BCC Minutes 03/24/2026 (Draft)March 24, 2026
Page 1
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Naples, Florida, March 24, 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
Chris Hall
Rick LoCastro
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
ABSENT: Burt L. Saunders
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
Tom Eble, Meeting Coordinator
Page 1
March 24, 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 24, 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.
Page 2
March 24, 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.
Page 3
March 24, 2026
1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Invocation: Pastor Joe Negron from Grow Church South Naples ||| Pledge of
Allegiance: Willington Makefree, Revolutionary Meals
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 24, 2026, BCC Minutes
3. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. EMPLOYEE
1) 20 Year Attendees
a) Jolene Apicella – Emergency Medical Services
b) Paula Brethauer – County Manager's Office
c) Dave Molinaro – Utilities Finance Operations
2) 25 Year Attendees
a) Casey W. Morris- Engineering & Project Management
3) 30 Year Attendees
4) 35 Year Attendees
4. PROCLAMATIONS
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. Recommendation to accept the presentation of the Collier County
Productivity Committee's Annual Report to the Board.
6. PUBLIC PETITIONS
Page 4
March 24, 2026
A. Public Petition from Ralph Hester regarding the Immokalee Regional
Raceway.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
On general topics not on the current or future agenda. Unless adjusted by the Chair,
registered public speakers will receive three (3) minutes and time may not be ceded
to another speaker. The Chair may limit the number of public speakers under this
item to five (5) for any meeting. (Resolution 98-167)
8. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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 Request
for Professional Services No. 25-8374 to Mitchell & Stark Construction
Company, Inc./Johnson Engineering for Design-Build Services for the
Northeast Service Area Utility Expansion Project for the Guaranteed
Maximum Price of $50,499,000.00, with an Owner’s Allowance of
$2,524,950.00 (for a total Contract Amount of $53,023,950.00), approve the
necessary Budget Amendments and authorize the Chair to sign the attached
Agreement. (Project 70194) (This item is a companion to Item 11B)
(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. 25-8375 to Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.,
for Construction Engineering and Inspection Services for the Northeast
Service Area Utility Expansion Project in the amount of $3,966,873.00,
approve the necessary Budget Amendments, and authorize the Chair to sign
the attached Agreement. (Project 70194) (This item is a companion to Item
11A) (Matthew McLean, Division Director - Public Utilities Engineering)
12. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
Page 5
March 24, 2026
13. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
14. AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND/OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
15. STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Public Comments on General Topics Not on the Current or Future Agenda
by Individuals Not Already Heard During Previous Public Comments in this
Meeting
B. Staff Project Updates
1) State Veterans' Nursing Home - Facility Naming Nominations
C. Staff and Commission General Communications
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
1) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of the potable water
and sewer facilities for Esplanade by the Islands - Phase 4C.
[PL20250009467]
2) Recommendation to authorize the Clerk of Courts to release a
Performance Bond in the amount of $500,000, which was posted as a
guaranty for Excavation Permit Number PL20110001383 for work
associated with Willow Run Quarry.
3) Recommendation to approve properties on the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Advisory Committee’s January and February
recommended Active Acquisition Lists and direct staff to pursue the
Page 6
March 24, 2026
projects recommended within the A-Category, funded by the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Fund.
4) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase
under the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program with
Andres Echevarria for a 3.05-acre property at a cost of $90,000, for a
total cost not to exceed $91,870, inclusive of closing costs.
5) Recommendation to approve final acceptance of the potable water and
sewer utility facilities and accept the conveyance of a portion of the
potable water and sewer facilities and appurtenant utility easement for
Caymas Amenity Center – Phase 1C. [PL20250004179]
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 and sewer facilities and appurtenant utility easement for
Kinsale Golf Course – Phases 1A, 1B, & 2. [PL20250011785]
7) Recommendation to approve a standard template for a Right-of-Way
Bond, associated with excavation activities within County Rights-of-
Way, in accordance with Ordinance No. 2026-06 and to authorize the
County Manager or designee to execute the bond on behalf of the
Board of County Commissioners.
8) Recommendation to award Invitation for Qualification No. 25-8346,
“Marine Construction Contractor Services,” with Kelly Bros., Inc.,
Gulfshore Marine Construction, LLC, Quality Enterprises USA, Inc.,
and Marine Contracting Group, Inc., and authorize the Chair to sign
the attached Agreements.
9) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution to hold a public hearing to
consider vacating a portion of the 60-foot roadway easement, as
recorded in Official Record Book 238, Page 913 and Official Record
Book 1365, Page 1357 of the Public Records of Collier County,
Florida, located approximately one-half mile south of Veterans
Memorial Boulevard, in Section 15, Township 48 South, Range 25
East, Collier County, Florida. [VAC-PL20260000213]
B. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
Page 7
March 24, 2026
1) Recommendation to authorize the electronic submission of the County
Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) and the Transportation Regional
Incentive Program (TRIP) Applications with the Florida Department
of Transportation to fund the Construction of the Immokalee Rd. and
Livingston Rd. overpass project for $20,000,000.
2) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for the acquisition of a
Drainage Easement (Parcel 104DE) and a Temporary Driveway
Restoration Easement (102TDRE) required for construction of the
Airport Road (Vanderbilt Beach Rd. to Immokalee Rd.) Project No.
60190. (Estimated fiscal impact: $40,200)
3) Recommendation to approve a First Amendment to Agreement No.
23-8170, "Motorola Irrigation Central Control System Parts and
Services," with Contemporary Controls & Communications, Inc., to
allow price increases caused by import tariffs, and authorize the Chair
to sign the attached Amendment.
4) Recommendation to amend Exhibit “A” to Resolution No. 2013-239,
the List of Speed Limits on County Maintained Roads, to revise the
speed limit on Hollow Drive, portions of Capri Boulevard, Oil Well
Road, and Vanderbilt Beach Road to reflect those speed limit changes.
5) Recommendation to approve the submittal of Collier Area Transit’s
Title VI Program update to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
6) Recommendation to approve an Amendment to the Landowner
Agreement with Collier Land Holdings, LTD, and CDC Land
Investments, LLC, (Landowner) that will provide for payment for
traffic signal design and construction on Oil Well Road and the option
to purchase additional right-of-way for Big Cypress Parkway.
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 the selection committee’s ranking and authorize contract
negotiations with the top-ranked firm, AECOM Technical Services,
Inc., related to Request for Professional Services No. 25-8518 for the
Page 8
March 24, 2026
Northeast Service Area Program Management, oversight services, so
that staff can bring a proposed agreement back for the Board's
consideration at a future meeting. (Project 70194)
2) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as the ex-
officio Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer District,
approve the selection committee’s ranking and authorize contract
negotiations with the top ranked firm, Tetra Tech, Inc., related to
Request for Professional Services No. 25-8615 for Design Services
for the Northeast Service Area Utility Infrastructure Improvements, so
that staff can bring a proposed agreement back for the Board's
consideration at a future meeting. (Project 70194)
3) 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. 25-8418 to A.C. Schultes of Florida, Inc.,
for NRO Wells 118N and 120N Improvements in the amount of
$2,189,850, approve an Owner’s Allowance of $200,000, and
authorize the Chair to sign the attached Agreement. (Project Number
70085)
4) Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, as ex-
officio the Governing Board of the Collier County Water-Sewer
District (CCWSD), approve Florida Department of Emergency
Management Hazard Mitigation Grant Program contract modification
number six to Contract #H0419 (the “Agreement”) to extend the
period of performance and authorize the County Manager as the
Authorized Agent for this Agreement.
D. COMMUNITY SERVICES
1) Recommendation to approve a one-year Lease Extension Agreement
with Beraca Baptist Church, Inc., on behalf of the Community and
Human Services Division for the Senior Nutrition Program in
Immokalee. (Human Services Grant Fund 1837)
2) Recommendation to approve and authorize the County Manager to
electronically sign and submit the required Participation Forms and
any additional forms upon their arrival for the Six Remnant
Page 9
March 24, 2026
Defendants National Opioid Settlement (Remnant Defendants
Settlement), CL-2023107, and to allow Collier County to ‘opt in’ to
the Six Remnant Defendants Settlement.
E. CORPORATE BUSINESS OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to accept the report for the sale of three items and
disbursement of funds in the amount of $13,300 associated with the
County surplus auction held on January 15 through January 17, 2026.
F. COUNTY MANAGER OPERATIONS
1) Recommendation to approve the Third Amendment to the Agreement
for the Provision of Telecommunication Services and Facilities with
Vertical Bridge S3 Assets, LLC, authorizing Collier County to
continue the operation of public safety communication equipment
previously installed on a communications tower at Loop Road.
2) Recommendation to adopt updates to the 2026 Strategic Plan and
Strategic Priorities presented at the Budget and Strategic Planning
Workshop held on February 17, 2026.
3) Recommendation to approve the revised Emergency Management
Performance Grant (EMPG) Agreement G0635 from the Florida
Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to correct a scrivener’s
error in the award amount previously approved by the Board on
January 13, 2026, Item 16.E.2, and authorize necessary Budget
Amendments. (Fund 1833 No. 33973)
4) Recommendation to approve a First Amendment to extend Agreement
No. 20-7745, “HVAC Supplies and Customized Parts,” with JSFM,
Inc., d/b/a Johnstone Supply, and authorize the Chair to sign the
attached Amendment.
5) Recommendation to approve a First Amendment expanding the list of
contractor-owned equipment under Agreement No. 23-8074,
“Electrical Contractors,” with Simmonds Electrical of Naples, Inc.,
and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Amendment.
Page 10
March 24, 2026
6) Recommendation to approve a Fifth Amendment to Agreement No.
15-6409, P25 Digital Radio System, with Communications
International, Inc., and authorize the Chair to sign the attached
Amendment.
7) Recommendation to approve an Agreement for Sale and Purchase and
authorize the acquisition of vacant property located at 1770 Danford
Street from WSA Development Group, LLC., in the amount of
$276,650 plus all closing and title costs to support the Bayview Park
expansion.
8) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving amendments
(appropriating grants, donations, contributions, or insurance proceeds)
to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
9) Recommendation to approve an after-the-fact request pertaining to the
purchase of seven ambulances from ETR, LLC, and to authorize
payment of the remaining invoice balance of $5,761.20 related to
inspection travel expenses incurred in the acquisition of those
emergency vehicles.
10) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving amendments
(appropriating reserves) to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
G. AIRPORT AUTHORITY
1) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving and authorizing the
execution of Amendment No. 2 to Public Transportation Grant
Agreement (PTGA) 453536-1-94-01, Contract No. G2Y90, with the
Florida Department of Transportation to add twelve (12) months to the
current expiration date of June 30, 2026, making the new expiration
date June 30, 2027, for the Purchase & Installation of an Emergency
Generator at the Immokalee Regional Airport.
2) Recommendation to adopt a Resolution approving and authorizing the
execution of Amendment No. 3 to Public Transportation Grant
Agreement (PTGA) 452976-1-94-01, Contract No. G2J23, with the
Florida Department of Transportation to add twelve (12) months to the
current expiration date of June 30, 2026, making the new expiration
Page 11
March 24, 2026
date June 30, 2027, for Security Enhancements at the Immokalee
Regional Airport.
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
$58,701,730.30 were drawn for the periods between February 26,
2026, and March 11, 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 18,
2026.
K. COUNTY ATTORNEY
1) Recommendation to approve and authorize the Chair to execute a
Settlement Agreement in the lawsuit styled Antonietta Iannelli
Colbourn v. Collier County Board of Commissioners (Case No. 24-
CA-2582), now pending in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial
Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida, for the sum of $7,500.00.
2) Recommendation to authorize the County Attorney to file a lawsuit on
behalf of Collier County Board of County Commissioners against
Utilities One Inc., and Reycamp Cable Construction, LLC, and any
other responsible parties, for $32,612.58 in damages caused to the
County’s wastewater lateral line, located at or near 3723 Kent Drive.
3) Recommendation to approve a Third Amendment to Agreement # 18-
7343-WV for Court Reporting with U.S. Legal Support, Inc., to
extend the Agreement for an additional five-year term and modify the
fee schedule to include additional services.
4) Recommendation to appoint Lindsey Touchette to the Collier County
Page 12
March 24, 2026
Citizen Corps.
5) Recommendation to appoint Richard Otto to the Emergency Medical
Authority.
6) Appointment of four members to the Pelican Bay Services Division
Board.
7) Recommendation to appoint four members to the Golden Gate City
Economic Development Zone Advisory Board.
8) Recommendation to approve a Stipulated Final Judgment in the
amount of $90,000 plus $35,216 in statutory attorney and experts’ fees
and costs for the taking of Parcel 1362FEE required for the Vanderbilt
Beach Road Extension Project No. 60249.
L. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1) Recommendation that the Collier County Community Redevelopment
Agency and the Board of County Commissioners review and accept
the 2025 Annual Reports for the two community redevelopment
component areas, Bayshore Gateway Triangle and Immokalee, and
publish the reports on the appropriate websites.
M. TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
1) Continued from the March 10, 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Page 13
March 24, 2026
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.
A. Recommendation to adopt an Ordinance amending the Land Development
Code (LDC), to establish definitions for Transit Stop and Major
Transportation Hub, in order to comply with Section 125.01055, Florida
Statutes. [PL20240005299]
18. ADJOURN
INQUIRIES CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE BOARD’S AGENDA SHOULD
BE MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE AT
252-8383.
March 24, 2026
Page 2
MS. PATTERSON: Chair, you have a live mic.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
All right. We're going to bring this meeting of the Board of
County Commissioners to order. We'll start, of course, with what we
always start with, our County Manager.
Item #1A
INVOCATION: PASTOR JOE NEGRON FROM GROW CHURCH
SOUTH NAPLES||| PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: WILLINGTON
MAKEFREE, REVOLUTIONARY MEALS
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. We're going to begin with our
invocation by Pastor Joe Negron from Grow Church South Naples,
followed by the Pledge by Willington Makefree, Revolutionary
Meals. We're pretty excited to have you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Everybody stand.
PASTOR NEGRON: Good morning, to all. Good morning,
Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus. We are
grateful for our protection over our country and our Collier County.
Thank you because you keep us safe. Psalm 91 says, "He who dwells
in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of
the almighty."
I will say to the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress. My God,
in him I trust. And as our currency says, "In God we trust."
We declare that Collier County is a safe place, a place of peace.
No weapon form against us will prosper, and no plague will come
over our home.
Lord, thank you for this Easter season as we celebrate it. May
you bring many to the saving knowledge. We also pray today that it
March 24, 2026
Page 3
will be a full day of divine revelation, clarity, and awareness. We
declare your favor and wisdom over our commissioners and as well
we declare goodness and mercy will continue to lead them and follow
them.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I believe you wanted to -- a good
patriot wanted to say a few words.
MR. MAKEFREE: Thank you.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Please have a seat. They
have graciously given me a few minutes -- they have graciously
given me a few minutes to talk to you.
This is actually a true story. Towards the end of the
Revolutionary War, George Washington was addressing his troops,
and he reached into his pocket to get his glasses to put them on, and
he said to them, "In the service of my country, I have not only grown
gray, but I have grown blind as well." And it seems that same
affliction has come to me. So if you don't mind...
Thank you very much for having me here this morning to say a
few words about the 250th birthday of the founding of our great
country. Two hundred fifty years ago a bold idea started to take root
that a nation could be built on the ideas of liberty, equality, and the
promise of opportunity for all.
From the first sparks of independence at the Boston Tea Party to
the shot heard round the world at Lexington and Concord to Thomas
Jefferson drafting the Declaration of Independence as he sat in a
rented home on Market Street in Philadelphia, to the 56 signers of
that historic document pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor, to the many voices that have shaped its story,
America's journey has been one of courage, resilience, and hope.
As we celebrate this Semiquincentennial, this historic milestone,
March 24, 2026
Page 4
we honor the sacrifices that brought us here and look forward with
renewed faith in the ideals that unite us.
