BCC Minutes 08/08/2023 August 8, 2023
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, August 8, 2023
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 Board
members present:
Chairman: Rick LoCastro
Chris Hall
Dan Kowal
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
Burt L. Saunders (Absent)
ALSO PRESENT:
Amy Patterson, County Manager
Daniel Rodriguez, Deputy County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Derek Johnssen, Clerk’s Finance & Accounting Director
Robert Eble, Communications & Customer Relations
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB)
Airport Authority
AGENDA
Board of County Commission Chambers
Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail East, 3rd Floor
Naples, FL 34112
August 08, 2023
9:00 AM
Commissioner Rick LoCastro, District 1; – Chair
Commissioner Chris Hall, District 2; – Vice Chair
Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3
Commissioner Dan Kowal, District 4; – CRAB Co-Chair
Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5; – CRAB Co-Chair
NOTICE: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO PRESENTATION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO BE
ADDRESSED. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE
MINUTES UNLESS THE TIME IS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
ADDITIONAL MINUTES MAY BE CEDED TO AN IN-PERSON SPEAKER BY
OTHER REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO MUST BE PRESENT AT THE TIME
THE SPEAKER IS HEARD. NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL BE HEARD FOR
PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC PETITIONS.
SPEAKERS ON PRESENTATIONS ARE LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES, UNLESS
EXTENDED BY THE CHAIRMAN. ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON A
CONSENT ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO THE BOARD’S APPROVAL
OF THE DAY’S CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS HEARD AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOLLOWING THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON PUBLIC PETITION
MUST SUBMIT THE REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE COUNTY MANAGER
AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE MEETING. THE
REQUEST SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION AS TO THE
NATURE OF THE PETITION. THE PUBLIC PETITION MAY NOT INVOLVE
A MATTER ON A FUTURE BOARD AGENDA AND MUST CONCERN A
MATTER IN WHICH THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTION. PUBLIC
PETITIONS ARE LIMITED TO A SINGLE PRESENTER, WITH A MAXIMUM
TIME OF TEN MINUTES, UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
SHOULD THE PETITION BE GRANTED, THE ITEM WILL BE PLACED ON A
FUTURE AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT
ON THIS AGENDA OR A FUTURE AGENDA MUST REGISTER TO SPEAK
PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA BEING
CALLED BY THE CHAIRMAN. SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE
MINUTES, AND NO ADDITIONAL MINUTES MAY BE CEDED TO THE
SPEAKER. AT THE CHAIRMAN’S DISCRETION, THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC
SPEAKERS MAY BE LIMITED TO 5 FOR THAT MEETING.
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.
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.
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 DIVISION 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 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
LUNCH RECESS SCHEDULED FOR 12:00 NOON TO 1:00 P.M
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A. Invocation by Pastor Tim Reed, Fairway Bible Church
2. AGENDA AND MINUTES
A. Approval of today's regular, consent and summary agenda as amended (Ex
Parte Disclosure provided by Commission members for consent agenda.)
B. July 11, 2023, Board Meeting Minutes
3. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. EMPLOYEE
B. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
C. RETIREES
D. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
4. PROCLAMATIONS
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award for Odor
Control by the Air Quality Committee-Florida Water Environment
Association . This award is given in recognition of having a comprehensive
strategy for odor control programs, providing good environmental
stewardship within the community and with other stakeholders, reduction of
pollutant levels and outlet pollutant levels, and the Utility being positioned
as a good steward of financial and personnel resources. To be accepted by
Robert Von Holle, Public Utilities Department Division Director
Wastewater (All Districts)
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE CURRENT
OR FUTURE AGENDA
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
11. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid (“ITB”) No. 23-8114, “Carson
Road Stormwater Treatment Area” to Quality Enterprises USA, Inc., in the
amount of $5,865,783.20, authorize the necessary Budget Amendments, and
authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Agreement. (Project No. 60143)
(Trinity Scott, Department Head, Transportation Management Services)
(District 5)
B. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, ex-officio the
Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District, award
Construction Invitation to Bid (“ITB”) No. 23-8115, “Golden Gate City
Transmission Water Main Improvements - Phase 1B,” to Metro Equipment
Service, Inc., in the amount of $13,983,979.70, and authorize the Chairman
to sign the attached Agreement. (Projects #70253, #70243 & #51029)
(Matthew McLean, Public Utilities Engineering and Project Management
Division Director) (District 3)
C. Recommendation to authorize Budget Amendments for the Facilities
Management Division in the amount of $490,000 realigning existing
Division budget to support maintenance and repair requirements through the
end of the fiscal year. (John McCormick, Interim Director, Facilities
Management Division) (District 3)
D. Recommendation to approve Budget Amendments to re-allocate Parks
Capital Fund (3062) project dollars in the amount of $650,000 to
Community Parks cost centers within the Unincorporated Area General
Fund (1011) to support operations through the end of the fiscal year. (Jeff
Weir, Director, Operations Support - Public Services Department) (All
Districts)
E. Recommendation to authorize Budget Amendments for Domestic Animal
Services (DAS) utilizing $200,000 from DAS Donation Fund reserves and
realigning existing Public Services Department operating budgets, in the
amount of $450,000, to support DAS operating expense requirements
through the end of the fiscal year. (Jeff Weir, Director, Operations Support -
Public Services Department) (All Districts)
F. Recommendation to hear a presentation regarding the FY 2024 unfunded
request list and provide guidance as we move toward the September public
budget hearings. (Chris Johnson, Director, Office of Management and
Budget) (All Districts)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
A. AIRPORT
B. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Public Comments on General Topics Not on The Current Or Future Agenda
By Individuals Not Already Heard During Previous Public Comments In
This Meeting
B. Staff Project Updates
C. Staff and Commission General Communications
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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.
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A. GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer facilities and accept the conveyance of the potable water and
sewer facilities for Euclid Estates, PL20220004699. (District 2)
2) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities for Kalea Bay Clubhouse – Wellness & Tiki,
PL20230008574. (District 2)
3) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the sewer utility
facilities and accept the conveyance of a portion of the sewer facilities
and appurtenant utility easement for Marea Luxury Apartments,
PL20220007455. (District 4)
4) Recommendation to approve final acceptance and accept the
conveyance of the potable water and sewer utility facilities for
Vanderbilt Reserve, PL20190001441, and authorize the County
Manager, or designee, to release the Final Obligation Bond in the total
amount of $4,000 to the Project Engineer or the Developer’s
designated agent. (District 3)
5) 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 minor final plat Seven Shores – Phase 1,
Application Number PL20230000721. (District 1)
6) 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 New Dasa, LLC, Plan Number
1 (Application Number PL20220000846) approval of the standard
form Construction and Maintenance Agreement and approval of the
performance security in the amount of $173,591. (District 4)
7) Recommendation to approve the Conservation Collier Shell Island
Preserve Addendum Management Plan 5-year update under the
Conservation Collier Program. (District 4)
8) Recommendation to direct staff to advertise an ordinance amending
Ordinance 2022-42, which established Milestone Inspections of aging
condominium and cooperative buildings in unincorporated Collier
County and bring back the ordinance at an advertised public hearing.
(All Districts)
B. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid (“ITB”) No. 23-8118,
“Mulch and Installation Services,” to Superior Landscaping & Lawn
Service Inc., Southeast Spreading Company, LLC, and Forestry
Resources, LLC d/b/a The Mulch and Soil Company, as the primary,
secondary, and where applicable tertiary vendors as set forth herein,
and authorize the Chairman to sign the attached Agreements.
(Estimated annual spend $1,380,000 Landscape Fund 112). (All
Districts)
2) Recommendation that the Board approves and authorizes the
Chairman to sign a Collier County Landscape Maintenance
Agreement (“Agreement”) between Collier County and GS Naples
Owner, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Corporation, for
landscape, irrigation, and concrete paver improvements within the
Whitaker Road public right-of-way. (District 1)
3) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Consent
Order OGC Case No. 23-0738 to reach settlement of matters
associated with a stormwater ASR well (Class V) at Freedom Park.
(District 4)
4) Recommendation to approve the submittal of the FY23 Program of
Projects grant application to the Federal Transit Administration 49
U.S.C. § 5307/5339 FY23 for grant funds to support the transit system
capital and operating costs in the amount of $4,974,431 through the
Transit Award Management System, accept the award, and authorize
any necessary Budget Amendments. (All Districts)
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to increase Purchase Order No. 4500216574 issued
to Johnson Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $1,272,246.06 for the
"Old Lely Utilities Improvements" project, Task 2 plus full Public
Involvement for all design phases under Agreement No. 21-7881,
which amount is within the Board’s previously approved not to
exceed contract amount and authorize the necessary Budget.
Amendments (Project #60224). (All Districts)
D. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the
First Amendment between Collier County and the Collier County
Housing Authority, Community Development Block Grant
Agreement CD22-01 to increase the amount of the agreement from
$500,000 to $535,422.98, for a net change of $35,422.98. (Grant Fund
1835). (All Districts)
2) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact contract Amendment
between the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc., and
Collier County Services for Seniors Emergency Home Energy
Assistance Program FY23 funds to replace Attachments XIII-Invoice
Report Schedule, XIV-Income Guidelines, XV-Payment Matrix, and
XVII-EHEAP Application effective July 1, 2023. (Human Services
Grant Fund 1837). (All Districts)
3) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact amendment between the
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc., American Rescue
Plan Act funding under the Home-Based Community Services-
Enhanced Home Care for the Elderly grant program for the Collier
County Services for Seniors Program with revision to amend the term
of the contract, update Table 1 Deliverable Requirements, Table 2
Delivery Schedule, and Table 3 Payment Schedule. (Human Service
Grant Fund 1837). (All Districts)
4) Recommendation to authorize a Budget Amendment recognizing Park
and Recreation insurance claim #5004092111326 proceeds in the
amount of $12,990.04 within Park’s Capital Fund (3062), Project
#80371. (District 1)
5) Recommendation to approve after-the-fact agreements and attestation
statements with the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida,
Inc., Community Care for the Elderly, Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative,
and Home Care for the Elderly grant programs for Collier County’s
Services for Seniors Program and authorize a Budget Amendments in
the amount of $358,153 to ensure continuous funding for
FY2023/2024. (Human Service Grant Fund 1837). (All Districts)
6) Recommendation to award Invitation to Bid (“ITB”) No. 23-8094,
“Supply of Sand, Stone, and Clay for Parks Facilities,” to MJS Golf
Services, LLC, and authorize staff to open a standard County
Purchase Order based on the unit prices provided by the low bidder.
(All Districts)
7) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the
submittal of a five-year Sovereignty Submerged Lands Lease Renewal
with the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of
the State of Florida at Caxambas Park with an effective date of April
6, 2023. (District 1)
E. CORPORATE BUSINESS OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve modifications to the 2023 Fiscal Year
Pay & Classification Plan which consist of two new classifications
and the removal of one obsolete classification made from April 1,
2023, through June 30, 2023. (All Districts)
2) Recommendation to ratify Property, Casualty, Workers’
Compensation and Subrogation claim files settled and/or closed by the
Risk Management Division Director pursuant to Resolution # 2004-15
for the third quarter of FY 23. (All Districts)
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions, or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Adopted Budget. (The Budget
Amendments in the attached Resolution have been reviewed and
approved by the Board of County Commissioners via separate
Executive Summaries.) (All Districts)
2) Recommendation to award Request for Proposal (“RFP”) No. 23-
8129, “Management Services for Pelican Bay Services Division,” to
Dorrill Management Group, Inc., and authorize the Chairman to sign
the attached agreement. (District 2)
3) Recommendation to approve a Lease Agreement between Collier
County and Bigi & Bigi, LLC, for office space at Court Plaza to be
utilized by the Community and Human Services Division for the
housing assistance programs. (All Districts)
4) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute
Tourist Development Tax Grant Agreements for FY 2023-2024
Marketing Grants (Category B) ($74,648) and Non-County
Owned/Operated Museums (Category C-2) ($750,000), approve grant
award of funds in the amount of $824,648 for both programs
contingent upon FY 2024 budget availability, and make a finding that
these expenditures promote tourism. (All Districts)
5) Recommendation to recognize and appropriate revenue to Facilities
Management Division cost centers in the amount of $47,228 for Fiscal
Year 2023 and authorize all necessary Budget Amendments. (All
Districts)
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) Recommendation to award Construction Invitation to Bid (ITB) No.
23-8128, Fuel Farm Facility Upgrades at Marco Island Executive
Airport (“MKY”) and Immokalee Regional Airport (“IMM”), to
American Environmental Aviation, Inc., in the amount of
$1,695,131.81, and authorize the Chairman to sign the attached
Agreement. (District 1, District 5)
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) Recommendation to approve an Interlocal Agreement for Election
Services for the November 28, 2023, City of Everglades City General
Election.
2) Recommendation to approve the use of $1,000 from the Confiscated
Trust Funds to support the Florida Crime Prevention Association
Conference.
3) To record in the minutes of the Board of County Commissioners, the
check number (or other payment method), amount, payee, and
purpose for which the referenced disbursements were drawn for the
periods between July 13, 2023, and July 26, 2023, pursuant to Florida
Statute 136.06.
4) Request that the Board approve and determine valid public purpose
for invoices payable and purchasing card transactions as of August 2,
2023.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to nominate and appoint an at-large member to the
County Government Productivity Committee.
2) Recommendation to authorize application for tax deeds for five (5)
County-held tax certificates and the forwarding of a written notice to
proceed with tax deed applications to the Tax Collector.
3) Recommendation to appoint a member to the Tourist Development
Council.
L. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
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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.
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18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD’S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
August 8, 2023
Page 2
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Hi. Good morning, everybody.
AUDIENCE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: We're ready for another good
meeting here this morning.
All right. Let's get rolling.
MS. PATTERSON: All right. We're going to begin with the
invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Our invocation will be led by
Pastor Tim Reed, Fairway Bible Church.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: And, Maria, our county
photographer and videographer extraordinaire, will lead us in the
Pledge.
Item #1A
INVOCATION GIVEN BY PASTOR TIM REED FROM THE
FAIRWAY BIBLE CHURCH – INVOCATION GIVEN
PASTOR REED: Let's pray together.
Our great God and Heavenly Father, what a privilege it is to be
here this morning in your presence at the start of a new day to be able
to pray for our county and our councilmen and our community.
Father, this morning we seek your wisdom, your guidance.
Father, we ask that you would bring peace and harmony and
prosperity to our land. Father, we ask that you would teach us how
to live together with one another, Father, in your love.
And I thank you for these gentlemen, for their service to our
community and, God, I ask today that you would empower them with
your holy spirit, Father, that you would guide them in the decisions
that they need to make and, Father, most of all, we pray that we
would live in a land that honors you and, Father, seeks to obey your
August 8, 2023
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commandments and your holy word.
Lord, we just ask today that you would be glorified by
everything that happens in this meeting, and we'll give you all the
praise. In the name of our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, Pastor.
COMMISSIONER HALL: That was a nice prayer.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
Item #2A
APPROVAL OF TODAY’S REGULAR, CONSENT AND
SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED (EXPARTE DISCLOSURE
PROVIDED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR CONSENT
AGENDA.) – MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KOWAL –
APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED W/CHANGES
(COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, changes for the
August 8th, 2023, board meeting. We have one item. This is
moving Item 16F4 to 11G. This is a recommendation to approve
and authorize the Chairman to execute tourist development tax grant
agreements for FY'23/'24, marketing grants (Category B) ($74,648)
and noncounty-owned operated museums (Category C-2) ($750,000),
approve grant award of funds in the amount of $824,648 for both
programs contingent upon FY 2024 budget availability, and make a
finding these expenditures promote tourism. This is being moved to
the regular agenda at Commissioner Hall's request. Again, it
becomes Item 11G.
Court reporter breaks are scheduled for 10:30 and 2:50.
August 8, 2023
Page 4
With that, County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: No changes, ma'am.
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, changes to the agenda as well as ex
parte on the consent and summary.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Commissioner Kowal, do
you have any changes or any ex parte on consent or summary?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: No changes to the agenda, and I
have no disclosures for ex parte.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No changes; no ex parte.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Same.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Same for me, too. No
changes; no ex parte. Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: That moves us to Item -- or to Item 2A,
which is approval of today's regular, consent, and summary agenda as
amended, including ex parte.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So moved.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Moved and seconded. All
in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. It passes unanimously.
SEE REVERSE SIDE
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
August 8, 2023
Move item 16F4 to 11G: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Tourist
Development Tax Grant Agreements for FY 2023-2024 Marketing Grants (Category B) ($74,648) and Non-County
Owned/Operated Museums (Category C-2) ($750,000), approve grant award of funds in the amount of $824,648
for both programs contingent upon FY 2024 budget availability, and make a finding that these expenditures
promote tourism. (Commissioner Hall’s Request)
Notes:
TIME CERTAIN ITEMS:
10/11/2023 9:09 PM
August 8, 2023
Page 5
Item #2B
BCC REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 11, 2023 –
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Item 2B is approval of the July 11th, 2023,
Board meeting minutes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Do I have approval of the
minutes?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Move for approval.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Approval and a second. All in
favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously.
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP AWARD FOR ODOR CONTROL BY THE AIR
QUALITY COMMITTEE-FLORIDA WATER ENVIRONMENT
ASSOCIATION. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN IN RECOGNITION OF
HAVING A COMPREHENSIVESTRATEGY FOR ODOR
CONTROL PROGRAMS, PROVIDING GOOD
August 8, 2023
Page 6
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY AND WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS,
REDUCTION OF POLLUTANT LEVELS AND OUTLET
POLLUTANT LEVELS, AND THE UTILITY BEING
POSITIONED AS A GOOD STEWARD OF FINANCIAL AND
PERSONNEL RESOURCES. ACCEPTED BY ROBERT VON
HOLLE, PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT DIVISION
DIRECTOR WASTEWATER – PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to Item 5. Item 5A is a
presentation of the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award for odor
control by the Air Quality Committee - Florida Water Environment
Association. This award is given in recognition of having a
comprehensive strategy for odor control programs, providing good
environmental stewardship within the community and with other
stakeholders, reduction of pollutant levels and outlet pollutant levels,
and the utility being positioned as a good steward of financial and
personnel resources. To be accepted by Robert VonHolle, Public
Utilities Department Division Director, Wastewater.
Congratulations.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: See, now, that's a plaque, right?
Huh?
Here we go. We get another photo here.
(Applause.)
MS. PATTERSON: Hi, Tom.
Item #7
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA
August 8, 2023
Page 7
MS PATTERSON: Item 7 is public comments on general
topics not on the current or future agenda. Welcoming Tom over
there in Troy's desk. Hi, Tom.
MR. EBLE: Thank you. Good morning.
MS. PATTERSON: Good morning.
MR. EBLE: No speakers at this time.
MS. PATTERSON: How did you get away with that?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: How does that happen? Wait a
second.
MR. EBLE: Lucky day.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Did you get trained by Troy
properly? What's going on over there? See, people fill out a form;
they come to the podium. Wait a minute.
Okay. Moving right along.
MS. PATTERSON: Moving on. That brings us to Item 11,
County Manager's --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Wait a second. Wait a
second.
MR. BEYRENT: This is my comment. I couldn't get up here
in time. I got stuck, but this is --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Wait. We go to the podium. Go
to the podium. Microphone. Let's do this right.
MR. BEYRENT: For the record, Garrett F.X. Beyrent.
I was digging through my files on Letters to the Editor, and this
is an interesting one, because I sat through three hours of the
Oppenheimer movie the other day. And I said, everybody comes up
with formulas in their life that they want to live by, and they don't
always work.
But I actually have the Letter of the Day. I found it in my
voluminous file. The date of the letter is May the 6th, 1999, and it's
August 8, 2023
Page 8
Letters to the Editor. I'll just read it to you.
Letter of the Day: "Beyond Rocket Science" is the title of what
I call this thing. Okay. The editor of Naples Daily News: While
Einstein's theory was relative to the explosive era we call the 20th
Century, it appears that given the recent school slaughters and
millennium will be ushering in a new theory of relativity.
And the formula -- this is the formula I came up with. The
formula is as follows: K plus G times VM minus P equals D, and
that is, kids plus guns multiplied by violence, and now cell phones,
and movies, minus parents, equals death. Adding the P, however,
that's the parent, will radically alter this formula and could even
defuse this reaction. Signed by me on this wonderful day of May the
6th, 1999.
See, so always save your paperwork. You never know when
you're going to be using it in the future or agonize yourself -- if
you're not really into that movie -- it's a very long movie, and you
have to follow it very closely, but it will teach you one thing:
Everybody together can do good things or they can do really bad
things. So we've got to do good things for our kids and
grandchildren, the people that are going to have this earth, you know,
to live on in the future.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
Added
ARTIST OF THE MONTH – BORIS DEIRY AT THE BORDER
FINE ART GALLERY IN THE NAPLES ART DISTRICT
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, before we move on to
Item 11, I just wanted to point to the continuation for the Artist of the
August 8, 2023
Page 9
Month. This was beginning in July, showcasing the work of Boris
Deiry. He's a local artist that shows his art at the Border Fine Art
Gallery in the Naples Art District.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you.
Item #11A
AWARD INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”) NO. 23-8114, “CARSON
TOAD STORMWATER TREATMENT AREA” TO QUALITY
ENTERPRISES USA, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,865,783.20,
AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS,
AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGNE THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NO. 60143) – MOTION
TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER KOWAL – APPROVED (COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: All right. Moving on to Item 11.
Item 11A is a recommendation to award Invitation to Bid
No. 23-8114, Carson Road stormwater treatment area, to Quality
Enterprises USA, Inc., in the amount $5,865,783.20, authorize the
necessary budget amendments, and authorize the Chairman to sign
the attached agreement.
Ms. Trinity Scott, your department head from Transportation
Management Services, is here to present or answer questions.
Trinity.
MS. SCOTT: I have a very brief presentation if you would like
that; otherwise, we are seeking your approval of our contract today.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Are you adding to our art in the
back? I see something on your desk.
MS. SCOTT: Of course I am. My smiling face adds to the art.
August 8, 2023
Page 10
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: You're the Artist of the Day?
MS. SCOTT: Yes. There you go.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll make a motion for
approval.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I have a motion for
approval. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I've got a motion for approval and
a second. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously.
MS. SCOTT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thanks for all the background
information on this one ahead of time. Thank you.
Item #11B
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, EX-OFFICIO THE
GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-
SEWER DISTRICT, AWARD CONSTRUCTION INVITATION
TO BID (“ITB”) NO. 23-8115, “GOLDEN GATE CITY
TRANSMISSION WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS – PHASE 1,”
TO METRO EQUIPMENT SERVICE, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF
$13,983,979.70, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN
THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT #70253, #70243,
#51029) – MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
August 8, 2023
Page 11
KOWAL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL –
APPROVED (COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: Item 11B is a recommendation that the
Board of County Commissioners, ex-officio the governing board of
the Collier County Water/Sewer District, award Construction
Invitation to Bid No. 23-8115, Golden Gate City transmission water
main improvements, Phase 1B, to Metro Equipment Service, Inc., in
the amount of $13,983,979.70, and authorize the Chairman to sign
the attached agreement.
