July 24, 2023 / Issue #2023-14

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Big Carlos Pass Bridge closed to fishing as of July 23 to ensure safety during construction

Lee County’s contractor begins working in the pass later this month driving pile for the new bridge.

The new bridge will replace the existing drawbridge over Big Carlos Pass with a fixed-span bridge that will provide a vertical navigation clearance of 60 feet. The new bridge will be constructed on the Gulf side of the existing bridge, and will include:

one travel lane in each direction;
bicycle lanes;
6-foot-wide sidewalk along the north side of Estero Boulevard;
and a 10-foot-wide shared use path along the south side of Estero Boulevard.

A parking area with access to the Lovers Key State Park and a fishing pier will be included on the southeast side of the bridge. The project also includes relocation of existing infrastructure for Lee County Utilities and Bonita Springs Utilities. The construction contract also includes creation of an offshore artificial reef using the materials from the old bridge.

Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists are urged to use extra caution when traveling through the work zone and follow posted speed limit signs as the speed limit has been reduced. The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2026. Project cost is $90.8 million.

For more information about the project, visit https://bigcarlosbridgeproject.com/. For more information about the Lee County Department of Transportation, visit www.leegov.com/dot.

ATTENTION BEACHFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS

PLEASE SIGN TEMPORARY EASEMENTS BY JULY 31

Please sign easements by July 31 so that your property can receive the benefit of free sand to restore it after the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. This is part of the Town's beach renourishment project.

We've heard that some property owners believe that they will give up their property rights to the Town if they sign the easement form. We understand how that could be a concerning thought, and how hard it might be to accept that it is inaccurate. We asked the Town's new attorney to confirm what we've previously published about this matter.

"The easement form states that there are no third party beneficiaries and nothing prohibits the upland owner from using their property in any way as long as such use is consistent with the easement and complies with federal, state, county, and Town of Fort Myers Beach law. It also states that all risks associated with the use of the easement is on the Town, not on the property owner."

You can find more information on the Town's website at www.fmbgov.com/beach.

Questions can be sent by email to Chadd Chustz, the Town’s Environmental Projects Manager, at chadd@fmbgov.com

Temporary Beach Management and Access Easement

FIGHT THE BITE

Are mosquitoes becoming a problem in your area?

How to report and request service:

Website: www.fmbmc.org - Use the service request icon to enter your information.
Telephone: 239-247-1205 - Give us a call and tell us all about it.
Email: fmbmctd@gmail.com - Shoot us an email and describe the situation and how to get a hold of you.

The Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District is recovering from Hurricane Ian as many of you in our District but there has been no interruption in our dedicated service to the Beach.

We have the staff, products and equipment to continue to control the mosquito population.

Certain trouble areas have been identified as a result of the Hurricane such as delinquent pools, clogged stormwater basins and other water retaining locations. These have been mapped and receive surveillance and treatment as required.

FMB Mosquito Control District

Utility rate increases approved by Lee County to impact customers on Fort Myers Beach

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has approved Resolution 23-06-33 which is for an eight percent increase on water, sewer, and utility services.

The Town is supplied water by Lee County Utilities and the sewer system on Fort Myers Beach is owned by Lee County. Therefore, the Town must abide by the rate adjustment fee structure, imposed by Lee County.

These billing increases will be effective immediately in two increments:

The sewer increase will be reflected on the July billing statement from the Town.
All other increases will be reflected on the August billing statement from the Town.

Visit the Town’s website to read Lee County’s resolution on the rate and the Town’s most recent rate schedule.

Please use native plants as you are rebuilding

The Marine & Environmental Resources Task Force promotes the use of native plants for all landscaping accomplished by Lee County, the Town, and residents or businesses on Estero Island.

What are the benefits of native plants to us? They can save you money and create a healthier place for yourself and your family.