Happy Birthday, America. May your next chapter be as
inspiring as your first. Thank you all very much.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. Do we need to make a
motion to accept the -- or no, I guess he's not going to participate on
Zoom, is he --
MS. PATTERSON: No, he's not.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- Commissioner Saunders?
MS. PATTERSON: No, he's not.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. I just wanted to make sure.
MS. PATTERSON: But maybe we could get a photo --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sure.
MS. PATTERSON: -- in front of the dais with you.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Especially when Burt's not here.
Let's go.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: He's not even here to defend
himself.
Item #2A
APPROVAL OF TODAY'S REGULAR, CONSENT, AND
SUMMARY AGENDA AS AMENDED (EX-PARTE
DISCLOSURE PROVIDED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR
CONSENT AGENDA.) MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
MCDANIEL – APPROVED AND/OR ADOPTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to agenda
changes for March 24th, 2026.
March 24, 2026
Page 5
First we have item -- move Item 16A3 to 11C. This is a
recommendation to approve properties on the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's January and February
recommended Active Acquisition Lists and direct staff to pursue the
projects recommended within the A category funded by the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Fund. This is being moved at
Commissioner McDaniel, LoCastro, and Kowal's separate requests.
Next is to move Item 16A4 to 11D. This is a recommendation
to approve an agreement for sale and purchase under the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program with Andres
Echevarria for a 3.05-acre property at a cost of $90,000, for a total
cost not to exceed $91,870, inclusive of closing costs. This is being
moved at Commissioner LoCastro's request.
We do have court reporter breaks scheduled for 10:30 and again
at 2:50 if necessary.
With that, County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Thank you. Nothing.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No changes; no ex parte. I'm ready
to roll.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No changes; no ex parte.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Same.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: And same for me also. No changes; no
ex parte.
So with that, can I get a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER HALL: So moved.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We've got a motion and second. All in
March 24, 2026
Page 6
favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: It passed. Thank you.
Item #2B
FEBRUARY 24, 2026, BCC MINUTES - MOTION TO APPROVE
AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 2A.
This is the minutes from the February 24th, 2026, BCC meeting.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Move for approval.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
COMMISSIONER HALL: 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.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The ayes have it.
Item #3A1
March 24, 2026
Page 7
EMPLOYEE – 20 YEAR ATTENDEES
MS. PATTERSON: Very good.
That brings us to Item 3, awards and recognitions.
Let's start with our 20-year attendees. First we have Jolene
Apicella, Emergency Medical Services, 20 years. Congratulations.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, guys.
(Applause.)
MS. PATTERSON: Next we have Paula Brethauer, County
Manager's Office, 20 years. Congratulations.
(Applause.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, looky there.
(Applause.)
MS. PATTERSON: Next up we have Dave Molinaro, Utilities
Finance Operations, 20 years. Congratulations.
(Applause.)
MS. PATTERSON: Don't run away. Mr. DeLony's on his way
up. Hold on. Hold on.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Mr. DeLony wants to get a picture
with you. Dave.
MR. DeLONY: Get on back up there. I hired him a long time
ago.
(Applause.)
Item #3A2
EMPLOYEE – 25 YEAR ATTENDEES
MS. PATTERSON: Next up, our 25-year employees. Casey
Morris, Engineering and Project Management. Congratulations.
(Applause.)
March 24, 2026
Page 8
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Did you start, when you were 12?
MR. MORRIS: Close. Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: All right. Hold on there. Let's get, Public
Utilities, whoever we have in the audience, come on up. Twenty-five
years, big event.
MR. DeLONY: What a mistake that was, right?
MR. MORRIS: You have to live with it.
MR. DeLONY: Yeah. I'm living with it now, right?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Good job, guys.
(Applause.)
Item #5A
RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION OF
THE COLLIER COUNTY PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE'S
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE BOARD.MOTION TO ACCEPT THE
PRESENTATION BY COMMISSIONER HALL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 5,
presentations. Item 5A is a recommendation to accept the
presentation of the Collier County Productivity Committee's annual
report to the Board. And we do have a representative from the
Productivity Committee here should you have questions.
MR. CALAMARI: Good morning, Commissioners. How's
everybody doing?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Did you get your paycheck
yet?
MR. CALAMARI: Yeah. Paycheck? So in front of you, you
should have a copy of the report as submitted. If you have any
March 24, 2026
Page 9
questions, I'm here to answer them.
Just a brief overview of the committee. It is an 11-member
committee. We only currently have eight members on the committee.
We do have three open seats. There's one from each district, so that's
five on our committee and then six at-large members.
We've worked over the last couple of years on the items that are
in front of you. Again, if you have any questions, I'm here to answer
them.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can I ask?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Go ahead, Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you serve other than on
the Productivity Committee?
MR. CALAMARI: For the county, no, but I'm also a sitting
commissioner for North Collier Fire.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's what I was asking. I
maybe didn't phrase the question properly.
MR. CALAMARI: That's fine.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: But I want to thank you for
your service, sir. I'm very pleased to be affiliated with North Collier
and all of the good things that you are, in fact, doing.
In my review of the report, everybody needs a friend. A Friends
of the Park is not a bad idea. But I want it to be said out loud that as
much as we want to initiate the Friends of the Parks and so on, I also
really want to have you work with us to work with our legislators so
that we can free up some of the legislative action that is laid upon us
by the state with your TDT tax, tourist development tax.
Parks and Rec are a huge draw for our residents and our tourists
as well. And if we were better able to manage those monies and
utilize those monies for reparations, upkeep, O&M, as the case may, I
would really like to see that effort fortified as well.
MR. CALAMARI: We've been -- you should have also gotten
March 24, 2026
Page 10
one of these packets. We've been working very hard with Parks and
Rec. Since we started working with them, one of our members had
taken some pictures a number of years back showing the problems
that we were having in Parks and Rec. We're happy to come back
and report now since that time there have been huge, huge strides to
making our parks more attractive, making them more safe, making
them more clean. So I think we're doing a good job, and there's only
a good path forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You were lit up.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: One of the things we're trying
really hard to do here, especially over the last few years, is fill these
empty seats, and sometimes we're, like, the last to know. So we've
been working hard with our County Attorney and with all these other
organizations that have seats like yours. So when you say you have
three empty seats, are they the at-large seats, or are they district
specific? And I guess the big takeaway would be get that information
to the County Manager or somebody get it to us.
MR. CALAMARI: Geoff is not here. Geoff would know that.
I think it's not the at-large seats that are open.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Okay.
MR. CALAMARI: I'm sorry. I take that back. I think it's two
at-large seats, and I think one district seat is open.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: We've been working really
hard to, like, advertise it.
MR. WILLIG: Two at-large.
MR. CALAMARI: I said it right. Yeah, two at -- I knew he
was somewhere. We have two at-large seats open and one district
March 24, 2026
Page 11
seat. Which district?
MR. WILLIG: Five.
MR. CALAMARI: District 5.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So if you get us the
information -- like, we know what the Productivity Committee does,
but if you can give us sort of the soundbite. I know that I'll put it in
my newsletter. I've seen it in the other commissioners' newsletters
where we shake the trees. And you know, I mean, we want these
committees to be full up and running, especially sometimes when you
have a meeting and two or three don't show up, and then we hear,
"Oh, they came for their quarterly meeting, and they couldn't even
take a vote because they didn't have a quorum."
So it's -- you know, we want 100 percent, you know, seats filled.
And we have so many citizens that come up to us, "How can I get
more involved?" And, you know, a lot of times they don't have a
crystal ball, and neither do we. So if that's something that could
come to us through maybe the County Manager's Office so that we
all have the right soundbite, and we could help advertise it and shake
the trees for some people that, you know, could contribute to the
Productivity Committee, because that's -- you know, it's another
really important one to have the right people on it, so...
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Absolutely. I thought Bruce
Hamels was on there.
MR. WILLIG: He's an at-large seat.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, he's an at-large from
District 5.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But could you move him to
the District 5 seat, and then it makes it more -- easier that, you
know --
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Somebody make that happen.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah. Because then if the
March 24, 2026
Page 12
at-large seats are the ones that are vacant, we can all, you know,
work, you know, to shake the trees for the remaining empty seats.
MR. CALAMARI: So the good news is next month -- we didn't
have a meeting this month. We meet every month, but this month the
Chairman, me, we didn't have enough on our agenda, and we knew
we were doing this, so we didn't have a meeting this month. Next
month we do have a new member -- new prospective member coming
in. So we'll hopefully be able to fill that one seat.
But, yeah, if you move him over to Seat 5, I agree that that's a
good move to make those at-large seats --
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And I'll add, we want to make
these appointments competitive, you know. In the past it's been,
"Well, we have one empty seat and one application. All in favor?
Aye."
It's like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute."
Nothing against this person, but is this -- you know, if we only
had one person apply, did we really do a good job shaking, you
know, the trees in the entire community?
And then oftentimes when we say, "Let's advertise it for another
couple weeks," we get 11 applicants, you know. So we want to make
sure we're keeping up our end of the bargain to give us, you know,
people that have the deepest résumés, the highest interest and not
just, you know, whoever raises their hand as maybe a friend of a
friend. And, okay, great. We -- all seats are full. We really want to
recruit the right people, not just, you know, find 99 right people. It
makes it easier for your committee.
MR. CALAMARI: And that's exactly true, and that's why next
month we have an interview. The application did come forth to us,
and we looked at it two months ago. And I said, "Well, I don't have
enough information on this application. Let's bring him in for an
interview." And that's why I said "candidate," because if after the
March 24, 2026
Page 13
interview we determine that maybe he's not the right fit for Collier
County, we won't appoint him.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah. Okay, great. Thanks for what
you do.
MR. CALAMARI: That's your decision anyway. We can just
recommend it.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. I see no more questions.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Move to approve it.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Move to approve it. All right. I have a
motion to approve the report.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The ayes have it. Thank you, again,
sir.
MR. CALAMARI: Thank you, Commissioners. I appreciate it.
Item #6A
PUBLIC PETITION FROM RALPH HESTER REGARDING THE
IMMOKALEE REGIONAL RACEWAY.PRESENTED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 6.
Item 6A is a public petition from Ralph Hester regarding the
Immokalee Regional Raceway. And Mr. Hester will have 10 minutes
March 24, 2026
Page 14
for this public petition.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning, Mr. Hester.
MR. HESTER: Good morning, sir. Good morning,
Commissioners.
I'll give you a little breakdown of who I am. I'm Ralph Hester. I
built a racetrack in Immokalee 27 years ago, and the reason I built it,
there was kids racing on the street. I met a bunch of deputies at a
restaurant, and they were telling me that the kids needed somewhere
to play. Grown people, too. We have a lot of adults come out on the
weekend and test their cars and all. And I built it, and it's been there
27 years.
And I would like to keep racing now, if I can. I know that they
have got a lot of property rented out to build hangars on. All I need
is 45 acres, and there's 1300-and-some acres at that airport. I would
like for them to try to find me a place to put me.
I got a petition. I think it's 1700 people that signed the petition.
I got money saved ready to build a new spot if I could find a spot.
It's something that everybody enjoys. I enjoy it. I enjoy going
down there on the weekend. You meet a bunch of fine people that
come to race with us. During the winter series, we pay out probably
close to a million dollars the month of December to people that come
from 17, 18 states, even from Canada, they come and race with us.
So I'm before the Board today to see if there's any way possible
that they can look at this and make a call on it that they could give me
a spot to build another track at the airport, and the reason why is
because everybody knows where it's at. We don't have any problem
with noise there. We only run on Friday, and we run on Saturday.
And that's basically the reason I'm here. I just need about 45
acres of land. So if the Commission could think about it, think if they
could give me some land to build on, I got people behind me with
money that's ready to build it today.
March 24, 2026
Page 15
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Mr. Hester, did you just say four to
five or 45?
MR. HESTER: Forty-five.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Forty-five acres.
MR. HESTER: Forty-five acres, yes, sir. It's 1300-and-some
acres; is that right, Mr. McDaniels [sic] at the airport. And we had
proposed moving to the back side of the airport, but from what I
understand, they got that property rented. It's supposed to be
developed by 1932 [sic] or something like that, '36, bunch of years,
which I don't think it's going to ever happen, because it just doesn't
move that slow -- I mean move that fast.
But if they just consider it, you know, for a 10-year lease, I'll do
a 10-year lease tomorrow and start on it and move it. But right now
they got me scheduled to close next month. If there is any way
possible, I would like to consider keeping it open till at least January
the 1st; that would give me time to get everything on another spot.
Because I've got to pour concrete. I've got to do asphalt work. All
that's got to be done before I can move it from where I'm at now.
So I appreciate you-all listening to me. If there's any questions
you need to ask me, I'm here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I see no questions from the Board at
this time. Thank you, Mr. Hester.
MR. HESTER: Yes, sir. I appreciate you-all's time. Thank
you.
(Applause.)
Item #7
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 7,
March 24, 2026
Page 16
public comments.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
MR. EBLE: Mr. Chair, we have 15 registered speakers; 12 in
the room, three on Zoom.
I will ask the speakers to queue up at both podiums due to the
amount of speakers we have. The first registered speaker is Joseph
Barbera, and he will be followed by Manuel Mireles. Apologies if
I --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Either one, sir.
MR. BARBERA: Joseph -- it's actually Joseph Barbera.
But good morning, Commissioners. My name is Joe Barbera. I
own My Mechanic of Collier County located at 5805 Houchin Street
in the Pine Ridge Industrial Park.
I'm here to address a serious and ongoing issue involving
Coastal Recycling that is located at 5801 Yahl Street.
This facility is failing to properly contain its debris. The impact
on surrounding residents is significant. Materials from the site are
leaving their property entering nearby businesses, homes, yards,
causing physical damage to property, including debris-ridden shops,
vehicles covered in debris.
But beyond property damage, there are real health concerns.
Independent air-quality tests have been conducted in the area, and the
results show elevated levels of Fiberglass, gypsum, cellulose, and
other manmade fibers. These findings indicate the residents are
being exposed to potential health risks such as COPD, lung
conditions, and even cancer. This is not speculation. This is
documented evidence.
Families in this community are being forced to deal with
conditions they did not create. People are concerned about what
they're breathing every day, and they should not have to live or work
like this.
March 24, 2026
Page 17
Coastal Recycling has the responsibility to contain its operations
within its property.
A professional test was done of air quality by Clean Air
Management, Incorporated, located at 4851 Tamiami Trail North.
They performed 26 separate air-quality tests starting on January 8th,
2026, and ending those tests on February 11th, 2026. The results
were not only astounding, but they were terrifying.
The EPA recognizes that 9 microns per cubic unit to be
allowable on particles that are 2.5 microns per cubic unit or smaller
visible to the eye. The test shows the facility on average was 14.48,
which is almost double what EPA says is allowable for a business to
output.
The EPA recognizes particles that are 10 microns per cubic unit
or smaller which are invisible to the naked eye to be no more than
150 micrograms per cubic unit. On average, this facility is 240,
which is, again, double or close to double what is allowable.
Myself and my son, who work for my shop, have been dealing
with breathing and sinus issues for over two years. And after this
test, it's very apparent why. Our lungs and respiratory systems are
being harmed daily due to toxic particles in the air.
I'm asking this board to take immediate action. Conduct a
thorough inspection of the facility, enforce all applicable regulations,
require effective containment measures to prevent further harm. If
violations are confirmed, there must be accountability. Timely
corrective action.
This is about protecting public health, preserving property,
ensuring that businesses are able to responsibly operate in our
community.
We're not asking for anything unreasonable. We're asking for
enforcements of standards that should -- already in place. I urge you
to act quickly in this situation -- in case this situation worsens.
March 24, 2026
Page 18
Commissioner Hall reached out to me shortly after WINK News
did an investigative reporting and told me that he would definitely
look into this issue and report back.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sir, I just want to remind you your
three minutes is up, but can you just --
MR. BARBERA: Yeah, it will be real fast.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Real fast.
MR. BARBERA: I just want you to know that Mr. Hall never
responded to me, never called me back like he said. That's kind of
concerning for an elected official. That's it.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, sir.
