[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6309749,"mediaKeyId","2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29","parentId",2409357,"title","County clarifies EMS staffing concerns: no privatization planned; medical‑director contract to be rebid","audioSeconds",231,"startMs",9588000,"endMs",9819000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29&start=9588&end=9819","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29/thumbnail_9588000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309749/Collier-County/Florida/County-clarifies-EMS-staffing-concerns-no-privatization-planned-medicaldirector-contract-to-be-rebid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309749-933a54a060dd597c7d943828634f4bc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132636&Signature=WC9zuyRvTHDS9Z18Dr7fXMujePyhoqRwEYoZALaX3uLV8nnwhvhZK6T~YnJQezVf7UEjBv8icjeIp9pEATRWtvgw7tm4df8eJ43VlqVJ2iYrTsNmXrOcadUQSx2IgPkCHM4bGpqX439YbRPrPZ0A9iZfusv9Wr2hG~4Znp2yk0-Hhr6sEUtwKefFq1kxJNhqmV2UJdwWNqSDiW997Eu1kGDlH6AyDld84qIf6CFm4vlq16JRydAUYYaaFTZ7pFJu2FRHfFxAjiA-H7hcctDOIKzzFzFWsM7OeIB5V0UC2o83qSet0~jSISLd7hhdJUQJxv9ghEsk1DyYbu7j5WNljg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Collier County","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","County staff and commissioners addressed public questions about emergency medical services after recent correspondence and public concern.

Miss Patterson (county staff) and other officials told the board there is no intent to privatize emergency medical services. Staff said the county notified the sitting medical director(s) that the medical‑director contract will be put out to bid—a standard contracting practice after many years under a single contract—and that the incumbent medical director, Dr. Tober, was informed and may submit a bid. The county emphasized there was no firing or involuntary termination of the medical director.

Separately, staff discussed MedFlight operations and said a shortage of trained helicopter mechanics has raised operational risk for the county’s air medical capability. County leaders said they are pursuing recruitment and training options, including outreach to local aviation education programs and coordination with other agencies that operate helicopters to identify staffing solutions. Commissioners asked for a growth plan for EMS, including station locations and cooperative arrangements with fire agencies; staff agreed to provide updated planning materials for the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting (2-25-2025)","oneSentenceSummary","County staff said there is no plan to privatize EMS, that the medical‑director contract will be rebid (Dr. Tober invited to bid) and that staffing shortages for helicopter mechanics are prompting recruitment and training discussions.","taxTitle","Collier County, Florida","taxId",12758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309754,"County details repairs at North Collier Regional Park water complex; staff aim to reopen for spring break",1404,7982000,9386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29&start=7982&end=9386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29/thumbnail_7982000.jpg","/articles/6309754/Collier-County/Florida/County-details-repairs-at-North-Collier-Regional-Park-water-complex-staff-aim-to-reopen-for-spring-break","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309754-8a119117160be92f545c111041d55136/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132636&Signature=cHTm8v3135UY69jZ4rhwOpm-0cVcKTrzm4Py41Tvq9xc-azHIUek19QIqcR3KkJxaECUndyo8L~FmdnTb-9qE1aQRlKUCE2k2bTLqgLKJZk~Tv7NzGWKfJpc2iUctiudoGXWnDyXU4S3q43uEsEG-LgbC-MMB8lXI87XUZIHo45NuMCbtOgSYBmNJCpxxh7mPHVaGzKJxsfnuwu92YMqIw~mZ1G643IST3r-9RkHXLS-eaaQQ2HSl07HA08B80S2YZN6ar7s4Q-RKyAnAeXiA6paSJBpa3Qe1IhN0kGZmO1tReM~Xj49m546MlzQn~zcr2LsORqBhXrq6Q-xAnh5YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County parks and facilities staff gave the Board of County Commissioners an update on repairs and permitting at North Collier Regional Park’s Sun ’n Fun water complex and said they expect to open key amenities in time for spring break.

Interim Parks and Recreation division director James Hannerhan, Development Review Director Jamie Cook and Facilities Director Brian Deloney described work completed and work remaining. Completed items included slide‑tower repairs to address corroded stair components, removal and gel coating of slide surfaces, VFD (variable frequency drive) and new recirculation pump installations tied to the central Pump House 1, concrete repairs and concession‑building epoxy flooring. Hannerhan credited contractors and county facilities crews for rapidly completing multiple tasks.

Cook said the Florida Department of Health has scheduled the opening inspection for the pools (state inspection scheduled the week after the presentation) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (division of amusement ride safety) scheduled slide inspections on March 3; staff expect the inspections to be successful. The diving boards were due to be installed by the week following the meeting and those installations will be inspected before diving well use is approved.

Deloney noted larger capital work to occur after summer, including replacement or repair of lazy‑river main drains and bond beam, slide‑pool drain upgrades (planned contract to be presented in March), concrete pathways replacement, interactive water‑feature redesign to a splash pad, chemical‑storage containment improvements, and dive‑well re‑margination. He said some projects are in design and permitting and others will be bid for construction.

