Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

Estero Council of Community Leaders
Friday Sept. 19, 2009
Minutes
Estero Fire Rescue Board Chambers
1:00 p.m. until 4:15 p.m.

New Member & Guest Introductions:

Gary Queen - Arts Estero

Patrick Gilhuly - Sweetbay Estero

Ken Kirouac - Sweetbay Estero

Anica Sturdivent - FGCU

Minutes of August Meeting:

Bill Hillemeyer moved approval. His motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report:

Chris Smith’ report was approved unanimously

Don thanked the Fire District for use of their building and we will have out October Meeting Friday 10/17/08 1:00 P.M. at the Administration Building once again.

Announcements:

• The Conservancy’s South Lee County Advisory Committee will meet at the Northern Trust Bank Building at the Promenade at 1:00 P.M. Friday Sept. 26th.
• Reminder, Register to Vote 10/6/08 Last day to register Environmental Voices of SW Florida Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnvironmentalVoiceofSouthwestFlorida/

  The Environmental Voice of Southwest Florida e-mail list is solely intended to allow environmentalists in SW Florida to communicate with each other in a speedy and efficient manner. It is totally independent and not controlled by any particular group or special interest. The members voted to approve a the use of $500 to assist the Environmental Voice to upgrade its website.

• The ECCL has to find a person to fill the ECPP Vacancy as a replacement for Neal Noethlich,  who has agreed to stay involved in Zoning changes and hearings.  Jack Lienesch, the ECPP Chairman, is searching for replacement:
• There is a vacancy on the Metro Planning Organization’s Citizen Advisory Committee to replace Jane McNew, who has resigned. This person must make a monthly review of transportation changes, attend a meeting and make recommendations. The nominee will be appointment by Commissioner Frank Mann
• Barbara Akins introduced our new Fire Chief Scott Vanderbrook and the new Fire Marshall Phillip Green.

Agenda

Fire District Matters:

Nick, Arnie and Phil Douglas met with April White and Chief Scott Vanderbrook hoping to work with Fire Dept to keep expenses down.  Chief stressed the construction cost increases, loan payments on the new building and the reduced impact fees were not going to cover the cost of the new Administrative Building. The community needs to be more attentive to the Fire District Meetings The Next Meeting 9/23/08 5:01 P.M. public hearing.

Scott Vanderbrook said the Fire District Consolidation study had begun and has been sent to Attorney, should have it back 10/1.  Don Eslick suggested we meet early to get scheduled and get involved in process. Frank Messana asked should we bring this before the ECCL to form a committee.  Don replied to do it on an Ad Hoc basis at this time. Scott Vanderbrook - stated as Chief, he and Susan Lindenmuth were willing to go out to Communities to meet associations and answer any questions. The monthly meetings of the District are held on the 2nd Tue of every Month at 5 P.M.

Arts Estero:

Gary Queen - Arts Estero Treasurer passed out a Power Point Presentation www.artsestero.org. This will also be available from the Arts Estero part of our website.

Mission: Art Advocacy Group, Ambassador for community Quality of life, Estero enhanced.

He gave short history of group and events planned.  In conjunction with Coconut Pointe

2009 Arts in Estero.  They concluded that they did not enough man power to do an annual event so they moved towards education programs. They are interested in getting corporations involved in fund raising. They call this project “Partners in Art Projects”.

Currently they have 11 Board Members, approved for 14, 1 member is leaving, need additional members. Open to ideas and comments, wants a Signature Event to distinguish Estero.

After meeting with Arts Estero the ECCL has decided to sponsor an annual Arts Event. It will be called “Arts Estero 2009”. Bev McNellis has been chosen as the coordinator for this event and will soon be presenting a preliminary plan to the organizing committee, which has met on several occasions this far.

Ken Kirouac - New Manager of Sweetbay and Patrick Gilhuly current manager commented on Community Programs planned at Sweetbay.

Healthy Saver Program - $4.00 Prescriptions on 400 generic drugs.

Speaker at communities to explain program, will bring Pharmaceuticals Team.

Email: Kkirouac@sweetbaysupermarket.com. Or call Ken @ 495-2598

6 Flu shot clinics @ store, 4 additional clinics available for individual communities. (1st to apply)

Cholesterol check, Wine tasting.

List of generic drugs on website.  Www.sweetbaysupermarket.com

ECIF Judy Beach requested raffle gifts, they were happy to donate.

Anica Sturdivent – FGCU

Passed out “Seasons of Arts” Brochures. Two galleries at FGCU are up and running.

Familiarized group with Theater, $10.00 Performances, and Styled after small off Broadway shows. Has Brochures for communities call her @ 590-7199

Main Goal, Extend hand to Estero Community.

