Airport appointments, grant debate draw heated public comment and council discussion

Public concern about appointments to the Naples Airport Authority (NAA), a city draft resolution about airport development rules and whether local officials should press the NAA on federal grants dominated public comment and a lengthy council discussion on Oct. 1, 2025.

Nut graf: Why this matters — The council considered a draft resolution intended to clarify city planning and code processes that guide airport projects. Opponents said the resolution was premature and that the City and NAA should instead craft ordinances together. Commenters also pressed the council on whether it should ask the NAA to accept FAA safety and maintenance grants — a debate that touched on airport governance, federal grant terms and perceived local control.

Public comment and council reaction

During public comment Crystal Johnson urged council to rescind a pending resolution and to demand that the NAA accept FAA safety/maintenance grants the authority had recently declined. She argued the NAA’s grant refusals and recent appointments threatened operations and invited state scrutiny. Mayor Heitman and council members clarified that council had not asked for certain resignations and that the NAA remains operationally independent. City Attorney Matthew McConnell explained the city’s options under Florida law and said…