[0:04] ? ? ?

[0:21] ? ? ?

[0:36] ? ? All right. Good afternoon. It

[0:54] is 1 o'clock Thursday, August 27th and welcome to our Collier County commissioners

[1:00] in Marco Island City Council Joint Workshop. As the Laundress a few things. Rules

[1:04] of decorum are in effect for counselors, for commissioners, for staffing, for attendees.

[1:09] If you could, please silence your phones and and vibrate. Also a reminder for the

[1:15] commissioners and for the counselors or makes a tournament. The comment not

[1:19] only hot meal here, everything some tournament ready speak. Their thumbs if anybody needs

[1:23] to my left inside here. We water coffee, tea cookies and some snacks in the kitchen.

[1:30] Over here to my front right? So please. Commissioner made as I did, they beat your

[1:37] approval or the cookies are not any good. I think there's a little joking going on

[1:41] there. I suspect I 2 of And would you please call the roll? Counsel Henry here

[1:47] Councilor Kohler. Councilor don't Care. Vice Chair Champagne Council Councilor

[1:56] Gray Chair Palumbo Year. Commissioner Locastro here, Commissioner Hall Commissioner

[2:00] Saunders. Vice Chair McDaniel here chair Koegel. If you are able please stand,

[2:09] commissioner, look at going to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge

[2:19] allegiance to flag and United States of America and to the Republic for which it One

[2:26] nation indivisible, with and justice for all. All right, guys, we're on to item for the

[2:38] business. We're here for couple of thoughts as this is informal, right. And for those

[2:44] watching or attending, this is a workshop. We don't vote. We don't give consensus. This is

[2:48] a conversation. This is a thought on some directions and basically brainstorming and

[2:52] sharing ideas. County commissioners, manager Patterson, I appreciate

[2:58] everybody else. You should appreciate coming down. The market's been a while since we

[3:01] got together. So we've been looking forward to this for for a while. Hands little

[3:06] raised. If you want to talk or just jump right in, but we don't just give us a wave of

[3:08] will make sure we get A and the list topics. Discussion of topics. morning. Before

[3:19] thoughts or ideas before we get started. ride was just go ahead and dive right into it.

[3:25] Like we had discussed previously. There's a couple items that we might want to

[3:29] bring county manager up Give us some more insight on procedural because my come up

[3:36] against things that. The county and the local city don't have really jurisdiction

[3:42] to address on our own might have bring a 3rd party and like the state of the Fed so

[3:47] they can kind bring us up to speed on some of those items when we come across them that

[3:50] not wasting a lot of valuable time discussing something. We can't really work out

[3:53] ourselves here. But they can then brief us on what we can do how we can bring other

[4:00] parties in to help shade it. Heads up on that. And we have both of our managers here and

[4:04] we know thing could be remiss if I didn't say that the backbone, both of these

[4:06] commissions and councils without them, things will be difficult us. Police absolute.

[4:18] appreciate it. You know, as a district, one commissioner and I mean, I can walk here from

[4:20] my probably had the shortest drive. I make a few opening comments. First, I want to

[4:25] thank our county manager and city manager for working so closely together. We've been

[4:31] discussing this joint session for quite some time. And although I've read like, you

[4:35] know, whose idea was it? It's often been said there's no amount of good you can do if

[4:39] you don't care who gets the credit. And I think we deserve the credit or maybe nobody

[4:45] does. at the county, not only were we looking forward to meeting we have on the

[4:52] calendar joint session with the city of Naples, possibly meeting with the city of

[4:55] Everglades or even meeting with Lee County Commissioners. Something I had said to the

[4:59] chairman of one of you all may want to get together meet with the city of Naples, even

[5:04] though you know, you might not have that much overlap. I'm a separate municipality's

[5:09] comparing notes on how you work with the county how you do things could be a great, a

[5:15] great idea. So that might be something to take a look at I really welcome this gathering.

[5:23] And when I was talking Commissioner Cole because we'll obviously be doing this

[5:25] with the city Naples. This is a good opportunity for us separate rumors from facts,

[5:30] but also for I know that I'm mark a lot of citizens. Watch this on TV sometimes I can

[5:34] tell by the e-mails I get and I'm sure by the ones that City Council gets even citizens out

[5:40] of lived on the island for a really long time off and are confused by the separation of

[5:46] responsibility is, you get an email saying you should do You do this. You should do this.

[5:49] And I said, well, that's actually 7 elected city Knox also, I appreciate when the

[5:55] city council or city manager pushes me a note and says, hey, this is all county. So I

[5:59] think we do a great job, you know, and I wanted to really voice my appreciation for how

[6:04] well I believe that we are working together. I did want to

[12:41] we can't answer it here we're not here to have a big, long debate as as chairman of the

[12:43] Colombo said, we certainly can take some things as I as homework assignments. But, you

[12:45] know, a close race thank the Katy City Council how they enter interact with me and

[12:47] with the county as a whole. And I think, you know, we've had I know we've had an awful

[12:49] lot of success. Is that I'm uonversation. I want to jump in are quick and sign. If

[12:51] you want to comment on this. Police Commissioner Saunders. The quick comment I think I

[12:53] have is turned on now. When this tax passed in 2018 is a little bit of history that I

[12:55] think important. Gonxpert and M if Chris has anything chime in, but when he and I were

[12:58] speaking about this because this was has been on our agenda, was any kind of big

[13:00] surprise. One of the things he said it is commissioner. We've actually emails or some earlita

[13:02] But no, it's it's this is a tax that will go on for a long time. And the first priority

[13:04] in terms that, 60% portion is going to be complete the Harris Co Sports Complex. But

[13:06] this is going to go on the money for advertising to money for other types of beach

[13:08] projects and things? Well, I think that would love to have more of that conversation to

[13:11] understand that because that's for the reason if we're going to put that one percent tax on

[13:13] now, knowing. How the plan of distribution. Their decisions you guys make. Our citizens

[13:21] pay a whole lot of taxes to Collier County. The one percent tax will be paid by

[13:25] our citizens as well as tourists. But we need to know what's coming to us in order

[13:31] to know to support it. Okay. That salute would correct. Please. Here's the citizens of

[13:37] Marco Island. The citizens of Marco Island. They stay at hotel worry that the

[13:46] restaurant where the TV taxes collected. is the work and that this is that's purely

[13:53] nights. Not a one percent sales tax. Purely on the head tax for hotels and session and

[13:57] it's a tdt textures development. Okay. And so and then we are relegated by

[14:02] statute is too where those funds go. So that's that's direction now. And I think

[14:08] that needs to be clarified because I think most people are thinking this is a one

[14:12] percent sales tax once again as big microphones working think that's something that

[14:19] needs to be projected to the public. And then I and on the one percent sales tax is I was

[14:27] one of the 2 dissenting votes when that came through the last time it did pass by less

[14:34] than one-half of one percent of people that showed up take early vote that year. I concur

[14:39] wholeheartedly with Commissioner Saunders with regard to the impetus behind

[14:43] it. If we're going to do it, there has to be a plan and then investment. The in fact

[14:47] is made. I have to share out loud. I am not in favor of it. I am not in favor. I wasn't in

[14:54] favor of before. It did do an enormous amount of good for our community because of the

[15:00] dedication of those funds. That was stipulated where those funds were going to be.

[15:06] be invested. But I I I. I think with the climate that we're currently in right now,

[15:15] the unknown that we're all about the face coming here in November. Whether or not that

[15:20] referenda that's on the ballot this fall passes or not. We have to wait. See number the

[15:24] week later in Tallahassee to put the bumpers on to say it could they have to write

[15:32] legislation after this constitutional amendment passes or doesn't then

[15:36] legislation has come out of legislature as to how that money's going to go. What

[15:40] cause of they've obligated to assist municipalities and special districts withdrew

[15:48] regard to potential revenue funding shortages. They could transpire. If that if that

[15:54] referenda, in fact passes. So before I'm going to commit to any kind of additional

[16:00] taxation have to wait and see with with regard to what's going in fact, transpired

[16:04] here. The Saunders had his hand up first. We'll come back here. It just just real

[16:11] quickly that's think what you just said really points out. The difficulty that we do

[16:16] have, as you mentioned. The citizens of Marco Island and the Commissioner McDaniel

[16:22] mentioned restaurants. Restaurants collect this tax list. They have to be sure

[16:27] less they happen to be having a room that they right now. So point is that I'm making is

[16:33] that this is a tax on short-term rentals that sit Airbnbs and the difficulty

[16:39] were the folks that really know what's going on. And still this confusion. The we

[16:46] have a campaign to educate public that this is attacks on tourist only pours. The

[16:52] citizens of Marco Island are good paying less. They stay Airbnb. And so. That's a

[16:56] critical message. Get out that also going back years ago. I think Marco Island collected

[17:04] about 25% of tourist tax collected counties is a big number. I don't know what

[17:09] percentage goes back Marco Island directly, but you're right, collect a lot lot. A

[17:13] lot of it. And hopefully Marc was getting its fair share. I don't know the answer to that.

[17:20] We needed. We need to educate public we have a campaign going on now. For November

[17:25] ballot. I'd like just are little more clarification on it, too, because it's we don't

[17:29] collect that actually. You understand the hotel industry collects tax, then their

[17:35] responsibilities distribute to the state and then everything is backup like you said,

[17:40] Commissioner Saunders is we don't know. You know how division comes. I don't know

[17:44] personally know what Marco gets back from that, you know, directly but I know we get a

[17:50] portion and we've been we have were handcuffed on. What part we can spend on what this and

[17:56] And is. probably needs to be looked at in the future by Tallahassee. You know, some of

[18:04] these strings attached to it. But that's something that for a later date. lot of people in

[18:10] climber Ms understood that. I think we collect that tax. date that's collected by the

[18:15] industry, not So just let you know. Thank you. Commissioner Locastro is going to be next.

[18:20] And I get to I think the other clarification isn't just for citizens, but it's to the

[18:27] media. You know, to your your comment. I I've seen articles that say that Khalid basically

[18:30] the sports complex tax and as Commissioner Saunders said it's could be if it was if it

[18:34] passes in November for many other things, but also too, even if one to all of the

[18:42] commissioners here. Thank the sports complex. Should be the key benefactor say of this

[18:48] tax. We don't have to decide that. So it's not like it's passed in November. And all of

[18:53] a sudden millions are automatically thrown in the sports complex. I can tell you

[18:55] that might be one or 2 of us here. That aren't quite convinced. So we'll wait and

[18:59] see what happens in November and that money would get collected. But how it is spent

[19:05] still needs to be presented, agreed upon. It's not an automatic. So there's been a

[19:10] lot of news media articles make it just sound like automatically. If it's passed,

[19:14] millions just don't get siphon to the sports complex. And that's not true. It'll be a

[19:19] pot of money. Commissioner Cole explained it perfectly. That doesn't immediately come

[19:21] to us. And then if we want chip away at that or utilize in some way, I'm sure they'll

[19:27] be a lot of presentations, not just from the sports comlex, but follow up with an outgoing

[19:31] vice with just a clarification. county commission passed a resolution

[19:37] indicating that the first expenditure for tax would be the sports field facility. Now

[19:44] I asked the board to do that because I needed the tourist industry to support this tax

[19:49] because of that because of our commitment to the Paradise Coast Park and those sports

[19:55] fields too. Provide diamond sports for the summertime. The Florida restaurant Lodging

[20:02] Association campaigns for because they know that will generate tourism in the

[20:04] summer. So there is a commitment on the part of commission and it's been

[20:09] distributed to the public that we're going to build those fields with the first portion

[20:12] of that, the first 60%. But again, that other 40% goes to everything else. So we do have

[20:19] that commitment. When that first portion. Council shipping that. Thank you. I

[20:24] think my basic question is, is Marco Island. Sure there will be in the allocation of this

[20:31] 6. $0.06 tax when it is assuming the positive that passes. We automatically a

[20:42] beneficiary or do we have to apply for each and every opportunity that we can

[20:46] identify? I would prefer obviously is is he city councilor that we're one of

[20:52] the Dana 5 beneficiaries of whatever money is collected and allocated. Is the island

[20:58] or dramatically. Who is the money allocated to account here she comes kind good

[21:14] morning or good afternoon. I'm Amy Patterson. I'm the county manager and thank you so much

[21:16] for having us first. Just a matter of housekeeping on your questions about where people

[21:22] can find out more information on this initiative. We have a full schedule. In fact, sheet

[21:27] at Collier, Tdt dot com. We have 12 informational meetings going on. Actually, the second

[21:34] one is tonight at the South Regional Library. There will be one on Marco Island on the

[21:39] 30th of September. So folks that are interested, we're having these meetings

[21:42] throughout the county so that people can come and find out the factual information on the

[21:48] tourist development tax and the uses of this proposed $0.06 So the answer to your

[21:56] question is both. There are things that automatically come to Marco and opportunities for

[22:02] Marco to receive supplemental tourist development dollars. So our beach renourishment

[22:06] program and some of the navigable passes are in our coastal zone program. And

[22:13] those are regular recipients of tourist development dollars for those for for those

[22:19] projects. You recall Tiger Tail Beach and Sand Dollar Island is a new one that's

[22:23] made its way onto that project. Listen, has been supported by tourist

[22:27] development dollars. Beach renourishment, the dune plantings and some of the

[22:32] other inlet dredging is however, similar to the city of Naples. We plan to work

[22:36] with your staff on some of your other needs. That may be coastal related or tourism

[22:43] related and you have the opportunity to come through the tourist development

[22:46] process to request additional dollars. So the answer is is both there are there's money

[22:51] that is in the program for Marco and the potential our coach or quest additional

[22:56] dollars from the And you do receive marketing dollars that indirectly via the hotels that

[23:02] received those dollars down here on Marco Island. Thank you for that answer. But

[23:08] continuing along vein. We'll assume continue Newseum, the positive that it passes. 2

[23:19] eventually published the allocation list. Item by project by City. By Prof every

[23:31] year we go through our annual budget process, which includes that process for the award of

[23:38] the tourist development dollars to the various entities, both public and

[23:40] private, as well as the work plans for the county. So that's through our coastal

[23:47] zone county museums in any other recipient. So, yes, this is an annual. So when you

[23:50] publish that data. Re free as a city to further publish it to make sure people are fully

[23:59] aware where there's money is being allocated and what projects and yes, certainly is

[24:02] around. are all public records for informational meeting you're going to be holding and

[24:07] say thank you for doing that. More information is better than less. Will you produce a

[24:14] document on what? Put what you're going to be discussing orally so that we can put it

[24:21] on social media. people can read it. Yes, sir. again, we have the full schedule enough

[24:27] actually currently at Collier Tdt dot com. So you could either pull that information

[24:31] down for as the city or you could link to it, OK? Very good. Thank you. You're

[24:36] welcome. I can give you a quick example of the but with the county managers told

[24:42] there's certain programs that automatically your money generated from the Tdc. Now, a

[24:46] quick example. A few years back. The Naples Pier Project. Then a little bit of shortfall

[24:53] going into it. They've documented in the request through loss to get an

[25:00] additional moneys. And we got their money's granted through grant through PVC was and a

[25:03] 3 million dollar grant towards the project because you can articulate. That is definitely

[25:07] tourism item. So that way state, they're okay with that. But you can't. So you just

[25:15] want to resurface the road or something. Understand you can dip into spots. But that's a

[25:20] perfect example how they got an additional 3 million dollars for take. project is

[25:24] death to definitely related to tourism. That typically is not in the bubble. They get on a

[25:28] regular basis. Just give you an idea. Just the council voted to end. I long question

[25:37] about the tourist development tax. I know we cut that percentage that goes amount

[25:46] that goes 2 for a furnished taking care of the beaches.

[26:13] needs Is that a local okay. All right. So I want to be too loud there. so what is the

[26:23] process that we can actually as a municipality come and ask for more funds? I understand

[26:28] that where tear that comes from the we love the help our economy without a doubt and

[26:34] keep our businesses grow and prosper. But the same time we have a lot of wear and tear as

[26:42] well. And I know day infrastructure perhaps is not part of the tourist

[26:46] development tax. Is it any other way, any other foster we can ask for from as a re font

[26:54] to the our municipality. Amy Patterson again. So for tourist development, there

[27:06] specially can such a tightly controlled dollars so it's prescribed what they can be

[27:10] spent on typically. We understand the tourism promotions and marketing.

[27:15] That's that's one section. We understand those direct benefit, the beaches inlets

[27:21] and those other direct tourism's tourism. However, there is the ability to use

[27:27] towards development dollars on some types of infrastructure. For certain amount of money

[27:36] provided that there is a study commissioned that proves that that infrastructure benefits,

[27:41] tourism. So it's not an absolute answer. However, each project has to be evaluated on

[27:47] a case-by-case basis. And so if it's not specifically prescribed like the like the

[27:51] promotions or like our beach activities. Then there's different process that you

[27:56] would go through to make that request. It requires an independent study and other

[28:01] things so we can certainly work with your staff on on that as well as any of your

[28:06] projects that have direct relationship. I can give another example. The city of

[28:11] Naples had a project at Lowdermilk Park that they were going to use one funding

[28:16] source for and we chatted with them and said this may be a more appropriate use for

[28:20] tourist development and were able to get them through that process. Used tourist

[28:23] development taxes for that project. So this is really a collaborative effort between

[28:28] the staffs of the cities and the county to evaluate these projects and try you get them

[28:33] into the right lane for funding. And the Thank you very much. my follow-up

[28:41] question is Marco Island used to have 2 representatives on the tdc board. Right now.

