the whole operation would
come to an end.
They can't dig it too deep, because if they do, there's no way they
can get oxygen in down much below 40 feet, so it has to be dug in a
way that's going to be self-sustaining to the fish that are going to run
through it.
And if this does pass, I'd be more than willing to support the next
motion which wants to limit this to the last one that would happen
within the area, coming up with a methodology for fish farms that they
be aboveground and whatever.
MR. KLATZKOW: He's limited to how far he's going to dig
anyway because he's asking for 3,000 cubic yards offill over 15 acres.
So somewhere in the record there's a limitation how deep they're
.
gOIng.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: There was. And I want to say it's around
20 feet was the number. I'd have to go back and read the minutes
again, but I want to say it's about that, was the depth.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But you can't in any way breach
the aquifer because you're going to have -- who is it, water
management monitoring everything you do through the whole process.
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February 24, 2009
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I believe you're correct, Commissioner
Coletta.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor. Did
you make that motion, Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, I seconded it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Who made the motion?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Commissioner Henning made it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Henning to approve it with the 12 stipulations that were
written and submitted to us, and a second by Commissioner Coletta.
Any further discussion on this item?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So that's a 3-2, and it fails.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Settlement.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Does that have to be a supermajority?
MR. KLA TZKOW: No, it's not a settlement. This is not a
settlement. The choice is either to approve this or I go on appeal. And
so at this point in time, unless there's a motion for a reconsideration,
I'm going on appeal.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I don't think there's been a motion to do
an appeal. There's been a motion --
MR. KLATZKOW: There's no alternative.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: You don't have to appeal.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, I do.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: You can lose -- you can lose the time
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February 24, 2009
frame to appeal.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: May I say something, Madam
Chair?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: At this point if the dissenting
commissioners on settlement is not going to change their mind, I think
that the county attorney should call a closed-door session so we can
cost -- so we can talk about the cost of the litigation.
MR. KLATZKOW: If you want to talk about it, I can do that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Yes, Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: As I understood the county
attorney, he says he's got to appeal because he feels that we'll be in
violation of the Growth Management Plan if we let it go forward.
Now, again, I would like to vote in favor of this project if we can
find some way to protect the interests of the county and the
environment so that we're not left with a big earth mine out there on
that 15 acres of property.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Remember -- and let me -- maybe we
should -- maybe we should do this. Remember I offered originally all
the proceeds from -- that he's paid for the removal of the dirt would be
placed in escrow and it would be within the use to pay to construct the
earth -- to construct the fish farm.
Once the fish farm is there and operating, you will see it has been
properly constructed. So the worst case you have is a nice lake at the
end of the day, which I would hope would not be an environmental
hazard at the end of the day. So if we put the proceeds into the escrow
account and then we just use it to pay for the construction of the fish
farm, then you know, Commissioner Coyle, at that point you're not
going to have this -- you know, you won't have a completed lake that
will serve for some natural function at the end of the day should the
fish farm go out of existence, and then you know he's not running off
with the money related to the fill.
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February 24, 2009
Does that -- does that help with providing adequate assurance
that you come up with --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I still need for the county attorney
to get over the issue of the Growth Management Plan.
MR. KLATZKOW: I have a court order on this. My opinion is
that the judge missed the issue, but I may have appellate judges who
disagree with that. Judge Hayes could be absolutely right in his
decision at the end of the day. So that as we stand now in the
litigation, there is no violation of the Growth Management Plan by
going forward on this. This is on court order.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So the Court gives us the authority
to do whatever it is necessary?
MR. KLATZKOW: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So we're not going to be charged
with violating the Growth Management Plan?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, sir. You have a court order on this.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Then let me ask Nancy Payton to
come up here. Do you see any environmental -- irreparable
environmental damage if we proceed as Mr. Y ovanovich has
suggested?
MS. PAYTON: Well, I'm not a hydrologist. I cannot weigh in
there, but I can say this, that holes in the ground are not natural.
They're -- they are not a natural phenomena, lakes, in Southwest
Florida --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Sink holes are natural.
MS. PAYTON: -- in Southwest Florida. We have Lake Trafford,
that's about it. All the rest of the lakes you see are a borrow pit, and
there are environmental issues that are associated with them.
I'm -- that's not my area of having a lot of knowledge. But having
a hole in the ground in the middle of a sending land is not a good
thing.
If you want a hole in the ground, you should be in a receiving
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February 24, 2009
area because there will be fewer, if any, environmental issues in that
area as opposed to the sending land where we're trying to preserve the
environmental values.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And under the current plans, are
fish farms not permitted in sending lands?
MR. KLATZKOW: Pursuant to Judge Hayes at this point in
time, fish farms are permitted in sending lands. I would have to
convince an appellate court otherwise.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. So it seems to me that our--
our responsibility is to minimize the environmental impact to the
extent that we can do so?
MS. PAYTON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And I guess if we approve the
creation of a fish farm and it becomes a fish farm, then it is exactly
what Judge Hayes wanted us to do, right, to approve a fish farm?
MR. KLATZKOW: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: If it turns out to be a bust, we're left
with a hole in the ground that shouldn't be there.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And that's my proposal, let's put the
money in escrow and make sure we're truly building a fish farm and
not a hole in the ground to take dirt out.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And how would we go about
accounting for all this, County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: We could set up an escrow account. That's--
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We've got a boilerplate between us that
we've used.
MR. KLATZKOW: We've done other projects where we've
come up with escrow accounts.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll vote in favor of it under those
circumstances, because otherwise we're --
MR. MUDD: Sir, are you making a motion to reconsider?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm making a motion to reconsider.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And do I hear a second on that motion?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, it's -- the person who voted
in the majority can reconsider any item?
MR. KLATZKOW: Commissioner Coyle is one of the two
people who voted -- who did not vote for it can vote for this
reconsideration.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. He can --
MR. KLATZKOW: He can.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- make a motion?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Is that your second?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I'll second -- I'll second
your motion.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And I have a motion and a second
-- I'll call on you in a second. Motion and a second to reconsider.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good. That is a 5-0.
Now, Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You have your button on.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: That's my button.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's his button.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No, it isn't. I can read.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Since when?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I learned this morning.
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February 24, 2009
Okay. Now, would you like to make that motion, sir?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes. And I would like to explain, I
think it's a lesser of two evils. I'm not convinced that we have a sure
winner by appealing it, and if we pass up the opportunity to negotiate
this settlement, then we won't have any options whatsoever to protect
ourselves.
So I would make a motion that we approve this petition and that
we require that all of the funds received from the sale or disposal of
fill from this site will be placed in escrow and will be used specifically
for the purpose of building the fish farm itself. And if no fish farm is
built, those funds will be used to restore the site to the extent possible.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Do I have a second?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Now, Mr. Coyle, you volunteered the last
time at this hearing to be the escrow agent.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: You did say that?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I will handle the money. I'll be glad
to do that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I have a second by Commissioner Coletta.
Any further discussion?
MS. FILSON: Just for my notes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, ma'am.
MS. FILSON: Does that includes the 12 conditions?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes, it does; yes.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That is a 4-1 vote, and it passes.
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February 24, 2009
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you.
Item #14B
CRA BOARD TO REJECT THE SOLE RESPONSE RECEIVED
FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) #08-5112 FROM KA YE
HOMES TO CONSTRUCT, MARKET AND SELL
MODERATELY PRICED HOUSES ON CRA-OWNED LAND;
AND TO APPROVE THE CRA STAFF TO RELEASE A NEW
RFP AT A LATER DATE THROUGH THE COLLIER
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT - MOTION TO ACCEPT STAFF
DIRECTION AND DENY PROPOSAL - APPROVED
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Let's move on. We have a couple people
in our audience, about four of them, for an item. It's -- what is it,
16G1, which is now 14B.
MS. FILSON: I have one speaker for that item. I have two
speakers under public comment, Ms. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, okay.
MR. MUDD: This is a -- 16G1, 14B, goes -- and it's a
recommendation for the CRA board, okay. So I guess we don't have to
move the gavel-- yes, we do -- for the CRA board to reject the sole
response received for request for proposal 08-5112, from Kay Homes,
to construct, market, and sell moderately priced homes on
CRA-owned land and to approve the CRA staff to release a new RFP
at a later date through the Collier Purchasing Department.
This item was moved from the consent agenda to the regular at
Commissioner Henning's request.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And let me just stop you for a moment.
County Attorney, being that I'm chairman of both, do I have to wrap
gavel or anything, or change my hat?
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: You could if you'd like, but I think we're
okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, very good. We can move forward.
David?
MR. JACKSON: Good evening, Commissioners. David Jackson,
executive director for the Bayshore Gateway Triangle CRA
component.
I believe that is brought -- was brought from the consent agenda
to the regular agenda at a request of Mr. Stuart Kaye. And since that is
-- seems to be the genesis of this.
I think, Madam Chairman, it would be appropriate for you to
hear what his concerns are, and then I would like to reserve the
opportunity to follow up and respond.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah, that's not -- that's not a
true statement whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: What would you like to say then?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure. Mr. Jackson received an
email with myself. It was copied to -- actually it was copied to Mr.
Jackson, sent to the county manager, and I asked for it to be put on the
regular agenda.
If you received an email from Mr. Kaye asking it to come off the
consent agenda to the regular agenda, you had the opportunity to put it
on the regular agenda, not Mr. Kaye, unless he petitions the board or
CRA board, when it -- before the agenda was approved.
Did you receive an email from Mr.-- correspondence from Mr.
Kaye to put it the regular agenda?
MR. JACKSON: No, sir. And I don't want to challenge your
statement. If you wanted to bring it from consent to regular agenda,
then I'm here to answer any of your questions.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. There was -- Kaye Homes
responded to the RFP?
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February 24, 2009
MR. JACKSON: They did.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Was it not in compliance of the
requirements under the RFP?
MR. JACKSON: In our opinion from staff, yes, it did not -- or
no, it did not meet all the requirements.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What conditions of the RFP did
it not meet?
MR. JACKSON: If I may then, in response. In the RFP there are
several conditions that have to be met by the respondent and also there
are certain things for the CRA and the county in responsibilities.
In there I've checked two of the six items that are on the board
there that have respect -- that, respectfully, we don't have -- we have a
problem with.
The negotiated buy-down price of the CRA land to achieve
acceptable sales price in the specific terms and conditions of proper
distribution -- disposition, excuse me, will be negotiated. We could
not come to terms on those two items, along with a series of other
miscellaneous low-level items that are -- don't have the merit to be
discussed at this point, but if you wanted to, we could get into them.
Of those two things, we could not come to an agreement that was
acceptable to the CRA staff that met the CRA RFP, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. That wasn't -- I didn't see
that in the executive summary. What I seen in the executive summary
is because of -- there was only one respondence to the RFP and the
concern of the housing prices or the market conditions.
MR. JACKSON: Correct. Ones that were just pointed out there.
Housing prices. The sale and disposition of the land is part of the
housing prices.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. They're building houses
on our land, right?
MR. JACKSON: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. What was -- what was --
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February 24, 2009
what's the acceptable square footage prices that the CRA was looking
for, and was that in the RFP?
MR. JACKSON: The acceptable square foot -- well, we didn't
put a square foot price. We a price value per house, not to exceed
$200,000.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. I -- can you show me that
within the RFP? Because I went over the information that you sent
me, and I just -- I couldn't understand why you were objecting to it
except for, it was only one bid, which is not a condition under the
RFP. What page?
MR. JACKSON: It would be number -- paragraph number 3.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Of?
MR. JACKSON: I don't have the page; paragraph number 3 of
the RFP. And I've got it up on the visualizer for you. Constraints upon
the contractor.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Well, I'll look for it, but
I'm not going to hold up the process.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. The reasons for taking this
action, recommending this action, are very clearly laid out in the
executive summary.
Under considerations it tells us that the homes that were proposed
are too large to fit on the small40-foot lots and the two-story plan
exceeded the maximum cost of construction. They tried to reach an
agreement with Kaye Homes. Kaye Homes' proposal relied on the
CRA absorbing a loss which equated to $380,000 in addition to
possible buy-downs above and beyond the $380,000 that will be
unknown until the houses are built.
It's very clear why Mr. Jackson is recommending this action, and
I -- do we have a speaker?
MS. FILSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Would you like to call that speaker now?
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
MS. FILSON: Stuart Kaye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can you leave that up, please,
Mr. Jackson. Thank you.
MR. KA YE: Thank you, and good afternoon. I'm not sure
whether I address you as commissioners or CRA chairs.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Hey you.
MR. KA YE: You guys. My name is Stuart Kaye, and for many
of you, this is the first time you're going to be hearing about this issue.
