BCC Minutes 03/10/2026 (Draft)March 10, 2026
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TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida March 10, 2026
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: Dan Kowal
Burt L. Saunders
Chris Hall
Rick LoCastro
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
ALSO PRESENT:
Amy Patterson, County Manager
Ed Finn, Deputy County Manager
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Crystal K. Kinzel, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Troy Miller, Communications & Customer Relations
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March 10, 2026
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
March 10, 2026
9:00 AM
Commissioner Dan Kowal, District 4 – Chair
Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5 – Vice Chair
Commissioner Rick LoCastro, District 1
Commissioner Chris Hall, District 2
Commissioner Burt Saunders, District 3
NOTICE: PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM MUST
REGISTER PRIOR TO ITS PRESENTATION. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO
THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS ADJUSTED BY THE CHAIR. TIME MAY BE
CEDED BY OTHER IN-PERSON REGISTERED SPEAKERS WHO ARE
PRESENT AT THE TIME THE SPEAKER IS HEARD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
ARE NOT HEARD FOR PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, OR PUBLIC
PETITIONS. PRESENTATIONS ARE LIMITED TO TEN (10) MINUTES
UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR. TO COMMENT ON CONSENT
AGENDA ITEMS, REGISTRATION MUST OCCUR BEFORE THE BOARD’S
ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS HEARD FOLLOWING
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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March 10, 2026
REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC PETITIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN
WRITING TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AT LEAST 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
MEETING. THEY SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION AS TO THE
NATURE OF THE PETITION. PUBLIC PETITIONS MUST ADDRESS
MATTERS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A FUTURE AGENDA AND CONCERN A
MATTER IN WHICH THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTION. IF GRANTED, A
SINGLE PRESENTER MAY SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN (10) MINUTES,
SUBJECT TO EXTENSION BY THE CHAIR, AND THE PETITION WILL BE
PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA TOPICS,
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE THAT PORTION IS CALLED.
COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES; TIME MAY NOT BE
CEDED. THE CHAIR MAY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TO FIVE (5)
FOR THE MEETING. APPEALS REQUIRE A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS,
WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE ON WHICH THE
APPEAL IS BASED AND MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE VERBATIM.
LOBBYISTS MUST REGISTER WITH THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AT THE
BOARD MINUTES AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT PER COLLIER COUNTY
ORDINANCE 2003-53, AS AMENDED.
ALL DIGITAL AUDIO AND VISUAL MATERIALS SUBMITTED BY THE
PUBLIC VIA EMAIL LINK OR ATTACHMENT OR TRANSPORTED ON
EXTERNAL DEVICES FOR BROADCASTING AT THE BOARD MEETING,
MUST BE IN A COMPATIBLE FORMAT AND RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY
MANAGER’S OFFICE BY NOON ON THE DAY PRECEDING THE BOARD
MEETING TO BE SCANNED FOR NETWORK SECURITY THREATS.
DIGITAL MATERIALS SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY WHO REQUIRES
ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING, YOU ARE
ENTITLED TO CERTAIN ASSISTANCE AT NO COST. CONTACT COLLIER
COUNTY FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LOCATED AT 3335 EAST TAMIAMI
TRAIL, SUITE 1, NAPLES, FLORIDA, 34112-5356, (239) 252-8380. ASSISTED
LISTENING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE.
A LUNCH RECESS IS SCHEDULED FROM NOON (12:00 P.M.) TO 1:00 P.M.
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March 10, 2026
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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. February 10, 2026, BCC Meeting Minutes
C. February 17, 2026, Workshop Minutes
3. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Proclamation designating March 21, 2026, as Save the Florida Panther Day.
To be accepted by Meredith Budd, President, Friends of the Florida Panther
Refuge.
B. Proclamation designating March 2026 as National Nutrition Month. To be
accepted by Nadia Heinz, Clinical Nutrition Manager, Naples
Comprehensive Health.
C. Proclamation designating March 2026 as American Red Cross Month. To
be accepted by John McKinnon, Executive Director, Southwest Gulf Coast
to Glades Chapter, American Red Cross, South Florida Region.
D. Proclamation designating March 16 - 20, 2026, as Government Finance
Professionals Week in Collier County. To be accepted by Derek Johnssen,
Director of Finance, Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
of Collier County
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation of the Collier County Business of the Quarter for March 2026
to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County. To be accepted by Lisa Lefkow,
CEO, and Darrick Hatch, Vice President of Land and Construction.
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March 10, 2026
Representing the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce are Tina
Cirakovic, Business Development & Membership Specialist and Heather
Gage, Director of Executive & Office Operations.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A. Recommendation to (1) Authorize the County Manager or designee to
finalize the Purchase and Sale Agreement between Collier County and the
Trust for Public Land for acquisition of approximately 24.3 acres comprising
approximately 1.5 miles of the Seminole Gulf Railway Corridor (Bonita-
Estero Rail Corridor Segment) within Collier County for interim public trail
use in the amount of $11,642,069, and return to the Board for consideration
of a final agreement at a future meeting; and (2) Approve the increase in pre-
acquisition and due diligence costs from $100,000 to $150,000.
11. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex-
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District, award
Invitation to Bid No. 25-8408 to Daniel O’Connell’s Sons, Inc. for the
Central County Water Reclamation Facility Expansion construction project
in the amount of $172,389,000, approve an Owner’s Allowance of
$5,000,000, approve all necessary budget amendments to the Fiscal Year
2026 Adopted Budget, and authorize the Chairman to sign the Agreement.
(Project Number 70243) (This item is a companion to Items 11B and 11C)
(Matthew McLean, Division Director - Public Utilities Engineering)
B. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex-
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District, award
Request for Professional Services No. 25-8335 to Bowman Consulting
Group, LTD for CEI Services for the Golden Gate Wastewater Treatment
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March 10, 2026
Plant Expansion project in the amount of $4,967,003.55, approve all
necessary budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget, and
authorize the Chairman to sign the Agreement. (Project Number 70243)
(This item is a companion to Items 11A and 11B) (Matthew McLean,
Division Director - Public Utilities Engineering)
C. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex-
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District,
approve Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 19-7621, with Tetra Tech,
Inc., in the amount of $4,881,901, for Golden Gate Wastewater Engineer of
Record and Infrastructure Improvements, amend the Consultant’s rates,
extend the Agreement for an additional 1,665 days, approve the necessary
Budget Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget, and authorize
the Chairman to sign the attached amendment. (Project Number 70243)
D. Recommendation to advise staff regarding the Board of County
Commissioners' prior direction, eliminating the 500-foot spatial distance
separation requirement between facilities with fuel pumps or publicly vet
other alternatives that will modify the site design criteria of Land
Development Code (LDC) section 5.05.05 B.2.(Michael Bosi, Division
Director - Planning & Zoning)
E. Recommendation to Adopt the FY 2027 Budget Policy, and adopt a
Resolution establishing a deadline of May 1, 2026, for budget submittals by
the Supervisor of Elections, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Clerk. (Christopher
Johnson, Division Director - Corporate Financial & Management Services)
F. Recommendation to approve the purchase of Property, Boiler & Machinery,
Terrorism, and Watercraft Hull Insurance effective April 1, 2026, for an
estimated amount of $8,224,016. (Michael Quigley, Division Director -
Risk Management)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
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March 10, 2026
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
utility facilities for St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church – Phase 2,
PL20250015142.
2) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities for Azalea Park – Phase 1, PL20250013301.
3) Recommendation to authorize the Clerk of Courts to release a
Performance Bond in the amount of $31,644 which was posted as
guaranty for Excavation Permit Number PL20220004862 for work
associated with Azalea Park.
4) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of the potable water
and sewer facilities and appurtenant utility easement for Siena Lakes –
Orange Blossom Gardens Sales Center Utility Transition,
PL20250010519.
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March 10, 2026
5) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the sewer utility
facilities and accept the conveyance of the sewer facilities and
appurtenant utility easement for Fiori Apartments – Phase 1,
PL20250005672.
6) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of a portion of the
potable water utility facilities and appurtenant utility easement for
Sparrow Collier Boulevard, PL20250003505.
7) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to review
and approve the proposed Temporary Use (Special Event) Permit for
the Country Jam Concert proposed for the Paradise Coast Sports
Complex on April 18, 2026, located at 3865 City Gate Blvd S. Naples,
FL 34117, in Section 35, Township 49 South, Range 26 East, Collier
County, Florida. [PL20260000110]
8) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to sign a one-
year extension to the Memorandum of Understanding between the
Collier County Board of County Commissioners and the Early
Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida Inc., to provide local match
funding in the amount of $75,000 in Fiscal Year 2027.
9) Recommendation to approve an after-the -fact Special Event Permit
and the road closures that are necessary for the Annual Everglades
Seafood Festival to be held February 13 – 15, 2026, in Everglades
City, in order to fulfill Collier County’s special event permit
requirements for road closures.
10) Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to review
and approve the proposed Temporary Use (Special Event) Permit for
the Isles of Capri Spring Picnic proposed on March 21, 2026, located
at 920 Capri Blvd. Naples, FL 34113, in Section 32, Township 51
South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. [PL202600002785]
B. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
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March 10, 2026
1) Recommendation to approve an Amendment to the Access License
Coupled with an Interest between Collier County and the South
Florida Water Management District to extend the term of an existing
license and authorize public access improvements within the licensed
area.
2) Recommendation to authorize the County Manager or designee to
electronically submit a Small County Outreach Program for Rural
Areas of Opportunities application with the Florida Department of
Transportation to fund the construction of a paved shoulder to
improve safety on a segment of Immokalee Road (CR 846E) for
approximately 0.57 miles, from west of Bridge 034833 to east of
Thomas Farm Road - in the amount of $999,915.35.
3) Recommendation to award Request for Professional Services No. 24-
8310, “Design Services for Four-Point Roundabout - Immokalee Road
at Camp Keais Road,” to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in the
amount of $1,574,912.92, authorize the necessary Budget
Amendment, and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Agreement.
(Project Number 33890).
4) Recommendation to award Request for Professional Services ("RPS")
No. 25-8342 "Independent Peer Review, Constructability and Bid
Support Services for Transportation Engineering Design Projects" to
HighSpans Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $1,206,454.00,
authorize the necessary Budget Amendment, and authorize the Chair
to sign the attached Agreement.
5) Recommendation to approve Change Order No. 2 under Agreement
No. 21-7862, "Design Services for Airport Road Widening," with
Kisinger Campo & Associates, Corp., adding 365 Days to provide
additional design services in a lump sum not to exceed $66,512.00,
and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Change Order. (Project
60190, 70071, and 73065)
6) Recommendation to award Construction Invitation to Bid (ITB) No.
25-8522, "Ted Curcie Bridge Repairs," to Structural Preservation
Systems, LLC, in the amount of $1,007,771.17, approve an Owner's
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March 10, 2026
Allowance of $100,777.12, and authorize the Chair to sign the
attached Agreement (Project Number 66066)
7) Recommendation to authorize a budget amendment to recognize
revenue and transfer funding for projects within the Transportation
Supported Gas Tax Fund (3083) and Transportation & CDES Capital
Fund (3081) in the amount of $1,021,594.74. (Projects 60214, 60085,
60066, 60088, 69331, 69336, 69338, and 69339)
8) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to sign a
Supplemental Agreement to the Local Agency Program (LAP) with
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), increasing the
number of vehicle count stations from ten (10) to twenty-two (22);
adopt a Resolution memorializing the Board’s action; and authorize
all necessary Budget Amendments, FPN 446254-1-98-01. (Project
33937, Fund 1841).
C. PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District,
approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 24-059-NS with
Komline -Sanderson Corporation, for Komline-Sanderson Belt Press
Equipment, Parts and Services, and authorize the Chair to sign the
attached Amendment.
D. COMMUNITY SERVICES
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign an agreement between Collier
County and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of
$128,108 to utilize funds received from the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Fund to procure policing equipment (Fund 1835).
2) Recommendation to approve a Resolution authorizing the temporary
closing of a portion of State Road 29 and determining that the closure
is necessary for the Collier County Museums’ annual Immokalee
Cattle Drive & Jamboree on March 28, 2026, to fulfill a Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) temporary road closure permit
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March 10, 2026
application requirement, and to direct staff to provide a copy of the
signed Resolution to FDOT in accordance with Florida Administrative
Code section 14-65.0035
E. CORPORATE BUSINESS OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve the Administrative Report by the
Procurement Services Division for various County Divisions’ after-
the-fact purchases in accordance with Procurement Ordinance No.
2025-34 and the Procurement Manual, and to authorize the timely
payment of outstanding invoices in the amount of $133,640.64.
2) Recommendation to approve the selection committee’s ranking of
Request for Professional Services No. 25-8348, “Professional
Services Library,” and authorize staff to begin contract negotiations
with the top-ranked firms in each discipline, so that proposed
agreements may be brought back for the Board’s consideration at a
subsequent meeting.
3) Recommendation that the Board, pursuant to Section 274.06, Florida
Statutes, approve the sale and disposal of surplus assets via public
auction on April 9, 10, and 11,2026.
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve amendments to Articles 9, 13, and 19 of
the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Collier County and the
Collier EMS/Fire District 27 Bargaining Unit, Southwest Florida
Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, Local 1826, International
Association of Firefighters, Incorporated.
2) Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions, or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) This item continued from the January 27, 2026, BCC Meeting, to
the February 10,2026, meeting, and further continued to the
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March 10, 2026
March 10, 2026, meeting.Recommendation to approve updates to the
Airport Leasing Policy, Airport Minimum Standards, and Airport
Rules and Regulations.
2) Recommendation to approve the forty (40) year Phase One Land
Lease under the Master Development Agreement between Global
Flight Training Solutions (GFTS) and Collier County Airport
Authority for approximately 103 acres of land at the Immokalee
Regional Airport (IMM).
H. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
I. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
J. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
1) 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 in the amount of
$28,163,581.53 were drawn for the periods between February 12,
2026 and February 25, 2026 pursuant to Florida Statute 136.06.
2) Request that the Board approve and determine valid public purpose
for invoices payable and purchasing card transactions as of March 4,
2026.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to reappoint Jack Bonzelaar to the Haldeman Creek
Dredging Maintenance Advisory Committee
2) Recommendation to appoint three members to the Domestic Animal
Services Advisory Committee.
3) Recommendation to appoint four members to the County Government
Productivity Committee.
L. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
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March 10, 2026
M. TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
1) Recommendation to approve the 2026 Doctors Pass Dredge project
scheduled for April/May 2026 and authorize tourist development tax
expenditures for an estimated project cost not to exceed $1,250,000;
authorize a budget amendment; and make a finding that this item
promotes tourism (Project 90549).
2) Recommendation to approve the 2026 Wiggins Pass Dredge project
scheduled for March/April 2026 and authorize Tourist Development
Tax expenditures for an estimated project cost not to exceed
$2,500,000; authorize a budget amendment; and make a finding that
this item promotes tourism (Project 80288).
3) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chairman to execute
Amendment No. 2 to Agreement 24CO1 with the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems,
Beach Management Funding Assistance Program that provides
additional State reimbursement funding of $3,772,665.06 for a total
agreement amount of $4,582,970.66 for the Collier County Beach
Renourishment Project; and make a finding that this item promotes
tourism.
4) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-
day administrative extension for Agreement No. 22-7980 “Tourism
International Representation - Germany Market” with DiaMonde
GmbH & Co KG under the current contract pricing, terms, and
conditions, and make a finding that this action promotes tourism.
5) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-
day administrative extension for Agreement No. 22-7979 “Tourism
International Representation – UK and Ireland Market” with
OMMAC Ltd., under the current pricing, terms, and conditions, and
make a finding that this action promotes tourism.
6) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute the
agreement for Request for Proposal (“RFP”) 25-8341, “Tourism
Marketing & Promotion,” to Paradise Advertising and Marketing,
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March 10, 2026
Inc., with an effective date of March 30, 2026, and make a finding that
this action promotes tourism.
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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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A. This item was continued from the February 10, 2026, BCC Meeting, to
the March 10, 2026, BCC Meeting, and further continued to the April
28, 2026, BCC Meeting Recommendation to adopt an Ordinance
amending the Land Development Code, pursuant to F.S. 125.022, that
revises timeframes for the processing of applications for approval of F.S.
125.022, that revises timeframes for the processing of applications for
approval of development permits or development orders. [PL20250010243]
B. Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District, adopt
a Resolution amending Schedules One, Two, Three, Four, and Five of
Appendix A to Section Four of Collier County Ordinance No. 2001-73, as
amended, titled the Collier County Water-Sewer District Uniform Billing,
Operating, and Regulatory Standards Ordinance, amending proposed rates
for water, wastewater, irrigation quality water, wholesale potable water, and
miscellaneous service charges with effective dates of October 1, 2026,
October 1, 2027, and October 1, 2028, and authorize the Chair to sign the
attached Resolution.
18. ADJOURN
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March 10, 2026
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD’S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE AT 252-8383.
March 10, 2026
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MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We're going to bring this meeting of
the Board of County Commissioners to order. Good morning,
everyone.
I would just like to go over quick little housekeeping rules. If
you have your cell phones with you, make sure you put them on
silence so you're not disruptive to other people when they're up here
talking or at the podium, you know, when they're presenting their
information to us, just to be kind to your neighbor.
Secondly, I'd like to just go over some of the chamber rules
itself. You know, persons wishing to speak on any agenda item, they
must sign up for the petition -- to petition to speak on that particular
item prior to the item being called by the Board of County
Commissioners. You can have time ceded to you as long as an
in-person person signs up also and yields that time to you during an
agenda item, while speaking. It's usually limited to three minutes, in
three-minute increments.
Now, during general comments, general comments is just that.
It's not [sic] a non-agenda item. You will come up and speak. You
have three minutes. During general comments, you're not allowed to
have ceded time to you per the chamber rules. I just want to get some
clarity on that.
And you can also speak to our consent agenda items. You just
also have to register prior to us calling that to order. So this is -- I
wanted to remind everybody of that today.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, I sure am glad you did.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. County Manager.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No confusion.
Item #1A
March 10, 2026
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INVOCATION: COMMISSIONER HALL'S GRANDCHILDREN,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: GRANDCHILDREN AND
KATHLEEN ANNE SOLANO ALVAREZ NAVY U.S.S. JOHN F.
KENNEDY GUNNER'S MATE AND FIREFIGHTER MAY 2001
THROUGH 2006 – INVOCATION GIVEN
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. We are going to start with our
invocation by Commissioner Hall's grandchildren, followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance with the grandchildren and Kathleen Anne
Solano -Alvarez. She's a Navy U.S.S. John F. Kennedy gunner's mate
and firefighter May 2001 through 2006 and now a mental health
counseling intern working with kids ages 5 to 18.
MILES HALL: I pray for all the commissioners, how they help
us and help the law. I pray that angels and God are protecting them.
In Jesus' name, amen.
SUNEE HALL: Lord, we thank you for these commissioners
and how they help with being -- helping Naples be a better place.
Lord, we just thank you for them, and we pray that you give them
wisdom and that they're just really great commissioners, and we want
to thank you for them. In Jesus' name, amen.
SCOTTLYN HALL: I just ask for favor over all the
commissioners. I ask for grace for them. I give -- I hope that they all
have steady hearts in going into this, Lord, and they just give wisdom
to the people and they have wisdom in their minds from you, God,
they only go by your path, Lord, and they -- we thank you and we
love you.
In Jesus' name, amen.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Did you-all notice when -- I
don't know if it was a little -- if it was planned, but when they said
March 10, 2026
Page 4
"all the commissioners," I think she said, "Hall the commissioners."
Okay. That was nice. Subtle. Grandpa told you to squeeze that in,
didn't he? I know. We know how it works up here.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Good catch, Rick.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You've got them trained well.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Very professional.
Item #2A
APPROVED TODAY’S REGULAR, CONSENT, AND
SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED (EXP-PARTE
DISCLOSURE PROVIDED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR
CONSENT AGENDA.) – MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER SAUNDER; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL COMMISSIONER KOWAL RECUSED
HIMSELF ON ITEM #16A11– APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED
W/CHANGES
MS. PATTERSON: All right. Before we move to our agenda
changes, I do have, for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of our
country, some historical facts for today, or historical fact.
The last naval battle of the American Revolution took place off
of Cape Canaveral on March 10th, 1783. Two American ships were
on a mission to bring 72,000 Spanish silver dollars from Cuba to the
American colonies to pay the Continental soldiers.
The American ships were intercepted by three British ships;
however, the Americans ultimately prevailed.
All right. So agenda changes for March 10th, 2026, first we
have move Item 16M4 to 11G. This is a recommendation to approve
and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-day administrative extension
for Agreement No. 22-7980, Tourism International Representation,
March 10, 2026
Page 5
Germany market, with DiaMonde GMBH & Company KG under the
current contract pricing terms and conditions, and make a finding that
this action promotes tourism. This is being moved at Commissioner
McDaniel's request.
Next is to move Item 16M5 to 11H. This is a recommendation
to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-day
administrative extension for Agreement No. 22-7979, Tourism
International Representation, UK and Ireland market, with OMMAC
Ltd. under the current contract pricing terms and conditions and make
a finding that this action promotes tourism. This is also being moved
at Commissioner McDaniel's request.
Continue Item 16M6 to the March 24th, 2026, BCC meeting.
This is a recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to
execute the agreement for Request for Proposal 25-8341, Tourism
Marketing and Promotion, to Paradise Advertising and Marketing,
Inc., with an effective date of March 30th, 2026, and make a finding
that this action promotes tourism. This is being moved at staff's
request.
We do have an add-on item, 16A11. It has been uploaded into
the system. This is a recommendation to award Invitation to
Negotiate No. 25-8413, Barefoot Beach Park concession services, to
Florida Beach Services, LLC, and approve the attached revenue
generating agreement. This is being added on at staff's request.
We do have Agenda Note: Item 11E, the table on Page 50 of the
2027 recommended budget policies was updated to reflect the
Unincorporated Area General Fund tax savings.
We have court reporter breaks scheduled at 10:30 and again at
2:50, if needed.
With that, County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Nothing, thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners.
March 10, 2026
Page 6
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, County Manager.
Commissioner Saunders, do you have anything?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Nothing to add,
Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Nothing.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Nothing to add.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Apparently nothing to add on
this end either.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, I have nothing to add, but I'm
going to recuse myself from Item 16A11 on the consent agenda.
With that being said...
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Before we -- we're about to
vote consent? Is that next?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Do we have any speakers for consent?
I should ask that, too.
MR. MILLER: We do not.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I should have thought of
this -- and I didn't need to pull it, but I didn't ask this question
yesterday in my office, so maybe it's just a quick question.
We currently have Alpha bid concessions for lots of other
marinas, a bunch in my district and some of the other districts.
I was just curious why Barefoot's separate. And educate me.
And I'm sure there's like three reasons why. It just jumped out at me
as another concession that needs a vendor. But we already have sort
of a sidebar going on with, like, five or six different things. So I was
just wondering why this was different. I meant to ask it yesterday,
March 10, 2026
Page 7
and I'm sure you can just give me a quick answer.
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir. Good morning, Commissioners. For
the record, I'm Jamie French. I'm your department head for Growth
Management and Community Development.
These are really regional as far as our approach. The Barefoot
Beach concession area is the closest beach and concession area that
we have to Lee County versus, like, we've just started soliciting
Tigertail. Just geographically different business owners, different
locations.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Gotcha.
MR. FRENCH: And in this particular one, this is actually a
combined effort of businesses that already exist within that area.
That are coming together to provide a multitude of services at
Barefoot Beach.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Where Port of the Islands
and -- you know, so it's not just Tigertail, but Port of the Islands,
Caxambas, a few of the other ones that are in that bigger clump.
They're different animals. Yeah, I gotcha.
MR. FRENCH: And with your boat ramps, sir, you've got four
attended boat ramps versus the self-serving boat ramps. That was our
approach on that one simply because there's volume there with the
multitude of the boat ramps.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Got it. Makes perfect sense.
Got it. Thank you.
MR. FRENCH: Yes, sir. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. Do I have a motion for
the --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I'll make a
motion to approve the consent agenda and the summary agenda.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Do I have a motion [sic] -- I have a
March 10, 2026
Page 8
motion and a second. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: (No verbal response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sign, same sound.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: That passes. Thank you.
SEE REVERSE SIDE
Proposed Agenda Changes
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 10, 2026
Move Item 16M4 to 11G: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-day
administrative extension for Agreement No. 22-7980 “Tourism International Representation - Germany
Market” with DiaMonde GmbH & Co KG under the current contract pricing, terms, and conditions, and
make a finding that this action promotes tourism. (Commissioner McDaniel’s Request)
Move Item 16M5 to 11H: Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a 180-day
administrative extension for Agreement No. 22-7979 “Tourism International Representation – UK and
Ireland Market” with OMMAC Ltd., under the current contract pricing, terms, and conditions, and make a
finding that this action promotes tourism. (Commissioner McDaniel’s Request)
Continue Item 16M6 to the March 24, 2026 BCC Meeting: Recommendation to approve and authorize the
Chair to execute the agreement for Request for Proposal (“RFP”) 25-8341, “Tourism Marketing & Promotion,” to
Paradise Advertising and Marketing, Inc., with an effective date of March 30, 2026, and make a finding that this
action promotes tourism. (Staff’s Request)
Add-On Item 16A11: Recommendation to award Invitation to Negotiate No. 25-8413, “Barefoot Beach Park
Concession Services,” to Florida Beach Services, LLC, and approve the attached Revenue Generating Agreement.
(Staff’s Request)
Notes:
• Item 11E: The Table on page 50 of the 2027 Recommended Budget Policies was updated to reflect the
Unincorporated Area General Fund tax savings.
TIME CERTAIN ITEMS:
3/9/2026 6:46 PM
March 10, 2026
Page 9
Item #2B and #2C
BCC MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026, AND
BCC MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026,
WORKSHOP.– MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL -APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 2A,
and if you'd like, we can take 2B. These are the minutes from the
February 10th, 2026, BCC meeting and the February 17th, 2026,
workshop.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I move --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Move for approval.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I have a motion and a second. All in
favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sign, same sound.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. It passes unanimously.