[28:46] We're down to or Chair Darren Service on it. Did a second. Let me from at all merry. It

[28:52] is PC that side of it. Yes, because the market resident. Okay. Okay. Because that's

[28:58] something that's very important that Marco Island representation. Thank Thank

[29:05] you, sir. the hands commissioner. Look I'm going to volunteer Commissioner

[29:09] Locastro to come to one of your future city council meetings with our staff, Chris

[29:14] Johnson and go through the statutory requirements. How that money divvied up by

[29:21] statute. Where can go what can be used for so on and so forth. Better clarified for

[29:26] some of it is as a muse said, can be used for infrastructure project to delineate the kind

[29:30] they don't just throw it at you. And so it's a rather involved. It's not that

[29:36] complicated. I actually figured it out. But it. May may be recalled. Volunteered

[29:44] missed Commissioner Locastro volunteered. We appreciate your volunteer would like to

[29:47] see outbreaks within what I wanted address. Champagnes question about, you know, what

[29:53] can we do? The best feedback I can give you as couple things have the city manager and the

[30:01] county manager work together. The biggest mistake that I've seen and I sat on the TV see

[30:06] as a board as a board will take turns on the board so we don't get elected. We take

[30:10] turns every every year. So we can we can learn a lot. But the biggest mistake that I see

[30:14] is different different groups municipality's and others jumping the gun a little bit

[30:20] too quick. We want this amount of money for this one thing. No details, no background, no

[30:24] nothing. And so, you know, it really needs to come as a as a package and it has to be well

[30:29] thought out. And that's where our county manager can help somebody. And sometimes my

[30:33] advice is you're not ready yet to submit. So I'll see a draft of something. I'll be like

[30:38] compared to other packages. I've seen. This is one of the thinnest things asking for the

[30:44] most money. And, you know, it's not going to come before the board 15 different times.

[30:48] So that's where I don't know that I need to come to us. A city council meeting, I will

[30:53] tell Chris Johnson sent back there every time I in the direction of somebody is like,

[30:57] hey of call their cell phone number right now, he's somebody that could be very

[31:01] helpful. our county manager can certainly, you know, the county staff is there to also

[31:05] help Miss apologies. we see multiple inputs from across the board. We might have. We

[31:12] definitely a lot more visibility into the best strategy submit something and

[31:19] what a lot of times when something doesn't have enough meat on the bone that doesn't

[31:23] meet with with approval and the details. Were there just the right person related and

[31:29] package it or didn't have experience doing it and you're competing with a lot of

[31:34] different other entities are all asking for for money. So having something that's really

[31:38] complete. Well thought out and maybe has been vetted a bit by the county staff beef before

[31:45] it makes its formal, you know, turn would be the best advice I can get. I can always help

[31:48] with that. If it's for Marco and I would pull our subject matter, experts on the county

[31:53] to make sure that it got every every set of eyeballs on it so that it got strong look. sir.

[32:03] I see a commissioner Saunders and then we'll get to commission a great to one more

[32:06] go-round for this topic missions on This is request the city Mark will get behind

[32:14] this tourist tax side. Ask the board to put this on the agenda on ballot. I guess 6 or

[32:19] 8 months ago, the figure was going to be a tax that's going to pass. This is one that can

[32:23] pass. The message is that it's it's on our tourist. Our citizens benefit from this

[32:31] between harassment advertising to more tourist, the Philae restaurants hotels. But I also

[32:35] want to point out one thing. I understand that the Marco Island Civic Association is

[32:40] opposed to this. I don't know why they would be opposed to it. But that's what I've been

[32:45] told. So I would urge city councilor folks in the audience that may be for they

[32:49] with civic Association, perhaps they need to be. Brought up to speed as to what

[32:54] this tax can do. But Marco Island, generally a large voter turnout. Marco Island.

[33:01] expected that November. It's going to be 90% turnout. Everybody gets to vote on

[33:04] this. And it would be a shame that Marco Island comes out opposition to this and fails

[33:12] just simply because the Civic Association perhaps doesn't have enough information. I can

[33:15] think no reason. Kind of thought this through. get somebody come up with a reason

[33:24] to vote against it. like to hear I can't think of any reason hope with Civic

[33:28] Association Change your position. Well, so it was category one. Thank you.

[33:36] couple clarifications. The tdc money goes to Tallahassee someone in Tallahassee. Who

[33:41] then decisions that allocation. It's a purely by stature. get it all. Okay.

[33:54] Okay. And so to the other point, it would help to enlighten the community as to

[33:59] what kind of dollars come back and the application of those proceeds. I'm not entirely

[34:04] clear what all qualifies as a potential application for the use proceeds and having that

[34:11] menus. So I'll test one just as a concept. We have a very active tourist boardwalk,

[34:17] Winterberry boardwalk. We're in the process doing some renovations to they to about

[34:23] ballpark 150,000 repairs at this point. Why wouldn't that be a very attractive in

[34:29] eligible application? Councilor Greg? That's actually in the works. Casey J

[34:37] Tulsa from the Tdc are talking about that. I'll say it looks good, not definite, but that's

[34:43] our agenda speak about that. council meeting. I think the answer, the other question,

[34:50] TPC tax. Any tax that hits or visitors and comes back to the community clearly has

[34:58] attractive profile too. I think one of the challenges that Marco Island been

[35:04] wrestling with, which is ask for an increase in the sales tax and that sales tax is

[35:08] higher and many counties in Florida is because we do have increasing burdens to service

[35:14] that turns community, whether it's law enforcement, infrastructure, cetera. we are

[35:23] challenged by increasing need to service a tourist community and little or no offset. And

[35:27] so we as a a municipality are looking at how can we try and bring some parity of Thank

[35:34] you. Mister Chair was to pick up where Mister McDaniels left it. I would like it would be

[35:43] OK to invite. Mister Johnston. Would it be? That what what is the chain of command? Is there

[35:48] any way that we can invite him? To explain stuff? Yeah. You all college home. told I

[35:58] like that. That's a good. All right. So because we we would let down and staff as well. So

[36:04] and especially the statutory explanation o what are the cons we can use for perhaps

[36:12] infrastructure. Let's win us that that was spoken about see the 2 managers are already

[36:16] writing notes. The second it was I mean before Chris. Pete, one thing that I'm in just a

[36:22] and you're so you give example of the winter very boardwalk.

[36:42] Just assuming it has has a tourist attraction, us talk about what it To sticks and

[36:49] maybe sometimes things are a little But used think, you know, because a lot of times

[37:00] when people live in this area, specially marked as example, I think everything is Torres and

[37:05] it might mean. really has explaining. That's probably the biggest missing piece that

[37:16] ice and packages that come to me as droughts or that get voting on that connection

[37:20] isn't made. Jaap well, you know, there's a bunch of things probably missing. then

[37:32] sometimes money. So that's where that that connection. for that package bombs. And

[37:42] also to sometimes people take leave and make that connection for tourism. It's a stretch.

[37:47] It makes that package look very. You give an example of something that definitely

[37:54] could be considered. Thank you. Commission council eye for the record. Christopher

[38:02] Johnson. I'm the director of corporate financial management services for the county. Can I

[38:06] get these slides up by chance? I actually put and looks like you guys have the packet in

[38:11] front of you, but I can quickly run through the uses of tdt how perfect that I'm

[38:17] just looking at myself. back so let me just get started here. When I can go through

[38:24] hears I'll go through the tdt uses by each individual. Penny as as the commissioners and

[38:29] the county manager have stated, we currently have 5 pennies that we charge for

[38:36] Tdt. We're looking to enact the 6 penny for the high tourism counties in that'll be

[38:40] on the November ballot. So all the authorized uses of tourism development, tax writer,

[38:46] revenue are outlined in Florida State statute. One 25 Dot 0, 1, 0, 4, And I'll start

[38:52] with the first second and the 3rd pennies. So the first second and 3rd pennies all

[38:55] have the same uses and they're outlined here on this slide. They can be used for paying

[38:59] debt service and operating certain facilities, including convention centers, sports

[39:04] stadiums, arenas coliseum's or auditoriums aquarium, aquariums and museums. They

[39:09] can promote zoological parks. They can promote and advertise tourism and convention

[39:15] bureaus. They can Finance Beach park facilities. They can be used for beach

[39:21] maintenance, re nourishment restoration erosion, control and shoreline protection. And

[39:27] finally, this is a new use that's been had recently that can be used for public

[39:31] facilities or infrastructure. That's pennies one through 3. The $0.04 has a little more

[39:37] restricted use. The $0.04 can be used for professional sports facility that operating

[39:42] costs of convention center's finance with tourism tax and to promote and advertise

[39:45] tourism. The 5th cent can be used for professional sports facility and convention Center

[39:53] debt and also to promote and advertise tourism. All right. And this is the penny right

[40:00] here. The 6 penny that will be on the ballot for the election up upcoming election in

[40:06] November. And the uses of this the same as the first through 3rd Penny. So you have your

[40:12] paying debt service and operating certain facilities promoting to was logical parks

[40:18] promoting and advertising tourism financing Beach Park facilities, Beach maintenance,

[40:20] re nourishment restoration erosion, control and public facilities. This slide just

[40:28] shows what you what we had to achieve to qualify for high impact $0.06 TT sales

[40:33] exceeding 600 million or 18 per cent of total taxable sales over 200 Million. rtd

[40:41] tea sales in the county are currently right around a billion dollars. So we collect

[40:45] right around 50 million dollars in in tdt tax. And then this was what has already

[40:52] happened here. There was an ordinance approved for the referendum by our board of

[40:54] County commissioners. Moving into this is just a brief history of the tdt pennies you

[41:02] can see here in August 1992, the county levy, the first and second penny in October of

[41:07] 1995, we Levy 3rd Penny. And I in July of 2005, the 4th Penny was levied in July of 2017,

[41:14] earlier, the referendum in ted - November 2026, is for the 6 penny or the high tourism

[41:20] penny. Moving on to the allocations. So the allocation is outlined in our tdt plan.

[41:29] This plan was approved by the board updated in 2017 with if the new penny is to be

[41:34] approved by the voters. This TT plan would have to be revisited as the commissioners

[41:41] were stating earlier. So here's the beach category here. And if you kind of go

[41:44] across this, you can see I have I have a column for the first 3%. The 4th penny, the

[41:50] 5th penny and then the overall allocation. I won't go through these one by one. But if you

[41:55] go to the bottom you see 70.9 to 9% of the first 3 pennies or al Qaeda beaches overall.

[42:03] 42.5, 6% of the total current allocation. The next category is promotion. This category.

[42:13] You have 5 pennies involved in this category. There's 2 separate sections here. You

[42:19] have destination promotion and admin and then the amateur sports Complex is also under

[42:23] the promotion category. And you can see here Penney, one through 3, 13.0, 0, 8, 6%.

[42:30] Penny is 100% allocated. And the 5th Penny is currently 100% allocated to the

[42:34] promotional category. Our final category is museums. We have county museums at 12

[42:43] point 809%, of pennies, one through 3 or 7.6, 8% of the overall. And then on county

[42:49] museums, which are grants that go out to our non county partners. So you have they're

[42:56] about 3, actually 3.1, 7, 6, s not about. That's pretty exact or one point. 9, 1%, of the

[43:03] overall allocation. And this here is the exhibit A from TC ordinance, which shows that

[43:12] those allocations I just ran through. Any questions on that. Would you please explain

[43:24] that kept the 2 million excess to promotion fund 11 on certainly that. And that's a

[43:28] that's a really good question. So when when the board adopted this, this tdc out allocation

[43:33] plan for the pennies, they kept them use the county museum contribution at

[43:39] 2 million dollars. So once we collect the percent that that 12.8 9% of the first 3 pennies

[43:44] that. Gets us to 2 million dollars. The rest of the money goes goes up into the

[43:50] promotion. Bucket. Instead. Thanks, You're very welcome. I've been asked by some of the

[43:58] folks watching 7 hard time hearing. Make sure your Mike's or make sure you second here.

[44:00] Don't be afraid to be allowed. Council gray. 16 Million. See a ballpark number that comes

[44:07] out of this. If you add the additional penny, okay, what type of growth in tourism to

[44:16] try and target with that deployment of capital. I mean, how much more tourism are we

[44:21] hoping to bring and how do you try and measure returns on the investment that money? I am

[44:27] the money guy I can. I can maybe pull up the marketing person if you'd like to.

[44:32] answer that question. Let's get different question. Why since you're the money guy? I

[44:37] like we have a couple of parks and Marco Island that could really use some refurbishment

[44:44] ball fields, cetera, with one of those ball fields of the medical park work tours, do

[44:48] come visit and find a prized destination, be qualified for consideration. it sounds to me

[44:54] like that would be under the process of the county manager was describing earlier where

[44:57] you have to do a study to determine that it does benefit tourism prior to allocating

[45:03] tdt and that would go through our grant process. Sorry, I'm using the wrong button here.

[45:09] So essentially there be an application we have to verify eligibility through study and

[45:16] then go to the tdt and then finally for BCC approval. But it would you have to do the

[45:20] study first to determine that's starting trend track the activity level from the

[45:26] tourist community and to those correct resources, correct? Thank you. You're very

[45:31] welcome. Surrendering. Actually, not present. Thank you very much for all that.

[45:35] But it's actually more of a statement going back to the sports complex and such. We

[45:39] have our nice little bubble here on Marco. I've been to I think now 5 different athletic

[45:49] events at people coming from out of Sunday pulls I'm for $1.01, 2 weeks. But even just

[45:57] with all the kids coming from all around the country, playing lacrosse of soccer,

[46:01] I've been in numerous things there and I think on the market bubble, we don't

[46:06] realize the intensity of tourism outside our island. you could have 4,000 families.

[46:14] They're playing lacrosse from all over the country. And I don't think maybe the folks on

[46:20] Marco recognize the intensity more than just people coming to go to the beach. But the

[46:26] people coming to get hotel rooms to go to athletic events because you can play lacrosse

[46:33] in January, February March. That's absolutely lovely. So I I think that's something for

[46:37] the Marco, to recognize that it's not what the money that's being spent is in per se how

[46:43] to bring more people, more tourism to Marco. Because of the tourism through count.

[46:49] Collier County, we can benefit. From that money. If that makes sense to that, I

[46:57] don't if I could follow-up. I get the privilege of sitting on the tdc, not she said with

[47:00] many of chairman commissioners excuse me. But I have Naples City Council member coach Bill

[47:05] Kramer. You guys know Mesa High School would winning state champion coach. I know

[47:09] him as a man of faith and a man of the children and Naples City Council member, of

[47:12] course. He talks about the sports complex in great detail as to the benefit brings to

[47:18] the community to the local kids. The people visiting. It's one of number one, now

[47:22] sports complex that leave the country. If a member of the stats correctly. This was an

[47:25] incredible. Example of government. That's you commissioner stepping in and

[47:31] doing something that the private sector could not have done alone. And it brings

[47:35] tremendous amount of people, the right type of people, families, people that benefit

[47:39] the community. So that's a perfect example of life outside of Marco. And I'm glad

[47:42] you mentioned that. Thank you. Councilor shipping it. Something it. Thank you. You

[47:48] mentioned that the sum of money can be used for debt repayment. Is that correct?

[47:55] Corrected debt repayment related to a qualifying item. currently we utilize it for

[48:01] the debt repayment of the sports complex. Okay. Could it be used for any debt repayment

[48:07] on Marco I would have to look into that and console question. The attorney the

[48:14] media to answer is no. Why seems to me that this should be applicable so long as we

[48:21] can put any business plan justifying why that debt repayment. That's the

[48:26] requirements of DDT. I would have to look into that. I apologize. I'm not prepared

[48:32] for that question, but we can get we would appreciate a response to that because we do

[48:35] have some debt. Some final Commissioners on please. The sports complex. We approve

[48:44] that back in 2017, there were 2 purposes for this one was to promote tourism. It does that.

[48:51] You just mentioned that. And of course, is this 6th petty will promote tourism in the

[48:58] summertime, but an even more important aspect of this really the reason that I

[49:01] support of this more than the tourism was affected, provides these facilities for our

[49:07] community. So when we don't have visiting teams from all over the country using those

[49:12] fields, we have our kids use those fields and we have a desperate need for employer.

[49:16] Those field. And this is filling that need, especially baseball diamonds in the

[49:20] summertime. Lot of our diamonds being refurbished in the summertime. So we need

[49:24] build the 2, 2, 2.1 was for tourism, but also to provide meals for our community. And

[49:32] then in terms of the amount of tourism, I do believe that number 25% sticks in my head

[49:38] for some resist to tourist taxes generated on Marco Island. That means it. The

[49:42] other 75% comes from someplace else. So it's it's it's a big pool. And that may give you

[49:48] some idea the difference. At a closing for community chair. If you have a closing thought.

[49:56] But for my city council members, I've been talking about tdc initiatives. What

[49:58] are we going to do? What are we going to ask for? type of skin in the game? And we're

[50:00] going include for so this would be a great, I think a launching point, Dr. Lucy, so

[50:06] myself, we can talk about putting on an agenda. Fishel talk about what type items we

[50:12] think would qualify, how we set it up, set it up for success with our county

[50:15] commissioners. That's one thought. And the thing I want to just clarify. The tdc now

[50:19] we take a lot of tourist tax money and we can connected to a lot of things that also

[50:24] benefit the public. I use the word I think some of does anybody somebody all in it

[50:30] together. It's a big circle. So there are a lot of things that will benefit the

[50:34] community. But you cannot forget. One of the jobs of the tdc is to promote tourism.

[50:39] That's its purpose to bring more tortoise and thriving economy. So that's my fault.

[50:44] But to close out the county sales tax, here's what I'm hearing would be clear. County

[50:48] commissioners, appreciate. It's not that you're against the idea. It's has to be a

[50:54] well backed and supported ideas set up for success. That'll be our job counselors

[50:58] to convince our community to make sure that we are reaching out to the county

[51:01] commissioners and 4 in favor of this, asking the conversation to keep moving

[51:06] forward for a later date when we might when the county commissioners will consider it

[51:10] Mr. Chaired anything to add before we move on to that. All right. With that Beach

[51:16] management plan next on the. I just paraphrase this currently 4 major coastal management

[51:23] projects are underway. Collier Creek dredging permit expires December 20 27 led by Collier

[51:29] County, U.S. Army Corps dredging Naples to Marco federal navigation channel

[51:33] planned for the late 2027 Sandrine Embarassment of South Marco Beach led by Collier

[51:39] County. Number 4, Tiger Tale Lagoon. Sand dollar restoration. We notice and

[51:43] dollars spent here in Marco planned for late 2027 led by the city. Marco and Hideaway

[51:49] Beach taxing district. Does anybody want to lead offer any thoughts? Any of this? I'm

[51:53] assuming our county commissioners are going to. Give us a little bit of

[51:57] education and that we appreciate that commissioner. Look after him. I would just

[52:01] offer that to set the table before. We also are jump in with varied comments. We have

[52:04] attorney Scott here much like Chris and give an overview on these things because some of

[52:12] these things are are related and some aren't. So I think before we start just jumping

[52:18] in, it would be very valuable of Trinity can come up and do just like with Kristen and

[52:21] give a quick overview. Separate room are some facts. my guide discussion a little

[52:26] bit better. Excellent idea. Thank you, Trinity. Come on up. Better start to claw. At

[52:35] least it wasn't. Hold on to your That's next. Well, a little inside joke here. I

[52:48] went the wrong way. How about that? How about your transportation person going

[52:50] the wrong way?

