2014 kycg

KNOW YOUR
COUNTY
GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM
Developed by:
Collier County League of Women Voters
Collier County 4 – H Program
Collier District School Board
April 2013
Preface
Running government is big business, and large amounts of money from taxes are needed
to run that business. Every citizen pays some kind of taxes and is, therefore, a
shareholder in government. Whether or not the services of government are adequately
provided, without waste, is determined by the kind of officials the voters elect. This
means that the voting citizen must know something about their government in order to
use the power to vote wisely. Voters need to know how government is organized, how it
works, what the problems are, who the elected officials are, and what they are doing to
insure that the affairs of the country are administered in the best interests of all its
citizens.
Those who are eligible must vote; those who are qualified must serve; and those who are
concerned must express their opinions.
The three levels of government are: FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL. This publication
focuses on Collier County Government. The first section describes how the levels of
government are divided and how they function. The latter sections discuss the
different departments and divisions within Collier County.
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2
Table of Contents
Preface
2
Understanding Government
4
About Collier County
6
Board of County Commissioners
• Commissioners District Map
9
10
County Attorney
11
County
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13
15
17
20
23
Manager
Departments Reporting to County Manager
Administrative Services
Public Services Division
Public Utilities Division
Growth Management Division
Constitutional Officers
• Supervisor of Elections
• Tax Collector
• Property Appraiser
• The Collier County Sheriff’s Office
• Clerk of the Circuit Court
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27
28
29
31
38
The Court System 20th Judicial Circuit
40
Independent Districts
44
Public School System
46
Everglades City
49
City of Marco Island
50
City of Naples
51
3
Understanding Government
The U.S. Constitution sets forth the powers of government:
Federal – The Federal government regulates interstate commerce, issues money, grants
patents and copyrights, and creates naturalization and bankruptcy laws. It also
conducts foreign relations, makes war and peace, punishes crimes against the U.S.,
maintains armed forces, establishes post offices, admits new states, and governs
territories.
State – The states are responsible for regulating commerce, labor, industry and
business within their borders.
They also authorize the establishment of local
governments, maintain state militias, and establish schools. They also have all other
government powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the
states.
Both Federal and State Governments can tax, borrow money, establish courts, charter
banks, protect public health, and promote agriculture and industry.
But neither Federal nor State governments may deprive the individual of personal rights
listed in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments) and the State
Constitutions.
The Federal Government has three separate branches:
Legislative – The Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
makes laws, appropriates money, imposes taxes, and the Senate approves treaties and
appointments.
Executive –The President, Vice President, and the cabinet comprise the executive
branch. They administer the laws, make appointments, command the Armed Forces, and
the President has the power of veto.
Judicial – The Supreme Court and Inferior Federal Courts interpret the U.S.
Constitution and try cases involving Federal laws.
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Each State has wide powers limited only by the Federal Constitution.
States get money via Taxation; Property, Income (not Florida), Inheritance, Sales, Corporations, and Businesses.
They also receive funds from commercial revenues, license fees, fines, Federal grants, and borrowing.
States spend Money via legislative appropriations and budgets prepared by Governors.
The States provide many services to their citizens including; aid to public schools, standards for schools, highways,
protect public health, regulate professions, register births and deaths. They provide public safety through the
police and the militia. They provide for agriculture through conservation and education. States must provide for
those who cannot provide for themselves, courts & correctional institutions, regulation of public utilities, banks,
insurance companies, and corporations. They also provide the labor force with laws governing minimum age,
compensation, and working conditions.
There are 50 different state constitutions and types of government.
Like the Federal Government, Florida has three branches, elected by the voters. The Executive branch consists
of the; Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of
Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Legislative branch consists of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, Circuit Courts, and County Courts.
Among the departments reporting to the Governor/Lt. Governor are: Business and Professional Regulation,
Children and Families, Citrus, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Environmental Protection, Health,
Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement, Lottery, Military Affairs, and Transportation.
Local Governments have powers granted by the State Government, and are legally responsible to the state,
depending on the constitution and state legislature for their powers. They are closest to the individual
citizen/voter. Types of local governments are County, City, Town, and Township.
This publication will look at the functions of Collier County government and briefly at how the Collier County Public
School System and the County’s three cities are structured.
5
About Collier County
One of 67 counties in the State of Florida, Collier County was created in 1923 by an act
of the State Legislature from portions of Lee and Monroe Counties. The County
contains approximately 1,270,500 acres or 2,025.34 square miles and is the largest in
the State in terms of total land area. Of the total acreage, 821,620 acres are federal
and state lands, including parks, preserves and refuges.
Collier County is bounded on the north by Lee and Hendry counties, on the east by
Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and on the south by Monroe, the southernmost
Florida County. More than three quarters of the County is still in its natural state, and
one half of this land is either a public or a private preserve dedicated to conservation,
preservation, or limited recreational use. Included are:
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Big Cypress National Preserve
Collier-Seminole State Park
Everglades National Park
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Facility
The largest mangrove-based estuarine system in the world is located in Collier County’s
Rookery Bay, neighboring the northernmost of the Ten Thousand Islands and laying
claim to being part of the coastal Everglades system.
The first census in the State of Florida was conducted in 1925 and showed a Collier
County resident population of 1,256. In 1930, the population numbered 2,883, 5,102 in
1940, 6,488 in 1950, 15,753 in 1960, 38,040 in 1970, 85,971 in 1980, and by 1990, it had
grown to 152,099. It was 251,377 in 2000 and 321,520 in 2010. There are some 91 golf
courses in Collier County, making it a top golfing destination.
Today, according to the Florida Association of Counties (FAC):
Florida constitutes a dynamic state that is home to more than 17 million people. Millions
more visit the state every year. As Florida has grown and changed, so too has the role
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of county government. Historically, counties were merely administrative subdivisions of
the state, created to perform state-related functions. With Florida's tremendous
growth, the county government function has become increasingly more important and
complex.
Throughout the state, Florida's counties perform vital public service functions such as
public safety, fire, emergency medical services, public record-keeping, jails, parks,
libraries, health care, economic development, comprehensive planning, and roads, just to
name a few.
Collier County is a “non charter” county. The cities of Naples and Marco Island, and
Everglades City are Collier County’s only incorporated municipalities.
Charter counties and municipalities enjoy a greater measure of home rule, because they
have “all powers of local self-government consistent with general law and with special
laws approved by a vote of the electors.” In other words, they can do anything not
prohibited by law.
Non-charter counties can act only where existing state law provides authorization.
When the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) seeks a particular policy
change, a bill is presented to the Collier County Legislative Delegation, who decides
whether or not to sponsor its passage in the Florida Legislature.
Collier County government serves all unincorporated areas. Many of the functions of
the County’s governmental units are carried out through the BCC, whose five members
are elected. Also elected within the county are the five members of the Collier County
District School Board. The county also has independent mosquito control, independent
fire, and community development districts to which commissioners are elected.
The state also calls for the election by the citizens of the following officials: the
Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of the Circuit Court,
Sheriff, State Attorney, Public Defender, Circuit and County Judges. Collier County is
one of five counties that comprises the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
Counties derive their FUNDS from property taxes, local-option sales taxes, motor fuel
fees, bonds, licenses, fines and forfeitures, culture and recreation, and state-shared
revenues.
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Expenditures for general government include capital improvements, judicial services,
public safety, health and social services, and transportation.
Municipal governments derive their funds from property taxes, local-option sales taxes,
motor fuel taxes, special assessments for benefits to private property, service charges,
fines and fees, occupational licenses, franchise fees, municipal public services taxes,
state revenue sharing, and bonds for capital outlay purposes.
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Board of County
Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners – comprised of five members elected in the five
different districts of the county – serves as the governing body of Collier County. The
Commissioners, who control government services in unincorporated areas of the county,
are elected by voters in their districts for four-year staggered terms. Commissioners’
salaries are set by the Florida State Legislature and are based upon county population.
Annually Commissioners elect a chair from among themselves.
