THE CITY OF MARCO ISLAND
MINUTES
City Council Special-Called Meeting October 8, 2001 6:10 p.m.
Vice-Chair Minozzi called the meeting to order and presided.
ROLL CALL
All Present, except Councilman Cowin who was absent.
(Chairman Tucker arrived at 7.35 p.m.)
Also Present: A. William Moss, City Manager
Ken Cuyler, City Attorney
Lisa Absher, Finance Director
Vladimir Ryziw, Public Works Director
Laura Litzan, Deputy City Clerk
Interested citizens and visitors
BUSINESS
(A) PRESENTATION Preliminary Valuation Report on Florida Water Services, Inc., Water, Wastewater and Reuse System.
(Editorial History: In February 2000 City Council authorized Public Resources Management Group, Inc. to prepare a Preliminary Valuation Report of the Florida Water Services water, wastewater, and reuse system. The report was completed and distributed to City Council in January 2001.)
City Attorney Ken Cuyler advised Council that because a quorum would not be present at the beginning of this meeting, Council would be limited to receiving the presentation from Public Resources Management Group, Inc. and directing questions to the presenters. No further discussion would be allowed until a quorum was present.
Mr. Robert Ori of Public Resources Management Group, Inc., and Mr. John Darmini of Montgomery Watson Americas, Inc. Engineers, summarized for Council their opinions of the acquisition cost of the system, based on three methods studied by the project team: replacement cost new less depreciation evaluation; going concern evaluation; and comparable sale evaluation. Following the presentation, council members directed questions to Mr. Ori and Mr. Darmini.
Public Comment
Mr. Brian Bellman, 270 Copperfield Court, expressed concern that the island s water sources are vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.
City of Marco Island
City Council Special-Called Meeting Minutes for October 8, 2001
Page 2
Recess: 7:25 p.m. to 7:37 p.m. It is noted for the record that the same council members were present when the meeting reconvened, including Chairman Tucker.
(B) DISCUSSION Other Alternatives, including Acquisition of the Utility by Emminent Domain, Long-Term Water Management Plan, Etc.
Attorney John Jenkins from the firm Rose, Sundstrom and Bentley, reviewed for Council the corporate restructuring that has occurred within Florida Water Services, Inc. (FWS) and the recent announcement of FWS s intention to sell its Florida assets. As a consequence of this change, the Florida Government Utility Authority (FGUA) has been given the exclusive right to determine the feasibility of the acquisition of all of the FWS assets on behalf of the counties and municipalities hosting such utility systems. Inasmuch as the FGUA may provide a transition mechanism to place the private water/sewer/wastewater utility under public ownership until such time as the City of Marco Island wishes to assume direct ownership, Mr. Jenkins recommends participating with the FGUA to negotiate the purchase price, operations
contract, terms of an interlocal agreement for future capital improvements, and the terms of a future City purchase of the system.
Council discussion followed. Council members agreed that the Long-term Water Management Plan being negotiated is probably now not feasible, and that any future emminent domain action appears to be unnecessary.
MOTION by Councilman Pettersen to DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND ATTORNEY JOHN JENKINS TO PROCEED IN PARTICIPATION WITH THE FLORIDA GOVERNEMENT UTILITY AUTHORITY AND REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. Second by Vice-Chair Minozzi. Motion carried 4-0.
FUTURE AGENDA
Mr. Minozzi requested that the candidates for appointment to the vacant City Council position receive an agenda packet for the next meeting, and that the appointee is sworn in and participates at that meeting.
Mr. Minozzi requested that an item seeking a summary judgment for removal of the 3% cap from the Charter be added to the next meeting agenda for discussion. (Ed. Note: this item will appear on the October 15, 2001 meeting agenda.)
(signature page to follow)
City of Marco Island
City Council Special-Called Meeting Minutes for October 8, 2001
Page 3
ADJOURN
There being no public comment and no further business to come before City Council the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
____________________________
Michael Minozzi, Council Vice-Chairman
Date________________________
ATTEST:
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A. William Moss, City Manager/City Clerk
Date________________________
PREPARED BY:
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Laura Litzan, Deputy City Clerk
Date: _______________________
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