BCC Minutes 08/06/1996 R REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 6, 1996,
OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COHMISSIONERS
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 districts as
have been created according to law and having conducted business
herein, met on this date at 9:10 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION in Building
"F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the
following members present:
CHAIRMAN: John C. Norris
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Timothy L. Hancock
Timothy J. Constantine
Pamela S. Hac'Kie
Bettye J. Matthews
ALSO PRESENT: W. Neil Dorrill, County Manager
David Weigel, County Attorney
Item #3
AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED WITH CHANGES
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Call the county commission meeting to
order the 6th of August, 1996. Mr. Dotrill, would you please lead us
in an invocation and a pledge to the flag.
MR. DORRILL: Heavenly Father, we give thanks today. We
give thanks for the wonder that we have just watched over the last two
weeks involving the Olympics. We give thanks for the -- the pride
that has come to that that accrues to our county and the city of
Atlanta and the people associated with that.
Father, we give thanks today especially for our county
and our part of the United States and for its people, especially its
leadership, our Board of County Commissioners. It's our prayer this
morning that you would guide their deliberations as we make important
business decisions for this community and that you would bless our
time together here today and that it would be a reflection of your
will. And we pray these things in Your Son's holy name. Amen.
(The pledge of allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Dorrill, I see we have a couple of
changes to our agenda today.
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir. Good morning, commissioners. I
have just a couple of changes. I have one add-on item that will be
8(E)(3). And in anticipation of a short meeting today, there are a
number of people who had asked to come, but they didn't know when.
And so I had told them that we would try and do this as close to 10
a.m. as -- as possible. It's a discussion of the expansion of the
Ford Motor test track and trying to get some direction from the board
and to share with you some information that I have in the hopes that
-- that you're willing to take an advocacy position there. And I'll
-- I'll explain that to you as part of 8(E)(3).
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: 8 (E) (3) ?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: We have an 8(E)(2) addition.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Well, it's a move.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: A move, correct.
MR. DORRILL: I have another add-on item, and we have
distributed some information to you. The -- the courts program is
anticipating a shortfall in their operating budget before the end of
the year. And we've done a good job working through Jean Gansel in
our budget office to try and -- and nail that down. We have got the
request to almost half of what it originally was. But they need to be
able to discuss that today with you. That will be ll(A) under other
constitutional officers, recommendation that the board appropriate
additional funds for the remaining two months of the fiscal year.
Then I have one item that I would like to move from your
consent agenda to the regular agenda for a presentation. It's -- item
16(E)(1) is moving and will become 8(E)(2) as part of a request by
your airport authority to receive some advance funding from the
board's pooled commercial paper program in anticipation of capital
grants from the state. And that's all that I have, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Commissioner Matthews, anything
further?
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: No.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Commissioner Hancock?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Yeah. I've received several
questions. There's been a lot of discussion. And just for
clarification, I'd like to move item 16(B)(7) from the consent
agenda. I do have one question on that. I've had it answered. But
again, there's been a lot of -- I received a lot of phone calls on
that, the whys and wherefores, so I'd like to move that to the regular
agenda.
MR. DORRILL: And that will become 8(B)(4).
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Commissioner Mac'Kie?
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Just a question for staff. With
such a short agenda today, I'm disappointed that we don't have partial
year ad valorem reports on here, and I wonder when we might anticipate
that.
MR. DORRILL: I -- I don't know, but I'll find out
before we get to ten o'clock.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Thanks.
MR. DORRILL: I'll let you --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: If we're here that long.
Commissioner Constantine?
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I have no changes.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We need a motion.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I make a move -- motion to
approve the agenda and consent agenda as amended. COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Second.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Point of -- or I'm sorry. I have
a question. Actually 16(B)(6) -- Mr. Dotrill, help me. Where's the
$400,000 beach restoration question on the agend -- on the consent
agenda? I'm sorry. I thought it was B(7), and I was incorrect. MR. CONRECODE: No, you're correct.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Am I? Is that the -- okay. In
that case nevermind.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. We have a motion then and a
second. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
Item #4
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 16, 1996 - APPROVED AS PRESENTED
We have some minutes.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Motion to approve the minutes
of the July 16, 1996, regular meeting.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Second.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor signify by saying aye.
And opposed?
Item #5A1
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 1-7, 1996, AS COLLIER
COUNTY BREAST FEEDING WEEK - ADOPTED
Proclamations. Commissioner Hac'Kie, you have one I
believe.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: What a wonderful opportunity to
recognize something that's so important for our community. Is Laurie
Owens here to receive this proclamation? Thank you. If you'll come
forward and just face the camera while I read the proclamation. MS. OWENS: Okay.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Whereas, every baby in Collier
County deserves the best possible start in life; and
Whereas, science is finding out more about how what we
feed our babies affects their health and well being; and
Whereas, the government, healthcare professionals, and
community groups have a role in educating society and families about
the best method of feeding infants to enhance their health; and
Whereas, all available knowledge indicates that human
milk optimally enhances the growth, development, and well being of the
infant by providing the very best possible nutrition and immunological
protection as well as promoting maternal and infant bonding; and
Whereas, the United States has one of the highest infant
mortality rates among industrialized countries, and Florida ranks in
the bottom half of all states in most infant health measures; and
Whereas, breast-feeding has benefits for society through
stronger family bonds, increased self esteem, higher IQ for babies,
and decreased healthcare costs for mothers and babies; and
Whereas, Florida has made improved health for mothers
and babies a priority by adopting the statewide Healthy Start
initiative; and
Whereas, Florida Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies has
joined with the Florida section of NAACOG, the Florida Lactation
Consultants Association, the La Leche League of Florida, the Florida
WIC program, the Southwest Florida Breast-feeding Task Force, and
other community and health professional groups in promoting
breast-feeding.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that the week of August 1
through 7, 1996, be designated as Collier County breast-feeding week.
Done and ordered the 6th day of August, 1996, Board of
County Commissioners of Collier County, John C. Nor -- Norris,
chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to move we accept this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second to
accept this proclamation. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Thanks.
Item #5A2
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 5-9, 1996, AS COLLIER
COUNTY PROTECTIVE SERVICES APPRECIATION WEEK - ADOPTED
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Commissioner Hancock, you have a
proclamation as well I believe.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I do, and it says here to be
accepted by Don Hunter, but I see we have a cadre of Collier's finest
out there that are here to accept this. This is a proclamation
regarding protective services appreciation week. And if I could ask
you ladies and gentlemen to line up here and face the music.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Line up?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: It's difficult telling an officer
to line up, isn't it?
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: A police line-up of a different
sort.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Thank you. Whereas, the problem
of crime and safety touch all segments of our society and can
undermine and erode the moral and economic strength of our
communities; and
Whereas, we are fortunate that individuals from
protective services agencies in Collier County dedicate themselves to
preserving law and order and public safety; and
Whereas, we recognize that the men and women in
protective services risk their lives daily to protect our citizens and
maintain social order; and
Whereas, it is appropriate to encourage the residents of
Collier County to pay tribute to their protective services agencies;
and
Whereas, the administrators of Collier County's public
service agencies wish to recognize and honor the members of their
agencies for their dedication and service to the community.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that the week of August 5
through 9, 1996, be designated as Collier County protective services
appreciation week and that all residents of Collier County are hereby
encouraged to honor the men and women in protective services and
further are encouraged to always assist them by being responsible
citizens.
Done and ordered this 6th day of August, 1996, signed
John C. Norris, chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion
that we accept this proclamation.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Second.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor signify by saying aye.
Thank you, gentlemen and ladies. Is there anything you
want to say?
COHHISSIONER MAC'KIE: Yeah, I understand there was a
big party on Sunday, like 600 people?
MR. SANDERS: Quite a few, but I celebrated one with my
grand -- Captain Jim Sanders. Mr. Chairman, if you would permit it
I'd like to introduce Lieutenant Tom Smith who will introduce some
guests that we have from the Netherlands that are currently attending
what they call their police school and what we refer to as a police
academy who have been over here visiting us, reviewing how our
government and law enforcement works, and this will be a great time to
show how our government and people of Collier County appreciate us so
they can take this back.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you. Certainly. Go right
ahead.
MR. SMITH: Good morning. Tom Smith from the sheriff's
office. I'd like to introduce you to Michel and Lees. Their -- their
full names are Lees Gerda Knijp and Michel Ibrahim Nederstigt. They
are attending the police academy, the national police academy, in
Holland. It's kind of unique how we came to meet. The commander of
their academy located the sheriff's office web site on the Internet,
and it was Lees's idea to do an internship in the last month or so of
their academy. So they chose to come to the sheriff's office in
Collier County or requested to come here, and we accepted, and it's
been a very international educational experience. We've learned a lot
from them. They've learned a lot from us. I think they've enjoyed
their trip. I think they've learned a lot about the county and
enjoyed the county tremendously. They did attend the protective
services presentation that was done at the Sports Park, and I think
that they had an opportunity to meet a lot of very interesting
people. So if you have any questions, I'm sure they'd be interested
in answering questions.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Questions?
MR. SMITH: They're very interesting individuals.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Just thank you for coming.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We certainly appreciate them coming.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Do you want to go home, or do you
like it here? Good answer.
MR. SMITH: I will -- I will add just for the record,
though, also that they have been fine examples of police cadet system
in Holland. They're very well educated, very knowledgeable, and have
really represented their country well. So from the Collier County
Sheriff's Office and the community, thank you.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Thank you.
Item #5B
EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS - PRESENTED
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Commissioner Matthews, you have some
service awards here today.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Yes, I do. We have five today
all for ten years. I'd first like to ask John Flomerfelt from the
waste water department, ten years. Certificate and your pin, and
thank you very much.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Congratulations, John.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: The next one is Jesse Komorny,
again from the water department, ten years. Thank you very much. Ten
more?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Thanks, Jesse.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Good.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Thank you.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'm going to try to say this
next one right. Jacinto Cervantes, parks and recreation, ten years.
Thank you.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Is it Jacinto? Spanish I and II
really paid off.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I didn't take Spanish I and II.
I took other courses that are different.
Next one, William Flynn from OCPH, ten years.
MR. FLYNN: Thank you.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Thank you. Ten more; right?
MR. FLYNN: Thanks. I'm going to give you ten more,
right?
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: You're going to give us ten
more? Okay.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Good start.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: And our fifth person today,
Constance Johnson from code enforcement, again, ten years.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: The way you're dressed I assume
you don't work a lot in the field. MS. JOHNSON: No, no.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Thank you very much, Connie.
MR. DORRILL: But she is the reason that the code
enforcement department works. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Yes, she is.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item #5C
CERTIFICATES PRESENTED TO GOLDEN GATE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS 5TH GRADE
REGARDING A CONTEST TO RENAME LANDFILL ROAD
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Well, our next one should be a little
fun here. We recently asked the Golden Terrace Elementary School to
have a little contest to rename our Landfill Road, and we have some
finalists here in the contest today. And as I call your name,
finalists, would you please come up here and stand, and then I'll
present to you your certificates.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: They did throw out Bigelow
Scenic Highway, didn't they?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Yes, they did. They threw that one
out. Our first one is Tamica Burgess from Mr. Wilson's class. Her
suggestion is Wildlife Lane.
The next one is Diana Graham from Mr. Bertman's room.
Diana's suggestion was Nature Lane.
And the final one is Tiffany Rivera from Miss Russo's
room. Tiffany not with us this morning?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Tiffany's still enjoying her
summer.
MR. BIGELOW: Mr. Chairman, Tiffany had a conflict.
She's on a field trip today.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay.
MR. BIGELOW: Steve Bigelow for the record.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Well, we'll make sure she gets
her certificate. Her suggestion was Bird Lane. And if you two ladies
would come forward, I'll give you your certificate here. This one's
yours. Thank you. That was very good.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Here's yours.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Thank you very much. Good
idea.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Very good work. And who will make
sure that we get this one to Tiffany Rivera?
MR. BIGELOW: Mr. Chairman, I'll be glad to accept it
for her and make sure that she gets it.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. And you have a few words for us
as well?
MR. BIGELOW: Yes, sir, I would if I may. Thank you,
Mr. Chairman, commissioners. It's always a pleasure to be with you.
About a year and a half ago when I came to Collier
County, one of the first people that I met that was an employee of the
county was -- was Joan Mayor. And I had asked Joan to be with us
today, but unfortunately she is at the showcase today getting ready
for that this afternoon.
Joan -- one of the first questions that Joan asked me,
would Waste Management continue the tours for the school children.
And I said, "By all means absolutely," because I think it's one of the
important things that we do with the children, and I encourage you to
continue to fund that program.
And I also have a presentation that I want to make to
our two finalists that are with us today. Diane and Tamica if you
could come forward, please.
