December 8, 2021 / Issue #2021-49

Annual boat parade spread holiday cheer 

The 2021 Holiday Boat Parade coordinated by the FMB Chamber of Commerce was a great success on Saturday, Dec. 4. Below is one of the two Town boats that were in the parade.

The route started at Salty Sam's Marina in the back bay and turned at the tip of Bowditch Point Park before heading back to end at Salty Sam's. Hordes of cheering spectactors lined the shore, decked out in holiday garb.

Please enjoy a happy, healthy and safe holiday season! 

Interested in attending the FMB Citizens Academy in 2022?

The dates have been set and the application process will be open next week! Get ready to sign up quickly. Space is limited for this popular event.

(This Citizens Academy was formerly known as the Leadership Conference.)

Learn about the inner workings and special projects of the Town of Fort Myers Beach, meet staff and officials, ask questions, and get the insider tours of our beautiful island and Town facilities, Bayside to Gulfside, bridge to bridge. 

Schedule

Wednesday, February 9, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Town Hall Day

Wednesday, February 16, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Heart of the Island - Bay Oaks, Mound House, Newton Beach Park

Wednesday, February 23, 8:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Downtown District and Island Tours

Monday, March 7, 9 a.m.

Graduation with Town Council

Teen Night and Youth Holiday Festival at Bay Oaks
Gymnasium at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, 2731 Oak Street

Register now, these events are near!

Thursday, December 9

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Teen Program Interest Night

Games, pizza, and video games
ages 12 to 17
Time for teens and preteens to check out the Teen Program.

Thursday, December 16

2:30 to 4 p.m.

Youth Holiday Festival

 ages 5 to 13
refreshments, games, holiday art, Gingerbread making, movies and a gift-wrapping contest.
$5 per child
Parents are invited to attend and enjoy the refreshments.

Questions? Want to register?
Contact

Ahmad Sheffield, Youth and Teen Coordinator

ahmad.sheffield@fmbgov.com 
(239) 980-8021

This week at Mound House

December 9 through December 18, 2021

Mound House Outdoor Nature & Education December 2021 Events 

Mound House Adds New Staff - Bobby Feldman Curator of Education

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic is increasing

LeeTran's seasonal service has resumed 

Beach service includes three trams estimated to run every 15 minutes, depending on traffic, seven days a week starting at 8 a.m. from Bowditch Point Park. The last pickup is at 11:30 p.m. at Matanzas Pass Preserve.

The open-air, multi-car trams provide an easy, fun way to travel along the beach from hotels to restaurants to shopping and other attractions. 

Schedules for routes
  
Follow service-related updates or learn more

Stress free parking

When visiting the Downtown District - Times Square, the Pier, Bayside Park - or the Beach, keep in mind that the Town has several hundred public spaces in those areas and nearby. There are also spaces operated by Lee County and paid commercial lots. 

Other tips

• Consider enjoying the beach from a public access point that you have not been to before. Spread along Estero Boulevard are 26 public beach accesses - many with paid parking - for five or so miles from the Matanzas Pass Bridge on the north end of Town toward the Big Carlos Pass Bridge on the south end of Town. Look for the beach access signs hanging from poles at each entrance. 
• Text PARKING to 239-FMBeach (239-362-3224) for more information about parking and to find out the percentage of spaces that are currently available. 
• The Town's Beach and Street Enforcement (BASE) Team is monitoring the Town's spaces at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. daily and posting the percentage of spaces that are available here.
• Parking in the right of way or on private property (unless it is a designated parking area) is not permitted.  
• Visit the parking section on the Town's website.
• Pay for parking in Town spaces by downloading the Passport parking app.
• Park at the Lee County park and ride lot on Pine Ridge Road and ride the Trolley.
• Town Hall at 2525 Estero Boulevard now has paid parking spaces after business hours and on the weekends with a couple of beach accesses within easy walking distance.
• Before you head out, check the Town's traffic cams located at Town Hall and near Newton Beach Park to see how things are moving. 
• Newton Beach Park at 2650 Estero Boulevard (mid Island) is a great place to spend a day at the Beach! The park has a spectacular beach with nearby restrooms and showers, Tiki Huts, picnic tables, and an accessible ramp.

Environmental education booth schedule for December

Representatives from the Marine Resources Task Force (MRTF) are hosting a pop-up educational booth 

When is a permit required?
Visit the Town’s Website  to see the list of projects that require a permit and projects that do not. 

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.

Frequently Asked Question

Open fires are PROHIBITED
on the beach and in the
Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area 

 on the south end of the beach 

Permits may be applied for through Town Hall (2525 Estero Boulevard) for small cooking fires (12” x 12”) on the beach, excluding Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area, from November 1 through April 30 of each year. The permit requires a $30 deposit for cleanup.

Fires are not permitted on the beach
during sea turtle nesting season
from May 1 through October 31

Birds are migrating to FMB for the winter

New office hours for Matanzas Pass Mooring Field

Open Daily

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