Item #4A
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MARCH 21ST, 2026, AS
SAVE THE FLORIDA PANTHER DAY. ACCEPTED BY
MEREDITH BUDD, PRESIDENT, FRIENDS OF THE FLORIDA
March 10, 2026
Page 10
PANTHER REFUGE.MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO - ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Very good.
We're going to move right along to Item 4, our proclamations.
Start with Item 4A, a proclamation designating March 21st,
2026, as Save the Florida Panther Day. To be accepted by Meredith
Budd, president, Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge.
Congratulations.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MS. BUDD: Good morning. Thank you so much. Thank you,
Mr. Chair, Commissioners.
My name is Meredith Budd, and I'm here on behalf of the
Friends of the Panther Refuge. Thank you again for recognizing
March 21st as Save the Florida Panther Day.
The Florida panther is not only our state animal, but it's also an
umbrella species, meaning that by protecting the panther and its
habitat, we also protect a multitude of other species and natural
landscapes that make Southwest Florida, our backyard, so special.
Collier County has played such a tremendous role in the
recovery of this endangered species. The partnerships between this
community, the conservation organizations, and the public agencies
have helped move this iconic species from the brink of extinction
towards a more hopeful future.
So to celebrate Save the Panther Day, the Florida Panther
Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Friends of the Florida Panther
Refuge will host an open house on the Refuge on Saturday, March
21st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We'll have guided walks, swamp buggy
tours, and opportunities for the public to experience panther habitat in
March 10, 2026
Page 11
the wild.
So thank you, again, for recognizing this important day, and we
hope to see you at the Refuge for that weekend on March 21st.
Thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: At the risk of making my
phone public record, which we don't want to do, did you blow
up -- or send that picture over, the one I sent you this morning?
MS. BUDD: Yeah. Send it where?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The one I sent you this
morning, did you get it pushed -- I had a male go through my
backyard last night at 12:34 --
MS. BUDD: Beautiful photo.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- last night, and I sent it to
her this morning about 6, so...
MS. BUDD: Beautiful photos. Perfect timing. I texted back. I
said, this is so timely considering that --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It really was.
MS. BUDD: -- we have the panther proclamation this morning.
So I always love seeing the panther photos that you get from your
property.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I will make that picture
public record so everybody can see it. Just the picture.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Nice.
MS. BUDD: Appreciate you. Thank you, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Meredith.
Item #4B
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MARCH 2026 AS
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. ACCEPTED BY NADIA
March 10, 2026
Page 12
HEINZ, CLINICAL NUTRITION MANAGER, NAPLES
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH. MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, Item 4B is a proclamation
designating March 2026 as National Nutrition Month. To be
accepted by Nadia Heinz, clinical nutrition manager, Naples
Comprehensive Health, Inc. Congratulations.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I had a very healthy yogurt
this morning, just so you know.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: A healthy yogurt? I had a pound of
bacon.
Do you want to say a few words at the podium if you'd like,
either one.
MS. HEINZ: Good morning and thank you to the Board of
County Commissioners of Collier County for this recognition.
I'm honored to be here on behalf of our team at Naples
Comprehensive Health to accept this proclamation designate March
as National Nutrition Month.
The type, quality, and amount of food we consume each day
plays a vital role in our overall health; however, with so much
conflicting dietary advice out there championing evidence-based
nutrition, education is essential to truly enhance healthy eating
practices in our community. This annual campaign created by the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics focuses attention on the
importance of making informed food choices.
I want to recognize the professionals who lead this charge, our
registered dieticians. They are the experts who translate complex
nutritional science into practical care. The overall health and
March 10, 2026
Page 13
well-being of our residents is paramount importance to both Collier
County and Naples Comprehensive Health.
We appreciate your support. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
(Applause.)
Item #4C
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MARCH 2026 AS
AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH. ACCEPTED BY JOHN
MCKINNON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHWEST GULF
COAST TO GLADES CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS,
SOUTH FLORIDA REGION. MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO - ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Item 4C is a proclamation designating
March 2026 as American Red Cross Month. To be accepted by John
McKinnon, executive director, Southwest Gulf Coast to Glades
Chapter, American Red Cross South Florida Region.
Congratulations.
(Applause.)
MR. McKINNON: Well, thank you so much, Board of County
Commissioners. I'm very grateful for your continued recognition of
the amazing work that the Red Cross does all throughout the country,
but especially here in Collier County.
This is a testament to the continued relationship that we have in
meeting the needs of our communities. Whether that's a home fire or
a flood or a major disaster in the aftermath of a hurricane, Red Cross
is ready to stand up with the County and respond to those needs. And
we're just so grateful to have been doing that now for over 110 years
March 10, 2026
Page 14
in the state of Florida. So thank you so much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Hey, John, can I just say
something real quick? You know, a lot of people think of Red Cross,
and they think it's, like, blood drives, right, when they don't realize
how extensive your operation is.
My district is a very low-lying area. So when the hurricanes hit,
we all have damage. I mean, Commissioner Hall has stuff on
Vanderbilt Beach that's just crushed. And I've got low-lying areas,
Marco, Isles of Capri, Goodland, Port of the Isles.
Your rapid response is so impressive. You know, we all spend
time in the EOC, and while we're all trying to dial up emergency help
or whatnot, I mean, I get a call from my people in Goodland, and
they're like, "The Red Cross truck's already here feeding people."
So, you know, a lot of times that's not covered in the
newspapers, you know, as they try to look for sensational headlines
for other things. But you-all just come out of the woodwork. You're
on autopilot. You're not waiting for somebody to -- you know where
the emergencies are, and you just go to it. And it's so noticed and
appreciated.
So thank you, you know, for that.
MR. McKINNON: Thank you so much. I'm newer to the Red
Cross. And one thing I --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Oh, so you're not responsible
for any of the stuff I just said? Oh, okay.
MR. McKINNON: Some of it. Some of it.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Send a postcard to the person
that you replaced.
MR. McKINNON: Only nine hurricanes I've responded to in
my career. But I will say this: Red Cross is the best kept secret that
we have --
March 10, 2026
Page 15
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Clearly.
MR. McKINNON: -- locally. It's really amazing, so thank you
for those --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Great partner for us. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I would also like to add that, you
know, it's not -- there just some citizen, too. These guys come out,
and they're the first ones -- our responders are out there 24 hours, 12
hours, you know, standing at a post doing direction -- directing traffic
in the heat because, you know, all the power lines went down. They
come up, they bring water, they bring food to these guys. I mean,
they're there. So it's a very, very crucial link in that process.
MR. McKINNON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, guys.
(Applause.)
Item #4D
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MARCH 16 - 20, 2026, AS
GOVERNMENT FINANCE PROFESSIONALS’ WEEK IN
COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY DEREK JOHNSSEN,
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE
CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF COLLIER COUNTY.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Item 4D is a proclamation designating
March 16th through 20th, 2026, as Government Finance
Professionals Week in Collier County. To be accepted by Derek
Johnssen, director of finance, Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
and Comptroller of Collier County. Congratulations.
March 10, 2026
Page 16
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Who's counting all the beans
on the counters here?
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Derek, do you want to say some
words?
MR. JOHNSSEN: Well, again, I certainly hope the
photographer can make me look younger. Anyway, Derek Johnssen
from the Clerk's Office.
Thanks for the recognition in this proclamation. These are some
of the people who process accounts payable, payroll, manage debt
and investments for you, as well as provide county fiscal processing.
Mr. Johnson, of course, spearheads your budget initiative, which
you'll hear more about later today. So just a big thanks to them.
They're everything. I'm just kind of the figurehead today.
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Derek.
(Applause.)
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, if we could get a motion to
accept the proclamations.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So moved.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We have a motion. Second?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We have a second. All in favor,
signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
March 10, 2026
Page 17
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The ayes have it. Thank you.
Item #5A
PRESENTATION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BUSINESS OF
THE QUARTER FOR MARCH 2026 TO HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY OF COLLIER COUNTY. ACCEPTED BY LISA
LEFKOW, CEO, AND DARRICK HATCH, VICE PRESIDENT OF
LAND AND CONSTRUCTION. REPRESENTING THE
GREATER NAPLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE TINA
CIRAKOVIC, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MEMBERSHIP
SPECIALIST AND HEATHER GAGE, DIRECTOR OF
EXECUTIVE & OFFICE OPERATIONS- PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: Item 5A is presentation of the Collier
County business of the quarter for March 2026 to Habitat for
Humanity of Collier County. To be accepted by Lisa Lefkow, CEO,
and Darrick Hatch, vice president of land and construction.
Representing the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce are Tina
Cirakovic, business development and membership specialist, and
Heather Gage, director of executive and office operations.
Congratulations.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. Do you want to say some
words?
MS. LEFKOW: Would you like me to say some words?
Good morning, Commissioners. For the record, Lisa Lefkow,
CEO, Habitat for Humanity. I'm always happy to say some words.
How much time do you have this time? Four, five, 10 minutes, an
hour?
March 10, 2026
Page 18
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Two hours.
MS. LEFKOW: Two hours.
What I wanted to share with you today is some good news. You
know the work of Habitat for Humanity so well, and we remain your
sole provider of access to affordable homeownership in this
community. So the two-prong mission of making sure that people are
paying no more than 30 percent of their monthly income for their
housing expenses while also creating that generational wealth that
comes from homeownership, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty.
I want to share a couple of great statistics that have happened
since January 1st. During that time, we've approved eight new
applications for folks ready to enter into homeownership, and two of
them work for Collier County. One of them is a school bus driver.
The other works as a GIS tech. So 25 percent of our new applicants
are your employees.
Over that same period of time, we've celebrated 10 closings on
new homes, people who've completed that prepurchase process of
investing sweat equity and their volunteer time helping to build their
own homes and the homes of their neighbors, taking prepurchase
classes as they prepare for homeownership and that long-term
stability. And we've celebrated seven payoffs. So now people that
have completed their term of their mortgage and fully satisfied their
mortgage owning their home free and clear.
And we have also exercised our right of first refusal and
purchased one home back from a family that had been long in their
home, recently retired from their jobs, and are now moving out of
Collier County to be closer to kids.
So we have purchased that home back. We'll bring it up to our
"like new" standard and sell it to another qualified buyer, keeping
that affordable inventory protected in perpetuity.
So I'm grateful for your partnership, now 2,760 -- we've a
March 10, 2026
Page 19
closing later this week -- families living in Habitat Collier built
homes in this community, making us the largest producing Habitat
affiliate in all of the United States. Thank you for all that you do to
make space for affordable homeownership in this community.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
ADDED – ARTIST OF THE MONTH
ARTIST OF THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026 – DAN JENSEN,
ILLINOIS NATIVE, REALIST PAINTER; ARTIST MEMBER AT
THE ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, if I could turn your
attention to the back of the room for the Artist of the Month. The
March Artist of the Month is Dan Jensen. An Illinois native, Dan
studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before earning his BFA at the
University of Denver.
In 2016, he relocated to Naples where Florida's distinctive light,
landscape, and natural rhythms quickly became central to his work.
Mr. Jensen's work also often places the natural world in quiet
contrast to the mass-produced carefully manicured environment of
modern Florida.
A skilled realist painter, Jensen is also widely recognized for his
portrait work, including his self-portrait on display in the back. Dan
has presented two solo exhibitions in Southwest Florida and has
exhibited in shows nationally. He is an artist member at the esteemed
Arts Club of Chicago.
Item #7
March 10, 2026
Page 20
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MS. PATTERSON: With that, that moves us to Item 7, public
comments.
MR. MILLER: We have three registered speakers for public
comments, two here in the room and one on Zoom. Your first
speaker is Stephen Gray. He'll be followed by Daniel Zegarac.
MR. GRAY: I'm hurrying.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Time don't start till you get there.
MR. GRAY: I won't use it all.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It depends on what he's
talking about.
MR. GRAY: Good morning. Thank you very much. My
name's Stephen Gray. I'm with the Marco Island City Council. I'm
here just for some brief comment, please.
First, thank you-all for your service. I greatly appreciate it. I
know we're all trying to do all they can for this wonderful
community.
Marco Island would benefit from a 1 percent sale tax being
placed on the ballot in 2026. It would bring various -- it would be
very instructive to see how our voters would respond to that proposal.
As a barrier island, we are challenged by rising costs of service. I am
a strong advocate personally of disciplined financial stewardship.
Our revenue sources are limited. Our business community
believes they are being sufficiently taxed. Our residents believe they
are paying their fair share. Our challenge is sourcing funding support
in order to move effectively -- to more effectively serve our very
important tourist community.
Adding the sales tax proposal to the '26 ballot would go a long
way towards enhancing our capacity to serve our growing visitor
base.
March 10, 2026
Page 21
Thank you very much for your consideration.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Daniel Zegarac. He'll be
followed on Zoom by Bobbie Garner.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: He just walked out of the room, so I
don't know.
MR. MILLER: Let's try to go onto Zoom here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oh, he's back. He's back.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Zegarac.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. ZEGARAC: Good morning, everyone.
The mic's not working in the men's room, in case anybody...
At the end of the meeting two weeks ago, Mr. McDaniel asked
the other commissioners if they would consider omitting a surety
bond to construction people, contractors. At the time I thought it was
kind of a preposterous statement, and today I still think it's a crazy
statement. I just don't get it. I mean, why would you put yourselves
at more of a disadvantage with a multi-billion-dollar project than you
normally would?
MS. PATTERSON: Troy -- Mr. Zegarac, if I could just stop
you for a second. This item will have to be brought back so it is --
MR. ZEGARAC: Stop it.
MS. PATTERSON: It is on -- it will be on a future agenda, yes,
sir. It's not something that the Board can do --
MR. ZEGARAC: You really have not followed any rules today.
You haven't.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. This is --
MR. ZEGARAC: You've got commissioners talking over one
another. You've got people -- and you don't notice it because this is
all you have. You don't have any rules of order.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Mr. Zegarac. Mr. Zegarac.
March 10, 2026
Page 22
MR. ZEGARAC: You don't have rules of order.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We do have rules.
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I just read the rules before we started
this meeting. So I'm done. I'm not going to talk about it anymore.
The rules were read this morning. We understand --
MR. ZEGARAC: So you've been through everything that you
have online about people speaking at meetings, right? You haven't.
You don't know what you're -- I mean --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You've got to understand --
MR. ZEGARAC: I cannot criticize you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- if there's anything that may be on
this board --
MR. ZEGARAC: I'm not allowed to be an American when I'm
up here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. All right. We're going to ask
you finish -- to talk about something else. If you can't talk about it,
then --
MR. ZEGARAC: What can't I talk about?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, the County Manager just
informed us that this is going to be an agenda item, so --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And if I may add --
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. We got direction at the end of the
last meeting to bring this back as an agenda item. We have a request
from the --
MR. ZEGARAC: Well, you have -- you have -- you have
construction items going on all the time I beg --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sir, this is not the time for you to talk
between you and the County Manager. This is just for you to talk to
us in your three minutes.
MR. ZEGARAC: She blurted.
March 10, 2026
Page 23
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No. She --
MR. ZEGARAC: You didn't recognize her.
COMMISSIONER HALL: We don't have to.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I don't have to.
MR. ZEGARAC: He blur- -- you know, come on.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
MR. ZEGARAC: Well, I know Burt isn't going to get involved
in it, but do the four of you want to start blurting? Anyways --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Once again, finish --
MR. ZEGARAC: -- it was preposterous to think that, and it still
is. Ninety percent of people with projects that large would not -- I
repeat, would not omit a surety bond. It just doesn't happen, other
than maybe Collier County.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. Are you done? I let you say
what you had to say.
MR. ZEGARAC: You're not -- you're not being an American
this morning, I'll tell you that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
MR. ZEGARAC: You can -- you can bring us your certificates
and --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Mr. Zegarac, this is not a time for you
to sit here and haggle. This is a time for you to say your word. You
have three minutes, and you're done. I let you say it.
MR. ZEGARAC: It's not a time for me to come up and speak
my opinion is what you're saying.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No, but you know rules. The rules
were read to you earlier.
MR. ZEGARAC: And the rules are different depending on what
website, what day, who's on here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. This is it.
MR. ZEGARAC: This is all you know.
March 10, 2026
Page 24
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: One more time. We'll bring order to
this chamber. You will respect this chamber. You might not respect
me. You might not respect anyone --
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You might not respect any one of these
people on this board, but you will respect this chamber, and until you
do that, you will be removed. Do you understand?
MR. ZEGARAC: Respect is earned, young man.
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Do you understand? No, the chamber
doesn't have to earn it. It exists.
(Simultaneous crosstalk.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: And you will respect it.
MR. ZEGARAC: It is not given.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. You're done. Goodbye.
MR. MILLER: Our final registered public speaker for today
joins us on Zoom, Bobby Garner. Bobby, you should be getting
prompted to unmute yourself, if you'll do so at this time.
(No response.)
MR. MILLER: Bobby Garner, you're being prompted to
unmute yourself, second call. And, Bobby Garner, one more time.
We'll call that nonresponsive, Mr. Chair. That concludes our
speakers under Item No. 7.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Troy.
Item #10A
THE COUNTY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE THE
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLLIER
COUNTY AND THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR
ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 24.3 ACRES
March 10, 2026
Page 25
COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES OF THE
SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY CORRIDOR (BONITA-ESTERO
RAIL CORRIDOR SEGMENT) WITHIN COLLIER COUNTY
FOR INTERIM PUBLIC TRAIL USE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$11,642,069, AND RETURN TO THE BOARD FOR
CONSIDERATION OF A FINAL AGREEMENT AT A FUTURE
MEETING; AND (2) APPROVE THE INCREASE IN PRE-
ACQUISITION AND DUE DILIGENCE COSTS FROM $100,000
TO $150,000 - MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
HALL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO –
APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 10.
Item 10A is a recommendation to, one, authorize the County
Manager or designee to finalize the purchase and sale agreement
between Collier County and the Trust for Public Land for acquisition
of approximately 24.3 acres comprising approximately 1.5 miles of
the Seminole Gulf Railway Corridor/Bonita-Estero Rail Corridor
segment within Collier County for interim public trail use in the
amount of $11,642,069, and return to the Board for consideration of a
final agreement at a future meeting and, two, approve the increase in
pre-acquisition and due diligence costs from 100,000 to 150,000.
This item is brought to the agenda by Commissioner Hall.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
Mr. Hall, would you like to say some words on the item?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You're welcome.
COMMISSIONER HALL: This is a project that we've been
working on as the County for over two years, and it's a project that
the Rail Trail has been working on for over six years. It's
multi-jurisdictional. We have the Village of Estero involved. We've
March 10, 2026
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got the City of Bonita involved. There's 11.1 miles of trail for the
first phase, and of that, one and a half miles is ours.
And it's gone from $80 million to $60 million. It's gone from
the Railroad wanting to keep all of their leases and all of their
income-producing assets to where we've negotiated in our final -- we
gave them a final offer and said we want all of the assets or no deal.
It's come from a really good idea to really looking like it's going
to happen, and we're excited about that. I'm excited about that,
because that's that rail trail that has zero public benefit, and we're
going to take something that has real potential for the public and
make it real.
I was recently in Sarasota over the weekend, and I actually -- I
never have noticed it before, but the Legacy Trail that goes through
there is something that this is going to turn into. There was little
businesses along there. There were people using it, biking, walking,
running. I mean, it was crowded. It wasn't just something that the
trivial few used.
So this is something that's actually vital for us to obtain for our
future traffic purposes with the extension of Veterans Memorial as
well as the public rail trail.
So I think we're going to have some public speakers on this?
MR. MILLER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Okay, good.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You done? Okay.
MR. MILLER: Do you want speakers now, sir?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yes, we'll do the public speakers.
MR. MILLER: Okay, we'll start. We have Brad Cornell, and
he'll be followed by Marissa Figueroa.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, as Brad's
coming up, I do have a couple comments I wanted to make.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I'm sorry, I didn't see you.
March 10, 2026
Page 27
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Oh, that's okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders, do you want
to --
Brad, if you can just hold up till Commissioner Saunders
comment.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I am 100 percent supportive
of this acquisition. I want us to have a little bit of a discussion on the
source of funds. And let me -- Ms. Scott's going to probably have to
help me out here.
But the citizens Land Advisory Committee that deals with
Conservation Collier recommended a pledge of Conservation Collier
funds, a portion, and I believe that was at a 50 percent pledge. I'm
not sure if that's for all three segments or just the yellow segment.
And we don't have anything up on the board.
Ms. Patterson, can you put the --
There are three segments. One is adjacent to -- runs through
some Conservation Collier lands, the yellow segment. I think it's
appropriate for the County Conservation Collier program to pay
100 percent of that cost.
Then there's the purple section which connects the public to the
Conservation Collier lands, which is a goal of Conservation Collier,
and I think it's appropriate for all or a portion of that to be paid for,
but I don't think it's appropriate for the light blue section to be paid
for with Conservation Collier funds.
So my recommendation would be to use reserves for that, to
make the acquisition but not to take that from Conservation Collier.
Just a suggestion.
I think the speakers are probably going to be addressing the
issue of -- from the looks of who's going to be speaking, probably
will be talking about the Conservation Collier aspects of this. That's
just a suggestion for the Board to think about as we hear from the
March 10, 2026
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speakers.
MR. MILLER: All right. Brad Cornell will be followed by
Marissa Figueroa.
MR. CORNELL: Good morning, Mr. Chair and
Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to address you. I'm
Brad Cornell, and I'm here as policy director for Audubon Western
Everglades.
And, Commissioner Saunders, thank you for the comments
about the sources of funding for this. I just wanted to, first, say that
Audubon Western Everglades fully supports the purchase of the
Seminole Gulf Railway Corridor in order to participate in the
Bonita-Estero Rail Trail, or BERT project, that links Bonita Springs,
Estero, and Lee County portions of the 11-mile corridor being
considered to this one-and-a-half-mile section in Collier County.
There was a significant discussion and public input from
Audubon Western Everglades, Audubon Florida, Trust for Public
Lands, and Friends of BERT at the Conservation Collier Land
Acquisition Advisory Committee hearing last July. That was
July 2nd, 2025.
The outcome was that CCLAC, your advisory committee,
recommended Conservation Collier funds be used to buy the railway
corridor from Rail Head Boulevard south to the cell tower parcels
except for the small road crossing parcel.
So just to clarify, the recommendation was to use Conservation
Collier funds to purchase the yellow and the blue portions, which are
both within and adjacent to the Conservation Collier Railhead Scrub
Preserve, as well as the yellow portion that goes up to Rail Head
Boulevard, which is not right in a Conservation Collier preserve, but
it allows for better access from Old 41 through the boulevard to that
point.
The purple section that you see on the map is the half-mile
March 10, 2026
Page 29
section that runs through some industrial lands, a lot of storage
facilities, and other -- there's no way you can argue that any of that is
conservation lands or habitat. It's really intense industrial. And so it
would not be appropriate to use Conservation Collier funds for that
segment. It's the half-mile segment. And that breaks down, as you
see with Transportation -- Trinity Scott put up on the visualizer the
breakdown of the costs for the different sections. So the yellow and
the blue are Sections 2 and 4. Section 5 is the purple. Those are the
three biggest sections. But the section that Conservation Collier
should be looking at, total about $7.43 million, that's about 64
percent of the one-and-a-half-mile Collier segment. And the purple
section is about 30 percent for about $3.46 million, and that we
recommend you find another source of funding other than
Conservation Collier.
So, again, we do support the acquisition of the entire corridor,
just -- we recommend strongly that you use Conservation Collier
dollars only for the blue and the yellow portions.
Thank you very much.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Marissa Figueroa. She'll
be followed by Doug Hattaway.
MS. FIGUEROA: Thank you, good morning. Marissa Figueroa
from Audubon Florida, a Collier County resident. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment.
Audubon Florida strongly supports the acquisition of the
Seminole Gulf Railway Corridor to compliment the Lee portions for
the Bonita-Estero Rail Trail.
Like the Gordon River Greenway, it's also funded from several
sources and expected to be a major recreational attraction as a
pedestrian bike path through this unique habitat. I'm excited to use
this one day as well.
We agree that Audubon -- with our Audubon of Western
March 10, 2026
Page 30
Everglades colleagues, too, that Conservation Collier funds should
only be used for the railway sections along Railhead Shrub Preserve
and the Rail Head Boulevard access opportunity.
Audubon Florida also supports the proposed restoration for the
portions of the railway south of Veterans Memorial extension, and
this will help aid in prescribed fire and vital land management for
these rare habitats surrounding this corridor, and it should also be
unpaved for hiking paths to allow for some public access.
Acquisition of the railway and construction of this major public
recreational facility will help also bring long-awaited public access to
this beautiful and rare habitat at Railhead Shrub Preserve, and it will
also allow for some long-overdue land management and restoration
measures that have been waiting for both the road and the railway
statuses to updated.
So again, Audubon Florida fully supports the railway
acquisition, but we also urge you to -- the Commission to use
Conservation Collier funds only for Segments 2 and 4, that blue and
that yellow portion, which are directly adjacent to the Railhead Scrub
Preserve and the Rail Head Boulevard access juncture. And if you
must use some of those funds, please do them sparingly. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Doug Hattaway. He'll be
followed by Deb Orton.
MR. HATTAWAY: Good morning. Doug Hattaway with the
Trust for Public Land. Nice to see the commissioners again this
morning. Thank you, Chair, for allowing me to speak.
It has been -- as Commissioner Hall had mentioned, I am one of
those that have been working on this project for six years. It is a very
complex project, as I believe you're all familiar with, with a lot of
legal nuances and practical nuances and negotiation nuances that
three minutes does not allow to cover. But I'm really happy that we
March 10, 2026
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are here talking about funding this project in cooperation with the
City of Bonita Springs and the Village of Estero.