[53:03] Thanks to other baby. Are you waiting for slides? Yes. Yeah. I think I'm

[53:19] on the runway. The people who are running this slide show. Find me. The beach management

[53:36] plan. For the Trinity Scott and the Transportation Management Services Department

[53:48] head for Collier County. And obviously I don't know my direction So we don't believe

[53:53] that. To Looking for that. I'll just real eye opener with the questions the council

[54:00] asking. Anybody's newer to this commission or counselor public running for office. You

[54:06] start to realize, but listen to this. How much? You don't know what you don't know and

[54:11] how no particular elected official could know everything. And it's really

[54:15] the staff, the management that are behind us that. Run the conversations, help us learn

[54:21] and understand. Bring us onboard, educate us in the beginning and they were

[54:26] tremendous and it works. appreciate that. Some shout out to the staff while waiting

[54:28] for first light show. I'm going to go ahead and start. So I'll just talk a little bit

[54:39] about the Collier Creek Rehabilitation Project. This is a a dredge to improve the

[54:47] navigation and extend the time in between the required maintenance stretching we just

[54:52] received the Army Corps of Engineers. In August of this year and don't let this baby

[54:57] face fool you. We have been working to get this permit for years. So getting this permit

[55:05] was quite the feat. And and we anticipate starting that project next year. And it will

[55:14] be a lengthy one. it will extend over into at 2028 as well. So there you go. So

[55:29] there you go. This is our first light here and this is funded part partly with the

[55:34] tourist development tax funds as well as our Florida partnership with our Florida

[55:39] Department of Environmental Protection. I did not touch anything for the record. So

[55:49] someone can get back to those slides. Yeah. I up.

[56:10] Commissioner Helena are obviously on the same page. There you go. Okay. then the

[56:14] South Marco Beach re nourishment. Am I free to click touch? The clicker,

[56:19] please. Okay. Set it down. This is the design permitting and construction of the South

[56:30] Marco Island Beach during nurse and widened the beach for storm protection. We

[56:37] received our permits march of this year. We anticipate started construction on that

[56:44] in January. That will go January 2027 through March of 2027. And once again also

[56:50] funded partly with our tourist development in partnership with the Florida Department of

[56:54] Environmental Protection Funds. And along with that project, we will also be doing

[57:04] some FEMA mitigation plantings along the dunes. We just at a long time. At our Naples

[57:14] Collier County beaches and the northern part of the county. re-establish the dunes and

[57:23] replanted the for. Better long-term resilience against future storm events. So as

[57:30] part of the project, we will also be doing that as well. So we we'll start that in March.

[57:37] And that will finish up in June of 2027. And that is being funded with FEMA funds.

[57:45] And that concludes the 3 projects that we have. Councilor, please. the talk

[57:53] into the microphone, you know, we'll get to that you want Commissioner? Look at Police

[58:01] to Miss Scott said even though some of those projects are are are coming up and in the

[58:09] future, I'm really proud of the staff and I'm sure the bite mark or as well,

[58:13] especially people that live in Cape Marco. But after in little tip, sort of at the end

[58:18] of South Beach was really And a lot of the sand basically was in the lobby of a few of

[58:22] those condominiums and I mean, I was out there personally with lot of people from

[58:27] Trinity Staff, Andrew Miller oversees our beach restoration and quite a few others. it's

[58:35] been a multi-phase project. So that may not have been on the slides. But there's been an

[58:38] awful lot of sand and support that has come to the market beaches landed by saying

[58:44] sometimes the misconception on Marco from from people that may agree or disagree or they

[58:48] have a better idea on how replace and, you know, maybe we're not doing it and way

[58:55] they think it's smart because sand just washes away. So, you know, maybe ship at sea walls.

[58:59] I've heard, you know, all of Tiger tell should be surrounded by rocks. So

[59:03] doesn't have to be addressed every year. But as I sort of often say, turtles have a hard

[59:09] time climbing the rock. So, you know, we don't just do this in a vacuum. We work with

[59:12] a lot of different organizations. But the main takeaway is when there's folks

[59:17] that see that we do beat restoration on Marco, which is a very susceptible. Obviously,

[59:21] it's different. All beaches are are quite a bit different. This one takes takes a major

[59:24] hit and storms and folks say, oh, my God, they were just out there, you know, 6 months ago

[59:30] or year ago, and there they are, again having to replace all the say on the reality is

[59:34] that across the Jolley Bridge and went to any of the other beaches where we're doing that

[59:38] 12 months out of the Iran, every beach. I mean, no you know, gets truck load of sand

[59:43] and then it sustained for 10 years. So, you know, turn. And he has a really big team

[59:48] that's out there. 24 7 commissioner halls got a lot of beach area in his district

[59:52] and make a mistake. They're they're getting, you know, plenty of support. even when

[59:58] we don't have a hurricane, even if it's just a king tide and a little bit of wind,

[1:00:02] we're out there. So beat restoration is a regular thing that is regularly budgeted.

[1:00:08] It's not, you know, one time thing. And if it doesn't last for a year, none of them last

[1:00:11] for a year, especially if we have these big major storms. But there's an awful lot that

[1:00:15] goes on on the other side of the Jolley Bridge. That is very similar to Marco.

[1:00:22] sometimes that gets forgotten, you know, as well that these restoration is part of our

[1:00:25] regular maintenance of keeping all beaches. We have a little bit of an extra challenge here

[1:00:29] on Marco, depending on how a storm answer, how tides flow. And, you know, we have some

[1:00:34] areas that maybe don't have as much protection from wind and hurricanes and whatnot. So it

[1:00:39] might be a little little bit more robust restorations here, but make no restoration teams

[1:00:45] are every single beach all throughout the year. Absolutely. We do. Annual

[1:00:49] surveys all of our Collier County beaches and pre storm event. A lot of folks don't

[1:00:54] know this, but we go out and we actually tried to get a survey pre storm of that event

[1:01:00] and post storm. So we know how much Sam weight loss pre and post. So we can get on it and

[1:01:07] and try to get grant dollars back to our area. We like other people's pm. If I you

[1:01:13] want to end or did it cash cover your? I looking to Commissioner Locastro says he

[1:01:22] Representative 0, 1, of my personal concern is that Tiger Tail Florida, move it over

[1:01:29] closely. One of my concerns is and I think many of our residents concern is when are

[1:01:37] we going to have our Tiger tale parking restored? that reaches of Collier County.

[1:01:45] There's full parking lot that's been open. men open, you know, from sunup to

[1:01:51] sundown a time. So I don't know what your question are we talking about when it's going

[1:01:55] to be the best interest or and that's not the most of any good so. So a clarification is

[1:01:58] not the parking lot. You love There it So you got here, the purse, the parking lot. What

[1:02:05] improvements are planned for the parking not and because the parking lots and in great

[1:02:08] shape if you think it is under there, something that we're missing, let us know. As for

[1:02:13] the bathrooms and I can ask James Cameron stepped forward from our parks and rec as we

[1:02:18] just talked about this give the short answer. But, you know, you might want to I want

[1:02:21] to miss any any details or Jamie French might want chime in here from growth

[1:02:25] management, the main restrooms and I put this and every newsletter as clear as I can,

[1:02:30] the main restrooms by the snack bar took a major head to end and even previous storms

[1:02:35] and not just the restrooms. But what makes restrooms were car left stations. So when you

[1:02:41] flush the toilet, it actually goes somewhere and much like stoplights on a street. It's

[1:02:46] not the bar in the light that cost money. It's all the computers that are underneath

[1:02:49] the ground. That makes a brand new stoplight when it's installed and at an

[1:02:55] intersection million, a million multimillion dollar investment. So underground,

[1:03:00] older left stations took a big, major hit. But having said that, when I've got a

[1:03:04] note saying there's no bathrooms on Tiger tale, what are you gonna restore the

[1:03:08] bathrooms several years ago, brand new bathrooms were built at the south end of the

[1:03:12] parking lot. So if you have to go to the bathroom, you can do it in an almost a brand new

[1:03:18] facility that's out the south that it might take a little bit longer of a walk. And one

[1:03:20] of the things I had asked Mister French a while ago and we've done it is put a little

[1:03:25] bit better signage to people who only know the bathrooms by the snack bar go. They're

[1:03:30] closed. There's no bathrooms. And it's like, you could throw a stone and hit and it's a

[1:03:35] multimillion dollar facility that was just handful of years ago because lift stations and

[1:03:43] all the things that are required for a brand new bathroom needed to be built.

[1:03:45] So that's a pretty big undertaking. Not only that, that we put a VIP trailer,

[1:03:52] tiger tale immediately when the bathrooms were destroyed. And of course, you know, we've

[1:03:57] had challenges with Even though we clean them 3 times a day. You know, we have some

[1:04:00] some folks that maybe take care of them as best as possible. And we've been

[1:04:06] trying to counter that know what Mister French, you know, chime in and then you have 3rd

[1:04:09] on here that vendor what we have 5 different marine stores that all lost vendors for for

[1:04:16] or another Mr. French will have some good news here that first of all, the snack bar,

[1:04:22] Tiger tale is a heavy lift for for any vendor. Even though I know that a lot e-mails I get

[1:04:28] are people who want go out to Tiger Town. They want the snack bar available. We have

[1:04:33] several contractors out there since Tony Smith, who was there for many years and they

[1:04:37] left in short order because they said I council to chicken sandwiches a week and 3 sodas

[1:04:44] and make money we have we encourage food trucks to go out there. And this is during

[1:04:48] season and they state a very short amount of time. What we find is a lot of people come

[1:04:51] to Tiger Town. They might want those those food resources, but a lot of Tiger tale

[1:04:56] visitors and lined up good know there's a lot of them come south self-contained.

[1:04:59] There are more sort of environmentally focused. So they have a cooler. They have

[1:05:02] food doesn't mean we're not going get somebody out of the snack bar, but we can't make a

[1:05:08] contractor take that contract. And when it's probably not the most lucrative and we've

[1:05:14] offered contractors to bundle it into. you take the more lucrative, Marine stores and

[1:05:21] other locations that also don't have vendors. So it's not just Tiger tale. You know,

[1:05:25] we like to bundle Tiger tail in there, but we've also offered all the snack bar

[1:05:28] separately as well, trying to get you know, anybody in there. I want still Mr.

[1:05:32] Francis Thunder, but we think finally have somebody may be interested in Tiger tale as

[1:05:41] well maybe even all of the snack bars. And then he can tell you the timelines of

[1:05:46] those. But, you know, we have put a lot of a lot of effort into Tiger tell. I know that

[1:05:50] some citizens maybe don't think so. But if you walk around a little bit there, you

[1:05:54] know, you'll see that millions of dollars have been invested and not. Park takes a big hit

[1:05:59] when their storms and also too, you know, we can we can spend money on everything, but

[1:06:04] we can spend, you know, on anything. But we can't spend money on everything. And so

[1:06:08] the estimate, I think for the tiger tale snack bar restroom. If we wanted to bring that one

[1:06:13] up, correct me. If I'm wrong, you're talking about 5 to 7 million dollars. And so when

[1:06:16] we have other priorities are a lot higher. Doesn't mean we're ignoring that bathroom. But

[1:06:22] when bathrooms already exist on Tiger tale, it is an especially in the offseason.

[1:06:26] One of the more visited locations, spending 5 or 7 million dollars as a top

[1:06:34] priority to restore another bathroom. Entire you know, oftentimes isn't on our top 2

[1:06:40] list. But, you know, Mister French's here prepared to fill in the Thank you,

[1:06:45] commissioner. Good afternoon. My name is Jamie The department head for Growth

[1:06:49] Management community Development. Thank you for having me. Appreciate being

[1:06:53] back and seeing all your smiling faces so I wish I could give you better but I do

[1:07:03] serve. Carter County's the chief resiliency officer and the and the floodplain

[1:07:05] administrator for Carter County. This bathroom sustained more damage beyond

[1:07:11] the 50% rule which is set forth under 49 5, 5, through the Florida statute which

[1:07:17] adopts the community rating system right from federal code. So it's beyond 50%

[1:07:24] damaged as a result of the storm. So therefore, it must meet the new requirements of

[1:07:30] the Florida building code, which includes elevation. We're going to have to look at

[1:07:35] ADA, accessibility to include either a chair left like we like you would see in our

[1:07:39] community center attacks and us or perhaps even a ramp. And those ramps typically run one

[1:07:46] to 12 rise overrun so that it accumulates a great deal of space in order to meet those

[1:07:50] ADA requirements. If the opinion of probable cost, we have not received an official

[1:07:56] opinion of probable cost, but likely that will be north of that number. Commissioner

[1:08:01] Locastro was speaking of probably to the upward some of somewhere around 12 million,

[1:08:07] the 15 million dollars to restore that facility. So we are currently using a

[1:08:12] third-party vendor to provide that service. And that is very costly to the county. It's

[1:08:18] it's an budget operating clearly that we've had to absorb on top of which is

[1:08:23] within a coastal environment. So it's exposed to salt element as well as an awful

[1:08:27] lot of sand that people like to use are that they that they bring in off their feet? I

[1:08:32] would tell you that that part generate last year we we saw almost approximately $370,000

[1:08:38] in parking fees. So we are tracking the parking and if you've noticed, we got rid of

[1:08:44] that. The payment portals, the payment stalls and we went to the QR code and it has made

[1:08:49] that much more convenient. And then those parks such as in Tiger Tale, where we struggle

[1:08:53] with cell phone service, we've asked actually looked at working with the cell phone

[1:08:57] providers as well as putting repeaters and ourself so that we can ensure adequate

[1:09:02] tracking of the parking as well as collection of payment. Now Beach Park in, of course,

[1:09:07] if you have a beach parking pass and a resident Carter County to include city of

[1:09:09] Naples City of Marco, that's free parking. And so we know a lot of families enjoy it. I

[1:09:13] just happened to be on the site, probably about 10 days ago. So I do get out about

[1:09:19] parks has been under my purview for just about 2 years now. So hopefully you're

[1:09:24] seeing a great deal of difference in the cleansing. This the customer service and

[1:09:28] the just the appreciation we have enjoying and also protecting this amenity along

[1:09:33] with Mrna and our parks director. But ma'am, that that is that's going to be a costly

[1:09:39] effort and which case we can look at how we work with Mister Johnson to see what

[1:09:44] type of FEMA funds may be available. But the good news is is that we are in final

[1:09:51] negotiations with a current vendor that's providing services to the state of

[1:09:54] Florida. That should be coming up coming to the board of county commissioners for

[1:09:58] consideration for the concession. Stand to reopen right now. We've got about a

[1:10:04] $728,000 project tied up between the lift station and the I'm sorry, the concession

[1:10:11] area to clean it up. Playgrounds are still in really good shape. And the

[1:10:16] boardwalks are are fantastic as well. So we are out there as Commissioner Locastro said

[1:10:22] those bathrooms get cleaned 3 times usually per day and we ought meant on top of our

[1:10:27] contract because contractor is out there 3 times a week. We have staff there that actually

[1:10:32] goes through there. Looks at your South Beach as well as your caxambas community center

[1:10:37] bathrooms and we make sure those are open. Thank you, Thank you. The council's

[1:10:43] commissioners, any please? Well, Mister, Fresh Eyes to see you again. So my question

[1:10:49] is about vendor at Keck samples. Can you update us have I wish I could. We are.

[1:10:56] And what the what Safir first it was the cone of silence and final negotiation. I would

[1:11:00] tell us that this I learned this working a little bit the it field. This is not a a

[1:11:08] child and a dog type of a business where somebody just thought of a great idea. This

[1:11:11] is a legitimate b***** that's currently providing services to to the state parks of the

[1:11:14] state of Florida. Well, we certainly look forward to getting that funding back very

[1:11:20] to our residents, supportive of that. As the way. Thank you. Speaking of Qasem us

[1:11:28] while we're waiting for negotiation finish up. There's a group of gentlemen on the

[1:11:35] island that would love to volunteer to get that thing open before she can somebody

[1:11:38] could entertain. We believe will be open before But if not, I would tell you is that

[1:11:45] if you work directly there with my office for Mister Han, make sure I give you my card.

[1:11:48] will be happy to help Thank you. I see no other hands or comments on adjusted down to

[1:11:56] the bottom of one's important Marco additionally, other big Marco pass recently

[1:12:00] experienced showing. And this sustaining the relocation of the channel markers to ensure

[1:12:06] safe navigation. The city proposes that monitoring and managing of the Big Marco pass

[1:12:10] being corporate into the Collier County Project List. This is something that's

[1:12:14] important for us. it's a little controversial amongst the community. When we start

[1:12:18] talking about cruise ships and why we want to do this. This is safety. This is a time

[1:12:23] markers buoys and this is making this is pretty routine with all of Collier County

[1:12:26] that this work is done, maybe for the commissioners for the staff. there be any push back

[1:12:32] a hesitation to incorporating this into the project list or any votes? Yes, we can.

