Coronavirus Update
Business & Economy
- Collier to send more federal coronavirus aid to community. Naples Daily News, 9/23/20
- State agriculture department skips Collier for COVID-19 testing among farmworkers. Naples Daily News, 10/4/20
Back to School
- Florida Department of Health-Collier approve limited spectators at home athletic competitions. Collier Schools press release, 9/3/20
- What happens if students don’t keep their masks on? Southwest Florida schools differ on procedure, discipline. Naples Daily News, 9/4/20
- A Gulf Coast Charter Academy South classroom is in quarantine due to close COVID-19 case. Naples Daily News, 9/4/20
- Two weeks of virtual learning in Collier County, results are mixed. Naples Daily News, 9/11/20
- Collier schools launches COVID-19 dashboard reversing stance on sharing data. Naples Daily News, 9/15/20
- Collier schools not releasing student, employee quarantine numbers. Naples Daily News, 9/24/20
Masks
- Marco Island says no to mask mandate at farmers market amid COVID-19. Marco Eagle, 9/11/20
- Despite DeSantis’ rollback of coronavirus restrictions, Southwest Florida mask mandates to stay. Naples Daily News, 9/28/20
For the Latest
For the latest news about the coronavirus in our area and across the state, visit:
- Collier School District Reopening web page
- Collier County COVID-19 web page
- City of Naples COVID-19 web page
- City of Marco Island COVID-19 web page
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 website
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
Board of County Commissioners
Planning Commission / Growth
- In the Know: Changing rules for development. Naples Daily News, 9/2/20
- In the Know: Breaking Ground: New rules in play for future eastern Collier development. Naples Daily News, 9/3/20
- In the Know: Will 300,000 more residents cost Collier taxpayers $3.8 billion? Naples Daily News, 9/10/20
- In the Know: Moratorium on some Collier development? Naples Daily News, 9/14/20
- Collier Planning Commission discusses proposed changes to rural growth plan. Naples Daily News, 9/18/20
- Collier planning board approves proposed changes to rural growth plan. 9/25/20
— Opinion
- Guest opinion: RLSA: A long-term plan for growth built on consensus. Blake Gable, CEO of Barron Collier Companies, via Naples Daily News, 9/15/20
- Guest opinion: A path forward for all of Collier County residents. By Van Williams, Chair of the Board of Directors, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, via Naples Daily News, 9/27/20
County Projects
- Brent Batten: Wider Airport-Pulling Road on the horizon. Naples Daily News, 9/17/20
- Bayshore Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Area is developing its first public art plan! United Arts Council of Collier County, 9/22/20
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Collier County partner in long-term $3B hurricane protection plan. WINKnews.com, 10/2/20
Other News
- Gun range would add an alternative to shooting in Collier’s wild, wild east. Brent Batten, Naples Daily News, 9/3/20
- Commissioners approve up to $30K for Conservation Collier education prior to referendum. Naples Daily News, 9/8/20
- Facing pandemic-induced budget crunch, Collier museums scale back new projects. Naples Daily News, 9/16/20
- Brent Batten: Foam finds new home in Collier recycling pilot project. Naples Daily News, 10/3/20
- Friends of Commissioner Fiala honor 20 years of service. Coastal Breeze News, 10/1/20
City of Naples
- Naples City Council denies request for additional accommodations for veterans at Alpha House. WINKnews.com, 9/2/20
- Naples beach outfall removal project takes step forward after City Council actions. Naples Daily News, 9/19/20
- Naples Council takes next steps to help create new ethics commission. Naples Daily News, 9/21/20
City of Marco Island
Vacation Rental Policy
- Report on zoom meeting on rental issues. Coastal Breeze News, 10/1/20
- City of Marco Island publishes link for recorded virtual Community Meeting on vacation rentals. Meeting/presentation begins around 13min 30 sec. City of Marco Island, 10/1/20
- Marco Island publishes vacation rental virtual community meeting Q&A. City of Marco Island, 10/2/20
Other News
- More than $1M in improvements coming to Tigertail Beach Park on Marco Island. Marco Eagle, 9/5/20
- Marco Island City Council approves 5% raise for City Manager Mike McNees. Marco Eagle, 9/10/20
- Marco Island Council approves resolution supporting its police amid nationwide protests. Marco Eagle, 9/11/20
