BCC Minutes 08/24/2012 E (Tropical Storm Isaac) BCC
EMERGENCY
MEETING
MINUTES
AUGUST 24, 2012
August 24, 2012
TRANSCRIPT OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida
August 24, 2012
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 2:00 p.m. in
EMERGENCY SESSION in Building "F" of the Government
Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members
present:
Acting-Chairman: Tom Henning
Georgia Hiller
Fred Coyle (Telephonic)
Jim Coletta (Telephonic)
Donna Fiala (Telephonic)
ALSO PRESENT:
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Leo E. Ochs, Jr., County Manager
Dan Summers, Emergency Services Director
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COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA
Special Meeting
Tropical Storm Isaac
August 24, 2012
3:00 PM
Fred W. Coyle - BCC Chairman; Commissioner, District 4 (telephone)
Jim Coletta - BCC Vice Chairman; Commissioner, Dist. 5; (telephone)
Donna Fiala - BCC Commissioner, District 1; CRAB Chairman (telephone)
Georgia Hiller - BCC Commissioner, District 2 (Acting Vice-Chairman)
Tom Henning - BCC Commissioner, District 3 (Acting Chairman)
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER WITH THE
EXECUTIVE MANAGER TO THE BCC PRIOR TO PRESENTATION OF THE
AGENDA ITEM TO BE ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL
RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY
THE CHAIRMAN.
COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2003-53 AS AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 2004-05 AND 2007-24, REQUIRES THAT ALL LOBBYISTS
SHALL, BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS), REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AT THE
BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
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August 24, 2012
1. Call to Order
2. Update on the status of Tropical Storm Isaac and its effects on Collier County
3. Determination of Necessity of Declaring a State of Emergency
4. Discuss any appropriate action for the Board to take.
5. Adjourn
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August 24, 2012
August 24, 2012
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Call this emergency
meeting to order.
Would you all rise for the pledge of allegiance, please.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We have to elect a vice
chair?
COMMISSIONER HENNING VOTED AS ACTING-
CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONER HILLER AS ACTING VICE-
CHAIR
MR. KLATZKOW: ACTING-CHAIRMAN.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, just the ACTING-
CHAIRMAN.
MR. KLATZKOW: Whoever is not ACTING-
CHAIRMAN, the other is the Acting Vice-Chairman.
MOTION TO ALLOWING COMMISSIONER FIALA AND
COMMISSIONER COYLE TO JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN
THE MEETING VIA TELEPHONE — APPROVED
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Now we have
commissioners at remote locations, so we want to provide a
motion for them to participate?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Do I hear a motion?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: I make a motion to allow the
commissioners at remote locations to participate in this meeting
via telephone.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Second the motion.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
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August 24, 2012
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
Motion carries.
Please identify yourself, the commissioners at remote
locations.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: This is Fred Coyle, I'm here.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: This is Donna Fiala.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
Thank you, Commissioners.
Leo, you want to start us out?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir. Thank you, Commissioner Henning.
As you mentioned, this is a Special Meeting to discuss
Tropical Storm Isaac.
We have three specific items on your agenda this afternoon.
But the first is to provide an update on the status of the Tropical
Storm at this point and its effects on Collier County. From there
it will -- we'll get some input from the Board on a determination
of the necessity of declaring a State of Emergency locally that
will allow the staff to take some Administrative and Financial
actions, if the need arises, during the course event. And then
finally we'll discuss any other actions that the Board would like.
And at this point I'd like to call Mr. Summers, your Director
of the Bureau of Emergency Services to come forward and give a
quick briefing.
Item #2
UPDATE AND STATUS OF TROPICAL STORM ISAAC
AND THE EFFECTS ON COLLIER COUNTY
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioners, Chairman Henning and
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Commissioners by the telephone, welcome. Dan Summers,
Director of the Bureau of Emergency Services and Emergency
Management.
Also joining us today is our American sign interpreter,
Jeremy Batton, who will -- I'll be a little careful to pace my
remarks so that Jeremy can also communicate appropriately in
this venue.
My goal today is to discuss with you and give you the
actions today and concerns that we have with Tropical Storm
Isaac.
Before I get started, just let me thank the entire community
and the team in advance. We've done a lot of work. We briefed
yesterday. We're pulling resources from other agencies and
departments to get ready, and the cooperation has been excellent.
And there'll be more to do in the days to come. As I sometimes
say, I'll thank you in advance for the next couple of days.
My goal today -- this will go fairly quickly -- is to brief the
Board on the current emergency conditions. As Mr. Ochs
referenced, you'll hear our recommendation for a State of
Emergency Declaration.
I want to -- it's been three years now since we've been
together in a state of emergency, so I want to make sure you
know some of the things I address in our contingency and
emergency planning.
