BCC Minutes 02/12/2013 R BCC
REGULAR
MEETING
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2013
February 12, 2013
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, February 12, 2013
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County
Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as
the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) of such
special districts as have been created according to law and having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRWOMAN: Georgia Hiller
Tom Henning
Fred Coyle
Donna Fiala
Tim Nance
ALSO PRESENT:
Leo Ochs, County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Crystal Kinzel, Finance Director, Clerks Office
Mike Sheffield, Manager, Business Operations - CMO
Troy Miller, Communications & Customer Relations
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB)
Airport Authority
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AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples FL 34112
February 12, 2013
9:00 AM
Georgia Hiller - BCC Chairwoman; BCC Commissioner, District 2
Tom Henning - BCC Vice-Chairman; BCC Commissioner, District 3
Donna Fiala - BCC Commissioner, District 1; CRAB Chairman
Fred W. Coyle - BCC Commissioner, District 4
Tim Nance - BCC Commissioner, District 5; CRAB Vice-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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February 12, 2013
REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON SUBJECTS WHICH ARE NOT ON
THIS AGENDA MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING WITH EXPLANATION
TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THE MEETING AND WILL BE HEARD UNDER "PUBLIC PETITIONS."
PUBLIC PETITIONS ARE LIMITED TO THE PRESENTER, WITH A
MAXIMUM TIME OF TEN MINUTES.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD
WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING PERTAINING THERETO,
AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE
TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO NEEDS ANY
ACCOMMODATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING,
YOU ARE ENTITLED, AT NO COST TO YOU, THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN
ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE COLLIER COUNTY FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 3335 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL,
SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380; ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED ARE AVAILABLE IN
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE.
LUNCH RECESS SCHEDULED FOR 12:00 NOON TO 1:00 P.M
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A. Pastor Bob Scudieri - Faith Lutheran Church
2. AGENDA AND MINUTES
A. Approval of today's regular agenda as amended.
B. Approval of today's consent agenda as amended (Ex Parte Disclosure
provided by Commission members for consent agenda.)
C. Approval of today's summary agenda as amended (Ex Parte Disclosure
provided by Commission members for summary agenda.)
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February 12, 2013
D. January 8-9, 2013 - BCC/Regular Meeting
E. January 14, 2013 - BCC/CRA Joint Workshop
3. SERVICE AWARDS
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Proclamation designating February 2013 as Career and Technical Education
Month in Collier County. To be accepted by Yolanda Flores, Principal,
Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology and Denise Duzick, Administrator,
Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology. Sponsored by Commissioner Fiala.
B. Proclamation designating February 2013 as Scouting Month in Collier
County. To be accepted by Burt Saunders, Alligator District Chairman;
James Giles, Alligator District Executive; Bill Coen, Vice President,
Southwest Florida Boy Scouts of America; and Bill Poteet, Executive Board
Member. Sponsored by Commissioner Henning.
C. Proclamation designating February 17-23, 2013 as Engineers Week in
Collier County. To be accepted by Ralph Verrastro, P.E., Calusa Chapter
President; Norman Trebilcock, P.E., Calusa Chapter Vice President; Alison
Bradford, P.E., Calusa Chapter Past President; and Marlene Messam, P.E.
Calusa Chapter Past President. Sponsored by Commissioner Coyle.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of the Collier County Business of the Month for February 2013
to the 360 Market. To be accepted by Rebecca Maddox, owner.
B. Presentation to recognize contributions made by six Eagle Scouts to
Conservation Collier Preserve lands.
C. Presentation to recognize the local effort to promote the National Farm-City
Council's mission to strengthen understanding of the farm-city connections
that provide our food, fiber and shelter; to recognize the Collier County
community's Farm City Barbeque organization and its Annual Farm City
Barbeque; to announce the award of grants to the youth organizations
benefiting from the Farm City Barbeque; to acknowledge the good work of
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February 12, 2013
the Farm City Barbeque; and for the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners to promote and encourage the continued community support
of the Annual Farm City Barbeque.
D. Presentation of a donation of artwork to the Board of County Commissioners
from the Gallery on Fifth. To be presented by Olga Arkhangelskaya.
(Commissioner Hiller)
E. Recommendation to recognize Kelly Arnold, Accountant, Public Utilities
Division as the Supervisor of the Year 2012.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
A. This item to be heard immediately following Item #10D. Public Petition
request from Bill D'Antuono regarding the use of spears to control the
overpopulation of lion fish.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS
Item 8 and Item 9 to be heard no sooner than 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
A. This item continued to the April 9, 2013 BCC Meeting.
Recommendation to consider the appeal of Zoning Verification Letter,
ZLTR-PL20120002392, regarding the denial of a New or Used Motor
Vehicle Dealer as a permitted use in the Two Lakes Plaza Planned Unit
Development (PUD), Ordinance No. 2000-63, Collier County, Florida.
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. This item continued to the March 26, 2013 BCC Meeting.
Recommendation to approve a "small-scale" amendment to the Golden Gate
Area Master Plan Element of the Growth Management Plan, Ordinance 89-
05, as amended, for transmittal to the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity. (Adoption Hearing)
10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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February 12,2013
A. Appointment of members to the Isles of Capri Fire Control District Advisory
Committee.
B. Appointment of member to the Environmental Advisory Council.
C. Appointment of a member to the Animal Services Advisory Board.
D. This item to be heard before Item #6A. Recommendation to adopt a
Resolution in support of removing the ban on spearfishing in Collier County
coastal waters, and requesting that the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) repeal the special acts and/or rules
designated as Chapters 27473 (1951) and 30665 (1955). (Commissioner
Henning)
E. Recommendation to direct staff to negotiate and bring back to the Board at
its next meeting a new Red Light Camera agreement between Collier County
and American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (ATS), and that given the
upcoming March 1st deadline with ATS, as well as the infrastructure and
procedural processes in place, that the Board waive any requirement for
formal competition for this work. (Commissioner Fiala)
F. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners direct the
County Attorney to prepare an ordinance for board approval providing for a
county Hearing Officer who shall be empowered to hear and rule on limited
planning and zoning matters; that any decision of the Hearing Officer may
be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners; that it be further
directed that county staff develop a job description based on the legal
definition of the newly created position, obtain board approval for funding
the position, and immediately advertise the position upon board approval of
the ordinance, all so that a Hearing Officer is hired and in place by April 15,
2013 with the intent of promoting administrative efficiency in rendering
certain development related decisions by the county. (Commissioner Hiller)
G. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners ("Board") direct
the County Attorney and the Clerk of Courts to jointly develop a county
Purchasing Ordinance, to review the proposed Purchasing Ordinance with
county staff, and to bring the final draft of the Purchasing Ordinance to the
Board in the first meeting in March, 2013 for approval to advertise, and for
final Board adoption at the second meeting in March, 2013. Ensuring that
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February 12,2013
all county expenditures approved by the Board "shall" rather than "may"
satisfy what is required by both legal and governmental accounting
standards is an obligation, not an option of the Board. (Commissioner
Hiller)
H. Recommendation that the County Manager's Ordinance be repealed in
whole, that it be replaced with the provisions specifically enumerated in
Florida Statute Chapter 125 as those provisions relate to the position of the
County Administrator, and that the law be renamed the "County
Administrator" Ordinance consistent with statute. Florida law provides that
a constitutional county may administratively organize itself through the
office of a County Administrator that answers to the Board of County
Commissioners and that where such an organizational structure is desired
that the county shall adopt an ordinance that mirrors the guiding Florida
statute so as to enable the Office of the County Administrator. As such, the
current ordinance should be repealed and replaced with the applicable
provisions of F.S. Chpt. 125 to provide unambiguous definition as to the
role, powers and duties of the County Administrator. To further recommend
that the Board direct that the County Attorney prepare and present a County
Administrator's Ordinance conforming with F.S. Chpt. 125 to replace the
current County Manager's Ordinance at the first meeting in March, 2013 for
Board approval to advertise and for final Board adoption at the second
meeting in March, 2013. (Commissioner Hiller)
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners ("Board") direct
the County Attorney ("CA") to draft a County Attorney Ordinance to be
brought back to the Board at the second meeting in February, 2013 for
approval to advertise publicly, and then further to be brought forward for
adoption by the Board at the first meeting in March, 2013. The ordinance
shall provide in part that: 1. All legal information relating to the county
shall be immediately forwarded to the CA upon receipt of such information
by any member of the Board and/or county staff, including but not limited to
matters related to threatened, pending or actual litigation, civil, criminal or
administrative in nature. 2. The CA shall exclusively represent the county in
all legal matters, and with Board approval shall retain outside counsel to
assist in such representation. 3. All draft contracts, resolutions and
ordinances shall be reviewed and approved by the CA prior to presentation
to the Board, and all such reviewed documents shall be placed by staff after
approval by the CA on the Board's public agenda for Board approval prior
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February 12,2013
to any Board vote. 4. The CA's standard for review and approval of any and
all matters presented to the Board shall be that it is "approved as to form and
legality" rather than merely "approved as to form and legal sufficiency" and
such approval shall cite with specificity any ordinance, statute or
constitutional provision on which the proposed action is based. 5. The CA
shall be responsible for ensuring the proper execution of all Board approved
contracts, resolutions and ordinances, and shall ensure the preservation of
the chain of custody of such documents from Board approval, to execution
through recording in the Official Records of the Clerk of Courts. 6. The CA
shall be the county's registered agent in all instances included but not
limited to CRA, MSTU, and District representation. Once the ordinance is
adopted, the CA will immediately develop practices and procedures to
implement the direction set by the ordinance which shall be respected by the
Board and county staff going forward. (Commissioner Hiller)
J. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners direct the
County Attorney to draft a resolution stating that it is not the Board's current
intent to raise the Tourist Development Tax; to be presented for Board
approval at the February 26, 2013 public meeting. Raising taxes on the
Tourism Industry during this time of financial hardship goes against the
county's desire to promote and encourage economic development. For this
reason, it is imperative that the Board of County Commissioners formally
declare its intent to not raise taxes at this time. (Commissioner Hiller)
K. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners direct the
County Attorney to coordinate with the county's newly hired Economic
Development administrator to draft amendments to and extensions for the
county's economic development ordinances which are set to expire in 2013
and further, to include provisions with respect to the requirements of F.S.
Chp. 119 (Public Records) relating to economic development financial
records disclosure exemptions. Specifically, and for example, the ordinance
providing for a property tax exemption incentives was never approved by
general referendum as required by Florida's constitution/statute and as such
is invalid - the cure is suspension of the ordinance pending the public's vote
of approval; the impact fee waiver incentive program ignores that the impact
fee fund that would otherwise see a contribution of impact fees, has to be
made whole by some alternative source of funding (otherwise the impact fee
charged becomes an illegal tax) - the cure is to require, as part of the
ordinance, that the county immediately make a fund transfer to the affected
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February 12, 2013
impact fee fund equal in amount to the awarded waiver; as an alternative to
an impact fee waiver program, an additional provision should be added for
an impact fee exemption program which could include an impact fee
moratorium for select impact fees (public safety related impact fees should
not be suspended given the paramount importance of those services);
consideration should be given to have the local and state job creation
incentive provisions mirror each other including all provisions relating to
state required underwriting provisions; such underwriting provisions which
include the production of financial statements and/or tax returns should also
be included as a requirement under all incentive programs; and lastly, the
applicability of the public records exemption relating to any applicant's
financial information shall apply to all members of county staff and the
public except for the individual County Commissioners, the County
Attorney, the County Manager, the Economic Development administrator
and the Clerk of Courts and designated employees of such elected officials
and county staff. Further that the Economic Development Administrator
bring the draft amended ordinances to the Board of County Commissioners
in April, 2013 for review and discussion along with any other proposals the
Administrator may have in the way of programs for the Board's
consideration. At such time, the Board can direct the legally conforming
options be presented to the community for input and additional
recommendations, all with the intent of developing a legally sound and
financially feasible economic development program that reflects the will of
the tax-paying public. (Commissioner Hiller)
11. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. This item continued from the November 13, 2012 meeting.
Recommendation to deny the formal protest objection and uphold the
Purchasing Director's decision denying Poole & Kent Company of Florida
the award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) #12-5931 Master Pump Station 312
Rehabilitation as Projects #72549 and #70050; prohibit Poole & Kent from
benefiting from the Board's local vendor preference for one (1) year; and,
approve the award for the above mentioned ITB to contractor Douglas N.
Higgins, Inc. in the amount of$5,961,000 and authorize the Chairwoman to
execute the agreement. (Len Price, Administrative Services Administrator)
B. This item continued from the November 13, 2012 meeting.
Recommendation to deny the formal protest objection and uphold the
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February 12,2013
Purchasing Director's decision denying Poole & Kent Company of Florida
the award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) #12-5952, Aerated Sludge Holding
Tank (ASHT)/Flow Equalization Tank (FET), Projects #73950 and #70091;
prohibit Poole & Kent from benefiting from the Board's local vendor
preference for one (1) year; and, approve the above ITB award to contractor
Mitchell & Stark Construction Co. in the amount of$6,307,000 and
authorize the Chairwoman to execute the agreement. (Len Price,
Administrative Services Administrator)
C. This item to be heard at 11:00 a.m. Recommendation to approve proposed
changes that would repeal and replace the Animal Control Ordinance
(Ordinance No. 2008-51, as amended) and direct the County Manager or his
designee to advertise ordinance changes to be approved by the Board at a
future meeting (Amanda Townsend, Animal Control Services Director)
D. Recommendation to award a construction contract to Community Asphalt
for Bid No. 12-5948R - Immokalee Road Safety Improvements Project No.
60016.4, in the amount of$1,904,344. (Jay Ahmad, Transportation
Engineering Director)
E. Recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the acquisition by gift,
purchase or condemnation of those perpetual and temporary easement
interests necessary for the construction of stormwater improvements known
as the "Haldeman Creek and Crown Pointe Weirs" segment of the Lely Area
Stormwater Improvement Project. (Project No. 51101.) Estimated fiscal
impact: $117,000. (Margaret Bishop, Transportation Engineering Sr. Project
Manager)
F. Recommendation to provide additional review of the next phase of system
expansion for Emergency Medical Services and Law Enforcement requested
by the Board at their November 13, 2012 public hearing for the Annual
Update and Inventory Report (AUIR)/Capital Improvement Element
(Capital Improvement Element (CIE) update on Public Facilities as provided
for in Chapter 6.02.02 of the Collier County Land Development Code.
(Michael Bosi, Planning and Zoning Interim Director)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
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February 12,2013
A. 12:00 P.M. Time Certain Notice of Closed Session. Notice is hereby given
that, pursuant to Section 286.011(8), Fla. Stat., the County Attorney desires
advice from the Board of County Commissioners in closed attorney-client
session on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013. The session will be held at a
time certain of 12:00 noon, in the Commission's Office Conference Room,
3rd Floor, W. Harmon Turner Administration Building F, Collier County
Government Center, 3299 East Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida, 34112. In
addition to Board members, County Manager Leo Ochs, and County
Attorney Jeffrey Klatzkow will be in attendance. The Board in closed
executive session will discuss: Strategy session related to settlement
negotiations and litigation expenditures in the pending cases of: Francis D.
Hussey, Jr., et al. v. Collier County, et al., Second District Court of Appeal
Case No. 2D11-1224; and Sean Hussey, et al. v. Collier County, et al.,
Second District Court of Appeal Case No. 2D11-1223.
B. 1:00 P.M. Time Certain Return from Closed Session. For the Board of
County Commissioners to provide direction to the County Attorney
regarding settlement negotiations and litigation expenditures in the pending
cases of: Francis D. Hussey, Jr., et al. v. Collier County, et al., Second
District Court of Appeal Case No. 2D11-1224; and Sean Hussey, et al. v.
Collier County, et al., Second District Court of Appeal Case No. 2D11-1223.
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
A. Request discussion with the Board of County Commissioners regarding an
Emergency issue in the Pelican Bay Services Division Elections and to ask
the Board to adjust the dates of the events surrounding the Election to insure
compliance.
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
A. AIRPORT
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1) Recommendation that the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
appoint Bradley Muckel as Interim Director for the Immokalee CRA
and the Immokalee Lighting and Beautification Municipal Services
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February 12, 2013
Taxing Unit.
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
16. CONSENT AGENDA - All matters listed under this item are considered to be
routine and action will be taken by one motion without separate discussion of
each item. If discussion is desired by a member of the Board, that item(s) will
be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.
A. GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIVISION
1) Recommendation to not paint new and future galvanized steel mast
arm and steel strain pole traffic signal assemblies east of County Road
951 (Collier Boulevard) and to continue to perform maintenance
painting of all existing painted steel mast arm and steel strain pole
traffic signal assemblies in Collier County.
2) Recommendation to approve the release of two liens with a combined
value of$183,407.20 for payment of$6,707.20, in the Code
Enforcement Action entitled Board of County Commissioners vs.
Sylvia Derrick Code Enforcement Case Numbers CEPM20100009396
and CEAU20100009395, relating to property located at 616 92nd
Avenue N, Collier County, Florida.
3) Recommendation to approve the release of lien in the amount of
$248,998.14 for payment of$1,448.14, in the Code Enforcement
Action entitled Board of County Commissioners vs. Brian Christopher
and Sylvia Christopher, Code Enforcement Case Number
CEPM20080003635, relating to property located at 431 Ibis Way,
Collier County, Florida.
4) Recommendation to approve the release of lien in the amount of
$74,081.15 for payment of$1,331.15, in the Code Enforcement
Action entitled Board of County Commissioners vs. Carlos and Diana
O. Leon, Code Enforcement Case Number CESD20100005001,
relating to property located at 5210 Jennings Street, Collier County,
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February 12,2013
Florida.
5) Recommendation to approve the release of two liens with a combined
value of$55,975.12 for payment of$675.12, in the Code Enforcement
Action entitled Board of County Commissioners vs. Elvis Camacho,
Code Enforcement Case Numbers CEPM20100017789 and
CEPM20110000638, relating to property located at 2725 70th Street
SW, Collier County, Florida
6) Recommendation to approve the release of lien in the amount of
$62,330.57 for payment of$530.57, in the Code Enforcement Action
entitled Board of County Commissioners vs. Sandra S. Sage, Code
Enforcement Case Number CELU20100019962, relating to property
located at 3135 Ravenna Avenue, Collier County, Florida.
7) Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid (ITB) #12-5977 for
Median Landscaping Services for Airport Road from Cougar Drive to
Vanderbilt Beach Road to Florida Land Maintenance, Inc., and
authorize the Chairwoman to execute the attached agreement.
8) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to adopt
a Resolution to hold a public hearing to consider vacating a portion of
the Upland Recreational Open Space Easement (U.R.O.S), being a
part of Tract "S" of Embassy Woods Golf and Country Club at
Bretonne Park, Phase One, Plat Book 17, pages 47 through 49 of the
Public Records of Collier County, Florida, Application No. VAC-
PL20120002564.
9) Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid (ITB) #13-6030 for
Golden Gate Parkway and 1-75 Interchange from 60th Street SW to
Affordable Landscaping Service and Design LLC, and authorize the
Chairwoman to execute the attached agreement.
10) Recommendation to reject all bids for Invitation to Bid (ITB) #12-
5974 for Concrete; Road Sidewalk Curb and Floor Installation and
Repairs; and authorize staff to issue a modified ITB.
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February 12,2013
11) Recommendation to approve Funding Agreement No. 4600002780
with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which
provides funding in the amount of$600,000 for the construction of
Outfalls 3 and 4 of the Lely Area Stormwater Improvement Project
(LASIP), Project#51101.
12) Recommendation to authorize a budget amendment to recognize
revenue for projects within the Transportation Supported Gas Tax
Fund (313) in the amount of$17,380.
13) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to adopt
a Resolution to hold a public hearing to consider vacating all of
Preserve P-6 and a portion of Preserve P-8, as recorded in Official
Record Book 2406, pages 0549 through 0589, of the Public Records
of Collier County, Florida, all of Preserve/Replant areas PA94, PA95,
a portion of Preserve/Replant areas PA96 and PA 102, being a part of
Tract 8 of Vanderbilt Country Club - 2, Plat Book 32, pages 42
through 55 of the Public Records of Collier County, Florida, and a
portion of Preserve/Replant areas PA96 and PA 102, being a part of
Tract FD 10 of Vanderbilt Country Club - 2, Plat Book 32, pages 42
through 55 of the Public Records of Collier County, Florida.
Application No. VAC-PL20120002603.
14) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Talis Park Tract J, Application
Number PL20120002646, a replat of Tract J of Tuscany Reserve.
15) Recommendation to increase the Board-authorized annual
expenditures for "Records Management Services" to Vital Records
Control, LLC from $90,000 to an estimated annual expenditure of
$110,000 per fiscal year and to approve a budget amendment from
Fund 113 to pay for these contracted services.
16) Recommendation to accept the specific past Staff Clarifications of the
Land Development Code (LDC) attached to this Executive Summary.
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February 12,2013
17) This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided by
Commission members. Should a hearing be held on this item, all
participants are required to be sworn in. Recommendation to
approve for recording the final plat of Camden Lakes, Application
Number PPL-PL20120000747 approval of the standard form
Construction and Maintenance Agreement and approval of the amount
of the performance security.
18) Recommendation to approve disposal of surplus property associated
with the Gateway Triangle Stormwater Improvements Phase II,
Contract #10-5366, Project #51803.
19) Recommendation to approve a Rezone petition fee reduction request
for the proposed Ohlis Rezone and provide direction to the County
Manager or his designee to evaluate down zoning applications as part
of the Hearing Officer analysis.
20) Recommendation to approve $350,000 in eligible costs for the FY13
Hideaway Beach erosion control structure project based on the
January 16, 2013 Proportionality Analysis conducted by Coastal
Engineering Consultants and reviewed by Collier County staff, make
a finding that this item promotes tourism and approve necessary
budget amendments.
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION
1) Recommendation to approve a grant application to the Florida
Division of Emergency Management, Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program, in the amount $37,945 to retrofit 33 overhead doors at the
Public Utilities Division's Operations Center located at 4370 and 4420
Mercantile Avenue, Naples.
2) Recommendation to approve the Utility and Access Easement
Agreement with Regent Park Villas I Association, Inc., for the
acquisition of a Utility and Access Easement; and, to accept the grant
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February 12,2013
of a Right of Entry to accommodate the relocation and replacement of
the existing wastewater collection system in the Regent Park Villas
communities for a total cost not to exceed $2,300, Project Number
70043.
3) Recommendation to approve the Utility and Access Easement
Agreement with Regent Park Villas II Association, Inc., for the
acquisition of a Utility and Access Easement; and, to accept the grant
of a Right of Entry to accommodate the relocation and replacement of
the existing wastewater collection system in the Regent Park Villas
communities for a total cost not to exceed $2,400, Project Number
70043.
4) Recommendation to approve the Utility and Access Easement
Agreement with Regent Park Villas III Association, Inc. for the
acquisition of a Utility and Access Easement and to accept the grant
of a Right of Entry to accommodate the relocation and replacement of
the existing wastewater collection system in the Regent Park Villas
communities for a total cost not to exceed $2,400, Project Number
70043.
5) Recommendation to approve a time and materials contract with
Agnoli Barber & Brundage in the not-to-exceed amount of$243,631
for Request for Proposal No. 12-5883, "Master Pumping Station 312
Professional Services during Construction," Project Number 72549.
6) Recommendation to approve a time and materials contract with Hole
Montes in the not-to-exceed amount of$898,000 for Request for
Proposal No. 12-5867, "North County Water Reclamation Facility
Construction Engineering and Inspection Services for the Aerated
Sludge Holding Tank/Flow Equalization Tank Construction", Project
#70091.
D. PUBLIC SERVICES DIVISION
1) Recommendation to approve the conveyance of water and wastewater
utilities located at MarGood Harbor Park, 321 Pear Tree Avenue,
Goodland Florida, and to approve the execution of the conveyance
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February 12, 2013
documents, at a cost not to exceed $120.
2) Recommendation to approve an amendment to the FY 2011-2012
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program Grant Agreement
between Collier County and the Collier County Housing Authority
(CCHA) that modifies Exhibit A, Scope of Services, effective as of
the original date of the agreement, to allow all available forms of
match, and to correct a scrivener's error in the grant agreement
number and match amount.
3) Recommendation to approve an amendment to the Developer
Agreements with Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Inc. for the
Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 (NSP 1) and the Neighborhood
Stabilization Program 3; and approve an amendment to the NSP3
Action Plan to update and clarify target area census tracts, demolition
and land banking activities.
4) Recommendation to approve seven (7) satisfactions of mortgage in
the aggregate amount of$66,192.50 of owner occupied dwelling units
that have satisfied the terms of their affordability period.
5) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact substantial amendment
for the FY2010-2011Collier County U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) Action Plan amending the City of Naples
Neighborhood Parks improvement project.
6) Recommendation to approve to pay 2012 property taxes and proceed
with closing on donation of a 10 acre parcel previously approved for
the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program at a cost not to
exceed $100.
7) Recommendation to approve a Resolution superseding Resolution No.
2012-192 and authorize staff to honor the Elderly/Disabled reduced
fare for the subcontracted transportation provider with the Florida
Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged that provides
transportation services under the non-emergency transportation
Medicaid contract for Collier County
Page 16
February 12,2013
8) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution repealing all previous
resolutions establishing and amending parts of the Collier County
Parks and Recreation Department Facilities and Outdoor Areas
License and Fee Policy and establishing the policy anew to include
the establishment of a commercial beach parking permit, a policy for
balances left on accounts, incorporating Conservation Collier's fee
schedule, and authorizing the Board to set fees for County-sponsored
special events.
9) Recommendation to approve the submittal of a revised Congestion
Management System/Intelligent Transportation Stakeholders
(CMS/ITS) grant application, for the design and construction of up to
12 additional bus shelters within Collier County, in the amount of
$336,872.
10) Recommendation to execute the attached Supplemental Agreement to
the Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) between the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Collier County to amend
the local match to include in-kind funding in the amount of$75,150
and cash match in the amount of$205,850 for the Collier Area Transit
(CAT) Intermodal Transfer facility at the Government Center.
11) Recommendation to approve a Resolution rescinding and replacing
Resolution No. 2001-245 adopting the Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise (DBE) Program and goal setting process to ensure that
DBE's have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in Federal
Transit Administration assisted contracts by ensuring
nondiscrimination in their award and administration.
12) Recommendation to approve budget amendments recognizing
Conservation Collier FY12 carry forward for planned projects.
13) Recommendation to approve a substantial amendment to the FY2012-
2013 Action Plan to include three new projects to be funded from the
Emergency Solutions Grant that support homeless programs in Collier
County and modify funding allocated to the ESG Planning and
Administration category as allowed by HUD.
Page 17
February 12, 2013
14) Recommendation to renew the Memorandum of Understanding
between Collier County and the Collier Community Cat Coalition to
coordinate a community-based Trap-Neuter-Return Program for feral
cats.
15) Recommendation to Terminate the June 14, 2011, Underground
Facilities Conversion Agreement entered into between Collier County
and Comcast of the South, Inc.
E. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
1) Recommendation to approve award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) #12-
5935 Fleet Vehicles to Tamiami Ford, Inc.
2) Recommendation to approve the ranked list of selected firms for
Request for Proposal (RFP) #09-5262-S2 Countywide Engineering
Services for Coastal Engineering Services and direct staff to bring
negotiated contracts to the Board for subsequent approval with
Humiston and Moore Engineers and Turrell, Hall & Associates, Inc.
3) Recommendation to approve a Resolution authorizing the
Commission Chairwoman to execute Deed Certificates for the sale of
burial plots at Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens Cemetery during the
2013 calendar year.
4) Recommendation to authorize the County Manager or his designee
and the County Attorney's office to advertise an amendment to
Ordinance No. 2009-23, "Regulation of Outdoor Burning and
Incendiary Devices during Drought Conditions Ordinance," in order
to allow the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners to
declare a burning ban on behalf of the Board in absentia and also
clarify certain provisions of the Ordinance.
5) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution and approval of a Lease
Agreement with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart for use of County-
owned office space for two years for a total revenue of$20.
6) Recommendation to approve a budget amendment to facilitate the
reimbursement of funds to the Golden Gate Estates Library and the
Page 18
February 12,2013
Louise Hasse Community Center for completed work per previously
approved agreements with the Golden Gate Estates Land Trust Fund
(605). Total fiscal impact $311,024.39.
7) Recommendation to accept reports and ratify staff-approved change
orders and changes to work orders.
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve a report covering a budget amendment
impacting reserves in an amount up to and including $1,235.42 and
budget amendment moving funds.
2) Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2012-13 Adopted Budget.
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) Recommendation to approve the attached Amendment to Commercial
Aviation Operations License Agreement with History Flight Inc., for
limited commercial aviation operations at the Marco Island Executive
Airport.
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, in its
capacity as the Airport Authority, approves the attached Agreement
permitting Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC to
install, operate and maintain cable at the Immokalee Regional Airport.
3) Recommendation to approve the attached Travel Request in the
amount of$1,119 for the Airport Authority Executive to attend the
Florida Airports Council 2013 State Summit in Tallahassee, Florida.
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1) Commissioners request for Board approval to attend the Florida
Association of Counties Legislative Day Conference April 3-5, 2013.
Page 19
February 12,2013
2) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose.
Attended Viva 500 Florida Event on January 8, 2013 at the Port Royal
Club, Naples, Florida. $70 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's
travel budget.
3) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose. She
will attend ZOObilee 2013 on March 9, 2013 at the Naples Zoo,
Naples Florida. $150 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's travel
budget.
4) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose.
Will be attending the CATO Institute Seminar on January 30, 2013 at
the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Florida. $75 to be paid from
Commissioner Hiller's travel budget.
5) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose. She
will be attending the Fifth Community Drug Free Awareness
Luncheon at the Naples Hilton, Naples on March 7, 2013, Florida.
$21 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's travel budget.
6) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose. She
will be attending the Creating Timeless Travel Memories - David
Lawrence Center on February 18, 2013. $25 to be paid from
Commissioner Hiller's travel budget.
7) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose. She
will be attending the FAC Legislative Update on April 4, 2013. $110
to be paid out of Commissioner Hiller's FAC travel budget.
8) Commissioner Hiller requests Board Approval for Payment to Attend
a Function Serving a Valid Public Purpose. She will be attending The
Beach Ball Gala for the Children's Advocacy Center on February 23,
Page 20
February 12, 2013
2013. $100 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's travel budget.
9) Commissioner Hiller requests Board approval for reimbursement
regarding attendance at a function serving a Valid Public Purpose.
The Commissioner will be attending the 2013 Government
Accounting Conference in Tallahassee, FL on February 7 & 8, 2013.
$225 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's travel budget.
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of January
5, 2013 through January 11, 2013 and submission into the official
records of the Board.
2) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of January
12, 2013 through January 18, 2013 and for submission into the official
records of the Board.
3) To obtain Board approval for disbursements for the period of January
19, 2013 through January 25, 2013 and for submission into the official
records of the Board.
4) Recommendation that the Board accept the investment status update
report for the quarter ending December 31, 2012.
5) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve a
budget amendment in the amount of$342,000 to appropriate
additional funding for the Clerk of Courts pay plan adjustments and
COLA increases consistent with the County's Pay Plan.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to approve a Settlement Agreement in the sum of
$4,000 prior to trial in the lawsuit entitled Michael A. Padron III, v.
Collier County, filed in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for
Collier County, Florida (Case No. 12-CA-924) and authorize the
Chairwoman to execute the Settlement Agreement and Release (Fiscal
Page 21
February 12, 2013
Impact: $4,000).
2) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairwoman to
execute a mediated Settlement Agreement and Release prior to trial in
the lawsuit entitled Miguel Rojas and Luz Escudero v. Collier County,
and Collier County, filed in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for
Collier County, Florida (Case No. 11-2901-CA) for the sum of
$25,000.
17. SUMMARY AGENDA - THIS SECTION IS FOR ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 1) A
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM STAFF; 2) UNANIMOUS
RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL BY THE COLLIER COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION OR OTHER AUTHORIZING AGENCIES OF
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING; 3) NO WRITTEN OR ORAL
OBJECTIONS TO THE ITEM RECEIVED BY STAFF, THE COLLIER
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, OTHER AUTHORIZING
AGENCIES OR THE BOARD, PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF
THE BCC MEETING ON WHICH THE ITEMS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE
HEARD; AND 4) NO INDIVIDUALS ARE REGISTERED TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM. FOR THOSE ITEMS WHICH ARE QUASI-
JUDICIAL IN NATURE, ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SWORN IN.
A. This item continued from the January 22, 2013 BCC Meeting.
Recommendation to adopt an ordinance which would establish limitations,
in addition to those set forth in Chapter 538, Part I, Florida Statutes, on the
sale and/or purchase of secondhand goods (secondhand dealers).
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD'S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
Page 22
February 12,2013
February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you have a live mike.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Good morning, County
Manager Ochs.
MR. OCHS: Good morning.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: If you would all rise for the
invocation and the pledge.
Item #1A
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager, would you lead us,
please.
MR. OCHS: Let us pray. Our Heavenly Father, we ask your
blessings on these proceedings and all who are gathered here. We ask
this, a special blessing, on this Board of County Commissioners.
Guide them in their deliberations, grant them wisdom and vision to
meet the trials of this day and the days to come.
Bless us now as we undertake the business of Collier County and
its citizens, that our actions will serve the greater good of all citizens
and be acceptable in your sight.
These things we pray in your name, amen.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you, Mr. Ochs.
Item #2A
APPROVAL OF TODAY'S REGULAR AGENDA AS AMENDED
— APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED WITH CHANGES —
APPROVED (STAFF TO COORDINATE A WORKSHOP AND
DISCUSSION FOR A FUTURE MEETING FOR ITEM #10C
Page 2
February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Good morning, Madam Chairman, Commissioners.
I'd like to go through the proposed agenda changes for the Board of
County Commissioners' meeting of February 12, 2013.
The first proposed change is to add Item 4D. It's a proclamation
designating today as Frank Oakes Day of Remembrance in Collier
County. This is sponsored by Commissioner Hiller.
The next proposed change is to continue Item 11E to the
February 26, 2013, BCC meeting. This is a request of staff and county
attorney to finish a few things having to do with the acquisition of
some easements for our LASIP project.
The next proposed change is to continue Item 16A17 to the
March 12, 2013, BCC meeting. That change is made at the applicant's
request.
The next proposed change is to continue Item 16A18 to the
February 26th BCC meeting. That is also made at the county
attorney's and the staffs request.
The next proposed change is to move Item 16A20 from your
consent agenda to become Item 11G under the county manager's
report on your regular agenda. This is a report back to the board on the
proportionality analysis related to the Hideaway Beach erosion control
structure project.
The next proposed change is to continue Item 16H8 to the
February 26, 2013, meeting. We had a backup document that was
incorrect. That will be corrected and posted on the next agenda.
The next proposed change is to move Item 17A from your
summary agenda. That will become Item 9B under advertised public
hearings. It's an item related to the sale and purchase of secondhand
goods and secondhand dealers, and that move is made at the county
attorney's request.
We have one agenda note this morning, Commissioners, and it
has to do with Item 16A16 on your consent agenda and with respect to
the Staff Clarification 06-05, which restricts fuel tanks or fuel trucks
Page 3
February 12, 2013
of over 250-gallon capacity from all residential and Estates-zoned
property. Staff would also like to make the further clarification that
non-fuel tanker trucks or traditional semi-trucks with fuel capacity
over 250 gallons are not prohibited from Estates-zoned property.
And, finally, we have a number of time-certain items this
morning, Commissioners. The first one will be Item 13A to be heard
at 9:45. That is an item having to do with the Pelican Bay Services
Division election.
11F will be heard at 10 a.m. That has to do with the EMS and
law enforcement updates to your Annual Update and Inventory
Report.
Item 11C will be heard at 11 a.m. That's your Animal Control
Ordinance.
You will go into closed section at noon and report out at that
closed session at 1 p.m.
Item 11K (sic) will be heard at 1:30 this afternoon. That's the
item proposing changes to your economic development ordinance.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Excuse me, County Manager. It
says 10K on here. Is it 11K or 10K?
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, it's 10K. My mistake. I'm sorry.
And Item 10J will be heard at 3 p.m., and that is the item
proposing no change in your tourist development taxes.
And the final time-certain is not actually a time-certain, but there
is a note here that Item 10D will be heard immediately before Item
6A, and those are both items having to do with spearfishing in Collier
County. Commissioner Henning has an item, and we also have a
public petition. So we will, at the chairwoman's suggestion, combine
those two items, since they're, essentially, on the same topic.
Those are the changes I have, Madam Chair.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Any discussion?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, yes. I'd like --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
Page 4
February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. Item No. 16A20, which has
now become 11G, that's the Hideaway Beach agreement. Being that
this is -- I didn't realize it was going to be pulled. I'd like to put that
on a time-certain.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sure.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager, is there a time
that you would rather have this heard? Would you prefer the
afternoon?
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am, I would. I'd suggest, perhaps, 2:30.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: 2:30. Any other discussion?
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes. I have no ex parte
communication on today's agenda.
With retrospect (sic) to the Boy Scouts, they have a -- also the
staff has a presentation about the Boy Scouts. They would like to
have that heard together, in conjunction with.
Item #11C
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE PROPOSED CHANGES
THAT WOULD REPEAL AND REPLACE THE ANIMAL
CONTROL ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE NO. 2008-51, AS
AMENDED) AND DIRECT THE COUNTY MANAGER OR HIS
DESIGNEE TO ADVERTISE ORDINANCE CHANGES TO BE
APPROVED BY THE BOARD AT A FUTURE MEETING -
MOTION TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AT A WORKSHOP
— APPROVED UNDER REGULAR AGENDA CHANGES
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The Item 10C -- I'm sorry --
11 C, and that has to do with the proposed changes of the Animal
Page 5
P.4.. February 12, 2013
Control Ordinance. We have two ordinances to consider. One would
be the advisory board and one would be staff.
In my opinion, this would be the perfect topic for a workshop
instead of having to discuss and make -- give direction on what kind
of ordinance we should bring back.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is there further discussion on what
Commissioner Henning has proposed with respect to 11C? Would
you like -- would any member of the board like to see this item
continued to a workshop rather than heard today?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Actually, I think that's a good idea.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'm supportive of that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: In that case, Commissioner
Henning, can I ask when we conclude discussion, if you could make
the motion to approve the agenda with the changes that you're
proposing this morning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, excuse me. We just had a
representative of the Hideaway Beach District indicate that an
afternoon time-certain will not work for some of their team. If the
Animal Control Ordinance is going to move to a workshop, we could
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We could substitute.
MR. OCHS: -- plug that in at 11 a.m.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yep, that's a great idea. Thank you
very much for the suggestion.
MR. OCHS: So with the board's permission, we'll hear the item
on the Hideaway Beach erosion control structures at 11 a.m.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning, if you'd
make your motion, and if I may have a second from another board
member.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Make a motion to approve the
agenda as amended and with the Animal Control Ordinance to be
Page 6
February 12, 2013
scheduled for a future workshop.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Point of order, Madam Chair.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We haven't had ex parte disclosure
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, I'm going to.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- from any of the commissioners.
We haven't had the county attorney express any concerns relative to
the agenda.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I plan on coming to the ex parte
after Commissioner Henning's motion. Do you have any issues with
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. Let's do the ex parte first.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. We can do that.
So in that case, Commissioner Henning, your ex parte. You said
there was none?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I have none.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I have no ex parte disclosure on
any of the items today.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I have no ex parte for the consent --
I'm sorry -- for the consent agenda. I do have ex parte disclosure with
respect to Item No. 16A14. I did have a meeting with Bruce Anderson
concerning that item. For the other items on the consent agenda, I do
not have ex parte disclosure. I have no changes to the agenda, but I
think it is appropriate at this time that I tell you I am going -- not
going to vote in favor of the agenda merely because the items that you
added at the last minute on Wednesday afternoon are not properly
staffed, contain much inaccurate and misleading information, and it
gives the public the wrong impression about what is to be discussed.
So I will not vote in favor of the agenda for that reason. I think it
Page 7
February 12, 2013
is a misuse of the position of chair, and I think the public's interest is
not being served by doing that sort of thing.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What items are you specifically
referring to?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: All of those that you added
yourself and, apparently, prepared the executive summaries yourself --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Uh-huh.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- including, I believe, 11F, G, H, I
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Ten.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, 10; 10H, I, J, and K. I have
absolutely no problem debating those issues or having a public
hearing on them, but what I have a problem with is the -- what I
consider to be the prejudicial executive summaries, which you
prepared personally and provide your own personal conclusions rather
than having it properly staffed and complete.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Just for the record, Commissioner
Coyle, any member of this board, any constitutional officer, has the
legal right to post what they want on the agenda. All items were
posted to the agenda before the agenda was made public and, as a
consequence, everybody had equal time to view the information since
the agenda was not public before it was published Wednesday
evening.
So while I accept that you have the right to comment as you
wish, what was presented is neither prejudicial nor legally
impermissible. But thank you for your comments notwithstanding.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I think I have to direct you.
The one specific example is Item 10K. It's not a matter of just
introducing these issues to be discussed. It is that you have already
reached a conclusion, and you provide information to the public which
has been disproved on numerous occasions in the past.
Page 8
February 12, 2013
So your insistence on saying that certain things are invalid or
illegal when, in fact, they have been supported by our county attorney
and outside counsel is merely trying to impose your personal
interpretation on the public.
And if this were an item that merely said we should discuss the
economic development incentives with respect to make them more
effective, it would be a perfect item for discussion, and then you could
express your opinions at that point in time. But to produce an
executive summary makes it appear as if that is the county's position,
and that simply isn't the case.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I thank you again for your
comments, and I respectfully have to disagree. The item was reviewed
by the county attorney before it was placed on the agenda and met
with his approval. So while that may be your opinion, it is not correct.
With that, may I have a second for -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Commissioner Fiala, any ex parte?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I have no ex parte, no changes to the
agenda, nothing to declare, and that's it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. And I have no ex parte
as well and no changes to propose for the agenda.
May I have a second to Commissioner Henning's motion to
approve the agenda --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- as amended.
Thank you. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries --
Page 9
February 12, 2013
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: For.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay, 4-1. Thank you.
County Manager?
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, did you approve the minutes of
your January 8th meeting and your --
Page 10
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
February 12,2013
Add Item 4D: Proclamation designating February 12,2013 as the Frank Oakes Day of Remembrance in Collier
County in recognition of his contributions of the community. To be accepted by family members. Sponsored by
Commissioner Hiller.
