A showdown over the Naples Airport is brewing, thanks to state legislators and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis signed into law April 6 legislation that changes the Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners from appointments by the city council to an elected body by both Collier County and Naples residents. This despite loud and numerous objections by the city council.
In an effort to stop the change and a planned Nov. 3 election, the Naples City Council this week passed a resolution saying there’s a conflict between it and the Naples Airport Authority, which runs the airport. With that resolution, it declared its intent to start conflict resolution and mitigation between the two entities. It’s the required first step before the city can sue over the legislation.
In response, the Naples Airport Authority Board is planning for special meetings to sort its role.
Law calls for election in November
City council members approved their resolution at a regular meeting Wednesday, April 15. The next day, Naples Airport Authority (NAA) Board of Commissioners agreed by consensus at their regular meeting to set a special meeting for April 30 at 8:30 a.m.
“This is obviously new information we have not yet … had a chance to really fully absorb and analyze all of the issues,” NAA attorney William Owens told the board. “The next step of the process would be, I believe, for the city of Naples to send a letter to the NAA with a copy of the resolution and setting forth some other required information.”
The NAA was created as a dependent special district by the Florida Legislature in 1969 to operate the airport, at the request of the City of Naples. The authority answers to its board of commissioners that have been appointed regularly since 1969 by the city council, though the council has no direct say in running the airport.
The new law makes the NAA an independent special district, still beholden to the City of Naples as its landlord on the 732 acres on which the airport sits, and under the same obligations for planning, zoning, development and growth. The Naples Airport leases the land for $1 a year under a pre-paid 99-year contract that expires in 2068.
The law will change the makeup of the airport authority’s board and implement new qualifications for a seat on it. Three members would be city residents, and two would be from Collier County, but outside Naples, with new requirements for experience and expertise.
Every member must have spent at least five years engaged in financial management, small business operations or aerospace.
The first election would be held during the 2026 general election in Collier County.
One person already has filed to run for office. Rick Mellon filed to run for City of Naples Airport Authority, Seat 4, according to the Collier County Supervisor of Elections website. His address on Edgemere Way South is outside the city limits.
Initially, members in odd-numbered seats would be elected for a term of four years and those in even-numbered seats for two years. Thereafter, they would all serve four-year terms.
Rep. Adam Botana, R-Bonita Springs sponsored the legislation after decisions made by city council and its appointees to the airport authority board in recent years, which he saw as detrimental. They included a decision not to apply for federal and state grants worth millions, which could have funded capital projects, including apron improvements, security enhancements and taxiway lighting repairs.
In June 2025, city council voted to take control of any construction projects at Naples Airport. Within 24 hours after the council approved a resolution outlining new requirements, the Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting and by tie votes rejected federal and state grant applications worth about $9 million.
State legislators representing Collier County – Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (District 28), Rep. Yvette Benarroch (District 81) and Rep. Lauren Melo (District 82) – all Republicans – agreed with Botana and supported the legislation.
What will conflict resolution look like?
Under the state statute Chapter 164 process, the city had five days to submit a conflict resolution to all parties. Then within 30 days, there’s a conflict assessment meeting, and then within 50 days, a joint public meeting, followed by mediation, Dickman said at a city council workshop April 13.
“So, this is a fairly fast, two-month process,” Dickman said.
The resolution approved by city council authorizes city attorneys and the city manager to initiate conflict resolution procedures “regarding a conflict between the City of Naples and the City of Naples Airport Authority.”
It also authorizes them to initiate litigation.
The resolution says the law “materially alters the governance structure of the Airport Authority by changing the method of selection of its governing board from appointment by the City Council to election by the qualified electors of Collier County, and by removing material powers previously held by the City in relation to the Airport Authority.”
The legislative changes “remove the City’s governance and control over the Authority,” the resolution reads.
Further, the city challenges the legality of the legislation and whether the state can actually take away “home rule” over the airport from the City of Naples:
The City contends that these legislative changes create substantial legal and practical conflicts concerning, among other things, the continued operation of the Naples Airport on City-owned property, the continued viability and purpose of the lease and related agreements, the allocation of governmental authority and control, and the respective rights, duties, and obligations of the City and the Airport Authority.
The City further contends that such conflicts include, without limitation, whether the fundamental purpose of the lease has been materially frustrated by the elimination of the City’s governance and control over the Airport Authority; whether the legislative changes effect an unlawful transfer or reallocation of governmental powers and control without compliance with applicable constitutional, statutory, or referendum requirements; whether the conversion of the Airport Authority from a dependent special district to an independent special district through House Bill 4005 complied with the requirements of Florida Statutes; and whether the new, stringent qualification requirements for election to the board of the Airport Authority unlawfully restrict candidacy, voter choice, or other protected rights.
The NAA Board of Commissioners April 30 special meeting will be held at the Naples Airport Office Building, 200 Aviation Drive N.
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J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Airport board plans special meetings to address city fight
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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