Posted on February 20, 2026
The February 17 Marco Island City Council meeting stretched late into the evening, drawing extensive public comment and debate on topics ranging from state legislative uncertainty and city finances to dredging proposals and advisory board appointments.
Among the first major items was a first-quarter financial update from Finance Director Carol McDermott. Vice-Chair Rene Champagne praised the presentation, stating that it provided more detailed information to council and the public than has been seen in many years. McDermott, in turn, publicly thanked residents Dennis Bartolucci and Rick Woodworth for what she described as invaluable assistance over recent months.
The most contentious portion of the evening centered on a proposal by Dan High, manager of Rose Marina and a member of the city’s Waterways Advisory Committee (WAC), to “piggyback” on existing permits related to dredging at Tigertail Lagoon in order to dredge portions of Big Marco Pass. High said that storm activity has led to shoaling in the pass, creating shallow areas that can be hazardous for larger vessels at low tide. He noted that after multiple vessel groundings in 2020 and 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard relocated navigational markers to deeper water, which improved conditions but did not eliminate all shallow spots.
High proposed that sand removed from the channel be placed on Tigertail Beach and that the city initially front approximately $95,000 to modify permits, with anticipated reimbursement from the Tourist Development Council. During council questioning, Council Member Erik Brechnitz asked whether the request would have been made absent High’s connection to Rose Marina and whether the proposal was related to accommodating larger cruise vessels. High declined to answer those questions.
Council Member Darrin Palumbo defended the proposal as a legitimate navigation safety issue, but many residents disagreed, arguing that relocating the markers had addressed immediate concerns. Several also questioned potential conflicts of interest, citing High’s roles with Rose Marina as well as the local and county advisory committees overseeing the pass.
Dennis Bartolucci cautioned against the repeated use of “safety” rhetoric to accelerate spending decisions. He also raised concerns that if the city undertook dredging of a channel it does not own, it could assume long-term maintenance and liability obligations.
Victoria Myers also addressed potential conflicts of interest and broader community impact. She stated, “What we are witnessing are the first steps in turning our charming island into a cruise ship destination. It is starting right now.” Myers reviewed High’s appointment to the Coastal Advisory Committee. She recalled that during that appointment process, Vice-Chair Champagne initially expressed concern about a possible conflict of interest due to High’s role at Rose Marina. According to Myers, Champagne changed his vote after High stated he did not want his integrity questioned and said, “I am not dredging a trench to Rose Marina.” Myers told the council, “Here we are less than a year later, and Mr. High is asking for just that.” She further stated that Rose Marina has expansion plans in progress and urged council members to protect Marco Island’s small-town character.
After extended discussion, council members indicated that the proposal had not received sufficient prior review at the advisory level and directed that it return to the WAC for further discussion before coming back to council.
Near the end of the long evening, council considered the reappointment of Rick Woodworth to the Waterways Advisory Committee. Councilor Deb Henry objected, citing litigation filed by Clean Marco Waters LLC – an organization with which Woodworth is affiliated – against the city regarding its water treatment permit. Henry also referenced prior conduct at committee meetings.
Multiple council members and residents then defended Woodworth and the appointment. It was explained that the lawsuit was not filed for personal financial gain but rather to promote improved water quality. Woodworth’s supporters described his long-standing involvement in water quality issues and his devotion to the community. No other speakers or council members echoed Henry’s concerns. The council voted 6–1 to reappoint Woodworth, with Henry casting the sole dissenting vote.
On a lighter note, Council Member Stephen Gray received public commendation for his work on strengthening the city’s noise ordinance, with residents encouraging continued efforts to address noise as an ongoing quality-of-life concern.
