City Council

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, April 7, 2025 5:30 PM Community Meeting Room City Council Chair: Erik Brechnitz Vice-Chair: Stephen Gray City Council: Rene Champagne, 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 April 7, 2025 1. Call to Order Chair Brechnitz called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. 2. Roll Call Present: 6- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz Not Present: 1- Councilor Palumbo (Note: Councilor Palumbo joined remotely via Zoom teleconference connection at 5:34 P.M.) Also Present Michael McNees, City Manager Casey Lucius, Assistant City Manager Joan Taylor, City Clerk Alan L. Gabriel, City Attorney Tracy Frazzano, Police Chief Dave Ennis, Police Captain Mat Marshall, Deputy Fire Chief Daniel J. Smith, Community Affairs Director Justin Martin, Public Works Director Jeff Poteet, Water & Sewer General Manager Joe Parrilli, Fleet & Facilities Manager Leslie Sanford, Human Resources Manager (arrived at 6:17 P.M.) Samantha Malloy, Parks, Culture & Recreation Manager Martin Luna, Video/Broadcast Technician Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist Citizens and Visitors Motion to Allow Remote Participation by Councilor Palumbo MOTION by Councilor Schwan, seconded by Councilor Goehler, to allow Councilor Palumbo to participate in, and vote on, all allowable matters coming before the Council at this meeting. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz 3. Invocation Offered by the Reverend Gary Goodrich of the Marco Presbyterian Church. 4. Pledge of Allegiance ID 25-4270 Pledge of Allegiance - Led by James Kraemer of Marco Island Charter Middle School Master James Kraemer led the meeting's attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. Approval of the Agenda City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 MOTION by Vice-Chair Gray, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz 6. Approval of the Minutes a. ID 25-4307 Approval of the Special-Called Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2025 MOTION by Vice-Chair Gray, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the City Council Special-Called Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2025, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz b. ID 25-4100 Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2025 MOTION by Vice-Chair Gray, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the City Council Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2025, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz 7. Approval of Consent Agenda Vice-Chair Gray requested that Agenda Item 7a (Resolution - Approving the Appointment of Mr. Darin Spindler to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee) be removed from the Consent Agenda. [Editorial Note: the record of the Council's decision on this item is now reflected in these Minutes under Agenda Item 13 (Items Removed from the Consent Agenda)] MOTION by Councilor Schwan, seconded by Councilor Goehler, that the Consent Agenda be Approved as Amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz [Approval of the Consent Agenda Passed All Routine Items Listed Below] b. ID 25-4309 Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Professional Consulting Agreement with Bowman Gulf Coast LLC for the Survey, Design, Bidding, and Permitting Services Associated with the South Barfield Drive Flood Remediation Project in the Amount of $194,000, using Marco Island Contract #19-012, as Amended for Professional Engineering Services - Justin Martin, P.E., Director, Public Works c. ID 25-4346 Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Purchase Order Change Order to Earth Tech Enterprises, Inc. for the 2024 Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project Operational Maintenance in the Amount of $65,800 (PO# 240664). Approved by the Hideaway Tax District City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 Board - Justin Martin P.E., Director, Public Works d. ID 25-4348 Authorize the City Manager to Issue a Purchase Order to Humiston & Moore Engineers for the 2nd and 3rd Quarters of 2025 for Professional Consulting Services Associated with the Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project in the Amount of $67,556.00. Approved by the Hideaway Tax District Board - Justin Martin, P.E., Director, Public Works e. ID 25-4351 Authorize the City Manager to Issue a Purchase order to B & J Lining, Inc., for the Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project in the Amount of $198,450.00. - Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager, Water & Sewer Department 8. Proclamations and Presentations a. ID 25-4103 Employee Service Awards: Laura Ryan - 5 Years Dawn Snyder - 5 Years William Prigge - 5 Years City Manager Mike McNees recognized and called forward City employees Laura Ryan, Dawn Snyder, and William Prigge individually to receive their appreciation of service recognition certificate and pin as presented by City Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz. b. ID 25-4167 Employee of the First Quarter Ms. Lauree Greene, City of Marco Island Police Department Accreditation and Grants Coordinator, was recognized as the City's "Employee of the Quarter" for the