BCC Minutes 02/09/2011 J (w/Naples City Council) BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
NAPLES CITY
COUNCIL
SPECIAL
MEETING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 9, 2011
February 9, 2011
TRANSCRIPT OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS and
NAPLES CITY COUNCIL
Naples, Florida, February 9, 2011
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 1 :00 p.m., in SPECIAL SESSION at the City Council Chamber, 735
Eighth Street South, Naples, Florida.
CHAIRMAN: Fred Coyle
Jim Coletta
Donna Fiala
Georgia A. Hiller (Absent)
Tom Henning (Absent)
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
MAYOR: Bill Barnett
John F. Sorey, III
Doug Finlay
Teresa Lee Heitmann (Absent)
Gary B. Price, II
Sam J. Saad, III
Margaret Sulick
ALSO PRESENT:
Leo E. Ochs, Jr., County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Robert D. Pritt, City Attorney
A. William Moss, City Manager
Tara A. Norman, City Clerk
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Notice of Joint Meeting and Agenda
Naples City Council
Collier County - Board of County Commissioners
City Council Chamber, 735 Eighth Street South, Naples, Florida
City of Naples
Mayor: Bill Barnett
Vice Mayor: John F. Sorey, III
City Council Members:
Doug Finlay, Teresa Lee Heitmann, Gary B. Price II, Sam J. Saad III, Margaret Sulick
City Attorney: Robert D. Pritt. City Clerk: Tara A. Norman' City Manager: A. William Moss
Collier County - Board of County Commissioners
Chairman: Fred W. Coyle
Vice Chairman: Jim Coletta
County Commissioners:
Donna Fiala, Georgia A. Hiller, Tom Henning
County Attorney: Jeffrey A. Klatzkow . County Manager: Leo E. Ochs, Jr.
Welcome to today's Meeting. If you wish to address City Council! Board of County Commissioners following the last item
on the agenda, please complete a registration form at the rear of the room and place it in the Speaker Request Box located
on the Council dais prior to discussion of that item. We ask that speakers limit their comments to 3 minutes and that large
groups name a spokesperson whenever possible. Thank you for your interest and participation in local government.
Joint Meeting of the
City of Naples City Council and the
Collier County Board of County Commissioners
Wednesday, February 9,2011
1 :00 p.m.
Any information which is provided in advance of this meeting on items listed below may be inspected in
the office of the City Clerk or on the City's web site www.naplesaov.com. All written, audio-visual and
other materials presented to the City Council during this meeting will become the property of the City of
Naples and will be retained by the City Clerk.
1. Roll Call
2. Set Agenda
3. Parks and Recreation
4. Boat Launch and Parking at the Naples Landing Park
5. Discussion Regarding the City's Proposal to Consider an Alternative U.S. 41
Route Designation via Golden Gate Parkway and Goodlette-Frank Road
6. Beach Renourishment
Public Comment
Adjourn
NOTICE
Formal action may be taken on any item discussed or added to this agenda. Any pe~n i",bg
decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter consflJJi'~cPm
Joint Meeting of Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Page 2
this meeting (or hearing) will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a
verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence
upon which the appeal is to be heard. Any person with a disability requiring auxiliary aids and
services for this meeting may call the City Clerk's Office at 213-1015 with requests at least two
business days before the meeting date.
2of54
February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome
to our joint meeting of the City of Naples City Council and our county
Board of County Commissioners.
Madam Clerk, please call the role.
THE CLERK: For Naples, Mayor Barnett?
MAYOR BARNETT: Here.
THE CLERK: Mr. Finlay?
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Here.
THE CLERK: Mrs. Heitmann?
(No response.)
THE CLERK: Mr. Price?
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Here.
THE CLERK: Mr. Saad?
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Here.
THE CLERK: Mr. Sorey?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Here.
THE CLERK: Mrs. Sulick?
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Here.
THE CLERK: For the Collier County Board of Commissioners,
Chairman Coyle?
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Here.
THE CLERK: Vice-Chair Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Here.
THE CLERK: Ms. Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Here.
THE CLERK: Ms. Hiller?
(No response.)
THE CLERK: Mr. Henning?
(No response.)
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Will you all join me in the Pledge of Allegiance, please.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
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February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you. A very brief few comments
before we set the agenda.
First of all, welcome, County Commissioners. We're glad to have
you here today. I am a little bit disappointed that we don't have a full
quorum today, had I known or we known, we would have changed the
date of this meeting. That's all I really want to say about that.
Motion to set the agenda?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: So moved.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Motion.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you. Mr. Sorey, Mr. Coyle.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
MAYOR BARNETT: Aye.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Aye.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Aye.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Aye.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Aye.
MAYOR BARNETT: Opposed?
(No response.)
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
Agenda Item No.3. I believe that's ours.
Item #3
PARKS AND RECREATION
MR. MOSS: Thank you, and good afternoon, Board of
Commissioners and City Council.
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February 9, 2011
Just a brief background for the benefit of the viewing audience,
this topic pertains to a ten-year funding for an interlocal agreement
between the Board of Commissioners and the Naples City Council
regarding the funding of City of Naples Parks and Recreation program
and sand beach parking.
And just briefly, a background history. In 2008, following
concerns raised by the City Council regarding the use of park
facilities, recreation programs, and the beach parking and beach
accesses by residents in the unincorporated area of Collier County, the
Board of County Commissioners agreed to provide $1 million
annually to the City of Naples to help offset related expenses.
The amount provided was intended to be allocated for beach
parking in the amount of $500,000, and the balance allocated to the
Naples park facilities and recreation programs.
At that time and each year thereafter the Naples City Council,
while most appreciative of the funding support by Collier County, has
maintained that the contribution does not offset the costs to provide
services to the residents of the unincorporated area of Collier County
that often represents a substantial majority of users.
The Naples City Council respectfully requests additional
financial support for the parks, recreation, and beach facilities and
suggests that an additional $700,000 would be a fair allocation.
And from that point, Vice-Mayor Sorey, if you don't mind, would
you take it from here?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Manager.
And I extend my thanks for you taking your time to be here
today, Commissioners, because I know this is a subject we've had
discussions about before. And, you know, the reality is, as we have
talked in past meetings, we have about 7 percent of the population and
maybe about 22 percent of the county taxes.
And I realize that our taxes go to multiple uses, and as Chairman
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February 9, 2011
Coyle indicated, only about 25 percent of the tax actually goes to the
County Commission for their use. But of that 25 percent, still a
significant number, 22 percent, is from the City of Naples taxpayers.
And we all know what the issue is. You are strapped as far as
revenue; we're strapped as far as revenue. So one of the things that I
think we have an obligation to do is not only look at the issue, but
come up with some solutions.
So as I look at the alternatives, it appears that we can continue
with the process that we have now, and in addition to the property tax
subsidy, continue to subsidize the county residents for use of our parks
and recs. to the tune of $700,000.
I don't think that in our budget cycle, and based on the comments
I'm getting from our residents, that's an acceptable alternative.
Second thing. Obviously, we'd be able to obtain that money from
the county taxpayers from your budget. And I realize that that
alternative is very difficult when the last number that County Manager
indicated to me, probably somewhere in the $25 million shortfall. So
that's a challenging situation.
The city could reduce services. I'm not sure that we should
duplicate county services, and there are similar programs elsewhere in
the county. There are also some not-for-profit programs. So one of the
things that we could do would be reduce programs we're providing.
Another alternative would be to go to a two-tiered fee system.
I don't think that's best for our citizens, and I don't think it's best for
either the city or the county.
Another item that we might look at -- and obviously it will take
some research and maybe even a change as far as the current funding.
But an alternative I'd like for you to consider would be the tourist tax
money that goes to beach parks and rec. and the possibility of looking
at $500,000 a year from the tourist tax to go toward the beach-in
funding, because a significant number of the users of the beach-ins in
the city are county residents and tourists.
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February 9, 2011
Another alternative that we could do -- if we did that, leave the
million dollars in place, and that would go to parks and rec., and an
additional $500,000 from a different revenue source might be
considered.
The last alternative would be to increase the tax that the county
residents pay for regional parks, because when you look at our parks,
especially Fleischmann, I think it's a reasonable assumption to say that
that's, indeed, a regional park.
So, Mr. Mayor, those are the suggestions that I would suggest we
maybe consider.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Vice-Mayor Sorey.
Comments?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
MAYOR BARNETT: Donna.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I could make a comment. Boy, we're
all having financial troubles, and we all appreciate --
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Is your mic on?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't know. Is it on?
MAYOR BARNETT: Yes, is it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, there you go.
We all appreciate that the city has such -- has been so cooperative
in their beach -- beach access. And we've loved being able to pay for
our residents using the beach, and that's great, that's great.
And I understand that you have a lot of county residents,
according to your figures, using it. I think -- and we're very fortunate
in the county also. We have some great things that, I think, city
people use, like the sun and splash. Nobody else has that around, and
certainly they use that.
We have been working very, very hard at creating more boat
launch areas, and that's another good thing that we can provide, and
we welcome everybody from the city to use them.
