Agenda 21and

Sustainable Development

“The Assault on Property Rights”

Collier County Status

August 2011

View these videos to learn aboutSustainable Development and Agenda 21

• These videos provide an excellent overview of Sustainable Development and Agenda 21.

• We will watch this one in our monthly meeting. Michael Shaw at Ludwig von Mises 2006

• The following videos are more recent, but are much longer.

• America's Choice - Michael Shaw - Overview of Sustainable Development (1 of 5)

• America's Choice - Michael Coffman on Land Use (2 of 5)• America's Choice - Michael Chapman on Education (3 of 5)• America's Choice - Beverly Eakman on Group Manipulation (4 of 5)• America's Choice - Tom DeWeese - Overview of Sustainable Development

(5 of 5)

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What is Agenda 21?

• Review Agenda 21 in One Easy Lesson– Sustainable Development– Social Equity (Social Injustice)– Economic Prosperity– Local Sustainable Development Policies– ICLEI– United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda 21

• UN Report (Our Common Future) – 1987• George H. W. Bush signed off on Agenda 21 in 1992• Bill Clinton signed Executive order #12898 in 1995• George W. Bush did not rescind order during his presidency• Obama expanded Executive order #12898 in August 2011

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Environmental Justice• http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/interagency/index.html

– President Clinton Executive Order 12898 created Environmental Justice MOU in 1994

– President Bush left it in place

– President Obama “expanded’ it to include more agencies in August 2011

• Past EJ IWG Initiatives

– 2000: Development of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda (PDF) (47 pp, 762K), which identifies the federal initiatives and resources that were used to help an initial set of 15 environmentally and economicallydistressed communities.

– 2001: Evaluation of six of the 15 Action Agenda projects to determine the value of using partnerships to address environmental justice issues (See Evaluating the Use of Partnerships to Address Environmental Justice Issues).

– 2002: Publication of the Status Report on Environmental Justice Collaborative Model (PDF) (67 pp, 4.3MB), which recounts the lessons learned and successful elements of the initial 15 Action Agenda projects. These projects helped define the EnvironmentalJustice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model now being used by EPA.

– 2003: Selection of 15 additional Revitalization Demonstration Projects (5 pp, 125K) to showcase collaborative partnerships among federal agencies and other stakeholders in the area of community revitalization and environmental justice.

• Current Environmental Justice Efforts

– Plan EJ 2014 - A four-year roadmap to help EPA develop stronger community relationships and increase the Agency’s efforts to improve environmental and health conditions in overburdened communities. The plan identifies five cross-agency focus areas, including Fostering Administration-Wide Action on Environmental Justice.

– Sustainable Communities Partnership - A collaborative Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and EPA partnership to improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation

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How is Agenda 21 Hidden?

UN Agenda 21

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)(Uses the Endangered Species Act to limit human growth)

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability(formally, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives).

Communities pay ICLEI dues to provide “local” community plans, software, training, etc.

Sustainable Development

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Environmental groups bury feds with Endangered Species petitions

• Under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), one can get attorney fees from the government if you successfully sue them to do what they are supposed to be doing.

• Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) the feds have a short period of time to respond to a petition to list a plant or animal as endangered. If the feds don’t act within that time frame, the petitioner can sue the feds and basically there is no defense to the suit. The feds have to roll over and pay attorney fees to the group that filed the listing petition.

• Thus, if a federal agency such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service has a limited budget to begin with, and an environmental group such as the Center for Biological Diversity or Earth Guardians petitions to have hundreds of plants and animals listed as being endangered, US Fish and Wildlife will default because they can’t process all the petitions within the deadline

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Local use of Endangered Species Act

• Florida Panther

• Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow

• Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Program

• Others too numerous to research

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How long has this been going on in Collier?

• Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 - 26,400 acres in Collier for 5 to 11 Panthers to roam through– 200 Sq Miles required for each male Panther would

require:• 640 acres/sq mile• 128,000 acres/200 Sq miles

– That means this refuge supports less than one female and 21% male panther

• Public use restricted to 1.3 mile designated hiking trails at southeast corner of refuge.

• Remainder of refuge is accessible only through limited tours.

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Cougar conservation status

1. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) currently lists the cougar as a "least concern" species. 2. Certain taxonomic authorities have collapsed both designations into the North American Cougar,

with Eastern or Florida subspecies not recognized,[1] while a subspecies designation remains recognized by some conservation scientists.