MR. BARBERA: Thank you.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Let me just ask, Mr. French, do you
know what purview that would fall under? Is it, I assume Code, or --
MR. FRENCH: Good morning, Commissioners. For the
record, I'm Jamie French, department head for Growth
Management/Community Development.
Sir, I'm familiar with this. You've had a long-standing recycling
center that has changed hands a few times, but the purview is under
the Department of Environmental Protection.
There have been several code cases. Unfortunately, they have
been closed. This board and the County is not the authority having
jurisdiction. It is the State of Florida. And as soon as those
reports -- or those complaints come in, we refer it over, and we have
been working with the DEP.
We've had numerous site visits out there. I can tell you is that
the property owner has been welcoming. He's allowed our code
officers to go out there, our investigators to go out there where we've
seen some sprinkler heads going, watering down their site. But it's
probably pretty consistent with this type of operation.
March 24, 2026
Page 19
And again, the DEP is working this. Mr. Iandimarino, your
Code Enforcement director, is working directly with the DEP on this.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. All right. So we have point of
contact, and this is in the works at this time.
MR. FRENCH: Oh, this is -- this is longstanding. And,
essentially, what we've seen over the years -- and I can tell you
growing up here -- and I know Commissioner McDaniel's been here
an awfully long time -- we've seen a lot of communities and
businesses develop around and within these industrial parks. We see
it next to cement factories, things like that, where those dust
particles -- and they are concerning, no doubt. But at the end of the
day, our purview ends with the State of Florida. We are preempted.
And we work directly with Mr. Klatzkow's office as well as with the
community the very best we can.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Can you at least at some point -- like
when information does come back from EPA, or wherever they are in
their investigation or something, can you share that with the
individuals or whoever the concerning parties are in the area?
MR. FRENCH: Absolutely. And I will tell you, for the record,
we have been working directly with Commissioner Hall's office. He
and I have had numerous conversations. And I know Code
Enforcement has been in touch with him as well, so -- for the -- for
his constituents. And again, this is just from staff's perspective, I can
tell you is that the Commissioner's been very involved with this.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Chairman.
Yeah, Joe, thank you for bringing the results. I did -- I was not
aware of your recent test from January to February. That's great
information to give to the DEP.
As Mr. French stated, we're preempted. We're not the
authority -- we're not the ones who can fix the issue, but they are, and
March 24, 2026
Page 20
that's information that they need, and we'll do everything we can to
coordinate with you with them.
And I apologize for not calling you back. When I -- we've had
many conversations about this. WINK News has called me. I'm just
not interested in being in the news with something that I can't help.
They make it look like we're the bad guys, and we're not.
So when we get -- when we get something further down the
road, I'll be sure to be -- I'll make sure that you get notified, as well as
the neighbors. And that's good information to give to them. Thanks
for coming.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: For not wanting to be in the
news, you're in there a lot.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Were you recognized, sir?
Next speaker, please.
MR. EBLE: Our next registered speaker is Manuel Mireles.
And then your next registered speaker is Gretchen Rice. And I'll ask
if Gretchen can queue up at this podium right here. Thank you.
MR. MIRELES: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. MIRELES: Good morning, everybody.
I was raised in this town, more than 40 years. I'm a general
contractor in this town. I'm probably about 50 feet behind this
recycling plant, whatever it is.
I got a fleet of trucks. My mechanic won't even come there. He
calls it the Three-Mile Island, it's just so bad.
Walking to the public bathroom there, we all wear masks just to
get to the bathroom. It's pretty bad.
And I'm not a Karen -- I don't know if that makes sense -- but I
think it's, like, hurting people, it really is. Like, I don't bring my kids
over there, I just don't. And it's just bad.
March 24, 2026
Page 21
I put new windshields and windows on my truck, and I couldn't
even get it off with a plastic scraper. I had to use, like, a real razor
blade and spent hours out there scraping it.
It makes a film like concrete when -- they've tried hundreds of
things. I've been there close to 10 years. They've tried bamboo trees.
They tried fence. They've tried silt fencing. They've tried numerous
things. And now they're trying water, and the water makes it worse.
It wets it, and then once it dries, it makes it like a little concrete slab
over everything. It's terrible. It's really bad.
And so if you guys can push the State or whatever, you guys
should push it, because I think it's really hurting people.
I could just imagine what's in my lungs or something from that
stuff. It's just -- it's just not good. And -- I don't know. I don't know
what -- you got any questions? I'd be more than happy to answer
anything.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We do thank you for bringing this to
our attention. Thank you.
MR. MIRELES: Yeah, yeah.
So what's the next step? How long does this take before the
State gets back or whatever?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Like I said, Mr. French, I gave him
instructions to keep everybody posted on where they are in their
investigation.
MR. MIRELES: Yeah, yeah. There should be about 60 people
in here that have businesses that are 50 feet from this plant. I think if
they'd just build a building -- it's not that big. If they'd just build a
building with some proper ventilation. I'm a general contractor. I
can build it.
But, you know, it's -- it seems like a very simple thing to fix.
And it's ridiculous how they're trying to -- they've got a guy out there
with a water hose in one area. It's just -- I can't believe they -- out of
March 24, 2026
Page 22
the stuff that I have to answer to as a contractor, little stuff, putting
even a little silt fence around a construction site, I can't allow to -- I'm
not allowed to build. How these guys are allowed to do this every
day is just beyond me. So the only thing I think of is money. The
County making money? The State making -- I don't know, but it's
sad, it really is.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, I could almost guarantee it's not
the only operation exactly like that in the United States of America,
and I'm sure --
MR. MIRELES: I'm not talking United States. I'm talking
about Naples.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No, I understand. What I'm saying, it's
not a -- it's not a -- something unique, I guess. So there is ways to
protect it, and we just have to get there and through the EPA and
whoever else has the jurisdiction over it. But we do appreciate it,
seriously.
MR. MIRELES: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. MIRELES: Yeah. No problem.
(Applause.)
MR. EBLE: Your next registered speaker is Gretchen Rice.
She'll be followed by Lucy Dratler.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MS. RICE: Hi. My name is Gretchen Rice. I'm co-owner of
Rice's Moving and Transport at 5843 Houchin Street, and we are
directly across from Coastal Recycling Center.
We have been there almost 20 years. And in that time, we have
seen numerous different companies operating the dump site. Only in
the last two and a half, three years have -- has it been an issue of this
horrendous dust and the particular [sic] that we are breathing in. It's
when they built the new machinery, brought it in to be able to crush
March 24, 2026
Page 23
the construction debris and the concrete and the Fiberglass.
And anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that
you don't have this type of particulate that can -- we're very close to
the coast. We have coastal breezes. That wind -- I've called Code
Enforcement. I've been through a whole case with DEP several years
ago. I have gotten nowhere.
It is a dead-end every time, and with all due respect, I know
your hands are tied at a certain point, because I've been told by Code
Enforcement that we do not care about the air quality; that is not
under our control.
That, to me, is just -- sorry. I get very upset. But I don't
understand how this can be. There are so many human beings -- and
I'm not one of those type of people, but there are so many people that
are -- there are there as many hours in the day as they are at their
homes. There's so many people that are there all the time. They are
breathing this in.
I myself have never smoked a day in my life, and last December
I went through three weeks of chronic coughing, chest X-ray, two
doses of steroids, a round of antibiotics, and an inhaler for someone
that has no lung problems.
I was okay through January. In February it came back again.
Another round of antibiotics, another chest X-ray. This is something
that is going to be afflicting more than just myself. I'm concerned for
my 15 employees. I'm concerned for my family that comes to visit
and has worked there on and off. I'm concerned for everyone that
works and lives in this area. And if we're naïve enough to think that
it's contained just to the industrial park, that is not so.
The wind blows everywhere. It's going to affect tourism. It's
going to affect multiple different facets of Collier County. This
needs to be given more consideration, respectfully, than it is.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
March 24, 2026
Page 24
MS. RICE: You're welcome.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I know everybody's emotional and
applauding, but typically we don't allow people to applaud after the
speakers, just so we keep things moving on, and, you know, show
favoritism over another person, but...
MS. DRATLER: Hi.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: One second.
Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Staff has just reached out. She just
texted. She's going to call the DEP administrator right now to see if
we can get something moving on this. You have our attention. It's
not a good situation. And, you know, I appreciate everybody
bringing this to our attention. We understand the problem. Now, just
allow us to help us fix it with the State.
Yvette Benarroch is your state representative. I'd ring her phone
off the wall to get this done for you.
MS. RICE: Repeat the name.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yvette Benarroch. She's the district --
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yvette Benarroch. She's your state
legislature [sic].
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: -- for the State.
COMMISSIONER HALL: We'll do what we can, but there
again, we can only do so much. So sorry for interrupting.
MS. DRATLER: No worries. My name is Lucy Dratler. I own
Dollars and Cents, and I'm on the corner right on the T of where Yahl
Street and Seward meet.
I called the county commissioners in regards to this. I'm told
they are in compliance and that they water everything. And yes,
watering it does make it stiffer and concrete-like, but it also keeps it
down on the ground.
March 24, 2026
Page 25
And to be quite honest, my desk sits and watches that
intersection all day long, and I know that there are days that that
watering truck comes around once. There are days that it never
comes around. Weeks that it never comes around. And then there
are days that it comes around a dozen times.
So even being in compliance, watering, they're not keeping up
with that compliance. I have clients in the area. I have one client
that spent over $15,000 because of the dust. Their neighbor
complained because their industry was making the dust. It wasn't
them. It was this dump. It was the recycling center.
No one should have to be put out of pocket 15-, $20,000
regarding dust when we can't even get this established to not be a
dust area.
Also, there is a matter of the fact that that has not been here very
long, as large as it was. It used to be a smaller facility creating less
problems. Now I'm under the understanding that we're actually
importing items from the dump over by 75 here to recycle. So it's
become a big, big project. And with it growing, so does the
problems.
The lady before me touched on a lot of things, Gretchen,
before -- of what I wanted to say, but one of the other things I do
want to say is I'm going through toxicity testing currently because of
my sickness, and it's due to this. And I've been there for over 20
years. I close my doors. I never open them to let fresh air in because
there's no fresh air.
And I have two, constantly going, air purifiers in a
650-square-foot room, and it still is a problem. I'm constantly
changing my air filters because they get clogged up very quickly. So
I'm appreciative of you saying you're going to get in touch with them
and take care of it, but as we saw it, we weren't getting very many
responses from calling in and just hearing "They're compliant."
March 24, 2026
Page 26
Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. EBLE: Your next registered speaker is Hank -- forgive me,
Hank -- Patresty.
MR. PIETRASZEK: Pietraszek.
MR. EBLE: Pietraszek. I'm sorry about that.
He will be followed by Patrick Wack. I'll ask if Mr. Wack could
please queue up at the additional podium. Thank you.
MR. PIETRASZEK: Good morning, everyone. My name's
Hank, and I'm an alcoholic. I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I'm
recovering from alcoholism. I sent my PDF to Commissioner Hall. I
met with Commissioner -- Colonel LoCastro. He was a colonel in
the Air Force. I was only a lieutenant. So out of military respect, I
have to call him "Colonel."
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And now you're my boss,
right?
MR. PIETRASZEK: But anyway, my program is called
Crossing A Line, and what it is it's speaking on alcoholism and drug
addiction and helping people with this disease. Unfortunately, there's
this public stigma that alcoholics and drug addicts are bad people.
Nothing further from the truth. We're sick. We've got a terrible
disease.
And if an alcoholic or drug addict cannot stop drinking or using,
they're going to die. Most alcoholics and drug addicts die. People
with these conditions do not know how to stop drinking or drugging.
So I speak on this. I work at St. Matthew's two days a week to
help people, and Commissioner Hall asked me to present that. So
that's why I'm here.
If anyone wants to have someone speak on this disease, I'll be
happy to do it. So thank you for your time.
I have one last thing. This guy was out drinking with his
March 24, 2026
Page 27
buddies. On the way home, he falls, and he's got a pint in his back
pocket, and it breaks, and it cuts him in the rear end.
He gets home. His wife was in bed. The kids were sleeping.
He looks, and he's got the blood. He cleaned himself up. He
takes some Band-Aids and, looking in the mirror and putting the
Band-Aids on his rear end.
And his wife wakes up in the morning and says, "You were
drunk last night."
He says, "No, honey, I was not drunk last night. Me and the
boys had a few beers, that's all."
She said, "I knew you were drunk when I went into the
bathroom this morning and saw the Band-Aids on the mirror."
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
MR. PIETRASZEK: Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We can all laugh loudly at that if you
want.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We're allowed to laugh?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You can laugh. All right. Mr. Wack.
MR. WACK: I'm not as much of a comedian, but I'll go for it.
Name is Patrick Wack, president of the Seagate Property Owners
Association. We are proud to be a founding member of the NWC,
the "No Water Park Coalition," of which there are many members
here.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Mr. Wack, can you just hold up one
second?
MR. WACK: Yes.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I just -- Mr. Bosi, I just want to get an
update, because I know this is -- this has been talked about a lot. I
just want to make -- because I was told if there's a petition that this
will be on an agenda item later. And I just want to make sure we're
following our own rules in the chamber.
March 24, 2026
Page 28
MR. BOSI: Good morning. Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning
director.
Yeah, last Friday, this past Friday, the -- or staff issued two
official interpretations of the Collier County Land Development Code
related to the proposed water amenities at Naples Grande hotel.
Based upon those -- that issued OI, if those OIs are appealed by either
members of the Bay Villas or any interested parties within
the -- within the area, the likelihood that those -- that that appeal
would either go to the HEX and then to the Board of County
Commissioners, or it would go directly to the Board of County
Commissioners.
So based upon that, there is a possibility that you will be
discussing in public an issue that's going to be coming before the
Board at a future date.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So I guess my question, is there a
petition -- as of right now, is there a petition?
MR. BOSI: No.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No.
MR. BOSI: No, we have not received an appeal petition.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So I guess I'd defer to the County
Attorney. If there's no petition, then we can't -- we don't have a
crystal ball. I don't understand -- I just want a little guidance on
letting the individuals speak today if it's --
MR. KLATZKOW: If the -- Mr. Bosi issued his opinion Friday.
It's not been appealed. If it's not appealed, then it will be an approved
use; the Board will never see it. If it is approved -- if it is appealed,
at that point in time I will put an executive summary together and
send the matter to you guys for a decision.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So in reality, it's not going to
come before us because no action has been taken.
MR. KLATZKOW: We'll find out.
March 24, 2026
Page 29
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I think it's pretty assumptive that it's
going to be appealed, and at that point in time it is going to come
back to us. We're not -- let me rephrase.
We are not voting on the water -- on the water park. It won't
come to us for approval or rejection. It never has. It never will.
What's going to come before us, if you appeal the original
interpretation, is we are -- it's going to come back to us as the Board
of Zoning Appeals, and at that point in time, we're still not going to
make a ruling on whether we approve the water park or reject the
water park. That's never going to -- that's never going to come to us.
We would be making a decision on what the true stance of the
original intent was. And at that point in time, the people, the Naples
Grande owners have the right -- there's no rezone. There's no Growth
Management Plan. There's nothing that's coming to us that's going to
allow us to vote.
So I know that we have plenty of speakers here. I've probably
sent out 500 responses in emails to this, because the
miscommunication coming from I don't know where, but that's
coming to us. "Please vote no. Turn this down. We don't want it."
I understand. We get that. It's loud and clear. And if it ever
does come to a public petition in some sort of way, that will be a
different story, and we'll have your back on that. But we don't -- it's
not coming to us, so we don't have the privilege of "just say no." We
don't have the privilege of hearing your voice on this matter because
it's not coming to us. I hope I'm making myself clear.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: No.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. All right. All right. Listen.
Listen. We don't need --
March 24, 2026
Page 30
COMMISSIONER HALL: Okay. Let me make myself very
clear. It's not coming to us to vote yes or no.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Where does it go?
