§ 54-278. Land Acquisition Advisory Committee.

1.

Creation and Purpose: The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee is hereby established to assist the Board of County Commissioners in establishing an Active Properties Acquisition List with qualified purchase recommendations consistent with the goals of Conservation Collier. When active acquisition phases are not in place, the Land Acquisition Committee's role shall be to review and make recommendations to the Board on the management and programs of the preserved land.

2.

Appointment and Composition: The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members who are appointed by and will serve at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners in accordance with Ordinance No. 2001-55, as amended. Membership of the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall comprise broad and balanced representation of the interests of Collier County citizens, including:

a.

Environmental, land management and conservation interests in Collier County;

b.

Agricultural and business interests in Collier County;

c.

Educational interests in Collier County; and

d.

General civic and citizen interests from throughout the county.

Individual members of the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall have expertise, knowledge or interest in ecology, conservation of natural resources, real estate or land acquisition, land appraisal, land management, eco-tourism or environmental education. A nominee shall submit to the Board of County Commissioners written evidence of his or her expertise, knowledge or interest in any of the above. The members of this committee should include representatives from different areas of Collier County.

3.

Terms of Office: The initial terms of office of the members shall be staggered between the individual interests, for balance purposes, and be set as follows:

a.

Three (3) members shall serve three (3) years.

b.

Three (3) members shall serve two (2) years.

c.

Three (3) members shall serve one (1) year.

Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three (3) years. The process for appointments and terms of office shall be governed by Collier County Ordinance No. 2001-55, as amended.

4.

Officers, Quorum and Rules of Procedure: At its earliest opportunity, the membership of the Committee shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members. Officers' terms shall be for a period of one (1) year, with eligibility for reelection.

The presence of five (5) or more members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee necessary to take action and transact business, unless active acquisition phases are not in place in which case four (4) or more members shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall, by majority vote of the entire membership, adopt rules of procedure for the transaction of business. The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Florida Sunshine Law, and shall keep a written record of meetings, resolutions, findings and determinations in accordance with F.S. ch. 112. Copies of all Committee minutes, resolutions, reports, and exhibits shall be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners.

5.

Attendance and Vacancies: Committee member attendance requirements, including failure to attend meetings and member removal from office are governed by Collier County Ordinance No. 2001-55, as amended.

6.

Functions, Powers and Duties of the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee: The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a.

The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's primary responsibility is to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners an Active Properties Acquisition List with qualified purchase recommendations consistent with the goals of Conservation Collier and pursuant to the policies outlined herein below.

b.

The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee may, from time to time, recommend to the Board of County Commissioners proposed expenditures from the Conservation Collier Trust Funds; additional selection or acquisition policies, procedures, and programs; and other such matters as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of Conservation Collier. However, the goals and primary criteria of Conservation Collier may not be modified except by countywide referendum vote.

c.

The Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall have no power or authority to commit Collier County to any policies, to incur any financial obligations or to create any liability on the part of the County. The actions and recommendations of the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee are advisory only and shall not be binding upon the County unless approved or adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

d.

At such time as there are insufficient uncommitted funds in the Conservation Collier Acquisition Trust Fund to conclude another acquisition and all acquisition projects have been closed, the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall report to the County Commission and revert to a land management oversight function. If funds remain in the Conservation Collier Acquisition Trust Fund these funds shall then be reviewed for recommendation of transfer to the Conservation Collier Management Trust Fund and transferred upon approval of the Board of County Commissioners. Thereafter, unless and until additional funds are appropriated by the Board for the purpose of acquiring additional Conservation Collier Program acquisitions, the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee shall generally meet on a quarterly basis to review and make recommendations to the Board as warranted regarding the management and programs of the preserved land.

(Ord. No. 02-63, § 8; Ord. No. 07-65, § 8; Ord. No. 2014-18, § 1; Ord. No. 2015-16, § 1; Ord. No. 2019-03, § 8)