February 2025

CityConnect, your monthly newsletter brings you the latest updates on what's happening in the City of Naples. From essential services to exciting programs and events, CityConnect keeps residents, businesses, and visitors up-to-date with the latest news and information.

Dear Naples Residents,

As many of you are aware, our City is currently undergoing a transition following the departure of our outgoing City Manager, Mr. Boodheshwar. I would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for his dedicated service to the city during his time with us. Transitions can present challenges, but I am confident that our city is in excellent hands moving forward. The City Council has unanimously selected Gary Young to serve as our new City Manager, and I am excited about the leadership and vision he brings to our community.

Mr. Young comes to us with a wealth of experience in local government and shares my values and commitment to preserving the character of Naples while ensuring we are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. I am excited to work closely with him as we continue to serve our residents and uphold the standards of excellence that make Naples a special place.

I’d also like to express how pleased I am that the Collier County Park Shore Beach Renourishment Project began in January. This project is expected to add more than two million plants and will replenish the beach which experiences natural erosion throughout the year, but has also seen multiple storms including Debby, Helene, and Milton this past hurricane season. This vital project is essential in maintaining the safety and beauty of our beach, ensuring it remains a resilient and welcoming space for everyone. Please continue reading the newsletter for more details, and stay informed by following the upcoming monthly updates from City Connect. I’d also like to extend a big thank you to all those who are working hard to make this happen.

Lastly, please mark your calendars for the next Community Conversations on Thursday, March 6th at 8:30 AM, located by the fountain in front of City Hall. 

Many blessings,

Teresa Lee Heitmann

Mayor, City of Naples

Gary L. Young, Sworn In as City Manager

Red Tide Update

The images were derived from Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite data from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and were processed by NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science."

Since January, the red tide organism Karenia brevis has been detected in samples collected from the Florida Department of Health - Collier County. Red Tide is currently present at various levels along the beaches in Collier County and the City of Naples. The public should exercise caution in and around these areas.

Forecast: Respiratory irritation is possible at all Collier County beaches with onshore winds. People with chronic respiratory illnesses should avoid going to the beach. To get the red tide respiratory forecast, please visit https://habforecast.gcoos.org. To get the current beach conditions, please visit https://visitbeaches.org.

For more information about the potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health's Harmful Algal Blooms webpage or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's webpage on Red Tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms.

Naples Beach Restoration & Water Quality Improvements Project (aka Stormwater Beach Outfall Project)

Construction will begin in late February 2025 or early March for the Naples Beach Restoration & Water Quality Improvements Project. Crews will start on 3rd Street North between Broad Avenue North and 1st Avenue North, working from north to south. Construction crews will be replacing stormwater pipes and inlets, followed by the milling and paving of the roadway when the drainage work has concluded. The majority of the construction will be within the existing roadway pavement; therefore, the outside right-of-way should not be impacted.

Work is expected to occur on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; however, some night and weekend work may be necessary. There will be lane closures and detours with local traffic access maintained, but there may be times where driveway access is limited/unavailable. Construction is expected to take approximately six months to complete in this segment before the contractor moves their operation to Gulf Shore Boulevard.

Public Beach Accesses & Beach Ends Project

The City of Naples is making steady progress on the Public Beach Accesses and Beach Ends Project, despite significant challenges such as recovery from three hurricanes, multiple design revisions, FEMA requirements, and permitting delays. These obstacles have provided valuable lessons in restoration and highlighted the importance of prioritizing resiliency.

Over the past seven months, City staff and contractors have worked diligently to address storm impacts, refine project designs, and prepare for construction. The project is now moving forward, with the bidding process anticipated to begin in late February 2025. Bids will remain open for 30 days, after which they will be reviewed. A contractor is expected to be selected in April, followed by the issuance of a notice to proceed, contractor mobilization, and the start of construction. To ensure completion within the permit periods, construction will prioritize beach accesses with shorter permit expiration windows. The project timeline is contingent upon receiving reasonable and qualified bids.

To minimize disruptions and ensure progress is distributed citywide, work will occur simultaneously at multiple locations. The City will share regular updates on the project webpage and through electronic communications to keep the community informed about closures and key milestones.

We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work to restore and enhance our beach accesses.

Collier County Beach Renourishment Project: Park Shore

Legend:

Purple: Beach Construction

Red: Inbound Truck Route

Light blue: Outbound Truck Route

Events at the Norris Center

• February 7 at 7:30 pm - Mark Sanders ONE VOICE: The Music of Barry Manilow
• February 8 at 7 pm - Venturino's Comedy Night
• February 14 at 7 pm - An Evening in Naples
• February 28 at 7 pm - A Tribute to "The Ladies of Disco" with the Girls of Motown

Councilman Ray Christman will moderate the 3rd Annual Water Forum: Building Naples' Coastal Resiliency hosted by the Gulf Shore Association of Condominiums (GSAC).

February 25, 2025 | 9 AM - 11 AM

Naples United Church of Christ | 5200 Crayton Road

For more information, click HERE.

City of Naples

735 8th Street South

Naples, Florida 34102

(239) 213-1030