FMBeach News March 3 2021

July 28, 2021 / Issue #2021-30



URGENT!

Contact the Army Corps of Engineers TODAY to protect our water quality
Captains for clean water logo

It is an URGENT time for the public to be vocal with the Army Corps of
Engineers regarding the Corps' proposed plan that will guide water
releases from Lake Okeechobee for the next decade.
 


Captains for Clean Water has set up an email template 
for the public to send messages.


The Town of Fort Myers Beach is urging the public to send messages to the Army Corps of Engineers NOW to request modifications to the draft operating plan for releasing water from Lake Okeechobee. These releases flow into the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf causing harmful algae blooms that kill fish and foliage and impact the public's s health as well as the Town’s economy.

During a Monday, July 26 meeting with the Corps, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy joined with mayors of other municipalities in Lee County to lobby for changes in the plan to have the releases “be less water in summer, more water in winter.” 

 “It’s incumbent upon everybody who lives down here or has any stake in it anywhere to be vocal about this situation to the Army Corps of Engineers and let them know that we don’t want all that water. We want water when we need it and we don’t want the water when we don’t need it,” Mayor Murphy said. "Our concern over here on the West Coast is that we're going to be taking the lion's share of the water on these releases when it happens."
 

Please help protect Southwest Florida’s water quality by emailing the Army Corps of Engineers TODAY!


Visit the Captains for Clean Water website for more details

Interview with Ray Murphy

Watch Mayor Murphy speak with Jessica Alpern of FOX4 news about this topic


Turtle nests are hatching!

Nest count


Fort Myers Beach


Distance: 7 miles
Nests: 83
NNE*: 126
Nests Hatched: 5


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

We have 83 nests on the beach that will continue hatching over the next few months. Please continue to do your part to keep the nests and hatchlings safe.


Learn more: www.turtletime.org

Sea Turtle Season
Two boys using a small shovel to fill in holes in the sand on the beach

Thanks Lex and Victor for filling in holes in the sand!


FREE drop-off event for household chemical waste
 is 8 a.m. to Noon on August 6 at Bay Oaks

Chemical Waste

On Friday, August 6, Town residents will be able to safely and responsibly dispose of household chemical waste (HCW) such as leftover paints, cleaners, herbicides, pesticides, automotive fluids and pool chemicals. 

Hosted in partnership with Lee County Solid Waste, this free collection event will be from 8 a.m. to noon at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, 2731 Oak Street. Drop off is an easy drive-through process available to all residents.


Visit the Lee County website for a list of acceptable items.


Businesses that need chemical waste disposal can call 239-533-8000 to schedule an appointment for the monthly business collection held at Lee County’s permanent HCW drop-off location.This location is just off Metro Parkway in south Fort Myers at 6441 Topaz Court.

Additional collection events will be scheduled this fall and in 2022. Details about those will be posted on the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com and social media outlets.


UPDATE: Estero Boulevard Lighting Project



The Marine Resources Task Force and the Public Safety Committee met on Monday, July 26, with the project consultants Town Lighting to go over preliminary recommendations. 

Watch the joint session from July 26

Read the draft recommendations document

Read more about this project  and other projects.


hiring

Current openings:


Full Time Positions

BEACH MAINTENANCE WORKER

RECREATION CAMPUS MANAGER

SENIOR RECREATION AID

YOUTH/TEEN COORDINATOR



Part Time Positions

BEACH MAINTENANCE WORKER

CODE COMPLIANCE BASE OFFICER

LIFEGUARD/RECREATION AID

MUSEUM INTERPRETER


Learn more and apply



Estero Island Garden Club

Shoutout to the Estero Island Garden Club 


Members have been maintaining and growing the native plant demonstration garden at Palermo Circle and Estero Boulevard. Members in this photo are, left to right: Paula Smith, Cathy Turner, Annette Mazzeo-Eskin, Ethel Leidhold, Randa Veach.


August schedule for the pop up environmental education booth managed by the Marine Resources Task Force is published

pop up boot
pop-up calendar
pop-up 1
pop-up 2
pop up 3

July is National Parks and Recreation Month as set by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) 

Nat'l Parks Month

Did you know that the Town’s website lists various parks and recreation offerings in Fort Myers Beach? This includes the following Town-operated places:

  • Bay Oaks Recreational Campus
  • Bay Oaks Social Seniors (BOSS)
  • Beach Accesses
  • FMB Community Pool
  • Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field
  • Mound House grounds and kayak launch
  • Newton Beach Park


Volunteers for Boards or Committees

Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of Town government are encouraged to apply for current openings on two 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 – advises about financial matters and particularly on the selection of an auditor to conduct the Town’s annual financial audit;
  • Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) – assists the Local Planning Agency and the Historic Preservation Advisory Board with historic preservation matters;

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


Mound House weekly outdoor nature & education events for
July 29 through August 7


Mound House & Newton Beach Park program calendars
   August 2021

Mound House

Mound House is hosting a symposium on Friday, August 6, about coliform bacteria in recreational water


Make a reservation by calling 239-765-0865
Mound house August 6

water glass

August is
national drinking water quality month



"Because having clean water is vital to our individual health, our collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment.”

National Water Quality Month website


Annual drinking water quality report available

The Utilities Department proudly presents the Town's annual drinking water report for 2020, covering all drinking water testing performed between January 1 and December 31. 

We are dedicated to providing drinking water that meets all state and federal standards and to adopting new methods of delivering the best quality drinking water to your homes and businesses. 


Please call us if you have any questions about your drinking water.
239-463-9914
(8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.)

Read the report online or visit Town Hall at 2525 Estero Boulevard
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to pick up a copy.

2020 water report

Is your property experiencing a rat or iguana infestation?



Town Council would like to understand the level of need in the Town before making a decision about a possible future program to remove nuisance rats and iguanas. 

If you are having an issue on your property with rats or iguanas, please fill out the online form(s) below.
 
PLEASE NOTE: If there are numerous rats or iguanas on your property that are cause for concern, you may want to contact a pest control company to assist you.


Questions?
Contact Chadd Chustz, Environmental Projects Manager
chadd@fmbgov.com
 
                RATS                                                    IGUANAS

reentry passes reminder
reentry passes

Hurricane re-entry passes that are YELLOW and PURPLE and issued in previous years are STILL VALID.

If you do not have a YELLOW or PURPLE re-entry pass, apply here.

Graphic with "complaints received about code violations can no longer be anonymous"

Read Senate Bill 60


Text Hi to 239-FMBeach for information about the Town

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


Town Council's next meeting will be Monday, August 2, at 9 a.m. 

Monday, August 2 / 9 a.m. 
Town Council Meeting

Thursday, August 5 / 9 a.m.
Town Council Management & Planning Session

*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: 

There are currently no open solicitations.


Under Review:

ITB-21-18-PW Bayside Park Improvements.


Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email

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

Powered by
CivicSend - A product of CivicPlus