Continue Item 11E to the February 26,2013 BCC Meeting: Recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the
acquisition by gift,purchase or condemnation of those perpetual and temporary easement interests necessary for the
construction of stormwater improvements known as the"Haldeman Creek and Crown Pointe Weirs"segment of the Lely
Area Stormwater Improvement Project. (Project No.51101.) Estimated fiscal impact: $117,000.(Margaret Bishop,
Transportation Engineering Sr.Project Manager) (County Attorney's request)
Continue Item 16A17 to the March 12,2013 BCC Meeting: This item requires that ex parte disclosure be provided
by Commission members.Should a hearing be held on this item,all participants are required to be sworn in.
Recommendation to approve for recording the final plat of Camden Lakes,Application Number PPL-PL20120000747
approval of the standard form Construction and Maintenance Agreement and approval of the amount of the performance
security. (Applicant's request)
Continue Item 16A18 to the February 26,2013 BCC Meeting: Recommendation to approve disposal of surplus
property associated with the Gateway Triangle Stormwater Improvements Phase II,Contract#10-5366,Project#51803.
(County Attorney's request)
Move Item 16A20 to Item 11G: Recommendation to approve$350,000 in eligible costs for the FY13 Hideaway
Beach erosion control structure project based on the January 16,2013 Proportionality Analysis conducted by Coastal
Engineering Consultants and reviewed by Collier County staff, make a finding that this item promotes tourism and
approve necessary budget amendments. (Commissioner Henning's request)
Continue Item 16H8 to the February 26,2013 BCC Meeting: Commissioner Hiller requests Board Approval for
Payment to Attend a Function Serving a Valid Public Purpose.She will be attending The Beach Ball Gala for the
Children's Advocacy Center on February 23,2013.$100 to be paid from Commissioner Hiller's travel budget. (Staff s
request)
Move Item 17A to Item 9B: This item continued from the January 22,2013 BCC Meeting. Recommendation to adopt an
ordinance which would establish limitations,in addition to those set forth in Chapter 538,Part I,Florida Statutes,on the
sale and/or purchase of secondhand goods(secondhand dealers). (County Attorney's request)
Note:
Item 16A16: With respect to Staff Clarification 06-05 which restricts fuel tanks or fuel trucks of over 250 gallon
capacity from all residential and estates zoned property;staff makes the further clarification that non-fuel tanker trucks
or traditional semi trucks with a fuel capacity over 250 gallons are not prohibited from estates zoned property.
Time Certain Items:
Item 10D to be heard before Item 6A
Item 13A to be heard at 9:45 a.m.
Item 11F to be heard at 10:00 a.m.
Item 11C to be heard at 11:00 a.m.
Item 12A to be heard at 12:00 noon in a Closed Session,followed by Item 12B at 1:00 p.m.in a Sunshine Session
Item 10K to be heard at 1:30 p.m.
Item IOJ to be heard at 3:00 p.m.
2/27/201310:37 AM
February 12, 2013
Item #2B
APPROVAL OF TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED
(EX PARTE DISCLOSURE PROVIDED BY COMMISSION
MEMBERS FOR CONSENT AGENDA) — APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have to move to 2B, which is
the Consent, to ensure that there is --
MR. OCHS: Oh, yes, ma'am. Okay. Go ahead.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: If I may, is there any item on the
consent agenda that any commissioner would like to move to the
agenda at this time?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: In that case, I'd like to make a
motion to approve the consent agenda. May I have a second?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries 5-0.
Item #2C
APPROVAL OF TODAY'S SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED
(EX PARTE DISCLOSURE PROVIDED BY COMMISSION
MEMBERS FOR SUMMARY AGENDA) - ADOPTED
W/CHANGES
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Next item is the approval of the
Page 11
February 12, 2013
Summary Agenda as amended. Any ex parte communication,
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: None.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I also have no ex parte
disclosure with respect to that amendment -- to the motion -- I'm sorry
-- to that agenda.
I make a motion to approve the summary agenda for today as
amended.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: (No verbal response.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #2D
JANUARY 8-9, 2013 BCC/REGULAR MEETING MINUTES —
APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The next item is the approval of the
January 8th and 9th, 2013, BCC Regular Meeting Minutes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: May I have a second?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #2E
JANUARY 14, 2013 BCC/CRA JOINT WORKSHOP MINUTES —
APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Next item is approval of the January
14, 2013, BCC/CRA Joint Workshop Minutes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, there's no service awards this
morning.
Item #4
PROCLAMATIONS — ONE MOTION WAS TAKEN TO ADOPT
THE PROCLAMATION — ADOPTED
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February 12, 2013
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2013 AS
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH IN
COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY YOLANDA FLORES,
PRINCIPAL, LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY AND DENISE DUZICK, ADMINISTRATOR,
LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY —
ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: That takes us to Item 4 on your agenda,
proclamations. Item 4A is a proclamation designating February 2013
as Career and Technical Education Month in Collier County. To be
accepted by Yolanda Flores, principal, Lorenzo Walker Institute of
Technology; and Denise Duzick, administrator, Lorenzo Walker
Institute of Technology. This proclamation is sponsored by
Commissioner Fiala.
If you'd please step forward and receive your award.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yolanda is a member of our
Kiwanis Club, our East Naples Kiwanis Club, by the way, and Denise
and I go back a hundred years. Well, maybe not a hundred.
Item #4B
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2013 AS
SCOUTING MONTH IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY
BURT SAUNDERS, ALLIGATOR DISTRICT CHAIRMAN;
JAMES GILES, ALLIGATOR DISTRICT EXECUTIVE; BILL
COEN, VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA; AND BILL POTEET, EXECUTIVE
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February 12, 2013
BOARD MEMBER — ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, the next item is Item 4B, and that's
a proclamation designating February 2013 as Scouting Month in
Collier County. To be accepted by Burt Saunders, Alligator District
chairman; James Giles, Alligator District executive; Bill Coen, vice
president, Southwest Florida Boy Scouts of America; and Bill Poteet,
executive board member.
This item is sponsored by Commissioner Henning.
Please come forward.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, may I read this
proclamation while they're coming up?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I appreciate if you would. Would
you like to stand at the podium, or would you like to read it from the
dais?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No. I feel more comfortable
here. Thank you.
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America is a true American institute
chartered by the United States Congress instilling timeless values in
our youth since its foundation in 1910; and,
Whereas, the national youth movement has made serving others
through its value-based programs its mission; and,
Whereas the Boy Scouts of America has helped millions of youth
succeed in life by living the Boy Scout Oath Law; and,
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America is committed to offering an
opportunity of scouting and its outdoor adventures to all youth
regardless of race, creed, nationalities, or economic status; and,
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America South Florida Council and
its cub scout packs, boys -- Boy Scout troops, venturing crews,
explorer posts, and learning-for-life programs are celebrating
scouting's 103rd anniversary in America; and,
Whereas, there are more than 120 community organization and
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February 12, 2013
3,775 dedicated volunteers that make scouting available for more than
19,000 youth members in Southwest Florida who participate in
scouting programs and -- as a means of chartering -- building
character, citizenship, training, and personal fitness; and,
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America is the largest organization
in Collier County providing youth leadership training to over 1,000
youth and 400 adult volunteer participating; and,
Whereas, citizens of Collier County express their appreciation to
everyone who participates in the Boy Scouts of America, has created a
great a youth leadership program in the world.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that February 13th be
designated as Scouting Anniversary Month.
Would the Boy Scouts' leadership come up and accept the
proclamation.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We have two Eagle Scouts standing
right up here in front -- three. Where's the -- oh, my goodness. I
didn't even see you.
(Applause.)
Item #5B
PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
BY SIX EAGLE SCOUTS TO CONSERVATION COLLIER
PRESERVE LANDS — PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, the companion item to this
proclamation is a presentation -- it's presentation 5B on your agenda --
to recognize contributions made by six Eagle Scouts to Conservation
Collier preserve lands, and Mr. Poteet will begin the presentation.
MR. POTEET: Good morning, Commissioners. I get the
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February 12, 2013
opportunity to wear two hats this morning. And I'm now wearing the
hat of the chairman of Conservation Collier Land Acquisition
Committee.
And we're very proud of the fact that six Eagle Scouts have gone
and worked on our preserves and provided a great community service.
The Eagle Scout is a rank that -- it's the highest rank that any boy
can achieve in scouting. They have to go through a lot of things to get
there. They have to go through the rank of tenderfoot, second class,
first class, star, life, and then they get to work on their eagle.
Part of the eagle requirement is they have to complete 21 merit
badges, of which 11 are required. And they also have to demonstrate
leadership within their unit or within part of the scouting movement.
And then they have to run a project, and this is where we get the
public benefit. It's a community project. But an Eagle Scout project
is just not going out and making a couple benches here and there.
They have to organize it. They have to figure out where the material
is coming from. They have to bring in the labor force to do it. They
have to demonstrate leadership. And it's an involved project, and each
one of these boys have done that and accomplished that and have
since attained the rank of eagle.
In the scouting movement, there are millions and millions of
people went through -- have gone through the program, and less than 2
percent of all scouts attain the rank of Eagle. So this is a very
prestigious award.
And at this time I'd like to introduce Alex Sulecki, the
coordinator for Conservation Collier, who's going to make a
presentation.
MS. SULECKI: Good morning. And for the record, Alex
Sulecki, coordinator of your Conservation Collier Program.
And I'm here today to present for recognition -- and, Bill, could
you have the gentlemen, the young men, come up front here so we can
see them again? Thank you.
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February 12, 2013
MR. POTEET: I'll stand with you so you feel comfortable.
MS. SULECKI: I'm here today to present for recognition to the
Board of County Commissioners and the community six young men,
three of whom are here with us this morning, who have designed,
built, and installed various items to benefit the public at Conservation
Collier Preserves as a part of earning their Eagle Scout rank.
We appreciate the conservation -- the scouting organization that
has set up these Eagle Scout designations and what must be done to
earn it, which is a lot, as Bill detailed. We appreciate the projects
these exceptional young men have provided for us. And I'd like to
show some of them to you.
Mr. Anthony is not here today, but he built and installed 10
picnic tables at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Trey Blackman, who is here
today, he built and designed, installed benches, table, and a
woodpecker interpretive sign at Nancy Payton Preserve.
Tom Zeleznik, who is not here this morning, he built bat boxes,
eight bat boxes at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Daniel Cox, who is here
this morning, he built, designed benches, tables, and horse mounts and
tethers at Pepper Ranch Preserve, which is extremely appreciated by
our horseback riding visitors.
Tyler Carlson, who is not here this morning, designed and built
benches and a seating area at Cocohatchee Creek Preserve. This is
right next to the Veterans' Park. So if you have a chance on your way
down, look on the left, and you'll see it. And Nick McNamara, who
designed and built 10 kissing gates. These are special gates that allow
people to hike our caracara prairie preserve but allow the -- but keep
the cows in. And so you see one of them here. He built nine for his
Eagle Scout and one extra as a volunteer donation.
So I would like to say thank you very much, Eagles Scouts.
(Applause.)
Item #4C
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February 12, 2013
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 17-23, 2013 AS
ENGINEERS WEEK IN COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY
RALPH VERRASTRO, P.E., CALUSA CHAPTER PRESIDENT;
NORMAN TREBILCOCK, P.E., CALUSA CHAPTER VICE
PRESIDENT; ALISON BRADFORD, P.E., CALUSA CHAPTER
PAST PRESIDENT; AND MARLENE MESSAM, P.E. CALUSA
CHAPTER PAST PRESIDENT — ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that takes us to Item 4C. It's a
proclamation designating February 17 through the 23rd, 2013, as
Engineers' Week in Collier County. To be accepted by Ralph
Verrastro, P.E., Calusa chapter president; Norman Trebilcock, P.E.,
Calusa chapter vice president; Alison Bradford, P.E., Calusa chapter
past president; and Marlene Messam, P.E., Calusa chapter past
president.
This item is sponsored by Commissioner Coyle.
If you'd please step forward.
(Applause.)
MR. VERRASTRO: I have a few prepared remarks here. My
name is Ralph Verrastro, and I am the current president of the Florida
Engineering Society, Calusa chapter, which includes Collier County.
I work for Stantec Consulting Services, and my technical expertise is
in bridge engineering.
I would like to thank the Collier County Board of Commissioners
for this proclamation on behalf of the Florida Engineering Society.
As you may be aware, the stereotypical engineer is quiet and
reserved; however, next week is Engineers Week, so now is the time
of year we try to make some noise and raise awareness about our quiet
contributions to society.
The public takes many of the comforts of their daily lives for
granted, and the work of engineers is many times unappreciated. Here
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February 12, 2013
are five examples of daily events where the work of an engineer has
made all of our lives more comfortable.
Number one, driving your comfortable car over a major river
crossing over a safe bridge. Number two, drinking a glass of clean
water with the confidence that indoor plumbing is near by. Enjoying
the comforts of your home and office regardless of how hot or cold the
weather is outside.
Number four, using a hand-held device -- you remember we used
to call these telephones -- to communicate with a person on the other
side of the world via voice, text, email, Internet sites, Twitter,
Facebook, Skype, and on and on and on.
And lastly, flying in an airplane and safely landed to your
intended destination, and maybe you have your baggage, but that's
another thing.
But again, thanks again. We appreciate this, and please consider
taking an engineer to lunch next week.
(Applause.)
Item #4D (Added Per Agenda Change Sheet)
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 12, 2013 AS
FRANK OAKES DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN COLLIER
COUNTY IN RECOGNITION OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY. ACCEPTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS —
ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, that takes us to our add-on
proclamation. It's Item 4D. It's a proclamation designating February
12, 2013, as the Frank Oakes Day of Remembrance in Collier County
in recognition of his contributions to the community.
This item will be accepted by members of the family and is
presented by Commissioner Hiller.
Page 20
February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Last week, very sadly,
Frank Oakes passed away, and it's with really deep regret that we say
goodbye today.
I would like to read the proclamation and ask everybody to stand
for a moment of silence to remember a wonderful man.
Whereas, local farmer and entrepreneur Frank Oakes was a
pioneer in the art of organic farming and living; and,
Whereas, Mr. Oakes, a second generation farmer, began his
journey at an early age in his father's roadside markets; and,
Whereas, after leaving the army, he opened a small fruit stand in
Fort Myers before expanding his operation with the purchase of
farmland in Eastern Collier County; and,
Whereas, these efforts evolved into Oakes Farm, known for its
tomatoes, kale, and strawberries and the opening of the all-organic
Oakes Farm Market and Food and Thought store; and,
Whereas, Mr. Oakes, who cultivated a strong following and lived
by the motto "Don't worry 'bout nuttin'. Everything's going to be all
right" leaves behind his wife, two sons, several grandchildren, and the
countless others who served as patrons of his business; and,
Whereas, it is with sadness but great pride that we remember Mr.
Oakes for his true commitment to healthy and organic living and
honor the legacy left for the residents of Collier County.
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, that February 12, 2013, be
designated as Frank Oakes Day of Remembrance.
Done and ordered this 12th day of February 2013 by the Board of
County Commissioners of Collier County.
A moment of silence in Frank's memory.
Thank you.
And if I may now ask his family to come forward to accept the
proclamation. And if you'd like to share a few words, we'd appreciate
hearing from you. Thank you. Could you just step to the podium.
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February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Ma'am, could we get a photo, please --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sure. Let's do that first.
MR. OCHS: -- before we have the comment.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sure. Thank you.
MR. OAKES: I just would like to say that I think my father
would be humbled by the beautiful service that we had the other day
and also by the recognition from everyone here.
I think the greatest honor we might bestow on him would be to,
at some point, try to get the poison out of our water. I think that
would make him very happy. But he's definitely left us too early, but
I think his spirit's still going to live through Food and Thought and the
community, and we're going to try and do our best to keep his dream
alive, and just thank you so much for taking the time to honor him.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And in his memory, I'll bring that
item back on the agenda. So I hope you're here to speak to it. You'll
have three minutes.
MR. OAKES: I'll do my best.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Thank you very much.
MR. OAKES: I'm not quite as vibrant as he was, but I'll do my
best.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And he will be very missed. Thank
you.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, I attended the
memorial service this weekend at the First Baptist Church, and I
would -- I would think the minister would be proud if that church
filled -- if that was filled every Sunday like it was in the remembrance
of Frank Oakes, and including the governor and Chuck Mangione,
who did a tribute to Frank Oakes.
And I would just like to say that I appreciate the guidance that
Frank has given me over the years.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And me.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: And I'd also like to add a little bit
at that. You know, it's very rare that somebody who makes their life's
work and their profession agricultural and fruits and vegetables gets a
lot of recognition. But, you know, Frank Oakes was a larger-than-life
character in our community that will long be remembered for, you
know, his friendships, his courtesy, his great charity to people. And,
you know, what a loss we've suffered. But, you know, we have some
goals to aspire to, so we'll miss him very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, if I may have a motion.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve the
proclamations as read.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that takes you to Item 5 on your
agenda this morning, presentation.
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BUSINESS OF
THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY 2013 TO THE 360 MARKET.
ACCEPTED BY REBECCA MADDOX, OWNER — PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Item 5A is a presentation of the Collier County
Business of the Month for February 2013 to 360 Market. To be
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February 12, 2013
accepted by Rebecca Maddox, owner, and Nancy Casey.
(Applause.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Congratulations. Thank you so
much.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could I just say a couple words, just
fast?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I want to tell you that Marketplace
360, Rebecca Maddox, have brought a great deal of pride to the
Bayshore area, and it's amazing how many people come from all
around the county just to eat at this marvelous place, clean as a
whistle. Everything is top notch. And I just want to say how happy I
am that you brought all of this pride to that community. Thank you.
MS. MADDOX: Thank you, Commissioner Fiala. Right back to
you, because I feel like we stand on your shoulders. Without the work
that you did prior to us buying the old Tipsy Seagull on Bayshore, we
wouldn't be receiving this award. So we all say that every day, the
enormous contribution that you've made to Bayshore, which has had a
very interesting past, as most of you know.
And when we first purchased the property, "village idiot" was
used often to say, you know, Rebecca, Nancy, what are you doing?
No one will go to Bayshore.
And a year -- almost a year later, March 5th is our one-year
anniversary, we have 10 full-time employees who worked 40 hours a
week all through the non-season. We serve approximately 400 people
a day. Many of them, maybe 80, 90 percent who are locals, many of
them from East Naples, but also from the other side of the bridge.
We've had no incidents whatsoever of crime. No homeless
loitering, trash, nothing. I think the community as a whole has rallied
around us. Most of the people who are there have been there multiple
times.
So we accept this, but we know it's a combination of the work of
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February 12, 2013
Commissioner Fiala and the rest of the commissioners, the local
people who threw $20 in the tip jar just to make sure that we survived
the summer and who have told their neighbors. So we just can't be
appreciative enough.
And if the engineers are looking for a place to go for lunch, 360.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Item #5C
PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE THE LOCAL EFFORT TO
PROMOTE THE NATIONAL FARM-CITY COUNCIL'S MISSION
TO STRENGTHEN UNDERSTANDING OF FARM-CITY
CONNECTIONS THAT PROVIDE OUR FOOD, FIBER AND
SHELTER; TO RECOGNIZE COLLIER COUNTY
COMMUNITY'S FARM CITY BARBEQUE ORGANIZATION
AND ITS ANNUAL FARM CITY BARBEQUE; TO ANNOUNCE
AWARD OF GRANTS TO YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
BENEFITING FROM THE FARM CITY BARBEQUE; TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD WORK OF THE FARM CITY
BARBEQUE; AND FOR COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PROMOTE AND
ENCOURAGE CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE
ANNUAL FARM CITY BARBEQUE — PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Item 5C is a presentation to recognize the local
efforts to promote the National Farm-City Council's mission to
strengthen understanding of the Farm-City connection that provide our
food, fiber, and shelter; to recognize the Collier County community's
Farm-City Barbecue organization and its annual Farm-City Barbecue;
to announce the award of grants to the youth organizations benefitting
from the Farm-City Barbecue; to acknowledge the good work of the
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February 12, 2013
Farm-City Barbecue; and for the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners to promote and encourage the continued community
support of the annual Farm-City Barbecue.
And this item is sponsored, I believe, by the entire commission.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Good morning.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Thank you so much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Everybody pay attention to
Cyndee. She's going to orchestrate this whole thing.
(Applause.)
MS. WOOLLEY: Good morning, Commissioners. For the
record, my name is Cyndee Woolley, and I'm the immediate past chair
of the Farm-City Barbecue. Unfortunately, our 2012 chair, Blake
Gable, was called away unexpectedly on business and is unable to join
us today.
Our goal with the Farm-City Barbecue is to bring together the
business and agricultural leaders of our community. As those of you
who were there know we had some very long lines this past year, and
we set a record attendance of 1,350 attendees, something that we're
very proud of.
And in the spirit of building our community, we also want to help
grow our next generation of leaders. Proceeds from the Farm-City
Barbecue are shared among non-profit organizations with established
leadership programs for Collier County children.
With support from our sponsors such as Barron Collier
Companies, Waste Management, Arthrex, Collier Enterprises, First
National Bank of the Florida Gulf Coast and, of course, Naples Daily
News, we also set a new record in fundraising with a total of $45,179
that will be shared among the 4-H association of Collier County,
Youth Leadership Collier, the Junior Deputy League of Collier
County, and key clubs.
Commissioner, I want to thank you for your commitment and
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February 12, 2013
ongoing support of the Farm-City Barbecue. Our next chair will be --
that will be taking the reins is Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, and he has
some exciting plans for our next city location. So we really look
forward to coming back and seeing you again in November. Thank
you.
(Applause.)
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Good morning, everyone. Kevin
Rambosk, Collier County sheriff.
Just wanted to take this opportunity, since I am going to be the
incoming chair, and there are so many celebrity servers here, or the
potential of, I'm going to invite everybody here to next year, because
we are going to have a great time.
More importantly, it does support the youth of Collier County.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And you would like us --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Where's it going to be?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Where is it going to be?
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: We are going to have the unveiling very
shortly. So we're not ready to do that right this second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I assume, Sheriff, that you
would like us all to commit on the record so can't say we have some
other engagement --
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Exactly, on the record.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- a year from now?
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Well, on the record, I
promise to serve.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Please just use it as a hold-the-place. It's
on the usual date, so the day before -- the Wednesday before we
normally have it.
So thank you very much, everybody.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
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February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you have a 9:45 a.m. time-certain.
You also have two more presentation items. Would you like to finish
those or go to the time-certain at this point?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I think that we can dispense -- if the
clerk would be willing, could we dispense with the two presentations
quickly? I think we'll just go forward with that and then move to the
9:45.
Item #5D
PRESENTATION OF A DONATION OF ARTWORK TO THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM THE
GALLERY ON FIFTH. PRESENTED BY OLGA
ARKHANGELSKAYA — PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Very well. Item 5D is a presentation of a donation
of artwork to the Board of County Commissioners from the Gallery on
Fifth. This artwork is being presented by Olga and Lisa
Arkhangelskaya, and this item is brought to the board by
Commissioner Hiller.
Good morning, ladies. Please come forward.
(Applause.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I just have to share a few words.
We are very fortunate here in Collier County to have many who
support the arts and also who bring an international flavor to the
community, which helps promote our tourism industry. These
wonderful ladies just opened a beautiful art gallery in Mercato, and I
was invited to the opening.
And they presented a piece of original Russian art to Collier
County, which I asked be presented to the board for acceptance today.
This is exactly the kind of business we'd like to see come to the
county. So we want to thank you very much for opening up in
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February 12, 2013
Mercato, which is an incredible center, and for promoting art and
culture. Thank you.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Thank you, ladies.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You have to speak at the podium.
MR. OCHS: Ma'am, come on over to the podium.
MS. ARKHANGELSKAYA: Olga Arkhangelskaya. I just want
to say -- to show the artwork and say that it's presented by famous
Russian artists who is called the most striking out of Russian
contemporary artists, Alexander Zolitsaf (phonetic). And the name of
the painting is "Ballet Dancing," and the subject is "not random." We
think that the intricacy of this dance is very much akin to everyday
work of Collier County Government.
If you have time, if you're not tired, if you'll allow us two
minutes to make a short presentation about who we are and what our
business is, that would be great. I'll say a few words --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You need to get that mike.
MS. ARKHANGELSKAYA: I'll say a few words about our
gallery, and Lisa will show beautiful images of our art so not to keep
you too -- bored too much.
So Gallery on Fifth has been opened in the year 2000 in 5th
Avenue, and right now we're not on 5th Avenue. We are in Mercato,
as Georgia mentioned. We have wonderful expansive room, more
than 3,000 square feet.
And everyone who happens to be in Mercato for lunch and
dinner, please stop by our gallery. It's still Gallery on Fifth, and we'll
give you a personal tour, we promise.
Gallery on Fifth has presented itself as a Russian art gallery.
Why Russian art? First of all, it's beautiful. It's diverse. It not only
includes the art from the mainland of Russia; we present art from
Siberia, from Central Asia, from Lithuania, and Moldova, from all
expanse of Soviet Union, and now Russia.
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February 12, 2013
For example, we have a -- in addition to wonderful artwork and
paintings, we have the most striking collection of Siberian daggers,
which we wanted to bring here but decided not to challenge the
security here. But you can still see it in our gallery.
Gallery on Fifth has been voted three times the best gallery in
Southwest Florida. Voted, so thank you very, very much. We have to
thank the community for its support.
So why Gallery on Fifth has such a wide support? First of all, it's
-- first of all, it's beautiful artwork that present. It's rare. I think it's
really, really fine artwork that we bring directly from artists to Naples,
directly to Naples.
We are very much involved in there. We see our goal as
involvement in the community, growth in the community, education,
so we do multiple lectures and presentations and talks to various
interest groups, to schoolchildren, to country clubs, so wherever we
feel they need it and the need to talk about Russian culture and
Russian history.
And second of all, I think Gallery on Fifth contributes to
community development as well, at least we aspire to do so. Naples
has situated itself as an art destination, and the economic crisis hurt
arts center of Naples the most severe way. Many galleries closed and
left the area, and we dare to say that we are probably the last really
fine art gallery who -- left in Naples.
And we aspire not to stop here. We aspire to grow from the retail
art gallery into, we dare to say, into the museum -- Russian Museum
of Naples.
So I want to thank, again, Georgia Hiller for her support of our
venture and of Collier County artistic development.
That's about it. Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MS. ARKHANGELSKAYA: And everybody please come and
see us at Mercato.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Item #5E
RECOMMENDATION TO RECOGNIZE KELLY ARNOLD,
ACCOUNTANT, PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION AS THE
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR 2012 — PRESENTED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, Item 5E is a recommendation to
recognize Kelly Arnold, accountant from public utilities division, as
the supervisor of the year for 2012.
Kelly, if you'd please come forward.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Congratulations.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Congratulations, Kelly.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Hi. Congratulations.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Congratulations.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, Kelly's been selected as Supervisor
of the Year for 2012 from among a pool of candidates that were
nominated and selected by an employee committee.
She's been an employee of the county since March of 2010
serving as our fiscal group supervisor in public utilities. She played
an integral part of the Clerk of Courts and BCC Process Improvement
Team where she's taken an active role in the implementation of our
accounts payable process improvement solution, including electronic
work flow and approval of invoices.
Kelly's team has processed over 14,000 invoices in Fiscal Year
2012 in addition to working with vendors and client departments to
resolve invoice issues.
Kelly's also credited with saving the division thousands of dollars
each year by taking advantage of early payment discounts and
identifying services that may no longer be needed.
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February 12, 2013
She leads her team with determination, compassion, and humor,
while encouraging each team member to reach their maximum
potential.
Kelly is truly deserving of the title Supervisor of the Year. And,
Commissioners, it's my honor to present Kelly Arnold, accountant, as
Supervisor of the Year for 2012.
Congratulations, Kelly.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Kelly.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that now takes us to our 9:45
time-certain. I appreciate --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager, before we move
on, I'd like to ask for a motion to accept the donation of artwork to the
Board of County Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, ma'am.
Item #13A
ORDINANCE 2013-20: EMERGENCY DISCUSSION WITH THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGARDING AN
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February 12, 2013
EMERGENCY ISSUE IN THE PELICAN BAY SERVICES
DIVISION ELECTIONS AND TO ASK THE BOARD TO ADJUST
THE DATES OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE
ELECTION TO INSURE COMPLIANCE — ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Item 13A, the item to request discussion with the
Board of County Commissioners regarding an emergency issue in the
Pelican Bay Services Division elections and to ask the board to adjust
the dates of the events surrounding the election to ensure compliance.
Mr. Brock is here to present.
MR. BROCK: Commissioners, my name's Dwight Brock. I'm
the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Collier County.
As the board is aware, whenever there are vacancies in the
membership of the Pelican Bay Services Division MSTBU Advisory
Board, there's an election process that we go through. The Board of
County Commissioners makes some decisions with regard to the dates
and identifies the candidates. We went through this process this year.
We started the balloting process, sent the ballots out. They began
returning. As they began to return, we had individuals who called us
up and asked us where their ballots were. We had other individuals
who called us up or sent in their ballots saying that they no longer
lived at the address where the ballots were sent.
We began exploring those issues with the property appraiser, Abe
Skinner, and his office and discovered that through a process of them
altering or changing their computer system and the programming
mechanisms that were in place, human error took place, and we
received improper names and addresses of the residents of the
designated date.
We worked with Mr. Skinner's office and Mr. Skinner's staff, and
we corrected the problem. We now have, we hope, a corrected
membership in the district and proper addresses.
It's human error, ladies and gentlemen. I mean, nobody's to
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February 12, 2013
blame. We're all human beings, and we have a tendency every once in
a while to be imperfect, and that's exactly what we're dealing with.
There are a couple things that I need you to do. I'm sorry for the
emergency, but we worked with Jeff in the County Attorney's Office
to try to address this issue to maintain the balloting date, that being the
date in which you would appoint the members to the board to remain
the same, and we had to expedite the process.
But here's what I need from you or I would ask from you today,
and that is to invalidate the election as it took place in conformance
with the guidelines and directions that you gave for the ballot as it
was.
The next thing I would ask you to do is to designate certain dates,
one of which is the date of February the 20th as the last date to mail
the ballots.
I would also ask you to designate March the 22nd as the election
day, that being the day in which the ballots must be received in the
Clerk's Office by 5 p.m. in order for them to be valid.
On March the 25th there will be a public meeting between the
clerk and the County Attorney's Office for review of the ballot
tabulations. That is a public meeting in which any member of the
public may attend and participate in that process.
And then on March the 26th, that would be the meeting date for
the Board of County Commissioners to appoint the new members who
received the majority of the votes.
Mr. Klatzkow, can you think of anything else we need to do?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, sir.
MR. BROCK: I would ask that you --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That said, I will make that motion.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'll second.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Third.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. BROCK: Thank you very much. We will get the ballots
back out to the citizens of Pelican Bay so the process can begin in
earnest immediately.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Thank you.
MR. BROCK: Thank you.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes. If you would just give me one
minute; I need to sign this so that they can move forward.
MR. OCHS: Sure.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Go ahead.
MR. OCHS: Ma'am, before we move to our 10 a.m., I thought
you may want to consider the single public petition along with Item
10D, which was Commissioner Henning's item related to the
spearfishing item, if we might.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That would be fine.
Item #6A
PUBLIC PETITION REQUEST FROM BILL D'ANTUONO
REGARDING THE USE OF SPEARS TO CONTROL THE
OVERPOPULATION OF LION FISH - PRESENTED WITH ITEM
#10D
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February 12, 2013
Item #10D
RESOLUTION 2013-35: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
REMOVING THE BAN ON SPEARFISHING IN COLLIER
COUNTY COASTAL WATERS, AND REQUESTING THAT THE
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION (FWC) REPEAL THE SPECIAL ACTS AND/OR
RULES DESIGNATED AS CHAPTERS 27473 (1951) AND 30665
(1955) — ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: So let's go to Item 10D, if we might,
Commissioners, on your agenda. It's a recommendation to adopt a
resolution in support of removing the ban on spearfishing in Collier
County coastal waters and requesting that the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission repeal the special acts and/or rules
designated as Chapters 27473 and 30665. And this item was brought
forward by Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, it's my opinion
this is a good item. That's why I have it on the agenda, because it's
my opinion we should adopt the resolution and send it up to Florida
Wish and Wildlife; however, Bill has a lot of knowledge not only on
the lionfish, but the rules and regulations governed in the State of
Florida and all counties except for Collier County on spearfishing.
And those rules and regulations are enacted by the Florida Fish and
Wildlife.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I couldn't agree more.
Do we have a public speaker on this agenda item?
MR. MILLER: We have the public petition, and that's it. We
don't have a registered public speaker for Item 10D.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: How would you like to proceed,
Commissioner Henning?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think Bill has a small
statement, and he -- I'm sure he'll stand for any questions or
comments.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Bill, would you like to come to the
podium and present your statement?
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, then we'll present this as 6A, the
public petition request --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
MR. OCHS: -- from Bill D'Antuono regarding the use of spears
to control the overpopulation of lionfish.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. D'ANTUONO: Hello, Commissioners. Thank you for
allowing me to speak with you today. My name's Bill D'Antuono. I
work at Scuba Ventures. I'm a dive con and have been diving since I
was 13 and hunting lionfish mostly on the east coast for a little over
two years. I've seen them grow on the east coast. I've seen them out
here in the gulf more frequently on dives.
So when a friend of mine caught one in front of the Ritz on hook
and line, I had to do something about it.
I'm here today to petition to lift the ban on spearfishing in Collier
County and have you guys request Florida Wish and Wildlife
Commission to revisit Collier County's current laws against
spearfishing where lionfish are currently illegal to spearfish in Collier
County waters.
I'm also here to speak about the invasive lionfish and how they
have been seen more and more here in Collier County.
Right now Collier County is the only county in Florida with an
outright ban on spearfishing. The antiquated ban should be lifted to
allow local fisherman to rightfully, responsibly, and legally harvest
fish like the rest of the state.
Lifting the ban will also enable spearfisherman to target lionfish
and allow me to promote events such as lionfish tournaments to
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February 12, 2013
happen easier and closer to shore.
The State of Florida already has provisions in place for
spearfishing, which Collier County would adopt, such as not being
allowed to spearfish near bridges, piers, jetties, or a hundred yards
from public beaches.
Adopting provisions would make for a smooth transition once the
ban is lifted. The removal of the spearfishing ban will benefit Collier
County in the following ways: It will boost interest in local scuba
diving, it will give the public access to public resources, help with
local lionfish tournaments, help control lionfish populations, and
spearfishing is a more ecofriendly form of spearfishing due to -- you're
not using a monofilament which plagues reefs, fish, and birds
indefinitely.
Spearfishers -- spearfishermen are the only line of defense we
have against the invasive lionfish. There is not one species of fish
locally that preys on lionfish in local waters and recently have spotted
them more and more frequently out here right off Collier County's
beaches.
Once they are here and established, the lionfish will multiple
very, very rapidly. They can lay 30,000 eggs every four days, and
nothing eats the eggs, nothing preys on the lionfish.
There have been many successful grass-roots effort, just like this
one, all around the Caribbean where spearfishing is not allowed, and
lionfish overpopulation is a huge problem. And this is not just a local
issue. This is a whole Caribbean and the east coast of Florida issue.
Public education and understanding of the effects of lionfish are
very important, and lionfish also make for a very tasty meal. Only
their spines contain the venom, and the meat is very, very good. And
restaurants in the Florida Keys are already serving lionfish regularly.
Lionfish are bad for Collier County and invasive waters because
of the following reasons: They have no natural predators;
spearfishermen are the only ones that hunt them and can get rid of
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February 12, 2013
them; they can produce at an alarming rate; and they can destroy up to
90 percent of reefs' population of little fish, like snapper, grouper, and
other tropical reef fish that the state and the FWC area has extensive
provisions to prevent overfishing and stuff like that; the threat -- and
also the threat of lionfish to beachgoers and tourists being stung by
lionfish.
I have some people here today that made it down from Sarasota.
I have Brian Floosh (phonetic) here and a couple other people that are
working directly in investigating lionfish and trying to, you know,
come up with a solution for everything.
These people understand the effects and exponential growth of
lionfish and have seen them seemingly appear out of nowhere and
grow in population and size on reefs over recent years. This story has
been covered on Wink, NBC, Naples Daily News, and Facebook. If
you have not seen the news coverage, I have included it in the packet I
will give you with the petition signature list.
And thank you for allowing me to be here today. And if you
have any questions, I would like to hear them.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. Your petition is focusing
primarily on lionfish, but I believe that Commissioner Henning's
recommendation is that we lift the ban on spearfishing for all fish. Is
that your preference? Is that what you petitioned us --
MR. D'ANTUONO: Well, my petition is to end the ban of
spearfishing.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You want to lift the ban on
spearfishing entirely?
MR. D'ANTUONO: Right, exactly, just like the rest of Florida
have the same rules that apply there.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I just wanted to clarify that.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. I want to thank
Commissioner Henning and you, Bill, for bringing this forward.
I think eating this invasive fish is a very innovative control
method that we should engage immediately, and I think -- I fully
support your effort to make Collier County regulated as all other
counties are. So thank you very much.
MR. D'ANTUONO: Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, I've been in
communication with the executive director of FWC. The commission
has a meeting tomorrow in Orlando, and we're trying to get this on the
agenda. So I would ask you, if this resolution passes, to sign it
immediately --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I will.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- and have the clerk get it up to
the Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Bill, I want to thank you for making this issue visible not only to
the Board of Commissioners but the whole community. If we don't
get the control -- have control over the lionfish in our waters, it will
devastate our reefs out in Collier County.
So, Madam Chair, I'm going to make a motion to move the
resolution.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: May I have a second?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no further discussion,
all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
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February 12, 2013
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. D'ANTUONO: Thank you.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Thank you very much. Appreciate
it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: You want a picture with the
resolution, Bill?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah. Would you like a --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Good morning.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What we'll --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Anybody have a camera phone?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Bill, we'll do a photograph with the
resolution. You can go ahead and hold it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Who has the camera phone?
MR. OCHS: We don't have a -- she's coming back up, if you'd
just give us one second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I had a question, if I might.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Commissioner Henning in his
motion said, and have the clerk get it up there as quickly as possible.
Are you supposed to now deliver that to the clerk, or do you get that
up there yourself or what?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, the clerk always attests to
the chairman's signature. In a communication with the clerk and the
records office, they're going to email it up to the executive director.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, okay, fine. I just wanted to
know why that was said, because there's an urgency here; you said for
tomorrow, so I was just wondering what that was about.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. They're going to email it
up today and then FedEx it up to Fish and Wildlife office. And Bill's
going to go up to Orlando and make sure it passes, right?
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February 12, 2013
MR. D'ANTUONO: Yeah. When is it?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Tomorrow.
MR. D'ANTUONO: Oh, I don't know.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager?
MR. OCHS: Would you like to proceed to the next item, ma'am?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The next item is a time-certain, I
believe.
MR. OCHS: Yes, it is.
Item #11F
RECOMMENDATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVIEW OF
THE NEXT PHASE OF SYSTEM EXPANSION FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT REQUESTED BY THE BOARD AT THE
NOVEMBER 13, 2012 PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ANNUAL
UPDATE AND INVENTORY REPORT (AUIR)/CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
ELEMENT (CIE) UPDATE ON PUBLIC FACILITIES AS
PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 6.02.02 OF THE COLLIER
COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE - MOTION FOR
STAFF TO WORK WITH CHIEF SMITH — APPROVED;
MOTION TO ADVANCE EMS EXPANSION ON THE AUIR/CIE
SCHEDULE — APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: 11F.
MR. OCHS: It's Item 11F. It's a recommendation to provide
additional review of the next phase of system expansion for
Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement requested by the
board at the November 13, 2012, public hearing for the Annual
Update and Inventory Report/Capital Improvement Element, and Mr.
Bosi will present.
Page 42
February 12, 2013
MR. BOSI: Thank you, County Manager.
Good morning, Commission. Mike Bosi, interim director of
planning and zoning.
We're here today to discuss an item that was requested at the
November 13th, 2012, BCC public hearing where we adopted the
Annual Update and Inventory Report.
At that meeting, the chair and the rest of the commission
expressed some concern with the timing of the improvements both for
law enforcement as well as EMS and asked staff to bring back this
additional information to discuss the potential revisiting of the dates
associated with when those improvements are going forward.
On EMS the next scheduled improvement is for Fiscal Year '16,
'17, and that is a station at the Vanderbilt -- Vanderbilt and Logan
location. And on law enforcement, it's '17, '18, and that's the eventual
replacement of the temporary trailer that's at the Corkscrew Middle
School on Oil Well Road.
I have representatives from the Sheriffs Office, from facilities
management, as well from Emergency Management Services all here
to be able to round out whatever discussion point that the chair and the
commission would like.
Preference in terms of -- there was a PowerPoint that was
provided by the sheriffs office. I think it's to help establish the need
for the eventual replacement of that temporary trailer facility. If you
would like, we can move on to the --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Thank you for giving
us the update on some of the information requested.
I believe that there are other projects that need to be introduced in
the Capital Improvement Element, especially from the law
enforcement side. So I would appreciate if Chief Smith could come to
the podium and present what needs to be supplemented with what
we've got in there as of right now.
MR. SMITH: Thank you. For the record, Chief Greg Smith,
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February 12, 2013
chief of administration for the Sheriffs Office.
When we started developing this year's presentation of the AUIR,
we had one need that hasn't been visited yet that was kind of like, you
know, imploding and around us, and that was with regard to our
evidence storage facilities and what's required in relation to what we
have available.
And part of the problem with that is, you know, when you have
these criminal cases, a lot of times you have to, like, keep this
evidence for years and sometimes forever, and we've quickly stripped
out our ability to do some of that.
We've had some meetings with Skip Camp and with other people
with facilities, and we think that we've come up with a stopgap
measure. That is to sublease the old D.R.I.L.L. academy back from
the Department of Juvenile Justice and then to rehabilitate it to a state
where we can probably get out of a crisis mode with regard to that and
then give us the time to design and develop what we might need as a
permanent solution that would be more suitable for that.
The big drawdown with the D.R.I.L.L. academy is it's in
Immokalee. It's, you know, a long way off, and you have to use a lot
of foresight to make sure that you get that evidence over here so that it
can be introduced along with a case in a timely fashion.
But at least it gives us the ability not to be in a crisis management
mode and to move forward, you know, with deliverance and speed
necessary but also understand that what we want is a good solution,
not just a solution. So that gives us some time to do that.
Along with that is, you know, we've had discussions about the
need for a permanent district substation in D4, the Golden Gate
Estates area, for those who may not be familiar with the sheriff s
District 4. We've been operating for over 10 years now out of a
double-wide trailer. It has -- long ago has, you know, served its
usefulness. I think it was great in establishing our presence out there.