It is a momentous point where we are today. This is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity that will change all three of these
communities for many generations to come. Economic investment,
new jobs, safe routes to school, to each other, to church, to shopping.
It will also, as you've heard from other speakers, enhance the
environmental management and integrity of the corridor. It is
130 feet wide. It's an extraordinarily wide railroad corridor, in my
experience. And we have worked very well with, and I want to thank
publicly, Commissioner Hall for his leadership on the interlocal task
force that was created some time ago representing each of the local
governments, Friends of BERT, and Trust for Public Lands to work
through all of the complications of this transaction.
We do remember working, presenting to CCLAC seeking some
contribution from that -- or at least a recommendation from that
program. We support that recommendation to contribute towards the
purchase of this corridor. Of course, this project provides so many
benefits to the community. I'd obviously defer to this board to decide
on what funding source is the best to apply towards this acquisition.
I'm here -- mostly I wanted to just say hello to you again. I'm
here to answer any particular questions you might have about this
project.
And thank you so much for getting to this point with your
leadership. And it is -- Commissioner McDaniel, it's still intended to
be a rail-banked corridor. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Deborah Orton. She'll be
followed by Meredith Budd.
MS. ORTON: My name is Deb Orton. I'm president of Friends
of BERT, and we are a 501(c)(3), and I'm cofounder of this
March 10, 2026
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organization that today has about 4,500 members in Lee and Collier
Counties.
And I think a lot has already been said, so I don't need to say a
lot except to say that I do want to publicly thank your liaison, our
champion in Collier County, and that is Chris Hall. We work so
closely together with all three of these jurisdictions. And one of the
things that we as Friends of BERT have realized is we've been so
hyper-focused on this 12-foot trail that we fail to mention that the
11.4 miles actually represents 180 acres of land.
So as we look at this purchase, we're trying to activate that
180 acres with a trail, but it brings you to rivers, it brings you to
conservation areas. Commissioner Hall and I have actually walked
that conservation area and understand just how precious it is in
Collier County.
So with that, I'll just say thank you for your consideration.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Meredith Budd, and she
will be followed by Bridget Washburn.
MS. BUDD: Good morning, again, Commissioners.
I am here as the president of the board for Audubon Western
Everglades as well as just an environmental professional and Collier
County resident.
I want to reiterate that we strongly support the vision of a
connected public trail and agree that acquiring the full right-of-way is
a fantastic investment for the community. Expanding public access
to nature and outdoor recreation is something that I think we all share
as a goal.
While I don't want to see the County stray from full acquisition,
I do share the concerns about the funding source, and I support
Commissioner Saunders' suggestion, so appreciate that.
Conservation Collier, as you-all know, is a voter approved
March 10, 2026
Page 33
program with very clear criteria on how the funds are intended to be
used.
After reviewing the proposal, the CCLAC advised the southern
portion, as been shown you on the map that was up on the screen, to
authorize about four million for that portion only.
So while purchasing the entire right-of-way for the trail is a
very, very good use of public money, that does not necessarily mean
it's appropriate for all of it to be coming from Conservation Collier.
So I do respectfully request that the balance between what the
CCLAC recommended and what's on the agenda today be funded
through another county budget, as Commissioner Saunders
suggested. Doing so would allow the County to move forward with
this amazing trail acquisition while still protecting the integrity of the
Conservation Collier program and honoring the intent of that
program and what the voters approved.
So I thank you for your time and for your consideration. It's
good to see you-all again today. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Bridget Washburn. She'll
be followed by Rhys Watkins.
MS. WASHBURN: Good morning, Commissioners. Thanks
for your time today. I'm Bridget Washburn, executive director of
Audubon Western Everglades.
And sort of to reiterate what my colleagues said, we're really
excited about this trail. It's a great opportunity for folks to get out
and be at the Railhead Scrub Preserve. It's got amazing habitat. And,
you know, you go to the Gordon Greenway, it is packed on pretty
days. So a really nice way for people to get outside.
However, like they said, the funding source matters. The
portion of the rail that's adjacent to the Railhead Scrub Preserve, it
provides a lot of ecological connectivity. It has high conservation
March 10, 2026
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value.
So we totally support using Conservation Collier funds to
acquire that section, about $7.4 million. That would be consistent
with the program's intent. However, that half-mile segment through
the industrial area, like others have said, we really recommend
finding another funding source.
Limiting the Conservation Collier funding to the portion of the
corridor with the clear conservation benefits lets us support the trail
while honoring the conservation commitment made to voters.
You know, we've seen the Conservation Collier program come
on the ballot several times in the last few decades, and so, you know,
voters are agreeing to pay for conservation lands. What we are a
little afraid of is this precedent might scare voters off. The next time
it comes on the ballot, they're going to wonder where their money
will be directed.
So again, one other suggestion, whenever the trail is being
planned and built, we understand there will need to be a safe
pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the four-lane future Veterans
Memorial Boulevard extension, and so we would really like to see
and recommend that be coordinated with the gopher tortoise in a
small mammal crossing.
So we ask you and are excited for you to please support the trail
but ensure that Conservation Collier funds are used only for the
conservation portion. Thanks so much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next speaker is Rhys Watkins, and he'll be
followed by Ellin Goetz.
MR. WATKINS: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Rhys Watkins, and I'm currently the vice chair of the Conservation
Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee, of which I've served
three years. Thanks for the opportunity to speak.
March 10, 2026
Page 35
I wanted to reiterate the CCLAC's recommendation from our
July 2025 meeting which was that the County purchase the entire
segment of the trail but only utilize Conservation Collier funds for
the one-mile section that meets the Conservation Collier program
criteria.
This is the section -- the 19 acres from CEMEX Boulevard to
Rail Head Boulevard except for the Veterans Memorial crossing.
This section clearly meets the criteria for the Conservation Collier
program, as it is adjacent to the Railhead Scrub Preserve. This could
expand access to some of the rarest and most unique habitat in Collier
County, which is scrubby flatwoods.
After a presentation by Transportation and by Conservation
Collier staff, the CCLAC spent a long time discussing different
options under consideration. The committee recommended Option 2
to your board, which was to use Conservation Collier funds only for
the sections from Rail Head Scrub to CEMEX Boulevard.
The northern sections of the corridor are valuable to the County
and residents; however, they don't meet the criteria of the
Conservation Collier program, as they are surrounded on both sides
by industrial uses.
The northern segment is bordered -- yes, like I said.
Thank you for your continued support of the Conservation
Collier program. I encourage you to use the Conservation Collier
funds for purchases of lands that fit the criteria that the program was
intended.
Thank you for your time today. I appreciate the opportunity to
speak.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: Your next and final speaker for Item 10A is
Ellin Goetz joining us on Zoom.
Ellin, you're being prompted to unmute yourself, if you'll do so
March 10, 2026
Page 36
at this time. There you go. Ellin, you have three minutes.
MS. GOETZ: Thank you so much, Commissioners.
I applaud the comments that have been made much more
profoundly prior to me on this issue, and that is to use Conservation
Collier funds for the portions that have been mentioned. And thank
you, Commissioner Saunders, for bringing that up.
I was the -- I served on the CCLAC during its first iteration, and
I was also the campaign chair for the three Conservation Collier
campaigns that were passed successfully. And you-all have been
very supportive of this program over the 20 years of its lifetime. So I
thank you for that and just wanted to chime in from afar. Thanks so
much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MILLER: And that concludes our speakers for this item.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Sorry about that. I wasn't prepared.
My question to Commissioner Hall is of the extra Conservation
Collier money, is there a proposition -- I wasn't able to see it, but is
there a proposition for repayment to the Conservation Collier fund, or
is this a straight pull?
COMMISSIONER HALL: It's going to be rail-banked, so if the
railroad ever did come back, it would be --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That wasn't my question.
COMMISSIONER HALL: We would pay that -- no, no. If we
use this money for the acquisition, there is no intent to repay it. It's
for the public use and for the conservation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Gotcha. Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Ms. Scott, if you could come forth.
I know you have a little bit of information that you'd like to share
March 10, 2026
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with us.
MS. SCOTT: I just have a -- for the record, Trinity Scott,
Transportation Management Services Department head.
Troy, if -- I did have a slide in my backup of -- this is the
breakdown that -- as proposed by Commissioner Hall, breaking down
the segments. The segments start -- Segment 1 starts at the south
end, that's the peach end, and then they proceed north. And so it
shows a breakdown as presented in the agenda as well by segment
and the bottom with Conservation Collier and the portion that would
be eligible for road impact fees.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you.
So my purpose in using the Conservation for 100 percent of it,
besides the traffic, was Conservation Collier money is public money,
and I did not want to use General Fund money to appropriate for this
trail.
Yes, there's a half a mile that does go through the industrial
portion, but it's got great public benefit far more and above. We've
heard from Audubon Western Everglades and we've heard from
CCLAC, and we heard seven speakers say the very same thing. I
know exactly what the program -- what -- I get the message. I guess
it was the seventh time that I heard it is what -- when it dawned on
me.
But everyone that I talk to, people that I play tennis with, people
that I go to functions with, when I bring this up -- I've met with 250
people at a mobile home park right there in North Collier. When I
told them that we were going to use Conservation Collier funds to try
to attain this trail and not use their general tax money, they
applauded. They didn't just think it was a great idea; they applauded.
So I understand, and I recognize the speakers today and what the
concern is, but I have no problems appropriating all of Conservation
Collier money to appropriate this trail.
March 10, 2026
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And keeping in mind, we still have to go through due diligence.
We still have till October, and they're -- all of the stars still have to
align to get this done. But I think it's a great appropriation of those
Conservation Collier funds. The voters did approve it, and the voters
are going to love the trail once they get on it.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel, are you
prepared this time?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: What?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- are you prepared this time?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was. I am.
I'm coming back around again to Commissioner Saunders who
suggested other sources. Do you have -- and I guess my question is
specifically for you: Do you have other sources that you would
propose be utilized other than just "other sources"?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yes. One recommendation
would be -- or one possible source of funds would be simply using
our reserves, to use those.
Now, when you -- you know, if there's an emergency that comes
up, hurricane season, for example, obviously, we need to have a
reserve. In the past, if we've -- if we've had that type of a situation,
we've been able to take funds from other programs. Conservation
Collier funds would be available if there was an emergency like that,
a declared emergency. And so I think that we can take money from
the reserves safely knowing that we still have Conservation Collier
funds available if there truly is an emergency.
And my concern is we're going down a path where Conservation
Collier funds becomes more of a fund for other general purposes, and
I don't want to see that happen. So I'm concerned about the
precedential value of this.
March 10, 2026
Page 39
We're not going to be able to pay back Conservation Collier.
That's a myth. We had, I guess, 32 or $38 million taken out of
Conservation Collier on a budget issue a couple years ago. We have
no ability to pay that back, even though we've said we would pay it
back when we have the funds available, but there's no way to have
those funds available.
As a matter of fact, the only way we could pay Conservation
Collier back for those funds or for these if these funds are taken out
of it would be to extend Conservation Collier for another year or two
to extend the collections.
And so my recommendation is -- I mean, the project is
supported by Friends of BERT. I can't vote against something
that's --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Named after you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: You know, I just --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I just thought that was you.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I've been confused for a
couple years on that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We're all friends of Burt.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And I'm going to vote for this
project no matter what the motion ultimately is.
So, Commissioner Hall, if it's a motion and second to proceed
with it, using the funds as you've outlined, I am going to support that
because it is a very important project. But my point is that we can
accomplish both objectives here. We can purchase this property. We
can use reserves for that portion that's not recommended for use of
Conservation Collier funds and really preserve both programs, the
Rails to Trail program as well as Conservation Collier. So that's my
recommendation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I'm not done yet.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Also I got the -- I got all the
March 10, 2026
Page 40
colors wrong before. I guess I could say I'm colorblind and got
everything confused, but I'm not colorblind. But anyway.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My thoughts are it -- because
was alleged at the beginning -- not alleged. It was said at the
beginning that there were partnerships with other municipalities. Are
they contributing anything to this acquisition?
COMMISSIONER HALL: This is only our portion. This is
only the one-and-a-half miles --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So yes.
COMMISSIONER HALL: -- of our portion.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, they are contributing.
COMMISSIONER HALL: So they're contributing -- the City of
Bonita is contributing to their section. Village of Estero is funding
their section.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. All right. Well -- and
again, and I would like to see some reciprocation. Again, I'm not
one -- and by the way, it was 29 million that was taken from
Conservation Collier when we funded the budget a couple of years
ago, not 38- or 39-, for your -- for that.
And I'm the one that made the recommendation to do that and
then, in error, didn't delineate that those funds be replaced somehow.
I didn't -- it never dawned on me when we were in that 1:30 meeting
in the morning that those funds weren't going to be replaced. I wish
now that I would have specifically said that.
I, too, am going to support the motion no matter what the
funding source is. I'm a little hesitant to just say pull it from reserves,
because there isn't a specific reserve account that I know we're going
to be taking it from. And when we pull it from reserves, we end up
pulling it -- something else might get slighted.
So I would like to see a provision within this motion to have
Conservation Collier have those monies be replaced at some
March 10, 2026
Page 41
particular point in time, even if it is, in fact, in the future so that -- so
that that program can go on as has been intended.
I do know -- you know, I serve on the executive board of the
CREW and on trustees of the CREW. We have -- I think we call
them trail soldiers where people that utilize the trails of the CREW
actually make contributions to help offset the expense of ongoing
maintenance and so on and so forth, and that is -- it's not a huge
revenue source, but it is something that be utilized for a repayment
source.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. Thank you, Chairman.
I look at this stretch as a whole, not breaking it into pieces. I
think if you were traversing this and you're in the, quote-unquote,
Conservation Collier area, the minute you cross over into the other
color, it doesn't become non-Conservation Collier-ish.
I agree that from start to finish -- and I agree with Commissioner
Hall. When I talk to my constituents, they just talk about this whole
stretch as being wonderful and great for the environment and all that.
So now that we're playing around with the money, it's easy to sort of
color code this thing in different chunks.
But I sit here and I think, "What is Conservation Collier for?"
And I think back at times when we've been here approving things that
were a puzzle piece in the middle of nowhere, but we were trying
to -- and I was supportive of it because we're trying to link different
parcels together to own a bigger piece. And that might be a little bit
of apples and chairs.
But the reality is, there's -- at times we vote on some pretty big
expenses for Conservation Collier on some things that will sit for a
bit, where this is a fast-moving machine with so much greatness tied
to it.
I think this is part of what Conservation Collier is for. I know
March 10, 2026
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we're trying to save them as much as we can and preserve money for
Conservation Collier, but as people said, the citizens voted on us to
use it, in my opinion, for things similar to this. I think this fits more
of Conservation Collier than not.
And the stretch that maybe you're riding by more houses in an
industrial area than trees, I don't think it's about what's on either side.
I think it's about the mission and the purpose of this entire stretch.
When we talk about using reserves, as soon as I hear that, the
first thing I think of is the spreadsheet that we've shown at all our
budget meetings showing how many projects we have that we have
no money for. So every time we sort of chip away at something that
we could have used, something that the voters voted for when it had a
Conservation Collier type of flavor but we go into our reserves,
which we really need for utilities and some, you know, possible
emergencies down the road, we can never recoup that money again.
So I'm going to vote for this regardless. I've been a big fan of it.
You know, it's starting to come to us now where we're getting down
to sort of parts and pieces. But I look at this as one whole stretch
that's all one color, and I think it fits the requirements of
Conservation Collier a lot better than some of the other things that we
have used Conservation Collier dollars for.
So, you know, regardless of -- like we always say up here, we
count noses. I'm going to vote for this. I just think the smarter thing
for us to do is -- the purpose of this entire stretch, to me, fits
Conservation Collier maybe not perfectly. And several purchases
that we voted on don't always fit it perfectly, but I think it fits it well
beyond the 51 percent, and I think chopping it up into pieces and
saying, well, the blue part's Conservation Collier, but then
you're -- the other part is in industrial. I know, but the purpose of the
whole trail is -- to me, fits the mission.
So as we have the funds -- I met with Trinity, and I think I spoke
March 10, 2026
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with Jaime Cook as well previously. I think we've got more funds
available in Conservation Collier than dipping into our reserves just
because we can. I think we really need to be careful about what we
use the reserves for.
So I think, if I understand Commissioner Hall right, his proposal
is regardless of the colors here, this whole stretch could be
Conservation Collier and has his support; correct, sir?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yes, sir. And with that, I'll make
the motion to approve it as it's written.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I don't know if anybody else
is lit up.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I still have some people lit up, but
we'll --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That would be a motion I
would second.
COMMISSIONER HALL: That would be a motion I'm going
to make. I'm going to make it as it's presented.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So we have a motion, and we have a
second for the way it's presented. Is that what you wanted to talk
about, Commissioner Hall?
COMMISSIONER HALL: That was it, yeah.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. Just real quickly.
Obviously, all the money that we're spending, whether it comes out
of Conservation Collier funds or reserves, that is General Fund
money. It's the same tax. It's the same ad valorem tax. We can call
it different things, but it's the same pot of money.
But what I'd like -- I'm going to support the motion. As I said,
I'm going to support going forward with this project. I am concerned
about the precedent in terms of using Conservation Collier funds, so
I'm going to ask the Board as we go forward to give some thought to
March 10, 2026
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how we might pay these funds back to Conservation Collier, and I
say that because, you know, once you go down this path of
segregating this as money for public purposes, which is what we're
doing today, as opposed to a specific public purpose, then I think it
kind of opens the door for other types of acquisitions out of that fund
that are not truly Conservation Collier funds.
And so -- and I'm absolutely convinced, as I said, there's no way
to pay these dollars back to Conservation Collier other than the
potential for extending the Conservation Collier, extending the tax for
a couple years. That, of course, keeps that fund in place but also
gives us the ability to, over a period of time, restore those dollars that
are taken out of it.
So I'm going to support the motion, but I'm concerned about the
use of the funds for a portion of the project that's not really -- that
does not fit the mission of Conservation Collier.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, I'm -- and I want to talk
to the motion maker and ask if you would support an amendment to
the motion, and that is in the -- is for the repayment of those funds if,
in fact, deemed possible.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I appreciate the question.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'm sorry. Could you repeat
the question? I didn't hear --
COMMISSIONER HALL: The question was would I consider
amending the motion to pay back Conservation Collier.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: If it was possible.
COMMISSIONER HALL: If it was possible.
My intent is not to. Conservation Collier is well funded. It's got
a robust fund in it. This is a great project for the program. And I
have no intention of taking any other money to pay it back for this
acquisition.
March 10, 2026
Page 45
With regards to extending Conservation Collier, I have no
problem with extending that when it comes time to do that. But for
this, I don't want to amend the motion.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: The question is -- we're not
done yet. What if -- what if -- and I'm throwing this out as a
hypothetical. We're going to have some discussions today very
specifically about our budget and our ongoing expenses and our
ongoing revenues. What if there are some maneuvers that may come
forward in the next year or two that would provide for that? I'm not
asking for anything specific or a definitive timeline. I just want the
language of the repayment to come back if this board deems it to be
the case.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Regarding -- and I appreciate that,
Commissioner. But regarding my motion for today, I don't want to
amend it. I want to -- my motion stands as presented. In the future,
if we want to have discussions about taking something that comes
forward and funding Conservation Collier, I'm all about having that
conversation. But for this particular motion, I'm going to stick with
it.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I think this does fit
Conservation Collier. I think it's for the greater good of the citizens,
and not every single thing we vote on for Conservation Collier is
necessarily a perfect fit, and that's where I think we have to have
latitude, but I think this one fits actually more than maybe even some
of the other things we voted on that still fit, but I think this one fits it
more.
With regard to the motion to bring something back,
Commissioner Hall's not the only one that can do that. So if he's
adamant about not bringing it back but one of us think we should
bring it back, we don't have to wait for him. And I don't mean that
March 10, 2026
Page 46
with any disrespect.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No, I agree.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But he -- so I mean, it's not
like we're throwing it on him and saying, you know, you better say
you will bring it back or we won't support this or whatever. I think
we're voting on this one thing, and at any given commissioner
meeting, we can say, you know, let's talk Conservation Collier.
We've used it. We've dipped into it for quite a few things.
Let's -- you know, we could talk about that at a commissioner
meeting, you know, or a budget meeting.
One of the reasons why I also think -- well, I feel this fits
Conservation Collier -- and, yeah, it's going to take a little bit out of
their overall fund, but I think the positive about that is it keeps
Conservation Collier on the radar. If we sit here and every time it's
not a perfect fit we're just sort of protecting those funds, that's what
we did three or four years ago when we discovered $60 million and
no one was buying anything.
And so I think if we actually start using the funds for things that
are within the window of conservation and the public good and
they're going by trees and plants and vegetation and all that -- one of
the things we're also doing is we're not forgetting that we are
lowering the balance that's in the Conservation Collier fund, and we
need to keep that on the radar as far as either reimbursement or, you
know, being more careful about spending the money, or do we need
to put more money in the coffers. We don't need to do that today.
So I think this fits perfectly for all of Conservation Collier. Any
one of the five of us can put Conservation Collier on the agenda at
any time for reimbursement, analysis, discussion. You know, it's not
just one particular commissioner.
So I think all those points that have been raised are very valid.
And I might be one of the people that brings it up down the road. But
March 10, 2026
Page 47
for this particular case, I think it fits perfectly, and I think it also
sends a great message to our citizens that we're committed.
Conservation Collier that you voted on, look what it's about to do.
There are some citizens that say, "I voted for Conservation
Collier, but that little one-and-a-half-acre piece out in the middle of
nowhere, you bought that for what reason?" And sometimes at my
town halls, and maybe at yours, have to explain to them that, you
know, there's a greater master plan.
This one doesn't take a lot of explanation. And so I think it
actually is a good advertisement for Conservation Collier use of
funds, and it keeps it on the radar for us to continue to discuss the
balance of what's left, what's left to buy, and it will -- it will continue
to keep us talking about it that much more, not that we're going to
forget, but it will keep us talking about it that much more, and any
one of us, you know, can add it to the agenda. So I feel very
comfortable with my vote to second the motion to use Conservation
Collier for this entire stretch.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you.
And just very briefly. As I said, I'm going to support the
motion. I'm glad we've had this conversation about repaying
Conservation Collier. I think that is important. At some point, over
the next six months or a year or so, I think we should have a formal
discussion about how we can go about repaying Conservation Collier.
If we are able to do that and come up with a workable way to do that,
then I think everybody will walk away from this conversation feeling
that we've really preserved both programs, the bikes -- the trails -- the
bikes and trails program that Commissioner Hall has been really
spearheading since he got elected, and Conservation Collier, which,
quite frankly, I've been a supporter of since the very beginning of it.
So I appreciate the conversation, and this will come back.
March 10, 2026
Page 48
COMMISSIONER HALL: Let's vote.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I'd just like to -- I didn't really chime
in, but I'm going to chime in a little bit before we take the vote.
I was surprised. I mean, I know we've all been working on this
for a year or two, probably, now, probably two years at least, and it's
come to all of us individually. And I like the project. You know, I
thought it was a great thing. And then even when I heard that it was
coming back today for this agenda item, and, you know, how
Commissioner Hall framed it, I was surprised there was opposition to
it because to me, like Commissioner LoCastro said, in a way, this is
actually something that the people -- the citizens and their tax dollars
will actually use. They'll have the ability to access these areas that
are preserved through Conservation Collier, enjoy them the way
they're supposed to be seen and enjoyed, and physically going to take
part in this thing and know that their tax dollars was used in a way to
provide this service to them, this trail, you know.
And to me, I thought it was more of a greater advertisement for
Conservation Collier and what it does than a negative to
Conservation Collier where some people kind of said that this was
outside the scope. I had a few speakers here today. But you've got to
remember, conservation is conservation. Conservation is -- you
know, it's in the title. Conservation Collier is to have the ability to
preserve areas that the people can use responsibly to visit, to view, to
enjoy. It's not Preservation Collier. We've got to get away from that
mindset.
I think years and years ago, like, we were talking we had almost
$90 million in the bank account because we were treating it like a
Preservation Collier where it's pristine land. We just secure it, and
it's just kept in perpetuity in the state it's supposed to be in naturally,
and no visitors, no human interaction with it.
That's not what Conservation Collier is. Conservation
March 10, 2026
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Collier -- and I've had many times here they've come to the podiums
while we're discussing these items where people say -- people come
here to see the beauty of this area, this community, things like that.
They come here just for that.
Well, why do we want to landlock things that they should see?
And I think this is a perfect opportunity for Conservation Collier to
take the lead and actually have people use it and see their tax dollars
used as they visit these areas that we are preserving for their view and
their use and keeping a natural beauty like that.
And that's why my mindset was going -- when I saw this, I was
like, "Wow, this is a great thing." And I was surprised today -- or
even a few emails and letters I got that, you know, it was kind of like,
no, but we're all right with this because this is -- we're going to
preserve this and this in preservation, and this has to be, but we're not
fine with people having the opportunity -- or a way to get to it.
Because I feel that's just as important as conservation, because that's
actually what conservation is. It's not preservation. So I just wanted
to kind of say that because I was surprised that -- and I'm going to
support it because I think it's a great use of Conservation.
And no offense, Commissioner Saunders, but when you were
asked, you know, "How would we fund?" and you said, "Use
reserves, but then if we have a hurricane, we'll just take Conservation
money back." So, ultimately, Conservation would pay for it. So, you
know, I don't -- that's not a great plan.
But I think this is an exact example of what Conservation
Collier can do for its citizens using their tax dollars in the right way.
It gives them the opportunity to actually experience it.
I think that's the most important thing. When people experience
it, they're going to respect the program that much more. You can't
get to some of these things out in, you know, in the middle of
Everglades -- or out in the Estates somewhere we're trying to piece
March 10, 2026
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together 500 1.1-acre parcels, and we spend the money on that, but
nobody really has the opportunity to even know it is even there or
how their money was spent.
This will see it, physically see it, and it will appreciate it. So I
think this is a good project, so I'm going to support it.
