PBSD Clam Bay Minutes 02/10/2026PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION
CLAM BAY COMMITTEE WORKSHOP
FEBRUARY 10, 2026
The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division met on Tuesday, February 10 at
1:00 p.m. in the Community Center at Pelican Bay, 8960 Hammock Oak Drive, Naples, Florida
34108. In attendance were:
Clam Bay Cmte.
Michael Rodburg, Chair (absent)
Michael Fogg
Pelican Bay Services Division Staff
Neil Dorrill, Administrator (absent)
Chad Coleman, Deputy Director
Dawn Brewer, Ops. Support Spec. II (absent)
Darren Duprey, Supervisor — Field I (absent)
Bob Lufkin
Cindy Polke
Rick Swider (absent)
Dave Greenfield, Supr. -Field II (absent)
Karin Herrmann, Project Manager I
Lisa Jacob, Project Manager II
Barbara Shea, Admin. Support Spec. II
A►so Present Tom Polke, PBF Board
Jennifer Bobka, Earth Tech Jeremy Sterk, Earth Tech
Terry Cake, Taylor Engineering Kay Soltysiak, Presidents Council
Mohamed Dabees, Humiston & Moore Greg Stone, PBSD Board
William Miller, Taylor Engineering (by telephone) Kathy Worley, Conservancy of S.W. Florida
APPROVED AGENDA (AS PRESENTED)
1.
Pledge of Allegiance
2.
Roll call
3.
Agenda approval
4.
Approval of 11/20/25 meeting minutes
5.
Approval of 1/12/26 meeting minutes
6.
Introductions and opening remarks
7.
Discussion requests by the Seagate/Naples Cay communities
8.
Impairment: For what and what does it mean?
9.
Clam Bay WBID vs Clam Bay NRPA boundaries
10.
Dredge frequency: How often? How much?
11.
Hydrographic Modeling Study
12.
Next steps
13.
Audience comments
14.
Adjourmnent
ROLL CALL
Mr. Rodburg and Mr. Swider were absent and a quorum was established.
Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting
February 10, 2026
Mr.
Lufkin
motioned, Ms. Pollee
seconded to approve the agenda as presented.
The
motion
carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF 11/20/25 MEETING MINUTES
Mr. Fogg postponed approval of the 11/20/25 minutes.
APPROVAL OF THE 1/12/26 MEETING MINUTES
Mr. Fogg postponed approval of the 1/12/26 minutes.
ACTIVE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
Ms. Terry Cake, Mr. Chad Coleman, Dr. Mohamed Dabees, Mr. Michael Fogg, Mr. Bob
Lufkin, Mr. William Miller, Ms. Cindy Polke, Mr. Tom Polke, Mr. Scott Schultz (Naples Cay
resident), Ms. Kay Soltysiak, Mr. Jeremy Sterk, Mr. Patrick Wack (Seagate resident), and Ms. Kathy
Worley were the active participants during this workshop.
OPENING REMARKS
Mr. Fogg commented that the purpose of the workshop is for an exchange of ideas relating to
Clam Bay. He provided a brief history of the development surrounding Clam Bay and its effects on
the NRPA and Clam Pass. Some have expressed concerns on water quality issues and a reduction in
wildlife. He noted that we can only address water quality issues by managing inputs to and outflows
from the system. Mr. Fogg commented that today's focus is on the latter (dredging). Improving ways
of managing nutrient inflows to the system is critical to improving water quality. A future Clam Bay
Connnittee meeting will be dedicated to that topic:
DISCUSSION REQUESTS BY THE SEAGATE/NAPLES CAY COMMUNITIES
A document listing the discussion requests by the Seagate/Naples Cay Communities was
included in the agenda packet. Mr. Patrick Wack commented that his three major discussion points
for this meeting are (1) getting an agreement on scheduling an annual dredge of Clam Pass, (2)
obtaining a plan for the modeling study and determining the process, and (3) discussing the level of
phosphorus impairment in Clam Bay.
DREDGE FREQUENCY UNDER CURRENT MANAGEMENT PLAN/PERMIT: HOW
OFTEN? HOW MUCH?
