The Naples City Council has repealed a resolution that expanded its control over development at the Naples Airport[1].
That should effectively stop legal action by the Friends of the Naples Municipal Airport, which last month sent a letter of intent to sue the city[2] over the expansion of power. But Rep. Adam Botana, a Bonita Springs Republican, still plans to pursue legislation to restructure the Naples Airport Authority[3].
The Friends organization sent a letter to Naples City Council members saying a June 18 vote[4] imposed “new and onerous conditions on development at the Naples Airport.” That included extending city oversight on any plans in the C-4 Airport Commercial District and prohibiting any projects not included in the city’s Airport Utilization Plan.
The Airport Authority is an independent body appointed by the City Council. As the city repealed its resolution, Mayor Teresa Heitmann pushed back on notions that the city had controlled airport authority decisions in the past regarding management of the facility.
“They do not have to take our recommendations — and they did not,” she said in remarks reported by Fox 4[5].
The Friends organization had argued the Council, in trying to take over development oversight, violated portions of SB 180[6], a new law heavily restricting local governments from limiting land development and growth management.
Amid the political turmoil over the airport’s future, Botana also filed a local bill that could change how members of the Naples Airport Authority are selected. His bill would shift from city appointments to countywide elections for each seat.
The bill includes residency rules that would still have three city residents on the board but would also have two Authority members who live in Collier County outside of the city limits.
“We’re trying to give the people of the city of Naples and Collier County a say in their airport,” Botana told Florida Politics.
He said he will continue to pursue that legislation, which already was unanimously advanced by the Collier County legislative delegation.
Meanwhile, the City Council said it may still come back in future months to clarify how much authority the city has over operations at the airport.
References
- ^ Naples Airport (www.flynaples.com)
- ^ sue the city (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ restructure the Naples Airport Authority (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ June 18 vote (www.naplesnews.com)
- ^ Fox 4 (www.fox4now.com)
- ^ SB 180 (www.flsenate.gov)