Several months ago when I was talking with Lee Bush, I
mentioned to Lee that -- that the landfill advisory committee was
desirous of a name change for Landfill Road. And Lee agreed to bring
his entire fifth grade class -- classes with the assistance of Joan to
the landfill, and they toured the landfill, and they learned all the
things that -- that we do every day to protect the environment. And
I'm sure that we did not get all of the submittals on the name
change. But we did receive approximately eight. And of the eight
that we received, the committee decided that they liked the three the
best. And they wanted you to consider those three name changes for a
-- for a possible name change of Landfill Road. And so on behalf of
Waste Management, what I would like to do is present a U.S. government
savings bond to each of our finalists today. Thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, Mr. Bigelow.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: That's great. That's great.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a public petition next. While
our petitioner is coming forward, I'd like to remind us that we allow
ten minutes for a public petition. The board is unlikely to take any
action today but may -- may decide to put this on a future county
commission agenda for action. Mr. Stahlman, if you'd come forward,
please.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: On the previous item, do we want
to put something on the agenda to -- or at least ask staff to put
something on the agenda to effect a name change for that road based on
the submittals we received? All that good work needs to be utilized.
MR. CONRECODE: For the record, Tom Conrecode from
public works. That is, in fact, happening. They have to go through
the petition process through development services.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Fantastic. Thank you.
Item #7A
RUSSELL C. STAHLMAN REGARDING A PROPOSAL OF A DESIGNATED AREA FOR
CATAMARAN SAIL BOATS - STAFF TO INVESTIGATE IMPACT ON DUNES AND COASTAL
CONSTRUCTION SETBACK LINES AND COME BACK
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Stahlman, good to have you here.
MR. STAHLMAN: Commissioners, my name's Rus Stahlman.
I'm one of many sailboat enthusiasts in Pelican Bay area, and we've
recently found out that Pelican Bay area is not a -- designated along
the beach an area for hobie cats. Naples has seven areas designated,
approximately seven hobie cats in each area. The last area, the north
-- northernmost area, south of Pelican Bay, has ten hobie cats in
that area. So there's quite a coverage, nearly 60 hobie cat parking
areas in the Naples area.
Pelican Bay has been -- we have had hobie cats along the
beach up there approximately 200 yards south of the -- of the Sand
Piper Restaurant and then about 200 yards north of the south
restaurant. And everything's been going along fine for the last few
years. But there has been a complaint from an individual in the area,
a registered complaint. And so consequently, the code enforcement
office here has been issuing us citations.
And so it was recommended by the code enforcement
office, Bill Bolgar, that we request an order for the departments of
-- or some departments in this area in the com -- county here to help
us go through the steps of getting a designated area or actually two
designated areas for hobie cats along the beach up there.
And so they -- the Department of Natural Resources was
recommended, and the department of recreation was recommended so --
for designated areas for hobie cats, and we would hope to have --
well, the details we can get into later, but that is basically what
we're after. We have met with the foundation, the president of the
foundation, the general manager of the foundation in Pelican Bay, and
we saw no resistance. In fact, I have a letter from them here okaying
what we're after. And the only resistance we have had that we know of
is a individual and --
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: If I may, Mr. Stahlman, as Mr. --
as Commissioner Norris indicated, we don't really take official
action, but we can give staff direction, and I'd like to put something
on the table if the board agrees. There are two areas that need to be
looked at before any area can be designated. One is the coastal
construction line setback, and the second is the dune line to make
sure that the dunes are not being adversely impacted by the -- by the
sailboats. If we could direct staff to -- to make sure that -- that
these areas that are being asked for comply with those two, I would
like to see our staff help work out a -- a location and bring it back
to the board so we -- that -- that hobie cats, sunfish, lasers,
whatever up to a certain limited number can be parked, if you will,
safely and securely in that section of the beach.
The city has a -- and, Mr. Olliff, do we have this
elsewhere in the county?
MR. OLLIFF: (Mr. Olliff shook head.)
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay. Because the city has
certain requirements that we're going to need -- we would need to
adopt similar requirements regarding storm warning and so forth to,
again, make sure that these boats don't have an adverse impact to
anyone else. In the discussions with Mr. Stahlman, I don't think
that's a problem with the folks who are using it now. MR. STAHLMAN: That's right.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: So I'd like to go ahead and ask
that we give staff direction to work with Mr. Stahlman and -- and
accomplish what he's -- he's requesting. It sounds reasonable.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I --
MR. STAHLMAN: One other request that I'd like to make
at this time is we have had a continuance or we have -- we've had --
or you in your behalf have requested --
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Thank you. And that's -- that's
something I -- I didn't get to just yet. There is a complaint that
was filed to code enforcement regarding the -- the boats being in
place. Until this matter is resolved by the board, we may need -- do
we need official board action to affect that complaint in any way? If
it's followed through, the boats have to be removed only to be
replaced when this is resolved, so I'd like to see that deferred if
possible.
MR. DORRILL: We can evaluate staying any code
enforcement action pending the board determining where you'd like to
see the two locations and under what circumstances people could
properly keep boats out there.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: The only concern I would have is that
it would be premature to stay the code enforcement action until the
board takes some other official action. I mean, we haven't even had
acclimation that we're going to go forward with this from the board
yet.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Well, I support it.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Commissioner Constantine, do you
support going forward with -- COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: That's fine. I -- I would
suggest --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I do as well, but I think legally
we're sort of bound to follow our codes until we do take some action
to set aside an area.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Well, there's nothing that -- I
mean, my favorite phrase, prosecutorial discretion. There's nothing
that says that we can't have the discretion to -- to decide when that
will be prosecuted. It's not a question of if, whether or not, just
when.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I'm going to guess that our
staff has the common sense that if something is pending they're not
going to make them remove them and put them back two weeks later. But
again, I don't know that this board needs to be giving specific
direction with a specific code enforcement case just like several
others we've looked at. But hopefully Neil and everyone have common
sense.
MR. DORRILL: This would be in line right behind the
Lely Barefoot guard house.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Oh, God, somewhere behind that.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I -- I was going to say in light
-- in light of how many -- how long it has taken some issues to get
to the Code Enforcement Board, I would think that this one's probably
four, five years away at this point.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: At least.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Dotrill, then do you understand
the direction?
MR. DORRILL: I do, and we'll develop a proposal and
bring it back to the board. I would -- I would think it'd be hard to
do it before you -- you have your brief recess in August but perhaps
first meeting in September.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Stahlman, thank you very much.
MR. STAHLMAN: Thank you.
Item #882
RESOLUTION 96-340 AUTHORIZING REDUCTIONS OF SPEED LIMITS TO TWENTY FIVE
MILES PER HOUR ON DESIGNATED PLATTED LOCAL RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION
ROADWAYS THAT ARE THEN DEDICATED TO PUBLIC USE WITHIN COLLIER COUNTY,
SUBJECT TO MANDATORY PREREQUISITES - ADOPTED. STAFF TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
NOTICE OF PROPOSED STREETS TO BE AFFECTED AND ITEM TO BE PLACED ON
CONSENT AGENDA
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Our next item is item 8(B)(2).
MR. ARCHIBALD: Good morning, board members. Agenda
item 8(B)(2) involves a resolution that sets forth a new procedure for
reducing speed limits in residential areas from 30 miles per hour to
25 miles per hour. The resolution sets forth a process, one involving
a petition, staff reviewing that petition, staff providing notice to
law enforcement, and then the staff following through with the
installation and posting of the reduced speed limit signing. The
agenda item outlines our expectations relative to the cost of that
procedure and all. And if the board has any questions, we'll gladly
attempt to address those.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I have one.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Go ahead.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I was just going to say good
job. This is something that's needed in -- in subdivisions. However,
we need to remind ourselves and our constituents when they call that
the sign's no good without enforcement. They need to let the
sheriff's office know when there's repeated violations in speeding and
so forth so the enforcement -- enforcement can be stepped up. But I
think this is a -- a good step and a lot of neighborhoods are long
overdue.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Along -- along those same
lines, in those areas with which -- in which we change the speed, we
need to be very clear in our communication to the sheriff's department
so they can do that.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Yeah, I did see that in here that
that would be communicated, but I'm supportive of this.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I have a question. Mr.
Archibald, in -- in -- in some areas I understand that there's a speed
limit below which the sheriff's office will not and could not
realistically have -- have radar checks. And this reducing from 30 to
25, does -- does it get so low that radar becomes impractical?
MR. ARCHIBALD: Under this proposal we would limit it to
25 miles per hour. And those radar guns, at least the ones that we
have, can pick up travel speeds as low as a 25- to 30-mile-per-hour
range.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I just to want verify that
because I've -- I've understood that there -- there are speed limits
that are low enough that the guns may not be able to pick them up;
even if the sheriff did want to use them, that they can't really
differentiate it.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: The only concern this -- this item
gives me is that it takes the -- the board out of the loop here, that
this will be strictly a staff-approved item. And I'm not sure that
the board really wants to do that. I think it should at least come
back on the consent agenda after going through this shortened
procedure.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Is that for each -- each -- each
neighborhood that requests a reduction in speed limit you want it on
the consent agenda?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I think it -- it -- it needs to be
because there may be people who have opposition to it -- COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Who object to it.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: -- and need to have their -- their
opportunity to voice their opinion.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Yeah, there may be.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I don't -- I don't really have any
interest in slowing down the process, but I -- I think it's only
prudent for us to at least give the citizens an opportunity to be here
and for the board if they so desire.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Yeah. I don't object to that. I
am familiar with the criteria that Mr. Archibald stated when you start
looking at road widths, configurations, design parameters and so forth
as to whether the speed is appropriate. And I think staff will do a
good job with those. But they -- you know, you -- you make a good
point. I think that -- that can be added and wouldn't serve in a
substantial delay provided the item's placed on the agenda early
enough in the process.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Could I ask if we might want to
just provide the opportunity for appeal to the board if there's a
dissatisfaction? I mean, one individual could appeal it and otherwise
we don't have to be clogging up the agenda. If everybody's happy, why
-- why bother?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Archibald?
MR. ARCHIBALD: One of the provisions that is already in
the ordinance is that right for the appeal should the staff not
recommend for one reason or another a reduction from 35 to 25. And
staff could also provide some summary report under a consent agenda
item just to provide advanced notice of those areas that are being
designated for that.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Actually --
MR. ARCHIBALD: That could also provide some public
notice to the law enforcement also.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: My appeal idea is that even if
you do recommend, somebody might want to appeal that as well. That
would satisfy my concern.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: And that's provided for. I'm
going to support what Commissioner said for the simple reason that if
we don't do it that way there will be no public notice of the change
other than the signs going down and new ones coming up. By putting it
on the consent agenda, there's at least public notice of the change so
that folks who read that real tiny print in the paper are informed.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: That's provided that it's on the
consent agenda early enough before the signs come down and new ones go
up.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Do we have public speakers on
this item, Mr. Dotrill?
MR. DORRILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Could we have a motion then?
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Motion to approve with the
recommendations offered.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Regarding consent agenda?
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Yeah, regarding placing it on
the consent agenda.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Will that cause you any undue delay in
your procedures, Mr. -- Mr. Archibald?
MR. ARCHIBALD: No. I'm -- I'm assuming that that
motion does not require a resolution in each and every case, simply a
report indicating what our recommendations and proposed action would
be, and it would be as a consent agenda item. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: That's correct.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to adjust
my motion to include exactly that, that in each instance there be a
report in the consent agenda as to what action is being taken in -- in
various neighborhoods to notify people of speed limit changes.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Are you looking for a second,
Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Yes.
COMHISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a --
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Multiple of seconds.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a multiple -- yes.
MR. WEIGEL: Well, I -- I was going to speak up earlier
just to say there are a couple places in the resolution that's in the
book where singular and plurals don't match up, and I was going to
make that change. And in your adoption of the resolution with the
additional recommendations you're making here, may the county attorney
make the appropriate change in the resolution so it reflects your
actions today?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay. Thank you. We have a motion
and a second then. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
Passes.
MR. ARCHIBALD: Thank you.
Item #8B4
CHANGE ORDER NO. 4 TO CONTRACT 95-2425, COLLIER COUNTY BEACH
RESTORATION PROJECT - APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $383,711.15
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Our next item is the former 16(B)(7)
which has been moved to 8(B)(4).
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Thank you. Mr. Gonzalez, if you
could just briefly -- my understanding of this change is that there's
not a little meter on the end of the pipe when the sand comes out to
tell us how much has gone through. The post survey tells us whether
an amount over the contract amount was placed on the beach. And, if
so, up to an amount we're -- we're required to pay for that. Is that
the crux of this change?
MR. GONZALEZ: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Just wanted that out there in
case anyone had any questions.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: This is taken by survey measurement
rather than metering is the point.
MR. GONZALEZ: Yes, sir, of the actual beach
cross-section.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay. And what -- there was a
cap. In other words, they couldn't dump more than a certain
percentage of the contract amount and expect to get paid for it.
There was an upper limit and a lower limit.
