Remarks by Rene Champagne
129 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 6
- Play at 5:15:35
“And do we know they are already planning 50 in the 2027? No, we don't. So we didn't even consider what the frequency and the impact of all of those people coming in during the height of the season never prompted us to question what the hell's going on.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:16:14
“Yes. I didn't see it in my review of those documents. But nonetheless, if you contend it's there, okay, it's there. I'm just saying this is a very unusual state where if I do something in my home, I have to get a permit. We're moving a dumpster. That was one of the variances. They had to get a permit to do it. These boats come in with these people, and you don't have to get an approval? Come on. Something is wrong.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:40:09
“Good presentation, by the way, and Slowly catching on. Thank you. I have no argument over the size of the ship that might be permitted to come into Rosemarina. Unless you exceed 362 feet, there's not a problem. So I'm not arguing that at all. When you mention no more than two large ships in any bay, the two bays, Magnolia and Factory Bay, Do I read that and comprehend you're talking about up to four ships?”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:40:54
“Because there's no limitation on length of the ship, it could be four 243-foot ships at the same time.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:41:27
“No, I don't disagree with what you're saying. I'm just saying, theoretically, there's no prohibitation preventing them from having four big ships with passengers at the same time.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:43:12
“Now I understand that Rose Marina management has put certain restrictions on certain boats or maybe all boats. What are the restrictions that we all need to understand that they've put in place because that seems to me to be important information because They're already self-policing themselves, I think.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:44:33
“And that's all documented or will be documented?”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:45:00
“Just a friendly advice I think you need to make more people aware. of your self-imposed restrictions because they don't appreciate it. I didn't appreciate it until you started explaining it. It sounds like there's no limitation on anything in the marina. That's what is contended. Well, you're saying, no, that's not correct. There are going to be very specific restrictions. Well, people need to understand that better, and that requires, I think, communications, advertising on your part. You're trying to be seen as the good corporate citizen that you've been seen as for years until these large…”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:46:38
“No, that was just a little friendly advice. We all need to know more about the details than what we know. Part of my conversation with Dwight and Dan was really trying to get at some of these issues because you've got to calm the waters. I'm beginning to understand that the large vessels that are already coming in though we don't call them cruise ships, they're large vessels with large number of passengers on them, have already been or will be further restricted going forward. Well, I don't think that's understood. It may be already in documents, but most of the people here would never…”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 5:48:13
“And one last comment. My questions and points of view and argument were not intended to attack Dan or Mary or anyone else or David. It's helpful to the community to hear this because I was expressing the concerns from the negative side in the community. All right? You heard it loud and clear. And we still have to deal with it because if you don't deal with it, they just continue to be negative, which is a problem. So anyway, I'll just quit.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 6:45:25
“I'm going to make some general comments before we vote on this particular resolution.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 6:45:32
“Oh, you don't have a motion yet? Not yet. Well, maybe we'll go until 1 o'clock. It's about likely, just saying. My general comment to start is I had a 44-year career in business. I was the CEO of two very large companies. You know what my objectives were every year? Expand. The last company I expanded every year for 22 consecutive years before I retired. So I'm not anti-expansion. In this particular case, I continue to argue that I believe we should have, upon the first appearance of the first cruise ship, Applied the comprehensive plan and land development code as a city we chose not to For…”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 6:50:50
“I need to have time for my white paper on the agenda. For the next one? OK, that's fine. OK, very good.”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 6:51:58
“I do. I have submitted a white paper to the city manager regarding the an amendment to i forgot the ordinance number but whatever ordinance number granted the planning board approval of projects of this type i am going to amend uh for for projects that have community-wide impact not i don't want all approvals from the planning board to come to the city council and i'm going to try to specify what kind of projects they would be but they not aim just at a marina but it would be every big item that causes community concern that should be addressed by the city council that city that white paper…”
City Council · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 20:17
“Councillor Champagne. Thank you. I think my basic question is how is Marco Island assured there will be in the allocation of this six cent tax when it is assuming the positive it passes? Are we automatically a beneficiary, or do we have to apply for each and every opportunity that we can identify? I would prefer, obviously, as a city councilor, that we're one of the identified beneficiaries of whatever money is collected and allocated. Is the island automatically? Who is the money allocated to?”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 23:00
“Thank you for that. You're welcome answer but continuing along on that vein Will so continuing to assume the positive that it passes Do you eventually publish the allocation list by item by project by city”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 23:46
“And when you publish that data Are we free as a city to further publish it to make sure people are fully aware of where this money is being allocated and what projects?”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 24:00
“And for the informational meeting you're going to be holding, and I say thank you for doing that, more information is better than less, will you produce a document on what you're going to be discussing orally so that we can put it on social media so people can read it?”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 47:41
“Thank you. You mentioned that some of the money can be used for debt repayment, which is that correct?”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 47:58
“Okay. Could it be used for any debt repayment on Marco Island?”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 48:09
“The immediate answer is no. Why? It seems to me that it should be applicable so long as we can put together a mini business plan justifying why that debt repayment fits the requirements of TDT.”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 48:29
“We would appreciate a response to that because we do have some debt.”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 1:51:16
“Thank you. I think the reason why we were expressing some interest is because we are frequently blamed by the community for things that are not being done, and we have no control over it. What I learned today is Caxambas Park is actually designated for businesses access to beaches and whatever the other thing was, and can't be used for any other purpose. One of the most frequent comments is, why can't I bring my mechanic to Caxamas Park to help work on my boat. Well, now we've found out today can't do that. That's not one of the designated uses. I think we need to know more information like…”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 1:55:41
“Maybe we can do a simple trade. We'll trade you the record center.”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026
- Play at 2:16:57
“Well, that's how we meet our budget, though.”
City Council · Aug 27, 2026