June 8, 2022 / Issue #2022-23

Congratulations to Patrick McKeown
Recipient of Town Council’s annual
Citizens of Distinction award

This award annually honors outstanding citizens who have made exceptional contributions to the Town.

Patrick received this recognition at Town Council's meeting on June 6 for authoring a book about the history of the Mound House. 

“Crown Jewel of Fort Myers Beach: The Mound House” 

• Culture, Parks, and Recreation Director Alison Giesen
• Chair of the Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board (CELCAB) Betty Simpson
• Mound House supporters Jim Steele and Ellen Vaughan

• Town Councilor Dan Allers
• Vice Mayor Rexann Hosafros
• Mayor Ray Murphy
• Town Councilors Jim Atterholt and Bill Veach 

At the June 6 regular meeting

Town Council accepted the Fiscal Year 2021 Audit Report and kicked off the annual budget season

Every year at this time, Town Council receives a financial audit report produced by an independent certified public accountant that has conducted a thorough review of the Town’s financial records, management, and operational practices from the previous fiscal year. The audit ensures that the Town’s financial statements are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as published by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB.)  The audit was conducted by Mauldin & Jenkins CPA’s and Advisors.
 
The audit of Fiscal Year 2021 has just been completed and shows that the Town is growing in financial strength with great positive change achieved over the past five years. These achievements are due to a significantly improved positive cash flow and the hard work of lots of people, primarily the Town’s staff.
Town Council accepted the audit at its regular meeting on Monday, June 6.
 
Florida law (Section 218.39, F.S.) requires local governments to perform this annual audit within at least nine months after the end of the fiscal year. More importantly, this annual audit is one way that the Town stays accountable financially to the public and builds its next budget on a sound foundation.

Read the audit report  here.

Read an  editorial  published by the Fort Myers Beach Observer written by Town Manager Roger Hernstadt.

In other financial business at the June 6 meeting,
Town Council set the tentative Town millage rate at .99 for Fiscal Year 2023
for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget planning purposes.
 
This tentative millage would be a modest increase from the current rate of .95 if it is enacted. It could be lowered at the September budget hearings if the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget initiatives under discussion are deferred or postponed.  

Additional items from Town Council's regular meeting this week:

• The Matanzas Pass Mooring Field expansion bid was awarded to Dock Marine Construction Corporation in the amount not to exceed $269,454 (Town’s share is up to $138,939 which includes a $67,430 grant match);

• The Town Manager was authorized to negotiate a sole source agreement with Civic Smart in the amount of $119,688 (with a recurring monthly fee of $1,320) for a parking app and installation of individual parking space sensors at Town-owned parking spaces;

• Installation of electric vehicle charging stations at Times Square-Center Street, Newton Beach Park, and Town Hall through a contract with Charge Point, Inc., was approved

Hurricane season has started

Reminder
It's sea turtle nesting season

Make sure blinds are closed at dusk and lights are not visible from the beach. Light can disorient turtles from nesting on the beach and hatchlings from travelling the correct direction toward the water.

Learn more:  www.turtletime.org
Visit the  sea turtle section on the Town's website

The Town uses the CODE RED notification system to warn residents, business owners, and property owners of emergencies, like hurricane evacuations or boil water notices.

Emergency notifications will be sent three different ways: via a recorded message to a phone line, a text message to a cell phone, and/or a message to an email address. 

Residents, business owners, and property owners are encouraged to sign up with a home phone number, a cell phone number, and/or an email address.
To sign up for the emergency notification system, use the following link to fill out the registration form. 

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/75BFEEC9A6A5
. 
Download the CODE RED Mobile Alert
App: http://ecnetwork.com/mobile/getitnow.html

To be taken off the CODE RED list, use the following link http://ecnetwork.com/mobile/getitnow.html

Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL)
Post Storm Emergency Permitting for
Southwest Florida

• The Town’s Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field provides a free safe harbor for boaters during the duration of announced storm warnings by the National Weather Service, such as for hurricanes and tropical storms. Notice of the activation of a safe harbor will be given through the Town’s social media and website.
• Boaters who need safe harborage need to register with the Town’s Harbormaster by calling the Matanzas Pass Mooring Field Office at (239) 224-4118, or emailing  harbormaster@fmbgov.com  or using  Dockwa

SUMMER HOURS
Bay Oaks Recreational Campus and Fort Myers Beach Community Pool

Be in the July 4th parade!

Apply

Weekly Events June 9 through June 18

June Events

June 2022 Calendar

www.moundhouse.org

Mound House has received notification that it has been designated a "Certified Wildlife Habitat"  by the  Florida Wildlife Federation

“Sea Turtles: New Research” 

Registration is open for summer camp at Mound House and Newton Beach Park 

Operated by  Super Science and Amazing Art  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.

Campers will enjoy kayaking on the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve from the Mound House launch and swimming in the Gulf at Newton Beach Park. They will also enjoy theme-oriented organized camp activities, outside games, and nature, history and museum exploration. 

Early drop off and late pickup may be possible based on instructor availability. Campers will need to bring snacks, lunches and water bottles each day in addition to towels and changes of clothes. Each camp week has room for a minimum of six and a maximum of 15 participants.

To register: 

Visit  www.SuperScienceFL.com

Call 239-682-2780

Email tori@SuperScienceFL.com

SCHOLARSHIPS are available!

Email  tori@SuperScienceFL.com
Thanks to the generosity of the
Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation
and the
Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club

Basketball at Bay Oaks
Sessions will be held June 21 to August 4 for youth ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12

Environmental education pop-up booth hosted by the Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force

Representatives from the Town's Marine Resources Task Force (MERTF) are hosting a pop-up educational booth at various locations around Town throughout the month.

ATTENTION: CANDIDATES FOR TOWN COUNCIL 

Candidates who wish to be on the November 2022 ballot must open a campaign file with the Fort Myers Beach Town Clerk and do not have to wait until the official qualifying period to do this. 

Official qualifying is from noon on Monday, June 13, until noon on Friday, June 17, 2022.  

All requirements are posted on the Town Clerk’s  Municipal Elections  page on the Town's website. 

Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of Town government are encouraged to apply for current openings on the Town's advisory boards and committees.

The Town’s boards and committees exist to advise Town Council about Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, the Matanzas Pass Mooring Field, Mound House, Newton Beach Park, finances, island preservation and history, marine resources, anchorage, nuisance abatement, and public safety.

Available openings:

ATTENTION BUILDING CONTRACTORS

Department of Business & Professional Regulation

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

View the meeting calendar on the Town's website

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