Mr. Matt McLean, Public Utilities Engineering and Project
Management Division Director, is here to present or answer
questions.
Matt.
MR. McLEAN: Matt McLean, division director for Collier
County Public Utilities. We also have a brief presentation that was
included in the agenda item, but we're happy to answer questions;
whatever's the pleasure of the Board.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Anybody have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I'll just preface this by saying, you
know, you never know what citizen might be watching first. We're
not here approving $13 million projects in 10 seconds here. These
are presentations that we've taken over a long period of time, a lot of
deep-dive information that comes to us prior to this meeting, and so
this is the final step for approval. If you're watching for the first
time, and it's not -- it's not your county government, you know,
passing million-dollar contracts in 30 seconds. It's an awful lot of
work.
And I just want to say thank you to you and your staff, similar to
Ms. Scott, for how much background and answering all of our
August 8, 2023
Page 12
questions previously to get to this point.
So I don't have any particular questions. Any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Do I have a motion for approval?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: We have a motion. A second?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I've got a motion and a
second. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously. Thank you,
sir.
MR. McLEAN: Thank you.
Item #11C
BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT DIVISION IN THE AMOUNT OF $490,000
REALIGNING EXISTING DIVISION BUDGET TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR REQUIREMENTS THROUGH
THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR – MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED (COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: Item 11C is a recommendation to
August 8, 2023
Page 13
authorize budget amendments for the Facilities Management Division
in the amount of $490,000 realigning existing division budget to
support maintenance and repair requirements through the end of the
fiscal year.
Mr. John McCormick, your director of Facilities Management,
is here to present.
MR. McCORMICK: Thank you, Ms. Patterson.
Good morning, Chair, Commissioners. For the record, I'm John
McCormick, interim director for Facilities.
I do have a brief presentation, four slides, for some background
on this requested budget amendment.
Again, budget amendment for maintenance operating. That's
the crux of this amendment. Objective: Authorize 490,000
realigning the existing division budget to support the maintenance
and repair needs until the end of the fiscal year.
A couple bullet points. This action is contained within the
existing Facility Management budget. No new fiscal impact. Fairly
routine realignment, and also the budget amendment allows us to use
the funds budgeted originally to personnel, move them into operating.
There's a detail there that you might have seen on the executive
summary. The main culprit probably was the contract labor. Our
inability to fill positions made us contract out of the operating,
leaving money that I'd like to transfer today.
So that's the staff's recommendation is to allow us to do just that.
That will fund us through this fiscal year through some probably very
wet and very hot final few months. So I'd appreciate your
consideration.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Motion.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I've got a motion to
approve from Commissioner McDaniel. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
August 8, 2023
Page 14
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Second from Commissioner Hall.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously.
MR. McCORMICK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, sir.
Item #11D
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO RE-ALLOCATE PARKS
CAPITAL FUND (3062) PROJECT DOLLARS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $650,000 TO COMMUNITY PARKS COST CENTERS
WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA GENERAL FUND
(1011) TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS THROUGH THE END OF
THE FISCAL YEAR – MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HALL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KOWAL – APPROVED
(COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: Item 11D is a recommendation to approve
budget amendments to reallocate Parks Capital Fund project dollars
in the amount of $650,000 to Community Parks cost centers within
the Unincorporated Area General Fund to support operations through
the end of the fiscal year.
Mr. Jeff Weir, your director for Operations Support for the
Public Services Department, is here to present.
MR. WEIR: Commissioners, good morning.
August 8, 2023
Page 15
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Mr. Weir.
MR. WEIR: For the record, Jeff Weir, director of Operations
Support for Public Services.
We actually have two budget amendments/requests here,
following in with what Mr. McCormick was saying, to reallocate
some existing funds within the Public Services Department budget to
support operating expenses through the remainder of the fiscal year.
I'm happy to answer any questions. We do also have a short
presentation if you'd like me to run through that or if you have any
questions --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No questions.
MR. WEIR: -- myself or Tanya are here.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Just Parks and also DAS, right, so
we're doing 11D and E.
MR. WEIR: 11D and 11E, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Let's take this one
individually. Anybody have any questions on 11D?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Do I have a motion to
approve?
COMMISSIONER HALL: So move.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Motion by Commissioner
Hall. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I've got a second by Commissioner
Kowal. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
August 8, 2023
Page 16
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. 11D passes unanimously.
Item #11E
BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES
(DAS) UTILIZING $200,000 FROM DAS DONATION FUND
RESERVES AND REALIGNING EXISTING PUBLIC SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGETS, IN THE AMOUND OF
$450,000, TO SUPPORT DAS OPERATING EXPENSE
REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR
– MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER KOWAL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
(COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: On 11E, any questions on Domestic
Animal Services, their budget?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Do I have a motion to
approve?
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Motion.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Motion to approve by
Commissioner Kowal. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Second by Commissioner Hall.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
August 8, 2023
Page 17
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously.
Thank you, sir.
MR. WEIR: Gentlemen, thank you.
Item #11F
A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE FY 2024 UNFUNDED
REQUEST LIST AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AS WE MOVE
TOWARD THE SEPTEMBER PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS –
DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item
11F. This is a recommendation to hear a presentation regarding the
FY 2024 unfunded request list and provide guidance as we move
towards the September public budget hearings.
Mr. Chris Johnson, your director of the Office of the
Management and Budget, is here to present.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Ms. Patterson.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. For the record,
Chris Johnson, your director of OMB.
As Ms. Patterson stated, we are here today to further discuss the
2024 unfunded request list. I have a medium presentation if you'd
like us to go through it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I'd like to hear it. I mean, I think
we all would.
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Bear with me here a second.
All right. So for today's discussion, I'm going to first kind of go
back and discuss the changes from the June to July taxable value
within the General Fund and the Unincorporated General Fund, and
then we'll get into the unfunded request list, or the UFR list, as it's
August 8, 2023
Page 18
known by staff.
Moving on to the General Fund taxable value. Taxable value
rose .74 percent from June, resulting in an increased tax levy of about
$3.6 million and a net increase to the budget of $3.4 million from the
budget you saw in June at your workshop.
After -- I'm sorry. Funding in the amount of $2.9 million was
placed into the countywide capital reserve restoring reserve fund
balance for next year to $24.1 million. As a reminder, this year we
utilized $35 million of that reserve to recover from Hurricane Ian.
In addition, there was $33,500 allocated to the TIF funds and
$464,000 utilized for the constitutional officer transfers, and that's
related to the taxable value and the taxes as well. And then $12,000
were added to our contingency reserve within the general fund.
Moving on to the unincorporated general fund. July taxable
value rose .44 percent from June, resulting in an increase of
$307,000, and a net increase to the budget of 291,000 after taking
into account the required 5 percent revenue reserve. Funding in the
amount of $280,000 was added to the captain reserves, TIF funding
increased by $3,900, and the transfers to the Property Appraiser and
Tax Collector rose by $7,100.
Any questions on that incremental increase since June?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Well, then I'll go ahead and move on to the
main event here, our unfunded request list.
Let me put this into -- all right. This slide should be familiar.
It was included in your agenda packet. It depicts the summary of
our current unfunded request list which totals $10.7 million with the
inclusion of the West Goodlette project at 8.4.
We do have updates on this project, and Ms. Scott will get to
that in a little bit. Before we get there, we have a few slides
breaking down each of the other items making up the remaining
August 8, 2023
Page 19
$2.3 million.
So I'll go ahead and start with the top one. This is GMD, and
this list is related to planning studies and GMP amendments. This
request consists of fundings for four studies and two GMP
amendments totaling $600,000. I can run through it real quick for
you. If you need additional information, Jamie's in the back there to
answer any questions that I may not be able to answer.
But we'll just start at the top. There's a funding request for
$150,000 for East of 951 Horizon Study; a funding request for
100- for Vander -- I'm sorry -- for Randall Boulevard and Oil Well
corridor study; a funding request of $100,000 for Conservation and
Coastal Management Element, or the CCME; rural fringe use [sic]
district, or RFMUD, in the amount of $100,000; a funding request for
$100,000 for the Hussey/Wilson Boulevard study; and $50,000 for a
Sending Lands East study.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Just hold on for one second here.
Tom, so I have commissioners that are all lit up here, but I'm
seeing nothing on the screen here telling me who's lit up on the iPad
that I have up here, so I don't know who to -- let's just get this sorted
out.
MR. JOHNSON: No problem.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But I know -- Commissioner
McDaniel, I know you lit up.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Right now I'm the
only one.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. Just so we don't have any
distraction, let Tom take -- perfect.
Sir, the floor is yours.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'd like to maybe have Jamie
come up and go through these. You know, I think it's important for
us to have a discussion about "have to do" and "want to do" with all
August 8, 2023
Page 20
of these unfunded requests. What do we have to do? I mean, as
Jamie's coming to the podium, I'm looking -- you know, I was the one
that initiated the East of 951 Horizon Study 2.0, and there's a
budgeted amount on the top line of this of 150,000.
And be it that I served as the chair of the original East of 951
Horizon Study Committee, I know we spent close to $50,000 in the
two years that I was the chair of that committee, but that was
the -- tell me when you're ready -- but that was the original premise
of establishment of the CIGM, the Collier Interactive Growth Model,
that we currently use today for population estimations of disbursal
and so on and so forth.
So one of the -- just starting at the top, I would -- I would make
a suggestion that we drop that from 150- to 50- in its entirety and
then reallocate next year if it's requisite. We haven't even started
this committee off yet. And come what may with regard to the
necessary expenditures to be able to accommodate those folks and get
the questions answered that may, in fact, arise as this -- as this
committee moves through its study. So that's No. 1.
Going through the balance of these -- Jamie, you and I talked
about this yesterday, so -- and, again, these things don't happen in a
vacuum. Of the rest of what's here, what's "have to do" and what's
"want to do"?
MR. FRENCH: Good morning, Commissioners. For the
record, Jamie French, department head for Growth Management and
Community Development.
Commissioners, the only absolutely required study that needs to
happen is your CCME, and that's tied directly back to the State of
Florida. It is a State requirement. We have already identified with
the state that we have started that. That will be through Chris Mason
and Michael Bosi's shop. That is tied back to resiliency efforts that
the State of Florida has recognized that looks at our long-range
August 8, 2023
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planning efforts.
With regards to your East of 951 Study, Commissioner -- and I
just talked to Chris briefly -- if we wanted to break that down, we
know that's going to be a two- to three-year study anyway. So if the
Board wanted to set aside $50,000 a year within -- now, again, these
are ballparks based of what we know.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Correct.
MR. FRENCH: And this is not because we don't have staff.
It's simply that, as these studies arise, based off board direction or
state requirements, we have found that rather than having a staff
member on board with us for years and years and years and, you
know, using that amount of pay, it is less costly and we get -- many
times we're required to have a third party anyway. So, nonetheless,
we could break that down.
And, by the way, Commissioner, we have started off. We've
got meetings coming up with the community for the East of 951
Study. So staff has already started that.
The Randall study, that is a collaboration of that Randall Curve
area to include where Oil Well and Wilson Boulevard, that section of
commercial property or -- and even some of those areas that are
within the Golden Gate area master plan area that are Estates
properties, we've got developers that are currently going through the
process right now.
And, quite honestly, I don't know what that study would look
like only because by the time we would even get a study started, we
could very well already have planning items scheduled to come
before you anyway. So that private property owner would have
already engaged with a planning firm to show you why it makes
sense for them to either convert that property or to identify a use that
that community may need based off their own independent study.
The Growth Management Plan amendment for the Rural Fringe
August 8, 2023
Page 22
Mixed-Use District area, that is scheduled to be heard in April of
2024, and the study would begin one year from that adoption.
So, again, Commissioners, if you'd like to delay that into next
year, that's something that -- there is nothing on this list outside of the
CCME that absolutely has to be done.
So Wilson -- the Hussey/Wilson Boulevard rezone Comp Plan,
there may be an opportunity; for any of the landowners that are in
there, they may participate to kind of offset County costs. Again, we
are very much in the infancy of this, but these were all studies that
were directed by the Board that you asked us to go into that we are
scheduled to, but it is going to be contingent upon available funding.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Let me say I like how
Commissioner McDaniel started this off saying, "have to dos", you
know, "want to dos". But, I mean, as people come forward, I think
the other sort of the nuance in the middle is, "should do" or "smart to
do". So, you know, it's one thing to say, you know, "have to" or "we
want." But in the middle there is, hey, maybe we don't have to do it,
but I want to hear from County staff that come up here and say, yeah,
we could push it off for a year, but we're not recommending that.
And so I'm not putting words in your mouth, but as we go
through this in great detail, I think all of us also want to hear the
County staff that has done a deep dive, don't let us pass something
that maybe isn't a "have to do" but it's kind of a "should do," because
we don't want to pass on problems to, you know, our replacements
down the road or to ourselves in a year and then say, oh, gosh, you
know, that was a short conversation, and we thought we were doing
the right thing, but we didn't do a deep enough drill down.
So we got through this agenda fairly quickly to this point, but
this is the meat on the bone for today. And so I really want, you
know, staff -- that if there is something that you sit here and go, wow,
you know, commissioners can do whatever they want but, you know,
August 8, 2023
Page 23
they just stepped in it on this one or we wish they would
have -- nobody be shy today when we're talking about this because
these are big dollars but, more importantly, some of these projects
maybe shouldn't wait. Maybe they should be "should dos" or, you
know, "can't afford to not do it" type of thing.
So, you know, that's the feedback that I'm looking for as we go
through this. It's not about just sort of doing line-item vetoes and
going, oh, look how much money we saved or saying yes to all of
these but maybe, you know, in some areas it wasn't the smartest
move.
But having said that, Commissioner McDaniel's lit up. Go
ahead, sir. Then we have public comment, too, on this particular
thing, so we'll get to that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do we?
You know -- and for all of us to give consideration to -- you
know, we have -- we have expended -- in my tenure we've expended
a lot of taxpayer money in acquisition of land. We bought the
Hussey piece for 10 million before you came along. We bought the
Camp Keais piece for, my brain, 12-plus million. We have bought
the Golden Gate Golf Course for 28 million.
And what's the first thing you have to do when you buy a piece
of property in the private sector? You have to zone it. If you're
going to have any kind of rate of return, you have to -- you have to
perform the zoning.
And I've been dismayed because we acquired these pieces of
property and really didn't put plans in place to actually rezone them
to effectuate any kind of a rate of turn. There were obviously good
intentions in the acquisitions, but we haven't done anything to
effectuate the utilization of these assets and the expenditure of our
taxpayers' money.
So my thoughts are, I would like for us to appropriate some
August 8, 2023
Page 24
money for that zoning initiative. I know we're short staffed. We
can't get people -- we can't get done some of the things that we have
to do within the -- within the Planning and Zoning Department, but I
would really like for us to -- I see that you've got -- excuse me -- that
you've got the Hussey/Wilson Boulevard extension planning
initiative on this study, but I'd like to see that go forward.
I think I concur with you that the Randall Boulevard/Oil Well
corridor, that area should and could be left up to the private sector. I
don't want to get into a position where we're making amendments on
a spot basis with regard to the rezone for the Comp
Plan -- Comprehensive Growth Management Plan amendment
process. And if you think we should initiate that in its entirety, then
that's what -- then that's what we should do, and not necessarily leave
it up just solely to the private sector and/or exploration of
private/public partnerships with regards to those expenditures
because of the adaptation to the Golden Gate Master Plan.
But just in short, you know, I'm making -- I'm making notes
here, and I've got -- I've got -- I've appropriated 50,000 for the
initiation of the East of 951 Horizon Study. I've appropriated
100,000 for the Conservation and Coastal Management, the CCME,
and then -- and then some -- you know, there again, discussion with
regard to the Hussey/Wilson Boulevard corridor. I really think
that -- you know, because there's -- that's lands that are all out in the
North Belle Meade, and we have several things going on. That's all
of that land basically east of the landfill that we've been talking about
for quite some time. Some I'm thinking if we leave that in as far as
an initiative goes, we can peel that 600- back to 250-, more than
50 percent, and still get along.
MR. FRENCH: Commissioners, again, these were all Board
directed other than the 100,000. So we can peel it back to 100-.
And we certainly recognize that $600,000 of taxpayer money is real
August 8, 2023
Page 25
money, although in the grand scheme of things, it's short money
compared to what you're up against overall for your budget; however,
we've got a $100,000 commitment to the State that we absolutely
have to do.
The only other one that we have on there, outside of this Wilson
Boulevard -- and so we're looking at future planning. And, again,
this does account for county-owned lands.
And, Commissioner, you and I spoke about this yesterday. I'm
so appreciative of your comments, because you're absolutely right, is
that when the Board comes forward to purchase a --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can you hold on? Did you
write that down, Terri? Did you get that?
COMMISSIONER HALL: I got it. I got it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay, okay. As long as it
made the record.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Terri, strike that from the record.
MR. FRENCH: We wholeheartedly agree with you. And I
know Ms. Cook is back at the office, as Mr. Bosi is, because we're
actually getting work done today over your summer months while we
don't have land-use items. But the thing is is that when the Board
allocates dollars and they purchase properties, there's not a great deal
of consideration that your regulatory or even your future land use and
resiliency staff has looked at as what allocations or what
considerations have been made for soil testing, from environmental
concerns and, yes, sir, planning and zoning. What do you want to do
with the land?
Because that would require -- much like the private sector, it's
going to require the engaging of a consultant. As your regulatory
body, we can give good guidance. I just can't make the submittal
and review my own work. That would be unlawful, and we wouldn't
suggest that. But we could always give good guidance.
August 8, 2023
Page 26
Nonetheless, there is one more on there for the planning study
on the Sending Lands east of the landfill. Now, again, that's
$50,000, and we've already started this study, but what it is is that
you've got a handful of businesses that have existed for a number of
years. Probably they created some of their own problems. It is
an -- it's an area that is -- that is not very well known of. There's one
in there that's got a conditional use. A few of the other ones do not.
And so these are job creators. These are people that, quite
honestly, for the type of work they have, this is the only land they
could find that's out by the -- out by the landfill to be able to operate
that type of business but, unfortunately, there's residences, large lots
that are out there in that area, so we're talking trucking companies,
fencing companies, things like that, mulching companies that exist
out there and have existed for years that we're trying to address some
of the code enforcement issues out there by looking at how do we
make the best of this particular property and bring it back to the
Board for consideration.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So that planning study wouldn't be
one that would be maybe smart to just remove. It's -- like you said,
it's already in play. You just outlined the specifics of it. It seems
like that, you know --
MR. FRENCH: I just need the money to pay for the study.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MR. FRENCH: However, the Board could take a position to
say, look, we're going to put a stay on enforcement, and I would defer
to the County Attorney's Office for guidance on that. But, again, it's
$50,000. And I get it. As I told the Commissioner, sometimes I'll
take a nickel over a dollar every day just to be able to save a few
bucks. But in this particular case, there is nothing but -- that's a code
enforcement issue that we're just trying to address.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So, necessarily, then we
August 8, 2023
Page 27
could go -- I said 250- earlier, but we could peel this back to
300- plus/minus and still be able to get done what we should -- as you
adeptly said, what we should take care of.
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir. As I said, I appreciate your remarks
here today. We've taken good notes, I know, back at the office, and
we'll rely on the Board guidance. But, again, the only thing that we
have on here that absolutely has to be done is the CCME.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: In that algorithm, your example of
taking the 150- and the planning study, and you said, oh, we could
break that up into three chunks. So part of that, if it came out to
300-, it would include 50,000 of this 150- so that we are moving
forward on these planning studies but we're not allocating all the
money up front, which really isn't a requirement. Like you said, we
could break it up in smaller chunks. It might be more responsible
that way.
MR. FRENCH: We would only ask the Board, perhaps -- if we
were brave enough, maybe Mr. Finn would remind the Board that
when you break it up like that, it is going to take a little bit more
time. It's not something that we get done within a year, simply
because the cost. And it's going to take a little bit more work on our
side on the purchase order. But, Commissioner, it could probably be
done to where you take a one-year study and you break it up --
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Would it be worth doing that if
you weigh the extra time, the extra work? I mean, because I look at
these numbers as it's an investment in something. And so it's great,
you know, to pat ourselves on the back and say, oh, you know, we
trimmed this here and we trimmed this here. And we're not trying to
do that arbitrarily, and we want to make sure we're not doing that.
So that's where we look for your guidance and say, you know,
hey, if we trim this a little bit here, just remember, it's like -- you
August 8, 2023
Page 28
know, we use this example many times in here. It's like the balloon.
We squeeze it on one end and the other side pops out. If the other
side's popping out, let us know, because this is real money here.
But, you know, we sit here -- we could talk for three hours over
$50,000, and in the end, we could pat ourselves on the back, and the
staff could walk out of the room and say, God, that was stupid. It
just -- you know, the balloon popped out on the other side much
bigger, and we probably shouldn't have done that.
So when you say that it would change the timeline --
MR. FRENCH: That's right.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- work level, and all that, is it
worth the investment to do that, to break this up into pieces to make
the bottom total smaller, but maybe we've worsened our own
situation in some other areas that wasn't worth this minimal cut?
MR. FRENCH: Sir, I believe the study's going to take longer
than a year anyway, and so --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
MR. FRENCH: -- if the Board elects to go, you know, let's say
18 months to two years, it's not unconscionable to think that a
planning study can take three years.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Absolutely.
MR. FRENCH: So if this is long-range planning for those
properties and what the community wants to look like going
forward -- and that may give you additional time. We may see
market trend changes. We may see different changes in the
legislation. And, again, it's not like we set aside the $150,000, and
it's spent. The contract is expended based off the services received.
So if the Board's desire is to break this out over a two-and-a-half
year within that three-year fiscal -- those three-year fiscal years, let's
say, pardon me, we're fine with that.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Because the extra time could be an
August 8, 2023
Page 29
advantage, like you said.
MR. FRENCH: It could very well be an advantage.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And the simple question is,
from a -- from a contractual standpoint, we have to be careful
sometimes of entering into a contract obligating us to pay for
something when the money's not necessarily budgeted. And so I
don't want to put us in a pickle in that regard either.
So, as Commissioner LoCastro said, it does elongate things
sometimes, but I think certainly making that adjustment to the
300,000 amount will reduce this amount in this particular request and
start the process. And then most all these studies are going to last
well into next year's budget cycle where we can have continuing
discussions.
We talked yesterday about other avenues, other acquisitions,
other places where money can, in fact, come from to reimburse the
taxpayers for expenditure and so on. So I think I'd be -- I'd be okay
with moving it from the 600- to the 3- and accomplishing what we've
talked about today.
