MINUTES OF MEETING
PORT OF THE
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
The regular meeting of the Board of
Supervisors of the Port of the Islands Community Improvement District was held
on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the Dining Room; 25000 Tamiami
Trail; Naples, Florida.
Present and constituting a quorum
were:
Theodore
Bissell Chairman
Dale
Lambert Vice Chairman
Norine
Dillon Secretary
Richard
Gatti Assistant
Secretary
Richard
Ziko Assistant
Secretary
Also present were:
Calvin
Teague District Manager
Daniel
Cox District
Attorney
Robert
Dick Field
Manager
Robert
Edge Field
Operator
Robert
Migdal
Jim
Colletta Collier
Dan
Summers Collier
Manuel
Chiunti Resident
Becky
Churba Resident
Jerry
Churba Resident
Gabriel
Coler Resident
Corinne
Connelly Resident
Keith
Connelly Resident
Faye
Cooper Resident
Harold
Cooper Resident
C.R.
Custer Resident
Roger
Ducoffre Resident
Jim
Dyer Resident
Allan
H. Green Resident
Walt
Hagar Resident
Art
Henry Resident
Douglas
House Resident
Nancy
House Resident
Larry
Kane Resident
Kathryn
Kehlmeier Resident
Steven
Kozak Resident
George
Kramer Resident
Rudy
Kumpf Resident
Jean
Kungle Resident
Mary
Lloyd Resident
Tom
Mack Resident
Jon
McCollister Resident
Jim
Meister Resident
Dave
Molberg Resident
Garry
Moose Resident
James
Morris Resident
Robert
Moser Resident
Al
Newgood Resident
Dan
MConnell Resident
James
O’Connell Resident
Sally
Payne Resident
Walt
Rapchinski Resident
Bob
Ricci Resident
Darel
Richards Resident
Bill
Sands Resident
Brian
Sheehan Resident
Douglas
Smith Resident
John
Thomas Resident
Arleen
Wescott Resident
Dana
Wescott Resident
Jerry
Winters Resident
Richard
J. Wood Resident
The following is a summary of the
minutes and actions taken at the
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS Roll
Call
Mr. Bissell called the meeting to
order and Mr. Teague called the roll.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS Approval of Minutes of
the January 18, 2008 Meeting
Mr. Bissell stated each Board member
received a copy of the minutes of the
·
On Page 6 in the sixth item under the first
bullet, month should replace year per ERC.
·
On Page 7 in the first item under the third
bullet, tank should replace area.
·
On Page 8 in the first item under the second
bullet in the SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS, 90
should replace nine.
·
On Page 11 in the first item under the first
bullet, rooftop should be deleted.
·
On Page 12 in the second bullet, improvements should replace irrigation.
There
being no further comments or questions,
On MOTION by Ms. Dillon
seconded by Mr. Lambert with all in favor, the minutes of the
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience Comments –
Discussion of Fire Station Project with
Mr. Bissell introduced Commissioner
Jim Colletta of the Collier County Board of Commissioners.
·
Commissioner Colletta’s staff introduced
themselves.
·
Circumstances have not been favorable for the District
to have a fire station.
·
Several attempts have recently been made to
initiate a new PUD.
Ø
The land must be set aside.
Ø
Donations were discussed.
Ø
The county was unable to finance land purchases.
Ø
There have been layoffs.
Ø
There will also be a decrease in county services
as follows:
o
Libraries;
o
Public parks;
o
Domestic animal services
·
Insurance issues were discussed.
Ø
Commissioner Colletta is not certain whether or
not insurance rates have increased due to the fact that the District does not
have a fire station.
Ø
Most increases are probably the result of the
recent hurricanes.
Ø
The county has no control over insurance rates.
Ø
The state controls this.
·
All area fire departments are feeling the
effects of the tax reductions.
The
Board asked questions.
·
Mr. Bissell wants to know if funds spent on
landscaping of medians and other public areas can be transferred to a fire
station.
Ø
This is not possible because landscaping and
fire stations are under different taxing authorities.
·
Mr. Lambert wants to know if the District still
has a commitment with the county to build a temporary fire station.
Ø
The District has a verbal commitment with the
county to proceed with this in accordance with the budget once the property is
in place.
·
Mr. Lambert wants to know what should be done to
get this commitment in writing.
Ø
A written commitment cannot be done until the
District has land for which to build a station.
Ø
The District does not qualify for grants for
land.
Ø
Plans are also required.
·
Mr. Lambert inquired as to the possibility of
the District obtaining an emergency warning siren which is tied in with the
county.
Ø
Sirens are not used in
Ø
Ø
It can be purchased at Radio Shack in the amount
of $34.
Ø
The
Ø
They can interrupt the first 12 channels of
cable to post a warning.
Ø
They perform door to door notifications.
·
Mr. Lambert commented that the NOAA signal can
be a nuisance, since it signals quite often.
Ø
The signal has been getting better since the
National Weather Service has been able to refine it.
Ø
The newest NOAA radios can be programmed in
accordance with your zip code.
·
Mr. Bissell asked about the legality of the CID
placing a siren in the District.
Ø
Mr. Summers was not certain as to the legalities
of this.
Ø
The activation aspects of this siren must be
manned at all times.
Ø
The siren is only useful for lightning detection
since it is not tied in with the National Weather Service.
·
The District is close to being able to obtain
land for a fire station, perhaps by July 1st; for which the District
Engineer is working on site plan development encompassing the area for a fire
station. Ms. Dillon is concerned the
county may reject the plan due to insufficient funds.
·
Ms. Dillon believes the District pays a greater
share of the budget for the Ochopee and Everglades City Fire Departments, but
receive minimal benefits.
Ø
Mr. Summers’ staff must have a commitment in
hand and determine the most feasible budget based on available legislative
funds coupled with the reductions staff has had to deal with.