MR. GONZALEZ: Correct, and they're within the range.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay. Motion to approve.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Second.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Motion and a second. All those in
favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
Item #8E2
RESOLUTION 96-337 AUTHORIZING THE SHORT TERM BORROWING NOT TO EXCEED
$2,500,000 FROM THE POOLED COHMERCIAL PAPER LOAN PROGRAM TO BE
COORDINATED WITH THE FINANCE COHMITTEE AND UTILIZED AS AN ADVANCE FOR
GRANTS TO BE RECEIVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EVERGLADES, IHMOKALEE AND MARCO AIRPORTS - ADOPTED
Next item, 8 -- woops. Was the former 16(E)(1) and is
now 8(E)(2).
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Chairman, I don't -- I don't see Mr.
Drury here. I've -- I've reviewed the executive summary. I can at
least introduce it. You do have one member of the public who's here
today who would like to speak on it as well.
Your airport authority has prepared a request to utilize
your pooled commercial paper program to draw down construction funds
in advance of actually receiving their state DOT grants. And while we
have received preliminary notice of their intent to issue those grants
for capital construction projects at the three airport authority
projects, there is a lapse time between when they actually receive our
-- receive the reimbursement of the grant and needing to have cash on
hand in which to sign construction contracts.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Basically just a timing problem.
MR. DORRILL: You have -- you have done this on one
prior occasion. This is their second request. There are procedures
that are written and required by the bond counsel to effectuate the
draw-downs, and they must be reviewed and approved by both bond
counsel, the county attorney. And they can only be drawn down on the
signature of the county manager. That's the extent to which I am
familiar with -- with the request from the airport authority.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Do you know if that is a
contingent commitment to fund? I mean, how -- how concrete is the --
is the state money?
MR. DORRILL: Well, I know that Mr. Drury is working off
of a notice of award type process, and it would not be my intent to
sign the draw-down request unless there was some actual physical
notification that the funds are -- are coming before we cut POs to --
to execute any construction agreement.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Do we have any idea of the time
frame, the lapse? What time frame are we talking about?
MR. DORRILL: It can be up to six months is -- is my
understanding, and they're paying approximately four and a half to
five percent interest on that money during the interim period of time.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: And if we don't proceed with
this, will that money from F -- from FDOT or state DOT come anyway in
six months?
MR. DORRILL: I can't answer that.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay. I'm just -- I'm -- my only
concern is if we wait six months and avoid all this and it doesn't
really put anything behind schedule, no one's lost anything, and I --
you know, I'm just looking for the reason why we're going through this
process without Mr. Drury here.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I think you identified it,
though: The scheduling. It's bound to put things behind schedule if
you get your money six months later.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Uh-huh.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Behind what schedule? Do we have
tenants that are waiting for something that's a revenue producing or
is -- you know, I'm --
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Obviously Mr. Drury would be
able to help us better, but I think the answer to that last question
is yes with some of the hangars and all that activity but --
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I would like to think he
wouldn't be asking for it if he didn't envision a scheduling problem.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: I just wanted to make sure but --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a speaker. Let's go to the
speaker.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Betzler, if you would, please, sir.
MR. BETZLER: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, fellow
commissioners, Mr. Dorrill, Mr. Weigel, Madam Stenographer. My name
is John R. Betzler, 1375 Mainsail Drive, Number 1712, Naples,
Florida. I forgot my new ZIP Code.
My allies and I speak for several thousand citizens in
Collier County. The subject I want to talk about here today is the
Marco Island Executive Airport. Some guy a long time ago -- I think
he was a Brit -- said 40,000 French men can be wrong. If that has an
element of truth in it, I think it's possible that seven airport
authority people and five county commissioners can all be wrong.
You are leading us, the citizens, the taxpayers, into an
economic and financial quagmire on this Marco Island Executive Airport
thing. You are trying to build an impossible dream on a foundation of
sand. And here's why: The corporate jet fad is fading out.
Production of corporate jets is decreasing rapidly. Corporations are
downsizing. Corporation CEOs are flying commercial, sometimes
economy, to encourage the frugality of their company. Private
aircraft production has decreased dramatically, and prices of used
aircraft are way up.
You commissioners and the authority board members are
getting most of your information from a very unreliable, immature
source whose dishonesty is fact; it's not fiction. The large revenue
needed will never be generated by the Marco Island Executive Airport.
That is fiction because the airport cannot be operated legally and
safely under the silly noise abatement rules that I recently heard
were negotiated with the Fiddler's Creek gang. Please do not lead us
into this financial quagmire. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Is that the only public speaker, Mr.
Dorrill?
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir. My -- my understanding is that
Mr. Drury is -- is en route if you have any questions. Otherwise I --
I believe I've explained it based on the knowledge that I have of it.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I'd be happy to move to support
the request from the airport authority.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Second.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
There are none.
Next item, Mr. Dorrill, is your discussion of the Ford
test track?
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir, and there are two individuals
who still may not be here yet. If we could just maybe go to the next
one and then come back to that, I had told them that I'd have it as
close to ten as I could.
Item #10A
RESOLUTION 96-338 APPOINTING DEBORAH COX TO THE
HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVATION BOARD - ADOPTED
CHAIRKLAN NORRIS: Okay. Then our next item is
appointment of one member to the historical archeological board.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Mr. Chairman, motion to
approve the one applicant.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: Second.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Second.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Deborah Jones Cox.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have one applicant for one
position, motion to approve. All those in favor signify by saying
aye.
Opposed?
Item #10B
RESOLUTION 96-339 APPOINTING WILLIAM SPINELLI, HICHAEL SIHONIK AND TOH
WALSH TO THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS - ADOPTED
Next item is appointment of members to the Council of
Economic Advisors.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Mr. Chairman, we're looking
to appoint three members. We have three applicants all of whom are
qualified. I make a motion we approve William Spinelli, Michael
Simonik, and Tom Walsh.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Second.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second for
approval. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed?
There are none.
Item #11A
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CIRCUIT COURT COSTS, OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
COSTS, AND COUNTY COURT COSTS - APPROPRIATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $157,000
AND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO HAKE A REQUEST TO THE STATE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT
Next item is ll(A), item concerning additional court
funding.
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir. Your court administrator is
here. You should have attached to your change list today the
executive summary and a revised anala -- analysis -- excuse me -- of
the needs. And for that I'll ask Mr. Middlebrook to explain his
situation to you.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Good morning. Mark Middlebrook,
senior deputy court administrator for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Mr.
Chairman, we came up a little short this year on our court costs. We
did not anticipate the several high profile cases we had. Therefore,
we are requesting additional funding to make up the shortfall.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: And what is the reason for the
shortfall? Could you explain it a little more in depth, please?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Yes, sir. We had an increase of 600
percent in our expert witness fees. These are fees generated by the
state attorney, public defender. We had a 220 percent increase in the
witness fee travel expense. That's flying these people in and housing
them. Our psychiatric evalu -- evaluations are up 400 percent. Court
reporter costs are up 40 percent, and county court operation is up 40
percent.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Uh-huh. You've told us what's up, but
I don't think you've told us why they're up.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Well, we have an increased case load.
We've had more high profile cases this year, and basically that's the
reason. We've made some adjustments. In the psychiatric exams we've
agreed to utilize the David Lawrence Center at a much-reduced rate,
and that began last month, so we don't anticipate as great an
expense.
Court reporter -- reporter costs are up because of a
Supreme Court decision that we are no longer allowed to house a court
reporter in the courthouse. Therefore, they had to enter a
contractual agreement at a different rate. And that was, again, due
to a Supreme Court decision.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: I have a question about
availability of state funds for the shortfall. I mean, obviously we
can't put at risk the ability to prosecute criminals in this county.
So, you know, this has to be funded. My question is, is there a
percentage of this that we can get from the state instead of it all
being county money?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Not specifically for these costs.
However, if we do have -- such as in the Crackle Barrel, we'll be
eligible for up to $100,000 in reimbursement from the state. These
are the famous article 5 costs.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: Yeah. I wasn't even going to say
article 5 one more time.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Wait. Are we -- are we ready to
send them a bill yet for article 5 costs? I'm ready.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: I'm ready.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Mr. Middlebrook, when you
establish your budget at the beginning of the year, do you
individually place a certain amount of reserves to cover over --
overexpenditures, or do you fall to the general county reserves?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: We fall to the general county. We've
had discussions with the manager, and he in agreement with the judges
would prefer to have the county in control of that money than to have
it -- once it's turned over to us, it's our understanding that we can
spend it.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Is this amount we're seeing an
anticipated year end expenditure so that we could -- in other words,
this amount if we approve today you believe will carry you through the
year. Should there be, please, a lesser amount needed, we will see an
itemized change and a return to the board for that.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Any money left over in our budget at
the end of the year is automatically returned to -- to the Board of
County Commissioners.
COMHISSIONER MAC'KIE: I gotta ask --
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I got one question too.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Judicial robes being cleaned in
this same budget?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: I'm not aware of that. Let me try and
make this a little easier. We have one chunk of money that's given to
us. We divide that into two separate categories. The monies that are
spent by court administration we are -- that's where the $87,000 is
coming from to help offset this. We manage our money very well. The
rest of these costs are generated by agencies outside of court
administration. I'm not intimating that they are not managing their
money well.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Public defender, prosecutor.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Right. They have certain
requirements. We're required to pay the bill just as you're required
to pay the bill through us.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: This is Cassandra; right?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Excuse me?
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: You're Cassandra. You're just
bringing the message.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Yes. Please don't shoot me.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: I don't -- I don't know that --
and I agree with your frustration. I -- I feel it too, but I don't
know that we have a choice here, and I don't think it's necessarily
Mr. Middlebrook's fault. We like to blame people. And if you're
willing to accept it, that's fine.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: I make the big money for that, sir.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: But I don't see that we have much
choice on this.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I've got one question before a
motion comes. Your estimate through the end of the year, does that
include all of the anticipated witness expenses, expert witness and
travel expenses for the Crackle Barrel?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: No, ma'am. That trial's scheduled to
start September 30.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Uh-huh.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Now, we have several bills that have
been paid already for that case, but the big bills aren't going to be
coming till next budget.
MR. DORRILL: He has an estimate that he and I have
talked about, and you might as well explain it to them because that
case has been remanded to Pinellas County and will be tried in
Clearwater I believe, and you -- you might as well tell them now what
you all think the estimate is.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: We're estimating $250,000 for the cost
of that case. Now, it may be substantially less depending on the
number of trials. If we have to do two trials, it'll be a month long
which means we have to fly the witnesses in twice. We also have to
house them. We have to house all the prosecutors, all the public
defenders, and their witnesses. So we're looking at a substantial
amount of money.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Is that amount of money included
in -- in your next year's budget?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: It is not included in our budget. In
-- discussions with the manager when we were doing the budget is to
exhaust all available money first and then come here again as I am now
and request additional funding to cover the remainder of the year.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Mr. Chairman, one more question,
please. You -- you had mentioned that there's a possibility of
100,000 or the likelihood of $100,000 rebate on the cost of this
trial. Is that a one-time rebate, or is that a per fiscal year
rebate?
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: It's -- it's through the county
attorney's office. They're going to have to make the request, I
guess, at your request.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Mr. -- Mr. Weigel?
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: We hereby request.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: It's a one-time -- it's $100,000 per
case.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Okay.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: Now, I'm not sure if we can double
that because we have two defendants. If we have two prosecutions, we
may. That's a question I can't answer. We may be entitled to
200,000. But as I read it, it says 100,000 per case.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Let's request two and see what
happens.
MR. MIDDLEBROOK: They can only say no.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'm finished. Thank you.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Okay. I'm going to move approval
of an additional $157,000 and direct staff to prepare the necessary
budget amendment.
COMHISSIONER MAC'KIE: Second.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'd also -- I'd like to ask the
motion maker to include direction to the county attorney's office to
make the request to the state for the refund.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: So included.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Second agrees.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second for
approval. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
Item #8E3
FORD MOTOR COMPANY TRACK EXPANSION - CHAIRMAN AND COUNTY MANAGER TO
MEET WITH FORD REPRESENTATIVES IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN; COUNTY MANAGER TO
FORM A COALITION OF BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO LOBBY THE
STATE; COUNTY TO LOOK AT INVENTORY OF LANDS REGARDING MITIGATION AND
COUNTY OWNED LANDS IN ORDER TO ASSIST FORD MOTOR COMPANY
And we're ready to go back to our Ford test track item
at this time.
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir. I'll -- I will in two minutes
explain to you my -- my knowledge of this issue and what I would --
would like to receive as some direction. There's some other
individuals from the community.
In -- in recognition of your expressed desire to me to
have economic development issues as -- as perhaps your number one
priority for the coming fiscal year and realizing just what we've been
able to find out thus far, I wanted to explain to you the economic
impact of their current facilities and their -- their plans and then
have asked some other people here to -- to solicit your support in
proceeding.