MR. FRENCH: So just so we're clear back at the shop and here
with us today, we'll take that planning study, we'll reduce it down to
$50,000 on the East of 951. We'll -- based off Board guidance going
forward, we'll plan on bringing $50,000 a year over the next three
fiscal years.
The Randall Boulevard/Oil Well Road, we'll shelve that for
now, and let's see how the private sector behaves with those
privately-owned properties.
The CCME, we know that needs to go forward. We can revisit
the costs on the Rural Fringe Mixed-Use District area. Again, that is
something -- if we can get that cost down, we will.
The Hussey/Wilson Boulevard, we'll work with our planning
August 8, 2023
Page 30
staff or, I'm sorry, our Real Property staff as well as Transportation
staff to find out if there's any monies we can cut off of that.
But we'll get this number down to 300- so long as we can
address the CCME. And I'll look at the planning study back
with -- we've got Johnson Engineering working on that one for the
Sending Lands east of the landfill, and perhaps have conversations
with the property owners that are impacted to see if they may want to
contribute.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, we've got a public comment.
Is it on this exact topic?
MR. EBLE: Yes, sir, 11F.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Yeah, let's hear from the
public.
MR. EBLE: We have one registered speaker, William Dwight.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: This isn't on this specific
item. William's here for the museums.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aren't you?
MR. DWIGHT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Not yet, then, right?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, not yet.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Not yet.
MR. DWIGHT: I didn't think so.
MR. FRENCH: We're good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We're good.
MR. FRENCH: Thank you, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, Mr. French.
MR. JOHNSON: All right, Commissioners. That moves us on
to our Public Services request, unfunded request.
I just want to preface this one. You saw two budget
amendments already today that you guys just approved for DAS and
August 8, 2023
Page 31
Parks, and last meeting we went through kind of how we calculate
our compliance. With these requests, a lot of these have come out of
meeting that compliance and then not having the required funding to
move on to these -- to fund these other items and also just historically
underfunded areas within the county.
So I'll move on to the Parks maintenance request here for
520,000. This request includes tree trimming, fertilizer, pesticides,
electrical maintenance, irrigation repairs, and mulching. And if you
have any questions on this, Ms. Williams is available to go into
further detail.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So, I mean, the reason why this is
on the unfunded list, in a nutshell, is because we've -- we estimated a
lower cost than what actual services require? We're short 520- to do
all of these things based on what we estimated we would need,
correct?
MR. JOHNSON: It's kind of two-part. When we went into the
budget -- when you guys approved your budget policy, we had a 4.25
percent increase for the departments. To meet that compliance, they
had -- they had to look at their budgets, dive into them, and kind of
see what -- we have to keep the doors open. We have to do certain
things. What's going to fall out while still meeting that compliance?
These are some of those items that fell out of the requested budget.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Ms. Williams, do you have
anything that you wanted to add?
MS. WILLIAMS: Good morning. For the record, Tanya
Williams, Public Services Department Head.
Just to add a little bit more granularity to that. It is true, in
maintaining the parks and facilities across your system, we had to
absorb increased utility costs, increased water and sewer costs, and
that -- unfortunately, in order to keep those lights on and the water
flowing, it impacted these other services.
August 8, 2023
Page 32
To Chris' point as well, historically we have been underfunded
in certain areas, and we worked -- Parks worked a business model
that's just not sustainable. They may do with whatever money they
were given. Now, that may not mean that that's enough money to
cover all the fertilizers and pesticides needed. They may do with
what they were given, and we're just being completely transparent
and open to the Board as to maintain 71 park systems -- or parks
across your system. It takes a little bit more money than what we're
generally funded with.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I mean, I'll just open it up with
some comment, and then I'll see who lights up here. I mean, I'm not
here to cut park maintenance. And, in fact, I'm so proud of our
Parks and Recreation team for how they maintain, like you say, the
plethora of parks across the county.
If you really watch what's going on, you lose a lot of mulch
during the rainy season when we have big storms. How do I know?
Because I'm replacing mulch all the time in my little piece of
paradise, so I can only imagine what happens at Parks and Rec.
Fertilizer and pesticides, we've talked a lot about using better
things, more environmentally sensitive type things, and those are
never cheaper, so I know that's a big part of it. And we've fallen
behind on some things that you guys are really doing a great job on
catching up on, whether it's tree trimming or, you know, other quality
repairs, maintenance, and electrical. I mean, all of our emails blew
up over the last few hours that we have a park in Golden Gate that
was having some pool issues.
You know, when one little thing goes down, one little lightbulb
is burned out on a tennis court, you know, mulch is all poured out
into the parking lot, we hear about it, and we should. And I think
every commissioner up here takes great pride in our parks and how
they look.
August 8, 2023
Page 33
And so, you know, I fully trust our staff and how they spend the
money and how you stretch a dollar. I've seen you-all do it in action.
So I wouldn't begin to know or to even have any kind of
evidence or support to trim anything on here. I want to see our parks
fully funded, and I want to see them look to the best of their ability,
and I think that's what you guys do every day.
So I don't know if any of the other commissioners have a
comment, but this isn't one I want to line-item veto or pick apart just
for the sake of doing it. If I had some info -- and we've talked a lot.
And if I thought, you know, I think we could do this, that, or the
other, well, you would already know it, too, because we all speak so
much to our Parks and Recreation team.
But, I think, you know, you guys have sharpened your pencil.
And I wouldn't be surprised if, you know, down the road you need
additional funds. You know, we have another hurricane that comes
through here, and then all of a sudden Parks and Recreation are some
of the first people sitting here at our podium.
So I don't want to peel back the onion to save nickels and dimes
only to put ourselves in a little bit of a deeper hole. I mean, let's use
this money wisely. Let's get these things done, and then let's see a
difference. You know, I mean, if we're going to spend a quarter of a
million dollars on tree trimming, you should be able to drive by most
parks and see trees being trimmed. You know, this shouldn't be
something in a vacuum, and I know we would.
Do I have any commissioners that have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So I'm going to make a motion to
fully fund this. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Do you want motions
on these things individually, or how do you want to go with this?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: We don't need to?
August 8, 2023
Page 34
MS. PATTERSON: I don't believe so. I think we can take
your guidance, because we're going to be coming back to you in
September for the budget, so...
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay, okay.
MS. PATTERSON: Similarly, Mr. French will go back and
work with the budget office to work on those items. We'll continue
on through the list that way.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Anybody have an
objection to moving forward?
COMMISSIONER HALL: So just leave the request like it is?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I agree.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And just as a -- as a note, you
know, our parks are the front face for our community when people
come to visit, our residents, and the maintenance of those is
imperative.
MS. WILLIAMS: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Chairman.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you.
Oh, wait. Commissioner Hall. I saw him light up last minute.
Go ahead, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I just wanted to let you know I
appreciate this conversation because, you know, Commissioner
Kowal and I are new, and this is the first time that we're having these
conversations. But I like the way that it's flowing. I like the fact
that we're looking at things that we need to do and things that
we -- you know, that we can put off. I appreciate staff coming
forward saying these are things that we have to live -- we can't live
without these.
And as far as the dollar amounts, yeah, we're looking at smaller
dollar amounts, but the Bible says if you're faithful in the little, you
August 8, 2023
Page 35
can rule the much.
So I don't think that there's any amount that's too small not to be
diligent with. I just want to go on record as saying that because
that's -- I think each one of us has that same mentality. We can save
13 million, or we can save $13, and it's relatively the same.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. And I would add to this
group and to you, Ms. Williams, and to the gentleman behind you
and also to the large staff that you're here representing, it goes
without saying, when this money is approved, don't waste it. How
many times do we sit in this room where a contractor has said -- and
I'll just use this as a hypothetical example -- yeah, I'll trim all your
trees for 250,000, and then we're all proud of approving that and then,
what is it? A month later someone comes in here, oh, we got
unfunded -- you know, there's an additional thing and, you know, the
contractor didn't count the trees correctly and we need another
300,000.
And, you know, let's make sure we're not doing that. Let's
make sure we're buying mulch from the people who sell it to us at a
fair price, at a competitive price. There's so many people out there
begging for business, and the beauty of the County is we pay our
bills. So when you sell us something, you're going to get paid. You
can't say that sometimes when you work with these out-of-town
contractors and whatnot.
So we sit here. We've got a half a million dollars on a lot of
things that this -- a lot of this is contractual work. You know, please
make sure we're getting the best bang for our buck. And then, you
know -- and then you have -- you have total credibility when you
come back here. And I'm not just speaking to Parks and Recreation,
but you have total credibility when you come back in here and say,
you know, we did all that but we shorted 100,000 because we had a
Hurricane Ian or we had this or we had that.
August 8, 2023
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But, you know, these things on here, let's, you know, make sure
we're going with really strong contractors in the areas where we're
spending this money and that we're getting value, because this
is -- I've said before, this isn't county money. This is taxpayer
dollars. And so, you know, we're here to spend those wisely.
But I think you have, obviously, the full support of every
commissioner here, and even though Commissioner Saunders isn't
here, I know he'd echo, you know, the same words.
So thank you, Commissioner Hall, for your comments and for
all the commissioners, and full speed ahead.
MS. WILLIAMS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Thank you.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Tanya.
The next request is for, again, Parks. This is the aquatics
maintenance, consisting of pool chemicals, pool area furniture
replacement, and additional signage. This request is $100,000.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: What's the signage at? Just out of
curiosity, what do we need that we're missing?
MS. WILLIAMS: Most of the signage that is required is based
on requirements by the Department of Health and the State in regards
to --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It's mostly safety things, right?
MS. WILLIAMS: It's safety.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: That's what I thought.
MS. WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's health, welfare, and safety.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. I didn't want anybody to
think we're putting signs on the road going "Pool this way." It's
mostly --
MS. WILLIAMS: No. These --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It's mostly --
MS. WILLIAMS: -- are pool -- these are signs specifically for
August 8, 2023
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the pools regarding the rules and state regulations in regards to safety.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Commissioner McDaniel
and then Commissioner Kowal. Go ahead, sir, Commissioner
McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My question is twofold.
Number one, I want it to be going forward -- because we get drawn
into building these big fancy parks, and we don't have full disclosure.
I haven't had full disclosure and knowledge as to what goes on all day
every day. You know, we have the North Collier rec center with that
wonderful swimming pool up there that has cost us an enormous
amount of money because of the unintended maintenance requisites
that come along with it.
So I would like to see going forward, as a policy, that we have
better disclosure up front when we're about to build something new.
Everybody gets all happy because we're building the $10 million
swimming pool at the Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Park, but then
nobody talks about pool chemicals, $60,000; replacement of
furniture. And it's a -- it's a silly question, probably, but I know that
sometimes we need to nudge when we're -- some of the equipment,
some of the pool furniture, some of the things are so dilapidated that
we have to -- we have to do it now. And that's the question. Is this
a "have to" or is this a "want to"? Does -- the pool furniture that we
have, will it work, or has it become so dilapidated it's requisite?
MS. WILLIAMS: Now that we've reached this point to hit this
list, it's dilapidated, and it needs to be replaced, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Fair enough.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, if I may, this will not -- to
your point, we've been having those same conversations about what it
takes to maintain these types of specialized facilities. So we will be
spending a lot of time talking about the types of amenities that go
into parks and other places in the future as well as what that looks
August 8, 2023
Page 38
like for ongoing maintenance, and at some point in the near future,
we'll be having a larger aquatics conversation with all of you about
the state of aquatics in our plans going forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just as a -- if I may. I don't
want to jump in front of Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Just go ahead.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I burnt my light. He
already -- he already nixed me on the light.
But, you know, I would like to have both revenue and expense
side, because we're subsidizing the utilization for public pools for
folks that don't necessarily have a pool at home, and so I'd like
to -- when we have those discussions going forward, I want to talk
about our user fees, how we compare to other facilities, other
aquatic -- both private and public aquatic facilities as well.
I know we're building -- we've just -- we're finishing up a huge
aquatic center out at the Big Corkscrew regional park. And so I
just -- I would like to have that discussion as we're going along. I
still want it to be affordable, but I also want to make sure that we
have a rate structure that's comparable.
MS. WILLIAMS: Agreed.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I just -- yeah, I just wanted to
take a quick dive in the chemical and the pool furniture replacement
part.
And Commissioner McDaniel just mentioned part of what I -- I
just wanted to get clarity. Is this purely money ask for things that
are already in place, already in operation? Not talking about our
new aquatic center up north that was probably already budgeted for
new furniture and stuff like that.
MS. WILLIAMS: Correct.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: But does that take into
consideration the chemicals we're going to use on a daily basis at the
August 8, 2023
Page 39
new aquatic center? Will that increase this number when that opens?
MS. WILLIAMS: I'm going to say this is for Fiscal Year '24,
so those numbers have already been calculated and anticipated for
Fiscal Year 2024.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So they're anticipating --
MS. WILLIAMS: So it does include, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Okay. All right. And I have to
assume -- I mean, everybody's feeling it. I feel it myself, you know,
the cost of chemicals and everything. Everything we touch
nowadays or use in our lives has gone up. You know, it's just
ridiculous over the last year and a half. I mean, fuel costs,
everything. And you have to understand all of these things roll into
one.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Exactly.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: And somebody has to -- you
know, they have to make their profit on their chemicals, too, just like
anybody else, and I think they're getting restricted, you know,
through other avenues on a lot of things they do and how they bring
these things to market. So that does kind of anticipate these extra
gallons of water we're going to have to be treating.
MS. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So -- all right. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Only because I have -- we have the
senior leadership here from Parks and Recreation and we're talking
pools, I'm going to get a little out of the lane, but same topic.
We know a few weeks ago in a local Marco newspaper we had
someone that wrote a column about Eagle Lakes Park and also talked
a little bit about the East Naples Community Park that's in
Commissioner Kowal's district, and there was quite a few
inaccuracies in that article. You know, it's important that citizens
know the facts.
August 8, 2023
Page 40
And people can write editorials and columns all the time and say
what they believe, but when somebody is stating it not as sort of
opinion but they're listing facts, and these are things that are not
correct for how you-all are going forward, we've got to correct that
record. And this is in my district, and I'm getting a lot of notes from
people who read that column, and we haven't corrected that record.
So today I'm going to send the author of that column, and I'm
going to cc all of you on there, and I'm going to say, there's some
great -- there's some big inaccuracies in the comment. And it wasn't
an editorial. It's an article, basically. And when it's an article, it's,
you know -- I mean, you're a news reporter; it's supposed to be as
fact. And it's not a news reporter. It's somebody that, you know,
has a lot of stature in the community.
And when you're speaking as fact and saying things like, you
know, all this stuff was budgeted for a certain park and then, you
know, 30 days later some new people you were in office and
everything went away -- and we know that not to be the fact.
So what I ask you-all is when you see me send that very
professional and respectful email to that the author of that column,
I'm asking the County staff to respond to that person with factual
information so that we can arm her so that when she's out and about
in the community, she's not just sort of talking off of the top of her
head with either dated or incorrect information that might sound great
in a crowd but isn't true, and it's also being extremely disrespectful to
the hard work you-all are doing in the parks, and being able to
separate rumor fact.
So it's not throwing spears or mud or rocks or anything, but
when somebody, you know, makes a statement of fact saying such
and such was budgeted and that it all evaporated because, you know,
the names all changed, and that's not true, I need somebody in a
leadership position to follow up on my email.
August 8, 2023
Page 41
And it's not specifically for that person, but it's so that citizens,
then, will either get a correction, a retraction, or we can correct the
record. And I've said it in here many times, when somebody comes
to the podium and starts throwing spears at any of us or -- it's usually
the County Attorney -- I want them to be able to have a rebuttal,
especially when the facts are on our side.
But an awful lot of work's been done to the parks in my district,
and Commissioner Kowal's was -- his -- one of his parks was
mentioned in that column as well, and not correctly.
So just while I have you-all here, at one of the breaks -- I've
already drafted a note. I'm going to shoot it out and put all of you on
it, and then the responsibility's on your side. I'm not trying to stir the
pot, but I want to connect this person with the right people. As I've
said multiple times, maybe before you put pen to paper, you know the
phone numbers of everybody at the County here, give them a call,
and then your column helps us get the word out. It doesn't stir the
pot with inaccuracies.
So look for that later today, and then, you know, I leave it to
your expertise to separate rumor from fact so that we're educating
everybody and we're all -- we all have the same message, and it's a
correct one. So appreciate it.
MS. WILLIAMS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you.
Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I just have a -- are these -- is -- this
request, is it adequate, or is it just like a shoestring, we just barely get
by doing this, or is it robust, like we can definitely make it on this?
MS. WILLIAMS: I'll go back to words that we started with.
This is a "must to have."
COMMISSIONER HALL: I know it's "must."
MS. WILLIAMS: This is a must.
August 8, 2023
Page 42
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm asking, is it adequate on the
"must," or is it just barely getting by on the "must"?
MS. WILLIAMS: All right. My Parks director's telling me it's
barely getting by, Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: That's what I thought.
So the maintenance request is separate from the capital
improvement request. Is the capital improvement -- is that going to
be -- is that funded? Is that safe? Is that good to go? I know the
lazy river over at the Northeast Collier, I know that that's not like it
used to be. That's the feedback that I always get.
MS. WILLIAMS: Correct. The lazy river is one of several
aquatics features that do need major rehabilitation work done. That
is not included in --
COMMISSIONER HALL: I know it's not included.
MS. WILLIAMS: -- anything that you're seeing this morning.
This is strictly us looking at our aquatic maintenance shortfalls for
Fiscal Year '24.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, if we could put a little
positioning on this and how -- first, how we arrived at the UFR and
what our intention is going forward.
It would be easy on any of these categories to create a much
larger number, but what we wanted to do was provide you a realistic
situation and then develop a strategy on how we start to move
towards a proper budget in these areas. Because the last thing we
want to do is make a request that then we can't execute.
So that's sort of where we find ourselves today is this '24
budget's going to be -- it's a little bit of a work in progress. And
when we move towards budget policy and guidance for the upcoming
fiscal year -- so we'll be doing this again before we know it -- we're
going to be looking at some different strategies on how we come into
compliance.
August 8, 2023
Page 43
On the capital side of the house -- so let's -- let's remember this
number, and we're going to keep talking about it.
On the capital side of the house is a darker picture and one that
we're going to come back to you on. There is a lot of work that's
needed at these pools. They are highly specialized, as I said, and so
I don't think that we -- even with the money that's been allocated, that
we have fully recognized the true maintenance needs for that capital
element.
But with that, we have to have a better plan than run to failure.
So we put a bunch of money into these pools, and then we sit back
and say, now we're good. Well, no. We have to have the
maintenance program to back it up.
And so our suggestion is, is we're going to have some more
conversations. We're going to get some recommendations from
some outside sources that actually do this type of work, get ourselves
on a really robust maintenance, plan, and make a plan that is parallel
for the capital and come back and brief you on that. And it may take
a couple bites over a couple of fiscal years to get us there, but we are
committed to stepping away from the way we've always done things,
which is put a bunch of money in, we're good, and then we see it 10
years later going, guess what? We need to do a bunch more stuff.
We have to maintain these assets.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I think -- and then I'll go to
Commissioner McDaniel.
I think another way of saying, you know, it's barely getting by is
also, with what we know now, this is the proper budget. I don't want
to see a whole bunch of things come to us with a full pad so that, you
know, we have, you know, money to burn because the reality is,
Ms. Williams could come to this podium anytime she wants and say,
you know what? We just ran into a pickle this month. We've got a
significant maintenance issue. Chemicals went up 300 percent, and
August 8, 2023
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when we briefed you on the day that we talked about the maintenance
of parks, we didn't know that.
So, you know, there's a fluid system. So even though, like you
say, maybe you're giving us sort of the minimum requirement, I look
at that as smart budgeting because -- not that we have an unlimited
pocket, but we look for you to be responsible enough to come to us,
that if this money starts running out quicker than what's expected,
somebody puts up a red flag and says, hey, and here's why. And it
wasn't through "we guessed wrong." It was we've had some
increased needs or the costs of all the things that we expected have
gone up.
So, you know, we always have that latitude to swing your
budget a certain way, but I don't like artificially doing it up front. I
don't think any of us do, but...
MS. PATTERSON: We completely agree and, frankly, what
you're going to be seeing from us is a lot more transparency in this
budget as we move into this fiscal year explaining to you when we
run into these difficulties, explaining to you when we have costs that
are going up so that we don't -- and it's fine. Part of what we do is
these end-of-the-year budget amendments, but that's fine for our
regular business. But when we're running into a difficulty like this,
we not only expect the staff to aggressively cost contain, but we also
expect reality, and we owe you that.
So you'll be seeing us, and probably on aquatics and definitely
on aquatics capital.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And, you know,
this -- this has to do with institutional knowledge. And
I -- I'm -- you and I talked about this yesterday. This is the
beginning of a process of not doing what we've always done and
expecting magnanimously different results.
August 8, 2023
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I remember 2008/9, I came to give a report to the Planning
Commission, and Mark Strain was our chairman of the planning
board, and I was standing at that podium well in advance of being the
commish. And he cornered me on the $60 million that was
expended for the North Collier recreation center and that aquatic
facility that you're pulling your hair out with regard to its upkeep,
maintenance. There were contractual issues. There was
construction issues. I could write a book on the things that were
going on, not to mention the manipulation of impact fee revenue that
had been collected and utilized for things that were deemed to be
necessary, necessarily, at the time.
So what I'd like -- as a takeaway from this is we redid the
Board's schedule so we could have these discussions coming into our
new budget cycle. We redid the vision statement that's fed by the
mission statement which was redone. We redid the policies with
regard to the expenditure, the budget planning, and the priorities for
the expenditure of the taxpayers' money. We talked about the
prioritization of the necessary infrastructure for the population that
we have for the people that are here, and that's an important avenue
that really wasn't taken into account, I don't think, appropriately, in
the past, and this has all just happened in the last six, eight
months -- the vision statement, the mission statement, the budget
priorities and so on -- and with policy adjustments for reporting for us
when a new facility's coming forward.
I hope and look to see a more accurate estimation as to the
ongoing maintenance and upkeep and so on and so forth with the
contractual issues that we have had by going and picking a general
contractor to go build us something and then not really having
accountability with regard to the construction and the worthiness of
that particular construction. Those are all enhancements that we're,
in fact, putting in place.
August 8, 2023
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So our discussions here today are not to throw stones but just not
to be doing what we've always done and expecting magnanimously
different results.
MS. WILLIAMS: Absolutely, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I don't think we have any
additional questions, so we'll -- approved as shown.
