Page 12 - Life In Naples Magazine - November 2015
P. 12
STATE OF CIT YMAYOR JOHN SOREY
THE
T he City of Naples has been very busy this summer. Our city Frank Road. The purpose of the Central Avenue Improvement
council and staff have been working on many projects for all Project is to:
of our residents to continue to make Naples the best place in • Provide a road that will accommodate traffic through at least
America to live and work. The question that comes to most about 2035.
any city is the budget… • Provide continuous sidewalks along the corridor that are
safe and unobstructed by parked vehicles.
CITY BUDGET • Construct dedicated bicycle lanes to match up with the
existing bike lanes on Central Avenue, west of 8th Street.
The budget approved was a $122 million budget that keeps the • Provide continuous bicycle connectivity from the beach to
millage rate in place for the sixth year in a row, Baker Park and the Gordon River Greenway.
however it does increase taxes for some property • Add on-street parking.
owners, due to increased property values. • Beautify Central Avenue with streetscape improvements.
The fiscal 2014-15 budget, which increased • Address major stormwater flooding issues.
from $106.3 million, didn’t pass without a • Install a section of water main.
debate, mostly focused on a new fire station and • Implement The Blue Zone concepts for a healthier urban
additional firefighters removed from the airport. environment.
There was debate about the proposed $15.1 million Baker
Park, with some against transferring $4 million in city funds to
help finance it. The City Manager explained that council already
capped city park funding at $7.5 million, meaning the rest must
come from private donations. Slightly more than $5 million
already has been raised.
GULF SHORE BOULEVARD NORTH
A majority of the City Council members supported adding
$500,000 to the tree project on Gulf Shore Boulevard North. The
funding will be used to replace the large canopy trees.
BAKER PARK NAPLES AIRPORT
Funding for construction has been City Council asked the Mayor to sign a notice of termination
delayed because a majority of City pursuant to the contract with the NAA on September 18, 2015
Council has decided to reconsider the the question came up, “May the City of Naples contract with a
park design. Once a design is selected, third party to provide aircraft rescue and service and have the
the project then requires engineering City receive 100 percent reimbursement from the NAA?” It is
and architectural work, followed by the position of the City of Naples that it has an obligation to
competitive bids and award of contract for construction. We are provide fire service to the entire City. Should the NAA want
confident Baker Park will move forward and be one of the most additional specialized coverage for the airport the NAA must pay
beautiful parks not just in Naples but in America. 100 percent of the cost. The city Manager was directed to provide
a contingency plan to maintain the current staffing in the Naples
CENTRAL AVENUE PROJECT Fire Department retaining six firefighters from the airport.
This is a major transportation enhancement currently underway NAPLES PIER PROJECT
along the Central Avenue corridor between 8th Street and Goodlette-
The renovation of the Naples pier is almost complete. It
12 Life in Naples | November 2015