The estimated local economic impact of that track
currently is five million dollars per year. And while they have very
few 12-month jobs, their season runs from October the 1st through the
end of Hay every year. And they will have as few as 200 and as many
as 400 people teassigned to Collier County who live in what I'm told
is up to 100 rental apartments that they reserve at the Fountain View
or the --
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Summer Wind.
MR. DORRILL: -- Summer Winds apartment complex that is
adjacent to the YHCA, typically one- and two-bedroom apartments that
they rent for that entire period. They have 35 local subcontractor
agreements that run from security to food service to janitorial and
mechanic services. They rent hundreds of cars locally while they are
here in order to just facilitate employees back and forth.
The lease does expire on January the 1st I believe of
the year 2000. Their expansion plans as we've been able to determine
thus far were 15 million dollars for their facility that are in
concert with their original approved master plan, although their
expansion is subject to permitting.
What I would like for you to authorize us to do is to
work with other individuals in the community to review those plans and
make sure that they're in conformance with your -- the board's
originally approved PUD for that site to determine an advocacy role
for the Board of County Commissioners and for you to take a position
on that expansion and then, frankly, to coordinate and direct an
immediate meeting if necessary in Dearborn, Michigan, with appropriate
Ford Motor Company officials to make sure that they realize your
support and that of the community as opposed to what thus far from
what I can find out has been a well developed effort on the part of
three people and to try and do some further research to determine what
the extent of the environmental concerns are and, frankly, whether
they're legitimate or not.
That concludes my remarks, but there are a number of
other people that we've been working with, and I would like for you to
hear from them as well, and I'll answer any questions that you have.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Mr. Dorrill, I would -- I've been
approached about this by several people and have had the opportunity
to learn a little bit about the impacts that you've discussed. We've
talked a lot about the type of -- of industry we want here: R and D.
That's exactly what this test track is. It's R and D. It's some of
the cleanest industry we could have. They rent out those units in
Summer Wind. They rent them for the entire year just to use them for
six or eight months and that kind of thing. There is a tremendous
impact here. And I think we need to do whateverws reasonable to keep
that type of industry in Collier County.
And I would even go as far as to authorize the monies
from this fiscal year that are remaining in travel for the chairman if
he needs to travel to a meeting in Dearborn, Michigan, to show the
level of sincerity that this county has for keeping that type of
industry here. But, you know, I mean, I think we need to take those
kind of steps to show the support necessary.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: No. I -- I concur, and it
was just two weeks ago we were talking about corporations and their
conscience in a community. You were talking about Sports Authority
and Toys R Us and the others that are going up without a care for what
the requirements are here. And there are the obvious benefits to our
economy and so on. But Fordws been a good corporate neighbor. They
gave $6,000 to our midnight basketball program. They gave money to
the latchkey program. They provided a van for our veterans for their
medical service.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: They donate cars to the sheriffws.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: They donate cars to the
sheriffws department. Theywve just been a great corporate neighbor.
And to lose that would be terrible.
COMMISSIONER MACIKIE: Horrible.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: The only comment that -- that I
have to make, and I -- and I fully support all -- all thatls been said
today. You know, corporate in -- inclusion in the area of, you know,
economic developmentls very, very important.
However, I -- I have had complaints from citizens that
live in the eastern part of Golden Gate Estates, and Iim sure that we
can work this out. But the complaints deal mostly with some of the
test track driving is occurring on public roads in the eastern
estates, and we might want to work with them to assure that thatls not
gonna happen in the future because that has become a problem with
relatively high speed on very narrow roads.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Well, I think thatls a problem we
could discuss with them. Mr. Dotrill, do we have some people that
would like to --
MR. DORRILL: About four -- four speakers who -- who
will be fairly quick. Mr. Goodlette, youill be first. Mr. Pistner,
youill follow Mr. Goodlette.
MR. GOODLETTE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dudley
Goodlette. Iim -- I guess Iim here on behalf of the chamber EDC
coalition or the Economic Development Council or just personally. Iim
not -- not in any representative capacity.
My -- I became aware of the -- of some of the problems
that were occurring with respect to the expansion at a meeting that
Sheriff Hunter asked me to attend with representatives of the hospital
and representatives from his department. And -- and he really had
asked Mr. Passidomo, chairman of the EDC, attend and -- and John to
attend that. John asked me to attend it in his place because of a
scheduling conflict, and I became aware at that time for the first
time of -- of -- of the good corporate community citizen that Ford
Motor Company is. Mr. Storrar couldnlt be here this morning, and I --
hels authorized me to indicate to you that -- that currently the
sheriffls department -- there are six vehicles that Ford Motor Company
has provided to them that are contained within their fleet. At a peak
point in time it has been as many as 70 vehicles in their fleet.
They've calculated the savings to the taxpayers of
Collier County conservatively from -- from -- in the 6 years that
they've been involved in this program to be in excess of $700,000
worth of vehicles that would have had to have been purchased or
maintained. And I think those are significant numbers, and those are
numbers that -- that I don't know why Ford Motor Company is hiding its
light under a bushel on this. I don't know why we don't know that.
But for whatever reason we don't. And -- and now I think it's
important that we do, that we are aware of some of those facts as
these important decisions are made regarding whether they expand or
not in Collier County.
And in that regard I have just this morning spoken with
Gregory Speck who is a -- a division manager. He has a -- he's
actually the certification test lab coordinator, and his title is
department manager of the Dearborn proving ground as well as the
Florida evaluation center department. And he is really the boss of
the person who is on site here, Matt Sear.
And he has indicated to me just for your edification
this morning he did not know that this was on the agenda. I had
informed him that I had talked with your manager yesterday, and he has
-- I have his full authority to tell you that -- that what they have
-- basically the decision that corporate has made in this matter is
not to proceed with their plans for expansion simply because -- not
because they can't comply with the environmental permitting issues,
not because of some of the issues that have been raised by the two or
three people who have objected perhaps but simply because of the
process itself. The counsel that they have received from their legal
counsel and environmental counsel is that this is just an ongoing,
ongoing, ongoing process in Florida. And -- and I guess they -- they
figure that, you know, it's -- it's just not worth it.
It's -- and that's basically what he related to me this
morning. And -- and he indicated that -- that if that could be turned
around, then perhaps the corporate decision in Dearborn could be
turned around. If there was some way that this could be ex --
expedited, so be it. I think the advice that they've received -- and
I'm sure it's good advice -- is that -- is that this is legislative
in nature. And the standing issues and some of the other issues that
we all have some familiarity with probably just, you know, make this
more of a stretch than they're willing to -- to undertake. Or at
least that was the decision that was made.
Whether or not that can be intercepted at this point, I
commend your manager and the des -- and -- and, Mr. Hancock, your
conversations. I think that whatever we can do to -- to not -- this
would be a huge loss for those of us who have been toiling in the
vineyard of economic developments in Collier County for some time.
This would be a very difficult loss I think. And we would like to
retain them.
And I think -- and they -- by the way, Mr. Speck
indicated to me this morning that he wanted me to know and wanted me
to relate to you that he appreciates the support that -- that that
company and that test site has received from -- from this commission,
from the -- from the private sector, from the public -- public sector,
and from the -- from the community at large. But this expansion just
seemed to hit a snag, and that's because of the permitting
requirements.
And so for what it's worth, I just relate that to you.
If Matt Sear who happens to be on vacation this week were in town, I'm
sure he would be here to answer some more specific questions, but
that's sort of the best we could do on short notice.
There are other people. Mr. Morton is going to speak to
you and the discussion we had at the sheriff's department. Believe
me, the hospital is a huge beneficiary, and our community is a
beneficiary of Ford Motor Company's generosity. And those are my
comments, Mr. Chairman. I'd be glad to answer any questions.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Mr. Goodlette, I -- I've got --
I've got questions. Number one, I like that phrase "toiling in the
vineyard of." But how -- how can we or -- or is there available a
list or a listing of the obstacles and/or agencies that we -- we might
be able to look at in order to look at the specific concerns and see
if there's a way to address them and get them handled?
MR. GOODLETTE: I would hope that that's the case. Mr.
Weigel --
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: But is there ways?
MR. GOODLETTE: -- could -- could -- could look into
that. But yes, I -- I would -- I have to believe there are ways to --
to expedite this permitting process when there's a very worthy reason
to do it. And -- and I -- I don't -- I'm not -- certainly not an
expert on that. Mr. Weigel could -- could answer those questions.
But yes, I'm hopeful that there is a way that the process could be --
we could intervene in that process to -- to the benefit of an entity,
corporate citizen that we'd like to retain.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Commissioner Matthews --
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: One thing that occurs to me as a
possibility is just like everybody in the world has standing to
object, can we as -- as a county government assert standing in support
of their application with the state? I mean, that -- that might be a
process we should explore.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: I know there are -- there are
several speakers that we want to -- want to hear. I do have an idea
of how we can take a proactive approach and maybe involve the same
elements that could be hurdles potentially on this side. And I'll be
happy to outline that at the appropriate time, but I want to wait to
hear from all the speakers before doing that. MR. GOODLETTE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Pistner and then either Ms. -- Ms.
Krier or Mr. Passidomo who I see is here also.
MR. PISTNER: Stephen Pistner representing the
President's Council for Greater Collier County. We join with Mr.
Goodlette and many others who are so deeply concerned about the
potential loss of this expansion. But even more important, having
spent so much of my career in the large corporations, I've been on
both sides of these questions so often.
The pressures that are brought to bear inside the
corporations that affect these decisions really require as
commissioners that you seriously consider the mechanism that allows
you to be at the very forefront not only of saving these companies who
are considering changes in their base but to be in the forefront at
the first notification.
So much of that pressure that's in the corporate
offices, taking this as an example, are most likely due to the
corporate decision that says which of the test tracks should we
eliminate. It's very likely that that's at the base of the Ford Motor
Company decision.
So it becomes very simple that when somebody puts any
significant pressures on them they have so many alternatives because
of the high quality of this facility and the fact that so many states
want this kind of business that it makes an easy decision when you put
the pressures on them to simply say, let's not expand. But really, in
fact, behind it is the decision to remove their facility. I've been
told that many of the test tracks will be eliminated in the United
States.
So we hope that in the future not only that you will
move very quickly but that you build in the mechanism to act and
respond immediately because inside the corporation they have been
working on this for a year or more.
What do you need to do? You really need to make that
trip to Michigan and do it within the next ten days to reach to the
office of the individual most responsible and in a face-to-face
meeting. That face-to-face meeting cannot be replaced with any other
mechanism if you want to be successful in retaining this. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, sir.
MR. DORRILL: Miss Krier and then Mr. Passidomo.
MS. KRIER: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, commissioners.
For the record, I'm Ellie Krier with the chamber EDC coalition and
obviously in support here today of the Ford Motor Company.
Just two minor points that haven't been brought up in --
in the list of -- of many. One is that Ford is obviously the epitome
of a good neighbor. They move to town, and they don't ask for a lot,
but they're willing to lend you what they have. You may or may not be
aware, but they work with your director of emergency management in
terms of both staging and storage and maintenance for facilities
during a severe storm event. That is available to you out there. On
a local community level, they are the major sponsors for the NAACP
banquette every year. Just one more thing to add to the list.
Ford families, to the best of the chamber's knowledge as
of six months ago, can be found at Summer Winds, World Tennis Center,
Park Shore Resort, and Naples Bath and Tennis in some significant
numbers.
But finally and most importantly, I think we need to
make the point that as you hear people coming up today saying, I mean,
it looks like a last ditch effort, it's important to note that it is
Ford's personal corporate policy that they do not court community
support. They are a quiet neighbor. They are not asking for
anything. They've not asked for anything. They went through standard
hoops with no preference, and they ran into some snags.
We're here for them now. They never asked us to be
here. In fact, they asked us not on occasion. So please keep in mind
that they are the ultimate and the quiet neighbor. And if we can at
the last minute do something, that would be wonderful. But -- but
this has been their corporate culture to be here and be quiet and --
and supportive. And -- and this is a designated Ford community, and
we hope it stays that way. Thank you.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Passidomo, then Mr. Erlichman.
MR. PASSIDOMO: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of
the commission. My name is John Passidomo. I'm chairman of the
Economic Development Council of Collier County.
If -- in the brief amount of time that may be allotted,
if -- if I could indulge you to just put this issue in an historical
context in its recent history -- and it's all -- it's one that we've
all shared -- last year when the Board of County Commissioners had the
foresight and the vision to identify economic diversity of one of --
as one of your top five priorities for the ensuing five-year planning
cycle, you asked the Economic Development Council to development
strategies to implement those economic prosperity goals.
And as part of that process, the Economic Development
Council working with your Council of Economic Advisors developed those
strategies and -- and submitted a plan for economic prosperity to the
Board of County Commissioners on May 3.
As part of the leadership of -- of this board, Mr.