I am the only petitioner, and my presentation will take about five
minutes, and so I'm requesting your permission to proceed
accordingly.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, you only have three, so see what
you can do.
MR. KA YE: Okay. And I think I'll be able to answer very
clearly, Mr. Coyle, questions that -- the statements that you made.
The Bayshore Triangle was created nearly a decade ago, and one
of the primary goals is to make the neighborhood a place where
families want to live, work, and play.
Numerous attempts have been made to attract large-scale
developments that included new housing, but for various reasons they
have yet to get off the ground.
This past summer the CRA Advisory Committee decided to scale
down their vision with the goal of jump-starting single-family
housing, and this RFP was created. The RFP was downloaded 99
times by interested parties.
The RFP required the applicant to perform a market study, design
two styles of homes, bid on specific home sites, build the homes,
market the homes, and ultimately sell the homes. Kaye Homes was the
only applicant to submit a complete application.
On September 21 st we were interviewed by various members of
county staff and the chair of the CRA Advisory Committee. And by a
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February 24, 2009
unanimous vote, we thought we had the job.
In December Mr. Jackson advised me that the CRA Advisory
Committee was concerned about market conditions since issuing the
RFP and wanted to understand more about the housing market.
At the next advisory board meeting, data from the Naples Board
of Realtors was presented for the market area known as South Naples.
The South Naples area includes the Bayshore neighborhood as well as
a larger area. And data showed that in every month since the RFP was
issued, pending sales increased each and every month as well as in the
under 300,000 price category, which is, of course, the target market of
our homes.
It's no secret that prices skyrocketed and now they're beginning
to return to levels that make sense for a normalized market.
The committee then requested housing information specifically
for the Bayshore neighborhood. You should know that prior to being a
builder, I worked for Dr. Hank Fishkind at the Bureau of Economic
Business Research, was a principal in a real estate research company
performing micro research and feasibility studies.
Every sale was analyzed in the Bayshore area from January 1,
2008 through January 29, 2009, as was every listing in the area as of
January 29, 2009.
The information was summarized in the 9-page summary
included in your package and presented at the next advisory meeting.
The data clearly showed that given the conditions and the age of
the homes, their actual selling prices, the current listing prices, that the
homes could be marketed at a price that made sense with a minimum
amount of risk.
Yesterday I received a letter from Mr. Jackson stating the RFP
was rejected because it was thought the price was too high. This issue
had never, never been brought up in any of the dozens upon dozens of
interactions with staff or the advisory committee, with one exception,
which I'll discuss in a moment. The advisory committee never
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February 24, 2009
questioned the cost, since that was a requirement of the RFP.
I mentioned earlier the RFP was downloaded 99 times according
to staff. I'd suggest the reason it was downloaded so much but there
was only (sic) response was because it was very hard to meet the cost
requirements.
And only from being here as long as we've been here, working
with our trade partners, working, including financial assistance with a
CRA-friendly financial institution were we able to meet the strict
criteria of the RFP. Regarding the issue of pricing --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Mr. Kaye, will you wind it up, please?
You're already past.
MR. KA YE: Yes. At some point -- and there are no others. And
there's so much information and you're just receiving it. And I
appreciate your indulgence, whatever you can do. It's about two more
minutes, as I said. And I think it's important for our citizens. But thank
you, I appreciate and respect that.
Regarding the issue of pricing. At some point during November,
Mr. Jackson called me to his office, and I was told that someone had
offered to build my homes for a lot less money. I looked Mr. Jackson
in the eye and suggested that he call a meeting with that person, and if
that person was licensed and legitimate and could do the job for that
amount, I would donate the entire cost of construction to the CRA.
That was the last I heard about pricing. That was the last I heard about
pricing, and that was the end of my cordial relationship with Mr.
Jackson.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, Mr. Kaye, I appreciate it.
And now Mr. Henning ~- or Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Kaye, do you see what's on
the visualizer?
MR. KA YE: Yes, sir, uh-huh.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Provide four homes not to
exceed $800,000?
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February 24, 2009
MR. KA YE: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Did you match that?
MR. KA YE: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Option 2, to provide the cost to
the construction of three homes not to exceed $600,000, 6 -- yeah,
$600,000, including -- inclusive of the builder's profit?
MR. KA YE: And to help you, the answer is yes. Our first
presentation was for the four homes not to exceed 800-. Based on
requests from the staff, we then came back with three homes not to
exceed $600,000.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning, I happened to sit
in on that meeting. I dropped by that day. And that evening -- like
nothing better to do with my time, I guess.
Anyway, I sat in on the meeting, and what happened was, the
board, the entire advisory board was sitting there, and they were
discussing the fact that they felt that this is not time to be building
anything on Bayshore, and they felt that they would like to put this off
for a while and not build this.
And they voted unanimously to put this on hold and at a future
time, not now, but at a future time, put it out for RFP.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well -- and that's fine,
Commissioner, I understand that. But you don't ask somebody to do a
whole bunch of work and just say, oh, I changed my mind. I don't
want to do it now.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: But in the -- you know, I think that things
changed as far as the market and so forth went.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, the -- again, it takes a lot
of time to put -- when you do a request for a proposal and somebody
submits it, it takes a lot of time to put that package together.
And, you know, I'm very disappointed if -- and I understand their
concern, but I'm very disappointed that that's what it resolved to is
says, eh, we changed our mind.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, I think that the board -- it wasn't just
haphazardly. I think they deliberated.
Jean, would you like to say something?
MS. JORDAN: Hi. Jean Jordan, for the record. Project manager
for the Bayshore Gateway Redevelopment Area.
First of all, when we were in the selection committee meeting,
when the vote was approved, originally there was concerns voiced by
everyone -- and it's on record. I even went through the minutes to
verify that, that it's on record -- that, first of all, the home he submitted
cannot fit on our lot so, therefore, it did not meet the RFP, the intent of
the RFP, the single-family home that he submitted.
He submitted a two-story home which exceeded the cost of the
RFP; however, after much discussion and deliberation, the committee
agreed to go ahead and try to negotiated with Mr. Kaye in order for
him to come up with a house that fit on those lots.
The house plan that he came up with that -- in order to try to fit
on the lot never did. We never got a single-family house that fit on the
lot. The two-story houses does (sic), but the single-family houses do
not fit on the lot, so that's why we made the lots 53 foot instead of 40
foot was in order to try to work with him to get those houses to fit on
the lots. They still did not.
Another issue was that the houses didn't meet the BMUD
regulations of the overlay. The houses he submitted did not have stem
walls. The BMUD regulations states that the house has to have stem
walls. That's also in the RFP.
So the changes he made in order to try to accommodate and put a
house on the lots was because originally that house didn't fit on the
lots. And we have gone back and forth. And originally the CRA with
his first submittal that we were trying to work on, the CRA would
have had to give up about $138,000 in costs. That cost that the CRA
has to give up, over -- through these negotiations with Mr. Kaye is in
excess of 400,000 now.
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February 24, 2009
So it may be a good price for a house, $150 a square foot, but the
CRA paid $250 a square foot for that house because it -- his
calculations do not include the land in values like that.
There's many things in the RFP that was not met. We tried to
work and work with Kaye Homes in order to arrive at something. It's
been almost six months now.
And the CRA didn't think that it was prudent or economically
sensible to go and contribute $400-and-some thousand to build this
home when no one else is giving up anything. It's just the CRA. And
those were a lot of the reasons.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Just one question. That
$400,000, is that land cost?
MS. JORDAN: That's the land. In addition, the RFP stated that
the impact fees were to be calculated in the 200,000. It was to be
calculated as if no impacts fees were available.
Well, we have impact fees on the property that are paid because
we removed mobile homes. That's about 30,000 on each lot. That's in
a different -- that's in addition of almost $90,000 in impact fees that
the builder is absorbing and getting the benefit of and the CRA is not.
So his costs did not take up impact fees. So there are so many
things that did not meet the RFP.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So it didn't include removal of
the impact fees that are already on the land?
MS. JORDAN: Right. So the Kaye Homes winded up with that
additional money instead of it coming as a buy -down for the property
to owner. And there's just so many issues that we've gone through.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is there anything else in that
$400,000 besides land costs?
MS. JORDAN: No. It's land, impact fees. In addition, Mr. Kaye
wanted us to pay for the marketing and commission.
Originally the RFP stated that we would pay 6 percent
commission. Then in the -- in another RFP -- well, another stipulation
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February 24, 2009
that he gave to us, it said it increased to eight. So the prices for the
CRA has gone up and up and up.
So it appears on the surface that you're meeting the $200,000
because he can build three houses for 600,000, but really those three
houses are costing over a million dollars to the CRA.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MR. KA YE: May I respond?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coy Ie, this is your district.
Would you like to weigh in on this first?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I would like to clarify a
couple of things. It is an unfortunate characteristic of government that
when they issue RFPs, they always reserve the right to cancel them for
any reason whatsoever at any point in time.
I didn't like it when I was bidding on government programs, and I
know that you don't like it. Nobody else does either. But that's the way
it works. And that's what the term of the RFP really is. The
government, the county, reserves the right to withdraw this RFP at any
time and for any reason. And the receipt of your proposal does not
obligate the county in any way.
So I have no choice, quite frankly, but to make a motion to
accept staffs recommendations concerning this issue.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coy Ie to accept the staff recommendation, and a
second by Commissioner Halas.
Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: It's a 5-0. And we are going to --
MR. JACKSON: Madam, may I make one comment?
Commissioner Henning, I apologize for all the terseness, but it's
been a rollercoaster ride for six months. I didn't mean to -- no
disrespect.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Are you feeling okay?
MR. JACKSON: Slightly.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: You're not sick, are you?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: With that, we'll take a break. We'll be
back in ten minutes. Thank you.
(A brief recess was had.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. We're back in session, and I would
like to tell you right now that we plan on walking out of here at six
o'clock, even if we're not finished. We can come back in the morning
to finish the meeting. But we'd like to try and finish as much as we can
by six o'clock.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, let's hurry before
Commissioner Coy Ie gets here. We can get it done real quick.
Item #10D
RESOLUTION 2009-47: FY10 BUDGET POLICY AND TO
APPROVE A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SHERIFF, THE
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND THE CLERK TO PROVIDE
THEIR FY10 BUDGET SUBMITTALS BY MAY 1, 2009 -
MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET GUIDANCE - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, next item on the agenda would go
to 10D, and that's a recommendation to adopt the FY10 budget policy
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February 24, 2009
and to approve a resolution directing the sheriff and the Supervisor of
Elections and the clerk to provide their FY10 budget submittals by
May 1, 2009.
And Mark Isackson from the office of management and budget,
will help and present, okay, and I will help him, and we'll kind of tag
team it the best we can.
MR. ISACKSON: Thank you, County Manager. For the record,
Mark Isackson with the office of management and budget. I'm here
presenting on behalf of my boss, John Y onkosky, who is the budget
director.
Each year staff presents for your consideration a series of budget
policies which are designed to guide the development of the budget
document which you first see in June, your budget workshops.
This year, as in previous years, the policies were presented to the
subcommittee of the Productivity Committee and the Productivity
Committee, and I believe you received under separate cover a
commentary from the Productivity Committee providing input on their
thoughts and commentary on the budget policy document.
As County Manager Mudd mentioned, there are two actions
requested. The first is approval of the budget policy recommendations
and the second deals with the resolution directing the sheriff,
Supervisor of Elections, and the clerk to submit their respective
budget by May 1 of2009.
Let me take a moment to discuss the aspects of the budget policy.
Pages 1 through 6 are essentially policies that evolved from one year
to the next. And we sit down and talk about those at a staff level,
develop those policies, submit them to the Productivity Committee,
and they're before you this evening for your consideration.
Pages --
MR. MUDD: Hang on. Commissioners, just for clarification.
He's mentioned 1 through 6. Their page -- it starts on your Page 5 of
20, and at the bottom you'll notice it's 1, and that's where it basically
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February 24, 2009
would be, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
MR. ISACKSON: Thank you, County Manager.
Second covering -- the pages are covering 7 and 9, and those are
existing policies that are proposed to be continued for the current -- or
for the FY10 fiscal year.
And the third component, beginning on Page 10, is a three-year
discussion of ad valorem budget projections from FYI 0 to FY12.
Mr. Mudd, if it's your pleasure, we can begin to go through the
body of the document beginning on Page 1 with millage rates, if that's
your pleasure.
MR. MUDD: Okay. Commissioners, we're on Page 5 of20 at
this particular juncture. Title of the page, FY10 Proposed Budget
Policies, and we'll start right in.
We have talked prior that I would come forward with two
proposals from staff that would basically align with a millage-neutral
and a tax-neutral position, so basically two budgets.