And we have a motion and a second. No more comment?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sign, same sound.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I have one. 4-1. Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us into Item
11, if you would like to start. We have three Public Utilities
companion items, or if the -- I'm looking at the court reporter if she's
ready for a break. It's up to you how you want to proceed.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Let's go ahead and take a 10-minute
break. Back at 10:28 a.m.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you.
(A recess was had from 10:18 a.m. to 10:28 a.m.)
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Get back to business here.
Item #11A
THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER DISTRICT, AWARD
INVITATION TO BID NO. 25-8408 TO DANIEL O’CONNELL’S
SONS, INC. FOR THE CENTRAL COUNTY WATER
March 10, 2026
Page 51
RECLAMATION FACILITY EXPANSION CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $172,389,000, APPROVE AN
OWNER’S ALLOWANCE OF $5,000,000, APPROVE ALL
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR
2026 ADOPTED BUDGET, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN
TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NUMBER 70243) (THIS
ITEM IS A COMPANION TO ITEMS 11B AND 11C) (MATTHEW
MCLEAN, DIVISION DIRECTOR - PUBLIC UTILITIES
ENGINEERING) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL-
APPROVED
Item #11B
THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER DISTRICT, AWARD
REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NO. 25-8335 TO
BOWMAN CONSULTING GROUP, LTD FOR CEI SERVICES
FOR THE GOLDEN GATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$4,967,003.55, APPROVE ALL NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 ADOPTED
BUDGET, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE
AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NUMBER 70243) (THIS ITEM IS A
COMPANION TO ITEMS 11A AND 11B) (MATTHEW MCLEAN,
DIVISION DIRECTOR - PUBLIC UTILITIES ENGINEERING) -
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL - APPROVED
Item #11C
THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER DISTRICT,
March 10, 2026
Page 52
APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AGREEMENT NO. 19-7621,
WITH TETRA TECH, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,881,901,
FOR GOLDEN GATE WASTEWATER ENGINEER OF RECORD
AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AMEND THE
CONSULTANT’S RATES, EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 1,665 DAYS, APPROVE THE NECESSARY
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026
ADOPTED BUDGET, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO
SIGN THE ATTACHED AMENDMENT. (PROJECT NUMBER
70243) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL -
APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. We're going to start with Items
11A, 11B, and 11C, which is companion items. First up, 11A is a
recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the
ex-officio governing board of the Collier County Water/Sewer
District, award Invitation to Bid No. 25 -8408 to Daniel O'Connell's
Sons, Inc., for the Central County Water Reclamation Facility
expansion construction project in the amount of $172,389,000,
approve an owner's allowance of $5 million, approve all necessary
budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 adopted budget, and
authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.
Its companion, Item 11B, is a recommendation that the Board of
County Commissioners, as the ex-officio governing board of the
Collier County Water/Sewer District, award Request for Professional
Services No. 25-8335 to Bowman Consulting Group, Limited, for
CEI services for the Golden Gate wastewater treatment plant
expansion project in the amount of $4,967,003.55, approve all
necessary budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 adopted
budget, and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.
March 10, 2026
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Finally, Item 11C is a recommendation that the Board of County
Commissioners as the ex-officio governing board of the Collier
County Water/Sewer District, approve Amendment No. 2 to
Agreement No. 19-7621 with Tetra Tech, Inc., in the amount of
$4,881,901 for the Golden Gate wastewater engineer of record and
infrastructure improvements, amend the consultant's rates, extend the
agreement for an additional 1,665 days, approve the necessary budget
amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 adopted budget, and authorize
the Chair to sign the attached amendment.
We have Mr. Jim DeLony, your department head for Public
Utilities, here to begin the presentation or answer questions at your
pleasure.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
MR. DeLONY: Next chart, please. Next charts.
MR. MILLER: Sorry, sir.
MR. DeLONY: That's okay.
Chair, I have a presentation, but I'm standing at your direction
whether to answer questions or provide the presentation. Your call.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, I had a pretty deep dive on this.
We had a good conversation yesterday in my office --
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- referenced some things I had
some -- a lot of questions on, but you pretty much answered them. I
know -- I'll ask my colleagues here what their feelings are, if they
want to -- how in-depth were they with this particular item.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm going to second his
motion.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah. I'm prepared to vote
on this the way -- without the presentation.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I am also, and it's kind of -- I just -- the
meetings I had leading up to this really answered everything I had,
March 10, 2026
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so...
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Me, too.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I have a motion, Commissioner
Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I'll make a motion that
we're -- are we only on Item 11A at this point?
MS. PATTERSON: They are companion items, sir. They're all
together, 11A, 11B, and 11C.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. Then I'll make a
motion to approve Items 11A, 11B, 11C.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I have a motion and a second. All in
favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It passes, sir. Great presentation.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, if I might just
make a quick comment. Going back to 2016, and Commissioner
McDaniel knows this, one of the goals was to improve the Golden
Gate City community. And we started off by acquiring, at no cost to
the County -- I say at no cost. There was cost to fix everything up
and all, but we didn't have to pay the other owners anything over and
above taking over what needed to be fixed, but it was -- there was a
big part of bringing water -- good-quality water and sewer to that
March 10, 2026
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community. There are 26,000, 28,000 people in that
four-square-mile area. And these three agenda items are huge steps
in being able to, in the very near future, provide water and sewer
services to that entire community.
You can almost envision there's 9,000 septic tanks out there.
You can almost envision these little homes on these little lots with
wells and septic systems all right next to each other. All that
infrastructure is aging, and it's a healthcare issue that's brewing out
there. And this is -- this is the step we needed to take to make that
happen. So I want to thank our Utilities Department for --
MR. DeLONY: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- really moving this forward.
It's very important.
MR. DeLONY: And your support. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Mr. DeLony.
Item #11D
ADVISING STAFF REGARDING THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS' PRIOR DIRECTION, ELIMINATING THE
500-FOOT SPATIAL DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENT
BETWEEN FACILITIES WITH FUEL PUMPS OR PUBLICLY
VET OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL MODIFY THE SITE
DESIGN CRITERIA OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC)
SECTION 5.05.05 B.2.(MICHAEL BOSI, DIVISION DIRECTOR -
PLANNING & ZONING) - MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL -APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to Item 11D. Pursuant to
Board direction, this is a recommendation to remove the existing
March 10, 2026
Page 56
500 -foot separation requirement between facilities with fuel pumps
or, alternatively, initiate a publicly vetted amendment modifying the
site design criteria set forth in Land Development Code Section
5.05.05.B.2.
Mr. Bosi, your division director of planning and zoning, is here
to present, answer questions, or get your guidance.
MR. BOSI: Mike Bosi --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. BOSI: -- Planning and Zoning director.
As the County Manager has indicated, this was a directive that
was requested by the Board of County Commissioners after the
Costco hearing regarding staff to go back, look at the distance
waiver, its utilization, how it's utilized around the state, and bring
back some recommendations as to whether it still has merits within
our system.
I've got a brief PowerPoint if you'd like me to go through, or I've
had some discussion also with the County Commissioners yesterday
during our pre-briefings. So however you would like to proceed.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel, would you
like to say something?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'd like to make a motion that
we remove the separation that was put into our LDC a long time ago.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We have a motion the way it's written.
Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm going to second that, but I do
think it's got public value for Mr. Bosi if you could just explain, out
of the 420 governing entities, how many of them had an ordinance
like this or a code like this. I think that was -- I think that's pretty
stout.
MR. BOSI: Well, on the first option to eliminate the waiver, the
first note says, "It should be noted there are 67 counties and 411
March 10, 2026
Page 57
municipalities in the state of Florida." It's 478 jurisdictions that have
land-use controls. Only seven of them have distance waivers; that's
1.5 percent. There's no state statute prohibiting facilities with fuel
pumps within 500 feet of each other.
We've had 10 distance waivers that have made it to hearing. All
have been approved. Eight out of the 10 were in activity centers.
And the site development approval process, as well as our
transportation analysis, which is a part of the access management
policies, provide for an adequate review and analysis to address
safety concerns and the ingress and egress issues associated with
these facilities. Those are the reasons why staff has identified as to
why we feel that we can safely amend the Land Development Code
to remove this requirement and not compromise public safety.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No. One of the reasons why I
would like you to continue with the detail is if we just vote on this,
this has a real high chance of being misrepresented in the press with,
you know, more sensational headlines: "Guess what the stupid
commissioners did because they got pressured by Costco. They did
away with this law that made a requirement." And you have stats in
here that talk about -- the reason why we brought this up is this thing
really is not necessary. It's not -- and at any time if we think two
projects are too close to each other for any reason, gas stations or for
whatever, we can always make that part of our discussion.
But we thought this was redundant, unnecessary. Costco might
have brought it to light, but this thing's been simmering for a while.
Commissioner McDaniel was the one that I think most eloquently put
it together and said, "This thing is well past its time, hasn't
really -- isn't really worth the paper it's printed on," and you know,
for smaller government, less direction. But there again, I'll preface it
March 10, 2026
Page 58
by saying, "We can always bring back an issue if we feel that there's
concerns with something that's too close." But I don't necessarily
think we need this.
And you have so many statistics in here that I think if we just
vote on it and pass it, I know what tomorrow's headlines on
Facebook, Nextdoor, and in some of our printed media say, and it
doesn't adequately represent the details that are in here as to why
we're considering not just doing away with this, but why it really -- it
doesn't serve its purpose. It's unneeded. But it doesn't take away the
ability for us to address, at any time, something that we think doesn't
have the proper setbacks or those details.
So I think you're -- this isn't a 50-slide PowerPoint, but
everything I heard in here yesterday I really want to get on the public
record because it has a -- it has a very high chance at being
misrepresented, I think, if we don't -- if we don't get on the record
and we don't hear from you.
MR. BOSI: And I will say, one of the factors is is it's not
our -- there is not a prohibition against gas stations being located
within 50 -- or 500 feet of each other. It's -- there's only a condition
that when that condition occurs that there's an extra step, a public
hearing that's associated with it.
What I've -- and this was -- this was a strategy that was
developed in 1998 when the Board first adopted it. It was designed
for a specific location. It was Pine Ridge Road, and due to the
volume of traffic and the number of gas stations being proposed
along the Pine Ridge I-75 interchange that they -- that they
implemented this distance waiver.
Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And I just wanted to interject,
and then I'm finished. But the inference by citizens when we were
talking about Costco was, "How dare you break the law when it
March 10, 2026
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comes to the distance between gas stations?" And that couldn't be
further from the truth, and -- no matter how many times we explained
it. And so that's why I think not having this hang out there thinking
it's some sort of law or we -- you know, we looked the other way
because we wanted Costco so much that it -- that -- you know, that
that wasn't the case. So anyway, proceed.
MR. BOSI: And -- so following up on that, as I said, there was
11 distance waiver requests that have been provided -- or has been
requested of this county. Six of them have been approved by
the -- the BZA, yourself, as the Board of Zoning and Adjustments,
and four by the Hearing Examiner. One is withdrawn. So every
single one that has been proposed has been approved.
And so the public hearing has not yielded conclusions
towards -- where the operational analysis that's provided by our
Transportation Planning department when we have SDPs that haven't
arrived upon a safe condition.
Like I have said, the reasons for the option of eliminating the
waiver are, one, because of those state prohibitions, there were very
few jurisdictions that actually have these requirements. We've never
disapproved them.
And the majority of them have been within activity centers.
And the way that activity centers work with the traffic patterns and
the arrangement of barriers within the -- within the divided highways
that make up our collector and arterial roads really does provide for
that break or that interception that prevents the cross pollination of
these facilities in terms of creating the dangerous situation that the
Board of County Commissioners, in 1998, was seeking to avoid.
The other option that we had -- or two other options we had
identified, the second option was only apply them outside activity
centers. Eight out of 10 distance waivers that were approved were in
activity centers. Only two were non-activity center locations. And
March 10, 2026
Page 60
the majority of activity centers, as I've said, they have physical
dividers that address safety and egress concerns within the overall
transportation system.
And then the majority of activity centers provide for multiple
entrances with spacing criteria within the quadrants of the
commercial and mixed development uses. So that was another
option. Obviously, that's not what you're suggesting.
And then the final option really isn't a statistic. It's staff could
go back, look at the criteria that's associated with it, provide for some
updating to make it a little bit more efficient. But at the end of the
day, I think that the criteria -- the option that you're choosing is the
correct option, and our transportation analysis is done at every one of
our SDPs; provide for the assurances that the safe conditions that
this -- this regulation was attempting to provide for is provided for by
the competency of our staff.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
And I'd like to just interject also on the record that typically this
wouldn't even come to us. This would go before the HEX, correct?
MR. BOSI: Correct. The -- with the advent of the HEX -- with
the adoption of the HEX, now the distance waiver sits with the HEX
as well.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sits with the HEX.
MR. BOSI: Only if it was appealed would it come to the BZA.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah. And then -- and, typically,
when it's with the HEX, he looks at the ordinance itself, the language
within the four corners. And in those four corners, there's waivers to
the rule. And 10 times out of 10, it met the waivers.
So in reality, the HEX would have had the same ruling just
going by the language within the four corners of the ordinance. They
would approve them regardless.
So, you know, I just -- I know that this Costco thing was kind of
March 10, 2026
Page 61
an anomaly that it was brought to us, but I think that was more or less
just to have the public have their opportunity to speak. But it
probably would have went to the HEX, and it probably would have
had the same result.
MR. BOSI: And there are criteria inherent to the -- to the
process, that if those criteria are met, they gain approval, and that's
why I think you've had every single one of them, the 10 out of the 10,
have been approved because of that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So I have a motion so far from
Commissioner McDaniel, correct?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And I also want to
reiterate that he said that I was correct.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That doesn't necessarily mean
he's also right. I'll second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Well, I have two seconds,
then.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Oh, two seconds.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Make me third.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I've got a third. All right. So I have a
motion and a second. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It passes unanimously.
Thank you, Mr. Bosi.
Item #11E
March 10, 2026
Page 62
ADOPTED THE FY 2027 BUDGET POLICY, AND A
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A DEADLINE OF MAY 1,
2026, FOR BUDGET SUBMITTALS BY THE SUPERVISOR
OF ELECTIONS, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND THE
CLERK. RESOLUTION 2026-61: MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL
MS. PATTERSON: Item 11E is a recommendation to adopt the
FY 2027 budget policy and adopt a resolution establishing a deadline
of May 1st, 2026, for budget submittals by the Supervisor of
Elections, Sheriff's Office, and the Clerk.
Mr. Christopher Johnson, your division director of Corporate
Financial and Management Services, is here to present.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Ms. Patterson.
Good morning, Commissioners. For the record, Christopher
Johnson, your director of Financial and Management Services.
What we're going to be doing today is discussing the requested
action today, the FY '27 budget timeline. We're going to go through
a quick overview of the FY '26 budget, we're going to discuss our ad
valorem history, and we'll go through the FY '27 budget highlights
followed by the recommendation for today.
So to start, I'm going to start with the requested action today.
The requested action is going to be to adopt the FY 2027 budget
policy which will set the framework for departments and divisions to
establish their budget that will be reviewed and approved by the
County Manager before coming to you-all in June, prior to the
September hearings.
We're also going to establish those June budget workshop dates
and September public hearing dates. We're going to adopt a
March 10, 2026
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resolution establishing a deadline of May 1st, 2026, for budget
submittals by the Supervisor of Elections, the Sheriff's Office, and
the Clerk.
So to start, I'll just quickly run through our budget timeline. As
you can see here in the peach color, last month we had our strategic
plan budget and our budget policy workshop where we went over the
initial budget policy, we went over our ResourceX implementations,
and we discussed the strategic plan which sets the foundation for
everything we're doing here this year with the budget.
Today we are going to adopt the FY '27 budget policy. That
will be followed by, as I stated earlier, the June workshop, which
we're looking at dates of June 18th, 2026, and, if needed, June 19th,
2026.
Following that workshop we will receive the certified taxable
value from the Property Appraiser. From there, we will -- the Board
will adopt the proposed maximum millage rates, which we do in July.
This year it looks like it's going to be July 14th. From there, the
Board will receive the tentative budget the day after on the 15th.
Then the Property Appraiser will send out TRIM notices to all
of the property owners within the County. That typically happens by
the 24th of August.
And after that, we have our two public hearings. The tentative
schedule for those that we will be affirming today is
9/3/2026 -- again, these are the nighttime meetings. They happen at
5:05 in this building -- and then our final hearing where we will adopt
the FY '27 budget will be 9/17/2026 in this building, again, at
5:05 p.m.
Any questions on the tentative schedule at this point?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Moving on to the 2026 budget
overview, I'm going to go through this kind of quick because we
March 10, 2026
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already kind of went through it at the -- well, we did go through it at
the last workshop. The overall FY 2026 net adopted budget was
$2.2 billion. You can see the breakdown here between kind of some
of the areas, general governmental, public safety, physical
environment, transportation, human services, cultural recreation, debt
service, and reserves.
Moving on to the sources of current county government revenue
for all funds. You can see here that ad valorem is our No. 1 source of
revenue at $621 million, followed by service charges at 406-, and
then you'll see the other -- the other categories there, gas sales tax,
permits assessments, fines, impact fees, bond proceeds, et cetera.
Moving into the ad valorem, just to take kind of a closer look
here, you can see the General Fund ad valorem is the majority of ad
valorem at $496.6 million for FY '26. That's followed by the
Unincorporated Area General Fund ad valorem, which is 71.8. Then
you'll see Conservation Collier there at 34.6. The MSTUs, we kind
of roll those up into a group at 14.4. And then pollution control,
which is also a countywide taxing district, at $4 million.
General Fund, property tax dollars by category. Of the 496,6-,
you can see here the split between health, safety, welfare mandates,
discretionary, and debt service, and on the left-hand side there you
have what we've put into those categories.
Any questions on this before I move on to the Unincorporated?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. This is kind of the same chart for
the Unincorporated Area, the $71.8 million, and you have the splits
between the categories. And on the left-hand side, you'll see the
categories that are included in those pieces of the pie.
All right. Moving on to the ad valorem history. This chart here
depicts ad valorem history for the last 20 years, plus our plan for
FY '27. You can see kind of the dips during the recessions and
March 10, 2026
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slowly building back over years till the -- I guess it would be the
pandemic era where we had some jumps here in '23. And slowly
coming back down to earth here, the State is expecting a 4.1 percent
increase. Our plan is based around a 4 percent increase in ad
valorem -- sorry, taxable value and ad valorem.
Any questions on this?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Property tax history, this is the last
10 years of history. You'll see in 2024, we departed from our
historical rate of 3.5645 to the rolled-back rate of 3.2043 in '24. In
'25, again, we went to rolled-back at 3.0107. And last year we stayed
at millage neutral, which was the new rate of 3.0107. And this was
the -- this is the General Fund.
Unincorporated General Fund, you kind of see the same trend.
In '24, reduction to the rolled-back rate of 0.7280; '25, again to the
rolled-back rate, 0.6844; and last year adopting a millage-neutral rate
of 0.6844.
This slide here depicts that taxpayer savings compared to
that -- those historical rates. Tax year '23, '24, '25, which is FY '24,
'25, and '26, the total savings across the General Fund and the
Unincorporated Area General Fund, it was about a quarter of a billion
dollars. Based on this year's planning scenario, looking back at those
historical numbers at millage neutral with a 4 percent taxable value
increase, it will be another $108 million in taxpayer savings.
And I know Amy read this into the record earlier, but in the
actual document, the Unincorporated Area General Fund table was
updated after -- after the agenda item printed, so it's correct now.
Any questions on this?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Moving into the FY '27 budget
policy highlights, we'll talk about priority-based budgeting, control
March 10, 2026
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lines, capital allocations and debt, millage rate policy and program
enhancements, employee compensation, health insurance, and
reserves.
Starting off with priority-based budgeting, as we discussed in
February, the recommended policy is to utilize a priority-based
budgeting approach allocating resources based on their strategic
importance and impact of the individual programs. Year 3 of this
will involve continued implementation of the cost savings we went
over and revenue generating program insights and program process
improvements.
Any questions on where we're going with that?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Year 3, so it's been a long -- establishing
budget control lines. This is essential to priority-based budgeting. It
allows us to establish the total resources available, prioritized,
and -- and look at tradeoffs, and provides accountability and
transparency.
Based on BCC Resolution 2026-37, this establishes a 3 percent
operating control line and a 5 percent capital control line. What that
means is for FY '27 the restriction is up to 3 percent for our operating
departments and up to 5 percent for capital transfers.
Any questions on that?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Moving on to capital allocations,
recommended reserves, at least an additional $5 million will be
allocated to the maintenance reserve that was discussed earlier. Per
kind of discussions with the Board the last two times we've talked
about this, any additional ad valorem, depending on where property
value comes in, could be also allocated to reserves to increase or
bolster that amount of 5 million.
The FY '27 authorized capital maintenance, again, up to
March 10, 2026
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5 percent.
And what we've here are the plan -- based on our planning
scenario General Fund capital allocation. So coming from the
General Fund, it's about $76.6 million. You can see here countywide
capital at 36 and that long-term reserve at 5. We have 8 million
going to other capital, which includes IT, museums, et cetera. Parks,
3.4; road network, 9.8; and stormwater, 3.2 out of the General Fund.
And up top you'll see the debt transfers. So we have 8.5 in
nongrowth debt, and an investment growth debt of 1.5.
Here's the Unincorporated Area General Fund contributions:
28.5 million, 4.5 to parks, 15.7 for roads, and 8.2, 8.3 for stormwater.
Now, with that said, this is -- I'm going to skip a couple slides
here and get to this. That portion you're seeing there was what we
call our "pay go" capital. That's cash we plan on having on hand to
support capital projects. The capital program that you've seen
through the AUIR -- and we -- actually, I heard a couple of you
discuss today with the five- to 10-year plans. What we're looking at
for budget policy is the -- one year of that, the tactical plan. It's one
single year of that plan.
Now, when we're looking long term, we have kind of a few
options. We've "pay go," we've debt to fund capital projects, and
then we have a hybrid approach, which is what we are currently
using.
Now, the hybrid approach that we're using is -- we utilize the
"pay go," and then we're utilizing short-term debt such as commercial
paper which, in our case, it is commercial paper to cash flow the
capital program. And then at some point we will refinance this
commercial paper or short-term debt to long-term debt. This allows
us flexibility, timing of the market, and minimizes our debt service in
the short run.
So I just wanted to run through a couple slides just to show you
March 10, 2026
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where we're at with our programs and this hybrid approach.
So the first is transportation. Debt service funding from
transportation is paid by two sources. We have gas tax that we pay
debt service, and then we have the ability for road impact fees for
those growth-related projects. Currently, the Board has approved a
$50 million commercial paper short-term -- short-term debt to start
funding our program for the current year.
At this point in time, we haven't drawn on any of that, but it will
allow us to let contracts and cash flow the projects moving
into -- into FY '27.
For the stormwater section, we have -- our current debt service
for stormwater is paid with the General Fund. We do have a
potential -- and I know there's going to be future discussions on a
stormwater fee or another -- another way to fund stormwater besides
General Fund ad valorem. Currently, the stormwater program
has -- the BCC has authorized a $65 million commercial paper line of
credit to fund their program projects moving forward.
Finally, we have the Water/Sewer District. Their debt service
funding is paid by user fees and impact fees. Currently, the
Water/Sewer District has a $200 million BCC-approved commercial
paper line of credit. That is a portion of what we'd be using today to
let those contracts that were just approved by the Board.
I will say that the Finance Committee meets on this regularly,
and the Board will see additional requests to increase these short-term
lines of credit to move forward with these capital programs.
Any questions on this before I move on?
COMMISSIONER HALL: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Mr. Johnson.
Do you have any idea how much -- in the Water/Sewer District
how much of that 200 million is paid by user fees versus impact fees?
March 10, 2026
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MR. JOHNSON: I can answer that from kind of a high level.
COMMISSIONER HALL: That's all I need.
MR. JOHNSON: When we -- when we look at projects and
when we have a -- when the Board approves a line of credit like this,
we appropriate the funding. We have different cost centers that we
utilize. So when we have a growth-related project, we're able to
allocate those costs to impact fees.
When it's a rehabilitation project, we would allocate those costs
to user fees, and then that is the split we use to pay the debt service
back.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Oh, I mean, that makes sense. I just
was curious.
MR. JOHNSON: Yep. It's a good question. It's definitely a
good question. But we try to use up the impact fees first, if we can,
for --
COMMISSIONER HALL: Sure.
MR. JOHNSON: -- allowable uses.
Any other questions on the capital program and debt before I
move on?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: All right. Millage rate policy and program
enhancements. The millage rate will be calculated with the
preliminary taxable value based on the budget requirements within
the Board's establishment control lines which were set by Resolution
202 6-37. Any program adjustments or funding alignment may result
in changes to that millage rate.
As far as program enhancements go, or expanded requests, this
budget policy limits those to onboarding of new capital facilities,
priority-based service-level adjustments, and priority capital projects.
Every -- every expanded or program enhancement proposal will
include a funding source, and the incremental millage rate if it's
March 10, 2026
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supported by ad valorem tax, and those will be -- those will first be
vetted through County Manager's office and then brought to the
Board for consideration in June at those -- at the workshop.
Any questions on millage rate policy or program enhancements?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Moving on, MSTU millages, for FY '27 it's
recommended that the MSTUs be limited to a millage rate sufficient
to cover the current budget-year operations and planned capital. And,
yes, these are based on historicals and then obviously plans moving
forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So I don't have to ask that
question?
MR. JOHNSON: I was going to put a bullet in, but I figured I'd
just ad lib it at this point.
Employee compensation. And we went over this briefly in
the -- in the workshop as well. The December CPI for Miami/Fort
Lauderdale year over year was 2.6. The most recent Florida price
index ranked Collier County as the highest of 67 counties to live in as
far as cost goes. The pay plan recommendation for FY '27 for
the -- for the -- I lost my word here -- for -- to utilize while preparing
the budget is 2.5 percent general wage adjustment and pay plan
maintenance of a half a percent to try to target some of those maybe
underpaid specific classifications.