It was never meant to be a permanent fix. It's in the Capital
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February 12, 2013
Improvement Plan.
I just think that what we'd like to see is if some monies become
available, that we can at least go to design phase with that. And we've
had those discussions as well. And right now we're trying to land on a
blueprint that would be suitable that would give us all the attendant
things that we might need for such a facility and then just to determine
an appropriate location closer to our call generators, closer to our
populations centers, and then establish that as our permanent law
enforcement base in the Estates.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And the task force?
MR. SMITH: I'm sorry?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Task force? Out at the airport, I
thought there was some need for additional facilities out there.
MR. SMITH: I haven't had any discussions with Chief Williams
related to his task force needs, so -- you know, right now we're in
leased space there so, you know, if we --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, it's not really leased space.
You're talking about the airport building that you're currently using.
MR. SMITH: Correct.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And just for clarification, for the
record, we, as the board, have an obligation to give you what you
need, so there really isn't a lease obligation, if you will. I mean, those
are facilities that you have to have and we have to provide. So just --
MR. SMITH: I only know that we're paying rent.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah. Well --
MR. SMITH: So in my mind that connotates lease, but I
understand.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: With that said, I think it would
behoove us to ask that you work with our staff to modify the CIE to --
and the AUIR to include what you've presented here today. I think it's
important that we get it included formally on the record so that it
doesn't catch up with us down the road where we might forget what
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February 12, 2013
you have said today and we're not prepared to provide, you know,
what you need.
So I would like to make a motion to direct staff to work with
Chief Smith and the Sheriffs Office to modify the CIE and the AUIR
based on his representations here today and any other considerations
that he may think of as he works with you on the update, and to bring
this back to the board when that's done for approval.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'll second that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no discussion, all in
favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. SMITH: Thank you, Board. Thank you, Madam Chair.
MR. BOSI: Madam Chair, the next item that we had within the
executive summary were related to EMS. The program was for the
Vanderbilt and Logan station to be in Years '16 and '17.
The issue related to that is the response times within Zone 42 --
Zone 42 being in North Naples. Currently, just with EMS responses, I
believe we're meeting our levels-of-service goals 70 percent of the
time. Of course, 90 percent of the time is our goal.
When we include the response times of North Naples Fire, we're
up to 83 percent. So we're close to achieving that goal.
But in further discussions with EMS, that Vanderbilt and Logan
is that ideal location. And just to provide the board with an additional
assurance, Chief -- or Walter Kopka and myself, about three weeks
ago, met with North Naples Fire to explore the potential of the
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February 12, 2013
co-location opportunities within, I believe, their Building 48, which is
on Livingston Road at the bend as it turns a little to the west north of
Immokalee Road.
Through discussions with Walter and Mr. Dave Stegman, the GIS
analyst within EMS, that location would only provide about a third
effectiveness in terms of where those call volumes and the need is.
The true ideal location for that improvement is Vanderbilt and Logan.
But what I wanted to convey is those conversations with North
Naples have been ongoing and will continue to be ongoing in terms of
exploring potential co-location opportunities.
And one of the issues that we used to have in the past was our
co-location opportunities were based around -- based upon an
approach where we would lease the space from the individual fire
districts.
We've since modified that approach towards where we construct
our portion of those buildings. And what that allows for us to do, it
allows for us to include those inventories within our impact fee
calculations, because one of the most problematic aspects of funding
the next waves of improvements for EMS is our impact fees are based
upon a schedule that only funds about 50 percent because of the lease
space and inability to include lease space within the impact fee
calculations.
So we have identified that, and we've modified the approach in
terms of how we enter into the co-location opportunities.
So just to provide the assurance to the board that those
conversations and those opportunities for co-location is something that
the EMS is always trying to look and explore for the efficiencies and
for the cost savings that's associated when it makes sense in terms of
having the most effectiveness for the response time. So it's a
double-edge kind of consideration.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sounds like a double positive.
Would Chief Kopka like to speak?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I think you want a motion
to either add to the AUIR capital improvement or not?
MR. BOSI: Well, it's -- we have it within our system at '16/'17.
And one of the things I would probably say is in your consideration as
your upcoming budget season arrives, you know, these needs for law
enforcement and EMS, I guess, should probably be somewhere in the
back of the mind for opportunities as to accelerating maybe a year on
terms of when that improvement's going to be coming on.
And I think that, to me, is the positive that we come away from
the meeting identifying that maybe we need to accelerate these plans
in terms of shortening the time frame before they're actually
constructed.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So you're recommending that
the board make a motion to direct staff to start budgeting for the site at
Logan and Vanderbilt?
MR. BOSI: I would say explore the opportunities to advance the
schedule of construction within the budgetary restraints.
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, you're going to be looking at your
FY14 budget guidance document at your next board meeting, and part
of these capital projects that you're addressing are always going to be
considerations in our budget planning for the coming fiscal year.
We're just going to have to balance those needs against available
revenues and bring those decisions to the board for ranking and
priority decisions. So we will address that as part of your FY14
budget capital improvement planning.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So if I understand, would you rather
that we not make a motion with respect to this issue today, since this is
a staff proposal, or would you prefer that we make a motion to
accelerate it so that you can bring it back amended accordingly?
MR. BOSI: Well, the bigger part of the Annual Update and
Inventory Report is that it's an annual report.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
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February 12, 2013
MR. BOSI: We'll bring this back. We'll start this process again
in April, before the county manager in August, before the Planning
Commission in September, and back to the board in November, and
we'll be able to -- based upon whatever opportunities are identified
within your budgetary process, we'll be able to adjust the schedule
appropriately based upon whatever decision is made at the board level.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, we can, as a board, make a
general motion, and that is to accelerate it to the extent possible since
we are dealing with public safety. That has to be our priority. So I'll
make a motion accordingly.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
MR. SHEFFIELD: Public comments?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Are there any public comments?
MR. MILLER: (Shakes head.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I really want to commend you for
working with fire to cooperate not only in terms of providing service
and, as a result, improving times for the benefit of the citizens, but
also with respect to co-locating. That's really the way business should
be done. So great job, Chief.
MR. KOPKA: Good morning. Thank you.
For the record, Chief Walter Kopka of EMS, Madam Chair and
Commissioners.
It is a system response, and we should include all those resources
that we have in the system to improve response times and patient care.
And the AUIR you received was for the first three quarters, but
when we updated it for the entire year of 2012, it did put us into
compliance in the urban area, so that did meet our goal of 90 percent.
As for co-location, financially, absolutely. Operationally, as this
map kind of shows you, sometimes, operationally, we're going to
impact more patients with better response times by having locations
separated from each other. And we're doubling the amount of patients
that we can contact in that response time zone by having different
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February 12, 2013
locations.
So we have other options to work with North Naples. We'll
continue to do that, and we'll move forward.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. We have a motion and
a second and no further discussion.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
And I would like to make one comment, and that is as we look to
developing our economic development program, if any consideration
is given to waiving impact fees, we should not waive impact fees for
anything related to public safety, be it the Sheriffs Office or EMS or
anything akin to that. Thank you.
Item #7
PUBLIC COMMENT ON GENERAL TOPICS
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, that takes us back to Item 7 on
your agenda this morning, public comments on general topics.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chairman, we have four registered
public speakers for public petition (sic). First speaker is Linda
Anders. I'm sorry. Public comment, not public petition. The first
speaker is Linda Anders, and she'll be followed by Frank Rampino.
MS. ANDERS: Good morning. My name is Linda Anders. I
live at 2061 20th Avenue Northeast here in Naples.
We respectfully submit this resolution. This resolution is
patterned after a January 18th County Commissioner unanimous
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February 12, 2013
resolution of Beaufort County, North Carolina, to their governor and
legislature.
Similar efforts have started in other areas of Florida and around
the country to stop federal overreach -- to stop federal overreach of its
authority.
By voting to put this on the February 26th Collier County Board
of Commissioners' agenda and signing this resolution, you will be
petitioning the governor and Florida Legislature to enact a law to
bolster the rights of Florida citizens against federal overreach.
For the record, I will read it.
A resolution of the Board of Collier Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United
States and the State of Florida.
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States provides a
well-regulated militia being of the people to keep and bear arms, shall
not be infringed: Second Amendment; and,
Whereas, the Constitution of the State of Florida provides the
right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and
of the lawful authority of the state, shall not be infringed, except that
the matter of bearing arms may be regulated by law: Article I, Section
8; and,
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court in recent years has
twice upheld the Second Amendment as applying to individuals' right
to keep and bear arms: District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S., 570,
2008; and McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S., 3025, 2010; and,
Whereas, the president and vice president of the United States, as
well as members of Congress, have been reported recently to be
considering adopting laws, regulations, or actions which would have
the effect of infringing on the right of Americans to keep and bear
arms; and,
Whereas, the reasons given in support of such infringements as
gun registration, banning certain kinds of weapons and accessories,
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February 12, 2013
requiring extreme background checks, restricting the bearing of arms
such as excessive restrictions on concealed carry and possibly other
restrictions, have not been shown by the substantial weight of
scientific evidence to have been effective in accomplishing the stated
objectives of such restrictions as compelling necessities for
government action to protect the public safety.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, sitting in duly called
session on this day, that Collier County Board of Commissioners calls
upon the governor and the Florida legislature to immediately pass and
act to nullify the implementation within the State of Florida of any
federal law, executive order, or regulations restricting the right to keep
and bear arms.
Be it further resolved that no county resources be used in the
implementation of any federal law, executive order, or executive
directives that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms.
And be it further resolved that this resolution, properly enacted
and executed on this 12th day of February 2013, be transmitted to the
clerk of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Florida
legislature, the governor, and each member of the legislature, as well
as the County Commission and the State of Florida, and to the public.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MS. ANDERS: Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, I have no
problem with working with this lady to not only get the resolution on
the next agenda but also provide information through the executive
summary of what's happening in Washington, D.C.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That would be great, Commissioner
Henning. And if you could also work with the county attorney to have
him review the resolution to ensure that it satisfies form and legality,
that would be great.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think that's most appropriate.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Would you like to make a motion to
that effect?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I don't know if we need to make
a motion on what I'm going to do.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Not necessarily really, correct.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I just want to make a statement
to, you know, cut the process.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any discussion? Commissioner
Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No. I think I can wait until
Commissioner Henning completes his work with the county
commissioner. I fully support the intent of the resolution. I am
concerned that the resolution has certain elements that will doom it in
its objective. But I think the county attorney can advise you on what
should be included there and resolve that issue.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, your next public speaker is Frank
Rampino. He'll be followed by Keith Flaugh.
MR. RAMPINO: Good morning, Commissioners. Thank you for
having me speak to you this morning. I live at 14278 Manchester
Drive, Naples, Florida, 34414 (sic).
It's important to remind ourselves of a few facts and recent
examples of federal overreach. The U.S. Constitution is a how-to
document. It delegates limited authority to the federal government in
Article I, Section 8. The Declaration of Independence is the want
document. It lays down the foundation for the Constitution. We hold
these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights that,
among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Second Amendment just read to you is very easy to
understand and very clear. Individual states are sovereign. They have
the right to lay down certain limits delegated to them by their citizens,
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February 12, 2013
but not the federal government, unless Congress passes two-thirds of a
bill and states, ratified by three-quarters, a new amendment to
overturn the second amendment. This has not happened.
U.S. congressional laws and executive orders that infringe are
unenforceable by the states under the Second, ninth, And 10th
amendments.
We would like to point to some added information about the
second of the fifth whereas clauses.
In the second whereas clause, two recent U.S. Supreme Court
cases, Columbia versus Heller and McDonald versus Chicago, clearly
and unequivocably established for all states that a well-regulated
militia or individual persons and we the people as individuals have the
right to keep and bear arms, and it shall not be infringed.
In the fifth whereas clause addresses several possible
infringements. Why is it important to keep this clause in the
resolution? Because it references the legal principles established in
these same two court cases and other recent Bill of Rights cases which
have clarified the public safety argument.
As a result, the U.S. Supreme Court has placed an extraordinary
burden on the federal government regarding any future attempts to
infringe. The government must now offer substantial weight of
scientific evidence that any such infringements provide compelling
evidence that public safety is enhanced. According to the Cato
Institute and many other studies, there is no compelling evidence to
date. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, your next public speaker is Keith
Flaugh. He'll be followed by your final public speaker on this item,
Keith Hanson.
MR. FLAUGH: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Keith Flaugh. I live at 1390 Quintara Court in Marco Island, Florida.
I'd like to address a couple of additional points. Some of you
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February 12, 2013
may be asking yourself is this really county business? You each
swore an oath, as you know, to -- a solemn oath to protect and defend
our Constitution. We submit that the everyday business you do, as
important as it is in our daily lives, becomes irrelevant if we as the
individuals lose our right to protect our life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness and property.
We believe it is your responsibility as elected officials to honor
your oath of office and to urge the State of Florida officials to do the
same.
We have two amendment town hall meetings coming up, Second
Amendment events coming up. Sheriff Rambosk and Chief Don
Hunter from Marco Island are participating along with Chris Ann Hall
on February 26th in Marco Island in a panel discussion on this subject
along with an educational session Chris Ann.
On February 27th here in Naples we will be doing a Second
Amendment education session with Ms. Hall. We invite you all to
attend.
The same grass-roots efforts are continuing -- starting in Lee
County, and we're reaching out to Naples City Council to do the same
as we've asked Marco Island City Council to do.
I just realized last week, in talking to Representative Matt
Hudson -- I have copies here for you -- that the Florida House of
Representatives and the Senate are in the process of passing a similar
-- they call it a memorial, not a resolution, and I have copies of what's
in process. It's even stronger than our wording in this resolution.
I also would call your attention -- and I will give you copies of
the Florida Sheriffs' Association proclamation. Eight states have now
signed a proclamation with the unanimous consent of their sheriffs.
One last point that I think is really important. We mentioned that
this is one of many areas of overreach. We've had discussions with
some of you on the elements of NDAA, National Defense
Authorization Act, which allows any president to suspend U.S.
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February 12, 2013
citizen's rights to habeas corpus without a trial, indefinitely. The
Patriot Act allows a federal agent to come to your doorstep
unannounced, write his own warrant, take anything out of his (sic)
house, including you, and if you tell your wife, your clergy, or your
lawyer, you go to jail on a one-year felony.
There are a number of others that I could go through, and I won't.
We think enough is enough. We thank you for your kind attention,
and we trust your willingness to honor your oath of office and protect
our Second Amendment constitutional rights. Please vote for
consensus to put this on the 26th agenda.
I'd like to ask one other thing, with the permission of the
chairwoman. Can we ask for a show of hands of people in the room
that support this resolution?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sure.
MR. FLAUGH: Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's impressive. And for the
record, we'll say just about everyone in the room put up their hand.
MR. MILLER: Chairwoman, your final public speaker under
public comment is Keith Hanson.
MR. HANSON: Good morning. My name is Keith Hanson, and
although I am not a resident of Collier County, I am the host of the
Keith Hanson Show on 98.9 FM, WGUF in Naples. I am here on
behalf of the hundreds if not thousands of listeners every week who
have expressed their concern about the overreach of the federal
government and exactly what Collier County would do if the federal
government in tyranny therefrom came into Collier County.
My request is very simple. I'm asking you to adopt this
resolution as it stands to honor the oath that you took to protect and
defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic.
As a law enforcement firearms instructor, as a former member of
the United States Military, as a former law enforcement officer, I have
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February 12, 2013
taken that oath. I have raised my hand and pledged. My oath does not
come with an expiration date.
You are all elected officials. You are here by, of, and for the
people. Your duty first is to the Constitution and to the citizens you
represent, not to the federal government.
Thank you very much. God bless.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
(Applause.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you very much. Those were
very well-spoken statements. I think the board has made it clear that
this will be brought back on the next agenda, and Commissioner
Henning will work with the county attorney to present the resolution
for adoption to the board at that time.
So if you'd all like to come back and visit us again two weeks
from now, we look forward to seeing you. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Madam Chair, I would like
Commissioner Coyle's input on the resolution so we can get this item
on the agenda and passed.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle, would you
kindly send Commissioner Henning a one-way communication
identifying your concerns?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I would prefer to work it through
the county attorney.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's fine. That works.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: If Commissioner Henning is going
to be working with the county attorney, the county attorney could give
me a copy of what they've discussed and what they're working with,
and I'll respond to that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sure. Is that acceptable, County
Attorney?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But my concerns are very minor
with respect to the thing.
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February 12, 2013
MR. KLATZKOW: I think I understand what your concerns are,
but yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's fine. So I think we have an
understanding of how the process will work. I want to thank you all.
Our wonderful court reporter needs a break. Commissioner Fiala
was kind enough to remember that she deserves it. So we will take a
10-minute recess and then reconvene at 10:50.
Thank you.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
Madam Chair, you have a live mike.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. We have an 11 o'clock
time-certain; however, I believe we can address 10A, B, and C prior to
that.
Item #10A
RESOLUTION 2013-36: APPOINTING MATTHEW P.
CROWDER AND BEN HILBRUN TO THE ISLES OF CAPRI
FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE —
ADOPTED
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. Item 10A is appointment of members
to the Isles of Capri Fire Control District Advisory Committee.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Whose district is it?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I think it's Commissioner Fiala.
MR. OCHS: Commissioner Fiala.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager, would you like to
go ahead and read the name of the recommended member?
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am, as soon as I find it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Matthew Crowder and Ben
Hilbrun. I'll make that motion.
Page 5 8
February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'll second.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (Absent.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #10B
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVISORY COUNCIL - MOTION TO RE-ADVERTISE —
APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The next is the appointment of a
member to the Environmental Advisory Council.
County Manager, if you could read the recommended member.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to readvertise.
MR. OCHS: That's the recommendation.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is there a second? I'll second that.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (Absent.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: (No verbal response.)
COMMISSIONER NANCE: (No verbal response.)
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Nope.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No? You say no?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Did you say --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'm an aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You're -- okay. So motion carries
3-1.
Item #10C
RESOLUTION 2013-37: APPOINTING MICHAEL SIMONIK TO
THE ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD — ADOPTED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Appointment of a member to the
Animal Services Advisory Board.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve Michael
S imonik.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
County Manager, is there anybody -- I'm sorry. Is there any other
item that we could possibly --
Item #11D
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT TO COMMUNITY ASPHALT FOR BID NO. 12-
5948R - IMMOKALEE ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT NO. 60016.4, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,904,344 —
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February 12, 2013
APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. Commissioner, I believe we could
take Item 11D.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
MR. OCHS: That is a recommendation to award a construction
contract to Community Asphalt for Bid No. 12-5948R, the Immokalee
Road safety improvement project, in the amount of $1,904,344. And
Mr. Jay Ahmad, your transportation engineering director, will present.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Board, would you like to hear a
presentation or, having read the backup, would you be prepared to
make a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'll make a motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Be happy to second it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. AHMAD: Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Could we --
MR. OCHS: Screwed up my time, though. Okay.
Item #11A
RECOMMENDATION TO DENY THE FORMAL PROTEST
OBJECTION AND UPHOLD THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR'S
DECISION DENYING POOLE & KENT COMPANY OF
FLORIDA THE AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID (ITB) #12-
5931 MASTER PUMP STATION 312 REHABILITATION
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February 12, 2013
PROJECTS #72549 AND #70050; PROHIBIT POOLE & KENT
FROM BENEFITING FROM THE BOARD'S LOCAL VENDOR
PREFERENCE FOR ONE (1) YEAR; AND, APPROVE AWARD
OF THE ITB TO CONTRACTOR DOUGLAS N. HIGGINS, INC.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,961,000 AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIRWOMAN TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT -
APPROVED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND AWARD OF
CONTRACT TO DOUGLAS N HIGGINS, INC. — APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: How about 11A?
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. These -- 11A was continued from
your November 13, 2012, meeting. It's a recommendation to deny
formal protest objection and uphold the purchasing director's decision
and to award an invitation to bid for Master Pump Station 312
rehabilitation project.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
MS. PRICE: Commissioners, for the record, Len Price,
administrative services division administrator.
I'd like to put on the record that the protester has withdrawn their
protest, so at this time I'm simply asking, for both A and B, that you
recommend the award of those contracts.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Then we'll take them in order.
Commissioner Henning has made a motion to approve the
recommendation as presented by staff for 11A, and Commissioner
Nance has seconded that.
There being no discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #11B
RECOMMENDATION TO DENY THE FORMAL PROTEST
OBJECTION AND UPHOLD THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR'S
DECISION DENYING POOLE & KENT COMPANY OF
FLORIDA THE AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID (ITB) #12-
5952, AERATED SLUDGE HOLDING TANK (ASHT)/FLOW
EQUALIZATION TANK (PET), PROJECTS #73950 AND #70091;
PROHIBIT POOLE & KENT FROM BENEFITING FROM THE
BOARD'S LOCAL VENDOR PREFERENCE FOR ONE (1)
YEAR; AND, APPROVE THE ITB AWARD TO CONTRACTOR
MITCHELL & STARK CONSTRUCTION CO. IN THE AMOUNT
OF $6,307,000 AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRWOMAN TO
EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT - APPROVED STAFF'S
RECOMMENDATIONS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT TO
MITCHELL & STARK CONSTRUCTION CO. — APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: For 11B, Commissioner Henning,
would you like to make a motion to accept the recommendation
proposed by staff as presented?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes, I'll make that motion.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no discussion, all in
favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Len, does that accomplish what you
set out for -- to recommend to award this contract?
MS. PRICE: I believe that it does. The recommendation was to
approve as I stated.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: In both instances.
MS. PRICE: Both instances.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Very good.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: In both instances we're approving --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I just wanted to make sure it was all
legal there. Nobody has any questions.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I appreciate it.
Item #14B1
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) APPOINT BRADLEY
MUCKEL AS INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE IMMOKALEE
CRA AND THE IMMOKALEE LIGHTING AND
BEAUTIFICATION MUNICIPAL SERVICES TAXING UNIT —
APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you still have a few minutes, if the
board would like to take up Item 14B 1 and go into session as your
CRA, consider that item, with the pleasure of the chair.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We do have a few minutes.
MR. OCHS: Item 14B 1 is a recommendation that the
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February 12, 2013
Community Redevelopment Agency appoint Bradley Muckel as
interim director for the Immokalee CRA and the Immokalee Lighting
and Beautification Municipal Services Taxing Unit.
Chairman Fiala?
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Yes, thank you very much. The CRA
meeting is now in session.
Is Brad here? I know he was here before. Well, okay, fine. May
I make -- may I hear a motion to accept Brad Muckel as the interim
director for the Immokalee CRA?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'll make that motion.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Okay. I hear a motion and a second.
Any speakers?
MR. MILLER: No, ma'am.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Okay, fine.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Opposed, like sign.
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER HILLER: And just to clarify, this is as
interim director.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Interim.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Okay. All in favor -- we already had
the ayes. It's all in favor. It's unanimous. Brad is now our interim
director for the Immokalee CRA. I'm sorry he isn't here to -- so we
can congratulate him.
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February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. He was here earlier. I'm sure he's in
the building.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That's what happens when you
leave the meeting.
MR. OCHS: That's what I try to tell him. They've got to sit still.
This board moves.
Thank you, Commissioners. I believe that concludes --
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: The CRA meeting is closed.
MR. OCHS: -- the CRA.
CHAIRWOMAN FIALA: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Otay (phonetic).
MR. OCHS: Okay
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The time-certain on the agenda is --
MR. OCHS: That is Item 10 -- excuse me -- 11G, ma'am.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Which relates to Hideaway Beach.
MR. OCHS: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And it's time.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It's time.
MR. OCHS: It is time.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And just for clarification, there are a
number of residents in the audience who were here to speak on the
Animal Control Ordinance. They were not aware that this morning
Commissioner Henning recommended that the ordinance be discussed
in a workshop rather than debated at the board.
So we will schedule a workshop to address the restructuring of
the ordinance. And if you guys would like to stay, you're welcome to
hear, you know, the further discussions, but we will not be talking
about the Animal Control Ordinance at this time.
And, actually, just -- I see Gisela (phonetic) nodding her head.
It's actually very positive because the entire advisory board will be
invited, there will be an open forum, and it will allow for a lengthy
and open and extended discussion to address this as opposed to
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February 12, 2013
compressing the debate just in a matter of minutes.
So it will actually be beneficial to the community to see the
board engage in this discussion in a workshop, as Commissioner
Henning recommended. So it's a good thing.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, with that in regard, just for the
information of those folks, if they're leaving, I will be recommending
to the board that we schedule that for March 5th, which would be the
first of the monthly workshop sessions that the board had asked me to
schedule.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's great.
MR. OCHS: So I'll be bringing that up under communications.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's great.
MR. OCHS: But I wanted to let them know that March 5th
would be a good time to hear this item in a workshop setting.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So mark it on your calendars as
March 5th.
MR. OCHS: And we'll notify all of the members.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Wonderful. Thank you.
Item #11G
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE $350,000 IN ELIGIBLE
COSTS FOR THE FY 13 HIDEAWAY BEACH EROSION
CONTROL STRUCTURE PROJECT BASED ON THE JANUARY
16, 2013 PROPORTIONALITY ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY
COASTAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS AND REVIEWED
BY COLLIER COUNTY STAFF, MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS
ITEM PROMOTES TOURISM AND APPROVE NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS - MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH AGREEMENT WHICH PROMOTES TOURISM, BOATING
AND THE HOTELS — FAILS; MOTION TO SEND THE ITEM
BACK TO THE NEXT TDC MEETING AND BRING BACK
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February 12, 2013
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FEBRUARY 26, 2013 BCC
MEETING — APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, that does take us to your 11 a.m.
time-certain. It's Item 11G on your agenda. It's a recommendation to
approve $350,000 in eligible costs for the FY13 Hideaway Beach
erosion control structure project based on the January 16, 2013,
proportionality analysis conducted by Coastal Engineering
Consultants and reviewed by Collier County staff, and to make a
finding that this item promotes tourism, and approve necessary budget
amendments.
This item was moved off of the consent agenda at Commissioner
Henning's request. Mr. McAlpin is here to either present or answer
questions from the board.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, you have two registered public
speakers for this item.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Commissioner Henning, since you moved it, would you like to
introduce the item?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes. Well, first of all, the
Tourist Development Council never heard this request for $350,000
and, by statute, it has to go to the TDC prior to coming to the Board of
County Commissioners. They are actually the gatekeeper of the
funds.
The second thing is, now that we have the AGO, attorney
general's opinion, the board needs to make a finding on all these
issues. This, you know, public's benefit or public's health thing is out
the window. A new policy needs to be drafted. But on this case, I'm
very, very curious what -- how does this promote tourism?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It keeps the boating pass open.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Pardon me?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It keeps the Collier Canal open for
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February 12, 2013
boating.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is there a hotel or a motel down
there where tourism are going to be using the pass?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, we've got a few hotels there,
the largest one in Collier County, as a matter of fact.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, that's on the beach, the
Marriott. It's not --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but they can't boat from the
beach, but they do boat through that canal.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The Marriott has a boat in that --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, they do not have the boat.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But people rent boats. They have
quite a few places that rent boats right there on Marco Island. Walker
Marine is one of them, per chance -- or just to say.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, Walker Marine is -- they
have a marina on the water --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- in Goodland. And also there's
Muckel (phonetic) River Marina. I know where that is. And, yes, I do
believe that that has the potential for tourism to use a rental, but it's
not near Hideaway Beach. So I'm just trying to look for --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, are you saying that they --
when they're boating and going fishing, they're not supposed to use
that canal, is that what you're trying to say, or are they allowed to boat
wherever they want on the waters?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm trying to find how this
$350,000 to assist to put a structure on a private beach promotes
tourism.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It's not -- the structure isn't on the
private beach. Obviously, it's out in the water, and it's in the water by
the canal.
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February 12, 2013
And what happens is -- because Marco -- I mean, Hideaway's
going to renourish their beach regardless; doesn't make any difference.
But when they renourish their beach, the sand is now going to go into
the middle. We just dredged it last year, so obviously that's where it
goes.
And what Marco City is trying to avoid is having that stuff go
back into the canal and then clog up boating again. So this way, it not
only saves TDC dollars because they don't have to continue to dredge,
but also it keeps that boating pass open for the boaters in all areas.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, I kind of doubt that we
can make the determination on a future dredge, the TDC dollars to be
applied to that dredge, and then dump the sand in the water is a reason
to promote tourism.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's your opinion.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well -- no, that's actually by our
policy.
And the second thing is, I boat down there, Commissioner. And I
could be wrong, but I see no opportunities for tourism upstream of that
canal to use that canal. And I'm hoping somebody would prove me
wrong. Maybe the best way to fund this is through 01 funds, general
funds, to that MSTU.
I think that we should have a substantiate (sic) policy on using
tourism dollars for either beach -- beachfront improvements or park
improvements.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, this would be a beachfront
improvement. But regardless of that, and while we're discussing that,
one of the reasons this came to light is because we are using tourism
dollars to clean out the Clam Pass, and we're going to take that sand,
as it's stated very clearly, and instead of moving it someplace, they're
going to put it right on the private beach of Hideaway Beach -- I'm
sorry -- right on the private beach of Pelican Bay. Now, that's fine,
because they said it was badly eroded. I understand that, too, and
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that's great.
I'm not begrudging them at all. But if this is going to keep a pass
open for the boaters, I don't see why you're begrudging them but
you're not begrudging the sand to go on the private beach at Pelican
Bay.
Let me see what his answer is, please.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm just saying, we need to
make a finding it promotes tourism.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I just did: Boating. Do people
come down here to fish? Can they fish in that water? Do they -- are
they limited not fishing in those waters? To me that's certainly a
tourism benefit.
Marco is a fishing community. It's a beach community. It's a
tourism community, and they want all facets of tourism there.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: If I may. Just to clarify -- and
Commissioner Coyle would like to speak.
The situation with Clam Pass is different. There's a statute that
governs the placement of the sand when a pass like Clam Pass is
dredged, so it's actually not an analogous situation. But I just wanted
to clarify that for the record.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I would just like a
clarification before I start trying to debate this issue.
Are we going to refer this thing back to the TDC, or are we going
to debate it and try to resolve it today?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I would like to address that, and
thank you for raising it. I think this matter should be referred back to
the TDC, and then once the TDC has heard and voted on it, we'll have
their input to consider in our future debate on this matter.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm all in favor of that. I would
just hope that staff or, you know, the people at Hideaway would
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demonstrate how it promotes tourism. That's all I'm looking for. And
I could support something like that, but not something like --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: May I make a comment then?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- people fish and can't get down
the canal, but something substantiated that fits the law.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. I think I could make an
argument to justify using TDC funds for the purpose of building those
erosion control structures, and I would do it by asking the question
differently. Would tourists be more likely to come to a community
where the beaches are well maintained and not eroded, or would they
like to visit a community where there is severe erosion on the beaches
and nobody repairs it and, in fact, there are likely to be buildings that
will soon be crashing into the water if we don't do something about it?
We have an obligation to maintain our entire community in a
way that will attract tourists to come here, and I can tell you that there
is an island just south of Cayo Costa that has experienced that kind of
erosion, and private homes are falling, have fallen, into the ocean. It
was a very nice place to live for vacation homes, and it was even --
there is even a landing strip there.
That -- the image of that place has declined dramatically as a
result of that erosion and destruction of buildings. I'm certain that the
image of Marco Island would decline if we allowed that beach to
erode to the point where buildings are being destroyed.
So it is not in anyone's best interest to allow that kind of erosion
and destruction when we have it within our power to do something
about it.
So I think there is justification for using TDC funds to do it, and
we have done that before. I don't understand why we can't do that
now.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you very much. If I may, I'd
like to make a motion. That is --
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could we hear the speakers first,
please?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, forgive me. Yes, absolutely.
MR. MILLER: Your first public speaker is Michael Poff. He'll
be followed by Bruce Anderson.
MR. POFF: Good morning. For the record, Michael Poff,
Coastal Engineering Consultants for the consultant for the City of
Marco, and thank you for accommodating our schedules this morning.
As to the question before you, there are marinas inside
Smokehouse Bay, there are charter captains who do use this Collier
Creek channel, and tourists are taking those charters. I apologize. I
don't have the statistics.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What marina is in that? What
marina is in there?
MR. POFF: Smokehouse Bay on Esplanade.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Smokehouse Bay Marina?
MR. POFF: It's Esplanade Marina, sir, on Smokehouse Bay.
Esplanade Marina.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Esplanade, okay. Thank you.
MR. POFF: You're welcome.
So there's one. I don't have the statistics. I know Nancy Ritchy
with the City of Marco does have those kind of statistics. I've heard
her say anywhere from 33 to 66 percent of Marco's boating population
uses Collier Creek entrance channel, and so -- I'm also able to answer
any questions you may have about the analysis.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. POFF: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final public speaker is Bruce Anderson.
MR. ANDERSON: Good morning, Commissioners.
My name is Bruce Anderson. I represent the Hideaway Beach
district. It's a municipal taxing unit that taxes the property owners
with Hideaway to pay for renourishment of their own beaches.
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February 12, 2013
When Collier Creek was dredged, TDC funds were used to do the
dredging. So that would be based upon the fact that dredging does, in
fact, promote tourism, dredging of this particular area, to prevent
silting. That promotes tourism.
And since the dredging furthers tourism, preventing or
minimizing the times that dredging has to occur would certainly also,
logically, promote tourism.
Lastly, I'd like to read from the September 24th Tourist
Development Council minutes when the general manager of the
Marco Marriott spoke, Rick Medwedeff. And he said, quote, okay.
For the record, also the Marriott on Marco Island does a lot of sailboat
charters, sailing and shelling, and on many occasions we take our
residents or our guests that charter that, those sailboats, and bring
them to that beach. So it is a beach that is used by the public as well
as, from our guests, tourism.
When we first came before you a few months ago, we asked that
this be, you know, acted on, and not referred back to any of the other
committees that had already looked at it because we were going to be
bumping up against turtle nesting season and, frankly, we're a little
concerned that the project may suffer and have death by delay.
So we would just ask you to please go ahead and approve this
today and not send us back through a process which it's really not
going to make any difference, I don't think, with the findings that the
Tourist Development Council would make, because most of the
findings were the motions that were made at TDC, and the basis for
them had to do more with the perception that the beach itself was
private rather than the fact that dredging did or did not promote
tourism.
I mean, the finding about dredging promoting tourism has
already been made when you use TDC funds to dredge Collier Creek
in the first place, and that's occurred at least twice over the last 10
years or so, so --
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And if I may add just to that. There
could have -- there could be a problem with that, because the
proportionality test probably should be applied there as well, in other
words, what's benefitting tourism and what's benefitting the local
community. So in retrospect, we may not have done the right thing in
total, but in part we might be okay.
Commissioner Fiala.
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I would like to make a motion
to move forward with this, with this agreement, which seems to have
made -- that everybody agrees with as far as the participants in this. I
feel that it will promote tourism, it will promote boating, it will
promote some of the tourism activities from the hotel on Marco Island,
and I think it's essential to do this not only for the safety of the
boaters, as this canal fills in again.
And the reason they haven't had to do too much as far as re -- I'm
sorry -- as far as dredging that canal is because there was nothing left
on the beach. But now Hideaway's going to be putting more sand on
the beach, and it's going to fill up a lot quicker. I feel this is the time
and the place to do it now, so my motion stands.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Thank you. The Tourist
Development Council did not the support the original
recommendation. You would hope that the Tourist Development
Council can make a finding that it does promote tourism and it can be
supported; however, the dredge of that canal, the sand was dumped. It
was not used on the beach. That is a violation of our policy; however,
that was not said when we approved it.
So I think we have a lot of work to do on our policy. But first of
all, the -- I think the Florida Statutes is clear that the TDC must hear
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this item prior to the board's action.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Jeff, could you comment on that?
Especially, in fact -- in light of the fact that the TDC had turned down
this funding when they last heard it. What would you say with respect
to that?
MR. KLATZKOW: You have several alternatives. Your first
alternative is to use general funds in this. It eliminates the issue, all
right. You get the work done. You eliminate the issue of whether or
not this promotes tourism.
If you want to use tourist development money, if you want to
eliminate the issue whether or not the TDC should see this, you'll send
it back to the TDC and come up. You would do that unless there is an
emergency situation where you need to get this done, turtle nesting
season, whatever.
If you wish to vote on this now, I am comfortable with your
voting on it now, but you will have that issue there that it should have
gone to the TDC.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Which is a problematic legal issue.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could we hear from Bruce? I see a
question on his face.
MR. ANDERSON: The TDC has already heard the application,
and we've just lowered the cost, the request.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right, but they denied it. So -- and
again --
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, the TDC voted -- the TDC's
recommendation was against it. They don't deny it. That's up to you.
All right. They heard the application. This is just -- if you look at it
one way, this is just a simple way to fund it, so you could argue that
the TDC has already heard this, which is why my office signed off on
this item. We're comfortable proceeding. But you have this
outstanding issue there that couldn't be raised should they have seen it.
You only eliminate that by kicking it back.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning, your
thoughts in light of the county attorney's recommendation.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I think to play it safe it
needs to go back to the Tourist Development Council.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Who knows, maybe they'll want to
fund the whole thing next time.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, I think sending it back to the
TDC accomplishes a number of things.
First of all, it gives them the opportunity to revisit based on the
proportionality analysis, which may give them that level of comfort to
approve which sets a precedent for the future and, I think, helps avoid
future debates on this.
Secondly, I think what Commissioner Henning said was very
good in that we do need to develop a policy as to how these projects
ought to be funded.
I would like to recommend that Commissioner Henning work
with the county attorney and consider applying this proportionality
test in conjunction with the opinion that we've received from the
attorney general to reduce it to a policy statement that we, as a board,
can approve and bring that back at a future meeting.
So it does seem to make sense at this point to send it back to the
TDC, because I do think you'll get approval for it in the manner in
which you are presenting it now, and you will eliminate doubt in
anybody's mind as to whether we have legally expended TDC funds,
and you're setting a precedent.
When is the next TDC meeting?
MR. OCHS: The 28th.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Of this month?
MR. OCHS: I'm sorry.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The 25th?
MR. OCHS: The 25th of this month.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So it's not that far off. And then we
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February 12, 2013
could bring it back to the next board meeting, which is the 26th.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The 26th.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So you're looking at two weeks, and
I'm pretty sure that you'll end up having it passed at both levels at that
time.
MR. ANDERSON: Is it too late to get on the TDC agenda?
MR. McALPIN: (Shakes head.)
MR. ANDERSON: Okay, great.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
MR. OCHS: Just with respect to the guidelines, would you like
the staff to develop a set of criteria --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, absolutely.
MR. OCHS: -- that we could bring back to you that would,
perhaps, serve as a guide for the commissioners when they're making
these decisions on --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: How about all beaches, right?
MR. OCHS: -- whether or not an expenditure promotes tourism;
is that what I'm hearing?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes. And, essentially, what has to
happen, if you look at these inlets, you've got issues. One -- well,
actually, you have three. The first is, we have a statute that governs
how sand is placed when you have erosion related to a particular inlet,
so we need to address that, and that's the Pelican Bay situation.
The second issue is we have two different users of these inlets.
We have the public, the Collier County residents, and we have
tourism. And so we have to establish, you know, the use based on
each of these classes and then allocate funding accordingly.
In the case of Hideaway, it's a little bit different. It goes beyond
that, because we've got a private entity that's renourishing a private
beach with MSTU monies, so we still have to apply that analysis to
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the inlet, and there the funding would be divided between TDC and
general fund based on the use of citizens versus tourists. That does
not affect what goes to Hideaway; in other words, our contribution
towards those erosion control devices.
But that's an analysis that we, as a board, have to do on our own
to make sure we're not violating the law.
MR. OCHS: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So I think you're absolutely right.
And forgive me, I mean, my mind automatically goes, like, develop
the legal. But, no, you're absolutely correct. And so it really should
be a three-way project with Commissioner Henning working with you
and with Jeff -- Jeff addressing the legal, you addressing the practical
allocation of the proportionality analysis.
MR. OCHS: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That would be great.
MR. ANDERSON: Just a quick question, please. Is that analysis
or new guidelines something that has to come back to you for you to
act on the pending application for Hideaway, or are you going to take
your time developing the policy?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. And the thing is, as I see it, that
cost that you otherwise would have to bear is off the table with respect
to you. How we fund it, whether we use TDC funds or we use general
funds or a combination of the two, doesn't affect what your obligation
is. Your obligation, by way of our future vote, if the majority agrees,
will be reduced, and you go off and do your thing. You know what
your cost-share portion is, and then we can address how our obligation
will be funded.
MR. ANDERSON: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So it should not delay you.
MR. ANDERSON: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Because we can bring that back at,
you know, a future meeting or modify it, as the case may be, if we
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can't make a decision at that next meeting.
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. As long as we're talking about
proportionality, and Commissioner Henning will be talking to you,
can we also address that same subject with other beaches that are
private, with other passes, with other inlets --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- to make sure that it's fair for
everyone, not just --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Can I answer that?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- Hideaway Beach?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That is my intent. My intent is not
-- we're not just addressing Hideaway Beach.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I just wanted to put it -- on.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah. And I agree with you. It is
definitely not intended for this policy to be crafted solely for
Hideaway Beach. As I said when I was describing the various
considerations, we need to look at the totality of the scenario.
MR. KLATZKOW: You can't prescribe a policy for one person.
You violate equal protection of the law.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Exactly. And we're doing --
MR. KLATZKOW: It's got to be for everybody.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- it across the board, exactly right.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, we have a motion and
second to approve. I don't know if --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'm going to call the vote on that.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. And then --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I should withdraw it then.
No, leave it go? Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All right. So Commissioner Fiala
made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Henning. All in favor?
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COMMISSIONER HENNING: No, no, no. Commissioner
Coyle seconded the motion to approve the funding.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, let me strike that from the
record.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Approve the item.
MR. KLATZKOW: You can never strike it from the record. It's
always there.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. It's permanently there. Let's
pretend it doesn't exist. Let's go back.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: You made a mistake.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I made a mistake. I retract. I
correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Underline and bold that statement.
MR. ANDERSON: If a majority --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And just so you know, make sure
you email that to Commissioner Coyle so that he can circulate it
among his buddies, you know, and then make sure he copies it to his
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Call for the question.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Call for the question.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Motion fails.
Commissioner Henning, would you like to make a new motion?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Motion to take this item to the
next Tourist Development Council and subsequent recommendation
on the next BCC meeting.
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February 12, 2013
MR. ANDERSON: Great. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: See, I'm trying, Bruce.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'll second that.
MR. ANDERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. Bruce, I want to apologize to
you for bringing this question up, but I feel like -- I generally support
Commissioner Henning's methodology to get where we need to go,
but I think that there's something very important that needs to come
up, and I mentioned it to you the other day when we met on this topic.
