With 32 items on City Council’s Priority Dashboard , Mayor Teresa Heitmann suggested the top 10 to provide transparency and support for residents’ interests. Council agreed with the recommendations and offered additional input to a list that included:
Restart the stormwater regulations and inspections and ensure that Purchasing has developed a library of qualified vendors who will complete the inspections within a set scope and for a reasonable cost to residents. Prior estimates by outside firms to inspect homeowner properties for stormwater management compliance were excessive and unacceptable to both residents and Council.
Formally include the City Vision Document with Comprehensive Plan. This Vision Document highlights residents values, interests and priorities and will guide updates to the Comprehensive Plan. The documents go hand in hand.
Incorporate the Neighborhood Plans into the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Heitmann has been steadfast that individual neighborhood priorities must be established in our governing documents.
Review Interlocal Agreements with the County to ensure that the County is paying their fair share for increasing usage of City parks, beaches, and other City resources.
Review and establish standards for underground garages. Assess the impact on density and potential environmental and water table issues.
Identify solutions for Affordable/Workforce Housing.
Review a list of “interpretations” used by both Council and staff to approve projects. Importantly define what is described as ‘a floor’ related to the Charter Height Amendment that restricts the height of commercial buildings to 42 feet.
Examine the Code of Ordinances related to the Airport and receive the Master Plan to ensure noise mitigation is included.
Eliminate the 5th Avenue code which requires that new development be built right to the front lot line. This change would allow for wider setbacks, more outdoor dining on commercial properties, and more flexibility in architectural design.
Prioritize the environmental initiatives, to include short term priorities such as completion of the beach outfall pipe removal and a long-term priority list to protect our environment.
City Manager Jay Boodheshwar agreed to develop the list for final approval and create three buckets: Planning, Environmental, and “Other.”
Mayor Heitmann remarked that the approved priorities must get accomplished; they must be put on upcoming agendas and addressed by Council in the near term.
Many claim the passage of an ordinance last season by City Council is the most significant benefit for residents; specifically, an ordinance that changes to the site plan review process for commercial development. The change requires that more projects would be received by Council in the sunshine vs. administratively approved without Council input or visibility to citizens. This change gives the residents a chance to be informed on upcoming development, ask questions, and provide input.
However, Florida Senate Bill #250 rolled back any and all ordinances passed since Hurricane Ian. The intention was to prevent burdensome requirements on private property owners rebuilding their homes. But the unilateral, generic approach by the State to prohibit any and all ordinances from moving forward has many Cities concerned about ordinances they approved that would actually benefit residents and resiliency. Also impacted are ordinances that have nothing to do with private property. The aforementioned site plan process is one example.
For more information on how this Senate Bill which became law in June impacts our City’s priorities and the concept of Home Rule, read more HERE: https://citizensforpreservingnaples.org/news/2023/8/20/city-council-seeking-clarity-from-the-state-of-florida-regarding-senate-bill-250