[1:12:43] Currently this area doesn't fall within the county's jurisdiction for inlet

[1:12:46] management. It falls under the Army Corps of Engineers in the U.S. Coast Guard for the

[1:12:49] channel markers. We wouldn't recommend volunteering to take the initiative initiative on

[1:12:54] utilizing local funds, however, working together with our legislative delegations

[1:12:59] and lobbyists to ensure that the needs the importance of this channel are conveyed to

[1:13:03] them and make for them to be able to make it a top priority is prudent. Where our teams,

[1:13:10] both the city. And the county, I believe, are planning on meeting with the FDP in

[1:13:17] September to see if they're able to assist us. So we're trying to bring the state in

[1:13:21] knowing that the feds are sometimes, you know, it's harder to get higher on their

[1:13:26] priority list. So we're we're trying to bring the state into. Maybe we can get them

[1:13:30] in, get higher up on their party lists in an effort to be able to manage the sand

[1:13:36] throughout. Not the big Marco pass, but also the Collier Creek and the Capri areas. So

[1:13:41] that is kind of how we're we're trying to tackle that from a staff perspective. But

[1:13:46] certainly I think keeping that on our our priority list and maybe having those a

[1:13:51] legislative priority allows us to. Have you all take those and initiatives back to our

[1:13:57] legislative delegation and try to to push those further. Appreciate the clarification

[1:14:02] will go to help in any way that we can, Stephanie. But anything to add to this.

[1:14:07] council great, please. You mentioned the Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, the

[1:14:13] county. Is the Army Corps of Engineers done a complete assessment Collier County from

[1:14:22] a vulnerability standpoint. What is viable to protective work isn't and changing

[1:14:27] environmental. Footprint. Because I love to believe the part of this discussion was

[1:14:35] routed It really had been clearly assessed. And then the other related question would

[1:14:41] When you look at something like dredging this do we have data that says what the return

[1:14:47] on investment or how much the demand is for something like this and how do you rate

[1:14:51] allocating money for this for says your other choices? Well, we would not rate anything

[1:14:58] towards this because it's currently not our responsibility dredge this in.

[1:15:01] And that's my point to that is we this is not currently our responsibility to do that.

[1:15:07] This would be the Army Corps of Engineers responsibility to do that. And so my

[1:15:12] recommendation is, is that we get this on our legislative priority at this and we pushed

[1:15:17] them to bring this up to the top. If this is a priority for us and we get them to utilize

[1:15:23] their funding to do so. And we have done this in other areas. And I'm Gordon passes is an

[1:15:27] area where we have done this where we've had and commissioner Cole last

[1:15:31] district where it is the Army Corps of Engineers responsibility to dredge that

[1:15:37] area. And we have put this on our legislative priority list and are Collier County

[1:15:43] commissioners as well as our lobbyists have pushed to get that higher up on the Army

[1:15:47] Corps of Engineers priority list. And if I'm not mistaken, there, it's getting ready to

[1:15:50] up pretty soon. too, to get that stretch. So it's going to go it's not unheard of that.

[1:15:57] We've done that in the past. So instead of us putting our very limited, we've had a lot

[1:16:04] of discussions about we all have very limited tax dollars. So instead of taking an

[1:16:06] additional burden on ourself, let's go back and try to get the news that are responsible

[1:16:10] for doing it. Try to get them to allocate those dollars. Or we needed to coax the Army

[1:16:18] Corps of Engineers to take a hard look at this. think that that's what we're hearing is

[1:16:22] that. like this, for example, we go myself and my 4 colleagues every year make the

[1:16:32] trip to Washington we meet all these different entities. You know, we bring these things to

[1:16:38] them and say hes a priority for us. It's a priority for the community. It's a

[1:16:41] priority. You know, just, you know, our lobbyists and all that work is as far as the

[1:16:44] other, you know, 67 counties and the 50 states and you add them all up. The guard are all

[1:16:50] for their hand out, trying to get these organizations motivated make them think that

[1:16:55] we're the most important project. But the Army Corps historically has hurt us. They

[1:17:03] have done things like I said, the project Gordon are going to do that. don't. If you're

[1:17:05] good news the other day, but put the sand where we out giving me this and the gun or

[1:17:13] very great because I use the same through our benefit the other thing we've had 2

[1:17:22] attempts for the court to do resilience study and twice its on budgeted and ran out of

[1:17:28] money because Washington, D.C., just whatever reason included moving forward. So,

[1:17:33] you know, that's always those stop so I think, case-by-case and we bring these to them.

[1:17:39] And when we do our for one permanent, all these layers of process we do with these beach

[1:17:43] renourishment projects. We look at it. smaller pieces, but we're still get feedback

[1:17:50] on. going right a wrong. And usually they partner up with Stephen, One big umbrella.

[1:17:56] Studies say this is what Carter County needs to do. You smell it and still get the

[1:18:02] same result by bringing these projects and these ideas to them. You know, piece by

[1:18:07] piece, sometimes it's even a better way because they don't feel like they're getting no

[1:18:11] help to the fired. Have to say one big report. We actually get result of what we want.

[1:18:17] Our beaches are all of that. Our we get a point just done piecemeal. So I think in a way

[1:18:24] that's probably a better way to do it. Anyways. commission holds wait patiently

[1:18:27] Christmas. Just as an idea. National candidate Casey Askar. This probably looking

[1:18:37] forward to favorable outcome in before he gets there, you might want to drop this in his

[1:18:44] ear. Get a commitment from him. And then because he looking for support and Markle

[1:18:49] as well. He's he can be very instrumental in Wasington, just as Mario Diaz-Balart was

[1:18:55] reporting for us. Congressman Donalds. Being very active in our veterans nursing home

[1:19:05] situation. So they got some punch up there it wouldn't be a bad idea to establish a

[1:19:09] relationship with that. It is here for the election. Commissioner Locastro. I just

[1:19:15] wanted to add musket brought up our legislative priorities, commissioner calls and we go

[1:19:21] to DC once year. We also go up to Tallahassee. Once you're all 5 of us and that that

[1:19:24] that's critically important. One homework assignment here that I can tell would help is

[1:19:30] if your legislative priorities matched hours in certain areas, if we say and I don't

[1:19:39] jump ahead, but use real world example. Isles of Capri septic to sewer. So we had it as one

[1:19:44] of our legislative priority said it was, you know, huge showstopper due to

[1:19:49] environmental concerns. And we put all the meat on the bone to make sure we could get

[1:19:53] about $200,000 for an initial study before you can start converting from septic to

[1:19:59] sewer is a whole bunch of a preliminary steps. So we had have it front and center with

[1:20:03] all of the meat and potatoes and then and talked about how this was a joint venture

[1:20:08] between us and Mark. And I'm not here throwing stones. We're going to take to to do

[1:20:11] things better. If the Marco legislative priority list would have even mentioned it.

[1:20:19] And it might've been many may be felt a lot. But I can tell between, you know, case in Amy

[1:20:24] working much closer together. I think those things are going to be a thing of the past. We

[1:20:27] actually did get the money, I think because we we had it on ours and maybe it didn't. I do

[1:20:34] want to say it didn't matter if it was on Marco's, but if we would got the money I might

[1:20:38] have been sent here, Marco would put that as one of their top things that would have

[1:20:41] been side by side. And when something like a bat better roaches up in Tallahassee and

[1:20:45] she's trying to, you know, function on our behalf or whoever the congressional

[1:20:50] people are in DC talking in the Army Corps, they they look at those things and there's

[1:20:54] got to be center G or it looks like a big disconnect. So we did get lucky. I want to far

[1:21:00] had been on. I I was a around. I great when it comes to septic to sewer, we finally

[1:21:09] got to step one and we got we got some some money to start. The study. But those

[1:21:14] legislative priorities matching in the areas where we've got we've got some

[1:21:17] cooperation center G really, really need to to match in a way that gives us the best

[1:21:25] chance. And then our elected officials up in Tallahassee and even in Washington, C, D C

[1:21:30] copies of our legislative priorities go everywhere. So sometimes we're talking of the

[1:21:35] Army Corps in Washington, D.C., and I got a copy right in front of them. And if if

[1:21:39] what we are saying doesn't perfectly matched the script, it looks like, you know,

[1:21:43] right, left-handed know what they're doing kind of thing. So that's a little piece of

[1:21:47] improvement that we're all aware of in here. But just, you know, to go on the record,

[1:21:52] we need that. We need to continue to do that as best as possible to you know, take

[1:21:56] advantage of of those funds. You know. lastly, I'll just Trinity worked really h*** the

[1:22:05] AIDS to navigation help voters across all of our waterways. Lot of them destroyed, damaged

[1:22:14] faded that disappeared during storms. People saying affects all those things much like

[1:22:17] this pass. Some belong to the Coast Guard. Some belong to us. Some belong to you. Some

[1:22:22] belong to the city of Naples and we actually got our act. And I don't know if it was by

[1:22:27] mistake or we were just trying to help. But correct me if I'm wrong, I believe we replaced

[1:22:34] one that belong to the Coast Guard and it was ours. And we heard from them very quickly

[1:22:39] saying, you know, that's that that's ours. That's our responsibility. You can't go

[1:22:43] out there and just sort of do do your own thing. So there's definitely a division of

[1:22:49] responsibility. So this one is particularly the Coast Guard's. But make no to your

[1:22:54] point, we can still squeeze them pretty hard, but and inclusion all say remember

[1:22:59] when over the last couple years the Army Corps was here doing an assessment on the

[1:23:04] vulnerability of Collier County. I was really outspoken saying when some people were

[1:23:08] sent off, they've been working on it for 2 years. You know, I'd and then we saw some of

[1:23:12] the cartoon drawings that we know of of the Game of Thrones walls that need to be built

[1:23:16] all the way across Collier County. I worked with the Army Corps a lot my time in the

[1:23:21] military. They always think out of the box and the report is always super PAC and 80% of

[1:23:25] the stuff. And there's just crazy ideas they have, but it. But you know, you've got to

[1:23:29] you've got to weed through that and figure out the things they say that a 50 foot wall

[1:23:33] to be built on the beaches of Naples to protect every home. The main takeaway is what?

[1:23:39] We're not going to do that because it would cost a trillion dollars. But with the

[1:23:43] Army Corps telling us is that is a very vulnerable area. So my take-away is those people

[1:23:48] need to be evacuated immediately when we almost sent the signal to the Army

[1:23:53] Corps saying you're moving to slow, you're not paddling in the right direction, giving us

[1:23:58] all these crazy ideas that don't match anything that we want to do. And then we want

[1:24:01] them to come back and help us with now something being good team partners with the Army

[1:24:09] Corps and we did write that ship and in our trip to DC that was one of the first

[1:24:14] places we stop with the Army Corps saying, you know, we appreciate everything you've

[1:24:19] done you know where we are. Definitely. We definitely need your services. So, you know,

[1:24:23] you know, you know, they're a valuable organization but are stretched beyond unbelievable

[1:24:28] means. And so like Commissioner Kohl's. And when everybody's sort of trying to

[1:24:32] grab at them for different things and we want to be. The way you get their attention is

[1:24:39] our legislative priorities all match. And also we are very appreciative for anything they

[1:24:44] can do for us. And that's the way you know, they sort of juggle their priority list and

[1:24:49] go, hey, you know, if we go down in Collier County, we can do some good it's our goods

[1:24:53] going to go a long way. And so is appreciation for, you know, our expertise. So, you know, I

[1:25:01] don't how much you all interface with the Army Corps, but if you get that chance you

[1:25:06] know, you want to make some good contacts there. And and partner with them closely. If

[1:25:13] there was a short list of coaching tips from the county and how we cordinator play

[1:25:19] nice on the playground or help coordinator activities. I believe we would welcome that

[1:25:24] member of those. Just so thank you for take that as a homework assignment and get

[1:25:27] you some ideas that you know, you guys can put in your hip pocket of things that we're

[1:25:33] doing. So we're both doing the same thing and work we're pulling or pushing. That's how

[1:25:36] we get what we want. Thank should because before we turn it back over to the council's

[1:25:42] the commissioners, just a martyr depended department public works. you want to say

[1:25:45] something, doesn't yes, thank you, Mister Chair, just Marcel. Thank All the quirks

[1:25:49] director city of Marco Island about a year ago, September of 2025, we did have a virtual

[1:25:58] meeting between the city, Collier County, Coastal Management Corps of Engineers.

[1:26:02] The Coast Guard and D P and we discussed this issue because the reason that the court

[1:26:13] doesn't maintained his pass and by the way, this is the only pass within all of

[1:26:17] Collier County that is currently not being maintained. Even caxambas pass

[1:26:20] is being maintained. You all know about Wiggins pass. Doctors Pass Corden's Paso

[1:26:27] from Gordon's Gordon pass. There's an inner coastal waterway behind Keewatin that

[1:26:33] comes all the way down. 2 where it meets up with isles of Capri. That is where the

[1:26:42] U.S. Army Corps of engineer federal waterway stops. So this is not in the Corps of

[1:26:47] Engineers scope to be to to maintain this past. I welcome need the opportunity of a

[1:26:54] joint effort and the city of Marco Island happily participate in that. And what

[1:26:59] deep he told us at that meeting a year ago in September is that they will be

[1:27:03] happy to. B the in the driver's seat to coordinate this issue. But it needs

[1:27:11] buy-in from county. The city somebody to drive this in order to come up with an inlet

[1:27:20] management plan for this in that which is sorely needed, as was mentioned earlier here

[1:27:27] we we have the city even went to the extent of paying for a survey of the Bath Metric

[1:27:34] survey of this into that. Because we know that the conditions change. Everybody

[1:27:41] knows that the sands shift in an inlet. And so your deep water changes. And we've had

[1:27:47] we had lots of instances of vessels running aground because they were going in in

[1:27:52] the waterway. But the sands have shifted. So we paid for it. A a a survey of the inlet

[1:28:01] and then we were able to convince the Coast Guard because it is it is the Coast

[1:28:06] Guard's jurisdiction for the markers. The ASA navigation and as channel, however, it's

[1:28:10] not their jurisdiction to do any dredging. So we're able to convince the Coast Guard and

[1:28:16] to move those markers to the deep water at that time. But this has been like neglected

[1:28:22] stepchild than it needs to have that stewardship. And the push through these multi

[1:28:32] agencies to be able to come up with an inlet management plan and our consultants have

[1:28:36] looked at that. The are the ones that coordinated this, this meeting, this joint

[1:28:42] meeting with with all parties I mentioned here. But that's what's needed here. And we

[1:28:47] can't just sit back and think that the court's going to take care of it because it's not

[1:28:52] even in there in their scope of work. Commissioner, look, actually, I mean, maybe up

[1:29:08] respectful varying opinions. I want to highlight something you said moving away from this

[1:29:10] for one 0nd. The reason we're literally sitting here is because of 2 great managers

[1:29:15] that put this together and got us together for these conversations. I don't expect

[1:29:20] an answer. I don't think it's proper in this, but this make sense of But it's something

[1:29:25] that part of the synergy. Perfect. I just knew they had not. We're good to go. any

[1:29:28] other thoughts on this topic. And the city hands ready. All right, Stephanie thing to add.

[1:29:35] All right. Thank you. All right. We can move on. Then great conversation. I think we

[1:29:44] touched upon a bit of this use of tourist development, tax funds. For the one 25 Dash, 0,

[1:29:51] 1, 0, 4, coming up in November. 26 the Tdt revenue but everything they want to

[1:29:56] answer any other questions. I know we've covered a lot of it, the previous conversation,

[1:29:59] but any other thoughts, counselors, commissioners, Steph. All it's like a good

[1:30:06] council meeting or a county commissioner meeting. We can move right on. Caxambas Park

[1:30:09] in South Beach parking lot operations. This is one that comes up a lot and Morgan

[1:30:15] start this off. I talked to Commissioner Locastro let's first elected keeping campaign

[1:30:18] promises. Hey, Rick. You want to give us those 2 parks and it was a great conversation of

[1:30:24] a maturing. If I could share honestly, you may not fully want them until you know what

[1:30:28] you're taking on, what the responsibilities are. And that's how started with. And

[1:30:33] we bounce the ideas around a bit over time. You want to start this one at all. As we

[1:30:36] turn over? Well, and I and this is one that Mr. French and I met on says I saw it on

[1:30:40] topic list. This was another complicated But in some cases not too complicated. And I'll

[1:30:47] stand by what I said initially. Be careful what you wish for, because, you know, I

[1:30:51] mean, I live on Marco and there's some things that, you know, you've all brought up

[1:30:55] that you've got some debt you want, you know, got some ball field. You've got this. You've

[1:31:00] got that. If if if we could just hand you the keys, the CAC Sam bus, you know, you may

[1:31:04] not want that now. Number one, especially you would have wanted it prior to Hurricane

[1:31:11] Ian because if you had the keys, you would have had to do an unbelievable amount of

[1:31:15] heavy lifting as the county had to do, not only to get FEMA dollars and whatnot, but

[1:31:21] even at some of money in the pot. So I don't know that that would have helped your debt,

[1:31:26] the parking and even the marina stories, giant cash cow that's going to feed Marco

[1:31:30] Island. All this incredible profit. And you've got a facility like that, that takes

[1:31:37] major hits from storms. And even just, you know, regular use citizens expect parking

[1:31:41] lots to repaved and all those other things. you know, the dollars and cents. So it's not

[1:31:47] any of us at the county holding on to it for nefarious reasons on the flip side and

[1:31:54] that's where asked Mister French to come in here. There's some legalities. One

[1:31:57] state money is used first for certain things when county tax dollars are used for certain

[1:32:01] things, you can't just sort switch the keys afterwards. And so doesn't mean it's

[1:32:06] something we couldn't explore. We certainly I certainly look at facts and this is the most

[1:32:11] unique park in the county because when you look at all the other parks, we their own

[1:32:16] it for somebody else owns that. This one sort of this handshake from 100 years ago

[1:32:21] ever sort of decided. And it's definitely not managed in the most efficient way. There's a

[1:32:26] little bit of overlap. You guys get complaints at times we get complaints times and it

[1:32:34] sort a shared responsibility. Other on the flip side, I would now it's it's probably

[1:32:38] is the nicest best newest park because of the work that was done by huge amount of people

[1:32:44] to not only fight for FEMA dollars and whatnot, but make sure it was fully funded it

[1:32:51] wasn't repaired. It was totally rebuilt. And and we still have a few more things

[1:32:56] to do. Jamie, if you can give us a short version, has to the legalities than anything else

[1:33:02] you want to touch on. But how it's not as easy as just hey, would you give us the park and

[1:33:08] we'll we'll take it from there. There are some long poles in the tent when it

[1:33:10] comes to that, even if it was something we thought was a good idea, we may not have the

[1:33:14] full authority that just transfer ownership per share ownership in a different way.

