Agenda 06/22/2010 Item #16E 7
Agenda Item No. 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 1 of 9
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve Conservation Collier Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) activities rules and Activities Authorization Form
OBJECTIVE: To obtain approval from the Board of County Commissioner for proposed
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) activities rules and the attached GIS Activities
Authorization Form for use by the Conservation Collier Program.
CONSIDERATION: GIS-based activities are growing in popularity as hobbies in outdoor
recreational areas. These activities include letter boxing, virtual caching and geocaching.
Letterboxing is a variation on the custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of
a mountain. Virtual caching, also known as a waymarking, is targeting a location using GIS
coordinates and publishing those coordinates on a website for others to find the location.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game using GPS coordinates to locate hidden
containers, These GIS activities are enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of
community and, most of the time, respect for the environment.
In September 2009, Conservation Collier staff was approached by a citizen requesting to
geocache on a Conservation Collier Preserve site, Staff did some research and met this citizen
onsite to see where a cache was proposed to be placed. The topic was brought to two CCLMC
subcommittees for review (Lands Evaluation & Management and Ordinance, Policy & Rules),
who determined that the activity was welcomed but should be regulated due to the sensitivity of
some preserve areas, management needs and protection of the public from the potential of
dangerous or unauthorized items being cached on public lands.
Staff discovered that the County Parks and Recreation Department already had rules and
regulations for geocaching and had developed a permit form that was included within the Parks
and Recreation Policies and Procedures Manual (M0017), effective since April 2007 (attached).
The subcommittee reviewed this form and determined that while additional rules may be
appropriate, they preferred not to recommend an additional "permit." After a review of other local,
state and federal rules for this activity, and with consideration of the unique purposes and intents
of the Conservation Collier Program, a list of recommended rules was developed in an
"authorization" format. Finally, staff coordinated with the Risk Management Department, who
suggested adding liability waiver language to the authorization form. In April 2010, the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee approved the attached final draft
version of a "GIS Activities Authorization Form" for Board approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item other than staff time to
process the form and conduct a site visit.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with
this item,
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed and approved by the County
Attorney's Office and is legally sufficient-JBW,
,-
RECOMMENDATION: To provide direction to the County Manager, or his designee, to
implement the proposed rules and GIS Activities Authorization Form.
PREPARED BY: Alexandra Sulecki, Coordinator, Conservation Collier Program
Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 2 of 9
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
16E7
Recommendation to approve Conservation Collier Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
activities rules and Activities Authorization Form.
Meeting Date:
6/22/2010 9:00:00 AM
Prepared By
Alexandra J. Sulecki
Environmental Specialist, Senior
Date
Administrative Services
Division
Facilities Management
613120104:28:58 PM
Approved By
Jennifer White
Assistant County Attorney
Date
County Attorney
County Attorney
6/7120104:44 PM
Approved By
Skip Camp, C,F,M.
Director - Facilities Management
Date
Administrative Services
Division
Facilities Management
6/8/20108:12 AM
Approved By
Len Golden Price
Administrator. Administrative Services
Date
Administrative Services
Division
Administrative Services Division
6/9120109:47 AM
Approved By
OMS Coordinator
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
619120103:41 PM
Approved By
Jeff Klatzkow
County Attorney
Date
6/10/201011:47 AM
Approved By
Therese Stanley
Manager - Operations Support - Trans
Date
Office of Management &
Budget
Office of Management & Budget
6/141201011 :22 AM
Approved By
Leo E. Ochs, Jr.
County Manager
Date
County Managers Office
County Managers Office
6/14/201012:10 PM
Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 3 of 9
Conservation Collier
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Activities Authorization Form
Collier County Facilities Management Department
3301 Tamiami Trail East, Building W
Naples, FL 34 1 l2
239-252-2961
ConservationCollier@Colliergov.net
Name:
Owner's name as it will appear online:
Address:
City, State,
Zip:
Daytime
Phone:
Cell
Phone:
E-mail
Address:
Website (s) where Jetterbox//cache information will be posted:
Letterbox/cache Location (preserve name, GPS coordinates, and description oflocation):
Letterbox/ cache Description (container and contents):
Page 1 of 3
Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 4 of 9
Rules and Regulations
. Letterbox/cache containers larger than 3 cubic inches must be made of clear, non-
breakable material.
. Letterbox/ cache containers are limited to a maximum of I cubic foot in size.
. No hazardous materials, including but not limited to explosives, fireworks,
ammo, knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), drugs, alcohol or other
illicit materials, are to be placed on preserve lands.
. Letterbox/cache containers must have a latch or other closing device to prevent
exposure to wildlife.
. No food items or items having an odor may be included in caches.
. Letterboxes/caches must be placed within close proximity to an existing trail.
. No soil disturbance and no alteration of or attachment to native vegetation shall
be permitted.
. Preserve access hours shall be honored.
. Letterbox/cache owners are responsible for placement and care ofletterboxes and
caches,
. Letterbox and cache authorization is valid I year from approval. After that time,
GIS Activities Authorization Forms must be resubmitted and new approval
obtained.
. If letterbox/cache is relocated, a new GIS Activities Authorization Form must be
submitted and a new approval obtained.
. Staff has the right to move or remove my letterbox/cache placement if staff
determines the preserved property is being harmed or the cached materials appear
harmful or illegal.
. If unauthorized letterboxes/caches are removed and staff has no contact
information for the owner, they will be kept by Conservation Collier for 30 days,
at which time if not claimed, they will be disposed of. Any materials determined
to be harmful may be disposed of immediately and contraband materials will be
reported to law enforcement officials.
. Letterbox/cache owners are responsible to be aware of all GIS activities rules.