COMMISSIONER HALL: It's right that Naples Grande has to
make an application, of which they have not made one yet. That's a
landowner right. That's administrative. They're going to put an
application in, and they have the rights to do that.
What you have the right to do is to appeal the original intent.
That will come to us. You have 30 days from May the -- March the
20th to do that. Somebody -- anybody can do it. That's what you can
do. But if I'm -- I can't make myself any more clear. This decision is
not coming to us to say yes or no, period. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: County Attorney?
MR. KLATZKOW: Sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, if -- if an actual item of yes or no
comes -- it's not going to come -- the way Commissioner Hall's
explaining it is that this will be more or less a procedural thing on
what -- even if the petition's filed, it's not particularly going to be an
actual agenda item or and up or down vote if they're allowed to make
a water park or not. Is that what -- I'm clear?
MR. KLATZKOW: If it's appealed?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yes.
MR. KLATZKOW: If it's appealed, it's coming to you. The
issue's going to be whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Bosi's
opinion, and the Board will make its decision then.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So on that -- just on those
grounds, Mr. Wack, just because I want to just keep everything
functioning within the boundaries of our own rules within this
chamber, it sounds to me that there's still time to have the petition,
and then that will be something that will be on a future agenda item.
And per our 1998 resolution and our rules of the chamber, I don't feel
March 24, 2026
Page 31
comfortable -- and I'm sorry that a lot of people are here right now to
speak in public about it. But when it becomes an agenda item, that
will be the time everybody will have the ability to petition us, okay.
So I just want to kind of make that clear.
So just for safety reasons, in my own mind of doing things by
the rules, I would ask that we don't talk about the water park just in
public petition today, but --
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: It will make you more prepared
to hear.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We will hear -- you will have the same
opportunity to hear it -- hear you when the time comes. Well, it's
just -- the reason -- listen, I'm not going to -- I'm making a split-hair
decision here because I'm just trying to keep the sanctity of this
chamber intact, that's all. That's all I'm trying to do. Because when
you come -- and if you have enough people speak about it, the
petitioner doesn't have the opportunity to rebut you. And there's
going to be an opportunity to have that time when it's on the agenda.
Now, if you could all swear in this room nobody's going to file a
petition, that would be great. But I have a feeling somebody's going
to file a petition. So I'm just trying to make sure we all do this by the
rules. And I know some individuals here know what rules are. I
know Mr. -- my old friend back there from the Secret Service. You
know, there are some rules. And, you know, sometimes we don't like
them, but we have to abide by them. So I just -- I'm
moving -- precaution -- for safety to move forward.
Listen, I just want to -- that's all I'm trying to say, that I think
that's the best thing to do today.
MR. WACK: Well, we appreciate, Dan --
(Audience chanting "Let them talk.")
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: We'll clear the room.
March 24, 2026
Page 32
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You are -- you're talking to the wrong
guy with this "Let them talk," okay? Have a conversation with
Mr. Wack outside.
I hear the voices. I have a lot of people that live on the border
there that don't -- you know, that told me what they believe's going in
there, and I told them, if that's what's happening, I definitely support
you on that, but I'm not going to sit here and violate my own rules, if
that makes any sense.
MR. WACK: We appreciate it, Commissioner Kowal, and we
look forward to coming before you-all and presenting what we think
is a very strong case that it shouldn't be allowed. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Mr. Wack.
(Applause.)
MR. EBLE: Mr. Chair --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yes.
MR. EBLE: -- I believe the next eight speakers -- would you
like me to read their names on the record or...
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, you could read the names, and
then just -- we'll move on.
MR. EBLE: Just to make sure --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We're just going to make sure that you
don't have any other comments other than the water park whoever
signed up to speak.
MR. EBLE: Elizabeth Hachett?
MS. ELIZABETH HACHETT: Water park.
MR. EBLE: Regina Hachett?
MS. REGINA HACHETT: Water park.
MR. EBLE: Andy Dimitriou?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: She's in the wheelchair. We're
not allowed to say anything.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You're allowed at the right time,
March 24, 2026
Page 33
ma'am.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you.
MR. EBLE: One second, Andy.
Dan Bennewitz?
MR. BENNEWITZ: Water park.
MR. EBLE: Gary Brelsford? Gary Brelsford?
(No response.)
MR. EBLE: And Lew Merletti?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, Lew is water park.
MR. EBLE: So, Mr. Chair, your next registered speaker is
Andrew Dimitriou.
MR. DIMITRIOU: All right. If you guys could just indulge
me, I can give you an update, Commissioner Kowal, on a petition
or -- we received the OIs that Mr. Bosi referred to just last Friday.
We're still in assessment mode, so I don't have anything specifically
to respond to.
Initial indications are that we feel that the staff got it wrong. No
surprise, as you mentioned, we expect to be filing appeals before the
end of the week.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
MR. DIMITRIOU: We're working on it right now, just to give
you --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Just to give you guys a heads-up. And we
do expect it eventually to come to the Board.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Okay. And I think we'll have time in the
future to have discussion on how that's going to unfold, just to give
you an update.
I do want to just express appreciation. There's been an awful lot
of effort on the part of everybody, including you guys; I know, 500
March 24, 2026
Page 34
responses. We've raised over $120,000 and growing toward
150- right now. We have a petition signed by almost 5,000 people in
opposition, just to give you a sense. And, of course, countless hours
of research and investigation that goes behind all that.
We're still working with Pelican Bay Foundation, if you're
curious as to where -- because that's another tract that's independent
of the -- Collier County. That's a multi-round process. We're in
Round 2, and we expect that to continue on possibly through the
summer. We just -- we just don't know. We're taking it sort of one
day at a time, okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I do appreciate that you did
bring me up to speed, and there is going to be a petition filed.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So we're going to handle this when the
time comes in the proper manner. So I -- you know, everybody can
get their voice heard. Everybody can get their own opinions done at
that time, and we'll have a good, solid informational meeting that
day, guarantee it.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Good.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Go ahead. Commissioner Hall, I'm
sorry.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Hey, Andy. If -- in all of your
efforts, if you're successful in getting this to come before us in some
kind of PUD amendment in a public process, then that will be a
whole different story. I'll fight for you there.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Right.
COMMISSIONER HALL: But the way it is right now, I'm not
going to violate someone's land rights for the right to ask to do
something. The other thing I didn't make clear that I want to make
March 24, 2026
Page 35
clear is this is not going to be presented to us or be presented to
Growth Management in their petition as a public water park. Strictly
a hotel amenity. Strictly hotel guests.
You say, "But they're going to sell day passes." That's true.
They have the right to sell day passes. They do now. If their
occupancy falls below 85 percent, they can do that.
It's not going to be a Disney-type amenity. So that should -- that
should clear things up for you.
MR. DIMITRIOU: No, and we've heard that, Commissioner
Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Yeah.
MR. DIMITRIOU: I'm not a lawyer.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I know your lawyer.
MR. DIMITRIOU: I know you know our lawyer. And our
lawyers think differently, or at least right now it's still in a state of
confusion as to what's allowed, what's not allowed, what's a public
access, what's not public access. So I'm going to go let the lawyers
work on that. But right now, from everything that we've heard and
been guided on by our lawyers is that the staff responses and the OIs,
they got it wrong. So we're going to follow the -- let the process
unfold.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I mean, that's what we do.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Perfect. That's what we do. And if
you're successful and it comes back to me, I've got your back. I'll
fight for you. I understand it. But the way that it is right now, I
would appreciate the help of letting the public know, and especially
some of the people that you brought with you, what the real process
is and the real truth is.
MR. DIMITRIOU: Right. It's a detailed -- it's very detailed --
COMMISSIONER HALL: It is.
MR. DIMITRIOU: -- and complicated, and we understand that.
March 24, 2026
Page 36
And a lot of our effort to date has been just to inform, just to give
right information to the right hands of the people so that everybody
understands how this decision is going to be made, and we are still
going to try to do that, okay?
COMMISSIONER HALL: All right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you. All right. Tom, is there
another slip?
MR. EBLE: Yeah, just to confirm, Gary Brelsford?
(No response.)
MR. EBLE: I believe he was also water park as well, Mr. Chair.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you, Tom.
MR. EBLE: We also have three registered speakers on Zoom.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah.
MR. EBLE: Just to confirm, our first registered speaker is Anne
Georger-Harris. I believe Anne is also registered under the water
park.
Anne, if you could confirm that, you should be getting a prompt
to unmute yourself.
MS. GEORGER-HARRIS: Yes, I was registered -- yes, I was
registered under the water park.
MR. EBLE: Thank you, Anne.
So your next registered speaker is Kelly Wilk-Downs.
Kelly, you should be receiving a prompt to unmute yourself.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Yes. Hello, good morning.
MR. EBLE: You have three minutes, Kelly.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: My name is Kelly Wilk-Downs.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Kelly, what subject were you going to
speak upon?
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Actually, the Flock cameras that are
March 24, 2026
Page 37
cropping up all over town.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Go ahead with your three minutes.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Okay. Yes, sir. First time doing this. It
does take a lot of courage, and I respect the Board members, the
Collier County Commissioners, and I'm excited to talk about this.
I've gotten some information -- I'm just going to go ahead and
read it -- regarding the cameras, and I'd like to -- I'm using this as
some information-gathering. I'd like to know who's paying for the
cameras and read off some information that I have done some
research on.
So specifically municipalities from rural counties to larger cities
are falling for the sales pitch that they need to dedicate scarce local
tax dollars to keep up with the Jones by installing evasive high-tech
surveillance systems in their communities.
In many instances, officials are quietly putting these systems in
place without public disclosure or debate, some of them
circumventing normal budgetary processes and transparency by
engineering public/private partnerships of obtaining state or grant
funding or using funds obtained through asset seizure and forfeiture.
One of these technologies that has received recent attention are
license plate readers. The cover stories for their deployment are
crime prevention and public safety, but as technology watcher Naomi
Brockwell summarizes, these smart cameras and video analytics
actually create a cloud-based surveillance network, logging your
movements in real time and creating warrantless debateless -- or
database, excuse me, for law enforcement, and that's just -- I've read
off some information, and that was gathered by Solari Report of
Catherine Austin Fitts.
So my question, which I would like answers, as I'm just in the
information-gathering stage, was, who's funded on these cameras?
And was there any public forum for disclosure on installing these
March 24, 2026
Page 38
cameras prior to doing so?
Hello? I think they cut --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, I'm sorry.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Yes, okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I don't -- I don't have that information
privy to me right now to give you a solid answer. I wouldn't want to
mislead you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Number 1.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Okay. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Number 2, this is not the
format for questions and answers. If you have a specific question,
send -- typically what we do from a process standpoint is if you have
an issue with regard to these particular cameras, send -- you can send
my office an email or which -- I don't want to put you into a silo of
the commissioner of the District, but you can --
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: You can send a request to my
office, and then we'll get those information -- get that information put
together for you.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Okay. Very good.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: In this format, this is not a
question-and-answer. You've brought up a circumstance, an issue
that you perceive. We'll get you that answer. You're welcome to
send my office an email, or any one of us; we'll be happy to assist
you.
MS. WILK-DOWNS: Very good. Thank you so much for that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, ma'am.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right.
MR. EBLE: All right. Mr. Chair --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: We're done, I guess.
MR. EBLE: Sorry.
March 24, 2026
Page 39
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: That's all right. I just -- I didn't know
if she had anything else to say. Okay. All right, Tom. Thank you.
MR. EBLE: Your final registered speaker is Rolando Delgado.
Rolando, you should be getting a prompt to unmute yourself. I
see you have unmuted. Rolando, you have three minutes.
(No response.)
MR. EBLE: Okay. It appears Rolando might be having some
technical difficulties. I see he's muted. So that's our final registered
speaker.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Well, thank you. With that,
I'll close our public comments today.
MR. DELGADO: Hello?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oh, hold on.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: There's Rolando.
MR. EBLE: Can you hear me okay?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Mr. Rolando, what subject do you
want to speak about?
MR. DELGADO: Can you hear me better now?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, I can hear you. I just want to
know are you talking in reference to the water park? Because we're
moving that to another day.
MR. DELGADO: No, not the water park. I apologize. This is
my first time trying to attend a commissioner meeting, so I'm
unfamiliar with how this whole process works.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: That's fine. You're going to be
prompted. You're going to have three minutes, and you can go ahead
and with your comments.
MR. DELGADO: Okay. Did I miss any discussion regarding
the drag racing track out in Immokalee and the airport hangars that
are being built to take it away from us, or that's on this meeting?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: An individual came up and had the
March 24, 2026
Page 40
10-minute podium -- petition. He spoke already, yes, sir.
MR. DELGADO: Oh, I missed that, then. I didn't realize I had
to register beforehand before I could take part, so I missed all that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, there's no -- for public -- sir, for
public petitions, there's no public engagement during the time of that.
So if you want to make just a general comment, you can make a
general comment.
MR. DELGADO: I'm just wondering what we can do to try to
save our local drag racing track, because I know 100 percent if it gets
taken away, we're going to have an -- even more problems with
racing on the local streets. I mean, we have very little area to engage
in motorsports down here in Southwest Florida as it is, and now we're
looking at losing our local drag strip after we've already lost Lazy
Springs. So we have nowhere to ride off road, and we have nowhere
to race our motor vehicles once they take this drag strip away. And I
mean, I'm here to try to do what I can to save that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Well, we appreciate your
concerns, sir. Thank you.
MR. EBLE: That was our --
MR. DELGADO: I'm also curious about the money that's been
allocated for the off-road park that was supposed to be opened after
Bad Luck Prairie got closed, and nothing's been done with that in
almost two decades.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I can address that if you wish.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel, I think, has
some information in reference to that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And if you don't mind, give
my office a phone call, and I'll update you --
MR. DELGADO: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'll update you with regard to
that. That $3 million was negotiated from the State by Commissioner
March 24, 2026
Page 41
Coletta who used to sit in the District 5 seat.
MR. DELGADO: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And it was just stuck into the
General Fund. I then -- when I became commissioner back in '16, I
vested the money so that it couldn't be spent on anything but that and
then invested the money. And then we have appropriated the interest
off those funds. Just -- this is a brief explanation. Typically, we
don't respond during this time.
MR. DELGADO: Yes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So call my office. I'll get your
phone number. I'll give you my Bat phone, whatever. You and I can
talk, and I can fill in those details.
MR. DELGADO: Okay. I appreciate that. My main concern is
that money was put aside many years ago, and property values have
now gone absolutely crazy. So what that $3 million could have
bought 15, 20 years ago is going to be a 5 percent fraction of what it
can buy today. I mean, something should have been done about it 15,
20 years ago.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah. Give me --
MR. DELGADO: I'm sure the interest hasn't accrued to the
point that it's now 4- or $10 million to buy a piece of property, so...
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah. I think Commissioner
McDaniel will explain all that to you. You guys have a good
conversation over coffee.
MR. DELGADO: All righty. I appreciate you-all taking my
time and -- for this.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
MR. DELGADO: Thank you.
MR. EBLE: That was your final registered speaker.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. Thank you, Tom. That was
fun.
March 24, 2026
Page 42
All right.
Item #11A
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-
8374 TO MITCHELL & STARK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,
INC./JOHNSON ENGINEERING FOR DESIGN-BUILD
SERVICES FOR THE NORTHEAST SERVICE AREA UTILITY
EXPANSION PROJECT FOR THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM
PRICE OF $50,499,000.00, WITH AN OWNER’S ALLOWANCE
OF $2,524,950.00 (FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$53,023,950.00), APPROVE THE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT 70194) (THIS ITEM IS A
COMPANION TO ITEM 11B) (MATTHEW MCLEAN, DIVISION
DIRECTOR - PUBLIC UTILITIES ENGINEERING) MOTION TO
APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
Item #11B
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-
8375 TO STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES, INC., FOR
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND INSPECTION
SERVICES FOR THE NORTHEAST SERVICE AREA UTILITY
March 24, 2026
Page 43
EXPANSION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,966,873.00,
APPROVE THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENT. (PROJECT 70194) (THIS ITEM IS A
COMPANION TO ITEM 11A) (MATTHEW MCLEAN, DIVISION
DIRECTOR - PUBLIC UTILITIES ENGINEERING)
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL;
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 11.