So, again, I'm on Page 1 in the middle, and it says, millage
targets for the countywide general fund. If -- and it lays out in the
second paragraph what majority vote means, what supermajority vote
is, and what unanimous vote is, but it's really the third paragraph there
that lays out the ramifications of what a millage-neutral position
would be in the general fund.
That would equate -- now, this is based on the estimates for
reduced property values that we received from the Department of
Revenue on the middle of December from the state. And they
basically talked about a 13.9 percent decrease in the taxable property
values of Collier County.
Millage -- millage neutral against that decrease would represent a
$34.4 million reduction in our revenues that -- from what we received
last year, which was close to $247 million. That's very difficult, and
that's a very difficult cut to make.
And I asked Mark earlier today to just -- to just lay that out for
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February 24, 2009
me and talk about -- and talk about why it's so difficult.
If you take a look at the budget, the '01 budget from last year,
and you layout how much that was in the entire general fund -- and
that's with revenues from parks and rec, that's with the sales tax
proceeds from the state, that's with revenue sharing from the state
including our ad valorem.
If you take a look at that entire pot of money in which we call it
the general fund, that would be $369 million. Of that $369 million,
51.9 percent is in the health, safety, and welfare category, and that's
everything from mental health, public health department, Isles of
Capri Fire, EMS, medical examiner, helicopter operations, emergency
management, the 800-megahertz system that we have that basically
works our emergency calls throughout the county, state attorney,
public defender, circuit judges, county judges, reserves that are
mandated by the state, the sheriff and sheriff pay.
That health and welfare pot of the $369 million is $192 million;
52 percent, thereabouts.
Your debt service is 9.6 percent. What does that equate to in
millions? 35.6 million.
Your mandates from the state equate to $34.8 million, and that's
everything from BCC salaries -- because the board is -- and your
salaries are directed by the state, the Naples CRA payment, the
juvenile justice payments, watershed management requirements from
the state, facilities campus utilities, Regulation Planning Council,
Immokalee redevelopment, Gateway Triangle, and it goes on, and the
constitutional salaries and their office budgets. So that's another 9.3
percent.
What you're left with is 29.02 percent, which equates to $107
million, and that's what operates everything you've got, the rest of the
county as far as libraries, roads, and it goes on, and I have a whole list
of that particular item in the process.
So when you take that $34 million cut from the general fund,
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you're taking it basically from the $107 million that you've got in what
I'll call discretionary, that 29.02 percent. Makes it very difficult. This
will be a very difficult budget process for staff and for this community
because there will be some great dialogue with the community about
what things are really important for them and what things aren't.
So millage neutral, it is a $34 million cut. It basically equates to
revenues of $213 million versus the 247 that we received last year.
And if you decided to do a tax-neutral position, the millage rate would
increase from 3.1469 mills to 3.6549 mills, and that would make it tax
neutral as far as ad valorem taxes are concerned. It does not take into
account the reductions that we're seeing in sales tax and revenue
sharing from the state, and that would have to be made up with
additional cuts in that, what I call, the discretionary aspect, and our
estimate would be that it would be a 3 percent reduction as far as the
ad valorem budgets are for FY09.
Now, the allocations that we've done in the past, in 2004 this
board basically created at my recommendation and with your approval
-- and it has been a good benchmark for this county and for everybody
that basically uses ad valorem dollars to do their jobs within this
county, and we've called it the allocation, and it's on Page 60f20.
And it basically talks about -- that's what we call the pie, and I guess
we finally talk about it being the pie. And it was those percentages
that the board said that folks would not exceed. And I bring the
budgets every year, and we basically talk about anyone that has
exceeded the pie, and that is still there.
Our recommendation is that we still use that particular policy
decision that the board used and started back in FY04.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Which was what again? Please say that.
MR. MUDD: Ma'am, it's on Page 6 of 20, okay, and it's the
general fund budget allocation by agency, and it's right there on that
table, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
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February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: The next item is millage targets for the
unincorporated area general fund. We have what we call the 001 fund
and we have the 111 fund. And what I'm talking about now is the
municipal services taxing district which we call the unincorporated
area general fund.
In the scenario where it's millage neutral, your millage neutral
rate late year was .6912. What that would represent as far as a cut
would be, would be a decrease of $4,887,000. The board decided to go
the tax-neutral position, there would be some decrements in the 111
fund because of shortages -- not everyone pays their tax bill every
year, and it's become more and more apparent as -- from last year's
experience and this year's experience. You will have some folks that
will not pay their tax bill, and the tax deed sales will not be able to
supplant that lack of bill paying for their taxes. So you'll have some
cuts to make up for that shortage in the 111 fund.
Again, present two budgets. We will present a millage-neutral
and a tax-neutral position as far as this fund is concerned.
Our recommendation in the MSTUs and MSTDs, the board can
-- we will show you both millage neutral and tax neutral. Our
recommendation is you do the rollback rate, which is -- it will be a
tax-neutral position as far as that is concerned. And that will-- if you
don't have any questions on the first two pages, 5 and 6, we will move
to Page 7 of20.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: There are questions. Commissioner Halas,
Coletta, and Henning.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: You stated that the property tax
appraiser came up with -- and this was in mid December, a 13.9
percent decrease in revenues that are going to be collected. Are we
going to have an update? Because there was something I read this
morning out of Bloomberg that the price of housing throughout the
United States dropped at its highest level in the month of December.
So do you anticipate that there will be an update --
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February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, on 1 June by Florida Statute, your
property appraiser is to tell you what the decrease or increase in
property rates will be, and at that particular juncture you'll know
exactly how it relates to Collier County.
The Department of Revenue -- and just to make a correction to
your statement. The Department of Revenue from the state gave us the
December prediction of the 13.9 percent. They will do another update
the middle of March to the end of March for the House and the Senate
in Tallahassee. We'll take a look at that as soon as we get it and we'll
see how well it starts.
Commissioner, we have to start someplace on this particular
issue. We're basically coming up with a budget, or two budgets, one at
a 15 -percent cut and the other one at a 3 -percent cut.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: The other question I have, you
made a statement that people are not paying their taxes, whether it's
foreclosure, whether they just don't want to pay them. At this point, do
you have an idea of the revenue shortfall from the Tax Collector?
MR. MUDD: Sir, I can tell you, based on what I've seen on his
monthly reports, the county is $50 million -- $53 million light as far as
where we were last year in tax collections. What does that equate to
Collier County? To you, in particular, and to me? Our -- if they stop
collecting taxes tomorrow, we would be responsible for $27 million of
that 53-.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's on the county manager's side
and the other elected officials?
MR. MUDD: It's the county's piece, and it would be all the
constitutional officers --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Constitutional officers.
MR. MUDD: -- and the county manager's agency. The reason I
say it's in half, because the school would have to absorb the other
shortfall.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Other thing I have, if we go in the
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February 24, 2009
direction of millage neutral, how can we get the other constitutional
officers to abide by those rules and also, how can we get them to abide
by the fact that there has to be copay in insurance?
MR. MUDD: Sir, are you -- when you say --
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I'm just -- I'm just --
MR. MUDD: What rules, sir, is the question?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. Is there a rule that they have
to abide by, the -- if we came up with something where we'd have a
huge revenue shortfall greater than we can handle?
MR. MUDD: Sir, the Tax Collector and the Property Appraiser's
budgets are approved by the state. The -- again, you get to see the
Supervisor of Elections and the sheriffs, making a determination on
the clerk's if he decides to be a budget officer versus a fee officer. I'm
not going to argue that right now, but you have some semblance of
approval power with those three that are left that are basically on the
budget side.
The sheriff always has a right to appeal his particular budget and
your decisions to the state if he so chooses.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: So my final question is, I think
where -- what you've told me is that we really don't have any strong
jurisdiction over them other than the idea of approving their budgets?
And if we make some drastic cuts and they don't go along with it, then
the end result is that you pick up the shortfall; County Manager and
the Board of County Commissioners pick up the shortfall?
MR. MUDD: That could be. And one of the -- one of the reasons
that I led with the particular pie chart on opening this discussion with
the board is the fact that if the health, safety, and welfare side of the
Board of County Commissioners -- I mentioned before that that was --
that represented $192 million. The sheriff has the largest portion of
that 192, which is 151 plus board paid, which is 3.8. Let's say it's 155
for just this discussion for simplification.
If the health, welfare, and safety portion of your budget becomes
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February 24, 2009
a hands-off aspect, that will be funded no matter what, and the board
decides to go to millage neutral, then the $34 million will be -- will be
found within your discretionary fund, and it won't be a 15-percent cut
there. It will be a 30-percent cut, and so that's why this is going to be
an interesting discussion with the board because it has some dire
ramifications to the services that this board provides to the taxpayers
and visitors of this community.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I just want to -- my last -- this is just
my opinion. I've had discussions with my District 2 group, and we had
the sheriff deputy there, we also had fire, we had EMS, and this
discussion came up because I felt it was important and I wanted to get
a read on what the people who represent homeowner groups, where
they stood on this thing, and they said that they felt that an increase in
their taxes, whether it be raising the millage, they were in favor of
that, basically a tax-neutral position.
They felt that it was important to make sure that the quality of
life did not deteriorate. They were also very adamant about their
landscaping and also very adamant about having their libraries open.
And they were also concerned that they didn't want the service
from the sheriff to be decreased because they felt that we're in a time
frame here where the sheriff has worked very diligently to make sure
we have a low crime rate. But obviously, under the economic times,
we could be saddled with some additional problems in the community.
So that's my two cents.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, Commissioner Halas. I, too,
have been doing the same thing. I've been working with my
community trying to find out how they feel about taxes, how they feel
~bout -- I told them if we -- you know, our taxes will drop because our
property values have dropped, so will our services, and would they
prefer that lower tax rate or would they prefer to pay what they paid
last year, same thing as last year, which was still lower than the year
before, but their services would continue.
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February 24, 2009
And without exception -- and I've probably talked to 250 people
so far. Without exception everybody said they'd rather pay the same
taxes as they paid last year rather than have their services decreased.
And I live in East Naples. So -- and now you get the North Naples and
you get the East Naples.
Commissioner Coletta, I think you're next.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. I appreciate that. Of
course, there's great concern within my district, too. You know, we're
the one that's been the last one in line because our development has
taken place at an expeditious rate over a number of years, and we're
still trying to get caught up in everything out there, including libraries,
recreational areas, and roads.
But Mr. Mudd, just for a little history lesson, to be able to put
everybody in proper perspective. Over the last three years, due to the
state mandates, due to the voters' initiative, due to initiative of this
commission, how much money have we removed from the budget?
I believe it's $84 million. I shouldn't ask a question I know the
answer for. Forgive me for doing that. But it's probably in excess of
$84 million. Am I about right?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Now, we're up against another
budget year where we're looking at two possibilities, one of them is
millage neutral, which would put us in a tremendously disadvantaged
position for maintaining all the things that your residents want and
things that my residents want.
Now, decisions aren't going to have to be made 100 percent
today. The other option, of course, is the one that everybody's got on
the floor right now, and that's the tax neutral, which would bring us
back to where we were last year.
There's one more option, and I'm going to ask the question, how
that would work, and that would be where we'd be revenue neutral.
What would that be as far as an increase over what we are now if we
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wanted it to go revenue neutral and maintain all the services that
Commissioner Halas and Commissioner Fiala were talking about?
What would be the difference in dollars and what would be the
difference in millage?
MR. MUDD: It's about $10 million, okay. But you'll know that
information if I provide you the two budget scenarios, one that's
millage neutral and one that's tax neutral.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, here's the problem, Mr.
Mudd. If you provide two scenarios, it's going to be broken down with
those two. Ifwe provide three, not saying that we'd ever take the first
one or the last ones, at least it gives us a perspective to know what
we're going to be down as compared to what it was in the past.
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir. That minus 3 percent -- when I say tax
neutral, the minus 3 percent is because of the shortages to sales tax,
revenue sharing, and whatever we don't get in tax -- where people
don't pay their taxes at all, to make up that process. That 3 percent
equates to around $9.5 million.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But what I am saying is the fact
that decisions aren't made today, we don't know what the numbers are,
but if we had that come back with a third option so we could take a
look at it and see where we stood, then we could start making the
adjustment backwards from there. That's what I would suggest, so we
have three options instead of the two.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Can I just jump in just to clarify
something?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't want to stay --
Commissioner Coletta is using two terms that mean the same thing.
He's talking about revenue neutral and tax neutral.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, they don't. They don't mean
the same.
MR. MUDD: No. Let's --
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Wait a minute. Tax is revenue.
MR. MUDD: It's. one portion of the revenue. It's the biggest
portion of that $369 million, okay. It would be 200 this year. It was
247. You still have additional revenues that come in, i.e., from parks
and rec fees and late library books and whatever. Those are also part,
and that's the next part that we'll talk about, revenue centric.