The Commission makes the decisions and sets policy. The BCC also appoints a County
Manager, who is the Chief Administrative Officer, to carry out the direction of the
Commission and lead County Divisions. The County Attorney reports directly to the
Commissioners as well.
The Board is the chief policy-making body of Collier County, responsible for providing
services to protect the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of the citizens of
Collier County. Commissioners are responsible for approving county government's annual
operating budget and capital improvements program and for the appointment of a county
manager to administer, execute and implement the Board's policies and manage the
operations of Collier County Government.
Regular meetings of the Board of County Commissioners are open to the public and are
held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 9 a.m. Public petition
speakers are limited to 10 minutes and general address speakers to three minutes. The
Commission Chambers and Commissioners' offices are located on the third floor of the
Administration Building at 3299 E. Tamiami Trail. Meetings are broadcast on Comcast
Cable Channel 97 and on the County’s website. Further information about meetings is
available at 239-252-8383 or www.colliergov.net.
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Collier County Commissioners District Map
This link will take you to the new district map approved by commissioners in 2012:
http://www.colliergov.net/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=39860
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County Attorney
The County Attorney works directly for the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners (BCC). It is the job of the County Attorney and his staff to represent
the BCC in cases filed by and against the BCC; to research, draft, and provide legal
review of ordinances, resolutions, agreements, contracts, and all other legally binding
documents provided to the BCC; to attend meetings and workshops of the BCC and
county staff; and to participate with advisement and direction in resolving legal
problems for the BCC and county staff.
Often the County Attorney not only advises the County Commission as a whole, but
advises the five County Commissioners individually. The Assistant County Attorneys are
assigned specific areas of responsibility within the county structure such as litigation
filed by and against the county, real property, land use, utilities, purchasing and
transportation. All legally binding documents, including, but not limited to, ordinances,
resolutions, contracts, agreements, etc., which are to be signed by the Chairman of the
BCC on behalf of the county, must be reviewed and approved for form and legal
sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office prior to action by the BCC.
In addition to the above, the County Attorney’s Office is called upon to respond to
questions from the public, media, private attorneys, Constitutional Officers, municipal
employees, employees of the state and employees from other counties with reference to
every aspect of Collier County Government and actions taken by the BCC and county
staff. The County Attorney’s Office, however, does not provide legal advice to private
individuals on private matters.
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County Manager
The County Manager is the chief executive and administrative head of Collier County
Government, and as such is responsible and accountable to the Board of County
Commissioners (BCC). The office of the County Manager, as entrusted by the Board, is
charged with the following responsibilities:
Administer and carry out the policies of the Board of County Commissioners.
Attend meetings of the BCC, conference and workshop sessions. Provide assistance
regarding subjects under discussion.
Report to the BCC actions taken pursuant to directives and policies established by the
BCC.
Oversee preparation of the budget; establish schedules and procedures to be followed;
supervise and administer the preparation of the budget for activities under the
Manager’s purview.
Prepare and submit to the BCC a capital improvement program and budget.
Supervise care and custody of county property.
Prepare an annual report which relates the accomplishments of the past year. In
addition prepare any interim or special reports as requested by the BCC.
Supervise the employment, discipline and discharge of all personnel who are under the
jurisdiction of the Manager, in accordance with approved policies.
Subject to the approval of the BCC, negotiate leases, contracts or other agreements
for the county. Notify the BCC, when necessary, of any violations or discrepancies in
such agreements.
Receive and respond to inquiries and complaints from the public and ensure corrective
action is taken when necessary.
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Departments Reporting to County
Manager
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Mission: To support and enable the organization to manage finite resources in a fiscally
responsible manner and to provide value-added management services to Collier County
Government.
The Office of Management & Budget (OMB) is responsible for the development,
implementation and monitoring of the annual Collier County Government operating and
capital budgets. This includes ensuring that the annual tax levies and required
documentation are in conformance with Florida Statutes. OMB provides support to its
internal customers, while also serving as a technical resource to the general public.
The Office of Communication and Customer Relations is responsible for disseminating
information about county government through the county television channel, website,
and other communication vehicles. The Communication and Customer Relations
Department's mission is to serve the community by providing accurate, timely and useful
information about local government plans and services, facilities and projects, events
and programs.
Collier County’s Office of Tourism is the official tourism industry support organization
for Collier County, Florida. Operating as the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades
Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the bureau represents the interests of the travel
and tourism industry in Collier County, facilitating information about visiting the area
and tracking economic impact of tourism visitation. The CVB handles all destination
marketing with an annual advertising campaign seeking to improve visitation in the slower
periods of late spring, summer and fall. The bureau handles travel and tourism public
relations and communications with an ambitious information campaign to worldwide
travel media, and serves as the destination point of contact for meeting planners, tour
operators, travel agents and other industry professionals.
The Administrative Services Division provides management, administrative and central
support services throughout Collier County Government.
The responsibility of the Public Services Division is to provide and augment the cultural,
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educational, health, recreational and social services in Collier County. The Division
coordinates services with other public and private sector agencies. It is responsible for
nine County Departments. (See page 16 for more detail.)
The Public Utilities Division is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance
and repair of water and wastewater treatment facilities, sanitary sewers, water supply
facilities, solid and hazardous waste collection and disposal, commercial and residential
recycling programs, collection of associated fees for users as related to water,
wastewater, irrigation quality water, and solid waste services, and for the design and
construction of capital projects to support reliable public infrastructure.
Created in 2010, the Growth Management Division is a merger of the Transportation
and Community Development and Environmental Services (CDES) divisions. Growth
Management includes two sections: Construction and Maintenance, and Planning and
Regulation. Construction and Maintenance includes Alternative Transportation Modes,
Road Maintenance and Transportation Engineering. Planning and Regulation includes
Building Review, Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning Services, Natural Resources,
Engineering Services and Operations and Regulatory Management.
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Administrative Services Division
The Administrative Services Division provides administrative and internal support
services throughout Collier County Government.
Bureau of Emergency Services
The Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services (BES) is comprised of Emergency
Management, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ochopee Fire Control and Rescue
District, Isles of Capri Fire Control and Rescue District and the District 20 Medical
Examiner. The BES is committed to public safety through emergency preparedness and
response, as well as public awareness and training.
The Department of Facilities Management is comprised of 10 major functions: Building
Management, Facilities Capital Renovations and Construction, Space Planning and
Allocation, Grounds Management, Janitorial Services, Building Operations, Security, Real
Property, and Indoor Air Quality. The Department is responsible for the maintenance of
all county-owned and operated buildings, including some leased structures.
The Fleet Management Department is responsible for the acquisition, disposal,
maintenance, repair and fueling services for all of Collier County’s vehicles, EMS
ambulances, public transportation “CAT” buses and construction/maintenance equipment
such as graders, loaders, tractors, beach cleaning equipment, etc.
The Human Resources Department is responsible for recruitment and employment
procedures, payroll, compensation and benefits administration, wellness, employee and
labor relations, career development and training.
The Information Technology Department provides technical support to all BCC
employees for desktop computers, Internet and Intranet, email and telephone services.
The Purchasing Department procures more than $350 million annually in goods and
services through a variety of procurement methods and services. The department is also
responsible for managing the county’s purchasing card program, the transfer and
disposal of surplus property (including various public auctions and other sales events)
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and the delivery and pickup of mail at the Collier County Government Center and various
“off campus” county offices.
The Risk Management Department is responsible for Workers Compensation claims and
administration, safety training and investigation, property and casualty insurance claims
and administration. Risk Management also operates the employee health clinic.
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Public Services Division
The responsibility of Public Services Division is to provide and augment the cultural,
educational, health, recreational and social services in Collier County. The division
coordinates services with other public and private sector agencies, and includes eight
county departments: Alternative Transportation Modes; Domestic Animal Services;
Health Department; Housing, Human and Veteran Services; Library; Museum; Parks and
Recreation; and University Extension.