Chairman, that plan has now been funded. Those implementation
strategies are -- are being organized, and the Board of County
Commissioners is allotting $122,000 out of occupational license taxes
towards achieving the principal objective of that plan, and that is to
retain and expand good corporate citizens. The Economic Development
Council is contributing $135,000 to that effort, and we look forward
to continue to being a partner with the Board of County Commissioners,
with the Council of Economic Advisors, and with your staff.
We have talked to -- to your management team and Mr.
Dotrill about developing a strike force of leaders from the private
and public sector in scheduling a meeting which we anticipate holding
this week, as early as tomorrow if we can coordinate the schedules of
all those who are interested, everything from the civic associations
to the public sector, the private sector, leaders from the economic
development community, and the chambers of commerce throughout the
community, the president's council, and obviously the sheriff's office
and so many others who enjoy the benefits of having Ford as such a
model corporate citizen.
A suggestion was made by Mr. Pistner about sending a
signal to Ford, delivering that signal in person in Dearborn. We
concur that that's the way to send a signal that we in Collier County
are very serious about this initiative with economic diversity and
that in order to send that signal in a serious way the only way to do
that is to deliver it in person. We look forward to working with you
on that effort. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Erlichman, then Mr. Morton.
MR. ERLICHMAN: Good morning. Gil Erlichman. I reside
in East Naples. I find myself in the position that I never thought I
would be in since I've lived here in Collier County, and that is to
stand in the same corner as the EDC and support them.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I think they're all shocked as well,
Mr. Erlichman.
MR. ERLICHMAN: Thank you. Reading about this in the
newspaper and then -- I -- I was not -- I'm not even prepared to
speak. But when -- when this item came up this morning, I had to get
up and say something. And I'd like to remind the commissioners of the
meeting two weeks ago when Gale Brett from the Department of
Environmental Protection was here and had maps on the wall and was
talking about the difficulties of buying property from property owners
in Golden Gate Estates and so forth, et cetera.
And this commissioners (sic) should remember and remind
themselves the insidious nature of the environmental program and the
environmentalists. I -- I think they're -- they're going to --
they're trying to strangle the economic development in Florida, and
they're doing so right now with this Ford test track. I never heard
of flor -- of the Ford test track being a bad neighbor, causing any
type of disturbance or any damage to the area or -- the only thing I
heard was Miss Matthews say that there was speeding on the roads, but
I never heard --
COHHISSIONER MATTHEWS: That can be worked out.
MR. ERLICHHAN: -- saw anything in the paper. But other
than that, we're -- we're -- we're right now I think at a watershed
where we have to stop the encroachment of the environmentalists and
their programs from coming in here and killing good corporate
neighbors and discouraging the movement -- moving in of R and D
industries and so forth.
And to me, I think that the suggestion of the gentleman
that was speaking over there -- I forget -- Mr. Pistner I think his
name is -- of you -- of somebody going from the commission up to Ford
Motor Company and asking them and telling them that they're a good
neighbor and we would like them to stay down here in Collier County.
Thank you very much.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Morton and then Mr. Reynolds.
MR. MORTON: We're all Johnny-one-note here. Good
morning. For the record, my name is Edward Morton. I'm here as many
of the speakers. I've got so many hats on, it's hard for me to
relate. So I'll concentrate on the hospital and some interesting
research I've been doing this week having nothing to do with the Ford
test track, but it involves Ford Motor Company.
First off, as respects the hospital -- and many of you
know that I have spent my life in Collier County. I've been here
since my dad brought me here in 1947 and been here ever since. I've
only had the one job which is at the hospital. So I think the
perspective I'd like to bring is Ford Motor Company is one fine
neighbor. They're working hand in glove with us in Immokalee. And if
you want an identification of a project where people don't get any
credit, they're providing the vehicles to us at virtually no cost that
is allowing us to reach out into the entire migrant community at no
cost to the Collier County taxpayers or no cost to the people who use
Naples Community Hospital. And the number of vehicles is approaching
in my mind quite staggering proportions.
We have representatives in Dearborn today. They're
sitting down negotiating with the truck division of Ford Motor Company
for vans and four-wheel-drive vehicles that will be specifically
adapted to the rural community. We have currently approaching 30
vehicles. They turn them over. We put a certain number of miles on
them and turn them back again. Our annual savings is over $500,000
per year.
Now, part of the history that I unearthed this week,
some of us are working with the junior achievement and struggling with
trying to come up with some people that are deserving of, I think,
recognition. Without getting into that, part of the research I did
was I unearthed that a lot of Naples and our tradition and our roots
go back to engine research, and I like the use of that word. The
Outboard Marine Company and the Briggs and Stratton division, Briggs
family, had their first outboard marine research facility right here
in -- in -- in Naples.
Another matter that I -- I discovered was a man by the
name of Ed Frank which many of us may know of the name, the Frank
family, Mr. Frank developed many of the techniques used by the Ford
Motor Company in 1927 of burning in Ford Motor Company engines back
when the bearings didn't seat properly. He developed a technology and
equipment that was actually used in Dearborn for the manufacture of
Model A Ford Motor Company vehicles and the engine itself and the
technique for burning that engine in and having it sit very smoothing
and seat properly in the assembled automobile was developed right here
in Naples as well.
So Ford has a tremendous lineage within our community
that I think should cause all of us to reach out and try to identify
the good things that corporate citizens can bring to the table. As
opposed to looking at the negative side of corporate life, here's a
wonderful example of what they can do working in concert with a local
community.
And we from the hospital and speaking as a private
citizen, a member of the EDC affiliated with the sheriff's department,
I wholeheartedly endorse our collective efforts to reach out to this
wonderful citizen and try to recruit them and bring them back into
this community on a, I hope, long-term bases. It would be beneficial
to all. Thank you very much.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Reynolds, and Sheriff Hunter will be
your final speaker, Mr. Chairman. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Okay.
MR. REYNOLDS: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of
the commission. Alan Reynolds speaking to you today as chairman of
the EDC chamber coalition.
And without repeating a lot of what has already been
said, this community has for 13 years enjoyed the benefits of the Ford
Motor Company. They have a first class facility. I hope you've all
had a chance to see it.
The proposal that they have made that has already been
approved by your staff through the site plan process is consistent
with your plan. It's consistent with their PUD. The indication as
has been mentioned that we got is that Ford does not have the need or
desire to engage in a protracted community battle. It's very
important that this community communicate its support and its
appreciation. They have clearly been a quiet good neighbor. This has
already been said in so many ways to this community.
I think your county manager's initiative as he has
outlined is one that deserves your full support. I can offer you the
coalition's full support. We have committees that have been working
very diligently on figuring out ways to streamline the often painful
permitting process. It can be very lonely when you're out there as a
petitioner trying to get through that process. So let's see what we
can do to help turn around that decision that has been made and move
this forward. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. MR. DORRILL: Sheriff?
SHERIFF HUNTER: Morning. And one last perspective:
Law enforcement. We, of course, had a very long relationship with
Ford Motor Company to the tune of about 58 vehicles in the fleet. As
the board is well aware, we have kept you updated on how that has been
going. At one point we had a total savings to taxpayers of in excess
of three quarters of a million dollars in the fleet alone not
including training for certifying the mechanics who operate the
garage, not including special training courses that Ford has sponsored
and conducted at their proving ground on Desoto Avenue for deputy
sheriffs to acquaint them with vehicle, vehicle handling
characteristics, and traction issues, to improve our driving records
and our safety records.
My -- that aside, all of the finance aside and the
issues attached to dollars which are very large and I think gross
savings to taxpayers and currently we're running about $200,000 per
annum with Ford Motor vehicle donations to the agency not including
drive trains, motors, et cetera, the other issue is Desoto Boulevard.
Very remote area of Golden Gate Estates, very infrequently traveled by
the public other than arsonists, people who poach. Therews an --
therews a preserve there. We do try to patrol that area.
The way that Iwm viewing it is that Ford Motor Company
provides a level of visibility, a -- some natural surveillance, if you
will, driving those roadways. They have helped us, not hindered us,
in terms of preventing arson and other violations of law in that area
by their mere presence.
To -- for the individual who owns the preserve, Dr. Gore
-- and I have had many meetings with Dr. Gore, some extended and some
not so -- to suggest that we remove that natural surveillance
capability out of the area would mean a fairly dramatic impact on
taxpayers, potentially a very dramatic impact on him. If youwll
remember the arsons that we have experienced in that particular area,
1985, w87 and we have even more recent ones that were not as
catastrophic as the earlier ones just to the north of the proving
grounds, I think we would be making a mistake moving the proving
grounds out of the area. It is right now in very deep coverage,
remote, off the road. I canwt think of a better location for it in my
mind.
I would also add that we have been dramatically
supported, as it has already been reported by the previous speakers,
that Ford Motor Company as a corporate sponsor is very quiet about
what they do for and in the community, but they have supported junior
deputy league to the tune of about $20,000 over the last few years
adding in monies to support our efforts to -- to bridge communication
gap between adult and child and especially law enforcement and child.
And I would very much not like to see that removed from this area. I
donlt believe I could add anything further.
As far as speeding, we have had a number of -- I
wouldnlt call them sermons. But Ford Motor invites us out to speak
and talk about traffic laws, traffic safety. And our STEP program,
our STEP group, especially Sergeant Grieve, goes out and does provide
training for their test drivers and asks them to keep the speed to the
proving ground alone. And we have not had that many complaints out in
that particular area directed to me.
We do have an ongoing program, if you will, with Ford
Motor. They are aware and concerned about their test drivers as
well. And actually thatls a liability for them and their insurance
policies. And they have, I think, a very strict program and very
strict policy pertaining to that. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you.
SHERIFF HUNTER: Any questions for me?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: On the -- on the one hand, we have,
oh, gosh, who knows how many federal and state agencies that are
involved in these environmental permitting processes. And, of course,
we have our own local staff as well and our own local regulations and
our development services department that helps us look after those
very, very sensitive areas that we have out on the eastern part of the
county in particular. And, of course, we have a responsibility to
take care of that environment.
On the other hand, if what we have here is simply a case
of someone trying to control someone elsels property through the use
of specious environmental charges, then we have a responsibility to
the community as the board of commissioners to help support the Ford
Motor Company in their efforts to -- to continue to be a good
corporate neighbor to us.
So if it's the desire of the board to go forward with
the suggestion of Mr. Dotrill and have our -- our meeting with Ford in
-- in Michigan, at least it's summer. We could go ahead and do it
now.
CONNISSIONER HANCOCK: I -- I agree wholeheartedly, and
I'd like to -- to go one step further. Ford's been a great corporate
neighbor and has asked for nothing from this board that they were not
entitled to. And that was merely a rezoning and site development plan
approval that was done in a very -- what I would call an
environmentally friendly way to do what they've done out there. And
if you've been out there, you can recognize that.
I find it ironic that just today we appointed to the
Council of Economic Advisors a representative from the Conservancy.
What great timing. By forming an environmental and business coalition
to support Ford Motor Company, I think we can go beyond what this
board can individually do. And I think we need to go beyond just the
proclamation or the idea that we support them.
I would like to see three things happen. I'd like to
see the chairman or his designee authorized to undertake a trip to
Dearborn to meet with Ford executives as soon as possible and that the
county manager be involved in that.
Second thing is I'd like to see the chairman or his
designee along with the county manager form a coalition of business
and environmental groups to lobby the state. This is where it's gonna
happen. The state Department of Environmental Protection is where a
rogue environmentalist is going to get their inroad. And we can't let
a single person acting as a organization detail a very vital economic
train in this community, and that's precisely what has happened to
date.
So that needs to happen. That coalition needs to be
formed, and that support needs to be taken full speed ahead to the
state, to our senators, our representatives, and I think we have a
Governor that had a cook shack.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Yeah, he did.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: He seemed to have a problem
getting his cook shack permitted and might be receptive to a five
million dollar economic boon in this county being taken away because
of one person's direction of another person's private property
rights.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: So you think the Governor will
understand the problem.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: He's a Democrat, but there's
always hope so -- and third -- COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: We won't -- we won't present
that part of the record to him. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Let's not.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Let's not include that in the
record.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Don't ask me to write the
letter. And the third thing is maybe the county needs to look at its
inventory of lands, that if there is some required mitigation, there
might be county-owned lands that can be a part of that mitigation that
we have no anticipated or intended use for to assist the Ford Motor
Company if that -- if that's a recourse.
Those are the three things that I wanted to form. And
in any capacity that I can assist in those, I'd like to because I
think this is incredibly important.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I'll make those three
suggestions a motion.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'll second.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Second.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: We have a motion and a second. All
those in favor signify by saying aye.
Opposed.
PUBLIC COHMENT - GIL ERHLICHHAN REPRESENTING TAG REGARDING THE COST OF
THE AGENDAAND WHY THE NEWS MEDIA DOES NOT PAY FOR IT - DISCUSSED
Do we have any public comment today?
MR. DORRILL: Yes, sir. I have two. Mr. Erlichman.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Just while he's coming up, great
job, Neil, for getting this on the agenda --
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: And moving it fast.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: -- and getting everybody's
attention quickly.