It is important that we put our debris removal operations on
the record, that you are aware that there is a Board approved
contract for that debris removal. It's typical that we restate that
for the record, if we do need FEMA reimbursement.
I want to tell you what we refer to as our protective action
recommendations. That's some of the key goals and objectives
and public safety for the next couple of days. Review our State
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of Emergency comments and move forward.
One of the things before I get into the weather graphics, it's
important for you to be aware that this is a very difficult storm of
which to make decisions. This is not something -- this is what
we call a paralleling storm. And we may see changes in the
intensity. We may see changes in the angle of approach of which
this storm could affect Collier County. And we may see storm
surge inundation levels vary greatly.
So a parallel track, not like some of the other tracks that
we've had that had a more direct approach. A paralleling track is
very difficult for us, and it's very important for us that we're on
the side of safety.
We have all seen the model discussions, we've all seen
discussions of the storm deteriorating as well as escalating. I
have to take a reasonable posture between the two of those, and
I'll go through that with you here momentarily.
Let me take you into our models. This is our hurricane
evacuation and hurricane tracking model. It gives us timing
elements associated with the storm and what protective actions
would need to take place in Collier County.
As you knee see the storm radius here, you see current
storm track. Now, remember this track, this dotted line, is an
average. If you'll recall the discussions of the cone, that shaded
area, that is sort of the streams of both sides.
Remember that in hurricane forecasting that plus or minus
125 miles north, south, east or west is considered an accurate
forecast track. So if we're looking at storms and we say well,
we've got 50 or 60 miles we're off the coast of Florida, our
margin of error is 125 miles in the forecast range. And in this
particular case, the storm itself is over 100 miles wide. So I don't
have -- I have to be cautious is what I want to continue to share
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with you.
Let me advance this forward just a little bit so you can see
our discussion. And again, these are model runs as of 11 :00
today. New model runs will come out from the Hurricane Center
at 6:00 this afternoon.
So as I advance the storm, I'll go through this a little bit
slowly. As you can see, the time measurements are noted in the
upper left-hand column.
Yesterday in our all-hands briefing with all the agencies, we
anticipated and we still anticipate a little slowdown of the storm
over Cuba.
Now, it is important that if we do evacuations and
emergency actions that we make all arrangements to do that in
daylight hours. The last thing we want to do is something in the
early hours of the morning or late at night where we're less likely
to have compliance or more likely to have somebody hurt. So if
we do these daytime -- when we do evacuations or protective
actions, we want to do as much as possible in the daylight hours.
As you notice here as I advance the storm just south of the
Keys, this is 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, with the storm force winds
here. And in this case this is tropical storm. We are under the
Category 1 hurricane wind speed amount. Right now our
estimates are 60 miles an hour. You get close to 70 miles an hour
for a Category 1 storm event.
However, and I'll go over some more impacts with you
momentarily, if you take into account forecast error plus or
minus 85 to 125 miles, again this storm could have a significant
impact on us if it in fact takes a more northern track.
This is 8:00 a.m. Sunday. We expect to receive some wind
and rain and some squall lines at this particular point on 8:00
a.m. Sunday.
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As I move the -- as I move this forward a few more hours,
this -- as we get close to the Keys and that particular ring right up
in here, just north of the Keys, 3:00 p.m. Sunday, our goal is
always to have everyone in a protective mode before the arrival
of gale force winds. Forty, 45 miles per hour, when those winds
are sustained, that's when we want to make sure that we're
reasonably secure in terms of our public, our sheltering,
sheltering in place, hotel, motel, whatever it might be, but you
are secure before the arrival of gale force winds.
So this is the timing element around 3:00 p.m.
Now, I expect -- I fully expect to gain a little time in this
storm, meaning to have a few more hours on Sunday before we
need everyone secure. For obvious reasons, because of the
variables of this track, while I'm prepared to open shelters I want
to make those shelter time -- those shelter openings, I want to
reevaluate that tomorrow, tomorrow's Saturday, re-evaluate the
forecast, and then I'll be prepared to open shelters and give
specific openings of opening times. But right now it's too early
to call shelter openings and other protective actions for Sunday
until I get some more consistency in the forecast. I'll move that
up for you just a little bit more and you can see how close.
I'd also like to point out one very important factor here -- let
me do a little movement here -- is that as we zoom into Collier
County, any of our beaches that have a southern face are likely to
get more storm surge inundation. More water being pushed by
the wind, more water being pushed into the bays and estuaries.
And in this case at this angle of approach some of our obvious
concerns are Everglades City, Marco Island and Chokoloskee.
And of course it would not stop water from backing up into
Wiggins Bay and Wiggins Pass, just to name a few.