But what he's basically saying -- and you'll get it, you'll have the
information that he's wanting the two scenarios, millage neutral and
tax neutral. Why? Because tax neutral is still a 3-percent cut. And
what the commissioner is saying, with revenue neutral, it would be a
O-percent cut, and you'll be able to see exactly what that is as far as
dollars is concerned and the effect that it would be in every operation.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And then make your decisions
from there.
MR. MUDD: And I'll just have to kind of calculate the millage in
order to do that. I can do that. That's not difficult. Well, Mark can do
that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, Commissioner -- I'm sorry,
Commissioner Henning. You're next.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Well, the revenue neutral
would require probably a unanimous vote, and you probably won't get
that. The millage neutral takes a simple majority.
So what you're proposing is two scenarios, and then the third one
over here, I don't think you're going to get. I don't know how much
effort it is to prepare the budget for that third option.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Could you--
MR. MUDD: Is it -- it's just doing a separate sheet in order to
show you what the ramifications of that would be, but you'll see it in
the document already with the two that we're basically proposing.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But the reason I turned my light
on is I think the -- I mean, the MS TU s the last two or three years have
enjoyed a revenue neutral, correct? They haven't really received a
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February 24, 2009
rollback like we have in the 111 fund or the 0001 fund -- double 01.
And I think that they should enjoy the same thing that the 111 fund--
both general funds should. And if you're going to provide a scenario,
provide the same scenario for those MSTUs. That's my opinion.
MR. MUDD: I will. I'll provide--
CHAIRMAN FIALA: The question is, don't -- if -- I'm just
thinking Bayshore now, because that's the one -- the MSTU I'm most
familiar with. So when our taxes drop and when we get less in, doesn't
-- don't their -- doesn't their millage drop as well? I mean --
MR. MUDD: Depends on what the millage rate is. It will--
CHAIRMAN FIALA: TIF funds?
MR. MUDD: Nope. Depends on what the board sets for the
millage rate. If the -- if the properties devalue, okay, and you want to
adjust the millage rate to make the proceeds that come into the MSTU
-- because they might have debt service that they have to pay for or
whatever, you want to adjust that, you can. I believe the two scenarios
we're going to provide, even with the MSTUs, will be millage neutral
and a tax-neutral position so you can see.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm fine with that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner
Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I believe last year we discussed this,
and if I recall, we had to roll back the millage rate on MSTUs. There
was a cut in the MSTUs that we could collect the monies.
MR. MUDD: The board decided, because of Amendment I, to
make sure that every taxing district, including your general fund and
your 111 and all the MS TU s that they were affected because of the
Amendment I item, because you basically, as a board, set a policy that
said the voters came out in a very strong manner that basically said
they wanted Amendment I, and you wanted to make sure that the
impact of the cuts from Amendment I were felt in every taxing
element that you had in the county. And yes, sir, that did happen.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay, that's exactly right. So there
was a relief. Now, because of the economic situation, it's amazing that
the people are concerned about libraries and a lot of other things.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I don't know if you were next,
Commissioner Coyle, so I'll just go with you.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Look, I don't think we're
trying to solve the tax problem right now. We're here to approve the
tax -- the county manager's proposal to give us two and, if necessary,
three alternatives.
I've read the executive summary. I've read the recommendations
of the Productivity Committee. I think the budgeting policy is sound,
and I make a motion that we approve it.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coyle to approve the budget guidance that we've
received so far, and a second by Commissioner Halas, and then I have
Commissioner Coletta on deck with -- followed by Commissioner
Henning.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: This is going a lot smoother than
I thought it would, but there's one thing that I need to clarify is, I
thought I had an understanding from both the county attorney and the
county manager that it only took three votes to approve a
revenue-neutral budget. Maybe I'm wrong on that. Anybody comment
on that, or is that something you have to check out and come back on?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, Commissioner Henning made a
statement that said revenue neutral might need a supermajority vote. I
can't say that definitively until I go over the numbers.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: He said a unanimous. He didn't say
supermajority .
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Unanimous.
MR. MUDD: No, it would have -- it could go with a
supermajority vote. It will not have to be unanimous.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, he said unanimous.
MR. MUDD: And I -- well, lookit, I will find out specifically
what vote requirement the board will have to have based on the
millage rates that they layout and the process. I just can't say
Commissioner Henning was dead right or dead wrong.
I will tell you I believe you're pretty close to having a majority
vote on the process. Why do I say -- why do I say this? Because the
zoo won't have any collection this time. So the .15, we pretty much
paid the zoo off.
So you have a millage rate and you had taxes for the zoo that
won't be collected this year. So you have some space. So if you went
revenue neutral, I really believe with majority vote you could do that
because of the nonpayment or the noncollection on the millage rate for
the zoo and the referendum that the voters did a couple years ago.
Three-and-a-half years, we're paid for the zoo. That's good news.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I forgot that piece. We
talked about it. That's very important.
The other thing, are you feeling okay, Sue?
MS. FILSON: Uh-huh.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Because you look tired or sick or
angry or something.
The other thing that the Productivity Committee said, they would
like to be engaged in the process. I'm asking the motion maker if they
would include that into the motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Absolutely. In fact, they're always
engaged in the process. We run that through them every time. They
come in with recommendations concerning the final budget and
everything else every year. I don't see any change there.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Great. And I'm sorry, Commissioner
Coyle. I didn't mean to --
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, it's okay. The vote is more
important. I just had an observation --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Go ahead. Make your observation.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- that should be of interest to most
of the listeners, and the other commissioners brought this up earlier.
We've cut $85 million out of the budget in the past two or three years.
How many people out there have experienced a big tax reduction?
Where did that $85 million go?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Impact fees.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No. It means that we were living off
of the revenues of new construction and the growth in Collier County.
That -- so we've cut $85 million and our existing taxpayers haven't
noticed the difference, and you're probably not likely to notice the
difference, particularly the homesteaders. Your taxes will probably go
up.
But if any taxes -- if you experience any tax reductions
whatsoever, it's probably because your property has lost value, okay.
So the business about taxes dropping like a rock --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That everybody thought was going to
happen.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, don't listen to that stuff
anymore, okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. We have a motion on the floor by
Commissioner Coyle and a second by Commissioner Halas.
Any further discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We have four minutes left, and we have
two speakers for public --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Resolution.
MR. MUDD: Ma'am, I need one more--
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh.
MR. MUDD: I want to make -- clarification to the motion.
Because the motion, just for the first six pages, 5 through 10, you have
some existing budget policies for FY10 on your Page 11 and 12, and it
says 7 and 8 at the bottom, and it's important that we get those -- did
the first motion include your existing budget policies that you've been
normally doing every year?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yep.
MR. MUDD: Okay. So it's the whole thing. I just wanted it for
clarification. So 7 and 8 is in there.
I don't have any more questions. Thank you very much,
Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Don't we have to do the
resolutions also?
MR. MUDD: Yes. You have to -- the second part to this has to
do with the approval of the resolution going out to your budget
officers basically telling them their budgets need to be submitted by 1
May.
MR. ISACKSON: Correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Motion to approve the resolutions to be
sent out to the officers, to the constitutional officer, and second -- that
was by Commissioner Henning, second by Commissioner Coyle.
Any discussion?
(No response.)
Page 237
February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And we have two public speakers. Thank
you, everyone, for being here.
MS. FILSON: I have three now.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Hold on. Don't we have to approve
the workshops?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, I'm sorry. I'm--
MR. MUDD: No. You did that with the budget guidance, and
that includes -- with the workshop dates.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The dates and everything.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: The dates, all right. Okay. Wasn't--
I didn't hear it, so that's why I asked.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And you're right. I didn't hear it.
Okay . We're going to hear our two public speakers, and then
we're going to come back tomorrow morning and just finish this up,
okay? Sorry to bring anybody back. I know he -- well, do you want to
stay? We can stay. There's --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Let's get it done.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That's great.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We have to bring staff back and
everything.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Does anyone mind just staying on?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm for it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'll just leave.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No. Okay.
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February 24, 2009
Item #11
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the next item is 10F. It used to be
16D 1.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, why don't we call the speakers first,
okay?
MR. MUDD: Okay.
MS. FILSON: Actually I have three speakers. The first one, I
believe, has left. Ken Thompson.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes.
MS. FILSON: Fred Thomas. He'll be followed by Nancy Payton.
MR. THOMAS: Good afternoon. I mean good evening,
Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Did you notice what happened
there? When you walked by, he grabbed his microphone to interview
you. He scrambled for it like it was going to get away.
MR. THOMAS: Don't start the clock yet, okay?
The reason why I'm coming here to you, because things are
getting ready to happen and they're going to happen very quick. And
I'm going to let you know, some crazy things that this man did in the
last three meeting, about last week.
We heard last week that the Seminole tribe was trying to
negotiate some exclusivity, especially in Collier County, by providing
$3.1 million to the county. They're not going to go vertical with the
highrise hotel until they do that, and they're ready.
And if you have not been to the casino in the last two weeks, you
would not recognize it, folks. There's a First Street Deli in there that I
guarantee you, if you've ever been to New York for any length of
time, you sit in there five minutes, you think you had moved to New
Page 239
February 24, 2009
York. Gave pickles out to you in the front and what have you. I mean,
they've got nice entertainment, and it's just the real thing.
You know, when they opened up -- before they opened up, we
didn't know we could be a tourist destination zone. We could be a
major tourist destination zone now, going from the casino around to
the Roberts Ranch, but they're not going to go vertical till they get that
resolution where they get nonexclusivity, because it wouldn't make
sense to go vertical with a hotel, and then five years later we decide to
have a referendum like they had in Broward County where you can
have casino gambling at la Playa in the Naples Beach Hotel.
So I called an emergency meeting at the Enterprise Zone
Development Agency, which I chair, because we wanted to put
together a petition to come to you for you to go to the state to support
a compact with the Indians so that we can have exclusivity and
Immokalee become a major tourist destination point.
Let's talk about that tourist destination point, and I'm not going to
take too long doing this. I've gone to Venezuela, Costa Rica, and other
places around to try to enjoy myself. Here's what you can do in
Immokalee, folks, a location that's less than a three-hour drive to five
different TV markets. You like going saltwater fishing? Yes or no?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Sure.
MR. THOMAS: You like turkey hunting?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, I like boar hogs.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I do.
MR. THOMAS: Turkey hunting, okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Boar hogs.
MR. THOMAS: We going to take you flats fishing or salt--
deepwater, saltwater fishing all within an hour from our location.
We're going to take you turkey hunting. After you get your fish, we
will take you by a farm where you can pick some fresh vegetables,
come back to your lodge and cook those fresh vegetables and eat from
God's hand.
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February 24, 2009
Oh, what am I going to do this evening? Go over to the casino.
I'm not a gambler. Well, just go over here and we'll dance, have a
good cigar, drink great liquor.
I'm a casino person. I want to play -- I want to play cards. I want
to play -- there's more table games there than I've ever seen anyplace
in the world because that have two gigs I've never seen before; one of
them is Asian poker, okay?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Fred, what is your message?
MR. THOMAS: My message is, we want you to support the
compact for nonexclusivity so -- we going to get some money, best we
did our part, but we need to do that so that we can vertical with the
casino in Immokalee and become your tourist destination, the major
tourist destination zone in this country, because when I take you
fishing, we're going to see gators, we're going to see wild turkeys,
we're going to see deer. These are things you can't do noplace else in
this country.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Are we going to see the agreement, Fred?
MR. THOMAS: Huh?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Are we going to see the agreement before
we --
MR. THOMAS: I don't know. I'm hoping -- because Chris says
he's working with Joe, although I'm hoping -- what I want you all to
do is pass a resolution that says we want to send a letter of support that
we work with the tribe so that we can get that money and go vertical.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: But --
MR. THOMAS: And see, now when we do that, some of that
money can be used to make the roads well to get access to Immokalee
better, but that will also help our economic development, our trade
port, and all the rest of the stuff that we have going out there. There's a
lot of good things that can happen to make us the economic engine of
Collier County and bring money back to the county for which you will
not have to give a lot of services.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think we dealt with this the last
meeting. Didn't we have a resolution?
MR. MUDD: Yeah. I asked the board .,.- I kind of showed you the
draft, and I asked the board if anyone on the board would object to
getting 5 percent of the gross revenues from the Seminole tribe in
Immokalee Casino to have those dollars come back in the general fund
in order to do things for Collier County. And it was unanimous as far
as this board's agreement to that.
MR. THOMAS: And your Enterprise Zone Development Agency
voted to ask for your support.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I just wanted to know at that time if there
were strings attached.