We're discussing proportionality, and it's my understanding that
these monies that are talking about being provided either from the
TDC or from the General Fund are going to be utilized to construct
T-Groin structures that are going to assist keeping the sand on the
beach and keeping the pass from filling up with sand in the future; is
that correct?
MR. ANDERSON: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Okay. So we have -- the county
has gone in and supported the construction of T-Groins on other areas
of the beach and they're proposing a system of T-Groins here.
My question is, if it's paid for proportionally, who's going to be
the owner of these structures and, in the future, who is going to be
responsible for their care and maintenance and replacement? I think
that is something that's going to have to be addressed at some point.
MR. OCHS: We'll address that, Commissioners, when we come
back at the next meeting with the item.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: You know, I hate to throw a
prickly pear right in the middle of the discussion, but it's something,
you know --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It's a great prickly pear.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: It's a big one.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It's a good one.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: And we need to -- you know, I
mean, somebody -- if somebody runs into one of these with a ship,
who's going to be liable for it and so on and so forth. So I think we
just need to have a wider discussion, and maybe this is going to apply
to other things in the future.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It's a very good question. Thank you
for asking that.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can we meet down there? Can
we meet down there in Marco? I'll take my boat out.
MR. ANDERSON: Okay. Sure.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It will take a half a day or so.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So Commissioner Henning made a
motion. Commissioner Fiala, would you like to second it?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
There being no further discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, did you vote against it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I voted against it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. He's a lone ranger today.
Motion carries 4-1 with Commissioner Coyle dissenting.
Item #10E (Tabled to later in the meeting)
RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT STAFF TO NEGOTIATE
AND BRING BACK TO THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT MEETING
A NEW RED LIGHT CAMERA AGREEMENT BETWEEN
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February 12, 2013
COLLIER COUNTY AND AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS
INCORPORATED (ATS), AND THAT GIVEN THE UPCOMING
MARCH 1ST DEADLINE WITH ATS, AS WELL AS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCEDURAL PROCESSES IN
PLACE, THAT THE BOARD WAIVE ANY REQUIREMENT FOR
FORMAL COMPETITION FOR THIS WORK
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that takes us to Item 10E. It's a
recommendation to direct staff to negotiate and bring back to the
board at its next meeting a new red light camera agreement between
Collier County and American Traffic Solutions, Incorporated, and that
given the upcoming March 1st deadline with ATS, as well as the
infrastructure and procedural processes in place, that the board waive
any requirement for formal competition for this work.
This item was placed on the agenda by Commissioner Fiala and
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, we have 20 registered public
speakers; however, everyone has ceded their time to one gentleman,
which would be 60 minutes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I believe there's a show called 60
minutes.
MR. MILLER: That's correct.
MR. HENRY: Madam Chair, I can do this in 20 minutes. I'll
just kind of negotiate with you here from the floor. I only need 20
minutes to give my presentation.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's fine. Thank you.
We have a time-certain at 12 o'clock to go into closed session on
a litigation settlement, so we do need to conclude this by that time.
Commissioner Fiala, you brought this forward.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, yes. I brought this forward
because I just felt that right now -- I've gotten so many letters, even
before this subject came back, and many people have mentioned that
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February 12, 2013
they'd gotten a ticket, and they fought the ticket until they saw
themselves on television and realized, yes, they had. And they said
it's really made them think when they come to a red light, and they
found that they're driving a lot safer.
Not only that, people who know that the cameras are there have
just been -- because the cameras are there, they said they've been
driving safer at all intersections regardless of whether there are
cameras or not, and they just feel it's an important thing just as an
awareness, if nothing else.
I've talked with the sheriff about this. I've talked with other
people. Actually, I've -- I've been on the speaker circuit recently.
With each one of the audiences, they have pledged their support
saying, I'm glad you're going to do this. Don't let it go because it just
keeps us safe. It keep us motivated to stop at red lights; whereas,
before we weren't even thinking. And the people that did get the
tickets were so surprised because they didn't realize they were going
through red lights, from what I've understood.
Maybe it's because they started through when it was yellow or
whatever. I'm not quite sure why, but they felt that this was -- they
now think twice with those cameras there. And I appreciate that.
My main concern -- I've read all of the things that people have
sent me, and I have read all of the letters for, and I've read all of the
letters against. You know what, I don't care what they do in Missouri.
I don't care what they do in the United States. I care what happens to
our people here in Collier County. That's all I'm concerned with. And
I want to keep them safe.
So I asked to put this back on the agenda. I understood some
things have been going on. For instance, the sheriffs office has
installed some intersection improvements, I'm going to put it that way
-- and the sheriff might want to get up and tell us about it -- that are
supposed to aid in eliminating people running the red lights.
Sheriff, would you like to come up and talk about that, please?
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February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, I'm sorry to interrupt, but that's
actually your transportation engineering staff that have --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Oh, did they do that?
MR. OCHS: -- implemented some engineering solutions in their
signalization system. The sheriffs familiar with it, so I'm sure he can
comment.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Thank you.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Good morning, Chair, and members of
the commission.
I support the direction that Commissioner Fiala is going. You
know, as I was reminded by my staff that there's not any one thing that
goes toward improving right-of-way safety. We've always looked at
education, engineering, and enforcement.
And when we look at the awareness part of education, we have
had, over the last couple of years, since 2008, when I first became
involved in this and then ultimately as sheriff, some very significant
stop-on-red campaigns, which I believe has contributed to more driver
safety and continuing awareness.
When we look at the engineering part of this, one of the things
that I've promoted within our organization -- and I know the manager
has been in his -- is the cooperative partnership between ourselves and
traffic engineering. And one of the great things that has come out of
that is that every intersection, regardless of whether there's a camera
there or not, when we begin to see an accident potential or an accident
problem due to actual data, we work together. We focus on how can
we make that intersection safer.
So it's an ongoing effort. We meet pretty much on a regular
basis; basically it's on need. They'll call; we come. We call; they'll
come. And, again, it's to promote total roadway safety.
So the other thing that I was made aware of this past week that I
didn't realize that had been put in place is we're now using technology
through traffic engineering that can actually look at the potential for
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people that may not stop at a red light and extends certain
intersections a little bit longer. And after reviewing what they have
provided, it is clear that, along with everything else we're doing, that is
a very important aspect of use of technology, and that is helping to
reduce accidents at our intersections.
So I think -- you know, when it comes down to what mechanisms
that we use as a community -- and I think you've heard a lot of
comments here this morning relative to governmental intrusion. You
know, I'm not here looking for speed cameras and drones and that.
You know, we looked at a way four or five years ago that would assist
us in keeping our roadways safe.
For a whole lot of reasons, I think we have been able to do that.
And I'm going to go on the record that we're going to continue to do
the good things that we've been doing in addition to putting more flex
operations out, which is the enforcement element of those three areas,
and we're doing that using data, again, that we see in focusing on areas
-- and they're not necessarily those with cameras or not -- that are
having traffic accidents.
So we've got a very good plan to continue to keep our roadways
safe. We're going to continue to work with your staff to do it. And I
think we continue to have a very safe Collier County.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Sheriff, I'd like to ask a question. In light of your presentation,
the majority of this board voted not to renew the red light camera
contract. I would like your position on the record to support the
majority of the board's position not to renew the contract.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Well, a decision to renew the contract or
use an effective technological item that's available is certainly a policy
decision based on the board. So I wouldn't presume to make that,
because the Board of County Commission, as you know, makes the
policy on what's established. My role is the enforcement of red light
running.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But you don't object to our having
voted against the renewal of the contract?
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Well, since I went on the record at the
time saying that I saw observable driving behavior that I thought was
attributable to red light cameras, I wouldn't want to reverse that. I still
think there is still some element of awareness and safety that that had
provided.
But what I think I'm saying is that we are going to continue to
work very hard, and I believe that with what we're doing today, that
I'm not as focused on a single enforcement effort such as red light
cameras.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sheriff, I have to really address the
comment you just made. The reason we don't have accidents at
intersections related to red light running is very clearly not because of
red light cameras. And the evidence is that given that we have so
many red light tickets and no commensurate numbers of collisions, it
is obvious that there is some alternative means that is protecting the
drivers of Collier County from red light related impacts.
And what is protecting the citizens of Collier County is not the
behavior modification introduced by the presence of the camera,
because if cameras create such a level of behavior modification, we
should be using them all over the place.
But to give you an example, there are more deaths attributable to
domestic battery than there are to red light camera running. Should
we have cameras in homes to protect people? And the argument, oh,
well, that's private versus public. Death is death.
The bottom line is, the reason we don't have the impacts, the
reason we don't have the accidents, is because we have an incredibly
well-engineered traffic signal system that protects collisions as a
consequence of people who run red lights.
And to give you some statistical evidence, I believe -- what was
-- Nick, could you come up. Just give me two intersections where -- I
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February 12, 2013
think it was Pine Ridge and Airport-Pulling; 27 million cars went
through that intersection in a year. We had two red light related
accidents. I cannot tell you how many red light runners we had.
The reason we didn't have collisions is because of the work that
Nick Casalanguida and his amazing traffic engineering staff have done
for Collier County.
And, by the way, the introduction of that signal system, that
engineered signal timing system came about, coincidently, about the
same time that the red light cameras were put in place.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: I would have to disagree with that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: I believe that that -- on a lot of basis -- I
think I just reviewed with you why I believe we have safer roadways.
You know, if you would like to get more into the specifics of the
discussion -- and maybe this is not the right place to have it -- you
know, I believed I was here to promote traffic safety in Collier County
but, obviously, that's not why I'm here, so --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But it is. I mean, you are definitely
here to enforce the laws that promote traffic safety. But I have a real
concern where I'm not hearing clearly what I would have hoped to
hear from you, and that is that the presence of red light cameras in --
or I should say the absence of red light cameras in Collier County will
not make our roads more unsafe than they are without them.
If we take those red light cameras --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Do you have you statistics for that?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: If we take those red light cameras
away, are you suggesting that the public's safety is at risk and
compromised as a consequence?
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: I clearly didn't say that. In fact --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. But I'm asking that question.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: In fact, I thought I said -- I thought I
said it --
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's the question I need answered,
though.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: I thought I said exactly the opposite of
that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: And -- which is, again, why I don't
understand that once I've just made that very clear, if we want to go
down and discuss what stats we have, what stats we don't, what
creates accidents, what does not create accidents, I would be happy to
do that. But the majority of that information is coming from your
traffic engineering department. It's not coming from my agency.
We're responsible for enforcement.
And I think one of the dilemmas is that we are continuing to have
violations of red lights. So I'll stop there, because I think that will just
open another separate discussion.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And there is no question that that
will continue whether or not we have red light cameras or not. We
have distracted drivers. We have drivers who are under the influence,
and there's no red light cameras that's going to stop those drivers from
running lights.
Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. I want to go on the record in
publicly supporting the effort of the sheriff, who is clearly focused on
the safety of our drivers in Collier County.
I would also like to commend Mr. Casalanguida and his traffic
operations efforts who, everybody must acknowledge at this point,
was well ahead of the curve on this issue and made the decision to
support the expenditures to do that.
That having been said, the issue at hand here is whether, as a
matter of public policy, red light cameras promote public safety.
There is a great deal of contention over that fact, and that revolves
around the way the public gets its information and the public
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perception.
And I'm going to go off on a little bit of a soapbox here to get
some of this out in the public because I think it's very, very important.
The public receives its information on red light cameras -- and
that's what I'm addressing. I'm not addressing public safety. I'm
addressing red light cameras -- from several different places. It
receives a great deal of information from the insurance industry, and it
receives a great deal of information from red light camera companies.
Both of those industries, which are enormous in our country,
benefit substantially from the sale and use of red light cameras. The
insurance industry, for example, Geico, in the western states in
California and Arizona, has revenue over $540 million in California
alone, loves red light cameras because every time there's a citation
issued, they use those citations out there where it's legal to raise
insurance rates.
Conversely, red light camera companies as a whole are very,
very aggressive in promoting their product. They promote their
product for their own selfish reasons. They're interested in making
money. It's over a $14 billion industry as a whole.
And there are tons of red light camera companies. There's
American Traffic Solutions, which we use; there's Red Flex, Red
Speed, Traffic Pack, Skato (phonetic), Affiliated Community Services,
Laser Craft, and a host of others.
And the methodology that they use to get information to the
public is that they hire public relations firms that create front groups.
And what the front groups do is position themselves as public safety
organizations to gain the confidence of the public and to promote their
business. This is not illegal. This is perfectly good business.
But what they do is they go way out of their way to mold public
opinion. And what they do is they create these front groups to act for
them to create the illusion and the deception that their grass-roots
public agencies focus on public safety when they're not. What sorts of
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groups are these? What names of them? I'm sure you've heard of a lot
of them.
If you've looked on the Internet or you've tried to seek
information, you've heard of all these groups: National Coalition for
Safer Roads, Keep Houston Safe, The Traffic Safety Coalition,
Partnership for Advancing Road Safety, National Campaign to Stop
Red Light Running, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
All these are nothing but corporate front groups to promote these
industries. There's direct ties to them.
In a one-way communication, one of the things that I sent out
was a document from the State of Missouri where the National
Coalition for Safer Roads was incorporated as a not-for-profit. Very
interesting. It's got a very beautiful website. It goes out and promotes
itself very well.
At the time it was incorporated in the State of Missouri, the board
of directors of the National Coalition for Safer Roads consisted of the
following people: James Tuton, president, CEO, and founder of
American Traffic -- of ATS; Charles Territo, vice president of
communications for ATS; David Kelly, the head of the public
relations firms for ATS, Storm King; George Hitner, counsel for ATS;
and Mr. Ronald Reagan. Mr. Ronald Reagan was a gentleman that
sponsored the bill to enable red light cameras in the State of Florida.
He, at that time, was their director of national advocacy and outreach,
a highly paid employee of ATS.
So that's who your grass-roots group has consisted of. This is the
sort of things we have to take into account when we examine the
information coming forward.
So, you know, these front groups put together a pro cam, or
public service campaigns, they solicit and exploit victims using
appeals to emotion to bend the opinion of the public, they give
selective information, they manipulate data to support their products,
which is not illegal, but they basically are masking the sponsors of the
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message.
So the question that we have here in Collier County is really
where are we going to get our information to make public policy
decisions on health and safety in our community.
I know a lot of people think that the red light cameras are a good
idea. They're intuitively a good idea. People think, well, people that
run red lights are evil people, so they should certainly pay a fine, so on
and so forth. It's easy to sell that.
But as members of the government, we are trying to make a
public health and safety determination in our community, and it is
whether red light cameras promote safety or they do not. There's a lot
of evidence that they do not.
Two other things that I've submitted into the public record, and I
want to present these documents, which I sent to all the commissioners
here on a one-way communication, are some findings from objective
third-party professionals that are tasked with evaluating things
regarding public safety and health, and one of them that we have right
here in Florida is the University of South Florida College of Public
Health. And I've put into the public record and delivered to the fine
commissioners here two articles one of which is entitled, "An Update
on Red Light Camera Research and the Need for Federal Standards in
the Interest of Public Safety," and a second is an article entitled
"Counterpoint."
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study actually found
cities using red light cameras had higher red light running fatality
rates. As a summary in that one, this agency went through, and they
talked about what the study had been done by the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety -- remember that's a front group for the insurance
agency -- and they outlined how they used flawed research methods,
how they incorrectly reported findings, and how they biased the
selection of sampled cities to get the results that they wanted. So these
are the dilemmas that we're looking at.
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And as a matter of public safety in Collier County, one of the
first things that a government has to do is they first have to decide up
front that they are going to do no harm. Doing good is one thing. The
first thing we have to make sure is that we do no harm.
Many, many cities have taken red light cameras out after
consideration: Los Angeles, Houston, a lot of others have decided to
go in the other direction.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sarasota. Sarasota just did.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: There's a lot of them that are
considering it, and they're looking at information; they're trying to
gather information. Information to the public is 90 percent put out by
corporate front groups.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Is this a filibuster?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Sounds like it.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: No, it's not -- well, yes, okay, it is.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I just want to know.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'm just trying to make it to lunch,
Commissioner Coyle.
But I'm just outlining the reasons why -- I do support the sheriff
and I do support Collier County in being safe, but I do not feel that
these are a safety feature for the reasons that I've outlined.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. You'd think if red light
cameras promoted safety, we'd have them in all of the intersections
instead of 11, or 10? Eleven, ten?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Ten.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Anyways, Commissioner Fiala,
I have a question for you.
The people in favor of the red light cameras, would you report
how many you feel that -- supportive in Collier County, and are those
basically the same people who emailed all the commissioners or
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wrote?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I'm mainly talking about the
audiences that I've spoken to. I've been moving in different circles. A
lot of the homeowner associations, their annual meetings that I've been
speaking to. Actually, I've been the guest speaker at a couple other
events.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, would it be fair to say that
we received correspondence in favor of the red light cameras at the
county commissioner office?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, they're just telling me in an
open forum, but I've also received some letters.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, it is fair to say that we
receive correspondence of supporting red light cameras.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Verbal correspondence as well, yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. That was the question,
but that's fine.
And the reason -- and I would say 200, at the best, support it.
Those were a result of this company or a not-for-profit organization
conducting robocalls.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'm sorry, sir. That --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I have the floor. And if you
support it, they either -- they get you to the County Commissioners
Office.
Now, if you say you don't support it, they hang up. Okay. That
is what happens -- that is what happened in this. This is a well-funded
organization, and this is why it's being brought up.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I have the floor.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, but that's a lie.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I'm going to have to talk to this
guy over here to do something.
But isn't it interesting that it was a 3-2 vote on doing away with
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the contract that happened in December after reconsideration -- now
we're in February -- after reconsideration could happen, and none of
the three who supported it are bringing it back; however, we have a
new way to bring it back, and that is a new contract for a contractor
who is paying and soliciting to lobby the commissioners to give them
a contract without going out to competitive bid. Isn't that interesting?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, let me defend that.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Without going out to
competitive bid.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: He's making accusations.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So anyways, I am going to --
since I see where this is going -- the public wants to know where we're
going with this, and it's almost time when we have to go into closed
circuit, so I'm going to make a motion that we deny the
recommendation.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: May I speak?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah. My light has been on a long
time.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'm sorry. The sheriff would like to
speak. Would you allow the sheriff to speak ahead of you --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, please, please.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- or would you like to speak?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I just want --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I know. I haven't ignored you. It's
just -- I'm going to sequence.
Go ahead, Sheriff.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: All right. So maybe we're going down
the wrong road here. It was my impression after doing research that
we were not going to be requesting this to go back to be renewed in
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talking with the commissioner.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's not what she's
recommending. She wants it renewed.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Well, that wasn't the impression I got
when I was coming up here.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. She made it very clear that she
wants it renewed.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I wanted to keep the red lights, yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: She wants the -- she -- what
Commissioner Fiala would like is for us to give the contract back to
this company without going out to competitive bid.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, I never said that. I never said
that. I don't care if we go to another company. That doesn't --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Well, it just said, in your
executive summary --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I never said that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But it says, waive any requirement
for formal competition for this --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I didn't write that; I'm sorry.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, you didn't?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, no.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Who wrote that?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't know.
MR. KLATZKOW: I did.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You did?
MR. KLATZKOW: I did.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. The county attorney wrote
that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you for clarifying that.
SHERIFF RAMBOSK: Okay. My misunderstanding. If,
Commissioner, that's the way you're going, I don't believe this aids us
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in our continued enforcement with red light running, to place it back
on the agenda. And I'll state that for the record. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Thank you very much.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Now, may I respond? I know
Commissioner Coyle is next.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. Commissioner Coyle, really --
unless he would like to waive and allow you to --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Based upon what the sheriff just
said, I'm not getting into this process.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You know, I think all this
conspiracy theory stuff and black helicopters and everything is really
strange. When you can't rely on the experts of your -- in the county
with respect to enforcement, and you can't trust them, then I don't
know that there's any point in debating this at all. So it's just my
feeling that it's a simple question, has nothing to do about who's
advertising what or who's lobbying to do what. I don't care what they
say. I want to listen to our local people about what's right for our
people in Collier County. And it is simply an issue of the most
efficient way to enforce the traffic laws.
Now, you could apply the same arguments that other
commissioners have applied to the radar detectors that are used by law
enforcement to determine if people are speeding. This is merely new
technology that is designed to make it more efficient to detect red light
runners.
So what is going to happen is that if the sheriff is going to
enforce our traffic laws, he will have to put a sheriffs deputy at every
intersection and try to detect all of the red light runners that occur
there. And I can tell you right now every day at lunch there will be
eight or 10 running the red light making a left turn onto Airport Road
right outside this complex, and a sheriff in a deputy's car can only stop
maybe one or two of them.
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So it's going to be a very difficult and expensive process and you,
the taxpayers, are going to pay for it.
So the sheriff, if he wants to continue to enforce the traffic laws
against red light running, will come into the Board of County
Commissioners and ask for hundreds of thousands of additional
dollars for the staff and the equipment to exercise that enforcement
process.
So just wait. The bill is coming to you who opposed these
things. So we'll see what the -- I guess we'll apply the drunken sailor
concept again here pretty soon, but we'll have to see how much it's
going to cost us.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. First of all, I'm very insulted
by Commissioner Henning's accusations. I don't know where he
comes up with this.
Let me tell you -- and then the tittering from the audience
because they must be thinking, oh, that's all true, which it's not true at
all.
Where I came up with the idea was Jeff Lytle. Jeff was writing
columns on it thinking we still needed to keep the red lights, and I
thought he had a good idea there. And I told him, you know, I'm
going to follow through -- keep the red light cameras, and I said, I'm
going to follow through with that and told him I would. And not that
he said I had to or anything. It was my idea after I read his columns.
That's where it started. I don't even know what this robocall business
is.
So then as I was speaking to groups -- I've spoken to two Kiwanis
groups, to a Methodist women's club, to homeowners associations
meetings, and every single place -- and, again, these people are just
saying, keep the red light cameras. It's so much safer.
I'm just listening to the people in the community. I'm not reading
everything in all of these traffic things around the United States. As I
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February 12, 2013
said before, I only care about us here in Collier County. I worry about
everybody being safe.
And that's the only thing that is even prompting me to do that,
your safety; your safety, my safety, and my kids' safety.
Now, a combination of efforts -- for instance, adjusting of the
lights, the red light cameras. I think a good combination of everything
only keeps us safer. Are you afraid of getting a red light? Is that why
you -- a red light ticket? Is that why you oppose it?
I mean, you know, if everybody's driving safely and you never
get a ticket, they never make any money. You don't have to worry
about who benefits, because if you're not running a red light, no one
benefits.
So these are things that went to -- I don't even know what you're
talking about, this concentrated effort. That's -- I have no idea. That
didn't -- that never entered my mind. Only entering my mind is you
and your safety. That's it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have to recess for lunch.
Commissioner Nance and Commissioner Henning would like to
speak. We still have a public speaker. So we will resume this agenda
item when we return.
And we have a motion on the table that we still have to vote on.
MR. KLATZKOW: What do you want to do about the shade
session?
Item #12A
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, PURSUANT TO SECTION
286.011(8), FLA. STAT., THE COUNTY ATTORNEY DESIRES
ADVICE FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
IN CLOSED ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION ON TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 12, 2013. THE SESSION WILL BE HELD AT A
TIME CERTAIN OF 12:00 NOON, IN THE COMMISSION'S
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February 12, 2013
OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, 3RD FLOOR, W. HARMON
TURNER ADMINISTRATION BUILDING F, COLLIER COUNTY
GOVERNMENT CENTER, 3299 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL,
NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112. IN ADDITION TO BOARD
MEMBERS, COUNTY MANAGER LEO OCHS, AND COUNTY
ATTORNEY JEFFREY KLATZKOW WILL BE IN
ATTENDANCE. THE BOARD IN CLOSED EXECUTIVE
SESSION WILL DISCUSS: STRATEGY RELATED TO
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND LITIGATION
EXPENDITURES IN THE PENDING CASES: FRANCIS D.
HUSSEY, JR., ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET AL., SECOND
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D11-1224; AND
SEAN HUSSEY, ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET AL.,
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D 11-1223
- CLOSED SESSION
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We need to go into the shade
session right now. We're going to go in the shade session, and then
after the shade session we will resume this discussion, because it has
to be voted, and we still have commissioners who want to speak.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'm going to make an announcement that we
will be commencing the --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Please be quiet. Gentlemen, we're
still in session. I'm sorry.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'm going to be making the announcement,
then, that the Board of County Commissioners, together with the
county manager, Mr. Ochs, and myself, will be commencing a shade
session with respect to the Hussey matter. We're going in now. We
will return from the shade session approximately one p.m.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So we'll return at 1:05 to resume
where we left off. So thank you.
(The shade session was held.)
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February 12, 2013
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you have a live mike.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And we will just get started in a
moment after the county attorney returns.
In the meantime, if you-all were wondering what we were talking
about, we were talking about the perfect romance, because Valentine's
Day is coming up.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Nobody was wondering about that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, we understand that you're
nobody, but there are people out there who were interested. And,
really, the ultimate romance is between Morticia and Gomez in the
Addams Family. I mean, there is no perfect -- more perfect romance.
He is the ultimate gentleman, and she is the most perfect lady. And,
remember, this Valentine's Day you buy the bouquet of flowers and
you just chop the rose heads off. Just hand the stems over. You've got
it made.
Is the county attorney here?
We have to wait for the county attorney because we can't start
discussing the settlement without his direction.
What was it? I believe that Gomez used to call Morticia Cara
Mia, and then she would call him Shevie (phonetic). Those are the
little things that make the difference.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: In other words, what you're trying to
say is remember your sweetheart for sweetheart's day?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes, exactly. And I think the
perfect word for Valentine's Day, for all of you out there interested in
this discussion, surrender, surrender. That's it, one word, surrender,
and you will have a perfect Valentine's Day.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You would have a perfect Board of
County Commission meeting if you do that, too.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle, every time I
look in your eyes, the word "surrender" comes to me. It really does.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I'm sure of that.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It does.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: No. Valentine's Day is one of
those where that old southern maxim comes up that everybody knows
they have to obey, and that's if mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You're right.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Just keep that in mind, and you'll
sail right through.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's why I'm single.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: You forgot that rule?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No, I know that rule. I'm an
independent thinker.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You want to hear another good line?
I mean, since we're on this Valentine's --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We haven't heard one good one
yet.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Darling, that's because -- that is
because you're hard of hearing, okay?
Okay. What's another -- you shouldn't should love. How's that?
Is that a good one? You shouldn't should love. Think about it. That's
deep.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: What?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You shouldn't should love.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That's true.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can we talk about green lights?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Can we get the county attorney?
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am.
MR. KLATZKOW: My apologies.
Item #12B (Tabled to later in the meeting)
FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO
PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY
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February 12, 2013
REGARDING SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES IN THE PENDING CASES:
FRANCIS D. HUSSEY, JR., ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET
AL., SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D11-
1224; AND SEAN HUSSEY, ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET
AL., SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D11-
1223 - MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM TO ALLOW THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY AND PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY TIME
TO REWORK SETTLEMENT LANGUAGE — APPROVED; A
SETTLEMENT WAS AGREED UPON BY ALL PARTIES AS
PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We're on 12B, Jeff.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's under the county attorney's
report.
MR. KLATZKOW: Do you want to do 12B now?
MR. OCHS: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: The shade session's now concluded. 12B is
the hearing of the settlement agreement.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have concluded our shade
session and, Commissioner Nance, I believe, would like to discuss his
proposal.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. It's an unfortunate thing
when you have litigation in a county. When you find the citizens and
the county in legal action against one another, it means that we've had
a failure as a community, and somewhere down the road we didn't do
something right together.
So I believe it's the -- it's the intention of the Board of County
Commissioners to reach a settlement at this time, and I believe that
we've reached a settlement that probably doesn't give everybody
everything that they wanted, and that's probably a good thing, because
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February 12, 2013
if everybody's a little dissatisfied with it, then we're probably striking
a balance that gets things done for everybody.
At this point I'm going to make a motion to accept the settlement
under consideration as written and see if I can get a second, or we can
open it for discussion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second it for discussion.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I believe there was a few minor
changes to what was in our agenda, Mr. Klatzkow?
MR. KLATZKOW: The exhibits have been slightly modified.
There's a new exhibit page, and then there's a legal description for
Exhibit B, and I'll put Exhibit A on the monitor.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, we do have five registered
speakers for this item.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Who's the speakers?
MR. MILLER: We have Roger Rice, Mark Teaters. Am I saying
that right?
MR. TEATERS: Yes.
MR. MILLER: Nicole Johnson, Peter Gaddy, and Nancy
Payton.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Are you ready for the speakers?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I believe Commissioner Fiala would
like to speak first.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, that's all right. I'd like to hear
the speakers first.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I would like to make a comment
before we get to the speakers. I don't believe that the settlement
proposal as presented, which is complicated, achieves the sought-after
intent. I believe that what ought to be on the table is a very simplified
version that boils down to what the Husseys are asking for, and that is
the right to apply for a conditional use permit to mine their property.
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And I believe that the settlement offer should be limited to giving
them the right to do that.
What's proposed here by swapping properties and all sorts of
development rights, in my opinion, is opening up a Pandora's box that
we should leave closed and doesn't achieve the intended objective.
So I just wanted to throw that out there, and I would like to have
the board consider a simplified settlement offer, even though there is a
motion on the table and a second, rather than what is being proposed
here right now.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And, actually, basically that's what I
was going to say after we heard from our speakers, but I first wanted
to hear from them, but I agree with you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Can we hear our
speakers.
MR. MILLER: Your first public speaker is Roger Rice. He'll be
followed by Mark Teaters.
MR. RICE: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I represent
CityGate Development, LLC; 850 NWN, LLC; and CD2, LLC,
collectively, the developers of the CityGate Commerce Park.
CityGate is an approved PUD/DRI of approximately 287 acres.
It is a commercial and industrial park that is a vested DRI.
CityGate is in close proximity to the Husseys' property and
appears that it will be the focus of heavy truck traffic from any mining
operation on the Husseys' property, as it connects to 951 and Collier
Boulevard.
While CityGate recognizes the public's interest served by the
resolution of the pending litigation and the limitation of the potential
financial exposure to the county, it does object to the proposed --
currently proposed Hussey settlement agreement being considered and
entered into by Collier County without first addressing CityGate
Commerce Park's concerns.
These concerns were -- excuse me. These concerns were
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itemized and listed and detailed in a letter that was sent to you
yesterday from Attorney Richard Annunziata with the law firm of
Brennan, Manna & Diamond.
I won't go into details. I'll just talk about two of the concerns
with the proposed settlement.
We believe that it's deficient in that it fails to clearly set forth that
any earth mining operation on the Hussey property will be subject to
the conditional use process, including public hearings, and provide for
an analysis of any use and impact of such use. Again, I mean, this
could be simply resolved by making that clear.
Our second concern is the term "future Wilson Boulevard
extension." That should be defined to mean the extension of Wilson
Boulevard from its current terminus south to the east/west connecting
road of White Lake Boulevard.
Now, the Florida Rock private haul road which is on -- listed on
one of the exhibits, is just a portion of, and it is not part of the future --
it is part of but not the future Wilson Boulevard extension. If it is
anything, it's an extension of White Lake. It's 3 miles from where
Wilson Boulevard terminates to where the haul road would begin, 3
mile of gap.
In raising its objections, CityGate wants to make it very clear it
does not object to the Wilson Boulevard extension system as set forth
in the 2035 plan. Such a system will be of great benefit to the Golden
Gate residents, existing business, and future businesses that will use
the system as well as the public service providers such as Collier
County utilities division, South Collier Regional Water Treatment
Plant, and the Collier County Landfill.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Mark Teaters. He'll
be followed by Nicole Johnson.
MR. TEATERS: Good morning, Commissioners. Mark Teaters.
I am here representing the homeowners association of Golden Gate
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Estates.
I was chosen because of my obvious proximity to the potential
uses of this property and the roadway network.
I do agree with the chair. I think that this agreement is not -- it's
not correct. I don't think it's what we need to be doing right now. I
think the settlement on this is premature.
I think that we all should understand that any changes in the
North Belle Meade overlay, which is an important thing, are going to
be cumulative. And I think that it's going to -- it's going to have
tremendous impacts on the entire area; not just North Belle Meade,
but the Golden Gate Estates as well.
I think -- the public meeting process that Commissioner Henning
suggested before we went to the Planning Commission I think is
important, and I think we need to get to that. People need to truly
understand the impacts of this.
Also, back to transportation. The affect and impact on Golden
Gate Estates and its citizens. This is not going to be a pretty thing. I
don't really think it's a good thing at all.
Again, I think that -- I think that this should go on. I think we
should get a specialized attorney to work with the Bert Harris claim. I
don't think that the person that's suing us has demonstrated there's a --
I don't think they've demonstrated that they have a claim.
To say that there's $92 million worth of rock in the ground,
there's no demonstration of that. There's no proof.
Anyway, I appreciate the opportunity today, and I'm sure you
guys will make the right -- you guys and ladies will make the right
decision.
Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Nicole Johnson. She'll be
followed by Peter Gaddy.
MS. JOHNSON: Good afternoon. For the record, Nicole
Johnson, here on behalf of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
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The Conservancy believes that it's premature to go into a
settlement at this time, and we believe that the proposed settlement is
not appropriate at any time.
From the Conservancy's perspective, there are two basic
overarching components to this litigation. The first deals with the
designation of the Hussey property as sending lands through the rural
fringe TDR program. The validity of that program and its
compensation through TDRs for both surface and subsurface rights
has been challenged and won, appealed and won, challenged again,
and so you're on that second appeal.
So how strong is the county's case? We believe that you would
benefit by having an attorney specializing in Bert Harris litigation sit
down and really take a look so the county can position itself to
determine if you want to negotiate and, if so, where are you at for your
leverage in the negotiation process.
The second overarching component to this case would seem to be
the claim that there is this tremendous quantity of rock on the Husseys'
property, that there's a $91 million diminishment in value because the
sending land designation does not allow the mining. I haven't seen
any data and analysis to show that that is, indeed, the case, and I think
that's something that the county needs to have in front of them as
you're doing any kind of negotiations.
Moving from these overarching issues to the draft settlement
that's before you today for discussion. The Conservancy is strongly
opposed to the concept of including land use changes in this
settlement for lands that have nothing to do with the Hussey Bert
Harris claim, being the lands on the 846 Land Trust property. This
land is located nowhere near the Hussey property in North Belle
Meade, and the ecological value of the land is not equivalent, so it just
isn't appropriate.
The concept of keeping the balance of sending lands equal
through this acre-per-acre swap as stated in the draft settlement doesn't
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address the intent of the rural fringe program which was to take a look
and identify at a landscape level those areas that, from an ecological,
connectivity, adjacency to other conservation lands' perspective, really
made sense for the sending designations.
Turning the Hussey sending to receiving and the 846 receiving to
sending purely because the owners of the lands find such changes
mutually beneficial we believe really does not work and certainly
diminishes the intent and the integrity of the rural fringe program.
So to conclude, we ask that instead of pursuing this settlement,
you take a step back, have a Bert Harris attorney work with you, take
a look at the $91 million claim of rock in the property, and that once
you do decide, if you do, to go into negotiation discussions, the 846
land be separated.
And, Commissioner Hiller and Fiala, I appreciate that you're
really wanting to separate those two out, but there also needs to be
some compensation. If you're going to look at allowing some sort of
use on the Husseys' North Belle Meade property, how are they going
to compensate for that sending land that will not be protected? So the
compensation point is really what still needs to be gotten at.
But we appreciate your work on this.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Commissioner Fiala would like to comment.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just a couple questions.
I've heard you, and I agree with you as far as an attorney's
specifically addressing Bert Harris. Tom Pelham specializes in that,
doesn't he? Does he still? I know I've talked to you briefly, but I
would like you to mention again.
MS. JOHNSON: He does. I don't know when his last case was,
but he is an attorney that has Bert Harris specialization and, of course,
he was on the defending end of that when he was secretary of DCA,
both terms; he was secretary in the '80s and then just several years
ago. So he, from our perspective, is very much qualified.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay, fine.
And another thing, I was just wondering -- and maybe you can
tell me as an environmentalist -- how land that has been considered
sending lands -- sending lands, right, nothing should be on there, it's
environmentally sensitive, how can, miraculously, they become
receiving lands?
I just -- and vice versa. How can receiving lands who have been
open to anything now all of a sudden become environmentally
sensitive? Do you have an answer for me on that?
MS. JOHNSON: Well, that's the concern that there was a
specific thought process involved in determination of the sending
lands and the receiving lands. It made logical sense from what was on
the land, what the land was adjacent to, did it connect panther
movement, wetland corridors, those sorts of things.
So you'd really have to take a look and see, if some change were
desired on one portion, does it make sense? Is there a way to
compensate in the immediate area for those impacts? And, you know,
I haven't really looked specifically at that site but --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
MS. JOHNSON: Yeah, it is --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That was just a question I've had. I
have pages of questions here.
But just going back to what Commissioner Hiller said and, of
course, I have been thinking this as well -- in fact, we discussed it in --
I don't know if I'm allowed to say that -- in shade session. Was -- if
they're just after -- if their real bottom line is that they wanted to have
the ability to apply for a conditional use, you don't have a problem
with that, do you?
MS. JOHNSON: Well --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: On their own personal property
without swapping anything.
MS. JOHNSON: Right. Well, it -- on the sending lands,
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conditional uses for mining were something that specifically were
prohibited.
If the county wanted to enter into negotiations to allow that use, I
think we'd have to see what area would be logical to do that on and
what compensation, but --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. And if I may clarify to add
to what Commissioner Fiala said. The issue is whether or not they
should have the right to apply for a conditional use permit and then, as
you say, to the extent that this is sending -- and the label doesn't
change the character of the land. You can call it sending, receiving;
you can call it anything you like. It is still environmentally what it is.
So if they were given the right to apply for a conditional use
permit and the board were to approve that permit and give them the
right to mine, then there would be offsetting mitigation because you
are, in effect, working with environmentally sensitive land. And the
question of what that mitigation would be would come into play.
MS. JOHNSON: Well, it would, but under your conditional use
provisions, they really deal more with land use compatibility. And I'm
not sure they really offer you the opportunity to dig down into the
detail of -- because these were sending lands and they have that higher
ecological value, I'm not sure how limited the county might be in
placing additional constraints on that. Because for many of the
environmental and wetland issues, the county defers to the agencies.
So the conditional use process may be a bit more limiting than
that. You can put conditions on, but to what extent you can do
appropriate compensation for turning sending or allowing mining on
sending where it was not anticipated, I'm not sure how much latitude
you would have on that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So it wouldn't be us but rather the
state and federal agencies that would make that determination?
MS. JOHNSON: That would be strictly from the wetlands and
wildlife issues. But, you know, remember, the sending land
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designation dealt with county planning and --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I understand. Well, I think the point
you make is a very important one because, regardless of the label, the
nature of the land is what it is, and any use that is permitted on that
land will be subject to mitigation as dictated by the state and federal
agencies. So, yeah, I understand that.
So, you know, we're back at that bottom-line question of, you
know -- the swap accomplishes nothing, in my mind, nothing. The
issue is whether or not they ought to be given the right to apply for
that conditional use permit. And if there's a majority of the board that
supports that, then they can apply for that and then, as you point out,
mitigation would be determined by other agencies. Okay.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Peter Gaddy. He'll
be followed by Nancy Payton.
MR. GADDY: Good afternoon, Commissioners.
Madam Chair, your comment that the swap accomplishes nothing
is not quite true. It does have substantial effects. And I'd like to -- I'm
going to confine my remarks to Paragraph 8 of the agreement, which I
think is very poorly written, very ambiguous, and it's uncertain exactly
what rights are being transferred to the 846 property owners.
The rural fringe mixed-use district was created to provide a
transition between rural and urban. What happens in the settlement
agreement is that as far as the 846 property is concerned, they are --
they are singled out for special consideration.
Let me tell you some of the things that they can do with that 846
property that other owners in the rural fringe area cannot do. They
can proceed to a PUD without a Growth Management Plan
amendment. They can create 2.5 units per acre, which is an urban
standard, not a transitional standard.
They eliminate the green belt, which is required around rural
villages. The rural village can exceed 1,500 acres. The 846 will
receive 578 acres of sending land, approximately $14 million worth of
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sending land. An arterial road will go through their property, an
action that's prohibited in the rural fringe.
Millions of square feet of commercial could potentially be
developed. The residents of the surrounding community of Golden
Gate Estates are being cheated of the public process by this settlement.
I would ask that you reject the current settlement and go back to the
simple solution suggested by the chair.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. And I just want to
clarify. When I said it doesn't do anything; you're right, it does all
those bad things. I meant it just doesn't add value to the settlement.
We can achieve what is intended, which is to give the Husseys the
opportunity to apply for a conditional use permit before --
MR. GADDY: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- before the board without doing all
this extraneous stuff which has all these unintended, potentially -- and
I say potentially because you never know -- but negative
consequences.
MR. GADDY: Yeah. There's potentially a lot of damage
involved, which is difficult to put a price on at this point in time.
I think there are just going to be all sorts of unintended
consequences from this settlement, and this settlement is not going to
do anything to bar the environmental groups for continuing the
litigation.
So my suggestion would be come up with a settlement that's
going to satisfy everybody and end the litigation before you wind up
spending millions in attorney's fees.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Nancy Payton.
She'll be followed by your final public speaker on this item, John
Vega.
MS. PAYTON: Good afternoon. Nancy Payton representing the
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Florida Wildlife Federation.
Florida Wildlife Federation and Collier County Audubon Society
are defendant intervenors in the Circuit Court and are appellants in the
appeal court. The Court agreed that we have the right to defend the
interests of endangered species.
The Federation and Collier County Audubon Society presented
several reasons for dismissing the Hussey complaints including: The
claims are untimely and fail to meet the criteria of the 1995 Bert
Harris Act.
The Growth Management Plan restrictions on mining are
required by laws that existed prior to May 11, 1995, which is the date
that the Bert Harris was enacted; especially, we refer to the 1972
Federal Endangered Species Act. This law prohibits Collier County
from adopting land use decisions resulting in habitat modifications
which significantly impair the behavior of endangered species and,
specifically, we speak of the Florida panther and the Red-cockaded
woodpecker, both federally protected.
The Federal Endangered Species Act not only prohibits the acts
of those persons who directly take or harm an endangered species
through habitat degradation, the act also prohibits actions of a third
party, such as Collier County, which will bring about secondary
impacts and cumulative secondary impacts likely to take/harm, an
endanger species.
Collier County Audubon Society and the Federation withdrew
from the settlement talks because the habitat needs of Florida panthers
and the Red-cockaded woodpeckers failed to receive proper
consideration. And, in fact, your proposal that you're considering
today has no consideration for them.
