Naples Potpourri with Bill Barnett

I hope all of you had a good summer and are on your way to a nice fall and hopefully will be ready for another great Naples season. I am going to do something that I rarely do in this article and that is get involved in the controversy that seems to have grasped our Naples Airport. In my total of sixteen years as Mayor and twelve years serving on City Council, I feel very strongly that I need to perhaps shed some light on this subject, especially for the newcomers to our City who need to be brought up to date.

The Naples Airport is truly one of the great success stories in our community. In the 1960’s the airport was managed by the City of Naples, losing money and performing poorly. City leaders requested the Florida legislature establish an independent Naples Airport Authority (NAA) to manage and operate the airport. This was accomplished in 1969. I moved with my family to the City of Naples in 1973, so I feel I am more than qualified to write this article.

Since 1969 the airport has grown and flourished under professional leadership. Today it is recognized as one of the best general aviation airports in the country. It is financially successful with ample reserves.

The NAA board is composed of five Naples residents who are appointed by the Naples City Council. These individuals serve as community volunteers with NO compensation. Over the years residents with strong business and aviation backgrounds have ably served in this role.

Given the above it should be surprising to many that our Naples Airport has become such a subject of contention in recent times. The central issue has been the growth in private jet traffic in season and the noise impact that it has on certain areas of the city, particularly portions of Old Naples.

Yes, the increase in jet traffic at the airport is real and a true reflection of the growth of Naples as a home and destination for people who own private jets or can afford to travel by private jet. There is no doubt the convenient access to our airport is an attraction which also strengthens property values throughout our city.

However, I find it extremely disturbing that concern over a very limited issue, jet noise in one specific area of our city has morphed into broader attacks on our airport.

This has led to proposals to relocate the airport, force it to no longer accept federal grant money to support its operations, and even to wind down its operation. Fortunately, the NAA has thus far demonstrated through studies and research the folly of these ideas. For example, moving the airport to a new site in eastern Collier County would cost upwards of two billion dollars which would be paid for with taxpayer dollars.

The vicious attacks on the airport at Naples City Council continue to increase in recent months. There have been numerous calls for the firing of the NAA executive director and for certain NAA board members to resign, none of which Council has authority to authorize.

Members of Naples City Council also attempted to revoke the permits for the new Naples Jet Center, already under construction, based on an incorrect reading of city ordinances.

To be clear, Naples City Council has been divided on these matters. Mayor Heitman, Vice-Mayor Hutchison and Councilmember Petrunoff have comprised the anti-airport faction of City Council, attempting to override the NAA authority. Council members Barton, Christman, and Kramer have consistently supported the airport’s continued operations and the integrity of an independent NAA. As for Councilmember Penniman, her opinions differ from meeting to meeting and I can’t say for sure where she stands.

But this latest rhetoric and proposed actions by some city council members have directly led to the latest chapter of the saga. The introduction of a draft bill by Representative Adam Botana of Bonita Springs that would change how the Naples Airport Authority board is selected.

This legislation would replace the current process under which Naples City Council appoints board members to one in which the members are elected in countywide elections. Three members would continue to be Naples’s residents but two would be Collier County residents.

I am never against elections of our local officials, including those serving on independent boards. For example, we elect our School Board Members. Elections are the most direct and important tool of democracy. I am extremely concerned about the dilution of governance responsibility for the NAA from the City to the County. The airport is on city-owned land under a long-term lease arrangement. Only the City provides services to the airport (police, fire, EMS, utilities). The County provides none. Why should NAA members be elected “Countywide” regardless of their residency?

The legislation also would require all five members of the NAA in the future to come from the “aerospace” industry, which I believe is way too narrow a background to impose on the entire board.

At the same time, I understand why this bill was introduced given the incessant Heitman/Hutchison/Petrunoff attacks on the airport aided by local anti-airport interest groups.

My final thoughts are after living in the City of Naples for 52 years I sincerely hope there will be ample opportunity for thoughtful local leaders to sit down with our state legislative representatives and find ways to appropriately modify this bill. Our airport is far too important for our community to become a political punching bag!

For you returning snowbirds have a great upcoming season! Enjoy your winter.

All the Best,
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com