3. Texas is the only state in the United States with a viable population (5,600) of cougars that does not protect, in some way, its cougar population. In Texas, cougars are listed as nuisance wildlife and any person holding a hunting or a trapping permit can kill a cougar regardless of the season, number killed, sex or age of the animal.

4. When cougars do attack, they usually employ their characteristic neck bite, attempting to position their teeth between the vertebrae and into the spinal cord. Neck, head, and spinal injuries are common and sometimes fatal.[4] Children are at greatest risk of attack, and least likely to survive an encounter. Detailed research into attacks prior to 1991 showed that 64% of all victims–and almost all fatalities–were children.

5. Florida Panther– A genetic study of cougar mitochondrial DNA finds that many of the supposed subspecies are too similar to

be recognized as distinct,[2] suggesting a reclassification of the Florida panther and numerous other subspecies into a single North American cougar (Puma concolor couguar). Following the research, the canonical Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition) ceased to recognize the Florida panther as a unique subspecies, collapsing it and others into the North American cougar.[1]

– A population of 240 panthers would require 8,000 to 12,000 square miles (7 million acres) of habitat and sufficient genetic diversity in order to avoid inbreeding as a result of small population size. The introduction of eight female cougars from a closely-related Texas population has apparently been successful in mitigating inbreeding problems.

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Florida Panther Status• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is keeping the Florida Panther listed on the

Endangered Species list based on the classification by Young and Goldman in 1946 and Wozencraft in 1993.– Wozencraft, W. C. 1993. Order Carnivora. Pages 286-346 in D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder,

(eds.). Mammal species of the world, 2nd edition. Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.

• Three scientific reports based on genetic testing verify that there is no sub-species variability to justify a separate sub-species for the Florida panther. It is a North American Cougar and is not on the endangered species list. See the reports below.– Culver, M., W. E. Johnson, J. Pecon-Slattery, and S. J. O’Brien. 2000. Genomic ancestry of the

American puma (Puma concolor). Journal of Heredity 91:186-197.– Sinclair, E. A., E. L. Swenson, M. L. Wolfe, D. C. Choate, B. Gates, and K. A. Cranall. 2001. Gene

flow estimates in Utah’s cougars imply management beyond Utah. Animal Conservation 4:257-264.

– Anderson, C. R. Jr., F. G. Lindzey, D. B. McDonald. 2004. Genetic structure of cougar populations across the Wyoming Basin: metapopulation or megapopulation. Journal of Mammalogy 85:1207-1214.

• Wozencraft updated the Wilson & Reeder's Mammal Species of the World for “Puma concolor” in 2005 to eliminate the Florida Panther as a sub-species.

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Florida Panther Summary

• There are doubts if they are endangered as they may not be a subspecies.

– Uninvolved scientist says not subspecies by testing

– “Aren’t they cute” biologists “want” them to be a subspecies

• 7,000,000 acres required for 240 panthers

• Public can not use land they purchased

• Private citizens “required” to purchase Panther land in order to develop on their own land.

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How long has this been going on in Collier?

• Sawgrass Rebellion – 2002– Naples, Florida, just north of the Everglades, had become the

epicenter of a citizen protest movement that came to be known as the Sawgrass Rebellion. The Rebellion took root as the Army Corps of Engineers began raising the water table in the nearby Everglades, flooding out longtime citizens. Allegedly motivated by an effort to save the Cape Sable seaside sparrow, the Corps has been condemning and confiscating the homes it can legally take ... and flooding out those citizens beyond the reach of their confiscation powers.

– The Corps has taken steps to condemn 100 homes in and around the Everglades, claiming the government agency needs the land as a “buffer zone” for its projects. For land it can’t acquire by condemnation, artificial flooding is serving the Corps’ purpose. Many local citizens doubt this is about the sparrow, claiming ulterior motives are at work.

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First Assembly of God Church in 2002

• http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=15352

• When the county would not approve zoning changes for a larger, expanded center in East Naples five years ago, the church had to relocate. It sold its building and purchased a 70-acre parcel of land in the northeast part of the county. Mallory found himself facing numerous obstacles placed in his way not only by the county and the regional water district, but the federal government as well, in particular the Army Corps of Engineers.

• Forced to buy 103 acres of offsite mitigation lands somewhere in the Everglades at a cost to the church of $500,000,"

• Told to set aside 12 acres of land onsite as mitigation for wetlands.

• The told to set aside some 16 more acres onsite or we'll be forced to pay a $25,000 fine, for allegedly failing to follow certain dictates.