Of course, we have the Children's Museum that's going to be
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February 9, 2011
opening very shortly. It's not ours, but it is on our North Naples
Regional Park property, and that's a wonderful thing.
Luckily at North Regional we also have a sports complex so that
when teams come in to play the sports and -- you know, nationally.
And they stay at the hotels. They don't stay at any in East Naples
because we don't have any, but they do stay in the City of Naples and
use that park, and we welcome them because the tourism -- that's a
new avenue for tourism. And so we're happy to share that with them.
We just love it. We also have little things like Little League, for
instance.
So I think there's been a great cooperative effort between city and
county to work together.
Now, to address the problem with your lack of money and your
need for money from us and with the beach money and the park's
money, we're kind of struggling with that right now. I don't have a
great suggestion, but I'm sure open for it.
But I just wanted to put those other things on the table, too, to
emphasize that there has been a cooperative effort. And I know you
all know that. I mean, it's not anything I'm telling you that's new.
Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Donna.
Doug?
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: I know that we have a pretty good
handle on what the percentage of county residents using some of our
city facilities are, especially Fleischmann, to some degree Cambier,
and our Parks and Recreation programs, but does the county have any
numbers that you can -- for example, Donna mentioned, you know,
the Sun -- the splash park. Do you have numbers that you can tell us
what percent of the users of the splash park are city residents or what
percentage of city residents are using, say, county recreational
programs in relation to -- maybe it's 7 percent, 5 percent? Do you
have those numbers?
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February 9, 2011
MR.OCHS: Mr. Mayor?
MAYOR BARNETT: Sure.
MR. OCHS : Yes, Councilman. We, in fact, have a brief staff
report that we'd like to give when the discussion is done here.
And one of the slides you'll see breaks down the use of county
facilities by city residents, and it should give you a little bit of a flavor
of the types of uses.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay. Jim and Gary.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes, thank you.
I appreciate the fact that you're holding this meeting here today,
because I know this is a subject that's been very dear to everyone's
heart, you know. We -- back many years ago when this first came up
before the Collier County Commission to come up with the million
dollars for the beaches and the parks, I was one of the strongest
advocates on the commission for that, for just reason, because of the
fact that I recognize that what you do in the City of Naples as far as
access to the beaches, it can't be duplicated anyplace else. It's very
unique, and it's appreciated. And the fact that people have free access
to that beach means a lot.
I also recognize the fact that there is a certain amount of people
within Collier County that find it more convenient to use the parks in
Naples; however, with that said, we have to temper with the fact that
money is extremely short now.
The county isn't a cash cow to the point where we can find
money to even meet our own needs right now, and we're talking about
another minimum of3 percent cut this coming year. And by the way,
that's supposed to be a secret, so don't tell anybody.
So let's look at this thing logically, where we are now and where
we're going to be able to go with it. You've got to make yourself
whole. Your people in the City of Naples expect to have a reasonable
return for their taxes, and they're not looking forward to subsidizing
something for the rest of the world.
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February 9, 2011
That's a fact. And every day they're knocking on your door,
they're coming before you, and they're telling you this. You know,
why are we the playground for the whole of Collier County?
Well, let's look at this a little bit in a little different frame of
mind. I've seen the statistics, and when I first seen them, I got all
excited. I thought, oh, my God, these people are absolutely right; how
can they put up with this? You know, it's such a small percentage of
their own people accessing these facilities, and the rest non-residents
overwhelming the City of Naples with the demand.
Then I started thinking about it a little bit, and I come to realize
that lots of times these people are guests of residents within the City of
Naples, lots of times you rent out numerous facilities through this area
to people that -- residents rent out their houses, their condominiums
and whatever. Those people would be renters. They wouldn't be
considered residents for the City of Naples.
So I mean, I start to question some of these numbers. Plus a lot
of the people who've been coming here are from the hotels, the
surrounding hotels. They're not county residents. They're residents
of, what, the world, you might say.
So the numbers themselves are probably a little bit flawed to
begin with, so the overlying problem lies is how do you make yourself
whole? And this is going to sound like something that Jim Coletta
would never say, but in Collier County we do charge user fees for a
whole bunch of different things out there. And, you know, we realize
that there's certain things as far as basic access to the parks, but if you
want to belong to a team, you have to pay a certain fee. If you want to
access something for a large event, you have to pay a fee. And it's all
built upon, you know, everybody paying their fare share.
So I wouldn't be opposed if you wanted to come up with a special
structure for -- in the City of Naples for people that are non-residents
that are using your facility. I think that would be an excellent way to
go to make up for your deficiency.
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February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: But meanwhile, that million
dollars is there now. I think it's a wonderful idea, and we should
continue with it.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Jim.
Gary.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Thanks, Mayor.
I was thinking about what the effect of ten elected officials
actually counting on or relying on anyone number, and we'd probably
be here for weeks and we'd probably never come up with a usage
number.
So while I appreciate the fact we can all analyze who's using the
parks, I had two fundamental principle questions to ask, or comments.
One is, over the last couple years through this economic time,
one thing I've noticed is the demand for free recreation has gone up in
the 11 years that I've been here. You can look at it from our parks.
You can look at the beaches. Look at free zoo day on Saturday,
and I've never seen so many people in my life going to the zoo. That's
a sign that we have people with needs.
And our priorities should be, how do we provide the best
recreation available for free? They're already paying for it, by the
way, if they're county or city residents. And so -- and as we look at
the priorities and as you look at your priorities in this budget year,
there's never been a greater demand that I've ever seen for free,
relatively free, access to parks and recreation.
So as we prioritize, as each of us prioritizes what's important to
the people we represent, I think it's critical that we recognize that
people are hurting, that they don't have money to go and maybe do
some of the things that cost money, and we should make that a
priority .
The other thing I'll tell you from -- as a consumer, as a family
that consumes these parks and goes out and we use the summer
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February 9, 2011
programs, I think we can find some efficiencies and overlap where
you have -- there are special-needs camps that we might be
overlapping. They're very expensive to do.
Maybe we can get together and find out -- let's get together and
one of us provide that and one of us provide another type of a camp or
service. There's no sense in both of us providing. I know that's
happened in the past, because I've seen it. We can find some
efficiencies that will -- that maybe will reduce all of our costs and let
us collectively try to serve the people we represent.
Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Gary.
Fred.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Councilman Price has really hit the nail
on the head here. We've been debating this for -- I remember we
debated it when I was a city councilman here -- and we've never been
able to resolve it completely, and one of the reasons is that we don't
manage our parks together. They're managed independently.
And let me illustrate what has happened to put you in this
position. The city had a real desire to accommodate the needs of
children, many of whom were skateboarding right out here, and they
had no place to go. So the city built the skate park.
Now, some people in the county would say, what were you
thinking? You knew most of the users were going to come from the
county . You don't have that many children, or didn't have that many
children in the city, but you built the skate park. And now it's become
very popular and it's attracting county residents. Now, we could have
avoided that had we planned together, as Councilman Price is
suggesting.
Now, I have made the same suggestion year after year that we
need to take all of recreational facilities into consideration when we're
establishing levels of service for our entire county. I don't know why
we don't do it, but I think it has something to do with territory and the
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February 9, 2011
control. But that follows naturally when you're talking about money.
It's very hard to get people to give money to something over which
they have no control.
So unless we resolve the fundamental problem of managing our
recreational facilities together in some way, coordinating them at least
-- I'm not talking about the county taking over the recreational
facilities. But had the state park been planned jointly with the county,
that would have been the perfect time to put the county on the hook
for paying some of the costs for maintaining it.
And that's one of the key issues here. Nobody wants to see
somebody go out and make a decision that will cause the county to
incur financial obligations without being involved in the decision
making process. So that's where we are today.
And we're going to hear statistics, and if we're not careful, we'll
leave here just like we did the year before and the year before that and
the year before that. And I would hope that before we wind up here
we could reach an agreement to establish a coordinating committee
that would sit down and take a look at this and find out what is the
best way to deal with this problem.
And it's going to require fundamental structures in the way we
address recreational facilities in Collier County in my opinion, and
that's not bad if we can do something that is equitable and we can all
agree on.
So I would hope that as we go through this debate on numbers,
that you'll be thinking about hopefully, at the end of this discussion,
creating a committee that will address it and report back to both bodies
over time to see if we can't find a fundamental resolution to this.
Because just coming up every year during budget time and
saying, give me more money, is just not the way to get -- to make any
progress on this issue, because at budget time, we're already crunched.
And we've got to do something fundamental.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Fred.
Leo, did you have a presentation?
MR.OCHS: Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Again, trying to gauge the temperature of the table here, you
know, we were prepared to go into as much detail as the group would
like. If you'd prefer not to get into a debate about statistics and if the
general tenor of the group is to work towards some joint committee to
come back at a later date after we've scrubbed the numbers, then we
can dispense with most of that.
I think a couple of just general observations from the staffs
perspective, when the ten-year agreement was put together a couple of
years ago, we thought that -- that obviously that provided an
opportunity for both city and county residents to use each other's
facilities on an equal footing, so to speak.