first Quarter of 2025. c. ID 25-4344 Proclamation - Water Conservation Month City Council Chair Erik Brechnitz proclaimed April, 2025 as "Water Conservation Month". He presented a copy of the Proclamation to Water & Sewer General Manager Jeff Poteet. d. ID 25-4352 Presentation - 2025 Marco in Bloom Awards - Linda Scherzinger, Vice-Chair, Beautification Advisory Committee City of Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee Vice-Chair Linda Scherzinger, assisted by Committee Member Victoria Myers, announced the category winners and runners-up of the 2025 Marco In Bloom Landscape Awards. Each award-winning property owner was presented with a corresponding yard sign in honor of this annual recognition. e. ID 25-4353 Presentation - Waterways Advisory Committee Quarterly Update - Elliott Mascoop, Chairman, Waterways Advisory Committee Newly-elected City of Marco Island Waterways Advisory Committee Chair Elliott Mascoop shared an overview of the Committee's recent discussions and his personal goals for the Committee in the upcoming year. Mr. Mascoop received and responded to a number of questions from members of the Council. City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 9. Citizens' Comments of Items Not Scheduled for Public Hearing and Items Other Than Those Appearing on the Agenda Mr. John Martini (Nassau Ct.) questioned why an annual Island-wide traffic "level of service" study had not been conducted on the Island for a number of years. Ms. Rene Ford (Bald Eagle Dr.) reminded the Council of her "Love Your Island Litter Prevention" campaign, and she invited the Council and the public to come out to support the next Island-wide clean up event at the Collier County YMCA on Marco Island on Earth Day, April 22nd, beginning at 11:00 A.M. Ms. Victoria Myers (Bluebonnet Ct.) raised the Council's awareness of a potential negative impact to the City's "home-rule" authority if Big Marco Pass were to be designated as a Federal Waterway. Mr. Martin Winter (Perrine Ct.) expressed his point-of-view on the likely large capital investments that will be required to meet aggressive water quality improvement targets, and he proposed that the City seek alternative sources of funding to support such initiatives. 10. Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing ID 25-4333 Resolution - Boat Dock Extension (BD-24-000263) Request to Allow for an Additional Three (3’) Foot Encroachment into the Waterway for a Boat Dock Facility for the Collier County Sheriff Office Located at Caxambas Park, 909 Collier Court, Marco Island, FL 34145 - Mary P. Holden, Planning Manager, Community Affairs/Growth Management At City Council Chair Erik Brechnitz's request, each Council member conveyed a verbal ex parte disclosure related to the Applicant's Appeal, and City Attorney Alan Gabriel swore in all parties who indicated an intention to provide witness or testimony. City Clerk Joan Taylor read Resolution 25-23 into the record by title only. City of Marco Island Community Affairs Director Dan Smith outlined the specifics of the County's request, and he noted the Planning Board's 5 - 2 vote favoring the recommendation of approval under specific conditions. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. [Editorial Note: Councilor Darrin Palumbo, as a remote participant to the Hearing, was ineligible to vote on this quasi-judicial matter] MOTION by Councilor Henry, seconded by Vice-Chair Gray, that Resolution 25-23 - Boat Dock Extension Request (BD-24-000263) to Allow for an Additional Three Foot (3') Encroachment into the Waterway for a Boat Dock Facility for the Collier County Sheriff Office Located at Caxambas Park Located at 909 Collier Court, Marco Island, FL 34145, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz 11. Ordinances None. City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 12. Resolutions & City Council Items a. ID 25-4349 Approval of Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Marco Island and Collier County for Location of Police Dock - Joe Parrilli, Manager, Fleet & Facilities Fleet & Facilities Manager Joseph Parrilli provided background on the floating dock proposal, and Marco Island Police Chief Tracy Frazzano shared detail regarding the provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Waters Grant to provide partial funding for the project assuming certain procedures are executed prior to the release of the funds. Mr. Parrilli and Ms. Frazzano responded to several questions from members of the Council. