Naples City council Reverses Course on Airport Authority Resolution Following Lawsuit Threat
NAPLES, Fla. – The Naples City Council voted Wednesday to rescind a resolution passed in June that would have expanded the council’s oversight of naples Airport Authority projects, averting a potential lawsuit from airport advocates.
The move comes after Friends of the Naples Airport (FONA) issued a pre-suit notice in September,arguing the resolution violated Florida Senate Bill 180 and granted the council undue influence over the independent airport authority. SB 180, recently enacted into law, aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of airport authorities and their governing bodies.
“It’s safety, it’s economic impact – these are not things to be messed with lightly. And we are very pleased they chose to do this route,” said Christel Johnson, a FONA member.
FONA had prepared for a legal challenge, believing their case was strong. “We had a very strong case and they had a very weak case. We’re happy we’re not wasting money litigating something as senseless as this,” stated John Allen, also a member of FONA.
City leaders acknowledged the decision to withdraw the resolution was made to avoid legal costs.However, they indicated plans to revisit the issue in the future to clarify the extent of the council’s authority regarding airport operations.
During the council meeting, tensions surfaced regarding past interactions between the council and the airport authority, including discussions about grant applications. Councilman Kramer questioned statements made by Mayor Heitmann regarding the council’s influence, referencing meeting minutes. Mayor Heitmann clarified that the airport authority is not obligated to follow the council’s recommendations, and ultimately did not accept them.
The Old Naples Association, which has advocated for increased city 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 governance. 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 council intends to meet with airport leaders in the coming weeks to discuss and define their respective roles.