The other thing it did from a staff perspective, quite honestly,
was to give us some level of certainty in our financial planning going
forward. Unfortunately, now, you know, less than three years into the
deal, we're looking at requests for a 70 percent increase.
You know, we're going to be talking to our board about budget
guidance in two weeks, so that's difficult for us to react to in that
period of time.
The only other observation I had, and Councilman Price
mentioned it, this seems to be somewhat based on statistics that have
been generated that you've seen in your packet. We've looked at them
as well. We think there's a lot of merit to them, but we also think that
in some cases they're somewhat anecdotal. You're drawing fairly
large conclusions on a sample of three programs at Fleischmann Park
and one program at Cambier.
And as we could -- as we could figure out the statistics, that
really we're talking about numbers of participants, not actual
registered individuals to these programs. So, again, the figures, I
think, need to be scrubbed a little bit more by both the city and the
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February 9, 2011
county to come up with something that we both find reliable.
And then the last thing I would say, that in terms of the city and
the county getting fair share for each other's constituents, I just wanted
to remind the City Council that all of the county's community parks,
which are highly recreation-active parks, if you will, ball fields,
basketball courts, tennis courts, very similar to Fleischmann and to
Cambier except for the band shell at Cambier, are funded entirely by
user fees and property taxes paid by residents in the unincorporated
areas.
The only county-wide property taxes that go to our park system
is in what we call our regional park system, which is our beach parks
and a couple of our larger parks. And, again, they're funded by a
combination of user fees and county-wide property taxes.
There is some information in your packet -- I'll let you look at it
at your leisure -- but you may be surprised to find that it suggests that
the percentage of city taxes that go towards the cost of the county's
regional park system on an annual basis is essentially offset by the
million-dollar annual transfer back to the city.
So that's a long way of saying, I think there's more equity
between the systems than you might initially think.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Thank you. I think -- I don't want
to speak for council, but they can speak for themselves. But I think
we're all on the same page. I don't think we want to debate numbers
today because we would be here til' midnight, and we wouldn't -- as
Chairman Coyle said, we'll be right back where we were years ago.
But I do think -- and a consensus of council would be great, or
the commission, I think a committee formed with the two bodies
through the city manager and the county manager or a little more
discussion at one of our workshops and yours as well, come up with a
committee that could do exactly what Gary you said and, Fred, you
said. I think that's an equitable solution. At least it's working towards
one anyway.
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February 9, 2011
Jim, John.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yes. I was going to say, if we're
going to have talks taking place between the city and county parks and
rec. to see what can be done for efficiencies, can we also invite Marco
Island and Everglades City to the table? They may not find an interest
in joining us, but --
MAYOR BARNETT: Sure. I think --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: -- in fairness.
MAYOR BARNETT: -- that's a good idea. It never hurts. It's
input, and for -- you know, looking for that common goal.
John.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Mayor, with the budget coming up
sooner than we'd all like for it to be, I think that that's a great idea.
And I don't know that we need to go further as far as council getting
involved in this committee structure and that sort of thing. I think we
just ask the county manager and the city manager.
MAYOR BARNETT: Right.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: But I do think we should set a target
as far as when that group will report back for both -- we're on the same
budget cycle -- county and city. So I'd like to maybe ask the county
manager and the city manager when you think that you could come
back after some analysis to both bodies as far as a report and some
recommendations?
MR. OCHS : Well, in terms of the city and the county, I don't see
it taking that long, but if we're going to invite Marco and Everglades,
it will extend the time a little bit. You know, I would like, you know,
maybe 90 days to --
MR. MOSS: That sounds great.
MR.OCHS: Good.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: I think that will still be within budget
cycle. And if I heard Commissioner Coletta, we're going to offer
them. If they want to be involved, fine. If they don't, we're not going
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February 9, 2011
to wait for them.
MR. OCHS: Right, 90 days.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Okay. So 90 days is the target to
have a report back.
MR.OCHS: Very good.
MAYOR BARNETT: Does that bode well with the council?
COUNCILMAN PRICE: I know I may be beating a dead horse,
but what I'd like to see is them spend time on the overlap of service,
not so much who's using the park, for what it's worth. I know that's
been said, but I just wanted to put a stamp on that.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I agree.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you. So I think we're all in
agreement.
Leo, you still didn't want to do a presentation, did you?
MR. OCHS: No, I think we're done.
MR. MOSS: I think we're not talking about ratios and
participation. Our focus is going to be on how we can team together
to provide the services that we're providing now.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: And in the most effective way for the
least cost obviously, and if we can eliminate some programs, or maybe
if there's some programs that the city's doing really well, that there
may be, as was commented as far as fees are concerned, maybe part of
this -- to me the scope of work would be, as Mr. Price said. Look at
duplication. Secondly, look -- I think this group should look at
funding as well. You know, are there any alternatives as far as
funding, look at user fees.
So I think it should be a general review, but I think we all agree,
and Mr. Price said it well, that the key element is, how do we provide
the best product for the least cost to all our citizens, city and county.
And when we're looking at our young people especially, there's a lot
of those folks that -- we don't need to penalize our young people
because we both have financial issues, but we need to figure out a way
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February 9, 2011
to provide that service to them within the revenues that we have.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, John.
Doug, Dee, and Sam.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY : Yeah. I think we have to flesh out
the numbers. And Commissioner Coletta is correct. I remember
speaking in front of the BCC on this very issue, and to Commissioner
Coletta's credit he was understanding of the city's issue on this, as was
I believe Commissioner Fiala, I certainly compliment them on that.
But I do think that if there is some doubt in people's minds that
there are some issues with the numbers, that we need to resolve that,
because the numbers are important. You know, how many -- how
many county residents use city parks or vice versa, I think, is critical.
And I don't see any reason why those numbers can't be fleshed out.
You know, I mean, we know we know from registration, you
know, what the breakdown is, like in softball or things like that,
because you're not dealing with out-of-state residents on that issue. So
I think the committee should flesh out the numbers.
MAYOR BARNETT: We'll come back to that. I'll hear from
Dee and Sam, and then we'll come right back to that.
COUNCIL WOMAN SULICK: And I would just ask that when
we consider combining or coordination of different programs within
the county/city area, that proximity be given some sense of reality,
because that to me is an overriding factor. Part of the reason that so
many of the programs in the city are so well attended is because
they're close to the school and the people that are there. That's a
continuation of the school day or it's easy access for the children, for
the parents, et cetera.
So just by the very nature of where the population is close into
the city makes a difference in the use of those facilities. So to say that
you're going to drop a program that we offer in the city because it's
offered in the county but it's offered, you know, considerably east in
the county, that's not going to help city residents.
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February 9, 2011
So I think those are things that also have to be looked at is
location or proximity for the greatest good.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Thank you.
Sam.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: I'll just touch again on what Doug is
saying, at the end of the day the city has X dollars to spend, unless
we're talking about cutting money out of our parks and rec. budget, we
need to be made whole in some fashion for the services that we're
providing to county residents.
So we should look for overlap, and I think that's what Gary
mentioned; but Doug has a very good point, to the extent that we're
subsidizing county residents, that's -- that amount should come back
into the city, so --
MAYOR BARNETT: Well, I think Leo said that, you know, if
we're going to look at numbers, you know, that was going to be part of
-- if that was going to be part of it --
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Well, it should be part of -- it should
be part of the committee to figure out the metrics involved, I think.
MAYOR BARNETT: Well, and I think Leo said that they -- he
was not disputing our numbers but they were saying that they need to
be scrubbed a little more, as does -- you know, so they're not
necessarily -- they're factual, but there's probably more in there that
needs to come out. And I just don't know if when we're talking about,
the scope of this committee in 90 days, how much -- how much more
burden does that put on you? I'm asking the city or county manager.
MR.OCHS: We're good.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: I just think that as an essential
component of any dealings, we figure out what we're talking about
before we talk about it.
MAYOR BARNETT: Donna and Fred.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah. I would hate us to get down
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February 9, 2011
to how much you charge versus how much we charge, because then all
of a sudden it's, okay, you're going to charge us for county people, but
then we should charge you for city people. That isn't -- you know
what? That isn't a cooperative effort, and I think we're better than
that. I think we should move forward and see what we can do to work
together.
MAYOR BARNETT: Fred.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Yeah. I was just going to make the
observation that if we start down that road, we will be talking about
this next year again. It's not simple to find out who really is a resident
and who isn't. And are you going to turn some kid away from the
door if he doesn't have proper identification for doing that?
You know, it's a very difficult thing to do. But I don't know how
you reach a conclusion about how many facilities are necessary and
how convenient they would be without looking at your usage. You're
going to have to know something about the numbers in order to
determine where best to site appropriate recreational facilities, as Ms.
Sulick has said.
So it -- it's a -- it's the process. But I'd hate to see us get wrapped
up in arguing about whether or not this particular category and this
particular method of identification is used to establish where this
person is from and how many times they are using the facility. It
becomes way more complicated than it appears.
But you have to have an understanding of the numbers generally,
in order to make rational recommendations about what should be
located and where it should be located.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: I think our two managers and their
staff can accommodate those variables and come back to with us a
completed staff work that will be acceptable.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Thank you, Mayor (sic). Thank
you.
