HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHEMNTS OF SAVE THE BAYS

BACKGROUND:  Save the Bays (STB) was organized in 1981 when 80 residents convened
to try to do something about the severe shoaling at Doctors Pass and its inner and 
outer (Gulf) approaches.  The Lutgert Companies provided the meeting facilities from
then on, for some time.


1. FUNDS COLLECTED: 
 
       Over $120,000 was collected from residents of the area between Banyan Blvd.
       and Seagate.  STB retained engineer Bob Crawford of Suboceanic Consultants Inc.
       The City and County were asked for funding, but they had none set aside
       for dredging maintenance.  The funds contributed were sent directly to the City
       Finance Department by the contributor.  The Lutgert Companies contributed a
       very large amount.


2. IRS APPROVAL: 
  
       Tax Free status was important.  IRS approved STB as exempt under IRS 301 (C) (3).


3. DREDGING COMPLETED: 
 
        Permits were required.  The surveys of water depths and offending sand,
        were conducted.  Bids were solicited.  Dredging was completed in about two
        years.


4. NAVIGATION AIDS INSTALLED: 
 
        Daybeacons, approved by the Coast Guard, were installed.


5. MAINTENANCE DREDGING REQUIRED MORE FUNDS:
  
        STB asked the City and received a one-time contribution of about $15,000 and about
        an equal amount from the County.
                                                                                                                                 
     
6. LIGHT INSTALLED:
  
        A Coast Guard approved steel tower, with self-charging battery and light, was
        installed, just west of the Pass.  It was labeled "DP" and shows white Morse
        Code " A"  -  "dot" "dash", every four seconds, to signify Mid-Channel.  A
        Tide Gauge was later installed on the tower.  (A second Tide Gauge was
        later installed on daybeacon "5" (inside the Pass.)  The gauges
        show feet above or below the Mean Lower Low Water reference, MLLW.

       
7. REFERENDUM APPROVED:

        Worked to convince public and City Council the need for a referendum to
        establish a Special Taxing District. Contributions were not the way for future
        funding.  Voters approved the 0.5 mills ad valorem tax for homes and condos
        located only on the inland waterways, from Banyan Blvd to Park Shore. (The
        current tax is 0.025 mills, which equates to $2.50 per $100,000 taxable property
        evaluation and yields approximately $25,000 per year, to the District.)


8.  TAX FUNDING: 
 
        Funds from the tax are used for dredging all waterways, inspection of seawalls, 
        aids for navigation and removal of surface trash.
     

9. VIEWED WITH ALARM:
   
        County initiated a beach renourishment program.  It was predicted that sand
        north of Doctors Pass would drift into the Pass.  STB contributed the funding
        to retain an engineer, Dave Tackney, to design a 75 foot extension, the maximum
        allowed by FDEP, Florida Department of Environmenta Protection, to the north 
        jetty, with a curvature, to improve water flow out of the Pass, and to prevent 
        sand from entering the Pass.  The extension was approved by FDEP  and the U.S.
 

10.  EXTENSION PROJECT STOPPED:
 
        STB discovered, with the help of an astute citizen, that boulders placed on the
        jetty were too small and would wash away.   STB retained engineer Bob Crawford 
        who found the boulders were not to specs and also the jetty had been located and
        placed incorrectly.  This was corrected.

  
11.  WORKED WITH CONGRESSMAN CONNIE MACK, NOW FORMER SENATOR:
   
        STB asked for funding from the Corps of Engineers.  Congressman Connie
        Mack pressed the Corps, who would not consider Doctors Pass unless there
        was a public fuel facility inside the Pass.


12. FUEL FACILUTY BUILT:
   
        STB asked the Lutgert Companies to build and operate a fuel facility.  They did
        so. It is located just north of the Park Shore bridge.  It is operating.


13. CORPS OF ENGINEERS FUNDING APPROVAL:
  
        STB finally received notice that the Corps would dredge Doctors Pass.  However,
        soon thereafter, President Reagan reduced the Corps budget for non commercial 
        waterways.
   

14. CONGRESSMAN MACK WORKED AGAIN:
  
        STB helped the Congressman have the Corps look at the commercial use of
        Doctors Pass by local  fishermen.  The Corps initiated a study. The fishermen  
        asked for a dock in Moorings Bay to be used for taking fish to market. They
        said they did not need dredging to keep the Pass open.   They would use the
        dock and trucks and not the Pass.  The Corps terminated the project.