MR. MUDD: These bills -- these bills -- it's gone from draft to a
bill in the House and the Senate. And what the governor is trying to do
is to get it voted in by the legislature so he's not out there hanging out
there all by himself. And exclusivity is in that particular piece of
legislation. This is a -- this is a deal with the Seminole tribe, not with
Miccosukee.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Miccosukee.
MR. MUDD: Okay. It's for the Seminole tribe wherever the
Seminole tribe has casinos in the state.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So we already did it?
MR. THOMAS: Huh?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We already did it.
MR. THOMAS: Okay. But I just want to make sure we
understand we lobbied the folks. Because let me say something else to
you. Immokalee High School, 60 percent of the students are bilingual,
20 percent are trilingual. We have hooked up a relationship between
the Seminole tribe of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast hospitality
program. We've been given two $2,000 -- $3,000 scholarships a year
to Immokalee High School students that want to go into hospitality.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Fred, you're trying to talk us into
something we already were into.
MR. THOMAS: Well, I thought there was some question. That's
why I came all the way over here.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We've already -- we've already approved
this.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Good work.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Bye. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, Fred.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Have a nice trip.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you, Fred.
MS. FILSON: Your final speaker is Nancy Payton.
MS. PAYTON: Nancy Payton, Florida Wildlife Federation.
There was no action taken when you were discussing the fish farm to
direct staff to develop LDC standards to regulate aquaculture in
sending lands, so this is my second appeal to ask you to give direction
to staff and work with stakeholders to do that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So moved.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yes, second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can we -- can we get an opinion
if aquaculture is part of agriculture?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aquaculture.
MR. KLATZKOW: Aquaculture is part of agriculture.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So you have a right to farm?
MR. KLATZKOW: That's a different question, all right. My
interpretation of right to farm is it deals with existing farms. Mr.
Yovanovich's interpretation would be that it would deal with any
farm, past, present, or future. And that's an open issue, quite frankly.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is (sic) the courts, any of the
courts ruled on that?
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February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: That's an open issue.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So no courts have ruled on it?
MR. KLATZKOW: Not to my knowledge.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Thank you.
MS. PAYTON: The federal government does not consider
aquaculture agriculture.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: He does.
MR. KLATZKOW: Not me.
MS. PAYTON: No, no, no.
MR. KLATZKOW: I think your Land Development Code does.
MS. PAYTON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Thank you. We have a motion on the floor
and a second. Would you like to repeat the motion one more time?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The motion is to have the staff
bring back to us recommendations concerning the regulation of
aquaculture in sending lands.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I have a motion and second.
Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: This is for everything from that
date forward that we passed then?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I don't think we can make
things retroactive.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you. I support it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. All those in favor, signify by saying
aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
Page 244
February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good. Thank you.
Item #10F
RESOLUTION 2009-48: RESOLUTION DECLARING A PUBLIC
PURPOSE AND TO ALLOW COLLIER COUNTY PARKS AND
RECREATION TO CREATE A DONATION FUND FOR THE
SOLICITATION, RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF
DONATIONS TO COLLIER COUNTY PARKS AND
RECREATION TO BENEFIT YOUTHS, ADULTS AND SENIOR
CITIZENS - SETTING UP A TRUST FUND SO THAT INTEREST
EARNED WILL STAY WITHIN THAT ACCOUNT - ADOPTED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, that would bring us -- this would
bring us to 1 OF, which is 16D 1.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I'll make this short and sweet and simple,
right?
MR. MUDD: Yes, ma'am. It was a recommendation for the
Board of County Commissioners to adopt a resolution to declare a
public purpose and to allow Collier County Parks and Recreation to
create a donation fund for the solicitation, receipt, and expenditure of
donations to Collier County Parks and Recreation's benefit youths -- to
benefit the youth, adults and senior citizens.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I just had a question. My question is, when
we create this, can we create this fund -- I think it's a wonderful idea.
People love to have their little bake sales and everything to help the
parks, and that's great. But the interest that's earned on that, I would
like to see stay there rather than go to the -- be lost someplace else.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It goes to the clerk. It's his.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, this is -- why can't you create a trust
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February 24, 2009
fund?
MR. KLATZKOW: If -- in my opinion, if you create a trust fund
so that the interest earned on that fund goes right back into that fund
and you don't have any ability to use that as far as general revenues
go, where general funds go, then it's my opinion that, no, the clerk
would not be entitled to the income earned on that through interest.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And so my question to you,
Commissioners, would be, would that be acceptable to you to create a
trust fund so that the interest earned on these little donations would
stay with that account?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Would be fine with me.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Fine with me.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Would that be included in your motion?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It will be.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: My second too.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Your second also.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Is this the department that
appealed to the Supreme Court?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, not at all. This is not an issue to that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: What's appealed?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: State Supreme Court.
MR. KLATZKOW: The issue was, what constitutes surplus
funds, is not on appeal.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. That was my question. Thank you,
Barry. Motion is on the floor and a second.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Very good. And then -
Item #10G
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE FREEDOM MEMORIAL
FUND (620) IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,000 IN ORDER TO
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE COLLIER COUNTY
FREEDOM MEMORIAL - APPROVED
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, brings us to lOG. Used to be 16E8.
It's a recommendation to approve a budget amendment to the Freedom
Memorial funds, 620, in the amount of $70,000 in order to begin
construction on the Collier County Freedom Memorial. The item was
asked to be moved to the regular agenda by Commissioner Fiala, and I
believe it's the same kind of question --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Same question, yes. Thank you for sitting
here all day. Bless your heart.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Same question. Is this going to be a trust
fund so --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Motion to approve with a trust--
with an interest -- the interest being contributed back to this account.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll support that, of course, but I
have a question. The fund is already established.
MR. KLATZKOW: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And so I'm not sure what we do
with that. Do we change the fund? Do we transfer all the money from
the fund into a trust fund?
MR. MUDD: Trust fund. Go ahead.
Page 247
February 24, 2009
MS. DAVIDSON: If I may, Laura Davidson with the office of
management and budget. This -- these funds are in the trust fund. It's
currently a trust fund, and the interest retained -- is retained in that
fund.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay, fine. Then we have it on the record
that it is, and so we have a motion to approve by Commissioner
Coletta and a second by Commissioner Coy Ie.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I think it was Commissioner Halas
seconded.
MS. FILSON: It was Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And I thirded.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
MS. FILSON: So who are we putting down, Coyle or Halas?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Halas.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Halas seconded.
Item #9D
PRESENTATION BY THE CLERK OF COURTS TO UPDATE
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE
COUNTY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO - MOTION TO BRING
BACK A STAFF REPORT REGARDING HIRING AN
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND TO LOOK AT REVISING THE
INVESTMENT POLICY - APPROVED
Page 248
February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the next item, at least on my
agenda, you moved it forward to this afternoon, which was 9D, and it
was basically the presentation by the Clerk of Courts, and I mentioned
that he had provided a letter earlier that basically said he was not
going to attend. He stated the reasons why with the board in that
particular case, and there was some discussion from the dais that said,
well, wait a minute. We want to talk about options or something,
Commissioner Coletta basically said. That's what I remember. That's
the only item that I don't have crossed off.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: May I?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yes, certainly.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. Well, it's obvious to me
that the clerk will not answer our questions regarding the budget and
the money that he's holding for us.
What's the possibilities of, like the City of Naples does, having
an investment adviser to handle our funds in the future? Does anybody
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- have any answer to that? Did I
say something wrong?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No. He said, second that.
COMMISSIONER ,HALAS: I second that.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Sounds to me like you made a
motion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, I did. It was more of a
question than a motion. But if it's possible to do that, I would like to
have somebody come back and make a report to us.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Is that like they just did with the City of
Naples?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Uh-huh. Well, then again, too, I
don't know what's what because the City of Naples is a different entity
Page 249
February 24, 2009
than the county government. They're a charter. We're not. So I'm not
too sure where we stand, but I'd sure like to hear from staff on it.
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, I believe you can have an
investment adviser. You will have to change your investment policy in
order to enable that particular action to transpire.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay. Then consider it a motion
to have it brought back.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. And the second agrees?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Second, yep.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: The sooner the better.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: So we have a motion -- oh. And
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I believe the Constitution says
twice that the clerk shall be the one holding the funds.
But I have another question on the correspondence from the
clerk. Did you read that correspondence --
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- Mr. Klatzkow? And the
question is -- well, let me find it. Well, let me read it. It's a -- it's
correspondence to the commissioner, chairman, person, should be
Fiala, thank you for your letter of February 18,2009, and your
invitation to appear before the board on February 24th.
With all due respect, after discussing it with counsel, I believe it
would not be productive for me to appear and would be a waste of
additional taxpayers' source.
And in addition to the invitation followed for (sic) your recent
decision to spend even more money pursuant to litigation opposing
transparency and accountability in government, and forcing my office
to do more of the same, in light of the time -- timing of the matters, it
is clear that your invitation is part of your trial strategy and such (sic),
I will decline.
Page 250
February 24, 2009
On the other hand, please remember that it has been less than a
year that you wanted to review the investment portfolio. My
employee, an expert, at a (sic) great tax expense to review the
portfolio and provide you thorough and comprehensive analysis, my
investment policy is -- are unchanged since the prior expense
presentation with no valid purpose existing for justifying the occurring
(sic) that the expense again, especially during the current economic
difficult times, which I do not consider the board's litigation and
strategy to be a public purpose.
We post the entire portfolio makeup on our website monthly for
everyone to review, in addition to your hiring an accounting firm,
review the portfolio that cost 25,000.
The board required my staff to copy, pursuant to public records
request, 16,998 copies of the document made, which you had previous
(sic) received multiple occasions through litigation, not only from us,
but Fifth-Third Bank, and you refuse to pay the statutory costs of the
copies. And I'm again making that demand for payment.
Well, let me just finish. And I made an offer to resolve the
investment issue request with the county attorney's opinion. On April
4, 2007, the board was (sic) refused out of hand. The board, again, had
an opportunity at the last Board of Commissioners' meeting to bring
the litigation to close once and for all, but the decision (sic) to
continue at taxpayers' expense dollars pressing the litigation.
I will, therefore, continue to proceed in that content. I have been
willing in the past to continue to remain agreeable and amuted (sic) to
the aspects of the litigation case as long as it has been done in a public
forum.
In your desire to discuss the mediation with your counsel, you
can contact Mr. Grady at this time.
Of course, the board decided different. But the question is, what
about this bill for the public records request? I don't remember the
board saying not to pay it.
Page 251
February 24, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't remember directing anybody not to,
to be honest. I don't know.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, obviously we received a
bill. He sent it to all the commissioners. Who does he need to have to
send it to to get it paid?
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Do we know anything about that?
MR. MUDD: Well, I think he -- I think --
MR. KLATZKOW: I'll look into it, sir. I mean, it's --
MR. MUDD: I don't think I saw a bill, but I believe it had to do
with the records request from your auditor that you asked to do an
external audit as far as -- it was the $25,000 contract you had, and I
can't -- I'll have to go back and take a look at the particular issues.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: The only thing I saw was something
where he was charging us $7 for every check that he writes out for
payroll for each and every one of our employees twice a month.
MR. MUDD: And those are -- and those are being analyzed by a
subcommittee of the Productivity --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: And $7 for every telephone call he
receives and $7 for every copy that he makes for us and $7 for
absolutely everything he does. That's the only thing I've seen.
MR. KLATZKOW: Commissioner, I'll write it down for you. I
just don't remember the issue, to be blunt.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Yep. Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I was just going to bring this up,
that of the -- this is in regards to all these pages that he just quoted
here of 16,998 copies, at $7 a copy? I don't believe so, okay? The
normal charge for that should be no more than a nickel or 50 cents.
MR. KLATZKOW: We'll look into it. I just don't know.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You'll come back to us at the next
meeting?
MR. KLATZKOW: I'll give you an em ail before then.
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February 24, 2009
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Great. Thank you.
Okay. So now we have--
MR. MUDD: You have a motion and a second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes, we certainly do. We
have a -- would you -- would you repeat the motion?
MR. MUDD: The motion, I believe, was for staff to come back
and layout for the board its ability to get an investment adviser for the
Board of County Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That was made by Commissioner Coletta.
MR. MUDD: Coletta, and I believe it was seconded by
Commissioner Halas.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What does an investment adviser
do? Tells us where to put the investments?
MR. MUDD: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And do you have
something to say, Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah, I sure do, as soon as you get
done.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. So we're not going to
invest the monies; we're just going to tell the clerk where to invest the
monies?
