City Council
Regular MeetingMarco Island, FL · April 8, 2024
Minutes
City of Marco Island Florida
51 Bald Eagle Drive
Marco Island, Florida
cityofmarcoisland.com
Meeting Minutes - Final
Monday, April 8, 2024
4:00 PM
WORKSHOP - Marco Island Model Yacht Club / Parking
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 April 8, 2024
1. Call to Order
Chair Grifoni called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M.
2. Roll Call
Present: 7- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor
Palumbo, Councilor Rola and Chair Grifoni
Also Present
Michael McNees, City Manager
Casey Lucius, Assistant City Manager
Joan Taylor, City Clerk
Alan L. Gabriel, City Attorney
Tracy Frazzano, Police Chief
Chris Byrne, Fire Chief
Daniel J. Smith, Community Affairs Director
Justin Martin, Public Works Director
Samantha Malloy, Parks, Culture & Recreation Manager
Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician
Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist
Citizens and Visitors
3. Business
ID 24-3522 Workshop - Marco Island Model Yacht Club Parking - Daniel J. Smith,
AICP, Director - Community Affairs
Chair Jared Grifoni briefly introduced the purpose of the Workshop, and he invited City Community Affairs
Director Daniel Smith to review the City's existing ordinances regarding parking, and the rules and
regulations for the public's use of City parks. Mr. Smith also shared photographs and aerial views of the
area in question at Mackle Park, as well as a letter from the owner of the adjacent vacant residential
property bordering that area, and the most recent 18 months of police report data regarding single-vehicle
accidents in parking lots/areas on the Island. Mr. Smith addressed a number of questions from members
of the Council.
4. Public Comment
Ms. Carla Masse (S. Heathwood Ave.), the owner of the adjacent vacant residential property, indicated her
intention to begin obtaining permits to build a home on the property, and she requested that the Council
pursue alternatives to the current non-compliant parking solution.
Ms. Suzanne LeVan (Peacock Lane, Naples) noted the need for remote-controlled model yacht owners to
transport a great deal of gear, and she asked the Council to consider the ability and convenience of Club's
elderly owners to successfully traverse the distance from their cars to the water.
Mr. Don Armstrong (Beach Resort Dr., Naples), Commodore of the Marco Island Model Yacht Club,
presented a number of reasons why the current parking situation is the best solution for the Model Yacht
Club members.
Mr. Rocky Cale (Beachcomber St.) pointed to the advanced age of many of the Club's members, and he
indicated that the needs of the members could be accommodated with as few as eight parking spots in
the existing location.
City of Marco Island Florida Page 1
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 8, 2024
Mr. Antonio Waring (S. Collier Blvd.) spoke of the best intentions, respectfulness, and integrity of the
Club's members.
Mr. Paul Zeller (Yellowbird St.) thanked the Council for conducting a Workshop on this issue, and he
encouraged the Council to consider the mobility limitations of some of the Club's members.
Ms. Valerie DeMartino (S. Heathwood Ave.) shared her enjoyment of watching the Club's activities, but, as
a property owner adjacent to the currently-vacant residential lot, she would like to see a solution that does
not require the establishment of a designated parking lot next to her residential property.
Following considerable Council discussion, Chair Grifoni solicited and obtained Council consensus
instructing the City to: 1) continue to proceed with the current Special Event temporary parking provision at
Mackle Park for the Marco Island Model Yacht Club until approved residential building permits have been
issued to the property owner at 351 S. Heathwood Ave., and; 2) once the building permits for 351 S.
Heathwood Ave. have been issued, evaluate alternative parking/transportation arrangements for the Marco
Island Model Yacht Club events.
5. Adjournment
There being no further business before the Council, Chair Grifoni adjourned the Workshop at 5:11 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, April 8, 2024 4:00 PM Community Meeting Room
WORKSHOP - Marco Island Model Yacht Club / Parking
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Business
ID 24-3522 Workshop - Marco Island Model Yacht Club Parking - Daniel J. Smith,
AICP, Director - Community Affairs
Attachments: City of Marco Island Code of Laws
Single Vehicle Accidents
4. Public Comment
5. Adjournment
City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Printed on 4/2/2024
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final April 8, 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 4/2/2024
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final April 8, 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 4/2/2024
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