City Council

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, February 22, 2021 5:00 PM Special-Called Meeting Community Meeting Room City Council Chair: Jared Grifoni Vice-Chair: Greg Folley City Council: Claire Babrowski, Rich Blonna, Erik Brechnitz, Becky Irwin, Joe Rola City Manager: Mike McNees City Attorney: Alan L. Gabriel City Clerk: Laura Litzan City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 22, 2021 1. Call To Order Chair Grifoni called the Special Meeting with District 1 Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro to order at 5:00 P.M. 2. Roll Call Present: 6- Councilor Blonna, Councilor Brechnitz, Vice-Chair Folley, Councilor Rola, Councilor Babrowski and Chair Grifoni Not Present: 1- Councilor Irwin (Note: Councilor Irwin arrived at 5:06 P.M.) Also Present Michael McNees, City Manager Casey Lucius, Assistant to the City Manager (via Zoom remote conference connection) Laura Litzan, City Clerk Alan L. Gabriel, City Attorney Tim Pinter, Public Works Director Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician 3. Presentation ID 21-1380 Board of Collier County Commissioners - Rick LoCastro, Commissioner, District 1 Reading from prepared remarks, County Commissioner LoCastro thanked the Council for agreeing to meet formally and regularly now, and in the future, to discuss: 1) shared concerns; 2) topics of mutual interest, and; 3) City and County shared responsibilities as they impact the quality of life for citizens, businesses and guests to Marco Island and its surrounding area. Promising an action orientation, Commissioner LoCastro outlined his perspective and responsibilities as the County Commissioner for the entirety of District 1, but also expressed his firm resolve to work directly and collegially with the local leaders of each governing jurisdiction within his District on issues of importance specific to their locality. For Marco Island, Commissioner LoCastro highlighted the following: TIGERTAIL BEACH, LAGOON & CONSERVATION AREA Noting the County's recent $1 million commitment for infrastructure improvements to the aging playground and bathroom facilities at Tigertail Beach, Commissioner LoCastro asked the Marco Island City Council to promptly develop a proposed list of stakeholders that could be called together to provide input in guiding the development of specific action plans to reverse the declining environmental condition of the Tigertail Conservation Area. Commissioner LoCastro expressed his intention to move quickly to address this area of concern, with a goal of conducting the first meeting of this stakeholder group on Marco Island during the month of March, 2021. RED TIDE EFFECTS & CLEANUP Not content to simply let "...time and tide ..." address the large and lingering fishkill build-ups in and around Marco Island, Commissioner LoCastro promised aggressive County action at its Tigertail and City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 22, 2021 Caxambas recreation areas, and he asked that the City similarly develop a resource and deployment plan to attack the clean up of larger accumulations of dead marine life in the City's canals and waterways. He also requested the cooperation of the City in identifying and working together to mitigate the factors that might accelerate red tide blooms in and around the Island. THE GOODLAND DRIVE REHABILITATION PROJECT Expecting unanimous support from his colleague County Commissioners, District 1 Commissioner LoCastro pledged to manage the $2.9 million Goodland Drive road elevation and water flow rehabilitation project for completion on-time and on-budget. MATERIALS STAGING AT THE BASE OF THE JUDGE SS JOLLEY BRIDGE Noting the inappropriateness, disarray and safety concerns of the long-standing reef-building material staging area at the base of the northeast section of the Judge SS Jolley Bridge, Commissioner LoCastro advised the Council of his direction to the County to identify alternative, less-visible sites for staging construction and reef-building materials, as well as his intention to return this gateway to Marco Island to a more attractive and welcoming state as a scenic viewing area for visitors and guests to Marco Island. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION Commissioner LoCastro also noted other opportunities for joint County and City collaboration and action, including: 1) addressing the Isles of Capri water and sewer issues; 2) improving traffic safety on Marco Island, and 3) improving the area's annual hurricane season preparatory activities and storm response plans. At the conclusion of Commissioner LoCastro's prepared comments, several members of the Council expressed their appreciation for the Commissioner's openness, energy and enthusiasm for being the Council and the City's 'go-to' person at the County level, and all present committed to continue the dialogue and engagement between the City and the Commissioner on an ongoing, regular basis. 4. Adjournment There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 5:26 P.M. ___________________________ Jared Grifoni, Council Chair ATTEST: ___________________________ Laura Litzan, City Clerk PREPARED BY: ___________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 2