KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Steve Stefanides cites the Marco Island Civic Association's survey results to demonstrate the unpopularity of the fire assessment during City Council's budget meeting Tuesday evening.

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The annual survey of Marco Island Civic Association members indicates the popularity of some recent city government decisions and may provide a crystal ball into some future issues.

MICA, the oldest and largest nonprofit community improvement organization on island, serves about 20,000 residents and homeowners and surveys a large portion of them every year on issues both new and old.

A survey was sent out in May to about 7,000 MICA members and about 2,600 responded indicating some of the issues that Islanders stand united on. Survey questions covered what Islanders like about the beach set aside for Marco residents only, Residents’ Beach; what they would like to see in the City of Marco Island’s future and what they like about it now.

In the just released results, it appears most Islanders stand united on the following issues: 64 percent want Tract K, a piece of land donated to the Collier County School District, to be used for public use; 73 percent don’t want the city to take over electricity and 75 percent want the city to continue funding fireworks.

The survey had instant impact this week with Steve Stefanides citing the results regarding the fire assessment. The response was clear, 73 percent of the people who answered the question said “no” to the idea of City Council forming a special assessment district for taxpayers to provide funds for city fire services outside of property taxes.

After numerous council votes in favor of a fire assessment, the council voted 5-2 in opposition to a fire assessment on this year’s property tax bill Tuesday.

“The fire assessment is what really stuck out to me on the survey. Like I said last night, I didn’t talk to one person who was in favor of the fire assessment,” said City Councilman Rob Popoff regarding his vote in Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Other clear majority votes on the survey were residents’ opposition to tolling the Jolley Bridge and Marco Island taking over running electric services from Lee County Electrical Cooperative.

Chairman Bill Trotter said the survey is “probably one of the most comprehensive” studies of Islanders’ thoughts on issues. It’s difficult to tell though if everyone understood the questions, he said.

Trotter used the example of the Jolley Bridge question.

The survey asked: “Do you favor a toll on the Jolley Bridge to facilitate the completion of a second bridge?” The vast majority, nearly 80 percent, answered no.

Trotter wondered aloud if the answer would be different to questions related to alternative options for the Jolley Bridge, such as his suggestion of a one span bridge which would be cheaper than a second bridge. He said a one span bridge may only require a toll to fund construction and then be lifted in a short time or may not require a toll at all because it would be nearly half the price.

It’s difficult to say exactly what people are thinking, but it gives a good idea that generally speaking, people on the island don’t want to be tolled, said Ruth McCann, executive director of MICA.

“We have a clear direction that the community wants the fireworks to continue,” McCann added.

The City of Marco Island has been the exclusive sponsor of the Fourth of July fireworks for about $40,000 annually. Councilors have requested that events organized by community organizations seek private sector funding, then cut funding for community events in half. While the final decision from council has not yet been made on the issue of which events to fund, the current budget for fireworks is $10,000.

Trotter said he hopes that it is early enough in the year that organizations such as MICA may seek sponsors such as hotels, condominiums and other businesses to support the events.

Many agreed on the use for Tract K, an 11.6 acre plot of land on Tigertail Court, which was donated by the Deltona Corporation to the Collier County School District. Nearly 64 percent of those who answered the question said they were in favor of the Collier County School Board transferring Tract K, also called the school site, to the city for future public use.

City Council and the school board have negotiated for several years but compromises such as a proposed land swap by Marco to give up off-island land in exchange for the Tract K site have been unsuccessful.

A current proposal by Superintendent Dennis Thompson includes using the site for solar panels and demonstrations.

“It was a turnoff to me until I found out exactly what they were talking about,” Popoff said.

He said the panels proposed are about 3-feet tall and could be concealed somewhat by shrubs. Popoff said other negotiations on the table included the possibility of using the electricity from the solar panels to pay for electricity at Tommie Barfield Elementary and Charter Middle School.

Also on site could be a softball field and track around the park, Popoff added of the suggestions brought up in negotiations thus far.

While members of the current City Council have met with school board members and Thompson individually, Councilor Frank Recker recommended that public meetings be scheduled for the entire council and board to meet together to negotiate use for Tract K.

As far as how Islanders feel City Council is doing this year, the survey says about 39 percent believe the council is doing well; 39 percent feel neutral about the council and 22 percent are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

The Marco Island police and fire departments are a bit more popular with about 80 percent of those surveyed reporting that they are either satisfied or very satisfied with both departments.

Open spaces seem to be the most unifying idea with 90 percent against variances which could increase population density and 94 percent against allowing commercial development on single-family residential zoned lots.