MR. JOHNSON: All right. We have one more for Parks
before we move on to the Museums. This request totals $480,000
and consists of additional funding for contract staffing, funding to
continue multiple parks programs and events, provide lifeguard
uniforms, and additional staff training.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: You know, Tanya -- and maybe
you're about to give us an overview. But part of my surprise of
some of the things on this list is I'm surprised they're unfunded. It
would seem like these are requirements. And if you need lifeguard
uniforms, it's part of your budget. You know, if you need -- you
know, there's -- if you want to have a SnowFest event, you know, I
mean -- and that's where I'm looking for the explanation.
There's a lot of events on here, but if they're all unfunded, then
they're kind of really great ideas that we have no money for. But we
do these things every year, so I'm surprised -- maybe that's part of,
like, maybe not the best planning, or you're about to say something
else.
But this was one of the lists that I looked at, and I go, why is
staff training unfunded? And it might be, well, we want to do this
additional thing that costs a lot more money. Okay, great, maybe.
But, you know, when I see summer camps on there and it's unfunded,
it's like summer camps should be funded. I mean, it's -- you know,
did we waste the summer camp money on buying overly expensive
mulch and now we're in a -- and, you know, I'm being a little bit
facetious here, but this is one list that really did catch my attention as
August 8, 2023
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why are these things unfunded, because I look at this list as, like the
previous list, over and above, we didn't expect, you know, the cost of
chemicals went up. You know, we estimated a little bit below, but,
boy, we've really had to do a lot to keep our pool maintenance up,
and nobody could have expected that.
We don't have a crystal ball, but we know we're going to do
SnowFest. We know we need -- lifeguards, you know, need
uniforms. So work that into your answer, if you would. But before
we do, let me -- let me have Commissioner McDaniel give his
comments.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My comment is a little bit
global, because right now what we're doing is looking at what staff
has gone through and decided is a priority and is not.
I haven't, in depth, gone through the balance of our budget.
You -- and, Ms. Patterson, you and I talked about this yesterday.
There's a whole -- there's a whole lot of other expenditures that
are out there that are already theoretically awarded in our other
budgets that we haven't dived into as of yet.
So the premise behind this comment is just because senior staff
has decided that these are unfunded requests doesn't mean that they're
unfunded requests. There are other places in our budget -- and I'm
not going to name anything specific right now. But there are other
places in our budget where monies have been appropriated that may
be able to be reallocated to -- so that these unfunded questions don't
look so onerous, and that's for future discussion as we move forward.
We have multiple hearings. We have two slated hearings
coming up in September when we actually, in fact, adopt the budget.
That actually occurs at our second budget hearing in September, the
after-hours meeting that we have, which is when the -- as I like to
say, that's when the nail actually goes into the coffin with regard to
the '24 budget.
August 8, 2023
Page 48
So I concur with Commissioner -- what's your name?
LoCastro, that's what it is.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, kill his light.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I concur with Commissioner
LoCastro. Some of these things that are on here are ruffling my
feathers. You know, there again, we're going to get to one here in a
second, the next one on the cattle drive. You know, the Christmas
Around the World's been going on since 1942. Do you want Cheryl
Thomas to be in here at that podium? Figure out a way to pay for
that Christmas Around the World.
MS. PATTERSON: Understood.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We have had
success -- Mr. Rodriguez, we have had success in having community
partners come along and help us with some of these things. For us to
be having a discussion about not hosting special events on known
documented holidays is a big question in my mind.
Fourth of July comes every year. Halloween comes every year.
Easter comes every year. And these are things that I'm not sure we
should be having this granular of a discussion about without talking
about the big picture in the $1.4 billion budget that we're about to
pass.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do I look at you or her?
MS. PATTERSON: You should look at me.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I mean, I want to hear you start off
your explanation as to why these aren't in the budget because, like
Commissioner McDaniel said, a lot of these are not a surprise. So
either they were in the budget, maybe fell out because money was
spent in a different way -- and I don't want to answer the question for
you because, I mean, I want to hear the right answer, not one that I
August 8, 2023
Page 49
make up. But I'm sitting here scratching my head saying, you
know --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not one that you make up.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- 4th of July, when is, like, the 4th
of July? It's like, you know, on a cruise ship, when is the midnight
buffet? It's at midnight. I mean, you know, there's no mystery here.
So what can you tell us?
MS. PATTERSON: So, Commissioners, first, yes, you can
look at me. And this is a healthy conversation that we had when
we --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No, it's unhealthy. I hate it.
MS. PATTERSON: It's healthy for me.
We had this same conversation when we were developing these
budgets. But, unfortunately, there's a finite amount of money that
Parks has, and there was a lot of demand.
And you heard the statement, which you're going to continue to
hear, is we have historically underfunded areas. Those areas were
stressed out before we entered into the economic conditions that
we're in. It was a struggle each year to be able to get these budgets
where they needed to go to do things; sometimes at the expense of
things that you-all can't see. So there's the -- there's your first
problem. I could give you SnowFest, but you're not going to have
certain things taken care of.
Now, we've seen the product of -- and I understand the
reasoning, and now we see the product of that. Now we have things
that are -- have been neglected or things that need repair, things that
have gone beyond a normal maintenance cycle, and there's a lot of
reasons for that.
So when we were developing these budgets, I told them the first
thing we have to do is obviously we have to pay our bills, we have to
keep the lights on, you have to keep the water running, and you have
August 8, 2023
Page 50
to keep a level of staff to keep the public safe. You can't just have
no people at a park and just let people be there.
So once you do that, you're going to have whatever money left
over, and then we're going to figure out what to do. And this
represents not having the money to do these programs.
Can we go squeeze someplace else and cover these? Of course,
we can. And I will also tell you that along with the historical
underfunding, we have a fee schedule for Parks -- and Commissioner
McDaniel pointed to this a little bit already -- that has not been kept
up to date for various reasons, and it is now going through a review,
and we'll be making some recommendations.
The intent, obviously, is this isn't Disney World, and it's, you
know, not going to be $105 or whatever to visit our water park, but it
might be more than $2 to go to SnowFest. These are the types of
things that we have to look at to be able to run these programs.
And so we bring this to you not -- not to say that we can't do
this. We mostly certainly can. And you're absolutely right, we
could go squeeze another area and cover these things, because these
are a priority.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But let me ask you a question.
When you have things like this that happen every year -- and then
Commissioner McDaniel's lit up, and I'm sure he doesn't like your
answer.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: He --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But I don't love it either, because I
sit here and I say, if these are things that are guaranteed that we've
done since 1942, right -- we had a term in a previous job that I had
where we would say we would fence the money for these things.
So if we started spending too much money on chemicals, we
wouldn't spend the SnowFest money. It would be like, hey,
SnowFest money, that thing's locked. That's fenced. So if we
August 8, 2023
Page 51
started spending too much money on something else, then that's when
you come to this podium and say, we're about to dip into some other
reserves.
Now, maybe I'm oversimplifying, but I'm sitting here looking at
a whole bunch of things. I don't want to sound like a -- you know,
I'm being repetitive, but the bottom line is a whole bunch of things
that are -- like, happen every single year that don't seem -- you know,
don't seem like they should be up for -- you know, do we want to
have the summer camp for the kids? Should the lifeguards actually
have uniforms or show up in cutoff jeans? You know, these
shouldn't be things that we're explaining.
So maybe it's a different terminology, but in a world where I
previously managed billions of dollars, way more than this county,
these would be things that would be fenced, that would be guaranteed
funded. And if we needed these funds because we were short in
another area, that's where this room was filled with people figuring
out how to move money from other things for the other stuff, not
dipping into these funds. So where am I mistaken?
MS. PATTERSON: That's not how it's worked up until now.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. That's what I'm saying.
So explain to me -- because the bottom line is, maybe that's not how
it works, but I'm looking at a list right now that's advertising to me
that if we all say no to 480-, none of these things will happen. We
have the power right now to say, you know what? We're not going
to fund any of these things. Maybe something went wrong, so this
will be the first year with no SnowFest. I mean, we wouldn't do that.
MS. PATTERSON: No.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But what am I missing?
MS. PATTERSON: You need visibility, and that's what we're
giving you. And if from this point forward you tell us that these are
fenced, that's good, because then we know, collectively, that's what
August 8, 2023
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you want, but you don't want it done at the expense of maintaining
your parks.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But in the past, so what was
happening as we started to maybe run out of funds for other things
and SnowFest was still months and months away, we were
spending -- because it's one big pot of money, basically. We were
spending out of that pot, and then what was left sort of on the cutting
room floor were these things that hadn't happened yet, basically,
right, or these would be the things on the cutting room floor?
MS. PATTERSON: We would just continue to move money
around behind the scenes to do the best that we could, and we would
cut where it was least visible.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: And this is not the only area where this
happens. I can -- I'll go back to stormwater and tell you, that that is
one of the places that, when we didn't have money, we cut. Because
you don't drive around and go -- unless you're me -- look at that
stormwater. That's so great, right? You're like, yeah, good. As
long as I'm not flooding, I don't care about stormwater, right? Well,
what happens now when your pipes are collapsing and it's
compromising your roads? You know, now we're seeing the
reaction to years of not maintaining things. You're seeing the same
thing in your parks.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So in the future, would you say if
we make smarter decisions up here and lead from the front and, like
you said, now that you've been in the seat, you really peeling back on
some things, seeing lists like this in the future would be a lot less of a
possibility, because these would be things that would be budgeted in
the initial budget and maybe we'd be protected a little bit more, or
you would have the funds to do what you need, and if you started to
run thin, you'd be up here begging for chemicals and mulch, but we
August 8, 2023
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would know these things were safe, correct?
MS. PATTERSON: I think if that is -- if that is the position of
the Board, and that's the Board collectively, not each -- because I
could say I've talked to each of you, and each of you have, you know,
things that are your things. But when you're five, it has to be all of
your things.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: If this list are things that are important to
all of you, we hear your message, but it also means that you have to
keep hearing ours, is there's -- in a lot of these places, there isn't
enough money, and we can't just will it into existence. We have to
maintain what we have. We have more people coming here making
more and more demands on our infrastructure. We're going to
eventually have to add more things, and those things have to be
maintained as well. We have to find that balance.
And I'm not suggesting that the Parks' budget doubles overnight,
but we have to make that slow walk towards rightsizing these budgets
so we have that proper balance between all of the programs and the
things that the community loves and how we keep it nice so we can
do those things.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: And we need your
recommendation on these things, you know, on the success and if the
money was well spent. So there might be a couple things on here
that we've had for the last three or five years but it might be, wow, it
was great for the handful of people that came there but, you know, as
I always say, the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. I'm not implying
that.
But at times sometimes you have something, you do it for a
couple years, and it was like, eh, a little bit of a dud. It was a little
too close to another event. We didn't get the turnout, and then that's
where the money savings is, not that we're cutting the program, but,
August 8, 2023
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you know, we did it for a couple years and maybe it wasn't, you
know, a superstar investment.
Commissioner McDaniel, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And just to correct the
record. It's not one big pot of money. It's not all one big pot of
money. We have a capital pot, we have an operations pot, and you
can't just take from one. We already approved several budget
amendments today to move money out of capital over into operating
so that we can keep the lights on and keep the people paid and so on
and so forth.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Sure.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So that's one dot that needs to
be put out there, number one. Number two, again, institutional
knowledge. When I came into office in 2016, there was a billion,
with a b, of deficit-funded capital projects and maintenance that had
been set aside because of the priorities of those who came before us.
The priorities of those who came before us were different than
what we have established. We have re-established with a new
revised vision statement, a new revised mission statement, a new set
of budget priorities to give better direction to our staff to take care of
the folks that we have knowing that there's more coming. There's no
fence at the county line or certainly at the state line. There's going to
be more people coming. There's going to be a push on the utilization
of our assets.
Ms. Patterson mentioned stormwater. There was $200 million
in deficits in stormwater; 150,000 in capital and 50,000 in
maintenance. We had -- we had -- we had flow pipes for stormwater
that were -- my one-ton truck was scared to go over them, let alone a
fire truck, to get to the people that needed assistance or an ambulance
and so on and so forth.
Previous decision makers allowed for the reduction in the
August 8, 2023
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appropriation into Stormwater that is a line item on people's tax bill.
I'm using that because it's a visual. You can look on your tax bill,
and there's an actual percentage of the ad valorem taxation that goes
into Stormwater, and it appropriates about 20-, $22 million a year.
And because of what was designated as the Great Recession, that 20-,
22 million went to 15-. Nobody said anything. Then it went to 10-,
and nobody said anything. Then it went to 5-, and nobody said
anything.
And over a 10-year process, an accumulation of $200 million in
deficits in both capital and maintenance was -- boom, like that. It
doesn't take long at 10, $15 million a year in deficit funding to
accumulate 150, $200 million in deficits.
The hope is this discussion is bringing to light this board's
already re-prioritized how we're going to be expending the taxpayers'
money, and it's imperative that we have the analysis and the backup
that's, in fact, coming forward when the pretty and glitty come
forward.
It's nice to go out and build pretty landscaped medians so that
when people are stuck in gridlock and they look to the left, it looks
pretty, but that costs our taxpayers $10 million a year to mow the
grass and keep those medians up. And I'm picking on that right now
because it's right on the front.
But here we are talking about SnowFest, and the next line item
that's going to be the cattle drive in Immokalee, and we're spending
that kind of money in the maintenance aspects of what it is that we
have going on. So I think, just from a prioritization standpoint,
we're moving in the right direction.
One of the discussions that, I think, is appropriate right now is
we all operate off of this thing called an AUIR, the Annual Update
and Inventory Report. I think we should have an open discussion
with regard to the level of service. One of the things that I learned in
August 8, 2023
Page 56
Parks and Rec is previous decision makers had allowed for the level
of service in our regional parks -- because that's what everybody
knew about -- to be higher than in my -- "my," they're all mine -- in
our community parks. The regional parks is where all the money
was dumped, and the community parks were lacking, terribly lacking.
There were -- I'm not even going to go into descriptions.
So let's have a discussion from -- because that's how you get to
where -- that's how our staff gets to where they need to know what
this board's wanting is a portion of those decisions come out of the
AUIR and the dictated, by the Board, level of service; LOS is what
it's referred to.
And so we need to have that discussion and what the impacts of
LOS, in fact, means. Our taxpayers, when they walk into a library,
they expect a certain level of service. When they walk into a park,
they expect a certain level of service. And this board, I, want to
know when I adjust the level of service -- because one of the things
that we did do was level off the level of service in our parks so that
we weren't prioritizing regional over community, and that's where
we, several years ago, started putting more money into the ongoing
maintenance so that that front-facing portion of our community was,
in fact, maintained, and the trees were trimmed and the bathrooms
were cleaned and so on and so forth.
So I think a really important part of this is that we have a
discussion with regard to the AUIR, those dedicated, dictated levels
of service so that we are meeting the expectations of the community
but yet, at the same time, not prioritizing money to go off into pretty
and glitty but taking care of the necessary.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I promise we're going to give you a
chance to talk. I'll just say one more thing, and then we do want
some explanation here.
I think we all understand there's not one pot of money, and in
August 8, 2023
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other parts of the universe, what they say is there's different colors of
money. You know, as we learned at the last commissioner meeting,
if you don't spend 450 dollars -- $450,000 on an environmentally
sensitive piece of land on Marco Island, you can't just send that
money, then, to EMS and tell them to buy more equipment, so we all
get that.
My question -- and I'm going to really simplify it is -- down to
the nth degree is, knowing there's different pots of money, what
happened to the pot of money that these programs were allotted for?
That's what I want to know. Because my initial takeaway and
to -- but you're about to give me the answer to that, so I'm sort of
setting out -- is my initial takeaway felt --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Let her give you an answer.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: You're not lit up, okay.
My initial feeling was -- and it's incorrect, because you're about
to correct me, was that all these different pots were for other things,
and then these were like "nice to dos," "must dos." We'll find the
money some way.
You know, I'm wondering, why wasn't this in a pot that wasn't
pulled from somewhere else? I mean, that's -- that was my -- that
was my initial impression when I saw this list, understanding the pots
and the colors of money and you can't move it around and everything.
So why didn't this pot sit there, and why wasn't it untouched?
So now, you know, give us the answer to that.
MS. PATTERSON: You're still looking at me.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: And the one thing I will say is, I
think we all -- because we've had other meetings here -- and not that
we're looking back on past history and other people that have sat
here, but the people that replace us should do this smarter.
And so I'm really proud that we're looking back at how things
were done, and maybe with the information that, you know, people
August 8, 2023
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had previously, it seemed like the smart way to do it, and everything
was working fine, and maybe there wasn't a $2 billion budget. I bet
you 15 years ago landscape and medians didn't cost 10 million, so
maybe it wasn't that big of a deal.
Today it's a big deal, right? And I really take my hat off to, you
know, you as the County Manager and the staff that you have at how
much more transparency -- we're not going to just sort of float this
and then have some big explosive meeting at the end of the fiscal
year saying, oh, my god, you're not going to believe what we did
wrong. And so this is the way to run a business, and this is
definitely the way to run a county.
But my question about the pots of money and the colors, why
are we looking at this list?
MS. PATTERSON: Well -- so the pot was never really
rightsized to begin with, but we made do, like you said, and it's easy
now to as -- to your point, it's easy now to look back and say, oh, I
would have done these 10 things differently because I have the ability
now for hindsight when hindsight's 20/20.
But making those decisions at the time, we all know the
challenges that our past administration and past boards faced. But
starting with a pot that was too small -- and let's call us the operations
pot, because Commissioner McDaniel's absolutely right, besides all
of the restricted-use funds, even when we just dialed down to dealing
with the General Fund, we have capital, we have operations, and then
we have our personnel. Just talking about operations here, which is
what we're talking about, the pot's too small. It's being consumed by
things that we never really saw coming. And so as we continue to
put the squeeze on that money, there are things that fall off the list.
We can't not pay the water bill.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: We have to pay the electric; we have to
August 8, 2023
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pay our staff; we have to, you know, provide for the basic safety
functions and those things. Simply when you didn't start with
enough money and then everything got more expensive, you end up
with a list like this.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: But to pay the water bill, that came
out of the same pot that you would use to fund SnowFest?
MS. PATTERSON: Yeah. We're not -- it's -- right.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: And I know that answer. I wanted
to hear it out loud that that is the same pot.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So when we pay those things out
of that pot -- and that's when I was making the point of, well, it's the
same pot. Yeah, there's other pots, and we know what that is. But,
basically, there were things pulled out of that -- out of the pot that
these things were in, and these are the leftovers basically that --
MS. PATTERSON: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- are unfunded.
MS. PATTERSON: Right. And, I mean, I have to say that
again, is if you didn't have enough money to start and you were
shoe-stringing it together and then you had the hugest increases in
costs that we've had and the labor challenges and those things that
strain the business, there are things that end up on this list. It's not
because we don't love these things. We love these things.
Now, we could have -- and, again, this is me. So, when -- you
know, when we're feeling a little uncomfortable about this, my
thought was, we can't come to you with an -- because we're coming
to you with an unfunded request. There just simply wasn't enough
money for everything when we prioritized.
Now, you may look at the budget and say, okay, I would get rid
of this to pay for that, but knowing we're coming here saying, there
are some things that have to go, we could be sitting here with an
August 8, 2023
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unfunded request list that had electric and water on it. But my
thought is, you're going to look at us and go, are you kidding me right
now? Wait, what? What if we don't pay your electric and your
water? You can have all the SnowFest you want. If you can't keep
the lights on, how are you going to have any of these programs? So
that's how we find ourselves here.
And also, just a court reporter break, maybe, if you want to at
some point.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. Let's take a break, and
what we want to hear when we come back is -- then we'll be quiet.
We'll hear from you. And much like we did with the other list, I
think what we all would like to do is sort of go from top to bottom
and say, you know, like we said, "have to do," "want to do," "should
do," "smart to do," and make the case for these different things.
You know, much like parks, though, you know, these things are
big to the community. So we're not looking here to line-item veto
these things, but I think we want to go down and make sure that
they're clarified and confirmed for us that, you know, the price is
right, the event is correct, and then, like you said, going forward,
these lists should shrink over the next few years because of smarter
planning and funding and whatnot.
MS. PATTERSON: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. So let's take a break and
come back here -- is 10:45 enough?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay, 10:45.
(A brief recess was had from 10:33 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.)
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. If we could have
everybody take their seats, we'll get started on time here. Thank
you.
August 8, 2023
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Okay. Part 2. We continue with Ms. Williams, Ms. Patterson,
and I promise I won't -- I won't hit any lights up here. What's this
guy's name next to me? Is it Bob McDaniels? Is that --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sam.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Is that Sam McDaniels? Yeah,
whatever.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: It's with an S.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, his light's still dead, right?
We still killed the bulb? Perfect.
Okay. Good discussion here. And like you said, this actually
is -- this is the meat on the bone.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can I go ahead and hit my
light now?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah.
Ms. Williams.
MS. WILLIAMS: Okay. Taking a look at -- for the record,
Tanya Williams, Public Services Department Head.
Taking a look at the list that is on the screen, just to kind of wrap
all of this up. When the Public Services Department was told to
generate our Fiscal Year '24 budget meeting budget guidance of a
4.25 percent increase, I had to look across my entire department, and
we did look across the entire department. And as it was briefly
stated in the prior BCC meeting in the end of July, there were some
divisions within my department that actually saw a decrease in their
funding allowance for Fiscal Year '24 and an increase in other
divisions to compensate for, again, what was needed as opposed to
what we would like to have. So I do want to preface that.
Looking specifically at this list, job bank, again, that's key
staffing, your camp counselors, as well as your lifeguards, which are
part of life safety.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Ms. Williams?
August 8, 2023
Page 62
MS. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Sorry to interrupt you, but I think
Commissioner McDaniel wants to say something that I think he feels
would help.
MS. WILLIAMS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Go ahead, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't know how you
guys -- how you folks feel, but I don't want to do this. You made a
very adept statement earlier. We shouldn't be having these
discussions. These things -- virtually all of these things on this
unfunded request list should be fenced off money. We should not be
having these discussions without having the larger-picture discussion
with regard to other priorities that were established for the upcoming
budget. I don't want to have this discussion.
I would like for us to stop this discussion with regard to the line
items that are in these items, in these things. We haven't got into the
line items in the other budgets that were brought before us in a
workshop and had discussions with the priorities that were
established by staff for the landscape median maintenance, for the
mowing of the grass at the Golden Gate Golf Course. It was typified
in that budget for maintenance, but it was two and a half million
dollars that was appropriated over there.
We need to have those discussions before we have these
discussions. These things are -- virtually all these things on this
unfunded request list can be adjusted if we make the adjustments in
the level of services associated through the AUIR, if we make the
prioritization of what we are endeavoring to do so that -- so the
priorities are put in a place for the infrastructure for our community.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. I mean, I fully agree. I
said earlier this isn't a list -- I'm almost embarrassed to see this, but I
say that with the glass being half full. The reason I'm proud we're
August 8, 2023
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seeing this list is because this is an example of what I hope people
who replace us never see again because we do rightsize the budget,
we're not sitting here having a 20-minute discussion over SnowFest.