Any questions on employee compensation?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Employee insurance. Healthcare costs are
expected to increase between 6 and 7 percent for FY '26. The
recommended reserves -- and I had a slide last time on this kind of
showing you how we calculate this. There's 16.8 million required for
us to have as reserves. That includes two months in our "incurred but
not received" claims, I believe. I've got the Risk people in the back.
March 10, 2026
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I think -- I think I said that right.
But what we do as the County is we try to achieve 99 percent
certainty, so we add another chunk on that based on that Monte Carlo
simulation to ensure within 99 percent certainty that we will have the
money required to fund our self-insured health insurance program.
So the total amount of reserves recommended for 2027 will be
24 million reserve -- in reserves. To achieve this, we're going to have
approximately a $4.5 million combined increase in the healthcare
plan contribution and a potential for a one-time fund-level
contribution.
I know at the workshop we discussed a couple other healthcare
options, including the Sheriffs' Association, and the potential to
adjust the contribution rates. We're going to do more research on
that. We're working with getting some quotes from the Sheriffs'
Association and putting together some -- some charts on how that
contribution change would affect the overall budget plan. Those
would be presented in June with the budget workshop.
Questions on health insurance?
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Good. All right. General governmental
reserves. For the General Fund, the floor, we're looking at 8 percent
of operating revenue or approximately 50.8 million with a ceiling of
16 percent of operating revenues or 101.6 million.
FY '26 reserves were $79.6 million. The planning scenario that
I have has it about $81.6 million for reserves this year, so a slight
increase in reserves.
Unincorporated Area General Fund, the target is 8 percent of
operating expenses, or one month of expenses, so about 7.3 million.
FY '26 was 7.1 million.
Any other governmental funds that received transfers revenue
from either of those funds, the General Fund or the Unincorporated
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Area General Fund, we'll set those reserves to cover the first month
of operations or when our first transfer is scheduled. Depending on
the funds, we have requirements to do transfers at certain times of the
year.
Enterprise Fund reserves. The Collier County Water/Sewer
District user fee reserve established -- is established minimally
between 5 percent and 15 percent of revenues with working capital
resources set between 45 and 90 days. Solid Waste is between 45
and 90 days. And then we have reserve targets within the growth
management building permit fee fund and the planning fund of three
and nine months respectively.
(No response.)
MR. JOHNSON: Now, the countywide capital reserve, this is
a -- this slide here depicts the history of it. As I stated in the
workshop as well, it was established in 2020. In FY '23, there was a
large transfer to cash-flow Hurricane Ian. In FY '25, we utilized
some of those reserves to support the capital budget. In '26, the
current balance of that fund today is $22.8 million, and the plan
contribution for '27 is at least $5 million.
And with that, Commissioners, we have a recommendation to
adopt the FY '27 budget policy, establish June budget workshop dates
of June 18th and June 19th and September public hearing dates
September 3rd and September 17th, and adopt a resolution
establishing a deadline of May 1st, 2026, for budget submittals by the
Supervisor of Elections, the Sheriff's Office, and the Clerk.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I'd -- I have a comment,
but I'd like to make a motion for approval of this agenda item as been
presented.
And then I'll have my comments.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. Commissioner Hall.
March 10, 2026
Page 73
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Chairman.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I do have comments.
COMMISSIONER HALL: First of all, Mr. Johnson, you and
your staff have a lot of plates spinning in this budget, and I want to
commend you.
MR. JOHNSON: I appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER HALL: You've done a great job for
embracing the new culture of priority-based budgeting. I just want to
say it publicly how much I appreciate you and your staff, and let your
staff know that as well, if you would.
MR. JOHNSON: I will, because as you know, it's mostly them.
I just stand here.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I know that. That's why I said it.
And secondly, this is our budget policy. So let's take out the
word "policy." It's our budget plan. It's our budget purpose. It's our
budget intent.
And at some point I'd like to have a conversation up here
amongst us to challenge the status -- the status quo. We're in Year 3
of a cultural change with priority-based budgeting. We haven't
gotten to the exact point that I think will really benefit us as far as
any cost savings and efficiencies. We've really focused on revenue
increases, and we've gotten some. We've gotten, I think, $23 million
of actual savings using ResourceX.
And the budget policy, or our plan or our purpose, it's always
presented to us as an up-to max, which I appreciate that, but reality is
that's the policy. It's -- it's the max, which 3 percent and 5 percent,
I'm not -- I'm not saying that.
Our current -- with our current policy, any cost savings that we
come up with, they're always appreciated, but those cost savings are
never -- from us, they're never directed.
And at what time do we direct a cost savings policy? At what
March 10, 2026
Page 74
time do we direct the constitutionals to look at their budgets and
require the same type of change and effort that we're trying to make?
And I'm not saying that we're going to defund the Sheriff, we're
going to defund the Supervisor -- I'm not saying that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Just the Clerk.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yeah. Well, she's already got -- but
our policy or our plan should include that. And I don't think that we
would set ourselves up for failure by requiring that as our policy, you
know. And I always appreciate -- I kind of chuckle at the slide that
says, "This is the taxpayer savings." It makes me think of my wife
when she comes home with $800 worth of clothes and says, "Babe,
this is $2,000 worth of clothes, and I saved you $1,200 bucks."
No, you cost me 800. But in her mind she saved me 1,200. All
of you women have had the same story. But that's what that slide
reminds me of. Which the 800 worth of clothes is worth it, and it's
great, but it's not saving me money. So what we've done in the past is
not saving us money in the future, but I appreciate the contrast.
So I just wanted to bring that up. I'm going to support the
motion this time, but I would really like for us to take a look at our
budget policy, our budget plan, our budget purpose, and our budget
intent, and require and direct the savings and the effort. We can
always fail at that, but we never will fail if we don't try.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel, I'm sorry, I
thought you were pausing.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was for a second, but then he
jumped in with a bunch of comments. That's all good, though. And I
absolutely concur with what Commissioner Hall was saying. And
I'm going to say a few things that I -- and repeat a few things that we
talked about yesterday.
This is establishing our budget policy. I am -- I am excited
about the new path that this community is on with regard to the
March 10, 2026
Page 75
priority-based budgeting, and how we -- how we adjusted those
priorities and gave better direction and more direction from this board
to our staff to the people that are in charge of spending the taxpayers'
money. I'm excited about those things.
Chris -- and I'm going to dive into one, if you're prepared
mentally -- to one of the discussions we had yesterday that revolved
around sales tax. If I'm not mistaken -- and again, I get a little -- I get
a little territorial, but if I'm not mistaken, you shared with me that our
community is responsible for the collection of close to 800 million in
sales tax on an annual basis.
MR. JOHNSON: Correct, based on the information I got
yesterday from the State, so about --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I understand.
MR. JOHNSON: -- 800.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And we're not doing anything
today but having a discussion. But it's important that -- and if I may,
how much of that comes back to Collier County?
MR. JOHNSON: We have been about -- and I'm just going to
round the numbers -- about 60 million from a half-cent sales tax, and
then we receive an additional 16, 17 from State-shared revenues.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. So round numbers, we
get -- about 10 percent of the total revenue that's generated within our
community comes back to our community, and the rest goes to the
State.
Now, I also know that I can't get in a silo, and it's not that I'm
possessory of these monies, but we just had an elongated discussion
with regard to theoretical lack of revenue to be able to make
acquisitions that are beneficial to our community. We -- every
time -- for years I've came here, and we have shown deficits in
stormwater, both capital and maintenance, and deficits in O&M and
maintenance in parks and reserves, and deficits in roads, and so on
March 10, 2026
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and so forth.
I would like to have our board go forward with maneuvers to
bring back some of that money that is being divvied up in Tallahassee
and sent to -- sent to other places.
An increase from 10 percent to 20 is a double. There's an extra
$70 million. If we were to get -- and so I would -- I would like to see
that at some particular stage.
How about our gas tax? I know when Commissioner Saunders
and I came into office back in '16, the DOT had whittled us back
from -- we were only collecting, I think -- if I recall, Commissioner
Saunders, you brought it up -- we were only 60 percent of the --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That was for years.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, for years it had been
going on that way. And now I think we've been bumped up to -- we
were bumped up to close to 90 percent because of those efforts.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Yeah. They were going to try
to make -- they were going to try to make up for some of the past
deficits.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well -- and not to mention
going on -- I understand we had been -- theoretically, we had been
shied. And so I want us to -- as a board, as our staff is going through
these things, I really want to focus on these additional -- or these
other revenues that are generated by our community.
We are a huge tourist industry, do generate an enormous amount
of sales tax, and then that money's shipped off to Tallahassee. Now, I
understand. My friends over in Hendry and Glades, they don't -- they
don't gather any sales tax. There's not a lot of tourism that's going on
over there. But I really -- I really would like for exploration at
whatever level is, in fact, possible for us to be receiving more of
those monies back to our community, even if -- if it requires a
legislative move -- I'm sure it does at some particular stage. There's
March 10, 2026
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been -- somebody has made a rule that is making a decision with
regard to how much money is collected and how much money comes
back to the community.
And if we're budgeting appropriately -- and we have adopted
priority-based budgeting, and we've hired a third-party consultant,
and our priorities are, No. 1 public safety, No. 2, maneuverability,
roads, bridges, stormwater, subsurface infrastructure, utilities -- you
know, necessary life-sustaining infrastructure, even -- I wouldn't be
opposed to a provision of following the priorities that are already
established so that soliciting additional monies back from -- from
Tallahassee with regard to that were appropriated into life-sustaining
infrastructure. I'd be totally in favor of that.
So having said that, I really want us -- and, again, this isn't
necessarily the time or the place. And you're going to hear about this
again. I know that when we move into the workshops, that's when
we really -- and the budgets are proposed, that's when we really
establish a policy.
But I have lobbied for a millennia -- well, since I became a
commissioner I've lobbied for a merit-based bonus pay program for
our employees. I think that can be a huge -- and I know we talked
about this yesterday, Ms. Patterson, but I think that can be a huge
increase in -- because, Commissioner Hall, you talked about
effectuating savings. Who knows -- who knows who's -- who knows
best about where the money's, in fact, being spent?
And a lot of times that's the people that work for Collier County,
and they need to be -- they need to be gratified for the taxpayer
savings that are effectuated by that, and the merit-based program is,
to me, the most palatable path for us to travel and not just receive a
two-and-a-half percent pay increase. It's good that we're doing that,
but -- or that's being proposed, but there are -- there are other avenues
to effectuate an increase in pay.
March 10, 2026
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I would like for us, because this is a budget-planning instrument
that we are doing, there was -- I would like for us to begin the process
of planning for borrowing within the budget policy. And I know
there is a plan. We talked about it at length yesterday. But I would
like for us to open up the discussion with regard to that and not just
have budget or borrowing come to us in a BA somewhere along the
line after the -- after the budgets, in fact, adopted.
And I certainly am going to repeat it again. I would like to see
the comparison, and I think we'll probably see that hopefully in the
workshop, of increasing the assistance -- or the offset, if you would,
the contribution to the healthcare plan for our employees. Because,
again, it doesn't -- to me, from the private sector, when I was able to
offset those expenses for my employees, it was a savings to them and
to me for federal -- federal withholdings -- FICA, MICA [sic], and
federal withholdings. So I'd like to see that. I'd like -- I'd like some
more on that.
And my last point, in that capital asset reserves and maintenance
fund, it's nice that we've appropriated the five million minimum into
the 301 account, I think is what it is, but I want that to be more. And
I don't want that to become a negotiating tool with us and you or
Ms. Patterson. I don't want that to become a negotiating tool. I
want -- I want a concerted effort for asset -- Collier County's asset
diagnosis. I use "actuarial," and that turns Commissioner Hall upside
down, but I --
COMMISSIONER HALL: Word of the day.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I want to -- I want to -- I want
to really focus on the analysis of the useful life of our assets and the
actual dollars that need to be appropriated into ongoing maintenance,
upkeep, and ultimate replacement of our assets for Collier County.
So I'm in support of moving this forward. I know that's what
we're here to do today, but those were my -- those were my two cents
March 10, 2026
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after the fact.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That was the short version?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Short version.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Relatively speaking. I took a
lot less than you. Did you go to sleep on me?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I like a lot of what you're saying,
Commissioner McDaniels -- McDaniel. I'm sorry. I did put an S in
there, didn't I?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You did, you did.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: But, I mean, Chris, you might know
better than I do, but I mean, I think the reason we do have such a
large share -- and I do agree we are a donor county, like several other
counties in the state of Florida, because we have that luxury of
having the tourism tax dollars, the sales tax and, you know, other
counties don't have that much money they send up to Tallahassee.
But in reality, I mean, from what I understood was that's the
reason we don't have a state income tax either. And if we get to the
point where -- like other states give a lot more money back from the
sales tax, and they start creating an income tax on the citizens, then
what's that real number? I mean, I don't know. You know, I don't
know what that burden on the citizens would be if it ever got to that.
But I just -- from what I understand back in the day was that was
the reason that Florida could be a non-state-income-tax state is
because they do have the ability to collect these additional fees in
sales and tourism.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can I say something to that?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No, I'm just saying. I mean, I'm
just -- I'm asking if that's the reason.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I mean, I know what you're
saying. I don't disagree, and I don't necessarily think he's the one to
be having that discussion. That needs to happen amongst us.
March 10, 2026
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And you know as well as I do -- we were in Tallahassee
together. You know, the governor's leaned out over his skis. He's
talked about the elimination of ad valorem taxation on homesteaded
properties, huge impact to local municipalities, and he says that, and
then he makes this -- all these additional remarks about theoretical
frivolous spending. But at the same time, we don't have any real
discretion over those dollars that we send to Tallahassee with regard
to that.
And how much of that could be appropriated properly within our
community still not have -- because I'm, by no means, in
anything -- shape or form an increase in income tax from a
state-levied standpoint. But how much of that money could
necessarily come back to us and not for us to be such a large donor?
I'm not talking about the entire amount. But again, 800 million in
collections and 70, 80 -- 10 percent of that coming back, you know, a
small portion of that were to come back if it was specifically
designated for health, safety, and -- for the priorities that we've
established. How much of that could be reappropriated and not have
to turn the spigot off on ad valorem in its entirety?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Like I said, I like what you're saying. I
just don't know if it would ever be possible because of the situation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's going to be an uphill push,
my friend. There's no argument.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So, yeah.
Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Chairman.
I love what you said about getting more than 10 percent of that
money back, but -- I'm asking because I don't have any idea. How do
we go about doing that?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We're going -- we're going --
COMMISSIONER HALL: Lobby the legislators?
March 10, 2026
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COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Work with our staff, work
with our legislators, work with our lobbyist itself and find out what
the rules are with the establishment of that, just like Commissioner
Saunders did when we were talking about the gas tax. And when he
and I came into office, someone had decided to whittle us back
from -- to 60 percent of our collected gas tax. That was -- and then
they went -- and then they went above and -- above and beyond what
we had been getting. But I think now -- I don't know where we're at
now with regard to the percentages, specifically.
MR. JOHNSON: I don't know the percentage offhand. I know
we're pulling in about 25 million a year in gas taxes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: My statement, Commissioner
Hall, predominantly was those are avenues for us to work on
with -- similar to what we did with the gas tax --
COMMISSIONER HALL: No, I loved it when --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- when Commissioner
Saunders and I first came into office.
COMMISSIONER HALL: And secondly, I'll champion the
merit-based program as well, and I always have because, as
Commissioner McDaniel said, there's nobody that knows better than
the people that are actually down in the trenches doing the job.
And I know that one of the issues was, "Well, how do we make
it equitable?" Well, in my mind, which is limited -- but in my mind,
the opportunity for everyone makes it equitable. Whoever chooses to
exercise on that opportunity, good for them. If you choose not to
exercise on that opportunity, you can't have sour grapes for someone
who does.
So I just wanted to put that in the public because I would love to
see us offer to the people that are doing the job the most to come
forward with, "Hey, we spend a lot of money here, we waste time
here, we spend money here that we shouldn't." And I think there's
March 10, 2026
Page 82
some real value in that coming from the bottom up instead of from
the top down.
And if I can be a champion or be a supporter of the surtax thing
or any other avenues that need to go to Tallahassee, count me in.
And I will throw in the reason why I did not go to Tallahassee
with you-all is because I was right in the middle of the BERT trail
negotiations with the final offer, and I had to meet with them to do
that, so...
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Troy, I see -- do we have a public
speaker on this?
MR. MILLER: I have one registered speaker on Zoom, yes.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel, would you
like to --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, I would. And if this
isn't the time or place, I'll withhold my discussion with regard to the
merit-based program, the merit-based bonus program if this -- I have
a picture for that that maybe I can bring at the workshop. Is that a
more appropriate time?
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir, and we can also chat with you in
advance of that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll belabor that till another
time.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right, Troy.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Belay.
MR. MILLER: We have one registered speaker on Zoom,
Marsha Oenick.
Marsha, you're being prompted to unmute yourself, if you'll do
so at this time. I see that you have. Marcia, you have three minutes.
Oh, Marcia.
I don't know why we're not hearing her. She is on my Zoom
twice, which is weird. She appears to be unmuted, but it's grayed out,
March 10, 2026
Page 83
so I have no answer here. It looks like it's an issue on her end. So I'll
keep looking at this, talking with my people off-line. If we get it
figured out before we're done voting, I'll let you know, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you. I think we're
coming up on a vote, though.
I got a motion. I don't know if I had a second.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So I have a motion and a second. All
in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The ayes have it. Thank you.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #11F
APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY, BOILER &
MACHINERY, TERRORISM, AND WATERCRAFT HULL
INSURANCE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2026, FOR AN ESTIMATED
AMOUNT OF $8,224,016. (MICHAEL QUIGLEY, DIVISION
DIRECTOR - RISK MANAGEMENT) - MOTION TO APPROVE
BY COMMISSIONER KOWAL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Item 11F is a recommendation to approve
the purchase of property, boiler and machinery, terrorism, and
March 10, 2026
Page 84
watercraft hull insurance effective April 1st, 2026, for an estimated
amount of $8,224,016.
Mr. Michael Quigley, your division director of Risk
Management, is here to present or answer questions. And just a
reminder, this item is on the regular agenda due to the dollar
threshold, not because of any type of controversy. This is our regular
business.
MR. QUIGLEY: Good morning, Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. QUIGLEY: Michael Quigley, director of Risk
Management.
I have with me Kyle Stoekel from Brown & Brown, who is our
broker. I have the privilege of presenting a renewal for our property,
windstorm and other items, at a reduction of negative 3.68 percent
over last year's, so -- we have some success there.
MR. STOEKEL: Just kind of want to -- Kyle Stoekel with
Brown & Brown.
I just kind of want to highlight, so this year we're in a much
improved marketplace than we've been in the past few years.
Actually -- so last year there was not a single hurricane that hit
the continental U.S. So that caused us to be in a very positive rate
environment. So this year we're looking at improving the program
overall. We've got a few -- we're increasing limits and adding a few
coverage enhancements. So looking forward to it.
And this is still a not-to-exceed. We've got three weeks still
until that actual renewal, so we're still working with the markets and
negotiating this down a little bit more. So I think we're in a really
good spot and appreciate your support.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you.
MR. QUIGLEY: Do you have any questions?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
March 10, 2026
Page 85
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Hey, hate to throw a monkey
wrench into this whole thing, but just to ask a question. And it's no
slight on your company. So my first question is, how long have you
been providing the service to the County? How many times have we
renewed this contract?
MR. STOEKEL: So we took -- we became the broker in 2021.
So 2022 was our first renewal.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. This is more of just a
generic question, but we take really great pride in the deep dive we're
doing with ResourceX to basically, you know, for lack of a better
term, sort of DOGE our budget before DOGE was a popular word,
and we've had a lot success.
One of -- one of the savings we found isn't doing away with
services or closing libraries or fire stations or anything like that, but
some of it was contract renegotiation.
When these come to us, I always think to myself, before we just
rubber stamp a company that has been great and provided everything
and, you know, going back to square zero and putting it out for bid
and all of that, you know, part of it sometimes is part of the process
because, you know, you get a company that's done a great job, but
there's plenty of other companies that do a great job as well that are
sort of locked out of the process that don't get to bid.
I get this complaint a lot from companies, different business,
you know, type of support. But they'll say, "We didn't even get a
chance to bid because alls you did was automatically renew the
contract of the person who's not doing a bad job, but we can do a
phenomenal job."
In this particular case, did we take a look at any of the analysis,
or this company is so awesome, so phenomenal, so incredible you
want us to automatically renew the contract with minimal discussion,
no outside other, you know, inputs or anything, or did you do some of
March 10, 2026
Page 86
that, you know, before you came back here?
MR. QUIGLEY: What I can tell you is every year we go out
and actually -- is it 40 --
MR. STOEKEL: Yeah. So just for the property insurance
standpoint --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Sure.
MR. STOEKEL: -- so they accessed over 44 markets, and a lot
of that is between domestic markets and London markets for the
carrier participation, and they're still doing that as well.
So with -- over the next three weeks, they're going to go back
and, you know, fine tune and kind of make them compete against
each other to really drive this down.
But from my standpoint as the broker, it was -- we became the
broker through an RFP process four years ago, so if you want to
speak to that.
MR. QUIGLEY: So it's not technically the broker that -- we
basically beat down and try and get better dollars. It's the individual
carriers. And we do deal with a lot of the Lloyd's of London and a
number of the markets over here in the United States.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. See, I think it's
important to get that on the record -- with your voice to get that on
the record, because sometimes when these things come to us, you
know, it's three sentences and it says, you know, basically approve an
$8 million contract for something automatically without bids or
anything. And there's always a backstory. So that's what I wanted to
hear, what the backstory was and that, you know, we are continuing
to shake the trees a bit to make sure we're getting the most
competitive price. Because one of the things I always say is we're
not paying for this with County money. We're paying for this with
taxpayer dollars. And so we just want to make sure we're getting the
best bang for our buck, so -- okay.
March 10, 2026
Page 87
MR. QUIGLEY: Sure. And one other thing. Kyle, when he
came here this morning, he actually came with three additional
options. So between now and April 1st, we intend to come with
better options and actually have additional savings.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. STOEKEL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Any other questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I'll make a motion.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Second. All right. All in favor, signify
by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sign, same sound.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It passes unanimously. Thank you,
gentlemen.
MR. QUIGLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
Item #11G
THE CHAIR TO EXECUTE A 180-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE
EXTENSION FOR AGREEMENT NO. 22-7980 “TOURISM
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION - GERMANY MARKET”
March 10, 2026
Page 88
WITH DIAMONDE GMBH & CO KG UNDER THE CURRENT
CONTRACT PRICING, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, AND
MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS ACTION PROMOTES
TOURISM. MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER
SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO -
APPROVED
Item #11H
THE CHAIR TO EXECUTE A 180-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE
EXTENSION FOR AGREEMENT NO. 22-7979 “TOURISM
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION – UK AND IRELAND
MARKET” WITH OMMAC LTD., UNDER THE CURRENT
PRICING, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, AND MAKE A FINDING
THAT THIS ACTION PROMOTES TOURISM. MOTION TO
APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO - APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 11G,
formerly 16M4. This is a recommendation to approve and authorize
the Chair to execute a 180-day administrative extension for
Agreement No. 22-7980, Tourism International representation,
Germany market, with DiaMonde GMBH & Company KG, under
current contract pricing terms and conditions, and make a finding that
this action promotes tourism. This item was moved to the regular
agenda at Commissioner McDaniel's request.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Would you like to say some words?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sorry.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Would you like to say some words?
March 10, 2026
Page 89
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, I'd like to make -- my
motion is to deny this request for an extension and that we
discontinue these services. It has nothing to do with the people in
Germany. It has to do with the premises of the information that I
read, the rate of return for the investment that we've been receiving.
I'd like to make a motion for discontinuance of service.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I will second that motion, and here's
why: These are funds that are spent out there, and they're assumed
that they're bringing in international market. And the claim is that,
"Well, the international market is down. We don't have the visitors
based upon preCOVID era."
If we do without this money, let's just see. Let's just see who
still comes to the county. And I'm willing to bet there's not a big
difference. Everybody out there that relies on these tourism dollars
and relies on the advertising, they're going to have a different tune.
They're going to have a different sound. But I'm willing to -- I'm
willing to stop it and just to see -- you know, the proof will be in the
pudding. We could be exactly wrong, or we can be exactly right, or
we can be somewhere in between, but I think it's worth it to find out,
so I second the motion.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Well, I think before we vote,
you know, we've got some members here from our tourism expert
staff. I don't see Jay here, but I see Michael. So I don't know if you
want to come forward or --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah. And we actually have public
comment, too, so we're going to have a little time spent on this.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: While they're coming to the
podium, I'll just say one thing. And it's a similar story, and maybe it
doesn't have to do with Ireland and Germany, but if you remember, a
March 10, 2026
Page 90
few commissioners meetings ago we saw a spreadsheet that saw how
far behind we were in just money that we invest. Now, maybe this
isn't where we need to invest it, because, you know, I'd like to hear a
little bit deeper dive from the commissioners that are -- that are
solidified in their vote that this is not money well spent.
I'll just say that, I sent -- I sent John -- I'm sorry. I don't know
why I said Michael. I sent John and Jay and a few of the other people
some photos. I was recently in New York City for New York
Fashion Week. I have a family member that's heavily involved in
New York Fashion Week. There were signs, billboards, huge,
everywhere, right?
John, I sent you pictures on the side of 10-story buildings that
were advertisements for Tampa. Not Germany. Not Ireland. I get it.
But it made me remember the briefing that you-all gave that said how
we're starting to sort of lag behind.
And I understand the strategy of, "Let's not do anything and then
see what happens" and then if we're wrong, okay, then, boom, we're
going to approve $10 million and say, "Catch up, catch up, catch up.