Remember, sending lands are the result of a successful challenge
by the State of Florida, Collier Audubon, and Florida Wildlife
Federation. We brought that in 1999 because Collier County failed to
properly protect the habitat of listed species.
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February 12, 2013
Dr. Hussey challenged that and failed. He appealed that; failed.
Collier County, Collier County Audubon Society, and Florida Wildlife
Federation have prevailed every time in every hearing room and in
every courtroom for over 10 years.
Please don't give up now. In doing so, the North Belle Meade
overlay will be undermined and the entire rural fringe mixed-use
district is put in jeopardy.
Brad Cornell provided you with a letter, which I will put into the
record. He also commented about the ecological disparities between
846 and Dr. Hussey's property.
I also wanted to make a comment to Commissioner Hiller about
federal review. And it's important to note that if there are no impacts
to federally protected or considered wetlands, there is no trigger for
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to require mitigation or panther
compensation. It becomes, from their perspective, voluntary. So if
the mining operation avoids wetlands, there is no federal trigger. So
you, ultimately, are the last resort for the protection of those
endangered species.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala would like to --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, I'll wait till after Mr. Vega. I'll
get it first then.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
MR. MILLER: Your final speaker on this item is John Vega.
MR. VEGA: I merely wish to address the legal arguments raised
by Mr. Annunziata and Ms. Payton.
This is not the final stop, even if we reach a settlement. By law,
under the Bert Harris Act, any settlement agreement must be brought
jointly into the Circuit Court for review and approval by the judge,
and the measure of approval is for the Court to ensure that the relief
granted protects the public interest.
If those arguments are valid, which I disagree with, the forum to
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have that argument is not here. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Mr. Vega, excuse me. I want to
ask one question, if I might.
You heard the comments from Mr. Gaddy regarding the PUD
provisions in Paragraph 8 of the settlement agreement. Would your
client -- in order to secure a settlement today, would your client be
willing to forego those references to PUD in Paragraph 8?
MR. VEGA: I would have to defer that question to Mr. Bruce
Anderson, but he's indicated a willingness to speak.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Mr. Anderson, could you -- Mr.
Anderson, there seems to be a great concern about the potential
ramification of going forward with a PUD and its impact on other
receiving landowners in the -- in the rural fringe.
Would you be willing to strike those couple of sentences
regarding PUD in order to achieve a settlement today, sir?
MR. ANDERSON: I think so. I'm not clear what gets
accomplished by that because the PUD requires a public hearing
process.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I understand that, but there seems
to be some anxiety over granting that. It might be of some comfort to
some of the commissioners here if we could just eliminate that whole
discussion down the road and you would just accept the provisions of
the settlement agreement, and agreeing just to have only the rights
within the RFMUD that any other property owner would enjoy, sir.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: By RFMUD you mean?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: The rural fringe misuse (sic)
district.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Mixed-use.
MR. KLATZKOW: Misuse.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Mixed.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala would like to
comment.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll just fill in the gap until Mr.
Anderson comes back. You've heard my concerns, but I have one
other concern I'd like to put on the record right now and that is the
concern that isn't addressed in here. But I'm thinking of all the
residents that live in that area. And if something like this takes place
-- and I have to say, Dr. Hussey never ever envisioned that this would
be a problem area. When he bought this land way back when, it was
in the wilderness. So he thought he was buying an area that would be
perfect for mining. It was in the wilderness. Whoever thought that we
would grow so quickly and grow out so far?
But here we are in this age, and it's grown very quickly, and
everybody wants to live in a paradise, and we do. And other people
want to come and join us.
So I'm thinking about the people who already live there. If they
had mining trucks and maybe 300 a day going down their streets, I
mean, that would be a terrible impact to neighborhoods. Not only
that, but if you decided you didn't want to live with those trucks going
by for 30 years, then you want to sell your house, but you have no
value left because nobody else wants to buy your house. I think of
that.
Not only that, but that area could never grow with growth taking
place as it is. People would not want to move near a mine or near the
roadways leading from the mine to other areas.
I'm afraid it would just make that a dead area, and I'm very
concerned with that as well.
Thank you.
MR. ANDERSON: Commissioner Nance, the answer is yes.
On the overhead the lines that are struck through, is that what
you were wanting to be removed?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. I was just wondering if the
commissioners would take a look at that and just examine the third
and the fourth sentences are all references to PUD zoning and
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anything to do with PUD zoning within there. The rest of it is
restricted to -- just restates that it's eligible for general use under the
rural fringe mixed-use district, but it does, indeed, extend the TDR
bonus credit for sending areas.
MR. ANDERSON: The other thing that it does is still keeps the
acreage exchange.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes; yes, sir.
MR. ANDERSON: So a portion of the State Road 846 lands
would become sending lands --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes.
MR. ANDERSON: -- in an equal amount to --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. The only thing we're talking
about is the language exactly as you've struck through.
MR. ANDERSON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I think -- I want to clarify. The
TDR language should be eliminated also. There's a fundamental
problem with that whole TDR program, and it would be -- it would be
unenforceable, unworkable. What government did is they basically
set a minimum price for these TDRs at 25,000, which is price fixing.
And so I don't see how any, you know, subsequent owner of those
TDRs could enforce that. So I think that should be eliminated.
And then going down where you talk about -- I want to read the
-- what isn't struck through, which is after the parentheses. A
conditional use for earth mining and extraction was previously
approved for this property, a portion of which is changed from
receiving to sending lands by this agreement.
Earth mining and extraction are no longer permitted on these
sending lands, and no amendment of the conditional use approval is
necessary to enforce this prohibition on earth mining and extractions
on these sending lands.
It's not very clearly written. But if I understand correctly what
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you're saying is currently on the receiving lands, they have the right to
mine. And what you're doing by swapping the sending and receiving
is you're transferring the right to mine, which exists on the current
receiving, to what will be the relabeled sending.
And so there wouldn't be any need to go before the board for a
conditional use permit with respect to mining on what is now currently
known as sending lands. Is that what that paragraph says?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Excuse me, Madam Chairman.
This is in reference to the Jones Mine that's on the 846 lands. This is
not -- this doesn't have anything to do with the mining on the proposed
conditional use mining.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But it does, because the way this is
written it says --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: This refers to 846 lands.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right, and that's exactly what I'm
referring to. What that says is that currently, on the 846, mining is
permitted. Okay.
When we swap the label from sending to receiving on Hussey's
property, what we are -- what currently is attributed to 846 is going to
be attributed to the Hussey property, which would be inclusive of the
right to mine, or does that not say it?
Because when I read that, that's what it says. I mean, that
wording needs to be clarified to say that notwithstanding the changing
of the label from sending to receiving, that Hussey still has to go
before the board for a conditional use permit if he wants to mine that
property. That paragraph doesn't say that.
MR. KLATZKOW: This isn't the Hussey. This is the 846.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, I understand that. You've got --
MR. KLATZKOW: My understanding is that currently on the
846 property you have an area that has a conditional use to mine.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Correct.
MR. KLATZKOW: The portion of that area that is changing the
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designation from receiving to sending can no longer mine.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That's what it says.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And, and, we are not transferring
that right to mine from 846 down to the Hussey property without the
conditional use hearing process qualifying them to do so because --
MR. ANDERSON: You're right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. But that's not what this says.
MR. ANDERSON: Well, no -- okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That is not what this says. What
this says is you've got the right to mine over here, and because we're
going to take what you have the right to do and put it over here and
take what you've got over here and put it over here, you, then, as a
consequence, will have the right to mine without going through the
conditional use approval process on the property that you have just
relabeled. I mean, that's what that says.
Whether that is your intent or not is secondary. But the wording
here is very clear to me.
So, I mean, rewording it -- I mean, I would just eliminate all of
that and state that notwithstanding the relabeling of sending to
receiving, which I personally still don't agree with, the right to mine
on Hussey's property is subject to discretionary approval by the board
if and when the Husseys come before the board to apply for a
conditional use permit to mine which, in my mind, if you eliminate
Paragraph 8, it boils everything back down to the simple syrup of the
Husseys want to have the right to come before the board and apply for
a conditional use permit to mine on their property. Why can't the
settlement just be that?
MR. ANDERSON: I'm not involved in that part, and I can't
speak to it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And then just eliminate all this
complexity of swapping properties. Because 846 is not going to get
any more than what the Husseys' land has, and Hussey's not going to
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get any more -- or actually is going to get less than what 846 has,
because it's not going to get the right to mine as a matter of right
merely because it was already approved on 846.
MR. VEGA: Correct. The reduction in the 846 mine has no
effect on the Hussey property. It was not intended to. It may have
inadvertently, but that paragraph was not intended to give any rights to
the Hussey property whatsoever.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. So if you eliminate
Paragraph 8, you're back down to the simple solution of giving the
Husseys the right to apply for a conditional use permit to mine on their
land, and that's what you want. Isn't that what you want?
MR. VEGA: The Husseys would like for all of their land to be
receiving. They are willing to compromise for roughly half of their
land to be receiving.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, but -- but let me ask the
question. I thought the whole issue here was about mining.
MR. VEGA: Commissioner, no. The issue is about the loss of
rights on the Hussey property that includes everything associated with
the rights that they used to have and the rights that they no longer
enjoy. One of those rights is a conditional use for mining.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. The right to apply for a
conditional use permit.
MR. VEGA: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It was not a conditional use for
mining.
MR. VEGA: Right. It was not a prohibited use. It went from
"you may apply for a conditional use" to "you are now prohibited."
That is one element.
Currently, the transportation network would not even allow a
mine on the Hussey property. It may not happen in our lifetimes. It
may not happen at all.
The net effect to mining from this proposal is a reduction in the
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mining in Collier County because we've eliminated over a hundred
acres of mine from State Road 846. But the benefits to the Hussey
property of becoming receiving lands are tangible, and that has value,
and that is why we're here today.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And other than the conditional -- the
right to apply for a conditional use permit to mine, what rights are the
Husseys' claiming have been denied by labeling them sending instead
of receiving?
MR. VEGA: They've gone from one residential unit per five
acres to one residential unit per 40 acres. This is a substantial use.
They've lost the right to gated subdivision. They have lost utilities.
They've lost the right to a golf course.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So it's a residential development, a
higher density. But were they not compensated for that?
MR. VEGA: They have not received a penny from anyone for
their loss of rights. I've always maintained this was such a loss of
rights that it is unconstitutional under the pen balancing test, and that's
a count of the complaint that is still active and is under appeal. I think
we're getting --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: We're arguing the case instead
of --
MR. VEGA: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- addressing the issue that we
have on hand right now. There's a motion and a second on the floor.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The only reason I bring it out is
because, as part of the settlement, you want to understand what they
claim they've lost in order to come up with an understanding of what
they want, and it's not arguing the case.
But, Commissioner Nance.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. I'd like to -- with the
permission of the second, I'd like to change my motion to adopting the
settlement with the changes as suggested by Mr. Anderson, which is to
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strike the third and fourth sentences as shown on the overhead here on
the settlement.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You still have a problem with the
wording. I mean, all of 8 is problematic. I mean, if you took out 8,
maybe you could have a settlement.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I don't think you'd want to take out
8, because the reduction in the mining that you're going to get on the
846 lands is a substantial benefit to the settlement. You're reducing
the amount of mining that's taking place with a land swap.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The way this is described, you're
automatically transferring those rights without the conditional use
discretion.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: No. I'm sure we can change that
language. And I don't see that, since this is discussing 846 land, and
that never mentions that in there. But I'm sure Mr. Anderson would be
willing to wordsmith that to the chair's comfort; is that assumable?
MR. ANDERSON: Yes. I'll defer to Mr. Vega to do the
wording on the Hussey land.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Mr. County Attorney, could that be
done? I mean --
MR. KLATZKOW: Of course.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: -- if there's anxiety with
Commissioner Hiller, I hope that that could be resolved.
MR. VEGA: That would be no problem on our end.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What is the value of the TDRs that
we're giving? I think -- didn't you mention you knew what the value
of the TDRs was?
MR. GADDY: 14,025,000.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You have to speak in --
MR. GADDY: By your ordinance, the TDRs are valued at
$25,000 apiece. So it's a question of arithmetic. I believe it's 578
acres. In addition to that --
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What is the value of that?
MR. GADDY: Fourteen million and change.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So we are giving them the
equivalent of $14 million in TDR -- TDRs on top of this?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, that's the whole point of balancing.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: The whole point is you're taking it
away on one piece, giving it back on the other. There's no net loss or
gain.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is there no net loss or gain?
MR. GADDY: I don't know. I'd defer to a land development
expert, you know, for that. You know, I mean, that's more of a
philosophical question than an accounting question.
MR. ANDERSON: It's an even swap. I mean, that was the
whole point of making sure that the acreage was the same, so that
there is no net effect change on the -- on the number of TDRs
available. It's not going to change. It's just going to come from one
area instead of the other. That's all.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is that true?
MR. KLATZKOW: That's the whole point.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. That clarifies that point.
Why don't you go back and rework this with the county attorney
so there is no ambiguity in what we're voting on. Why don't we just
continue this till you two --
MR. KLATZKOW: Why don't we table this. I'm going to send
them upstairs to work with my deputy. They can wordsmith it. He'll
bring it back.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And bring it back at the end of the
day.
MR. VEGA: We'd be happy to add a sentence to the paragraph
relating to the Hussey lands that says that any mining would be
subject to a conditional use --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: A conditional use.
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MR. VEGA: -- application.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let's do this.
MR. KLATZKOW: I'd like -- if the board is going to vote in the
affirmative on this, I really would like to get this done.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I agree.
MR. KLATZKOW: So with the board's indulgence, if you can
table this so I can get the settlement agreement conformed to what I'm
hearing here, we'll bring it back.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'll make a motion to table it while
the County Attorney and the Plaintiffs Attorney and Plaintiff get
together for wordsmithing.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: (No verbal response.)
COMMISSIONER FIALA: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Are we going to go back to the
green lights?
Item #10E (Continued from earlier in the meeting)
RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT STAFF TO NEGOTIATE
AND BRING BACK TO THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT MEETING
A NEW RED LIGHT CAMERA AGREEMENT BETWEEN
COLLIER COUNTY AND AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS
INCORPORATED (ATS), AND THAT GIVEN THE UPCOMING
MARCH 1ST DEADLINE WITH ATS, AS WELL AS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCEDURAL PROCESSES IN
PLACE, THAT THE BOARD WAIVE ANY REQUIREMENT FOR
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FORMAL COMPETITION FOR THIS WORK - MOTION TO
DENY — APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you have an open item on red light
cameras, and you also have a 1:30 time-certain on your economic
development proposals.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What is the pleasure of the board?
Would you rather hear the red light camera or the economic
development?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: You have the majority of the
residents here on the green light issue.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So let's go with the green light.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, can I can ask a question? If
you've got -- everybody here is opposed to it, we know the vote to
retain it is going to fail, why don't we just vote to get rid of them, and
then we can go on with our business and they can go on with their
business?
MR. OCHS: We have a public speaker, Commissioner. I didn't
know if -- he has not been called yet.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
MR. HENRY: I traveled 400 miles to come here,
Commissioners, so I'd like to have a 2 cents worth of time, if I could.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Two cents?
MR. HENRY: I used to work here, so I know what time is
valued at in Collier County. Up north outside of Tallahassee, it's not
worth as much.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: About $400 a minute.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Forgive me for saying this, but that
was touche.
No, I think we have to give -- in light of the fact the public
speaker traveled, I think it's only fair that we --
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COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- give him the time that he has
available to make his presentation.
MR. MILLER: Your public speaker is Paul Henry, and, again,
Madam Chair, he has 20 -- or he has 60 minutes of ceded time.
MR. HENRY: I have a PowerPoint here that I'm going to
hopefully put up on the screen to see. There it is. And this is not the
format that I normally use, so I want to go from the beginning. There
we go.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Excuse me, sir. Could you tell us
what the nature of your company is. Why are you here?
MR. HENRY: I am here at the request of several citizens that
have paid my expenses to be here. They have not paid me to be here.
This work that I do is done for free. I do own a small lobbying
research and speaking firm outside of Tallahassee.
Last year I was a lobbyist for the Campaign for Liberty. They
didn't pay me any money either. So this year I'm kind of on my own.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You have to register as a lobbyist in
order to be able to present. Have you registered?
MR. HENRY: I checked with the office, and the lady named
Ann said to me, since I'm not being compensated, that I do not need
to. I'll be glad to do so if that's what I need to do.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, if you're not being
compensated, then that's true.
MR. HENRY: I wanted to get that opinion before I came and
spoke to you, because I did read your rules, which I was unaware of
until I got here.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: If he's not compensated.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's fine. Travel expenses are not
considered compensation?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I make a motion this gentleman
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doesn't have to register as a lobbyist.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Go ahead.
MR. HENRY: All right. I'm going to talk to you briefly about
Paul Henry, my background. In 1981 I was a deputy sheriff with Lee
County, one county to the north. I had my law enforcement career
there for a couple years, and joined the Highway Patrol in 1983. Got
shipped to Dade County with half of my academy class.
I want to preface my comments by saying that talking after lunch
is something I learned in the Highway Patrol Academy is the worst
time, so I'll try not to put you to sleep. I've got a monotone type of
voice. I'm not Jack Lemmon. I've never played him on TV, but I'll try
and keep you-all awake here, not to kill you with statistics.
I worked for the highway patrol as a trooper, emergency traffic
homicide --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Excuse me just a minute.
THE COURT REPORTER: Yes. Can you slow down?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You're talking too fast. It's hard for
her. I've been watching her face, and it's hard for her to keep up with
you.
MR. HENRY: I'm sorry. I also worked in Miami, and that is the
normal talking speed there. I figured since I was down this way, I
wouldn't use my north Florida language.
I worked in Miami. I worked in -- I came back home to Fort
Myers. Worked at a trooper, promoted to traffic homicide
investigator, got promoted to squad sergeant. I had oversight of the
traffic homicide squad in Lee County.
My last five years on the highway patrol, until I retired, where I
was a bureau investigations lieutenant, about three of them were spent
down here, 3205 Beck Boulevard in your county. During that time, I
caught one of our most-wanted fugitives out in Washington State that
had participated in the killing of one of our troopers. Those are my
qualifications to speak to you.
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I'm well versed in traffic enforcement, traffic crash investigation,
traffic homicide investigation, something that I'll mention to you here
in just a few minutes.
A little bit of an overview here. I'm going to hit on just a few
things. I'm not going to go into great detail here so as not to take up
more of your valuable time.
I want to look at traffic crash data. I want to look at the DHSMV
annual report, which is something that's been widely promoted as
being kind of gospel in this area. My goal, Commissioners, is to
educate you on some issues you may not be aware of when it comes to
these.
Now, I am going to also use the term "automated for-profit
enforcement." If you read the statutes, 316 double-aught 83, it does
not have the word "camera" in it. It certainly does not have red light
camera. They are traffic infraction detectors by statute.
So I'd like to refer to them accurately as well. I'd like to refer to
them as automated, which they are. There's no argument against that.
And they are operated by for-profit companies, as Commissioner
Nance rather well articulated earlier this morning.
So the first crash data that I want to look at, or actually the first
thing I want to look at is the purpose. Why do we have them? Safety.
That is certainly the reason; Commissioner Fiala articulated that.
But the sheriff has put this on their website about how many red
light crashes there were in Collier County; about 132 in 2007. They're
constructed, keep in mind, to enforce one law. Because you're going to
see statistics, like in the Highway Safety Report, about where we're
talking -- rear-end crashes, angle crashes, total crashes. These are not
rear-end crash cameras. They are red light enforcement cameras.
They're there to enforce one law, that of running red lights. I ask you
to keep that in mind.
These are your eleven intersections that I got off the website for
the county as to where they're located. I did condense some of them
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because some are eastbound/westbound, northbound/southbound, so
I'm trying to keep this simple, the KISS principle.
This is my first graph, which is very significant. It's hard for
everybody to see, but the bottom line is, when I do analysis -- and I
have analyses on several cities -- again, at my own expense and time,
places like Tallahassee where I live, Hallandale Beach, Apopka, Gulf
Breeze. I've analyzed crashes.
What I did was, when I got started on this, I was reading in the
newspaper all these stories about these devices, and I never saw how
many crashes there were before they started using them and how
many after they started using them, and that kind of struck me odd.
So I would always email the reporters or ask the reporters, have
you asked for this data, because I think it's pretty significant, and only
two reporters ever responded to me, a gentleman up in Tallahassee
and another, actually, at the capitol news bureau.
So I pulled the numbers for Collier County. I went to the DOT
and told them I'm doing a safety study. I would like to have your
crash data. They gave me four gigabytes of data, all crashes in Florida
from 2005 to 2011.
This is the data that's reported by your sheriff, by your city
police, by your state troopers. When they work crashes, they send
them to the highway safety, they get coded, DOT records them. I am
not looking at 300,000 crash reports, praise the lord. I'm looking at
crash data, which is all just little numbers and codes, like when I used
to fill out a crash report as a trooper. When you put a contributing
cause down, 11 means disregarding traffic signal.
So what I did was I narrowed these down for your crashes in
Collier County, and I made even periods of time. Since my data went
through 2011, I looked from April of 2009 through December of 2011,
two years and nine months after they were in service, and I also
looked from July of 2006 through March of 2009, so you have equal
periods of time.
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Your 11 intersections are broken down on this PowerPoint, and
I'll be glad to email supporting data if you would like to have it.
Bottom line is you had 17 before you started using the devices.
You had 17 after you started using devices. So there was no change.
At two of these intersections you never had a red light violation crash
until after you started using automated for-profit enforcement. That's
very significant.
Looking at all the intersections within -- I did limit this to 50 feet
from the intersection, because if you have a crash that's 1,000 feet
from the intersection, it cannot be related to a device, a traffic signal.
The trend there, when you look at the devices that were used, you
do have a reduction. When you started using your devices for these
red light violation crashes at all intersections in the county, you had a
decrease of 30; however, when you look at all of your crashes in the
county, you had a decrease of 26 percent. During that same time
frame, crashes statewide declined in another percentage as well.
Next I looked at the fatal crashes. I mean, this is something that
should interest all of us. The highway patrol, we were very
short-handed in Lee County when I was a sergeant there, and I got to
the point of triaging crashes to where, if we did not have to confirm
fatality, we wouldn't send somebody out. So those are the crashes you
want to put a lot of great emphasis of concern on.
So I looked for your fatal crashes here in Collier County during
that same time frame, and I found for the first two years and nine
months there were three red light violation fatalities; the second period
there were two.
So it was a -- depending on how you look at it. If you really
want to look at some statistics, there was a 33 percent reduction.
Well, no; there was actually one fewer crash. And that's the problem
when you get into these statistics, when you hear these percentages.
More on that in just a little bit with the DHSMV report.
Catch this up to speed here.
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Fatal crashes. The lady from NBC-2 was kind enough to give me
the data that the sheriff gave her, Sheriff Rambosk, about how many
crashes they'd had. 2006, 139. I'm not going to bore you with these
details here on that.
I analyzed those, and I looked for the net change year to year on
these. You had a drop of six to 2006 to 2007. You had a drop of 30
from 2007 to 2008. So how many here think that's when we started
using cameras in Collier County? Thirty -- you had 30 fewer wrecks.
It's the biggest drop you've ever had. No hands. Good answer. You
had a drop of 26 in -- from 2008 to 2009. Now, keep in mind, the first
three months of 2009, no devices were in use.
Then you had an increase from 2009 to 2010. With the devices in
use, you had an increase of 24, and then you had a decline in 2011 of
11 crashes.
So your biggest decline, 30, when you did not have any devices.
These are numbers from the sheriff, by the way. These are not my
DOT numbers. Your biggest increase was when you were using them.
The next issue that I've seen in several cities is that these devices
are not being placed where there are a lot of crashes. Here in Naples,
when I pull the data, one intersection really jumped out at me. Not
only did it have a fatality red light violation, but it had six red light
violation crashes in one year. Shadowlawn and Davis at Highway 84.
And then it had very few crashes. These things are cyclical,
fluctuation.
It used to be, when I was stationed in Lee County, if they gave us
a wreck at 41 north of Crystal Drive, we knew what it was because,
before DOT engineering closed the median there, you would have
somebody trying to cut across three lanes of U.S. 41 getting nailed in
the turn lane, failure to yield.
You could pretty much predict those. These crashes you cannot
predict. You cannot predict as a law enforcement officer who's going
to run a red light when, where, why, or how. Although, I can tell you
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some of the whys. The sheriff hit alone, inattentive drivers, yes, in my
experience.
Keep in mind, when I worked as a trooper -- and this will give
away my age a little bit, nobody had all these nice littles gizmos on
their belts with these screens on them. I think the brick phones were
just coming into vogue back then; car phones once in a while.
The drivers have always been distracted. Drivers have always
been impaired, although, thank the Lord, in fewer numbers than what
we used to have here.
So that's what is causing these fatal and injury red light crashes
two to five seconds into the light. The crash that took Mr. Wandall,
the namesake of the Florida law, it wasn't one of these one-tenth of a
second, split-second type of crashes. It was well into the cycle.
I want to hit on a couple of relevant news stories here as well. Or
actually, let me back up just a second for the Highway Safety Annual
Report. That was put out here in January. I did download a copy of it,
and I looked at it. I'm a former employee of Highway Safety. When I
worked with highway patrol, they were a division of Highway Safety.
So I know how they work.
This report came out, and I noticed several things. No data
collected showing the number of crashes. Percentage reductions.
Here we go again. Remember, we had three one (sic) for one cycle,
then you had two the next, 33 percent reduction; that's a true
statement. Reduction of one; that's also a true statement.
There's a nice little graphic that shows, kind of funny, it says,
how to lie, how to lie with statistics, how to lie without the statistics.
Anyhow, when you look at this, no crash data for these red light
violations was captured, and these are, per se, red light cameras. Why
is it that the state study doesn't have any red light violation crash data
in it? They've captured angle data, rear-end data, and total crashes.
Most telling to me, though, when I looked at this was -- and this
was an anonymous survey they put out as an analysis. They call it an
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analysis on the cover from Highway Safety -- between 20 and 30
percent of the reporting agencies furnished no crash data whatsoever.
My question when I look at that is, what in the world are they
trying to hide? Why not publish this data? These news stories, this
whole thing that got me involved, if they had published it -- we had 50
wrecks one year, 40 the next year, 60 the next year, whatever, I
probably would have shut up, but I never saw it.
So I took it upon myself to become a quasi journalist, per se, and
get this data myself and publish it on my website,
retiredpublicsafety.com. I've got a red light camera reference page.
That has links to all of my analysis reports. It has the data from these
crashes from the DOT in spreadsheet format. So anybody can look at
it.
And I will say, I'm a human being. There's been no perfect
person to walk on the face of this earth for over 2,000 years, right
around 2,000 years. And I make mistakes. I made a mistake on one
of my data capture time formats. Somebody pointed it out to me; I
corrected it.
If you find something that's wrong, let me know. I'll look at it. If
I made a mistake --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: The statute number is wrong.
MR. HENRY: 316-0083?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I can't find it.
MR. HENRY: It's the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act. It
should be 316-0083. Maybe it's been repealed, and I can just be quiet
and sit down. There is a bill to do so, basically, that's going to be --
I'm going to be speaking about that Thursday in Tallahassee.
And the last thing on this Highway Safety Report, among many
problems with it, only 56 percent of the agencies use crash data as the
primary reason for device placement. Now, again, looking here in
Naples, I have to ask, why wasn't Shadowlawn and Davis used? I've
seen the same thing in several cities. The reason why, when I look at
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these intersections is, they have a lot of red light violation crashes, but
they don't have a lot of people of running red lights, which brings me
to my next topic. When you privatize a necessary function of
government, such as law enforcement, the public pays the price.
Commissioner Coyle brought up about putting a deputy at every
intersection. No, we're not going to do that. Of course we're not
going to do that. We're not going to put one in every house even
though, Commissioner Hiller, in 2010 there were about 191 people
died as a result of domestic violence in Florida. Only 53 died as a
result of red light running in Florida; that's about a 4-1 ratio. So how
safe do we want to be?
The government -- and this is coming from former Senator Steve
Ovett (phonetic), former sheriff of Alachua County, said this at a
hearing I attended: The government cannot protect us from every
harmful thing that comes our way. And I like to add on there as a Paul
Henry-ism, especially the ones that are self-inflicted.
THE COURT REPORTER: Can you try to slow down a little,
please?
MR. HENRY: Sorry.
THE COURT REPORTER: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I keep watching you to see you
trying to catch up.
MR. HENRY: I don't feel like I'm talking any faster than
anybody else, but I guess I get kind of involved in this, and I -- sorry,
folks.
At any rate, I want to just highlight on a few news stories with
this in mind. What we have with this law now, the Mark Wandall
Traffic Safety Act, several things have happened when it came about.
When I was a trooper in Lee County and Dade County, the
counties that I worked in, I wrote somebody a ticket; they had three
options. Actually, this, again, is how old I am. When I first started
out, you didn't have traffic school option. Now you do. You could go
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to court, you could pay the fine, or you could go to traffic school.
When somebody gets one of these tickets from an automated
for-profit device, they cannot go to court. The only way that they
have any due process, chance at that, is to fail to pay the ticket. What
happens to them then? That $158, it's out the window. It's not 258,
264. I'll speak about that in just a minute as well in some of these
news stories.
So you're guilty until proven innocent by the law. It makes the
vehicle owner liable for the violation, because the government cannot
prove you broke the law. You have an inability to go to court on a
notice of violation. And then when you are fortunate enough to be in
a court of law involving one of these uniform traffic citations, now
expensive tickets, nobody from the device company has to be there to
authenticate the evidence.
When I made a drug case on the highway patrol as a trooper, I
had to have my chain of custody there to verify on such and such date
we lawfully stopped such and such person, we lawfully searched, got
content, got whatever, to find these -- this contraband. If it's tested, I
have to have the person from the lab in there.
And let's look at one other thing. I heard earlier about speeding,
things like that. If I, as a trooper, work a radar case, my radar, every
six months, under state statute, has to be sent out and calibrated, tested
by a third party that has no interest in it. These devices, not so.
The same people that sell them, the same people that install them,
the same people that operate them, the same people that get that data
before your police get it, before your sheriff gets it, are the ones -- the
fox is guarding the henhouse. They're the ones that say, yes, it's
working properly. But are they?
Last March in Leon County, Tallahassee, where they have
locations -- seven of these devices, there was a crash that was reported
as Mr. Generoso (phonetic) ran the red the light. I actually did spend
16 bucks, and I bought the crash report -- it piqued my interest -- and I
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looked it over.
He didn't run the red light. He rear-ended a vehicle. He was
impaired. He rear-ended a vehicle. He pushed it through the
intersection. So I guess you could say, technically, they ran a red light,
but they were stopped at the red light, so it wasn't a red light violation,
but it was an impaired driver. That device had not been working for
several days. And we relied upon the for-profit company to keep us
safe, make sure that it was working. It wasn't. And that's something
that comes up from time to time on this as well.
Here in Collier County, April 6, 2010, an NBC-2 story, this -- I'm
sorry. Let me back up. That was a yellow light time. I want to get to
that next.
You had a light that was flashing here. Any number of people
got tickets after a deputy reviewed them, and they were legally in
error, should never have been issued, because these are not flashing
red light cameras. They are solid state. They can only enforce the one
law. Again, they're not there for these other laws.
So now you have all these people that are guilty until they're
proven innocent, and they have to come in to clear their name from a
ticket they should never have received. That was a signal
malfunction.
I want to talk next about yellow light timing. And I apologize.
I'm talking and not keeping up with this screen here, for those that are
watching it.
April 6, 2010, an NBC-2 news story talking about the speed limit
on Collier Boulevard, which is County State (sic) Road 951, where
this person was cited, said that the guidelines should have been 4.5
seconds under state law. The guidelines, by the way, you'll see here in
just a minute, were reduced by the state DOT, coincidentally, after
devices were authorized, for some reason. This gentleman tested the
light 15 times; got average of 3.8 seconds.
Now, you're going to notice that when you start looking at the
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data from these for-profit companies, you're going to see a tremendous
amount of people running that light at one-tenth of a second,
two-tenths of a second, three-tenths of a second.
Again, these are not the people that are hurting and killing.
You're going to have a situation where, physically, it is impossible to
stop for that light because of any number of factors. I'm not as young
as I used to be. I can't -- my reaction times are not as good as they
used to be. I can't stop my vehicle in the same amount of distance that
I did when I was 20 years old.
You've got people who are older than me who have a slower
reaction time. You've got people driving commercial motor vehicles,
heavy trucks. I like to use the analogy when I used to work crashes in
Lee County, the guy in the back would say, well, the guy in the front
stopped short. And I explained to them, that's a physical
impossibility. And I used the example of, if you've got a Corvette and
dump truck and you're drag racing, who wins the drag race? Oh, that's
easy, the Corvette does.
I said. Okay. Now they're both going 55. They slam on the
brakes. Who stops first? Light bulb goes off. Oh, well, the Corvette
does. Vehicles decelerate just like they accelerate, at different rates.
Next thing is May 11 of 2010, they're talking about the yellow
light timing again. By the way, that is your solution to this problem,
really, in a nutshell, the cheap -- by the way, I'll share with you-all --
hopefully nobody will be offended in this room -- FHP stands for, for
your half price. That's something that I learned a few years into the
job. The for-your-half-price way to take care of this problem is by
your yellow lights timing in a nutshell.
The timing was changed down by the DOT from 4.5 to 4.3. That
took place here in Collier County. Now, on the other hand, at
35-mile-an-hour intersections, it was bumped up from 3.5 to 4
seconds.
Now, here's a fun fact that I learned as a traffic homicide
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investigator that the highway patrol taught me. It takes four times as
long to stop when your speed is doubled. If you're going 50 miles an
hour, it might take you 130 feet to stop. If you're going 100 miles an
hour, it's going to be over 400 feet to stop. These are physics. Even --
you know, your race car and Corvettes and things like that, they might
do a little better than that, but not too much. So there are some laws
that we can't violate, and laws of physics is one of them.
When you increase your timing three-tenths of a second to 4 to
4.3, that's a 7 percent increase; however, your speed limit's (sic)
increased 28 percent.
So this yellow light timing of 4.3 seconds is unrealistic. You're
going to have people run that light. That's a given. That's going to
happen.
As you're all aware, December 12, 2012, the County Commission
voted to terminate the ATS contract. And one of the things they
looked at was to use proper yellow light timing. Commissioner Hiller
asked that the county cancel the contract because there was no
demonstrated evidence that these cameras reduce accidents.
Hopefully I've educated you that -- 17 before, 17 after.
The sheriffs study. Again, you look at their numbers. Largest
reduction you had, you didn't have the first camera in use. The largest
increase you had, you had cameras in use. So there's no correlation on
these.
And the yellow light timing, there are two places that I cited on
my sheet here about yellow light timing. Fairfax County, Virginia,
they added 1.5 seconds to the yellow light. Violations dropped 94
percent. Out in California, the other coast, lengthened the lights just
by one second in November 2009. Their left-turn violations dropped
80 to 85 percent from about 240 to 25 or 30.
Straight-through violations -- and those are the ones that are
killing people, somebody runs a light two to five seconds into it, those
were reduced 92 percent. Now, of course, the proponents for these
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devices will say, oh, well, you know, you just give them an inch,
they'll take a mile.
Okay. Well, the study said there's never been any evidence
presented that motorists adjust to longer yellows and continue to run
lights in higher numbers.
Fairfax went back 43 months almost four years later and said the
reduction remained at 90 percent.
Revising yellow light timing is cost effective to the taxpayer, it's
proven to reduce violations in crashes, and it's going to render these
devices nonprofitable. And there is no such thing, that I've seen in
Florida, as an auto -- I stand corrected -- as an automated
not-for-profit. Hallandale Beach in 2011 lost $27,000-plus in taxpayer
money because they paid out more than they took in.
If you ever think that these things really do work, all I would ask
is that you go to YouTube, the front groups, as Commissioner Nance
identified them. They have all sorts of videos up there. The camera
companies do, too.
You see two to five seconds in, horrendous crash. Somebody just
drove right through a red light. Why is it we're still seeing those in
2012, 2013 if these things are working as well as they're supposed to?
It seems like we shouldn't see very many of them.
Some places have what's called a red light violation of the week.
It's kind of like a little contest up in the Tampa area. So I just don't
see the effectiveness.
Operational issues. Data doesn't go to the police first. I've talked
about that. It goes to the company first. The last five years that I
worked for the highway patrol, aside from identity theft and -- I used
to dig up a bunch of stolen dump trucks here in Collier County.
I had a chat with your sheriff out in the hallway -- but I was on
the commercial vehicle task force. It goes out to this company, and
they've got a financial stake. When I do internal investigations,
believe it or not, as human beings, once in a while we get corrupted by
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money. So there are millions of dollars involved in this whole scheme
here.
So they've got an interest in it. They get the data first. Again,
the fox is guarding the henhouse, because after they process it -- and
they can screen out whatever they want. If you don't want your
emergency vehicles cited, they'll say, okay, we'll give you everything
else.
And then it goes to the law enforcement. A lot of people, the
public -- again, what the public knows -- a lot of people think, oh,
well, the camera's connected right to the sheriff or the police
department. It's not. They don't get first crack at it.
They're not even required to be inspected by a third party on a
regular basis, unlike police radar; I've hit on that. They have a history
of faulty activations. The City of Tallahassee did a report, city
auditor, which I think was really interesting, because he documented
80 percent of the time these things are flashing, and there's no
violation. Not 90 percent of the time; it's legally insufficient to
prosecute.
And I liken that to when I was a supervisor, if I had a trooper that
was making 9 out of 10 bad arrests, they would not be a trooper for
too long. They'd get remedial training. And if they were still doing
these problems, they would no longer be employed in law
enforcement. It's negative retention at that point.
So we've got devices that are inherently flawed. And I actually
shot some video up in Tallahassee, where I live, of these things
flashing with nobody moving, no violations.
This guilty until proven innocent role, I'm going to give you as --
I'm going to play camera company here for just a minute. I'm going to
give you some victims. A guy by the name of Chris Galates
(phonetic) in Orlando. These are from the news media. He stopped
for a red light. The car next to him didn't. Now, remember, this data
goes to the camera company first. So what do they do? They cropped
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him in with the magic of the computer. They cropped out the guy that
ran the red light, so he gets the ticket. He calls the city, and they say
tough. Go to court. He instead went to the media, and he got the
ticket dismissed.
Patty Fleming in Manatee County is -- I almost got accused of --
if they -- I think if they hadn't had video of this lady being
interviewed, I think somebody probably would have thought that it
was me they interviewed, because she said a lot of things that I would
have said.
This law makes me guilty until I'm innocent. Her moped was in
her garage. A motorcycle supposedly ran a light in Tampa. Officer
watching the video in Tampa, after it got sent to him, said, well, I'm
not really sure if that's like a G or a 6 or whatever, so I think it's this,
and mailed out the ticket to Mrs. Flemming in Manatee County.
Again, her moped was in the garage at the time.
Now, because of the way the law is, she's guilty until she's
proven innocent. So she has to make a trip to Tampa, take off work,
and go up and prove that she didn't break the law, even though the
evidence is pretty clear, you know, it was a motorcycle, not a moped.
Mr. Hunt in Jacksonville never has been to North Miami,
according to the news media. And he owns a GMC pickup truck.
Video showed a Mercedes running a red light in North Miami. One
character of the tag was transposed. This was an ATS mistake, by the
way.
Now, he got a ticket and saw it was not his vehicle, so he wasn't
too concerned about it because he knew that -- well, it wasn't me. You
know, I'll call the city. They said tough. You want to do something,
come to court and contest it, or else hire a lawyer. That's a 600-mile
round trip from Jacksonville to North Miami.
He had his license suspended because, unfortunately, he didn't
follow up on it. He thought he was innocent and, you know, it wasn't
any big deal. So, unfortunately, he did kind of let it go, and he got his
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license suspended over the error that was done by the for-profit
company.
This one here was -- I just found out about this this week,
something that I've observed from time to time. The reason why I was
relatively good at catching criminals on the Florida Highway Patrol is
I sometimes can think like them.
And what criminals are going to learn to do -- they've done it in
other states -- they'll go find out here in Florida, you can go online, get
a vanity tag for $50, and you can clone somebody's license plate.
If your license plate, Commissioner Hiller, happens to be
ABC 123, an enterprising individual can go on there and get your
license plate, they can drive through every red light camera in Collier
County and get 500 tickets. And guess who's going to pay them?
You are. Because right now there are only certain exemptions in the
law that allow you to have a legal defense.
Now, of course, you can always finger somebody else,
soviet-style justice. There are ways to make you talk; there's 158 of
them here in Florida. So we're going to get you to finger somebody
else for -- if you don't know, you know, my tag was cloned, tough,
there's no exemption.
If your car's stolen, there's an exemption. If you're in a funeral
procession, there's an exemption. If an officer directs you, there's an
exemption. If you got a ticket from an officer for the same violation,
same time, same place, there's an exemption.
But because of the way the law is written, this has turned
America upside down, Commissioners. We fought a revolution in
1776. One of the things that came out in our constitution -- and it does
matter what the United States says, these United States of America,
because we have a Fifth Amendment that said it is the obligation of
the government, not the individual, the government, if we charge
wrongdoing, to prove that this person broke the law. That's been
turned on its head with this law.
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The gentleman, by the way, there in Daytona Beach, he's 79
years old, and he got a ticket for something 22 miles away, and he was
-- went to court. Even though the video showed it was not his vehicle,
he was convicted. He was ordered to pay $264. That's what you get
when you make law enforcement a for-profit activity.
I support our deputy sheriffs. I support our state troopers, our
city policemen. I was one for 25 years. I am all about constitutional
legal law enforcement. I am not about turning it into a for-profit
scheme. We have a law in Florida that it's illegal for police to issue
tickets because of a quota. There's a reason for that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
MR. HENRY: Again, the public perception. I can tell you many
times I had somebody pulled over on the side of I-75 or elsewhere,
and the allegation was, you're only writing this ticket because you've
got a quota. We kind of had a little funny comeback; hopefully you
can appreciate this. No, the sheriff, or the director of the highway
patrol lets me write as many as I want to. We don't have a quota.
So -- but you're getting into this, and there's all sorts of issues
legally. I'm not going to get into these, because I've got a bill before
the legislature. This doesn't really concern you so much other than
there's a problem with them.
But I'm just going to conclude that based on all of this evidence
that I've provided to you which, unfortunately, Commissioners Coyle
and Fiala, apparently, didn't think was important enough to listen to,
proper yellow light timing is your solution. Your decision that you
made in December was the correct decision to not do this contract.