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Henry, seconded by Councilor Schwan, that the Proposed Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Marco Island and Collier County for the Floating Docks Located Off-Shore at 807 East Elkham Circle, Marco Island, FL 34145, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 7- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz b. ID 25-4304 Appointment to the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk City Council Chair Erik Brechnitz briefly announced the names of the three Marco Island candidates who submitted applications to fill the open Marco Island seat on the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) for the term ending May 22, 2029. They were (in alphabetical order): Mr. Daniel High, Mr. Stephen Koziar, and Mr. David Rasmussen. Public Comment Mr. Daniel High (Jamaica Ct.) provided a response to Vice-Chair Gray's concern regarding a potential conflict of interest in being appointed to the CAC given his current leadership position with a major marina on the Island. Mr. Joseph Oliverio (Caxambas Ct.) shared his recent experience with running aground multiple times on existing waterways around the Island, and he encouraged the Council to select a candidate who will advocate to maintain and appropriately mark the constantly-shifting channels around the Island. Mr. Martin Winter (Perrine Ct.) spoke on behalf of Mr. High's commitment to addressing navigational issues around the Island from their time together on the City of Marco Island's Waterways Advisory Committee. MOTION by Councilor Schwan, seconded by Councilor Henry, that the Appointment of Mr. Daniel High as Marco Island's Representative to the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Four-Year Term Ending May 22, 2029, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 4- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo and Councilor Schwan No: 3- Councilor Goehler, Vice-Chair Gray and Chair Brechnitz c. ID 25-4296 Salary Survey Findings and Recommendations, Casey Lucius, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius presented the City of Marco Island salary survey approach and findings from the study directed by the City Council in October, 2024. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. After considerable discussion, the Council elected to defer action on the May 5, 2025 implementation of the proposed non-union employee salaries and salary ranges in anticipation of the Council's upcoming 2026 Fiscal Year Budget Development process and meetings. (THE MEETING WENT INTO RECESS AT 8:13 P.M. IT IS NOTED FOR THE RECORD THAT ALL COUNCILORS WERE PRESENT OR REMOTELY CONNECTED WHEN THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 8:19 P.M.) 13. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda 7a. ID 25-4343 Resolution - Approving of the Appointment of Mr. Darin Spindler to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - Joan Taylor, City Clerk City Clerk Joan Taylor read Resolution 25-22 into the record by title only. Vice-Chair Gray shared his reservations regarding Mr. Spindler's appointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee. No members of the public came forward to offer comment. MOTION by Councilor Palumbo, seconded by Councilor Henry, that Resolution 25-22 - Appointing of Mr. Darin Spindler to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE: Yes: 6- Councilor Champagne, Councilor Goehler, Councilor Henry, Councilor Palumbo, Councilor Schwan and Chair Brechnitz No: 1- Vice-Chair Gray 14. Council Communications & Future Agenda Councilor Champagne proposed that the Council engage in once monthly, public "Operations Review Meetings" with the City Manager and select department leaders to build collaborative understanding and teamwork between the Council and City Staff on projects and priorities. He proposed Wednesday, April 30th as the date for the first such meeting. Additionally, Councilor Champage proposed that explanatory detail be added to the City's financial variance reports to enhance the Council's understanding of the factors influencing the City's performance. Councilor Schwan noted that Jason Bailey, Chair of the City's Planning Board, indicated that answers and follow-up detail on the questions raised during his March 3, 2025 report to the Council were now available, and she requested that his next review be added to the Council's Future Agenda. Councilor Schwan also identified her following five priorities, not necessarily in order of importance, for the City of Marco Island Florida Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 Council's upcoming 2026 Fiscal Year budget development process. They are: 1) pedestrian, bicycle, e-bike, and motorized micro-wheeled scooter board safety; 2) the addition of shade trees and/or shade structures in City parks and along City pathways; 3) water quality; 4) medians, roads, and bridges, and; 5) City fiscal responsibility. Councilor Henry indicated her inability to attend Councilor Champagne's first proposed "Operations Review Meeting" on April 30th. Councilor Henry also recognized the success of the April 1, 2025 "Lunch with the Chief" event hosted by the Marco Island Police Foundation, and she congratulated City Police Officer Melanie Lopez on being named "Officer of the Year" at that event. Councilor Henry concluded by encouraging all citizens to the support the upcoming Saturday, April 12, 2025 Annual Police Foundation "Rib Cook-Off" event. Councilor Goehler indicated her support for Councilor Champagne's proposed "Operations Review Meetings", and she complimented City Finance Director Guillermo Polanco on his openness to engaging with City Councilors to review and discuss aspects of the City's finances. Councilor Palumbo shared a brief summary of his outreach to Board members of the Marco Island Academy over a recent incident. Councilor Palumbo supported Councilor Champagne's proposal for additional meetings, and he endorsed the need to enhance the