Wow, we were wrong, and you guys were right." I doubt we actually
would say that up here.
But I'd like to see us spend the money in a more cohesive way
across the board, and that does include some of the international
things.
I mean, maybe I speak a little bit more to people that are in the
tourism business because my district is heavy tourism, but we're all
heavy tourism, so I don't say that with any disrespect to any of the
other commissioners. We all have a -- you know, I mean,
Commissioner Kowal, even though it's the City of Naples, he's got
Fifth Avenue smack dab in the middle of his district, and so we all
touch it, you know, quite a bit.
But I look at those numbers as well. And one of the things I
March 10, 2026
Page 91
used to say in the military is it's tough to go from a Mach 10 to a dead
stop. Maybe a graduated approach. Maybe we don't invest as much
and see if there's a difference. But just to say, "Let's not do it
anymore" -- you know, as I travel around -- and New York was a
perfect example of proving your point that there's other counties that
are doing a lot of -- a lot of things. That was just maybe one
example.
But then I think it was Jay or maybe you, John, shot me back
some emails of not only what we were doing in other cities, but I got
examples of some other things just to show that we weren't sitting on
our hands.
But, you know, I'm not a big supporter of just saying, "Let's stop
it and see if we guessed right." You know, if we want to take a little
bit of a percentage off and maybe not invest as much, I'd like to hear
the rebuttal for that. But I'm not here -- I'm not ready to make a
blanket vote. I want to hear what you have to say. And two or three
commissioner meetings ago you-all said a lot, showing that, you
know, we're not the only county that considers themselves paradise,
whether it's outside of our borders or within the continental U.S.
So I think we've got to be really careful before we say -- before
we disapprove you-all spending money that you already have for this
exact mission just because we want to sort of test the waters. It's not
like we're going to take that savings and build another library or put it
towards, you know, something totally, you know, unrelated. These
are tourism dollars that are for these very specific things.
But you also have to have a good rebuttal. I don't -- I don't say I
disagree with my colleagues up here. What they're saying has meat
on the bone. This is your chance to come up here and say why you
think it's dangerous to do what they're saying or they're wrong or you
occur with it.
But I'm more for a graduated approach. Like I said, the Mach
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10 to a dead stop sometimes can certainly not be the best strategy.
Maybe chipping away at it and measuring it might be one of the
options, or not doing anything, because I -- I think at some of the
presentations you've presented in some of the TDC meetings when I
was the chair that I sat in on, there was a lot of meat on the bone that
showed we were getting, you know, a result from it, whether, you
know, we were getting our money back or, you know, for every
dollar we invested, we got $100,000 back or whatever. Some of that
stuff is fuzzy to measure.
But I think the investment in international tourism or
international citizens coming to Naples does have merit, and so I
think going to zero could be a big mistake in -- from everything that I
hear and the people that I talk to.
So tell me why we're wrong and -- you know, before we vote
and maybe make an irresponsible vote or a really smart one.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I'm going to let staff -- because
it's -- kind of follow up, because you called him to the podium, if
that's okay --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- Commissioner Saunders, or --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: All right. Whatever.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. I just figured it's kind of
completing his thought, you know, because that's what he brought
them here to -- go ahead. I'm sorry.
MS. WOOD: Good morning, Commissioners. Claudia Wood,
global sales manager for the Tourism department.
Before I begin with my slide, I do want to give a little history
about the international market. This visitor comes between seven to
14 days when they do visit Collier County, and they -- because of
that, they have a much higher spend in the destination, and it's also
important to note that they do come in the offseason and shoulder
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seasons when we really need tourism.
So what you have before you is a summary of lodging revenue
and tourist tax generated from our international representatives. The
data reflects the results during the time that I have been responsible
for the markets, which is since 2021.
So the fixed costs per contract per company is 120,000 per year.
In addition to that, there's 60- to 80,000 that they have in marketing
efforts. This could be sales missions, co-op advertising, trade shows.
And before they do any of that, I review what they would like to
spend, and I sign off on it.
So as you can see from the slide, the Tourist Development Tax
collected exceeds the County's investment for the last three years.
2022 was the first year of recovery, and the results are nearly equal to
the investment.
Because international travel is primarily sold through tour
operators who package flights, hotels, and attractions, those -- those
operators are the source of the room night that we report -- the room
nights that we report. It's important to note that these figures do not
include additional spending and tax revenue -- additional spending in
restaurants, attractions, retail outlets, and -- where was I? -- oh, and
the sales tax that they generate that Commissioner McDaniel was
saying earlier.
So overall the data shows that the visitation is directly attributed
to the international efforts and the value of this investment to Collier
County.
So I'll answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. I wanted to make a
couple comments in advance of the staff presentations. So I have two
things I wanted to accomplish. One is a couple of questions, but first,
Commissioner Hall -- and I don't often disagree with Commissioner
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Hall. You know, Conservation Collier from time to time, but most of
the time we're in agreement.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No worries.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But he said something that I
think is something that we need to really take a hard look at. He said,
as a strategy, "Well, let's just do this and see what happens." And I
don't think that that's a strategy, so I disagree with that concept.
If we make a misstep here in terms of visitation in our
advertising to a foreign tourist -- potential tourists, that mistake isn't
something that just gets corrected overnight. That's something that
takes years to build back up again.
And so I think that in terms of a strategy, you know, what
Commissioner LoCastro has indicated, maybe there's a way to roll
back at some point. But I think just cutting off these funds as a
strategy to see what happens is a mistake, because if you're right,
okay, well, we don't necessarily lose any revenue, but if you're
wrong, then it takes years to recover.
And so I guess my questions are, this is a 180-day extension to
the existing agreements. And I know you've got some numbers here,
and I'm trying to follow, but I think you said that the estimated
Tourist Development Tax revenues exceed that expenditure that we
have for --
MS. WOOD: Correct.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- for the advertising in those
markets.
And we're in -- we're kind of -- my understanding is that a lot of
our European tourists come here in the summertime.
MS. WOOD: Correct.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: That we're now at the point
where we really need to advertise for those tourists.
And so what I would suggest is let's stay the course. Let's see if
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we're able to increase our European tourism, these three different
regions, countries, and at the end of that, if we're -- if there is no
increase or if there continues to be a decrease, then I think maybe we
could -- we could certainly take a look at it. But I think it would be a
mistake right now at this point in time, because this is the point in
time where we need to advertise in those markets.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. I don't agree with
"throw a dart and see what happens." I'm not doing this because I
want to see. I'm looking at what's happening. '24 to '25, a reduction
in the expense, No. 1. Number 2, this isn't a -- this wasn't a secret
that this contract was coming up for renewal. It's not a secret that
Procurement takes forever to get through on an RFP process. And
I'm not chiding you or Jay or John or anybody. This isn't a
wait-and-see program for me. This is proofs in the pudding with
regard to the investment that's being made.
If it were up to me, you should be coming to us and saying, "We
don't need to pay these people any more of this 120,000. We're going
to specifically put that money into advertising." And I'm not chiding
you.
I didn't come to this conclusion because I want to throw a dart
and hope something else happens. I think measured, planned
expenditures and advertising. Commissioner LoCastro brought up an
example of advertising that -- where were you at when you saw our
[sic] ad somewhere?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: New York City.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: He was in New York City.
There's -- there's focused -- there's focused advertising dollars and
utilization of these funds.
So I -- I have been in question of these expenses since
we -- since I became a member on the TDC way back -- way back in
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the beginning of time. I've always questioned these expenses. I've
always questioned the investment of these funds.
This happened to pop up. Both of these happened to pop up
because somebody wasn't -- somebody wasn't doing what they
needed to do in order to get through the procurement process and
ensure that this agenda item didn't need to be extended for 180 days,
No. 1. Number 2, think it's time to quit.
So unlike Commissioner Hall, I have a tad bit of pragmatism
with regard to why I've made a suggestion to discontinue both of
these expenses.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Chairman.
I'm not here to do your homework for you, but here's why this
presentation to my colleagues doesn't hold water, because some of
them that don't support staying the course or maybe making a
20 percent reduction and then seeing what happens is these are very
impressive numbers, but what you -- and it's hard to prove what I'm
about to say. And if it was easy, anybody can do it.
But their premise is -- if we shut off everything, their premise is
that these numbers won't change. And so you have to prove that the
reason we're getting these numbers is because of all the stuff that's
happening overseas, that all those people will disappear and go to
Orlando, Tampa, Key West, and the 50,000 other places across the
United States that also are considered paradise, instead of coming to
Naples.
So I don't -- I'm not in this business, so I don't know how you
prove it, but these numbers alone don't prove it. These are
just -- these are just statistics of what we already automatically get.
And I'll -- and I know Commissioner McDaniel hates this, but I
always use the Great Wolf Lodge example. You know, Great Wolf
Lodge, we get an incredible amount of taxes and people that come
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here and buy gas and buy [sic] restaurants and all that -- all that type
of thing, but we gave them a $17 million -- in my opinion, a
Christmas gift to build something they were already going to build.
If we didn't give them that 17 million, I guarantee Great Wolf
Lodge would have still built here, and every penny we get from Great
Wolf Lodge now would not have changed one bit.
Your job is to prove that if we didn't market to all these
international locations, these numbers would all drop off
exponentially, significantly. If you can't prove that -- even if they
shifted just a little bit, I can tell you I'd probably agree with my
colleagues. And the term I always say -- maybe you've never heard
it -- the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I don't want to pay a million
dollars to get $100.
So, you know, I -- in order for my vote to really -- for me to feel
comfortable -- because I wouldn't say I'm on the fence. I do see the
advantage, but also, too, I want to make an educated vote here, not
just sort of throw a dart or guess or what have you. But these
numbers don't exactly prove it.
To my colleagues who want to vote against further marketing
investment because to them they think this is what we get -- because
we're Naples. And everybody in Ireland and the UK and Germany,
they already heard of Naples. They already know about it. It's not a
secret. It's a place they already know. They come back here year
after year after year.
So the ad they see in the paper while they're getting their hair cut
in Germany saying "come to Naples" that we put in isn't what drives
them here. This is, you know -- you know, kind of a summary of
what some others feel up here.
So being able to prove that, wow, if we shut off the spigot, get
ready for these numbers to exponentially drop is what a few
commissioners up here, I think, need to hear. And if you can't do
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that, then that's why you've got a couple of them that think, "You
know what, I think it's -- I think it's worth the experiment, you know,
to see what happens. And if it just drops off a little then, you know
what, how -- how significant is that. It drops off a lot, then, okay, we
guessed wrong. If it doesn't drop off at all, then, gosh, we've been
wasting this money, you know, year after year after year."
You know, Naples isn't a secret. It's not like we're some small
town that has this amazing, you know, beauty and whatnot, but, boy,
if we don't tell people about it, nobody comes here.
I mean, you know, it's something that already gets a lot of
visibility. I still think you have to have to feed it a bit, because I
think people can go anywhere in the state of Florida. So if they stop
coming here, they're still going to come to Florida. They're just
going to go to one other -- 50 other places. But I really think your
job is to prove why this is an investment. It's just not money we're
spending just to keep, you know, the numbers stable.
MS. WOOD: So these numbers are a result of the direct
relationships that our representatives have over in Europe.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I know, but prove it. Prove it.
If we didn't have those relationships, would these people still come
here?
COMMISSIONER HALL: Absolutely.
MS. WOOD: We wouldn't have these campaigns with these
tour operators to produce these room nights. It's our people in UK,
Ireland, and Germany that go to the tour operators and make sure
we're in the packages to begin with, and that's what these numbers
represent. This does not represent all the visitation from those
countries. It's just what we can measure.
So if they're not there talking day-to-day with the tour operators
and the travel advisors, we will not get those numbers. We will be
forgotten. There's about 16 other destinations that have
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representatives in these countries, and we will be forgotten.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And you were -- just -- my
last follow-up will be, you were here at our previous briefing, or
maybe you heard the results, where it showed -- and I think it was a
surprise to some. It certainly was to some of my constituents how far
down the list Collier was on what we actually are investing in
advertising, you know, Naples and Everglades -- or Marco Island,
Everglades and whatnot, that we're not at the top of the -- and not
necessarily that we have to be at the top. But boy, there were some
counties that, you know, I think, aren't Naples that are spending an
incredibly high -- and that doesn't mean we have to.
I'm just saying, when we sort of saw the rank of where we were,
I think it was a surprise to a lot of people that even though we think
we're spending money hand over fist, compared to a lot of other
counties, we actually aren't. But then the premise is, well, maybe we
don't have to because some of these other counties aren't Naples, so
they have to, you know, show pictures of, "Hey, you maybe never
heard of us, but, boy, if you came here, this place is amazing."
I'll never say Naples sells itself because I think there's -- you
know, you can name 100 places in the state of Florida that,
quote-unquote, sell themselves. I think most people know Key West
is beautiful. It's not a dump. Most people know Daytona Beach,
Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Destin, I mean -- but I think you still
have to do something.
So I'm not -- I'm -- I think Commissioner Saunders and I are
saying very similar things. I'm not in favor of going to a dead stop.
But I will say that this discussion here -- and we've said it before -- is
sending a very strong signal to your team that maybe the slides as
we've been seeing them over the past year aren't -- aren't going to be
enough.
And so I -- you know, I know these things are very tough to
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measure, but that's why you have the contract. And so to be able to
see is this money really well spent, maybe doing a deeper dive,
maybe bringing somebody over here on their own nickel who's sitting
in the Ireland office saying, "Man, your stuff is at the front package,"
and if it wasn't in there, I can tell you all these groups that go to the
JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton and all the hotels on the beaches,
either tour groups or single families or whatnot, you know, they're
going to forget about you guys really quick," we haven't heard a lot
of that. So that's why a couple of my colleagues are concerned.
And I'm just concerned about not getting the biggest bang for
our buck with any money that we spend. So I'm not here rubber
stamping, "Oh, God, I disagree with these guys. We should spend
the maximum amount." But I'd like to be convinced a bit more. And
even if I'm not, I'm not -- I'm not agreeable to go to a dead stop and
just say, you know, let's not invest anything and see what happens.
You know, maybe we have a conversation about reducing by a
certain percentage and seeing if we see a delta change. You know,
that's a -- like Commissioner Saunders said, that's a strategy, you
know. Everything else is sort of a bit of a gamble in my estimation.
But I don't know if you can add anything now or, you know, we
table this for two weeks, and you guys come back and make a totally
different new presentation that we've never heard before we make
some big, huge pendulum swing in our marketing budget and maybe
make a mistake because we don't really have impressive data or an
impressive presentation. You know, that would be one of my other
offers is that maybe we take a little pause here and see if you want to
present something that's at a different angle with a bit more meat on
the bone. Just a thought.
MS. WOOD: So I can explain that these international travelers
do come into either Orlando or Miami, and they go around the state.
So if they're coming down the west coast of Florida, they'll typically
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go to Tampa. And then they have a choice. They stay in Punta
Gorda, Fort Myers, or Naples before we go -- or Sarasota before they
go over to Miami. And it's the same the other way. So if we don't
have representation, we will not be in that mix.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So I'm going to simplify this, because
what I'm getting out of this is this, it's basically a pay to play, and the
people that control these things over in Europe, basically, these
tours -- and if they're not part of it and we're not part of it financially,
they're not going to include us in these packets.
MS. WOOD: It's all relationships.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So it will be a direct result, if we're not
a pay-to-play partner in this organization, or whoever runs it over
there -- sad but true, but it sounds like that's how they run it -- our
name will be stricken off their stopping point with their tourists in a
way.
MS. WOOD: Not intentionally. They will just not include us
because we're not present.
COMMISSIONER HALL: We're not paying.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Not intentionally they won't include us.
MS. WOOD: And it's -- and it's not any one person running the
show. These are packagers --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No, I understand.
MS. WOOD: -- of vacation --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I understand that. But what I got
from -- basically, the simplest answer was basically saying, we can
shut it off, but what's going to happen is more than likely a
percentage of these people that have control of this market over there
in Europe, they just won't include us anymore in their packet.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: They'll just shred all our
flyers.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: They'll just shred -- you know, it won't
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be a stop on the stop -- it won't be one of the stops along the way.
And like you said, it's not -- this doesn't reflect all the Germans
and all the Irish people that come over here because, sure, they came
over here because they've always came here in the offseason. I know
VRBOs, they rent homes for a whole month at a time in the summer.
That is their market, and it's always been that way. I can remember
back in the day that, you know, they were -- those are the people that
occupied these properties.
So -- but just -- we're talking about one subject matter here, and
Commissioner McDaniel brought it up, you know. And like I
said -- you know, like he's saying, I understand where he's at with this
because he don't -- you know, the numbers and just looking at what's
here in front of us doesn't, you know, really reflect what's really
going on, or we're not getting a good bang for our buck, I guess, in a
way, if you look at the numbers. But the other way, you're saying
these numbers will disappear, basically, if we don't invest in it.
MS. WOOD: Correct, because they're directly attributed --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The simple --
MS. WOOD: -- to the relationships and them doing campaigns
with these packagers of vacations.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Chairman.
First of all, it's not -- it's not a throwing the dart and seeing what
happens. I said that -- I made that statement, but there's -- I have
reasons behind why I said that. And I apologize for just jumping out
there and saying it.
I have experience with group travel. I have experience being the
recipient of a fam trip. I did -- I did high school bands and choirs for
several years, and when I was sent on a fam trip one time and I found
a quality place to take my clients, I didn't have to go back every
single year. And if they didn't invite me back the next year, it wasn't
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because I wasn't going to send my clients. That was a quality place
to go. I automatically wanted to please my clients and send them
there.
We've been advertising if this -- in these markets for 17 years in
a row. The people that they have encouraged to come here are
coming here. They don't need to be encouraged year after year after
year.
So the assumption that if we don't spend this money our
visitation dollars are going to go to zero is stupid. That's an
assumption. To assume that they're just not going to -- they're just
not going to include us anymore, that's not correct. This is a quality
place to come.
I often say to Dot, when we think about going somewhere on
vacation, it's hard to think -- we say to each other, "Naples makes it
hard to travel" because there's very few places that have the quality
that we already live here with.
So part of this 180,000, it's $60 a year worth -- it's a free trip for
these people. It's a free trip down here. They're not learning
anything different. It's a free trip. It's play to play.
And, you know, the assumption is, well, if we don't renew this
contract, they're willing to go 180 days without an increase. Well,
I've got news for them. If we extend it and they try to increase us,
we'll just tell them no. If we tell those people no, I guarantee you
they'll do everything that they possibly can to get our business back,
because it's a free trip every year. It's gravy for them. They're not
working hard for Collier County. It's the same thing over and
over -- 17 years, and there's the numbers.
So to assume those things is a big assumption. If you take it -- if
you take it away from those -- or for those tour operators and they
don't have the gravy anymore, I promise you their effort will
increase, and they'll do whatever they've got to do to get our business
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back, because we're gravy for them. It's not something that
they're -- it's not a burden on them. It's not something that they dread
doing. No, it's -- for 17 years, it's been fairly easy for them.
Besides all that, I've been from 80 miles an hour to zero, and it
wasn't that hard. I came out with my hair on fire.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Is that miles per hour?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It's because it was knots.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Eighty knots.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I rest my case. It was a bad
result.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm sorry for laughing.
MS. WOOD: If I could just clarify one thing. Our
representatives work in country, in their markets. They're not taking
trips here. And also I want to add that international travel's down
across the board. All of Florida is down. And so we need to be there
when it comes back so we won't be forgotten.
COMMISSIONER HALL: That's my point, we are there. We
don't have to entice people to come. They know that this is a quality
place. It's down everywhere. So they're not leaving here and going
somewhere else. Those markets would be up. It's not that -- I'm
just -- I'm willing to take the money and place it elsewhere. It's
tourism money. It can be money well spent. I just don't know that
Germany and Ireland for the last 17 years is the smartest thing we can
do. I'm fine with whatever we vote on. There's been a motion made.
I seconded it.
MR. MULLINS: And, Commissioner, if I could, John Mullins,
director of Communications, Government, and Public Affairs.
To Commissioner LoCastro's point about the extension and
potentially coming back at the next meeting, just so you know, these
180-day extensions for this item and the next one are necessary for
the contracts which will expire at the end of this week. So by not
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approving the 180-day extensions, you are, de facto, cutting --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Why did we wait -- why did
we wait that long?
MR. MULLINS: To Commissioner McDaniel's point, this
process started in June of last year through Procurement. I'm not here
to throw anyone under the bus or defend anyone, but the process is
the process. I could throw something on the visualizer right now that
shows you the start to finish of that process, and it takes six to nine
months as defined on that chart. So we are just working through the
process as it is dictated in the public realm.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. You're asking her for
something she can't prove. The nebulous extraction between how
much we pay these people and how much actually come, it can't be
proven.
I would contend that the visitors that we get from Europe and
Germany -- Ireland, UK, and Germany, there's an enormous amount
of economic factors that come into play to make that decision. It's
based upon their dollar in comparison to our dollar. It's based upon
the weather. It's based upon hurricanes. It's based upon which way
the wind's blowing.
I don't agree with you. I don't agree that these people will drop
off when they are coming here, when they come into Orlando. I've
lived in Collier County for 45 years. I have sold houses by standing
on the Naples Pier, when it was there. I had a dolphin on the payroll
that I used to feed every night at 5 o'clock, and if you and your
husband came from Europe to buy a house from me, that dolphin was
coming by at 5 o'clock, and your husband was cooked. He had to
buy a house because I took you to the pier at 5 and saw that dolphin.
How many miles of pretty white beaches does Collier County
have? A lot. The most of any of those communities that you just
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named off that those people are going to pick to go to.
My answer is, I've wanted to -- I have wanted to stop these
programs for years. Commissioner Hall delineated that's been 17
years. My answer is no. Let's -- circumstantially, we have a shot at
taking this off the table. I would highly recommend if it does get
voted to get taken off the table, you come back to the TDC, to this
board to ultimately reappropriate these funds to specific advertising
in those communities -- in those countries. I'd be happy with that.
So she can't prove what you're asking.
There's -- there's -- statistically, this data is made up of an enormous
amount of factors, not this $120,000 investment with one company to
make sure our stuff's in somebody's brochure. There's an enormous
amount of factors.
MS. WOOD: These numbers are directly related to that. What
you're saying is correct; I can't prove the other revenues that are
coming in because of their efforts. This is what I can track.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I understand. I understand.
I've argued that for quite some time. We had the same discussion
with your boss not too awfully long ago when it wasn't appropriately
delineated that we'd increased our advertising annually by another
$5 million, and we're still seeing things depleting off.
So I understand it's a difficult thing. I'm not -- I haven't been in
favor of these expenditures since I became a county commissioner.
This was a -- this was a shot to discontinue these expenses.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Thank you. And I do this
occasionally, but I'm going to ramble here a little bit, because I've got
notes, and I can't even read my writing at this point.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You never ramble.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But I received several phone
calls. The one most pertinent was from Chris Lopez at the Collier
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County Restaurant and Lodging Association and urging that we
continue with this contract. And I said to him that I didn't think there
was going to be a problem. And so if Chris Lopez is listening, I
apologize for that.
But the reason I bring that up -- and I've also spoken to the
Chamber of Commerce. And the reason I bring that up is the Collier
County Restaurant and Lodging Association, those are the people that
collect the tourist tax. They represent the hotels and lodging facilities
here that collect the vast bulk of this tax.
They support going to a sixth-penny tourist tax because they
know that we need to have more advertising for tourism, more money
for beach renourishment, and, of course, we've got the Paradise Coast
facility that brings in a tremendous amount of tourists, and that's part
of the driving force in them supporting this.
But my point is, this is an industry that is willing to support
increasing the tax on the industry and also understands the need to do
the advertising and to increase our advertising budget, especially in
these days when the geopolitical tensions are keeping people away
from the United States and from Florida.
And so I think it's important to recognize -- you know, there was
a comment, "I'll get the biggest bang for our money." Well, it is our
money. We're the taxing entity that's authorizing this, but it's really
the tourist industry that's taxing itself, that's being taxed, and they
recognize the need for this.
I think that this discussion certainly is a very good one, but there
are things that we can -- up here that we do, we do very well.
Building water and sewer plants and building roads and scrutinize our
budgets and things of that nature, but we're not experts on what needs
to be done to bring European tourists to the United States.
And if there's going to be a mistake made, I'd rather err on the
side of, okay, we spent this money, and we didn't get as much of a
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bang -- bang for the buck as we had hoped for as opposed to saying
we're not going to spend this money and find out that we're losing a
tremendous amount of momentum in those -- in those markets.
And this is a 120-day [sic] extension of a contract. That doesn't
mean we have to ever agree to do this again. But I think it's a
mistake for us to have a situation where the industry really didn't
have any notice that this was going to be taken off the agenda other
than the quick phone call I had yesterday.
And so I just think that we need to listen to our experts, and
they're the ones that are telling us we should go forward with this
contract.
So I'm not going to support the motion. I think we should -- we
should continue with this.
Commissioner LoCastro, I think you're spot on in terms of,
okay, we need to take a look at these things. But, you know, we're
going from 100 miles an hour to zero here today, right now, and I
think that's a mistake.
So maybe the taking a close look at this occurs in the coming
budget cycle when we can really reevaluate, well, was this a success
or not.
So I'm not going to support the motion, and I would hope that
the Board would vote to extend these agreements.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Chairman.
I actually think you can prove it. And some other markets are
up significantly. So you know, we can focus on just us and how we
think we won't be affected because everybody loves Naples and all
that, but other markets that aren't Naples that have invested quite a bit
of marketing money, those slides actually spoke for themselves.
So the reason I think you can prove it is because I think we're
losing sight of a couple of things here. We're not talking about, you
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know, the mom and dad and three kids from Ireland that are coming
here to Naples, and they went by a travel agency and there was a
flyer in there for Naples. Yeah, we get some of those people, and
once they come two or three times -- sometimes they come every
year, or sometimes they say, "We've seen Naples, but we love
Florida. What else in Florida is beautiful?" So then they go to Key
West the next year. They go to Daytona. The year after that they go
to Miami.
