May 8, 2023 / Issue #2023-3

BIG BREAKING NEWS FOR FMB!

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Scott's field refurbishment program has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Town to refurbish the ball fields at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus.

Bay Oaks is one of only three municipalities in the U.S. to receive this grant. More than 600 organizations applied from 47 states.

Jeff Hauge, Interim Cultural, Parks and Recreation Director at the Town, wrote the grant.

“Getting this ballfield up and running will really build up morale within our community," Jeff said. "We are excited to receive this grant and continue to move forward in restoring Fort Myers Beach back to normalcy after the devastation of the hurricane.”

More than 150 people attended last week's RESILIENT LEE COUNTY Hurricane Ian Recovery Task Force Town Hall Meeting

Learn about Resilient Lee

Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane introduced the session followed by Town Councilor Bill Veach. Councilor Veach represents the Town on the Task Force.

Thanks to everyone who attended. It was standing room only! Your input is much appreciated as Lee County creates a comprehensive plan to rebuild communities better than ever.

Couldn't attend last Thursday? There will be a virtual session on May 16, 2023. Here's the information.

WGCU News Story about FMB's Town Hall

Council's Management & Planning session this month included a presentation about funding sources for projects to rebuild FMB

Representatives from Tidal Basin, FEMA and other partnering agencies reported to Town Council at the monthly Management & Planning session on May 4 about the status of state and federal funding. The presentation included information about funding that the Town has received, requested, or could request to help rebuild after Hurrricane Ian. Tidal Basin is an organization that has been working with the Town since Hurricane Ian to help secure funding and support mitigation.

Funding that has been received or applied totals about $85 million including:

FEMA grant for emergency berm replacement - $7.9 million (approved)
FDEP grant for stormwater systems repair - $10 milllion (awarded)
DEO Emergency Bridge Loan for operating expenses - $11.9 million (awarded)
Florida state appropriations - $52.9 million
Community Disaster Loan - $2.5 million

Projects that are or can be provided for with this funding:

Replacement of Town Hall
Clearance and repair of stormwater systems
Repair of roads and replacement of road signs
Elevation of generators to avoid future inundation
Community/public building retrofit or hardening
Workforce housing
Public Works building
Business resiliency measures

BAY OAKS SUMMER CAMP

Registration opens Monday, May 15 with a limited capacity of 25 kids.

Bay Oaks is excited to announce Summer Camp is back for another summer of fun on Fort Myers Beach!

This year’s camp will be held at the Mound House, where kids will have the opportunity to fish, kayak, go to the beach, and much more!

Registration opens Monday, May 15, with a limited capacity of 25 kids.

We look to forward resuming Youth Programs with you all again!

UTILITIES FLUSHING CONTINUES

Lee County Utilities is temporarily converting its disinfectant process from chloramines to free chlorine residual from May 1 through May 21, 2023.

This is a routine measure that is common for water utilities using chloramines as its primary disinfectant. Anyone who uses a kidney dialysis machine at home should contact his or her equipment supplier so the proper filtering equipment may be installed. Tropical fish or aquatic animal owners should contact a local tropical fish store for appropriate pretreatment of water before adding water to tanks. Customers may notice a temporary change in the taste, odor, and color of the water, which is not harmful. Again, this is a routine measure to ensure our customers of clean, safe potable water.

Did you see the Town's logo in the sand?

Last week, the berm project contractors surprised us with this stamp of our logo in the sand on the beach that they were grading. They welded the logo into their grading equipment. Appreciate their thoughtfulness and the addition of some fun to the Beach!

This week, dump trucks are hauling sand from Margaritaville to Mango Street and from Sandpiper to Flamingo Streets. Also, sand piles on the beach in that same area are to be graded to FEMA specifications over the next two weeks.

To learn more about this project, visit the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com/beach.

Turtle season is May 1 through October 31

It’s time now to remind all property owners about the lighting that is required to help protect turtles and hatchlings during nesting season. Conventional lighting scares females from nesting and disorients hatchlings away from the Gulf, leading to exhaustion, dehydration, and death from falling into storm drains, passing cars, and predators.

Long wavelength amber bulbs in downward directed fixtures that shield the bulb from the beach are encouraged everywhere on the island, not just beachfront, because so many structures and vegetation that previously shielded light from the beach are gone due to Hurricane Ian. Besides lighting, it is also just as important to draw curtains closed at night.