MR. ERLICHHAN: I'd like to congratulate the
commissioners on the previous action that you've taken, and thank
you.
The purpose of my public comment today is that the
organization that I'm a member of, TAG, received a bill, their yearly
bill, from the county of $440 for the executive -- executive summary,
the full pack, which includes just everything that the commissioners
get.
And someone put a bug in my ear last week, and they
said, "You know that the Naples Daily News doesn't pay for their
executive summary, full pack." I said, "Oh, yes?" So I thought I'll
investigate.
Well, I did so yes -- Friday and this morning. And I
have a copy here of the sheet -- sign-in sheet that the organizations
and individuals sign when they pick up their executive summary, either
the full pack or the part that doesn't con -- or the -- COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Agenda.
MR. ERLICHHAN: -- agenda that does -- that contains --
doesn't contain the back-up material. That's called a CV.
So all these organizations on here, some of them --
Agnoli, Barber, Brundage; American Engineering; Chamber of Commerce;
Naples Area Collier Building Industry; Conservancy -- they pay just as
TAG does, pay $440 for the full pack.
But according to my source which is in the Collier
County manager's office, the Fort Myers News Press, the Marco Eagle,
the Naples Daily News, WNOG, Colony Cable, and WBBH do not pay one
penny for their -- either the full pack executive summary or the --
the one that doesn't contain the back-up. The four organizations that
I'll name -- Fort Myers News Press, Marco Eagle, Naples Daily News,
and WNOG -- get the full pack. They get the exact same thing that TAG
pays for, that the Conservancy pays for, Cummings and -- and Lockwood,
$440. They do not pay one penny, the news media. And the Colony
Cable and WBBH each get the pack with -- without the back-up and they
pay two hundred -- they don't pay anything for that, and that's worth
$250.
Well, the total cost of the sub -- of subsidizing the
news media to the taxpayers of Collier County is $2,260. It's a drop
in the bucket. It means nothing. But there's a principle involved.
Why should individuals or other organizations have to pay for these --
for the executive summary and the news media don't -- do not? They
are profit-making enterprises. They sell advertising, et cetera.
Now here is a real -- the real kick in the pants to the
taxpayers. Collier County places in the Sunday news -- Sunday Naples
Daily News the agenda, and it costs the county $23,000 for placing the
agenda every Sunday in the newspaper.
Now, I don't -- this -- there is no quid pro quo here.
The county has to pay for the placement of those -- the agenda which
is in the advertising section, but Naples Daily News gets the copy of
the executive summary full pack for nothing. I think there should be
an adjustment made where all the news media have to pay the same price
as any individual or any other corporate entity in Collier County for
obtaining the executive summary.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, Mr. Erlichman.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I think it's traditionally
been board policy to do it this way, but Gil makes a point. They're
trying to make a profit, and -- and God bless them for doing that.
But I'm curious as to what the origins of the board policy not to
charge certain organizations.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I can answer that I think.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I don't remember.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: I can answer that. That's -- what --
what they're using the information for is not their own purposes but
to disseminate that to the public. It's how we get information out to
the public. And therein lies the distinction, Mr. Erlichman.
MR. ERLICHHAN: Well, but then why does the county have
to pay to place the agenda in the newspaper to the tune of $23,000?
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: That's a different question.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I think Gil might have a
point.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I --
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I think with each of the -- each
of the budget hearings we've been having for the last couple of years
we've been searching for ways not to have to advertise the agenda in
the newspaper. We've been trying to find ways possibly to put it on
the -- what -- channel -- channel 10 or channel 11 on the
cablevision. We've been looking for ways to put it on channel 54.
You know, none of that's come to pass yet, but excellent point, and
perhaps that's one reason we should look further into broadcasting it
by electronic media or even putting the agenda on a diskette instead
of paper copies.
MR. DORRILL: The --
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I'm inclined to agree with
Commissioner Constantine. There's a very -- I mean, there's point in
that. I understand, you know, getting it out. But we could send the
-- we could send this out --
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: That's all they print.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: -- with all the items on it
without the back-up, and that's getting the information out. And if
they want the back-up, they can do like everyone -- I mean, they're
down here every day anyway. You know, it's not like they don't have
access to the information. So I'm going to chew on that one a little
while. I -- I -- I think that's an interesting idea.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Get out your checkbook, Emma.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Next.
PUBLIC COHMENT - DISCUSSION REGARDING CUTTING AGRICULTURAL AGENTS FROH
THE BUDGET IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR - DISCUSSED
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Chairman, there's another public
comment today concerning the horticultural and agriculture extension
agents. There are about five different people who all want to speak
on the same thing, and I have indicated to them that that's typically
not your policy but that I would defer to you to -- to indicate how
you want to -- to proceed with this issue.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Well, if we're having a group of
people coming up here to lobby on a specific item, I don't believe
this is the forum to do that. If -- if they would like to have a
spokesman represent their views and have one of them speak, I think
that's probably appropriate. But we'll be discussing these items on a
regularly scheduled meeting at some point in the future here very
shortly, and that would be the appropriate time to come up and make
individual views known.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: I -- I guess I want to disagree.
Public comment's public comment, and nobody can speak exactly for me.
I mean, if it's an organization and they have an official position,
that'd be one thing. But if they're five people with opinions on an
issue, I think that's what public comment's for.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I agree with that.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Rather than spend 15 minutes
debating it, why don't we just go ahead. COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: What a concept.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Ellis. Mr. Jacobs, you'll follow Mr.
Ellis, Mr. Jacobs.
MR. ELLIS: Good morning, Chairman, commissioners. I'm
Jerry Ellis. I'm a member of the Florida Nurserymans' and Growers'
Association. I'm on the South Florida Water Management agricultural
advisory committee for the past four years.
We're here or I'm here and most of the people left in
the audience in the back, we want to speak about our agricultural
extension agents that in this budget coming up we're going to lose
three of our four agents. These agents for agriculture do a extensive
-- a lot of work for us.
What happens in Florida, which it's probably very
unique, we cannot take a book off the shelf from any other library in
any other state. Florida with its climatic conditions is completely
different here. All the research done in any other state is not
affected. The heat here, the humidity here degrades all our material
much quicker than, let's say, in Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, or anyplace
else. Fertilizer up there can be on the ground six months, nine
months. The best fertilizer -- the same fertilizer here may last
three months.
It's the agricultural extension agents that do this
research that tell us what we need to put out on the lawns to keep
them green and lush without run-off and cause nutrient pollution in
our bays, in our water supplies.
The extension service through their network throughout
the state does all this research. They do the same research on
pesticides, miticides, herbicides, again, trying to tell us
professionals how to do a proper job and not degradate a beautiful
place we have here.
Collier County, as we drive around, probably 80 percent
of all plant material you see here is not native. It's come in from
other exotic parts of the world. And when you bring in these
beautiful blooming tabboulehs and everything else, they have no
natural predators here. And thusly, anything that attacks them, we
have to apply a chemical usually to keep these plants living or
fungicide to keep them from our heavy rains.
Again, it's the research that tells us what to use,
what's most effective, and what's the least amount we want to use. We
don't want to put out anything more than we have to. It's not cost
effective. We all have a budgetary problem.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Jerry, can I ask you a question?
MR. ELLIS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I -- I agree with everything
you're saying. I know it's a very important function. But why should
the public sector underwrite your industry? Why shouldn't you through
some sort of fees or some -- some other -- some mechanism -- I mean,
you're in the business to make a profit, and I respect that and
support it. But I don't see why tax dollars should go to provide that
research for your industry.
MR. ELLIS: Well, we do support it several ways. Of
course, now 60 percent of these agricultural extension agents' salary
is paid by Collier County. The other 40 is from IFAS. At the same
time all our commodity groups back here from vegetable, citrus, I
mean, right on down, fruit crops, we all support SHARE which is
another program at the university that does that research too. We all
do that, and they use the tax funds off that. It seems like at this
point in Florida there is no other real research on all these
important items. I mean, we're talking six or eight research stations
that does this. And they just disseminate the information to us.
COMHISSIONER MAC'KIE: And my idea -- because I know you
and I have been playing phone tag on this and trying to talk to each
other. But my idea is that the licensing fee perhaps for your
industry should be included to support this necessary person but that
it isn't a general tax fund.
MR. ELLIS: Well, I believe in the past we've even said
that we would go to that even though we do believe agriculture with --
I can just speak for my commodity group. I think in 1993 there's 17
million dollars worth of green goods sold here; again, taxes and
everything that comes from that. So we do look on both sides of that,
and that's just my only commodity group. We're not talking lawn
maintenance or anything else like that which is a billion dollar
industry in Florida.
But again, we -- if we had to, we'd like -- we would go
to that, and we have spoken to that before, and the LMA will do that
and I'm sure the nurserymans' But there's a lot out there that,
again, we're just trying to protect our environment, and this is one
of our main resources to do that, horticulture.
COMHISSIONER MATTHEWS: Mr. Chairman, I'd -- I'd like to
make a comment. I thought in the budget process we had -- we had
given direction and asked the agriculture extension department to look
at a fee program to restore these funds so that positions were not
necessarily lost but to look at a fee-based program. And I understand
the landscaping community has already agreed to institute fees for
their -- their information that they gain. And while -- while I agree
with what the Florida nurserymans' position is that, quite -- quite
frankly, they -- they pay some pretty heavy taxes and -- and they
produce abundant amounts of money to the economy, they get very, very
little government services back for it. I -- I do want to remind this
board of that, that they're only getting 27 percent of the value for
what they pay. But -- but still I think it's more important that we
maintain the service and find some way to do it, whether it fee based
or tax based.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, Mr. Ellis.
MR. ELLIS: Thank you.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Jacobs, then Mr. Roan.
MR. JACOBS: Morning. For the record, my name's Larry
Jacobs. I'm a staff member of Glades Crop Care. We're an
agricultural consulting firm which performs integrated pest management
tasks as well as making control recommendations for the management of
any of our growers' crops. Our company's been in business since
1973. I have a degree in plant pathology with a minor in entomology,
and the rest of our staff holds degrees in various agricultural fields
including doctorate level degrees. So I feel it'd be safe to say that
we have extensive firsthand knowledge and expertise with area growers
as well as extension services provided to them and the community.
Once more our area vegetable growers are feeling the
squeeze. This time it's supplied by our own government officials.
It's not enough that the federal government has given foreign grown
vegetables an unfair competitive advantage. How do you mitigate this
competitive advantage? Well, it's technology, research, and
extension.
Now this board of commissioners has voted not to budget
the county share, 40 percent, of the commercial extension agents and
their secretary's salary. Even though commercial agriculture is one
of Collier County's largest businesses and it pays its share of taxes,
the majority of these commissioners feel that agri business should
suffer a reduction in services for their tax contribution. This in
itself seems rather unfair since statistics seem to demonstrate that
commercial enterprises already see a lower return on their
contribution.
The positions in jeopardy are being lost for the sake of
a relatively small amount of money. In addition to -- in addition to
acting as liaison between the University of Florida expertise and
research and advising area growers, provide service that benefits all
area citizens.
This point about advising growers is an important one,
especially since the county's smaller growers need the service the
most. The tradition of the family farm is in a dangerous position.
With the advent of new worker production standard regulations and the
need for vital information on safe product usage, availability of
extension services is an absolute necessity for these smaller growers
to remain viable.
The men and women at the county extension office educate
and certify us, provide seminars and demonstrations, participate on
local committees, help reduce the use of environmentally dangerous
pesticides with sound integrated pest management suggestions, advise
us on water management issues, ensure the safety of our food, and
guard our environment.
As mentioned, education and certification is a key part
of extension services. This is crucial in that persons handling what
may be dangerous materials be trained in their safe use, or the
consequences may be environmental problems we will all pay for later.
Apparently a budget that supports a fraction of
important personnel and services provided in most part by IFAS is
being deemed unimportant. We maintain that American agriculture is in
dire straits, and being penny wise yet pound foolish at this
particular instance threatens not only commercial agricultural
businesses but a very quality of life in Collier County.
I'm sure that with due consideration of these points
you'll agree that these extension positions are more important than
were originally believed and that your decision will be to continue
them.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Roan.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Before he goes, I just -- I
need to reiterate the point. I don't think anyone on this board has
indicated that these don't have some value. I think what the board
has said -- and Commissioner Mac'Kie just made the point -- is the
industry members are profit making and, as such, yes, this research
helps the environment and so on, but it helps you make a profit, and
-- and you ought to pay for that.
I liken it to the tourism industry which is another --
like your industry is another big part of our economy here in Collier
County. And in order for tourism to be promoted over and above their
individual efforts, just like over and above the individual companies
you do, do their own little projects, they decided to tax themselves
with the tourist development tax and then have a broad effort to
assist their industry.