Like Commissioner Saunders, I talked to Sharon Lockwood at
the JW Marriott, the whole senior staff at both Ritz-Carltons. And
one of the things that they talk about aren't the family of five from
Germany. They talk about these giant tour groups that come here and
stay for an extended amount of time, much larger groups.
So you get both, but it's not just, "Well, if we shut this off, you
know, there's a handful of families we won't get anymore."
So one of the things that I tell you -- and it's too bad that, you
know, we have to vote now, because we're, you know -- you know,
up against a time crunch, but if you had a -- if you had a chance to
come back here, the slide I would like to see is statistics on the big
groups, the big-dollar people. You know, all the folks from Germany
and Ireland and -- German -- and the UK that have come here and get
those statistics from the hotels and the restaurateurs and all of that.
And it's not just, you know, a newlywed couple from the UK that
came here because Naples looked like it had pretty beaches. That's
great, but there's bigger groups they are spending big chunks of
money. So I had to sort of rewrite my notes as well.
One of the things we're also losing track of here is this is all
great, the hotel revenue and all the money that it brings in here, but
the one thing we haven't talked about is how having this preserves
jobs in Collier County. If all this takes a big hit because we guessed
wrong, a whole bunch of people that count on Collier County -- and
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there's some people that will disagree with me, and I've even heard it
in this chamber before. It's not our job to spend tourism dollars so
that people have jobs, or restaurants do well or whatever.
What I say to those people at my town hall meetings -- because I
just had a major town hall meeting. And Jamie French and Trinity
and a few others came with me to a big one. And when one lady said
that, I said, "Think of your favorite restaurant. That restaurant might
go -- might probably go out of business, and a lot of them have
around here because they don't have the tourism dollars."
When I -- when I say to Luigi Carvelli who owns the top five
restaurants on Marco Island -- in season when I say to him, "God,
your place is packed. It's a three-hour wait," you know what he says
to me? He says, "It better be, because in the offseason the
locals -- you know, they come here once to eat at the salad bar and
drink a glass of water with lemon in it, and then they go home."
So the tourism not only keeps him viable, but it creates an
incredible workforce that he's able to employ that get to also live in
Collier County.
So, you know, maybe it's arguable to say is it really our job to
market Naples so that it can create jobs or whatnot, but I think it
is -- it is part of the solution.
You know, we made -- you know, I'll go back, then, to my Great
Wolf Lodge example. We wanted them to come here because it was
a viable company that we don't think's going to go out of business,
and it's going to create jobs, and it's going to, you know, bring in
families and all that. So it's a very similar thing. But I think we're
losing sight -- like, if you had a chance to come back here in a week,
I would say, "Destroy all these slides, or add to them, and talk to us
about the groups that come here. How many jobs are in each hotel
and in each restaurant? How many people are employed by tourism
in Collier County?"
March 10, 2026
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And we've had those presentations before but not on the day
where we're voting on the money. A lot of times it was just feedback
to make us feel good about what was happening, and it was our
quarterly brief.
The other thing I would -- I would suggest is 17 years'
advertising in the UK, Ireland, and Germany, one of the things that
would be -- make a much more effective briefing, if you were able to
come back here in a week, is, you know, we feel like we flooded the
market for 17 years. UK, Ireland, and Germany, they've heard of
Naples before. Why aren't we advertising in Spain, Italy, Portugal,
Scotland? You know, I mean, you're the experts. So what countries
have we never been in? And so we can call it a day in the 17 -- you
know, 17 years we've had here.
And I'm not saying that's the approved solution, but you have to
sell this to all five people up here. And when you've got a few on the
fence, that would be sort of -- that would have been sort of a good
second presentation to say, "If you're not looking to fully fund these
countries because you've had enough of the 17-year rubber stamp of
the money, of the money," these aren't the only three countries in
Europe.
You know, I can tell you -- I live on Marco Island. Multiple
houses in my -- on my street are from Canada, you know. Are we
advertising in Canada? And maybe we are. But I know we're just
voting on these three, you know, places to invest right now. But if
this budget goes to zero, a good follow-on would be, "Hey, before
you go -- you make it go to zero to save the $180,000, we'd like to
reappropriate that money to countries that we've never advertised in,"
and then you know what, see if we see a spike. Maybe this drops
4 percent, but we see a spike in Spain, Portugal, and Italy by
62 percent, so that was -- that was worth the trade.
So those are just some ideas that I throw out. But I think
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extending this for 180 days, but then I -- I'm telling you the signal
we're sending to your whole team is it's no longer going to be
business as usual. And we just -- we're giving you all kinds of things
that we're upset about where we don't think the juice is worth the
squeeze. I just gave you some examples of -- I'd like to see, like I
said, job statistics and what that revenue brings in, other countries
where we have no footprint, and why aren't we there?
And then if you say, "Oh, we're not there because we don't need
to be" or "We were there," whatever. But, you know, my colleagues
that say 17 years is a long time in the same countries, I think if we
back out totally or even halfway they're still going to remember
Naples. You know, that has merit. You know, that has merit.
But I'm not for going to a dead stop here today, but I'm for
sending you a very, very strong signal that we want to make sure this
money is well spent. So if the idea would be we approve, if we have
the votes, to continue the 180 days, but then you're coming back here
because at the 181st day we could call a dead stop and say, "You
know, we didn't -- we didn't see any difference," or "The more we
thought about it," or "You gave us a new set of slides, and to me it
was just more of the same. It didn't really make me feel good about
it."
But I don't want to have to make, you know, a quick vote here
to, you know, swing the pendulum in a totally different way because
we have to do it by the end of the week. I mean, it's too bad that
that's the case.
MS. WOOD: I agree.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: I like to chew on it a little bit.
But if that's the case, then my vote would be to continue it but
with a lot of caveats to say that at the end of the 180 days, you
know -- or way before then we're coming back here and doing a
deeper dive because of all the information you're going to provide us
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to either disprove what's being talked about up here or some new data
that we haven't seen yet.
MS. WOOD: Okay. And I just want to clarify, I just put
Germany, but there are other countries that they oversee.
Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland as
well.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: See, there again -- and I mean
this with total respect, okay? If you're coming in here asking us to
approve to spend money to give to you, you've got to have everything
in here. You know, you can't whisper in my ear right before the vote
and go, "Oh, oh, by the way, there's four other slides that would blow
you away." This is it, what we see here.
And also, too, I will tell you this -- and no disrespect at all
either. But this presentation, you know, or any presentation is a
reflection of your company and your staff. And are you high speed?
Are you not high speed?
So, you know, for instance, when we voted on contracts here for
either a company to take over the sports complex or some other big
things, whether Barefoot Beach concession stand or whatever, it's
because we're so blown away by their impressive presentation.
Sometimes companies that have had our business for 17 years, they
come in with two or three slides and go, "Yeah, this is just a
formality. It's going to be" --
And that's why, to Commissioner Saunders' point, he wasn't
wrong when he told a couple people on the phone, "I don't think I see
an issue here." But, you know, sometimes we guess wrong on that,
because you've got a couple commissioners that are new. They see
slides that look very generic. Now, you know, you're rocked back on
your heels a little bit going, "Oh, but wait a minute. There's, like, 10
others countries or what" -- okay, but that's what needed to be on
here.
March 10, 2026
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And -- but having said all that, I think it's worth giving the
180 -day extension. We're not renewing a 25-year contract, right? I
mean, John, do I have this correctly, right, we're asking for 180-day
extension?
MR. MULLINS: It's 180-day extension to complete the
procurement process on the contract.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. But at the end of the
180 days, I mean, or in between that, do we have a chance to still
evaluate this, or we're basically saying right now, if we approve it, it's
a done deal for what? For how many years, or for how long?
MR. MULLINS: I believe the contract is structured like the
basic contracts are, three years with then two one-year options for
renewal. Now, that being said, you are the Board of County
Commissioners. If you want to cancel this contract at some point, I
am sure there's a way we can get out of it.
But to your point, I think that the tourism division would be
more than willing to come back and do a deeper dive on some of the
statistics, talk more about the markets. And once again, not to spare
any lashings that we may be getting for this presentation today, in
Ms. Wood's defense, we asked her for this information yesterday
when this was pulled off the consent agenda.
Time to mount a huge defense in presentation really wasn't there
for today, and we apologize for that.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Well, to your point, and
Mr. Klatzkow reminds us this all the time, in every contract there's
also some fine print on the bottom that allows us an out. So I think,
so that we do something prudent, smart, and we don't do a big
improper knee jerk with some information that may not be, you
know, fully cohesive or what have you, I mean, my vote would be to
go the 180 days, but that's not sending the signal that you're getting a
three-year contract with a two-year option that, you know, as we
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continue to do a deeper dive -- and I would say use that time to meet
with commissioners individually and see if you can put a little bit
more meat on the bone at any particular time. Even if the contract is
approved for three years with a two-year option, we've got the
opportunity at any time to say, "You know what, we've seen a couple
things that are red flags," and so without cause, I believe we can end
pretty much almost any contract. And if we had cause saying we
thought it wasn't worth the money the more we did a deeper dive, I
bet we would have an out, and it would be legally sufficient.
MR. MULLINS: And to that point to follow up, if I haven't
already mentioned this, Procurement has already contacted the people
that were selected, the contractors that were selected for both of these
accounts. Now, that's not saying we can't do a follow-up to let them
know there may be further consideration based on a presentation
before this board, but just so you know, they know at this point they
have been awarded the contract.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Wow, was that the short
version?
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: It was.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I'm sorry, Terri. I know I asked if you
wanted a break earlier, but...
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It's all right. I'm almost
done -- I'm almost done.
This isn't by mistake. When I came on this Board of County
Commissioners, these were five-year automatic renewal agreements
with little to no discussion by this Board of County Commissioners.
I'm the one that shortened the time frame down. I'm the one that set
this up.
I haven't liked the lack of -- I don't want to call it transparency,
because you're not doing anything nefarious. You've got a really,
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really hard job. You've got a really, really hard job. We know we
live in paradise. You're over here trying to tell us we need to spend
more money to continue to advertise it.
But at the end of the day, these were rubber stamped. They
went through the TDC, came to the Board of County Commissioners,
there was a rubber stamp. And I am the one that actually shortened
the fuse on these things to provide for accountability, to provide for
some level of transparency, and I haven't liked these -- these
expenses forever. I haven't liked these expenses forever, and I think
it's high time that they are quit.
And so this just happened to pop up because somebody
wasn't -- somebody -- somehow this got to a point where it's having
to be extended to fulfill a contractual arrangement because of
something else. Bottom line, I don't think -- I don't think these
people are going to stop coming to our community. I don't think
these revenues are going to go to a dead zero. I think it's a
misrepresentation to bring in something like Great Wolf that
has -- that had -- that was -- you want to talk about pay to play? That
was a $17 million buy for us.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: They were coming anyway.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We created 600 -- don't
interrupt me.
We created 600-plus construction jobs. We created 700
full-time year-round jobs in excess, 100 of which were over $100,000
a year with a less than three-year payback of that 17 million pay to
play.
So bringing that -- bringing those things into a discussion like
this isn't -- isn't necessarily where we need to go.
I think this operation needs to be discontinued. I've made my
motion to. And I'll rest in peace.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank God.
March 10, 2026
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CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Well, I'm talking to
Commissioner Kowal now.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Because I can add to two, and
we've got two on each side of this issue right now.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: This is actually an important
decision, and, you know, it's only 180-day extension of
the -- 180 -day administrative extension for the agreement, and I
guess that's to complete the procurement process, and then the
contract -- the contract ultimately will come back to us, won't it?
MS. WOOD: Yep.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Okay. So we're not making a
final decision on this contract today.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, yeah, we are.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Don't interrupt.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Didn't I hear you say that a
minute ago?
Okay. So we're not making a final decision today. We're only
making a decision to extend the time period for the staff and
everybody to review these agreements and bring something back to
us. So, Commissioner Kowal, you're the deciding vote on this.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yes, I am.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Because it's two to two. It's a
heavy burden. But you've been lifting weights, and I know you can
lift this one.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It was leg day today.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: But I think it's important that
we at least proceed with this item, and we'll have another look at it.
March 10, 2026
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CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, believe it or not, we have a
public comment. And I know there's a motion and a second.
Troy. Let's at least hear the public comment, if they're still
there. I don't know.
MR. MILLER: They are still there. I'm just hoping we don't
have any further Zoom issues. We'll start with Charles -- all on
Zoom here. We'll start with Charles Wright and follow up with Chris
Lopez.
Mr. Wright, you should be getting prompted to unmute yourself,
if you'll do so at this time. I see you have unmuted. Go ahead, sir.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Troy, did you find Marcia?
She sent us all an email saying she was trying to get in.
MR. MILLER: I've seen the email, yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay, great.
MR. MILLER: Charles, are you there, sir?
MR. WRIGHT: Hello.
MR. MILLER: We can hear you. Go ahead.
MR. WRIGHT: My name is Charles Wright. I've been an
eco-tour provider in Collier County since the late 1990s. As you
know, we are very seasonal business, as was mine, until I embraced
the International Market Place. Prior to doing so, I would either
borrow money or lay people off in the offseason.
We're a small group, only about 15, 18 people, but since
embracing the International Market Place and marketing directly, in
concert with the CVB with some of these marketing agencies both in
Europe and, in the past, in South America, I don't have to lay people
off. I keep them hired. So they're working -- my 18 people are
working year-round now. Without this International Market Place,
we wouldn't be able to do that.
And the -- couple points to make. Tourism is a beast that's got
to be fed. People aren't coming back -- the tourisms that are coming
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back -- coming to Naples aren't coming back year after year after
year. People grow up, kids grow up, things change, and we're always
after new blood in a tourism marketplace.
And if -- and Florida has some great beach locations. Our big
task is to get people out of Orlando, out -- away from the mouse. We
have great beach locations in the rest of Florida, and we've got to try
to get people there. But what is the difference between our beach
location and other beach locations? We've got great hotels. We've
all got great beaches. You-all have got restaurants. Our is the
uniqueness we have with its location to the UNESCO World Heritage
site called the Everglades National Park 30 minutes out its back door.
But how do you tell -- how do you tell somebody sitting in the
middle of Switzerland about the difference between Naples and
Panama City unless you can get closer to them and make a
presentation or have somebody make a presentation and represent it?
You cannot. You only can sell what you know.
So it's -- in my eyes, it's very important that we maintain
representation, because this beast has got to be fed. We're relying
on -- we're relying on new people, new blood to come in for the
tourism marketplace, not for people buying homes.
And so we need representation in some form or fashion.
Either -- either somebody like Claudia sitting in Europe running
around making sales calls, like I have to hire salespeople to sell my
business, or we hire representation.
If we lose the representation, people are going to lose focus on
Naples. And more importantly, the new people are not going to
know about us.
A couple other points to make. Mr. LoCastro, you talk about
looking for groups, group sales -- groups coming into this area are --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sir, just to let you know, your time's
up, so kind of bring it to a point, please.
March 10, 2026
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MR. WRIGHT: Okay. All right. Very good. Groups
are -- groups come in domestically. So we're -- what we are actually
seeking and what makes the rest of my competitors in the tourism
business and the hotels and restaurants we support is what's called
FIT, family international -- family and individual travelers. Groups
come domestically from companies here. Very few companies are
going to send groups from Switzerland to come to Naples to the JW
Marriott. Cost, purely.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you, sir.
MR. WRIGHT: Thanks for your time.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, before I call the next one, for my
own edification here, are we doing 11G and H together? Because all
these people have signed up to speak on both of those items.
MR. MULLINS: And, Mr. Chairman, if I could, both items are
pretty much identical. They're both contracts, both 180-day
extensions.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I don't think we have a problem --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll amend my motion for
both.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: For both, yeah.
MR. MILLER: Okay. I just wanted to clear that up.
Your next speaker is, on Zoom, Chris Lopez, and he'll be
followed by Paige Rhodes.
Chris, you're being prompted to unmute yourself. I see you've
done that. Chris, you've got three minutes. Hello, Chris?
I see him unmuted, but I am not hearing him. It seems to be
back to the Marsha Oenick problem.
I'll tell you what --
MR. LOPEZ: There we are. Can you hear me now?
MR. MILLER: Yes, Chris. We hear you now. Thank you.
MR. LOPEZ: All right. Thank you so much.
March 10, 2026
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Appreciate your time. Good afternoon, Chairman and
Commissioners. Thank you. Yes, my name is Christopher Lopez.
I'm here on behalf of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
in the Collier County chapter there and all of our tourism and
hospitality and restaurateur and allied members in Collier County.
I respect, so much, the dialogue about what's been discussed
here and the importance of these dollars and the accountability of
every single cent of TDT that's being spent to promote Collier
County.
We have a competitiveness problem in Collier County because
we are getting outspent by similar markets that know that the
European travel market, the Canadian travel market, the international
travel market is down. So they are reinforcing their expenditures to
make sure that they are on the right trend when these travelers come
back.
The timing of this issue and bringing up this -- and bringing up
this extension and eliminating these contracts in Europe is very
precarious, as we are coming into the summer months when we need
this travel, as the World Cup is coming here. Scotland is playing in
Miami. The Scotts don't like to stay in urban areas and party at
Miami nightclubs. The Scotts love nature. The Scotts love the beach
when they come here, and they will stay here because we are 90
minutes away from their World Cup hosting site in Miami, okay?
This is just a natural part of the procurement process. And I
respect the Commissioners' thoughts and process on not wanting to
spend these dollars, and this is the right time to do it. Today is not
the right time to do it, respectively.
We had a 12-hour notice to our industry that these items were
getting pulled from your consent agenda to be pulled for comment
because they were going to get -- they were going to get brought up
to be dissolved. That's why there's hardly anybody from our industry
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in the room, because it's a Tuesday in the middle of season, and we
had to be here all morning and probably all later into the afternoon
for this -- for these two agenda items.
And, finally, I will end with, you know what terrifies and what
keeps up -- our tourism industry professionals up at night? It is the
months of August and September and the lack of business that we
will see because those are the two worst months for our business and
our market year over year over year.
So ending these contracts now, coming out of summer, all
communication into those European countries listed, every talk about
Naples and Collier County and Marco Island will halt.
So if that's the wish of the Board, we understand. We will, as an
industry, have to come back and work very diligently with the
County Commission on the importance of promoting Collier County.
But right now is not the time to make this decision. Kick it out for a
hundred and [sic] days, bring it back after September, and we'll have
this deep-hearted conversation leading up to that with all parties
involved. That's what we respectfully require -- we respectfully ask.
Thank you so much.
MR. MILLER: Mr. Chair, our final registered speaker for this
item is Paige Rhodes.
Paige, you're being prompted to unmute yourself, if you'll do
that for us. I see that you have. You have three minutes, Paige.
MS. RHODES: Okay. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My
name is Paige Rhodes, and I'm the area director of sales for the Opal
Collection hotels in Naples, which includes Edgewater Beach Hotel,
the Capri Inn, and the new one, Olde Naples Hotel.
Collier County tourism industry depends heavily on
international visitors. While domestic travelers from across the
United States contribute significantly, international tourists provide
unique economic benefits that strengthen the Collier County tourism
March 10, 2026
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sector in ways that domestic travel alone cannot.
First, international visitors tend to stay longer, and they spend
more money per trip than domestic tourists. Travelers coming from
countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, and Ireland often plan extended vacations to justify the
cost and distance of international travel.
During these trips, they spend money not only on attractions but
also on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and shopping.
International travelers generate millions of dollars in revenue in
supporting thousands of jobs in hospitality, retail, and entertainment.
Second, the international market helps stabilize Collier's tourism
economy throughout the year. Domestic travel often peaks during
holidays and winter months, but international travel patterns differ
depending on school calendars and seasonal trends in other countries.
For example, European and South American visitors frequently
travel to Florida during the summer and fall months. This helps keep
hotels, attractions, and restaurants busy even during what might
otherwise be slower tourism periods.
Third, our major competitors in Florida have representation in
Germany and the UK. It is essential that we keep the destination
represented, as out of sight is out of mind.
The luxury travel market in particular, as well as niche segments
such as golf and culinary travel, are currently in high demand, and
further growth is expected in these markets.
Finally, international tourism supports economic diversification
and job creation. Over 29,000 jobs in Collier from hotel staff and
tour guides to transportation workers and retail employees depend on
a steady flow of visitors from around the world. When the
international market grows, these industries expand, increasing
employment opportunities and tax revenue that supports public
services and infrastructure.
March 10, 2026
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In conclusion, the international market is essential to Collier's
tourism because it generates higher visitor spending, supports
year-round travel demand, enhances our global reputation, and
creates jobs. Without international travelers, Collier's tourism
economy would be far less dynamic and profitable. With visitation
down from Canada, we've already seen significant decline in our
international business this past year, and suspending our
representation of these key areas will only cause additional decline.
International tourism is not built through short-term campaigns.
It requires continuous in-market engagement with tour operators,
airlines, travel advisors, and media; therefore, extending the contracts
with OMMAC and DiaMonde and ultimately renewing them is
essential to maintain our exposure in these areas.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you.
MR. MILLER: And that's all of our speakers, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you, Troy.
I'm just going to make a few comments. I look at this chart, I
understand what you're saying. I kind of do understand. And this
is -- you can tell us what's going on here, and I see what's going on
here. I know I've been on cruises before where we go right past
Mallorca. I'm like, "Wow, Mallorca's nice. Why don't we stop
there?" More than likely, Mallorca's not giving that cruise line
money. I get it.
And this is -- this is a concentrated one area where the money
goes to this that's particular -- to these organizations that do represent
these large groups that do these tour trips from what I'm getting from
it, if that's -- correct me if I'm wrong. Is that kind of what it is? They
represent certain groups to go out.
MS. WOOD: It's not necessarily groups, like Charles Wright
mentioned. It's individual travelers that go to the travel advisors who
March 10, 2026
Page 125
buy the package from the tour operators. It's those families that are
coming here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I understand. I'm not talking
about who's coming here. I'm talking about who controls that packet.
The tour advisors control the packet.
MS. WOOD: Yes. Individual tour operators, like Apple
Vacations but in Europe. Those are the ones that package the
vacations.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So that's what I'm trying to say --
MS. WOOD: And there's several different ones.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- so if that -- if you don't participate in
it, Apple's not going to have Naples in that packet.
MS. WOOD: It won't --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So we can say this number will
disappear if we don't participate?
MS. WOOD: We can. It won't be in the itinerary that they
create for Florida.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So I just want to make sure
that's -- I'm reading that correctly.
So that has nothing to do with the upcoming -- because I know
when I was young and I finally had the time with my family, had
enough money I was making, I was ahead of the game, and this
is -- all right, so now it's time to take my family on vacation. But I
was new to it, you know what I'm saying? So I had to figure out
where I was going to go.
And I understood when that gentleman had kind of brought
something home was that this is a market you've got to feed. This is
not -- just because somebody's been to Naples -- but guess what, that
guy might have came here 20 times in his life, and now he's not
coming back because he's beyond that time. Now there's a whole
new generation that has money to spend. And if we're not out there,
March 10, 2026
Page 126
they don't know we exist, in some sort of way. Because it's not
inherent.
I know, like Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom's not in your
bloodline." So it's not inherited. You must preserve it, and you must
have it out there for people to see.
And, you know, the other thing is I didn't like -- I mean, I looked
at the number and said, this ain't a great -- you know, the numbers
we're getting into the TDT's not -- overwhelming, but none of them
are negative for the investment.
MS. WOOD: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: And that's not our tax dollars. That's
not our citizens' money we're spending. It's the people that are
coming. We're spending their money, again, in reverse to bring them
back.
MS. WOOD: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So, basically, we're spending their
money just to lure them back.
So I don't think a dead stop to this is the right thing to do. I can
guarantee these numbers will disappear if we don't extend the 180.
Like I said, is it a great increase in investment? No, but it has
been an increase steadily. They're not losing money on the
investment in no way. I mean, the numbers show that.
And this doesn't -- this doesn't equate to every person that comes
here from these European countries. This is just a particular design
or an arm that is used to get people and get these tour packets created
to have Naples in the -- in that stop along the way. So I understand
that.
Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thanks.
I mean, I can count. But what we have to remember is whether
we advertise in the markets or not, those people, those tour operators
March 10, 2026
Page 127
are paid commission for people to come here. This is a quality
destination. It's something that those tour operators know of. To
assume that they're just not going to include us if we don't advertise
$120,000 towards them, not the right assumption. That's all I'm
going to say.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: And I'll follow up with, you know, we
look at the other markets. Like, look at Tampa, you look at Miami,
you look at -- all those other markets have another industry that
supports their community. We don't have a big shipping industry like
Miami does. We don't have a big -- we don't have four major sport
teams that play every year throughout the season that draws people to
Tampa. You know, you've got the football -- professional football,
professional baseball, professional soccer -- I mean hockey.
You know, we have to really stand back and look. What is our
industry? I grew up in a one-industry town, and I know what can
happen to a one-industry town if you don't pay attention or you're not
keeping an eye on what's going on.
Look at Detroit. And I grew up in Pittsburgh. I know exactly
what happened. When, you know, we turned our back or weren't
watching what was going on, the town dies.
So we look back, we might have our Arthrexes, we might have
our NCHs that employee a lot of people, but they don't compare to
what we employ in the tourism industry here in Collier County. That
is our No. 1 industry. And sometimes 180-some-thousand dollars in
investment into that industry that is our lifeblood, yeah, I don't know
if that's a great gamble, especially when it's actually showing a profit.
I mean, I don't -- I'm just trying to simplify it.
So that's kind of where I'm at with it. So I know we have a
motion, we had a second. I don't have any more comments. I will
entertain --
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Just --
March 10, 2026
Page 128
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sorry. Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Just for clarification, the
motion is to deny going forward with these --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: -- and I think there's three
votes to not do that. So we can either call for the vote on that and
make another motion, or the motion maker and the second can
withdraw that knowing what the end result's going to be and just vote
against the motion that I'm going to make.
