City Council

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:30 PM Meeting Rescheduled from October 7, 2024 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 Assistant City Attorney: David Tolces City Clerk: Joan Taylor City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 1. Call to Order Chair Grifoni called the meeting to order at 5:30 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 (participated via remote teleconference connection) Tracy Frazzano, Police Chief Chris Byrne, Fire Chief Daniel J. Smith, Community Affairs Director Jose Duran, Information Technology Director Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist 3. Invocation Offered by the Reverend Scott Kerens of the Marco Presbyterian Church. 4. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Chair Grifoni. 5. Approval of the Agenda MOTION by Vice-Chair Brechnitz, seconded by Councilor Irwin, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Rola and Chair Grifoni 6. Approval of the Minutes a. ID 24-3834 Approval of the City Council Workshop Minutes of September 16, 2024 MOTION by Councilor Blonna, seconded by Councilor Palumbo, that the City Council Workshop Minutes of September 16, 2024, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Rola and Chair Grifoni b. ID 23-3164 Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 23, 2024 MOTION by Councilor Folley, seconded by Councilor Irwin, that the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 23, 2024, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 Yes: 7- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Rola and Chair Grifoni 7. Approval of Consent Agenda MOTION by Councilor Irwin, seconded by Councilor Blonna, that the Consent Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Rola and Chair Grifoni [Approval of the Consent Agenda Passed the Routine Items Listed Below] a. ID 24-3751 Resolution - Approving of the Appointment of Kathleen Heuschkel to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk b. ID 24-3859 Approval of the FY 2024/2025 City Manager Goals - Joan Taylor, City Clerk c. ID 24-3858 Approval of the Amendment to City Manager’s Employment Agreement - Joan Taylor, City Clerk d. ID 24-3872 First Amendment to the Urban County Cooperation Agreement with Collier County - Joan Taylor, City Clerk 8. Proclamations and Presentations a. ID 24-3810 Proclamation - National Fire Prevention Week Chair Jared Grifoni proclaimed October 6 through 12, 2024 as National Fire Provention Week, and presented the Proclamation to City of Marco Island Fire Chief Chris Byrne, members of the Marco Island fire inspection detail, and "Sparky the Fire Dog", the mascot of the National Fire Prevention Association. Fire Chief Byrne took the opportunity, upon receiving the Proclamation, to encourage all residents and members of the business community of Marco Island to install, check, and regularly maintain building smoke detectors to ensure the safety of building occupants at all times. b. ID 24-3878 Presentation - Old Marco Area Redevelopment Study by Stantec Engineering Firm - Daniel J. Smith, AICP, Director, Community Affairs / Growth Management Mr. Jared Beck, Principal and U.S. Southeast Urban Places lead for Stantec, a sustainable engineering, architecture and environmental consulting company, presented a Redevelopment Plan Framework for potential land use, zoning, and property redevelopment criteria to enable improved transportation, parking, and infrastructure management in the Old Marco section of Marco Island. The following members of the community came forward to offer comment for the Council's consideration: 1. Mr, David Heil (Bald Eagle Dr.) 2. Ms. Leslie Heil (Bald Eagle Dr.) 3. Mr. David Crain (Gayer Way) City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 Council Chair Jared Grifoni summarized the key considerations and concerns that members of the Council and the public raised during the course of Mr. Beck's presentation, and direction was provided to the City Staff. Consideration to fund continued consultant support and conduct an updated "in-season" traffic analysis study for the Old Marco area will be addressed by the Council at a later date; currently no funding for these efforts have been allocated for FY 2024/2025. MOTION by Councilor Blonna, seconded by Councilor Palumbo, that direction to the City Staff to bring forward recommendations for zoning, land use, and commercial property redevelopment criteria revisions to the Land Development Code for the Old Marco section of the Island, as well as proposals for storm water management/mitigation and elimination of parking from swales located in the Old Marco section, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Blonna, Vice-Chair Brechnitz, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo and Chair Grifoni No: 1- Councilor Rola 9. Citizens' Comments on Items Not Scheduled for Public Hearing and Items Other Than Those Appearing on the Agenda Mr. John Martini (Nassau Ct.) raised several questions regarding the public transportaion "bus/trolley" pilot program planned for early 2025 implementation, and he expressed his displeasure with the nature and message of a recent Marco Island City Council Election mailpiece that was received at his home. Ms. Deb Henry (Tulip Ct.), on behalf of the Noontime Rotary Club of Marco Island, presented the Club's donation of an public water fountain and refillable bottle dispenser for the benefit those who participate in activities in and around the Mackle Park Community Center. Mr. David Crain (Gayer Way) shared information on the use of injection wells to improve canal water quality in Monroe County, Florida, and he encouraged the City to reach out to officials there to gain insight on that community's experience with this technology. 10. Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing None. 11. Ordinances None. 12. Resolutions & City Council Items ID 24-3857 Discussion - Council Member Appointment to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Tourist Development Council (TDC) - Joan Taylor, City Clerk The Council, in recognition of Chair Jared Grifoni and Councilor Greg Folley's conclusion in office on the Marco Island City Council effective November 5, 2024, discussed identifying replacement City Council Councilors to serve on the Collier County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). A Motion was advanced for both Collier County Council/Board seats. The Council's recommended City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 candidate as for the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will be addressed at a future meeting of the Council. