Agenda 05/09/2017 Item #11D05/09/2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to report to the Board on the ATV ad hoc committee; progress to date, and
conceptual plan for a park on the Immokalee Airport Property; plan to approach the US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) to further determine potential mitigation costs associated with
environmental permitting.
OBJECTIVE: To provide opportunities for Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) enthusiasts to ride their
vehicles at OHV riding locations in Florida using funds from the South Florida Water Management
District settlement agreement.
CONSIDERATIONS: In 2011, Collier County and the South Florida Water Management District
entered into a Settlement Agreement wherein the District paid Collier County $3 million to dispose of
litigation arising out of a 2003 Agreement between the parties in which the District was to convey 640
acres to Collier County for recreational ATV (OHV) use. Since that settlement, the Collier County
Growth Management Department and Collier County Parks and Recreation Division have been tasked
with searching for land appropriate and suitable for an OHV Park site. To date, and despite an exhaustive
search, no land suitable for an OHV Park has been located within or outside of Collier County.
Efforts to explore land holding owned by the County focused on lands associated with Immokalee
Airport. Currently Immokalee Airport has other uses of the lands that bring potential visitors to the
Airport. This includes a number of industries specific to Airport use as well as recreational uses including
a new camping area, drag racing, and passive use of lands for park use for the community. All of these
activities bring and lend support to the Immokalee Airport and make it a vibrant part of the community of
Immokalee making best use of the lands in and around the Airport.
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners created an ad hoc committee (Resolution No. 2012-
110) to research potential opportunities for OHV use in Collier County. On March 22, 2016, based on the
ad hoc committee’s recommendation the Board of County Commissioners approved (Item 16.D.8) to
explore use of the Immokalee Airport for a potential location for riders and to conduct an environmental
study on the lands identified for OHV use. A feasibility analysis was conducted for the Project which
included a preliminary site review to document existing site conditions within the Project site and
attending pre-application meetings with the environmental permitting agencies to determine the feasibility
of obtaining environmental permits for the proposed Project.
The results of the environmental study revealed potential environmental costs of $3.6 million to develop
the site. While these costs are considerable, the Board of County Commissioners approved a plan to hire
a consultant to design a conceptual plan for the site and to approach US Fish and Wildlife Services with
the plan to determine a clearer estimate of costs associated with permitting the park.
The Parks and Recreation Division hired RWA to design a conceptual plan for the site to include a trail
system for the OHV use. A copy of that design is attached and will be presented to the ad hoc committee
during their May 11, 2017 meeting. If approved, the plan will be reviewed with the US Fish and Wildlife
Service for their opinion on mitigation costs associated with environmental permitting.
FISCAL IMPACT: Currently, there is $2,967,071.77 remaining from the settlement fund, with interest
accruing on the principal. The contract for RWA is for $24,980 to complete the tasks.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact related to this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
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05/09/2017
form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To accept report, finalize the plan with the ad hoc committee, present the
conceptual plan to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and provide any further direction to staff and the ad
hoc committee, and report findings back to the Board.
Prepared by: Barry Williams, Division Director, Parks and Recreation
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. 2017-05-03 1300630030 CONCEPT (PDF)
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05/09/2017
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.D
Doc ID: 3145
Item Summary: Recommendation to report to the Board on the ATV ad hoc committee; progress
to date, and conceptual plan for a park on the Immokalee Airport Property; plan to approach the US Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to further determine potential mitigation costs associated with
environmental permitting. (Barry Williams, Director, Parks and Recreation)
Meeting Date: 05/09/2017
Prepared by:
Title: Operations Analyst – Public Services Department
Name: Hailey Margarita Alonso
05/02/2017 4:10 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Division Director - Parks & Recreation – Parks & Recreation
Name: Barry Williams
05/02/2017 4:10 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Public Services Department Hailey Margarita Alonso Level 1 Division Reviewer Completed 05/02/2017 4:11 PM
Public Services Department Steve Carnell Level 2 Division Administrator Review Completed 05/02/2017 4:32 PM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 05/02/2017 4:37 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 05/02/2017 4:50 PM
Budget and Management Office Ed Finn Additional Reviewer Completed 05/03/2017 2:35 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 05/03/2017 3:21 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 05/09/2017 9:00 AM
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MUD AREALAKESAND PITPICNIC AREATRAIL HEADPARKINGENTRANCESTATIONTRAININGAREACHILDRENLEARNINGAREACENTRALCOREMAINTENANCEAREAMOTOCROSSAREAROCKYTRAILADVANCEDTRAILPARKINGTRAIL AREAPARKINGTRAIL AREATRAIL AREAFeet0300600TITLE:CLIENT:PROJECT:PROJECT NO.:6610 Willow Park Drive, Suite 200Naples, Florida 34109(239) 597-0575 FAX: (239) 597-0578www.consult-rwa.comFlorida Certificates of AuthorizationEB 7663 LB 6952FILE NAME:IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORTATV PARKCOLLIER COUNTY CONCEPT PLAN130063.00.301300630030 CONCEPT PLAN11.D.1
Packet Pg. 455 Attachment: 2017-05-03 1300630030 CONCEPT (3145 : Report to the Board on ATV Park)