• Had five small lakes built surrounded by a nature trail on the campus, only to be told by the Corps that the lakes were needed to support five species of endangered birds. To do this, wetland vegetation in bands of three different levels of height had to be planted around the lakes at a total cost of $15,000 – but he was not told what specific species of birds were to be protected.

• The Corps further insisted that certain plants be removed from the property because it was a wetland, then directed Mallory to plant 850 new trees. He complied, but was next ordered to plant 1,000 more trees on the church property. He has recently been told to have another 1,000 planted.

• Built a six-foot high chain link fence, pursuant to orders from Collier County. When local children dug under the fence, he ordered his crew to move two scoop-loads of earth as fill to stop the trespassing and destruction.

• Said Mallory, "Then the Corps came in. I don't know if they watch us every day or what, but they came in immediately and said that we had illegally filled a wetland and we had to pay a $6,000 fine. Then they took 80 feet from around the entire perimeter of our grounds to keep as another wetland-protection area."

• This 80-foot-wide swath of land circling the property is to be kept in a natural state, creating an onsite wilderness area for which the church receives no compensation.

• When the church moved to its present location, the county demanded that it pay to widen the adjacent road, changing it from a two-lane to a four-lane highway and to pay for turning lanes. Moreover, the church had to provide the South Florida Water Management District with twopaved boat ramps going both north and south along a "canal" that fronts the facility before the SFWMD would approve the project.

• "Actually, it's not a canal – it's really more a drainage ditch. There are no boats using it," said Mallory.

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How long has this been going on in Collier?

• Naples is on the ICLEI site

• ICLEI website indicates joined Collier in 2009.

– I have yet to find anything that says Collier pays dues.

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Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Program

• You must research this program

• Makes land owners pay to buy Conservation land to develop on their own land.

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Collier Sustainability Initiatives

• Conservation Collier – A 2003 referendum approved allowing the County Commissioners adding a tax

millage for acquiring conservation land and maintenance for 10 years.– Have already spent $104,000,000 for 4,046 acres– Clerk is auditing many deals for possible corruption.– $10,000,000 in FY2012 budget– Committees

• Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee • Land Evaluation and Management Subcommittee• Ordinance, Policy and Rules Subcommittee• Outreach Subcommittee• Referendum 2006 Subcommittee – not active

• Collier’s Energy Use Task Force – is this still in existence?• The Collier Master Mobility Plan• Collier Growth Management Plan• Environmental Advisory Council?

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Collier Govt Orgs Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Administrative Services– Conservation Collier - Yes

– Facilities Management

– Fleet Management

– Grants Coordination (support unit)

– Human Resources

– Information Technology

– Purchasing

– Records Management (support unit)

– Risk Management

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Collier Govt Orgs Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Growth Management– Construction and Maintenance

– Alternative Transportation Modes

– Road Maintenance

– Transportation Engineering• Pathways - Yes

– Planning and Regulation

– Building Review - Yes

– Code Enforcement - Yes

– Operations & Regulatory Management

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Collier Govt Orgs Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Land Development Services– Comprehensive Planning Section

• Growth Management Plan (GMP) - Yes• Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Program - Yes

– Engineering Review Services Section• Land Development Code - Yes

– Floodplain Management Section • FEMA Flood Rate Insurance Map (FIRMs) - Yes

– Stormwater and Environmental Planning Section -Yes• Watershed Management Plans• NPDES program,• Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) - Yes

– Transportation Planning Section• Master Mobility Plan - Yes

– Zoning Services Section• Collier County Planning Commission (CCPC),• Historic and Archaeological Board (HAB)• Business Center

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Collier Govt Orgs Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Public Services– Coastal Zone Management - Yes

– Domestic Animal Services

– Health Department

– Human Services

– Library

– Museums

– Parks & Recreation

– University Extension Service

– Housing, Human and Veteran Services

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Collier Govt Orgs Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Public Utilities

– Pollution Control - Yes

– Planning and Project Management

– Solid Waste Management

– Utility Billing & Customer Service

– Wastewater Department - Yes

– Water Department

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Collier Govt Departments Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Airport Authority• Alternative Transportation Modes• Board of County Commissioners• Building Review• Bureau of Emergency Services• Coastal Zone Management - Yes• Code Enforcement• Collier Area Transit (CAT)• Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency - Bayshore Gateway Triangle• Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency – Immokalee• Communication & Customer Relations• Comprehensive Planning• Conservation Collier - Yes• County Attorney's Office• County Manager's Office• Domestic Animal Services• Emergency Management• Emergency Medical Services• Engineering Services Section (GMD)• Environmental Services - Yes