MR. MUDD: An investment adviser would make a
recommendation where the Board of County Commissioners should
invest their money once that's done, based on your investment policy
that you would have to change. Right now in your investment policy,
your investor is the Clerk of Courts. If the board is going to get an
outside investment adviser, they would have to change the investment
policy in order to make that happen.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
MR. MUDD: And to answer your question, that investment
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February 24, 2009
adviser would then tell the clerk where he needs to put that money.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: And hopefully we would get an
accounting when we ask for it at a reasonable time without a lot of
flack so that the citizens understand where their tax dollars is going
and where it's being invested at, and if there is a gain or a loss, and I
think that's the most important thing.
Obviously where we're going right now, we're not getting
anywheres, and I'm very disappointed, because this is taxpayers'
money, and they need to know what's going on with it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So we voted on that, correct?
MR. MUDD: No, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. So we have a motion on the floor
and a second.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. We have a 5-0 on that.
Item #15
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
And now, let us hear from the county attorney.
Do you have anything, any words of wisdom?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, not at this time.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. County Manager?
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February 24, 2009
MR. MUDD: No, and I won't do what I've done in the past before
at the end, basically talk about four different things.
I just have a piece of good news, and I'm looking for the piece of
paper. But it looks like the committee on appropriations has finally
come up with what they're going to pass as far as -- their zero -- the
'09 budget for the federal government.
The good news is, we have four of your priority items from '09
with money in them, okay, and I expect that particular vote from the
House and Senate to transpire sometime the middle of March and
make it final. This is what we just got out of the omnibus
appropriations bill filed from our Ferguson lobbyist that's up in -- up
in Washington D.C. I just bring it to your attention.
Five hundred seventy thousand dollars for I-75/Collier
Boulevard, which is State Road 84, and that's basically interchange
improvements; tech support for your emergency services center,
350,000; Gordon Pass dredging of 597,000. We received 130,000
before. We are about -- we are just a little less than a million dollars
short, and you have that in your -- in your 10 appropriation, and that
would close it out. Your healthcare access for $143,000.
That's good news. That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: That's it, huh? Gee, this is usually an
exciting time of the meeting when we hear all of the things that you
have to tell us.
Commissioner Coletta, do you have anything to talk about?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I've got a couple, and I'll be very
quick.
The Environmental Advisory Council. We talked about
redundancy within our system. I'd like to see if we can bring it back
and to have it for a discussion at the next meeting regarding the
suspension of the Environmental Advisory Council and putting their
duties into the Planning Commission.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: For what reason?
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February 24, 2009
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just to -- for the sake of
expediency. There's such -- there's so much redundancy, and there is
quite a cost with the carrying costs for our staff having to monitor that
particular function.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: It's been a recommendation I've
got from quite a few different people.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I agree, I mean, if we could
save money, but we just created a new committee. We have to be
aware of -- if we're taking away, we should be consistent, try to save
money. So I go along with your support of you putting it back on the
agenda for discussion.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: We still need three people to do
it.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Well, I'll go along to put it back on the
agenda. My fear is that I -- you know, I had somebody call me on that
as well, probably the same one that called you. But -- and that's fine,
but the thing is, how much more can the Planning Commission
volunteer group handle?
Right now they have -- you know, they focus on one thing and
the other focuses on another, and I think each lends its expertise to that
particular subject. That's like rolling the Productivity Committee in
with the Environmental Advisory Board.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I didn't suggest that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: No, I know that. But I mean, you know --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I want to make sure.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Two different subjects altogether. And so
-- but I'm willing to discuss it.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioners? Oh, Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't even want to discuss it. You
know, the point is that the people involved in the environmental
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advisory functions have special areas of expertise.
Our Planning Commission does not have specific slots for
specific skills. So if you're going to combine the functions of the
environmental advice and the Planning Commission, you're going to
have to change the content of the Planning Commission so you've got
the expert people on the Planning Commission to make the kinds of
environmental decisions and recommendations that we would expect,
and I think we can't do that right now.
I think it's far better to let the environmental people specialize in
that issue, deal with it separately, and let the Planning Commission do
what they've been doing wonderfully well, and let's not complicate
things too much. I think we've got more important things to talk about.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: You know, it's nice to save money, but
just like it's so hot in here that -- we've turned up all of our heat so that
it's hot in the offices and everything, you can go -- you could save
money so much that you, you know, kind of cut your nose off to spite
your face.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: They're trying to get you to
leave.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I think so.
Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: I have the same concerns that
Commissioner Coyle has. I feel that the reason that they put this
environmental committee together was to address issues, and we're
here to represent all of the people in Collier County.
And there are groups that are interested in making sure that the
environment is taken care of, and I don't believe that the Planning
Commission has all that expertise.
So I think that the way that we have it lined at the present time, I
think, is very protective of making sure that all points of view are
brought forth.
I have concerns that some day when we're going to get back on
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our feet again, that we're going to have some serious issues, and they
need to be addressed by the appropriate people who have that
expertise.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Just briefly. The person that
originally suggested it to me -- and I've been fielding the question out
there -- is a very, very strong adequate of the environmental
. community. I'm not going to go into detail. The person isn't here at
this time. But I'm sure if the subject came up, they and some of the
other people that are within the environmental community expressed
their concerns about the way this committee's been going.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Maybe it just needs to -- the composition
needs to be changed rather than obliterated.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't know. I mean --
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We'll discuss it at a meeting. So we'll be
bringing it back.
Okay. Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I don't know ifhe's done.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No, I am, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Oh, are you done?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. Whenever I pause for five
seconds, I'm done.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I quickly jump in.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But I forget what I was saying.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I had -- I brought those
concerns about what the Environmental Advisory Board is addressing,
and I think they're overreaching still at this time on land use issues
versus environmental issues, and they just don't get it.
But anyways, one -- actually, a couple things. The Board of
Commissioners approved amending the Land Development Code not
to expire SDPs or plats, to extend them out for a period of time. But
the question for staff is, did that include -- well, in the sunsetting
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February 24, 2009
provisions, you have two sunset periods. You come back and appeal to
the Board of Commissioners and say, okay, I think there might be
something out there. Does that include those, that they don't sunset?
Okay.
MR. MUDD: Your sunset on your PUDs is either three-year or
five-year, depending on when they became effective -- I call it an old
one versus a new one -- that the board directed -- I believe you
directed -- and I'll go back and check -- not to sunset SDPs and
whatnot for a period of time because of the economic condition. And I
believe it was at the last meeting that you gave us direction to do so. It
was either last meeting or the meeting before that.
MR. SCHMITT: I can correct the record. Joe Schmitt, for the
record. Yes, there was an LDC amendment to extend SDPs and plats.
We had an LDC amendment that changed the life cycle of a PUD, and
it's five years with one two-year extension.
There are still some out there that had -- that were under the two
different rules, but it's now five years with one two-year extension.
There are several PUDs out there that are ready to expire, and --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Without any extensions.
MR. SCHMITT: Without any -- well, they either have -- they're
going to exceed the time period where they can get an extension. The
only way they can revive the PUD -- it stays, but there can be no local
development order. They would have to come back in and do a
PUD-to-PUD amendment to update the PUD to bring it back to life,
for lack of better terminology or lack of a better description.
So there is nothing other than the five-year -- five-year for a PUD
and a two-year window. They can keep that PUD open for 20 years if
they have then maintain and sustain a certain level of development.
That's the issue. There are several out there that haven't done much.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I wonder why.
MR. SCHMITT: Well -- yeah, we all know why.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Right. So I think it's going to be
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February 24, 2009
fair of these ones to be sunsetted, these PUDs, that we need to have
some kind of provision so they don't sunset. The reason that they're
sunsetting, because there's no stimulus plan for them. There's no
earmarks in the stimulus plan, and it's going to be a while,
Commissioners, before we get these -- all the units --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I agree. I like what you're
.
saYIng.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. We need some kind of
provisions to --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: To extend it--
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- to extend those that don't have
any provisions to come back to ask for further extensions.
MR. SCHMITT: Understand. There was -- the purpose for the
PUD sunsetting was to make those PUDs come back in front of the
board to be reviewed, to update, to look at any developer
commitments and, of course, now things have changed. And certainly,
it isn't certainly in the developer's best interest to have some kind of a
program that would further extend those. It would include having to
come back and go through the PUD amendment process. And if that's
your desire, we'll look at it and come back with a recommendation.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'd like that.
MR. SCHMITT: It would probably require some kind of an LDC
amendment, because the last cycle we changed that and we changed
that -- two different provisions, and I don't have the exact dates. It was
something like before 1998, you had so many -- but now it's a
five-year, two-year window. That's five years, and then a two-year
renewal, and that's it. So we'll come back with a recommendation.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm sorry, Commissioner Fiala.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: When Commissioner Henning
finished -- I was through with that one item, I did have a couple really
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February 24, 2009
short ones.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I knew -- I knew he wasn't
finished.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Did you --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. I was done with that item. I
just wanted to give you a chance to respond to it. I thought that's what
you wanted to do. Go ahead, though. Finish, since you've got the
floor.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Oh, I yield my time to you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Oh, thank you. I've got twice as
much time as I had at the beginning.
Before we had a discussion back about a month or so ago,
remember John Barlow and Productivity Committee? And I guess the
direct -- I misunderstood what the directions were that were given to
the county attorney, but I would like to revisit that idea of how many
votes it takes to -- we put a person back on after three terms. Is there
any interest by any other commissioners in that? I see Fred Coyle
nodding his head and I see Donna nodding hers. We've got four
commissioners that are telling you to go ahead and bring it back.
MR. KLATZKOW: We'd have to change the ordinance. If that's
what you want, we'd have to change the ordinance.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Whatever's the easiest way to be
able to get this done so we can be able to have responsible people on
these boards.
MR. KLATZKOW: You're asking me to change the ordinance.
Do you want majority or supermajority for these, extension of more
than two terms, or do you want to get rid of the two-term drop-dead
date entirely?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Personally, I don't see what the
advantage is of having them limited to terms. If anybody's willing to
volunteer their time and we get to vote on them every time when they
come up, I would just -- that would be the easiest, but maybe you can
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give us a couple options rather than delay this.
Yes, Sue?
MS. FILSON: I have appointments for that committee on the
agenda for March the 10th, and Mr. Barlow did submit his application;
however, he's withdrawn due to the provision in the ordinance. You
may want to direct me to wait till he brings the ordinance back to
bring those appointments.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'd like to include that direction
in this motion, or is it just direction to staff, not making a motion?
MR. MUDD: All you have to do is direct staff, sir. I need three
nods.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Okay.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I think you've got four.
MR. MUDD: Yeah, four nods.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: No. I'm concerned. I heard
Commissioner Fiala also express some of her concerns over
developmental services, how we're stripping these people. I mean, I
realize that everything is tied into a revenue stream that's coming in to
keep them in place.
Is there some way we might be able to make adjustments as far
as how we take some people from there if we have to move them,
move them to other departments? Also, too -- and I know this is going
to be probably considered a mortal sin to say, but I'm going to say it
anyway. Lee County pays 30 percent of their developmental services
fees right out of the general fund. Not that we'd ever go to that point.
Calm down, Commissioner Henning.
But I'm very concerned about the institutional knowledge that
we're losing. When this thing starts to ramp up again and we're hoping
-- we know there's going to be a recovery. We know it's not going to
be that far off. We're going to have a hard time putting everything
back together again with the personnel we're losing.
Any -- are my concerns well-founded or is this the wrong
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direction to be going at this point in time? Do you even want to
discuss it?
MR. MUDD: Commissioner, the one thing that I didn't tell you
during the budget preparation -- because we're talking about next
year's budget. I need to come back to this board with a budget
amendment for this year.
We're $7.2 million upside-down this year on sales tax revenue
sharing and our estimate of what people aren't -- we kind of hit upon
it, about $53 million shy. Our estimates are going to be about $4
million shy.
We've got 'er down to $7.2 million. I've gone out to the
constitutional officers based on the pie formula, you know, the '04
issue, and I've also gone to our staff and basically told them, we need
to find those dollars to make up the $7.2 million.
That's out there right now, and staff is working on that particular
request so I can bring that board -- back to the Board of County
Commissioners to adjust the budget this year. So we're working on
that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Let me jump in for a minute and tell you
that the Supervisor of Elections office called me last night actually on
every phone I had to tell you that she's already working on that. She's
got your budget guidance, and she is -- she is working on reducing her
budget. So -- and I promised her I would say that on the record.
MR. MUDD: They're all-- everybody's trying in this regard.
Everybody understands we're not getting the sales tax that we're -- that
we used to get from the state.
The really depressing part on that is when we came up with our
estimates, we went 18 percent below what the state told us they were
going to get. They've exceeded my expectations about not giving us
sales tax. And I believe that's the problem that the governor's having,
along with the state legislators right now, trying to figure out how
they're going to make it through the rest of this year, even though as
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they start session, they're still going to have to make a budget cut to
get through the first of July.