Item 11A 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. 25-8374 to Mitchell & Stark Construction Company,
Inc./Johnson Engineering for design-build service for the Northeast
Service Area Utility Expansion Project for the guaranteed maximum
price of $50,499,000 with an owner's allowance of $2,524,950, for a
total contract amount of $53,023,950, approve the necessary budget
amendments, and authorize the Chair to sign the attached agreement.
I'll go ahead and read Item 11B, it's a companion. You probably
want to hear together. 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. 25-8375 to Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., for
construction, engineering, and inspection services for the Northeast
Service Area Utility Expansion Project in the amount of $3,966,873,
approve the necessary budget amendments, and authorize the Chair to
sign the attached agreement.
Mr. McLean, your division director of Public Utilities
Engineering, is here to present or answer questions -- oh, or Jim
DeLony's here.
March 24, 2026
Page 44
MR. DeLONY: All right. Or me.
MS. PATTERSON: Oh, hello. Mr. DeLony's here. Your
department head for Public Utilities is here to --
MR. DeLONY: Good morning, County Manager.
MS. PATTERSON: Hello.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. DeLONY: Good morning, Commissioners. Jim DeLony,
for the record, Public Utilities.
Sir, I have a presentation to give to you today about these two
items dealing with the Northeast Expansion program.
Next chart, please. And these are our following
recommendations. I'll await the guidance from the Chair.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: He's talking to you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oh, I'm sorry. I was making a note
here while I was listening to you. Sorry.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you want a motion for
approval, or do you want --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, I was going to ask -- because, I
mean, this is another one of those items where we get a ton of
background, we get a ton of briefing on it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: You know, we dot the I's and cross the
T's and all that good stuff.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Can we do both of these at the
same time? I'll make a motion --
MR. DeLONY: That's my recommendation, sir.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. I'd like to make a
motion for approval.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: So I have a motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Second.
March 24, 2026
Page 45
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I have a second. All in favor, signify
by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The ayes have it, sir.
MR. DeLONY: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Mr. DeLony.
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, the next two items are the
Conservation Collier items. It may be prudent to let Terri have a
court reporter break before we start those, because I think there'll be
some conversation.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Not till 10:30. Court reporter
break's not till 10:30. Make her work...
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I'll make a decision. We'll take a court
reporter break, and we'll be back at 10:20.
(A recess was had from 10:09 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.)
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Where'd our Chairman go?
MS. PATTERSON: Vice Chair, we have a live mic.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Oh, yes. Okay. And there's
only three of us, so we'll be able to get more done.
MS. PATTERSON: Well, I have to read these into the record
anyway. Oh, here he comes.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Here he comes. Here he
comes. Here he comes.
Item #11C
March 24, 2026
Page 46
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE PROPERTIES ON THE
CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
RECOMMENDED ACTIVE ACQUISITION LISTS AND
DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE THE PROJECTS
RECOMMENDED WITHIN THE A-CATEGORY, FUNDED
BY THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
FUND. (COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL’S, LOCASTRO’S,
AND KOWAL’S SEPARATE REQUESTS)MOTION TO
DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH APPRAISALS FOR
THE A-LIST PROPERTIES AND RETURN TO THE BOARD
WITH PURCHASE PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL – APPROVED MOTION TO
REWRITE THE CONSERVATION COLLIER ORDINANCE
TO ELIMINATE THE B & C PROPERTY LIST AND OTHER
CHANGES BY COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER HALL – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: We are moving on to 11C, formerly 16A3.
This is a recommendation to approve properties on the Conservation
Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's January and
February recommended Active Acquisition Lists and direct staff to
pursue the project recommended within the A category funded by the
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Fund. This was moved at
Commissioner McDaniel, LoCastro, and Kowal's separate requests.
I'll go ahead and read the second one in, because I imagine they
kind of are joined together.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No.
MS. PATTERSON: No, you want that one separate?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes.
March 24, 2026
Page 47
MS. PATTERSON: Okay. Let's start with, then, 11C,
Ms. Cook.
MS. COOK: Good morning, Commissioners. Jaime Cook, your
Development Review director, for the record.
For the January/February Active Acquisition List, we had 12
properties that were ranked. Two have since withdrawn. Five of the
properties were ranked on the A list for consideration to pursue
acquisition. One was the Collier County Sending Lands, formerly
known as HHH Ranch and the Hussey property. There was one in
the Gore Target Protection Area, two on Marco Island, and one in
North Belle Meade.
The B list had two in the East Naples Target Protection Area and
two in the Estates. And as I mentioned, two of the properties did
withdraw from the -- once they were ranked on the C list, and then
there is an additional property on the C list.
So with your indulgence, I will go through these.
For the A list, the first property is the Collier County Sending
Lands. The overall parcel, which is the yellow and red, is about
900 acres. Conservation Collier is pursuing acquisition of the
Sending Lands portion, which is the red at the bottom. It's a little
over 311 acres and connects directly to the North Belle Meade
Preserve to the east. It does consist of both upland and wetland
habitats, and Red-cockaded woodpecker nests have been found on the
property including on the Receiving Lands portion in yellow.
It has -- sorry. Panther telemetry has shown significant
utilization of the property, but currently there is limited access to the
property. If the program were to acquire this property, they would
like to be able to provide access from this property and then but trails
to the property currently owned to the east.
The second property is Harbor Partnership, which is in the Gore
Target Protection Area at the northeast corner of the preserve. It is
March 24, 2026
Page 48
1.5 -- 1.59 acres of wetland habitat. It does provide wildlife corridor
and connectivity to the existing preserves. It is just north of a
property that you previously ranked on the A list and is working its
way through the process.
Just as a note, there may be -- with the potential for the I-75 exit
ramp in this area may be impacts to any of these properties. But it is
bonneted bat, snail kite habitat, as well as provides connectivity to
not only the North Belle Meade lands to the east, but to the panther
refuge and RLSA Sending Areas to the east.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Ms. Cook, what are the
yellow -- what's the yellow on that map?
MS. COOK: So the yellow is the Target Protection Area that
would expand the overall preserve.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Do we have other properties that are
within the program already close to it?
MS. COOK: Yes. The red is the property that you're
considering here, this blue property just to the south is one that you
previously ranked on the A list, and then this green one is owned by
the program.
The third property, the Klett property, is on Marco Island. It is
on half an acre of rare upland habitats, maritime scrub -- maritime
hammock and coastal scrub habitat. There are listed plants, including
air plants and gopher tortoise on this property. There are no direct
connections to existing preserves; however, it is between a vacant
parcel and one that is currently owned by the program.
And then you have Keuffner Trust property, which is also
located on Marco to the northwest of the Klett property is similar
habitat, maritime hammock and coastal scrub. It's only about a third
of an acre in size and does, again, have listed plants and animals on
site, but there are no direct connections to any existing preserves.
Both of these Marco properties are zoned for residential single-family
March 24, 2026
Page 49
homes as well.
And then the last property on the A list is the Bednar property,
which is 9.74 acres in the North Belle Meade Target Protection Area.
It is a mix of wetland and upland habitat and does, again, provide that
wildlife corridor and connectivity to existing preserves, as there is
both private Conservation Collier easements and existing
Conservation Collier lands surrounding this property.
Again, we currently have limited access, and the Wilson
Boulevard extension may impact this property, but it is directly east
of the Collier County Sending Lands that I showed you on the first
slide.
And that then would take us to the B Category properties.
Again, there were two in the East Naples Target Protection Area.
This Target Protection Area was established in 2025, but we've had
very limited response from this area. So staff was ranking it B as a
way to hold it for a year and potentially come back next year if we've
acquired more applications in this area.
This property is a little over an acre in size of wetland habitat. It
does provide wading bird habitat and moderate aquifer recharge, but
there is no connectivity to any existing preserves, and there's
currently no public access in this area. And for those of you not
familiar with this area, this is directly west and north of Treviso Bay.
There is a second property in this area, the Perera property.
Again, a little over an acre of wetland habitat, wading bird habitat. It
is adjacent across the canal to Treviso Bay's preserves, but again
there's no current public access. So staff wasn't recommending
moving forward with these at this time but waiting for a year to see if
we received other applications in this area.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Hold one on second.
Commissioner McDaniel, do you have a comment?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah, I do.
March 24, 2026
Page 50
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. Sorry.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I maybe can save us some
time --
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Sorry.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- if the Board is in approval.
I read through these things. I'd like to make some suggestions if
it's -- if it's at all possible and appropriate. Is this the appropriate time
for me to make my comments?
MS. COOK: Sure.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I would like to have us pursue
the A-list properties only and, going forward, a rewrite on the
Conservation Collier and eliminate the B- and C-list properties. I
perceive that as an enormous waste of time, energy, and resources on
properties that we may or may not ever acquire.
If a property reaches the A list, then we can have a discussion,
but I don't see any reason to have the B and C list. My answer, it's
oversimplified, but A-list properties that meet the criterium -- I think
there are eight criterium that are established.
MS. COOK: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And your staff's diagnosis of
those eight criterium, then make a decision as to whether or not they
make the A list, and then "not interested" list if you have to have
something else to talk to us about. But I don't see any reason for us
to be going through time and energy on B- and C-list properties, and I
think we're going to have to rewrite the Conservation Collier
ordinance in order to effectuate that.
MS. COOK: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. So I would like
to -- now, do you need specific votes on the -- can we go back to the
A-list properties?
March 24, 2026
Page 51
MS. COOK: Sure.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Do you need specific votes on
them?
MS. COOK: If you want to do them one by one, you can. If
you want to do them collectively, you can do that as well.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I know in the past we've separated
them and done it that way.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And I would recommend that
we do, in fact, separate them.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, this is to create the list, though.
Those are the ones they're bringing forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Sir?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: This is to create the actual A list.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Well, the A list is actually
created. These ones we're about to go through, I believe, on are on
the A list.
MS. COOK: They were ranked on the A list by the
Conservation Collier Committee.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So --
MS. COOK: You, I guess, codify that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: This is a codification of them being on
the A list.
MS. COOK: Of that A list.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: If we take them individually and vote
on them, it doesn't mean we're pursuing the purchase yet, or does it?
That's what I'm trying to ask.
MS. COOK: If you rank -- if you rank them on the A list, then
staff would move forward with getting the appraisals that we would
then bring back to you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: That's correct.
March 24, 2026
Page 52
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. So then we'll take them
individually would be best.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm not done yet.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oh, I'm sorry. Can you please finish
your thought, Commissioner McDaniel?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: It may take a second.
The -- when we're in the process of the rewrite for the
Conservation Collier ordinance, I also want us to give consideration
to an outside consultant to have that outside consultant come in.
One of the things that we haven't done that's distressed me for
quite some time is utilize lands that are bought with taxpayer money
for the benefit of the taxpayers.
I think we have a portion of the PHUs, Panther Habitat Units,
that are -- that are brought up and acquired, but we haven't ever done
any mitigation banks with regard to Conservation Collier land.
So as we're moving forward on this -- on this rewrite, I would
like for consideration to be given to a consultant of some form to
come in to talk to us -- or talk to staff, and then staff can talk to us
with regard to the creation of a -- of a wetlands mitigation bank that
can be utilized by Collier County Roads and Bridges, Utilities, all of
our departments that are out there doing things for the benefit of our
taxpayers.
Lastly, I want to give consideration to some of these larger
tracts, specifically the Pepper Ranch and the newly acquired
Williams Preserve. I'd like for those to be put out for bid for -- to be
managed for hunting purposes for access for our public through an
outfitter. I would like to see an increased utilization of our
already-owned county lands and then have -- whatever you folks
decide. I don't really care.
March 24, 2026
Page 53
My thoughts were, engage with an outfitter to bring people in to
better utilize these assets, and then certainly a discounted rate for
Collier County residents that are participating through the outfitter to
better enhance the public access to these held lands.
MS. COOK: Understood.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Ms. Cook, I just wanted to get
your feedback on the -- on the conversation about doing away with B
and C. I don't necessarily disagree. You know, maybe we've got too
many layers but, you know, before we -- you know, you're the one
that's knee deep into the program.
Is there an advantage -- you know, have we pulled properties,
over the last five years, off of the B list, then, boom, they
miraculously became A's and we purchased them, or realistically -- I
mean, because I can see what Commissioner McDaniel is saying,
you're either an A or you're not. So if you're a high B or a low A, I
mean, you know, let's -- we've been trying to streamline this program,
and you've done a phenomenal job.
One of the reasons I pulled it -- I have no issues with any of the
properties on here. It was just -- I just think any time we talk about
Conservation Collier, we get beat up on the outside from so many
citizens that at times have misinformation. "Oh, we're giving
everything to the developers. We're not, you know, supporting
Conservation Collier. We're not doing anything."
So this is a good chance to get on the record that we have a tight
program, you do a lot of analysis, we rank order things, and we've
actually bought quite a few properties.
But, you know, having said that, you know, before we make a
vote on -- on maybe changing -- not maybe, but changing the
program in quite a few ways and improving it, I want to make sure
we give you a chance to give us, you know, your honest feedback and
March 24, 2026
Page 54
say, "Eh, it's kind of a mistake" or, "No, I think it's a great idea," or
not just, "Hey, whatever you guys vote on is what we do."
You know, you're in the -- you're in the program. So any
feedback that you have for us as to something we might be missing,
or do you think it would be a way to streamline the program a bit
more?
MS. COOK: I do think it would help streamline the program a
bit more. Since I've been involved with this program, I don't think
we've had one property move from the B list to the A list.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: That's what I kind of thought,
yeah.
MS. COOK: Additionally, if we're putting people on the B list,
we're kind of putting them in a holding pattern for a period of time
unless they sell their property. So we're kind of sticking people with
uncertainty for at least a year. So I do see the benefit to it either
being an A list or no, we're not -- we're not interested in pursuing it.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So, in essence, if we did pass
that, what you would tell somebody if their property didn't qualify for
the A is, you know, "You didn't qualify. If you take exception to
that, you can always, you know, rebut or give us more information,"
or maybe we missed something, to try to get on the A list.
But if there's no B or C list, so they're either on it or not and
then, you know, it really doesn't matter. You know, if they're a high
B, low B, high C, low C, immaterial. It's really we're looking for
properties that are qualified or not.
And then the second part of my question really should be at the
end of all this, after we vote and everything. One of the things that
we've been working on -- we've had some meetings in the
commissioner conference room with the legal team, the owner of the
Sabal Palm Orange Grove, Conservation Collier -- or with
Conservation Collier, the Audubon Society, Conservancy, and at our
March 24, 2026
Page 55
last meeting what we decided is Ms. Cook's going to continue to
pursue the possibility of the orange grove being -- qualifying for
Conservation Collier. And if it did, you know -- I mean, we don't
want to guess what the outcome's going to be, but it would be looked
at as an agricultural piece of property, not a residential zoned
property, because it's not.
And so, typically, the appraisal we would expect would come
back much lower than what the -- but we still want to go through
possibly, you know -- and that's what we're deciding -- as many -- all
the motion -- all the options as we can. So we're definitely sending a
signal to the -- to the citizens that we're not jumping to conclusions,
we're not ruling things out.
I mean, there's a lot of emotion about that piece of property, and
it costs us nothing, you know, in the big scheme of things to take an
appraisal or just even make an educated assessment, and then we're
going to have another meeting.
So just for the purposes of this group, I wanted them to know
that we've had several meetings, as you know, big ones, and to give
them a little bit of a peek under the tent -- or an update, I should say,
as to what's happening, because it, very literally, could come back to
us, but there's a lot that's happening. But maybe that's at the end,
because it has nothing to do with this, but, you know, while you're at
the podium.
That's another reason why I pulled this. Maybe the other
commissioners did it for a different reason, but I wanted to shine a
light on Conservation Collier on -- that it's a very active program and
stuff's coming to us all the time, and we don't just approve it on the
consent agenda with one fell swoop. And then, you know, like I said,
at the end maybe you could give us sort of the short version of Sabal
Palm and sort of what's going on with it.
