Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

August 11, 2004

DRAFT VERSION

43rd Monthly Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Eslick at the Clubhouse at Rapallo at 2:00 p.m. A quorum was present.

Forty-two people were in attendance representing nineteen communities and seven community wide organizations. There were four guests.

Guests were introduced.

Minutes

The minutes of the June meeting are available online at www.esterofl.org. The minutes were approved and accepted with no corrections.

Treasurer’s Report

Chris Smith reported that expenses were submitted as follows: $500 to Papyrus for website expenses, $91.71 paid to Coconut Point Hyatt for the balance of Arts in Estero and $186 to Stewart and Sons for insurance, expenses totaling $777.71. $400 was received in dues from Coconut Shores and Estero River Heights. Balance on hand is $1,703.21. The treasurer’s report was approved as submitted.

Lee Memorial Plans for Estero property

Since Jim Nathan met with our group several months ago, Lee Memorial has acquired ten additional acres in Estero. Dr. C. B. Rebsamen, Chief Medical Officer of Lee Memorial Health Systems came to give an update to those present. He pointed out certain trends that Lee Memorial feels will drive emergency care facilities. There is a growing number of uninsured; this, however, does not mean homeless. Most of this category are working, have 2.4 children and two cars in the garage but they don’t have health insurance or have such a large deductible that they are “under-insured”. Visits to doctor’s offices involve more money and waiting time, than using emergency care facilities. Therefore, these patients rely on the emergency room for medical service. A shortage in Florida of primary care physicians adds to the current problem. “Mini-clinics” are new to the marketplace. One in Cape Coral is located in Wal-Mart often manned by a nurse practitioner. This makes it quick in/out, low cost medical care, “cash on the barrel” publicly owned companies often owned by pharmacies. There are “hybrid” urgent care facilities staffed by board certified emergency care physicians with “high tech” scanners, etc. EMS staff feels that often these facilities are an unnecessary stop on the way to the hospital. Costs variances come into play wherein Medicare pays more for hospital charges because hospital costs are usually higher and they will pay for hybrid urgent care facilities which are considered “office” charges by Medicare and therefore are paid at a lower rate. Dr. Rebsamen stated, “We don’t think this is the future”. The future, he feels, lies in the Free Standing Emergency Care facilities, which are under the jurisdiction of a hospital. These are not surgical in nature though, they are able to take care of heart attack and stroke patients, but not the further major surgical needs usually involved. Dr. Rebsamen discussed the fact that the community has to be the one to “lead the charge” for a Free Standing Emergency Health Care facility. The hospital does not just go into a community and build one, but needs the support of the community. One tough requirement of these facilities is the requirement to provide care from allergies to urology! The conclusion seemed to be that a Free Standing facility is not as simple to obtain as one would wish, but one that involves huge demands.

Lee County Commissioners’ Candidate

John Albion is running for the legislature and has resigned his seat on the BOCC effective in November. Frank Mann, who is running for this place on the board, was invited to speak before the audience. Frank was born in Lee County 65 years ago. The Barbara B. Mann Theater is named after his mother, who is 93 years young. He had been in the fire and casualty insurance business and then ran for the legislature where he spent twelve years. He has served on the Lee Memorial Hospital board and the South Florida Water Management board encompassing sixteen counties. He stated that he’s been here in Lee County forever; been there, done that...”you’re not getting a virgin, when you get Frank Mann”.

Endorsing candidates was discussed by the group. If a candidate supports goals that the ECCL supports, one can legally endorse them. Neal Noethlich brought up the fact that since the ECCL has not heard from all the candidates for an office it would not be appropriate for the ECCL to endorse at this time. It was therefore, concluded that each individual member of the ECCL would encourage its membership to vote and each member would recommend those candidates who best represent the goals of ECCL.

DRGR Presentation to the BOCC

Several members discussed plans to testify before the Board of County Commissioners regarding the need for consolidation of all the studies that have been completed on the DRGR and the development of land use plans for the area. This is being coordinated with the leaders of the area’s leading environmental organizations and the leaders of the eastern Estero community. After some discussion there was a consensus that this is the right way for the community to deal with the Coconut I-75 Interchange issue.

Transportation Committee Report

The IJR report will satisfy Mayor Johnson’s seven conditions. Hopefully there will be some good news to report after the BOCC meets on Tuesday. Neal Noethlich recommends the reading of Julio Ochoa’s article (Bonita News Article "Money a motivator in I-75 earmark?") about the money connection regarding the interchange of Coconut Road and I-75. The ECCL is not opposed to an IJR report, but the environmental impact information needs to be a part of this report and needs to be done before any conclusions are drawn. Arnie Rosenthal pointed out that in the area directly east of the proposed interchange, the development could draw in $2 billion dollars; 20% of that could be a big profit.