When it comes to windows and glass slider doors, the Town adopted new rules in 2022 for Sea Turtle Conservation. Windows and doors/sliders are required to have a light transmittance of 45% or less AND have a window cover installed. Read the Sea Turtle Conservation Ordinance.

Need professional help with bulbs and fixtures? The Sea Turtle Conservancy recommends Frontier Lighting and Synergy Lighting. Long wavelength amber bulbs can also be found online. Search for “sea turtle amber LED” and the bulb type that you need. It’s important to verify that the spectrum specifications of the bulb indicate 560 nm or greater.

One of the cheapest FWC certified wildlife lighting options that staff have found online is the FEIT A19 Red Bulb that screws into classic Edison fixtures. Please note, filter wraps, gels, and colored party bulbs are not compliant because sea turtles are sensitive to their light.

The Town will monitor lights on the beach during season. Efforts will focus on educating property owners on solutions. Property owners are encouraged to walk on the beach to see if their property’s lighting is visible from the beach and install wildlife friendly lighting. The Town’s Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz is available for questions and light inspections. Contact him by email at chadd@fmbgov.com.

For more information about lights and keeping turtles and hatchlings safe during nesting season, visit https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/963/Sea-Turtle-Information. Learn more about turtles and nesting season at www.turtletime.org

GET READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON

The best time to prepare for hurricanes is BEFORE hurricane season begins.

Avoid having to rush through potentially life-saving preparations by waiting until it’s too late. Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

noaa.gov/prepare-before-hurricane-season

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED

Sign up NOW to receive alerts from the Lee County Emergency Operations Center
Sign up NOW for alerts from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Code Red system
Sign up NOW to receive text and/or email alerts as they are posted on the Town of Fort Myers Beach website homepage
Monitor the Town's Facebook and Twitter social media outlets
Monitor local media and their social media outlets
Monitor the social media outlets of Lee County and the Fort Myers Beach Fire District

Visit this link - www.fmbgov.com/emergencies - to sign up for the Town’s alerts and find more information.

Kayak tours on Saturdays at Mound House

Explore the winding mangrove creeks and hidden backwaters of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve with Mound House. This unique tour offers a rare opportunity to experience the abundant life within an estuary.

Mound House kayak tours are conducted in accordance with Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism guidelines.

All paddling and safety equipment provided. Ages 12 and up. Weather permitting. COST: $50 per person (MH Members $20) Museum admission included. Maximum of 12 paddlers per tour. Shoes required.

Book your kayak tour on www.moundhouse.org

World Migratory Bird Day at Mound House

Saturday, May 13

A special Birding Kayak Tour will start at 8 a.m. and explore Estero Bay. Binoculars will be provided. Space is extremely limited! Register at www.moundhouse.org

At 2 p.m. there will be a short lecture - "Birds and Coffee: Consumer Conservation" - in the Orientation Gallery and will feature a complimentary tasting of bird friendly coffee.

No reservations required. Included with museum admission.

Finally, explore the grounds on a Family Birding Scavenger Hunt as you find some migrating birds hidden around the property. After you find all our feathered friends hidden around the grounds, you will receive a prize. Scavenger hunts are available at the Museum Store counter, and are included in admission.

NEW LECTURE at Mound House

Tuesday, May 16, 5:30 p.m.

"When Bugs and Plants Collide"

Presented by Julie Motkowicz, Education Coordinator at CREW Land & Water Trust.

The Pickleball courts at Bay Oaks will be unavailable over the next few months as the gym and grounds are under reconstruction due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

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

All meetings are now at DiamondHead Resort
2000 Estero Boulevard

Live and recorded meetings can also be viewed on the
Town of Fort Myers Beach YouTube channel.

View the meeting calendar on the Town's website

Upcoming meetings

Monday, May 15 / 9 a.m. - Town Council

Wednesday, May 17 / 9 a.m. - Anchorage Advisory Committee

*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.

Status of bids and proposals

The Town 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-23-14-PW Disaster Debris Monitoring

RFP-23-15-PW Disaster Debris Services

RFQ- 23-16-TC General Legal Representation

Under Review:

ITB-23-12-PW Town Maintained Road and Sidewalk Repair

RFP-23-13-CR Partial Re Roofing of Mound House

ITB-22-26-UT Tier 1 Side Streets Water and Stormwater Improvements