Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

Estero Council of Community Leaders
Minutes of the 66th Monthly Meeting
Friday, August 15, 2007
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Estero Community Park

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Eslick at 1:00 p.m. at the Estero Community Park.  A quorum was present.
 
Twenty-two people were in attendance representing nineteen communities and two organizations.  There was one guest.

Minutes

The minutes of prior meetings are available on the website, www.esterofl.org. The minutes of the June meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Chris Smith reported a balance of $10,543.38 in the ECCL account.  Income of $200 was taken in dues and $100 in expenses was paid to our website director.
 
The ECIF reports a balance of $2,538.31. $18.06 was earned in interest. Expenses were $18.68 for trowels (used at Estero High School), $61.00 for printing fashion show tickets and posters and $21,000 paid to O’Donnell Landscaping for plantings at the high school. The Treasurer’s report is also available at the website, www.esterofl.org. The report was unanimously approved.

Announcements

The News Press would like each neighborhood that has a website that publishes a newsletter to send it on to the News Press to be used in their Estero Life neighborhood section. You may e-mail this to jmisthal@news-press.com.
 
Dr. Bradshaw, President of FGCU, will meet with the ECCL at our November meeting.
 
The ECCP needs a new appointment from our organization to replace Neal Noethlich.

ECIF Update

Bev MacNellis asked the members to reserve November 12 for the ECIF sponsored fashion show at Dillards. Posters are available through Bev. Some discussion was held about displaying posters. 225 tickets need to be sold. Bev listed some of the raffle prizes.
 
ECCL’s annual spring All Play No Work Reception will be held at the new Angelina’s Restaurant in March 2009.
 
The first phase of the landscaping of Estero High School’s chain link fence has been installed by O’Donnell Landscaping totaling about $21,000.
 
A Community Awards/Trophy display case is in the future plans. Arnie Rosenthal is heading up this effort with Dan Dronker’s help.

On Monday, at 3 p.m. a presentation will be given at the Conservancy in Naples an state plans for improving water quality and land conservation. Because of the impacts of what happens eventually in the DR/GR, all of these conservation and water issues are of interest to the ECCL.  It would be good if we had a representative at this meeting.

Voter Registration and Absentee Voting Campaign

There are about 22,000 registered voters in the Estero Planning district. There are three county commissioners up for re-election in the August 26 primary. There are 138,000 Lee County registered Republicans that may vote in this primary. If the turnout is similar to 4 years ago, there will be about 30% of the registered voters voting. That brings the number down to 41,000 voters. In a two person race, one could win with 21,000 votes. This is to point out that Estero can have a big effect if we “get out the vote”. 

Building Relations with Organizations with common interests

The Conservancy is setting up an advisory committee which will meet 4 times a year.  Their mission is south Lee County natural resource and environmental issues.  Their first meeting will be early in September.
 
The Southwest Florida Watershed Council is involved in environmental and water quality and water supply needs.  They have invited both Don Eslick and Nick Batos to join their board and they have accepted.  Their alternates will be Don Vilnius and Bill Hillemeyer.  This organization is involved with the water quality of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River.  We have been asked to join so that we can alert the committee about south Lee County and the Estero Bay concerns.
 
The Florida Wildlife Federation gave the ECCL an award as the Environmental Organization of the Year 2008. If we can obtain space for a community awards display case the award will be placed in it.
 
The Caloosahatchee River Watch is another organization of interest to the ECCL and our quality of life.
 
The question was brought to the members whether we should join and pay dues to any of the above groups.  We already are members of the Conservancy. A motion was made to join the Florida Wildlife Federation and to join the River Watch Committee; this was seconded and approved by the membership.

Joint Efforts with the City of Bonita Springs

Don Eslick and Mayor Nelson of Bonita Springs are co-chairmen of the South Lee County Hospital Committee. Mayor Nelson and the ECCL both came up with a list of interested persons who will serve on the committee.
 
A meeting was held about a month ago. A letter was written to Lee Memorial affirming the Committee’s support for a free-standing emergency department. It appears that Lee Memorial is considering a 24/7 free standing emergency center in our area.  Mayor Nelson and Don Eslick visited with President Bradshaw of FGCU to discuss the University’s participation in the health care area. The University would be very helpful in supplying staff as they complete their studies at FGCU.

County DR/GR Planning Progress Report

On August 1, the BOCC heard the presentation by Dover Kohl on their recommendations for planning of the DR/GR. Don Eslick also spoke to the BOCC board representing the Advisory Committee; their report was a little different from Dover Kohl but both recommendations would concentrate aggregate mining in the Alico Road corridor, where most of the mining is located today. The Advisory Committee recommendation would include a mining overlay of the existing mines plus part of a very large mine site called Florida Rock #2,  which has been in litigation since 1994. There is a BOCC hearing on proposed mining regulations contained in an amendment to the Land Development Code scheduled for August 26 plus a final Hearing on September 9, the last day before the moratorium on mining applications expires. Good representation from the public is important, especially at the last meeting. 

Transportation Issues

An ECCL member reported on an August 11th presentation by Lee County’s Transit Department on their recently completed Transit Travel Demand Study for South Lee County, including Estero.
 
Regarding the Alligator Alley leasing, a meeting will be held next week on the east coast concerning the technical capabilities of the six firms that have expressed interest in leasing Alligator Alley. By the end of next month FDOT will choose which of these companies will be invited to developed proposals for leasing Alligator Alley. By the end of the year FDOT hopes to make recommendations to the legislative budget committee regarding leasing or not leasing the Alley.

Post Office Service Area

Chris Smith wrote a letter to the postmistress requesting that the areas in the Estero planning area north of Estero Parkway be included in the Estero zip code.  The Federal Government decided that they did not want to do this giving their own various reasons. 

Estero Group Mining Zoning Decision Appeal

The BOCC disapproved “with prejudice” the application of the Estero Group to mine about 360 acres along eastern Corkscrew Road. “Without Prejudice” allows the applicant to reapply within the first year after such a vote. The Estero Group has filed an appeal that has now been sent to a mediation process. Under this process both sides can give their opinions and the hearing examiner will try to arbitrate the matter. The schedule is unclear at this time and therefore something to watch.

BOCC Consideration of the Midtowne Estero Rezoning Issue

Jack Lienesch reported that the Planning Panel has made it clear that they are opposed to the proposed Midtowne Estero rezoning request. They want a big box, and this is entirely the opposite of the original plans for that corner of Estero. On Monday, September 15th, the BOCC will take this issue up again.

Fire District Consolidation Study Update

All three fire districts approved an appropriation of $40,000 each in order to fund the consolidation study for the three Fire Districts, Estero, Bonita Springs and San Carlos Park. It will be started about the first of January and be completed in June 2009.  Public input will be taken when the consultants first get started.

Estero Fire Rescue Monthly Report

Susan Lindenmuth reported that Fire District administration has moved out of their temporary trailer headquarters and moved into the new Administration building located on Three Oaks Blvd. They will hold an open house in January 2009. She reminded all drivers that school reopens this week and to drive carefully.

Volunteer Day...Pelican Sound

In early November Pelican Sound will conduct a Volunteer Day designed to educate the participants about volunteer opportunities in the Community. ECCL will be represented by John Goodrich, an active member of that community and their representative to the ECCL. 
 
The meeting was adjourned.  Next meeting will be on September 19th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Estero Community Park. 
 
Respectfully submitted,
Faie Saunders, Secretary