So at this particular angle being on the right side of the
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storm, the northeast side of the storm is what's likely to move
storm surge into our area. And that is a major concern, as you
always would expect.
So before I go away from the model, do you have any
questions about this particular model run or discussion?
(COMMISSIONER COLETTA JOINED THE MEETING VIA
TELEPHONE)
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: I believe
Commissioner Coletta is participating at this time; is that correct?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah, Commissioner
Coletta is here. I do have a question.
Do you anticipate this being a major rain event?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, that's a good question.
The rainfall estimates that we have right now, the average,
and this is very early, but the average might be -- I believe I saw
four to seven inches of rain. And that is a countywide average.
We will get -- as they get a little more dynamic information on
the storm, we'll get a little better estimate on rainfall.
But we do -- and we suggest that a flood watch and a flood
warning may in fact come out of this forecast, just due to the
rainfall amounts.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle,
Commissioner Fiala, do you have any questions?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Not for me.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: None for me either.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Hiller?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Will you be discussing the
location of the shelters that you're considering? Will that be
upcoming.
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MR. SUMMERS: Yes, ma'am. I'll provide more as I get
into the briefing.
Let me go back to my presentation.
The potential impacts, as I mentioned, tropical storm force
winds from 39 to 73 miles per hour. What the Weather Service is
very cognizant of telling us is that this storm is again approaching
some very warm water. And what we want to be sensitive to is
what we refer to as a meteorological surprise, that it comes right
off of Cuba. There's enough convection there to see the storm
intensify.
Right now it's holding -- its behavior has been relatively
steady for a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane event. But
it's something I need to be prepared for, because as we escalate
wind speed and forward motion, obviously we get more damage
and more concerns.
Storm surge values, three to five feet. That's very difficult --
that's a very rough estimate at this point. When the storm gets
closer, the Hurricane Center will run some additional models for
us. But the predictive models are three to five feet of storm surge
in our areas.
Flood Watch, as I mentioned, I believe three to six inches of
rain. Sheet flow flooding, which is something we're not -- that
we are used to when we have these heavy rain events is also
something we pay very close attention to.
Tornado watches and warnings, if we're on the periphery of
this particular storm, we have a very unstable environment in our
atmosphere. Tornado watches and warnings are likely. That's one
of the reasons that we put a lot of emphasis on our mobile home
resident protection due to tornado watches and warnings that
come forward. Power outages are likely, although I believe they
will be scattered and downed trees and power lines, again
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because of our saturated size, and road blockage as part of that
situation.
Let me take a minute, since it's been a few years, let me tell
you what are some of our concerns, the things that we're paying
attention to. The first one obviously is the state of emergency.
We did meet with representatives from the City of Naples, I
spoke with Mayor Hamilton yesterday, I had a phone contact
with him, as well as Marco Island. And I've spoken with Marco
again today about some of our evacuation concerns.
So we do work jointly. Typically the county would declare
a State of Emergency, and the municipalities have the option of
following suit, which they usually do.
We're in conversation with the school district about
closings, and of course we do use their facilities as shelters. We
have a great working relationship with Dr. Patton and her team,
and they've been in constant contact with us. And a lot of
preparatory activity has already taken place here for the last few
days.
Good, Dr. Patton is here, so she might want to speak.
So we are working in concert with them and we'll
coordinate with them in terms of their operation and our shelter
needs.
We do monitor the evacuation issues that are going on in
Monroe, Dade and Broward County, Monroe in particular. Dade
and Broward have also set up their emergency operations center,
because they're likely to get the effects of this as well. So again
with the entire southern peninsula being affected, we do work in
cooperation with those regions.
Special needs population. Our aging population and frail
residents here, we work very closely with them. We have a
tracking and registration system. We do provide transportation
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for those that have no transportation but have medically
dependent needs. This is very manpower intensive. It takes a lot
of time and resources in the emergency operations center and I
think we're well positioned to support those individuals, if you
will, from beginning to the end of the event to make sure that
their safety is secured and their bear essential emergency medical
needs are assisted.
We do work on the evacuation area discussion, and I'll have
a little bit more on that in just a moment. As I mentioned, storm
surge impacts to parts of our community.
Public information is important. We're a little bit new to
social media in disaster, but we're prepared for that. We have a
Facebook and Twitter account that is providing emergency
information and links in social media, as well as our conventional
radio, convention, and most importantly, our NOAA radio and
our county website; and that's CollierEM.org or Colliergov.net.
And we have emergency information posted very quickly on that
website for the latest information. So you have lots of resources
here for emergency information.
