FMBeach News March 3 2021

September 8, 2021 / Issue #2021-36


Graphic that says Town Council meeting

September Town Council meetings will be in the evenings


Town Council will hold its regular September meetings at 5:01 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, and Thursday, Sept. 16 to comply with state law requiring municipality budget hearings to be held in the evening. Agendas for the September meetings include the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget.


Red, white and blue graphic for September 11 remembrance "We will never forget"

9-11 remembrance ceremony planned at convention center in downtown Fort Myers

9-11 remembrance ceremony by Lee County will be Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. at Caloosa Convention Center downtown
911 pin

Side view of Mound House

Mound House weekly outdoor nature & education events for
September 9 through September 18


Mound House & Newton Beach Park program calendar
 September 2021


Movie on the Mound: Raya and the Last Dragon  on Sept. 17 as part of the FMB International Film Festival


fmbifilmfest.com

movie on the flyer
Mound House Movie night

Bring a chair or blanket and insect repellent. 
Please, n
o coolers.


Text PARKING to 239-FMBeach to see the percentage of the  349 Town-managed spaces  that are currently open


Town owned spaces are spread throughout Estero Island’s 26 public beach accesses along Estero Boulevard as well as in the downtown business center. Availability of the Town's public parking spaces is tracked and posted on the Town's website three times a day, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m., by the Beach and Street Enforcement (BASE) team.

The Town does not manage parking at Lynn Hall Memorial Park adjacent to Times Square and Bowditch Point Park on the north tip of Estero Island. Both of these properties are managed by Lee County. These Lee County spaces (and private parking lots that are scattered throughout FMB) are not included in the Town's notices of available parking.

More information about parking:
https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/140/Parking

Pay for parking:
https://ppprk.com/park/

Beach accesses:
https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/102/Beaches

Lee County provides bus, trolley, tram, and park and ride services in Fort Myers Beach:
https://www.fortmyersbeach.org/trolleyinfo/

Text PARKING to 239-FMBeach to access the information that is also available on the Town's website
Screenshot of current spaces available from www.fmbgov.com
Parking space availability section on the Town's website

fireworks

The Town is seeking formal  proposal submissions  

from qualified firms to perform a 20-minute fireworks display. Proposals are due
no later than 2 p.m. on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021. 


September schedule for the pop up environmental education booth


Managed by the Marine Resources Task Force

pop-up calendar september

advisory committee vacancies

Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of Town government are encouraged to apply for current openings on three of the Town’s 10 advisory boards and committees.

The Town’s committees exist to advise Town Council about Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Mooring Field, Mound House, Newton Beach Park, finances, marine resources, nuisance abatement, environmental and historic preservation, and public safety.


Openings:

  • Audit Committee – monitors audits, reviews financial statements prior to the completion of the audit, reviews the results of any audit, evaluates proposed corrective action and insures that corrective action is carried out, evaluates auditor performance
  • Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) – assists the Local Planning Agency and the Historic Preservation Advisory Board with historic preservation matters
  • Local Planning Agency (LPA) -  further the welfare of the citizens of town by helping to promote a better, more positive community environment and to ensure that the unique, natural characteristics of the island are preserved.

Click here for more information and to fill out the application.
 

Since several seats are expiring September 30, 2021, we encourage interested people to apply to other committees and boards as well. Deadline for the coming year's submissions is September 24, 2021.

  • Anchorage Advisory Committee (AAC) –  established to advise staff and Town Council on all issues pertaining to the Town's public mooring field
  • Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board (BORCAB) – further the welfare of the citizens of the town and others utilizing the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus and its facilities; provide advice to Town Council upon request on matters concerning the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus
  • Cultural & Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board (CELCAB) – oversee Mound House and Newton Park; manage and promote the cultural, historical, and environmental resources of Fort Myers Beach
  • Marine Resources Task Force (MRTF) – promotes stewardship of marine resources including stopping further damage and rehabilitating Estero Bay and its surrounding waters, wildlife, plant life, air and water quality
  • Public Safety Committee (PSC) –  addresses safety and transportation issues specifically assigned to the Committee by the Town Council for the purpose of the health, safety and welfare of citizens and visitors

Town staff to start managing Mooring Field administrative services October 1


Starting October 1, 2021, administrative management of services for Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field will change from Estero Bay Hotel Company dba Matanzas Inn to Town staff. 

Town staff will manage the administrative functions of Mooring Field from leased office space (Unit G109) in nearby Harbour House, at 450 Old San Carlos Boulevard. 

Matanzas Inn will continue to provide facilities such as 
restrooms, the dock, trash, water, and laundry while these will be maintained by Town Staff.

This change is coming after several months of discussion and planning by Town Councilors, Town staff and members of the Anchorage Advisory Committee about the future expansion and management of Mooring Field.

Town Councilors authorized this change at the August 2 Town Council meeting by approving a modified lease agreement with Matanzas Inn. This action provides for continuity of services while the Town explores options for the future.