MR.OCHS: If I may.
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February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: Yes.
MR.OCHS: Just to come off of this, because I left Councilman
Finlay hanging. I promised a chart as part of our presentation, but in
lieu of that, it's in your packet, sir. The second to the last page.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Already found it.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
We'll go to Agenda Item No.4, which I believe is the county's.
Item #4
BOAT LAUNCH AND PARKING AT NAPLES LANDING PARK
MR. MOSS: Yeah. By way of background, I believe it was
Vice-Chair Coletta that asked that we have a discussion regarding
boat-launch facilities, maybe in general and maybe specifically to
Naples Landing.
And just by way of background, the City of Naples does operate
one boat-launch facility. We have, as I recall, about 37 metered
parking spaces and 14 unmetered spaces, and we sell an annual sticker
to allow people to park there, as does the county.
Collier County operates about five boat-launch facilities, as I
recall.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: And if I may?
MR. MOSS: Vice-Chair?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I probably can shorten this
discussion by one heck of a lot.
After I put this on -- it was several different issues that were
coming up. The one as far as what you charge and how you handle it,
it's fine. That's not an issue.
Believe it not, it's the smallest little issue in this world, and it has
to do with a -- I believe that you have a -- in order to be able to obtain
your permit, you have a machine in there that requires quarters.
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February 9, 2011
I belong to the Naples Fishing Club, and I mean, they're always
cussing out the City of Naples and the damn quarter machine. Is there
some way that you might be able to find a machine someplace that
works similar to what we have at the county sites where it allows you
to put a credit card in and you can pay for it all at one time, rather than
a fistful of quarters?
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Just replace it with a 50 cent machine.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: I was going to say dollar bill machine.
MAYOR BARNETT: Did we not have this discussion --
MR. MOSS: We've had this discussion. You know, for our
purposes it's really not economical to put in the type of machine for
the limited parking, but we do have a change machine, so people
shouldn't have to be hunting for quarters. They can put in dollar bills
and get change back. But I'll be more than happy to look at that again,
Vice-Chair.
In fact, I was talking to your staff, and we're going to see if
there's any surplus machine around that we might try to work that out.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I would think if there's any
surplus machines that county staff should go way out of their way to
accommodate you in the best interest of all citizens of Collier County.
MAYOR BARNETT: Fair enough. And, yeah, we will look at
that. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
Agenda Item 5, and I believe that was the county's as well.
Item #5
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO
CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE U.S. 41 ROUTE DESIGNATION
VIA GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY AND GOODLETTE-FRANK
ROAD
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February 9, 2011
MR. MOSS: Agenda Item 5 pertains to an issue proposed by the
City of Naples, and I believe the board expressed an interest in having
a brief discussion regarding the potential relocation of U. S. 41 to the --
to the Goodlette- Frank Road.
And just by way of background, some of you that have been
around for a while may recall that the City of Naples strongly resisted
the adding of lanes to 41, to make it a six-lane road back in the early
1970's. In fact, it was pretty clear that this committee was very
opposed to FDOT's proposed expansion of the road.
Essentially, it did occur, but we continue and have continued
over the years to really question whether or not that has resulted in a
deleterious effect on the cohesiveness and the connectivity of the City
of Naples. And there have been numerous studies regarding the
potential to relocate U.S. 41.
Counsel Member Sulick is -- works with you on the MPO and
has taken it upon herself to try to determine whether or not this issue
may reach some conclusion that might be of benefit to both Collier
County and the City of Naples.
And we agreed that we are a long way from making a decision,
but at this point we would like the ability to at least provide
information to you and your staff as to what might be some of the fatal
flaws, if there are any, or what might be the expected cost should such
a transfer be made and what might the traffic implications be both to
Collier County and to the City.
And with that summary, if I may yield to Council Member
Sulick.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Thank you. First of all, let me
say I've enjoyed the last two-and-a-halfyears working with the
County Commission on the MPO board, and I have been acting
chairman of the CRA district here in the city for the last year.
Everything that I go back and look at as far as the CRA district is
concerned, talks about the division that is created by the six-laning of
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February 9, 2011
41, especially from the Gordon River Bridge, perhaps at least to 3rd
Street South, maybe even going farther north to Central or up to
Golden Gate Parkway.
I started to germinate this idea in sitting on the MPO board and
listening to Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. Cann talk about connectivity, and
we're very interested in bicycle paths, pedestrian walkways, and
creating that connectivity within our city.
And I looked at what in my -- and I've been calling it this for two
years now -- the Berlin Wall that runs down the City of Naples, the
middle of the City of Naples.
In my opinion this is a game changer for downtown Naples if we
can foresee and find a way to accommodate this change.
When looking at this, I initially went to with Mr. Cann and Mr.
Limbaugh because I wanted to make sure I wasn't getting everybody's
hopes up with the idea that, you know, we would be told from FDOT
that this was a nonstarter. So, ran it past them, and was very, very
happily surprised at their reception of this idea in a very positive way.
At that point we then went back and, working with Mr. Moss and
Mr. Rankee (phonetic), and we started to germinate in terms of how
can we come up with a way to do this that would be the least -- have
the least number of flaws, worked with Mr. Archibald and put together
a committee, and then Kimberly Horne came forward with this
proposal of simply rerouting that traffic. And I'm assuming that all of
you have the packet that the city had done.
And basically what we're talking about at this point is doing a
study to find out whether or not this is even feasible in terms of traffic
and traffic patterns.
And my -- in my opinion what we were looking at is basically
taking and doing two lanes westbound from the Gordon River Bridge
that would have to turn right going up Goodlette- Frank Road, and then
you would have the access to either come across Sun Central -- if this
is the game changer that I think it will be, I think we could look at
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February 9, 2011
having 3rd Street come through all the way to Goodlette- Frank Road,
which would be another east/west route, but primarily that's just for
the traffic.
What we're talking about is basically asking the state to change
what is the designation -- it's a name only -- of Route 41, coming
down 41, turning eastbound on Golden Gate Parkway and then to
proceed south on Goodlette- Frank Road to the Gordon River Bridge.
And my understanding is from Mr. Archibald that something like
25 percent of the traffic that comes across the bridge actually is not
coming into downtown Naples. It is trying to find that route north.
So that would be traffic that we would be taking out of the mix here.
What it does for the city, I think, is a win-win situation. It
reconnects our downtown. It makes the availability and the
development of what is the 1041 area in the CRA district -- you know,
it brings it to life. It gives it new energy again. I think it makes our
entire city much more pedestrian friendly.
Right now it is like playing chicken trying to come across 41 at
Four Corners, as we all know, and it has been a point of contention.
The city's been trying to figure out for years, how do we
circumvent that; how do we get people from one side to the other,
from the east side of our downtown district to the west side of our
downtown district?
So that's where this is -- where we're hoping to take this. We
would hope that you folks are all onboard with this, because I think
what's a win-win for the city a win-win for Collier County, absolutely.
So if there's any questions.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Dee.
Jim.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Well, you know, at first blush,
I'm -- it doesn't sound like a bad idea.
One of the questions that have always come up is, how does the
business community feel along 41 ? Because anytime you do anything
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February 9, 2011
to disrupt traffic flow, even though we perceive it would be a positive
thing, it could have a negative impact. And so, you know, at some
point in time you're going to have to deal with that issue.
I was wondering if I might be able to ask Norm Feder, our
transportation administrator, ifhe could offer some comments of
guidance on this particular subj ect.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: May I just address that point?
Kimberly Horne did think -- I mean, we have looked at this. And
Kimberly Horne has done a number of studies when the city was
talking about the D downtown and the 1041 area. And, in fact, one of
the things that hurts the businesses on 41, directly affronting 41,
especially in -- from 7th Avenue South is the fact that there is no place
to park on the road, and you have to find parking on a side street or
down behind those buildings. And everybody's going too fast.
So this would slow -- if we can take this, reroute this traffic and
then eventually, as the budget would allow, at least for a section of it
bring it back down to four lanes and put on-street parking on both of
the east and west side of the road, it would help create a sense of, you
know, this is a business district. And I've been -- many people foresee
this would be a help to businesses along 41 as opposed to a hindrance.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay, thank you.
Donna, you want to speak before Norm does?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It doesn't make any difference. I
had a couple comments and a couple questions.
MAYOR BARNETT: Sure. Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: First of all, the first comment -- and
I was going to make this comment at MPO, but I'll just say it right
now. I just want to commend George Archibald for the outstanding
work he's doing. He keeps that traffic moving at Four Corners. I
mean, that stuff just keeps rolling through all the time. I think it's just
wonderful. And I was going to say it at MPO, but I'll say it right here.
Anybody who lives here -- and that's not everybody that uses 41,
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February 9,2011
but anybody who lives here, they're not going to something on 41,
they take Goodlette anyway. It's silly to go 41 when you can get
much faster, less lights down Goodlette Road. I mean, that's just the
way we go anyway.
I worry about the merchants. I worry about the merchants on 41.