[1:33:19] But I still think there and also and with that, that there. is some uniqueness of

[1:33:25] of what we can continue to explore so that it's more efficient operation out there

[1:33:29] and maybe it still remains shared. But in a different way. thank you Virginia. Jamie

[1:33:37] French for the record. And I just wanted tell you that we're so excited about Tiger

[1:33:42] Tale, but I did get notice that we actually scheduled to go in from the board of County

[1:33:47] commissioners, probably the first or second meeting to finalize a contract with a

[1:33:52] vendor. So it has been through legal review famous clock scales office. So we just got

[1:33:57] that done right now. So the I'm getting. So I'd like to start off with with South

[1:34:03] Beach. If that's okay so year, the South Beach parking lot. I believe that's right. On

[1:34:11] swallow that hours of operations are from sunrise to sunset. We do maintain parks,

[1:34:18] recreation. We do maintain the Boardwalk Beach access and that is open. 24 hours now as

[1:34:26] a cab yacht, the hours of operations for any Parker at the determination of your

[1:34:32] parks and recreation director, which essentially means your county manager or designee. So

[1:34:37] it may be my officer could very well be Miss Patterson's office or of course, the board

[1:34:42] of County commissioners. So there are times that we do it just park hours based on

[1:34:48] activity, repairs or perhaps if we've with we've seen a high amount of vandalism

[1:34:56] unique opportunities to close those during season, the parking can says the 64

[1:35:01] parking spaces. This is all heart skate. So it is not your permanent parking Michelle.

[1:35:06] The Cesar paved parking lots with for handicap spaces. It does have a single stall

[1:35:10] restroom facility for both men and women. It we see north 100,000 visitors to this

[1:35:19] location annually for that beach access again, Free Beach parking passes can be utilized

[1:35:25] here and then the parking is $10 and that's for the fall Day operating expenses on this

[1:35:33] location are just north of $17,000 a year and we do patrol those through our code

[1:35:40] enforcement I'm sorry, our park Rangers, which is we we took a consolidated effort in

[1:35:43] last 2 years to bring all of our enforcement or code our parking revenues that we see

[1:35:49] in Fy 25 are just shy of $360,000 Fy. 26, we were just a little lower. The South

[1:35:59] Marco improvements. We are doing a redesign. We're doing some improvements on the front

[1:36:03] gates where we were having in the evenings. There are some activities going on on the

[1:36:07] beach and we have cameras all over the place. Unfortunately, some folks got some tickets or

[1:36:12] maybe even got trespassed and we will enforce that to the to the full extent of the letter

[1:36:17] of the law. We want to be able to provide the service. But there are guidelines. We keep

[1:36:22] the rails up in. Our board has encouraged us that held us accountable to make sure these

[1:36:26] parks are safe and they're operating as a designed to do so. Those Gates will be

[1:36:31] redone. They are currently in design. We're working Dan Smith of your group. We work

[1:36:36] very well with Dan. And so we'll take that through the permitting process. And that's

[1:36:42] about a $31,000 venture. And we're going to upgrade those fences or lease that those

[1:36:46] gate entrances and it will be on a timer at to coordinate with those hours. So no one

[1:36:51] will get trapped if you're already in there and you're past the closing time, you may

[1:36:56] have a park ranger that would come by and just say the parks close time to leave or if the

[1:37:01] vehicles kept there overnight, the board has enhanced our parking violations. They

[1:37:06] hadn't been visited in nearly 30 years. And so it's a $75 ticket. Now versus $30 it goes

[1:37:14] the one 50 on the second violation in the 3rd even escalates more in your vehicle

[1:37:18] could be towed and you would have to pay that impound fee as well as the towing costs.

[1:37:21] And so we have done that at Both our boat ramps and at our parks. And this isn't about,

[1:37:28] quote, it's just simply about maintaining the hours and ensuring that people are

[1:37:31] following the rules. So that the park is available to everybody. This is the park

[1:37:39] location. As you can see, this is the area that's in the yellow hash. This is what's

[1:37:45] maintained by your parks to include if you notice on the sides, garbage facilities. And

[1:37:49] we empty those on a daily basis. Parks recreation takes care of that as well. And this

[1:37:56] is the way the park looks. And these are recent pictures in the last 2 days. Were jealous

[1:38:03] because y'all got rain and we just got it today. Caxambas Park and I can't really speak

[1:38:11] on the legalities of not yet worked with Mister Class Kells office. Caxambas Park is a

[1:38:15] very unique park. It was part of the Deltona Settlement where the where the land was

[1:38:21] given a as a settlement between the state and the Fed to Collier County. But part of

[1:38:26] the part of the title work on this is that it's got a river clause that it can only be

[1:38:34] used for beach and boat access. It cannot be used for anything else and anything

[1:38:38] that you plan to change. You have to take back through the Department of Interior for

[1:38:43] those changes. Also, the county participated in 1983. with a $23,000 Grant. The

[1:38:52] grant seems small, but the obligation was very large. And so it holds it in perpetuity

[1:39:00] that it can only be used for what it's being used for today and ownership of the county.

[1:39:05] Now, it's not to say that that ownership may not be able to be transferred, but the county

[1:39:09] has worked with both the federal and the state government on this on any

[1:39:14] improvements that we've done and it is subject to a 5 year inspection by the Department

[1:39:18] of Interior. So we do have a ship store. The ship store is open 7 days a week, 365 days.

[1:39:25] A year. We run those hours from 07:00AM until 05:00PM. The marina and boat ramp is

[1:39:30] open 7 days a week, 365 same thing. 07:00AM to dusk. There is a gate. There are some

[1:39:38] burnout on the site and we do participate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife to make sure

[1:39:43] that those areas are marked and protected. The amenities provided are 31 boat trailer

[1:39:49] parking spaces, 16 vehicle parking spaces boat ramp. It's a one to 2 launch area. And

[1:39:56] then we see north of 25,000 visitors annually, the facilities we have 1098 Square

[1:40:04] foot ship store in office for retail sales. There are public restrooms. There is a

[1:40:09] community center building as well few offices that we lease out to the Coast Guard

[1:40:17] auxiliary. That project was completed in 2022. and it was right around 2 million dollars

[1:40:22] for that community center which was paid for by your regional parks, impact fees.

[1:40:26] So that was an expansion that is a community center that is available. And again, I was

[1:40:32] just there. I I had my lunch in my cooler and I ate lunch in the community center and

[1:40:37] we've worked very closely have recently met with the Coast Guard auxiliary the new

[1:40:42] administration that's and their in their wonderful they're great partner and

[1:40:44] where we're looking to actually offer some classes that they're interested in

[1:40:48] expanding, perhaps the sudden on water safety, especially in those open water environments

[1:40:52] are encouraged about that. Parking launch. Revenue was for 25. We saw $52,000 and

[1:40:58] just last year we were just shy of 100,000 at $94,000. Fuel service did reopen part

[1:41:05] of the hurricane in cleanup. We completely replaced all the feeling facilities. We updated

[1:41:11] the site. Everything was permanent. The Marco Island as well as the U.S. Army Corps of

[1:41:15] Engineers and the E P. But we were we were opening your staff, by the way, was great.

[1:41:21] We they worked very close with us. So thank you for that fuel revenue. We're starting to see

[1:41:26] that fuel as well as the pump out services. We're we're north $340,000 a year in fuel

[1:41:32] revenue. And we know that that is a convenience, although you may pass 17 gas stations on

[1:41:36] the way here. If your trailer in a vessel, I know it is a major convenience for your

[1:41:42] residents because often best clients are the ones that have have vessels right behind

[1:41:49] their homes. The improvements included seawall dock repairs, which was 3.2 million dollars

[1:41:53] concession building repairs, new above ground fuel system. As you see there. This is the

[1:42:02] footprint of the park location. The only thing I did not include is that there is a

[1:42:07] nother docking facility that will be that's currently through the permitting

[1:42:12] process. 4 car County Sheriff's Office boat. I know Marco Island is currently has

[1:42:16] a footprint there as well. This is the current facility. I will tell you that I when I

[1:42:25] was down there, I did notice because of the harsh environment, although it's a

[1:42:29] newer building on your community center. Well, we did have some some rust coming up

[1:42:34] to some of the conduit. Believe it or not under the pain. So all of that has been

[1:42:38] pressure washed and repainted. fact, the painting was just finished today. Any questions

[1:42:45] for me? And counsel Henry one could question. And I looked I started to look into it. And I

[1:42:54] I feel to have the answer right today. How much just the Coast Guard auxiliary pay in

[1:42:57] rent? They pay us. I think their overall for a 30 year was about $700. Okay. So they

[1:43:09] acquitted and then what they do and they but they they cost share for the electric and the

[1:43:14] utilities to very small amount. I would tell you that they get more use out of that

[1:43:20] building than anyone are. So I would encourage Marco Island residents. You can schedule

[1:43:24] are any county resident. You can schedule rental of this community center and it's

[1:43:30] fabulously decorated with all sorts of Coast Guard member billion there. It's very nice

[1:43:33] and keep it very clean. We do have an office that's in there for park Rangers. We've also

[1:43:40] extended that to our car County Sheriff's office. If they especially if they needed

[1:43:43] to escape the weather. We do that at Koka Hatchee and we would certainly extend that to

[1:43:49] Marco Island just to get out of the weather just to have a place to plop down with your

[1:43:53] computer so that if you need to run a reporter, if you're helping somebody, we certainly

[1:43:58] want to make facility available to you as well for public safety. We think

[1:44:02] enhances our public safety. We've noticed that attacks and bus. We're having a lot. A lot

[1:44:07] fewer vandalism, aunts and students by having the sheriff's office there. And so

[1:44:11] it it really doesn't. You'll see from time to time, we do have a park ranger that lives

[1:44:13] here on the island that's where he parks his vehicle. So you may notice a park ranger

[1:44:20] vehicle parked there off and it may be his days off or when he's not on shift. So we we.

[1:44:26] We make that available for staff parking as well. And he's not in a boat ramp space,

[1:44:29] a promise will be in a car spaces. And one other question because actually Dr Lucius and

[1:44:35] I have been working on this for a couple of years trying to determine the parking

[1:44:39] numbers which you provided here, which is wonderful. We've been asking for them for

[1:44:42] quite a while. And actually, I spent a lot of time this past weekend reading Collier County

[1:44:46] budgets. Great job, everybody. But going through the line items and it's never broken

[1:44:52] down on any of the Collier County parking lots. What the revenue is how are these

[1:44:58] numbers determined suddenly when we've been trying to get these breakdown for years? So

[1:45:02] part part of the thing when we went to that he too system, it's very transactional and we

[1:45:06] break it down actually by park, if you believe or not. But talk our codes, look very

[1:45:11] similar, but they are different. Some of the indicates where you're parking

[1:45:15] now, it's not to say that somebody to pay for parking it. Tiger Tale couldn't go to

[1:45:20] Kak Sam bus because it's for the full day of any Carter County park. But I would say

[1:45:24] that's a very low margin of error. But we actually track it by facility to include part

[1:45:29] of the aisles. Goodland, Coca Hatchee a case a prior to the QR codes. That's where there

[1:45:35] was a lack of information. There was and also through our Marine management contractor,

[1:45:41] previous one often they would they would be able to receive. The parking fee. And perhaps

[1:45:48] they didn't always give us good day, OK? So there's excellent data from 25 on.

[1:45:53] Yes, ma'am, got yes, ma'am. Thank you. So some of the council right? South parking.

[1:46:02] Why would we raise that to $15 a day from 10 was the last time we change that price? So

[1:46:08] the fee was updated just around 2023 It was $5 and it it was brought. I think and I

[1:46:17] can't speak for the board. Clearly are the manager's office at the time? I

[1:46:20] certainly was. group was not within my purview. We are currently in a fee study with

[1:46:24] ref. Tell us to look at it. We recognize any of our facilities we we run somewhere

[1:46:30] between a 20 to 30% deficit. And that's just even on a break-even model. And it's one

[1:46:35] of the things that the board of County commissioners has challenged me to go back and

[1:46:41] look, and we work with a company called Resource Acts and we look at beyond the

[1:46:45] efficiencies on what does it take? And we actually look at also what are other

[1:46:51] communities pain. And we also take into consideration everything from am I Acosta

[1:46:57] live everything like to include cost the house to see what that impact would be.

[1:47:01] Thank Do you have a breakdown of the visitors? Is cats and park? Is it mostly residents?

[1:47:08] And there are any private vendors permitted to operate out of there with are the

[1:47:12] rules of who can get access to that utilize hurt. So one of the things because I work in

[1:47:19] the regulatory environment for the last 20 Joe. And and so I would tell you is that the

[1:47:24] first thing that I did is I looked at are submerged land leases with the state of

[1:47:27] Florida. The submerged land lease is actually tiger use be on zoning. That is a

[1:47:33] recreational facility. And it is something that I actually spoke with Mr. Smith, about

[1:47:37] with your previous city manager many years ago. As far as we may have a potential

[1:47:42] violation. And we're also revisited ours. Now it's not to say you couldn't go to the

[1:47:46] state of Florida and expand upon that. But when you go to a commercial marina to allow

[1:47:50] for inspected vessels are certain types of activity to go on. There are requirements,

[1:47:57] some of the FWC as well as the DP that those captains and they're very well aware of

[1:48:01] based on their captain's license based on their classification. A captain's

[1:48:04] license on what those in need now, I'm very lucky because I was able to recruit him a

[1:48:10] gentleman by the name of fees in the back of the room, Mister Andy Murray now Mister

[1:48:12] ending Andy Murray now as a retired federal law enforcement officer through

[1:48:16] the Park service. And he actually did this for better than 20 years for Everglades

[1:48:20] National Park and director to get so many of the captains that run in the Tom, they

[1:48:26] probably ran into Tom before in a different and a different aspect. And so Tom has been

[1:48:31] instrumental in helping us. He's got very good contacts with our star state federal

[1:48:35] partners on this. So last question as a rather intimidating statement that

[1:48:42] Marco Island may not want all of this because of future repair risk, environmental

[1:48:45] risk in that cetera. Why would we want to If we're trying to make this decision one way or

[1:48:57] the other, they respect economics. So it is for residents. We've got a pretty

[1:49:03] well. Structures seem to have been cleaned up. Thank you for the work you There. And I'm

[1:49:08] inclined to leave the future liability with you. Why would I want to move that to Marco

[1:49:12] Island? Your idea or not going asking this. So it's really on If I might jump in. This is a

[1:49:22] conversation we started with. We don't know what we don't know. What are the thoughts?

[1:49:27] County commissioners are great stewards of this park by no means we're the local

[1:49:32] Stewart's could be better as a local presence police fire presents right here. We don't

[1:49:35] know the answer. We're only asking for permission to asked if he might make a

[1:49:41] presentation. Ask a few questions at some point, maybe make a formal presentation.

[1:49:46] guess the lesson County commission is if at some point brought up a presentation,

[1:49:49] would you be open to look at it or should be? I do want to move forward staff time.

[1:49:52] managers, if it's just that that issue. But if you say open-minded, we might

[1:49:58] certainly do that. It's going to I took as a homework assignment. The key word on

[1:50:02] here what's the possibility of a potential transfer. Not to do a deeper dive into this.

[1:50:06] But there are some legal issues that even if it was a great cash cow and you say,

[1:50:10] hey, we want to we want it might not be as easy as just giving it is given you. The

[1:50:15] key is based on how much the county has invested in it and where we got the funds from it

[1:50:20] may not be ours to give away. We don't have a for sale sign outside of Caxambas or the

[1:50:25] South Beach parking. It was an idea that all were thrown out. I I got as a homework

[1:50:32] assignment. We could we can definitely provide even before you come up with the idea that

[1:50:35] we wanted her down. I think we should give you sort of, hey, here's the numbers Mr. Frank,

[1:50:41] just one over. But here's some long poles in the tent. And one of the things we talked

[1:50:48] about as it might not even be possible. So rather than have, you know, 10, 3, our meetings

[1:50:52] about it. That's really the first thing. Hey, if if we did want you know, a passive to

[1:50:57] Marco and for whatever reason, could that happen? If it couldn't all the other stuff

[1:51:02] really doesn't matter. And we think there are some things that would would would make

[1:51:05] maybe not possible. But let me take that as a homework assignment. Give you guys more

[1:51:10] details. We got legality of Apple Award winner again. Just the conversation starter right

[1:51:19] counsel shipping question. Thank I think the reason why we're expressing some interest

[1:51:25] is because we are frequently blamed by the community for things that are not being done

[1:51:32] and we have no control over it. What I learned today is Caxambas Park is actually

[1:51:40] designated for. Access to beaches and whatever the other thing was and can't be used

[1:51:46] for any other purpose. One of the most frequent comments is why can't I bring my mechanic?

[1:51:55] The Caxambas park help work on my boat? Well, now we've found out today can't do that.

[1:52:01] That's not what NE to do. Says. I think we need to know more information like that so

[1:52:07] we can publicize it to our community because clearly they think we even though we don't

[1:52:13] own it and run it, they think we have the authority over it, which we do not clearly. So I

[1:52:18] think the better. Source of information we can get the better source of information

[1:52:25] we can provide to the community. And I agree we need to be cautious on what we hope

[1:52:31] for because we have other issues probably bigger than managing caxambas or part. And

[1:52:39] in the immediate short term. But the more information you can provide to us actual

[1:52:47] specifications that dictate what can and can't be done. The better would be for us.