Press schedules, press briefings, press opportunities are done
at the Emergency Operations Center, and we do that so we can
number one make sure that anyone briefing the press has the
latest information, and typically we work in a unified press
environment where we have multiple agencies speaking at one
time so that we make sure the message is consistent and accurate.
There are community concerns, things such as court activity
and constitutionals schedule. They typically do their own
announcement but work with us in that conversation.
We also think it's relevant in emergency information that if
there are issues with essential goods and services, we have no
problem announcing if a store is open or gas is available. I don't
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anticipate any resource shortfalls in the community, but we do
announce what retail outlets are open in the event that there's any
difficulty there.
Now, let me change gears. Those are some of the strategies.
Let me tell you the recommendations in our operations posture.
Saturday we do want to activate the Emergency Operations
Center from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, tomorrow. That
allows -- and we also want to recommend a voluntary
precautionary evacuation. Now, what we have done by using the
term voluntary precautionary evacuation is that if you have the
time and the resources or you are a visitor, Saturday is the day for
you to plan to leave. That allows resources and services to be
available for our permanent residents and make sure that we have
time for our businesses to make their preparation activity.
So Saturday certainly is a voluntary day. We're suggesting
that's a good day, that if you have the option you want to leave
the area, Saturday is better than Sunday.
Our protective action recommendations for Sunday, we are
going to recommend an evacuation. And let me stress the
difference between recommended and mandatory. With the
variables that I have in this storm and the potential even for the
storm losing some of its punch, we don't -- we have to be careful
that we don't over-warn, that we don't over-evacuate, nor have
we under-resourced ourselves for last minute needs, should the
storm escalate.
So my conversation with you now is a recommendation to
the public for evacuation west and south of U.S. 41 and the
adjacent low-lying areas. And U.S. 41, with the exception of a
few small areas, provides a good border, a good geographic
decision of those areas that we feel like are subject to the storm
surge inundation that we're predicting and as a result means that
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that's a good area for you to leave.
Our communities and municipalities should be prepared that
if the storm changes, this recommended evacuation could be
elevated to mandatory. And what I would like to propose to the
Board is that as we see more forecast information on Saturday we
have through the manager telephonically with you all the
opportunity, of course we'll deescalate if the storm is less of a
threat, but if we see an escalation in the storm, we'd like to get on
the phone with you and change that from recommended to
mandatory.
We want to continue to stress that all mobile home residents
in the unincorporated Collier County continue -- we recommend,
strongly recommend their evacuation to family, friends, hotels or
more substantial structures. And again, that's likely because of
the tornadic threat.
Our special needs clients should also make alternate plans.
They know that as a last resort our special needs shelter is
equipped to assist them. But as we sometimes say, that is the
resource of last resort. So our special needs clients, especially
those that are dependent upon electricity, whether it's life support
or other medical need, should consider evacuation at this point.
As I said earlier, the Commission would be prepared to
authorize the County Manager via phone of anticipation of the
storm track. I got ahead of myself, but the last point is briefing
the manager and briefing you all so I can have the opportunity to
escalate.
On Saturday our goal in the EEOC activation is to set up our
special needs shelter that is manpower intensive with the supplies
and equipment that we need to make ready; activate our
hurricane hotline, which is 252-8444. 252-8444. That will be on
tomorrow to allow residents to call if they have questions or
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concerns. Make sure that our responders haves an operational
posture ready, should the storm escalate. And that planning and
operational coordination will take place on Saturday.
Get our transportation lined up for our special needs clients.
And of course confirm and announce the public shelter
openings. And we've already worked with the school board. We
have a candidate list of shelters that are ready for Sunday, and we
will announce that on Saturday.
Again, we want to be very careful that we properly resource
this, but we are prepared, we've already got supplies and
equipment in place. And as we see the need, we'll make that
announcement with ample time on Saturday to allow for a
Sunday evacuation, if the storm track forward motion maintains
the current plan. I have learned over many years, don't second
guess Mother Nature, so let's make sure we have some options.
Sunday we'll begin full around-the-clock operations as long
as we have people in shelters. That will begin at 8:00 a.m. We'll
work on our special needs transportation for our clients. Our
special needs shelter location is Palmetto Ridge High School. As
I said, announce the shelter openings and locations and be
prepared to scale up or scale down.
Let me stop with all that before I go into debris removal and
see if you have any questions and are comfortable with those
actions.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Questions?
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Commissioner Henning, you
know, before any of us loses communication, can we get to the
point of authorizing the necessary emergency regulations that we
have to put in place so that the Emergency Operations Center can
do the things that Dan is talking about?
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ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We can do
that. However, I would like to see some kind of parameters so
we're --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, let's discuss them.
