City Council

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, March 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 March 3, 2025 1. Call to Order Vice-Chair Brechnitz called the meeting to order at 5:31 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 Angela Johenning, Purchasing and Risk 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 Jillian Szczepanski ID 25-4263 Pledge of Allegiance Led by Jillian Szczepanski of Marco Island Charter Middle School Ms. Szczepanski led the meeting's attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. Approval of the Agenda MOTION by Councilor Schwan, seconded by Councilor Palumbo, 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 25-4274 Approval of the Special-Called Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025 MOTION by Councilor Gray, seconded by Councilor Schwan, that the City Council Special-Called Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025, 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 City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 b. ID 25-4080 Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025 MOTION by Councilor Gray, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the City Council Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025, 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 7. Approval of the Consent Agenda MOTION by Councilor Schwan, seconded by Councilor Goehler, that the Consent Agenda 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 [Approval of the Consent Agenda Passed the Routine Items Listed Below] a. ID 25-4277 Resolution - Approving of the Appointment of Mr. Brian Lynch to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk b. ID 25-4261 Approving the Nomination of Kevin Dohm to Serve as the Marco Island Resident Representative on the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) - Joan Taylor, City Clerk 8. Proclamations and Presentations a. ID 25-4081 Employee Service Awards: Martha Montgomery - 10 Years John Wallace - 5 Years Casey Lucius - 5 Years Thomas Bien - 5 Years City Manager Mike McNees recognized and individually called forward the four employees noted above to receive their appreciation of service recognition certificate and pin as presented by City Council Vice-Chair Erik Brechnitz. b. ID 25-4139 Presentation - Awards in Recognition of Volunteer Advisory Committee Members Vice-Chair Erik Brechnitz, with the assistance of City Clerk Joan Taylor and the support of the City Council, recognized the following volunteer Committee members who reached the limit of their allowable term serving on a City Committee through the end of calendar year 2024: Mr. Nathaniel O'Donnell - Beach & Coastal Resources Advisory Committee Ms. Shelli Connelly - Beautification Advisory Committee Mr. Al Musico - Ad Hoc Bike Path Advisory Committee Ms. Allyson Richards - Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Mr. Steve Sokol - Waterways Advisory Committee Mr. Dave Vergo - Planning Board Each individual received a personal token of appreciation for their service, and several recipients offered a City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 few words of gratitude. Messrs. Sokol and Vergo were unable to be present to receive their awards at the meeting. c. ID 25-4280 Presentation - Planning Board Initiatives - Jason Bailey, Chairman, Planning Board City Planning Board Chair Jason Bailey provided a brief overview of the work of the Marco Island Planning Board, and he engaged the Council in a discussion of potential areas where the City's Code of Ordinances might be reviewed by the Council for future modifications. Individual Council members provided their input, and several suggestions received general Council consensus, including: 1) assessing the impact of raising the maximum allowable height of seawalls; 2) identifying opportunities to provide visitor restroom facilities at the Winterberry Drive and/or Maple Avenue beach access pathways; 3) allowing certain, limited commercial activities at Caxambas Park, and; 4) developing a process to audit, and track density counts by zoning district No members of the public came forward to offer comment. 9. Citizens' Comments on Items Not Scheduled for Public Hearing and Items Other Than Those Appearing on the Agenda Mr. Wynfred C. Watkins (Rosa Ct., Naples), President of Trinity Life Foundation and member of the Tobacco Free Collier County Partnership promoted the health and ecological benefits of having smoke free parks and beaches. He introduced two young brothers (Joshua Gutierrez and Yeremi Gutierrez of College Park Cir., Naples), who addressed the Council by sharing their opinions for having smoke-free beaches and parks. Mr. Joseph Oliverio (Caxambas Ct.) provided a brief update on the progress of Marco Island Youth Baseball, Inc. in obtaining contractor estimates to improve the baseball field on the grounds of Tommie Barfield Elementary School. He asked for the continued support of the Council and the City Staff in engaging with the Collier County Public School Board. 10. Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing None. 11. Ordinances A. Public Hearings None. B. First Readings ID 25-4276 Ordinance - First Reading - Amending Chapter 22 “Fire Prevention and Protection,” Article III “Firefighters’ Pension Plan,” in Accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local No. 2887 for the Period October 1, 2021 Through September 30, 2025; By Amending Section 22-57 “Benefit Amounts and Eligibility,” Section 22-73 “Retiree Health City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 Insurance Subsidy,” and Section 22-74 “Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP)” - Chris Byrne, Fire-Rescue Chief, Fire-Rescue Department City Clerk Joan Taylor read Ordinance 25-03 into the record by title only, noting that the period of the collective bargaining period for the City and the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 2887 was corrected to October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2025. Marco Island Fire Chief Chris Byrne outlined the reason for the proposed Amendments, and he highlighted the specific changes proposed within the Ordinance. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Henry, seconded by Councilor Palumbo, that Ordinance 25-03 - Amending Chapter 22 "Fire Prevention and Protection", Article III "Firefighters' Pension Plan", in Accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local No. 2887 for the Period October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2025; by Amending Section 22-57 "Benefit Amounts and Eligibility", Section 22-73 "Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy", and Section 22-74 "Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP)", be Approved on First Reading. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz 12. Resolutions & City Council Items a. ID 25-4265 Resolution - Creating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk City Clerk Joan Taylor read Resolution 25-15 into the record by title only. Public Comment Mr. Kevin Dohm (Copperfield Ct.), as recently-named leader of the Ad Hoc Bike Path Advisory Committee, offered his perspective on the advantages of the current structure and makeup of this Committee. MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Schwan, that the Council's decision on creating a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee be Deferred until the City Staff can return with Committee process and structure recommendations that can more effectively meet City of Marco Island and State of Florida requirements. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 5- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo and Councilor Schwan No: 1- Vice-Chair Brechnitz b. ID 25-4262 Reconsideration of an 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 outlined the Council's actions on February 3 and February 18, 2025, in initially rejecting, and later bringing back for re-consideration, the Council's decision regarding the City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 hiring of Kimley-Horn to provide specific grant writing services for the City of Marco Island. City Attorney Alan Gabriel noted the City's communication to reject all submitted bids after the Council's denial of the initial contract award request, and he offered insight from the City's Procurement Code on conditions that could allow for the Council to re-consider the awarding of the contract to Kimley-Horn. Mr. Mike Harris, Kimley-Horn Senior Vice-President, and Ms. Diana Bello, Kimley-Horn Funding Strategies Division Representative, conveyed their organization's desire to honor the terms of the grant solicitation agreement as presented for Council approval at its February 3, 2025 meeting. [Editorial Note: see Agenda Item 12 at the February 3, 2025 meeting for specific detail on the proposal.] No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Gray, seconded by Councilor Goehler, that the Award of a Contract to Kimley-Horn for Grant Writing Services in the Amount of $75,000.00, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 5- Councilor Gray, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Schwan and Vice-Chair Brechnitz No: 1- Councilor Palumbo c. ID 25-4290 Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Order to Ten-8 Fire & Safety LLC. for Necessary Repairs of the Fire Rescue Department Ladder Truck in the Amount of $66,838.85 - Chris Byrne, Chief, Fire-Rescue Department City of Marco Island Fire Chief Chris Byrne briefly outlined the condition that is necessitating the requested repair authorization, and he confirmed that funding within the 2025 FY budget exists to complete the repairs. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Henry, that Authorization of the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Order to Ten-8 Fire & Safety LLC for Necessary Repairs to the Fire Rescue Department Ladder Truck in the Amount of $66,838.85, 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 13. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda No Agenda Items were removed from the Consent Agenda at this meeting. 14. Council Communications & Future Agenda Councilor Gray alerted the Council and the community-at-large of incidences of palm rats chewing on, and damaging, automotive under-hood and under-vehicle electrical wiring. He recommended spraying automotive wiring with mint oil to discourage palm rats from causing costly damage. Councilor Gray also encouraged all drivers on the Island to be mindful of using their turn signals to improve the Island's traffic flow. Councilor Gray concluded by encouraging the public to attend a meeting regarding the Port Marco Planned Unit Development Variance Request on Monday, March 10, 2025 at the Mackle Park Community Center beginning at 5:00 P.M. City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 Councilor Henry recognized the leadership of the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation for its successful 18th Annual Celebration Luncheon held at the Marco Island Country Club on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Councilor Henry also advised the Council of her desire to bring together a cross-Committee roundtable