15. STUDIED CITY OWNING A DREDGE:

        STB decided the City should consider having its own dredge.  STB took trips to
        Boca Raton and Punta Gorda to study how their dredges were used and the
        economics.  STB conducted a very in-depth and comprehensive financial
        analysis.  It was decided a dredge was not appropriate for Naples.  Storage,
        maintenance, and personnel problems, were the reasons.


16. INLET MANAGMENT PLAN ORDERED:

        The FDEP decreed a plan was required to ensure that sand, which was
        "stolen"  from the beach when it entered the Pass, would be returned to the
        beach.  STB worked with engineer Bob Crawford, who was retained by the
        City for this project.  Dave Tackney also participated.


17. SAND TRAP HOLDS SAND: 

        STB worked with engineers Bob Crawford and Dave Tackney, who conceived a
        large area and deep trap, called the Impoundment Basin,  just west of Doctors
        Pass.  This collects sand and prevents it from going into the Pass.   The Basin
        is emptied every four years, (40,000 cubic yards each time) and the sand is
        returned to the beach, south of the Pass.  It is placed offshore so it does not
        interfere with turtle season and can be done in summer, during hurricane
        season, when the waters are calm, and not in the fall when cold fronts cause
        the water to be too rough for dredging.  Many boulders and rocks had to be
        removed to achieve the -14 ft depth of the Basin.  The boulders and rocks were
        placed on the south jetty which needed repair.  This Basin is operating today.


18. RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITS:

        STB and the City were joint receivers of the dredging permits from the Corps
        and FDEP.  However, the City has now taken full responsibility for this but STB 
        follows the work and particapates in it.  Permits are issued for ten years.
        FDEP and Corps approvals are needed whenever any dredging is done.  Renewal of the
        permits is underway and we hope to get the dredging completed this year.
     

19. SEAWALL TUTORIAL ISSUED TO MEMBERS: 
 
        STB developed and issued a tutorial, which gives owners of homes and condos,
        excellent information on how to contact engineers and contractors and investigate
        the condition of a seawall.  The City offers similar advice but does not conduct 
        in depth investigations as conducted by an engineer.  Contractors are not likely 
        to conduct investigations as done by an engineer.
    

20. DOCKS INFORMATION:

        STB issued a compilation of the City Codes for docks in the, Park Shore, Moorings
        and Coquina Sands areas.  There are differences.


21. PILE WRAP:

        STB issues information on pile wrap.  It is good to prevent worms and borers,
        thus extending the life of the pile. 
     

22. LAWN MAINTENANCE INFORMATION:

        STB will take every opportunity to conduct a seminar, with appropriate 
        technical speakers, who will explain to owners of homes and condos, lawn
        dealers and lawn maintenance personnel, the wisdom of proper maintenance of
        lawns in order to upgrade and maintain the water quality of our waterways.
    

23.  OTHER PROJECTS FOR 2004-2005:
 
        A list of current projects and on-going projects of STB is available and
        updated yearly.


24.  STB WEB SITE:

        A project was approved to develop and maintain a Web Site for STB.
        That project, per se, is completed but it will go on and on. There is much 
        information about Save The Bays in the Web Site.  It includes the monthly Tide
        Tables, required to determine depth of water under ones vessel.


25.  MEETING FACILITIES:

        Board Meetings and Annual Meetings, are open to all members and the
        "Naples Daily News".   The Naples City Council, and the City staff, and
        the County Board of Commissioners, and County Staff, are always invited to
        all meetings.  Ensuring meeting facilities is an important project.   

        The Lutgert Companies, thanks to Richard Baker,  provided meeting rooms,
        in their building prior to the establishment of the Village, for about nine years.
        The Ritz-Carlton Naples then provided rooms and refreshments for about ten
        years, thanks to Joseph Freni, Jr., who was General Manager. Thereafter, the
        U.S. Trust Company, thanks to Councilman William MacIlvaine, Bank
        Officer, provided meeting room and refreshments, for about 3 years. Then
        came Robb & Stucky's help.  At present, we thank John R.Wood, Realtors,
        for their meeting room.                                                                                                                                                                   


       Dan Spina  3/17/04