City Council
Regular MeetingMarco Island, FL · August 1, 2024
Minutes
City of Marco Island Florida
51 Bald Eagle Drive
Marco Island, Florida
cityofmarcoisland.com
Meeting Minutes - Final
Thursday, August 1, 2024
1:00 PM
Special-Called Meeting
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 August 1, 2024
1. Call to Order
Chair Grifoni brought the special-called meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
2. Roll Call
Present: 5- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Palumbo and
Chair Grifoni
Not Present: 1- Councilor Irwin
Absent: 1- Councilor Rola
(Note: Councilor Irwin arrived at 1:29 P.M.)
Also Present
CITY STAFF:
Michael McNees, City Manager
Casey Lucius, Assistant City Manager
Joan Taylor, City Clerk
David Tolces, City Attorney
Tracy Frazzano, Police Chief
Keith Richter, Code Enforcement Supervisor
Chris Byrne, Fire Chief
Daniel Zunzunegui, Fire Marshall
Daniel J. Smith, Community Affairs Director
Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician
Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist
OTHERS:
Jeff Katims, Consultant - Research Director, GFK
3. Ordinance - First Reading
ID 24-3699 Ordinance - First Reading - Revised Municipal Code of Ordinances - Jeff
Katims, Consultant - Research Director, GFK
At Chair Jared Grifoni's request, City Clerk Joan Taylor read Ordinance 24-15 into the record by title only.
Vice-Chair Brechnitz and Councilor Blonna requested clarification on several process and procedural
elements related to the Council's pre-meeting review of the provided documentation, as well as the role
and responsibility of the City Staff in updating the City's Code of Ordinances in the future.
Mr. Jeff Katims, Consultant - Research Director, GFK, responded to the Councilors' inquiries, and he
provided an overview of the project Scope of Work and the timeline under which this project unfolded.
During the course of the review and discussion, the following was confirmed:
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE III. Officers and Employees, DIVISION 2. City
Manager:
The text that was stricken from Section 2-85 (Supervision of Departments) is not eliminated, but rather is
removed as redundant to the duties of the City Manager as identified in the City's Charter.
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City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 1, 2024
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE III. Officers and Employees, DIVISION 4. City Clerk:
Section 2-121 (Office Established; Duties) (7): "The City Clerk shall serve as the Secretary for the Board
of Directors of the Marco Island Community Parks Foundation", was confirmed.
CHAPTER 2 (ADMINISTRATION), ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL:
Section 2-31 (Induction of Members into Office: Oath) No modifications were made to the existing text.
CHAPTER 4 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL:
Section 4-10 (Unlawful Acts in Establishments) (1) & (2): The desciptor "any female person" was
confirmed.
CHAPTER 6 (BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS), ARTICLE VI. POST-DISASTER
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN:
Section 6-179 (Emergency Repairs and Emergency Permitting) (a) Emergency repairs, (1)(b): The
description "covering exterior wall openings with plywood or plastic sheeting" was clarified to include
"sheetrock" as an allowed material.
CHAPTER 18 (ENVIRONMENT), ARTICLE IV. NOISE CONTROL:
Section 18-105 (Specifically Prohibited Activities): The City Staff was directed to confirm that the
proposed modifications to this Section were ministerial only and do not result in any substantive change to
the Code.
CHAPTER 18 (ENVIRONMENT), ARTICLE V. ENDANGERED, THREATENED OR LISTED SPECIES
PROTECTION:
Section 18-144 (Activities Within Protection Zones): No changes were made to current text. The City
Staff, however, was directed to engage with responsible State/Federal agencies to confirm the
recommended perimeter protection zones for affected species, and to return with recommendations for
modifications to the existing Code.
CHAPTER 18 (ENVIRONMENT), ARTICLE VIII. STORMWATER REGULATIONS:
Section 18-211 (Definitions): The definition of "Swale" as written was confirmed.
CHAPTER 38 (PLANNING), ARTICLE III. DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS:
Section 38-71 (Title of Article) No modification was made to the existing text.
CHAPTER 42 (STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES), ARTICLE I. GENERAL:
Section 42-36 (Duty of Abutting Property Owners to Construct and Maintain Sidewalks) (a) (1): Vacant
lots: No modification was made to the existing text. The City Staff was directed to review this Section and
engage the Council on any future proposed modifications to this Section of the Code.
The City Staff was directed to continuously monitor changes to State statutes and regulations that impact
the City's Code of Ordinances to implement administrative (not policy) changes, with the advice and input
of the City's legal counsel, to maintain the Code's alignment with those statutes and regulations. The City
Staff was further directed to advance recommended modifications to the City's Code of Ordinances on
matters of substance or policy change as they occur for the review and approval of the Marco Island City
Council before enactment in the City's Code of Ordinances.
MOTION by Vice-Chair Brechnitz, seconded by Councilor Irwin, that Ordinance
24-15 - Revised Municipal Code of Ordinances, be Approved on First Reading.
MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE:
Yes: 6- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor
Palumbo and Chair Grifoni
City of Marco Island Florida Page 2
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 1, 2024
4. Public Comment
Ms. Lynn Nathanson (Bluebonnet Ct.) expressed her concern that the First Reading of the Revised
Municipal Code of Ordinances might result in substantive changes to the City's ordinances relative to the
modes and methods of public transportation on the Island.
Mr. Stephen Gray (N. Collier Blvd.) communicated his belief that the 353 page document of the Revised
Municipal Code of Ordinances should have been made available to the public several weeks prior its First
Reading before the Council.
Ms. Vicky Myers (Bluebonnet Ct.) shared her concern that Chapter 4 (Alcoholic Beverages), Article II.
(Locational Restrictions for Establishments Involving On-Premises Consumption) of the Revised Code of
Ordinances was substantively changed by the wording modifications proposed in Section 4-32.
City Council Chair Jared Grifoni, City Attorney David Tolces, and City Manager Mike McNees all affirmed,
separately and individually, that the changes proposed and adopted on this First Reading of Ordinance
24-15 were not intended to, nor did they in fact, alter the meaning or intent of the City's existing Code of
Ordinances.
Chair Grifoni thanked Councilor Folley for encouraging and championing the Council and City Staff's
initiative to streamline the City's Code of Ordinances for the benefit of the City and its citizens.
5. Adjournment
There being no further business before the Council, Chair Grifoni adjourned the special-called meeting at
1:58 P.M.
___________________________
Jared Grifoni, Council Chair
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Joan Taylor, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
___________________________
Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist
City of Marco Island Florida Page 3
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: David Tolces
City Clerk: Joan Taylor
Thursday, August 1, 2024 1:00 PM Community Meeting Room
Special-Called Meeting
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Ordinance - First Reading
ID 24-3699 Ordinance - First Reading - Revised Municipal Code of Ordinances - Jeff
Katims, Consultant - Research Director, GFK
Attachments: Ordinance 24-15
First Reading Memorandum
First Reading Draft
4. Public Comment
[Those who have signed in will be given the first opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 4
minutes per speaker and 30 minutes total time for this agenda item.]
5. Adjournment
City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Printed on 7/26/2024
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 1, 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.
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City Council Meeting Agenda - Final August 1, 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 7/26/2024
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