If SnowFest is not worth $80,000, it shouldn't even be on this list as
an unfunded. It should be something you've already canceled or
brought to us maybe previously and said, you know, as we're looking
through the budget or in our -- or in our private discussions.
So I agree. I mean, I sit here and say, if these things weren't
valuable, they shouldn't be on the list anyway. If they're overpriced,
then you should be doing really smart things to be getting a better
deal, and if they're things that we've had since the 1940s that are
landmark events in our community, I don't want to sit here and have a
30-minute discussion over, you know, are we going to have it this
one year or not. And nobody up here wants to be the commissioner
responsible for crossing these things off when we know that they're
great events and we need to find the money.
So I guess what you're saying is -- I mean, unless -- well, I have
other commissioners lit up here, too. So I'm in agreement with that.
I look at this and I go, yeah, mulch is important, and I also want
lifeguards to have uniforms. So I don't think it's a real big debate.
You summarized it perfectly, Ms. Patterson, where you said,
hey, we're not saying these things are up for -- we think they should
be canceled, but these are the things that sort of fall on the cutting
room floor when you have to pay bigger bills, and then you're left
with a much smaller pot of money than what you expected. And
these are subject to our decision, and I think our decision is none of
us have the appetite or the desire at all to cut any of these -- of these
things. I mean -- and when we saw this list previously, we were like,
what? So --
MS. PATTERSON: If I may, so to go back to -- Mr. Johnson's
point in the beginning is, when we -- when you saw this list the first
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time at the budget workshop, we were dealing with the taxable values
that were the estimated from that June time period. Since that time,
they've honed in the taxable value, so there is -- there is an increment
there that will cover the list if that's the Board's desire, at least
temporarily, to say that is the way we're going, and we'll have -- we
can have further discussions about the things that Commissioner
McDaniel brought up if we want to -- you know, to look at different
areas, but for stormwater.
So when we look at the list, minus the stormwater project,
because the strategy on that is a little bit different, and the timing is
different. It's really there, again, to start a conversation and
for -- and for your situational awareness. It is a very important
project and a very large project. For us to spring that you on with
absolutely no visibility didn't seem right either.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right, okay.
MS. PATTERSON: So if we don't want to go through these
line by line, we can put a placeholder here. We can know that there
is funding that is adequate by way of that additional money between
the June and July time period. It does not mean that we don't want
to go through the exercise to say there might be other places or other
strategies to fund it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Correct.
MS. PATTERSON: Because it is conversation we need to
have. And, again, because we developed the budget up with what
we believe were not only our priorities but what we've heard from
you doesn't mean that there aren't places in that budget where you
may feel differently, and we'll get to that in September or between
now and September, if that's appropriate.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: The healthy part here in this entire
discussion is exactly what you said at the beginning. You've given
us visibility that maybe our predecessor hadn't had as much, and for
August 8, 2023
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that we really appreciate it. And then what we want to do on this
end is basically pay you back by saying, wow, I like the deeper dive
that we're doing. We are going to make command decisions up here
so that our -- you know, in the future these aren't things that are up
for debate, you know, type thing.
Okay. I've got everybody lit up. To save maybe you time and
maybe, you know, Commissioner McDaniel, like you said, maybe we
don't need you to make a big presentation line by line, but let me hear
what my colleagues have to say.
So Commissioner Hall and then, Commissioner McDaniel,
you're on deck, and then Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm all for ending this discussion.
I feel like this is the baby being hung over the rail. Like, you've got
to save the baby or it's going to fall, and I hate that feeling. I think
we need -- I'm sorry. It's visual.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was just going to say, there
was a visual. Sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I look at this from a -- from a
corporate leadership standpoint. The Bible says to write the vision
down and make it plain, and we've done that with our vision and our
mission statement. To go back and look at the AUIR and look
for -- there may be some assumptions of LOS that may be not real
good assumptions, but they've always been that way, to dial in -- to
dial in and take a deep dive there.
To look at -- there are so many ways I've witnessed -- you know,
I've been here since December. I've seen so many ways that we can
look and save taxpayers' money in contractor ability, holding people
accountable to what they've agreed to already. There's a -- I witness
it every single month.
So to sit here and have these little line item pick at things that
are important, can you say it gets on my nerves? I do, I want to go
August 8, 2023
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back. I'm looking forward to the budget discussions. I want to look
at it from the big picture and make smart business decisions based on
our vision, based on our mission, based upon what's real level of
service, based upon what's good to put money back for capital and
operational and staff and people and what's important, and I think
that's where we need to spend our time, and that's all I'm going to say
about it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Before I go to Commissioner
McDaniel, I think just adding to that -- and we all want to make sure
that in the future we're budgeted maybe more correctly so that these
smaller items don't bubble up as, you know, these big, huge issues.
Like, how could that happen? And so it's a lesson learned. That's
the healthy part of this conversation, obviously.
Commissioner McDaniel, sir, and then, Commissioner Kowal,
you're next.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You know -- and, again, I'm
a commish now all of seven years. These things don't happen in a
vacuum. We have to operate in a vacuum. We're not allowed to go
in the back and get in a pile and decide we're going to do the
SnowFest and we're not going to do the cattle drive and this and that
and the other thing. We get to talk about these things while the TV's
taking our picture and Terri's writing down all my misspoken words.
It's a very, very difficult, arduous process that hasn't been done
ever. We're put into -- by this UFR, we're put into a position where
it's us against you, and it's not us against you. On a global level, my
only answer is to call for a rollback rate and cut you off at your
knees. The only real power that I have if I can get two others -- or at
least one other to not pass the budget -- I haven't been successful in
doing that, but -- is to slash the money. Give a tax reduction to our
taxpayers and/or raise taxes.
And I can honestly say, in seven years I've been beat upon to
August 8, 2023
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come up with other ways to raise taxes on my electorate. I would
rather not do that. I would rather offer a tax reduction to my
electorate. And we need to do more than this heartstring of the UFR
request which pits us against you. That's one of the reasons why I
didn't want to discuss line item by line item. These things, as
Commissioner LoCastro already stated, should be fenced off. We
shouldn't be having these discussions.
There's an enormous amount of competing factions that exist
within our community. We all have them. You have yours. I have
mine. We all have them.
And I'm going to cite a very recent circumstance that came
about, and that's with that central receiving area, central receiving
facility over on Golden Gate Parkway.
Was I the only one that saw that we have $25 million on a
$44 million request for a construction? Was I the only one that saw
a 4.2, 4.4 deficit in FF&E? Was I the only one that saw a $4 million
O&M annually?
But this room was full. And you have to do it. But nobody's
telling us how we're going to pay for it. And then we get to come
back and look at this and decide whether $80,000 is a good
expenditure for SnowFest or not.
It ends up being -- pitting us against you, and I don't want to do
that. I want us to work collaboratively with staff. I want -- this is
the beginning of what I think we need to be doing on a far more
regular basis, having these open, honest discussions with regard to
how we're going to manage the taxpayers' money. It's imperative for
us to go through these processes.
So with that, I'm going to leave -- I'm going to get off the
pedestal at the moment and say, in parting, this is a necessary evil for
us to have a larger-picture discussion on how, when, and why we do
what we do.
August 8, 2023
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CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. How do we want to
proceed? What --
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I still had --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I had shut you
off.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: It's been a long time, I know.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: As Commissioner McDaniel said,
what's your name again? Go ahead, sir. Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Is that McDaniels or McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, quit.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Yeah, I'm going to piggyback on
my colleagues over here. I mean, I don't want to sit here and have to
go line by line through these. This is -- we're kind of like putting the
cart before the horse. We have a lot of other things to look at over
the next few weeks.
And, you know, I think -- the thing I took and what I noticed
real quick with the Chairman's initial question of the County
Manager, and she said a very key word in there, and her answer back
to the Chairman was "up until now." And I picked up on that, "up
until now." So I think that's key, because I think, myself and my
four colleagues up here, we have an opportunity to do something in
the sunshine and have these good conversations about where we're
going and where this county needs to go to uphold the -- you know,
to keep this quality of life that the citizens expect here.
And I think this is -- this is a great opportunity. And I'm not
afraid of work. You know, I'll come here twice a week if we have to
and have these discussions line by line through this thing until we can
figure it out and make sure we are moving in the right direction and
where we have certain things that are considered special interests and
things like that that aren't really conducive to the quality of life of
people here in Collier County.
August 8, 2023
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So, you know, I think this is a moment in time that we have this
opportunity as a body of -- a board up here to work with our staff and
not do it -- I always hated this in my previous life was, well, that's the
way we've also done it. I always hated those words, because the
world is not stagnant, it's fluid, and everything changes by day by
day, and we have to be able to adjust to that, and I think this is an
opportunity as a board that we can all come together in the sunshine
and actually do something.
Hey, we might think it's the right thing to do when we're here
and we get through all these discussions at the end of the day and
we're eventually going to make a decision, you know, but let's hope
that it is the right thing to do. So I'm just going to leave it at that,
so -- and move on.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Just to -- and I concur
100 percent. What was forever yesterday isn't any more going
forward. The decisions that were made by previous policy leaders,
by previous staff, recommendations to those boards, I have to say I
believe in my heart they weren't with malice. They weren't done for
greed or anything along those lines. But we can't continue to do
what we've always done and expect magnanimously different results.
We've started that process here today -- well, at the beginning of
this year when we redid the vision -- everything's fed off your vision
statement, your mission statement, your budget priorities. Those
are -- that's how -- that's how this all, in fact, works all the way
through the top. And we've started that process.
The first time since I've been your commissioner that we've had
these kind of discussions on this granular of a level. We need to
have more before we go picking apart these things. It's an easy
thing -- I mean, at this particular stage today, we can say there's an
extra 2 and a half, $3 million over there in the increase in taxable
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value. We spread that money around and take care of these
unfunded requests and stop this mess of going through and picking
whether or not SnowFest's worth 80,000 or not.
So with that, I think -- I think -- I think we've got a lot of work
to do, Commissioner Kowal. September, there is the two budget
hearings, but there are also two board meetings in September as well.
I know next week's -- or two weeks from now it's pretty well
consumed. But I think in September we need to have some granular
discussions in some of the other budget priorities that were picked
and chosen to get us to this.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir, absolutely. Before we end this
item, if -- at your pleasure, let's let Trinity just give us some visibility
on the West Goodlette project. No decisions for today, but she'll
bring you up to speed on that project and where it stands right now.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Good.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I was going to say, one of the
things that this whole discussion, even before the break, has really
highlighted -- and it's a good reminder to citizens -- is how much this
county has changed over time. I wholeheartedly agree, everybody
that sat up here before us and years past, I don't think any of them
ever woke up in the morning thinking how they could do something
bad, you know, at the county level. But, you know, when you're
managing a $2 billion budget, it's a lot different than if you're
managing a $100,000 budget.
You know, if you're having to make deep-dive decisions, you
know, I'm really grateful for the colleagues that are up here and the
depth of their resumés. And I'm not saying that previous people
didn't have that experience but, you know, look how much has
improved in the county having Ms. Patterson, Mr. Rodriguez,
Mr. Finn at the helm. I'm not saying that your predecessors weren't
capable, but you've looked at history and used it as a yardstick of
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how we could do better, and this county has grown so much. We've
had hurricanes, we've had other things. And not that we haven't had
those in the past, but darn it if the dollar figures aren't much bigger,
you know, I mean -- and so these are -- these are tough times where
you really need experience and qualified people, and you've also, as a
county manager, just done some -- I think some great things that need
to be said as far as moving around talented people on the staff,
holding people accountable.
I mean, look at the -- I can tell you I haven't been in this seat for
seven years. The products that I get now from the County today
from your staff and from the directors, way more improved than my
first month in office, and my first month in office, great, there were
valuable. But, you know, those kind of things need to be said.
That's why we're having such a healthy conversation in here because,
you know, we've got many people with a lot of experience peeling
back on the best way to spend our, you know, $2 billion. And, you
know, I think this is maybe the best it's been done for many reasons.
And not patting ourselves on the back, but it has to be done in a better
way because we're dealing with so much -- such a larger -- much
larger county with bigger challenges and a bigger checkbook that
needs to be wisely spent.
So having said that, Trinity, the floor is yours, ma'am.
MS. SCOTT: Thank you.
Good morning. Trinity Scott, Transportation Management
Services Department Head, for the record.
Quick update on the West Goodlette-Frank joint
stormwater/sewer project Phase 2. This is a partnership project with
the City of Naples where they will be replacing the -- they will be
putting in new sanitary sewer to replace the existing septic systems as
well as replacing the water lines.
In coordination with that, we would also be performing
August 8, 2023
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stormwater upgrades to the system. We do this in coordination with
them kind of twofold. Number one, ease of construction, and as far
as disruption for construction services, it's all one project, and then
we also share in those restoration costs. So it reduces -- by sharing
those restoration costs, we're not both tearing up the road and
rebuilding it.
Currently, the project is kind of phased into three different
sections, which we have Project 1, 2, and 3. Projects 1 and 2 are at
60 percent design, and the third one is at just about a 10 percent. It's
just started the design.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: When's your estimated start
of construction?
MS. SCOTT: Next year.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
MS. SCOTT: I'm going to get to that. I'm going to get to that.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: All those projects combined are
how many -- how many septic tanks? It's in your --
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
MS. SCOTT: Well, no. I believe that there's about --
MS. PATTERSON: Twelve hundred.
MS. SCOTT: Yeah. I was going to say 1,200 was my --
MS. PATTERSON: Three hundred of them were
addressed -- approximately 300 were addressed in the first phase of
this project, which is complete.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
MS. SCOTT: So the City of Naples has received a $10 million
allocation towards the project. When the city is doing these projects,
they are -- the cost of that project is passed on to the property owner
as an assessment. So as we did in Phase 1, the City received some
grants, and that kind of reduced that assessment to those property
owners, and so that really comes into the timing of the project.
August 8, 2023
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What we have listed on the unfunded was a little less than the
$9.1 million for stormwater, but as we continue through our design,
we're refining those cost estimates. All three total project phases are
about $30 million just for the stormwater component. The total
project cost is $73 million.
I mentioned the City received an appropriation request this fiscal
year to assist with funding their portion of the project. It's unknown,
because this is a partnership project, if the City will bid this project as
one or split it into the three components, because this could impact
the assessment to residents and how that $10 million is divvied up
among the project based on their appropriation. So currently they're
meeting with their legal counsel to determine how that may work.
We are also requesting a legislative appropriation for FY '24 for our
portion of the project.
COMMISSIONER HALL: How much? How much it that?
MS. SCOTT: We asked for I want to say it was about
$19 million knowing that we're probably not going to get a full 19-,
but we're going to try our darndest to get it. So we are looking at
multiple funding strategies. In addition, our Finance Committee met
yesterday where we are talking about our funding strategies for
stormwater. This unfunded request should be of no surprise. We
talk about unfunded requests every year with the Annual Update and
Inventory Report. Not only in a road setting, but also in the
stormwater setting we have talked about the dire needs that we have
for both stormwater and roads. So the Reader's Digest version is
more will come as we continue to coordinate with the City over the
next few weeks.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Trinity, let me ask you a couple
questions, only because I've got -- you know, Isles of Capri is in
the -- you know, they're at Stage Negative 5 when it comes to
converting septic to sewer, and this is a great lesson that you can't
August 8, 2023
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just do this overnight.
Let me just rapid fire a couple questions at you from my own
knowledge. How long has the City of Naples been, you know, from
birth to right now, how long of -- how much time has passed,
ballpark?
MS. SCOTT: This goes back to when Amy and I sat in our
prior seats.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. So tell me when that is.
That was 1960...
MS. SCOTT: Five years.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No, I'm just kidding.
MS. SCOTT: Six years, maybe.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: So six years in the making, right?
Six years in the making, and we -- and the tanks aren't all replaced
yet. So that tells you -- you know, I'm trying to educate constituents
in my district -- and this is a -- this is a good example. I'm -- and, in
fact, I've met with other elected officials across the state who have
done big septic-to-sewer conversions to see the best way to do it and
how to get that grant money and all of that and, you know, the
biggest lesson learned is you can't just wait till the last minute and
then all of a sudden decide, you know, millions of dollars is going to
come from the State or from other grants, and you guys have proven
that. So it's already five to six years in the making, right?
MS. PATTERSON: It was probably many more years in the
making than that. But when we -- when we finally joined together,
the City of Naples and the County, was pre-Hurricane Irma, just
about 2016 time period. So that gets you -- what, we're seven years
when we've been joined and agreed that we're moving forward with
this, and it was then all hands on deck.
We had spent about 10 years trying to figure out what to do in
this area because the City wasn't necessarily prepared to take on the
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conversion. But we had massive stormwater concerns in the area.
But it is -- it is a challenging process even when you're locked arms.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Ballpark, how much -- how much
have we secured, they secured, just total in grant money to offset the
assessment to the citizen? And like you said, you're chasing even
more money to offset some of the County cost. But what's the
ballpark range in grants that we're --
MS. PATTERSON: It's a lot higher in this phase. That $10
million that's allocated now is more than the entire amount between
the City and the County in the first phase. But even then we felt like
we had done a pretty good job.
There were, maybe ballpark, four-ish million dollars, plus a cash
contribution from the County in the first phase, plus a 319 grant from
DEP which helped offset the cost to the homeowners once the
sanitary was installed to run the lines on the private property.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: What is all -- and then all that
totals to 10-plus million, more or less or even more?
MS. PATTERSON: No. I think in that one it was maybe
around 5-, but costs were a lot less then, too. But what happened in
that project, we had an initial assessment of about 25- -- 24-, $25,000
through -- strategically, the City of Naples did a really, really good
job with offering different ways to buy down those assessments as
well as a County contribution and all of the grants. That assessment
came in at about 13 million. Now this -- in this cost environment,
these assessments are going to be larger than that. But it's just an
example of the way that those partnerships can work, including the
Water Management District was really able to help those residents
out. And so that would be the same situation.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Is it too soon to tell how much the
assessment will be for individual citizens --
MS. PATTERSON: Yep.
August 8, 2023
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CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- for this? But what would be,
like, the ballpark compared to previous projects that are maybe
moving along the same glide slope as this one is? It could be about
what? In the past, citizens that were a part of septic-to-sewer
conversion that benefited a lot from grants about this level, what did
some of them wind up paying, ballpark? Because I now --
MS. PATTERSON: The past assessment for the first phase was
about $13,000 per connection.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
MS. PATTERSON: But, again, that was an aggressive
buy-down from the County, from the City, plus grants. There were
numbers used for these phases really early on that were a lot higher
than that.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. I was going to say, if those
grants didn't come through --
MS. PATTERSON: Well, without the -- without the grants and
the strategies for the original -- the first phase of this project, it was a
25-, $24,000 assessment. That number today is going to be a lot
higher, hence the reason why the grants are so key and also why we
agreed that if this proceeded the same way as prior, the emphasis
would be on applying for grants to bring the assessment down. That
would be our first priority before we tried to buy down any of the
other costs because the assessment goes to those -- right to those
residents.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I know that some of the experts
I've spoken with at the state and even some other elected officials that
have had this success elsewhere, they're like, you know, nobody's
going to talk to you about grants at all unless you've already got part
of the money up front, you've got citizens that are, you know,
proactive wanting to do this. You've done things to facilitate design.
It's not a matter of just flicking the switch and begging for money and
August 8, 2023
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then, you know, the end result is the septic tanks get converted and
the citizens pay a minimum amount. I mean, there's a lot of
homework that goes into this before you can even start to move
forward with shovels.
MS. PATTERSON: What positioned us well in the first phase
of the project and then leading to these phases is that we had an
interlocal agreement with the City of Naples. So that showed that
you had a partnership and that we were committed to the project.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: And we moved forward as partners. So
we did the design together. We did the construction together. We
were locked arms. And the grantor agencies and others feel strongly
about supporting things like that. Phased projects, also, a lot of
times grantors like that because they can see how their money's spent.
So it's likely that if there's money available, the fact that we got
money in the first phase of this project, we may be able to go to the
Water Management District and partner with them on future phases,
subject to the availability of funding. Same with Isles of Capri.
You're never going to go into an area like these and tear them all up
at once. Golden Gate City -- Commissioner Saunders isn't here, but
Golden Gate City is four square miles. It will be gridded out, and
we'll figure out how we -- how we have a logical progression there.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. I mean, I really had a hard
time convincing some of my constituents, who I think highly of, on
Isles of Capri just on fully appreciating the length of time it takes.
And these septic tanks don't get any newer, and I worry so much
about that area because it sits in the middle of a very environmentally
sensitive, you know, part of District 1. And if you start to have
septic tanks fail -- it's one thing if they're failing out in, you know,
Immokalee -- and it's still a bad thing, but if you're on a waterfront
property and you have a septic tank that's failing and, you know, it
August 8, 2023
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can be --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did he just say that?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No. It can be --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did you just say that?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No. It can be -- it can be a
different type of environmental disaster that is much harder to contain
rather than if it was -- anyway.
MS. PATTERSON: They are at tide, and they are near or in an
Outstanding Florida Water, so those things are pretty serious. But
the functionality of septic systems in that environment with the water
table being so high, it's just not the way we do things anymore. You
know, one persuasive argument is to get out ahead of this before
we're mandated to do it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: So that's -- that is probably the direction
that we're heading, you know, over time. Not for places with
functional septic systems like Golden Gate Estates where, number
one, the elevations work as well as the types of soils and the property.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right.
MS. PATTERSON: Big properties.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And density.
MS. PATTERSON: And the density, absolutely.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Density's key to success.
MS. PATTERSON: Yep. But this is now -- this is -- this and
the West Goodlette project -- when I say this, Isles of Capri and the
West Goodlette project are particularly sensitive because they are
close to tide, because --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah.
MS. PATTERSON: -- of where they outfall, because of the
density, because of the age. You are a perfect -- essentially, the
perfect storm of septic systems not being functional.
August 8, 2023
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CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Right. Yeah, and that was more
my point. I'm not down-playing. If it failed anywhere else, it
wasn't serious, but it's a different type of serious --
MS. PATTERSON: It is.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- and different type of
environmental issue.
Okay. I've got Commissioner McDaniel and then,
Commissioner Kowal, you're on deck, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Just as a quick point,
this is a -- this is an advent of that $200 million in deficit in
stormwater that I talked about earlier on that was created because of
priorities of others that spent money in other places, number one.
Number two, as you're going forward with these individual -- for
your folks down on Isles of Capri, as you're going forward with these
things, Collier County did a very innovative process when they
converted Willoughby Acres, that used to be all on septic tanks, to
City water and sewer, and they did a special assessment to the
individual homeowners, allowed for that to be transferable to the next
guy, because there's -- the environmental value of septic-to-sewer
conversion, you can't put a dollar amount on it because of the
mandates and the restrictions that, in fact, come along.