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Chair Grifoni, seconded by Councilor Blonna, that a recommendation to appoint Councilor Darrin Palumbo to the Collier County Tourist Development Council (TDC) as its Marco Island City Council representative effective November 5, 2024, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 5- Councilor Blonna, Councilor Folley, Councilor Irwin, Councilor Palumbo and Chair Grifoni No: 2- Vice-Chair Brechnitz and Councilor Rola MOTION by Councilor Folley to appoint Vice-Chair Erik Brechnitz to the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) as its Marco Island City Council representative efective November 5, 2024 FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. 13. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda No items were removed from the Consent Agenda at this meeting. 14. Council Communications & Future Agenda Councilor Irwin noted the community's shared effort in preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Milton, and she noted specific instances where the post-hurricane recovery is most needed. Vice-Chair Brechnitz expressed his disappointment with the content and tone of certain Marco Island City Council election campaign materials which he recently received. Council Palumbo noted the passing of long-time Marco Island entrepreneur and resident "Big Al" Landers, and he called attention to a recent commendation that Police Chief Tracy Frazzano and the Marco Island Police Department team received for NARCAN (opioid antagonist) spray training. Councilor Palumbo also advised the Council of his dialogue with Comcast's Director of Government Affairs on improving Comcast's post-storm service restoration effort, and he proposed that the City Council and City Staff meet with the Comcast account service team to engage in a workshop to identify ways to improve post-storm service restoration on the Island. Councilor Palumbo concluded by detailing his reasons for supporting certain Marco Island City Council candidates. Councilor Blonna read a letter commending Public Works Director Justin Martin and his team for the noticeable improvement in storm water management and drainage along South Barfield Drive between Capt Horr Way and Winterberry Drive as a result of the recently-completed South Barfield Drainage Project. Councilor Folley noted the inappropriately-ascribed City Council candidate endorsement by one of Councilor Folley's City Committee appointees, and he confirmed that his appointee was advised of his error and corrected for any future public statements regarding one or more City Council candidates. Chair Grifoni commended the City Manager and his Staff's ongoing commitment to learning from, and improving upon, its response to every severe weather event over the past five years, and he supported the proposals advanced by the Chair of the Marco Island Planning Board regarding potential pre-storm and City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 post-storm actions that the City can take to assist the citizens of the Island. Chair Grifoni concluded by: 1) recalling various communications issues that occurred during past weather events; 2) confirming that a review of the City's current prohibition of parking/storing one's boat and trailer on his/her property is scheduled for Planning Board review, and; 3) clarifying the ability for public transportation buses to operate across all zoning districts on the Island. ID 23-3165 Future Agenda Items The Council requested that the City Staff prepare and present estimates for: 1) a 2025 Winter Season traffic study in the Old Marco section of the Island, and; 2) a potential contract extension with the Stantec consultancy group for Council review and consideration at a future meeting of the Council. The Council requested that the selection of its recommended candidate for the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) be addressed at a future meeting of the Council. 15. Council Reports ID 24-3869 Discussion - Amendment 4 - Right to Abortion Initiative - Councilor Greg Folley Councilor Folley shared his perspective and views on Florida Constitutional Amendment 4 which is on the state's November 5, 2024 ballot for voter consideration. Several Councilors similarly made their positions known. The following members of the public registered to express their opposition to Amendment 4: 1. Ms. Mary Alger (Clyburn St.) 2. Ms. Jennifer Stonebreaker (Hernando Dr.) 3. Ms. Ricki Giersch (Century Ct.) 4. Mr. Patrick Giersch (Century Ct.) (ceded his time to Dr. Haywood Robinson) 5. Dr. Haywood Robinson (Lambton Lane, Naples) 6. Ms. Mary Pitzi (S. Collier Blvd.) (ceded her time to Ms. Keith Flaugh) 7. Mr. Keith Flaugh (Quintara Ct.) Councilor Folley thanked the members of the public who came forward to speak on the proposed Amendment. 16. City Manager's Report City Manager McNees, in referencing recent social media commentary on the City and the Council's efforts to address water quality, noted that his Council-approved goals for the upcoming year includes initiating a post-4e "next steps" planning process. City Manager McNees also expressed his appreciation to the citizens of Marco Island for respecting the emergency management procedures and requests that were issued by the City of Marco Island in anticipation of Hurricane Milton's impact along the west coast of Florida, and he complimented the Council and his City Staff leaders for advancing initiatives and infrastructure improvements over the past several years that improved the resiliency of the Island. 17. City Attorney's Report None. City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2024 18. Departmental Reports ID 23-3166 Monthly Departmental Reports No comments or questions were raised regarding the Monthly Department Reports. 19. Citizens' Comments No members of the public came forward to offer comment during this portion of the meeting. 20. Adjournment There being no further business before the Council, Chair Grifoni adjourned the meeting at 8:45 P.M. ___________________________ Jared Grifoni, Council Chair ATTEST: ____________________________________ Joan Taylor, City Clerk PREPARED BY: ___________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 6