In a unanimous decision Council moved to Lobby the State and to identify an Attorney to provide counsel on their opposition to a new Senate Bill which dilutes Home Rule. if passed, the Bill will change how members of the Naples Airport Authority (the NAA) are appointed.
Home Rule is the constitutional right of a municipality to govern without undue interference from the State. Council unanimously objected to this Bill, which is a third Senate Bill by the State in as many years, removing governing power from our local officials. The Bill subordinates our local residents to special interests, to Collier County and to the State.
LOCAL VOICES LOCAL CHOICES
The NAA manages the Naples Municipal Airport and is comprised of City residents appointed by Naples City Council. The Senate Bill replaces the authority of City Council to appoint City residents to the NAA. It calls instead for an election by Collier County voters and opens up the NAA seats to County residents. The Bill limits those who can run, and requires County candidates be seated on the NAA over City residents. The move diminishes the power of our elected officials and, by default, the citizens.
When the Bill is approved, the voice of the City Resident Voters shrinks from 100% to 5% in the management of the City’s wholly owned, largest asset, The Naples Municipal Airport.
ASK THE STATE – WHAT IS NEXT?
The State has taken control of our land and zoning codes. With this Bill authority over our Airport will have been upended. The Senator uses the rationale that the County uses the Airport (too). However, the County uses our beaches as well as our Airport.
Can Senator Passidomo convince us that control of our Beaches is not next?
WATCH THE VIDEO SEGMENT OF THE SEPTEMBER 24TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE THE BILL WAS DISCUSSED:
Listen to comments by the Vice Major and his motion to identify a firm that could provide legal advice HERE
Watch the full hour-long conversation to fully understand the issue and to learn how your individual City Council members have reacted HERE
ON SEPTEMBER 24TH COUNCIL AGREED ON THE FOLLOWING:
- This Bill will move quickly through the House and on to the Senate for approval over the next five months.
- Council was blindsided; notice of development of the Bill was never shared with City Council, making it impossible to discuss it in the sunshine as full body with citizen engagement.
- The Naples Municipal Airport is the largest City asset. It is fully located in, and owned by the City of Naples. It should be managed by the City residents as it has been for 57 years.
- The Naples Municipal Airport was intended to serve our community without disrupting or causing detriment to our City; this is enshrined in our Vision Document.
- The Bill dilutes the City’s voice by 95%. If those in the County are allowed to vote on the management of our largest asset, 400K County residents will over-shadow the 20K residents in the City.
- The City provides services exclusively to the Airport; the County does not.
- The County has previously expressed that they have no interest in the Airport. There is no rationale given for this move to now have the City give up control of its management of the Airport to the County.
- This is not the first time those with State influence have asked the State to control City Council; some groups using that influence have advanced legislation over the last three years that edges out our community at large.
- Initiatives to talk to the State seem reasonable, but the City has attempted to get clarity on other Bills threatening Home Rule (SB 250 and 180) without a response. We cannot stand on hope alone that they will talk to us.
Council needs to fight for our community. A grass roots movement by our citizens is also needed.
WHERE ARE THESE STATE POWER GRABS COMING FROM AND WHY?
Special interests in the community have gone to the State and used their influence to ask the State to control City Council; those who want their way and will disenfranchise democracy and the City residents to get it.
Mayor Heitmann objects to the idea that those with more clout at the State level should undermine our community at large. Listen to the Mayor’s comments in this six-minute clip of the recent Council Meeting HERE
CITIZENS MUST JOIN COUNCIL IN PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS:
Now that legislators have placed the Bill for approval the City must not negotiate a compromise to the Bill. The Bill must be categorically repealed.
Tell your City Council that no level of over-reach is acceptable; to object wholly to this Bill. Write to: Council@naplesgov.com
Write to Senator Kathleen Passidomo and tell her to repeal this and the other Senate Bills that interfere with our Local Governance: Passidomo.kathleen@flsenate.gov
Write to the three Representatives outside our District who designed and voted on the Bill and tell them you object to their interference in our local City Issues.
Yvette.benarroch@myfloridahouse.govLauren.Melo@myfloridahouse.gov
Adam.Botana@myfloridahouse.gov