They require little to no watering and can withstand periods of drought. (This saves money on watering and turfgrass irrigation systems.)
They require little to no fertilizer. (The main components of fertilizer are phosphorus and nitrogen. Both of these ingredients can run off and fuel excess algae growth, whether it be red tide or blue-green algae. When the nitrogen is not used up by the plants, microbes in the soil can convert it into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.)
They require little to no pesticides. (The National Cancer Institute released a study stating households with lawns treated with pesticides had children with a 6.5 times greater risk of developing leukemia. All pesticides have a precautionary statement warning of health issues for humans and animals.)
They require little to no herbicides. (Herbicides pose a risk to humans and pets. The labels advise if the herbicide is in contact with skin, directly or by soaking through clothing, the first aid treatment is to rinse for 15 –20 minutes and contact a physician or poison control center. It should never be allowed to run in to any body of water.)
Freedom lawns consisting of native plants need less mowing. (Turfgrass lawns require regular mowing and the amount of gasoline used for lawnmowers or other gas-powered garden tools has been shown to emit 5% of the nations air pollution from exhaust.)
They give a beautiful array of colors and forms for human enjoyment (Plus they provide free entertainment with all of the birds and butterflies visiting your native plants.)

2023 Florida Native Plants

Read more about native plants on the Town's Website

Do you have your new hurricane re-entry pass?

They are available at Town Hall or by Mail

Seventeen nests hatched so far!

Fort Myers Beach

Distance: 7 miles

Nests: 69

**NNE*: 202**

Nests Hatched: 17

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

RESILIENT LEE COMMUNITY

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $1.1 billion in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding directly to Lee County to assist with the county's long-term recovery following Hurricane Ian.

Resident participation meetings throughout unincorporated Lee County and in municipalities are planned in August to receive public comment and input on the Draft Action Plan for the grant. The meeting for the Town of FMB will be:

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023 at 5:30 PM

Town of Fort Myers Beach / DiamondHead Beach Resort
2000 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

The Draft Action Plan will be published at www.leegov.com/recovery/cdbg-dr for review and comment beginning Aug. 1 through Aug. 31, 2023. Comments can be emailed to recovery@leegov.com, mailed to Lee County Administration in care of the Office of Strategic Resources, 2115 Second St., Fort Myers, Fl, 33901, or provided during one of the public meetings.

CDBG-DR funds may be spent on a limited number of eligible activities related to impacts from Hurricane Ian that include housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization, public services and planning. At least 70% of the grant must be used for projects that benefit Low-to-Moderate Income households, which HUD defines as a family at or below 80% of Area Median Income. For example, in Lee County a single-person household would qualify at $47,700 or less per year, whereas the limit for total household income is $68,100 per year for a family of four.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Aug. 1, is expected to vote to approve the Draft CDBG-DR Action Plan Publication for the public comment period, which begins with these resident participation meetings spanning Aug. 2 through Aug. 29. After public input has been received, Lee County will submit the Action Plan to HUD for review and approval.

The CDBG-DR webpage will continue to serve as an informational resource for CDBG-DR activities. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.leegov.com/recovery/cdbg-dr for updates.

Lee County’s Office of Strategic Resources and Government Affairs has prepared a timeline describing the necessary steps and other information at www.leegov.com/recovery/cdbg-dr. This webpage will continue to serve as an informational resource for CDBG-DR activities. Interested parties are encouraged to visit this resource periodically for updates.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners received a staff update and presentation June 27. To view the meeting video, visit the county’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@LeeCountyFLBOCC/videos and search for the date. The agenda and presentation can also be found online at www.leegov.com/bocc/meetings/agendas.

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.

BE HURRICANE PREPARED

Visit Lee County's Hurricane Preparation Guide

STAY INFORMED AND AWARE

Sign up to receive urgent texts or emails from the Town.

The Division of Consumer Services is happy to assist you with your insurance questions and concerns or open a formal complaint.

Visit MOUND HOUSE

Grounds are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30am to 3 p.m.

Museum and Museum Store are open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

____________________________________________________________

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

Meetings are at DiamondHead Resort, 2000 Estero Boulevard, unless otherwise noted

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

Town Council Meetings RESUME IN AUGUST

Monday, August 7 9 a.m. - Town Council Meeting - DiamondHead Beach Resort,
2000 Estero Blvd

*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:

ITB-23-18-UT Tier 1 Improvements

Bids Awarded:

RFP-23-17-PW Road Signs

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

RFP-23-14-PW Disaster Debris Monitoring

RFQ- 23-16-TC General Legal Representation