[1:52:53] Yes, I would if I might. I would tell us that future technologies will bring that

[1:52:59] forward. Wewill continue to work with Dr Lucius. We've worked that. Gosh, I've known

[1:53:06] Casey a very long time. So good. I would tell you that we're happy to be able provide

[1:53:11] her your staff with any data that we have as well as tying it back to because we are also

[1:53:17] regulated much like a any other agency to these permits. I would also say with regards

[1:53:26] to the permanent activity. The property is zoned for recreational use. Only much

[1:53:33] like most of our boat ramps and they are not commercial marina. So it does bring into

[1:53:36] question it's a level playing field for a reason. We also have to follow it.

[1:53:43] Commissioner I think part of your question was with the commissioners be interested

[1:53:50] entertaining the thought. Before we get into launching an investigation as to the

[1:53:54] legality of it. Want to be respectful of staff time and what by take to get to that

[1:54:00] point. I will tell just from my perspective, I would have no issue whatsoever voting to

[1:54:04] turn these over to the city. Marco Island. They're on Marco Island there in your city.

[1:54:13] think you We do a great job running but I certainly wouldn't have any problem

[1:54:18] myself entertain that thought. obviously the Devils in the details. So I know you are

[1:54:25] asking that specific questions. I appreciate I appreciate Commissioner It's

[1:54:29] not something you just looking to offload to us are also give us the numbers, the

[1:54:32] background. We all represent the same county counsel. Henry, you head up. I did I

[1:54:37] just it for the legality question. in Apple Park use these phrases. It was

[1:54:47] intergovernmental Asset Transfer Resolution negotiated incrementally between county

[1:54:53] staff and city administration. That was in 1997. And the same thing happened in 1998.

[1:54:57] Between the county the city for our Reckitt center. So they were 2 situations where

[1:55:04] things that were managed by the county we're in turn given to us and that. So just want

[1:55:10] to make a point that we're not recreating the wheel. This has something done before. We have

[1:55:17] to just make it's apples to apples what we're talking specifically about I think all

[1:55:21] of us would entertain the idea. But if we heard initially, it's not possible

[1:55:27] due to league alleys doesn't matter if we would entertain it. So it's likely I would

[1:55:30] just say, let's not put the cart before the horse agree. I got as a homework assignment.

[1:55:35] we all agree exploring the conversation and it ight go further if it looks like there

[1:55:41] was a legal possibility. And if there wasn't, probably would come to a as kind of a

[1:55:48] shorter discussion trade wilt review the record. Senator. Yeah, I know, get So know we

[1:55:59] all go to we are going commission and you had something like we have to see

[1:56:03] the net income and expenses on rec center. Before we start doing tree. I did. And in the

[1:56:09] comment that I have has to do with making brief expansion moment, Commissioner Saunders

[1:56:15] says about devil's in the details. These are county wide facilities available for all

[1:56:22] county residents and sometimes people get possessor E when assets like this are brought

[1:56:30] in by a municipality and then the municipality just thinking is just for them and their

[1:56:35] citizens. And so as we're moving, if in fact this moves forward, just you please

[1:56:43] assure that these these assets can and will be open for the entire residents Collier

[1:56:49] County. You would have some say so that right? Just like a rocket Some conditions on it

[1:56:53] for free play and use that. So certainly all open anybody else on this. All close it out

[1:57:02] with? I think we in the business Commissioners, counselors road conscious of

[1:57:05] staff time, right? What it would take to put something together to have a yes or no.

[1:57:11] So like what you're saying. First little homework. First of conversation opener. Then

[1:57:14] if it gets to the heavy lifting. Well, as on our daughter, we owe the answers

[1:57:18] and the white paper, I guess guys, didn't I see a few people got the better of it.

[1:57:25] The quick four-minute break or anybody need if not just taking yourself, will keep

[1:57:29] fortune All We have a couple additional topics and we got a great time here.

[1:57:38] Commissioners, anything on your list. You want to throw out to counselor slash

[1:57:41] commissioner communication topic of us are before I go into a few ancillary items

[1:57:43] here. All right. Maybe talk a little about the isles of Capri septic to sewer

[1:57:53] conversion. We touched a little bit about it. Commissioner Locastro. This is

[1:57:59] something you deeply invested in. Can you speak to that in a spot? Yeah, no, I speak it e -

[1:58:05] through it in detail. In just reiterate, we had some great success in of the for the

[1:58:09] first step is isn't taking up the septic tanks. You have to do a study I've said it

[1:58:14] several town hall meetings, especially and I was looking pretty and elsewhere. And even

[1:58:18] some people on Marco Island who had some concerns about it, it's not a matter Marco

[1:58:23] divesting sort of like Caxambas Marco divesting Isles of Capri. You know, I believe

[1:58:29] that it always be some sort of of cooperative effort may be less Marco. More on the

[1:58:37] county, but to determine that have to do the study and other communities where we have

[1:58:41] converted them from septic to can be a 5 to seven-year plan. So when I have people that

[1:58:45] think it's a a great idea, they want to know why we have an array started working the

[1:58:51] genesis of it of aisles of Capri. And it probably took me 2 or 3 years just to people in

[1:58:55] aisles of free to talk about this because they were fighting it for so long in

[1:58:58] other areas where we've come, that converted septic to sewer. Like I said, took 5 to

[1:59:02] 7 years from start to finish. We finally got over the first big hurdle, which was it's

[1:59:07] great to do the study. But does anybody have an extra 250,000 in their pocket to

[1:59:11] fund it before we use county funds to do it. There are several different avenues you

[1:59:16] can go through. Maybe it takes a little longer. But if we can get 250,000 from another

[1:59:22] source rather than come, haven't come out of our budget, we thought it was

[1:59:25] worth pursuing and we have had that success trying go through, you know, maybe the

[1:59:28] short version of the of what what's the next steps? What's the timeline? And most

[1:59:35] importantly separating rumor from fact on on a couple things. So as I was briefing

[1:59:39] yesterday, and I think Lancer lot of questions, thank you. Once again, Trinity Scott

[1:59:44] Transportation Management Services Department. So out of unincorporated area south of

[1:59:50] Naples, but north of Marco Island an area that is a community served by aging

[1:59:59] septic systems. We experience subject failures during rain events that contribute to

[2:00:03] nutrient loading to the adjacent Rookery Bay National Estuary and research reserve.

[2:00:11] The community lies within the city of Marco Island, Sanitary Sewer service area. So it

[2:00:16] requires city County joint Coordination. Collier County provides some water service to

[2:00:22] the area. So this. I I'm working with Matt McLean, who's our public utilities

[2:00:30] department head for Collier County for the the water portion of it. We'll be

[2:00:34] working city of Marco Island for the for the Sanitary sewer portion and then myself for

[2:00:42] the for the stormwater portion in 2025. We had a meeting with the county and the city of

[2:00:48] leadership just kind of discuss the and Commissioner Locastro actually spearhead of

[2:00:53] that to discuss. You know. How we can kind of take that project forward. the county

[2:01:01] requested $250,000 Legislative Appropriation to fund a feasibility study for the

[2:01:06] conversion. And that feasibility study. Develop a phasing schedule for how a

[2:01:14] project can be laid out. It's going to look at, you know, do we need right of way things of

[2:01:21] that nature? It's not going to get into detailed design drawings, but it's going to

[2:01:25] really kind of set the stage for how the project will move forward. What will come out of

[2:01:30] that obviously will be a plan. And this isn't the first time Collier County has done this.

[2:01:37] We've done this with the city of Naples and the West could what? Phase one and phase 2,

[2:01:41] we just finished a very similar study for Golden Gate City septic to sewer

[2:01:45] conversion. That one is probably going to be a a the 20 year conversion or 10 of 10

[2:01:53] plus years at least conversion. And that one this will be a shorter time frame

[2:01:56] because we're dealing with a much smaller area. but the anticipated study duration for

[2:02:03] this is about 2 years and it's going to I'm incorporate public engagement with the

[2:02:08] residents and in the isles of Capri area. And certainly we're going to the folks your

[2:02:15] your staff from Marco Island as well engaged but we will work through this and come up

[2:02:21] ultimately with a plan and then the study. Sets us up for being able to go after future

[2:02:27] grants as well. That is one of the benefits of the study. We have done that without the

[2:02:33] West could We utilize that study them to go after grants, particularly on the sanitary

[2:02:40] sewer side because the conversion from septic to sewer is something that

[2:02:46] typically the legislature does look at favorably. And and we look at that the other benefit

[2:02:53] of being able to do this project together is. One. We're tearing up the

[2:02:58] infrastructure one time to the road gets torn up time. And then we share those costs of

[2:03:01] putting it back together and then also the residents are inconvenienced one time. Thank

[2:03:06] you. Before we open up for questions, Commissioner Locastro sorry. Can you there

[2:03:12] seems to be when I talk to the citizens of isles Capri, there's some will to do this.

[2:03:16] But there's some concern that Marco. Is interacting because we have the rights to plant.

[2:03:20] We didn't make it that way. The Deltona Corporation did. And then they ask questions as

[2:03:26] to welcome the county take care Could you run your own with a cup? Can you speak

[2:03:28] tonight? A little just as a public service announcement about it? number one, the

[2:03:32] study is going to tell us a lot of those questions. I get a lot of questions as well.

[2:03:35] And I was one of repeating the same answer, which is we don't even have a study. So the

[2:03:39] study might say an idea that everybody thinks would be the greatest thing in the history

[2:03:43] of the world. The study is going to say it's not. So that's number one. Number 2, I

[2:03:46] will say that citizens that are concerned this is somehow being force fed by either

[2:03:52] Marco trying to give it up for the county trying to pull it big part of can come in

[2:03:58] diverting any community from septic to sewer community engagement and also will part

[2:04:05] of the reasons why I think this can kick, you know, down the road, maybe it wasn't as

[2:04:08] aggressively discuss what the citizens there was. You know, it was sort of fifty-fifty and

[2:04:14] that it was, you know, it fell off of the list of priorities, you know, so I don't know if

[2:04:17] I'm answering your question perfectly. the timeframe, a lot of it is directed by

[2:04:26] citizen engagement involvement and not just and not at all. The city of Marco and the

[2:04:33] county have been meetings behind closed doors and force-feeding, you know, some

[2:04:37] sort of conversion. But we need to study first, which will tell us a lot. And then

[2:04:43] we move forward, you know, from there. So I don't know. Maybe might not of answer your

[2:04:47] question perfectly of trendy as if the clarity end and if I may in and I'm sure Mr. Martin

[2:04:53] will correct And actually it's not Mister Martin, probably if I'm not mistaken, you already

[2:04:59] provide sanitary sewer service to Hart to at least a portion of the island already. So it

[2:05:06] would make sense. And it's within your service area. And there's so there's

[2:05:09] infrastructure there. So and we don't have sanitary sewer infrastructure in that area.

[2:05:18] So it would make sense that that Marco too. my point, not by any of our design. This was

[2:05:22] famed long before we were sitting at it is in the city's sewer service area. Also go

[2:05:30] and up. Yeah, my question would be for testing and this is also our for a plan,

[2:05:34] correct? It's one of the components within the 4 you plan to develop a septic to

[2:05:44] sewer project out Given the proximity. Of septic trained fields to the waterways.

[2:05:54] Obviously have nutrients going into those train fields which is connected to the ground

[2:05:58] directly connected to the waterway. So, yes, this is a component of that alternate

[2:06:03] water quality plan that the city has with the FDP. Just that the infrastructure that

[2:06:12] you have on Marco that supports isles of Capri. I mean, we'll wait for the

[2:06:16] studies. But some of the questions I feel from citizens are their expectation that

[2:06:20] we're going replicate and build all that infrastructure on the county side and then

[2:06:27] shut the door to Marco and then you will be out of the isles of Capri business. First

[2:06:31] of all, I don't think financially that that's going to be feasible. And I think

[2:06:33] the studies are going to point that out and say they're would maybe maybe need to some

[2:06:39] changes, some that this that or the other, but to basically shut off the valve on Marco

[2:06:43] and we're going to build an entire infrastructure on the other side to support Isaac

[2:06:47] Brady. That's not realistic. I don't think, but we'll let you know what we'll get. We'll get

[2:06:54] those ideas from the analysis on And the cost estimates things like that. parks, we

[2:06:59] have septic systems. What is a lot to talk about? I do actually have one questions.

[2:07:05] Thank Scott. I I I was lucky enough to attend that meeting. that 25 with representatives

[2:07:14] from the Isle of Capri Commissioner Locastro our previous city manager and our

[2:07:18] present city manager just a map. This is what we've got to do. So with that being stated

[2:07:25] with our location and I guess the next question Goodland. Is that even in a conversation?

[2:07:36] Does it and I'm not sure the mapping does that come to Marco? Does that go somewhere

[2:07:40] else? Because as we know, this is E a long process that if a conversation were to be

[2:07:46] started, should start now. So a 10 year plan. No, again, 50 mail, some good by tomorrow.

[2:07:56] I'm just curious B of commissioner. Locastro said it has to be a community will for

[2:07:59] starters or the state has the force on Sunday. That's really the 2 directions. If there's

[2:08:05] no community. Well, I'm not looking to go to somebody else's community and impose my

[2:08:07] will on him if it becomes a necessity through the state due to water quality and

[2:08:11] larger pictures that we all have to sit at the table. But that's my thoughts on the

[2:08:15] unity. Can correct me if I'm wrong, some of the serious issues we're concerned about

[2:08:20] on isles of Capri. Obviously, they're a very environmentally sensitive area because every

[2:08:24] of the waterways around and not that Goodland isn't. But some of the leaching and some

[2:08:28] of the air. It shoes that we haven't house of Capri. Alright and Goodland. I mean,

[2:08:33] and I'm not an engineer. I don't have the study here, the they're not they don't seem to

[2:08:37] be as prevalent on on Goodland. So there again, you know, we can do anything but

[2:08:43] we can't do everything. I was a Capri is really the focus right now. And I think that's

[2:08:46] why we were successful in getting the 250,000 because we were able to spell out with

[2:08:50] photos, picture everything. The serious concerns. And to your point, you know, the

[2:08:59] citizens of Goodland are blowing up. My inbox is saying, you know, to pull out

[2:09:03] our septic tanks, I'm not saying people on isles of Capri are, but even as said,

[2:09:07] we just have like that. Rain storms on isles of Capri. We see some serious septic

[2:09:12] issues, not so much on on Goodland, but you know what will Goodland be enough and

[2:09:18] the and the rotation at some point? a lot of places that are on septic tanks right now

[2:09:22] that are out in the middle of rural areas, where of septic probably going to be there for

[2:09:26] a while. But these communities that they're going to be in the rotation at some point and

[2:09:30] things that we learn on isles of Capri, then will, you know, help us with the unity and not

[2:09:34] that we can't walk and chew gum at the same time and attacked multiple different

[2:09:38] communities. But it is a big, heavy lifting expensive projects. You don't want to

[2:09:41] get out ahead of your headlights and have all the studies done and then just put

[2:09:45] it on the shelf and not do anything because and things obviously changed. So isles

[2:09:50] would say right now and that's - why we're focused on it. like you said, there is a community

[2:09:56] will there and the state may have a say so eventually and septic and coastal areas might

[2:09:59] be a bigger conversation than us. Councilors commissioners. Anything else accounts? A

[2:10:03] great place. Later this conversation. I would you how to begin to assess I woke up

[2:10:10] reason incorporated. Correct? Yes. When and where and why might isle of Capri and or

[2:10:21] Marco Island consider annexing Capri? And would that have any favorable impact on the

[2:10:27] management of are? I'm just trying to look at how you move forward. Credit I say

[2:10:36] everything out loud, which is why I travel under the cover of darkness because I guess

[2:10:41] you're white paper on. That's going to about 600 pages long. please absolutely for all

[2:10:52] please we we couple of years ago approved development on isles of Capri with a

[2:10:56] commitment from the developer to extend bigger lines to his facility and also enhance the

[2:11:04] cold numbers from Santa's for the flush, which huge environmental improvement. And

[2:11:11] so the necessity for the annexation isles of Capri is portion of that to offset

[2:11:18] those expenses. The major expenses running a larger sewer line out there in order

[2:11:23] to facilitate the ultimate hook up 2 of the residents that are there along the way

[2:11:29] for the septic to sewer conversion. Just tell you what I hear, you know, Marco, but

[2:11:35] was it 6 referendum votes to become the city? Didn't happen quickly. Right? Isles of Capri

[2:11:42] of a ton of people that move their from Marco because they like that. It looked like

[2:11:45] Marco, 30, 40 years. like the vibe. Community will would be needed. And don't have any

[2:11:51] idea if this even an inkling the there for that. But that's it's best. I can figure it

[2:11:56] out. You know, I did because like in my district for city of Naples is it. We don't have

[2:12:05] a natural barrier. You water around your island unit separate you from these closed

[2:12:10] jurisdictional parts of the unincorporated Collier County. You don't know where my line

[2:12:17] between the city and district 4 is there's a lot of shared utilities to go cross lines

[2:12:21] back and forth with half your portion of my district. It's on a corporate on city water,

[2:12:28] Maple City, water authority. And then we have once we have shared offer Bayshore and some

[2:12:31] of the communities. Right now we're talking about expansions that we have to share. A lot

[2:12:35] of these 30 talked about the West projects. So there's no like definitively land very

[2:12:39] like you guys have that would you know separate you. So it works is nothing. We're not

[2:12:46] reinventing the wheel here on this project now and do it on a regular basis, especially my

[2:12:52] my district. for clarification, the residents would pay connection fees to

[2:12:57] to offset the cost. You know, for the capacity that they would be utilizing. So I don't

[2:13:07] know if that was the reason that you are asking that question for the annexation

[2:13:12] too. Perhaps offset those costs, but they they would be required to pay a connection

[2:13:17] fee and it's not. Typically a cheap connection fee for which is another thing that we

[2:13:24] actually worked in the West Village project. We worked to get grant funds to be able to

[2:13:28] buy that connection fee down for the residents. We were able to get grant funds to be

[2:13:32] able to buy that down, too. Reduce that cost burden on the residents. So thank you. And

[2:13:39] want to to anybody who's watching where we are aggressively looking to do

[2:13:43] that for hours of Capri. So we're not trying to force feed this if we look like we were,