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Collier Govt Departments Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Facilities Management• Health Department• Human Resources• Housing, Human and Veteran Services• Impact Fee Administration• Information Technology• Land Development Services - Yes• Library• Medical Examiner• Museums• Office of Management & Budget• Operational Support• Operations & Regulatory Managment• Parks and Recreation• Pollution Control• Public Utilities Planning and Project Management• Purchasing• Real Property Management • Road Maintenance

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Collier Govt Departments Possibly Supporting Agenda 21

• Solid Waste Management• Stormwater Management • Tourism• Traffic Operations• Trash Collection Section• Transportation Engineering• Transportation Planning• Transportation Services Division• University Extension• Utility Billing & Customer Service• Veteran Services• Wastewater Department - Yes• Water• Zoning Services

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Possible Collier Agenda 21 Advisory Boards• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee• Airport Authority• Animal Services Advisory Board• Bayshore Beautification MSTU Advisory Committee• Bayshore/Gateway Triangle Local Redevelop Advisory Board• Black Affairs Advisory Board• Board of Building Adjustments and Appeals*• Collier County Citizens Corps• Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee• Collier County Code Enforcement Board• Collier County Planning Commission• Consumer Advisory Board (CAB)• Contractors Licensing Board• County Government Productivity Committee• Development Services Advisory Committee• Emergency Medical Services Policy Advisory Board• Environmental Advisory Council - Yes• Floodplain Management Planning Committee• Forest Lakes Roadway and Drainage Advisory Committee• Golden Gate Beautification Advisory Committee• Golden Gate Community Center Advisory Board• Golden Gate Estates Land Trust Committee

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Possible Collier Agenda 21 Advisory Boards• Haldeman Creek Maintenance Dredging Advisory Committee• Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board• Historical/Archaeological Preservation Board• Horizon Study Oversight Committee• Immokalee Beautification Advisory Committee• Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency• Immokalee Local Redevelopment Advisory Board• Isle of Capri Fire Control District Advisory Committee• Lake Trafford Restoration Task Force and Acquisition Advisory Committee• Lely Golf Estates Beautification Advisory Committee• Library Advisory Board• Ochopee Fire Control District Advisory Committee• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board• Pelican Bay Services Division Board• Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force• Radio Road Beautification Advisory Committee• Radio Road East of Santa Barbara Boulevard to Davis Boulevard Advisory Committee• SW FL Expressway Authority• Tourist Development Council• Vanderbilt Beach Beautification MSTU Advisory Committee• Water and Wastewater Authority - Yes

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Non-Governmental Organizations active in Collier

• Twenty-Fifty is the local ICLEI rep

• Collier County Audubon Society

• The Conservancy of Southwest Florida

• Wildlife Foundation of Florida

• Sierra Club

• Defenders of Wildlife

• Naples Green Sanctuary

• Resilient Collier

• U Gotta Go Green

• Naples Network for Climate Action – may be defunct

• Collier County Energy Task Force – report

• Remember that 99% of the conservation group members are not Globalists and will probably reject the notion that their organization is being used.

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Agenda 21 in Government (examples)

• Partnership for Sustainable Communities– HUD offers funding opportunities to help communities realize their own visions for building

more livable, walkable, and environmentally sustainable regions.

– DOT offers funding opportunities to support more livable walkable communities.

– EPA offers grants to support activities that improve the quality of development and protect human health and the environment.

• Wildlands Project

– Florida Forever Act

• Florida Forever replaces Preservation 2000 (P2000), the largest public land acquisition program of its kind in the United States. With approximately 9.9 million acres of conservation land in Florida, more than 2.5 million acres were purchased under the Florida Forever and P2000 programs.

• Between its inception in July 2001 to the present, the Florida Forever program has acquired more than 673,753 acres of land with $2.83 billion.

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Agenda 21 Opposition

• Freedom Advocates• The Green Agenda – This a must read. The entire site.• American Policy Center• Agenda 21 Today• Freedom 21• Sovereignty International• Democrats against Agenda 21• Morph City• Farm to Consumer Foundation• Bear Witness Central• American Dream Coalition

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What is our Outlook?

• The most significant impact is the loss of our “Property Rights”

• Do you want to organize a group resistance?

• Would require a massive public awareness campaign

• Needs a leader and team captains

• Need to join county committees that deal with Sustainable Development

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What can you do now?

• Create a “Collier Agenda 21” Facebook Group?

• Everyone share all Agenda 21 links and videos on Facebook and via email

• Research local Sustainable Development issues and county committees

• Volunteer to be a leader or team leader

• Letters to the editor and emails to our commissioners

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