But allowing those assessments to stay with the property and
then the people that live in that property for the period of time that
they're there -- I own the house, I get the assessment, 10,000 -- and
I'm just using that as an example. I pay for my seven years of
average ownership. You buy the home, you pay your seven, so on
and so forth. Make sure it's transferable and "subordinatable" so that
when you buy my house you can still get a loan, and you're not
encumbered in having to pick up the payoff of that -- of that exposure
for that special assessment, and stretch out the term so that it is, in
fact, affordable and not a burden on the residents.
August 8, 2023
Page 80
They'll assume the environmental impact and the economy of
the environmental -- positive environmental impact if you're not
snatching on their pocketbook right up front. So making sure that
they're transferable and that they're subordinatable -- is
subordinatable a good word?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yeah, it works.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The ability to subordinate is
the -- is imperative. And if we do those things, then you're -- the
community, I think, understands the value, environmentally,
that -- but allowing for the economic impact to not be so burdensome
on the individual homeowner will really lighten that load.
MS. SCOTT: On Phase 1 for the West Goodlette project, those
were the exact things that we were talking with the City about, and
those are many of the things that the City implemented.
Amy and I were just conversing a little bit. Twenty or 30-year
where the time frame that they gave them to pay back
with -- certainly, there are finance fees associated with that. There
was a discount if they paid in full up front, so --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Of course.
MS. SCOTT: So those were all strategies that we discussed as
we were moving forward with that project, and we'll -- certainly,
those type of discussions are occurring right now with the City's legal
counsel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay, good. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I know I've spoken to you at
length about this, because this is in my district. And I know there
was -- the City received the $10 million. I guess I just need some
clarity. Do we know if they can spread that over, you know, the two
phases, the 2 and 3, or is this something they have to use just for the
Phase 2 moving forward?
August 8, 2023
Page 81
MS. SCOTT: So that is what they are discussing right now of
whether or not they have to put all three phases out to one bid and
have one contract for that and be able to, perhaps, push those funds
out among all of those three subphases of the project, or can they still
push those funds out among the entire project if they bid it separately.
That's why we don't know right now what our '24 fiscal impact will
be until they can determine, from a legal standpoint, what they're able
to do.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Okay. So that does impact how
we move forward on it if --
MS. SCOTT: Yes.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: -- you know, beneficially, if we
can just say, all right, we're going to put all our eggs in the basket for
Phase 2. Depending on how they decide they're going to spread it
out is going to determine how we react to it?
MS. SCOTT: Absolutely.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Okay. All right.
MS. SCOTT: And it's conducive for us to join hands with them
on this project. We save money by not going in five years from now
and doing our stormwater project, let alone the fact -- the success that
we had with Phase 1. To give an example on Phase 1, in a heavy
afternoon thunderstorm, we would have pumper trucks ready to go to
be able to pump water if necessary to keep water out of people's
home. We're not to that extreme in this area, but that just tells you
what the infrastructure's age and condition is in this area, so...
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just as a final point, you
brought up Isles of Capri; it was off subject. We are not doing
septic-to-sewer conversion in Golden Gate Estates; we're not doing
that. It will be on the interweb this afternoon that it was brought up
August 8, 2023
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that we're going to do it. No. I'm saying out loud we're not doing
septic-to-sewer conversions in Golden Gate Estates.
If the municipality runs a water and sewer line in front of your
house and you voluntarily want to connect, you may, but we're not
going to -- we're not going to do that in Golden Gate Estates. The
density is low enough out there. I don't want to take an enormous
amount of time on this, but we did -- we did water-quality studies
right when I first came into office and determined that east of 951 is
not requisite. We don't have the density issue out there to warrant
that kind of an exposure for the community.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I have a different issue in Isles of
Capri.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, it's density. You're at
six units an acre down there.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It was exacerbated during
Hurricane Ian as the ground got saturated; had some significant
issues. Anyway, I actually just sent you a text. That map that you
put up that showed where the three -- if you could send that to me,
because that would be very valuable, and -- as I continue to gather
things about septic-to-sewer conversions and where we've done it.
We have public comment. Tom.
MR. EBLE: Well, I was looking. We just had the one
registered speaker for 11F, but Mr. Dwight was looking to speak on
the museums.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Oh, okay.
MR. EBLE: He was looking for your guidance on that.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. We'll stand by on that,
then. All right.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You want to come talk us
out, Bill?
MR. DWIGHT: Good morning. My name is William
August 8, 2023
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Dwight -- Bill Dwight, for the record. I am the president of the
Friends of the Collier County Museums. And our job as a Board is
to advocate for the mission of the museums.
The unfunded request of money for the cattle drive this year is
really a symptom. It's a symptom of the fact -- and since many of
these issues have come up today and there are new
commissioners -- in 2018, the museum budget, which comes from the
TDC, not the County funds, was capped at $2 million. That cap has
been in place since 2018, so there have been no increased funds
going to the museums.
The museums have recently absorbed a very vital payroll
increase, which is necessary to recruit professional staff. That has
further restricted funds available for operations.
And the cattle drive is a signature event in Immokalee. It
happens once a year. It involves the whole community because the
cattle go through the community and end up at the Pioneer Museum
at Robert's Ranch for an all-day event. It is free to the public. The
money that is spent there by the county taxpayers goes back to
residents who live in the county because that's who participates in the
cattle drive.
The vendors there are all local. It is a highly local event that
highlights the community and the history of the community, and it is
a vital expense for the museum that simply could not be put into an
otherwise restricted budget since 2018.
So if the County wishes to save money, the Commission, I
would suggest, needs to go to the TDC and request an improved
budget for the museums overall, and that would limit what the
County has to pay over and above. But that's a separate issue.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You want to come next
month.
MR. DWIGHT: Yes. One final event is that the Friends of the
August 8, 2023
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Collier County Museums had received a $400,000 grant to renovate
the baggage car at the depot museum, which is currently closed due
to the flood of Hurricane Ian. We would -- we plan to complete our
construction about the time that the museum is about to reopen in
June of 2024, and we will need that museum because we have no
other restrooms, and we will -- our whole project will be on hold, not
to mention the public does not have access to that museum. So I
encourage you to please finish the project --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Take your time.
MR. DWIGHT: -- as long as you need to.
We need that museum back open. It is the face of the Collier
County museums, and the public wants it opened, as do we.
Thank you very much for your time.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Sir, where did that grant money
come from that you just mentioned?
MR. DWIGHT: The grant came from a historical grant
specifically for the development of black history projects throughout
the state of Florida. It's federal money --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Federal.
MR. DWIGHT: -- trickled down through the state, yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thanks.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you, William.
MR. DWIGHT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, do we have another speaker?
MR. EBLE: That's all, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, I believe we have your
guidance, so we'll continue to work on this issue coming forward into
September and to our budget hearings.
Item #11G
August 8, 2023
Page 85
THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE TOURIST DEVELOPMNET
TAX GRANT AGREEMENT FOR FY 2023-2024 MARKETING
GRANTS (CATEGORY B) ($74,648) AND NON-COUNTY
OWNED/OPERATED MUSEUMS (CATEGORY C-2) ($750,000),
APPROVE GRANT AWARD OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$824,648 FOR BOTH PROGRAMS CONTINGENT UPON FY2024
BUDGET AVAILABILITY, AND MAKE A FINDING THAT
THESE EXPENDITURES PROMOTE TOURISM – MOTION TO
CONTINUE TO A FUTURE MEETING BY COMMISSIONER
HALL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL –
APPROVED (COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS ABSENT)
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to Item 11G, formerly
16F4. This is a recommendation to approve and authorize the
Chairman to execute tourist development tax grant agreements for
Fiscal Year 2023/2024, marketing grants (Category B) and
noncounty-owned operated museums (Category C-2), approve grant
award of funds in the amount of $824,648 for both programs
contingent upon FY 2024 budget availability, and make a finding that
these expenditures promote tourism.
This is being moved to the regular agenda at Commissioner
Hall's request, and Mr. Paul Beirnes, your Tourism director, he's
going to tell you his whole full title, is here to answer questions or
present.
MR. BEIRNES: Good morning, Commissioners. Paul
Beirnes, for the record, division director of Tourism.
With me as well is John Melleky, who is our manager of Arts
and Culture, in case we need a little color commentary. I know this
is a complex item, so I wanted to give just a real very top-line
overview.
August 8, 2023
Page 86
Per the approval and the direction of the Board of County
Commissioners, the Tourism division was instructed again years ago,
actually, to fund and administer an arts and culture grants program.
The intent was to expand the arts and culture offerings within the
county. Of course, with any expenditure of things that impact the
tourist development tax. Tourism also makes sure that the
investment drives visitation to the destination.
These funds are actually allocated as part of the TDT budget. It
is very much governed by use by the state statute. There's a lot of
guardrails. These two grants programs are part of that.
Just a little back story, there is a formal application process by
those within the community and the arts and culture community.
They provide that online. We have just implemented in the last year
a very robust intake website. It captures everything from the
proposed activity, event projections, attendee demographics, plans of
tracking measurement and details of the marketing plan itself.
We then review this through a staff committee with a review, a
recommendation. That is then taken to the Tourist Development
Council who then further review and approve, and then we bring it
here.
This particular year the budget combined within those two
grants programs totaled $850,000. We had applications in the
amount of $1.4 million within the proposal. We're very frugal. We
looked at all of the proposals to determine what -- that impact to be
able to build on the arts and culture fiber of the destination, making
this destination more appealing, and we recommended 824,648. So
we are even under the proposed budget. Just felt it was important to
kind of share the complexity, and here to answer any questions you
might have. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: So I bring this -- thank you, Paul.
August 8, 2023
Page 87
I bring this forward because, you know, instead of just
rubber-stamping the expenditures of the grant for what it's going for,
I just wanted to talk about it with everybody. You know, it seems
like -- and I appreciate the arts programs. You know, it seems like
the program was designed to increase the amount of arts that are
coming to Collier County.
But what I don't want to do is just get into the same ol', same ol'
routine. And whenever there's free money available, it's easy to ask
for it. So, yeah, I can understand 1.4 million and getting only 825-.
Just like Trinity's asking for 19 million. She'd settle for 18-.
But I brought it forward because the places that we're going to
give this grant, they're incentivized on their own to create tourism, to
create marketing, to create their own places of business to drive
people to them. And I just didn't know if that was a great place to
spend taxpayer money. You know, one of them asked for 500,000,
and we only gave them 200,000, and we're thinking, oh, great, we
saved 300,000, but actually this year we're giving them more money
than we gave them last year.
So my discussion is, you know, some of this -- I asked staff, I
said, you know, is this -- is this pot of money, so to speak, is it so
specific that we can't share it or we can't do something different with
it?
And -- like, we have a $1.5 million nut to meet with the City of
Naples with for the beach, so I didn't know if this money could be
appropriated, and the answer was, yes, it could. We could do this to
enhance our Parks and Recreation that would create tourism.
So the money is -- we have options, and that's just -- that's why I
brought it forward, just to talk about it.
So I guess going -- I could just postpone this agenda item for
further discussion down the road with some more thought behind it.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. You could ask for it to be
August 8, 2023
Page 88
continued, and we can bring it back to you with a bigger look at the
various categories of TDC dollars as well as options that you would
have.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Then that's what I move to do.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And did this item come
before the TDC?
MR. BEIRNES: Pardon me; I'm sorry?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did this item come before the
TDC?
MR. BEIRNES: Correct. That was, I want to say, May.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
MR. BEIRNES: June.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So it was a couple months
ago. I have a recollection of it, but I just wanted to make sure.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yeah. I understand the process,
appreciate it, love the recommendation. I mean, it's all fine and
dandy if that's what we want to do with it, but if there's something
else that might be a little bit better to do with it, especially with
looking at our unfunded requests, then I just want to talk about it.
Paul, I always feel like I'm against you, but I'm really not.
MR. BEIRNES: I appreciate.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm really not. I'm really rooting
for you, but, you know, just my commonsensicalness just has to bring
this stuff forward and just not assume things, so...
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: To continue it, does that take a
motion, or Commissioner Hall just --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It takes a motion, right?
MS. PATTERSON: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, it requires a motion.
COMMISSIONER HALL: So I move to kick it forward and
August 8, 2023
Page 89
staff to bring back some other options that we can talk about and
make a decision on.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'll second that for
discussion.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Got a motion by Commissioner
Hall, seconded by Commissioner McDaniel. All in favor to continue
this and bring it back for further --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Wait. We have to have
discussion.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I thought you were making
a motion to continue it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I seconded it to --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Oh, with discussion.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- for discussion, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: For discussion now, not in the
future.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Correct.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Maybe both.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, we're all lit up. I'm
number three.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I must have a problem here. Tom,
I must have a problem here. Nobody's lit up.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm off.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I thought the motion was to have
staff look at other options for the money and bring it back.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: That's how I heard it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I seconded the item for
discussion. I would like to have -- I'd like to comment on --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: The floor is yours.
August 8, 2023
Page 90
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- the motion. I have two
questions.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Light up. Make a comment.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I did.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I'm not seeing anybody lit here.
Maybe you can take a look.
But, Commissioner McDaniel, sir, the floor is yours.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I wish to speak, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Anyone? Anyone at all?
No hands up.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I was lit up, too, but I guess it's
not working again.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The question is, continuance,
is it going to mess with our contractual arrangements?
MR. BEIRNES: With the applicants, there is a very significant
chance of that. I would have to take a look at their calendars to
figure out whether -- what the timing is for their commitments.
There's a few people that have some public comment that might be
able to provide a little more timely insight on that, but I do believe,
since much of this starts in October, November and needs advanced
planning, yes.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, this is subject to the final
approval of the budget.
MR. BEIRNES: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So we -- continuing this isn't
going to squirrel any arrangements other than people's plans that are
thinking they're getting the money.
MS. PATTERSON: (Nods head.)
MR. BEIRNES: (Nods head.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: When you bring it
back -- and that was my question. When you bring it back, I want to
August 8, 2023
Page 91
know the priorities that are established, the measurables and
milestones that are established in the fancy website that makes a
determination for people to go into the portal and ask for whatever
amount of money it is, and I want to know those priorities. Make
sure you bring those back to us when this item actually comes back,
please.
That was my discussion, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I got it.
Is there any public comment? Because I saw it light up, and
then it went.
MR. EBLE: Yes, sir. We have 11 registered speakers. Five
in the room, six on Zoom.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Let me go to
Commissioner Hall, and then let's start with the speakers.
Commissioner Hall, the floor is yours.
COMMISSIONER HALL: One of the other things that I was
just curious about, you know, we can always make that comment, and
this finds that it promotes tourism. If we do -- if we did something
different, that would give us a measurable mark whether, by not
doing that, our tourism was this -- this amount of money, but by
doing it, our tourism may be another -- you know, it may be the
same. It may be less, but we would have a measurable mark. I just
don't want to make the assumptions on things, so that's why I was
kicking it forward.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, the floor is yours. Why
don't you -- let's start with the people in the room.
MR. EBLE: Okay. Yes, sir. Starting -- for our first
registered speaker, Jonathan Foerster, and then Jonathan will be
followed by Nicole Whalen.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You're big enough; you could
have both.
August 8, 2023
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COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Dealer's choice.
MR. EBLE: You have three minutes, sir.
MR. FOERSTER: Oh, yeah. For the record, Jonathan
Foerster. I'm the CEO of the Golisano Children's Museum of
Naples.
I want to say two quick things about the way the arts impact
tourism but, specifically, I want to say thanks for the funding that you
guys have provided in the past. I think that this is a really important
project. It allows us to bring in exhibits that we would not bring in
otherwise. It does provide value to both tourism and our local
residents.
But the second thing I want to say is, I met a family yesterday at
the museum from Ohio, and I asked them why they came to
Southwest Florida in August. And she said, cheap tickets, right?
So -- but they're spending money at a hotel, right? So that's
promoting tourism.
They're in our building because they've got young kids, and it's
97 degrees outside with a heat index of 110. What else are they
going to do?
Taking this money away from us means that there are fewer
options for those people to extend their stays and spend more money
in Collier County, and I think that's a really important factor that
should be considered.
Yes, the beach is very important. We know people come for
the beach, but what do they do on Day 3, what do they do on Day 5?
How do we keep them here for a long period of time spending lots of
money in our community? And I think this program is part of that.
You know, overall I think that the arts and culture add that next
level of vibrancy to a community that it doesn't have with just beach,
right? Like, what's the difference between us and Destin? Destin
has great beaches, but people spend a premium to come to Naples
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because we've got all of those other things. And I think that's a
really important factor to consider when you're thinking how you
spend this money.
I am happy to answer any questions about the specifics of how
we use our grant, too, if you have any.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: No. You know, as I hear you
speak so eloquently, you bring up a great point that, you know,
sometimes I think maybe the TDC is not named properly, because
there's a lot of stuff that you do, Paul, and your team does and that
you do that is a huge benefit to people who live here and enjoy it
every day. So it's not just, you know, bringing in the buses and the
airplanes and the tourists. It's what makes this community so
cohesive. And, as you said, no slam on Destin --
MR. FOERSTER: No, Destin's great.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: -- but we have so much depth here
in other areas that other communities don't have that I think's a
testament to all the work that's done.
MR. FOERSTER: And one other quick point, if I may, this is
tax money that's not our residents paying. Like, this is out of
market, out of people -- it's tax money, but it's not tax money that
your constituents pay. It's tax money that people from Ohio pay.
So there's occasionally -- I think we should take advantage of that
and help them pay for the amazing benefits that we have and they
take advantage of.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, sir.
Tom.
MR. EBLE: Your next speaker is Nicole Whalen. She will be
followed by Donna McGinnis.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Donna left.
MS. WHALEN: Yes. I've decided to switch it up. I'm on the
left.
August 8, 2023
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My name is Nicole Whalen. I'm the director of education and
also do outreach and grants for Naples Art Institute which hopefully,
many of you know, is right on the edge of Cambier Park and in the
heart of the City of Naples behind Fifth Avenue.
We appreciate, again, the grant that was awarded last year and
hopefully that will be awarded this coming year for our programming
and also the exhibitions that they bring.
To piggyback off of what Jonathan said in terms of what it does
for tourists, yes, the beaches are amazing, golf is amazing. Not
everyone does participate in those things. What do we have to offer
the tourists that come here and are looking for other outlets? What
do we offer in the evenings that then piggybacks onto an evening on
Fifth for drinks and food, increasing purchases in the dining industry
as well?
I do want to say that as our community has changed, especially
in the past five years, we've become far more dynamic, and even our
local residents outside of the vacuum of a tourist lens are looking for
more elevation in terms of arts and culture offerings.
Local shows that used to occur very frequently in the arts are
now being accompanied by very large shows with -- such as Keith
Haring or Victor Vasarely. So big names in the art industry.
All of those things are important to build depth to our county,
and I think it's important to note that in order to maintain the status of
tourism entry into Naples versus other places in Florida, that arts and
culture element is what sets us apart.
So while the arts may be considered a luxury in some ways for
our county in particular, I think it's a need that needs to be met in
order to maintain the high standard in which we pride ourselves.
So, again, happy to answer any questions. But with that, I think
that closes it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you.
August 8, 2023
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MR. EBLE: Donna left, that's what I'm being told.
Okay. Our next speaker is Hylla Crane. She'll be followed by
Kent Kyle.
MS. CRANE: For the record, my name is Hyla Crane, and I'm
the executive director of the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the
Arts Center Theater which is the only community theater on Marco
Island, the only art center. And, indeed, we also have found that we
are able to support tourism.
Recently a group was staying at the JW, and while other people
went out for boating, we were able to host a paint and sip party for
which we got rave reviews.
Last year was the first year we were ever able to receive this
grant. It was a real honor for us. This hasn't always been a grant
that smaller organizations were eligible for and, indeed, there have
been changes making it available for us. And, as a smaller
organization with a smaller budget, the impact is so great for us in
our ability to both drive tourism and also support our local residents
and providing them with this cultural enrichment.
We work to be a catalyst to fuel economic development and
understanding of cultural diversity as well as our community
cohesion, and we hope that the support that the County provides is
essential for us and also serves to validate our work. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you.
MR. EBLE: The final speaker in the room is Kent Kyle.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Somebody dock his pay. He
was supposed to be at the other podium.
MR. KYLE: I thought it was dealer's choice.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I did say that, yeah.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, you did.
MR. KYLE: My name is Kent Kyle. I'm the director of
development with Opera Naples in town, and I'm also a 20-plus-year
August 8, 2023
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resident of the county. I've raised three kids here. So I'm speaking
on behalf of our organization, but I'm also a citizen.
First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for what you do.
Thank you for managing our government like a business. Any good
business is going to be thrifty. It's going to look for partnerships.
It's going to look for ways to have a ripple effect on the dollars that
you spend. And thank you for doing that, and thank you for creating
the quality of life here in Collier County.
We, Opera Naples, utilized funds from you to help expand
multiple events over the year but, particularly, each year we have an
outdoor 10-day opera festival that is the only opera festival outdoors
in North America to occur in early spring. There is something called
opera tourism. It's real.
So, yes, of course we brought beds in the heads [sic]. We had
fantastic events. We put 3,000 people right in the heart of the city
spending money, staying in hotels, et cetera.
But really the issue that was raised was what's the value of arts
and culture to the community? As a parent, an amazing thing is that,
yes, there's great events that we can attend but, for example, kids get
to go to -- thousands of kids go to field trips at Naples Botanical
Garden, learning about science and nature. Thousands of kids get to
go to Artis-Naples to benefit from shows that wouldn't really be there
if we didn't have this fantastic partnership with nonprofits. So
there's benefits that expand.
And I would invite you, talk to the owners of restaurants, talk to
the owners of hotels. It's a multifaceted question.
Last I checked, I think our Collier County taxable base was
about, like, what, 95 billion, something like that. Events and culture,
it's a funnel. It's a steppingstone to residency.
First, people come as invitees, then they're a snowbird, then they
decide, you know what? We kind of like this. Let's stay. And
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they buy.
I don't know about you guys, but last time I checked, downtown
Naples was revitalized by Naples Players. North Naples, when the
Phil was growing, I mean, my gosh, has anyone seen the price of
houses in Pine Ridge Estates these days? We see this again and
again. Nonprofits, arts and culture, it's a fundamental driver of
quality of life that builds our taxable base and attracts tourism and
does a host of other benefits like education. Thanks.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, sir.
MR. KYLE: Any questions?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Can we keep going with the public
comment? I saw you lit up. Okay.
Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I do want to make a point.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Go ahead, sir.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I want to make it very, very clear,
I'm all about arts and culture. That's not what the discussion was
about. The discussion was about whether we should take tax dollars
and automatically do it without discussion just -- instead of stamping
it on a consent agenda.
I value our arts and cultures. I've been to the Children's
Museum. I've been to Artis-Naples. I've been downtown. I love
it, and I value it so much.