This company, by the way, has sued other people, other cities
and counties. When it's been put up to a vote, roughly nine times out
of 10, the citizens of this city or county have said, no, we don't want it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I did hear every word, by the way.
MR. HENRY: Okay. Thank you for listening. It just disturbs me
when somebody walks out when talking and I don't know what the
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circumstances are.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Commissioner?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: You're correct about the statute
number. I did find it.
MR. HENRY: Thank you. I've been proven to be almost right
98.7 percent of the time.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, you're right on that one.
The question I had, you're aware of litigation that is now in the
Supreme Court. What -- did you have any involvement --
MR. HENRY: No, sir. That litigation is about the pre-July 2010
use of these automated devices before the state statute specifically
authorized them.
So what was happening was the state has reserved -- kind of like
with firearms under Chapter 790, that they have reserved all regulation
to the state. Chapter 316 is the same way. The state has reserved all
traffic control, and there's a reason for that. You don't want somebody
in Naples to have one set of traffic laws and somebody in Ft. Myers to
have another one, so you have somebody from Naples visits a cousin
up in Fort Myers, and they do something that's legal in Naples, that all
of a sudden it's illegal in Fort Myers.
So it's called state uniform traffic control for a reason. And the
cities and counties that were doing this were doing so in conflict with
the state uniform traffic control, and that's what the lawsuit was about.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: County Manager, I was wondering,
would you permit this gentleman to visit the -- our traffic signal center
and see what we're doing? Because what we're doing is just so well
done, and I think it would probably be informational and to his benefit
to share with the rest of the state. I know other -- some other counties
are doing what we're doing, but we're very cutting edge.
MR. HENRY: Is the gentleman still here --
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MR. OCHS: It would be my pleasure, ma'am.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah, Nick Casalanguida and his
traffic engineering team.
MR. HENRY: I'm not going to try and pronounce his name. But
if I call -- can I call you Nick?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Sure.
MR. HENRY: Thank you. Yeah, I'll be glad to get with them.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I would really encourage all
the commissioners to visit our traffic signal center, not for a cursory
visit to just see how pretty it is, but to get the presentation that staff
has prepared to educate the commissioners on what we're doing to
protect and save lives.
If you don't go there to see it from that perspective, you're going
to walk away with no information at all. If you go in there and you
see what they're doing, you're going to walk away and you're going to
feel really good about, you know, how we're protecting the citizens.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I went there once two or three
years ago, and one of the guys told me, I've got your number. So I
feel really safe.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Seriously, I don't know,
Commissioner Fiala, if you've actually toured the center.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, I have, actually. I found it
fascinating to watch. You could even see the cars driving up to the
lines, it's amazing, and how they can switch things. It's amazing what
they can do.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Did they give you the detailed tour
on the timing, I mean, the detailed explanations and how they
calculated the timing?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I've received that. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But I wanted to -- do we have any
other speakers, Troy?
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February 12, 2013
MR. MILLER: No, we do not.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I wanted to comment -- thank
you, sir. I don't mean to have you continue to stand there. I'm not
asking you a question.
MR. HENRY: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I do understand how well our traffic
ops have worked, and they've worked on many ways to deal with the
problem, and there were some things that they put into effect a couple
years ago which immediately seemed to walk hand in hand with the
cameras, and our rate of red light runners dropped, which is great.
That's great.
And I agree with the sheriff this morning. You know, we're doing
a lot, everything we can, to reduce this. I just felt that there -- being
that -- like Commissioner Nance said, if it does no harm, why would
you take them out? As long as we've got this in place -- anything we
can to save our people's lives to protect somebody else, I see no
problem with.
If you-all want to remove them, you know, that's up to you, of
course. You have the deciding votes down there. But I just felt that a
triple effort between law enforcement and between our traffic
transportation people and cameras ensure us even a more safer
roadway, but that's up to you. That was my feeling.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. Commissioner Fiala, I want
you to genuinely understand my concern. I agree with you on that,
and that my objection to them is that I genuinely feel like if you go out
to objective third parties, you're going to find out that they actually do
harm, that the information is out there.
If you go to information other than that from the agencies that
profit, you're going to find the statistics are drastically different. And
like I say, some of the articles that I sent and I have presented to the
press and others are not intended to be statistics to be analyzed and to
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be compared, but they show the issue, and that is that we have to make
public health and safety decisions based on real science and not
because it seems intuitively like a good idea.
Because the red light cameras do intuitively seem like a good
idea. That's why so many people ask the question about them. And in
my view, I really think it's the wrong thing wrapped up in all the right
reasons.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I do believe that anybody can
provide information to verify anything they believe in. Let's face it,
you declare a statement about -- it doesn't make any difference what.
You can always find information statistically to support your efforts,
and vice versa.
I just felt no reason -- there was no harm done, and if we keep
our community a safer place, fine. I never met a person from the ATS
or even anybody that works for them nor anybody that supplied me
any information. I just plain 'ole wanted to keep them safe. If you
don't agree with that, you can vote against me and, certainly, I feel the
sheriff has done an excellent job, and so has our transportation
department, and we can just leave it at that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I believe we had a motion on the
table. Commissioner Henning, I believe you had made a motion to
deny Commissioner Fiala's recommendation to bring back the
contract?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. And here's my main
reason -- and I agree with the gentleman, the expert who spoke.
There's no substantial evidence that it reduces crashes. Furthermore,
my main reason is, we are waiving -- I'll read it -- that the board
waives any requirements for a formal competition for this work.
Okay.
So, you know, we know that this contract is worth millions of
millions of dollars without any formal competition, without any
bidding process. So I just wanted to explain my motion.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Commissioner Henning, I would
never want to keep out any formal competition.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It's right here.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I know. It wasn't Commissioner
Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I know that, but I didn't put that in.
In fact, nobody even asked me if I wanted to put that in there. That
was not inserted by me. Did you ask me?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But they put your name in there.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I don't care. I'm telling you I
did not do that, nor was I consulted about that. So I'm just stating that
for the record. And you can ask -- you can ask Jeff Klatzkow. He'll
tell you. That's the way it is. So I believe in fair competition.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Madam Chair, do you have a
second?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I believe you seconded it.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I believe I did.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Is that correct?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So there being no further discussion
-- and, again, repeating the motion. The motion is to deny
Commissioner Fiala's recommendation to direct staff to negotiate and
bring the red light camera agreement back to the county, meaning that
the decision made by the Board of County Commissioners to
terminate the red light camera agreement stands.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: (Absent.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And opposed, aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries 3-1 with
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Commissioner Fiala dissenting and Commissioner Coyle absent.
(Applause.)
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let the record reflect that there was
applause from the audience.
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, the court reporter could use a
10-minute break.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes. We will reconvene at 3
o'clock.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: After that workout, you sure do.
(A brief recess was had.)
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, you have a live mike.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Item #10K
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO
COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY'S NEWLY HIRED
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR TO DRAFT
AMENDMENTS TO AND EXTENSIONS FOR THE COUNTY'S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES WHICH ARE SET
TO EXPIRE IN 2013 AND FURTHER, TO INCLUDE
PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO REQUIREMENTS OF F.S.
CHP. 119 (PUBLIC RECORDS) RELATING TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL RECORDS DISCLOSURE
EXEMPTIONS. SPECIFICALLY, AND FOR EXAMPLE, THE
ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION INCENTIVES WAS NEVER APPROVED BY
GENERAL REFERENDUM AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA'S
CONSTITUTION/STATUTE AND AS SUCH IS INVALID - THE
CURE IS SUSPENSION OF THE ORDINANCE PENDING THE
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February 12, 2013
PUBLIC'S VOTE OF APPROVAL; THE IMPACT FEE WAIVER
INCENTIVE PROGRAM IGNORES THAT THE IMPACT FEE
FUND THAT WOULD OTHERWISE SEE A CONTRIBUTION OF
IMPACT FEES, HAS TO BE MADE WHOLE BY SOME
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF FUNDING (OTHERWISE THE
IMPACT FEE CHARGED BECOMES AN ILLEGAL TAX) - THE
CURE IS TO REQUIRE, AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, THAT
THE COUNTY IMMEDIATELY MAKE A FUND TRANSFER TO
THE AFFECTED IMPACT FEE FUND EQUAL IN AMOUNT TO
THE AWARDED WAIVER; AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO AN
IMPACT FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, AN ADDITIONAL
PROVISION SHOULD BE ADDED FOR AN IMPACT FEE
EXEMPTION PROGRAM WHICH COULD INCLUDE AN
IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM FOR SELECT IMPACT FEES
(PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED IMPACT FEES SHOULD NOT BE
SUSPENDED GIVEN THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF
THOSE SERVICES); CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO
HAVE THE LOCAL AND STATE JOB CREATION INCENTIVE
PROVISIONS MIRROR EACH OTHER INCLUDING ALL
PROVISIONS RELATING TO STATE REQUIRED
UNDERWRITING PROVISIONS; SUCH UNDERWRITING
PROVISIONS WHICH INCLUDE THE PRODUCTION OF
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND/OR TAX RETURNS SHOULD
ALSO BE INCLUDED AS A REQUIREMENT UNDER ALL
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS; AND LASTLY, THE APPLICABILITY
OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION RELATING TO ANY
APPLICANT'S FINANCIAL INFORMATION SHALL APPLY TO
ALL MEMBERS OF COUNTY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC
EXCEPT FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY MANAGER, THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR AND CLERK
OF COURTS AND DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES OF SUCH
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February 12, 2013
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COUNTY STAFF. FURTHER
THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR
BRING DRAFT AMENDED ORDINANCES TO THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN APRIL, 2013 FOR REVIEW
AND DISCUSSION ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PROPOSALS
THE ADMINISTRATOR MAY HAVE IN THE WAY OF
PROGRAMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION. AT SUCH TIME
THE BOARD CAN DIRECT LEGALLY CONFORMING
OPTIONS BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT
AND ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, ALL WITH THE
INTENT OF DEVELOPING A LEGALLY SOUND AND
FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM THAT REFLECTS THE WILL OF THE TAX-
PAYING PUBLIC - MR. REGISTER, COUNTY MANAGER AND
COUNTY ATTORNEY TO WORK TOGETHER TO REVIEW
AND DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE BCC TO
DISCUSS AT A WORKSHOP ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
— APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We will now hear Item 10K, which
was our 1:30 time-certain, which will be followed by Item 10H, which
is our 3 o'clock time-certain.
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am. 10K -- I'm not going to read the whole
title because it'll take me a half hour, but it's essentially a series of
recommendations having to do with the economic development
program in the county, and I'll just turn it to the chair at this point.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. The intent is not to
discuss any of the details of the economic development program as it
exists or what is proposed, but merely to give a general outline to our
new economic development director and the county manager to go
back and work on these issues which are issues that have come up
over the course of the past few years that we have identified as
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needing some cleaning up. And the county attorney is in agreement.
So the goal is to basically just take these bullet points, turn it
back to staff, to the county manager, to the county attorney, and to the
economic development director to clean everything up, bring back the
cleaned-up version for us so we know where we stand and what we
can and can't do with any additional recommendations, and then once
we have that cleaned-up template, to allow the economic development
director to go to the community and present what we've got in order to
get community input, and then at a later point in time, once that has
been done, to have a workshop between the Board of County
Commissioners, the economic development director, and the
community to address the direction we want to go in.
The problem we have right now is we are not working from a
clean plate, be it legal, be it -- in other words, in terms of ordinances
that are not necessarily legally valid or whether it's something that we
haven't considered, like the impact of public records laws or, for
example, funding sources, you know, whether something should come
as a reimbursement from the General Fund or some alternative
funding. So that's the direction.
The intent is not to have a major discussion on this, but basically
to give direction to start the process.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, you do have three registered
public speakers.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala, would you like
to hear the public speakers first?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No. I wanted to just say that there's
a lot here --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yep.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- and I haven't had any input, and I
don't think any of us really have. Not that there aren't really good
ideas, because there are some great ideas, but I think it would be smart
-- I heard the lineup of what you wanted to do. Shouldn't we first have
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a workshop and then give it to them so that we can all have input on
this?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, here's the problem we have.
What we're dealing with is -- to have a workshop on what we know is
incorrect is not a useful --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: How do we know it is incorrect?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I spoke to the county attorney, and
he basically reviewed it with me. And it has been on their agenda to
go back and clean it all up. And, separately, I spoke to the county
manager, who consulted with the economic development director,
who felt that it needed to be cleaned up as well.
So I completely agree with you that we definitely want to
workshop this and, in fact, the county manager recommended it, and I
wholeheartedly agree. What we don't want to do is waste time
reviewing stuff that isn't necessarily correct in the first place.
So all I want to do is basically clean the slate for us, make sure,
you know, that we start with good, solid material that conforms with
the law and considers what we have to consider, and then we'll come
back and start deciding, do we want this, don't we want this.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't even know if this is --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But being that I haven't had input
and I -- how do you know? If you clean this up, maybe you're going
to clean something out of there that I like or another commissioner --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, we're not eliminating anything.
This is strictly to bring what exists into legal compliance. We don't
want -- everything that exists is going to remain. It's just going to be
cleaned up to make -- to be sure that, as it's presented to us for our
review --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: At the workshop?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- at the workshop that it's legally
conforming. Because, for example -- let me give you an example.
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February 12, 2013
We have an ordinance on the books right now that provides that, as an
economic incentive, you can get a property tax exemption, that we
could award that. But, in fact, what the county did wasn't correct,
because both the Constitution and Florida Statute provide that if you
have that as an ordinance that you do allow for property tax
exemptions as an economic incentive to businesses, that that has to be
approved by referendum by the voters of Collier County. We never
did that.
Now, I've looked at other counties to see, you know, when they
considered that kind of economic incentive in their toolbox, whether
they had referendums, and absolutely they did. So that's an example.
So the intent is not to remove anything that we've got, but just so
that when it's presented to you that it's cleaned up and so you know,
okay, if you want to do this, this is what we have to do, or this is how
we have to amend it.
So you're just working from a clean slate, because there are a lot
of issues with our economic development package as we have it that
needs housekeeping.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. And you talk about
referendum, but in here, in what you've -- under considerations -- by
the way, you used some really harsh words -- it says something about
incentives and they have to go to referendums. Does that mean each
time there is an incentive --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, no, no. No, no, no, no. It
means that with respect to, for example -- and I was just citing
examples. Like the property tax exemption --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- incentive. For us to be --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, we already voted on that, and
we approved it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right, but that's not legally right.
What has to happen is, it goes to --
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Is that true, Jeff?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The program has to go to the public,
the public approves it, and then, thereafter -- it doesn't have to go to
referendum every single time. When we award the incentive, it's by
majority vote of the board when we award it to a particular company,
but the actual program itself has to go -- has to be approved by
referendum.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Jeff?
MR. KLATZKOW: If you're going to set up a program that
would bring new businesses in and exempt it from property taxes, yes,
that has to be a -- or go to referendum. I don't know that ours is
structured that way. Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I --
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't know. But I've spoken with your
new economic development manager and, you know, we both believe
these things were passed a number of years ago, different time,
different economic climate.
He brings a wealth of experience with him. Some of the stuff he's
seeing he likes, some of the stuff he's doesn't particularly like, my
understanding is, and we'd like to bring you back some -- he would
like to bring you back, along with working with Leo, some
recommendations on how to improve this process for your review, and
that would probably be when you might want to set up a workshop so
you would have a list of recommended changes that we have to the
ordinance, specifically.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. And that way we're getting
real good input from our team of professionals, from staff, from the
county attorney, from our economic development expert so that we
can, when we get into that workshop, start working from a clean slate,
and considering all the different things we need to consider, be it, you
know, the existing ordinances, public records implications, funding
considerations, and so forth.
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So that's really the intent, just to give direction to staff. And I
tried to list out all those things for them to consider, and I left it
open-ended, that if there's anything additional that they would like to
add beyond, you know, what I have noted over time as things that I
think we really need to consider, that they have the opportunity to do
so.
You know, I want them to have as much latitude as possible but,
you know, let's get the ball rolling.
Yes, sir?
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, we're happy to do that. That's my
first comment. And, in fact, staff had begun to look at our program
anyhow since -- and I think the board all knows this -- your current set
of economic development programs by ordinance sunsets in October
of this year.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Absolutely.
MR. OCHS: That effort had begun prior to Mr. Register's
arrival. It's going to proceed in earnest from here on out, and we
appreciate some additional areas to look at. We think we've got some
good opportunities there.
I am a little reluctant to go too far unless I get some specific
direction from a majority of the board on this -- on this potential
impact fee moratorium issue. That is more of a policy issue, in my
view, at this point.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. Well --
MR. OCHS: So I'd appreciate some elaboration on what the
expectation is on that component of this proposal.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'd like to comment.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Go ahead. I think -- Commissioner
Coyle was next but, Commissioner Coyle, would you allow
Commissioner Nance to comment, because he wants to address that
question specifically, or would you rather go right now?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I don't have to go first.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh. Then Commissioner Nance.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I just wanted to make a comment.
I thank the chair for bringing this forward. I think there's a whole
punch list of ideas on here. I think some of them are cleanup items,
but if you get down into some of them, for example, it says, as an
alternative to an impact fee waiver, an additional provision should be
added for an impact fee exemption program. I think that's more of a
topic for a workshop than something somebody should try to engineer
at this point.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And we're not engineering it, at
least --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I understand that. So what I'm
saying is I'm hoping that staff and the county attorney and Mr.
Register and everybody's going to come back to us, maybe as an
interim, and say, these are the things we want to adapt and these are
the things we've accumulated that we think we want to talk about in a
workshop, and maybe that will put this in some -- you know, put this
in some sort of a structure, because you've got -- I've just made notes
in the margin.
I think you've got eight or 10 different ideas in here that are all
worthy ideas, but I'm not sure that all of them are, as the chair
described, as cleanup items. Some of them certainly are, but others
are major concepts that I know are going to elicit all sorts of
conversation.
MR. OCHS: Well, I appreciate that, sir, and I did speak with the
chairwoman yesterday about that. And I just want to have some
expectations understood on the part of the board that those that we can
provide some specific recommendations coming back, we'd like to do
that. Those other areas that are more policy, perhaps we'll just bring
some research and some options --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Exactly.
MR. OCHS: -- and then the board can direct --
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That's what I'm suggesting that
somehow we separate that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Exactly.
MR. OCHS: Does that -- will that work for the majority of the
board?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I think you're absolutely right,
Leo, and I think you separate this laundry list and do exactly what you
describe. Where you see it's policy, give the backup, we'll make the
choice. Where you see it's legal cleanup, work with Jeff, give the
proposal of how we correct, you know, given that we have to, you
know, update and renew as it is.
MR. OCHS: And then other program or procedural matters --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Exactly.
MR. OCHS: -- we could make some more specific
recommendations --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Exactly.
MR. OCHS: -- either based on our research or what's going on at
the state level, because there's a lot of -- as you know, there's a lot of
activity coming during this upcoming legislative session to look at the
state's economic incentive program, and we do want to be in
alignment where we can leverage their programs, but --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Absolutely.
MR. OCHS: If they're making major changes in March and
April of this year, I think we would like the time to understand those
before we'd have to come back. And I know you had a date in here,
Commissioner, of April.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yep.
MR. OCHS: The session's over, you know, the first week in
May. If we could have a little latitude with that timewise.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let's change it. I think you're
absolutely right. Let's change the bring-back date to May to coincide
with the end of the session, so -- I think that's a really great
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recommendation.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. And this is exactly the point
I made at the beginning of our meeting today about this -- these
executive summaries.
I still think we're talking off of two sheets of music here, and I
don't think there's general understanding. So to simplify it, if we
could say that we're going to discard Commissioner Hiller's manifesto
of general condemnation and instead focus on ways to improve our
economic incentive program, I'm all for that. I think it's a wonderful
thing to do.
But saying that many provisions are invalid or illegal and that we
have to have an impact fee exemption program, which would include
an impact fee moratorium, these are the bullet points that
Commissioner Hiller is talking about for you to separate out and go
through, and that's not what I hear the other members of the board
saying. That what we have to do is look at our economic development
program and improve it, make it better, bring it back to the board for
approval, and that I will wholeheartedly support.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, thank you for your comments.
And let me just help by saying that if you would read it carefully,
what you're suggesting is not what's drafted.
For example, when I talk about the impact fees waiver intentive
program, I say that in the process that staff may consider an impact fee
moratorium for select impact fees, and that could be looked at and
could be a provision that's considered; not by any means that it's a
direction that we should take but rather that, you know, the blanket of
options should be considered.
Where we might have problems with some of the programs we
have just because they need tweaking and updating or correcting, as
the case may be, we can use those analyses as a springboard for
additional programs that we may want to consider.
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And, again, we're not committing to anything here. We're just --
I just basically presented a number of areas that could be focused on,
leaving it open for staff to supplement as they see fit, and bring it
back. I mean, we absolutely have to bring it back. And most
importantly we have to take it to the community, because the
community input is what is key to a successful future for this program.
So thank you for your support, Commissioner Coyle. I
appreciate you coming around and standing behind the general
direction given.
And I would like to ask if someone would make a motion to
approve directing this to staff to develop and then allow for the public
speakers.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So moved.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I would like to also include Mr.
Register in this --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: -- because it's his job now.
MR. OCHS: Sure. He'll --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And he is included. And County
Manager Ochs spoke to Mr. Register about all of this, and Mr.
Register is eager to jump in and make all this happen, and I believe the
county attorney, the county manager and Mr. Register will be working
together to provide us that clean and improved slate of items to
consider.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: To bring to a workshop.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes, to bring to a workshop. And
now that we know how to have a workshop, since we had a workshop
on a workshop. May I have a second?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Can we hear the public
speakers?
MR. MITCHELL: Your first public speaker is Peter Gaddy.
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February 12, 2013
He'll be followed by Bob Naegele.
MR. GADDY: Good afternoon, Commissioners. For the record,
my name is Peter Gaddy. I'm chairman of the Economic Development
Committee of the Collier Community Alliance.
Collier Community Alliance is a not-for-profit organization made
up of citizens from throughout Collier County, and we are set up to
oppose and support issues that affect Collier residents.
As chair of the Economic Development Committee, I want to
thank your county manager, Mr. Ochs, for facilitating a meeting that
we have set with Mr. Register. I think it's next week.
Leo?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
MR. GADDY: And all of our committee members are looking
forward to that.
I'm here to -- here to offer support for Commissioner Hiller's
executive summary. On February 7th, the full membership of Collier
Community Alliance voted unanimously to support the executive
summary --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you --
MR. GADDY: -- without exception.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. I'm very grateful.
MR. GADDY: And we look forward to seeing this process
develop. From your discussion today, it's obvious that it's going to
take some time.
I do have one suggestion, that's -- when you get to the repayment
of impact fee funds, which eventually you're going to have to do to
keep the books in balance and make the impact fee funds whole, I
suggest that you consider doing so retroactively as well as
prospectively.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Bob Naegele. He'll
be followed by your final speaker on this item, Kathy Curatolo.
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February 12, 2013
MR. NAEGELE: Thanks. Good afternoon, Commissioners. I
want to thank you for taking on this economic development. I, too,
am a member of the CCA, the Collier Community Alliance, and on
Economic Development Committee, and I believe this is a step in the
right -- in the right direction.
And we had already -- at previous -- some of our committee
meetings have been beginning to study -- take a look at all county
revenue streams, and we just want to be an assist to the county on
these things.
This is a rather -- the origination of this was at -- Murray Hendel
called us together, a group, our geographical group, in early 2012, I
think it was January, and he suggested that we do this. And the
suggestion had come from Commissioner Coyle, as a matter of fact,
because of the success of the Presidents Council, which Murray had
put together.
So we are -- and we'll be talking more about that when we talk
about the tourist development tax situation. But, anyway, I think I
really appreciate what you're doing for the economic development
subject. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final public speaker is Kathy Curatolo.
MS. CURATOLO: Good afternoon, Chair Hiller,
Commissioners, staff and the general public. I am here representing
the Collier Building Industry Association. Obviously, we are very
much interested in the process and the plan for economic
development.
Most importantly, we're interested in the discussion concerning
an impact fee exemption program and stand willing to work with
community partners in the county to explore, to analyze, and to
research this issue in parallel to your work, County Commissioners,
and your workshop, to come back with some recommendations if you
so desire.
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February 12, 2013
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you very much.
MR. MITCHELL: That was your last speaker.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: If there's no further discussion --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'd just like to ask a question.
There continues to be some confusion as to what it is we are directing
staff to take a look at.
I don't recall anybody saying that there had to be a
reimbursement program for the impact fee waiver program, as an
example.
Our county attorney has ruled in the past, as has our outside
attorney, that this is a completely false premise.
So it certainly was not -- is not my intent to direct the staff to do
something that they have already determined is completely legal. Is
that a correct statement, Mr. Klatzkow, or have you changed your
mind now?
MR. KLATZKOW: When you say have I changed my mind,
which program are you getting at, the charitable one or -- which
particular program are you getting at? The deferral?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: The deferral, yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay. The deferral program you do not
have to reimburse.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: That's right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's correct.
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay. But any program which you waive
impact fees you need to reimburse.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: We're on the same page.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But the deferral program does not?
MR. KLATZKOW: That's right, because you're ultimately
paying it.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
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CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. When you say -- I'm sorry.
When you say waive impact fees, does that mean the program we
have in place where we have buildings that are older than two years
and -- so people are taking those things out of the inventory and
actually upgrading them and improving them, but they don't have to
pay an impact fee because of that; is that what you're talking about?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, that's another program. That particular
program, I'll call an optional program --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: -- some local governments utilize it and
some local governments don't utilize it. So that one's at your
discretion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. There being no further
discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
MR. OCHS: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #10J
RECOMMENDATION THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS DIRECTS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO
DRAFT A RESOLUTION STATING IT IS NOT THE BOARD'S
CURRENT INTENT TO RAISE THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
TAX; TO BE PRESENTED FOR BOARD APPROVAL AT THE
FEBRUARY 26, 2013 PUBLIC MEETING. RAISING TAXES ON
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THE TOURISM INDUSTRY DURING THIS TIME OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP GOES AGAINST THE COUNTY'S
DESIRE TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS IMPERATIVE THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FORMALLY
DECLARE ITS INTENT TO NOT RAISE TAXES AT THIS TIME
— APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Your next item was your 3 p.m. time-certain. It's
item 10J, and that is a recommendation that the board direct the
county attorney to draft the resolution stating that it's not the board's
current intent to raise the tourist development tax to be presented for
board approval at the February 26, 2013, public meeting. And
Commissioner Hiller brought this item forward.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have a motion --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- and a second on the table.
Are there any public speakers?
MR. MILLER: Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, yes, ma'am. You have
six public speakers on this item.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning, would you
like to speak before the public speakers?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I just want to tell you why I was
so quick to make a motion.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Tourist Development Council,
at the direction of the Board of Commissioners, is bringing back a
policy about how we allocate existing funds. And I think it will
demonstrate over and over, if we apply more tourist development -- or
more monies to advertising, you're going to have more monies for
beach renourishment, you're going to have more monies for museums,
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and you're going to have more monies for beach parks.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. May we have our first
public speaker?
MR. MILLER: Your first public speaker is Jim Smith. He'll be
followed by Darren Robertshaw.
MR. J. SMITH: When I first came to Naples back in the '80s, I
started going to meetings of condo associations. And when it got to be
the '90s, sometimes these folks along the beach were a little bit
concerned about the beach, and they were told by the representatives,
don't worry. We're going to tax the tourists. And we've managed to
tax the tourists for something that we all benefit from all year long. I
would like you to -- I think that needs to be reconsidered in some
manner.
But today I'm particularly concerned with asking you to vote for
the resolution to reject an increase in the tourist tax. And I must
question the arguments of those who have already spoke in favor of it
at city -- at this council's -- City Council of Naples meeting earlier in
the month.
The way I understand the process is that the folks who are in
favor of this, is that they had a three-stage process. They started with
the Naples City Council, they went to another group, and then they
were going to come here today showing the solidarity of all -- of these
various community groups.
Well, the first thing I'd like to do is to question the Naples vote, is
that it was a 3-4 decision; however, one of the members voting for had
a conflict of interest. Another voted for after stating that he had no
confidence in the moral fiber of this commission.
And so I think that, you know -- another interpretation of that
vote was 3-2 opposed to increasing the tourist tax.
At that same meeting the executive director, Jack Wert, said that
the tourist dollars -- excuse me -- that the tourist tax dollars have a
40-to-1 return on investment. Now, I've been in business for a long
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time, and very few people -- very few people have ever come to me
and said that, you know, you're going to get a 25 -- 25-to-1 return on
your investment, let alone 40-to-1, or I would have signed up
immediately, of course.
Now, that would mean that if I were in business here in Naples, I
would certainly -- you know, I'd certainly be willing to invest in Dr. --
in Mr. Jack Wert's tourist program. I am not in that kind of a business.
I help people stop smoking.
But that -- if he presented it to me, I would sure be along with it,
voluntarily. I'm not sure why I would have to be forced to do it. And
the argument that there would be people who would piggyback on my
contribution, hey, I'd make the contribution because I think I'm going
to get something out of it, and I would do that on some kind of basis,
whatever they might have determined, whether it's a dollars per room
or whatever kind of a system they came up with, I would be -- I'd be
first on board. And I think most businessmen who benefit would do
likewise.
The other thing I'd like to mention is that we do need to protect
our number one asset, which is our beaches and the inlet. And if
memory serves --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sir?
MR. SMITH: -- you folks have already made 18 changes to the
tourist tax. That's an awful lot of changes, of tinkering. You're trying
to get a little bit more money here and a little bit less money there, and
I think it's time that we started thinking about the idea of just having
the tax do what benefits all of us, and that's to protect the beaches and
inlets and let those of us who are in the private sector fend for
ourselves.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Darren Robertshaw.
He'll be followed by Rich Medwedeff.
MR. ROBERTSHAW: Thank you for the opportunity to be
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heard on this matter.
My name is Darren Robertshaw, president of Collier County
Lodging and Tourism Alliance. We are a membership of community
and business leaders who are impacted by tourism in our county. We
originally formed as the Lodging Association of Collier County. In
the past year we've expanded to represent all businesses that are
involved in tourism.
I am sure you understand the importance tourism is in our
county; 32,000 hospitality and tourism jobs in our county. An
estimated $1.4 billion in annual impact. What you may not know is
how competitive it is to get a visitor to our destination and how
determined other counties, states, and countries are to bring those
visitors to their destinations to enjoy those same benefits that our
tourism provides.
The client who's considering bringing a group to Collier County
in most situations will be getting a request for proposal for three to
four different destinations. They'll consider everything; tax, they'll
consider the cost of transportation to get them to and from the airport,
they'll consider can they get a direct flight to the airport; they consider
everything. Every penny that visitor is charged, they will look at to
make their decision. Same goes for the individual traveler.
Collier County Lodging and Tourism Alliance believe that
raising the tourist tax would make Collier County less competitive.
We would like to ask the commissioners to support the resolution and
not raise tourist tax at this time.
Thank you very much for hearing me.
MR. MILLER: Your next public speaker is Rick Medwedeff.
He'll be followed by Clark Hill.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: For the record, my name is Rick
Medwedeff. I'm the general manager of the Marriott of Marco Island
and a member of the Tourist Development Council.
I would like to start off by saying, Commissioners, if you are
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interested in economic development and want to support the one
industry, tourism, that has had the most significant impact on this
community, then please vote no to any bed tax increases.
I note that there are individuals and groups that are saying that
hoteliers are only interested in their business and that is why we do not
support increasing the bed tax.
I would like to share some facts that you and the community
should be aware of. First and foremost, hotels do not get any free
advertising from this tax. All marketing and advertising goes to
promote Naples, Marco Island, and the Everglades destination. It's
referred to as destination marketing. It's not for hotels.
Now, if you do see an ad, a Collier County Convention and
Visitors Bureaus ad that has an ad for a hotel or an attraction attached
to it, that hotel or attraction actually pays for that ad. That's not
included.
Over the last fiscal year, hotels collected $10.6 million of the
14.9 million of bed tax collected, which represents 71.3 percent.
In the calendar year of 2012, the REVPAR, which is the critical
number that you look at that collects the tax; it's a revenue per
available room. For hotels in 2012, it was $108.36 versus, in 2007,
the REVPAR was 119.81. That's a 9.6 percent decline.
So although there has been published reports that the last year we
had record-breaking bed tax collection, it has obviously not been
generated by hotels.
I have a graph I'd like to show on the screen here. The top graph
is the occupancy of our market over the last five years, since 2007.
The top line is the total occupancy, the second line is the transient
occupancy, and the bottom line is the group occupancy.
You can see the group occupancy dropped off dramatically in
2009, and that affected the overall occupancy pretty dramatically. It
also dropped our average rates, as you can see on the next graph
below. All the rates dropped correspondingly. And the third graph is
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the REVPAR, which shows that we are clearly below where we stood
same time in 2007.
So why am I highlighting the group impact? Because we rely on
this segment more than any of our competitive set. If we could show
this other graph.
The bottom -- the bottom line is the group occupancy. That's our
occupancy for Naples MSA to Miami, Florida Keys, Fort Myers and
so forth.
The top graph shows what is that -- is a percentage of our total
mix. You did see on this graph we rely on group market more than
any of our competition by a wide margin, and that's critical for you to
know because, as Darren was talking about, the meeting planner looks
at their total costs before making their buying decision, and tax is
included in that.
So, in closing, we as a community have decided to put all of our
eggs in one basket and rely strictly on the bed tax to support our beach
park facilities, beach renourishment, and county-owned museums.
With that strategy, we can ill afford to jeopardize that source of
revenues of which over 70 percent comes from hotels with a bed tax.
Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Fiala would like to comment on your remarks.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Just a fast -- more or less a question,
because I just love what you do. You're in my district, you live in my
district, you work in my district, your hotel is in my district, and most
of your people that work there are in my district, and I feel very
pleased and very proud of that.
The only problem I have with all of this and the reason I was
tending toward going this way was because -- because you folks at the
TDC have determined that you want to slowly eliminate any money
given to the museums as well as the parks.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: (Shakes head.)
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Not at all? You're not even
decreasing that at all?
MR. MEDWEDEFF: No. There is a recommendation that you
will have in front of you at the next BCC meeting that was drafted by
the staff of the county manager that the TDC voted unanimously to
support, which is a little different than what the original submission of
the subcommittee of the TDC had submitted, which was -- to your
concern, be a total elimination of funding for the museums. That is
not part of the recommendation that's being put forth in your next
BCC meeting.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What is the recommendation?
Because that, to me -- you see, if we -- if we keep the status quo,
which I understand -- I understand your points, but then if you reduce
the funding to the museums incrementally over the next three years --
MR. MEDWEDEFF: That's not in the proposal.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I don't know that. I don't know
what -- that's why I'm asking what it is.
MR. OCHS: Commissioner --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Same with the beach parks, that's
okay. Then our taxpayers have to pay for it. Now, if you plan on
continuing to fund those and keep your 4 percent, that's fine.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: They're funded and to some lesser degree.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Ah, okay.
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, let me -- since it's my proposal, and
you'll see it next meeting --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is that this agenda item?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, it is, because this is how it is
affecting my vote.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Oh. No, it's a -- it's a
recommendation to bring back a resolution not to support a tourist tax
increase.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Right, and I was -- I would support
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the tourist tax increase if they're going to be reducing the funding for
the beach parks and for the museums, because I don't want that money
to go, then, to our taxpayers to have to cover. I mean, this is a fiscally
responsible decision here. But if they're not going to reduce those
things, keep them the same, I say then keep the bed tax the same,
because then we don't have to make up that funding loss.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Is it fiscal (sic) responsible to
raise taxes?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: That's exactly what I'm saying.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Right, and what was recommended was a
25 percent increase in that tax.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Say that again.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: What was recommended by the Naples
City Council was a 25 percent increase in a tax.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: In the tax for what?
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Bed tax. It was a 25 percent increase in
bed tax they were requesting.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: But what is the proposal of the other
MR. OCHS: Commissioner, in a nutshell, the proposal is to
reallocate the existing four pennies of bed tax to move more funding
to promotion -- destination marketing and advertising to move more
money into your annual reserve for beach renourishment.
The only way we can do that is to reduce the current annual level
of funding to the beach park facilities, and we've recommended that in
a way that I believe is responsible and will not prevent you from
maintaining and building any of the beach park facilities that we have
in our five-year plan.
And then, finally, the proposal with respect to the museum is to
reduce their TDC funding by $200,000 and ask them to try to raise
that money through other means, either event charges or other special
promotions, with the backstop that if they're unable to do that,
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whatever the difference is between what their annual budget is and
that $200,000, we will make up. I say "we." The staff will
recommend that you make that up through General Fund dollars if it's
required.
So there's a guarantee that the museum will maintain their annual
level of funding even if they can't raise the entire $200,000.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, because the tourists go there,
and that's something that they really need to do as -- you know,
especially with the group business. The husband goes, or wife -- the
spouse goes to the meetings that are planned for them, and then the
other spouse is here and they try and find things to do to keep them
busy. Same with the beach parks. That keeps them busy.
I want to tell you, I live here, you do, you do, but how often do
we go to a park? But the tourists do. And I just feel that that's an
important aspect of this.
Now, if you plan on keeping those things funded so that
responsibility does not go to our taxpayers, then I'm for this, but you
have to assure me that that's what you're doing.
MR. OCHS: Well, I can't assure you right now, ma'am. I can't
give you a guarantee. I can just tell you what the proposal is. And
this is, first and foremost for me, an economic development proposal,
because the hospitality industry has demonstrated that they can raise
additional revenue when they invest in themselves and when we invest
in them, and I think that rising tide will rise all votes -- raise all votes
over time and increase the available revenue for all of the categories
that receive it, and --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: As long as we don't eliminate those
categories.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Can I help? Can I help?
MR. MEDWEDEFF: There's been no elimination of this
category.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I want to hear what he says.
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MR. OCHS: I have no incremental reduction beyond that
$200,000.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let me help.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. But, Rick, you said, no,
you're not going to do that?
MR. MEDWEDEFF: There's no elimination of the funding of
that. There is a reallocation, but no elimination of the funding that's
being proposed.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. Let me interrupt right now,
because I really have to bring some clarity into this.
We're not discussing the proposal for the allocation of fundings
here today, so we're not going to get into any more detail with respect
to that. That is going to be brought back at a future meeting.
Commissioner Fiala, today all we're doing is directing that --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I know what we're doing.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- to -- no, but let me finish -- to
direct them to bring back a resolution. So my point is, if you don't
like what ends up being adopted, you can vote against the resolution
when it's presented before us. We're not voting today to accept the
wording of a resolution. Nothing is before us. We're just directing
them.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Commissioner, I understand that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I just want -- you know, it's not like
I walked in from the second grade. I know what we're doing here.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No. It's not that. I just want -- but
my point is is that you don't have to --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: We need to talk, right? Same with
you, Clark.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Commissioner Fiala -- and that's -- my
point is that I want you to understand that if you raise the tax, you put
us in a situation of potentially losing business and lowering the bed tax
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that we collect. You rely upon the hotels to collect 70 percent of that
tax.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I understand that.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: And as a hotelier professional that works
and lives in this community, I'm telling you that if you raise the bed
tax, that would hurt the industry here in Collier County and would
reduce your taxes that you're collecting.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: It really hasn't done that in the other
counties, but --
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Yes, it has. It absolutely has. If you look
at Fort Myers, their occupancy -- group occupancy back in 2007 was
21 percent of their business. It's down to -- well, Commissioner, can I
just say, it's down to 13 percent of their business. That's a fact. That's
on -- that is on Smith Travel Reporting documents that I can hand you,
and you can see the decline in their group business substantially.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. Just -- you and I need to talk,
because those are my two concerns, museums and beach parks, okay.
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Well, I hope that the 37,000 jobs that rely
on tourism are your primary concern, Commissioner.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Coyle?
MR. MEDWEDEFF: Thirty-seven thousand -- or thirty-two
thousand.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I'll go after the speakers have
finished.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. The next speaker?
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Randy Smith. He'll be
followed by Bob Naegele.
MR. R. SMITH: Good afternoon. Randy Smith with Naples
Transportation and Tours. We've been in the hospitality and tourism
business in Naples and Marco Island for 25 years. Our business relies
heavily on tourism, as do many restaurants and shopping areas and
other attractions in town. And we are against any tax that makes it
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more difficult for visitors to come to our area.
We provide services for both the family leisure traveler and also
for the group and convention business side. So we've got all
perspectives, and a non-hotel perspective as well.
We work directly with the meeting planners that come down
here, and they do tell us that they're considering other locations like
the east coast or Arizona or Orlando, and they tell us how difficult it is
to bring their groups here due to the other costs of airfare and
transportation, airport.
A lot of factors rely on their decision, and any increase in tax is
just going to make it that much more difficult. So we're hoping that
you vote against any kind of increase in the tax.
Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your final public speaker is Bob Naegele.
MR. NAEGELE: Thank you, Commissioners. Bob Naegele,
7993 Via Vecchia. And I've been a businessman for most of my life,
and any time somebody would try to impose a 25 percent increase in a
tax on me or my business or my real estate, I would be outraged.
And so I'm just hearing the conversation. It's only one percent. I
saw the newspaper article when Murray Hendel presented for the
Collier County -- Collier Community Alliance to the city council, and
he was very forceful in making that presentation.
But I want you to know, as a member of the CCA committee that
studied not only economic development, but I'm also on the Tourist
Development Committee, we -- it was implied at the city council
meeting that it was the full force of the CCA.
But, you know, it came out of subcommittee or the committee on
the tourist tax with -- unanimously against raising the tax. And as a --
at the last meeting, we did not -- we had a very interesting
conversation, sometimes heated, and there were definitely four votes
that said, no, this is the wrong thing to do.
So I just want -- the implication that this is fully supported by the
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CCA is not true.
So thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Madam Chair, I misspoke. I had one more sheet
that I missed. You have one more speaker. His name's Clark Hill.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Thank you.
MR. HILL: Good afternoon, Commissioners. And thank you for
listening to me today. It's a pleasure to be here.
I'm speaking on behalf of the tourism industry. And if we
increase our tax by 25 percent, by another one penny, we're effectively
going to slow the traffic coming into the community to stay in the
hotels.
I refer to the importance of our visitors staying in hotels only
insomuch as it's -- that's where we get the critical funding to do many
things, including maintain our beaches, support our museums, and to
advertise our destination.
So the real impact of what we're talking about here is on the
overall economy of Collier County. Currently, tourism is a $1.4
billion industry that's a major engine for us.
Also, currently, the infrastructure is in place. In fact, it's 35
percent underutilized, at least in the hospitality industry. Two years
ago we saw restaurants and attractions closing. We need to stop that.