I worry about them on 5th Avenue, because if it's more difficult for
people to get there, they're -- they can find someplace else. It's easy to
find someplace else to go.
So say, for instance, the merchants find that although they've
been told this is a wonderful opportunity for them, and 10 and behold
it isn't, and now they find their businesses are suffering, how do you
change it around? That's my question.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Good question.
MR. OCHS: Norm.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Before she (sic) does that, you might
just comment on some other cities. I mean, we're not doing rocket
science work. You might comment on some other cities.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Thank you, Mr. Sorey.
Yes. My understanding is that the City of Sarasota is looking at
doing this, taking Route lout of their downtown area. They did it on
the East Coast essentially creating a way for the city to reconnect.
I think by making the city much more pedestrian friendly, that
helps the merchants, whether it's on the east side or the west side of
41, and that is the whole -- that is our whole push for this.
MR. FEDER: I'm Norman Feder. I'm the growth management
administrator in Collier County.
And what I'd -- point out just a couple of things. First of all, as I
understand it, the city's desire is to study the issue further, and we
would be very supportive of doing just that.
I would say, though, there are a few things that have been
brought up that probably need to be looked at in that study.
First of all, I understand why the proposal, at least that we have here,
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February 9, 2011
is for Golden Gate Parkway, because that's the only other Gordon
River crossing besides 41. And that's an emphasis area, as you look at
traffic flows today.
But I think it does present some significant problems for the city
and for the county to come that far north. What you're really trying to
do, as I understand it, is react to what is -- whether you want to call it
the Berlin Wall-- but a six-lane facility cutting off major portions of
your downtown 4110, and that is a problem.
Either you put pedestrian overpasses -- and I just used that bad
word, overpass -- or a flyover vehicular. You do need to divert the
traffic. That'd be a third approach.
So the first two probably need to be looked at as well, and then
the issue is, how far north do you go?
What you're looking at and trying to bring together into a 5th
Avenue flair is not everything up to Golden Gate Parkway. So all
your businesses between Golden Gate and Central or 3rd are suffering
from less traffic that they rely upon when you're not going to be
making those improvements in that area. So I think that speaks to
what I think a couple of the commissioners have already raised.
So one issue ought to be, do we look at maybe -- either if you're
looking at diversion of traffic, do we look at that down by Central or
3rd as opposed to as far north as Golden Gate. If you do that diversion
at Golden Gate, what you're going to find is traffic diverting as it does
naturally now, but it's not going to go to necessarily Goodlette-Frank.
It's going to go over to Airport.
And right now you have some severe problems at Davis and at 41
on Airport, and that will be further exasperated if you're reducing the
capacity of three six-lane facilities down to two-plus, a reduced 41.
So I think there's a lot of things you need to look at in that study.
I will tell you, $49,000 for a study to really look at these issues when
you're also going to have not just the county and city working together
on it -- Florida DOT, while they've been supportive in general terms,
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February 9,2011
are going to have a lot of questions and want to see that it works, that
the numbers work, and it's going to be very difficult to do that with the
type of study or the scope that I see you have designed here.
Other than that, of course we'd be more than happy to work with
you. We've got some serious reservations about what impacts that
may have on the overall infrastructure network, things that need to be
studied further, concerns about what it may do to businesses on 41,
especially if you come as far north as Golden Gate Parkway as
opposed to, as I said, Central or 3rd, which might make a little more
sense to really bring the 4110 together and to divert that.
And I think -- even if you call it the null alternative, which is
only to do nothing, you need to look at the potential of a pedestrian
overpass or vehicular fly-over as other options where the pedestrians
could go underneath, an upscale structure or, in fact, the pedestrian-in
so you bring them down very well (sic).
All of these items though are extremely costly. So the other part
is, we need to figure out, how do we approach it.
The last item I'll put out there -- and I think if you look at the
modeling -- and I don't think George is here, but --
MAYOR BARNETT: George is here.
MR. FEDER: Okay. One thing that was kept into the needs plan
that just recently was brought to the MPO was, again, the second
Gordon River Bridge, and that was really only retained, in many
respects, to look at this issue.
So if you're looking at Central or 3rd in that area, again, I think
that raises -- and I'm sorry, but I'm raising all the issues -- raises that
specter of a need of a second Gordon River crossing as well if you're
going to meet the overall traffic demands.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Norm.
I'll just make one very brief comment. I don't want to hear any
more about a second Gordon River crossing. We -- I think that that
would be -- although it sounds good -- and, Norm, you probably are
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February 9, 2011
correct, I just -- that won't be in my lifetime, I can tell you that.
But we, over the years, if you go and you look back, there were
just -- there's just too much red tape in the way, at least -- I mean, not
-- if you're talking about a second Gordon River Bridge, you're
probably looking 20 years at least before you get through the red tape.
You didn't have to debate me, I just wanted to --
MR. FEDER: No, Mayor. I just wanted to point out, as a matter
of fact, that it was your staff that wanted to keep it in the needs plan.
I fully agree with you. It hasn't been done in 40 years. There's no
prospect of it.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you for those words.
Any other comment? Fred.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Norm, one of the problems in trying to
determine what to do with this traffic is trying to determine where it's
going. The traffic -- certainly some of the traffic that's going through
the Four Corners here is on the way to Marco or Miami, and there're
easier ways to get them to that point if we have the proper signage.
So if you -- if you get them off 41 at Golden Gate Parkway, you
have a chance to get those who are going a much further distance, like
maybe to Miami, to go straight out Golden Gate Parkway and hit the
interchange, and then they're -- they've got a straight shot. That drains
off some of the traffic that might be coming down Airport Road or
Golden Gate Parkway.
And I agree that a lot of the people who are familiar with the area
are going to take Airport Road if they're going to Marco, as an
example. They'll get off Golden Gate, hit Airport Road, go south, and
then get tied up down there.
But it would be good if we had sufficient information to tell us
what percentages of traffic are going where. And if we find there's a
fairly large amount of traffic that is on its way to the East Coast or
Florida Keys, then the faster we get them out on the interstate the
better off we're all going to be. And Golden Gate is a perfect place for
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February 9, 2011
it, and many people are still unaware of that interchange. They just
don't even think of it. I know locals who still drive up to Pine Ridge
Road when they're going to Fort Myers.
But if we do a study, we need to try to identify the segments of
traffic that are going along that route. That way -- that way we might
be able to mitigate some of the things that Norm is talking about.
And -- nevertheless, that would be considered in the study, I
presume, right?
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Thank you, Fred.
Doug, then John.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Hey, Norm. I've got a question for
you, because I think you're the one that can probably better answer it.
I look on this as kind of, perhaps, a two-stage event. Stage 1 is
the redesignation of Highway 41 over to Goodlette- Frank Road with
probably Golden Gate Parkway being used, and the second stage
would be the road diet, which could follow years later.
My question is, is the redesignation of 41, would that alone --
let's put it this way. Would the state continue to fund the maintenance
cost of a road that was redesignated? Which I assume that the state
would then no longer have control over.
Is there any precedent that you know of within the State of
Florida where that's happened where the state continues to fund
maintenance?
MR. FEDER: You have Johnny Limbaugh here from the Florida
Department of Transportation, so I'll let him answer it.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Perfect.
MR. FEDER: But I think you do have some precedent. As you
note, on the East Coast, U.S. 1 became AlA. It's still maintained by
the state, but basically the traffic was moved further over to a new
U.S. 1. So you do have some precedent probably.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Hey, Johnny. Did you bring your
checkbook?
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February 9, 2011
MAYOR BARNETT: You got money with you?
MR. LIMBAUGH: Johnny Limbaugh, Florida DOT, for the
record.
Typically when we transfer a jurisdiction, we transfer the
operation and maintenance costs that go along with that facility with
that transfer.
Right now we're working with other jurisdictions wanting to do
basically the same thing. Sarasota was mentioned. That's one of our
talks with Commissioner Sulick, or Councilman Sulick. We talked
about, nothing was off the table at this point, but we wanted to see all
the numbers and make sure the traffic patterns and the traffic demand
was going to be met. That's our main objective is to make sure that
the motoring public and pedestrian needs are met as a total package.
But to answer your question, if we do get to the point of
switching the designation from U.S. 41 over to Goodlette -- which will
not just be a Florida DOT decision, it will have to go to AASHTO,
which is the national. It's U.S. 41, so ultimately we have to take that
through AASHTO, which is the bigger nationwide organization which
sets the U.S. designation, so it's not just a local decision at that point.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Now, let me carry that to number
two, because that's just answering the question on the redesignation.
Now let's say we take this road and we do a road diet and we go
down to four lanes at some point, maybe at Central Avenue, at that
point does the -- would the state want to relinquish maintenance, or
would they only relinquish maintenance at the point of the road diet,
or how does that play into the mix?
MR. LIMBAUGH: Well, we would go through that negotiation,
I guess, is the --
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Okay.
MR. LIMBAUGH: -- way to get out of that one quickly.