. Conservation Collier Program and its staff will not be responsible for damage to a
letterbox/cache or its contents due to any management activity which may
include, but is not limited to, prescribed burning, roller-chopping, shredding,
mowing, flooding, herbicide application,
GIS actIVIty partICIpants are encouraged to VISIt the www.geocaching.com.
www.Floridacaching,com and www.wavmarking.com websites to lcam more about local and
international rules for geocaching. The Leave no Trace website www.leavenotrace,ca website
also provides helpful principles for planning safe and environmentally respectful outdoor
recreational activities.
I, the undersigned, know that recreational GIS activities including, but not limited to,
letterboxing, geocaching and waymarking a.k.a. virtual caching, as outdoor action sports, carry
significant risk of personal injury, I know that there are natural and man-made hazards,
environmental conditions and risks which can cause me serious injurics or possibly even fatal
injuries. I agree that as a participant (and/or as the parent/legal guardian of a participant) 1 accept
Page 2of3
Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22. 2010
Page 5 of 9
these risks, conditions and hazards and hereby release, discharge and agree to indemnify
Conservation Collier Program Staff and Collier County Government in connection with these
activities.
I have read and agree to abide by the Collier County Conservation Collier Program policy on
geocaching.
Signature:
Date:
Approval: (office use only)
Signature:
Date:
Effective
date
Page 3 of 3
Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 6 of 9
COLLIER COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
EFFECTIVE
DATE: April 2007
SUBJECT:
GEOCACHE/LETTERBOX PLACEMENT
PAGE: 1 of 4
CATEGORY: Administration
NUMBER: AA0017
POLICY:
To define the rules and regulations with regards to placing a Geocache/letterbox in a
Collier County park.
PROCEDURE:
A. Cache Permits
1. Any person desiring to place a geocache/letterbox in a Collier County
park is required to complete a geocaching/letterbox pia cement permit.
2. Geocache/letterbox are not permitted on beaches where sea turties
are known to nest nor in wetlands, conservation areas nor the State
owned portion of Barefoot Beach Preserve.
3. The Department Director or his/her designee has the authority to
approve or deny any permit.
.
4. If a non-permitted cache is discovered, the staff is to remove the
cache, and if possible, attempt to notify the owner. In the event that
the staff is unable to contact the cache owner within thirty (30) days,
the cache will be treated as abandoned property and disposed of.
5. Permits are valid for one (1) year from date of approval. Upon
expiration of the permit, the geocache or letterbox must be re-
permitted to a new location of removed.
6. If at any time the terms of a permit are violated, the Department
Director or his/her designee has the authority to void a permit, and
remove the cache. The owner must be notified of the removal.
Justification for the removal will be noted on the permit.
7, Permit limitations will be determined by the Department Director of
his/her designee, dependent upon cache concentration.
8, The original permit is to remain on file at the Parks and Recreation
Administration Office and copies will be provided to the affected park
and the park rangers.
Effective date: April 2007
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Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 7 of 9
8, Cache Containers and Contents
1. Cache containers larger than 3 cubic inches must be made of clear,
non-breakable material; they must have a latch or other closing device
to prohibit exposure to wildlife, All cache containers must be
approved by the site supervisor preceding placement.
2. Cache containers will have an identification label affixed to the outside
of the container stating the permit number and expiration date. The
cache name and owner must also be visible on the outside of the
cache.
3, Each cache is required to have an explanation of the
geocaching/letterboxing activity to be included in the container.
4. Cache contents must be suitable for visitors of all ages, They may not
contain offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous items. These types of
items include, but are not limited to, the following:
. Food
. Alcohol and tobacco
. Material with sexual content
. Weapons
. Matches of lighters
. Prescription or elicit drugs
. Any sharp objects
5. Park staff has the authority to remove any item from a cache that is in
violation of this policy.
C. Cache Placement
1. The proposed location of all caches must be approved and verified by
the site supervisor or his/her designee before placement.
2, No cache shall be fixed to any park structure. It may not be
suspended in trees, or positioned underwater. It may not be placed in
burrows, nests, or dunes.
3. No cache shall be placed in an area that would necessitate jumping
off of, or climbing over, a boardwalk to be located.
4, Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation or stones be
.disturbed to place a cache,
5, If at anytime during the permitting period, the owner will be notified,
and the cache will be removed, If the cache owner requests to
relocate the cache, a new permit will be required,
Effective date: April 2007
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Agenda Item No, 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 8 of 9
D. Compliance
The Collier County Parks and Recreation Department reserves the right
to remove any cache that is found to be in violation of this policy. If, at
any time, the staff is unable to make contact with the cache owner, the
cache will be considered abandoned property. The cache is to be kept at
the facility for thirty (30) days, if at which time it is not claimed, it will be
disposed of.
If geocaching activities as a whole are found to have a negative impact on
park resources or if safety becomes an issue in goecache searches, then
the Park Director may ban geocaching from certain areas or from an
entire park.
Effective date: April 2007
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Agenda Item No 16E7
June 22, 2010
Page 9 of 9
Collier County Parks and Recreation Department
North Collier Regional Park
15000 Livingston Road
Naples, Florida 34109
239-252-4060 or 239-252-4060
FAX: 239-514-2703
www.collierparks.com
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GEOCACHING - Cache Permit
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Cell Phone:
Email:
Driver's License:
Website:
(Website where Cache will be posted)
Cache Location:
List which park the cache will be located in and the GPS location
Description of Cache:
List exactly what the container is and all of the contents
Description of Where Cache is Located:
Signature:
Date:
Approval: (office use only)
Signature:
Date:
Effective date: April 2007
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