Naples council warns state bill would strip local control of municipal airport, moves to press governor and explore legal options

Naples City Council voted on a package of actions March 18 after lengthy public comment and staff briefings on recently passed legislation, HB4005, that would alter oversight of the Naples Municipal Airport. Council members said the measure threatens the city’s home‑rule authority over an asset the city owns and manages.

Mayor Teresa Heitman said the city has an obligation to defend the public interest in its property and directed staff to finalize a letter asking the governor to veto the bill and to seek a meeting with the governor’s office. City Manager Gary Young told council the administration would circulate a draft letter and attempt to arrange a Naples delegation to meet with the governor.

Several residents urged immediate action. Gary Price, a business owner who spoke during public comment, criticized prior council appointments and urged the body to do more outreach: “The city council is the reason for this problem. It’s not the state government,” he said. Other residents framed the bill as a political takeover that would place a new, outside board in charge of roughly 8% of city land and put city zoning, leases and planning at risk.

City Attorney Matthew McConnell said the council’s outside counsel will begin one‑on‑one calls with each council member in the coming days to review legal options, while stressing that no formal litigation decision had been made. He described a near‑term workplan: finalize the governor letter, request a delegation meeting, and convene constrained confidential strategy sessions with outside counsel. McConnell told council he would try to accelerate those meetings but noted the outside attorneys’ calendars.

Council members from across the dais urged caution about airing legal strategy in public but supported the immediate, procedural steps. Vice Mayor Ted Blankenship reported that residents he had heard from overwhelmingly supported defending local control. Several council members said they would participate in a delegation and in private briefings with counsel.

Next steps: the mayor and city manager will circulate a draft governor letter to council for review and the city attorney will arrange confidential strategy sessions with outside counsel. The council did not take a formal legal action at the meeting; officials said they hope the governor’s office will meet with a Naples delegation and that a veto could obviate litigation.