There are two hearings coming up in September regarding roads which the transportation committee will attend and for one, make sure the Estero Flyover is started this fall and not put off until next year.

Policy Coordination with the City of Bonita Springs

On Thursday, September 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a workshop meeting at the Bonita City Hall. In attendance at the meeting will be the Bonita Springs City Council, i.e., the Mayor and six council persons, the City Manager Gary Price and the City Attorney Audrey Vance. Jack Lienesch suggests that the ECCL come up with an equal number of representatives from Estero to attend this workshop. The format and procedure at the meeting will be determined by a professional facilitator. Chairman Eslick suggested that the ECCP and ECA be represented also. Subjects that would be on the agenda were tentatively agreed to by the ECCL Leaders and Councilman Joyce and City Manager Price. The DRGR is being studied by Bonita, Sandy Lane extension to Old 41 needs to be on the agenda and a regional medical facility is of interest to both communities. There is room for 80 persons in the audience. Three hours should be enough for discussion with a Q and A at the end. It was suggested that the nine members from Estero come from the leadership of these committees where their expertise would be helpful to carry on the discussions. This was moved and seconded. The Executive Committee will reach out and find these representatives and report back to the general membership.

ECCL Organizational and Membership Issues

There was not a general meeting in July, but a workshop was held; about twenty-five members attended and the Priority Issues for 2006-2008 were discussed. This list is not a “wish list”, but actual goals that the ECCL wants to see through to completion.

Barbara Akins reported on new members. Jane McNew is a new alternate for the Estero Civic Association. Jane Hess and Jeff Lindsey are representing the Estero Fire Rescue as member and alternate respectively. Tim Sullivan will serve as an alternate member from Old Estero and the Reserve at Estero will be represented by Scott Schatzle. The Villages of Country Creek named a new alternate, Ray Pothier. These new representatives were approved by the membership.

Code Enforcement

Sam Levy stated that Lee County Code Enforcement has probably removed 300 signs since last June and 300 more have been put out to replace them. One large balloon and a pontoon boat have been removed. The Elks Club has requested that all distribution boxes be removed from their property. Scott Gilbertson and the DOT are reviewing all of the remainder of the distribution boxes throughout Estero to determine their legality.

Estero High School Beautification Project Dan Dronkers had posters to be taken to our home communities for distribution to community bulletin boards advertising a fund raising concert on September 30th at Estero High School.

Governor’s Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee

The governor has formed a committee to report on property and casualty insurance reform. A monitor is needed to follow the actions of this committee. If hearings are held, we want to be there.

Estero Fire Rescue

Jane Hess representing EFR as their Community Relations manager announced their first public budget hearing on September 11 at 6 p.m. at the new Rapallo location. The EFR has a new mission statement; ”dedicated and driven for those we serve through aggressive life safety, proactive fire prevention, public education and community involvement.” CERTS is a citizen emergency response and training program. Terrorism is one of the areas that they are now focusing on. Visit the web site of www.esterofire.org and learn more about the Fire Rescue programs available.

Greater Estero Cultural Arts Council, Inc.

Cas Obie suggested that the Arts Council be added to the ECCL roster as an organization with Cas as representative and Frann Wagner as alternate. This was moved and seconded and unanimously approved by the attendees. The Arts Council now have their tax ID number, a post office box; the Articles of Incorporation are pending in Tallahassee. They are working on a mission statement. They will meet at the Estero Community Park as early as possibly September, but surely by October. They plan on an open meeting (for all new members) by the end of the year. The Arts in Estero 2007 will be held at the Estero Community Park. The Internal Revenue Service 501©3 tax exempt certification will cost $500. Dues have not been set, but donations will be accepted and tax deductible. They would also like to be a part of the www.esterofl.org web site. They would contribute their share of these costs.

Website Report

Kim Dailey reported that the site had 2,355 visitors in July and that this is the second highest number thus far. 66% are typing in the address or have it bookmarked while the other 33% are being directed there by search engines. There are over 2,000 people on the EDR list.

Pelican Landing Meeting

The Pelican Landing Community Association has extended an invitation to the ECCL to participate in a forum for the residents of that community of about 3,000 residences; most of whom live in Bonita Springs, but the north end is in Estero. They have invited the City of Bonita Springs, Lee County and the ECCL. This forum will be held at the Hyatt and will discuss common issues of interest to the Pelican Landing residents. The meeting will be on October 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Volunteers for participation and suggestions for the agenda were welcomed from the floor.

Call 533-8683 to obtain an absentee ballot.

The meeting was adjourned. Next meeting will be Friday, September 15th at 2 p.m. at Rapallo.

Respectfully submitted, Faie Saunders, Secretary