City Council

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, February 3, 2025 5:30 PM Community Meeting Room City Council Chair: TBD Vice-Chair: Erik Brechnitz City Council: Stephen Gray, Tamara Goehler, Deb Henry, Darrin Palumbo, Bonita Schwan City Manager: Mike McNees Assistant City Manager: Casey Lucius City Attorney: Alan L. Gabriel City Clerk: Joan Taylor City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 1. Call to Order Vice-Chair Erik Brechnitz called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. 2. Roll Call Present: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz 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 Jose Duran, Information Technology Director Jeff Poteet, Water & Sewer General Manager Sonia Iszler, Water & Sewer Engineering & Operations Manager Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist Citizens and Visitors 3. Invocation Offered by the Reverend Scott Kerens of the Marco Presbyterian Church. 4. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Vice-Chair Brechnitz. 5. Approval of the Agenda MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz 6. Approval of the Minutes a. ID 25-4085 Approval of the Special-Called Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025 Councilor Gray requested clarification from City Attorney Alan Gabriel on the proper title for Councilor Erik Brechnitz as he currently leads the Council, and he requested the completion of a Council vote on a Motion that he advanced at the Council's January 21, 2025 Special-Called Meeting. [Editorial Note: the record of this vote is reflected in the Minutes for the January 21, 2025 Special-Called Meeting under Agenda Item 4a] MOTION by Councilor Gray, seconded by Councilor Goehler, that the City Council Special-Called Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025 be Approved as Amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz b. ID 25-4067 Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025 Councilor Gray requested: 1) that Councilor Brechnitz's confirmed title be reflected in the Minutes; 2) that a minor typographical error in the name "Canine Cove" be corrected under Agenda Item 9 (Proclamations and Presentations), and; 3) that the record of Mr. Peter Pereene's comments regarding the duties of the part-time City employee, as communicated under Agenda Item 10 (Citizens' Comments), be specifically quoted in the Minutes. MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the City Council Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025 be Approved as Amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz 7. Approval of Consent Agenda MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the Consent Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz [Approval of the Consent Agenda Passed the Routine Items Listed Below] a. ID 25-4111 Approving a Purchase Order to Coastal Engineering and Surveying Services, in the Amount of $57,430 for the Hideaway Beach Erosion Control Project 2025 Annual Monitoring - Justin Martin, P.E., Director, Public Works b. ID 25-4114 Letter of Support to the United Arts Council, Casey Lucius, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager c. ID 25-4116 Resolution - Approving of the Appointment of Mr. John Quinlan to the Beach & Coastal Resources Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk 8. Proclamations and Presentations ID 25-4070 Employee Service Awards: Silvestre Rodriguez - 20 Years Joan Taylor - 5 Years City Manager Mike McNees recognized and called forward Ms. Joan Taylor (5 years) and Silvestre Rodriguez (20 years) to receive their appreciation of service recognition certificate and pin as presented by City Council Vice-Chair Erik Brechnitz. 9. Citizens' Comments on Items Not Scheduled for Public Hearing and Items Other Than Those Appearing on the Agenda Ms. Linda Scherzinger (Plantation Ct.), on behalf of the Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee, announced the categories, criteria, and timetable for the 2025 Marco In Bloom Awards Contest. City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 Mr. Randy Egan (Bonita Ct.) offered his perspective on achieving unity on the Council, and he outlined his proposed criteria for selecting a candidate to fill the Council's vacant seventh seat. Mr. Tom Polston (Seaview Ct.), as Commissioner of the Marco Island Senior Softball League playing at Winterberry Park, offered his support for pursuing the ongoing availability and use of Tommy Barfield Elementary's baseball field for Marco Island youth baseball. Mr. Peter Rigas (Amber Dr.) outlined his considerations and concerns with the current leadership of the Marco Island City Council. Mr. Mike McGuire (Honeysuckle Ave.) petitioned the Council to intervene in forestalling the Collier County Public School Board's plans to permanently eliminate the baseball field on the grounds of Tommie Barfield Elementary School. The following individuals also came forward to request the Council's action in keeping the baseball field at Tommie Barfiled Elementary open for Marco Island youth baseball: 1) Master Jackson McGowan (Hidden Valley Dr., Naples) 2) Ms. Amy McGowan (Hidden Valley Dr., Naples) 3) Mr. Joe Oliverio (Caxambas Ct.) 4) Ms. Kelly Dechaine (Rockport Ct.) 5) Ms. Jennie McLaughlin (Trinity Pl., Naples) 6) Mr. Jon Russo (Cape Marco Dr.) 7) Mr. Alex Galiana (Shalimar St.) 10. Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing ID 25-4104 Resolution - Utility Easement Vacation (LV-24-000268) Request to Vacate the Six-foot Utility and Drainage Easements Along Each Side of the Common Lot Line for Property Located at 917 North Barfield Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145 - Josh Ooyman, Planner II, Community Affairs/Growth Management City Attorney Alan Gabriel swore in all parties who indicated an intention to provide witness or testimony, and each Council member conveyed a verbal ex parte disclosure related to the Applicant's Appeal. City Clerk Joan Taylor read Resolution 25-10 into the record by title only. Community Affairs Director Daniel Smith explained the rationale for the Applicant's request. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Schwan, that Resolution 25-10 - Utility Easement Vacation (LV-24-000268) Request to Vacate the Six-Foot Utility and Drainage Easements Along Each Side of the Common Lot Line for the Property Located at 917 North Barfield Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz 11. Ordinances City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 A. Public Hearings None. B. First Readings ID 25-4118 Ordinance - First Reading - Amending Chapter 50, Traffic and Vehicles, Section 50-37, Prohibited Parking in City Swales, North of Old Marco Lane - Daniel J. Smith, AICP, Director - Community Affairs/Growth Management City Clerk Joan Taylor read Ordinance 25-02 into the record by title only. Community Affairs Director Daniel Smith reviewed the Planning Board's efforts to craft the proposed Ordinance with input from citizens in the Old Marco area, and he addressed a number of questions from members of the Council. Public Comment The following four members of the public expressed their concerns with the impact of the proposed Ordinance on personal property rights and the ability for contractors, service providers, and family members to legally park in the area. 1) Mr. Dan Stoller (Edington Pl.) 2) Mr. Scott Case (Gayer Way) 3) Mr. Keith Braun (Tallwood St.) 4) Mr. Joe Oliverio (Caxambas Ct.) No Motion was advanced by any member of the Council to approve Ordinance 25-02 on First Reading. 