Ask the City Manager

What do you feel makes Marco Island such a special place? What sets us apart from other cities across Florida?

When I tell people about Marco Island, I talk about the wildlife. You can drive anywhere on the Island and see the burrowing owls, stop along South Barfield Drive to see American bald eagles or gopher tortoises, walk the Sand Dollar spit to see the black skimmers and Wilson plovers, and you can see roseate spoonbills, which I’ve only ever seen on Marco Island.

I love that local residents started a nature preserve and bird sanctuary on the Island. Similarly, residents started a butterfly garden and an eagle sanctuary. Marco Island residents are more invested in their community than most places I’ve lived or visited. This past December, I brought my parents to the Christmas tree lighting and concert at Veterans Community Park, and they said to me, “It feels like a Hallmark movie!” This is indeed a wonderful town, with active and interested residents who invest their time and money to make it a great place to work and live.

What is your five, ten, and twenty-year vision for Marco Island? How will the city need to adapt to meet the needs of citizens for this future?

To be honest, I’m not a visionary person. I’m good at implementing other people’s vision. I want the current City Council and future Councils to set their vision, and I’ll help make it happen. Having said that, I do have “hopes” for Marco Island’s future. In five years I hope we’re well on our way to replacing deficient bridges. In ten years, after implementing a variety of water quality projects, I hope the canal water is clear, clean, and beaming with life. In twenty years (or less), I hope the City owns and operates Tigertail Park, the South Beach parking lot, and Caxambas Park and Marina to transition revenue from the County to the City.

I’m hoping that the city can consider creating a transportation system for residents and visitors similar to the Interurban Transportation System in Saugatuck/Douglas Michigan. It is funded by local tax money, state money, grants, and a nominal $1 per ride fee. The current director would be interested in talking to you about how to get this done.   

In July 2024, a former City Councilor proposed including $206, 480 into the FY25 budget for a “winter season trolley pilot program.” The proposal was to have the trolley run by the Collier Area Transit focusing on routes from Old Marco to Caxambas Park. The cost would have covered two trolleys for 10 hours per day over 89 days between December 2024 – March 2025. The City Council approved this proposal and budgeted the funds in October 2024. In November 2024 following the election of four new councilors, the City Council was asked to sign an interlocal agreement with the county outlining the terms of the trolley pilot program. There was no action to support the agreement or move forward with the trolley pilot program (the trolley died on the spot!). However, there are Collier County buses that have daily routes on the Island, including the Marco Island Circulator that stops at the Marriott and Shops of Marco.