Agenda 06/25/2013 Item #11AW
6/25/2013 11.A.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to accept report and recommendations regarding potential locations for radio
controlled airplanes, boats and cars within the Collier County parks system.
Objective: To provide residents with recreational spaces that allows for the use of each of these hobby
craft.
Considerations: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) directed staff at the April 23, 2013
meeting to research potential locations for the use of radio controlled airplanes, boats, and cars within the
Collier County Parks system.
The following is a summary of the current situation pertaining to each of the proposed uses followed by a
summary of prospective options moving forward along with associated costs and recommendations
regarding each:
ELECTRIC PLANES:
❖ CURRENT SITUATION: Electric- powered planes are flying at the County's Manatee Community
Park site and can continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Manatee Park is a 60 acre site that is
planned to be developed as a passive recreational facility that will include among other things, space
for remote controlled planes. No funding is appropriated at this time to develop or operate the park.
�� ❖ COSTS: Under the current arrangement, annual maintenance and operating expenses associated with
this usage are covered by the Collier County Model Airplane Club (CCMAC).
❖ RECOMMENDATION: Continue to allow electric planes to fly at the Manatee site.
GAS POWERED PLANES:
CURRENT SITUATION: Gas powered planes are currently flying at the Collier County Fairgrounds
sponsored by the Collier Fun Flyers. Members of this group are able to fly during daylight hours 7
days a week, but as a courtesy to their neighbor's gas powered airplanes are requested not to fly until
after 9AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Staff has investigated several other sites, including areas at the
Naples Landfill site and the County airports. With regard to the latter, the Airport Authority staff has
advised that FAA regulations prohibit the flying of remote control airplanes near active runways and
pose a safety issue with aircraft using these facilities. Given this restriction due to the amount of air
traffic at the Immokalee and Marco Island airports, their property is not appropriate for this use.
However, there are possible options related to remote control planes being operated at the Everglades
City Airport and can be explored with the CCMAC.
❖ COSTS: This proposed use requires approximately 30 acres of open space. Real Estate Services
found properties for sale in the East Naples area ranging in price from $49,100 - $113,500 per acre.
Given this price, acquiring the acreage identified above would cost between $1.4M to $3.4M.
Developing a .30 -acre site for remote airplane use would require costs for zoning, site clearing and
development of the property at an estimated cost of $150,000. Operation and maintenance costs
would be minimal and could potentially be absorbed by the CCMAC.
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6/25/2013 11.A.
❖ RECOMMENTATION: Locate the flying of gas powered planes to the Collier County Fairgrounds;
continue to pursue prospective lease sites for this use elsewhere; explore options related to the
Everglades City Airport.
REMOTE CONTROLLED BOATS:
❖ CURRENT SITUATION: Remote control boats have historically operated within a stormwater
retention pond associated with Physician's Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge Road location. The
Parks and Recreation Department has been approached by remote control boat enthusiasts and the
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has endorsed their request for a location within the Parks
system to operate after they were not longer able to continue at the Physicians Regional location. The
Parks Department identified the stormwater retention pond at North Collier Regional Park as a
potential location. Currently, there is no recreational use other than catch and release fishing at this
location. The pond could be used for the boats as the park has adequate parking, littoral shelf with
limited vegetation, and a fairly large area to navigate the boats. Sugden Park and the Vineyards
Community Park are yet other locations that could be considered; however, it would be limited to
Sundays and Mondays as recreational sailing and waterskiing occurs other days that would be
incompatible with the remote control boats.
❖ COSTS: None.
❖ RECOMMENDATION: 1) Authorize this use at North Collier Regional Park or 2) Authorize this use
at North Collier Regional Park and either Sudgen Regional Park or Vineyards Community Park.
REMOTE CONTROLLED CARS:
❖ CURRENT SITUATION: In previous years, remote control car enthusiasts had a track within Golden
Gate Community Park on the northwest corner of the park near the tennis courts. The track was
removed after it was unused for several years. The land is currently open and could be re- developed
to establish a location for remote control cars again if there were the public interest in doing so.
❖ COSTS: Re- opening the track at Golden Gate Community Park would cost approximately $25,000.
Ongoing maintenance and operating costs associated with this feature are estimated at $5,000
annually.
❖ RECOMMENDATION: In preparing this report, staff did not find a high level of interest in the
community for this use and accordingly, does not recommend re- opening the track; however, efforts
will be made to reach out to this user group to determine if interest exists.
Leeal Consideration: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal issues, and
requires majority vote for acceptance. -JAK
Fiscal Impact: (see above)
Growth Manaeement: Parks identified are inventoried in the regional and community parks as part of
the AUIR.
Recommendation (s): That the Board accepts the report provided by staff and direct staff to:
1. Negotiate with the remote control boat enthusiasts to develop a location at North Collier Regional
Park, and either Sugden or Vineyards Community Park
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6/25/2013 11.A.
2. Solicit interest in a remote control car park at Golden Gate Community Park and determine if a
need exists. If an established need is met, solicit an appropriation of monies from General Fund
reserves to develop a remote control park at Golden Gate Community Park
3. Work with the CCMAC to locate the flying of gas powered planes to the Collier County
Fairgrounds; and /or continue to pursue prospective lease sites for this use elsewhere; and/or
explore options related to the Everglades City Airport.
Prepared By: Barry Williams, Director, Parks and Recreation
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.11.A.
6/25/2013 11.A.
Item Summary: Recommendation to accept report and recommendations regarding
potential locations for radio controlled airplanes, boats and cars within the Collier County parks
system.
Meeting Date: 6/25/2013
Prepared By
Name: BetancurNatali
Title: Operations Analys, Parks & Rec -NCRP Admin
6/10/2013 11:20:26 AM
Submitted by
t*011N Title: Director - Parks & Recreation,Parks & Recreation
Name: WilliamsBarry
6/10/2013 11:20:29 AM
Approved By
Name: AlonsoHailey
Title: Operations Analyst, Public Service Division
Date: 6/10/2013 11:49:27 AM
Name: WilliamsBarry
Title: Director - Parks & Recreation,Parks & Recreation
Date: 6/13/2013 10:45:18 AM
Name: CarnellSteve
Title: Director - Purchasing/General Services,Purchasing
Date: 6/13/2013 11:18:13 AM
Name: FinnEd
Title: Senior Budget Analyst, OMB
Date: 6/13/2013 11:59:43 AM
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Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney
Date: 6/14/2013 9:53:33 AM
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager
Date: 6/17/2013 12:14:46 PM
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6/25/2013 11.A.