engagement and teamwork between the Council and the City Staff. Councilor Palumbo also referenced the report by the Chair of the Waterways Advisory Committee earlier in the meeting, and he proposed that certain issues which are currently being raised and addressed at the City Committee level should instead be led by the City Council. Councilor Palumbo concluded his remarks by complimenting Vice-Chair Gray on fulfilling his campaign promise to forego his annual compensation as a City Councilor and donate it back to the City. [Editorial Note: At the Council's February 3, 2025 meeting during Council Communications, Councilor Gray indicated that he was not allowed to simply refuse his $6,000.00 annual compensation as a City Councilor. Given that he was required to accept it, he presented a check in the amount of $5,000.00 to the City at February 3rd meeting that he asked be directed toward the creation of a City employee compensation fund.] Chair Brechnitz raised a question regarding the status of available funds to complete the traffic flow improvement project for the North Collier Boulevard & North Barfield Drive intersection. Outlining his understanding of the estimates for that project that were developed when: 1) the engineering estimate was generated; 2) the project budget was established, and; 3) contractor bids were solicited, he requested an update on the status of impact fees that he understood could be available to help fund the project. To provide for greater Councilor engagement with the City Staff on key projects that are outlined in the monthly Departmental Reports, Chair Brechnitz indicated his intention to re-order the Council's future regular meeting agendas to review and discuss the monthly Departmental Reports earlier in the agenda. Chair Brechnitz concluded by asking City Manager McNees to re-open negotiations with Collier County and the Collier County School District to update the City's 2002 interlocal agreement regarding impact fees. City Manager McNees indicated that those discussions were already underway. Vice-Chair Gray alerted the Council to methods and studies currently in process on the Island to control the Island's rat population without the use of rodenticides and other toxins. Vice-Chair Gray requested that a copy of the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) City of Marco Island Florida Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 draft ordinance on e-bikes and micro-wheeled vehicles be provided to all members of the Council. Vice-Chair Gray concluded his remarks by asking City Attorney Alan Gabriel to review the non-governmental City of Marco Island Facebook page to determine if it is in conflict with any official City of Marco Island social media communications channels. ID 25-4101 Future Agenda Items Councilor Schwan requested that Planning Board Chair Jason Bailey's next report to the City Council be added to the Council's Future Agenda for May 5, 2025. Vice-Chair Gray requested that a discussion of, and the implementation date for, the Island's next "Level of Service Study" be placed on the Council's Future Agenda. 15. Council Reports None. 16. City Manager's Report City Manager Mike McNees advised the Council that the City received a formal proposal on the C-HAWQ public-private partnership concept that was presented to the City Council at its September 23, 2024 meeting. A Special-Called Meeting of the Council to review the proposal is being planned. 17. City Attorney's Report City Attorney Alan Gabriel communicated his inability to participate in the April 30, 2025 meeting proposed by Councilor Champagne during Council Communications. 18. Departmental Reports ID 25-4102 Monthly Departmental Reports Vice-Chair Gray noted in the Water & Sewer Department Report that a significant unscheduled repair project for the Roberts Bay Bridge is briefly referenced. He indicated a desire to better understand how that project is expected to be funded. Under the Public Works Departmental Report, Vice-Chair Gray similarly would like to obtain greater understanding of: 1) the priorities for the projects identified; 2) the timetable for the "deliverables", and; 3) the provisions for addressing budget shortfalls. Vice-Chair Gray complimented the Water & Sewer Department's "Caught in the Act" Award description in the latest Departmental Report, and he expressed his desire to see the City continue to expand upon, and reward, employees who bring forward innovative, money-saving ideas. Vice-Chair Gray concluded by noting the increases in: 1) vehicle crashes during Q4; 2) trash violations issued, and; 3) traffic counts at the Judge SS Jolley Bridge. He complimented Police Chief Tracy Frazzano on the quality of her department's reports. 19. Citizens' Comments No members of the public came forward to offer comment during this portion of the agenda. City of Marco Island Florida Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 7, 2025 20. Adjournment There being no further business before the Council, Chair Brechnitz adjourned the meeting at 9:06 P.M. ___________________________ Erik Brechnitz, Council Chair ATTEST: ____________________________________ Joan Taylor, City Clerk PREPARED BY: ___________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 9