But in the -- in regard to what Commissioner Coletta talked
about, one of the things that I've asked Mr. Schmitt to do when we
come forward with our budget guidance this year is to -- is to identify
what the fee structures need to be.
We haven't raised the fee structures from -- through '03, from
FY03. That needs to be done. You've seen some communi cas from
different folks that say, hey, the fee structures with the amount of
inspections you do for the project doesn't cover what you want to do,
and I can show you that em ail if you didn't get it.
I've told him to do that, and he will come forward as part of the
budget process to talk about what those fees need to be.
If the board wants us to take a look at ad valorem -- an ad
valorem subsidy or a 111 subsidy for that particular organization, we
can talk about that also as far as the budget -- as far as the budget
process is concerned, and we can take a look at that, too.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Mr. Mudd, is there any
possibility there will be turnback money that we could all just forego
and just put it back into the budget and keep our employees in place?
MR. MUDD: We're long gone with turnback money, sir.
. CHAIRMAN FIALA: How about Indian money? When is that
supposed to come through?
MR. MUDD: Ma'am, we don't -- it's got to get passed first. As
soon as we get it -- as soon as we get it passed, then we'll start
counting our chickens, okay. But right now, we don't -- we don't have
a thing yet. So -- and oh, by the way, the governor's very, very
particular about how much they're going to give him up front as far as
his initial shot's going to be, and they're going to have to make up
through that $250-million mark before you ever get to see a dime of
that.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I see.
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Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Yeah. I would think that -- it seems
that our governor is pretty tight with the President of the United States
and that he might be able to get some additional revenues down here
to the State of Florida.
I know he's up there trying to make sure that he's got -- he's
shoring up his budget. It would be nice if he would shore up some of
the counties down here in the State of Florida.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Commissioner Fiala, thanks for
the time you allotted me. I really do appreciate it. Believe it or not, I'm
through this time.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay.
Anything else, Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Nothing.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Commissioner Halas?
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Nothing.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Okay. I just have something little, and this
is also for Joe Schmitt and all. I've already talked to Joe about it, and
that is, I was wondering if we could possibly relax the three public
hearing rule possibly, somehow to -- on our agendas we keep them to
a minimum -- or a maximum of three, and if there's -- if there's
anybody that's wanting to build out there and has an opportunity and
we can help them to save a little bit of money, maybe we could relax
that.
And I spoke to Joe about that already. And so I was wondering if
we could bring that back, you know --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I don't understand.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We're only -- we're only allowed three
public hearings. Not allowed. Let me just say that we limit it to three
public hearings on an agenda in order to keep things under control so
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February 24, 2009
we don't have too much to discuss at any meeting, but sometimes there
are others to discuss and -- I mean, we don't mind lopping it over to
the next day if that is going to save somebody a few thousand dollars
and get people working.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm willing to meet for as long as
it takes to get everybody through.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: I know. Sue?
MR. MUDD: I don't know -- we still have -- you still have the
advertisement costs and everything else that you have to do for the
particular requirement, okay. And I haven't constrained yet -- and, oh,
by the way, Mr. Klatzkow goes to those meetings, and the only
constraint I've got is I don't like to see five on the regular agenda for
you, and we try to see how that's going to work out, just so it doesn't
tie it up.
I believe this has to do with a requirement that you have for
public hearings for prior to the PUD. You have two right now that are
going in front of the Planning Commission, plus you have -- so if I
have a PUD that's got an environmental consequence to it, you've got
the EAC public hearing, you've got two in the PU- -- in the Planning
Commission, one is regular. If there's any changes, they ask it to come
back at the consent, and then you've got one that comes here for --
there's a total of four.
MR. KLATZKOW: I've got to tell you, I mean, I sit on the -- I sit
with the Planning Commission, and the only thing I'm seeing these
days there are conditional uses with churches. We're not backed up on
development.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, okay.
MR. KLA TZKOW: That's just not happening, ma'am. And
you're not seeing a lot of land use, because the Planning Commission's
being unanimous on these.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Oh, okay, fine. I had just gotten this
request from somebody in the development community, and so I
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February 24, 2009
brought it forth. Thank you.
All right. And with that, gentlemen.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Motion to adjourn.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Second.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: We have a motion and a second to
adjourn.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALAS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
CHAIRMAN FIALA: Meeting's adjourned.
*****
* * * *Commissioner Halas moved, seconded by Commissioner Coyle
and carried 4/1 (Commissioner Henning opposing), that the
following items under the Consent and Summary Agendas be
approved and/or adopted * * * *
Item #16A1
RESOLUTION 2009-38: ESTABLISHING THE HORIZON
STUDY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS PROVIDED FOR
DURING THE JANUARY 13. 2009 BCC PUBLIC HEARING
Item #16A2
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
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February 24, 2009
FACILITIES FOR CHASE PRESERVE OF LEL Y RESORT -
W/RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
Item #16A3
INCREASE THE TIME FRAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE
CONTRACT TO ALLOW FOR THE VAN BUSKIRK, RYFFEL &
ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE THE UPDATING OF THE
BASELINE PARCEL DATA REFLECTING THE LAND USE
CHANGES APPROVED FROM JANUARY 2007 THROUGH
MARCH 2009 - CHANGE ORDER #4 TO CONTRACT #45-88581
IS FOR A TIME FRAME INCREASED FROM FEBRUARY 27,
2009 TO JANUARY 1. 2010
Item #16A4
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF AMADOR AT FIDDLERS
CREEK - DEVELOPER MUST RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF
ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE
OF THE FINAL APPROVAL LETTER
Item # 16A5
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR FALLS OF PORTOFINO - W/RELEASE OF
ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
Item #16A6
FINAL AND UNCONDITIONAL CONVEYANCE OF THE
WATER UTILITY FACILITY FOR LA PLAYA BEACH RESORT
- W/RELEASE OF ANY UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
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February 24, 2009
Item #16A7
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR COTTESMORE - W/RELEASE OF ANY
UTILITIES PERFORMANCE SECURITY
Item #16B1
AWARDING BID #09-5180 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
BA YSHORE DRIVE AND THOMASSON DRIVE
STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT NO. 51134.1, TO
KYLE CONSTRUCTION, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,153.20
PLUS A TEN PERCENT CONTINGENCY, AND TO APPROVE
THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENT - FOR CLEARING
AND GRUBBING, DITCH REALIGNMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESS MAINTENANCE PATHWAY
Item #16B2
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PLAN (PMP) OUTLINING THE
PROJECTS THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION #5316 & #5317 PROGRAM
GRANTS - FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: EXTENDED
SERVICE HOURS, INCREASED ROUTES, GEOGRAPHICAL
SERVICE CONNECTIONS, INCREASED FREQUENCY IN
TRANSIT SERVICE AND ADDITIONAL BUS
SHEL TERS/BENCHES
Item #16B3
CHANGE ORDER NO.1 TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Page 269
February 24, 2009
AGREEMENT NO. 07-4133 IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,460.20
WITH PB AMERICA, INC., FOR THE DESIGN OF
NORTHBROOKE DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS FROM NORTHERN
TERMINUS OF THE BRIDGE TO MILL CREEK ROAD AND
V ALEWOOD DRIVE EXTENSION FROM IMMOKALEE ROAD
TO AUTUMN OAKS LANE, PROJECT NO. 60106 - CHANGES
WILL ADD SIDEWALK CONTINUITY WITHIN THE EXISTING
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY AS WELL
AS INCREASING TURN LANE CAPACITY
Item #16B4
AMENDMENT TO THE 2008 TRANSPORTATION
DISADVANTAGE SERVICE PLAN (TDSP) TO ALLOW FOR
JOINT MEETINGS BETWEEN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTY
LOCAL COORDINATING BOARDS (LCB) - THIS MULTI-
YEAR PLAN IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE FUNDING AND WILL BE USED TO
DEVELOP INTRA-COUNTY POLICIES
Item #16B5
RESOLUTION 2009-39: TRANSPORTATION POST PROJECT
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT), FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND
GUARDRAIL "SAFE TO SCHOOL PROJECT" ON 20TH PLACE
SW BETWEEN 50TH STREET SW AND 50TH TERRACE SW
Item #16Cl
PROPOSAL NUMBER 09-5151 FIXED TERM
Page 270
February 24, 2009
INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROLS ENGINEERING
SERVICES - TERMS WILL BE FOR ONE YEAR WITH THE
OPTION OF THREE ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS;
FOUR FIRMS WERE RECOMMENDED: CAMP DRESSER &
MCKEE, INC., HAZEN AND SAWYER, P.C., RKS
CONSULTING ENGINEERS. INC.. AND EMA. INC.
Item # 16C2
AMENDMENT #A01 TO THE EXISTING AGREEMENT NO.
ML070554 BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE SOUTH
FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THAT WILL
REDUCE THE FISCAL YEAR 2009 FUNDING BY $43,227, AND
TO APPROVE THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT-
THE REDUCTION INCLUDES REMOVING THE PARAMETERS
(FLUORIDE, TOTAL COLIFORM AND TOTAL DISSOLVED
SOLIDS) FROM THE CURRENT MONITORING PLAN
Item #16D1 - Moved to Item #10F (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item # 16D2
AWARD BID NO. 09-5166, EAST NAPLES COMMUNITY PARK
SOCCER FIELD, AT A COST OF $529,364.63 TO
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING SYSTEMS - PLUS A 10%
CONTINGENCY
Item #16D3
TEN (10) LIEN AGREEMENTS FOR DEFERRAL OF 100% OF
COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT FEES FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DWELLING UNITS LOCATED IN
Page 271
February 24, 2009
COLLIER COUNTY - TOTALING $196,767.84 IN IMPACT FEES,
ALL AGREEMENTS ARE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE LIBERTY LANDING
SUBDIVISION IN IMMOKALEE AND TRAIL RIDGE
SUBDIVISION IN NAPLES - THE FOLLOWING RECEIVED
IMPACT DEFERRAL FEES: MARIA Del CARMEN SANCHEZ
HERNANDEZ $22,325.96; MIREILLE MELLIEN $19,372.46;
MARICELA TREJO MENDIETA $19,372.46; FLORISELVA D.
ZELAYA $19,372.46; MAX JULMISTE $19,372.46; CARNICIEN
& ANNE PRUSSIEN $22,325.96; CHRISTINA V. HERNANDEZ
$22,325.96; CARLA S. VIACA V A $22,325.96; JAVIER ALVAREZ
$14,987.08; LEONARDO HERNANDEZ ORTIZ & BlANEY
HERNANDEZ $14.987.08
Item #16D4
SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT FEE DEFERRAL AGREEMENTS
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL IN FY09, INCLUDING THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS APPROVED, THE TOTAL
DOLLAR AMOUNT DEFERRED AND THE BALANCE
REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL DEFERRALS IN FY09 -
AS DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16D5
SEVEN (7) DEVELOPER LIEN AGREEMENTS FOR DEFERRAL
OF 100% OF COLLIER COUNTY IMPACT FEES FOR OWNER-
OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS LOCATED IN
COLLIER COUNTY - DEFERRING $192,834.88 IN IMPACT
FEES, ALL AGREEMENTS ARE WITH HABITAT OF
HUMANITY SUBDIVISIONS; NAPLES MANOR LAKES AND
LIBERTY LANDING - THE FOLLOWING LOTS AND BLOCKS
Page 272
February 24, 2009
RECEIVED IMPACT DEFERRALS: NAPLES MANOR LAKES
LOT 14, BLOCK 14 $29,641.30; NAPLES MANOR LAKES LOT
15, BLOCK 14 $29,641.30; NAPLES MANOR LAKES LOT 16,
BLOCK 14 $29,641.30; NAPLES MANOR LAKES LOT 26,
BLOCK 3 $29,641.30; NAPLES MANOR LAKES LOT 25, BLOCK
3 $29,641.30; NAPLES MANOR ADDITION LOT 18, BLOCK 6
$29.641.30: LIBERTY LANDING LOT 64 $14.987.08
Item #16D6
EXPENDITURE OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
(HUD) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,375.00 FOR THE
GOLDEN GATE SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM WHICH IS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES (HHS). THIS PROGRAM IS AN
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING HHS PROGRAM WHICH
PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS
IN COLLIER COUNTY - FUNDING TO BE USED TO PAY
SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR A SITE COORDINATOR AND
FOR A PROGRAM ASSISTANT HIRED FOR 32 HOURS PER
WEEK WITH NO HEALTH BENEFITS
Item #16D7
AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE PHYSICIAN LED
ACCESS NETWORK (PLAN) IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 TO
PROVIDE MEDICAL REFERRAL SERVICES FOR LOW-
INCOME RESIDENTS IN COLLIER COUNTY - TO BE FUNDED
FROM THE LOW INCOME POOL PROGRAM (LIP) FROM
JANUARY 1. 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 31. 2009
Page 273
February 24, 2009
Item #16D8
AWARD REQUEST FOR QUOTATION #09-PR-GGCP-WS
GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY PARK WATER SLIDE UNDER
CONTRACT #06-3971 ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR GENERAL
CONTRACTOR SERVICES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $296,971 TO
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING SYSTEMS FOR REPLACEMENT
OF EXISTING STRUCTURE AT GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY
P ARK AQUA TIC CENTER - TO REPLACE THE WATER SLIDE
DUE TO AGE. TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY
Item #16D9
PAST EXPENSES FOR NON-ETHANOL GASOLINE FOR
COUNTY PARKS AND MARINAS, FOR OUTSTANDING
INVOICES TO EVAN'S OIL COMPANY TOTALING $62,826.60
THA T NEED TO BE PAID BEFORE THE ADDITION OF NON-
ETHANOL - FOR FUEL THAT PARKS AND RECREATION
RECEIVED AND SOLD
Item #16DI0
WAIVE THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND
APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN AN
AGREEMENT FOR $160,000 WITH THE HEALTH PLANNING
COUNCIL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS A SOLE SOURCE
PROVIDER FOR A HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PHYSICIAN LED
ACCESS NETWORK (PLAN) - TO PROCURE THE NECESSARY
CONTRACTORS TO IMPLEMENT THE TECHNICAL SCOPE
OF THE INFORMATION NETWORK PROVIDING AN
EFFICIENT METHOD OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE
Page 274
February 24, 2009
COUNTY'S UNINSURED POPULATION ENDING FEBRUARY
23.2010
Item #16E1
SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR SPECIALIZED MANAGEMENT OF
THE CONSERVATION COLLIER NANCY PAYTON PRESERVE
- TO IMPLEMENT SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
THAT WOULD PROVIDE A NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT
TO THE ENDANGERED RED COCKADED WOODPECKER
AND MAY ALSO BECOME A RELOCATION SITE FOR ANY
OTHER BIRDS THAT NEED RELOCATING FROM OTHER
COUNTY PROPERTIES
Item #16E2
AGREEMENT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE WITH EDWARD J.