MS. COOK: Sure.
March 24, 2026
Page 56
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: But I think you answered my
question about the B and C list, and I agree.
MS. COOK: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Thank you, Chairman.
I just want to make a couple of points. And it seems to me like
the CCLAC grades these things on a curve. You know, it's -- I think
the highest score out of 400 was a 284. That's 71 percentile, and yet
it's an A property.
I don't think that we ought to even entertain things that we're not
interested in even as an A list because it's just going to take staff
time, it's going to take appraisal money, it's going to take stuff that,
just to be honest, I'm not interested in at all.
I would be interested in the 300 acres. I would be interested in
the Bednar property, and the other ones I would not have any interest
in at all.
So I don't even know why we need to go through the drill of
trying to negotiate, trying to -- there's no public benefit at all for the
Marco properties. Yes, there's tortoises on the property, but if
somebody comes along and buys them, they have to -- they have
to -- they have to take care of those tortoises. They have to put them
to a nice home. So there's no threat to them.
There's no -- people can't go on there and hike. They can't go on
there and do -- you know, I guess they could go do a picnic,
but -- and as far as these other small -- small spots, just hit and miss,
we've talked about that ad nauseam. If there was something that was
really filling in a gap, I'd entertain that, but as far as just entertaining
the whole A list just because it's an A list from them, I don't see
the -- I don't see the rationale.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And I don't disagree
March 24, 2026
Page 57
with Commissioner Hall. I just think you're, as usual, two steps
ahead. We have to -- we have to -- Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: I'm listening.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. We have to -- we have
an ordinance. They have rules that they need to follow, as it stands
right now.
And so I think we need to stay on those rules until the rewrite
for the ordinance, in fact, comes back. I think, specifically, those
eight criterium need to be delineated as to what's hit to be able to
move it into the A list.
We don't need to know about it being a significant wildlife
corridor or particular -- I mean, listed species are everywhere, if you
look in enough corners. And so I would rather see pragmatism with
regard to these choices that are being brought forward to us. And I
would -- I would rather see that come on the soon-to-come rewrite of
the Conservation Collier ordinance.
Particularly on this site here, the one that's up here on the map, I
read through CCLAC's notes. I don't -- originally, my larcenist
tendencies got in the way, and I wanted to sell it to CCLAC for
whatever the appraised value was. But we're dealing with taxpayer
money here, and so I'm sticking my larcenist tendencies in my
pocket, and I would recommend that we do pursue that transaction
for the red only. None of the Receiving Lands are going
to -- because we're -- once we consummate the transaction with
Conservation Collier, I hope the next step is for us to put the
Receiving Lands up for sale, again, for the benefit of the residents.
We bought this land with taxpayer money. I want it to come back to
the benefit of the residents of Collier County.
So -- and I want to specify that we look into the sale of this -- of
these lands, this 311 acres at our cost of acquisition plus carrying
costs, because I think we've gone -- we've been maybe doing
March 24, 2026
Page 58
maintenance. We've got interest, carrying costs. Those things are
going to be to added to that actual acquisition when we -- when we
do, in fact, go forward with the transaction, so...
MS. COOK: Sure. And we can work with Chris Johnson and
the finance team on that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Thank you, Chairman.
I actually do disagree a bit with the comments that were made
here. I don't think the goal of Conservation Collier is to buy lands
to -- for -- to turn them all into county parks, and if there's not an
ability to put trails and hiking and camping, then it's not -- it has no
public benefit.
If you look at the mission of Conservation Collier, it's to be -- to
preserve wildlife, to preserve waterways, to preserve trails for
wildlife, not for motorbikes or campers or people with tents.
And so, you know, I have no issue with anything on the A list.
I'm not surprised any of them are on A. And yes, a piece of property
that has gopher tortoises on it or whatever, you know, might be on it
that isn't sold to Conservation Collier or doesn't make the cut, this
stuff has to be relocated.
But I think Conservation Collier, whether I like it or not, it's
what citizens voted for, is to keep those relocations to a minimum;
that if wildlife are in great numbers are already -- have already
created a habitat on a piece of property, before we relocate them all to
an area that maybe isn't, you know, as conducive to their survival,
that's the whole reason for Conservation Collier, whether I agree with
it or not.
I maybe don't disagree with the comments here, but I actually
think that that's not actually the mission of Conservation Collier. I
think the public benefit of Conservation Collier was supposed to
March 24, 2026
Page 59
be -- I mean, look how many parcels we buy out in the middle of
nowhere. Those aren't going to be trails or campgrounds or, you
know, like you say, many times things are on the A list and it says,
"No access," but the reason we buy it is because of what's on there as
far as wildlife or how it helps water conservation or water movement
or whatnot.
So I mean, unless I hear otherwise -- I mean, I went through this
list, and I can see why they're A properties, and, you know, I think
we're supposed to -- or Conservation Collier's mission is to minimize
the amount of wildlife relocation and whatnot, and especially in an
area that is densely populated with wildlife, vegetation already.
That's why it makes the A list. It's not that there's -- oh,
there's -- "Oh, we saw three turtles," and they -- you know, yeah, they
could be easily moved, that's why it's on the C list. But the ones that
are on the A usually are inundated with quite a bit on it, and that's
why, you know, it comes to us for consideration.
So I have no trouble with any of the A list items because I think
there's great public benefit in some cases, because it's accessible and,
you know, sometimes that's the public benefit. Other times the public
will never see this property. But part of Conservation Collier is
conserving it for the wildlife and the things that are on there and the
purpose it serves.
So unless I hear different, everything on the A list, I think, has
merit and warrants our support to be purchased under Conservation
Collier. And obviously, you're bringing -- obviously, if we wouldn't
have pulled it, it would have been automatically approved on the
consent agenda. But I mean, several of us pulled it but maybe for
different reasons. I pulled it to give it visibility, not because I had
any issues with any of the A-list items.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes. And just clarify for me,
March 24, 2026
Page 60
we're not voting on anything right now other than moving these
forward for you to do the appraisals, and then you're going to come
back with individual purchase agreements for each one of these that
you're proposing that are currently on the A list.
MS. COOK: That is correct.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. So we don't need to
make any executive decisions today with regard to any of these
things. We -- I'm assuming that these properties have made the A
list. We don't need to -- we don't need to spend any additional time
on the B- and C-listed properties that were part of this.
The reason that I pulled this agenda item was to have this
discussion. If we need to take a vote on, No. 1, pursuing these A-list
things, I'll make a -- but I also think we ought to take a vote on the
rewrite of the Conser- -- and again, nothing's going to get
rewrote -- rewritten -- rewrote. Nothing's going to be getting
rewritten without public input as we go forward with the
Conservation Collier ordinance.
So I just wanted to put that on the record that we are going to
make some adjustments in Conservation Collier, get -- eliminate the
B and C properties, specify the A-list criterium, and that will then
come back to us with these individual acquisitions.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: And based on that, I mean, I
think it's a -- it's a great reminder by Commissioner McDaniel. We're
not here to say, "Yes, buy this."
Let's go through them. You know, my recollection is we usually
go through one by one when we're at the purchase stage. So having
said that, I'll make the motion that on all the A-List properties we
give you authority to move forward with appraisals. It doesn't mean
necessarily we're buying them. But they made the A list. I think they
deserve to be vetted out, you know, fully, and then it will come to us
March 24, 2026
Page 61
for decision, you know, at a -- at a future meeting. So that would be
my motion, and that we -- and then I agree that I like the idea of a
second motion to -- but my initial motion would be that we give you
the authority to move forward on the A-List properties to do more
exploration and appraisals to bring back to us for consideration for
purchase.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. So I have a motion and second.
Does that include the rewrite of the ordinance in that motion?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I'm going to make -- I'll make
a separate motion on that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I just wanted to make sure we
were clear on that.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Could I just make a couple comments?
Because I also pulled this myself. And the reason I pulled it is
because I -- you know, searching in own memory, like, did we ever
get to the B list? Did we ever make purchases? And I couldn't
remember any since the three and some -- you know, three years and
so many months I've been up here, and I just think that having a
deeper dive into this ordinance and where we can streamline this so
we're not having staff tied up.
And on the other side, like you just mentioned, and I was
thinking it myself, is we lock these people into thinking they're in
some sort of program that they're going to benefit by, you know,
selling their property to somebody that will buy it, which is the
County, the people, with the tax dollars, and then they're on a B list
or a C list, and they sit around waiting to hear back, waiting to hear
back or, you know, whatever, when they probably could have moved
on, or when the market was a little hotter or better, they could have
took advantage of it, and they're kind of like in limbo.
March 24, 2026
Page 62
So to me it doesn't -- I don't want to lead the people on like that
with these B and C lists being out there and them believing that
they're locked into some sort of possibility over the next year that
they're going to sell their property to the County through the
Conservation Collier program. That was the main reason why I
wanted to take a deeper dive into this.
And then the second one is just the disparity of just -- I
understand these are Property Appraiser numbers that we put on these
little charts when you show these properties but it was just funny
because I looked at, like, every one six years ago that was purchased.
The Property Appraiser's was less than the acquisition price except
for one which increased 450 percent from when -- in the six-year
period. And to me that -- that just says a red light, like, how is this
possible or, you know. I mean, something like that I want to take a
deeper dive into.
MS. COOK: Yeah. So I'm not a certified appraiser in any way,
shape, or form, but my understanding is the Property Appraiser uses
more of an even adjustment from year to year so people's taxes aren't
spiking and -- in either direction; that either they don't suddenly owe
a lot more or the County's not going to get as much the next year
from their property taxes. They use more of a level playing field for
everybody. And it -- and it may be around, like, 70 percent of the
actual appraised value of the property. But that's just my
understanding from a not appraised -- certified appraiser standpoint.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, I understand that, too, and I
know usually the Property Appraiser's a little lower than what
typically a person would go out in the industry and appraise a piece
of property. But just to me, it just jumped out because now I'm
thinking everybody in the neighborhood's homes went up 450 percent
in price. You know, in reality, I don't think that happened, you know.
So this one particular property was purchased six years ago at
March 24, 2026
Page 63
$130,000. Now it's coming in at $699,000, where the other ones in
the same time period in other parts of the county have actually had a
lesser property appraisal price that we could access than what they
paid for it six years ago. So it kind of dropped in the minds of the
Property Appraiser.
So I was just -- it kind of stuck out -- jumped out at me, so that's
why I figured it was worth a second conversation, you know, when I
saw that.
So, Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Just one of the things I wanted
to add -- because it was partly what Commissioner Kowal said and
even a little bit of what Commissioner Hall said. And it's part of the
second motion, so I'm probably ahead of myself, but at least I'll throw
my comments out there.
It's really important that if we do away with the B and C list we
don't water down the A list. You know, to Commissioner Hall's
point, you know, if something's high B but there's no B list, let's
make sure that we're holding the program tight.
And so, you know, "Hey, you didn't make the cut."
And I think as part of really taking a look at something, I would
like to do a deeper dive -- and it's probably part of the second motion
when it comes back to us -- as to the scoring process. I mean, you
know, maybe if we get down into the 70s, that's really more of a high
B and not a low A kind of thing, you know. I don't know, but a lot of
times when you do away with sort of the two sub-lists, sometimes
things -- more things then sort of creep into the A list, you know.
They're sort of at the bottom end of the A list, and they would have
been high Bs, but we don't have a B list.
So -- and we've got to really make sure that we don't water down
this. We're trying to tighten the program, not sort of make it
different. We're trying to make it better. So -- but, you know, we'll
March 24, 2026
Page 64
leave that to you. But I think that's sort of embedded in the second
motion. I know we've still got the first motion out there, and it was
seconded, so I'll just leave it at that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. I have a motion to -- I
believe it's five on the A list, correct?
MS. COOK: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: The five on the A list, to go ahead and
have staff to start moving forward. I have a motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
All opposed, same sound, same sign.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay, 3-1. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And then second -- and the
second motion will be for the rewrite on the Conservation Collier
ordinance to eliminate the B and C list, appropriate the third-party
consultant for the creation of a wetlands mitigation bank, and
necessarily even habitat, mitigate -- whatever mitigation bank can be
a benefit to Collier County.
I know Trinity goes and buys right-of-way all the time and has
to pay crazy amounts of money for mitigation purposes. So I don't
want to specify it just for wetlands if, in fact, a mitigation
bank -- other than -- other than wetlands is requisite.
So the third-party consultant with regard to that, and then the
pursuit of more utilization of these publicly held lands, specifically
the Pepper Ranch and the Williams Ranch. I would like those to be
given consideration to utilizing an outfitter. So that's three things in
one motion. Does that cover -- does that cover sufficiently?
Do you have any -- well, here comes Jamie, so...
March 24, 2026
Page 65
MR. FRENCH: Thank you, sir. Again, for the record, Jamie
French.
Just a point of clarification. So we will bring an ITN, an intent
to negotiate, out. Staff's recommendation would simply be is that we
would engage with multiple outfitters, perhaps environmental groups,
educational type groups that would be able to utilize those properties.
And as those properties become available for -- whether it be hunting,
environmental tours, or perhaps educational opportunities, we would
have a list of contractors that would be able to utilize those staff
lands. They would negotiate or work with staff.
Because often what we'll find is whether we're doing prescribed
burning or restoration or some things like that, perhaps those lands
would be off limits for periods of time during that
maintenance -- required maintenance.
And then lastly, the only thing that we would ask is -- talking
about Pepper Ranch only because we do have certain acquisitions
that have pristine wetlands and pristine benefit both for watershed,
both flora/fauna and species, but they may also have cattle area or
they may have agricultural areas that we would not typically identify
as an area of interest beyond Pepper Ranch for cattle.
What we would ask is that, going forward, to generate additional
income on those areas that we have no planned restoration or we
were going to leave them as agricultural based on our wild -- based
on our Land Management Plan, perhaps we open those up as well to
look at additional revenue streams and supporting our local
agricultural communities or those types of communities, wildlife, or
with, let's just say, farm life, that would be able to utilize that space to
its maximum benefit.
And then the last thing is perhaps as we bring these lands
forward to you, we identify those lands that -- as Commissioner
LoCastro said, these are available for hiking. These are
March 24, 2026
Page 66
available -- you wouldn't really see public access because it is
wetlands and because there's no -- to go through and put a trail in
there, to go through and have to rezone it, perhaps, like a property in
the City of Marco, City of Naples, or wherever, that may require
rezoning effort to even allow a parking area or an area for people
to -- at least identify that in your considerations going forward, and
we'll identify that in the ordinance rewrite going forward.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I was just going to say we can
address all those things in the actual rewrite itself. I just
wanted -- you know, I don't want to -- I don't want to head down --
MR. FRENCH: I understand.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: -- that rabbit hole of rezoning
and access and all that. So, I mean, if there's a public road in front of
a piece of Conservation Collier property, even if it isn't improved, the
public has a right to go in there, so...
MR. FRENCH: But, again, it's just -- I know, especially in
some of the areas where we're going in, it would require a rezone of
the property, and perhaps that would be a consideration that you
would want to make. I give you a great example. Pine Ridge and
what is that -- Logan?
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Logan.
MR. FRENCH: Logan, not Santa Barbara. Zero public
entrance into that unless you're walking or you're pedaling into that
area.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right.
MR. FRENCH: But there's no public access with regards to
parking.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Right. Well -- and that's
where -- I mean -- and we also at some particular point -- and I don't
know if it's important to make it as part of this motion -- is with
regard to the management plan for these -- for these properties.
March 24, 2026
Page 67
Some consideration needs to be given individually to the
management plan for these properties as well and how -- how the
access is acquired, whether or not it's attainable, whether or not it's
going to be held for environmental purposes strictly, so on and so
forth. So -- and I'll make the management plan a portion of this -- of
my motion, if that will help you.
MS. COOK: Sure.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: I got a thumbs up on that.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: So do you need me to repeat
all that, Mr. Chair?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Do you need him to repeat it? I'm
good with it.