Commissioners commended staff and asked that continued life‑cycle cost and value engineering analysis for the Lazy River be pursued; staff said they will evaluate repair versus removal or redesign options and present cost comparisons. No board action was required at the update.","Parks and facilities staff outlined completed and pending repairs at the Sun 'n Fun water complex: pump and filtration work, slide tower and slide restoration, lazy river cleaning and other maintenance; inspections are scheduled with state agencies ahead of reopening.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309759,"Commissioners continue $50,000 grant for Collier County Community Land Trust pending additional documentation",630,7307000,7937000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29&start=7307&end=7937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29/thumbnail_7307000.jpg","/articles/6309759/Collier-County/Florida/Commissioners-continue-50000-grant-for-Collier-County-Community-Land-Trust-pending-additional-documentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309759-6c36377b9a03d00f79c48747b7eaf905/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132636&Signature=MAHWkqJa-PdDBW553f5FBgB-GJugKB8P1KLr234QPM5QriUMCzt0Y99OL9ASoVm9Hgg6laIPb4ZgJUoD5NWr6IB2VjcJSHSpsnohKkmK~git17bjUP3AC~xiXMCHyBFMGb3urQTIkQQsg35a6Q4oYE8RN8kEUMdtlzUfmqJmEbdYkPMkH4EeQ6fWBfEVGphC2T6nHGw2gbU1smDCQexBQrWBGHyH-MmStyceagcK0JCMSKFb2SL9IlkYZgTYwYMKXZSlaPxhoo7G7XPSP0XL8-S5aylXHJw0W4~pOIfGf2na0QsZ82B8AQizHOFbCqPz1wmXPQ-mgQSrFlOSn8SpRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to continue consideration of a recommendation to approve a $50,000 agreement with Housing Development Corporation of Southwest Florida, Inc., doing business as HELP, to operate and administer the Collier County Community Land Trust.

Christy Sontag, director of Community and Human Services, summarized the proposed agreement and the Land Trust’s background: the initiative traces to a 2017 Urban Land Institute study, the county established a local housing fund in 2018 and the Collier County Community Land Trust was certified in 2021 by the national Land Trust certification program. The draft agreement lists five deliverables: a commercial/mixed‑use plan, grant and tax‑credit applications to support construction of affordable housing, operating‑support grant applications for the land trust, quarterly and annual financial reporting, outreach events, and engagement in development of one new affordable‑housing project.

Commissioner McDaniel said much of the proposed work (grant applications, developer coordination) duplicates existing county staff work and asked for more specificity. He requested copies of the land trust’s recent grant awards, financial statements and evidence of deliverables before approving county funds. Sontag said county staff already has the organization’s financials and could obtain a list of grants from the land‑trust executive director.

Following discussion, the board voted to continue the item so staff and the land trust can provide the requested documentation and tighten language in the agreement to include measurable milestones and payment conditions tied to deliverables. Staff said they will return the item as soon as the additional documentation and agreement revisions are prepared.","The board continued consideration of a proposed $50,000 agreement for operating support to the Collier County Community Land Trust to allow staff to provide additional financials, grant lists and measurable milestones.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309763,"Commission approves interlocal agreement with Naples to use Bayview Park for Naples Pier debris removal",1022,4977000,5999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29&start=4977&end=5999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29/thumbnail_4977000.jpg","/articles/6309763/Collier-County/Florida/Commission-approves-interlocal-agreement-with-Naples-to-use-Bayview-Park-for-Naples-Pier-debris-removal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309763-d6d0da2e9f20d9ca0e03021b92a2dbc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132636&Signature=GxMePRqTaCc8QTL3SYy4UhSE4JsO0DzaH2lyTPrFOtA7XlFBUIgheAcx9peUMAXe-bGnmiIxzCYsCfe4SCB6Ypo5ZKizw47prc0nzR4ejxvskcu6HjVI9OyX8zFrERbMhP9T7ONjvUvvyLBwwnRnhFLXYyiqTERUgH150JvltocqVusdNkaAby~d3PmTOBHkhDKYURNnTW3B64f1F8orX6X7fclqqOA3ihsXkwgdvgaQnGdbheeHEVQA~-VO0NCmblx9ONJBAswWLcke0-zML5O~I-mNdvP4HZeVsrAOGkZQJ1f2nRAr~uLPHBOb2aaM3YWylgQj2rzx6H~C4vyQvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Naples that allows the city’s pier contractor to use Bayview Park to offload and immediately remove demolition debris from the Naples Pier renovation.

John Denick, the county’s executive director of facilities and redevelopment, described the request: contractor Shoreline Foundation will remove damaged pier material, place it on a barge, bring the barge to Bayview Park’s dock area, unload and transfer debris directly to trucks for disposal. Denick said Bayview Park was chosen because it is the closest public property suitable for the barged debris removal; he emphasized debris will not be stored long‑term at the park but will be sorted and immediately removed each time the barge docks. The contractor expects the demolition/demobilization work to require as much as 4 to 6 months and the barge to be present typically up to two days a week during that period.