And -- and I don't really see a difference, and maybe
you can help me because I'm -- I'm not understanding the difference in
your industry why the general taxpayer -- I don't think the general
taxpayer should be paying to promote tourism, and I don't think the
general taxpayer should be paying to promote your industry.
And -- and again, as Jerry said, if you all are willing
to do that, that's fine. But to ask Joe and Sally Homeowner to pay to
promote your industry, I'm not sure I understand why that should
happen.
MR. JACOBS: Yeah. Using Commissioner Matthews' numbers
that commercial agriculture gets a return of 20 percent -- 27 percent
on their -- on their tax contributions whereas homeowner return is 125
percent on their contributions, it seems like the commercial end of it
is -- is holding up their end. I don't know what the consensus is
about fees. And if people agree to -- to pursue that, I don't see any
problem with it. But you must realize that commercial agriculture is
paying their fair share and they're not asking the homeowner to
support them. They're just asking for services on their contribution.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: And how is that any different
than any other type business, though, because you can look at tourism
or you can look at a car dealership or you can look at almost any
commercial entity --
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: Or a $5,000 home.
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: What about tax equity for them?
COMMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: -- and they are not getting
back the same that they're putting in. I mean, it just -- everybody
doesn't get 100 percent and homeowners get more because they're using
-- any homeowner, you and I or anyone else, are using virtually every
service. You use water and sewer. You use the roads. You use
everything. You use police. You use fire. A farm field isn't going
to use the sheriff's department obviously, so you're not going to get
that return. But, I mean --
MR. JACOBS: Yeah. Some type of fee -- fee-based system
could be something that would be developed. But in my understanding
that these positions are in jeopardy now so --
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: Not if they're doing what we ask
them to do.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: That's what my concern is. We
-- we asked the ag. -- ag. extension service to look at a fee-based
program. And apparently -- and I don't -- I don't understand the ins
and outs of it at this point. We -- we need to find out more about
it. But apparently there's been a decision to cut staff rather than
look at -- at a fee-based situation.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Can you help us, Mr. Olliff?
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Well, and the other important
point is we set a particular dollar amount and asked our staff to
prioritize --
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: They chose --
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: -- what items they needed to
keep. And so one of the things in this process between now and
September, you all need to be lobbying our staff as to what are the
highest priorities.
MR. JACOBS: Well, and IFAS is a land -- is a land grant
based institution too. So, you know, we're speaking on a -- basically
a federally sponsored program on a county-by-county basis. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Olliff.
MR. OLLIFF: There are two and a half positions that
were specifically discussed as part of the workshop. One of them was
a vegetable agent which is what we're talking about this morning.
Another one was what is called a horticultural agent which is
primarily supporting the local landscape professionals. And the other
one was a secretarial position that supports those.
What came out of the workshop, because there were some
landscape professionals here that stood up at the podium at the time
we had the workshop and said "we're willing to pay for those positions
if we can work out something," we were talking in terms then of
occupational license fee increases. We -- we later found out that
couldn't be done in time to be able to generate the revenue for next
year's budget.
They've created a way of charging for the courses that
the landscape professionals need to take in order to be licensed to
spray pesticides in the area that we believe will generate enough
revenue to pay for the full-time position there.
Because there was no one here talking about the actual
vegetable agent, the decision was made at that workshop to go ahead
and cut that position in the half that supported it, but that
certainly doesn't mean that if the industry's willing to step up and
do the same type of a licensing or a fee-based type program that you
couldn't consider that as part of your public budget workshop when we
do that in September.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Is this the position that we
referred to a lot in the workshop as let Collier Enterprises go do
their own research and then a couple family farm people said, no, no,
this helps us too?
MR. OLLIFF: Yes.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: That's the position?
MR. OLLIFF: I think the idea was there were two
positions specifically that the board saw as being supporting private
industry, and I don't think that the board specifically targeted those
positions as much as they said don't fund those out of general fund.
And so the budget that you have as a tentative budget does not fund
either of those through ad valorem tax money.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, Mr. Jacobs.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Roan?
COMMISSIONER HANCOCK: I don't mean to cut anyone's legs
out from under them, but I think you can see a pattern here.
MR. ROAN: I'll make it short and sweet.
COMHISSIONER HANCOCK: Well, just maybe how you can
address what's being requested here would be appropriate, but please
go ahead.
MR. ROAN: Okay. My name is Wesley Roan. I represent
Six L Farms and many of the growers in the community.
There's a lot of points that have been made by the
previous speakers and Commissioner Matthews' point about the fact that
the revenue generated by the farm land holders in ad valorem taxes is
only utilized at 27 percent by them, and so there is a surplus of
funding to the county based on that and the fact that the vegetable
industry and -- and I'm sure the horticultural industry too are faced
with a lot of requirements federally, state, and countywide as far as
their regulatory requirements. And meeting -- coming into compliance,
environmental compliance, wildlife habitat, ecology, migrant
employment, water management, worker protection, all of these things
are issues that are faced by these industries that mount up far and
above the requirements regulatorially of many of the businesses in the
county.
And it's the constant -- or the ability of the industry
to utilize the extension agent who has constant updates with all of
these government agencies to -- to help us stay in -- in compliance.
You spoke about --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Once again, I -- I think we all
understand the importance of this -- of the service. The question
really is are you willing to -- from your part to consider some sort
of fee --
MR. ROAN: We have --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: -- program --
MR. ROAN: We have --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: -- to support the agents.
MR. ROAN: We have no desire not to consider it. We're
willing to consider it. If -- I mean, if -- if there's no chance --
you know, snowball's chance in hell in getting the county agents to
stay around, then we will consider it.
But we also feel the fact -- you know, like I mentioned
earlier, the amount of money we pay in taxes seems to be a significant
amount to offset the small cost of -- of the agent.
And you used tourism as an example. Well, the ag.
extension agent provides a bridge to tourism that maybe you've
forgotten. There's farm city day. There's barbecues. There are
regulatory tours, numerous tours to agencies as well as tourism
entities that this position provides. So there is a bridge of value
to Collier County even through tourism that this position helps out
with.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I have to take exception because
you're the -- the last in a line of many saying we're not getting our
money back, we're pouring money in and we're just not getting anything
back. What steps has Six L Farms taken to address the issues of
migrant housing and healthcare for the workers that have to come in
and work your industry, sir?
MR. ROAN: What steps have we taken?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Yes, positive steps.
MR. ROAN: Well, we provide a migrant seasonal
educational facility at our camp at -- on Farm 7 on the East Trail.
We are -- we provide the facility. We provide all the maintenance.
We provide -- I'm sure there is some state funding to that effect, but
we personally have a facility to take care of migrant labor. We also
provide --
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Takes care of healthcare and
housing and all that?
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: They're taken care of. It's
amazing.
MR. ROAN: We take care of educational purposes.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: They're taken care of.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: No, I didn't ask about
education. I said housing and healthcare.
MR. ROAN: All right. We provide housing on site for
over 500 employees on a regular basis.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: Out of how many that you have?
MR. ROAN: Well, we probably employ 2,000 people.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: Thank you.
MR. ROAN: But because of the fact they rotate, there's
never 2,000 at one time.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: The point I'm making is that it's
not like the test track. It's not a clean industry that comes in and
doesn't place any burden on the taxpayer in other areas. And I don't
dispute the numbers that you have, and I want to take a look at them.
But, you know, for -- to say that this subsidy needs to continue
because you're dumping money in and not getting anything out I think
is misleading.
MR. ROAN: We're not saying --
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: And don't get me started as a
representative of the city of Naples about tax equity. And I'm sure
you don't want to talk about Marco Island. You know, you just don't
get your dollar back.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Let me -- let me just make a point,
though. Whether -- whether you're getting your dollars back or not,
it's what are the dollars being spent for. It wouldn't be appropriate
because you're not getting the 27 percent return on your dollar as you
claim for us to go out and buy tractors for you. That would not be
appropriate. It would not be appropriate for us to go out and buy
your chemicals for you through the ad valorem tax base or to buy seed
or to pay the salaries of your farm workers. It's just not
appropriate. And what we're saying is that we're -- we're kind of
feeling that perhaps it's not appropriate for the ad valorem tax base
to provide a service that is -- is strictly directed or fairly
strictly directed at your business.
MR. ROAN: Well, it sure seems like the agri business in
Collier County is probably the second largest revenue generator other
than tourism, that there's an awful lot of money. I don't know what
-- what that amount is.
I'm not saying, again, that we're not willing to work
out a compromise and that there -- but we just want to make sure that
-- that ag. extension remains and that the benefit to -- you know, we
haven't even talked about the benefit to the -- the homeowner. But
how many people grow vegetables? How many people have citrus trees?
How many people, you know, maybe have a cow in the backyard or maybe
more rutally anyway that -- that -- that will call the extension agent
on a regular basis? And that's free information to them. It is at no
cost to them. And we just want to make sure that this stays intact.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you, Mr. Roan.
MR. DORRILL: Mr. Summerhill and then Ms. Leinweber.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Well, while he's coming up, I'd
-- I'd like to -- to thank him very much for his offer to work with
the extension and to try to develop a --
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: That's all we're asking.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: -- program by which we can
continue the employment of these -- these people that do provide a
service to -- to the county and to the agri business at large. I
mean, it's important to me that we send a strong message that we -- we
want a fee-based service at least, at the very least, developed on
this program.
MR. SUHMERHILL: Mr. Chairman, members of the
commission, I'm Bill Summerhill. I'm the director of personnel for
the university -- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
otherwise known as IFAS, University of Florida, also acting associate
dean for the extension service.
You all are aware, I'm sure, that the university and
IFAS are in partnership with the boards of county commissioners in all
67 counties with regard to the extension education program. The
extension program is mandated as, of course, it's cooperatively funded
-- that's why it has its name, cooperative extension -- cooperatively
funded with the U.S.D.A., with the state of Florida through the
University of Florida, and with the county, local county government,
and has a mandate to serve all people regardless of race, color,
national origin, et cetera, and also regardless of size of enterprise
or economic -- socioeconomic level. So in all our cases with our
extension agents, we have an obligation to serve all people across the
board as mandated by our federal funding if not by state funding.
The positions that -- my -- my role here today is to
express concern of the university with regard to the reduction in the
appropriation that would allow us to continue the two positions or so
that we're talking about today.
These positions were put in place sometime back -- I'm
not exactly when (sic) -- by the Board of County Commissioners and
the university working together making a decision that these were
priority positions for the people of Collier County and the industry
of Collier County. And the university today feels the same, that
these are priority positions for the university and Collier County and
for the people in Collier County.
We have -- with regard to the loss of the positions, we
have places to put those people. They're highly trained and highly
effective people. And some, in fact, nearby counties are standing in
line for these positions. But we prefer to leave them in Collier
because, again, we feel that there's a high priority here in Collier
with not only the commercial vegetable industry which is something
over 200 million dollars in sales but also with the people in growing
vegetables who are not necessarily classified as commercial and also
for the horticultural industry and those in horticulture, not
necessarily classified as commercial. And again, I want to emphasize
that is our mandate to serve all people regardless of socioeconomic
level or size of the enterprise.
So I would just say that -- again conclude by saying
that we are concerned about the -- the potential loss of the
positions. If the positions are to be restored or not potentially
shifted somewhere else, we need to act very quickly because the budget
year is ending as you are well aware I know and that we will need to
make some kind of decision at the university, so thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: May I just ask you a question,
Dean, before you go?
MR. SUMMERHILL: Oh, excuse me.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Because I assume the university
has no -- doesn't care how the positions are funded. I mean, if we
fund the position or the county contribution via a fee versus a
property tax, do I --
MR. SUMMERHILL: Let me try to address that because I
think there may be a little problem with that in the sense that if the
position is funded on a fee basis, that's not been traditional.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: I understand.
MR. SUMMERHILL: And that violates tradition that's gone
on. I'm not saying that's incorrect. But that certainly has not been
the traditional way of funding positions. The extension service by
its federal legislation has established -- established based on
tax-supported, you know, dollars to fund it at all levels again
because the reason that if you get into a fee basis, you may tend to
eliminate certain people from access to or use of the information,
availability of information. That becomes a problem for the
university in terms of its federal dollars and mandate and its state
dollars.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And let me be clear because my --
my suggestion, of course -- well, this will be decided by the board --
is not that you pay upon making inquiry but something -- MR. SUMMERHILL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: -- similar to what the
landscapers are doing that they create a source of funds among
themselves and --
MR. SUMMERHILL: Okay. We would have to be assured -- I
think the university would have to be assured then that the services
of that agent or those agents funded in that way would indeed be open
to all persons and not limited to those who are paying the fees. And
again, this would be somewhat a unique nature to -- this is a -- this
is a change, what I'm trying to say, from the traditional funding way
for extension over the time.
COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: We have that same concern about
general availability.
MR. SUMMERHILL: Right, yes.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Of information, uh-huh.
MR. SUMMERHILL: Yes. Thank you.
MR. DORRILL: Ms. Leinweber.
