Page 8 - May-June-July_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

MAYOR’S

CORNER

MAYOR BILL BARNETT

I have to smile as I write this article because I always Improvement
Capital
try and convince the powers that be that because
Life in Naples will be on break until August I should
Projects are
be able to extend the length of my May article. Of
course they never let me but I know they would think there scheduled for
was something wrong if I didn’t try, so I do.
For those of you that are leaving Naples until the Fall workshops the if my weekly calendar will
or later we have many projects that get done during the next few months show some signs of slowing
summer months. From re-paving and re-striping City down I’ll reflect briefly on
streets to touching up our recreation facilities and our parks and our staff will this past season. Busy for
and medians it is a never-ending process. It is one that be extremely me is an understatement at
we do because we take great pride in not only our Naples best and I love it. From the
reputation but more importantly it is the people we serve busy during our daily meetings, phone calls,
that either live in Naples or just visit us. The over four summer break. e-mails and nightly seasonal
hundred employees who work for our City truly care about events there isn’t a day that
what they do. Over the years I have very rarely received goes by that I am not grateful
any complaints about them, but I have had many positive to those wonderful people I work with. I’m referring to
comments and letters commending our employees for an every one of those employees that I mentioned above and
act of kindness, a fast response to a problem, or just taking our City Council. Our Police and Fire Departments are
the time to answer a phone call and be that voice on the certainly included! This past season has been challenging
other end that actually listens and tries to resolve the issue and productive. I am optimistic that our Baker Park will
at hand. My personal feeling is that we are a big family not continue to move forward and we will officially start
bosses and people that work for us. construction by the end of 2017. A new City Dock barring
Today is April 2nd, and it is still frustrating to me when any complications should be completed by December and
I receive a phone call accusing Council of waiting until our new state of the art much needed Fire Station is in
our winter residents return home to put an item on an the final design stage. Capital Improvement Projects are
upcoming Council agenda in the summer months when scheduled for workshops the next few months and our staff
they aren’t here. Well, as I said many years ago to a person will be extremely busy during our summer break.
that was infuriated with our process that we are a City that For all those who are fulltime residents you may now
operates 24-7, 365 days a year and we don’t shut down come out of hibernation because season is officially over!
for vacations or holidays. Although there are agenda items Now you can frequent all the restaurants that you so
that are complicated and take many hours of work and generously chose to not dine at so a visitor could have your
staff research I have always tried to not forget that the table this past season. Enjoy the peace and quiet, season
smallest agenda item is as important to the person who will be back before you know it! Tomorrow is the NCAA
is presenting it as the large one is, and deserves the same finals so go Bulldogs! (I have to root for them because we
respect and consideration. are bulldog owners)! Have a great summer!
As I head into the balance of April and wonder when and I do respond to e-mail at mayorbill@naplesgov.com

8 Life in Naples | May • June • July 2017