September 15, 2021 / Issue #2021-37

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

fmbifilmfest.com

Bring a chair or blanket and insect repellent. 
Please, no coolers.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is this Saturday

Get involved in one of the world’s largest volunteer events

The #InternationalCoastalCleanupDay will be Saturday, Sept. 18. This event aims to reduce pollution in and around our waterways including rivers, beaches, bays, and estuaries. Since its start in 1986, over 16 million volunteers have collected more than 340 million pounds of trash!

Administrative services of the Mooring Field transferring to the Town in October

Starting October 1, 2021, administrative management of services for the Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field will change to the Town from Estero Bay Hotel Company dba Matanzas Inn.
The Town will manage the administrative functions of the 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 the Town's 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 the 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

• Anchorage Advisory Committee

Lee County switching to all electronic tolls beginning October 1 

Administrative fees will resume for pay-by-plate customers 

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. 

Thank you Jan Fleming and Janeen Paulauskis for your creative and immediate support of those in need in our community last year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the hospitality industry hard.

Jan and Janeen conducted a fundraising campaign that involved selling #WeAreFMB
T-shirts to purchase Publix gift cards and distribute them to hospitality workers and others in need.

Purchase a t-shirt through the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation 

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

Mound House weekly outdoor nature & education events for

September 16 through September 25

Mound House & Newton Beach Park Program Description for  September 2021  and  October 2021
also
October 2021 Program Calendar

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. 

Managed by the Marine Resources Task Force

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.
 

• 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

 Fright Night at Bay Oaks is October 22

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

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 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.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­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

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

Upcoming meetings

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