Alternative Transportation Modes (ATM) Department oversees the public transit
system, Collier Area Transit (CAT), and the Paratransit System which includes service
for the Transportation Disadvantaged System (TD) and Americans with Disability
(ADA). CAT provides transit service seven days a week to Immokalee, Marco Island,
Golden Gate, and the Naples area. CAT’s ridership has continued to increase since its
inception in February 2001 with more than one million passenger boardings annually.
The ATM Department also provides administration services of Municipal Service Taxing
Units (MSTU’s) which is a funding mechanism for improvement to public and private
roads, stormwater systems, landscaping and lighting..
The mission of Domestic Animal Services (DAS) is to ensure compliance with local and
State animal-related laws; to return strays to their owners and promote the adoption of
homeless animals to new families; and to work toward ending the community problem of
pet overpopulation. Animal Control Officers respond to complaints and ensure
compliance with animal-related laws. The shelter at 7610 Davis Blvd. takes in over 6000
homeless animals—some strays, some relinquished by their owners—each year. DAS
consistently implements policies and programs that help pet owners stay in compliance
and improve the lives of animals in our community. Among these are hosting low-cost
vaccination clinics, supporting spay/neuter through voucher programs and fee policies,
supporting trap-neuter-return of feral cats, implementing regulations against chaining
of dogs, providing pet-friendly sheltering during disasters, and providing humane
education through a robust volunteer program and public outreach efforts.
The Collier County Health Department (CCHD) is a part of the State Department of
Health and works in partnership with the Collier County Government and other
community partners to protect and promote good health for all in Collier County. The
CCHD provides clinical services for immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV,
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tuberculosis, hepatitis prevention, refugee health, and basic dental care. The CCHD
helps staff the Special Needs Shelter in times of emergency. It also provides
immunizations and school-based screenings for hearing, vision, scoliosis and BMI for
school age children in Collier County. Flu and pneumonia shots are also given at the
CCHD at the Naples and Immokalee sites.
The Housing, Human & Veteran Services Department’s mission is to serve Collier
County’s very low, low and moderate income residents – including the senior population –
by providing access for medical and prescription services, developing volunteer services
with retirees, assisting with affordable home ownership, maintaining safe and decent
housing, providing in-home services in order for seniors to remain independent, providing
assistance after disasters while utilizing federal and state grants to build safe, livable
and healthy communities and to meet the local government mandates of human and
housing services in Collier County.
In addition, services are provided to veterans in counseling and assistance in seeking
benefits to which they may be entitled under Federal and State law. In cooperation
with the Collier County Veterans’ Council, the department provides transportation to VA
medical facilities. A VA Primary Care Clinic is located in Naples at 2685 Horseshoe
Drive South, Suite 101.
The Library Department offers a full range of library services through the
Headquarters Library and nine branch locations. Loans of books, audio books, DVD’s,
and music CD’s are available. Public use computers are located at all branches and basic
computer and Internet usage classes and seminars are offered at selected locations.
Many educational programs are offered throughout the year at most branches. These
include: book discussions, historical character portrayals, concerts, foreign films,
health lectures, travel programs, adult literacy, special children’s programming, and
much more. Tutor.com provides self-guided skills help plus live certified tutors for
students from elementary through college age, and provides help with homework and
job-hunting skills. On-line reference resources, a full-text magazine database, and
downloadable audio and e-books extend the range of library services to 24/7. During
local, state and national elections, several libraries serve as early voting and precinct
sites.
Visit the library website at www.colliergov.net/library.
The Collier County Museum preserves the unique heritage of Southwest Florida and
provides an in-depth look at the growth and development of Collier County from
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prehistory to the present day. Interpretive exhibits, tours, traveling and seasonal
displays, historical talks and publications, volunteer opportunities, and school and familycentered programs, are featured on a regular basis throughout the year at all five
locations. Special activities and living history events such as the annual Old Florida
Festival, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Festival, and the Veterans Day U.S.O. Show,
attract thousands of residents and visitors each year. The Museum operates a central
archive and collection at the County Government Center in East Naples, the Museum of
the Everglades in Everglades City, the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch,
the Marco Island Historical Museum, and the Naples Depot Museum located in downtown
Naples. Topics of historical interest and a current calendar of events are carried on the
Museum’s website at www.colliermuseums.com
The Parks & Recreation Department is committed to providing quality recreation
services to the citizens of Collier County. The department promotes health and wellness,
senior activities, family style events and classes for both adults and children. The
department's sport leagues are very large, because of the area's year-round warm
weather. Parks and Recreation manages multiple park locations and is the longeststanding provider of after school and summer camp care for children in the
community. The department also encompasses the Conservation Collier Program, which
was established in 2003 by voter referendum to acquire, preserve, restore, and maintain
significant threatened natural lands within the County. Conservation Collier is
responsible for managing over 4,000 preserve acres. Collier County includes the cities
of Naples, Marco Island and Everglades, Florida. The County is 2,025 square miles, one
of the largest in the state of Florida. While the coastal homes have access to the
beautiful Gulf, most of the county is inland. Parks & Recreation plays a key role in
providing water and beach access and providing alternative activities such as sailing. Get
out and get active with Parks & Recreation!
The University Extension Department is an extension of the University of Florida in
Gainesville. Extension furnishes residents with up-to-date education in agriculture,
commercial and residential horticulture, family nutrition, community development, and
marine science. Extension also provides 4-H youth development programs which
emphasize citizenship, leadership and life skills. County extension faculty develops
educational programs based on priority issues determined by their urban and commercial
customers or citizens. Information is delivered by satellite courses, computer software,
seminars, video presentations, worldwide web, or by traditional workshop and print
medium. Visit the website at http://collier.ifas.ufl.edu/
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Public Utilities Division
The Public Utilities Division is responsible for delivery of best value, high quality and
sustainable services that meet customers’ expectations in an operationally excellent
environment. Essential, life-sustaining services of potable water, wastewater treatment
and solid and hazardous waste management are provided 24/7/365 in compliance with
local, state and federal regulatory compliance.
The Planning and Project Management Department delivers capital projects that meet
requirements on time and at best value to the satisfaction of our water and wastewater,
clients while maintaining focus on sustained regulatory compliance and mechanical
integrity. Three work teams provide project/program management services for over
200 active capital projects. The Department provides technical support, master
planning, and asset management/preservation functions for all the Division’s
infrastructure, including two regional water treatment plants, 102 raw water production
wells, two regional water reclamation facilities and over 750 wastewater pump stations.
The Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Department is responsible for the
efficient and economical balance of public and private services to meet federal, state
and local requirements for solid and hazardous waste management collection and
disposal. The Department ensures permanent responsibility for public health, safety,
and preservation of natural resources by utilizing a customer-oriented, environmentally
sound and cost-effective operational approach that provides best-value services for
approximately 112,700 residential accounts and 4,500 commercial accounts. This
includes the proper collection and disposal of municipal solid and hazardous wastes,
waste reduction, residential and commercial recycling programs and landfill operations.
In addition, it is responsible for the implementation of the County’s debris recovery
mission of a major disaster and the administration of the Board approved Integrated
Solid Waste Management Strategy. The Department currently operates four hazardous
waste and recycling drop-off centers, two scale houses and administers solid and
household hazardous waste collections and disposal contracts and is responsible for
managing and maintaining funds necessary for the county's landfill closures.
The Department also includes the Hazardous Materials Section of the former Pollution
Control Department, including the Small Quantity Generator Inspection Program and the
Interdepartmental and Pollutant Storage Tank Compliance Verification programs. The
Gas-to-Energy Facility at the landfill is producing green energy and providing additional
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revenue to the county, earning $448,040 in FY13. Permit modifications approved by the
board in FY12 will allow vertical expansion of the Collier County Landfill to extend its
useful life until 2070 providing an additional $350 million worth of disposal capacity.
Combined residential and commercial recycling reached 51%, saving valuable landfill
airspace. Cost containment measures in operations have made it possible to keep landfill
tipping fees at the same level for the fifth year in a row.