End of year celebration of Arts draws up to 600 people and growing.

Student artwork is available for sale.

12/5 Annual Pottery Sale, Soup Bowl Fund raiser, last year for Harry Chapin Food Bank.

You buy a bowl for $15, fill it with soup and keep the bowl when finished. Email Asturdiv@fgcu.edu

Arts Calendar a work in progress to combine all Art venues on one on Esterofl.org website.

Wal-Mart, US 41 Widening and the U.S. 41 Estero Parkway Traffic Signal

Chris Smith met with the Wal-Mart Engineers @ the Vines: Board meeting & planning Committee.  Wal-Mart would like to move ahead with their store at this location.

Current status Super concurrence (no building until road work begins on 41 widening)

Wal-Mart would like community support for the County to lift Super Concurrency so they could begin constructing the building before US 41 is widened.

If approved 9/09 - 6 months to execute construction 3/10 thru 3/11

Traffic Light needs to be constructed on 41 @ Parkway prior to construction, recommend it coincides with the completion of the flyover and opening of same.

DFOT still has a question as to retention pond on US 41 location, prepared to go to County commission, begin condemnation suite.  Funding is not the problem.

Don Eslick requested Wal-Mart presentation @ November meeting of ECCL Planning.

Post Office Service Area

Chris Smith and all the communities north of Estero Parkway are seeking a Zip code change to Estero, 33928. USPO has rejected the request. So the group wrote to Congressman Connie Mack and is seeking the support of the Estero Chamber of Commerce.

Estero Community Improvement Foundation

Dan Dronkers discussed upcoming Fashion Show to be held 11/12 at Bice Restaurant in Coconut Pointe. There are 225 tickets, only 50 left.  In need of Door prizes/Raffle items/ Gift Certificates and has already many from local stores and businesses.

Miracle at Coconut Point, the Estero mall’s holiday parade

The Parade is set to kick off the season Nov. 29" See Saturday News Press - Estero Edition. Contact Don Dronkers @ dddronkers@comcast.net or call 949-0383

South Lee County Watershed Study

Bill Hillemeyer reported on the South Lee Watershed Study and its impact on the installation of 5 culverts under I-75 @ Copper Leaf border in the Brooks. The ECCL and the Brooks Concerned Citizens requested that the 1999 study be updated prior to installing any more culverts. Study must complete by 5/09.

1st report completed 9/9/09 - Fact finding

Next report Modeling (Flow models) 1st of Year.

Gave Outline:

1. Is the southwestern flows of the water from the DR/GR going to be diverted to the west and will it resolve the Bonita Water problem?

2. Do we need all 5 culverts? Could some be directed to Spring Creek.

3. The Study should revisit what happened after Tropical Storm Fay.

Don Eslick spoke briefly about BOCC rejecting the Re-Zoning request of Mid-Towne Estero (SW corner of Three Oaks Pkwy and Corkscrew Rd)

Don Eslick gave a report on the Primary election and the % of local turnout vs County.

10/6 Last day to register

11/1 Last day for Absentee Voting

Early Voting 10/20 till 11/1

Absentee Ballots available on website.

Land Conservation Amendment on November Ballot

Florida Wildlife Federation representative, Nancy Payton requested our group endorse Proposition 4, Conservation Land Amendment, which will lower taxes on land in perpetual conservation and will benefit wildlife, panthers, etc.  73 Organizations have endorsed the Amendment.  Motion - Bill Brown, Second Frank Messana, approved unanimously.

DR/GR Planning and Mining etc.

On 8/5 County designated specific area (preferred mining area).  80% of all rock (aggregate) consumed within the 7 southwest Florida counties has come from Lee County for the last 25 years.  In addition the County could continue this for 20 more years with the existing mines.  6-7 mine applications in process of permitting.  The County needs to create an overlay to begin implementation.  On 8/9 the County adopted new mine regulations in a new chapter of the Land Development Code.  All ECCL members favor the designation of a preferred mining overlay.  

The new mine regulations call for mining mitigation fees for mining trucks on road ways.

Bonita Beach I-75 Interchange

I-75 Bonita Interchange, MPO confirmed to direct $10 Million to that interchange.  Presented 2 design plans, Phase 1 allow for 6 lanes under I-75 cost $8 - $15 Million.  FDOT - optimistic to finance project. 

Expressway Authority – Florida Turnpike Enterprises traffic and revenue study has raised question as to tolling lanes 5-6. It would appear that the slowdown in economic growth and traffic have pushing the use of tolls to 10 lane I-75 to 2020 or so.  By 2017 it is forecast that the 6 lanes on I-75 will begin to fail.

Dillards/ Health Park Intersection @ Coconut Road, reconfigure with striping. Dual Left in would cost an estimated $100K.