City Council
Regular MeetingMarco Island, FL · March 4, 2024
Minutes
City of Marco Island Florida
51 Bald Eagle Drive
Marco Island, Florida
cityofmarcoisland.com
Meeting Minutes - Final
Monday, March 4, 2024
4:00 PM
WORKSHOP
Community Meeting Room
City Council
Chair: Jared Grifoni
Vice-Chair: Erik Brechnitz
City Council: Rich Blonna,
Greg Folley, Becky Irwin,
Darrin Palumbo, Joe Rola
City Manager: Mike McNees
Assistant City Manager: Casey Lucius
City Attorney: Alan L. Gabriel
City Clerk: Joan Taylor
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 4, 2024
1. Call to Order
Chair Grifoni called the Workshop to order at 4:00 P.M.
2. Roll Call
Present: 3- Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley and Chair Grifoni
Not Present: 4- Councilor Blonna, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo and Councilor Rola
(Note: Councilor Palumbo arrived at 4:02 P.M., Councilors Irwin and Rola arrived at 4:03 P.M., and
Councilor Blonna arrived at 4:37 P.M.)
Also Present
Michael McNees, City Manager
Casey Lucius, Assistant City Manager
Joan Taylor, City Clerk
Alan L. Gabriel, City Attorney
Tracy Frazzano, Police Chief (arrived at 4:16 P.M.)
Chris Byrne, Fire Chief
Daniel J. Smith, Community Affairs Director
Samantha Malloy, Parks, Culture & Recreation Manager
Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician
Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist
Citizens and Visitors
3. Business
ID 24-3475 City Council Discussion and Direction Regarding a Vietnam-Era Memorial
for Veterans Community Park
At Chair Grifoni's request, City Manager Mike McNees briefly summarized the City's initial direction and
subsequent engagement with representatives of American Legion Post 404 in creating a Vietnam-Era
Memorial for Veterans Community Park, and he requested Council direction on the Post's proposed
concept and path forward.
A scale model representation of the most recent American Legion Post 404's proposal was on display for
Council consideration, and all members of the Council participated in a discussion of the proposed
concept.
4. Public Comment
Mr. Lee Rubenstein, Commander of American Legion Post 404, commented on the Council and City
Manager McNees' discussion comments, and he introduced, in turn, the following American Legion
members who offered personal perspective and support for the Post's proposed Memorial:
1) Mr. Joe Batte (Marquesas Ct.)
2) Mr. John Apolzan (Seaview Ct.)
3) Mr. Terry Kehoe (Jungle Plum Dr., Naples)
4) Mr. William Duncan (Greeview St.)
5) Mr. Joe Varano (S. Heathwood Dr.)
Mr. Joe Batte, Vice-Commander for Government Affairs, briefly summed-up the Post's desires, and he
conveyed the Post's commitment to working with the City to implement the proposed concept.
City of Marco Island Florida Page 1
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 4, 2024
The following citizens came forward in support of the American Legion's initiative:
1) Ms. Rhonda Gloodt (Vernon Place)
2) Mr. Steve Slaggie (Tigertail Ct.)
Council Direction
With the full backing of the Council, Chair Grifoni requested: 1) that American Legion Post 404 confirm
the version of its proposed Memorial design, and convey the dimensional specifications of its proposal to
the City; 2) that City Staff identify locations at Veterans Community Park that can accommodate the scale
of the proposed Memorial, and; 3) that City Staff schedule this item and proposed plan for review at an
upcoming meeting of the Council.
5. Adjournment
There being no further business before the Council, Chair Grifoni adjourned the Workshop at 5:06 P.M.