COMMISSIONER HALL: No.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I kind of followed along, took some
notes.
So I have a motion. Do I have a second?
COMMISSIONER HALL: 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.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. It passed. Work on it.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Hurry up.
MS. COOK: I don't get to leave yet. We have one more.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I know, we've got the other item,
March 24, 2026
Page 68
companion -- or not companion.
Item #11D
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR
SALE AND PURCHASE UNDER THE CONSERVATION
COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM WITH ANDRES
ECHEVARRIA FOR A 3.05-ACRE PROPERTY AT A COST OF
$90,000, FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $91,870,
INCLUSIVE OF CLOSING COSTS. (COMMISSIONER
LOCASTRO’S REQUEST) MOTION TO APPROVE BY
COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOCASTRO – APPROVED
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. Commissioners, that brings us to
Item 11D. It's a recommendation to approve an agreement for sale
and purchase under the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition
Program with Andres Echevarria for a 3.05-acre property at a cost of
$90,000, for a total cost not to exceed $91,870, inclusive of closing
costs. This item is moved to the regular agenda at Commissioner
LoCastro's request.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Yeah, I just want a little more
detail on the record.
MS. COOK: Again, Jaime Cook, your Development Review
director for the record.
This property is in the I-75/Everglades TPMA area. For -- we
haven't talked much about this one for the most part. We did have a
couple come before you about a month ago for consideration.
But the I-75/Everglades Target Protection Area does provide
connectivity between the North Belle Meade Preserve and Sending
March 24, 2026
Page 69
Lands to the west and Gore Preserve to the east. The blue and dark
green that you can see on the east is the Gore Preserve area.
It does provide wildlife habitat, black bears, panthers, wading
birds, and a variety of other wildlife, and does contain native plant
communities including wetland and upland habitats.
This specific parcel is about three -- a little over three acres of
mixed wetland hardwoods.
The purchase price of $90,000 was 100 percent of the appraised
value. Staff did attempt to negotiate, but the seller did not accept a
lower offer.
The management costs include exotic removal and cabbage
palm thinning, which would help aid in opening up the habitat as well
as reduced risk of wildfires.
And then the cost to the program -- oh, I'm sorry. One other
thing I did want to mention, this property does -- is immediately
north of I-75, and there are no existing Conservation Collier lands
surrounding it. And there's a mix of vacant lands as well as
developed lands surrounding this property.
The cost to the program you can see on the screen. The -- and
the -- with the closing costs the total purchase price would not exceed
$91,870.
So with that, the recommendation would be to approve this
purchase agreement for a total cost not to exceed $91,870.
And with that, I will take any questions that you may have.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No, nothing.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you wanted to
make a comment about it. I'm sorry.
Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Make that screen bigger so he
can read the right name.
March 24, 2026
Page 70
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: No, I saw who pulled it. That's why I
thought he wanted to make a comment.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: No, I just -- I wanted to get it
on the record and, you know, people that are listening see that, you
know, we actually are doing quite a bit with Conservation Collier and
taking a look and doing all our due diligence, and they don't always
get that off of the consent agenda.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: And, you know, I didn't
specifically pull this agenda item. I did the one before it because I
had some larger looming issues with Conservation Collier at all, but
I'm glad you did bring this up.
I was instrumental in the creation of the TPMA for Everglades
Boulevard. You know that our congressman has appropriated money
for the study for the potential of partially opening up Everglades and
75 as a partial interchange. And the rationale for the creation of the
TPMA was fragmentation of that land so that assemblages were less
likely.
One of the large concerns when a new interchange is proposed is
commercial creep. And so by fragmenting ownership in that
particular area, it diminishes the opportunity for assemblages to come
together.
The one thing that Jamie didn't actually mention is even to the
east of the Gore Preserve that we own a lot of property is the
panther -- the National Panther Preserve. And so our four-legged
friends come there through there and ultimately end up over in the
North Belle Meade.
And I would ultimately like to see a wildlife crossing. And I
think, if I'm not mistaken, we have some contiguous lands on
Everglades Boulevard. So I'd like to see, ultimately, a wildlife
crossing in the -- a little bit north of where this particular site is.
But I'll make a motion for approval of this transaction.
March 24, 2026
Page 71
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: 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.
Opposed, same sound, same sign.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right, 3-1.
MS. COOK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Wait, Jaime. Jaime -- Jaime,
wait a -- Jaime, wait a second.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Oop. Hold on.
MS. COOK: Sorry.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So I want to talk about Sabal
Palm. And I'll just set the table a little bit.
So I want the commissioners to know that one's not dead yet,
because we're going to exhaust all possible options and give the
landowner what's a possibility and what isn't and separate rumor from
fact.
But some people that didn't want to see the residential homes
built on orange grove -- on that orange grove came to the podium in
big numbers, and a lot of their comments were, "God, there's a
thousand other options that you could do that are way better than
homes."
Well, we've had some big, long meetings in the County
Commissioners' conference room, and the reality is, there aren't a
thousand other options, and we're ruling out or ruling in the handful
of possibilities.
We've had the Audubon Society and the Conservancy at the
March 24, 2026
Page 72
table every single time. They didn't bring in a magical billionaire
who's going to buy the orange grove and preserve it or turn it into a
functioning orange grove. The family doesn't have a family member
that's stepping forward and pulling it off the market and going to
revitalize it.
So the thing that we can control, like Conservation Collier -- or
we can talk to the legal counsel for the landowners, what we've been
doing. But there wasn't any -- any magical, at least as of yet, people
that have come forward to pay -- to preserve the land.
But the things that are in our control are Conservation Collier,
which Jaime's leading. And we have, you know, several other future
meetings coming up.
You want to, just for the purpose of the Board -- because I think
it's going to -- it's a possibility of it coming back -- just give a short
version of what you're -- what you're -- where we are in the timing
and your involvement of what you're doing.
MS. COOK: Sure. So for this property, at our first meeting,
which I believe was at the end of January, the property owner and
attorney did agree that they would apply to the Conservation Collier
program, go through the process.
Staff did do a site visit on, I think, March 16th, if my calendar
brain is working properly -- on March 16th with the intent that it will
be heard by the Conservation Collier Committee on April 1st, which
is their next meeting.
With your indulgence and the County Manager's indulgence, we
would like to bring whatever that ranking is to you towards the end of
April. If you would like us to move forward with an appraisal for the
property to see what the actual appraised value would be of that
property, you know, we would certainly welcome that decision and
discussion from you.
If it -- if it were to ultimately be acquired by Conservation
March 24, 2026
Page 73
Collier and the owners did agree to a purchase price, it's -- it's not
something that would be fiscally responsible to actually try to restore.
So we'd be looking for something like a lease, a cattle lease, or some
sort of ag lease on that property.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So nothing to decide now, but
it's --
MS. COOK: Correct.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: -- it's in active discussions to
pursue every -- every possible viable option that we have within our
control. And the owner could say no to everything, and then we'll
see, you know, if they want to pursue something on their own against
the County or just continue to maintain it. So more to follow.
But thanks for all the hard work and all the things that you're
pursuing. It's not costing us a penny yet. We're just in exploratory
phase to separate rumors from fact and rule things in or out.
MS. COOK: You're welcome.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: So thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you, Jaime.
Item #15A
PUBLIC COMMENTS 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.
Item 15A is public comments on general topics not on the current or
future agenda by individuals not already heard during previous public
comments in this meeting.
MR. EBLE: We have no registered speakers.
March 24, 2026
Page 74
Item #15B
STAFF PROJECT UPDATES
MS. PATTERSON: Very good.
That brings us to Item 15B, staff project updates. 15B1 is the
State Veterans Nursing Home facility naming nominations. Mr. John
Mullins, your director of Communications and Government Affairs,
is here to present.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Good morning.
MR. MULLINS: Pretty close. John Mullins, your director of
Communications, Government, and Public Affairs. And before I
begin, I hope you-all have had a moment this morning to take a look
at your new dais. This will be the decor for the foreseeable future as
we celebrate the Semiquincentennial.
I'd like to thank Debbie Curry, Santiago Arenas, and our
communications team that were instrumental in designing all of this
and getting it put together with the assistance of our Facilities
management team, and there will be more to come.
But as the County Manager said, I'm here today on behalf of our
partners at the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, and we're
proud to announce that tomorrow, March 25th, National Medal of
Honor Day will be the start of the 30-day nomination process to
select the name for our upcoming State Veterans' Nursing Home.
And the eligible nominees are 13 distinguished Congressional
Medal of Honor recipients accredited by the State of Florida,
meaning that they were either Florida born or began their service
here, and those with ties to our local Southwest Florida region will be
given preference particularly if there isn't a clear selection in the
nomination process.
March 24, 2026
Page 75
Now, the Medal of Honor is the military's highest decoration.
And to ensure this facility stands as a lasting tribute to extraordinary
service, the name will be chosen from these members of our Armed
Forces who have set the highest bar of valor.
And if you'll indulge me, I'd like to read into the record the
names and brief stories of each of the nominees.
Hammett Lee Brown [sic], Jr., United States Army. During an
ambush in Vietnam, he shielded three of his fellow soldiers from a
grenade blast by throwing himself upon it, sacrificing his life to save
those around him.
Bruce Wayne Carter, United States Marine Corps. In Vietnam,
while he and fellow marines were pinned down by heavy gunfire and
a rapidly advancing brushfire, he shouted out directions to safety to
his unit while providing an aggressive attack to provide cover,
ultimately using his body to absorb the explosion of a grenade, saving
several marines.
William Merrill Corry, Jr., United States Navy. In Connecticut
in 1920, following a plane crash in which he was a passenger and was
thrown 30 feet clear of the plane, he rushed into the burning
wreckage to pull a fellow officer to safety. He sustained several
burns during these rescues and died shortly thereafter.
Nicholas Joseph Cutinha, United States Army. In Vietnam, after
sustaining two leg wounds and his machine gun being destroyed by
an incoming round, he crawled through a hail of enemy gunfire to an
operable machine gun and single-handedly took position against an
enemy battalion, providing the suppressive fire necessary for his
wounded comrades to be evacuated before he was mortally wounded.
Robert Edward Femoyer, United States Army Air Corps. After
his B17 was struck by heavy flack over Germany in 1944, to stay
alert he refused morphine, despite severe wounds to his side and
back. He asked to be propped up in order to enable him to see his
March 24, 2026
Page 76
charts and instruments. He then successfully navigated his lone
bomber crew back to England through over two hours of enemy fire
before dying from his injuries.
David McCampbell, United States Navy. In 1944, in the Battles
of the Philippine Sea, he led a flight of just two planes against 60
Japanese aircraft, personally shooting down nine enemy planes in a
single mission.
Thomas Buchanan McGuire, Jr., United States Army Air Corps.
Over several days in the Philippines in 1944, he repeatedly took to
the air to protect bomber groups, destroying numerous enemy
aircraft, often outnumbered 3-1. While leading a fighter sweep over
Las Negros Island, he risked an extremely low-altitude maneuver to
save a fellow flyer, crashed, and was reported missing in action.
Robert Miller McTureous, Jr., United States Marine Corps.
During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, he launched a solo attack,
charging against machine gun fire from enemy caves with a jacket
full of hand grenades to divert fire from his unit's stretcher bearers
that were evacuating wounded, eventually suffering fatal wounds in
the process.
Robert J. Miller, United States Army. In Afghanistan in 2008,
during a narrow valley ambush from above, and ignoring his own
torso wound, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered
positions as he charged the enemy over exposed ground and under
overwhelming enemy fire. After killing at least 10 insurgents and
wounding dozens more, Staff Sergeant Miller was mortally wounded.
He saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghan
National Army soldiers.
James Henry Mills, United States Army. In Italy in 1944, he led
a daring one-man charge against German positions, capturing over 30
enemy soldiers, and clearing the way for his company's advance.
Francis Edward Ormsbee, Jr., United States Navy. In Pensacola
March 24, 2026
Page 77
in 1918, after witnessing a plane tailspin and crash into the water, he
dove into the water and repeatedly attempted to rescue the crew,
saving the gunner, despite the immense physical danger of the
sinking wreckage.
Larry Eugene Smedley, United States Marine Corps. Despite
being wounded multiple times during a night attack in Vietnam, he
led a charge against an enemy machine gun nest, destroying it at
close range to protect his squad before succumbing to his wounds.
And finally, Paul Ray Smith, United States Army. In 2003, he
organized a defense against an overwhelming force near Baghdad
International Airport. He manned a machine gun in an exposed
position on a damaged armored personnel carrier to hold back the
enemy, helping to save over 100 soldiers before he was killed.
Now, there should be no doubt that each one of these patriots
just described to you has earned more than we can ever repay. But
like the other nine state veterans long-term care facilities in Florida,
one name will go above the door in Collier County.
Now, there are two ways to nominate one of these honored
gentlemen, online and by standard mail. And if you have basic
computer savviness, starting at midnight tonight you can go to
collier.gov and simply select one name as your nomination, select the
Florida county where you reside, and hit the "submit" button. This
online access is good through midnight on Thursday, April 23rd.
Now, after midnight, you'll be able to find a link to this
nomination list at the top of our website in the yellow bar shown on
the screen.
Now, you may also vote by U.S. mail by sending a letter to the
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs at the address that's on the
screen. The letter must be postmarked by April 23rd. Writing a
letter is also the best option for those who wish to explain why they
are nominating a particular Medal of Honor recipient. It's also the
March 24, 2026
Page 78
best option for veterans groups, selected bodies, and other
organizations to nominate one of these heroes on behalf of the group.
Now, this is an exciting step that will honor a name, a face, and
an incredible story at this long-term care campus that has been sought
by our veteran community and championed by this board for over a
decade. The selected hero's name will be announced at the June
meeting of the governor's cabinet, and name and photo will be
formally unveiled as part of the groundbreaking ceremony targeted
for this summer. And as always, you can learn more about the state
veterans homes program at floridavets.org, and I encourage you and
everyone to read the full biographies of these 13 heroes and those of
all Medal of Honor recipients at the Congressional Medal of Honor
Society website at cmohs.org.
And with that, I am happy to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Two questions. Number 1,
has that list of 13 already been pared back for people from Southwest
Florida?
MR. MULLINS: These are all -- no, it's not limited -- since this
is the State Department of Veterans' Affairs, and it is a state-run
facility, all veterans attributed to the State of Florida that were Medal
of Honor recipients are eligible.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. I thought I heard you
say something that --
MR. MULLINS: Preference. Preference will be given to people
that have a connection to Southwest Florida. So if there's a close
vote, let's say, statewide, if somebody has more of a local tie here,
they will probably be given preference in the selection.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Someone -- someone at the
Department of Veterans' Affairs in Tallahassee will ultimately make
that choice?
March 24, 2026
Page 79
MR. MULLINS: Yes. That recommendation will come from
General Hartsell, and it will be announced at the governor's cabinet
meeting in June.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Okay. Thank you. I'm glad I
don't have to pick. My goodness.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, right?
I see no other questions. Thank you.
MR. MULLINS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Thank you so much.
Item #15C
STAFF AND COMMISSION GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
MS. PATTERSON: Commissioners, that brings us to Item 15C,
staff and commission general communications.
Just one update. I've been speaking with the City of Marco and
the City of Naples and Lee County working towards some dates for
our joint workshop, so I'll keep you posted as that -- as that starts to
come together.
Other than that, I have nothing else.
County Attorney.
MR. KLATZKOW: Nothing else.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner Hall.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Nothing else, thanks.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner LoCastro.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Nothing, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Commissioner McDaniel.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. Leaves it up to me. I actually
have two things.
March 24, 2026
Page 80
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Really?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Come on, you're getting out before
lunch.
First, I know we had this in the past, I think it was about two
years ago, Joseph Cawfield (phonetic) had reached out or had come
to speak to us reference to displaying the American flags around
Thomasson Drive during the pickleball -- U.S. Pickleball tournament.
