Audubon Florida is distributing the following information to mobilize Collier County residents to turn out next Tuesday, March 12, at the County Commission chambers to take a stand against the continuing degradation of a popular program to save environmentally sensitive land. The measure comes before the board at 10:30 a.m.
Please get in touch with your commissioner. Talking points are included if you want to send them a card or letter. Email works, too. Contact information is below.
But try to show up and speak. They say they want to know how we feel. Let's show them. We recommend getting there around 10 to register to speak. We expect a sizable turnout, since three-fourths of county voters approved the measure some commissioners want to dismantle.
From Audubon Florida: Be a Voice for Conservation in Collier County
Collier County’s enormously popular Conservation Collier land acquisition program is threatened by proposed changes to the program ordinance. County Commissioners want to use the line-item tax levy for anything they want—but the people of Collier County have repeatedly voted to use these funds for conservation. The Board votes on the changes at their March 12 meeting.
The Problem
Last fall, hundreds of Audubon members in Collier County sent emails and testified before the Collier Board of Commissioners into the wee hours of the fiscal 2024 budget hearing about sustaining the funding for Conservation Collier.
The Board, nevertheless, voted to cut taxes and use $53 million from Conservation Collier to pay for other programs which suddenly had budget shortfalls.
The current ordinance revisions threaten further raids on conservation funds in the future. We need those conservation dollars to protect wildlife as well as our quality of life in a rapidly developing Southwest Florida.
The Solution
At the direction of Commissioner Burt Saunders, Audubon has worked with staff and the Conservation Collier Advisory Committee to propose new ordinance revisions to speed up conservation land buying. These beneficial changes are also on the March 12 agenda.
We Need You
Audubon urges support for efficiency revisions. Tell commissioners to keep their promise to restore full funding of Conservation Collier.
Urge the commissioners to:
1. Make ordinance changes to speed up conservation land buying.
2. Keep their promise to provide full funding for Conservation Collier at the voter-approved levy of 0.25 mills.
Make a Big Difference: Attend the Board of County Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
10:30 a.m.
Turner Administration Building
3299 Tamiami Trail E, Naples FL 34112
Note: Commissioner Saunders has obtained a “time certain” of 10:30 a.m. In order to speak (three minutes maximum), please arrive a little early and submit your public comment speaker's slip to the desk just inside the Board Room door prior to 10:30 a.m.
Email or Call Your Commissioner by March 12
Using this commissioner finder, email or call your commissioner and urge them to support the ordinance changes and full funding for Conservation Collier (full list below).
Potential talking points are below or craft your own! You are a critical voice for Southwest Florida’s native species and natural landscapes.
Trust in Government Commitments
I voted for Conservation Collier and celebrate all its 4,700 acres of preserves already acquired (name your favorite, if possible). I expect the Conservation Collier line item tax levy to be used for Conservation Collier, as you have committed.
Conservation Urgency
With rapid development and population increases in Collier County and Southwest Florida, Conservation Collier offers a way to protect our quality of life. We need to speed this program up with maximum funding!
Perpetual Management of Preserves Requires a Large Endowment
The Conservation Collier Land Management Trust Fund has too little funding for long-term management. Without slowing land buying, the Management Trust Fund should be replenished.
Contact Information for Board of County Commissioners
Rick LoCastro, District 1
Rick.LoCastro@colliercountyfl.gov
(239) 252-8601
Chris Hall, District 2
Chris.Hall@colliercountyfl.gov
(239) 252-8602
Burt L. Saunders, District 3
Burt.Saunders@colliercountyfl.gov
(239) 252-8603
Dan Kowal, District 4
Dan.Kowal@colliercountyfl.gov
(239) 252-8604
William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5
Bill.McDaniel@colliercountyfl.gov
(239) 252-8605