But the real answer is, we would probably do the jurisdiction, we
would -- if the numbers showed, we would do a survey of Goodlette,
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February 9, 2011
because from the state's perspective, we're going to go look at the
roadway, what we're taking on to the state system to make sure that it
meets our standards and what -- if it doesn't meet our standards today,
what does it need to -- what would Goodlette need to be brought up to
a state standard so that we would operate and maintain it. So we'd
take that into consideration when we considered a swap.
And at that time, if it made fiscal sense to make the jurisdictional
transfer, we would swap the operation or maintenance of those
facilities at the same time. Basically we would take Goodlette and do
what needed to be done to Goodlette to maintain it to state standards
and transfer jurisdiction of U.S. 41, which would then probably be
named something else at that point, either to the county or to the city
at that point.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Barnett Drive.
MAYOR BARNETT: A, 41A.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. John Sorey and Donna.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Thank you, Mayor.
This is another opportunity for collaboration between our two
entities. And the last thing we need to do is spend any dollars on the
study that does not get the job done.
So I think that what we need to do, Mayor, is be sure we have
consensus by both bodies, but -- because it is a game changer for the
city, and it's very important, but let's let our staff and the county staff
put together all the details. And Doug had some good questions, and
we've talked about this a lot. But let's put a plan together to move
forward on this, and then the facts will be what they are.
But I think it's another opportunity for collaboration, and we
should seize it and move forward, get Norm and his folks involved
and see what the real issues are and what the real costs are.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, John.
Donna.
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February 9, 2011
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Let me ask just a simple question
first. The actually issue here is getting pedestrians downtown; is that
what you're --
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Well, it's pedestrian
connectivity, but it is also land use, because land use in the CRA, D
downtown, 1041 district is what we're looking to, you know, just --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Encourage?
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: -- add to, encourage, add to.
I think it's -- that is -- most of the projects and different studies that
have been done talk about the land uses within that area.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
COUNCIL WOMAN SULICK: And they all are requiring
connectivity .
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. And so -- and you compare
this like with -- like with Mercato, for instance. It's one small area,
whereas this is a huge area. And then how do pedestrians get there?
If they're diverted, how do they get to this area?
And we've seen ourselves that people that start out on 5th
Avenue from U.S. 41 kind of stay right in there, and the businesses
down at the -- farther west are a little concerned because they can't get
the people down to their end just because pedestrian traffic doesn't
want to go that far.
So I think when you're having your study, if you do, that
certainly ought to be taken into consideration.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: Well, I think what -- and also--
you also have to look at is, what would be the connectivity and
pedestrian traffic from 41 to Goodlette- Frank Road. Because if we
don't make that section of the city in downtown connected to the rest
of our downtown -- it's getting people from there over to 6th Avenue,
over to this part of the city, over to be -- having them be able to access
west and south of that particular geographic area, and then circulation
within that district as well.
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February 9, 2011
So it isn't necessarily trying to get in everybody from
Goodlette- Frank Road all the way to the west end of 5th Avenue. It is
even just the connectivity right around the Four Corners that doesn't
happen because of -- because of the traffic.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
Sam.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Just to reiterate that, I believe we've
talked about this for 40 years; is that right? I think that -- well, Ron
Wall (phonetic) said that there's memos going back to the late '60s or
early '70s on this.
So if we're going to do something, let's decide and get it done as
opposed to spending another 40 years talking about it, because all that
talking actually does cost something in terms of staff time and our
time so--
,
MAYOR BARNETT: Well, are you in favor of continuing the
study or at least doing as John said?
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Yeah. Let's make sure that we're
committed to it and look for -- put some time lines in place and get --
instead of just talking about it.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay. Thank you.
Gary .
COUNCILMAN PRICE: In the spirit of Sam's idea, I think
there's enough people at this table, after the meeting, that we go out
and take the signs out of the ground, move them to Goodlette, and let
the staff figure it out.
MAYOR BARNETT: So moved.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: And that doesn't cost the taxpayers a
dollar to actually get the signs moved, because we'll do that on our
time.
MAYOR BARNETT: I hear that. Thank you.
So I think we have certainly consensus on council and county
commission to proceed with both.
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February 9, 2011
MR. OCHS: Mr. Mayor, if I may.
MAYOR BARNETT: Yes.
MR. OCHS: Just very briefly. Commissioner Hiller had
forwarded a memo to me and requested that I read this into the record
on this topic, if I might very quickly.
This is from Commissioner Georgia Hiller dated yesterday. It
says, "I support the city's desire to enhance the 5th Avenue business
district and have it become a more vibrant economic and tourist
destination. Redirection of traffic proposed for discussion in your
agenda needs further evaluation."
"I am concerned that there may be unforeseen detrimental
impacts to commerce along U.S. 41 south of Golden Gate Parkway,
which would also adversely impact the desired expansion around 5th
Avenue and the overall transportation network, all as a result of
redirecting traffic and potential customers away from the area. The
goal is to attract as many people as possible to 5th Avenue to bolster
business."
"Another suggestion to promote economic development is to
convert 5th Avenue into a pedestrian mall which has been proven
successful throughout major cities in the U.S. and Europe."
"I recommend that the city conduct a study in coordination with
the county and FDOT to evaluate the potential impacts and options."
"Thank you for considering my thoughts."
"Georgia Hiller."
Thank you, sir.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Can I ask a question?
MAYOR BARNETT: Yes.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: What are the costs to make the signage
changes without -- on the -- the physical cost of actually doing this
project, assuming that you were able to get all the approvals from
AASHTO and FDOT. What--
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February 9, 2011
MR. MOSS: The signage maybe would be minimum --
COUNCILMAN SAAD: I'm talking about, to make the actual
changes. I mean, I don't know if it requires, you know, light re-timing
or putting medians in place. What are we talking about in terms of
physical dollars?
MR. MOSS: It could require additional turning lanes, it could
require changing the signalization. So that's basically what we're going
to see with the initial study.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: Is it a hundred thousand dollars; is it a
million dollar?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: I think you'll have to do the study to
determine that.
MAYOR BARNETT: Yeah, well, probably those numbers will
come out. I don't know if anybody can just ballpark it.
I don't know if anybody -- Ron or Norm, if you want to take a
quick -- you might be putting your neck on the noose doing that.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Don't anybody step up too soon. Don't
push each other out of the way to get to the mike.
MAYOR BARNETT: Just if you can answer the question easily.
MR. WALLACE: The signage, you know, obviously is minimal.
And I don't think that's really what is going to be the driving issue. It's
the intersection modifications.
A perfect example is, if you head west on 41 at Goodlette, you've
got one turn lane. It's a very poor turn lane. It has a very tight radius.
There needs to be two turn lanes there onto Goodlette. That would
have -- would force folks to go -- want to bypass to go that way.
That's where your costs are going to be.
MAYOR BARNETT: But how much, was the question?
MR. WALLACE: You're going to be in the millions if you're
talking about doing this comp properly.
But it is definitely -- I just want to state that it is our intention to
establish a partnership with the county, the state, the local businesses,
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February 9, 2011
the residents, everyone that's going to be involved, because there are
numerous issues associated with this, not only with costs, operation
and maintenance, you know, designation, the county, the city, the
state, they're all going to change ownership.
So we'll definitely make sure that they stay in the loop and
everyone is a part of the process.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: And, Ron, you're going to have a
completed report by March at the council meeting; is that right?
MR. WALLACE: We actually put them on a very fast timeline,
and the reason why --
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Seriously, what do you think it will
take to have a meaningful report back to the commission and the
council?
MR. WALLACE: Middle of the year. I believe within six
months.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Before recess we should have it
back? Okay, thank you.
MR. WALLACE: And they had numerous traffic information
with the city. That's why the cost was as low as it was.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: And I -- you know, I think Gary and I
were thinking some of the same things. I mean, it can't be that much to
move signs, but I was wondering about if we were going to have to
build extra turn lanes. I mean --
MAYOR BARNETT: Now you know.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: So millions is the answer, so --
MAYOR BARNETT: Agenda item -- excuse me. Agenda Item
No.6.
Item #6
BEACH RENOURISHMENT
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February 9, 2011
MR. MOSS: This agenda item pertains to beach renourishment.
And if nothing else, this is probably one area that I think we can agree
that we're talking about one of the most important assets both to the
city and to Collier County.
Secondly, I think most of us can agree that this is also an area
that we have worked very well together in terms of the appropriate
strategies, maintained and improve the beaches. And for that, I can
assure you that the City of Naples is most thankful for all of the hard
work that the Board of Commissioners has done in this regard.
This wintertime has got our attention in terms of the status at the
beach. And if I may yield to Vice-Mayor Sorey, who also is your
representative on the TDC as well as the CAC.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Thank you, Mr. Moss.
Well, as the old saying goes, I've got some good news and some
bad news. The good news is, for our next beach renourishment, I
think we're in good financial condition.
And what I wanted to do today is talk about some other items
that Mr. McAlpin, your CAC, and your county staff are working on.
Number one, we can't continue to renourish under any financial
alternative at the pace that we've had to do it in recent times. So we're
looking at a number of items: A, trying to understand the movement
of sand, looking at structural changes, which may mean taking out
some existing impediments, maybe adding some others.