The Water Department provides potable (drinking) water service to more than 160,000
permanent residents and more than 200,000 residents in season, in portions of Collier
County from Barefoot Beach to the Isles of Capri. There are more than 56,000 service
connections to the Collier County Water/Sewer District, which covers approximately
240 square miles, and water is distributed through 897 miles of water main. The Water
Department operates two hybrid water treatment plants, including one of the largest
reverse osmosis water treatment facilities in North America. It also operates four
water storage and re-pumping facilities, three wellfields, and one Aquifer Storage and
Recovery (ASR) Well.
Sources of water include both fresh and brackish groundwater. The blended treated
water streams of the treatment plants produce a very high quality drinking water that
meets all compliance standards. Collier County’s drinking water was included in taste
test competitions held by the American Water Works Association in 2012. The County’s
drinking water was judged the “Best Tasting Drinking Water in the State of Florida”
that year and also judged as one of five finalists in the “Best of the Best Tasting
Drinking Waters” at the North American taste test competition.
At the advice of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland
Security, information available on this web site regarding your public water supply is
limited. If you have specific questions or concerns, please call the Water Department at
239.252.6245.
The Wastewater Department provides service to the Collier County Water-Sewer
District and serves more than 62,000 commercial and residential customers covering an
area of approximately 75 square miles. The service area runs from Barefoot Beach in
the north to Fiddler's Creek in the south through more than 1,088 miles of gravity and
force main pipes. The Irrigation Quality (IQ) water system distributes approximately
5.3 billion gallons annually to golf courses, residential parks, schools and the community
for beneficial reuse, thus meeting 41 percent of the water demand in the Collier County
Water-Sewer District. Presently, the district owns and operates two Regional Water
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Reclamation Facilities with a combined capacity of 40.1 million gallons per day (MGD).
A project to enhance pump station monitoring was completed, enabling the Collections
Department to monitor remotely system power outages and restoration. The
Environmental Compliance section received approval of its Industrial Pretreatment
Program from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection which ensures the
Wastewater Department’s collection system and treatment facilities remain in
regulatory compliance.
The Operations Support Department provides sound fiscal assessment and guidance to
the Division’s operations and capital expenditure programs. This includes development of
impact and user fee rate studies, administration of vendor payments and the payment of
various general costs associated with the efficient, reliable and compliant operations of
the Collier County Water Sewer District. Responsibilities also include financial audit and
controls, cash planning and management and the external financing for the Division.
Working with the County Finance Committee, the Department operates in support of the
County’s strategic goal of improving financial planning, management and reporting
processes. Additionally, the Department provides billing, collection, cashiering,
accounting, inventory management, customer service and Division-related ordinance
education and compliance.
The Fiscal Group made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of
the electronic invoice workflow approval project, and worked with client departments
and vendors to audit and approve over 18,000 invoices for received goods and services.
The Utility Billing and Customer Service section implemented eBILL allowing customers
the convenience of receiving notification of their monthly water and sewer bill via a
personal email address. Customer Service Representatives respond to over 2,000 calls
weekly, with an abandoned call rate of less than 1%, for its water/sewer and residential
curbside solid waste customers.
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Growth Management Division
The Transportation Division and the Community Development and Environmental
Services Division have been combined to form the Growth Management Division.
In Construction and Maintenance, the Operations Department provides support to
GMD-C&M. There are three primary components to the support provided: financial,
operational, and records management. The Department coordinates the Construction and
Maintenance annual budget, oversees the implementation of GMD-C&M Asset
Management program utilizing Cartegraph software, and oversees a 15,000 square foot
warehouse of documents (and Traffic Operations inventory).
The focus of the Collier County Transportation Engineering Department is serving our
residents by promoting safety at all times while being conscientious stewards of
taxpayers' dollars. This Department manages the design, right-of-way acquisition, and
construction of capital improvement transportation projects to achieve and maintain
well-functioning, efficient roadways, traffic signals, streetlights, signs, and drainage
systems for the citizens and visitors of Collier County.
The Road and Bridge Maintenance Department is responsible for providing for the
safe and efficient movement of all modes of traffic. It is essential to maintain all
aspects of the road and right-of-way at the highest reasonable level of safety. Our
Department maintains roads, bridges, sidewalks, roadside ditches, drainage culverts,
storm drain system curb inlets, curbs, and gutters along County maintained roads, and
handles accident clean up and traffic control when needed.
In Planning and Regulation, the Operations and Regulatory Management Department is
Collier County's steward of state and local codes and regulations. This Department
includes Financial and Operations Support, Contractor Licensing, Vehicle for Hire, CAD
Mapping/Records/Addressing, Growth Management Business Center, Cashiering and
Customer Service, Land Use Review, and Technology and GIS Support. This Department
has the unique ability to improve the quality of life for County residents and visitors by
preserving and enhancing both the natural and built environments through sustainable
growth and community partnerships. This Department is the building permit issuing
authority for Collier County. This Department is responsible for ensuring the building
permits issued meet the requirements of the Florida Building Code, the Collier County
Land Development Code and the Collier County Code of Laws and Ordinances. The GMD
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Business Center processes permit applications, and the Plans Review and Inspections
section reviews the plans for compliance with the codes and performs field inspections
of the work allowed within the permit. In times of disaster qualified staff performs
assessments of damage to structures and condemns unsafe buildings if appropriate.
The Natural Resources Department takes pride in implementing programs that protect
the County's air, land, water, and wildlife resources. We accomplish this through our
various sections that concentrate on coastal zone management, environmental review of
site plans and zoning petitions, pollution control and water quality protection,
stormwater, floodplain, and watershed management planning. We plan for and ensure
that Collier County's natural and built environments adhere to the community's vision as
expressed in our Land Development Code, Growth Management Plan, and other
documents approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Our staff is dedicated to
this mission and in assisting all who come to us for assistance so that the community's
vision is fulfilled in a business-friendly environment.
The Planning and Zoning Department is comprised of diverse sections that assist in
maintaining the beauty and quality of life that Collier County residents are accustomed
to. The Growth Management Plan (GMP) Services Team is responsible for the
preparation and implementation of the comprehensive, long-range GMP required by the
State of Florida. The Department also maintains and provides population estimates. The
Zoning Services Section is responsible for providing zoning and assistance to the
general public, processing zoning petitions, providing the project lead on the review of
Site Development Plans (SDP) and providing technical assistance to: The Collier County
Planning Commission (CCPC) and The Historic and Archaeological Board (HAB).
The Engineering Review and Inspections sections provide service to the residents of
Collier County by ensuring developments address the health, safety, and welfare
concerns. To accomplish this, the section has reviewed, processed, and submitted for
approval by the Board nearly twice as many subdivision plats this past year than in the
previous year. Currently, the Engineering review section is processing approximately 220
applications a month, while the Engineering Inspection section has over 250 open
projects in various stages of activity.
The Code Enforcement Department staff shares a common mission: "To protect the
health, safety, and welfare of Collier County residents and visitors through education,
cooperation, and compliance." The Department's Blight Prevention Program continues to
successfully address the health, safety, and welfare issues, stabilize property values
and property tax revenues, and prevent blight in Collier County with a three-pronged
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approach: meet monthly with civic and homeowner associations and address
neighborhood issues through clean-up events and identification and monitoring of vacant
homes; coordinate with banks and lenders to abate code violations; and provide
resources to community members in coordination with other agencies.
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Constitutional Officers
The Constitutional officers are elected countywide for four year terms.
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Supervisor of Elections
Jennifer J. Edwards
The Supervisor of Elections is the chief officer of the election process administering
all federal, state, county, municipal, and special district elections in Collier County in
accordance with the Florida Election Code, Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA),
National Voting Rights Act (NVRA), Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act (UOCAVA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and all other federal voting
rights laws. The office provides information and statistics on voter registration, voting
and elections; registers voters and issues voter information cards; provides absentee
voting; and conducts voter education and outreach throughout Collier County. The
Supervisor of Elections serves as a member on the canvassing board, along with a county
Judge and a County Commissioner, verifying election returns, conducting the post
certification audit, canvassing absentee/mail ballots and sending a list of successful
candidates to the Secretary of State.