Several participants were in favor of moving to an annual dredge, to ensure the greatest
possible flushing is maintained, and to place the template in the best condition heading into the
summer. Ms. Kathy Worley, Director of Environmental Science at the Conservancy of S.W. Florida,
suggested that from an ecological perspective, dredging should be scheduled when necessary, and not
scheduled on an annual basis. She noted that a dredge causes increased water velocity, increased
erosion (affecting mangrove health), and disturbance of the benthic environment. Ms. Worley
participated in the numerous meetings in 2014, which resulted in the creation of the 2014 Clam Bay
Management Plan.
Participants agreed that a bathymehic survey should be performed annually in
October/November (post hurricane season), which will be followed by an assessment and
recommendation by Dr. Dabees, PBSD Coastal Engineer with Humiston & Moore, of the need for a
Spring dredge project (to be completed before the start of turtle nesting season). 'the assessment will
Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting
February 10, 2026
take into account tide gauge data, and the amount and distribution of sand in the "template." The
assessment and recommendation will be discussed and approved at a December/January Clam Bay
Committee meeting. Assessments of conditions in the template will continue to be monitored
throughout the year and a plan for additional partial dredging or, in an "emergency situation" full scale
dredging, will be implemented.
There was discussion of difficulties encountered in engaging and scheduling contractors for
such a small-scale dredging project and the increased cost of the dredging projects. Suggestions
included the following.
• Ways of shearnlining the County procurement process.
• Working with Commissioner Kowal, the County Manager, the TDC, and Coastal Zone
Management to ensure that a larger budget is available to the PBSD for a potential dredge
project each year.
• Piggy -backing off of state -negotiated marine contracts.
• Investigation of smaller scale dredging options (as alternatives to mechanical and hydraulic
dredging).
REVISIONS TO CURRENT MANAGEMENT PLAN/PERMIT: HYDROGRAPHIC
MODELING STUDY
Participants discussed a hydrographic modeling study of Clam Bay, prepared by Dr. Dabees,
to be completed before the expiration of our permits in early 2028. The project will consist of four
main elements including (1) collection of current bathymetric data and related status considerations in
the NRPA, (2) selection of sections to be modeled and related modeling techniques, (3) evaluation of
modeling results, and (4) recommendations. Dr. Ping Wang, Professor at the University of S. Florida
Coastal Laboratory, will provide oversight of the collection of field data and the assessment of
numerical modeling. An internal peer review will be provided by an additional U.S.F. professor. In
addition, an independent engineering consultant will provide input. Peer review will provide input
prior to selection of modeling, evaluation of results, and recommendations. Mr. Wack commented that
his Taylor Engineering consultants have questions about the modeling study, which requires follow-
up from Dr. Dabees.
Participants agreed that enviromnental/biological impacts of modeling assessments need to be
considered, and included in this project. An environmental consultant will provide feedback on
environmental factors. In addition, University of S. Florida professors may be available to provide
input on environmental factors/impacts to be considered.
IMPAIRMENT: FOR WHAT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Recent reports suggest that borderline water quality nutrient impairment in Clam Bay has
existed for many years; however, there is no discernible negative trend. Participants discussed the
following.
• Existing environmental/biological monitoring including the gopher tortoise population,
seagrass acreage, observations of benthic life, and the health of mangroves and coastal scrub.
Monitoring activities are in accordance with the Clam Bay Management Plan.
• Status of wildlife and marine life.
• Effects of current water quality on wildlife and marine life.
• Increasing monitoring of wildlife and marine life.
0 Causes of the loss of seagrass acreage in Clam Bay and throughout S. Florida coastal areas.
Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting
February 10,2026
It was noted that water quality, whether viewed as impaired or not, can only be addressed
through controlling inputs and an effective dredging plan.
CLOSING REMARKS
In summary, Mr. Schultz commented that as a newly -elected member of the Naples City
Council, he will actively work with Commissioner Kowal, County Manager Patterson, and Andy
Miller (Coastal Zone Management Manager) on Clam Bay issues. Mr. Tom Polke, PBF Board Chair,
commented that the PBF is willing to help in these efforts in any way possible.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
None
The meetine was adjourned at 3:02
9 Ila
Michael Rodburg, Ch
Minutes approved L VI as presented OR" as amended ON[ 3gIM /C24 1 date
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