discussion to review common areas of interest, discuss Committee goals, and identify opportunities to work more effectively as individual Committees and collectively, together. Councilor Schwan requested that the Council define a process and commit to the selection and appointment of a seventh City Council member on, before, but no later than the conclusion of the Council's next, regular City Council Meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025. [Editorial Note: The Council engaged in considerable discussion on Councilor Schwan's topic and raised a number of perspectives regarding the Council's next candidate-selection effort, including reaching Council consensus that a potential City Council appointee must have submitted an application, but not necessarily a professional resume, to be considered for appointment to the Marco Island City Council. Additionally, Vice-Chair Brechnitz indicated that, if a Council candidate receives a majority (but not unanimous) vote from the sitting Councilors, he will request a re-nominating Motion and Vote for that individual in an attempt to convey unanimous Council support for the newly-appointed City Councilor.] Councilor Goehler congratulated the Marco Island Fire Department on its recent dedication event celebrating the activation of its new marine rescue and fire suppression-capable boat. Councilor Goehler also advised the Council of her attendance at a recent meeting of the Big Cypress Basin Water Management District Board, and her observance of a presentation by a representative of the Collier County Pollution Control Section. She requested that a representative from that organization be invited to address the Marco Island City Council on issues related to water quality. Councilor Goehler later raised the prospect of amending the City Charter at a future date to more specifically define the process for selecting a candidate to complete the term of an elected Councilor who does not complete her/his term. Several members of the Council offered differing perspectives on this topic. No specific Council action was directed to the City Staff at this time. Councilor Palumbo complimented the recognition of the six City Committee members who reached the limit of their allowable term in service on a City Committee (Agenda Item 8b), and he asked the City Staff to ensure that the parents of the two young men who addressed the Council during Public Comment (Agenda Item 9) were made aware that a video record of their sons' comments can be "clipped" and saved for future academic applications. Councilor Palumbo provided an update to Council on the staff change with the Comcast/Xfinity municipality representative and will reach out to that organization to follow up on scheduling a hurricane preparedness review with the Marco Island City Council. Councilor Palumbo also invited citizens to email him directly regarding current service issues that they are experiencing with Comcast/Xfinity cable service. Councilor Palumbo reminded the Council that a $10 million grant was recently awarded to the City of Naples from the Collier County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to assist in that city's upgrading of its outflow drains and related road repairs. He recommended developing a proposal to the TDC regarding the proposed restroom facilities for the Winterberry Drive and/or Maple Avenue beach access pathways. Councilor Gray noted his, and Councilor Schwan's, recent attendance at a Florida League of Cities meeting where representatives from Comcast/Xfinity outlined it's organization's constraints in immediately addressing major post-storm service outage issues until other critical services have been restored. City of Marco Island Florida Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 Councilor Gray advised the Council that he had some concerns with the safety and security of restroom facilities at the Winterberry Drive and Maple Avenue beach access pathways. [Editorial Note: A City Council discussion item regarding these proposed restroom facilities was added to Council's Future Agenda.] Vice-Chair Brechnitz questioned the status of a State of Florida grant for the "Marco Island Median Modification Project" (submitted January 2024). Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius provided a brief update and committed to further investigate the status of the City's request. ID 25-4082 Future Agenda Items Councilor Goehler requested that a representative of the Collier County Pollution Control Section be invited to a Future Meeting of the Marco Island City Council. Councilor Palumbo requested that a hurricane preparedness presentation by representatives of Comcast/Xfinity be added to the City Council's Future Agenda. Vice-Chair Brechnitz concurred with Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius' recommendation that a budgeted project plan for locating restroom facilities at or near the Winterberry Drive and/or Maple Avenue beach access pathways be added to the City Council's Future Agenda. 15. Council Reports None. 16. City Manager's Report None. 17. City Attorney's Report None. 18. Departmental Reports ID 25-4083 Monthly Departmental Reports No questions or comments were raised regarding the Monthly Department Reports at this meeting. 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 7:56 P.M. ___________________________ Erik Brechnitz, Council Vice-Chair City of Marco Island Florida Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2025 ATTEST: ____________________________________ Joan Taylor, City Clerk PREPARED BY: ___________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 8