The Elections Office is also responsible for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
recruiting and training election workers
securing and equipping polling sites
qualifying candidates for public office
verifying names on petitions for candidate and ballot initiatives
receiving and monitoring campaign finance reports – assessing fines when necessary
drawing precinct boundaries
maintaining election equipment
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Tax Collector
Larry Ray
The Tax Collector collects all county taxes which include those on real and tangible
property.
The Real Estate Tax is the result of multiplying the assessed value on real estate
(defined as land and property including any man made improvements) by all applicable
millage rates. Millage rates are set annually by the respective taxing authorities. (i.e.
County Commission, School Board, Independent Fire Districts, etc.)
The Tangible Personal Property Tax applies only to businesses and consists of a tax on
its machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, and appliances. (delete the remainder of
this sentence, supplies and so on).
The foregoing taxes are assessed for the calendar year and are entitled to a 4%
discount if paid in November of the tax year. This discount is reduced by 1% each
month thereafter until March of the following year when the gross tax is due. Payment
of these taxes in the month of April or thereafter includes a penalty for late payment.
Any business operating in the county must obtain a Business Tax Receipt through the
Tax Collector’s office.
The Tax Collector also collects a “local option tax” called the “Tourist Development
Tax”. This tax is collected on rental income received from accommodations rented for
six months or less.
The Tax Collector is an Agent for the State for a) Vehicle Registration, b) Driver’s
Licenses c) Vessel Registration, and d) sale of Hunting and Fishing Licenses.
The Tax Collector collects fees via tax bills for Garbage Collection as well as many other
independent districts and taxing agencies.
The Tax Collector has offices in the Court House Complex, the North County
Government Center, the Golden Gate Government Center, the Immokalee Government
Center and nine other satellite offices throughout the County to include Marco Island
and Everglades City.
NOTES REGARDING OTHER TAXES: There is no State income tax and no Florida
estate tax that is separate from or in addition to the Federal estate tax. There is a
Florida Sales tax of 6% on all goods except food and drugs (plus additional exemptions
defined by the Florida Legislature).
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Collier County Property Appraiser
Abe Skinner, CFA
The Property Appraiser is responsible for identifying and appraising all real estate and
tangible personal property in Collier County. The Property Appraiser prepares a
preliminary tax roll annually which lists the legal description, name and address of the
owner of record, total value, exemptions and taxable value. This tax roll is presented to
the taxing authorities on or before June 1st. The taxing authorities review their budgets
and supply the millage rates to the Property Appraiser. On or before July 1st the
Property Appraiser submits this preliminary
tax roll to the Florida Department of Revenue in Tallahassee for approval.
Without tax roll approval, taxes cannot be collected. Upon approval by the D.O.R., the
Property Appraiser then submits an extended tax roll (Taxable Value X Millage = Taxes)
to the Collier County Tax Collector for the collection of taxes.
The Property Appraiser coordinates the responsibilities of his various
departments, which include:
•
The Real Estate Appraisal Department determines the value of all improved
and vacant; residential (single family homes and multi-family condominiums),
commercial, multi-family rental, industrial, agricultural, and special purpose
properties.
• The Mapping Department must identify and maintain every parcel of
property in Collier County and situate each unit on the ownership map. The maps are
used by the office for appraisal purposes. They are also available to the public at the
Property Appraiser’s website. www.collierappraiser.com.
•
The Personal Property Department (Tangible) is responsible for auditing and
valuing inventories of machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures of commercial
properties and utilities, (ie: telecommunication, power companies, etc.).
•
The Records Department catalogues all recorded transactions provided by the
Collier County Clerk’s office. These transactions involve the transfer of ownership
interest of property as well as splitting and/or combining of property. This is
necessary in order to provide the Tax Collector with the proper ownership and
mailing address.
•
The Customer Service Department is available to assist with applications for
exemptions which include homestead, widow’s, widower’s and disability. This
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•
•
department also assists the public, attorneys, fee appraisers, real estate agents and
title company representatives in their search for information.
The Exemption Department verifies eligibility for all exemptions, both
residential and institutional. In addition this department trains all customer service
personnel with regard to homestead applications.
The Data Processing Department must execute and maintain computer
programs for every phase of the Property Appraiser’s operation as well as train all
personnel in the operations of computer hardware.
The Property Appraiser’s Tax Roll is prepared according to precise guidelines set forth
in the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code. The tax roll is audited annually
by the Florida Department of Revenue and must be in total compliance.
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The Collier County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk
Mission Statement
The duty of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is to preserve and protect the
lives, property and constitutional guarantees of all persons.
Motto
Service to others before self
Vision
Community – Safety – Service
The Sheriff is a constitutionally established county officer with authority in both
incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Collier County is the largest
county in the state with a land area of 2,025 square miles; it is home to over 300,000
permanent residents and over one million visitors each year. The Sheriff’s Office has a
professional staff of approximately 1,300 members and an adopted budget of
$131,973,300 for the fiscal year of 2013-14.
The duties of the Sheriff’s Office include:
Providing general law enforcement protection
Conservation of the peace and public security of the county
Community outreach
Enforcement of the criminal law of the state and county code
Apprehension of law violators
Protection of the Circuit and County Courts
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Operation of the county jail facilities
The Sheriff’s Office Headquarters includes the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office staff,
and Legal Advisors. The CCSO is divided into four departments (Administration,
Corrections, Investigation, and Operations) and a Community Outreach Division.
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT
Finance Division prepares the budget and annual financial reports for the Sheriff’s
Office. They are responsible for processing the Agency’s payroll, risk management,
health plan administration, accounts payable, purchasing and contracting, and auditing as
well as grant management. Fleet Management falls under Finance. They maintain a fleet
of 1076 vehicles which include motorcycles, off road ATVs, trailers, and forklifts.
Human Resources Division is responsible for the recruitment and processing of new
members. The screening of applicants includes pre-employment testing,
interviewing and new hire orientation conducted by Human Resources staff.
Personnel records and required FDLE documents for certified members are
maintained daily. All retirement, resignation and termination paperwork is
processed and exit interviews are conducted by the Human Resources Manager. Risk
Management also falls under Human Resources.
Information Technology Division maintains a network of desktop and laptop
computers that members of the Agency rely on to perform the day-to-day
operations and management of the Sheriff’s Office. From the public’s calls for
service to the response by the Deputy, the processing of the investigator’s case to
the booking of a prisoner, information technology is an integral part of the Agency.
Administration Services Division includes Communications Group, Communications
Technical Services, Validations, Central Records, Accreditation/Policy & Inspection,
and Civil Process.
Communications Group is responsible for communications functions within the
Collier
County Sheriff’s Office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and includes
operation of the 9-1-1 center for the unincorporated areas of Collier County, the
City of Marco Island and Everglades City. They manage the Agency’s extensive
inventory of radio equipment, coordinate the 9-1-1 program, and administer the
accredited Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program in accordance with state
and national mandates. This group consists of the Communications Center,
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Communications and Technical Bureau, and Communications Equipment.
Validations is tasked with validating the agency’s entries into NCIC/FCIC such as
missing people, warrants, stolen cars, and other stolen property. They also conduct
the FCIC recertification.
Central Records is the main repository of all Sheriff’s Office reports such as
accident and offense traffic reports, boating and parking citations, notices to
appear and criminal court dispositions. They maintain countywide arrest records,
provide local criminal history records and process requests from the public.
Accreditation/Policy & Inspections maintains law enforcement and jail status. This
voluntary on-site assessment ensures the Sheriff’s Office is achieving the highest
standards in law enforcement issues.
Civil Process processes and serves paperwork generated by the courts such as
summons, subpoenas, notices and orders. They also serve evictions, replevins,
levies, child custody orders and injunctions for protection.
Professional Standards includes Professional Responsibility, Training/Gun Range
and Quality Assurance. Professional Responsibility is responsible for a wide variety
of duties ensuring that members of the CCSO are maintaining high standards of
conduct and professionalism while serving the citizens of Collier County. Training is
accountable for the training and education requirements of all members of the
agency. Quality Assurance is responsible for making citizen contact to ensure that
CCSO is providing the highest level of services to the community.
CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT
Jail Division includes Naples Jail Center, Immokalee Jail Center, Transportation,
CERT, Canine, Classifications, Jail Records, Criminal Alien Task Force, Jail
Chaplain, Bailiff Bureau, Public Works and Jail Investigations.
Naples Jail Center - the primary booking and intake location for all law enforcement
agencies in Collier County. The facility houses adult male and female offenders as
well as court ordered juveniles. The jail completed its expansion project on
September 14, 2005 and now has the ability to house 1,206 inmates.
Immokalee Jail Center was completed its construction in December 2002. This
facility consists of 38,400 square feet and 248 beds. There are three 64-bed
general population dormitories and two eight-bed segregation housing units.
Currently the Immokalee Jail Center is used only as a booking center.
INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT
Criminal Investigations works together to solve criminal cases, help victims deal
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with the aftermath of crime, provide new information on programs to prevent future
acts of crime and to guarantee the safety of the citizens of Collier County.
General Crimes is responsible for the investigation of violent and non-violent crimes
throughout Collier County. Investigators assigned to the Bureau handle a wide
variety of criminal offenses, including robbery, aggravated battery/assault, burglary
(dwelling, structure and conveyance), larceny, and arson. There is also the Auto
Theft and Pawn Inspection Unit, which investigates all crimes related to grand theft
auto including failure to redeliver rented vehicles, chop shops and vehicle title fraud.
The unit also conducts inspections of the local pawn shops and tow yards to ensure
compliance of the law.
Property and Evidence is responsible for the safe keeping of the evidence until trial.
Crime Scene is responsible for the documentation, collection, and preservation of
evidence at crime scenes for future laboratory examination, reconstruction and
presentation at court proceedings.
Financial Crimes is part of a multi-agency Economic Crimes Task Force operating out
of the State Attorney’s Office. This unit is responsible for investigating major
fraud, embezzlement, computer crimes, credit card, check and bank fraud,
counterfeiting, contractual theft and identity theft.
Special Investigations Division
Major Crimes Bureau assigns investigators to felony cases of crime that occur
against persons and property throughout the county.
Vice & Narcotics Bureau investigates all vice, narcotics and pharmaceutical drug
cases
and organized crime activity in Collier County.K-9 Unit consists of eight
assigned handlers in Special Operations, four canine handlers in Vice and Narcotics
as well one in Corrections. They are primarily used to assist patrol in apprehension,
building and area searches, narcotics and explosives.
Organized Crime investigates ongoing criminal enterprises, fraudulent activities, and
vice and narcotics violations, utilizing technical expertise in forensics and the
scientific arena; all in the effort to preserve and protect the lives, property and
constitutional guarantees of all persons in Collier County.
Homeland Security coordinates with other agencies in the region to protect against
terrorism threats.
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OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
Youth Prevention and Delinquency Services Division includes Prevention and
Enforcement, Juvenile Arrest and Monitoring (JAR), Serious Habitual Offender
Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP), Street Gangs and Youth Relations. They
are committed to providing the youth and residents of the community with
proactive methods to combat crime. The Youth Prevention and Delinquency
Services focuses on building positive relationships with Collier County students
through educational programs and school presentation such as gang awareness
programs, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and Junior Deputy Program.
The Youth Division assists parents with ungovernable youths, and assists the
juvenile court and juvenile probation with monitoring offenders.
Special Operations receives extensive and ongoing training in specialized areas. It
is comprised of the following units:
Agriculture Unit which patrols farms, ranches, groves and other outlying and
isolated areas to assist the public and curb criminal activity such as illegal entry,
trespassing, theft and vandalism. The aviation Unit provides airborne support to
ground units for investigation and suspect location. They provide search and
rescue, surveillance, and aerial photography for investigative and trial purposes.
Bomb Squad is a FBI accredited, highly specialized unit that works with to the
Region 6 Domestic Security Task Force which responds for assistance to a nine
county area.
Dive Team consists of members that assist in investigations in underwater search
and recovery. The members of the team perform these services in addition to their
regular duties.
Marine Unit patrols the nearly 500 miles of inland and coastal waterways of Collier
County to enforce state and local marine law, conduct rescue operations, support
for other agencies and target smuggling, theft and drug-related activities.
Safety and Traffic Enforcement Bureau proactively performs traffic operations to
focus on reducing traffic crashes at the top 10 problem intersections in Collier
County. The unit also augments road patrols enforcing traffic laws and DUI
enforcement.
Special Response Unit includes SWAT and Hostage Negotiation. They are trained
in special tactics and weapons, hostage negotiation and other specialized forms of
law enforcement to offer support to all areas of the Sheriff’s Office to meet the
needs and services of the community.
Fugitive Warrants Bureau specializes in locating individuals that have existing
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warrants for their arrest. They are often required to utilize their investigative
skills in an attempt to ascertain theandd whereabouts of a fugitive.
Patrol consists of six geographical districts. They respond to calls for service,
resolve complaints and enforce traffic laws. Special Services in the Patrol Division
includes Emergency Operation/Disaster/Preparedness, Auxiliary, Contract Services
and False Alarm. False Alarm handled 10,965 false alarms in 2013. They educate the
public through False Alarm training and awareness as well as process alarm
registration and track fines.
Community Outreach Division
Community Service consists of Minority Affairs, Victims Assistance, Senior
Crimes Assistance and Volunteers.
Victim Assistance helps victims deal with the trauma that often follows being
involved in a crime or crisis situation. Advocates can help provide victims with
compensation through community or state funded programs.
Minority Affairs fosters positive relations between members of cultural and
ethnic minority communities in Collier County and the CCSO.
Volunteers provide support to the CCSO without compensation.
Senior Crime Assistance Unit provides various programs to prevent the
elderly
citizens of Collier County from becoming victims of crime.
Prevention Services includes Crime Prevention, Critical Incident Team and Peer
Support.
Crime Prevention focuses on a multitude of programs that are offered on topics
such as child protection, disaster preparedness, identity and retail theft,
vehicle security, home, business, and personal safety, safe mail handling and
workplace violence awareness.
Critical Incident Stress Management team is a multi-faceted crisis intervention
system designed to meet the needs of individuals, families and groups within
the emergency services profession who have experienced traumatic events.
Peer Support is an agency program designed to assist members in dealing with
stressful situations in an informal manner.
Planning and Research serves as a support function to the entire agency. They
conduct research to assist in specialized projects. They are also in charge of
developing a quarterly Environmental Scan and coordinating the Agency’s
Strategic Plan.
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Public Affairs acts as the liaison between the community and the Collier County
Sheriff's Office. Public Information Officers handle media interview
requests. They also set up news conferences and work with community groups
to get out the public safety message. They are also in charge of creating
informational/educational materials for distribution to the public. They
manage social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and distribute an
award-winning e-newsletter called the Collier Star in addition to maintaining
the website www.colliersheriff.org.
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Clerk of the Circuit Court
Dwight Brock
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is an independently elected public official responsible for
performing over 1200 constitutional and statutory functions and duties. The Clerk’s
role is one of the broadest and most diverse roles of any elected public official.
The system of “checks and balances” is a core function within the duties of the Clerk. It
is defined in Title Five, Chapter 28 of the Florida Statutes that the Clerk serve as:
• Accountant
• Auditor
• Guardian of all county funds
• Keeper of all court records
• Keeper of public records such as deeds, leases, and mortgages
As a constitutional officer and public trustee, the Clerk is responsible for:
• Being in charge of maintaining control, custody and the disposal of physical evidence
filed as exhibits in the courts
• Collecting and disbursing court fines, fees, and assessments
• Collecting and disbursing child support and alimony payments
• Ensuring that county and state programs within the Clerk’s office are administered
properly and efficiently
• Processing and maintaining court documents to make certain that cases are handled in
a timely manner
In the role of guardian of public funds, the Clerk of the Circuit Court must:
• Ensure that taxpayer’s money is managed in accordance with the law
• Prepare the financial statements of county government
• Audit reports in county government and guardianship cases
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is held accountable as a public trustee, which is
imperative considering his or her actions have a strong impact on the public. Although
the position is governed by Florida Statutes, the Clerk’s accountability, more
importantly, resides in the right of the citizens who elect the Clerk every four years.