  • Agenda item summary from August 2 Town Council Meeting
  • Frequently Asked Questions about Mooring Field
  • Harbor Management Plan
  • Anchorage Advisory Committee
Picture showing location of mooring field office and dinghy dock

Lee County switching to all-electronic tolls beginning October 1

Administrative fees will resume for pay-by-plate customers at that time 


Attendants will no longer be at the plaza booth, motorists do not need to stop
LeeWay

Lee County has used all-electronic tolling (no attendants) since the pandemic began in 2020. The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted in June and August this year to make this permanent to: 

  • Align with the State’s SunPass program and plazas elsewhere in Florida
  • Return to the same tollway fee structure that was in place before the pandemic
  • Adjust motorcyclists’ toll pricing to align with vehicles
  • Improve driver safety and traffic congestion 

For information about this change, visit www.LeeWayinfo.com. 


 Fright Night at Bay Oaks is October 22

Fright Night Volunteers

household waste banner

Chemical waste collection days at Bay Oaks served 141 customers



Thanks to everyone who participated in the Town’s first full year of Household Chemical Waste Collection Days hosted by Lee County at Bay Oaks.

In total, 141 customers were served, and 7,023 pounds of waste was collected.


Events are already scheduled for the coming year, with the day of the week changing from Friday to Wednesday: November 17, 2021; February 16, 2022; May 18, 2022, and August 17, 2022. Time will be 8 a.m. to Noon. 

Acceptable items


ATTENTION Beachfront property owners
Sea turtle lighting retrofitting might be covered by a grant 


Turtle nests are still hatching!


Thanks for everything you are doing to keep the turtles and their hatchlings safe. Read more

Nest count


Fort Myers Beach


Distance: 7 miles
Nests: 87
NNE*: 130
Nests Hatched: 37


*NNE stands for “Non Nesting Emergence” which means that the turtle crawled ashore, but did not nest

BEACHFRONT property owners might be able to get the costs of retrofitting lighting fixtures and bulbs that comply with sea turtle regulations paid for by The Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Beachfront Lighting Retrofit Program.


The Sea Turtle Conservancy is a non-profit research, conservation, and education organization in Florida. The Conservancy has received grant funding designated for the lighting retrofit program through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environment Benefit Fund.

To learn more about the lighting grants and the program, call The Conservancy at (352) 373-6441 or visit:  www.conserveturtles.org



dog on the leash


Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on
Fort Myers Beach, which is a great privilege!


dog on the leash 1

Please help us respect this privilege by cleaning up after your pets, keeping them on a leash, and not letting them chase shorebirds, enter the critical wildlife area at the south end of the beach, or disturb sea turtle nests.


The Town's online permitting service is called iWorQ and can be used to:

  • Search and view permits
  • View status
  • Download/ print approved documents
  • Pay fees
  • Schedule inspections

PERMIT SEARCH

If you are searching for record information or paying fees, you are not required to create an account.


The word "Hiring" on blue background with dolphin and palm tree from the Town's logo

AVAILABLE POSITIONS


Full Time:
ASSISTANT AQUATIC SUPERVISOR
BAY OAKS MAINTENANCE WORKER

BEACH MAINTENANCE WORKER
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - UTILITIES/BILLING
FINANCE DIRECTOR

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT


Part Time:
CODE COMPLIANCE BASE OFFICER
HARBOR MAINTENANCE WORKER (2 positions)
LIFEGUARD/RECREATION AID



reentry passes reminder

Text Hi to 239-FMBeach for information about the Town

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Town Council will hold its regular September meetings at 5:01 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, and Thursday, Sept. 16.

The change in the usual time is to comply with state law that requires municipality budget hearings to be held in the evening (200.065(2)(e)2 F.S.).

Part of the agendas for the September meetings is the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget. 

Keep up on the schedule of Town Council and advisory committee meetings


All meetings are at Town Hall, 2525 Estero Boulevard

Live and recorded meetings can also be viewed on the
Town's YouTube channel and live meetings can be watched on Comcast Channel 98

View the meeting calendar on the Town's website for the


Upcoming meetings



Thursday, September 9 / 5:01 p.m.
Town Council Meeting

Tuesday, September 14 / 9:00 a.m. 
Local Planning Agency (LPA) Meeting

Wednesday, September 15 / 9 a.m.
Anchorage Advisory Committee (AAC) Meeting

*Meetings are subject to change; please refer to the agendas posted on the Town's Website.

Town Hall is open for walk-in service from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are strongly encouraged to minimize wait times. Call 239-765-0202 to schedule an appointment with the appropriate department.

NOTE: All employees in Town Hall might not yet be fully vaccinated against COVID.

Status on bids and proposals

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has partnered with DemandStar which is open and accessible to all businesses and gives instant access to RFPs, RFQs, and ITBs 

Read more about bids and proposals


Currently open for bid: 
RFP-21-19-TC Fireworks Display
The Town of Fort Myers Beach invites proposal submissions from qualified firms to perform a 20-minute fireworks display for the Town of Fort Myers Beach.


Under Review:

ITB-21-18-PW Bayside Park Improvements.


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Town of Fort Myers Beach
2525 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, Fla. 33931 / www.fmbgov.com

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