So I just want to make it clear, it's not that I don't value that. I
just wanted to have a discussion on whether, in these days and times,
we should use that grant money for that very purpose without
discussing it. Thanks.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom.
MR. EBLE: We have six registered speakers on Zoom. We'll
begin with Alice Van Arsdale.
Alice, you should be prompted to unmute yourself. I see you've
August 8, 2023
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unmuted yourself. You have three minutes.
MS. VAN ARSDALE: Hi there. Thank you so much. This
is Alice Van Arsdale. I'm the vice president of development for
Artis-Naples. And I just want to echo my colleagues in the room to
express our gratitude for this program and the impact it makes every
year.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Tell her to speak up.
MS. VAN ARSDALE: I know, Commissioner Hall, when --
MR. EBLE: Alice, if you could speak up a little bit for us. I'm
sorry.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Get closer to the microphone.
MS. VAN ARSDALE: Yes. Can you hear me now? Hello?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not well. Because I'm old
and feeble.
MS. VAN ARSDALE: Can you hear me?
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Let's get as close to the mic as you
can and speak as loud as you can. We can hear you, but it's faint.
MS. VAN ARSDALE: Okay. Yes, I'll try to speak up.
Well, I just wanted to echo my colleagues in the room to express
our gratitude for this program and the impact that it makes every year
and how it ensures that Collier County just remains a cultural jewel
for its residents.
I know Commissioner Hall simply wanted to have a discussion
about the funding, but I can really speak to the impact that it has on
our programs. You know, we host over 300,000 visitors each season
who participate in over 800 programs. And I can tell you, you
know, from my personal efforts working on these grant programs just
how much we value the opportunity even to apply.
You know, one comment I heard was, you know, making sure
that we are providing new and fresh offerings for tourism and not to
be, you know, too complacent in any way that these funds will
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always be available.
I'm sure Artis-Naples is not alone. When I say that, we are
continuously assessing and pushing forward our programs to attract
new audiences, represent our growing and diverse community and
really has spoken in dynamic ways.
And so our grant requests always reflect these efforts and drives
our individuals to not only spend their vacation days here but also
consider it as a potential new home. So I just wanted to reiterate
that.
And then I will also note that I believe Kathleen van Bergen, our
CEO, is also on here and would value the opportunity to speak if she
can. But, again, I just wanted to express my thanks and note how
passionately we feel about this program.
Thank you so much.
MR. EBLE: Our next speaker is Kathleen van Bergen.
Kathleen, you should be prompted to unmute yourself. I see
you've unmuted, Kathleen. You have three minutes.
MS. van BERGEN: Thank you very much, Commissioners.
Kathleen van Bergen, CEO and president of Artis-Naples, for the
record.
In addition to Alice's comments -- Alice is responsible for our
philanthropic revenues of which government funding and grants are a
part, and it is my pleasure to, after 12 seasons of seeing the growth in
this community, try and balance all of our increased expenses with all
of those revenues.
I wanted to share the importance of this program and why tax
dollars -- thank you, Commissioner Hall -- are appropriate to be
considering for arts and culture activities.
Much of the dollars received are specifically given to
organizations to market out of our community. And in addition to
Jonathan Foerster's story about a family visiting from Ohio, I would
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like to say that while this might feel like an annual expenditure
commitment, the long-term impact is evident. In my dozen-plus
years, I never tire of hearing people say that they started coming here
on holiday. They were introduced to arts and culture but, for many
reasons, they could choose beach and golf all over the state of
Florida, and they are choosing Collier County because of our
commitment to quality arts and culture.
The long-term impact and growth in this community is evident.
Artis-Naples is one of the largest employers of artists and employers
in general in the county, and we truly appreciate all of the decisions
you have to make about balancing the core expenses in this -- in this
climate -- economic climate.
We would be receiving a reduced grant this year, and yet we are
grateful for the commissioners placing high value for all of the arts
and culture organizations, exhibitions, and performances and the
visibility that these funds bring to tell the public, those who live here,
those who visit here, those who someday may live here, that Collier
does mean culture.
I just wanted to express, to wrap up, that while we are constantly
committed to world-class arts and culture and bringing exhibitions,
performances, education events to this community, this is the first
time in our organizational history that we have grown. I think the
expectation is for us to continue growing with this community to
serve the population year-round.
The museum is open, for the first time, 12 months of the year,
and whether they're inspired by the fantastic exhibitions indoors or
the air-conditioned climate of our beautiful Baker Museum, we are
seeing terrific attendance throughout this first summer of being open
to the public.
So I thank you for your difficult decisions, and I just want to
reiterate the importance that this program has on our organizations.
August 8, 2023
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Thank you.
MR. EBLE: Your next public speaker is Paula Brody.
Paula, you should be prompted to unmute yourself. I see
you've unmuted, Paula. You have three minutes.
MS. BRODY: Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Arts in
Collier County. I am Paula Brody, president of the Naples Art
District, speaking today on behalf of over 100 working artists within
our current membership.
The Naples Art District is located within the light industrial area
just north of Pine Ridge Road between Airport and Goodlette Road.
Located in Collier's District 2, the Naples Art District is the largest
concentration of working artists anywhere in Southwest Florida with
50 working art studios tucked among the businesses and light
industrial on Shirley Street, J&C Boulevard, and adjacent streets.
The Naples Art District is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
recognized in 2020 by the Collier County Commissioners as a
cultural arts district offering a unique tourism opportunity.
I want to speak about the value of the arts in our community
here in Collier County. Why should art -- why should a community
like Sarasota be so well known for its array of cultural activities when
Collier County offers equally rich offerings of theater, visual arts, and
other cultural programs? Friends in Sarasota say also that there's
nothing in Sarasota like the high concentration of working artists here
in Collier County.
I do want to say that arts tourists have been documented by the
State of Florida to spend more money during their vacations and also
stay longer than tourists for other purposes.
And I know that, by listening to the meeting, there are many
opportunities to spend these funds, whether it's chemicals for our
pools or mulch for our parks, all also important priorities. But I do
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want to just say that equal expenditures on the arts will yield
tremendous benefits to our county.
You spoke earlier about potential holiday events in our parks.
The arts organizations offer many, many activities throughout the
year that are significant.
I want to just conclude my remarks with a recap of the funding
from the 2020 Collier County Strategic Arts Plan that the
commissioners funded. Eighty-two percent of survey
residents -- respondents felt that the top priorities for Collier County
should be making the arts more accessible; 47 percent felt they do not
attend arts activities because they are not aware of these offerings,
and the funds that the County grants us through the TDC enables us
to publicize these offerings, not only in Collier County, but well
beyond, to draw ecotourism in the arts.
The respondents in the survey felt they wanted Collier County to
enhance and promote the arts hubs within our community. The arts
really make a difference and draw so many people into Collier.
These funds, as were emphasized, are coming from the hotel techs,
and we spend the money to draw people into the region.
I do want to also just say, because the programming calendar for
many of our arts organizations is already set, and we have to promote
this now, that just yesterday we reviewed our media contracts with
this grant, and we have to sign them in order to begin the season and
commit space for advertising the arts in Collier outside of the
community.
So I also hope that this agenda item will not be postponed. The
funding that the TDC gives all of the arts organization makes a
tremendous difference to all of us and also, through the leadership of
John Melleky, we have all really worked together to promote the Arte
Viva Festival, the Hispanic Arts Celebration --
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Ma'am, your time is up, if you
August 8, 2023
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could just wrap up, please. Thank you.
MS. van BERGEN: Yes. And I just want to say that's made a
tremendous difference to all of us, and thank you for the opportunity
speak.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, ma'am.
MR. EBLE: Your next registered speaker is Rachel Applegate.
Rachel, you should be unprompted [sic] to unmute yourself. I
see you are unmuted. You have three minutes.
MS. APPLEGATE: For the record, my name is Rachel
Applegate, and I'm the chief marketing officer at Gulfshore
Playhouse.
Thank you for allowing me to speak even via Zoom, and thank
you for this grant program. It means a lot to my organization.
We create unique educational opportunities for diverse groups
and produce professional theater that brings new audiences, drives
tourism, and attracts patrons to Collier County. As you likely know,
Gulfshore Playhouse is on the cusp of moving to a new home at the
corner of Goodlette Frank and First Avenue South, and with this
increase in space and seats and education classrooms this new facility
will provide everyone, we are keenly aware of the importance of
investing in not only this community but also growing new audiences
to fill those spaces.
Raising awareness for our entire cultural landscape, as my
colleagues have mentioned, it drives people to the coast as a key
importance during this time of inflation and weather disruption and
other items that are beyond our ability to control.
For example, this past season, Gulfshore Playhouse saw a
13 percent increase in non-Collier County audiences since prior to the
pandemic, and these non -- excuse me -- non-Collier County
residents accounted for 49 percent of our ticket buyers this past
season. And how can we attribute this growth? Vital tourism tax
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grant dollars. With the addition of these funds to our marketing
budget to be invested in out-of-market digital advertising, extended
reach through broadcast television, radio, and print to reach these
audiences. These funds help strengthen our organizations which, in
turn, strengthen Collier County as a tourist attraction.
As my colleagues have noted, it is no longer just the beach and
golf here in Naples, but it's our rich artistic offerings that really bring
people here to spend their time, stay, and spend money with us.
Thank you. Your support matters.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Thank you, ma'am.
MR. EBLE: Our final speaker on Zoom is Susan Suarez.
Susan, you should be unprompted [sic] to unmute yourself, and I
see you're unmuted. Susan, you have three minutes.
MS. SUAREZ: Hello. For the record, I am Susan Suarez,
president and CEO of the Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education
Center in North Naples.
And as the other speakers have said, we're very appreciative for
the funds from the TDC grant program that we have received over the
years which have really enabled us to do two primary things, which is
to increase our advertising and marketing in out of the area markets,
reaching those people in Chicago, in the northeast, and many other
places, and to bring in special exhibits so that people will come back
to the museum and see what's new this time. The special exhibits
really attract those repeat visitors.
And it has worked because now, in addition to having moved
four years ago to our new location, we are also expanding, and we are
adding 3,600 square feet to our museum so that we will be at a total
of just under 10,000 beautiful air-conditioned space for people to
visit.
As you-all know, we attract a highly educated population here in
Collier County, visitors and residents, who do look for more than
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beaches and golf. They are very appreciative of all of the cultural
activities here in Collier County, and being able to use this bed tax
money to continue to support and fund these cultural organizations
just completes that cycle and that loop so that people will continue to
come back year after year because the cultural activities augment
what nature provides with the beaches.
Thank you so much for your support.
MR. EBLE: That was your final speaker, sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
You know, Paul, I just had a comment based off what one of the
speakers said, and it was the lady that said, wow, we really need you
to approve all of this because we're about to sign contracts for a
whole bunch of things, and, wow, we might be in a pickle if this
doesn't get approved.
It reminded me of when we had a lot of jet ski companies that
came here and said, wow, I just bought 10 new jet skis. I started a
new company, I bought trailers, I bought a $100,000 truck, and now I
just found out I can't get a permit. And it's like, wow, that's like
buying a car before you get your driver's license and maybe you're
not going to get the license.
So I would just say, you know, really caution these
organizations. I mean, Commissioner Hall, I don't believe, is being
a stickler. He wants to go through the list, and I don't fault him for
it. But he's basically bringing up a good point that nothing gets
rubber-stamped. So it behooves us to remind these organizations
that if their event is so critical but it can only happen if they get the
grant money, the grant money's never a guarantee. You know,
organizations that I've worked with in the past, the grant money is
extremely important but they have a backup plan. Hey, if the grant
money -- you know, we realize every year we have to sort of
requalify for it. I've even heard people say in other places, well,
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we've got it for the last six years. What do you mean we're not
getting it for Year No. 7? And it's like, well, each year stood on its
own.
So it's important to pass that message. I don't think anybody
here is trying to be Scrooge and shoot down grant money, but every
dollar counts, and we want to make sure we're accountable for it.
But for these organizations that say, without the grant money,
then we can't have the event, they really shouldn't be leaning forward
into contracts and signing things that they can't get out of and then
blaming it on the County if, in fact, the money doesn't come through
saying, well, we've had it every year, but, you know, these five
commissioners decided to change the -- change the narrative, and it's
not -- you know, that's not really true.
So I don't know that you have that issue maybe across the board,
but there's always one or two that get kind of comfortable with the
guaranteed money every year and just, you know, are waiting for the
check and maybe are leaning a little too far forward.
And it's not our fault if we've got other priorities and maybe one
year, you know, the money's just not going to be there, or it's going to
be a little less or something, you know, like that.
So, you know, I don't know if you have a comment on that,
because I know you work with these people on a daily basis.
MR. BEIRNES: Yeah. And we definitely have that
communication. Many of them are nimble; they don't have a
significant amount of depth in their budget. At the same time, they
want to be able to elevate the arts and culture and then, looking at the
calendar, a lot of these would be kicking in in October. So what
they're referring to is placing some of that media, sometimes, you
know, having to secure that earlier than not.
So it's kind of a combination of all that, but we do have that
open communication. There's no question --
August 8, 2023
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CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. I mean, I do realize they
have to be proactive. They can't wait till, you know, zero hour, and
then, you know, oh, we got the money. Okay. We'll have our event
tomorrow. But they really have to be cautious and then
not -- because it's real easy to make us the bad guy if all of a sudden
they're in a pickle, but the reality is, hey, you signed a bunch of
contracts without a guaranteed money or a guaranteed backup plan.
I mean, I know there's some organizations that say, hey, the
reason we love the grant money is because it allows us to utilize the
money we get from donors to offset and do other additional things,
and that makes us much more, you know, cohesive across the board,
but maybe some of these other organizations, it's sort of grant money
or nothing.
I've got a couple people lit up. Commissioner Kowal, and then,
Commissioner McDaniel, you're on deck.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Thank you, Chairman.
Yeah, I think we sit here with a very unique situation or problem
on our hands that probably the other 49 states, a majority of their
commissioners don't have where -- is how are we going to spend
somebody else's money from other states that aren't our taxpayers?
So, you know, it's kind of unique to us and probably other
jurisdictions within the state of Florida in high tourism areas that
have programs like we do with the bed tax.
And, you know, I can remember long enough back that, you
know, some of our county parks in the past played big roles with
some of our hotels. I don't know if people were around long enough
to remember, before Tiburon had their aquatics center, they used to
have carte blanche use of our aquatics center up north at the water
park at 15000 Livingston. You know, as long as they were a paying
customer, they can come and use the aquatics center that we provided
with tax dollars.
August 8, 2023
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So there is a little direct correlation that we can sit back and
articulate, and I like the idea of looking at everything a lot closer.
And I think this stems back to our last conversation, our last agenda
item, you know.
We're moving forward with different things, you know. I think
we have an opportunity here to do things a little different. And I'm
not saying that -- you know, these museums, the arts, they're not just
restricted to the people that visit Collier County. The citizens here
use them, too. And, you know, we have to remember that. They
use them just as much as anybody else. So it is a benefit for them to
have these in place.
And, you know, I know that guys like to go golfing when they're
down here, but a lot of times the wives and the kids don't take up on
that opportunity, and they do other things, so it is important.
But we can definitely sit down and articulate. I mean, I just
looked at $480,000 of unfunded things in our Parks and Recs in our
last agenda item, so I think if we can go and say this money can be
used for certain things. I'm not saying all of it. But there's a direct
correlation, and in the past we have been good partners with our
hotels and other things utilizing things that the taxpayers paid for,
you know. So I like the idea of us taking a closer look line by line at
this. So thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I do as well. And I think it's
imperative that we pass on to these folks, to the people that are
applying for these grants, that this money's not available till the next
fiscal year. That was one of the reasons I asked the question at the
beginning. This money's not available -- even if it's approved today,
it's not available until the budget's approved at the last budget hearing
in September; period, the end. And if you enter into a contract with
a vendor for an expense coming in the future prior to the approval of
August 8, 2023
Page 109
the budget, that needs -- they need to be warned to not do that unless
they have abilities to pull out of those agreements. Because, again, it
puts us in a position where we're the bad guys that are pulling the
theoretical funding that they -- that they're relying upon.
So make sure, as my -- with my previous request, that we're
delineating how we're getting to this point, who we're choosing, how
much money they're getting, and on what priority level that's being
done that the communication with the grantees are -- it's not -- it's not
certified until the budget's approved at our last budget meeting in
September.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Motion and second. All in
favor? Oh, that's your job.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: We've got -- are we making a
motion on this one?
MS. PATTERSON: You have a motion and second on the
floor.
COMMISSIONER HALL: It's already made.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Yeah. So I've got a -- and I was
asked a couple meetings ago to make sure we clarify who made the
motion just for the record.
So we've got a motion from Commissioner Hall, we've got a
second from Commissioner McDaniel. All in favor?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It passes unanimously.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you, Commissioners.
August 8, 2023
Page 110
Item #15A
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA BY INDIVIDUALS NOT
ALREADY HEARD DURING PREVIOUS COMMENTS IN THIS
MEETING
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to Item 15, staff and
commissioner general communications. Item 15A is public
comments on general topics not on the current or future agenda by
individuals not already heard during previous public comments in
this meeting.
MR. EBLE: Yes. We have one registered speaker, Daniel
Zegarac. You have three minutes, sir.
MR. ZEGARAC: Thank you.
Good morning, I think it still is. I'm Daniel Zegarac from
Collier County, also known as Mr. Apples and Chairs.
I -- so many things that I've looked at this morning that I'd like
to comment on and I won't because I can't. But, you know, budget
amendments are everywhere. They come in every meeting. And
looking at today's consent agenda -- really, no laugh on the "apples
and chairs"? Nothing? Really?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was laughing but not out
loud, sir.
MR. ZEGARAC: Thanks, Bill.
If you look at -- if you look at the bill that we want to pay to
Commercial Energy Specialists for $61,541, there's some invoices
dated back to 2022, and I'm not sure why that is. But if you take a
deep dive, you might -- you might want to look at why we're just now
paying invoices from 2022.
August 8, 2023
Page 111
And thank you to Mr. Hall for bringing about a little bit of a
different culture today in terms of money we receive and, you know,
what are the uses going to be for it. Well, we've always done this,
you know, and maybe the world's changed a little bit. But, you
know, culture is everything.
And I can -- I can listen to anything anybody has to say. If not,
I'll just go back in the back of the room and sit down and observe, so
thank you.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Tom, any other speakers?
MR. EBLE: That's all for public speakers.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay.
Item # 15C
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to staff
communications.
Just a couple of things from us. I'm going to read the Citizens
Property Insurance Corporation again, the notice of meetings. I read
it at the last meeting just to make sure that everybody's advised of the
upcoming meeting.
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will be holding office
hours on Tuesday, August 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in
President Passidomo's office on the second floor of this building, and
we are in Building F of the main campus.
The meetings will be by appointment only. Constituents can
schedule an appointment by contacting President Passidomo's office
at (239)417-6205. And, again, we'll make sure this is posted up on
our website and social media.
Secondly, we are going to be working with your aides looking at
August 8, 2023
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a date possibly in September for a workshop to talk about project
management, procurement, and some of the conversations we've been
having on agendas regarding the types of contracts and the types of
work that we do in-house versus what we contract out. This is also
to do with our CEI inspection services as well as how we are making
some of those changes to our project management and procurement
processes.
Typically, we reserve the first meeting -- the first Tuesday of
September -- of each month for a potential workshop. This happens
to fall on the Tuesday after Labor Day, so -- and we'll have the
budget hearing that week, followed by a Board meeting, followed by
a budget hearing, followed by a Board meeting. So maybe the
schedule's a little bit tricky in September, but we'll work with the
aides and get back with you on that.
Other than that, that is all I have.
County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Nothing for me. Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. I'll go with -- I'll start with
Commissioner Hall this time.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm good. No comments.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. I have just a couple
of thoughts I want to make. And, you know, Dan made a comment
on something that's been very frustrating for me for a long time
having to do with BAs, budget amendments.
In my accounting world, budgets are static, and you amend to
your budget at the end of the year with a look-back process as to how
your estimates were done in order to effectuate what was thought that
needed to be done. So maybe -- and I know it's government, and it's
done differently than the private sector, but I would like to see more
August 8, 2023
Page 113
solidification of how we manage our budget amendments process and
not from a --
I see Ed looking at me. I got your attention, didn't I?
And not from a disparaging standpoint but an edification
standpoint, going through the process to be able to determine where
we errorred positively and negatively with regard to the estimates of
our ongoing expenses and how we do what we do. So -- and maybe
we can -- I can have -- we can have some more -- I can have some
more discussions with staff and bring back some ideas as to how to
add more clarity, because it's difficult when you -- when you look at
each one of our agendas, and there's lots and lots of budget
amendments that are going through to ascertain where those
deviations actually transpire.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. And we've been having the
same conversations internally. We do have some thoughts on
how -- after myself experiencing two years of budget amendments
and different things, how we want to manage this process going
forward. I think we eluded a little bit to that on some more visibility
for you-all earlier rather than later and the impacts on these budgets,
and it would probably be helpful -- we'll have some conversations
about -- the budget amendments tied to things like projects is one
thing, and there's a reason why that's like that. So a little different.
But these budgets where we're short money, where we need to
have an infusion of money, those types of things, we want to find a
way to get you-all more visibility, again, earlier rather than later in
the process.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Good. And I think clear
clarification and discussion will ultimately bring us to, ultimately,
better conclusions as we go through the process. And, again, it's not
from a disparaging standpoint. It's edification --
MS. PATTERSON: Understood.
August 8, 2023
Page 114
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- so we can -- so we can do
that.
I wanted to make a point and make sure -- you know, the
consensus was that the unfunded -- the UFR, as we -- as has been
referred to regularly, was going to be funded with the increased
revenues from the assessed valuations, including Planning and
Zoning, Jamie French, except for the East of 951 Horizon Study.
Just budget that on a 50,000 a year for two years or so until we get
through the process. That's the one change that I would like to make
on that list for East of 951. We don't have to plug 150,000 in there
for that all in one year.
And then the last comment that I have to make is it was
exemplified today -- I talked earlier when we were talking about
these unfunded requests. There's an enormous amount of factions
that are all coming here wanting to talk to us about how we spend the
taxpayers' money. We saw a glimpse of that today with your agenda
item that you pulled on the grant for the arts and culture. You know,
we skipped over DAS. Marcy's in the back back there, but we
skipped over whether or not we're going to give DAS any extra
money.
Having these discussions is, I believe, imperative for us to be
able to represent our community and get to where we need to go but
yet also, at the same time, assuring our taxpayers that we are making
these expenditures with the best interests of our community at heart.
I mentioned -- I mentioned the central receiving facility earlier.
You know, there was -- there are other decisions that we are making,
have made in the past. Commissioner LoCastro, you and I crossed
on the Great Wolf Lodge and the investments that this community
made to attract that business here.