___________________________
Jared Grifoni, Council Chair
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Joan Taylor, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
___________________________
Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist
City of Marco Island Florida Page 2
Agenda
51 Bald Eagle Drive
City of Marco Island Florida Marco Island, Florida
cityofmarcoisland.com
Meeting Agenda - Final
City Council
Chair: Jared Grifoni
Vice-Chair: Erik Brechnitz
City Council: Rich Blonna,
Greg Folley, Becky Irwin,
Darrin Palumbo, Joe Rola
City Manager: Mike McNees
Assistant City Manager: Casey Lucius
City Attorney: Alan L. Gabriel
City Clerk: Joan Taylor
Monday, March 4, 2024 4:00 PM Community Meeting Room
WORKSHOP
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Business
ID 24-3475 City Council Discussion and Direction Regarding a Vietnam-Era Memorial
for Veterans Community Park
Attachments: Attachment 1 - Sample CTA for Veterans Memorial Park Art Project
Attachment 2 - Vietnam Sculpture
4. Public Comment
5. Adjournment
City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Printed on 2/27/2024
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final March 4, 2024
All interested persons are invited to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion; or,
written comments may be sent to the City of Marco Island, 50 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL.
34145. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision
made by City Council with respect to any matter considered at such hearing or meeting, one will
need a record of the proceedings for such purpose that person may need to ensure that a verbatim
record of the proceedings is made; such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which
the appeal is to based. ADA Assistance: Anyone needing special assistance at the City Council
hearing due to disability should contact the City of Marco Island at (239) 389-5010 at least two
days prior thereto if you would like to receive any of the items on the agenda by email. Please
contact the City Clerk at jtaylor@cityofmarcoisland.com if you would like to receive any of the
items on the agenda by email.
Any Invocation that may be offered before the official start of the Council meeting shall be voluntary
offering of a private citizen, to and for the benefit of the Council. The views and beliefs expressed
by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Council, and the
Council is not allowed by law to endorse the religious beliefs or views of this, or any speaker.
Marco Island City Council Rules of Decorum
The City of Marco Island is committed to the First Amendment principal of free speech and to full
and open discussion of the City’s business in open forum. It also recognizes that in order to
ensure meetings of the City Council are conducted in a manner that allows the business of the
City to be effectively conducted, and ensures that members of the public can be heard in a fair,
impartial and respectful manner, that reasonable rules based on time, place, and manner of that
speech are in order. The members of the Marco Island City Council, employees of the City of
Marco Island, and citizen participants are expected to reflect proper decorum and treat each other
with courtesy and respect as follows:
• The City Council Chair is in control of the meeting at all times. The Chair is granted wide
discretion to interpret and enforce these rules of decorum and other City Council Policies and
Procedures.
• When recognized by the Chair, citizen participants will address all comments to the
Chair, speaking from the designated podium. No individual shall make slanderous, disparaging or
unduly repetitive remarks.
• Only those persons who have signed for a particular item of business will be given the
opportunity to speak. Exceptions may be granted at the sole discretion of the Chair.
• Demonstrations in the form of clapping, applauding, heckling or other verbal outbursts in
support or in opposition to a speaker during his or her remarks are not permitted. Such
demonstrations between speakers may be further limited by the Chair should they serve to disrupt
the orderly conduct of the meeting.
• For the safety of all in the chambers, signs, placards, or anything blocking sightlines,
entrances, exits or aisles in the City Council Chambers are not permitted.
• No more than one person may stand in the aisles or at the dais. Individuals waiting to be
recognized shall wait in an area designated by the City. Persons exiting the council chambers
shall do so quietly.
• Anyone who violates these Rules of Decorum may forfeit their right to speak and may be
asked to leave or cease their public comment at the discretion of the Chair.
Citizen Comment on Consent Agenda Items
• Items listed under Consent Agenda are viewed to be routine and the recommendation will be
enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired by the Council, the item(s) will be removed from
the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.
City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Printed on 2/27/2024
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final March 4, 2024
• Anyone wishing to comment on any item on the Consent Agenda should submit a Speakers
Request Card before these item(s) are considered. Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes on
any item removed from the Consent Agenda.
City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Printed on 2/27/2024
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