MS. LEINWEBER: I'm Judy Leinweber. I'm representing
Bay West Nursery and my husband today, Arnie Leinweber. I am a member
of FNGA. We're in a horticulture department.
And I think you really need to consider about, you know,
cutting out our agents because these agents give us the tools to do
our job. Like Bay West alone, we ship plants in from South America,
from Europe, all over the world. We ship our foliage plants into
Canada. And our agents are the ones that control us, our regulations,
and give us the tools where we can ship across federal lines. Like we
can't ship into California unless our plants are grown off the
ground. Their laws are so stringent there.
So we are given the tools by our agents on how to grow
our plants, what pesticides we can use. We're looking at federal
laws. Our veg -- we don't grow vegetables. We're into plants.
we're talking about federal laws that reach into other countries. And
they're the only ones that we have to rely on that keep us going, keep
us up to date with the new procedures, with the sprays that are
available. If we have one nematode on a semi load that goes into
California, they destroy the whole semi load. Same with Canada.
Before a truck goes out of our loading dock, it is
checked. A special agent comes over and checks $16,000 worth of
plants that could be burned at the border. They're -- they are really
helping us.
We had a problem with white fly. They helped us with
that. We had a big problem with Dupont and bendylate. They really
saved a lot of farmers millions and millions and billions of dollars.
Not only that is they give us the tools and the teaching
aids to educate our migrant employees. And we're not big like Six L
Farms. We have only about 17, 18 people working for us. But they
give us the tools, the videos, the books. And they're also done in
Spanish, not just English but Spanish where we can give our employees
classes.
We had a problem quite a few years ago with our
employees that sprayed our pesticides. They were getting little
emergency trips to the hospital, and we couldn't figure out why.
we had to play detective and call up our agriculture agents, and we
actually had to play detective. We had to tell our employees, when
you work at our nursery, you need to take a shower every day. You
need to change your clothes every day. We found out our employees
weren't even changing their work clothes maybe once a week. And even
though they're wearing protective clothing, the sprays will still seep
in because they sweat and our -- our -- the heat we have here.
Like one gentleman said, what works in other states does
not work in Florida. Florida is a completely different ballgame. And
our agents help us. They're a great tool in the way we do our
business, and they make sure we don't have -- well, just white fly and
bendylate. And the loss could have been so much worse if we didn't
have these agents working for us. Thank you very much.
MR. DORRILL: That's all, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: That's all?
Commissioner Matthews, anything further?
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Well, I -- I'd just like to --
to bring this board's attention to the fact that with -- with the
federal activity dealing with NAFTA the last couple of years and so
forth that the stress is on the agriculture farming and the agri
business. They are going through change. And -- and even though this
amount of money seems to be very small, it -- it -- it -- it's just a
piece that adds to the insult that -- that they've already incurred.
And -- and I want to tell you that when we're looking at
$1.23 worth of services for residential properties for every dollar
that gets paid in, if this agricultural land begins to convert into
developed property, we are really looking at a problem then.
So it would be my suggestion to this board that we not
further stress this particular situation until they've had time to
adapt to what is happening to them at a federal level. And it's a
small amount of money, but I'd really like to see it put back in
September 4 when we -- when we do this.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Well, the irony to me is this
is directly contradictory to what we've just done with community
development. With all the new environmental laws that are going into
place and new local changes and new state changes and new federal
changes, if you're going to do construction, businesses have a hard
time keeping up with all that. And we have people on staff who help
keep them up with that, but they pay for it. And we just -- this
board has been wrestling with trying to make sure that they pay for
all those services. And this is just another industry. And I don't
understand the difference. We want to make sure these businesses are
healthy, and we want to make sure construction is healthy and tourism
is healthy. But John and Sally Homeowner don't need to pay for the
construction industry, and John and Sally Homeowner don't need to pay
for the --
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'm gonna make --
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: -- ag. industry either.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: I'd like to make one last
comment then because I don't want to really belabor this. It's --
it's gone on quite -- quite far enough.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: It's too late for that.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I was going to say we've
belabored already.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: We've belabored already. I -- I
just want to say that when you stop growing vegetables and citrus on a
piece of property and grow a house instead --
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: I don't think anybody's
suggesting that.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: -- that's it.
COHMISSIONER CONSTANTINE: Nobody is suggesting that.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Everybody that stood up here said it's
an insignificant amount of money. Nobody's going to turn in their
thousands of acres of farms because of this amount of money and build
houses on it. It ain't gonna happen. Can't happen under our Growth
Management Plan, so let's don't get into these silly arguments. I
mean, that -- that just doesn't make any sense at all. The argument
is that we've had several people come up here and say how valuable
this service is to them. Well, how valuable? Is it valuable enough
to pay a little fee to support it? Fine. That's all we're asking.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: We're not talking about -- I'm
not talking about the thousands of acres farms, Commissioner Norris.
I'm talking about the farms that are essentially family farms, 40, 50,
60, less than 100 acres. These farms are experiencing the same
pressures, and they don't have the profit margin to make the
difference.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: But the good news is is that
there is an ag. industry in the community that does have the profit
margin to absorb the costs of these fees. And it's so valuable to
them that -- that they will come up -- well, I hope you will because
otherwise I don't see why we should underwrite your industry. CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Anything further?
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: In case anyone's wondering, I
don't have anything else to say.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: He either. Ah, I do.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Dorrill -- oh, wait a minute.
COHMISSIONER HANCOCK: I'm sorry. You already passed.
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: No. Did we get an answer to my
original question about when we're going to know something on the --
speaking of making the construction industry pay for everything -- on
the partial year assessment?
MR. DORRILL: There -- there are two issues. The
partial year assessment phase 1 report is due Friday to be received
here, and I -- it will be beyond the agenda deadline. But if you'd
like to receive an oral presentation, I can do that at your meeting of
the 13th.
At the same time I'm prepared -- I will be prepared by
Friday to give you our preliminary rationale for the $742,000 in
increased fee revenue to support the development services division.
They prefer to give you final reports on September the 3rd, but I can
give you their preliminary rationale and show you specifically what
fees are proposed to increase as part of an item. I won't be able to
distribute the materials until Friday or Monday. But if you want to
talk about it next Tuesday, we can so that it is well in advance of
your first public hearing that will be the second week of September to
adopt the budget.
COHMISSIONER HAC'KIE: I'd like to do that. I'd like to
get the information as soon as possible --
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Can we get that --
COHMISSIONER MAC'KIE: -- available to the public.
COHMISSIONER MATTHEWS: Can we get that in a written
form so we can study it over the -- over the short break as -- as
opposed to -- to oral?
MR. DORRILL: Yes. No. It will be in writing --
written form. I won't have a chance to get it to the printer to be
included as part of the agenda. It will need to be distributed
separately.
Item #15A
SEPTEMBER 3RD BCC MEETING - PUBLIC HEARINGS TO BE HEARD ON THIS DATE
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: You don't have anything further, do
you, Mr. Dotrill?
MR. DORRILL: Other than to tell you that I -- because
of the recess, I am going to allow public hearing items to be heard on
September the 3rd in order to spread the load out which is something
that you normally give me the ability to do.
And finally, the results of the registered voter survey
are out, and you should have your copies, and we're pleased to note
that eight of the nine community service level indicators have
increased. And the majority of those are at their highest levels in
seven years. And I think that's a good testimony to -- to your
sitting and establishing some goals and then your staff's ability to
deliver on those things in particular. The only one that was down was
drainage, and I think the rationale for that is important. And that's
all that I have.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Mr. Weigel?
MR. WEIGEL: Nothing, thank you.
CHAIRMAN NORRIS: Miss Filson, can we go?
MS. FILSON: We can go.
***** Commissioner Constantine moved, seconded by Commissioner Matthews
and carried unanimously, that the consent agenda be approved
and/or adopted: *****
Item #16A1
PLAT OF PELICAN MARSH UNIT ELEVEN - WITH STIPULATIONS, CONSTRUCTION AND
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND LETTER OF CREDIT
See Pages
Item #16A2
FINAL PLAT OF LALIQUE - WITH STIPULATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION AND
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
See Pages
Item #16A3
FINAL PLAT OF CLASSICS CLUBHOUSE
Item #16A4
FINAL PLAT OF INDIAN WELLS GOLF VILLAS - WITH STIPULATIONS AND
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
See Pages
Item #16A5
RESOLUTION 96-334 GRANTING FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE ROADWAY, DRAINANGE,
WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FINAL PLAT OF FALCON RIDGE
See Pages
Item #16A6
RESOLUTION 96-335 AUTHORIZING A 100% WAIVER OF ROAD, LIBRARY SYSTEM,
PARKS AND RECREAITONAL FACILITIES, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM
AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES SYSTEM IMPACT FEES FOR A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE
TO BE BUILT BY SHEILA M. SHARP AT 3781 24TH AVENUE N.E., SAID IMPACT
FEES TO BE PAID FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND (191)
See Pages
Item #16A7
RESOLUTION 96-336 DEFERRING 100% OF THE IMPACT FEES FOR 62 UNITS OF A
128 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT TO BE BUILT BY SAXON MANOR ISLES
APARTMENTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, A FLORIDA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, FROM
LIBRARY SYSTEM IMPACT FEES, PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IMPACT
FEES, ROAD IMPACT FEES, EMERGENCY MEDICAL IMPACT FEES, WATER IMPACT
FEES, SEWEER IMPACT FEES, AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IMPACT FEES FOR
SAXON MANOR ISLES APARTMENTS PHASE I AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS AND
SUBORDINATION OF LIEN
See Pages
Item #16A8
WATER FACILITIES ACCEPTANCE FOR BERMUDA COVE - WITH CASH BOND
Item #16A9
FINAL PLAT OF TALL PINES REPLAT
Item #16B1 - Deleted
Item #1682
CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 UNDER BID NO. 95-2465 TO RAW WATER SURGE RELIEF IN
THE AMOUNT OF $17,124.41
See Pages
Item #1683 - Deleted
Item #1684
WORK ORDER JEI-FT96-97 WITH JOHNSON ENGINEERING, INC. TO PERFORM
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR A SKATEBOARD FACILITY AT THE EAST NAPLES PARK
- IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,200
See Pages
Item #1685
TIME EXTENSION TO DEP CONTRACT NO. C-7396 PERTAINING TO THE WIGGINS
PASS INLET MANAGEMENT PLAN
See Pages
Item #1686
CHANGE ORDER FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HUHISTON & MOORE ENGINEERS FOR THE
CAPRI/BIG MARCO PASS INLET MANAGEMENT PLAN
See Pages
Item #1687 - moved to Item #884
Item #1688
BID #96-2553 FOR THE OAKES DRAINAGE DITCH PROJECT - AWARDED TO SUNSHINE
EXCAVATORS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,085.00
Item #1689 - Deleted
Item #16B10
EXPENDITURES FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE SABAL PALM ROADWAY
EXTENSION HSTU PROJECT
Item #16C1 - Deleted
Item #16C2
RECOGNITION OF PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PURCHASE OF A SCOREBOARD FOR
THE EAST NAPLES COHMUNITY PARK ROLLER HOCKEY RINK
Item #16C3
RECOGNITION OF PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A SPECIAL EVENT AT IHMOKALEE
RECREATION/AQUATIC COMPLEX
Item #16D1 - Deleted
Item #16D2
REPORT REGARDING THE SALE OF ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY SURPLUS
AUCTION OF JUNE 22, 1996
Item #16D3
AGREEMENT FOR THE ISLE OF CAPRI FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LEASE PURCHASE
OF A FIRE TRUCK
See Pages
Item #16D4
SATISFACTIONS OF NOTICE OF PROMISE TO PAY AND AGREEMENT TO EXTEND
PAYMENT OF SEWER SYSTEM IMPACT FEES
See Pages
Item #16D5
SATISFACTIONS OF CLAIM OF LIENS
See Pages
Item #16D6
BID #96-2552 FOR ELECTRICAL PARTS AND SUPPLIES - AWARDED TO VARIOUS
VENDORS ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16El - Moved to Item #8E2
Item #16E2
CONTINUING RETENTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND MICHAEL B.
TWOHEY, ESQ., FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS BEFORE THE
FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COHMISSION
See Pages
Item #16E3
BUDGET AMENDMENTS 96-506, 96-509, 96-510, 96-520, AND 96-526
Item #16G1
SATISFACTION OF LIENS FOR SERVICES OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
See Pages
Item #16G2
CANCELLATION OF LIEN FOR SERVICES OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
See Pages
Item #16G3
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE - FILED AND/OR REFERRED
The following miscellaneous correspondence as presented to the
Board of County Commissioners has been filed and/or referred to the
various departments as indicated:
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 11:23 a.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS
CONTROL
JOHN C. NORRIS, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
DWIGHT E. BROCK, CLERK
These minutes approved by the Board on
as presented or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF DONOVAN COURT REPORTING
BY: Shelly Semmler