What are they?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, if the storm
stays on track, I see -- personally I see all necessary
recommendations be implemented. However, if the storm tracks
to the west and we're not even in the cone, I see no need to have
all these actions implemented.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I understand that and I
agree with you. But what I'm saying is that Dan needs certain
authorizations to put the plan into effect. He doesn't necessarily
need to take the actions at this point in time, but if he has the
authority to put them into effect in the event the storm comes
within a specific distance of Collier County --
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: And that's all I'm
saying is we need that specificity.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay, I'm happy with that.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: So if you want to give
us some recommendations on that, Dan?
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, the only specificity I can
give you is that if the Weather Service declares us under a
tropical storm watch or warning. If we were -- and again,
because we are going to -- you're going to get effects. How
intense those effects are going to be remains to be seen.
I'll be very cognizant of not overcommitting and
over-resourcing, nor do I want to under-resource or
under-commit. But I cannot give you a wind speed parameter or
time of day at this particular juncture. Our science and
technology is just not that good.
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August 24, 2012
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Hiller?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: I agree with you,
Commissioner Henning, I think putting parameters on this
motion is necessary. So I support you in establishing some sort
of a limit. Because as you said earlier, Mr. Summers, you don't
want to overdo. You don't want to over-warn, over-evacuate.
And you basically want a paced recommendation. We obviously
want to be prepared to implement what's necessary to promote
the public safety, but we don't want to overreact unnecessarily.
If you don't mind, Commissioner Henning, could we ask
Sheriff Rambosk and Superintendent Patton if they would like to
comment before we finalize this motion and see what input they
would like to contribute in this matter.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Sure, I would love to
do that. But first I'd like to go to any of the board members
participating under this particular discussion.
Commissioner Coletta, Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, I have no comment. I'm
just listening. I'm fine with the way it's going.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Commissioner Henning, I
would like to make one observation. Perhaps we can define this
guidance in terms of the category of storm that the National
Weather Service identifies for Collier County, that there should
be no mandatory evacuation for anything less than a Category 2,
and that Mr. Summers monitor the process. And if the National
Weather Service places Collier County in the path within the
envelope of effect of a Category 2 hurricane, that he can issue
whatever evacuation warnings are deemed appropriate for that
category.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle,
what I heard Mr. Summers say, if-- is it NOAA that puts us in a
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tropical storm or a hurricane status?
MR. SUMMERS: It would be the National Hurricane
Center that would issue that.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: National Hurricane
Center. What I heard is if they put us in that, the
recommendations was to start implementing some of the
recommendations. And I'm fine with that myself.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I think that's what the
plan calls for. And I certainly trust Dan Summers to know what
measures are appropriate for what categories are a threat. But I
agree with the other comments of the other commissioners, that
we don't want to issue a mandatory evacuation for a tropical
storm.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Yeah. And if I could
weigh in here for just a second. Yeah, I hear the conversation
and I agree with you to a point. But Mr. Summers is going to be
able to have to act when the need arises. We can't monitor this
storm on a moment-by-moment basis like he can. The angle of
the storm coming in, the intensity of it picking up. If we don't
give him a certain ability to be able to act when the situation
warrants it, we may be doing ourselves a disfavor.
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioners, can I restate for clarity,
I want to make sure that we understand and I'm presenting to you
that evacuations are recommended based on the current forecast.
If we see an escalation of conditions, albeit some combination of
wind speed, the intensity of the storm, the rainfall, the tornado
watch and tornado warning capabilities, I'm very uncomfortable
with saying it has to be a Cat 1 or a Cat 2. A slow moving
Category 1 with the storm taking -- or even a slow moving
tropical storm and the geometry of that storm changes, the storm
surge values could dramatically increase.
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August 24, 2012
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct.
MR. SUMMERS: So I'm very sensitive to not any
over-evacuation or mandatory, but we could literally go in a four
or six-hour period with a rapid escalation, and I just want to make
sure that we're postured so that we can react. I appreciate --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Commissioner Henning?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Could we ask that the
resolution that the staff is requesting be presented to us so that we
know what he wants us to vote on?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: I don't know if you
have access to your --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't, no.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: -- email.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: You should put it on the
overhead.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, they probably
won't be able to see it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, how long is this
resolution?
MR. OCHS: Two pages.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yeah, it's not very
long.
Now, therefore, the Board waives CAT service between
8:00 a.m. Sunday through 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning to aid
evacuation of residents. The Board waives convalescent
transportation for registered special needs. In the interest and
effect of storm event preparation, post storm event, recovery --
maximum funding flexible. You know, safeguard and public
health safety requires the (sic) proceed with all necessary budget
amendments up to $500,000 starting baseline within the
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August 24, 2012
following fund categories. And that would be the general fund
103, 195, 301, 306, 313, 412, 414 and 473. And that's basically
it, Commissioner Coyle.
