May 12, 2021 / Issue #2021-19

Bay Oaks Recreational Center has expanded hours 

Sea turtle nesting season started May 1
First sea turtle nest of the season spotted!

near the Connecticut Street Beach Access

Learn more about sea turtle nesting season on Fort Myers Beach on the Town's website, or at turtletime.org 

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS:

Town Council amended the Sea Turtle Conservation Ordinance
effective April 5, 2021.
View Ordinance No. 21-03 and Division 20 - Lighting Standards
and Summary of the amendments.

Questions? Contact Chadd Chustz, Environmental Project Manager, chadd@fmbgov.com, (239) 765-0202 Ext. 1312 

Native plant demonstration garden built on Palermo

This is a pilot project proposed by Town Councilor Bill Veach and supported by his colleagues on Town Council.

Members of The Estero Island Garden Club designed and planted the garden, with help from the community for prepping and planting, and will be maintaining it. The garden has 23 different types of plants including bushes, wildflowers, and ground covers.

“Our garden aims to inspire and educate the public on the importance of native plants in our landscape,” said Randa Veach, Vice President of the Garden Club. “Native plants play a big role in protecting our environment and supporting our native pollinators and wildlife. There will be an educational sign in the garden and labels identifying the plants.”

The Florida Native Plant Society-Coccoloba Chapter provided the plants and donated some. A grant through the Mound House from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Planet Stewardship Education Program, secured by Education Coordinator Penny Jarrett, also helped pay for plants. The grant was received in 2019 and provides funds for water quality testing as well as plants.

Several community members worked alongside staff in the Town’s Public Works Department to prepare the site for the garden. Site preparation included digging up and removing concrete, adding, and leveling garden soil, and unloading and spreading mulch. Planting occurred on May 6 with 21 volunteers installing 213 plants in less than three hours.

Special thanks to Marty Harrity of The Whale Restaurant who is providing water for the garden.

Volunteers needed for lead and copper water
testing from their household taps

The Town's Utility Department is looking for volunteers to participate in the upcoming lead and copper sampling as required by the United State Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Lead and Copper Rule.  

The Lead and Copper Rule, 40 C.F.R. Sections 141.80 to 141.91, requires monitoring at the consumer taps to identify levels of lead in drinking water that may result from corrosion of lead-bearing components in a public water system’s distribution system or in household plumbing. These samples help assess the need for, or the effectiveness of, corrosion control treatment. 

Interested? Email fmbh2o@fmbgov.com to register.  

The Utility Department is planning on collecting the required samples in July 2021.  All participants will be contacted and provided with all supplies necessary for sample collection.  

Hurricane season starts June 1
ALL HAZARDS GUIDE 
provides some resources to help you be ready 

Brochure available at Town Hall while supplies last

Find other resources on the Town’s website

FROM LEE COUNTY UTILITIES

Lee County Utilities will be temporarily converting its disinfectant process from chloramines to free chlorine residual from May 3 through May 24. 

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. 

Sign up for summer camp at Mound House

Featuring fun themes each week for children ages 6 to 10, camp will be operated by Super Science and Amazing Art, starting June 14 and ending July 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Three camp days each week will be at Mound House and two camp days will be at Newton Beach Park. Precautions to prevent the spread of COVID will be followed according to CDC standards.

Visit the Mound House website to register.

Receive urgent alerts through the Town's CodeRed system by text and/or email

Mound House Upcoming Outdoor Nature & Education Events
May 13 through May 22, 2021

View  May 2021 
Mound House and Newton Beach Park Program Calendars 

Start by reading these frequently asked questions. 

KEEP IN MIND: Permits are typically required for any building or remodeling on your property, inside or out.

Check the status of a permit

Need to communicate with Town staff about a permit? Use the email address below that pertains to the type of permit or call Town Hall at 239-765-0202.

buildingpermits@fmbgov.com
rowpermits@fmbgov.com 

People who live in, work in, or visit the Town of Fort Myers Beach are being asked to take part in an  online survey  conducted by the Public Safety Committee.

The survey is designed to determine the community’s level of need and interest in the possible development of a community policing/neighborhood program.

Topics that the survey addresses include pedestrians, homelessness, bike traffic lanes, law enforcement response, street lighting, and neighborhoods.

The Public Safety Committee will review the results and make recommendations to Town Council.

Deadline to take the survey is May 28.

We are looking for team-oriented public servants to work at the Town of FMB!

Current openings:

• Lifeguard/Recreational Aid (part-time)
• Maintenance Worker I - Bay Oaks
• Maintenance Worker - Historical Properties
• Museum Interpreter for Mound House
• Recreation Campus Manager
• Utility Customer Service Clerk

Learn more and apply 

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