Ø
This process takes approximately 90 days.
Ø
Mr. Summers’ staff has been working diligently
with the Ochopee Fire District in order to modernize it.
·
Mr. Bissell brought up the fact that the county
is going to use funds to make areas of the
Ø
Issues relating to the
Mr.
Benson gave an overview of the ongoing project for which the CID is trying to
get the county’s approval.
·
Mr. Benson and his staff are holding a
pre-application meeting on
·
This land is considered a public facility zoning
district.
·
Mr. Benson has a preliminary site development
plan for the entire property including the 1½ acres for the fire station and
associated amenities.
·
The CID may own the property by
·
Mr. Benson does not believe a permanent station
will be necessary unless the county rejects the zoning.
·
Mr. Benson believes this should be an easy
process since there are no environmental issues associated with the land.
Ø
It is imperative Commissioner Colleta remain
involved in order for this project to influence the remaining Planning
Commission members positively.
Ø
Environmental issues are basically the only
concerns with regards to rejection of the site development plan.
Ø
The Fire District must have a phased budget for
this process.
Ø
The PUD and utility tie-ins must be accurate.
o
The CID will provide all utilities.
o
There will be a zoning change as opposed to a
PUD.
·
Mr. Ziko wants to know why the county approved
the purchase of a ranch in the amount of $34 Million in relation to Conservation Collier, but cannot assist
the CID with the purchase of a fire station.
Ø
This purchase was overwhelmingly approved by
Ø
The revenue from the tax levy was devoted
exclusively for the acquisition of environmentally-sensitive properties
according to the ordinance.
Ø
Misappropriation of funds is illegal.
·
Mr. Gatti wants to know if the county is
contemplating use of contractual services.
Ø
Commissioner Colletta wants the county to look
into having all elements relating to PUDs handled by independent engineers.
Audience
members asked questions.
·
A Resident asked if the fire station which
essentially protects Interstate 75 and the local forest be transferred to the
CID.
Ø
The station cannot be disbanded since fire
protection is necessary in this area.
·
A Resident asked if it was possible for the county
to finance a new fire station if the CID reallocates the funds designated for
the Ochopee Fire District towards a new fire station, which will amount to the
CID financing approximately 60%.
Ø
The District finances 48% of the Ochopee Fire
District.
Ø
This is possible.
·
Staff discussed aspects of volunteer
firefighting.
Ø
Ø
Most people cannot afford to take time out from
their regular jobs to complete this course.
Ø
The state prefers firefighting to be a full-time
job.
·
A Resident asked whether or not the CID can
obtain a permit which certifies the real estate is acceptable to build a fire
station.
Ø
The contract must be set up to ensure the land cannot
be sold off for any other use.
·
Ms. Kungle asked for an explanation of the
differences between an Independent and Dependent District.
Ø
Independent Fire Districts have the ability to
levy their own village as a Municipal Service Unit, as well as their own
elected commission.
Ø
Dependent Fire Districts are accountable to the
Board of County Commissioners, and final fiscal decisions are delegated to the Board.
·
Ms. Kungle inquired as to the advantages of an
Independent District.
Ø
Independent Districts choose their own Fire
Commissioner who can oversee the District on a daily basis.
·
Ms. Kungle commented this may be a good idea for
the CID and asked about the process involved with becoming independent.
Ø
Commissioner Colletta is not unopposed to this idea.
Ø
It takes several years to become independent and
involves banking changes and approvals.
Ø
The state is opposed to creating more special
districts.
Ø
The cost in the budget for the Ochopee Fire
District to become independent amounted to an additional $420,000 last year,
which was prior to the recent budget cuts.
Ø
The District cannot afford to become independent
at this time.
·
Mr. Bissell asked how much money
Ø
No money is invested. The original 2001 budget allowed no funds to
be transferred.
Ø
The residents in the area of the district
boundaries of Ochopee are paying for the service.
·
Ms. Kungle wants to know the reason the county
is giving more land to the Ochopee District as opposed to the CID.
Ø
Since the CID is located in an unincorporated
area of the county for general government services, the tax bill is going to
reflect this as well as the Ochopee Fire District.
Ø
Most of the
·
Ms. Kungle inquired about the revenue from
purchase of a boat in the amount of $7,300 as well as the revenue from the PILT
dollars.
Ø
This boat was part of a donation agreement to
Ø
The county is going to be responsible for repair
and maintenance.
Mr.
Bissell thanked Commissioner Colleta and his staff for attending the meeting
and answering questions.
The
record reflects the Board recessed for 10 minutes.
Mr. Bissell called the meeting back
to order.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS Audience
Comments
·
Mr. Dyer is concerned with serious drainage
problems at Windward Cay.
Ø
According to the original plan, the storm sewers
were supposed to disperse water behind the berms and slowly drain out to the
east and west and down to a check valve.
Ø
Each time a new home is built in this area, they
are elevated to the berms and the water is now running from west to east.
Ø
Heavy rains have washed dirt and debris into the
canals.
Ø
More heavy rains will increase the repair costs.
Ø
A couple of loads of riprap should be installed.
Ø
A new check valve needs to be installed.
o
Mr. Gatti recommends the Board authorize Mr.
Benson to look at this and take some immediate action to stabilize the
situation; and report back to the Board with regards to a permanent solution.
Ø
The Board believes the drainage was installed
properly, but the homeowners may have encroached on it improperly.
Ø
Mr. Benson has reviewed the system over the
years.
o
The swales at the back of the lots were designed
to flow to the west.
o
If it exceeds a certain number of inches of
water, the system can get overloaded.
o
These swales were inadvertently or deliberately
filled in.
o
Mr. Benson outlined a couple of options for the
District.
§