- Marco Island Police Department again fires ‘Brady cop’. Marco Eagle, 9/14/20
- Marco City Council gives initial approval to budget. Coastal Breeze News, 9/17/20
- Chris Byrne takes over as Marco Island fire chief. Coastal Breeze News, 9/17/20
- Farmers market a go for 2020-2021 season. Coastal Breeze News, 9/17/20
- Council hears from irate homeowners again. Coastal Breeze News, 9/22/20
- Tracy Frazzano at the 12-month mark as MIPD chief. Marco Eagle, 9/29/20
- Marco Island police officer receives suspension, retraining after authoring false report. Naples Daily News, 10/2/20
Collier County Public Schools
- Network outage at Collier schools halted virtual learning, email access Monday morning. Naples Daily News, 9/14/20
- Collier schools offering free meals to students after USDA extended summer food program. Naples Daily News, 9/16/20
- Collier school board plans for eCollier Academy future, builds on-campus spot at Calusa Park. Naples Daily News, 9/22/20
- Naples Classical Academy announces North Naples campus location. Florida Weekly, 10/1/20
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Jury trials to resume in Collier County…slowly and cautiously. Press release, 9/16/20
- National financial experts: Collier’s credit position is superior and among the best in the nation. Press release, 9/18/20
Sheriff
- CCSO update on collaborative response graphics. Life in Naples, Aug/Sep/Oct
- Southwest Florida law enforcement and state agencies announce major drug arrests. The News-Press, 9/3/20
- Collier County Sheriff’s Office: Deputy shoots, kills Immokalee man who was holding a shovel. Naples Daily News, 9/17/20
- Immokalee man shot and killed by Collier deputy was single father, longtime farm worker. Naples Daily News, 9/21/20
- Brent Batten: Collier sheriff adding body cameras to law enforcement tool kit. Naples Daily News, 9/26/20
Greater Naples Fire Rescue District
- Greater Naples Fire to cut rescue response times with new buildings. WINKnews.com, 9/1/20
South Florida Water Management District
- South Florida Water Management District approves budget, tax rate for upcoming fiscal year. TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers, 9/22/20
20th Judicial Circuit
- As a judge, Hugh Starnes couldn’t speak about what weighed on his mind: police killing Black people. The News-Press, 9/14/20
Our State Legislators
Parts of Collier County are represented in the Florida House of Representatives by Rep. Byron Donalds (District 80), Rep. Bob Rommel (District 106), and Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez (District 105). All of Collier County is represented in the Florida Senate by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo.
Find Your State Representatives
- Guest opinion: Stand up and be counted! (Census) By Sen. Kathleen Passidomo via The News-Press, 9/3/20
- Guest opinion: Taking a closer look at the $25 billion postal boondoggle. By Bob Rommel via Naples Daily News, 9/3/20
- Opinion: School choice, innovation allows all students access to great education. By Rep. Byron Donalds via Florida Politics, 9/14/20
- Florida ethics panel dismisses nondisclosure complaint vs. Congress candidate Byron Donalds. Naples Daily News, 9/17/20
- Byron Donalds tests negative for COVID-19 after meeting with Trump Sept. 23; will not quarantine. The News-Press, 10/4/20
Our U.S. Congressmen
Parts of Collier County are represented in the U.S. Congress by
Rep. Francis Rooney (District 19) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (District 25).
Find Your U.S. Representative
- Rooney slams Trump tax scheme–again. The Paradise Progressive, 9/15/20
- US House votes to keep government open; SWFL Reps. Rooney, Steube oppose, Diaz-Balart approves. The Paradise Progressive, 9/23/20
- Guest opinion: Climate is on the ballot in Florida this November. By Congressman Francis Rooney and Michael Whittaker via The News-Press, 9/29/20
Local News reported in this post is by
Brent Batten, Brittany Carloni, Rachel Fradette, Liz Freeman, Laura Layden, Omar Rodriguez Ortiz, Devan Patel, Patrick Riley, and Karl Schneider
(USA Today Network – Florida: Naples Daily News, News-Press, Marco Eagle);
Steve Stefanides and Scott H. Shook (Coastal Breeze News);
David Silverberg (The Paradise Progressive); Tyler Treadway (Treasure Coast Newspapers); and
Rachel Cox-Rosen and Gina Tomlinson (WINKnews.com)
That’s it for September Collier County government news!