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Dwight Brock is currently serving his sixth term as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Collier
County.
To contact the Clerk:
Email :
Telephone:
Website:
Address:
CollierClerk@CollierClerk.com
(239) 252-2646
www.CollierClerk.com
Dwight E. Brock, Clerk of the Circuit Court
Collier County
Courthouse Annex, 2nd Floor Government Center Complex
3315 Tamiami Trail East
Naples FL 34112
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The Court System 20
Judicial Circuit
th
The judicial branch of government seeks to protect rights and liberties, uphold and
interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Florida has two court systems: a Trial Court System, consisting of the Circuit and
County Courts; and an Appellate Court System, which includes the District Courts of
Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
Circuit Courts
Collier County is one of five counties that constitute the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of
the State of Florida. There are currently eight full-time Circuit Judges serving Collier
County. They are elected to serve six-year terms on an at-large basis in the circuit. The
cases coming under their jurisdiction include those involving: negligence, contract
actions over $15,000 in value, dissolution of marriage, custody actions, mortgage
foreclosure, legality of tax rolls, actions involving boundaries and titles, partnership
suits, probate, all juvenile problems, guardianship, trusts, incompetency proceedings and
criminal cases involving felonies. Circuit Courts hear all appeals from the County Courts
that do not go directly to the State Supreme Court.
County Courts
There are currently six full-time County Judges in Collier County elected to serve sixyear terms of office. County Courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes that
result in a one-year maximum sentence, violations of municipal or county ordinances,
traffic offenses and civil cases where the damages do not exceed $15,000.
Judges
Judges are elected without referring to their political party affiliation. They are
considered non-partisan candidates. To be eligible for office the person must be an
elector of the state and reside within the jurisdiction of that court. County and Circuit
Judges may be opposed for reelection by any attorney who has been a member of the
Florida Bar Association for five years. In the case of Supreme Court and Appellate
Court Judges, the governor originally appoints them and the electorate must vote every
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six years to either retain or not retain each of the justices of these courts. Candidates
for appellate courts must have been members of the Florida Bar for the previous ten
years. All justices and judges must devote full time to their judicial duties. They may
not engage in the practice of law and they may not hold office in any political party.
Juries
A Grand Jury is an investigative body of fifteen to eighteen members. They are called
to serve for a period of approximately six months. During that time they are
responsible for listening to evidence and other information about crimes committed in
the county and bringing indictments, “True Bills” against presumed offenders. The
Grand Jury may also investigate any offenses affecting the health, morals and general
welfare of the county’s inhabitants.
A Petit Jury is also called a Trial Jury. There are usually six jurors. Twelve jurors
are required for capital crime and eminent domain cases. After instruction from the
Court, the Petit Jury deliberates and decides upon questions of fact in civil and criminal
cases and applies the law to those facts. Verdicts must be unanimous (except in the
application of the death penalty).
Jurors are randomly selected persons who are at least eighteen years of age and
citizens of the State of Florida. Persons who are disqualified from performing jury
duty are certain public officials, persons under prosecution for crime, and persons
convicted of bribery, forgery, perjury, larceny and any other felony unless their civil
rights have been restored.
Attorneys
The State Attorney is the people’s prosecutor in the circuit and county Courts. They
serve the 20th Judicial Circuit and are elected for a four-year term on an at-large basis
in a partisan election. The state attorney acts as advisor to Grand Juries and conducts
investigations in conjunction with the Sheriff’s and police department within the five
county Circuit. The State Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all felonies,
misdemeanors and juvenile offenses within the County. The Florida Legislature funds
the office. The respective county governments provide office space, utilities and
telephone service as needed.
The Public Defender also serves the people of the 20th Judicial Circuit in the County
and Circuit courts and is elected for a four-year term on an at-large basis in a partisan
41
election. The Public Defender and staff are appointed by the Court to represent
indigent criminal defendants. The office is funded in the same manner as the State
Attorney.
Juvenile Justice
Florida Statutes have provisions for a Juvenile Justice System. A “child” or “juvenile” is
any person who has not reached the age of eighteen. Juveniles who have violated
criminal laws may be prosecuted and, if convicted, confined.
Juveniles may also be determined to be “dependent.” These are persons who have
either:
• been abandoned, abused or neglected
• been placed for adoption
• persistently run away
• been habitually truant while subject to compulsory school attendance
• persistently disobeyed the reasonable and lawful demands of parent or guardian.
A dependent child may be placed in a foster home, placed for adoption or confined until
the age of eighteen years.
The Juvenile Court System
Arrest/Custody: A child enters the juvenile court system by:
1. Being formally taken into custody and charged with a misdemeanor or felony
2. Receiving a Notice to Appear (instead of a formal arrest, primarily used for
misdemeanor offenses).
3. Pick-Up Order. This is equivalent to an adult arrest warrant. When law
enforcement has probable cause for an arrest but either cannot or chooses not to
make a formal arrest, they submit an affidavit to the State Attorney’s Office
and the case is reviewed. If the warrant is approved, it is taken to a judge to be
signed.
4. Summons. Similar to a pick-up order but no arrest is made. Used mainly for
misdemeanor offenses.
Detention Hearings: is first appearance for a juvenile and is generally held within 24
hours of arrest. At the detention hearing the court determines whether there is
probable cause for the arrest and whether the child will be released or detained on
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Home Detention (house arrest) or in Secure Detention (in custody at the Collier County
Juvenile Detention Center).
Arraignment: is where a child learns what charges if any are being filed by the State.
It is also where the child enters an initial plea of Not Guilty, Guilty, or No Contest. This
is also where the State refers some cases to one of the Diversion Programs. This
Hearing is usually within the first 30 days after the arrest or notice.
Docket Sounding: is where both the State and Defense announce if they are ready for
trial, need a continuance or are going to enter a plea. This usually occurs approximately
30 days after the arraignment.
Adjudicatory Hearing: In juvenile court a trial is called an adjudicatory hearing.
There is no right to a jury trial in juvenile court. Instead, the Judge hears the cases
and decides if the case has been proven by the State. All the same rights apply to an
adjudicatory hearing as in an adult trial. These rights include:
1. The right to an attorney.
2. The right to cross examine witnesses
3. The right to have the case proven beyond a reasonable doubt
4. The right to remain silent or to testify
5. The right to present any evidence or witness on his/her behalf
6. The right to present any legal defenses to the crime charged
The judge will either adjudicate the child delinquent of the act charged, adjudicate the
child delinquent of a lesser included act, or find the child not guilty.
Disposition: If a child enters a plea or is adjudicated delinquent after a hearing, they
are set for a disposition hearing. This is where the child is sentenced. Possible
sentences include:
1. Judicial Sanctions/Warning – the court orders certain sanctions or verbally
reprimands the child.
2. Probation – a child is supervised by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
and has certain sanctions he or she is required to complete and rules to follow.
3. Commitment – the child is placed in the custody of DJJ and sent to a
residential commitment program. There are four levels: low, moderate, high
and maximum risk.
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Independent Districts
An independent district is a separate unit of local government, generally less than
county-wide, which is formed to provide a special purpose for the residents within a
concise contiguous land area. Residents elect the governing body for the district.
(The other major type of special district is a dependent district, which is usually
multipurpose, is administered by the county commission itself and exists in only part
of the county’s area.)
The Florida Constitution reserves to the legislature the right to adopt enabling
legislation for such special purpose districts as the need arises. The general law,
Florida Statutes, provide the procedural steps creating these districts.
How Independent Districts Come About - Generally, as an area grows and develops,
its people find that their needs change. As they adjust, they may decide that there
is a community need for a specific purpose or service such as fire protection soil and
water conservation or mosquito control, for example.