A way to stop that is to bring more visitors in, and the way we're
going to do that is to not increase the tax, to follow the lead of the
person who is going to manage the funding for this, and to make us all
more successful.
We'll drive down unemployment. The tourism industry employs
32,000. It could employ many more and will.
There's a 40-to-1 return on every dollar we spend on marketing.
There's nothing more important to Collier County than our beaches, I
understand, as far as attracting visitors, and culture is tremendously
important to who we are, to attracting visitors and to our quality of
life.
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Those things, I believe -- I believe that if we raise this tax, we're
going to do more damage than just what we see on the surface. And I
think that there's an opportunity this month to settle all the
conversation, to do the right thing, and to better the quality of life for
all of us.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
I'd like to comment on what you just said, Clark. I had the
opportunity to attend a governmental conference in Tallahassee. One
of the presentations was made by the Bureau of Economic Statistics,
or something along those lines, but, essentially, the agency of the state
government that analyzes the trends in economic development.
And what they said is tourism, which they describe as always
including retail, is growing faster than any other industry in the state.
They said, followed by construction, finance, banking, health and ag.
On the decline is manufacturing. So, you know, the de-emphasis is
towards manufacturing.
I have looked at our makeup of businesses as compared to the
state as a whole or industries, if you will, as compared to the state as a
whole, and we're like a microcosm of the state. So we really need to
do everything we can to promote tourism, to help you success and get
better because, you're right, we have already made the investment in
infrastructure.
Thirty-five percent of unutilized built infrastructure is an
outrageous waste, and we have to do everything we can to basically
put you in a position of 100 percent utilization. So we have a lot of
work to do to get you there, and we hope we can help.
Remember, we're the government, and we're here to help.
MR. HILL: I know that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And don't laugh.
MR. HILL: No, thank you very much.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But no, seriously, the industry is to
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be commended and also, for the 37,000 people that you employ, that
is very, very significant considering that our population is about
350,000. Thank you.
MR. HILL: Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I had a conversation with the
governor on Saturday, and the State of Florida -- and where the
governor has been going is more dollars to promote/bring tourism in.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And so we had a great
conversation about what is being proposed by the county manager for
his -- part of his economic incentive, and he was very excited about
that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's really great.
We have a -- I'm sorry, Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You turned off my light before.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I apologize.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I just want to make an observation.
I think it's very interesting that the Collier County Community
Alliance, who is recommending the increase, didn't bother to show up
to support their recommendations today. That's puzzling.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But nevertheless.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, no. What happened was, I
think you might have missed what --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I heard exactly what he said.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, I want to clarify what was
said for the record, because what you're saying might confuse the
viewing public, Commissioner Coyle.
Essentially, what happened was the Collier Community Alliance
-- is that the proper title? Yeah -- through their subcommittee clearly
opposed the increase of the tourist bed tax and, apparently, the
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February 12, 2013
organization as a whole -- by its majority opposed it, but one member,
I guess, either misinterpreted or decided to go on his own and state
that the alliance, in fact, did support an increase. Apparently -- is Mr.
Naegele or --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, he's gone.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Mr. Gaddy, could you stand up to
the mike, and could you clarify? I mean, I'm just interpreting what
was said by Mr. Naegele. But it's very clear that the community
alliance does not support the increase in the bed tax; is that a correct
statement?
MR. GADDY: We -- I think the correct statement is that there
was some misunderstanding and some confusion, and we're attempting
to reconcile that now, and we're going to be coming to a position, as I
indicated before and Mr. Naegele indicated, that we're going to be
studying all county revenue streams, and the bed tax is one of them.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But specifically, let's stay focused
on the tourist development tax. You had a subcommittee that
prepared a paper on this tax.
MR. GADDY: That's correct.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And the conclusion of the
subcommittee was that you did not support the increase in the tax.
MR. GADDY: That's correct.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And there was a problem at your
board level with respect to the vote, and I guess the information either
was released incorrectly or prematurely is what you're saying?
MR. GADDY: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. And I think that's important,
because the representations of your organization were posted in the
Naples Daily News, and I think it would behoove the Naples Daily
News to retract that representation since what you're telling me is it
doesn't represent your organization's position.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Oh, it must be.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Wait a minute, wait a minute.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Or does it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It wasn't the Naples Daily News. It
was taken to the Naples City Council, and they voted.
MR. GADDY: Naples City Council, right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But didn't you publish it, Naples
Daily News?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, they published the results of
the vote.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, no, not of the vote. This was
before. Wasn't there an article or press release in the Naples Daily
News? I thought there was something in the paper.
MR. GADDY: Yeah, there was a reporting of what happened at
the Naples City Council.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, okay. But there was nothing
prior to that? I thought there was --
MR. GADDY: Not to my recollection.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. I misunderstood. I thought
there was --
MR. GADDY: I have a copy of our written committee report.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Could we have it?
MR. GADDY: I'll be happy to email that to you, Commissioner.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, email it to the entire board,
and then please provide a copy to be included into the record for the
court reporter.
MR. GADDY: Okay. Very good. Thank you. I'll mail it to you,
too, KD.
One thing I just wanted to mention as long as I'm up here, and
that's about 45 minutes ago the Lee County Commission voted to
continue their discussion of an impact fee moratorium.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's interesting.
MR. GADDY: So -- just thought I'd pass that on.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I was going to read it in the
Naples Daily News.
MR. GADDY: They might not cover.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. There being no further
discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Item #12B (Continued from earlier in the meeting)
FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO
PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY
REGARDING SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES IN THE PENDING CASES:
FRANCIS D. HUSSEY, JR., ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET
AL., SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D11-
1224; AND SEAN HUSSEY, ET AL. V. COLLIER COUNTY, ET
AL., SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL CASE NO. 2D11-
1223 - MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM TO ALLOW THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY AND PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY TIME
TO REWORK SETTLEMENT LANGUAGE — APPROVED; A
SETTLEMENT WAS AGREED UPON BY ALL PARTIES AS
PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, would you like to go back to the
Hussey settlement item at this point or move onto Item 9 on your
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agenda? I believe the county attorney indicated he has the documents
ready.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What's your pleasure, County
Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: It's the chair's.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You've got everybody here? Should
we just move back to the settlement then? It would make sense, and
then that way they can leave.
MR. KLATZKOW: That would be fine. Thank you.
Scott, could you put the changes on the overhead.
MR. TEACH: Yeah. Scott Teach, Deputy County Attorney.
I met with counsel. We went through and made some changes.
The first page -- and these are attached to the revised agreement that
you have on the dais and each of the board members.
First of all, it was just an addition to a couple references to
acreage and amounts, and they're underscored on the -- okay, very
good.
The first page is just a change. We had included a reference to
1,110 acres, and then at the end we have a reference to 523 acres, so
that was just a nominal change. That wasn't included in the agenda
package that you were previously provided.
And this section, you can read through it, we struck through a
great deal of language, and then we included references, specific
references to SR846 sending lands down at the last sentence as well.
And I have Mr. Vega up here, because Mr. Vega and Bruce -- if
you need to speak with Bruce regarding what their position on this
presentation is.
MR. VEGA: Chairman Hiller?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
MR. VEGA: I just wanted to add, we clarified -- and I see your
point as to the reference to sending lands in Paragraph 8 is ambiguous
and could have referred back to the Hussey sending lands. We have
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February 12, 2013
clarified that it's specifically limited to the 846 sending lands. We
have deleted the two sentences that were objectionable.
We did not add to the Hussey lands, and that was purposeful.
Perhaps more thought was spent on the issue than deserved on our
part, not on yours.
The issue was the Husseys are not -- their lands are not within the
North Belle Meade overlay that gives special rights. They're plain,
garden variety, if this is adopted, receiving. They have the rights and
limitations that go along with receiving land, and mining is a
conditional use.
It may be that the conditional use process changes at some point
in the future. Its name could change, the process could change, the
rights of receiving lands could change.
Instead of putting in a sentence that requires it to go through the
conditional use process, if 20 years from now there is no conditional
use process but there is, in fact, a different process that receiving lands
go through, the thought would be to leave them as receiving lands, and
whatever applies to receiving lands applies to them.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Except for the fact that it is not clear
that as a consequence of the transfer that the approved conditional use
is not also being transferred, and that is what is not clearly provided
for. Because currently on the 856 (sic) -- is that what it is?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: 846.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: On the 846 lands, you have the right
to mine, which was granted to you by way of an approval of a
conditional use permit application.
What I don't want to see happen is that what you have been
granted up on 846 becomes automatic on the Hussey lands merely
because you did the switch, and that is not clearly provided herein.
I mean, what the board is reserving as a matter of right to decide
by discretion is if you come forward on those Hussey lands to mine,
that we will review the evidence, and we'll make a decision based on
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that, not that because you had it approved over here, it's automatically
approved over here, just because you're switching the labels. And that
is not clearly provided for. In fact, it's -- the way I read it, it provides
for exactly what I'm arguing against.
MR. VEGA: Again, that is not our intent.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I understand. So why don't you just
come up with a sentence that makes it clear that that isn't the intent?
Because I think we're on the same page.
MR. VEGA: Right.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The issue is not a question of us
having a difference of opinion; it's that the wording doesn't reflect our
joint interpretation.
MR. VEGA: How about a sentence at the end of Paragraph 8
saying that these limitations confer no additional rights onto the
Hussey lands?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Where does it say that?
MR. VEGA: No. I'm asking whether Mr. Anderson would be
happy to write that in.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Just say that with respect to the
mining, that the mining rights attributable to the 846 lands will not be
attributable to the Hussey lands.
MR. VEGA: We are in agreement with that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And that way there's no ambiguity.
And then, like you said, whatever comes with receiving is what --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: What it is.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- is what it is.
MR. VEGA: That is -- that is acceptable.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So it's essentially just restoring that
land to receiving.
MR. VEGA: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Could you read it out loud for us,
whatever you're adding?
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February 12, 2013
MR. ANDERSON: Yeah, when I add it.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'll wait.
MR. KLATZKOW: Put it on the monitor.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Hurry up, Bruce.
MR. KLATZKOW: No pressure, Bruce.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Bruce, you know that great
handwriting of yours?
MR. ANDERSON: That's just what I was thinking.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I was thinking you're saying, like,
we'll all be able to read it.
MR. VEGA: I can assure you if I tried to write it with a broken
hand, no one would be able to read it.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Since we don't teach cursive
writing anymore in the schools, pretty soon we won't have this as an
option, Counselor.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Maybe we won't have attorneys as
an option, if they can't write.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What about doctors?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: They can't write anyhow.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yeah, they can't write now.
MR. TEACH: Okay. What it says at the end here is nothing in
this paragraph shall confer any mining rights on the Hussey lands,
period.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's fine.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: They didn't teach him cursive
either, did they?
MR. ANDERSON: If I had done cursive, you wouldn't be able
to read it.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: All right. I'm going to, once again,
change my motion to reflect the changes as indicated and discussed.
If somebody --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I will change my second to
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February 12, 2013
conform.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala, how do you
feel?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You know, I still have my concerns,
because now the truck traffic that are caused from mines, I'm still
concerned about that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But here's the difference. We have
not given them the right to mine. They have to come back to us and
apply for a conditional use permit to have the right to mine.
So when the evidence comes forward, if that's a concern of yours
and they can't satisfy that that concern won't adversely affect the
community, their right to mine can be denied by the board, you know,
based on, you know, these types of issues.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, the impacts to the
neighborhood. That's what I'm concerned with.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I mean, there are, potentially,
environmental impacts, neighborhood impacts, all of which would be
considered when we have a hearing on this if they decide to mine, and
they may not even decide to mine. They may --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: They always have the right to build
houses.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right. Now they would have the
right to engage in residential development, for example.
There is only one concern I have that I'd like to address, and that
is the award of intensity. And without consideration to amending the
Growth Management Plan, I can't see how we can start increasing the
number of square feet of commercial that we're approving without
incorporating that in the Growth Management Plan, because it's going
to have a direct impact on -- is there no commercial?
MR. KLATZKOW: We struck out the PUD language --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, did you?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, okay. You're right. Thank you.
I'm done.
Okay. I'm good. I'm happy again.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: You good?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Forgive me. I was like --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Mr. Vega?
MR. KLATZKOW: It's a long day.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You're right.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. Mr. Vega, could you tell me
what the net effect is on the total number of mined acres under this
plan?
MR. VEGA: I think under this plan -- and I'd defer to Mr. Barber
and Mr. Anderson, but there is a reduction of about 35 acres.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Okay. So that between shutting
down the mining that's taking place in the 846 lands against the mines
that could -- the mining that could potentially take place on the
Hussey land, there would, indeed, be a net decrease in the amount of
mining?
MR. VEGA: If a conditional use for mining were approved on
the Hussey lands in the future, there would be an increase in the
minable acres in Collier County, yes.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Okay. Okay. That's it. I don't
have any other discussion.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no further discussion,
all --
MR. KLATZKOW: May I just -- before you do that vote,
because we've changed it, can I get on the record that each of you
concur with these changes? And get your clients to approve.
MR. VEGA: Yes.
MR. ANDERSON: Yes. Let the record reflect that my client
shook his head affirmatively in the back of the room.
MR. VEGA: Winchester Lakes, Francis D. Hussey, Jr., Mary
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February 12, 2013
Pat Hussey, Shawn Hussey, Shawn Hussey Trustee, if I'm trustee, we
all agree.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no further discussion,
all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries 4-1 with
Commissioner Fiala dissenting.
Item #9B
ORDINANCE 2013-21: RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN
ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH LIMITATIONS, IN
ADDITION TO THOSE SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 538, PART I,
FLORIDA STATUTES, ON THE SALE AND/OR PURCHASE OF
SECONDHAND GOODS (SECONDHAND DEALERS) —
ADOPTED W/CHANGES
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that would take us to your advertised
public hearing section of your agenda. We have one item. That was
removed from your summary agenda during the changes at the
beginning of the meeting this morning. That would be Item 9B, which
formerly was 17A on your summary agenda. It was an item that was
continued from the January 22nd BCC meeting. It's a
recommendation to adopt an ordinance which would establish
limitations in addition to those set forth in Chapter 538, Part 1, Florida
Statutes, on the sale and/or purchase of secondhand goods.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion to approve.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Who moved it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Just a minute. You said 17A?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: 17B.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: B. The secondhand --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: 17D?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: B.
MR. OCHS: No, no, no.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: B.
MR. OCHS: There was only one summary agenda. It was 17A,
Commissioner, moved to 9B.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Sorry.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Who moved it?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Hold on a minute.
MR. OCHS: It was moved at the county attorney's request,
because there was the slight modification between the time, I believe,
the agenda was published. There was --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: There was a spelling error in the
document.
MR. OCHS: There was a spelling error, and also because of the
change we had to move it --
MR. KLATZKOW: It was also published a certain way, and
then Commissioner Nance met with representatives of the Sheriffs
Office, and some modifications were made. So I'll put them on the
monitor, or the county manager will.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I want to make sure I've got the
right one. 17A is what you're talking about; is that right?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
MR. KLATZKOW: So your first change is to the title.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I got it.
MR. OCHS: Everybody good so far?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I've got it. I just had a
question concerning one word.
MR. OCHS: Okay. Yes, sir. So we're moving to Page 3 of the
document.
MR. KLATZKOW: We didn't want to regulate coin and stamp
shows, and that's the purpose of that provision.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Say that again, please.
MR. KLATZKOW: We did not want to regulate coin or stamp
shows.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You're differentiating between
people who sell and people who purchase in the first sentence of this
thing. Can you clarify that for me? No secondhand goods may be
sold. You've stricken out sold, and you just have it applied to
purchased by a secondhand dealer from a hotel room or motel room.
Are you not also interested in secondhand goods that may be sold?
MR. KLATZKOW: These aren't my changes. Thank you.
MR. PARK: Good afternoon, Madam Chair --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Good afternoon.
MR. PARK: -- Commissioners, my name's Chad Park. I'm a
lieutenant with the Collier County Sheriffs Office Financial Crimes
Bureau. I also oversee the regulated business section which pertains
to secondhand dealers, scrap metal yard, pawn shops, et cetera. And
this was an issue that the secondhand dealers and pawn shops had with
these transient businesses traveling around the state and around the
country doing gold shows on a weekend event and hotels, out of the
backs of cars, et cetera. So what we wanted to do was limit those
businesses from coming into the county and buying gold or
secondhand goods from our citizenry here in the county.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: But they can sell secondhand
goods from a hotel room or a motel room or a vehicle; that's what --
that's what this says, as I understand it.
MR. PARK: The -- they should not be able to sell and/or buy,
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February 12, 2013
but we did modify it to basically say they could do it in a hotel room.
They can sell.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: They can sell from a hotel room?
MR. PARK: That's correct. What they'll do is they'll get
conference rooms, so we included that as hotel rooms. So we're okay
with them coming to the county and selling any products, but the
problem we're running into is they're regulated by statute and by
ordinance that they have to report their transactions to law
enforcement.
The problem is these businesses are only here for a short period
of time. It's incredibly difficult for us to enforce, and it provides a
means for any stolen property to be sold to these vendors, and then
they are gone before we can do anything about it to try to recover
stolen property.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I understand the problem,
believe me. I understand it very clearly. But it seems to me that you
would want to have some control or prohibition from people coming
to Naples with a supply of stolen goods and selling them from a
vehicle or from a hotel room, and you have no way of tracking them
down if something -- if you were trying to trace stolen goods.
So you're allowing a person who accumulates stolen goods to
come here and sell them, but you're not allowing a secondhand dealer
to purchase them from a hotel room. But an individual can come there
and purchase stolen goods from a hotel room or a car or anything else,
and there's nothing here that prohibits that.
MR. PARK: Well, anybody can buy anything whether it's listed
on a media site or a classified site such as Craig's list or eBay. I mean,
anybody can sell anything, and it's our job, if something's reported
stolen, to try to match it up to its rightful owner.
But what we're trying to limit is these gold-buying events that
come into the county, and it provides a means for the criminals to
unload the property. And then these places, they don't report to us, or
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February 12, 2013
if they do, it's incredibly difficult for us to enforce that because they're
out of county within a day or two.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. I understand what you're
saying; I just don't agree with you. I think the "sold and/or purchased"
should remain in there, but that's up to the majority of the board.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I would defer to law enforcement.
What's your take? Would you like to leave it as-is, or would you like
to modify it to include sold and purchased?
MR. PARK: Well, the -- let me think about it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let me put it to you this way.
MR. PARK: Okay.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You don't have to make a decision
now. We actually can approve this as its written. You can consider
what Commissioner Coyle has said, and if you go back into the field
and you see that what he says holds true and you want to come back
and modify this to incorporate his recommendation, then you can do
so.
So you don't have to make a decision right now because it, you
know, may not be the right forum to consider the change.
MR. PARK: The reason we phrased it the way we did was we
didn't want to prohibit businesses from coming to the county and
selling any items, whether it's any shows or anything like that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
MR. PARK: However, we're particularly focused on gold, and
that's the big issue we have with secondhand dealers now. We had 36
secondhand dealers registered through the Department of Revenue in
Collier County back in 2008. In 2013 we have 89 regulated
secondhand --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Unbelievable.
MR. PARK: -- dealers. And most of those are "We Buy Gold"
stores. You see them pop up on every corner. Former restaurants and
fast-food joints are now these gold buyers.
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February 12, 2013
The brick and mortar establishments here in the county are great,
you know. They know the laws, they report to us in a timely manner,
and we inspect them on a regular basis. It's these ones that show up at
the hotels.
So we don't want to say, hey, you can't even come to our county
and sell items. And so that's why we wanted to make it, I guess, free
or -- I mean, equal and fair to anybody that wanted to come into the
county and sell anything.
What we were trying to restrict or regulate in a better fashion was
the purchase of these businesses that come into the county that don't
pay taxes like our brick and mortar establishments do, to just come in
and buy gold, take the money out of our pockets of our working
businesses and then leave the county. And then, like I said, if it is
stolen, the reporting is terrible and/or trying to identify and match up
to the rightful owner is very difficult.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. PARK: Oh, you're welcome.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have a motion on the table and a
second. There being no further discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
Thank you for your presentation.
MR. PARK: Thank you.
Item #10F
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February 12, 2013
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO
PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR BOARD APPROVAL
PROVIDING FOR A COUNTY HEARING OFFICER WHO
SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO HEAR AND RULE ON LIMITED
PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS; THAT ANY DECISION
OF THE HEARING OFFICER MAY BE APPEALED TO THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; THAT IT BE
FURTHER DIRECTED THAT COUNTY STAFF DEVELOP A
JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF
THE NEWLY CREATED POSITION, OBTAIN BOARD
APPROVAL FOR FUNDING THE POSITION, AND
IMMEDIATELY ADVERTISE THE POSITION UPON BOARD
APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE, ALL SO THAT A HEARING
OFFICER IS HIRED AND IN PLACE BY APRIL 15, 2013 WITH
THE INTENT OF PROMOTING ADMINISTRATIVE
EFFICIENCY IN RENDERING CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT
RELATED DECISIONS BY THE COUNTY - THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY & GMD ADMINISTRATOR TO WORK TOGETHER
AND BRING BACK A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO THE BCC —
APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Madam Chair, that moves us to Item 10F on your
agenda. It's a recommendation that the board direct the county
attorney to prepare an ordinance for board approval providing for a
county -- excuse me -- a county hearing officer, et cetera, and this item
was brought by Commissioner Hiller.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And, again, the intent is not to get
into any of the details. That will be worked out between staff and the
county attorney to bring back to the board.
I've heard on numerous occasions members of this board as well
as staff talking about the desire to have a hearing officer, and
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February 12, 2013
hopefully that would improve, you know, the efficiency and the
effectiveness both of this board and the county manager's ability to
process certain limited development-related decisions.
Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Mr. Klatzkow?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Would it be appropriate now to
potentially expand the scope of a hearing officer to include other
duties, or should we discuss that at a later time based upon our
discussion one-on one?
MR. KLATZKOW: My preference would be to sit down with
Leo and Nick and get their input as to bring it in and then get that to
bring it back next time as a proposed ordinance.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. Well, we'll continue our
conversation.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That sounds great. And, again, any
input that any member of this board would like to have with respect to
the development of this ordinance, please communicate with the
county manager and the county attorney so your input is considered,
and hopefully we'll have a well-developed proposal when it comes
back.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to approve.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. There being no further
discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
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February 12, 2013
Item #10G
RECOMMENDATION THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS ("BOARD") DIRECT THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY AND CLERK OF COURTS TO JOINTLY DEVELOP
A COUNTY PURCHASING ORDINANCE, TO REVIEW THE
PROPOSED PURCHASING ORDINANCE WITH COUNTY
STAFF, AND TO BRING THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE
PURCHASING ORDINANCE TO THE BOARD IN THE FIRST
MEETING IN MARCH, 2013 FOR APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE,
AND FOR FINAL BOARD ADOPTION AT THE SECOND
MEETING IN MARCH, 2013. ENSURING THAT ALL COUNTY
EXPENDITURES APPROVED BY THE BOARD "SHALL"
RATHER THAN "MAY" SATISFY WHAT IS REQUIRED BY
BOTH LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS IS AN OBLIGATION, NOT AN OPTION OF THE
BOARD — APPROVED
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The next item on the agenda -- and I
want to correct something. When I actually drafted this executive
summary -- and this is Item 10G, which is a recommendation for the
County Attorney and the Clerk and the County Manager to bring back
a purchasing ordinance to basically codify what we currently have as
policy.
I had described that the county attorney and the clerk would, you
know, basically develop the framework with the county manager
reviewing -- and the county manager and I reviewed it and, you know,
he wants to actually work directly and in tandem with the clerk and
the county attorney, which does make sense to me.
The difference in the various inputs is that what the clerk
provides is the parameters that will allow him to determine the legality
of the expenditures so we eliminate these debates as to whether he will
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or won't approve what we're recommending.
And what the county attorney is including is also not
discretionary. It's what's required as a matter of law. And where the
discretion comes in is with the county manager, who basically will
bring forward the recommendations within that ordinance for the
procedural aspects, if you will, of what's being proposed and, you
know, what the threshold would be.
So, for example, when Leo and I discussed this, one of the issues
that came up was, like, take for example purchases of supplies. We
don't want to bog down the county manager and tie his hands that he
has to come back to us every time he wants to make a purchase of
supplies.
So what a recommendation would be in the ordinance with
respect to that is that we would approve, you know, going through the
competitive process, you know, our supplies vendor, have a contract
with that vendor, you know, let's say approve a hundred thousand in
supplies, and then Leo goes out and purchases anything he wants as he
sees the need under the parameter of that contract which has been
properly solicited, and that eliminates the problems with, you know,
coming back to the board and procedural inefficiencies.
So the -- I discussed this with the county manager, I discussed
this with the county attorney, I discussed this with the clerk, and
everybody really wants to work together to get this done and get it
done right.
Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yes. I certainly look forward to
developments like this. I think we have -- we're making our best
effort to have an improved relationship with the Clerk of Courts so
that we can resolve problems, and I think that's a wonderful thing.
That having been said, Mr. Ochs' responsibility is in operations.
He is actually the guy that's got to get that done.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I identify directly with him and the
challenges he faces dealing with administrative rules and so on and so
forth. So I want to make certain everybody understands that I stand
behind Mr. Ochs 100 percent to make sure that he has the operational
ability to do what he needs to do.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I certainly don't want to create
something when we're trying to be business friendly and trying to
reduce regulation and be efficient and turn around and do something
here that everybody doesn't have their heart in and everybody doesn't
agree with 100 percent.
So I certainly support Mr. Ochs as being the -- if not the key
player, he should be the key player in making sure that this is
workable.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah. And here's one of the things
that we talked about. The framework, the -- you know, the legal
framework is set within the ordinance, and one of the things that we
discussed secondarily was developing some sort of administrative
code which is fluid, which is not the ordinance, where the county
manager will have the ability to define the processes and, you know,
the procedures to make for the efficient administration --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Motion to approve.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- of these.
Okay. We have a motion. We have a second -- do we have a
second?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. There being no further
discussion, all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously. I'm
sorry. Did you want to speak?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yeah, but that's all right.
Item #10H
RECOMMENDATION THE COUNTY MANAGER'S
ORDINANCE BE REPEALED IN WHOLE, THAT IT BE
REPLACED WITH PROVISIONS SPECIFICALLY
ENUMERATED IN FLORIDA STATUTE CHAPTER 125 AS
THOSE PROVISIONS RELATE TO THE POSITION OF THE
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND THAT THE LAW BE
RENAMED THE "COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR" ORDINANCE
CONSISTENT WITH STATUTE. FLORIDA LAW PROVIDES
THAT A CONSTITUTIONAL COUNTY MAY
ADMINISTRATIVELY ORGANIZE ITSELF THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT ANSWERS
TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THAT
WHERE SUCH AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IS
DESIRED THE COUNTY SHALL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE
THAT MIRRORS THE GUIDING FLORIDA STATUTE SO AS
TO ENABLE THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR. AS SUCH, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE
SHOULD BE REPEALED AND REPLACED WITH THE
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF F.S. CHPT. 125 TO PROVIDE
UNAMBIGUOUS DEFINITION AS TO THE ROLE, POWERS
AND DUTIES OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. TO
FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD DIRECT THE
COUNTY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AND PRESENT A
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S ORDINANCE CONFORMING
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February 12, 2013
WITH F.S. CHPT. 125 TO REPLACE THE CURRENT COUNTY
MANAGER'S ORDINANCE AT THE FIRST MEETING IN
MARCH, 2013 FOR BOARD APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE AND
FOR FINAL BOARD ADOPTION AT THE SECOND MEETING
IN MARCH, 2013 - DISCUSSED; MOTION TO BRING BACK TO
THE APRIL 23, 2013 BCC MEETING — APPROVED
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, Item 10H is a recommendation that
the county manager's ordinance be repealed and that it be replaced
with provisions enumerated in Florida Statute Chapter 125, et cetera.
This is Commissioner Hiller's item.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The reason I brought this forward is
I was looking into the respective roles of the board and the county
manager. And going to Chapter 125, Chapter 125 clearly provides
what the board's duties and obligations are, as well as rights.
What Chapter 125 says with respect to the county administrator
is a little different. It actually provides that we, as a county, have to
adopt an ordinance which enables the creation of the position of
county administrator.
And the ordinance -- the statute does not provide for a county
manager. It provides with specificity that the administrator -- or that
the managerial role within a constitutional county shall be the county
administrator.
There has been some confusion in the county. We have division
administrators, and then we have a county manager, and some people
actually think that the county manager is beneath the administrators.
And so --
MR. OCHS: So do the administrators most days.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah. I want you to know that's
true. And just so you know, everything that I'm discussing here I've
discussed with the county -- with the county manager, and we're on
the same page on all the issues that we discussed.
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So I'm going to take them through one by one. And, Leo, correct
me if anything I say is incomplete --
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- or incorrect.
So as a consequence, the recommendation is to follow statute,
which requires that the ordinance that enables the creation of the
position of county administrator be exactly what Chapter 125 provides
as the role of the county administrator. And so that there's no
ambiguity as to what the county administrator -- what his rights and
obligations and duties are, what the county attorney recommended is
strictly lifting the wording out of Chapter 125 and putting it in the
ordinance.
I went back to other counties to see what they did, and that's what
they did. Either they incorporated 125 by, you know, that specific
provision by reference, or they lifted that section and incorporated it in
the ordinance.
We have an ordinance that has all sorts of stuff in it that doesn't
relate back to Chapter 125 that belongs in other places. Like, for
example, one of the things that Leo rightfully deserves is protection,
that if the board would want to terminate him, you know, there should
be a cooling-off period, like where the board can't act for 14 days.
That properly should be included in the contract, in his contract, and
so his contract would be amended for that.
It talks about security and, you know, who can and can't go
through the machines. What Leo and I discussed to that end is we
actually need a separate security ordinance to address how security
will be handled, how security plans will be handled. And so that
provision does need to be incorporated but in a different, separate
security ordinance.
Oh, one of the issues was consideration about the board's
interference with staff. By law, the board cannot direct staff. By
virtue of Chapter 125, we cannot direct staff to do anything, because
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the way we act as a board is through majority vote directing the
county manager to execute whatever the board's, you know, policy or
action decision may be. So noninterference is guaranteed by law. The
board sets policy, and staff executes, and no individual commissioner
can take action with any member of staff to do otherwise.
So it basically addresses -- it clarifies the role of the county
administrator. It would -- I would see Leo being titled, you know, the
chief county administrator. The approval of the division heads
remains as is. For what we understand, there wouldn't ever be any
expansion of that. Although the county attorney wanted to be sure
that that statute doesn't require us to approve department heads beyond
division administrators, we're not sure that it does. We -- I certainly
don't want to approve 25 division heads or department heads.
And so that's essentially what's being proposed.
Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes. I'd like to hear your comments
on it. And then I had -- I did have a couple things to ask, and that is,
you know, all I hear right now, it's more or less everything we do right
now. I don't know that we're fixing anything, because I didn't hear
anything that was wrong other than we're changing your title, which
means then that we have to print up a bunch of new cards and signs
and so forth.
But, you know, if it -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it, is my
concern. Do you have any problem with that, Leo?
MR. OCHS: Well, Commissioner, I would say on that particular
question -- and Commissioner Hiller and I talked about this late
yesterday afternoon. The trick in the state statute, if we're going to rely
strictly on that -- and just let me make a comment about that. I think
-- I went through, after I got the item, and I went through the state
statute and our local ordinance to compare them and identify what was
identical and what was different.
And so there were a few differences, and Commissioner Hiller
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just pointed those out. But I will say, in term of the enumeration of
the powers and duties, the state statute and your local ordinance match
up almost identically. And the other local ordinances that were part of
your backup do have additions to just the provisions in the state
statute, which I'm not surprised, usually reflecting, you know, local
practices or customs in an individual county. Some put specific
credentials in terms of background and education as required for
county administrators.
So my point is, you do have, I believe, some ability to be additive
or more restrictive than the state statute. Obviously, you just can't be
less restrictive. Because Commissioner Hiller is correct, that 125 does
require the board to enact a local ordinance for the county
administrator.
I don't have a problem, personally, whether you call me the
county administrator or the county manager. We do have, believe it or
not, more money invested than you would think in signage and
stationary and business cards and other things, you know, all of our
official documents that still use "county manager," so some of those
would have to be amended and changed over time.
But the big issue for me was the one that Commissioner Hiller
pointed to about the board's approval of appointments made by the
county administrator for his chief management team.
For whatever reason, for many, many years here we've had a
titling convention that's a bit different than many counties where they
have the county administrator, then they have a set of department
heads, three or four or five assistant county managers and department
heads, and then they have administrators and managers under that.
We're flip-flopped. So I think the intent of the state statute, as
I've always understood it, was those top appointments of the manager
need the endorsement and approval of the board. Unfortunately, the
statute says, approve department directors or department heads. And
we have probably 25 of those.
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So I'd either have to change all the titling conventions or we
would make an exception in our local ordinance to allow us to
continue to approve division administrators instead of department
heads.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And if I can address that. As soon as
Leo brought that to my attention, I immediately called Jeff to make
sure that that wouldn't be a problem.
So, Jeff, can you address that?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah. Look, the county manager ordinance
is 20 years. I mean, I haven't given a lot of attention to it over the
years. I don't think any of my predecessors have. It's a good time to
look back at it, compare it to the statute, see what the state
requirements are, come back with a -- and I'll work with Leo before
you see it so he'll be comfortable with it. Come back with a proposed
ordinance before we readvertise it.
MR. OCHS: And finally, Commissioner -- and I appreciate the
chairwoman bringing this up. The other issue that, you know, may
cause some concern for the board, of course, is that long-standing
provision that's been in the ordinance since at least 1984 about the
board's prohibition against interference with hiring decisions and also
with the performance of duties and the conduct of their daily business.
If that comes out of the local ordinance, so be it.
But I always thought it was a good reminder for both the staff
and the community and the commission about delineating the policy
maker role of the board in differentiating that from the implementation
role, if you will, or implementing role of the county manager or the
county administrator and his or her staff.
So -- but I think there might be a way to still address that,
Commissioners, because in the state statute, there's an opening section
that has purpose.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
MR. OCHS: We don't have that in our local ordinance, but we
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might be able to, with Jeff s help, craft something of a purpose that
captures the intent of that and still have that preserved in the revised
ordinance.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I think that's a great suggestion.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, if you go to MUNI code
online --
MR. OCHS: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- under this section, it does say
county administrator under the heading. So, I mean --
MR. OCHS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- if you go back one more.
MR. OCHS: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But I also want to recognize,
and I want to read what's in the statute under -- it would be 125.75(k).
This is the county administrator. Select, employ, supervise all
personnel and fill all vacancy (sic) positions, or employ (sic) under the
jurisdiction of the board; however, the employment of the department
heads -- you know, you get into that, but then you go down to L, it
said -- it states, suspend, discharge, or remove any employee under the
jurisdiction of the board pursuant to the procedures adopted by the
board. Okay. It doesn't -- and those procedures are -- you manage
that all the time.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir, the personnel.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Personnel procedures. And if
you go up to 125.01, that doesn't give us -- it doesn't give us the
opportunity to confirm the suspension discharge or removal of
employees under the jurisdiction of the board.
So I don't know where the concern is of anybody on hiring and
firing. It's already in the statute outlined for the county administrator.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay.
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CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And I really -- but I --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I think you ought to take
directors down to managers.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: What the -- that was a low blow.
I think Leo's suggestion is really good to put it in the preamble,
and I think what Commissioner Henning said, that it is enumerated
with specificity in the statute, which would be incorporated into the
ordinance. Makes it clear that the board will not be involved with any
termination decisions and would be limited to approving the division
administrators, and that's it. And that's what the law provides. So it's
very clear.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah, I disagree. I don't think it's
that clear. And I'll remind you once again that your recommendation
is that the county manager's ordinance be repealed in whole and that it
be replaced with Florida Statute Chapter 125.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Correct.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I do not think that's what we should
be doing, and I think we recognize that now. It is common for the
state to describe the minimum requirements, and it is common for
counties to make their requirements more stringent.
I think it is very dangerous to eliminate the prohibitions against a
county commissioner's interference in the performance of duties of
any subordinate of the county administrator either publicly or
privately. I think we must retain that; otherwise, we will be creating a
patronage system here where various commissioners are going to be
trying to get employees to do things for their constituents without
going through the county manager.
The county manager's ordinance as it currently stands is, in my
opinion, is sufficient and well written and very explicit. If you
remove these provisions, you're going to have problems of
interpretation and a lot of confusion among the employees and
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commissioners.
So I think it's a dangerous precedent to create, and I would
recommend that we resolve what minor problems exist in titles by
merely saying that the county -- definition of the county administrator
is being the chief administrative officer selected by the Board of
County Commissioners to administer the staff and the functions of
county government as prescribed by the commission, whatever his
title might be.
But to revise this -- this county manager's ordinance in
substantial ways, I think, is not justified and opens the door for county
commissioner interference with the employees of the county manager.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I truly agree. What I was going to
say along that same line, but you said it so much better, I don't think
it's our obligation, I don't even think it should be our duty, to
micromanage any of the departments or the employees.
We manage the county manager, and he then should be managing
the employees. We have so many other things do, but mainly with
policies and procedures and so forth. We don't need to be
micromanaging, is my first thing.
And I don't know what prompted this in the first place, because it
seems to be working pretty well. So, again, you know, why would
you want to fix it if it ain't broken?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'm going to suggest we go back in
there and have the county attorney and the county manager go through
and make some thoughtful changes that they think are going to help
out and bring it back to the board. And I -- you know, unless there's
some serious reason for changing everybody's titles, I don't know that
that's necessarily in our interest. I think it's going to cost us a fortune
and be very, very confusing.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I agree.
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COMMISSIONER NANCE: So I wouldn't think we'd want to
do any of that. But would it be possible that commissioners would
support having these gentlemen go through and take a look at it and
update it. If it hasn't been looked at in 20 years, perhaps that's
appropriate, and make some thoughtful changes that might solve some
concerns that individual commissioners have. And if they have
thoughts, they can sit down with you two guys and work through
those. I would make that motion if it would get a second.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I'll second.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'd second. Oh.
MR. KLATZKOW: You know, I'd just ask that the timeline be
extended.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I have no problem. When would
you like it extended to?
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't. I'd like -- a lot of items we're going
to be coming back to you with.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: There's no urgency.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: It seems like we've got an awful lot
of things that we're pushing forward, and we've got an awful lot of
time constraints, and I'd rather -- you know, if we're going to do
something every 20 years, I'd rather see it done well than done quick.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: April?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, that's fine.
MR. OCHS: It's fine with me.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So the second meeting in April.
MR. OCHS: That's fine with me.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: So I have a motion. I have a --
Commissioner Henning, you wanted to speak to Commissioner
Nance's motion?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. No, no. I want to speak
to Commissioner Coyle's comment, because I don't see that in any of
the written material, Commissioner Coyle. So tell me what section
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that I could find this would lead to the Board of Commissioners'
interference with the day-to-day business.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Page 3 of 4 of the county
administration, I think it's Part 3 and Subparagraph C.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: What number is that?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: C.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: C?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Let me just read it to you. No
county commissioner shall direct or request the appointment of any
person to or his removal from the office by the county administrator or
by any subordinates or in any manner take part in the appointment or
removal of officers and employees of the administrative services of
the county except as provided by this article.
Neither the board nor any member thereof shall interfere in the
performance or the duties of any subordinate of the county
administrator either publicly or privately except for the purposes of
inquiry and information.
A violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute
malfeasance within the meaning of Florida Constitution Article IV --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: He's reading the --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- Paragraph 7(a). A violation of
this section shall also be a violation of this provision and shall be
punishable by fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in the
county jail not to exceed 60 dollars (sic) or by both fine and
imprisonment or as otherwise may be provided by law. So --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. What part of the Florida
Statutes or what's being proposed where you're coming to the
conclusion it will lead to commissioners interfering with the
day-to-day business?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, I haven't come to that
conclusion. What I said was that Commissioner Hiller's
recommendation was that, and I quote, "The county manager's
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ordinance be repealed in whole."
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Now, if you repeal it in
whole, you take out those kinds of protections.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: That's not my motion.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I know it's not, and that's what I'm
trying to clarify with Commissioner Henning.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Let me just add, if I may,
Commissioner Coyle, you of all people should know about this
because you were sued over interfering with county staff, and there
was a settlement that ensued because of -- that the county had to pay
out because there was an allegation made by staff that you wrongly
interfered.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Based on that --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: So? So what?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I'm just bringing that out.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Do you think that should be
permitted?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, it isn't permitted, but it isn't
malfeasance. And, secondly, what the statute provides is a clear
delineation between what the board can do and what the county
administrator does.
And the intent is to make clear what the role of the county
administrator is by enumerating the functions of the county
administrator, the duties of the county administrator, the obligations of
the county administrator so there isn't the ambiguity which exists.
You know, right now we have a county manager's ordinance
which really divides the county manager and the board. And what I
want to see is the county manager and the board unified as a
cohesively working body that we're basically, you know, like two peas
in a pod working together to get things done, not to have this
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antagonistic divisive relationship. That's the whole idea.
It's very much to support the role of the county manager as the
chief administrator and us as the chief policy makers and that we work
in harmony with, you know, a respect and understanding of our
respect of our positions.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But I wasn't done.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, none of that makes any
sense, but nevertheless.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I wasn't speaking to,
Commissioner Nance, your motion, and I stated that, okay.
What I was speaking to is Commissioner Coyle's comment, this
will lead to "interference" with the employees, okay.
On Page -- back at Page 118, it's clear, and it's the Florida
Statutes, the county manager -- county administrator's duties is to
select employ -- employ, supervise all personnel and fill vacancies,
position, or employment under the jurisdiction of the board.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Right.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: So it doesn't say "and he also
has the obligation to suspend, discharge, or remove employees."
Now, nowhere in the statute does it say the Board of
Commissioners can do that, because we have contract employees.
So, you know, the spin that it would lead to the county
commissioner, individual county commissioners from interfering, is
just not true, because that isn't what's being proposed.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well, wait a minute, wait a minute.
You're getting everything all mixed up here. The point is that the
county ordinance, county administrator's ordinance or county
manager's ordinance, states that there is a prohibition against
commissioners interfering with employees.
Is that not correct, Leo?
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir, that article you just read is part of the
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current --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Current Collier --
MR. OCHS: -- county administrator's ordinance, yes, sir --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- county manager's ordinance, and
it was specifically put in there to prohibit commissioners from
interfering in the performance of duties of county staff.