MR. KLATZKOW: You have a second resolution, sir.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: We have a second? I
have a proclamation, is there --
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes. That is the one where you're
declaring a State of Emergency.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Oh, it is a
proclamation resolution, excuse me, where you have
performance of public works, take whatever prudent action
necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the
community, entering into contracts, occurring (sic) obligations,
employment of permanent and temporary workers, rental
equipment, utilize volunteer workers, acquisition and distribution
with or without compensation of supplies, materials and
facilities. Appropriation of expenditures of public funds.
Now, the voluntary evacuation has occurred at the state and
local emergency declaration effective immediately and for the
territory and unincorporated areas of Collier County.
What other important points do we have here, Mr.
Summers? Do you have that?
MR. SUMMERS: Commissioner, in terms of our resolution
is one that once you declare that State of Emergency, you
authorize us to do the necessary work. It does not have
prerequisites in it for estimating the impact, wind speed or
direction of those subsequent actions. So our resolution is really
the authority for us to do the work.
And I have presented you the work that we have in front of
us, as well as the -- just some of our goals, objectives and
concerns for the storm. It does not -- as I recall, does not --
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August 24, 2012
allows us to work with the residents in that evacuation
discussion.
So our prudent measure here is reminding the public that
there is potential in this recommendation for the evacuation,
subsequent to any escalating effects where the message of us
communicating this is mandatory, is just strengthening that
evacuation message and for folks to take individual preparedness
efforts.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Hiller?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Yeah, with respect to the
budgetary and purchasing provisions in these two resolutions, I
think there have to be limits placed on that that it has to be, you
know, for whatever is reasonable under the circumstances.
The way it's written here, Mr. Klatzkow, it's basically carte
blanche to spend without limit. So I just think the wording needs
to be tightened up to make it clear that the purchasing part
limitations and any budgetary amendments are strictly for the
purposes of providing the emergency services absolutely
necessitated by anything related to this storm event specifically.
MR. KLATZKOW: Staff and I had that discussion. And I
know you haven't had a lot of time to look at this. I know if you
look at paragraph three of the resolution, staff has capped what
they can do at $500,000.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Yeah, they say that as a
starting baseline. It's not a cap, it's as minimum.
MR. KLATZKOW: You can make that maximum, if you'd
like.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Okay. Well, and that is
500,000 as a baseline for each of the funds. That's almost five
million.
I mean, again, any cost that's necessary to protect the
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August 24, 2012
public's health and safety ought to be authorized. But it should
be framed as such. I mean, it needs to be, you know, limited and
it should be strictly related back to necessary storm event related
expenditures. And it's not clearly provided for in here. So if you
could tighten that up.
Also, again, have I to go back and agree with Commissioner
Henning. There has to be a paced recommendation. These
resolutions don't provide for a paced recommendation. I
completely understand your point that there is a possibility that
things could escalate within a very short amount of time. The
resolutions can be worded to allow for accommodating changes
and conditions where you would need to up your activity to
protect the public. But something needs to be in here to provide
for some sort of governor.
And again, in line with your recommendation that we don't
want to over-warn or over-evacuate and provide for as I said
earlier a paced recommendation.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: If we could hear from
our Sheriff at this time, if he has any input, and then our
Superintendent of Schools.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Afternoon, Commissioners. Kevin
Rambosk, Collier County Sheriff.
Our operational plans track very closely with what the
Emergency Operations Center does. We take a baseline level of
storm. However, we have a lot of flexibility in assessing what
needs we may see coming.
The thing that we're able to help a lot on is that we have a
lot of people in the field. We routinely provide that information
to Mr. Summers so that he can make the best judgment and
recommendation for the county.
We also talk to our neighboring counties as far as law
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August 24, 2012
enforcement goes to see what actual impacts are occurring there.
So from our perspective we too include an assessment of
conditions as we move forward. And it's really to have that
flexibility, as Mr. Summers indicated.
And I do not have any questions relative to where we're at in
this stage of operations from a law enforcement perspective.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you, Sheriff
Dr. Patton?
DR. PATTON: Good afternoon. It's -- I'm pleased to be
here today and give you an update.
Our preparations are done, ready to go. And just wanted to
be like you all, continuing ongoing assessments, monitoring and
staying in touch of with you all.
Our main plan right now is on Sunday at 5:00 to let people
have an update as to what happens for Monday morning. So to
that end what we did is specifically today is we sent home a flier
to 43,000 students that indicate our three main sources, one of
which is an emergency hotline that's in English, Spanish and
Creole. And that hotline number is 1-888-994-NEWS. So that
will provide information for parents and community members.
We also have our school district website at Collierschools.com
with that information, as well as the educational channel that's
found on Comcast 99.