So it -- there's a perception of an enormous amount of money,
but when you drill down into it, it's not endless, and having these
August 8, 2023
Page 115
discussions, I think, will partner our board with our senior leadership
who -- our County Manager's the boss of all of the employees. The
County Manager -- we're not. The County Manager's the one that
hires and fires and brings those folks in. And I certainly don't want
this ever to come out -- these discussions to come out like it's us
against you.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's us working together to get
to where we need to go but, at the same time, exemplifying and
prioritizing how we're spending the taxpayers' -- the available monies
for our taxpayers.
MS. PATTERSON: Completely understand, and we really
appreciate the Board's guidance.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. And that's all for me,
sir.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Commissioner Kowal.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I just want to piggyback a little
bit on Commissioner McDaniel and just kind of -- this is more for the
public -- the viewing public out there to understand it. You know,
it's not like a multi-billion-dollar corporation where we all sit in the
boardroom and we have the experts brought in and the staff, and we
all bounce ideas off of each other and try to figure out where we can
cut and where we're going to spend. We don't operate like that. We
can't operate like that. It's against the law to operate like that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: So when you hear us -- and
when you hear us ask certain questions up here where we're digging
on staff or asking things or making comments it's because we don't
have the opportunity to talk to each other. It has to be here in the
sunshine. It has to be here in the light of day with you viewing it in
a quorum.
August 8, 2023
Page 116
So it throws a little different aspect of how to run this
billion-dollar budget that we're talking about, and we do depend a lot
on staff. And, you know, we have to because that's who we have to
bounce our questions off of and the answers before we come up here
and, ultimately, you know, the five of us are going to make a
decision, and we're going to live with that decision in September
when we vote on this budget.
So this is for you out there to understand. This is not where
people always make these comments and say, oh, how can a
corporation sit down and do this and that? Well, it's because they
work under a whole different set of rules than we do. So I just want
the public to understand that, that this is where we're going to hash it
out.
And this is why I said earlier on in this meeting that, you know,
I'm not afraid of work. I mean, if we have to come out in front of
the sunshine, out in daylight again in front of the people to have more
in-depth conversations about this as we move forward into all our
September meetings that we are going to have, I don't have a problem
with that. And I don't know how my colleagues feel but, you know,
if it's something we have to visit, we might have to visit.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You know, if I may, on that
note, maybe on one of those scheduled budget hearings -- those are
evening meetings. Maybe we have the workshop in the afternoon
that day of one of those meetings -- we're all going to be here anyway
that night, so maybe we have -- think of that. Just throw that into the
mix when you're dealing with our aides.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. Thank you. That's a good idea.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was right twice and one
good idea.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Strike from the record -- strike
from the record "that was a good idea." Just put it in as fact.
August 8, 2023
Page 117
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: And you did agree with
Commissioner LoCastro once today.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I did. I did.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: It's LoCastro. Not Costro, but...
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Oh, I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: I've got a few things.
You know, Ms. Patterson, one of the things I just wanted to say
that is very notable, I, too, get upset anytime I see a one-line item in
the consent agenda that talks about a budget amendment or a contract
adjustment. Out in the real world, those are -- you tend to make
those kind of few and far between. And I realize government, you
know, works different, but we don't want it to work as different, I
think, and we are seeing less of those.
What I do appreciate is, when I hate seeing it, I hate seeing it a
lot less because of the prep work that you do for us prior to this
meeting and say, hey, Commissioner, I hate it, too, but here's why it's
in here. And at times it is extremely valid; there was something that
was unforeseen or whatnot. So it's not all just, you know, poor
negotiations or folks sitting on their hands. But the less we see in
there the better. And let's, you know, measure twice, cut once as
much as humanly possible.
Another thing I wanted to just -- to inform the group, on behalf
of our Tax Collector, Rob Stoneburner, who, I've got to tell you, I
think he's a really hardworking guy. I mean, I've needed his help
these last few weeks, and he is unbelievably responsive to my
constituents, to myself -- and both.
So just a little piece of info, the Tax Collector building on
Winterberry on Marco Island was totaled during Hurricane Ian, not
from the outside. But if you went on the inside, it's totaled. He's
worked really hard with FEMA, the County, insurance companies.
And I was just talking to him again last week -- and I put it in my
August 8, 2023
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newsletter, but if anybody's just sort of curious, has friends that live
on Marco, that building will be torn down, a new one will be built in
its place, and when -- right after Hurricane Ian hit, he beefed up the
staff -- there's a tax collector office on Collier Boulevard. It's sort of
Collier Boulevard and 41 where Walmart is. There's a little strip
mall there, and he basically doubled the staff there after Ian because
there was no tax collector office on Marco.
And that office does more than just tax collecting. It's the
DMV. It's a catch-all for things. But he just recently said he's got
the green light to rebuild that building, or it's headed in that direction.
That's the plan. I'm sure there will be a lot of moving parts.
But he also signed a letter of intent with an empty building on
Marco, and by Christmas he hopes to have, in that rental building, the
entire tax collector operations stood up on Marco Island until the new
building is built.
So a little piece of background information. And it's not just
for the folks on Marco. People that live on Isles of Capri, Hammock
Bay, Fiddler's Creek, all up and down Manatee Road, I mean, they
frequently come to Marco rather than coming all the way over here or
other places to use that multifaceted building. So that was good
news -- good news.
You-all remember at our last meeting we voted on a
Conservation Collier lot on Marco Island. We all know that there's
more lots on the list. I met with Ms. Patterson and a couple of others
just to find out when are those coming back to us. Because if you
remember, it wasn't -- it was maybe a few months back or maybe
even longer where we seemed to be catching some spears that we
were delaying sitting on these approvals, and that is not true.
There are a series of lots that have been appraised. The owners
have accepted the appraisal value or possibly less than the appraisal
value. There's still a few homework assignments between it coming
August 8, 2023
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to us and some work that the County has to do, but sooner than later
another chunk of lots will be coming to us for consideration. So just
know that.
You know, Ms. Patterson, I'll just mention again -- and I hope
it's sooner than later -- the marina contract. Is Olema still in the
room? Or maybe she exited. But I know Tanya's back there. You
know, we wanted that to be sooner than later. I know we put it out
for rebid and all of that. So let's just not lose sight of that. I hope
we're going to be hearing an update on that, you know, sooner than
later because we have a lot of marinas and marine stores right now
that have minimal to no services.
Commissioner McDaniel, just -- you had said at the last meeting
that sometime sooner than later, a TDC update, and to include
Paradise Coast assessment. So no timeline on that, and so I'm just
putting it there that these are things that are coming forward.
I will make one correction on Great Wolf Lodge. So we might
have agreed to disagree on how to attract that -- you know, that
company. My stance was they were already attracted here. But
skipping over that, you know, I always say, once a vote's in the bag,
you live with it, and then the bottom line is it's our job to make Great
Wolf successful.
And I want to say how impressive it was to have all
commissioners at the Great Wolf topping ceremony. So if you don't
know what a top-out ceremony is, when you're building a large
structure like that, when they sort of put the last brick on the exterior
and then they move into the interior. I can't tell you how many
people came up to me and said, you have every single commissioner
here, and even though Commissioner Saunders, he might be out of
town, we think he might have been in the wolf costume hiding.
But it is important when, you know, we have events like that,
that -- how impressive it was that we were all there. Our staffs were
August 8, 2023
Page 120
there. The County staff was there. So, you know, thank you to
everyone. And regardless of, you know, some previous vote, they're
here now, and we want them to be successful.
I was really encouraged by what their senior leadership had to
say in the amount of investment they are making as a private
company with the County and in cooperation with Paradise Coast
Sports Complex to fund some training programs that we'll both
benefit from, how they're cohesively linking. You know, we want
Great Wolf Lodge to be a feeder or a user of Paradise Coast and vice
versa. And so we heard a lot of encouraging things, so that was a
great event that we recently had.
And then, lastly, she's been sort of highlighted in the room but,
Marcy Perry, if you would just stand up. So Marcy's our director of
DAS. And in my newsletter this past week -- but we've all sort of
given her shout-outs. I can't believe she's been the director for two
years. I mean, it's -- you know, she came in when we had a lot of
challenges.
And we were talking on the phone the other day, and I said, how
long's it been?
And she said two years.
And, I mean -- first of all, I can't believe how much you've
accomplished just in the short time you've been there but, boy, time
goes by fast. Two years. But, you know, thanks for all you do.
We've had healthy conversation up here about all kinds of
things, but the bigger picture is that facility and a lot of the unique
things that you are doing there that have never been done -- and you
and I have conversed, because I've gotten a couple of notes from
some people that wanted to talk to the director. And your sense of
urgency, your response, and your professionalism in the emails that
you respond back to our constituents with is really second to none.
And so whether it's a Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday night, I know
August 8, 2023
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we all appreciate it.
So keep letting us know how we can help you. Everybody up
here has -- is supportive and, you know, we want to make sure we're
spending taxpayer dollars wisely but also, too, that you're not
begging, you know, for anything, and that, you know, you're a
strongly supported organization.
You've got a lot of volunteers down there that all have sort of
different opinions of things. And so I don't know that I would want
your job, but, you know, know that everybody in this room is really
proud of how you do it, and, you know, keep it up and keep us
updated on the good, the bad, and the ugly of what's going on down
at Domestic Animal Services.
It was great to see that you've opened a satellite facility on
Marco Island. I mean, I put a little blurb in my newsletter about that,
and the people went wild saying how great they thought that was and
that it was really well managed and put together with a lot of
professionalism.
So, you know, another one of our, you know, young superstar
leaders here in the county that is just doing great work every day in
an area that's really tough, that's really tough. You know, you're
never going to please everybody. So, you know, thank you for being
here and, you know, keep up the good work.
So having said that, what else have we got? That's about it,
huh?
MS. PATTERSON: That's it.
CHAIRMAN LoCASTRO: Okay. Meeting adjourned.
*****
**** Commissioner McDaniel moved, seconded by Commissioner
Kowal, and carried that the following items under the consent and
August 8, 2023
Page 122
summary agendas be approved and/or adopted ****
Item #16A1
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND
SEWER FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF
THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES FOR
EUCLID ESTATES, PL20220004699 – INSPECTION BY STAFF
PREFORMED AND FOUND THE FACILITIES ACCEPTABLE
AND SATISFACTORY ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
Item #16A2
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND
SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES FOR KALEA BAY CLUBHOUSE
- WELLNESS & TIKI, PL20230008574 – INSPECTION BY STAFF
PREFORMED AND FOUND THE FACILITIES ACCEPTABLE
AND SATISFACTORY ON JUNE 20, 2023
Item #16A3
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES
AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF A PORTION OF THE
SEWER FACILITIES AND APPURTENANT UTILITY
EASEMENT FOR MAREA LUXURY APARTMENTS,
PL20220007455 – INSPECTION BY STAFF PREFORMED AND
FOUND THE FACILITIES ACCEPTABLE AND
SATISFACTORY ON MARCH 8, 2023
Item #16A4
August 8, 2023
Page 123
FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF
THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES
FOR VANDERBILT RESERVE, PL20190001441, AND
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO
RELEASE THE FINAL OBLIGATION BOND IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF $4,000 TO THE PROJECT ENGINEER OR THE
DEVELOPER’S DESIGNATED AGENT – INSPECTION BY
STAFF PREFORMED AND FOUND THE FACILITIES
ACCEPTABLE AND SATISFACTORY ON JUNE 22, 2023
Item #16A5
RECORDING THE MINOR FINAL PLAT SEVEN SHORES -
PHASE 1, APPLICATION NUMBER PL20230000721 –
LOCATED IN SECTION 14, TOWNSHIP 50 SOUTH, RANGE 26
EAST
Item #16A6
RECORDING THE FINAL PLAT OF NEW DASA, LLC, PLAN
NUMBER 1 (APPLICATION NUMBER PL20220000846)
APPROVAL OF THE STANDARD FORM CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE
PERFORMANCE SECURITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $173,591 –
LOCATED IN SECTION 22, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 25
EAST
Item #16A7
CONSERVATION COLLIER SHELL ISLAND PRESERVE
ADDENDUM MANAGEMENT PLAN 5-YEAR UPDATE UNDER
August 8, 2023
Page 124
THE CONSERVATION COLLIER PROGRAM – THE SHELL
ISLAND PRESERVE IS 111.88-ACRES IN THE SOUTHERN
PORTION OF COLLIER COUNTY
Item #16A8
ADVERTISE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2022-
42, WHICH ESTABLISHED MILESTONE INSPECTIONS OF
AGING CONDOMINIUM AND COOPERATIVE BUILDINGS IN
UNINCORPORATED COLLIER COUNTY AND BRING BACK
THE ORDINANCE AT AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING
Item #16B1
AWARD INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”) NO. 23-8118, “MULCH
AND INSTALLATION SERVICES,” TO SUPERIOR
LANDSCAPING & LAWN SERVICE INC., SOUTHEAST
SPREADING COMPANY, LLC, AND FORESTRY RESOURCES,
LLC D/B/A THE MULCH AND SOIL COMPANY, AS THE
PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND WHERE APPLICABLE
TERTIARY VENDORS AS SET FORTH HEREIN, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENTS (ESTIMATED ANNUAL SPEND $1,380,000
LANDSCAPE FUND 112) – FOR COUNTYWIDE PURCHASE,
PICKUP, DELIVERY SERVICE AND TO SUPPLY AND
DELIVER W/INSTALLATION AT COUNTY FACILITIES,
ROADWAYS, MEDIANS AND IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAYS
Item #16B2
CHAIRMAN TO SIGN A COLLIER COUNTY LANDSCAPE
August 8, 2023
Page 125
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT (“AGREEMENT”) BETWEEN
COLLIER COUNTY AND GS NAPLES OWNER, LLC, A
DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION, FOR
LANDSCAPE, IRRIGATION, AND CONCRETE PAVER
IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE WHITAKER ROAD PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY – THAT INCLUDES LANDSCAPE,
IRRIGATION, AND CONCRETE PAVE IMPROVEMENTS
WITHIN THE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAYS
Item #16B3
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION (FDEP) CONSENT ORDER OGC CASE NO. 23-
0738 TO REACH SETTLEMENT OF MATTERS ASSOCIATED
WITH A STORMWATER ASR WELL (CLASS V) AT FREEDOM
PARK – THIS CONSENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES THAT ALL
WORK MUST BE COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY 15, 2025, AND
THAT THE AGREEMENT W/TERMS AND PAYMENT OF
$12,018 BE APPROVED
Item #16B4
SUBMITTAL OF THE FY23 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS GRANT
APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION 49 U.S.C. § 5307/5339 FY23 FOR GRANT
FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM CAPITAL AND
OPERATING COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,974,431
THROUGH THE TRANSIT AWARD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
ACCEPT THE AWARD, AND AUTHORIZE ANY NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS – AS DETAILED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
August 8, 2023
Page 126
Item #16C1
INCREASE PURCHASE ORDER NO. 4500216574 ISSUED TO
JOHNSON ENGINEERING, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,272,246.06 FOR THE "OLD LELY UTILITIES
IMPROVEMENTS" PROJECT, TASK 2 PLUS FULL PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT FOR ALL DESIGN PHASES UNDER
AGREEMENT NO. 21-7881, WHICH AMOUNT IS WITHIN THE
BOARD’S PREVIOUSLY APPROVED NOT TO EXCEED
CONTRACT AMOUNT AND AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS (PROJECT #60224) - FOR
ENGINEERING SERVICES TO RENEW WATER,
WASTEWATE, IRRIGATION QUALITY WATER AND
STORMWATER IN THE OLD LELY NEIGHBORHOOD
Item #16D1
THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT
BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND THE COLLIER COUNTY
HOUSING AUTHORITY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT AGREEMENT CD22-01 TO INCREASE THE
AMOUNT OF THE AGREEMENT FROM $500,000 TO
$535,422.98, FOR A NET CHANGE OF $35,422.98 (GRANT
FUND 1835) – FOR THE REHABILITATION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS IN IMMOKALEE BY THE INSTALLATION
OF HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIRCONDITIONING
SYSTEMS
Item #16D2
August 8, 2023
Page 127
AN AFTER-THE-FACT CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN
THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA,
INC., AND COLLIER COUNTY SERVICES FOR SENIORS’
EMERGENCY HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FY23
FUNDS TO REPLACE ATTACHMENTS XIII-INVOICE REPORT
SCHEDULE, XIV-INCOME GUIDELINES, XV-PAYMENT
MATRIX, AND XVII-EHEAP APPLICATION EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2023 (HUMAN SERVICES GRANT FUND 1837) – AS
DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16D3
AFTER-THE-FACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE AREA
AGENCY ON AGING FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC.,
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING UNDER THE
HOME-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICES-ENHANCED HOME
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE
COLLIER COUNTY SERVICES FOR SENIORS PROGRAM
WITH REVISION TO AMEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT,
UPDATE TABLE 1 DELIVERABLE REQUIREMENTS, TABLE 2
DELIVERY SCHEDULE, AND TABLE 3 PAYMENT SCHEDULE
(HUMAN SERVICE GRANT FUND 1837) – AS DETAILED IN
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Item #16D4
A BUDGET AMENDMENT RECOGNIZING PARK AND
RECREATION INSURANCE CLAIM #5004092111326
PROCEEDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,990.04 WITHIN PARK’S
CAPITAL FUND (3062) (PROJECT #80371) – AFTER A
VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE STORFRONT AT THE PORT
August 8, 2023
Page 128
OF THE ISLANDS MARINA
Item #16D5
AFTER-THE-FACT AGREEMENTS AND ATTESTATION
STATEMENTS WITH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC., COMMUNITY CARE FOR THE
ELDERLY, ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE INITIATIVE, AND HOME
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY GRANT PROGRAMS FOR COLLIER
COUNTY’S SERVICES FOR SENIORS PROGRAM AND
AUTHORIZE A BUDGET AMENDMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$358,153 TO ENSURE CONTINUOUS FUNDING FOR
FY2023/2024 (HUMAN SERVICE GRANT FUND 1837)
Item #16D6
AWARD INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”) NO. 23-8094, “SUPPLY
OF SAND, STONE, AND CLAY FOR PARKS FACILITIES,” TO
MJS GOLF SERVICES, LLC, AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO
OPEN A STANDARD COUNTY PURCHASE ORDER BASED
ON THE UNIT PRICES PROVIDED BY THE LOW BIDDER – TO
ALL FOUR ZONES NORTH NAPLES, EAST NAPLES,
IMMOKALEE, AND MARCO ISLAND
Item #16D7
THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE SUBMITTAL OF A FIVE-YEAR
SOVEREIGNTY SUBMERGED LANDS LEASE RENEWAL
WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
AT CAXAMBAS PARK WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF APRIL
August 8, 2023
Page 129
6, 2023 – PROVIDING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO WATERWAYS
AT CAXAMBAS PARK
Item #16E1
MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR PAY &
CLASSIFICATION PLAN WHICH CONSIST OF TWO NEW
CLASSIFICATIONS AND THE REMOVAL OF ONE OBSOLETE
CLASSIFICATION MADE FROM APRIL 1, 2023, THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2023
Item #16E2
RATIFY PROPERTY, CASUALTY, WORKERS’
COMPENSATION AND SUBROGATION CLAIM FILES
SETTLED AND/OR CLOSED BY THE RISK MANAGEMENT
DIVISION DIRECTOR PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION #2004-15
FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF FY 23
Item #16F1
RESOLUTION 2023-141: A RESOLUTION APPROVING
AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS,
CONTRIBUTIONS, OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO THE
FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 ADOPTED BUDGET. (THE BUDGET
AMENDMENTS IN THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VIA SEPARATE EXECUTIVE
SUMMARIES)
Item #16F2
August 8, 2023
Page 130
AWARD REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (“RFP”) NO. 23-8129,
“MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR PELICAN BAY SERVICES
DIVISION,” TO DORRILL MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC., AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENT
Item #16F3
A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND
BIGI & BIGI, LLC, FOR OFFICE SPACE AT COURT PLAZA TO
BE UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DIVISION FOR THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS –
LOCATED AT 13245 TAMIAMI TRAIL
Item #16F4 – Moved to #11G (Per Agenda Change Sheet)
Item #16F5
APPROPRIATE REVENUE TO FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
DIVISION COST CENTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $47,228 FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND AUTHORIZE ALL NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Item #16G1
AWARD CONSTRUCTION INVITATION TO BID (ITB) NO. 23-
8128, FUEL FARM FACILITY UPGRADES AT MARCO ISLAND
EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (“MKY”) AND IMMOKALEE
REGIONAL AIRPORT (“IMM”), TO AMERICAN
ENVIRONMENTAL AVIATION, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
August 8, 2023
Page 131
$1,695,131.81, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN
THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT – THAT UPGRADES
OBSOLETE INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE ENHANCEING
OPERATIONAL SAFETY
Item #16J1
AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR ELECTION SERVICES
FOR THE NOVEMBER 28, 2023, CITY OF EVERGLADES CITY
GENERAL ELECTION
Item #16J2
THE USE OF $1,000 FROM THE CONFISCATED TRUST FUNDS
TO SUPPORT THE FLORIDA CRIME PREVENTION
ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
Item #16J3
TO RECORD IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, THE CHECK NUMBER (OR OTHER
PAYMENT METHOD), AMOUNT, PAYEE, AND PURPOSE FOR
WHICH THE REFERENCED DISBURSEMENTS WERE DRAWN
FOR THE PERIODS BETWEEN JULY 13, 2023, AND JULY 26,
2023, PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 136.06
Item #16J4
REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AND DETERMINE
VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR INVOICES PAYABLE AND
PURCHASING CARD TRANSACTIONS AS OF AUGUST 2, 2023
August 8, 2023
Page 132
Item #16K1
RESOLUTION 2023-142: TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT AN
AT-LARGE MEMBER TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE - APPOINTING DONALD
COATES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT PLUS
AND ADDITIONAL TWO-YEAR TERM NO EXPIRING ON
MARCH 9, 2026
Item #16K2
APPLICATION FOR TAX DEEDS FOR FIVE (5) COUNTY-
HELD TAX CERTIFICATES AND THE FORWARDING OF A
WRITTEN NOTICE TO PROCEED WITH TAX DEED
APPLICATIONS TO THE TAX COLLECTOR
Item #16K3
RESOLUTION 2023-143: APPOINT A MEMBER TO THE
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL – APPOINTING
MICHAEL MCCOMAS W/TERM EXPIRING ON APRIL 21, 2027
*****
August 8, 2023
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 12:30 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
RICK LoCASTRO, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST 0 1 r
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CRY, x a�'KNZEL CLERK
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These minutes approved� the Board on1 G"
by Pir ,L6;od-,3
as presented or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS
COURT REPORTING BY TERRI L. LEWIS, REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL COURT REPORTER, FPR-C, AND NOTARY
PUBLIC.
Page 133