So if you -- if you do proceed with an elimination of the county
manager's ordinance, you remove this sort of thing. Now, as
Commissioner Nance has stated, that is not his intent.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But that is -- that is -- let me explain
where I think you're missing the boat, Commissioner Coyle, and that
is Florida Statute clearly defines what the role of the Board of County
Commissioners is, okay. Florida Statute also clearly defines what the
role of the county administrator is.
We cannot do what the county administrator must do; we just
can't. So what you're describing is already incorporated by law in
statutes that we must adopt because Florida Statute says that is what
we must adopt.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Show me that wording.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You know what I'm going to let you
do --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Can I show it to you?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yeah, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Show me the word, or read it to
me, either way.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: It's fine.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: From the Florida Statute.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: From the Florida Statutes, the
county administrator, K --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Oh, I've got that. I've got it right in
front of me.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. So what do you want?
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COMMISSIONER COYLE: But remember, K says, select
employee and supervise all personnel and fill vacancies, positions, or
employment under the jurisdiction of the board. Nowhere does it say
board members are not to interfere in that process or to direct
employees to do something.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But here's --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: And so what you and
Commissioner Hiller are assuming --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Why don't you ask an attorney,
a government attorney, who works with the statutes all the time?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: What do you want me to ask him?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Well, you want to ask him, does
this mean the board can interfere by, you know, telling others --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Let me ask this question:
Jeff, if you take out the wording which prohibits commissioners from
interfering in the performance of duties of any subordinate of the
county administrator, will that likely result in more confusion and
conflict than if you retained it in the county manager's ordinance?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That isn't what your statement
was in the beginning.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It is.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I mean, you're asking a different
question than your statement. Your statement said this will lead to
commissioners interfering with --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: -- the employees' day-to-day
business.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Let me do this slowly for
Commissioner Henning.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: No, I understood what you said
to begin with.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, you didn't.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER HENNING: And I'm just saying you're --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You really didn't.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: I mean -- yeah, I did. And, you
know, if you're going to --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You and Commissioner Hiller are
saying that the state statute covers that. It doesn't.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It does.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. And so I'm saying that if
you remove this language from the county manager's ordinance, there
will be no specific language at all which governs this issue. So --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That's not true. County Attorney,
could you please -- could -- County Attorney, could you provide
clarity in this discussion?
MR. KLATZKOW: Leo, could you put that on the overhead,
please.
You have -- you have, in essence, created ordinance -- a county
ordinance regulating yourselves, all right; not a state law, but a local
county law.
What I would like to do is to come back to the board -- because I
don't know the genesis of this ordinance -- this particular provision,
why it's here. I will tell you I don't like it; I have never liked it. I
think it's a bit ambiguous. And, quite frankly, I think it puts you at the
peril of employees who are disgruntled, but that's a personal opinion.
I would like to sit down with Leo, go through this, compare it to
state law, okay, see what you lose, what you gain if we modify this
and get rid of this and just give you all the backup for it, why we have
it, what state law provisions are there, because state law provisions are
different from your county code, all right. I mean, Diane Flagg goes
out, and she works off of county code. She doesn't work off of state
statutes.
And come back, and you'll have the backup for this, and we can
have a decision whether or not you want to maintain this in your
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February 12, 2013
ordinances or not.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: May I continue?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes, please.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: That's clearly what it says there.
And I remember when it was put in there. It was back in the early
'90s -- no, it was the mid '90s. It was to say to the Board of
Commissioners, if you interfere with the day-to-day business, you
have a consequence here, and the consequence is, you know, a
misdemeanor not to exceed $500, maybe imprisonment.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Actually, no. Malfeasance, by
definition, would be removal from office.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. But, anyways, that's
what it was there, and I think history will show why it was there. It
still -- it's just recognizing that we don't -- the County Commissioners
cannot -- as it says in the statutes, you know, the county manager is
the one who manages the personnel, period, and that's what it's all
about.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Okay. I first wanted to just say,
from my point of view, I never found any divisiveness. I don't know,
really, what you were referring to. I mean, I've seen the county
manager work with all of us individually.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But the example is the lawsuit
against Coyle --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Well --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- claiming interference.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: -- that wasn't a divisive issue. Let
me tell you --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, you said --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: But that's what divides the -- it's
Commissioner Fiala's time.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Let me tell you what happened.
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February 12, 2013
You had a manager there who did not want to admit that he wanted to
fire somebody, so he told that person, incorrectly, that I wanted him
gone. I never said that. And it was proven that I never said that. That
was a case where you had a manager who didn't have the courage to
fire somebody himself. He wanted to make it appear that somebody
above him had encouraged him to take that action. But that has
nothing to do with whether or not you should retain this. You should
retain this. You should keep us from doing things like that. We
should not interfere with employees, and that's why I'm saying you
should retain this language, because it's very clear. It tells us what's
expected of us in that respect.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: And my second thing is why are we
addressing something like this? Is there something that --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It needs to be updated. No, this
ordinance hasn't been looked at in 20 years. This ordinance needs to
be revisited in whole.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes, but is there something that
prompts that? I mean, as long as everything is moving along smoothly
and we're not having a problem with it, I don't understand why we're
just coming up with this.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, I think there are issues with it,
and I think there are items that are incorporated in this ordinance that
should not be in the ordinance that, like I said, should be in a separate
ordinance or should be in a contract.
And there are provisions that -- it doesn't include the entirety of
125 either by reference or by enumeration, and that should be part of
it.
I mean, there are just a whole bunch of cleanup issues that are
required to bring this current and reflect where we are today, and that's
what you do with laws. I mean, you want to have them reflect that it
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Well, I understand that you do that
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February—l2, 2013
with laws. I just -- usually there's something that prompts it, and I
haven't seen anything that prompts it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: A review of the law would suggest,
as the county attorney has said several times, this needs to be updated,
and the time has come and so while --
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Was this you that wanted to bring
this about, Jeff?
MR. KLATZKOW: No.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: No, no, I take full responsibility.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: May I say something?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: About the -- what's on the
overhead right now, there's a time when a former employee sued the
county for sexual harassment, sued the county for -- other employees
for sexual harassment, sued me for this part of the ordinance, okay,
and it was because I wrote a memo to the county manager at that time
that I didn't like the performance when that employee was before the
board. Furthermore, I -- because of the public saying this particular
employee accosted them in the parking lot, I wrote another memo to
the county manager letting him be aware of that. And because of that,
the county was defending me.
Jeff, is that right?
MR. KLATZKOW: Both you and Commissioner Coyle in these,
yes.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. So employees are using
that. And what it tells me on those two examples that I wrote a memo
is don't do your job -- the one example -- when a constituent comes to
you and says that, you know, an employee accosted me in the parking
lot, don't do your job. You just do what government says. So that's
one example why that should be revised.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I see that.
Commissioner Nance?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Yeah. My motion is to let these
gentlemen go through this --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And figure out what to do.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: -- figure out what to do and bring it
back.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Correct.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: And then we can all fight over
some provision that they jointly -- you know, hopefully, they're going
to jointly agree on some thoughtful reforms, and then we can opine
over whether we think it's appropriate or not is --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I agree with you, Commissioner
Nance. I'm going to second your motion.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: No, I already seconded it.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Oh, you already did. We're in
competition. You get it. It's yours. Forgive me.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I'm not suggesting that we repeal
anything. I'm suggesting we go ahead and we try to retain all our
business cards that we possibly can so that we don't cut down another
thousand trees, but to go in and just update this with some thoughtful
reform. So that's -- if I still have a second, then I'm good.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: You do.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Go ahead, Commissioner Coyle.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: You've got three.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: All in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: All in favor, please signify by
saying aye.
Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The motion carries unanimously.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I think we need to give Terri just a
quick break, even though we're at the tail end of this.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We have one last item.
Item #10I
RECOMMENDATION THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS ("BOARD") DIRECT THE COUNTY
ATTORNEY ("CA") TO DRAFT A COUNTY ATTORNEY
ORDINANCE TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD AT
THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY, 2013 FOR
APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE PUBLICLY, AND THEN TO
FURTHER BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ADOPTION BY THE
BOARD AT THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH, 2013. THE
ORDINANCE SHALL PROVIDE IN PART THAT: 1. ALL
LEGAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COUNTY SHALL
BE IMMEDIATELY FORWARDED TO THE CA UPON RECEIPT
OF SUCH INFORMATION BY ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD
AND/OR COUNTY STAFF, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO MATTERS RELATED TO THREATENED, PENDING OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION, CIVIL, CRIMINAL OR
ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE. 2. THE CA SHALL
EXCLUSIVELY REPRESENT THE COUNTY IN ALL LEGAL
MATTERS, AND WITH BOARD APPROVAL SHALL RETAIN
OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO ASSIST IN SUCH REPRESENTATION.
3. ALL DRAFT CONTRACTS, RESOLUTIONS AND
ORDINANCES SHALL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY
THE CA PRIOR TO PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, AND
ALL SUCH REVIEWED DOCUMENTS SHALL BE PLACED BY
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February 12, 2013
STAFF AFTER APPROVAL BY THE CA ON THE BOARD'S
PUBLIC AGENDA FOR BOARD APPROVAL PRIOR TO ANY
BOARD VOTE. 4. THE CA'S STANDARD FOR REVIEW AND
APPROVAL OF ANY AND ALL MATTERS PRESENTED TO
THE BOARD SHALL BE THAT IT IS "APPROVED AS TO
FORM AND LEGALITY" RATHER THAN MERELY
"APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY" AND
SUCH APPROVAL SHALL CITE WITH SPECIFICITY ANY
ORDINANCE, STATUTE OR CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION
ON WHICH THE PROPOSED ACTION IS BASED. 5. THE CA
SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE PROPER
EXECUTION OF ALL BOARD APPROVED CONTRACTS,
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES, AND SHALL ENSURE
PRESERVATION OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF SUCH
DOCUMENTS FROM BOARD APPROVAL, TO EXECUTION
THROUGH RECORDING IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE
CLERK OF COURTS. 6. THE CA SHALL BE THE COUNTY'S
REGISTERED AGENT IN ALL INSTANCES INCLUDED BUT
NOT LIMITED TO CRA, MSTU, AND DISTRICT
REPRESENTATION. ONCE THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED,
THE CA WILL IMMEDIATELY DEVELOP PRACTICES AND
PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE DIRECTION SET BY THE
ORDINANCE WHICH SHALL BE RESPECTED BY THE BOARD
AND COUNTY STAFF GOING FORWARD - STAFF TO BRING
BACK A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO THE BCC — APPROVED
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. Motion to approve the last
item.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. That's 10I.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion to approve.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
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February 12, 2013
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: What is it?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: It's the county attorney's ordinance.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It's the county attorney's ordinance.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion to -- I have a second?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. It was seconded by
Commissioner Fiala.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Yes.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. Motion made by
Commissioner Coyle, seconded by Commissioner Fiala.
Any discussion?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I just think -- you know, I also
commend you for bringing this forward. You have six enumerated
things. I could think of a couple more that should be added. But, I
mean, if we want to let them attach this --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Can you please share that?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Well, the --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Not now, just go ahead and share it.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure. If we're going to
approach it the same way --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yep.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: -- I'm good.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yep.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: There being no further discussion,
all in favor?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Aye.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Motion carries unanimously.
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February 12, 2013
Item #15
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MR. OCHS: Commissioners, that takes us to Item 15 on your
agenda, staff and general -- and commission general communications.
Madam Chair, I just have one item that I referenced earlier in the
day, and that was that the board had asked me to come back and look
at calendars and suggest a day of the month for our afternoon
workshops that we talked about the other day.
I'm recommending that we hold these on the first Tuesday of the
month. I think that has fewer conflicts with holidays and other things.
And just to refresh the memories of the board, you had suggested
a workshop between one and five p.m. It would be on the afternoon
of the first Tuesday of each month. And, again, if we could begin that
in the month of March, that would be the -- March 5th would be your
workshop date beginning in the afternoon. If I can get some
concurrence from the board on that, I could move out and begin to
prepare an agenda.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Sure.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: So what I'm understanding is we
are now going to reserve the first Tuesday of the month of each month
from 1 to 5 p.m. for workshops as needed?
MR. OCHS: That's my understanding of the will of the board,
yes, sir.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: In the afternoons?
MR. OCHS: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I think that's great.
MR. OCHS: And based on our discussion earlier today, we have
candidates like the Animal Control Ordinance, and also we had
previously had staff reports without board action required for your
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February 12, 2013
traffic signal timing and also your electronic permitting system. If
time permits on the 5th after we get through the Animal Control
Ordinance, we'll be prepared to make a quick informational
presentation on these items, too.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Great.
MR. OCHS: Fair enough?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Yes.
MR. OCHS: Okay. That's all I have, Madam Chair.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
MR. KLATZKOW: I do have one thing. And I forwarded you --
we had a mediated settlement in Hussey (sic) a couple of days ago,
and I forwarded you --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Blocker.
MR. KLATZKOW: Blocker.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Wrong case.
MR. KLATZKOW: I still have Hussey on the brain -- in the
Blocker matter, and I forwarded you the outcome of that. And at this
point in time I'd like to declare a -- for notice purposes, a closed
attorney-client session pursuant to Section 286.011(8) that I desire
advice from you in closed attorney-client session next meeting,
Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
The session will be held at a time-certain in this building at 12
p.m. In addition to myself, County Manager Leo Ochs will be there.
We'll be talking strategy sessions with respect to the Blocker cases in
connection with that mediated settlement agreement.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you.
Commissioner Coyle?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I don't have anything. I'm finished.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I thought you were going to wish us
all a Happy Valentine's Day, and me especially.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: No, I wouldn't do that. I definitely
would not do that.
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Get it done.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I swear.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: We had so many 5-0 votes today,
too. I thought we could maybe get that one, too.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I know. I was feeling so much love.
I thought we were going to have a group hug at the end of this
meeting.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Do we have a photographer?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Fiala?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Nothing.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Nothing? All right.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Happy Valentine's Day.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Really.
Commissioner Henning?
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. I have this -- I think it's a
petition from the -- no, I don't. Anyways, did anybody get -- yeah, I do
have -- I do have the petition for the spearfishing.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Where does that go?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Court reporter.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Okay. The other thing, Rick
Medwedeff reported that it was a unanimous decision to recommend
the county manager's recommendation on the reallocation of the
tourist tax. I don't recall it that way. I thought -- what I recall, it was a
-- Leo, you were there.
MR. OCHS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Wasn't it one dissention?
MR. OCHS: You know, I think the chair dissented, but I believe
at the end there was a unanimous vote, but I'll double check that. I
was a little puzzled by that, but --
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah. And I know that he
stated that he's a member of the CAC (sic), and they were going to
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February 12, 2013
support raising the tax.
Now, the city council, I believe, meets on Wednesdays, Naples
City Council. It was reported in the Naples Daily News the day prior
that the CAC (sic), Collier Citizens Group, wanted a tourist tax
increase.
So unless the city council met earlier than that Wednesday on the
6th, then I'm not sure what's going on. And it's my understanding --
maybe we could get some information from the CAC (sic) how they
were appointed or elected. If it was a self-appointed group, are they
not-for-profit?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: It wasn't CAC. It was Collier
Community Alliance.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Yeah, CCA, I'm sorry; CCA.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: But anyways, I just find it really
odd that, you know, we got the city council all up in a tither, and you
know how some of those councilmen can be with some of their
statements about the County Commission. I'm not sure it was really
necessary.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Well, I actually heard some very
positive statements from Councilman Price.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Oh, he's great.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: And he called and he made it very
clear that he did not support the increase in the tax. He wished he
could have been here today, but he had a prior commitment, and he
was -- he was very positive about the commission. So, you know, we
have -- thank him and appreciate his support.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Just so it's non-informative.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Commissioner Nance?
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I think I've talked enough. I don't
want to say another word.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You did a great job. You brought
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February 12, 2013
up some really good points. I really appreciated the point that you
made about considering who would be responsible for the
maintenance and repairs.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I think --
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: The groins and --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Whether you know it or not, that's
going to come back one day. We're going to be talking about that.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: That was a very, very -- a good
observation. Thank you for bringing that out.
I have only one thing to say. Happy Valentine's Day. I hope --
COMMISSIONER COYLE: We're adjourned.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: -- all your dreams come true. I
hope everybody sends everybody red roses, lots of chocolates, lot of
Champagne, lots of love.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I just have one question.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I mean, I'm the only one here who
thinks Valentine's Day is good. I don't know what's wrong with that
picture.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I do have one question.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: I mean, we should all be just loving
each other.
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I'm dressed in red just like you, and
I have hearts on.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: I do have one question before we --
this is deteriorating rapidly. We saw this beautiful work of art that's
been donated to the county. Now, where's that going to go? That's
what I want to know. Where's that heading?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I think we know where it's headed.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Here's what we're going to do with
that. Since we're going through --
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Do we get to each keep it for a
period of time, like a revolving trophy, or what happens?
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February 12, 2013
COMMISSIONER FIALA: I've got too much art in my room
already. I don't need any more. Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: When we redecorate the offices, as
we are, then we can -- with the assistance of the county manager, who
I'm sure has an exquisite eye for the perfect placement of art, where
we will identify --
MR. OCHS: Especially belly dancing.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: I do, too.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: We will identify a really -- very
nice spot for it, and we appreciate the donation and the thought.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: When and what is this Valentine's
Day thing?
COMMISSIONER FIALA: Are you going?
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Yeah.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Okay. You bring the Champagne.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Are we all invited?
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: You bring the Champagne, I'll have
the chocolate, and through a one-way communication, I'll tell you the
place.
COMMISSIONER COYLE: Okay. All right. Okay.
COMMISSIONER HENNING: Move to adjourn.
COMMISSIONER NANCE: Second.
CHAIRWOMAN HILLER: Thank you. Meeting adjourned.
(Proceedings concluded at 5:10 p.m.)
**** Commissioner Henning moved, seconded by Commissioner
Nance and carried unanimously that the following items under the
Consent and Summary Agendas be approved and/or adopted ****
Item #16A1
A DECISION TO NOT PAINT NEW & FUTURE GALVANIZED
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February 12, 2013
STEEL MAST ARM AND STEEL STRAIN POLE TRAFFIC
SIGNAL ASSEMBLIES EAST OF CR951 (COLLIER BLVD) AND
CONTINUE THE MAINTENANCE PAINTING OF EXISTING
PAINTED STEEL MAST ARM AND STEEL STRAIN POLE
TRAFFIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLIES IN COLLIER COUNTY —
TO REDUCE CURRENT INSTALLATION AND FUTURE
MAINTENANCE COSTS
Item # 16A2
RELEASE OF TWO LIENS WITH A COMBINED VALUE OF
$183,407.20 FOR A PAYMENT OF $6,707.20, IN THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION ENTITLED BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS VS. SYLVIA DERRICK CODE
ENFORCEMENT CASE NUMBERS CEPM20100009396 AND
CEAU20100009395, RELATING TO PROPERTY LOCATED AT
616 92ND AVENUE N, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA — THE
PROPERTY WAS BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE ON
DECEMBER 11, 2012
Item #16A3
RELEASE OF A LIEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $248,998.14 FOR A
PAYMENT OF $1,448.14, IN CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION
ENTITLED BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VS.
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER AND SYLVIA CHRISTOPHER, CODE
ENFORCEMENT CASE NUMBER CEPM20080003635,
RELATING TO PROPERTY AT 431 IBIS WAY, COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA — BROUGHT TO COMPLIANCE APRIL 14,
2011 WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE RECORDED ON
OCTOBER 2, 2012 FOR WELLS FARGO BANK
Page 231
February 12, 2013
Item #16A4
RELEASE OF LIEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,081.15 FOR A
PAYMENT OF $1,331.15, IN CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION
ENTITLED BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VS.
CARLOS AND DIANA O. LEON, CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE
NUMBER CESD20100005001, RELATING TO PROPERTY AT
5210 JENNINGS STREET, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA —
PROPERTY BROUGHT TO COMPLIANCE DECEMBER 27, 2011
Item #16A5
RELEASE OF TWO LIENS WITH A COMBINED VALUE OF
$55,975.12 FOR THE PAYMENT OF $675.12, IN THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION ENTITLED BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS VS. ELVIS CAMACHO, CODE
ENFORCEMENT CASE NUMBERS CEPM20100017789 AND
CEPM20110000638, RELATING TO PROPERTY AT 2725 70TH
STREET SW, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA — PROPERTY WAS
BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE JULY 11, 2011 WITH THE
CERTIFICATE OF TITLE RECORDED AUGUST 17, 2012 FOR
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY
Item #16A6
RELEASE OF LIEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,330.57 FOR A
PAYMENT OF $530.57, IN CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION
ENTITLED BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VS.
SANDRA S. SAGE, CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE NUMBER
CELU20100019962, RELATING TO PROPERTY AT 3135
RAVENNA AVENUE, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
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February 12, 2013
Item #16A7
AWARDING INVITATION TO BID #12-5977, MEDIAN
LANDSCAPING SERVICES FOR AIRPORT ROAD FROM
COUGAR DRIVE TO VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD TO
FLORIDA LAND MAINTENANCE, INC., AND AUTHORIZE
THE CHAIRWOMAN TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT — FOR
THE MEDIAN LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
Item #16A8
RESOLUTION 2013-26: AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER VACATING A PORTION OF THE UPLAND
RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE EASEMENT (U.R.O.S), BEING
A PART OF TRACT "S" OF EMBASSY WOODS GOLF AND
COUNTRY CLUB AT BRETONNE PARK, PHASE ONE, PLAT
BOOK 17, PAGES 47 THROUGH 49 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPLICATION NO. VAC-
PL20120002564
Item #16A9
AWARDING INVITATION TO BID #13-6030, GOLDEN GATE
PARKWAY AND I-75 INTERCHANGE FROM 60TH TO 66TH
STREET SW MEDIAN LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION, TO
AFFORDABLE LANDSCAPING SERVICE AND DESIGN LLC,
AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRWOMAN TO EXECUTE THE
AGREEMENT — FOR MAINTENANCE OF APPROXIMATELY
2 MILES OF MEDIAN LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION
Item #16A10
Page 233
February 12, 2013
REJECTING ALL BIDS FOR INVITATION TO BID #12-5974
FOR CONCRETE; ROAD SIDEWALK CURB AND FLOOR
INSTALL AND REPAIRS AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ISSUE
A MODIFIED INVITATION TO BID
Item #16A1 1
FUNDING AGREEMENT #4600002780 WITH SOUTH FLORIDA
WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SFWMD) FOR FUNDING
IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
OUTFALLS 3 AND 4 OF THE LELY AREA STORMWATER
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (LASIP) (PROJECT #51101)
Item #16Al2
A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO RECOGNIZE REVENUE FOR
PROJECTS WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION SUPPORTED
GAS TAX FUND (313) IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,380 — FOR
TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY REVIEW AND PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT (PUD) MONITORING/TRAFFIC COUNTS
Item #16A13
RESOLUTION 2013-27: AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING
TO CONSIDER VACATING ALL OF PRESERVE P-6 AND A
PORTION OF PRESERVE P-8, AS RECORDED IN OFFICIAL
RECORD BOOK 2406, PAGES 0549 THROUGH 0589, OF THE
PUBLIC RECORDS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, ALL OF
PRESERVE/REPLANT AREAS PA94, PA95, A PORTION OF
PRESERVE/REPLANT AREAS PA96 AND PA 102, BEING A
PART OF TRACT 8 OF VANDERBILT COUNTRY CLUB - 2,
PLAT BOOK 32, PAGES 42 THROUGH 55 OF THE PUBLIC
Page 234
February 12, 2013
RECORDS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND A
PORTION OF PRESERVE/REPLANT AREAS PA96 AND PA 102,
BEING A PART OF TRACT FD 10 OF VANDERBILT COUNTRY
CLUB - 2, PLAT BOOK 32, PAGES 42 THROUGH 55 OF THE
PUBLIC RECORDS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
APPLICATION NO. VAC-PL20120002603
Item #16A14
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF TALIS PARK TRACT J,
APPLICATION NUMBER PL20120002646, A REPLAT OF
TRACT J OF TUSCANY RESERVE — LOCATED IN SECTION 7,
TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST
Item #16A15
INCREASE BOARD-AUTHORIZED ANNUAL EXPENDITURES
FOR "RECORDS MANAGEMENT SERVICES" WITH VITAL
RECORDS CONTROL, LLC FROM $90,000 TO AN ESTIMATED
ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF $110,000 PER FY AND APPROVE
A BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM FUND 113 TO PAY FOR THE
CONTRACTED SERVICES — DUE TO THE INCREASING
NUMBER OF BUILDING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
RELATED DOCUMENTS THAT REQUIRE OFF-SITE STORAGE
Item #16A16
ACCEPTING SPECIFIC PAST STAFF CLARIFICATIONS OF
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC) DESCRIBED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY— FOR ELEVATED PAD MOUNTED
AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, HIGH CAPACITY FUEL TANKS
IN RESIDENTIAL, SINGLE FAMILY AND ESTATES ZONING
Page 235
February 12, 2013
DISTRICTS, SETBACKS FOR ACCESS EASEMENTS IN
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, CALCULATIONS FOR PARKING
AT CLUBHOUSES, EXEMPTIONS FROM BUILDING HEIGHT
LIMITATIONS AND APPLICABILITY OF MAXIMUM LOT
COVERAGE FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
Item #16A17 — (Continued to the March 12, 2013 BCC Meeting —
Per Agenda Change Sheet)
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF CAMDEN LAKES,
APPLICATION NUMBER PPL-PL20120000747, APPROVING
THE STANDARD FORM CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT AND APPROVING THE AMOUNT OF THE
PERFORMANCE SECURITY — W/STIPULATIONS THAT
INCLUDE WITHHOLDING THE CERTIFICATE OF
OCCUPANCY UNTIL REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS HAVE
RECEIVED PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE
Item #16A18 — (Continued to the February 26, 2013 BCC Meeting —
Per Agenda Change Sheet)
DISPOSING SURPLUS PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE
GATEWAY TRIANGLE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS
PHASE II, CONTRACT #10-5366 (PROJECT #51803) — FOR THE
SCRAPPED DUCTILE IRON PIPE USED IN THE PROJECT
THAT GAVE THE COUNTY A CREDIT OF $4,238.16
Item #16A19
A FEE REDUCTION REQUESTED FOR THE PROPOSED OHLIS
REZONE PETITION AND PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE
COUNTY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EVALUATE
Page 236
February 12, 2013
DOWN ZONING APPLICATIONS AS PART OF THE HEARING
OFFICER'S ANALYSIS — AS DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Item #16A20 — Moved to Item #11G (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16C1
A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, HAZARD MITIGATION
GRANT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT $37,945 TO RETROFIT
33 OVERHEAD DOORS AT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION
OPERATIONS CENTER AT 4370 AND 4420 MERCANTILE
AVENUE, NAPLES — TO REPLACE CURRENT DOORS WITH
HURRICANE WIND RATED DOORS TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
FROM A NATURAL DISASTER
Item #16C2
A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH
REGENT PARK VILLAS I ASSOCIATION, INC., FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT;
AND ACCEPTING A GRANT OF A RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR THE
RELOCATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING
WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN REGENT PARK
VILLAS COMMUNITIES FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO
EXCEED $2,300 FOR PROJECT #70043 — FOLIO #69145260005
Item #16C3
A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT,WITH
Page 237
February 12, 2013
REGENT PARK VILLAS II ASSOCIATION, INC., FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT;
AND ACCEPTING A GRANT OF A RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR THE
RELOCATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING
WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN REGENT PARK
VILLAS COMMUNITIES FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO
EXCEED $2,400 FOR PROJECT #70043) — FOLIO #69145500008
Item #16C4
A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH
REGENT PARK VILLAS III ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF A UTILITY AND ACCESS EASEMENT AND
ACCEPTING A GRANT OF A RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR THE
RELOCATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING
WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM IN REGENT PARK
VILLAS COMMUNITIES FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO
EXCEED $2,400 FOR PROJECT #70043) — FOLIO #69145120006
Item #16C5
A TIME AND MATERIALS CONTRACT WITH AGNOLI
BARBER & BRUNDAGE IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT
OF $243,631 FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL #12-5883,
"MASTER PUMPING STATION 312 PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION" PROJECT #72549 — FOR
PROPER ADHERENCE TO CONTRACT DOCUMENTS SO THE
RESULT IS A HIGH QUALITY, BEST-VALUE PROJECT THAT
PROVIDES REGULATORY COMPLIANT, RELIABLE, AND
SUSTAINABLE SERVICE
Item #16C6
Page 238
February 12, 2013
A TIME AND MATERIALS CONTRACT WITH HOLE MONTES
IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $898,000 FOR
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL #12-5867, "NORTH COUNTY
WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING AND INSPECTION SERVICES FOR AERATED
SLUDGE HOLDING TANK/FLOW EQUALIZATION TANK
CONSTRUCTION" PROJECT #70091 — FOR EXPERT
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING & INSPECTION SERVICES
Item #16D1
CONVEYANCE OF WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES
AT MARGOOD HARBOR PARK, 321 PEAR TREE AVENUE,
GOODLAND FLORIDA, AND TO APPROVE EXECUTION OF
CONVEYANCE DOCUMENTS, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED
$120 — FOLIO #46270680007, #46270720006 AND #46270760008
Item #16D2
AN AMENDMENT TO THE FY11/12 HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS (HOME) PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND THE COLLIER COUNTY
HOUSING AUTHORITY (CCHA) THAT MODIFIES EXHIBIT A,
SCOPE OF SERVICES, EFFECTIVE AS OF THE ORIGINAL
DATE OF THE AGREEMENT, TO ALLOW ALL AVAILABLE
FORMS OF MATCH, AND CORRECT A SCRIVENER'S ERROR
IN THE AGREEMENT NUMBER AND MATCH AMOUNT
Item #16D3
AN AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPER AGREEMENTS WITH
Page 239
February 12, 2013
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF COLLIER COUNTY, INC. FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM 1 (NSP1)
AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM 3; AND
APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE NSP3 ACTION PLAN TO
UPDATE AND CLARIFY TARGET AREA CENSUS TRACTS,
DEMOLITION AND LAND BANKING ACTIVITIES — AS
DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16D4
SEVEN (7) SATISFACTIONS OF MORTGAGE IN THE
AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $66,192.50 FOR OWNER
OCCUPIED DWELLING UNITS THAT HAVE SATISFIED
TERMS OF THEIR AFFORDABILITY PERIOD
Item #16D5
AN AFTER-THE-FACT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT FOR
THE FY10/11 COLLIER COUNTY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) ACTION
PLAN AMENDING THE CITY OF NAPLES NEIGHBORHOOD
PARKS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT — FOR ANTHONY AND
CAMBRIDGE PERRY PARK WITHIN CITY OF NAPLES CITY
LIMITS
Item #16D6
PAYING THE 2012 PROPERTY TAXES AND PROCEEDING
WITH CLOSING ON THE DONATION OF A 10-ACRE PARCEL
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FOR CONSERVATION COLLIER
LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM AT A COST NOT TO
EXCEED $100
Page 240
February 12, 2013
Item #16D7
RESOLUTION 2013-28: SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION 2012-192
AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO HONOR ELDERLY/DISABLED
REDUCED FARE FOR SUBCONTRACTED TRANSPORTATION
PROVIDER WITH THE FLORIDA COMMISSION FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED THAT PROVIDES
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES UNDER A NON-EMERGENCY
TRANSPORTATION MEDICAID CONTRACT FOR COLLIER
COUNTY
Item #16D8
RESOLUTION 2013-29: REPEALING ALL PREVIOUS
RESOLUTIONS ESTABLISHING AND AMENDING PARTS OF
THE COLLIER COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT FACILITIES AND OUTDOOR AREAS LICENSE
AND FEE POLICY AND ESTABLISHING THE POLICY ANEW
TO INCLUDE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMERCIAL BEACH
PARKING PERMIT, A POLICY FOR BALANCES LEFT ON
ACCOUNTS, INCORPORATING CONSERVATION COLLIER'S
FEE SCHEDULE, AND AUTHORIZING THE BOARD TO SET
FEES FOR COUNTY-SPONSORED SPECIAL EVENTS
Item #16D9
SUBMITTAL OF A REVISED CONGESTION MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM/INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION STAKEHOLDERS
(CMS/ITS) GRANT APPLICATION, FOR THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION OF UP TO 12 ADDITIONAL BUS SHELTERS
IN COLLIER COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $336,872 — ALSO
Page 241
February 12, 2013
INCLUDES BIKE RACKS, BENCHES & TRASH RECEPTACLES
AS THE BUDGET ALLOWS
Item #16D10
RESOLUTION 2013-30: EXECUTING A SUPPLEMENTAL
AGREEMENT TO THE JOINT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(FDOT) AND COLLIER COUNTY TO AMEND THE LOCAL
MATCH TO INCLUDE IN-KIND FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT
OF $75,150 AND CASH MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $205,850
FOR THE COLLIER AREA TRANSIT (CAT) INTERMODAL
TRANSFER FACILITY AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER
Item #16D11
RESOLUTION 2013-31: RESCINDING AND REPLACING
RESOLUTION 2001-245 AND ADOPTING A DISADVANTAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) PROGRAM AND GOAL
SETTING PROCESS TO ENSURE DBE'S HAVE AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AND PARTICIPATE IN FTA
ASSISTED CONTRACTS & ENSURE NONDISCRIMINATION
OF AWARDS AND ADMINISTRATION
Item #16D12
BUDGET AMENDMENTS RECOGNIZING CONSERVATION
COLLIER FY 12 CARRY FORWARD FOR PLANNED PROJECTS
— FOR THE PEPPER RANCH PROJECTS
Item #16D13
Page 242
February 12, 2013
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FY12/13 HUD ACTION
PLAN THAT INCLUDES THREE NEW PROJECTS FUNDED
FROM THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT THAT
SUPPORTS HOMELESS PROGRAMS IN COLLIER COUNTY
AND MODIFY FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THE ESG
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION CATEGORY AS
ALLOWED BY HUD — FOR THE SHELTER FOR ABUSED
WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND ST. MATTHEWS HOUSE
HOMELESS SHELTER OPERATIONS AND FOR CATHOLIC
CHARITIES RAPID RE-HOUSING & PREVENTION PROJECT
Item #16D14
RENEWING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND COLLIER COMMUNITY
CAT COALITION TO COORDINATE A COMMUNITY-BASED
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN PROGRAM FOR FERAL CATS — TO
HELP DIMINISH THE NUMBER OF FERAL CATS
Item #16D15
TERMINATING A JUNE 14, 2011 UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
CONVERSION AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN
COLLIER COUNTY AND COMCAST OF THE SOUTH, INC.
Item #16E1
AWARDING INVITATION TO BID #12-5935 FOR FLEET
VEHICLES TO TAMIAMI FORD, INC. — THE CURRENT BID
EXPIRES MARCH 1, 2013
Item #16E2
Page 243
February 12, 2013
THE RANKED LIST OF SELECTED FIRMS FOR REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL #09-5262-S2, COUNTYWIDE ENGINEERING
SERVICES FOR COASTAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AND
DIRECT STAFF TO BRING NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS TO
THE BOARD FOR SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL WITH
HUMISTON AND MOORE ENGINEERS AND TURRELL, HALL
& ASSOCIATES, INC.
Item #16E3
RESOLUTION 2013-32: AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION'S
CHAIRWOMAN TO EXECUTE DEED CERTIFICATES FOR
THE SALE OF BURIAL PLOTS AT LAKE TRAFFORD
MEMORIAL GARDENS CEMETERY DURING THE 2013
CALENDAR YEAR
Item #16E4
ADVERTISING AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 2009-23,
"REGULATION OF OUTDOOR BURNING AND INCENDIARY
DEVICES DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS ORDINANCE,"
IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DECLARE A BURNING BAN
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD IN ABSENTIA AND ALSO
CLARIFY CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE
Item #16E5
RESOLUTION 2013-33: A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH
CONGRESSMAN MARIO DIAZ-BALART FOR USE OF
COUNTY-OWNED OFFICE SPACE FOR TWO YEARS FOR A
Page 244
February 12, 2013
TOTAL REVENUE OF $20 — A LEASE RUNNING THROUGH
JANUARY 2, 2015
Item #16E6
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO FACILITATE REIMBURSEMENT
OF FUNDS TO THE GOLDEN GATE ESTATES LIBRARY AND
LOUISE HASSE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR COMPLETED
WORK PER PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AGREEMENTS WITH
THE GOLDEN GATE ESTATES LAND TRUST FUND 605
(TOTAL FISCAL IMPACT: $311,024.39)
Item #16E7
ACCEPT REPORTS AND RATIFY STAFF-APPROVED
CHANGE ORDERS AND CHANGES TO WORK ORDERS —
REPORTS COVER THE PERIOD OF DECEMBER 20, 2012
THROUGH JANUARY 23, 2013
Item #16F1
REPORT COVERING A BUDGET AMENDMENT IMPACTING
RESERVES IN AN AMOUNT UP TO AND INCLUDING
$1,235.42 AND A BUDGET AMENDMENT MOVING FUNDS —
FOR THE EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK
Item #16F2
RESOLUTION 2013-34: APPROVING AMENDMENTS
(APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS
OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO FY12/13 ADOPTED BUDGET
Page 245
February 12,-2013
Item #16G1
AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMMERCIAL AVIATION
OPERATIONS LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH HISTORY
FLIGHT INC., FOR LIMITED COMMERCIAL AVIATION
OPERATIONS AT MARCO ISLAND EXECUTIVE AIRPORT —
TO CHANGE DATES OF SCHEDULED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
FROM JANUARY 19 & 20, 2013 TO MARCH 9 & 10, 2013
Item #16G2
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IN ITS CAPACITY AS
THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, APPROVES AN AGREEMENT
PERMITTING COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
MANAGEMENT, LLC TO INSTALL, OPERATE & MAINTAIN
CABLE AT IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT — AS WELL AS
HIGH SPEED COMMUNICATION FOR STAFF, TENANTS AND
AIRPORT USERS
Item #16G3
TRAVEL REQUEST IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,119 FOR THE
AIRPORT AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE TO ATTEND THE
FLORIDA AIRPORTS COUNCIL 2013 STATE SUMMIT IN
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
Item #16H1
COMMISSIONERS REQUEST BOARD APPROVAL TO
ATTEND THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
LEGISLATIVE DAY CONFERENCE APRIL 3-5, 2013
Page 246
February 12, 2013
Item #16H2
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE ATTENDED THE VIVA 500 FLORIDA EVENT
ON JANUARY 8, 2013 AT PORT ROYAL CLUB, NAPLES,
FLORIDA. $70 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER HILLER'S
TRAVEL BUDGET — HELD AT 2900 GORDON DRIVE, NAPLES
Item #16H3
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND ZOOBILEE 2013 ON MARCH 9,
2013 AT NAPLES ZOO, NAPLES FLORIDA. $150 TO BE PAID
FROM COMMISSIONER HILLER'S TRAVEL BUDGET — AT
1590 GOODLETTE-FRANK RD., NAPLES
Item #16H4
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE CATO INSTITUTE
SEMINAR JANUARY 30, 2013 AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA
IN NAPLES, FL. $75 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER
HILLER'S TRAVEL BUDGET — LOCATED AT 475 SEAGATE
DRIVE, NAPLES
Item #16H5
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
Page 247
February 12, 2013
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE FIFTH COMMUNITY
DRUG FREE AWARENESS LUNCHEON AT THE NAPLES
HILTON ON MARCH 7, 2013, FLORIDA. $21 TO BE PAID
FROM COMMISSIONER HILLER'S TRAVEL BUDGET —
LOCATED AT 5111 TAMIAMI TRAIL NORTH, NAPLES
Item #16H6
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE CREATING TIMELESS
TRAVEL MEMORIES - DAVID LAWRENCE CENTER ON
FEBRUARY 18, 2013. $25 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER
HILLER'S TRAVEL BUDGET — LOCATED AT 707 GULF PARK
DRIVE, NAPLES
Item #16H7
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE FAC LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE ON APRIL 4, 2013. $110 TO BE PAID OUT OF
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S FAC TRAVEL BUDGET — HELD
AT 555 WEST PENSACOLA STREET, TALLAHASSEE
Item #16H8 — Continued to the February 26, 2013 BCC Meeting
(Per Agenda Change Sheet)
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE BEACH BALL GALA FOR
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER ON FEBRUARY 23, 2013.
Page 248
February 12, 2013
$100 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER HILLER'S TRAVEL
BUDGET
Item #16H9
COMMISSIONER HILLER'S REIMBURSEMENT FOR
ATTENDING A FUNCTION SERVING A VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE. SHE WILL ATTEND THE 2013 GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTING CONFERENCE IN TALLAHASSEE FEBRUARY
7-8, 2013. $225 TO BE PAID FROM COMMISSIONER HILLER'S
TRAVEL BUDGET — HELD AT 555 WEST PENSACOLA
STREET, TALLAHASSEE
Item #16J1
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 5, 2013
THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2013 AND SUBMISSION INTO THE
OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item #16J2
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 12, 2013
THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2013 AND SUBMISSION INTO THE
OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item #16J3
DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 19, 2013
THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2013 AND SUBMISSION INTO THE
OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE BOARD
Item #16J4
Page 249
February 12, 2013
BOARD ACCEPTS AN INVESTMENT STATUS UPDATE
REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012
Item #16J5
A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $342,000 TO
APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CLERK OF
COURTS PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENTS AND COLA INCREASES
CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY'S PAY PLAN
Item #16K1
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE SUM OF $4,000 PRIOR
TO TRIAL IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED MICHAEL A. PADRON
III, V. COLLIER COUNTY, FILED IN TWENTIETH JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA (CASE
NO. 12-CA-924) AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRWOMAN TO
EXECUTE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
(FISCAL IMPACT: $4,000)
Item #16K2
MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
PRIOR TO TRIAL IN A LAWSUIT ENTITLED MIGUEL ROJAS
AND LUZ ESCUDERO V. COLLIER COUNTY, AND COLLIER
COUNTY, FILED IN TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND
FOR COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA (CASE NO. 11-2901-CA)
FOR THE SUM OF $25,000 — FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT AT
THE INTERSECTION OF WEBER & GOLDEN GATE BLVD.
Item #17A — Moved to Item #9B (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Page 250
February 12, 2013
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 5:10 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OF ICIO GO, ERNING BOARD(S) OF
S ' E IAL D TRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
I
�i ' 1 A. HILLER, ESQ., CHAIRWOMAN
ATTEST
DWIGHT' E. BLOCK, CLERK
"
te as t4 •ai •'n
These minutes t approved the Board on V Qkrc. lob �L� ,
as presented or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICE, INC., BY TERRI LEWIS, COURT
REPORTER AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
Page 251