From there today then we specifically made sure to enact
two other abilities that we have, one of which is school
messenger service, so all of our parents tonight will receive a
phone call home telling them to tune in on Sunday, on or before
5:00, but 5:00 for sure so that they can know what to expect for
Monday morning. As well as that message went to our
employees.
And then we also have a database of 27,000 emails, heavily
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August 24, 2012
parents but also community members, that we'll send out that
email also this evening. And like you have a Facebook and
Twitter page to also use that social media.
And then I think we're just very happy to assist on Sunday if
the shelters need to be open. We've already been in contact and
want to just reaffirm how wonderful it is to work in such
collaboration with multiple county employees, not only just Dan
and his team, the Sheriff and everyone else's group, just been
fabulous. We never like these kind of activities, but when you're
in it together as a team that's what's the most important, that we
all work together.
So we're ready to go, we're at your call to keep serving with
you.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Thank you. It sounds like
you've done a wonderful job.
DR. PATTON: We're trying hard.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: The school board is a
great collaboration in these efforts for all of our citizens.
DR. PATTON: They really are. I think it's been -- they're
just terrific and they -- like you supporting your people,
supporting our people. It really is one great county. I think
you've heard me say this before, and I don't just say it to say it, I
mean it, it's wonderful because this county really does work
together. Other places that doesn't always happen. So we really
do appreciate the real true collaboration with the county.
Item #3
PROCLAMATION RESOLUTION 2012-139: DECLARING A
STATE OF EMERGENCY IN COLLIER COUNTY
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August 24, 2012
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, is there a
recommendation on the -- would it be the proclamation resolution
first?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir. Yes, the first action would be to
declare the state of local emergency.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I'd like to make a motion
that we declare this a State of Emergency for Collier County.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second it.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, let's have some
discussion.
Item #4
RESOLUTION 2012-140: MOTION TO ADOPT THIS
RESOLUTION WITH CAP ON TOTAL EXPENDITURES
FOR ALL FUNDS OF $500,000 — ADOPTED 5/0
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Actually, the
resolution and proclamation gives limited authority. And the
resolution is where the meat -- where the rubber hits the road; is
that correct?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes, sir.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Any discussion
on the motion?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Yeah. Again, I would like to
see some wording that allows for what you recommended,
Commissioner Henning, which is a paced recommendation. And
maybe what we need to do is give staff a few minutes, maybe
take a short recess and allow Mr. Summers to come up with
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August 24, 2012
wording that allows for some sort of a paced recommendation
with respect to this emergency measure.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: I think that's going to
be in this resolution. We're talking about --
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Oh, we're still on the other
one?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: We're talking about
adopting the proclamation resolution, which hasn't been assigned
any kind of number yet. But I'm all in agree with trying to nail it
down a little bit more.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: This is where the purchasing
-- what they've done is sort of combined six of one, half a dozen
of the other. For example, they've got unlimited purchasing card
limitations in the one that's currently being discussed, but they've
got the budgetary issues in the resolution. So they've kind of
blended the issues. It's not really cleanly laid out.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Well, I agree, if you
put a cap amount in the resolution instead of having 500,000 per
fund, you pretty much have some limitations. However --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But we're not really discussing
that, are we? Aren't we discussing just the proclamation right
now?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: It's the proclamation
resolution, yes, Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I agree with Commissioner
Fiala, why don't we pass the proclamation declaring a State of
Emergency and then we'll deal with the limitations in the
resolution.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. Anymore
discussion?
(No response.)
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August 24, 2012
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: All in favor of
Commissioner Fiala's and Commissioner Coyle's second to pass
the proclamation resolution, all in favor signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Commissioner Henning, could
I suggest perhaps an approach to get to where it appears most of
the board wants to go?
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Please.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I certainly am going to be
available for an emergency meeting or call.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Over the weekend?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Any time in the next day or so
or two days.
Would it be acceptable to the Board to just establish a
monetary limit on the expenditures that are to be made without
another emergency meeting of the board to authorize a higher
level of action in the event that the threat escalates? It doesn't
take that long to get us together on the phone, I don't think.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: I will also be available.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'll be available.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I'll be available.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Yes, that sounds like a
better approach. $4.5 million for an anticipated tropical
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August 24, 2012
storm/Category 1 is quite a bit of a sum to allocate.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, if I might --
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Agree.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Agree.
MR. OCHS: This is the County Manager.
Might I suggest that you cap expenditures at $500,000, and
anything that we would need beyond that we would reconvene
the Board and seek that authorization.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: A total of$500,000?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: I think that's reasonable.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Personally I could live
with that.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Absolutely.