The probability is -- of getting any kind of a surface structure is
pretty limited. But there are some reef structures to take some of the
energy out of this northwest wind. So, one, your CAC is looking at
improvements to increase the line.
The other thing we're looking at is the possibility of some
envelope changes so that we change the amount of sand we're putting
on the beaches, change the envelope so that it lasts longer. So that's
the good news.
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February 9, 2011
But what I particularly wanted to talk about today -- and we've
got to be looking at this not maybe for our tour of duty on councilor
commission, but for the future, is how we're going to re- -- how we're
going to finance this next beach renourishment.
As I said, I think we've got the resources to do the one that we'll
do, and probably the next couple years, but when we look at '22/'24,
which seems like a long time out -- but when you look at this kind of
project, it's not that long at all.
My concern is, if we get the finance of our Federal Government
together and quit sending money that we don't have to states and
locals, that we get the FEMA money -- the reason we're in good
condition for the upcoming beach renourishment is the FEMA money.
If we don't get those resources in the future, then we would not
have sufficient funds in the next beach renourishment, after the one
that will be coming up, to proceed forward.
So what I'd like, Mayor and County Commission, is that we start
now thinking about the next beach renourishment. The funding --
we've had lots of discussions at TDC and CAC about the tourist tax
revenue, the allocation, whether the fifth cent needs to be added and
that sort of thing.
So I just wanted us to put our strategic hats on today and think
about how we do that going forward. And I will commit that the CAC
will be the lead driver of that, and we'll come back with you with
some alternatives. But I think we need to be thinking about that.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, John.
Fred.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Yeah. And Councilman Sorey, you're
absolutely right. I support the efforts to do that.
If I could extend our vent horizon out a little bit further though
and just ask that you consider, all of us consider this. What we have
been doing, replacing sand every two years, simply isn't working.
We replace it, and it washes away. We replace it, and it washes away.
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February 9, 2011
It keeps getting more expensive every year to replenish it.
N ow is a perfect time, in my opinion, for us to begin working
with our federal and state legislators to get more sensible regulations
concerning what you can or cannot do with respect to beach
protection, and get away from the constant process of having to
renourish.
There are ways to do this. There are ports all over this nation
that have protected inlets so that they do not fill in as frequently as we
have experienced here.
We simply have to get smarter about what we do. And the purest
concept might work at a time when you have money to throwaway,
but it doesn't work at a time when you're trying to save money. And
now is the perfect time.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Ifwe want to save millions, billions of
dollars statewide, then what we'll do is start demanding some rational
thought concerning how we protect our inlets.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Good thinking.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: And I would suggest, of course, try to
conserve the money we have, try to find more money to do it, but we
don't have the authority to do all the things that are necessary to make
long-term decisions concerning the protection of our inlets, and I think
we ought to start working legislatively to accomplish those goals.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Great idea. Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
Sam.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: I had a question.
You mentioned offshore. Are you talking about building
artificial reefs?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Yes.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: In the Gulf?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: And then I think Commissioner
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February 9, 2011
Coyle has another great point. Right now that is about the only
structure that we have a chance of getting approved. For instance,
Wiggin's Pass -- and that's not beach renourishment, but a similar
situation -- is it's similar challenge.
We, fortunately, have the barriers at Gordon Pass -- or at -- and at
Doctor's Pass which helps the situation there. But there are some
beach -- some waves to help mitigate the wave energy without
building surface structures with reefs and that sort of thing.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: So basically we're talking about
artificial reefs running the length of the city?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: That's one of the alternatives, yes.
COUNCILMAN SAAD: What does that cost?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Well, to use Mr. Wallace's term,
millions.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: If you go down the beaches down south
almost to Gordon Pass you will see some artificial reefs that were
created there, largely paid for by the residents, that have been very
successful in maintaining the width of the beach there, and it has
caused no harm or damage to the environment. It has actually
collected sand. And in certain places on Marco, the same thing has
occurred, but not uniformly.
But there are procedures we can follow that are economic- --
environmentally sound that provide a semi-permanent solution to
these problems, and I think we ought to begin pursuing them.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: We'll add that to our mix of
discussions at CAC. Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Anybody else?
Yes, Doug.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: As far as -- I have no problems, trust
me, of exploring this to what Fred brings up. I do know that when
you're dealing with the Gulf Coast -- and especially in our area you're
dealing with some interesting issues because we do have some hard
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February 9, 2011
bottom that's very close, we do have very shallow waters, and -- where
you would put these structures, and you have low-tide issues and what
people are going to think of a view of a hardened structure coming out
of the water that wasn't there. You also have a certain amount of boat
traffic that operates within, what, 300 -- 500 feet, I guess, of the
shoreline and, therefore, marking reefs.
So it's kind of like the 41 bypass. There's a whole lot of issues
that have to be surmounted before you can get to that stage.
In the interim, trying to get over those hurdles, I think, is going to
take a considerable amount of time. And I'll -- I'm a broken record
like this on the County Commission. But barring any improvements,
in my opinion you're really looking at an eight-year cycle versus a
ten-year cycle if you want to keep a healthy beach for the tourists and
the residents of Collier County.
I did want to bring up another issue since you're here. It has to
do with beach renourishment. And it has to do with the easement that
beach- front property owners may have to sign prior to the next
renourishment.
And the City of Naples, I know, has been the hallmark of
standards for public access throughout the state to beaches. But you're
going to have this easement that essentially is going to, I guess,
require that property owners sign off on -- on public access of private
property, and that's actually covered by Statute 161.
And what I'm wondering is is -- is, are you going to pursue that?
Because I have a question -- there's a lot of questions out there in
the condominium associations, if the president or the board has the
authority to sign, or if you would have to go to literally every single
member of that condominium to get a signature to grant public access
to what is essentially common element property.
I mean, I think it's unnecessary because you have Statute 161 that
already takes care of that issue. But are you still moving forward on
that issue? And have you considered potential hurdles you'd have to
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February 9, 2011
get over just to get the signatures.
MAYOR BARNETT: I'm not 100 percent sure they're prepared
to answer that.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Well, the county attorney is here, so
that's why.
MR. KLATZKOW: We're preparing the easements. We'll be
bringing them to the board. The board will have a policy decision to
make. I don't know if the easements are going to be just the
unincorporated area of Collier County or for the entire --
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: City?
MR. KLATZKOW: Or for the entire county. That will be a
board decision. As you said, the city has a long history of public
access to beaches. This issue came up when we had a disagreement
with a certain condominium as to roping off a beach. And it may be
just geared towards the unincorporated area.
Again, it's going to be an issue we'll be bringing forward to the
Board of County Commissioners for discussion.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Okay. Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Jeff.
Fred.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: This is another one of those complicated
Issues.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: It is.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Those of you who were around here in
1998 here at the city, we had the problem where a few of the property
owners did not give their permission for us to renourish the beach in
front of their properties, so you can imagine what happened. We had
beach extended 20 or 30 feet on each side, and there's this big hole
that water gathered in. And you can't even permit that sort of thing to
exist. I mean, you have to fill it in. It's a hazard otherwise.
So it creates a real serious problem. You require people to sign
it. If they don't sign it, what happens? You're going to renourish it
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February 9, 2011
anyway. So there's a -- it's really problematic as to whether -- it
probably doesn't make any difference whether they give you
permission. You're going to fill it in anyway, okay. And that's
probably what the Board of County Commissioners would come up
with. We're going to renourish the beaches.
And -- but with respect to access, there are general definitions for
access now, but access doesn't mean that if I -- if I renourish your
beach property that you have to create an easement on your property
to let people access it. It means that somewhere along the line there
there is public access, and people can access it and come down there
and lie on that beach.
I don't know of any obligation that exists which would require
every home that has their beach renourished would have to grant an
easement to cross through their property to get to the beach, unless
there's a new -- recent law for that process, but generally it has been
considered acceptable, as in the city's case, if you've got a beach-in,
you've got parking, you've got access to the beach, that is sufficient.
And I think the distance is what, half mile, three-quarters of a
mile from the beach-in. And that's one of the guidelines we used for
determining whether or not public funding can be used for that
purpose.
But it's a complicated process, and I guess we'll have to debate it
when it gets before us.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Commissioner Coyle, at this juncture
in time, the direction from the County Commission to the CAC and to
the staff is to prepare an easement document that all owners of
property that would be renourished, city and county, has to sign this.
And, in fact, this last beach renourishment we had a handful of
people in the city that did not sign it, and we did not put sand on their
beach. What happens over time, it kind of fills in. But we've had some
of those.
