Estero Council of Community Leaders
Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting
Minutes of the 36th Monthly Meeting January 13, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Eslick at the Marsh Landing
clubhouse at 2:00 p.m. A quorum was present.
Fifty-one people were in attendance representing twenty-five communities and
four community wide organizations. Guests were introduced.
Minutes
The minutes of the December meeting were approved and accepted with no
corrections. The minutes are available to read online at www.esterofl.org
Treasurer’s Report
Faie Saunders read the Treasurer’s report for Chris Smith. $250.85 was
carried over from 2005. Income to date was $1,800 in dues. Expenses were $440
for website, Papyrus. The balance is $1,610.85. The report was approved and
accepted as given.
Agenda
The agenda is always posted on the website, www.esterofl.org. Also included
are relevant documents which might be pertinent to the monthly meeting.
Emergency Management Planning
Jeff Lindsey, acting fire chief of Estero spoke about the Fire Rescue being
responsible for emergency planning for Estero and to be a liaison between us and
the county. He introduced Joan Martis, the District’s newly hired Emergency
Planner. Lindsey stated that Fire Rescue is available to come to individual
communities to teach and discuss
emergency
planning, Cert and CPR. The contact for this is Jim Clarke. It was suggested
that each community be aware of their own emergency planning after Hurricanes
Wilma and Charlie.
Gulfshore Community Playhouse
Kristen Coury, director of the
Gulfshore Community Playhouse, reported on a fund raising event with Carol
Channing at the clubhouse at Mediterra. Architects have been hired to design the
playhouse. The theater will be in a streetscape with retail shopping and
restaurants in an old-world style similar to an Italian piazza. The theater will
house 550 seat theater plus a smaller stage with room for 150 people. The
smaller theater may be used for children’s theater and used more often in the
off-season. The cost at this point is $27 million; fund raising will be a large
undertaking for those interested in the arts in Estero. More information can be
found at www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
Southwest Florida Tollway Authority
This toll way authority was created by the Florida State Legislature and
approved by the governor during 2005. Dave Loveland, Lee county DOT planning
director, updated those present at the meeting. The authority will be made up of
county commissioners and citizens from both Lee and Collier County. One factor
that may influence how the Tollway Authority proceeds if the fact that the
widening I-75 from State road 80 in Lee county down to Golden Gate Parkway will
be one project of six laning in a design, build, and finance package. This would
be a $425 million project.
The widening of US 41 from Corkscrew Road up to San Carlos was also discussed
by Mr. Loveland. The project is scheduled to begin next year (in 2007); however,
the State funding will not be available until 2010. The county is looking for
ways to fund this 1.5 mile roadway. Last year the project was estimated to cost
$17-$18 million and now is up to $24.5 million. The County could not afford this
project and is considering: 1) the county taking out a loan, and 2) looking for
private sector support in paying the interest on that loan, which would be about
$5 million. A meeting has been held with four developers with sizeable projects
along this roadway. Wal-Mart has previously stated they would put up $1 million.
The County is considering volunteering to do the construction (US41 is a State
road) because they have a vested interest in getting the project done and may be
able to get more reasonable bids. The County could take the construction funds
down in increments and therefore reduce that interest cost to about $3.1
million.
Organizational Matters
Barbara Akins reported that we have two new members representing
Estero High School,
Principal George Clover and Howard Wentland.
Cypress Bend Resort has
designated a new member, Gene Groeber. The
Reserve of Estero also will have an informal representative, Paul Magalhaes.
Barbara Akins moved that these new members be accepted and they were approved.
Election of Officers
No further nominations were made other than those serving on the board at
this time and no new volunteers sought to fill these positions; therefore, the
existing slate was unanimously accepted for the year 2006.
Member Responsibilities
It is requested of community boards to designate a member and an alternate
member for their community with the responsibility to keep its board informed of
ECCL activities and getting the consent of their board if issues need to be
voted upon. It was stated by Sam Levy that this board informs the entire
community via many communication devices, is. the press, the EDR report, and the
website. The Breckenridge member monthly writes a newsletter on ECCL activities
for that community. A representative from the News Press brought attention to
their website wherein Estero information, communication, announcements, etc.,
may be found. The website is
www.news-press.com/estero . Community-wide e-mails may be posted by ECCL
members.
Dan Dronkers reported that his project is small compared to those previously
discussed. This project only requires $127,000. A color rendering will be
forthcoming. Tom Schneider of the Simon Group had some good suggestions for fund
raising within Coconut Point. Howard Cohen has agreed to help establish a
matching grant program.
Emergency Medical Services
A petition is being drafted for
signatures to present to the legislative delegation in support of a Standalone
Emergency Department. The Estero Civic Association will
have Rep. Trudy Williams speak on January 18 at 7 p.m. at the library; they hope
a good crowd shows up to emphasize our interest in this important issue.
Estero Arts Committee
Committee chair Frann Wagner reported
that the group is 25 members large and that an “Arts in Estero” day is planned
for April 8, 2006 between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coconut Point Hyatt resort.
Emphasis for this day will be to make the community aware of the concerts in the
park by the Southwest Symphony and the development and fund raising for the
Gulfshore Community Playhouse. Many other areas of art interest will have booths
at this event while demonstrations and presentations will take place in the
ballroom.
Code Enforcement
Sam Levy encouraged the members to continue
sending him e-mails of observed
possible code infractions. He mentioned that new businesses do have
exceptions to temporary signage in order to promote their openings for specific
periods of time.
Website Development
Kim Dailey is still welcoming basic information about communities in order to
develop web pages for them on the joint community organization website. A map is
being developed that will enable the user to use the map to easily obtain
information on different areas in Estero. Jim Ramsburg encouraged the membership
to use the website, www.esterofl.org; each “hit” helps move us up on the browser
pages. We are anxious to get this link on to the real estate company and
developer’s web pages, so that those looking for information about Estero will
be led to our webpage.
Via Coconut Point
Neal Noethlich reported that the application had been made to name the road
that we knew as Sandy Lane between Corkscrew Road and Pelican Colony Boulevard
as Via Coconut Point. Simon appears to feel they built the road and paid for a
good portion of it, so they could name it whatever they wished without any
community input. It will be of interest to see what the County does in naming
this road north of Corkscrew road when it is built.
Sheriff’s Coconut Point Facilities
With the help of Commissioner Judah, the sheriff has now filed the proper
applications for an station within Coconut Point. The space has been offered by
the Coconut Point developers rent free but there has been some confusion about
what paper work needed to be completed and not unwillingness on the part of the
sheriff’s office to locate there.
Naples/Bonita Daily News
Phil Lewis, editor-in-chief of the Naples/Bonita Daily news appeared before
the committee and told them that the News has made a major commitment to the
area of Estero. “The center of activity in twenty years in southwest Florida is
not going to be Naples and it’s not going to be Fort Myers, but it will be
Estero and Bonita Springs” stated Mr. Lewis. The new Bonita Daily News is the
result of this emphasis.
Rob Curley gave an amusing and informative demonstration of the website
www.bonitanews.com which should be of
interest to those living in this area. One may access sporting event scores,
restaurant hours of service, and a calendar with bar openings and church going
events listed and on and on.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m. The next meeting will be February 17
at 2:00 at the Rapallo Clubhouse.
Respectfully submitted,
Faie Saunders, Secretary
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