Mayor Cava: county evaluating and seeking to conserve former state property in Everglades footprint

A committee member asked whether land known in the discussion as "Alcatraz" (referred to in the transcript as Alex Jeter) will be turned over to the county. Mayor Cava said the state has left the property and removed prior infrastructure; the county is waiting for formal notification and is evaluating airport and environmental impacts. "So we're very interested in conserving this property," she said, describing it as part of the Everglades footprint that should be maintained for water systems, animals and plants.

Separately, a commissioner asked about the sale of land on Fisher Island to private developers and whether the mayor had allowed it; the mayor replied, "Well, I didn't hear the 2nd part of your question, but the 1st part is we did not allow it. That's a private owner who, in fact, conducted his own transfer of the property." She said the county was not invited to the transaction and will work with state, federal and local partners to identify a conservation path.