12. Resolutions & City Council Items ID 25-4095 Award of Contract to Kimley Horn for Grant Writing Services in the Amount of $75,000 - Casey Lucius, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius briefly reviewed the genesis of the Council's direction and 2025 fiscal year budget allocation to procure grant writing services to focus on water quality grants and to purchase Island property for conservation, and she outlined the selection criteria and process that resulted in the proposed vendor approval. Public Comment Ms. Melissa Phillips, (Treasure Cove Creek Circle, Naples), CEO of Impact Philanthropy, promoted her approach, capabilities, and history of local successes for the Council's consideration. MOTION by Councilor Gray, seconded by Councilor Goehler, that Authorization for the City Manager to Award the Contract for Grant Writing Services to Kimley-Horn Consultants in the Amount of $75,000.00, be Approved. MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 3- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler and Councilor Henry No: 3- Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 13. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda No items were removed from the Consent Agenda at this meeting. 14. Council Communications & Future Agenda Councilor Schwan proposed that the Council act on the concerns raised by members of the community during Agenda Item 9 (Citizen Communications) regarding the potential termination of youth baseball activities at the Tommie Barfield Elementary School field, and all members of the Council were in unanimous agreement to direct the City Manager to initiate a letter to the Collier County Public School Board (CCPS) to request: 1) that CCPS remove its planned discussion of this property/field from its February 5, 2025 agenda, and; 2) that the City of Marco Island be provided an opportunity to discuss an alternative path for this property/field with CCPS officials. City Manager McNees advised the Council that this action could result in the City committing to future capital and operating expenditures that are not currently in the 2025 Fiscal Year budget. Councilor Schwan also outlined the experience and qualifications of applicant Nanette Rivera for the Council's existing vacancy. She requested that a vote on this candidate be undertaken, but she was advised by City Attorney Alan Gabriel that an item of this nature requires public notice and placement on a forthcoming Agenda. Councilor Palumbo provided recent historical perspective on past discussions with the Collier County Public School Board regarding "Tract K" and the location of school facilities on Marco Island. He proposed that the Council take a wider view of the City's engagement with the Collier County Public School Board. Councilor Palumbo offered his endorsement of the candidate raised by Councilor Schwan, and he requested that the Council's selection of Council Chair and Vice-Chair also be placed on the next City Council Agenda. Vice-Chair Brechnitz requested that City Manager McNees investigate and provide updates on: 1) the City's planned traffic flow improvements for the Collier Boulevard/North Barfield Drive intersection, and; 2) the City's traffic control system improvements at that location and other intersections on the Island. City Manager McNees committed to providing an update in a direct email communication to all members of the City Council. Councilor Gray, in consideration of his campaign promise, presented a check in the amount of $5,000.00 to be directed toward the creation of a City employee incentive compensation fund. He also spoke favorably about the culture that he observed at The Marco Island Charter Middle School, and he expressed his desire to see the embodiment of a similar culture within the City. Councilor Gray directed a number of questions to City Attorney Alan Gabriel regarding: 1) special elections; 2) certain provisions in the City Charter; 3) state law; 4) general democratic principles, and; 5) the ability to seek guidance from the State Attorney General. City Attorney Alan Gabriel offered to address Councilor Gray's questions in a more detailed manner following the meeting. Councilor Henry proposed that the Council invite elementary and middle-school students to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at future meetings of the City Council. Councilor Henry also suggested a different seating arrangement of Councilors at the dais. Following a brief discussion, the Council agreed that two Councilors will, going forward, sit in different seats on the dais. Council Goehler announced her intention to bring forward a White Paper on the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee for Council discussion. City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 ID 25-4068 Future Agenda Items Councilor Schwan requested that a vote on her candidate to fill the open City Council vacancy be placed on the next Special-Called Meeting Agenda of the City Council. Councilor Palumbo requested that the Council's selection of Council Chair and Vice-Chair be placed on the next City Council Agenda. Councilor Goehler requested that her White Paper on the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee be placed on the next City Council Agenda. 15. Council Reports None. 16. City Manager's Report City Manager Mike McNees communicated the date of the Water & Sewer Department's Annual Open House to be Friday, February 14, 2025. 17. City Attorney's Report Councilor Palumbo queried City Attorney Alan Gabriel on the status of the release of Minutes from the Council's May 8 & August 21, 2023 Special-Called "Closed" Meetings. The City Attorney and the City Clerk clarified the potential costs that may be associated with public records requests. 18. Departmental Reports ID 25-4069 Monthly Departmental Reports Councilor Gray requested clarification on an item in the Police Department's report, and he complimented Police Chief Tracy Frazzano on the structure and detail provided in her Department's monthly 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, Vice-Chair Brechnitz adjourned the meeting at 8:35 P.M. ___________________________ Erik Brechnitz, Council Vice-Chair ATTEST: ____________________________________ Joan Taylor, City Clerk PREPARED BY: City of Marco Island Florida Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2025 ___________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 7