If not, I'll call the question, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So we have a motion to deny,
and we have a second to deny. All in favor of that motion, signify by
saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. So that motion failed.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I'll make a
motion to agree to the extension on both of these items.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. I have a motion and a
second to the way the items are written, to extend. All in favor,
signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
March 10, 2026
Page 129
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It passes 3-2.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: And if Chris Lopez is still
listening, see, Chris, I told you there was nothing to worry about.
MS. WOOD: Thank you, Commissioners.
Item #15A
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS –
PUBLIC COMMENS ON GENERAL TOPICS NOT ON THE
CURRENT OR FUTURE AGENDA BY INDIVIDUALS NOT
ALREADY HEARD DURING PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN THIS MEETING
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 15,
staff and commission 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. MILLER: We have none.
Item #15B
STAFF PROJECT UPDATES
MS. PATTERSON: We have no staff project updates today.
Item #15C
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATION
March 10, 2026
Page 130
MS. PATTERSON: That brings us to 15C, staff and commission
general communications. I have nothing today.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All righty.
MS. PATTERSON: County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Also nothing.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Saunders.
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: I think just a quick update.
Yesterday I had a meeting in my office with some tourism
representatives and staff representatives to talk about our TDT,
tourist development tax, campaign, because that's on the ballot in
November of this year. It was a very good meeting.
The stakeholders, the people that are impacted, the industry
itself, they're going to really step up to educate the public. And I
know this commission has committed $150,000 to that effort.
There's going to be more money presented -- provided by some of
these other private entities to really do a good public education
campaign. So I just wanted to let the Board know that that
investment is going to be well spent.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Nothing, sir, thanks.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No, I was just going to say,
it's -- just for clarification, is it definitely on the ballot, or do we still
have a couple muscle movements before we can say it's definitely
going to be on the November ballot?
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: It's definitely going to be on
the ballot unless the Commission decides to take it off the ballot. But
scheduled to go on. We passed the ordinance to do that. But as you
know, we can change our minds. I hope that doesn't happen.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: There's no other -- no other
entities that can supersede us or anything, right? I mean, so --
March 10, 2026
Page 131
COMMISSIONER SAUNDERS: No.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay. I just wanted
clarification on that.
No, the only comment I'll make is I was going to say, welcome
back, Mr. Klatzkow. He's gone already? What's the matter? He
already took off? I have nothing to add.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Don't -- you could be a little
happier when you call on me.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I love you, man.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. I love you back.
I have two comments. Number one, I want to compliment our
County Manager. We had a -- we had an individual in here who was
out of line. Our -- I appreciated you speaking up. And that shouldn't
necessarily come from the dais. We have rules in this chamber.
Mr. Chair, you were absolutely correct in comments about respecting
the chamber and our rules, and I want to compliment the County
Manager on taking that initiative and stepping up. It's a hard thing to
do, especially when you get jumped by the individual who doesn't
believe that they're incorrect, so I compliment you on that.
And my second comment -- and this was a thought that I had
yesterday. I went to my truck, and some dude on a scooter on the
sidewalk -- motorized scooter on the sidewalk blew by two
pedestrians. I mean, that fellow was traveling 30 miles an hour on
the sidewalk. And I know we've had multiple discussions both in the
MPO and here with regard to the motorized vehicles.
Has there been any discussion about disallowing those
motorized vehicles on pedestrian pathways yet?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We haven't. The ordinance we did has
restrictions on types.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, we have restrictions, but
March 10, 2026
Page 132
I'm talking about forcing them -- disallowing their -- I mean, you talk
about an enforcement issue. We can't have sheriffs standing on these
bike paths and sidewalks and measuring these guys when they're
speeding. He had no helmet on. He was going the wrong way with
traffic. He was intermingling with pedestrians.
The thought that I had yesterday was how about if we just
disallow them in the pedestrian pathways. If they're going to travel
with -- if they're going to travel at light speed with traffic, put them in
traffic where there is a capacity to monitor what they're doing, how
they're flowing, what they're doing. Now, that's a precarious thought,
but it's something I wanted to bring up for discussion just to give
some consideration to some particular time and fashion.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: If I remember correctly, the ordinance
does violate that type of action on a sidewalk. And it's an
enforcement thing, because there's nobody there to enforce it. So we
can say in the ordinance, zero whatever motorized vehicle in there,
but still somebody would have to enforce it. If they still do it, they're
going to do it regard- -- if they're breaking the rule already, they're
going to break the rule.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I don't disagree. But I didn't
realize -- I didn't think we had -- we had actually disallowed
motorized vehicles in the pedestrian pathways.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah. We've got to understand the
state stat- -- state verbiage. A Class 1 and Class 2 electric bike is not
a motor vehicle. It's a pedacycle and assisted electric motor. It has
pedals and a chain on it. The ones that don't have the pedals that
have the -- look like the little minibike motorcycle with
electric -- those are considered a motor vehicle, and those are against
our ordinance to be operated in public if they're over 750 watts.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, this dude -- this fellow
was on a scooter. There were pedals. There were no other --
March 10, 2026
Page 133
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, so that would be a violation of
our ordinance. He's not allowed to be on the sidewalk.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. And maybe we ought
to give consideration to not trying to classify allowable and allowable
[sic] and assisted and not assisted. If it's got a motor, it's off the
pedestrian pathway, just to take it out.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, we don't -- the reason we've had
that consideration is because we have families and elderly people that
enjoy the electric-assist motor bicycles, and I had a long discussion
with those groups.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: And if you've got a juvenile with you
and you have an electric assist, you don't want to put the juvenile out
in the street operating their bicycle with training wheels. So kind of
like -- we had to draw a line somewhere, which one we don't allow
and which one we do allow.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: There are unintended
consequences all across the board, and I certainly don't want to --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It's more of an enforcement thing,
Commissioner. And that's the sad part is that if some of these people
start getting cited -- we have a speed limit of I think it's 15 miles per
hour that's in the ordinance.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: If they start getting cited, it will change
their behavior, but until then their behavior's not going to be
corrected.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It was a thought that I had, so
I didn't --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I appreciate it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- realize that we had
been -- had those discussions, so...
March 10, 2026
Page 134
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Look who is back;
Mr. Klatzkow.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Happy to have you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Well, welcome back,
Mr. Klatzkow.
MR. KLATZKOW: Good to be back.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. If we have nothing further,
we're going to adjourn this meeting. Thank you, guys. Thank you.
****Commissioner Saunders moved, seconded by Commissioner
Hall and carried that the following items under the consent and
summary agendas by approved and/or adopted****
Item #16A1
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER UTILITY
FACILITIES FOR ST. KATHERINE’S GREEK ORTHODOX
CHURCH – PHASE 2, PL20250015142 – FINAL INSPECTION
WAS CONDUCTED BY STAFF ON JANUARY 20, 2026, IN
COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND THESE
FACILITIES ARE SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE
Item #16A2
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES FOR AZALEA PARK – PHASE 1,
PL20250013301 – FINAL INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED ON
JANUARY 7, 2026, IN COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC
UTILITIES, AND THESE FACILITIES ARE SATISFACTORY
AND ACCEPTABLE
March 10, 2026
Page 135
Item #16A3
CLERK OF COURTS TO RELEASE A PERFORMANCE BOND
IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,644 WHICH WAS POSTED AS A
GUARANTY FOR EXCAVATION PERMIT NUMBER
PL20220004862 FOR WORK ASSOCIATED WITH AZALEA
PARK
Item #16A4
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF
THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES AND
APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR SIENA LAKES –
ORANGE BLOSSOM GARDENS SALES CENTER UTILITY
TRANSITION, PL20250010519 – FINAL INSPECTION WAS
CONDUCTED BY STAFF ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025, IN
COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND THESE
FACILITIES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY AND
ACCEPTABLE
Item #16A5
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE SEWER UTILITY FACILITIES
AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF THE SEWER
FACILITIES AND APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR
FIORI APARTMENTS – PHASE 1, PL20250005672
Item #16A6
March 10, 2026
Page 136
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF A
PORTION OF THE POTABLE WATER UTILITY FACILITIES
AND APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR SPARROW
COLLIER BOULEVARD, PL20250003505
Item #16A7
PROPOSED TEMPORARY USE (SPECIAL EVENT) PERMIT
FOR THE COUNTRY JAM CONCERT PROPOSED FOR THE
PARADISE COAST SPORTS COMPLEX ON APRIL 18, 2026,
LOCATED AT 3865 CITY GATE BLVD S., NAPLES, FL 34117, IN
SECTION 35, TOWNSHIP 49 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [PL20260000110]
Item #16A8
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION TO THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE EARLY
LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC., TO
PROVIDE LOCAL MATCH FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF
$75,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2027
Item #16A9
AFTER-THE-FACT SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT AND THE ROAD
CLOSURES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE ANNUAL
EVERGLADES SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, HELD FEBRUARY
March 10, 2026
Page 137
13 – 15, 2026, IN EVERGLADES CITY, IN ORDER TO FULFILL
COLLIER COUNTY’S SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS FOR ROAD CLOSURES.
Item #16A10
PROPOSED TEMPORARY USE (SPECIAL EVENT) PERMIT
FOR THE ISLES OF CAPRI SPRING PICNIC PROPOSED ON
MARCH 21, 2026, LOCATED AT 920 CAPRI BLVD., NAPLES, FL
34113, IN SECTION 32, TOWNSHIP 51 SOUTH, RANGE 26
EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [PL202600002785]
Item #16B1
AMENDMENT TO THE ACCESS LICENSE COUPLED WITH AN
INTEREST BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND THE SOUTH
FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO EXTEND
THE TERM OF AN EXISTING LICENSE AND AUTHORIZE
PUBLIC ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE LICENSED
AREA – THE LICENSE AMENDMENT ALSO EXTENDS THE
EXPIRATION DATE TO MARCH 27, 2052. ALL OTHER TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE ORIGINAL LICENSE AGREEMENT
REMAIN UNCHANGED
Item #16B2
COUNTY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO ELECTRONICALLY
SUBMIT A SMALL COUNTY OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR
RURAL AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES APPLICATION WITH THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO FUND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PAVED SHOULDER TO IMPROVE
March 10, 2026
Page 138
SAFETY ON A SEGMENT OF IMMOKALEE ROAD (CR 846E)
FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.57 MILES, FROM WEST OF BRIDGE
034833 TO EAST OF THOMAS FARM ROAD - IN THE AMOUNT
OF $999,915.35
Item #16B3
AWARD REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NO. 24-
8310, “DESIGN SERVICES FOR FOUR-POINT ROUNDABOUT -
IMMOKALEE ROAD AT CAMP KEAIS ROAD,” TO KIMLEY-
HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,574,912.92, AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENT, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NUMBER 33890)
Item #16B4
AWARD REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ("RPS")
NO. 25-8342 "INDEPENDENT PEER REVIEW,
CONSTRUCTABILITY AND BID SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING DESIGN PROJECTS" TO
HIGHSPANS ENGINEERING, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,206,454.00, AUTHORIZE THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENT, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT
Item #16B5
CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 UNDER AGREEMENT NO. 21-7862,
"DESIGN SERVICES FOR AIRPORT ROAD WIDENING," WITH
KISINGER CAMPO & ASSOCIATES, CORP., ADDING 365 DAYS
March 10, 2026
Page 139
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICES IN A LUMP
SUM NOT TO EXCEED $66,512.00, AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIR TO SIGN THE ATTACHED CHANGE ORDER. (PROJECT
60190, 70071, AND 73065)
Item #16B6
AWARD CONSTRUCTION INVITATION TO BID (ITB) NO. 25-
8522, "TED CURCIE BRIDGE REPAIRS," TO STRUCTURAL
PRESERVATION SYSTEMS, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,007,771.17, APPROVE AN OWNER'S ALLOWANCE OF
$100,777.12, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT (PROJECT NUMBER 66066)
Item #16B7
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO RECOGNIZE REVENUE AND
TRANSFER FUNDING FOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE
TRANSPORTATION SUPPORTED GAS TAX FUND (3083) AND
TRANSPORTATION & CDES CAPITAL FUND (3081) IN THE
AMOUNT OF $1,021,594.74. (PROJECTS 60214, 60085, 60066,
60088, 69331, 69336, 69338, AND 69339)
Item #16B8
RESOLUTION 2026-54: A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO
THE LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAM (LAP) WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT), INCREASING
THE NUMBER OF VEHICLE COUNT STATIONS FROM TEN
(10) TO TWENTY-TWO (22); ADOPT A RESOLUTION
MEMORIALIZING THE BOARD’S ACTION; AND AUTHORIZE
March 10, 2026
Page 140
ALL NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS, FPN 446254-1-98-
01. (PROJECT 33937, FUND 1841)
Item #16C1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS THE EX OFFICIO
GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-
SEWER DISTRICT, APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
AGREEMENT NO. 24-059 -NS WITH KOMLINE-SANDERSON
CORPORATION, FOR KOMLINE-SANDERSON BELT PRESS
EQUIPMENT, PARTS AND SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIR TO SIGN THE ATTACHED AMENDMENT
Item #16D1
AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLLIER COUNTY AND THE
COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$128,108 TO UTILIZE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EDWARD BYRNE
MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND TO
PROCURE POLICING EQUIPMENT (FUND 1835)
Item #16D2
RESOLUTION 2026-55: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSING OF A PORTION OF STATE ROAD 29
AND DETERMINING THAT THE CLOSURE IS NECESSARY
FOR THE COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUMS’ ANNUAL
IMMOKALEE CATTLE DRIVE & JAMBOREE ON MARCH 28,
2026, TO FULFILL A FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE
March 10, 2026
Page 141
PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENT, AND TO DIRECT
STAFF TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE SIGNED RESOLUTION
TO FDOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 14-65.0035
Item #16E1
THE ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT BY THE PROCUREMENT
SERVICES DIVISION FOR VARIOUS COUNTY DIVISIONS’
AFTER-THE-FACT PURCHASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE NO. 2025-34 AND THE
PROCUREMENT MANUAL, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE
TIMELY PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING INVOICES IN THE
AMOUNT OF $89,777.42
Item #16E2
THE SELECTION COMMITTEE’S RANKING OF REQUEST
FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NO. 25-8348,
“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LIBRARY,” AND AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO BEGIN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
TOP -RANKED FIRMS IN EACH DISCIPLINE, SO THAT
PROPOSED AGREEMENTS MAY BE BROUGHT BACK FOR
THE BOARD’S CONSIDERATION AT A SUBSEQUENT
MEETING
Item #16E3
THE BOARD, PURSUANT TO SECTION 274.06, FLORIDA
STATUTES, APPROVE THE SALE AND DISPOSAL OF
March 10, 2026
Page 142
SURPLUS ASSETS VIA PUBLIC AUCTION ON APRIL 9, 10,
AND 11, 2026
Item #16F1
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES 9, 13, AND 19 OF THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
COLLIER COUNTY AND THE COLLIER EMS/FIRE DISTRICT
27 BARGAINING UNIT, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS, LOCAL
1826, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS,
INCORPORATED
Item #16F2
RESOLUTION 2026-56: A RESOLUTION APPROVING
AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS,
CONTRIBUTIONS, OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO THE
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 ADOPTED BUDGET
Item #16G1
THIS ITEM CONTINUED FROM THE JANUARY 27, 2026, BCC
MEETING, TO THE FEBRUARY 10, 2026, MEETING, AND
FURTHER CONTINUED TO THE MARCH 10, 2026, MEETING.
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE UPDATES TO THE
AIRPORT LEASING POLICY, AIRPORT MINIMUM
STANDARDS, AND AIRPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS
Item #16G2
March 10, 2026
Page 143
FORTY (40) YEAR PHASE ONE LAND LEASE UNDER THE
MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN GLOBAL
FLIGHT TRAINING SOLUTIONS (GFTS) AND COLLIER
COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 103
ACRES OF LAND AT THE IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT
(IMM)
Item #16J1
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 IN THE
AMOUNT OF $28,163,581.53 WERE DRAWN FOR THE
PERIODS BETWEEN FEBRUARY 12, 2026, AND FEBRUARY
25, 2026, PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE 136.06
Item #16J2
THE BOARD APPROVE AND DETERMINE VALID PUBLIC
PURPOSE FOR INVOICES PAYABLE AND PURCHASING
CARD TRANSACTIONS AS OF MARCH 4, 2026
Item #16K1
RESOLUTION 2026-57: REAPPOINTING JACK BONZELAAR
TO THE HALDEMAN CREEK DREDGING MAINTENANCE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE – FOUR-YEAR TERM EXPIRING
MARCH 13, 2030
Item #16K2
March 10, 2026
Page 144
RESOLUTION 2026-58: APPOINTING THREE MEMBERS TO
THE DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
– ALL THREE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE FOUR-YEAR TERMS
EXPIRING ON APRIL 13, 2030
Item #16K3
RESOLUTION 2026-59: APPOINTING FOUR MEMBERS TO
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE
– EACH TO TWO-YEAR TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH 9, 2028
Item #16M1
THE 2026 DOCTORS PASS DREDGE PROJECT SCHEDULED
FOR APRIL/MAY 2026 AND AUTHORIZE TOURIST
DEVELOPMENT TAX EXPENDITURES FOR AN ESTIMATED
PROJECT COST NOT TO EXCEED $1,250,000; AUTHORIZE A
BUDGET AMENDMENT; AND MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS
ITEM PROMOTES TOURISM (PROJECT 90549)
Item #16M2
THE 2026 WIGGINS PASS DREDGE PROJECT SCHEDULED
FOR MARCH/APRIL 2026 AND AUTHORIZE TOURIST
DEVELOPMENT TAX EXPENDITURES FOR AN ESTIMATED
PROJECT COST NOT TO EXCEED $2,500,000; AUTHORIZE A
BUDGET AMENDMENT; AND MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS
ITEM PROMOTES TOURISM (PROJECT 80288)
Item #16M3
March 10, 2026
Page 145
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AGREEMENT 24CO1 WITH THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION, BUREAU OF BEACHES AND COASTAL
SYSTEMS, BEACH MANAGEMENT FUNDING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL STATE
REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING OF $3,772,665.06 FOR A TOTAL
AGREEMENT AMOUNT OF $4,582,970.66 FOR THE COLLIER
COUNTY BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT; AND MAKE A
FINDING THAT THIS ITEM PROMOTES TOURISM
Item #16M4 – Moved to Item #11G, Per Agenda Change Sheet
Item #16M5 – Moved to Item #11H, Per Agenda Change Sheet
Item #16M6 – Continued to the March 24, 2026, (Per Agenda
Change Sheet)
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE
CHAIR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT FOR REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL (“RFP”) 25-8341, “TOURISM MARKETING &
PROMOTION,” TO PARADISE ADVERTISING AND
MARKETING, INC., WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MARCH
30, 2026, AND MAKE A FINDING THAT THIS ACTION
PROMOTES TOURISM
Item #17A
THIS ITEM WAS CONTINUED FROM THE FEBRUARY 10,
2026, BCC MEETING, TO THE MARCH 10, 2026, BCC
MEETING, AND FURTHER CONTINUED TO THE APRIL 28,
March 10, 2026
Page 146
2026, BCC MEETING RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE,
PURSUANT TO F.S. 125.022, THAT REVISES TIMEFRAMES
FOR THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL
OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS OR DEVELOPMENT ORDERS.
[PL20250010243]
Item #17B
RESOLUTION 2026-60: THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, AS THE EX OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD
OF THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER DISTRICT,
ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING SCHEDULES ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE OF APPENDIX A TO SECTION FOUR
OF COLLIER COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2001-73, AS
AMENDED, TITLED THE COLLIER COUNTY WATER-SEWER
DISTRICT UNIFORM BILLING, OPERATING, AND
REGULATORY STANDARDS ORDINANCE, AMENDING
PROPOSED RATES FOR WATER, WASTEWATER, IRRIGATION
QUALITY WATER, WHOLESALE POTABLE WATER, AND
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE CHARGES WITH EFFECTIVE
DATES OF OCTOBER 1, 2026, OCTOBER 1, 2027, AND
OCTOBER 1, 2028, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN
THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION
*****
March 10, 2026
Page 147
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 12:50 p.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S) OF
SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER ITS CONTROL
___________________________________
DAN KOWAL, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK
___________________________
These minutes approved by the Board on ____________________,
as presented ______________ or as corrected _____________.
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF VERITEXT BY
TERRI L. LEWIS, REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL COURT
REPORTER, FPR-C, AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
•
FORM 8B MEMORANDUM OF VOTING CONFLICT FOR
COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, AND OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICERS
LAST NAME—FIRST NAME—MIDDLE NAME NAME OF BOARD,COUNCIL,COMMISSION,AUTHORITY,OR COMMITTEE
Kowal, Dan Collier County Board of County Commissioners
MAILING ADDRESS THE BOARD,COUNCIL,COMMISSION,AUTHORITY OR COMMITTEE ON
3299 East Tamiami Trail, Suite 300 WHICH I SERVE ISAUNITOF:
CITY COUNTY ❑CITY afCOUNTY ❑OTHER LOCAL AGENCY
Naples Collier NAME OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: ,
Collier County
DATE ON WHICH VOTE OCCURRED MY POSITION IS:
March 10, 2026 C'i( ELECTIVE ❑ APPOINTIVE •
WHO MUST FILE FORM 8B
This form is for use by any person serving at the county, city, or other local level of government on an appointed or elected board, council,
commission, authority, or committee. It applies to members of advisory and non-advisory bodies who are presented with a voting conflict of
interest under Section 112.3143, Florida Statutes.
Your responsibilities under the law when faced with voting on a measure in which you have a conflict of interest will vary greatly depending
on whether you hold an elective or appointive position. For this reason, please pay close attention to the instructions on this form before
completing and filing the form.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 112.3143, FLORIDA STATUTES
A person holding elective or appointive county, municipal, or other local public office MUST ABSTAIN from voting on a measure which
would inure to his or her special private gain or loss. Each elected or appointed local officer also MUST ABSTAIN from knowingly voting on
a measure which would inure to the special gain or loss of a principal (other than a government agency) by whom he or she is retained
(including the parent, subsidiary, or sibling organization of a principal by which he or she is retained); to the special private gain or loss of a
relative; or to the special private gain or loss of a business associate. Commissioners of community redevelopment agencies(CRAs)'under
Sec. 163.356 or 163.357, F.S.; and officers of independent special tax districts elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis are not prohibited
from voting in that capacity.
For purposes of this law, a "relative" includes only the officer's father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, father-in-law,
mother-in-law, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law. A"business associate" means any person or entity engaged in or carrying on a business
enterprise with the officer as a partner, joint venturer, coowner of property, or corporate shareholder(where the shares of the corporation
are not listed on any national or regional stock exchange).
ELECTED OFFICERS:
In addition to abstaining from voting in the situations described above, you must disclose the conflict:
PRIOR TO THE VOTE BEING TAKEN by publicly stating to the assembly the nature of your interest in the measure on which you are
abstaining from voting; and
WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE VOTE OCCURS by completing and filing this form with the person responsible for recording the
minutes of the meeting, who should incorporate the form in the minutes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
APPOINTED OFFICERS:
Although you must abstain from voting in the situations described above, you are not prohibited by Section 112.3143 from otherwise
participating in these matters. However, you must disclose the nature of the conflict before making any attempt to influence the decision,
whether orally or in writing and whether made by you or at your direction.
IF YOU INTEND TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT WHICH THE VOTE WILL BE
TAKEN:
• You must complete and file this form (before making any attempt to influence the decision)with the person responsible for recording the
minutes of the meeting,who will incorporate the form in the minutes. (Continued on page 2)
CE FORM 8B-EFF. 11/2013 PAGE 1
Adopted by reference in Rule 34-7.010(1)(f),F.A.C.
APPOINTED OFFICERS (continued)
• A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the agency.
• The form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
IF YOU MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION EXCEPT BY DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING:
• You must disclose orally the nature of your conflict in the measure before participating.
• You must complete the form and file it within 15 days after the vote occurs with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the
meeting, who must incorporate the form in the minutes.A copy of the form must be provided immediately to the other members of the
agency, and the form must be read publicly at the next meeting after the form is filed.
DISCLOSURE OF LOCAL OFFICER'S INTEREST
Dan Kowal , hereby disclose that on March 10 20 26 •
(a)A measure came or will come before my agency which (check one or more)
inured to my special private gain or loss;
inured to the special gain or loss of my business associate,
inured to the special gain or loss of my relative, •
inured to the special gain or loss of by
whom I am retained; or
inured to the special gain or loss of which
is the parent subsidiary, or sibling organization or subsidiary of a principal which has retained me.
(b)The measure before my agency and the nature of my conflicting interest in the measure is as follows:
Item 16.A.11 is a Recommendation to award Invitation to Negotiate No. 25-8413, "Barefoot Beach Park
Concession Services,"to Florida Beach Services, LLC, and approve the attached Revenue Generating
Agreement. In compliance with Section 286.012, Florida Statutes, I abstained from voting on this action based
on the appearance of a potential conflict. My personal friend is involved with the entity being awarded the
subject Invitation to Negotiate, and I abstained to avoid any perceived prejudice or bias.
If disclosure of specific information would violate confidentiality or privilege pursuant to law or rules governing attorneys, a public officer,
who is also an attorney, may comply with the disclosure requirements of this section by disclosing the nature of the interest in such a way
as to provide the public with notice of the conflict.
March 10, 2026
Date Filed Signature
NOTICE: UNDER PROVISIONS OF FLORIDA STATUTES §112.317, A FAILURE TO MAKE ANY REQUIRED DISCLOSURE
CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR AND MAY BE PUNISHED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: IMPEACHMENT,
REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, DEMOTION, REDUCTION IN SALARY, REPRIMAND, OR A
CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED$10.000.
CE FORM 8B-EFF. 11/2013 PAGE 2
Adopted by reference in Rule 34-7.010(1)(f),F.A.C.