[2:13:47] we would have success to get the cost. But down for residents. But it might delay

[2:13:54] the project were willing to wait as long as there isn't some sort of major

[2:13:58] environmental type of issue. But this isn't we're making a command decision. Here's your

[2:14:02] bill. And the county hasn't really done that. Anyone. I'm not saying citizens haven't

[2:14:04] incurred cost, but the cost has always been significantly less than what it actually is

[2:14:12] because of the different processes. The county has gone through to get grant some

[2:14:14] things that can move sort of slow. That's why we needed the study probably several years

[2:14:18] ago. So right now we might be in the seeking grant, you know, window to Joe to buy

[2:14:25] down some costs. But, you know, it is what it is, but definitely moving forward more

[2:14:28] aggressively now. So but we know we're not looking to pass the costs of blindly to any

[2:14:35] residents of isles of Capri and they're concerned about that. Even the ones that that

[2:14:37] are in favor of the conversion. big question is how much is this going to cost

[2:14:42] me? And our focus is as little as humanly possible. And that's that's our going

[2:14:47] position. But at some point, you know, those so those septic tanks are going to last

[2:14:51] forever. And just to add that you know, Commissioner Hall as he was on our first meetings,

[2:14:58] we attend 4 years ago. If you guys did it on purpose. we were to one in the morning, I

[2:15:05] believe. And that was part of the deal. developer would have had to put a mainline from end

[2:15:11] of the line and all the way up to where your lift station was and increase the size that to

[2:15:16] handle all the homes as it passed their properties. So that was a cost that they're

[2:15:21] not going to get passed on to this. The residents there because developer has to pay

[2:15:24] that portion of So that a benefit for the community. Maybe if they didn't see it at

[2:15:30] the time, eventually it will be help with the cost. When time comes to do the frontage

[2:15:35] fees for that happen. So. So one of the morning here, call a follow up on something you

[2:15:41] said Commissioner. market was a unique entity. We feel like, we're not, but we definitely

[2:15:48] feel like it. functional a bit like it. We have 2 bridges rate were geographically

[2:15:54] separated from everything else we have in an odd evolution from the developer who

[2:15:58] financial challenges, environmental challenges. So we're certainly a unique

[2:16:03] entity and there's not a lot like us out there. So we don't have the shared systems. Like

[2:16:06] you said, we don't we don't experience it be a little bold and say we're blessed in a lot

[2:16:11] of ways. Police force or citizens hard to get to mark or 2. We also have some

[2:16:18] challenges, not that this workshop hard to bring people to work here, hard to get

[2:16:22] people to be able to live here are working class. So we have a unique set of challenges

[2:16:24] that come with the benefits of our. Well, a little unique homeowners association feeling

[2:16:33] like community, even though we're not. But we certainly we certainly have touch of that

[2:16:37] as anything else on the isles of Capri to septic sewer conversion. Counselors staff.

[2:16:43] Anything. Alright, tremendous. We're moving along with great time. And if we get to this

[2:16:46] one. This is not my favorite, but I foster this one on the list. Commissioner Locastro,

[2:16:53] you know, I've been on it for this one for a while. So just be open-minded. A little

[2:16:56] pitch. My case. Yes. It's called a so we meet up budget. You got that energy I know

[2:17:12] this one's a little bit of a touchy subject. Let me just. Pitch my ideas. I've been at

[2:17:18] this with see will school construction are staging a drop-off and pick-up point

[2:17:21] since about 2005, when I was. First appointed to the market Waterways Association. Back

[2:17:27] then we were using Watts vacant lots where passing ordinances where contract you

[2:17:32] can use a vacant lot to. Poor and stage rules and pick-up and drop-off. We have rules

[2:17:40] and regulations, you can only do it 3 times a year particular while we don't want

[2:17:42] them becoming a business. But we knew were going land scarce, which is a challenge.

[2:17:48] We're still land scarce and we saw some challenges. Others, new technologies is vital. See

[2:17:52] was us things that make it much easier. Poor one on top of the other one. But one want

[2:17:54] us to be ripped out, replaced, which is going to be about. Estimating 70 miles of sea

[2:18:01] wall in Marco Gonna come here to the end of its useful life. So when experience some

[2:18:05] challenges with this, so commissioners, here is my thought. As a conversation

[2:18:11] starter and commissioner, will you actually helped put this in my mind our time on the tdc

[2:18:17] you said think big, bring us some ideas, bring initiatives. So I look at the staging area

[2:18:22] has not as a staging area possible. Maybe just drop off and pick up. or 2 days a week.

[2:18:29] Could we make the gateway to Marco look more beautiful with a permitting fee? Could it be

[2:18:34] screened off? Could you landscape could have a big wall picture of a manatee?

[2:18:38] Could a park be incorporated in that with the fishing pier in conjunction with the tdc? I

[2:18:41] don't know all the answers. I know that we in the city could possibly patrol police do the

[2:18:49] enforcement. We have a lot of options being closer geographically near it. Now,

[2:18:53] one good question. wanted to come on your own side. The bridge. We have a little land

[2:18:56] looks directly at single family houses that's never going to get traction. This is

[2:19:00] a little bit less of a civil that county property. So guess what I'm asking, would anybody

[2:19:04] be opposed if I put? Myself and the counselors, if they want to be involved, public

[2:19:09] meeting, put a plan together with our sea wall contractors and made a simple presentation

[2:19:15] open-minded presentation. It might go nowhere, but I'm willing to do the time energy

[2:19:17] effort. To see if we can better beautify the gateway to Marco, bring some money and

[2:19:23] will doing it may be making a pocket park have a fishing pier. Who knows and make it a

[2:19:28] showpiece that only allows possible drop-off and pick-up. Maybe a couple days week. Just

[2:19:32] my thoughts. commission, a look at you want to start. You have any thoughts on that? I

[2:19:39] mean, and I don't think this is to be a big, long debate. Much like some of the things.

[2:19:43] You know, Commissioner Saunders said, I think we're open anything. You know, my

[2:19:47] initial concern is when I first moved to Marco Island and I wasn't a county

[2:19:50] commissioner. Every time I came home from work from physicians, regional drove

[2:19:54] over the bridge and I saw the big giant pile you know, construction debris that's out

[2:20:00] there for 3 months in an unsafe way. It was and fenced off. It was nothing waiting

[2:20:04] for a barge that never came to take it out to the Gulf to turn into a a fish the into

[2:20:07] into a reef. And I thought, wow, this is the front door to Marco Island. As you said, you

[2:20:14] know, the citizens on the other side of the bridge would never entertain a staging

[2:20:19] area, a guarantee a prominent senator or congressman. Our governor lived on Marco Island

[2:20:25] that they that they would shoot just downright right away. coming back to the

[2:20:29] initial statement, would we entertain it? Sure. Some of my pushback has been when we

[2:20:36] removed all that construction, debris cleaned up that area and allowed the front door of

[2:20:40] Marco Island to look like the way that it should. And then if you drive by there at any

[2:20:44] given time, not now because we letting the city of Naples for one time type thing. And it's

[2:20:50] a it's it's a government has it has public. Value to get the bridge rebuilt. That's a

[2:20:55] little different. Then giving county property away to a private business so they can

[2:21:02] construct cheaper, faster. Better. I mean, was being built all over the island. A

[2:21:07] barge pulls up to my finding to seawall right now in Bucaneer court barge would

[2:21:11] pull up to the back of my can now build the wall port. And so they're there is a way to

[2:21:16] do it. Do we want to give the keys to a private business of county property and every 2 to

[2:21:22] white twice a week. Based on your proposal. Also blame it on, you tell here's the days

[2:21:31] where you wouldn't be able to access this county property because contractor a B or C is

[2:21:36] pouring see, was there to save some money or to, you know, have a more efficient

[2:21:40] construction process. When we talked about it previously, I didn't think that was a great

[2:21:47] idea only because when we cleared out all the construction debris there and

[2:21:49] made it a nice open area. The cheers we heard from citizens so we've got some citizens

[2:21:55] here. If they would like 3 days a week for that era to be rubbed off and then I did get

[2:22:00] some of the proposals from some of the companies, as you would imagine, they've said to

[2:22:05] to sort of sweeten the pot will build a park will put a fishing pier and everything.

[2:22:09] Yes, but then you'll still lockdown. Your business there and have a convenience cost

[2:22:15] savings and all that that I'm not sure they would pass on necessarily to the customer. I

[2:22:20] mean, if you add water access at Mackle Park, would you like to take a big chunk of parking

[2:22:24] and give it away to a private company let them, you know, do whatever they want their 2 or

[2:22:28] 3 days a week. So I always saw it as a as a bad idea. You know, we let the Marco Island

[2:22:36] Yacht Club is that area as a staging area? Because if we didn't, then I would. They

[2:22:41] also presented us with a map that would have shown trucks driving all over the island to

[2:22:45] get material so that just made sense. And they also had a very tight timeline of when

[2:22:49] they needed that area right now. And I will tell you, we had a lot of conversations

[2:22:54] with the city of Naples to make sure that if we did allow them to use the base of the

[2:22:59] Jolley Bridge is staging area which they're using now. And it's not the only one. staging

[2:23:02] areas all over the county. So Commissioner Kohl's got a big one and one of his county park

[2:23:07] areas as well. But we wanted to make sure that it was for minimum time. It was kept neat

[2:23:15] and tidy. But the difference their building appear that has community impact. So a

[2:23:20] civilian company being able to use county property to more efficiently, build seawalls.

[2:23:26] It does have county impact the Marcos. It is an impact because it's assisting

[2:23:30] citizens and may be getting there seawall spill. You know, I'll just say rather than sit

[2:23:36] here and custom discuss and debate this one back and forth. I you know. I think we

[2:23:43] would take up a proposal, you know, and if it's there we don't have a for sale sign in

[2:23:47] front of caxambas. But if you think you want us to explore, you hand the keys over to you.

[2:23:52] I don't know that any of buddy at the county has an appetite to 2 or 3 days a week the base

[2:23:59] of the Jolley Bridge be closed to citizens when it's their county property. And quite a

[2:24:02] few people now now utilize it. And I also felt that some of the proposals that I had heard

[2:24:08] from businesses who would benefit from it if we used it it seemed like they sweeten

[2:24:14] the pot by saying, you know, of a bill to $30,000 fishing pier. But return on

[2:24:19] investment. Back to me when you let me leaves that area. You know, let's not get

[2:24:24] suckered by by you know, commercial businesses who respect. greatly. They provide

[2:24:30] a service. But it's it's not like they're not able to build seawalls unless they get this

[2:24:36] footprint. The Naples pier will not be able to be reconstructed unless they get

[2:24:41] half-a-dozen lay down areas across the county. That one's a no-brainer. The Marco Island

[2:24:46] Yacht Club couldn't be upgraded the way it is without getting that lay down area

[2:24:51] because if we would have said no, you would had trucks driving all over our island,

[2:24:54] which made no sense from a safety standpoint. You know, I wear and tear on the roads and

[2:24:58] things like that. This one to me seems like it would be 80% good for the for the for

[2:25:05] civilian, you know, business and 20%. You know, good for us. If something could be

[2:25:11] presented, that was legal. It it was it may that area better for citizens and all of that.

[2:25:17] So I guess that'll be flushed out and maybe the kozel. But I've been really A supporter

[2:25:23] of preserving that area and keeping that front door of Marco Island clean only

[2:25:30] because there are other options when there hasn't been options. Like I said with the

[2:25:33] yacht Club or with the Naples Pier. Okay. I hated it last and then we all did partner.

[2:25:39] The city was very helpful to work with us on making sure that the plan was as tight as

[2:25:44] possible on that the way the city of Naples no longer needed the Jolley Bridge, they

[2:25:48] would restore it even better than what they found it. But making it a permanent. Spot

[2:25:56] and a dual use type of a would be would be open to the proposal. But I know I would

[2:26:02] have issues with continued issues unless sites are read something that was amazing and

[2:26:08] wonderful and, you know, the citizens Margot think it's a great, wonderful idea. But I

[2:26:11] can tell you it wouldn't be something that would coming from the county saying why we

[2:26:14] really want to. Allow businesses to go there. So, you know, this would be

[2:26:21] something Marco would present to And my Commissioner Saunders would say what will

[2:26:26] consider anything. But there are some long close in the tent on that one. And we want

[2:26:30] to make sure, too, that we're not taking away a benefit from citizens to utilize like

[2:26:35] county area because we gave, you know, the keys to a private business heard and

[2:26:41] understood. I'm not saying is possible, but if there's a will in a way, we'll see if we

[2:26:44] can make it better than it is and function for everybody. Council shipping, isn't it? I

[2:26:47] read the. As a business would not discount concept Let's make it business plan. Someone

[2:27:02] wants to get a benefit for free. Well, we removed the word free and there you need

[2:27:06] to put skin in the game so that no one loses anything. And we do have a public

[2:27:10] benefit. I would. I would suggest that the plan has to be both a business. For

[2:27:18] construction of seawalls and a benefit for the public. The county should not absorb

[2:27:25] losses nor should the city. people benefiting from should be paying some sort of fee,

[2:27:34] some sort of investment. Can be made to work so long as those who benefit. Put skin in

[2:27:41] the game. Make some payments pay fees on a annual basis on and on and It's an area that

[2:27:51] could use upgrades quite frankly. And in the public could benefit at the same time

[2:27:57] as businesses But everyone should have skin in the game. That'll be a homework

[2:28:02] assignment on your side because this the oldest I would only say considered the

[2:28:08] aesthetics because when you have, you know, it's not like they're going to be operating

[2:28:11] out there and visibly. So if they build a fishing pier and put a covered parking area and

[2:28:16] plan a few flowers, but 3 days a week, there's going to be a giant crane there and barges

[2:28:22] coming in and out and a big area fenced off. That's extremely visible. So it looks

[2:28:27] like a permanent construction of, you know, George or lay down site. You know, that's

[2:28:32] that's part of it as So, you know, has to be under review was put up absolutely. And

[2:28:41] please bring the podium and she has a comment on this. And I just I just want to say when

[2:28:47] you when you do bring the plan and I hear you're going to bring us a plan. And I really

[2:28:51] afraid to bring a plane down. But I would like be afraid. Don't be afraid. I what we are

[2:28:56] when I also want to hear is what? Because you drive by it every single day. I drive by

[2:29:04] it every 6 months from a broad rock, the boat on 9.51 right by on the on the river. So

[2:29:10] shared with us. Some of your thoughts as to what could be done to make the USTA Dick's

[2:29:14] Better. For the community for your commute as the gateway to Marco Love. Let us know what

[2:29:20] those things are. And then a business proposition with regard to the shared use. How

[2:29:28] that could benefit the residents of Marco as well as the county. Trinity Scott of

[2:29:33] Common Pleas and 2 things. One, this is only a half acre site. lot of folks get this

[2:29:43] confused with FDOT also has property adjacent to it that they utilize for their bridge

[2:29:49] maintenance and they're not going to allow us to encourage in on that. So and then the

[2:29:54] other thing that I would say is in the end, we have talked with several folks who have

[2:29:58] come together with a proposal in one of the things that we all have to take into

[2:30:01] consideration. Is that coastal zone will be utilizing this site when just talked about

[2:30:08] the Collier Creek, a dredging this will most likely be the staging area for the Collier

[2:30:13] Creek. Judging we worked with Marco Island previously when there was a bridge project

[2:30:18] where they needed to deploy their bring their barge from the site. So for those

[2:30:25] municipal projects, this municipal projects need to take precedence over any of

[2:30:30] the private business, you know, and I believe your referendum just passed by one

[2:30:34] vote. And I think that there was considerable bridge work in that. I would expect that

[2:30:38] you're going to be coming to me to talk to me about this site. So I don't I don't I

[2:30:43] would like that to have the sighting come bird when you come to me by by private I

[2:30:50] just take that into consideration. I tried to hold this site, you know, sacred

[2:30:54] for those type of municipal type activities. I understand that there's other private,

[2:30:59] you know, thoughts about it as well. But I know when our coastal zone folks need to do

[2:31:04] a dredge. This is in this particular area. This is the site that that we need to

[2:31:08] utilize as well. So taking that into consideration when you're thinking about those

[2:31:13] plans and like I said, your future bridge workers. Well, I know that that's going to be

[2:31:20] important. Appreciate the would say also looking at the zoning on it. I believe it's

[2:31:24] deemed right of way. You know, other thing was correct me if I'm wrong, where we we're in a

[2:31:32] lot of deep conversation because of NFL allow us to look a couple through or it's

[2:31:36] not an easy thing to navigate when you're coming one way, especially got a big truck.

[2:31:39] You almost have to go find somewhere to do you turn to come back to utilize the

[2:31:43] entrance because you can't turn trucks directly across it. They will allow us to put

[2:31:48] a cups so you are correct wait with a city of Naples and appear project, they're

[2:31:54] actually going to have to stopped traffic to a little to do you turn and and all that.

[2:32:00] Now they are utilizing oversized vehicles as well. But yes, it it's going to

[2:32:06] involve Florida Department of Transportation to because it is their roadway anything with

[2:32:10] with regard to the access, appears that are coming in half to actually be s quarter.

[2:32:15] And sheriffs closed traffic down momentarily. But they know exactly the time. Within

[2:32:22] the minute when it arrives to for that So but standard, 18 wheeler bring in. And what

[2:32:29] they bring a kind of materials for the walls are concrete trucks. And still be an issue

[2:32:36] we gave Our own right something in your in the city of Naples. They do business of

[2:32:38] the one of the park's of a 3rd in direction I see the cranes are by the talk in that

[2:32:44] direction of House are, well, no, we have a we're using Bayview Park. Maybe park is

[2:32:50] waste material from them here. That's coming off offshore on shore for landfill. It's not

[2:32:57] being used for. Our fisheries and then they're pretty much finished up with that. That

[2:33:04] was one of the other park accesses they needed for the commissioners. I'm not sure

[2:33:09] it's solvable, but I appreciate the ability to poke around and see if it could be

[2:33:11] least brainstorm. Some ideas. I think I'd ask our staff to explore. If there other

[2:33:19] options. talk about that half acre. It was that was that small. Understand that was the

[2:33:27] problem. Understand the state be reluctant to. Work out things. But that doesn't mean

[2:33:35] it would be impossible. So I don't know the state think I would be a possibility. I

[2:33:40] would she just that I uld be. Willing to at least take a look options. But maybe

[2:33:47] there's other options than that. Just that half acre. Appreciate that. Thank you.