So if -- you know, we maybe need to revisit that issue at the
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February 9, 2011
County Commission, because right now the guidance, and my
understanding of the vote that day, we have been directed to prepare
an easement that will be required to be signed by the property owner
prior to renourishing that section of beach.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: I don't doubt that. The problem is that I
don't recall anything that has said that every property owner that gives
you an easement to renourish the beach also has to have a
right-of-way for pedestrians to cross their properties to get to the
beach.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: No, sir. The easement, it says that
from the erosion control line --
CHAIRMAN COYLE: That's right.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: -- basically to the vegetation line is
available, not cross it, but utilization of it, and that's what county
attorney is working on.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: That's right. And that has never
changed. That has always been the policy.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: But the County Commission has
directed staff to develop a document to memorialize that, because that
was not a procedure -- and it may be the state statute. But as I
understand it -- and county manager, county attorney, tell me if I'm
misunderstanding this, but what I thought the direction to CAC was,
that this is something that we won't develop, and I thought the
consensus and agreement for the County Commission was to develop
a document that required -- everyone that wanted sand from the
erosion control line to the vegetation line had to sign this, which
would give, not access across their property, but access from the
vegetation line to the erosion control line, that anybody could utilize
that to lie on or whatever, so that's --
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Yeah, yeah. The -- that really hasn't
changed from late 1990's. I mean, that was one of the problems we
had when we renourished the beach in '98/'99. But my concern was
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February 9, 2011
the statement which I thought was made that would require an
easement across their property.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay. So if that's not your
understanding, then we're in agreement.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: No.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Okay.
COUNCILMAN SOREY: We have never memorialized that in
the document, which is my understanding, we've been directed by the
County Commission to include that as a provision of the easement
which was not in the previous easement. That's the difference.
MAYOR BARNETT: Gary.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: Thanks, Mayor.
I'm thankful for the healthy dose of common sense that prevailed
today. The -- Commissioner Coy Ie, I appreciate what you said about
the state and federal regulation.
I would call what we've done insane beach renourishment, which
is trying to do the same thing over and over expecting a different
outcome.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: That's right.
COUNCILMAN PRICE: And I think that insane beach
renourishment, probably not a great plan for our future. And so I
propose that we come up with -- the staff come up, create an action
plan to seek state and federal assistance to preserve our beaches.
And so from your wonderful idea, if we could walk away with a
couple things, and those are decent action plans, that we seek federal
and state help for changes to the current criteria that will allow us to
protect our own beaches.
The other thing I'll just say -- and I probably should stop with
that. I have a tendency to go too far, but I'll say this because I don't
ever get to talk to all of you.
I'm concerned about spending TDC dollars on advertising.
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February 9, 2011
I'm concerned about the return on investment. We've had discussions
at city council, I know that we've sent direction as a body to the
County Commission about the decisions to use TDC dollars, but I
don't think that we get the return on the money. I think if we have
wonderful beaches and create a great experience, that we don't need to
use those dollars on advertising.
And so I'm only one of seven, but I'm thankful for all that you do.
I'd like to see us create a better experience, and I think -- not that we
don't have to advertise. I think that we always will have to compete,
but I think we compete on natural resources and providing a great
experience for not only our residents, but people coming to visit us.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
And I'm -- Doug, you were next.
COUNCILMAN FINLAY: Yeah. I just wanted to clarify,
because I think John said it right. This is something new. There is a
change in the easement. Again, it's not an easement across property.
Actually I think the first draft that was written, there were some
people -- I know, Dick Mayford (phonetic), the electric company, was
concerned that it was an easement across property. I think it was
amended to clarify that issue. But we're talking about essentially use
of the private property above the erosion control line.
All I'm saying is, is that's already guaranteed in State Statute 161.
I believe this was all litigated to the U.S. Supreme Court. I look on it
as an unnecessary, because it's guaranteed in the state statutes. But
what I'm more concerned about is, is how you're going to deal with
this issue with condominiums and who, in fact, sign, because if you
need to get every single property owner in a hundred unit building to
sign, you're going to have some people that won't sign, and then are
you not going to renourish? In addition to the fact, there's a hotel,
which I'm not going to name, that I would be frankly surprised is they
would sign this document. But -- hopefully they will.
But as long as you understand the issue of condominium -- it's a
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February 9, 2011
whole lot different from single-family homes -- and I'll leave it at that.
MAYOR BARNETT: Did you want to --
MR. KLATZKOW: I mean, it's a policy from the board. I mean,
ultimately --
CHAIRMAN COYLE: You're going to bring it to the board.
MAYOR BARNETT: Yeah.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'm bringing it to the board for discussion.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Yeah. I would just like to tag on
something to Gary's suggestion. Can we agree here today that we'll
have our staffs get together --
MAYOR BARNETT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: -- and draft up some proposed changes
and regulations concerning beach renourishment with solutions that
will be more long term?
COUNCILMAN SOREY: Mr. Chairman, I think that as I
understand the guidance of the Coastal Advisory Committee, that's
within our purview, and I'll commit to you that we will work with both
staffs and come back with some recommendations on that.
MAYOR BARNETT: Okay, good.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Great.
MAYOR BARNETT: Dee.
COUNCILWOMAN SULICK: I just want to echo Mr. Price's
statements about the TDC funds used for advertising. I know that a
certain percentage has to, but it seems to keep growing and growing
and growing. And I think our real treasure in this county are the
beaches and the various venues throughout the county that are
generally natural resources and also wonderful amenities that the
county has provided and the city has provided.
And I think, you know, we need to be wary of continually upping
that number to advertisement.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you. We're going to go to -- we're
going to go to public comment.
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February 9, 2011
MR.OCHS: Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry.
MAYOR BARNETT: Oh, sure.
MR.OCHS: On last word. Again, this is a memorandum that
came to me from Commissioner Hiller on this subj ect, and she asked
me to read it into the record, if I might.
"I have recently been appointed Chairperson of the Tourist
Development Council. The Tourist Development Council is
responsible for the proper review, vetting, and due diligence, and
recommendation for approval to the BCC for all items receiving TDC
funds.
"I look forward to working with the city on reviewing projects
and funding sources that would benefit the community as a whole."
"Thank you. "
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENT
MAYOR BARNETT: Michelle Ovola.
MS. OVOLA: Hi. Michelle Ovola, the executive director of
Naples Pathways Coalition.
I won't take much time. I'm very happy that I heard you all want
to move forward on the study to help our residents and help our
visitors alike with the obstruction that 41 has become.
I would just encourage you to really think outside the box and
look at all the possibilities to improve the traffic flow for pedestrians,
for cyclists, and for the vehicles.
We have a fair mixture in our membership of city residents and
county. There's a good number of county residents that, during
season, they just don't go to the city, and businesses suffer when
anybody doesn't go.
So it's obviously a need that needs to be addressed. And opening
up traffic calming to slow down traffic so it is more inviting to stop
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February 9, 2011
being at these businesses, I really think everyone wins.
Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you, Michelle.
Marcia Cravens.
MS. CRAVENS: Thank you. Marcia Cravens. I live in Collier
County. I am a master naturalist for coastal systems, and I do a lot of
research about these issues.
I had actually wanted to speak separately on the beach
renourishment issue and just general comments under public
comment.
On beach nourishment, I think everyone should understand that
when you put significant amounts of sand on the beaches, as is done
during the beach nourishment for all of the beaches, then when those
areas get washed away, they end up shoaling. They cause significant
shoaling in the coastal inlets and waterways. That creates a cycle of
aggressive dredging. The aggressive dredging is very problematic for
our natural resources.
And it -- and I really applaud everyone who is going to look to
try and find some innovative solutions that are not the same kind of
beach nourishment program that we have done in the past.
The aggressive dredging I would like to see addressed for the
negative impacts that it has to our natural resources. Every time you
dredge you lose what's called the benthic areas, which is the food base
for the aquatic life.
And recognizing that you do need to keep boating channels clear
and safe for those areas that utilize them, there needs to be some
solution whereby there is not this constant cycle of shoaling, dredging,
shoaling, dredging.
The second thing I just wanted to comment on was that, in
general, I think it's great that the City of Naples has this joint meeting,
but there's something like 21,000 residents in the City of Naples,
I believe, that you also have other areas that constitute particularly
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February 9, 2011
coastal communities.
You've got District 2, North Naples. Certainly there are as much
residential numbers of population and businesses there, and then you
also have other areas, such as Immokalee, Golden Gate, Marco.
And, you know, I would hope that maybe there will be a j oint meeting
for those, and to these as well, before decisions are made for
expenditures of funds and programs and policies that affect all these
people. TDC funds are collected from all over Collier County.
Lastly, I just want to point out that -- make a comment. I'm
shocked, really, about comments made about concern about TDC
funds going towards advertising, because that's the intent of TDC
funds. And the fact that Mr. Wert's had to come before the BCC and
CAC and request emergency funding be directed toward him actually
informs all of us that that funding has not been overly given to
advertising; it's been deficient.
Thank you.
MAYOR BARNETT: Thank you for your comments.
I want to thank the staffs from both the county and the city for all
you do for us, for being here today. Fellow County Commissioners, I
think that this was an excellent meeting today . We stayed on the meat
and potatoes.
And although we might not be on the same paragraph, we are on
the same page. So let's not wait four more years to do this. We'll do it
in three and a half.
Thank you all, and have a good day, and thank you for attending.
*******
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February 9, 2011
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 2:34 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
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FRED COYLE, Chairman
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The I minutes approved by the Board on ~ t\t~ 2011 , as presented
__~ or as corrected .
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TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, NOTARY
PUBLIC/COURT REPORTER.
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