County staff told the board the CRA advisory board reviewed the plan and voted 7–0 in favor, while asking for monitoring, pre‑ and post‑project condition documentation, and attention to unauthorized commercial activity at the park. The interlocal allows the county manager and city manager to coordinate detailed operating conditions, including the ability to require additional mitigations such as a temporary shuttle if monitoring shows demand for one; Bayview Park’s dock area will remain available to the public when the barge is not present.

Bob Middleton, public works director, said the county will work with the city on operational adjustments as needed. Commissioners asked staff to include monitoring and periodic reports to the board. The motion to approve passed unanimously; the board recorded no opposing votes.","Board unanimously approved an interlocal agreement allowing the City of Naples and contractor use of eight spaces at Bayview Park for staged debris removal from the Naples Pier demolition and renovation.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309768,"Collier County staff outline FY 2026 budget plan, propose limits on operating increases and larger health-insurance reserve",2212,2207000,4419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29&start=2207&end=4419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409357-94902785b5b0bc21fc6b32c5c862fe29/thumbnail_2207000.jpg","/articles/6309768/Collier-County/Florida/Collier-County-staff-outline-FY-2026-budget-plan-propose-limits-on-operating-increases-and-larger-health-insurance-reserve","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309768-cbaca713b9cfc4109ade94a73e345f53/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132636&Signature=liElBVm5th60wEykJHrOjqJsgOPGECesQMZaqW-0a-Drp2v-AZ3BRLhftbs6JZjQF10Kz9VFYd68V9kG5KMLCvi5RotKeDNshdhvdoMlyBCcZ7pZ6SOJXznhxSsvxwhyp4At6R3S76veA9wlkb1cz7qvJXi6KZR8Ap7rdQ8rzPemyqe67ICVhqvZYRxPnfUbY7PtvxS0Y9j4ILbnVnWlc87rOY0Bga18zTg~dDHnQzQj5JGVyzZnInVexX3B849JpB1f0C57-OJgC37PMPCbkRv~emNjvF1E7lDB9WJBFdd4A3XTkKL2dyq-0hrxIOHHsFCfxIAuKRfbYcfYeD9cBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christopher Johnson, director of corporate finance and financial management services, on behalf of Collier County staff, outlined the FY 2026 budget timeline and recommended policy settings to the Board of County Commissioners during a budget-policy discussion.

Johnson said staff’s planning scenario is built around a 5% projected increase in taxable value and recommended limiting department operating control lines to a 3% increase for current program services. He told the board the county’s net adopted budget for FY 2025 is roughly $2.1 billion, with $691 million in reserves; ad valorem (property) taxes are the county’s largest revenue source at about 47% (approximately $573 million).

The presentation included a proposed pay-plan adjustment of 3% for FY 2026 (a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment plus 0.5% for pay‑plan maintenance) and a staff recommendation to raise the county’s health‑insurance reserve to $25.3 million. Johnson described the fund analysis used to calculate that reserve: a mean estimated claims level of $52.2 million and a 99th‑percentile estimate of $58.8 million, leaving a gap of about $6.6 million staff recommended adding to reach a 99% confidence level. To stabilize the plan, staff recommended a 9% increase in employer and employee contributions, with a possible one‑time fund contribution.

Johnson also summarized capital and reserve policy recommendations: add $5 million to the capital maintenance reserve this year (bringing the planning balance to about $12.6 million under the current scenario) and a 5% upward adjustment to general‑fund capital maintenance transfers. He outlined priority‑based budgeting milestones and the FY 2026 schedule, including a March 4 strategic‑planning workshop with ResourceX and planned adoption of budget policy on March 11.

Several commissioners asked questions and pressed for detail. Commissioner Hall and others said recruiting and retaining project managers and key technical staff remains a county priority; Miss Patterson (county staff) said the county is still struggling to hire certain positions and is using a workforce prioritization pool and other recruitment steps. Commissioners pressed Johnson on the capital maintenance reserve target: Johnson said the planning number is $12.6 million but acknowledged that, depending on taxable value and board direction, the reserve could be larger; commissioners suggested $15–20 million and discussed adding $7.5 million to the reserve annually rather than $5 million.

The board did not adopt the budget policy at the meeting; staff will return with the recommended policy for adoption at the March 11 board meeting after the March 4 workshop. Next steps include program inventory updates, department budget submissions and further work on priority‑based budgeting.","County finance staff presented a FY 2026 budget timeline and recommended policy settings including a 3% operating control line, a 5% capital maintenance transfer adjustment and a larger health-insurance reserve; commissioners asked for higher capital reserves and more detail on priority budgeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County clarifies EMS staffing concerns: no privatization planned; medical‑director contract to be rebid

County details repairs at North Collier Regional Park water complex; staff aim to reopen for spring break

Commissioners continue $50,000 grant for Collier County Community Land Trust pending additional documentation

Commission approves interlocal agreement with Naples to use Bayview Park for Naples Pier debris removal

Collier County staff outline FY 2026 budget plan, propose limits on operating increases and larger health-insurance reserve