[2:33:52] Listen, nothing's off the table. When years Lance Care says we are you trying to

[2:33:55] bring any idea? Can for the last pick. Because any other thoughts or comments on this.

[2:34:02] Any closing Counselors, before we open up to public comment, anything. All To do it more

[2:34:10] frequently. There you go. Us. I will have a few. We could have a few closing before we

[2:34:15] adjourn. many people are signed up for public comment? We have 4 registered speakers,

[2:34:21] one of which wishes to conceive time to another speaker. So look at 6 minutes

[2:34:24] for that. Speaker that if you please call up, okay our first speaker who wishes can see

[2:34:30] time as Diana And she wishes time to Miss Sharon Lockwood. Their income on that. Good

[2:34:43] afternoon. Commissioners City Council industry partners residences, just name for the

[2:34:48] record share Lockwood. My name is Sharon Lockwood and I have the privilege of erving as

[2:34:55] JW Marriott, Marco Island. The - largest resort in Collier County and one of the most

[2:35:02] significant economic drivers in southwest Florida. Hospitality landscape. I

[2:35:10] appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today about 2 opportunities. That are vital

[2:35:15] to the continued strength competitiveness and long-term sustainability of our tourism

[2:35:20] economy. We spoken about that first, which is the addition of the 6th sense of the

[2:35:26] tourism development tax. And I'd also like to speak about the privatization of the

[2:35:32] Collier County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Let me begin with us. Except. Tourism is

[2:35:38] the lifeblood of Collier County. It feels are small businesses supports thousands

[2:35:45] of jobs and provides the resources that allow us to maintain world-class beaches,

[2:35:51] parks and infrastructure. But the expectation of today's travelers and the realities of

[2:35:58] maintaining a premier destination have changed dramatically. We are competing

[2:36:03] not just with other Florida counties, but with global destinations and visitors and

[2:36:13] a global destinations that are investing aggressively and marketing beach preservation

[2:36:18] and visitor experience enhancements. This 6th sense is not paid by the residents,

[2:36:25] although I do know that Commissioner McDaniel said unless they wanted to book a

[2:36:28] whole room or an Airbnb on in the county or in Marco Island. But their pay by the tourists

[2:36:35] to visit our county and city each year. The 6th sense is not simply a tourist tax

[2:36:44] increase. It is an investment in Collier County and Marco Islands. Future. And

[2:36:49] importantly, it will deliver both immediate and long-term benefits. In the near term.

[2:36:55] The $0.06 may allow us to complete the sports complex expansion. Most Rick, the

[2:37:02] first focus is on the new baseball fields as mentioned earlier. Thank you,

[2:37:05] Commissioner Saunders, appreciate that. And it will bolster what very important,

[2:37:10] which is summer demand and tourism. If, as you know, there is a disparity between

[2:37:18] the visitors that we haven't season and the visitors that we have in our second and 3rd

[2:37:21] seasons of the year. And this project will also strengthen our community support you

[2:37:27] sports and expand event capacity. It is a tangible, visible, visible improvement

[2:37:36] that residents and visitors will benefit from right away. But the true value of the

[2:37:40] $0.06 far is far beyond the initial project. It gives us the ability to protect our

[2:37:46] beaches, strengthen our tourism infrastructure and ensure that our destination we

[2:37:51] mean remains resilience in the face of storms, erosion and rising operational demands. As

[2:38:01] the general manager of resort that welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

[2:38:07] I see firsthand how essential these investments are. Our visitors expect pristine

[2:38:13] beaches, reliable amenities and a seamless experience. And they notice when those

[2:38:18] expectations are met. The 6th sense allows us to meet those expectations. It ensures that

[2:38:25] we that the burden of these investments is shared by the visitors who enjoy them rather

[2:38:30] than falling solely on our residents. Now turning to the second opportunity

[2:38:36] privatization of the convention and Visitors Bureau. The tourism landscape

[2:38:41] is evolving at a pace that govern government structures often struggle to match

[2:38:46] marketing trends shift overnight traveler behavior changes rapidly competitive

[2:38:51] destinations are nimble, data driven and highly strategic remain competitive. Collier

[2:38:58] County needs a tourism organization that can operate with the same agility.

[2:39:02] Privatizing this evening. The cdb would allow for faster decision-making, more

[2:39:08] innovative marketing strategies and stronger partnerships with our private

[2:39:12] sector. It would enable us to leverage industry expertise respond quickly to market

[2:39:17] conditions and invest in campaigns that reflect real-time travel trends,

[2:39:22] flexibility is no longer a luxury. It is an SS a necessity. And in closing

[2:39:28] Marco Island, a Collier County are world-class destinations, but world class status must be

[2:39:34] earned protected and invested in. The 6th sense and the privatization of the CVB, our

[2:39:41] commitments to the future of our community. Our workforce and our economic vitality. And

[2:39:49] I strongly support both of these measures. And I stand by to partner with each of you to

[2:39:53] ensure Marco Island and Collier County continues to thrive as one of the most

[2:39:58] exceptional destinations in the world chair of Columbia. You said we are all in this

[2:40:03] together in paradise. And I agree with that. Thank you. Thank you. Our next

[2:40:09] purchasers, speakers, Mister David Box. Good afternoon. Commissioners and wonderful

[2:40:21] Marco Island City Council. I just wanted to your neighbor, David Boggs, Marco Island.

[2:40:30] Talking about Tiger Tale. Recently, we had ambitious debate about fishing on the

[2:40:39] beaches in season is coming soon. Sometimes there's a conflict when fishermen and

[2:40:47] beachgoers on the same place. And councilor Champagne had recommended. counselor Palumbo

[2:40:56] said, why don't the fishermen go to Tiger tale? And one of the up obstacles and going to

[2:41:03] a Tiger tale is accessibility. It's difficult for us to get there with year equipment. And

[2:41:12] season approaches. But I'm learning now the government takes so long it could be

[2:41:15] decades before we could even get this resolved. So but is there a way that the Collier

[2:41:23] County could look at putting in some type of a boardwalk, a floating dock or something to

[2:41:28] help us get across the lagoon so that we can actually reach the beach without having to go

[2:41:35] 10 miles. That's what it feels like anyway. But in doing this, you would accomplish a

[2:41:39] lot of good for everyone for beachgoers on South Beach. It would avoid so many conflicts

[2:41:46] that are there and it also open up opportunity for us fishermen to enjoy the beach

[2:41:53] without interference. A birds with one stone just by providing access. And so all I

[2:42:02] think you would be something that we can look at I would encourage you to look at it.

[2:42:07] And the reason I even think of this as day during last season. There was like 15 or

[2:42:13] 20 fishing poles during the day. And luckily I wasn't fishing that day. I just

[2:42:18] happened to walk to be like man. This is crazy and it's Marco doesn't have a

[2:42:22] designated fishing zone like Naples. You have the fishing pier. You have designated area

[2:42:30] where fishermen can go and get out of the way of out of beachgoers. So can we look at

[2:42:34] that as we develop Tiger tale of revamping bring it back to find a way that we can access

[2:42:39] so that we could get out of the way of swimmers and go fish without having their

[2:42:46] conflicts seem to come during season. So appreciate your time. I'm thankful for Marco

[2:42:51] Island City Council and if we could find a way to bridge that again, we can solve a lot

[2:42:57] of problems together and use lot of good for our city. So thank you for your time. Thank

[2:42:59] you. Our final register speakers, Mister Brian Gilmore. Ryan Kamana. Welcome.

[2:43:13] And if you just a name for the record, please. Brian Gilmore callers who on dock.

[2:43:23] Councilman Commissioners appreciate the opportunity to a few words today. Thank you

[2:43:27] for the public to tear and for those watching, I don't prepare statements when I

[2:43:32] speak. I just like to speak from the heart. I have on the waterways committee here. We

[2:43:42] follow our company's been in The owner. 22 years in business here on Marco. You

[2:43:49] know, 5 start cool rating 100 reviews. Plus, I mean that a business bureau, we just not

[2:43:53] perfect, but we try to do things right. The best of our ability. And we feel like. We

[2:43:59] always try to partner with our customers and with the public and with the city and the

[2:44:09] county and everyone involved. You know, if anybody ever need anything, you know, we try to

[2:44:13] help out. And when working for people, we see it as a partnership. So just here of

[2:44:22] thank Commissioner Locastro for his comments about that purchase site we have I met

[2:44:26] with them privately to talk about it and he's super smart and he explained everything

[2:44:33] about, you know, how things have to, you know, have a common ground swell of of

[2:44:38] support. And and that's Councilman Palumbo. Talk to him also. And he was open this

[2:44:48] idea because without the ability of the ordinance that we have now for staging on

[2:44:57] private vacant. Lots around the island. You know, would be pushing barges back and forth

[2:45:01] to Naples to the landing because Naples has a site there and you pay and you pull

[2:45:07] up your truck and you offload and that's all would be looking to do you know, over

[2:45:12] by the purge, you know, but we do have the vacant lot ordinance than, you know, when

[2:45:18] the property owners agree to allow to use their land, you know, we have to no give them

[2:45:26] all of our charts information. Obviously, do we have to pay them so forth? And we have to

[2:45:32] respect the property and take care of it. We don't make candles on lots anymore

[2:45:38] because ordinance we'e able to do that. But now we end. The trucks are coming over the

[2:45:46] road anyways. The trucks are just going to vacant lot somewhere in the neighborhood

[2:45:50] which we still need. Even if we had the bridge site, it would alleviate maybe a little

[2:45:56] bit of that in the neighborhoods. So, you know, to get a truck over to that

[2:46:03] bridge site. huge drop, something off or pick up a load of debris of material. It

[2:46:10] would just probably go over the other bridge and just come around. And then over the

[2:46:13] joint production and to that site. So not saying anything perfect appreciate, you know,

[2:46:18] the fact that you be open to listening. Just everything I've heard. I've been here for

[2:46:25] 2 hours with y'all and it's amazing what you guys do. Okay. Like I couldn't even

[2:46:31] like scratch the surface of at you guys all have to deal with. And everybody in the

[2:46:35] public, every single person here has their own agenda, their own interest. But you

[2:46:40] guys have to do it all so so hats off to you guys just want to let you know that we

[2:46:48] appreciate, you know, any opportunity to be part of something that could help the

[2:46:53] residents because you got to think you're on an island. Let's not forget Ron Island.

[2:47:01] So barges are needed walls fall down. They have to be fixed you know where to do it.

[2:47:10] Councils commissioners any we're great time there. Any final thoughts? Quickly,

[2:47:12] anybody. you're anything you want just think is a thought out venture between our 2

[2:47:25] organizations here to governments. And I think it was probably. Needed a few

[2:47:30] years we don't know. I heard a rumor was probably a decade ago made the last time we did.

[2:47:37] We can better shortly after we were elected 16, it 10 years. When I got the chair. When I

[2:47:45] got the opportunity to chair this year, kind of wanted to. Have this type of olive branch

[2:47:53] with the city of Naples. And I know talked to Amy boat. It's getting with the different

[2:47:56] incorporated. Cities within our footprint of the county's. So kind of glad this happened.

[2:48:03] And I think it's and I think it is important the citizens see like the gentleman from

[2:48:09] the wall company to see welcome ISIS. There's a lot of moving parts, lot of moving

[2:48:15] parts and as you move up. in the in the in the hierarchy of government, the part of just

[2:48:21] gets more moving parts. But I think like commissioner cashiers said that. It helps

[2:48:27] if are all grown in the same direction. We all want the best thing for our citizens as

[2:48:32] we're all here for, you know, we just want to do the right thing and the best thing and I

[2:48:34] think we can kind of get our has to go. We don't need official meeting for

[2:48:41] councilmember to reach out to one of the Mister Blitzer, MR. Commissioner Locastro because

[2:48:45] he represents this district. They got an idea project are some of thinking about. that's

[2:48:53] why the voters and Marco Island vote for him. You know, he might not directly

[2:48:58] represent them. They still vote So that's what we're here for. And that's what I tell

[2:49:02] people. City of Naples. not? Why not represent you on every aspect of a building permit or

[2:49:09] anything like that. That's yours. Your government has to handle that. But I'm still

[2:49:11] here to represent you anywhere can through the county. And I try to express to them. So I

[2:49:16] think it's important that we all. Have that mindset move forward. I want to thanks to

[2:49:26] are manager City Manager Casey Lucious. Thank you for. Arranging this wonderful

[2:49:33] event. And one more thing that Mr. Le Costa has the longest in the longest newsletter

[2:49:40] every month. And it's extremely know, actually. It's extremely informative. But the

[2:49:48] difference between reading this come, commissioner Story Commissioner La CA shows

[2:49:55] detailed they dot and presentation. I think this is so much better. The heat is

[2:49:59] the reason why that we actually really killing a lot of miss Miss. Can you nice

[2:50:07] representation or lot of wrong and not right. The information. so this is very

[2:50:15] important. I'm asking to do it all the time, but I think Mr. Low-cost or should I think he

[2:50:20] is a newsletter said incredible. And I think this open communication is still

[2:50:25] much better. I stand. And everyone of you commissioners, thank you for being here. Good

[2:50:33] luck So one day I just say about the newsletter, it's it's for the citizens and I

[2:50:36] have over 80,000 subscribers. And, you know, we had 4 people at the podium. So I think, you

[2:50:41] know, it serves both purposes. I get a lot of positive comments. Let me just throw

[2:50:45] this out there. Commissioner McDowell is gonna hate this statement. But when we have

[2:50:47] public comment at our commissioner meetings, he hit a low is whispered to me,

[2:50:54] especially somebody says something where we could provide an easy answer to that

[2:50:57] person, right? Or maybe they say something that is so egregious that we're all

[2:51:01] leaning forward you know, it's totally up to the chairs here. But when something was asked

[2:51:07] about Tiger Tale on the boardwalk, I do have a 2 sentences that would at least

[2:51:12] answer that if anybody is curious, if not of just send you the details, but it's up

[2:51:19] to you. so so that that ideas is is an old one that has been addressed even before I was a

[2:51:25] county commissioner in order to build a boardwalk across target, elegant, you would

[2:51:30] need permits and approvals by a lot of different environmental organizations.

[2:51:36] And I floated the idea so I could make sure that the answers that were a bit dusty

[2:51:40] that I had heard. We're relevant and the answer that comes back from the

[2:51:49] environmental groups that would have to be part of you know, making access easier for

[2:51:51] title. Tell was that such a fragile area? We're not looking to make make access

[2:51:57] easier for people to cut through the lagoon, cut through the mangrove so they

[2:52:01] can get to the beach easier and quicker. Also to it, you made it more convenient. It

[2:52:06] would bring more people to Tiger tale. And so there would be other issues. So I'll just

[2:52:11] leave it at that. It's asked and answered multiple times and that's why it has never

[2:52:17] been approved or explored. Do the environmental impact. like I said, the vehicle inclusion

[2:52:25] know is that the end we're not looking to make access easier there to cut through that area

[2:52:28] because of how sensitive it is that we would need the approval of multiple

[2:52:32] organizations and you know who they are, fish and wildlife and soe others. And they are

[2:52:38] they've asked and answer that question multiple over the years that you guys trying

[2:52:46] where where air. But then when I just thought I was sitting on a quick answer, it's an

[2:52:49] e-mail to you all we had out. If you I think Dr. Lucia said one thing. Sure to say, Casey,

[2:52:52] enough finished. Let's let's yes. Thank First, I'd like to thank the commissioners for

[2:52:57] making the drive down here and meeting our elected representatives. I like to

[2:53:04] thank the county manager for her partnership as well as the county staff who attended and

[2:53:08] they're always very responsive and cooperative with our city staff and then finally, we

[2:53:15] would like to get a picture of all the elected officials who are here today before you run

[2:53:20] out. If you'll just meet in the lobby get a photo. Thank you. He I was going to finish

[2:53:25] with some of the same political just say quickly echo what you said.

[2:53:27] Commissioners, thank you for coming down. Thank you for coming to our area. We

[2:53:32] appreciate it. Mister Chair, thank you for letting me about a media conference and

[2:53:36] appreciate your meant and lets hope to do it again sometime very soon in the last, let's

[2:53:41] say, said it's not just what Collier County can do for us. We are part of cake. if we do

[2:53:45] something for you, please don't hesitate to reach out. Also. Yes, sir, please. Love

[2:53:49] said this out of the meetings, sort of a call to action. I'd like for the city Council to

[2:53:55] take a position in support of tourist development tax and that get try to get the vote

[2:54:02] out because just a benefit Marco Island. the distant future. But we have to get we

[2:54:07] have to get a positive vote. we miss anybody? commissioners counselors had one more thing?

[2:54:13] You know, it was great to get us together here, I'm always at your disposal. So if you're

[2:54:18] trying to speak to all the commissioners much like I told Mike a that if they have an

[2:54:23] issue, they need to speak to their elected officials. I'm your elected official here. So

[2:54:27] if you want to pass a message to the county commissioners or what have even if it's

[2:54:32] something that maybe I don't agree with. It's not my job to filter it out and keep it from

[2:54:36] my peers. So rest assured that if if something came through the proper channels and the

[2:54:42] sunshine law issues or whatnot, but it was a topic you wanted to streamline to

[2:54:45] the county and eventually possibly develop commissioners. You know, I'm

[2:54:48] not I'm not a speed bump at all easily accessible, as you know. I think you represent as

[2:54:55] well, guys. 3.58, excellent, 2 minutes and to extend anything. No other thoughts,

[2:54:59] journey. Thank you

City Council on 2026-08-27 1:00 PM - Marco Island City Council & Collier County Commission Joint Workshop

Agenda

Transcript