It's coming back again, and they -- the Rotary Club wants to donate
the flags and do the -- have the ability to place them along the road. I
know last time we just did a motion up here and approved it.
So I'd like to make a motion to allow them to do that during the
period of the tournament, since this is our 250th anniversary and we
have people visiting from all over the world, so they can see our
beautiful flags displayed.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Why do we even have to vote
on this?
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Well, because there's an ordinance, and
we have to go -- jump through a bunch of other hoops, and I just
show that this is kind of like a special circumstance.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Second.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Third.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: I've got a motion and second and a
third. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER McDANIEL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER LoCASTRO: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HALL: Aye.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Opposed, same sound, same sign.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: All right. It passed.
And the second, I had a question -- I guess, Mr. French, do you
March 24, 2026
Page 81
know if we have any more information on -- I know I've asked a
couple meetings back, and I don't know -- reference to revisiting the
ordinance on RVs within gated communities that have their own
HOA.
MR. FRENCH: I'm going to ask -- I'm going to phone a friend.
Mr. Bosi can address, sir, if that's okay with you.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Yeah, that's fine.
MR. BOSI: Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning director.
We are currently working through the amendments to the Codes
of Laws and Ordinances to allow for RVs to be parked in a front yard
with the approval of the individual HOA with -- for that individual
community.
We are going to the DSAC's subcommittee in April, the full
DSAC in May, the Planning Commission in June, and then the first
hearing with the Board of County Commissioners will be in July or
the first meeting in August, depending upon when we have the
meeting in June with the Planning Commission. That will be before
you before the summer break's over.
CHAIRMAN KOWAL: Okay. I appreciate the update. Thank
you, guys.
I have nothing else, so I guess we'll adjourn this meeting today.
We're adjourned.
*******
March 24, 2026
Page 82
****Commissioner Hall moved, seconded by Commissioner
LoCastro 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 AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF
THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES FOR
ESPLANADE BY THE ISLANDS - PHASE 4C - FACILITIES
WERE FOUND SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE ON
NOVEMBER 17, 2025
Item #16A2
THE CLERK OF COURTS TO RELEASE A PERFORMANCE
BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000, WHICH WAS POSTED
AS A GUARANTY FOR EXCAVATION PERMIT NUMBER
PL20110001383 FOR WORK ASSOCIATED WITH WILLOW
RUN QUARRY
Item #16A3 (Moved to Item #11C Per Change Sheet)
Item #16A4 (Moved to Item #11D Per Change Sheet)
Item #16A5
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF A
PORTION OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES
AND APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR CAYMAS
March 24, 2026
Page 83
AMENITY CENTER – PHASE 1C. [PL20250004179] -
FACILITIES WERE FOUND SATISFACTORY AND
ACCEPTABLE ON DECEMBER 8, 2025
Item #16A6
FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER
UTILITY FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF A
PORTION OF THE POTABLE WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES
AND APPURTENANT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR KINSALE
GOLF COURSE – PHASES 1A, 1B, & 2. [PL20250011785] -
FACILITIES WERE FOUND SATISFACTORY AND
ACCEPTABLE ON DECEMBER 22, 2025
Item #16A7
A STANDARD TEMPLATE FOR A RIGHT-OF-WAY BOND,
ASSOCIATED WITH EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN
COUNTY RIGHTS-OF-WAY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-06 AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY
MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE BOND ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Item #16A8
AWARD INVITATION FOR QUALIFICATION NO. 25-8346,
“MARINE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR SERVICES,” WITH
KELLY BROS., INC., GULFSHORE MARINE CONSTRUCTION,
LLC, QUALITY ENTERPRISES USA, INC., AND MARINE
CONTRACTING GROUP, INC., AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR
March 24, 2026
Page 84
TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENTS
Item #16A9
RESOLUTION 2026-62: RESOLUTION TO HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING TO CONSIDER VACATING A PORTION OF THE 60-
FOOT ROADWAY EASEMENT, AS RECORDED IN OFFICIAL
RECORD BOOK 238, PAGE 913 AND OFFICIAL RECORD
BOOK 1365, PAGE 1357 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY
ONE-HALF MILE SOUTH OF VETERANS MEMORIAL
BOULEVARD, IN SECTION 15, TOWNSHIP 48 SOUTH, RANGE
25 EAST, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. [VAC-PL20260000213]
Item #16B1
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF THE COUNTY INCENTIVE
GRANT PROGRAM (CIGP) AND THE TRANSPORTATION
REGIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM (TRIP) APPLICATIONS
WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMMOKALEE RD.
AND LIVINGSTON RD. OVERPASS PROJECT FOR $20,000,000
Item #16B2
AN AGREEMENT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A
DRAINAGE EASEMENT (PARCEL 104DE) AND A
TEMPORARY DRIVEWAY RESTORATION EASEMENT
(102TDRE) REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
AIRPORT ROAD (VANDERBILT BEACH RD. TO IMMOKALEE
March 24, 2026
Page 85
RD.) PROJECT NO. 60190. (ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT:
$40,200)
Item #16B3
FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT NO. 23-8170,
"MOTOROLA IRRIGATION CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM
PARTS AND SERVICES," WITH CONTEMPORARY CONTROLS
& COMMUNICATIONS, INC., TO ALLOW PRICE INCREASES
CAUSED BY IMPORT TARIFFS, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR
TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AMENDMENT
Item #16B4
RESOLUTION 2026-63: AMEND EXHIBIT “A” TO
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-239, THE LIST OF SPEED LIMITS ON
COUNTY MAINTAINED ROADS, TO REVISE THE SPEED
LIMIT ON HOLLOW DRIVE, PORTIONS OF CAPRI
BOULEVARD, OIL WELL ROAD, AND VANDERBILT BEACH
ROAD TO REFLECT THOSE SPEED LIMIT
CHANGES
Item #16B5
THE SUBMITTAL OF COLLIER AREA TRANSIT’S TITLE
VI PROGRAM UPDATE TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION (FTA)
Item #16B6
March 24, 2026
Page 86
AN AMENDMENT TO THE LANDOWNER AGREEMENT WITH
COLLIER LAND HOLDINGS, LTD, AND CDC LAND
INVESTMENTS, LLC, (LANDOWNER) THAT WILL PROVIDE
FOR PAYMENT FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION ON OIL WELL ROAD AND THE OPTION TO
PURCHASE ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR BIG CYPRESS
PARKWAY
Item #16C1
HE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS THE EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER-SEWER DISTRICT, APPROVE THE SELECTION
COMMITTEE’S RANKING AND AUTHORIZE CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TOP-RANKED FIRM, AECOM
TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC., RELATED TO REQUEST FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NO. 25-8518 FOR THE
NORTHEAST SERVICE AREA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT,
OVERSIGHT SERVICES, SO THAT STAFF CAN BRING A
PROPOSED AGREEMENT BACK FOR THE BOARD'S
CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING. (PROJECT NO.
70194)
Item #16C2
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS THE EX-
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER-SEWER DISTRICT, APPROVE THE SELECTION
COMMITTEE’S RANKING AND AUTHORIZE CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TOP RANKED FIRM, TETRA
TECH, INC., RELATED TO REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL
March 24, 2026
Page 87
SERVICES NO. 25-8615 FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE
NORTHEAST SERVICE AREA UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS, SO THAT STAFF CAN BRING A PROPOSED
AGREEMENT BACK FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION AT
A FUTURE MEETING. (PROJECT NO. 70194)
Item #16C3
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS THE EX
OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER-SEWER DISTRICT, AWARD INVITATION TO BID NO.
25-8418 TO A.C. SCHULTES OF FLORIDA, INC., FOR NRO
WELLS 118N AND 120N IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $2,189,850, APPROVE AN OWNER’S ALLOWANCE OF
$200,000, AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT. (PROJECT NO. 70085)
Item #16C4
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS EX-OFFICIO
THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
WATER-SEWER DISTRICT (CCWSD), APPROVE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAZARD
MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM CONTRACT MODIFICATION
NUMBER SIX TO CONTRACT #H0419 (THE “AGREEMENT”)
TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED
AGENT FOR THIS AGREEMENT
Item #16D1
March 24, 2026
Page 88
A ONE-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH
BERACA BAPTIST CHURCH, INC., ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION FOR THE
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM IN IMMOKALEE. (HUMAN
SERVICES GRANT FUND 1837)
Item #16D2
THE COUNTY MANAGER TO ELECTRONICALLY SIGN AND
SUBMIT THE REQUIRED PARTICIPATION FORMS AND ANY
ADDITIONAL FORMS UPON THEIR ARRIVAL FOR THE SIX
REMNANT DEFENDANTS NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT
(REMNANT DEFENDANTS SETTLEMENT), CL-2023107, AND
TO ALLOW COLLIER COUNTY TO ‘OPT IN’ TO THE SIX
REMNANT DEFENDANTS SETTLEMENT
Item #16E1
THE REPORT FOR THE SALE OF THREE ITEMS AND
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,300
ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY SURPLUS AUCTION HELD
ON JANUARY 15 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2026
Item #16F1
THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT FOR THE
PROVISION OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND
FACILITIES WITH VERTICAL BRIDGE S3 ASSETS, LLC,
AUTHORIZING COLLIER COUNTY TO CONTINUE THE
OPERATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION
March 24, 2026
Page 89
EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED ON A
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT LOOP ROAD
Item #16F2
ADOPT UPDATES TO THE 2026 STRATEGIC PLAN AND
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES PRESENTED AT THE BUDGET AND
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP HELD ON
FEBRUARY 17, 2026
Item #16F3
THE REVISED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE
GRANT (EMPG) AGREEMENT G0635 FROM THE FLORIDA
DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (FDEM) TO
CORRECT A SCRIVENER’S ERROR IN THE AWARD AMOUNT
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON JANUARY 13,
2026, ITEM 16.E.2, AND AUTHORIZE NECESSARY BUDGET
AMENDMENTS. (FUND 1833 NO. 3397)
Item #16F4
A FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXTEND AGREEMENT NO. 20-
7745, “HVAC SUPPLIES AND CUSTOMIZED PARTS,” WITH
JSFM, INC., D/B/A JOHNSTONE SUPPLY, AND AUTHORIZE
THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE ATTACHED AMENDMENT
Item #16F5
FIRST AMENDMENT EXPANDING THE LIST OF
CONTRACTOR-OWNED EQUIPMENT UNDER AGREEMENT
March 24, 2026
Page 90
NO. 23-8074, “ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS,” WITH
SIMMONDS ELECTRICAL OF NAPLES, INC., AND
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE ATTACHED
AMENDMENT
Item #16F6
A FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT NO. 15-6409, P25
DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEM, WITH COMMUNICATIONS
INTERNATIONAL, INC., AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO
SIGN THE ATTACHED AMENDMENT
Item #16F7
AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE AND
AUTHORIZE THE ACQUISITION OF VACANT PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 1770 DANFORD STREET FROM WSA
DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $276,650
PLUS ALL CLOSING AND TITLE COSTS TO SUPPORT THE
BAYVIEW PARK EXPANSION
Item #16F8
RESOLUTION 2026-64: RESOLUTION APPROVING
AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING GRANTS, DONATIONS,
CONTRIBUTIONS, OR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO THE
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 ADOPTED BUDGET
Item #16F9
March 24, 2026
Page 91
AFTER-THE-FACT REQUEST PERTAINING TO THE
PURCHASE OF SEVEN AMBULANCES FROM ETR, LLC, AND
TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF THE REMAINING INVOICE
BALANCE OF $5,761.20 RELATED TO INSPECTION TRAVEL
EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE
EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Item #16F10
RESOLUTION 2026-65: RESOLUTION APPROVING
AMENDMENTS (APPROPRIATING RESERVES) TO THE
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 ADOPTED BUDGET
Item #16G1
RESOLUTION 2026-66: RESOLUTION APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT (PTGA)
453536-1-94-01, CONTRACT NO. G2Y90, WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ADD TWELVE (12)
MONTHS TO THE CURRENT EXPIRATION DATE OF JUNE 30,
2026, MAKING THE NEW EXPIRATION DATE JUNE 30, 2027,
FOR THE PURCHASE & INSTALLATION OF AN EMERGENCY
GENERATOR AT THE IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT
Item #16G2
RESOLUTION 2026-67: RESOLUTION APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT (PTGA)
452976-1-94-01, CONTRACT NO. G2J23, WITH THE FLORIDA
March 24, 2026
Page 92
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ADD TWELVE (12)
MONTHS TO THE CURRENT EXPIRATION DATE OF JUNE 30,
2026, MAKING THE NEW EXPIRATION DATE JUNE 30, 2027,
FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS AT THE IMMOKALEE
REGIONAL AIRPORT
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 $58,701,730.30 WERE DRAWN FOR THE
PERIODS BETWEEN FEBRUARY 26, 2026, AND MARCH 11,
2026, 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 18, 2026
Item #16K1
EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE LAWSUIT
STYLED ANTONIETTA IANNELLI COLBOURN V. COLLIER
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (CASE NO. 24-CA-
2582), NOW PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR THE SUM OF $7,500.00
March 24, 2026
Page 93
Item #16K2
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT ON BEHALF
OF COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AGAINST UTILITIES ONE INC., AND
REYCAMP CABLE CONSTRUCTION, LLC, AND ANY OTHER
RESPONSIBLE PARTIES, FOR $32,612.58 IN DAMAGES
CAUSED TO THE COUNTY’S WASTEWATER LATERAL LINE,
LOCATED AT OR NEAR 3723 KENT DRIVE
Item #16K3
THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT # 18-7343-WV FOR
COURT REPORTING WITH U.S. LEGAL SUPPORT, INC., TO
EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE-
YEAR TERM AND MODIFY THE FEE SCHEDULE TO
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Item #16K4
RESOLUTION 2026-68: APPOINT LINDSEY TOUCHETTE TO
THE COLLIER COUNTY CITIZEN CORPS - TO FILL THE
REMAINDER OF A VACANT TERM EXPIRING ON
NOVEMBER 5, 2028
Item #16K5
RESOLUTION 2026-69: APPOINT RICHARD OTTO TO THE
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORITY - TO A FOUR-YEAR
TERM EXPIRING ON DECEMBER 31, 2030
March 24, 2026
Page 94
Item #16K6
RESOLUTION 2026-70: APPOINT FOUR MEMBERS TO THE
PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION BOARD - THE TERMS
FOR PETER GRIFFITH (RESIDENT), RICHARD SWIDER
(RESIDENT), JACOB DAMOUNI (COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS),
AND BRAD HILDEBRANDT (NON-VOTING MEMBER), WILL
EXPIRE ON MARCH 31, 2026
Item #16K7
RESOLUTION 2026-71: APPOINT FOUR MEMBERS TO THE
GOLDEN GATE CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE
ADVISORY BOARD – STACY WELCH, KAYDEE TUFF, RON
JEFFERSON, AND HENRY ALBARRACIN BE APPOINTED TO
THE COMMITTEE, EACH TO A TWO-YEAR TERM EXPIRING
JANUARY 28, 2028
Item #16K8
STIPULATED FINAL JUDGMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,000
PLUS $35,216 IN STATUTORY ATTORNEY AND EXPERTS’
FEES AND COSTS FOR THE TAKING OF PARCEL 1362FEE
REQUIRED FOR THE VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD
EXTENSION PROJECT NO. 60249
Item #16L1
HE COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 2025 ANNUAL REPORTS FOR THE
March 24, 2026
Page 95
TWO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT COMPONENT AREAS,
BAYSHORE GATEWAY TRIANGLE AND IMMOKALEE, AND
PUBLISH THE REPORTS ON THE APPROPRIATE WEBSITES
Item #16M1
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
ORDINANCE 2026-10: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC), TO ESTABLISH
DEFINITIONS FOR TRANSIT STOP AND MAJOR
TRANSPORTATION HUB, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH
SECTION 125.01055, FLORIDA STATUTES. [PL20240005299]
March 24, 2026
Page 96
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 11:21 a.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.