1961 Post-Hurricane Donna Pier Rebuild

Transcription

1 1961 Post-Hurricane Donna Pier Rebuild Since 1959, City Council had been considering inaugurating 10% utility tax on residents to help fund capital improvements necessary to support the city's expenses and impending growth. The rebuilding of the pier following Donna on September 10, 1960 reignited and supported this discussion. On two occasions prior to the storm, on May 18th and June 1st, 1960 Council discussed and voted to drop the hurricane insurance policy it carried on the Naples Pier, and considered initiating a self-insurance program, thereby saving the $2,000 premium. In the event of destruction, the terms of the dropped policy would have paid $21,150 of the pier s insured value of $64,500. Rebuild bids ranged from $76,180 to $49, (Collier County News ), with a plausible estimate being around $65,000. Mr. Norris, in order to prevent the inauguration of a municipal utility tax - and not to ensure the pier remain free to the public - offered the city $70,000 towards the rebuild cost. After costs rose to $90,000 ("Pier Cost Now Up..." Six Firms Bid..." Collier County News ), and finally topped off at $107, 361, Norris increased his donation to $100,000 and the city funded the balance of $7,361(The Pier Edition, Collier County News ). The city's completion of Lowdermilk Park was scheduled for 1961, and Lester Norris donated $25,000 for the construction of a public facility at that location, the Lowdermilk Park Pavilion. 1

2 The Collier County News left, October 20, 1960; right: November 3,

3 Pier Report's Appendix A: City's agreement with Norris, Collier County News November 3,

4 City Funded portion of Pier Rebuild Cost, Pier Edition, Collier County News, July 2, 1961 Norris' Donation to Lowdermilk Park Collier County News, July 6, 1961, following July 4th Pier and Lowdermilk Park dedications. XXX 4

5 The 1966 cement boots (photo on left below) wrapped around the greenheart pilings, which turned out not to be as "virtually indestructible" as was claimed by their supplier. (Similar cement applications were used in 1970 and again in 1984.) In 1968, engineers strongly recommended council repair the pier's weakened west end pilings and close that end of the structure when winds were expected to exceed 25 mph. The engineers found the deck to be "good for many years" (i.e. no need to rebuild entire pier). (Ordinance 1330, adopted on October 6, 1967 finally authorized the inauguration of a 10% utility tax, which began being collected in 1968, and which helped fund capital improvements.) The city began a bid process to repair the west end. NDN, March 30,

6 The City hired Pre-Pakt Construction the summer of 1969 to repair the weak west end of the pier. The firm walked off the job in December 1969, threatening to sue the city for not disclosing the "magnitude of the work." Council briefly considers a complete rebuild. NDN, November 20,

7 In December 1970, Lester Norris offers the city $25,000 to be used towards the pier's repair costs... this time... no "strings" attached. The headline below, "Save City Fishing Pier" is an exaggerated statement. The city's budget was $4.5 million, and it had already budgeted the funds for repair before the Norris $25,000 donation, which helped defray the cost of shoring. See following three articles. Although Norris easily could have covered the entire repair cost, he did not elect to do so this time, as he had done in NDN, December 3,

8 NDN, December 9, 1970 Pier repairs expected to be completed by February NDN, December 22, 1970 XXX 8

9 Pier Remain Free To Public Issue The people, not Lester Norris insured that the Naples Pier would remain free to the public. December 16, Having considered implementing a pier fee in past years, Council votes, without a public hearing, on the adoption of an ordinance implementing a pier admission fee, structured differently for residents and non-residents, to help cover annual recurring pier repair and maintenance costs. Outcome: 5 in favor, 2 opposed. Residents become furious. January 6, Public hearing - Following a picket by high school students who march on City Hall on December 21, 1970 in opposition to the upcoming agenda item, 200 residents pack the room on January 6, 1971, but are unable to prevent the adoption of an ordinance that day authorizing a pier admission fee. Three months later, after a "Pier - Fee or Free" petition challenging the ordinance, had been circulated, residents had obtained 1,637 signatures, well more than required by city charter to authorize the decision to be placed in the hands of the voting public. On March 30, 1971, after the votes in the city's five precincts were tallied, "free" had prevailed. The Miami Herald, March 30, 1971, Tom Morgan's accompanying article on next page. 9

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11 In January of 1972, Florida Secretary of State Richard Stone unveiled a marker designating the Naples Pier as a State Historical Site. The marker was paid for and erected by the Naples Jaycees in cooperation with the Department of State. Fort Myers News-Press, February 15, 1972 XXX 11

12 Could Be Origin of "two rebuilds paid for by Norris" Concept NDN- Katherine Tusa - undated article, enlargement on following pages. See the second bullet point at the bottom of the first page to follow. This could be how "two" rebuild gifts concept originated. As stated previously, repairs made to the pier in 1970 were paid for from city funds plus a $25,000 donation from Lester Norris. Norris alone did not "fight to insure the pier would remain open free of charge", as Tusa states. Rather, he was most likely one of the 200 residents who spoke up on January 6, 1970 at the public hearing against a pier fee, and without a doubt, his was one of the 1,637 signatures on the referendum petition... 12

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15 Naples Pier Following 1926 Hurricane The Collier County News Left: September 23, 1926 Right: November 11, 1926 Below: January 6, 1927 END 15