TAUBER AND MARY P. TAUBER FOR 5.0 ACRES UNDER
THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
PROGRAM, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $80,300 - FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE RED MAPLE SWAMP
PRESERVE MULTI PARCEL PROJECT IN GOLDEN GATE
ESTATES. UNIT 53
Item #16E3
SALE AND PURCHASE WITH JUAN REY FOR 5.66 ACRES
UNDER THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
PROGRAM, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $91,100 - FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE RED MAPLE SWAMP
PRESERVE MULTI PARCEL PROJECT IN GOLDEN GATE
Page 275
February 24, 2009
ESTATES. UNIT 53
Item #16E4
SALE AND PURCHASE WITH JULIO C. PONCE FOR 1.14
ACRES UNDER THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND
ACQUISITION PROGRAM, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED
$19,300 - FOR PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE
WINCHESTER HEAD MULTI PARCEL PROJECT IN GOLDEN
GATE ESTATES. UNIT 65
Item #16E5
SALE AND PURCHASE WITH ORLANDO PACHECO FOR 2.27
ACRES UNDER THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND
ACQUISITION PROGRAM, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED
$37,900 - FOR PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE
WINCHESTER HEAD MULTI PARCEL PROJECT IN GOLDEN
GATE ESTATES. UNIT 65
Item #16E6
AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE A MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE OF
$28,746 FROM THE GAC LAND TRUST FUND TO THE BIG
CORKSCREW ISLAND FIRE CONTROL AND RESCUE
DISTRICT FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIRE SHELTERS AND
EQUIPMENT - SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF GOLDEN GATE
ESTATES
Item #16E7
CHANGE IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT SERVICE FOR THE
Page 276
February 24, 2009
COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX FROM THE
CITY OF NAPLES TO THE COLLIER COUNTY W A TER-
SEWER DISTRICT AND TO APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL
SERVICE AGREEMENT AND ACCORD AND SATISFACTION
WITH THE CITY OF NAPLES TO SUPERSEDE AN EXISTING
1977 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED - THE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX DIDN'T HAVE
W ASTEW A TER SERVICE WHEN THE INTERLOCAL WAS
SIGNED, AND SHADOWLAWN ELEMENTARY ALSO
RECEIVES CITY WASTEWATER SERVICE
Item #16E8 - Moved to Item #10G (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16F1
BUDGET AMENDMENTS - #309-178 FOR OPERATING
EXPENSES
Item #16F2
RESOLUTION 2009-40: APPROVING AMENDMENTS
(APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS
OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2008-09
ADOPTED BUDGET
Item # 16F3
AWARD BID #09-5175 FOR HORTICULTURE DEBRIS
HAULING AND DISPOSAL TO COUNTY WASTE. INC
Item #16F4
Page 277
February 24, 2009
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CONSORTIUM 2009 LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY
PARTICIPATING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEMBERS IN TALLAHASSEE
THROUGHOUT THE 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION - THE
TOPICS WERE AS FOLLOWS: ECONOMIC
STIMULUS/DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
BASED GOVERNANCE/HOME RULE. OPPOSE NEW
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE CAPS, SUPPORTING
AMENDING CONSULTANTS COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION
ACT. AND SUPPORTING REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS
Item #16G1 - Moved to Item #14B (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item # 16G2
BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,495,000.00
TO RECOGNIZE USDA GRANT REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT
OF $495,000.00 AND TRANSFER $1,000,000.00 FROM AIRPORT
AUTHORITY RESERVES TO THE PROJECT FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT
MANUFACTURING FACILITY AT THE IMMOKALEE
REGIONAL AIRPORT
Item #16G3
SITE IMPROVEMENT GRANT AGREEMENT(S) BETWEEN
THE COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY (CRA) AND A GRANT APPLICANT(S) WITHIN THE
BA YSHORE GA TEW A Y TRIANGLE COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AREA (2255 DAVIS BOULEVARD) -
COMMITTING $17,500 DUE TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
Page 278
February 24, 2009
APPLICANTS AFTER THE SATISFACTION OF ALL GRANT
STIPULATIONS. THE SITE IMPROVEMENT GRANT WAS
SUBMITTED BY THE OWNER. THE SALVATION ARMY
Item #16G4
SHORELINE STABILIZATION GRANT AGREEMENT(S)
BETWEEN THE COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND A GRANT APPLICANT(S)
WITHIN THE BA YSHORE GA TEW A Y TRIANGLE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA (2772 RIVERVIEW
DRIVE) - SUBMITTED BY WILLIAM C. KING OWNER OF
THE PROPERTY ($5.000.00)
Item #16G5
SHORELINE STABILIZATION GRANT AGREEMENT(S)
BETWEEN THE COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND A GRANT APPLICANT(S)
WITHIN THE BA YSHORE GA TEW A Y TRIANGLE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA (2736 RIVERVIEW
DRIVE) - SUBMITTED BY WILLIAM C. KING OWNER OF THE
PROPERTY ($5.000.00)
Item #16G6
APPLICATION AND RECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR THE
IMMOKALEE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
(CRA) COMMERCIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT
PROGRAM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF $20,000 FOR B&B
CASH GROCERY STORES, INC. FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE
HANDY FOOD STORE #92 LOCATED AT 401 SOUTH FIRST
Page 279
February 24, 2009
STREET IN IMMOKALEE. FLORIDA
Item #16H1
COMMISSIONER FIALA'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE FOURTH ANNUAL
FASHION SHOW AND SILENT AUCTION ON MARCH 20, 2009
AT THE CLUB AT THE STRAND IN NAPLES, FL. $80.00 TO BE
P AID FROM COMMISSIONER FIALA'S TRAVEL BUDGET -
LOCATED AT 5840 STRAND BOULEVARD. NAPLES
Item #16H2
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. COMMISSIONER COLETTA ATTENDED THE
ITALIAN AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SOUTH WEST FLORIDA
REVERSE RAFFLE AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
FUNDRAISER ON FEBRUARY 22,2009 AT THE COUNTRY
CLUB OF NAPLES. $100 DONATION BENEFITS LOCAL
STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND ADMITS
TWO. $50 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S
TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED AT 185 BURNING TREE DR,
NAPLES
Item #16H3
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. COMMISSIONER COLETTA ATTENDED THE BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL
Page 280
February 24, 2009
EXECUTIVE BOARD (MEMBER) RETREAT IN FORT MYERS
ON JANUARY 24,2009, $5 LUNCHEON TO BE PAID FROM
COMMISSIONER COLETTA'S TRAVEL BUDGET - LOCATED
AT 1801 BOY SCOUT DRIVE. FT. MYERS
Item #1611
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TO FILE FOR RECORD WITH
ACTION AS DIRECTED
The following miscellaneous correspondence, as presented by the
Board of County Commissioners, has been directed to the various
departments as indicated: None Submitted for the BCC Meeting of
February 24, 2009 per Agenda
Page 281
February 24, 2009
Item #16J1
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 30, 2009
THROUGH FEBRUARY 06, 2009 AND FOR SUBMISSION INTO
THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item # 16J2
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 7, 2009
THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2009 AND FOR SUBMISSION INTO
THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item #16K1
PURCHASE ORDER INCREASE EXCEEDING $50,000 FOR THE
SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD EXTENSION PROJECT
(PROJECT NO. 60091) W/RWA CONSULTING, INC. IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLLIER COUNTY PURCHASING
POLICY (FISCAL IMPACT $50,000) - CURRENTLY THERE
ARE 12 PARCELS IN DISPUTE AND THE COUNTY'S
ANTICIPATING THEM GOING TO TRIAL
Item #16K2
APPLICATION FOR TAX DEEDS FOR THIRTY-TWO (32)
COUNTY-HELD TAX CERTIFICATES AND THE
FORWARDING OF A WRITTEN NOTICE TO PROCEED WITH
TAX DEED APPLICATIONS TO THE TAX COLLECTOR - AS
DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16K3 - Moved to Item #12A (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Page 282
February 24, 2009
Item # 1 7 A
RESOLUTION 2009-41: VA-2008-AR-13756, LEE WYATT,
REPRESENTED BY LAUREN BARBER OF TURRELL AND
ASSOCIATES, IS REQUESTING A FRONT YARD SETBACK
VARIANCE FOR PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES IN THE MOBILE
HOME (MH) ZONING DISTRICT FROM 25 FEET TO 16 FEET,
AS REQUIRED BY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC)
SECTION 4.02.01, SETBACKS FOR BASE ZONING DISTRICTS,
TO PERMIT A NINE-FOOT SETBACK; AND A SITE
AL TERA TION VARIANCE TO IMP ACT MANGROVES,
PURSUANT TO LDC SUBSECTION 9.04.02.B.1. THE
APPROXIMATELY 0.14-ACRE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS
LOCATED ON LOT 77, OTTER AVENUE, IN PLANTATION
ISLAND, OF SECTION 24, TOWNSHIP 53 SOUTH, RANGE 29
EAST. COLLIER COUNTY. FLORIDA. CTS
Item #17B
ORDINANCE 2009-04: (CPSP-2007-6) PETITION REQUESTING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE POTABLE WATER SUB-ELEMENT
OF THE PUBLIC FACILITIES ELEMENT OF THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT PLAN (GMP), TO ADD REFERENCE IN
POLICY 1.7 TO THE PROPOSED TEN-YEAR WATER SUPPLY
FACILITIES WORK PLAN; APPROVE THE 10-YEAR WATER
SUPPL Y FACILITIES WORK PLAN AS PROPOSED; AND
DIRECT STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THE CCPC'S
RECOMMENDATIONS (ADOPTION HEARING)
Item #17C
ORDINANCE 2009-05; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
Page 283
February 24, 2009
ORDINANCE NO. 2002-27, AS AMENDED, WHICH CREATED
THE PELICAN BAY MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING AND
BENEFIT UNIT, BY PROVIDING FOR WAIVER OF MAIL
BALLOT REQUIREMENTS IN THE EVENT THE NUMBER OF
NOMINEES FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE PELICAN BAY
SERVICES DIVISION BOARD IN A PARTICULAR CATEGORY
DOES NOT EXCEED THE NUMBER OF OPEN POSITIONS FOR
THAT CATEGORY
Page 284
-
February 24, 2009
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 6:42 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
@.~" ~~
DONNA! FIALA, Chairman
At. st..~s toi~~;"
,191latu"t On".. ...
These minutes approved by the Board on
presented V or as corrected
, as
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS.
Page 285