Working with their State Representative, residents legally define the geographic
boundaries of the proposed districts, the scope of special purpose, and the method
of governing the district. The matter is then considered at the local Legislative
Delegation hearing (State Senators and Representatives who represent Collier
County). If the Legislative Delegation believes that there is sufficient evidence of
community need and support, they sponsor “enabling” legislation know as “special
acts”.
The proposal must then be adopted by both houses of the State Legislature before
it is sent to the Governor. However, each “Enabling” act carries the stipulation that
it will become the independent district only after a ratifying majority vote by
registered voters within the proposed district. Once the district is approved,
governing officials are elected with the authority to levy ad valorem taxes to provide
capital facilities and manpower.
Independent Special Purpose Districts within Collier County
•
Big Corkscrew Island Fire Control District
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
East Naples Fire Control District
Golden Gate Fire Control District
Immokalee Fire Control District
North Naples Fire Control District
Collier Mosquito Control District
Collier Soil and Water Conservation District
Port of the Islands Improvement District
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Collier County Public Schools
SCHOOLS:
The District School Board of Collier County has 48 schools and serves a total
student population of almost 45,000. There are 29 elementary schools, 10 middle
schools, 8 high schools, and a PreK-thru-12 school (Everglades City School).
There are also 12 Alternative School Programs.
The district’s two career/technical centers (Lorenzo Walker Institute of
Technology and Immokalee Technical Center) and adult education programs
(located at several sites throughout the district) offer students both short- and
long-term programs.
DIVERSITY: Our schools have a diverse population.
Hispanic
47 %
White
37 %
Black
12 %
Mixed
2%
Asian
1%
Indian
1%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH: More than 61% of our student population is
categorized as “Economically Needy” – they qualify for free or reduced-priced
lunch. That’s 27,453 students out of the 45,000 who attend our schools.
The Collier County School Board is vested by the Florida Constitution with the
responsibility to operate, control and supervise all free public schools within the
district. The Board appoints the Superintendent of Schools who administers the daily
operations of the district.
The School Board is composed of five members, elected at large, for staggered fouryear terms. It exercises all powers and duties assigned by law, operating also under the
regulation of the Florida Board of Education.
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Regular School Board meetings are held once a month at 4:00 p.m. on the second
Tuesday of the month in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Administrative Center.
FAST FACTS:
The school district and all of its schools are accredited by AdvancED, the parent
organization for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on
Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).
The District employs nearly 3,200 highly qualified teachers, 49% with advanced
degrees.
During the 2012-2013 school year, we received help from more than 4,800 active and
dedicated volunteers who donated an amazing 269,000 hours of service to our students
and schools.
The District celebrates nearly 2,800 high school graduates annually.
About 2,460 students undertake college-level academic learning in high school through
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses and may get college credit/placement based on AP
Exam scores. AP Courses are the foundation of the Laureate Program, which also
includes a college-like research and presentation component.
The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma is available to our
high school students and uses a rigorous curriculum overseen by the prestigious
University of Cambridge.
Students have an opportunity to get a head start on college through Dual Enrollment
(DE) courses, earning college credit while still in high school—at no cost to them!
Collectively, our graduates receive more than $20 million in scholarships each year,
including the unique Florida Bright Futures scholarship and many more from our
generous community.
English is not the first language for 15% of our students with more than 6,500 students
in the English Language Learners (ELL) program. Collectively, these students speak 80
different heritage languages and hail from 114 different countries of origin.
More than 49% of our students live in non-English homes, where English is not the first
language and sometimes isn’t even spoken. The percentage increases to more than 54%
in grades PreK through 3, where learning to read is so critical.
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The Collier district is a recognized leader in Florida when it comes to technology. There
are approximately 28,000 networked computers in use district wide, with roughly
22,000 accessible by students – giving us a 2-to-1 ratio.
Learn more by logging on to www.collierschools.com or by watching
The Education Channel, Comcast cable 99.
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Everglades City
Everglades City is a community of 768 acres, or approximately 1.2 square miles in
area. The City is surrounded by waterways – the Barron River to the west and north;
Lake Placid Waterway to the east, and Chokoloskee Bay to the south. In 2003, the
population within the boundaries of Everglades City was reported at 677. This
number triples during the winter months. In addition, the area enjoys a large number
of visitors from around the world.
The center of the City, actually an island, was artificially elevated during the 1920’s
through dredge and fill operations. The City became a municipality, by Charter, in
1923. It served as the seat of government of Collier County from its formation until
1962. Land access to the City is limited to a single highway (SR29).
Voting for Everglades City Councilmen is non-partisan with elections held the 4th
Tuesday in November in odd- numbered years. The Mayor is elected for a four-year
term. The five councilmen are elected for four year staggered terms on an at-large
basis. The Mayor presides at all meetings of the City Council and serves as principal
liaison with the City Staff. The Mayor and Council members provide the broad policy
and direction and act on all ordinances and resolutions which govern City operations.
The Council appoints a City Attorney and a City Clerk. The latter is responsible for
the day-to-day operation and administration of all Departments of the City. The City
does not have its own Court, Property Appraiser or Tax Collector. The County
provides these services through interlocal agreements. The County also provides
fire and police protection. Presently, the City operates its own water and sewer
system and also serves areas outside the City.
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The City of Marco Island
The City of Marco Island comprised approximately 20 square miles from Capri Pass
to the north following the centerline of the channel of Big Marco River to Caxambas
Pass to the south. The western edge of the City is a four to five mile beachfront
along the Gulf of Mexico. The population varies with the seasons with approximately
16,000 year round residents climbing to more than 45,000 seasonal and winter
residents and visitors. Marco Island officially became a City on August 28, 1997
when a mail ballot approved incorporation and a City Charter.
Elections for City Council Members are non-partisan. The seven council Members
are elected for four year staggered terms on an at-large basis and may be reelected
once for another full term. The Council Chairman, who is elected by the council,
presides at all meetings of the City Council. The Council chairman and Members
provide broad policy and direction and act on all ordinances and resolutions which
govern City operations. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is the
Chief Executive and Administrative Officer. He is responsible for the day-to-day
operation and administration of all departments of City government except the City
Attorney. He prepares the annual budget and makes recommendations to the City
Council relative to policy matters. The City Attorney is also appointed by the Council
and is the City’s legal advisor and council. The City Clerk is appointed by the City
Manager.
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The City of Naples
The City of Naples comprises approximately 12 square miles with nine miles of
beachfront along the Gulf of Mexico. The population varies with the seasons with
approximately 20,000 permanent resident and 12,000 part time winter residents and
visitors.
A special act of the Florida Legislature created the Town of Naples in 1923. The City
Charter was passed on June 13, 1949 creating a Council-Manager form of government.
The City of Naples has a mayor and six council members, all of whom are elected citywide on a non-partisan basis. The members serve overlapping four-year terms. Council
Members and the Mayor are limited to two consecutive terms.
The Mayor presides at all meetings of the City Council. The Mayor and Council Members
provide broad policy direction. They approve the annual budget and a five year capital
improvement program which plans for the funding of major improvements city-wide. The
Council acts on all ordinances and resolutions which govern City operations.
City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month, with the
exception of a summer recess. Workshop meetings are held at 8:30 a.m. on the Monday
preceding the third Wednesday of each month. Upcoming agendas for all Council
meetings are posted on the City's website www.naplesgov.com and are also available
from the City Clerk.
The City of Naples provides live broadcasts of City Council meetings and many advisory
board meetings on Comcast Cable Channel 98, and streaming video on the internet
through the Naples TV link on the City website. Videos, minutes and annotated agendas
of past Council meetings are archived and can be accessed from the City's website and
from the City Clerk's office at City Hall.
The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is the Chief Executive and
Administrative Officer. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation and
administration of all departments of City government except the City Attorney and City
Clerk. He prepares the annual budget and makes recommendations to the City Council
relative to policy matters. The City Attorney is also appointed by the Council and is the
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City's legal advisor and counsel. The City Clerk is appointed by the City Council and is
responsible for the official records of the City including the preparation of minutes of
all Council meetings.
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Notes
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