Naples City council Reverses Course on Airport Authority Resolution Following โคLawsuit Threat
NAPLES, Fla. โ – The Naples Cityโ Councilโ voted Wednesday โto rescind a resolution passed in Juneโ that โwould have expanded the council’s oversight of โฃnaples Airport Authorityโค projects, averting โคa potential lawsuit โfrom airport โฃadvocates.
The move comes after Friends of the Naples โAirport (FONA) issued a pre-suit notice โขin September,arguing the resolution violated Florida Senate Bill โค180 and granted the council undue influence over the independent airportโ authority. SB 180, โฃrecently โคenacted into law, โฃaims to clarifyโ the roles and responsibilities of airport authorities and their governing bodies.
“It’sโฃ safety, it’s โeconomic impact – these are notโ things to be messed with lightly. And we are very โฃpleasedโฃ they โchose toโค do this route,” said Christel Johnson, โa FONA โmember.
FONA had prepared for a legal challenge, believing their case was strong. “We had aโ very strong โคcase and they โhad a very weak case. We’re happy we’re not wasting money โคlitigatingโค something as senseless as this,” stated John Allen, also a member of FONA.
City leadersโ acknowledged the decision to withdraw the โresolution โฃwas โmade to avoid legal costs.However, they โindicated plans to revisitโ the โฃissue in the future to clarify the extent of the council’s authority regarding airport operations.
During the council โmeeting, โtensions surfaced regarding past interactions betweenโ the council and the airport authority,โ including discussions aboutโค grant applications. Councilmanโข Kramer questionedโ statements made by Mayor Heitmannโ regarding the council’s influence, referencing meeting โคminutes. Mayor Heitmann clarified that the airport authorityโฃ is not obligated to follow the council’s recommendations, โand ultimately โขdid not acceptโฃ them.
The Old โNaples Association, which has advocated for increased โcity control over the airport, declined to comment on the council’s decision.
Despite the resolution’s rescission, FONA’s attorney anticipates continued debate over airport โขgovernance. State lawmakers are also currently considering legislation that could further limit the city council’s power to appoint members to the Naples Airport Authority board.
The โคcouncil โฃintends to meet with airport leaders in the coming โweeks to discuss and defineโค their respective roles.