Environmental Affairs Committee Program Plans

To educate and advocate for the protection of Collier County’s natural resources.  Whether addressing sea-level rise, toxic algae, alternative energy or development in our eastern rural lands, the committee seeks to inform the public, engage public officials and collaborate with other allies to promote sustainable growth, protect our water resources and wildlife and mitigate the effects of climate change. 
 

• Continue training sessions on ACUNE for city and County staff. Provide private tutorials as requested. When available, hold City and County staff workshops on ACUNE+
• Work with the City of Naples, the City of Marco Island and Pelican Bay to use ACUNE for resiliency planning.
• Present ACUNE at 8-10 meetings to inform residents of Collier County about the benefits of the tool to protect their property.

• To educate members of the LWVCC about the prevalence of plastics in our food, water and bodies with the goal of reducing plastic consumption among our members by hosting a hot topic or speaker at a membership meeting.
• Work with the Florida League’s Natural Resources Action Committee and elevate the importance of plastics reduction as a legislative priority in the near future.
• Coordinate with the City of Naples and others in the County to promote an ordinance to reduce plastics consumption in the city and county.
• Form a Coalition with organizations sympathetic to the reduction of plastics and give four presentations throughout the community.

• There will be one Community meeting held to set up a solar cooperative with Solar United Neighbors.

• Since the EVCO annual conference will be held in Bonita Springs, we will encourage our members to attend. Possibly by offering to pay for their admission. We could also consider sponsoring a breakfast.
• As part of the Everglades activity we will host a Forum in Naples (date to be determined) with the DEI Committee and invite tribal speakers along with Environmental speakers familiar with the ongoing Everglades work to educate the general public about this important issue in SWFL
  

• Continue to monitor key developments related to water quality including algal blooms; electric charging stations; climate change; oil exploration and development in Big Cypress and any change in the Lawsuit brought by the Conservancy of SWFL against the County for approving Rivergrass development.
• The Committee will also strive to support the the natural resources state-level education and advocacy efforts throughout the year.