I'll make a motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Hiller
makes a motion to adopt a resolution with a cap of-- maximum
expenditures of$500,000 for all funds. Seconded by
Commissioner Fiala.
Discussion on the motion?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Just that it's, you know,
subject to change by any future action of the Board and that we'll
be able available to do that, if needed.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Correct.
Commissioner Fiala, are you okay?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's fine with me, yes.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'm all for it.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner
Page 27
August 24, 2012
Coletta?
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: I'm for it.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay, no other
discussion, all in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRMAN COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Motion carries
unanimously.
Any other business?
MR. SUMMERS: Sir, just a few public comments while we
have the audience.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Thank you.
MR. SUMMERS: Just a few more, thank you.
Debris. I've already mentioned to you that that process is in
shape. Just to let our other responders know that obviously this
coordination effort is done through the Emergency Operations
Center. We do have close coordination with the municipal
operation centers as well.
Our message to the citizens: Continue to closely monitor
radio, television, county and municipal websites for updated
information. Remind our citizens to anticipate power outages and
limited services, including impacts to travel possibly. Monitor
that NOAA weather radio from the National Weather Service for
continuous weather service updates. Make sure your disaster kit
is ready and anticipate changing environments. And your other
speakers have already presented.
Page 28
August 24, 2012
Again, our hurricane hotline and our websites continue to
monitor this.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, just final point of information
with regard to county operations under the jurisdiction of the
Board of County Commissioners. As we sit here today we plan
for normal operations of all county facilities on Monday. That
could change over the weekend, depending upon the decisions of
the school superintendent and weather conditions. But as we sit
here today, we plan to be open for business on Monday.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. We're going to
have to -- we don't have to end the meeting, we could just recess
the meeting and then end the meeting if--
MR. KLATZKOW: We should end the meeting. And if
Leo needs to call you back because the storm intensifies, we'll do
MR. OCHS: Another special meeting.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Commissioner Hiller?
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Yeah, Mr. Summers, can you
please describe what you're going to do about preparation for any
shelters if any need to be open? But at this point as I understand
none will be open.
MR. SUMMERS: No, there will be shelters available. We
will announce that shelter opening. I have five shelters in the
community slated as part of the first anticipated need. I have
three in reserve, if necessary, which is pretty much our -- if there
is such a thing, our average shelter demand need. And I will -- I
can add more or I can decrease those as we see the census on
that.
And we will be using our inland shelters first. We do have
resources already in place, as I've mentioned. They are basic
services. We have food services partnered with our school district
Page 29
August 24, 2012
to help us in school and feeding resources and that type of thing.
And have typically done a very good job in our shelter
operations, both our special needs operated by the Health
Department, as well as our general population shelters.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Can you tell us which shelters
you're proposing on opening, assuming that the rating of this
storm remains a Category 1?
MR. SUMMERS: Yes. The shelters are as follows: We
anticipate, and this is subject to a final review and final
announcement in terms of schedule, Immokalee High,
Immokalee Middle, Palmetto Ridge High School, which provides
not only our special needs shelter but also the accompanying
general population that goes with it as caregivers. We have
North Regional Park, and that will be our pet friendly shelter
location. And --
DR. PATTON: Cypress Palm Middle.
MR. SUMMERS: Cypress Palm Middle, thank you. And
Golden Gate High. Cypress Palm Middle and Golden Gate.
Thank you, our candidate list of facilities. There are five. I
believe I said four. Five facilities and our three reserves.
And again, we've been working with the district on that
making ready. We'll finalize the opening and times of that and
get that out as an official release and an official start time.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other questions?
(No response.)
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Any other questions
from the Board members?
(No response.)
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Dan, now, this is an
understanding this will take place, opening the shelters once the
National Weather Service puts us in a tropical storm or Category
Page 30
August 24, 2012
1?
MR. SUMMERS: I expect -- and again, yes. The answer is
yes, it would be a tropical storm warning, which is the period of
which we expect landfall 12 hours or less.
And as we see those conditions escalate or deteriorate, we
will adjust that and get that information out to the public.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Okay. If no further
questions, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Motion to adjourn.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Is there a second?
Second.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
ACTING-CHAIRMAN HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER COLETTA: Aye.
*****
Page 31
August 24, 2012
There being no further business for the good of the County the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Acting Chair at 3:52 p.m.
Board of County Commissioners
/ '
Tom Henning, Actili._-Chairman
ATTEST:
DWIGHT E. BROCK, CLERK
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A, t as to Dim. tr,
lignature 1P4 f 25,2i2. ,These minutes a oved b the Board on b�
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as presented or as corrected .
Transcript prepared on behalf of Gregory Court Reporting, Inc.
by Cherie' R. Nottingham, CSR.
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