Public and council call for stronger on‑record opposition to state airport enabling bill

Public comment at the Dec. 8 workshop focused on a state bill (HB 4005) that would change the Naples Airport appointment structure and shift some appointment power from the city to a broader voting electorate. Janet Ferry, a Naples resident, told council she found recent lobbyist testimony before a House subcommittee insufficiently forceful and urged the council to present specific, unambiguous reasons for opposing the bill. "You are opposed to the bill, and your direction is to see that the bill is wholly defeated," Ferry said.

Council members discussed how the city's hired lobbyists presented the city's position on the record at the committee hearing and urged stronger, more concrete testimony that lists the bill's concrete consequences for the city's home‑rule powers and the airport lease. Several council members asked staff and legal counsel to prepare a short, prioritized set of three to five principal reasons the council opposes the bill and to convey those points clearly in upcoming hearings and public testimony.

City staff confirmed the city has engaged lobbyists and legal advisers for the matter; the council asked staff to return with succinct advocacy points and the legal team's analysis of potential remediations if the enabling bill advances. Councilors emphasized they expect on‑record testimony that directly ties the proposed statutory changes to likely local consequences and requested that the lobbyist coordinate closely with the city attorney and city manager on messaging.

The council reaffirmed its opposition and directed staff to pursue a coordinated communications and advocacy plan for forthcoming legislative hearings.