Caxambas Bridge Rated “Serious”

A significant portion of the March 2, 2026, City Council meeting focused on how to fund urgently needed infrastructure projects, particularly bridge replacements. City Manager Dr. Casey Lucius informed Council that the City recently received a Letter of Corrective Action from FDOT stating that the Caxambas Bridge is now in serious condition and carries the lowest rating of any bridge in Collier County. The City has 30 days to submit a corrective plan.

Replacing the Caxambas Bridge is estimated to cost $12 million. The Goldenrod Bridge also requires replacement at an estimated cost of $10 million. After anticipated grant funding, the City would still need to raise approximately $16 million to complete these two projects alone. Other bridges are also in deteriorating condition.

Vice Chair Rene Champagne urged Council to fulfill its responsibility to ensure safe roads and bridges and to stop “kicking the can down the road,” as he said previous councils have done.

Council discussed three different funding options: a $55 million bond, a $25 million bond, and a two-year millage rate increase. It was noted that a $55 million bond would cost the average Marco Island taxpayer less than $20 per month. Supporters of the 20-year bond emphasized the principle of intergenerational equity: the idea that future property owners who will benefit from the infrastructure improvements should share in the cost over time, rather than placing the full burden on current residents.

Chair Darrin Palumbo underscored that Council is only deciding what question will go on the ballot, and that voters will ultimately decide whether to approve funding. However, if voters reject the measure, it remains unclear how the City would fund the urgently needed bridge replacements.

Councilor Tamara Goehler suggested approving a $25 million bond, completing the two bridge projects and other priorities, demonstrating responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, rebuilding public trust, and then returning to voters later for additional funding if needed.

A final decision on what funding option will appear on the ballot will be made at the next meeting.

Grant Writing Services Update

Diana Bello of Kimley-Horn presented an update on grant writing services. Council discussed concerns that the City has not received grant awards during the past year since the firm was hired. Bello explained that Kimley-Horn conducted extensive research and submitted five applications, increasing awareness of Marco Island among funding agencies.

Discussion also highlighted that historically, the City has been successful in obtaining grants through staff efforts. However, a recurring issue has been escalating project costs. In numerous cases, by the time projects were ready to proceed, required matching funds were no longer sufficient due to inflation, resulting in the City forfeiting more than $5 million in grant funding.

The Kimley-Horn contract is now expiring, and it remains unclear how grant writing services will be handled moving forward.

Pickleball and Racquet Center Decisions

Council approved a $95,640 contract to demolish the Racquet Center building. The space will be sodded rather than converted to parking, due to high paving costs.

Following a presentation on the Racquet Center, Council approved increasing the annual pickleball membership fee to $360, expanding membership to 450 members, and placing membership revenues into a dedicated account for future improvements. Goehler echoed concerns raised by PRAC member Darrin Spindler, who has devoted significant effort to developing solutions to numerous issues at the facility. Spindler expressed disappointment that longstanding resident concerns, such as noise, parking in swales, and related neighborhood impacts were not incorporated into the presentation. Consequently, those matters were not addressed during Council discussion and remain unresolved.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Referendum Effort

The citizen-led initiative to place Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) on an upcoming ballot is reportedly progressing well with the 1,431 signatures required. Councilor Erik Brechnitz suggested that Council could proactively vote to place AWT on a referendum rather than requiring a citizen petition. Palumbo stated he had recently offered the organizers assistance but was told it was not needed.

E-Bike Enforcement Update

Councilor Bonita Schwan asked whether police are issuing citations for e-bike regulation violations. Marco Island Police Chief Tracy Frazzano stated that the department is primarily focusing on education and written warnings, with possibly only a small number of citations issued. It was agreed that e-bike citation data should be included in regular police statistics shared with the community.

Shore-Based Shark Fishing Concerns

Council briefly discussed a Shore-Based Shark Fishing Awareness event held earlier in the day, where residents expressed concerns about the growing popularity of shark fishing at South Beach. It was noted that several Florida municipalities have banned or restricted shore-based shark fishing. Council directed the City Attorney to research how other municipalities have addressed this issue.