Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

February 17, 2006

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

Fifty-five people were in attendance representing twenty communities and eight community wide organizations.  Guests were introduced. 

Minutes

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

Treasurer’s Report

Chris Smith read the treasurer’s report.  A cash balance of $2,642.85 was given with income of $1,200.00 in dues and expenditures of $168. The treasurer’s report was approved. 

Free Standing Emergency Department in Estero

Jim Nathan, President of Lee Memorial Health Systems, gave a presentation regarding health care issues in Southwest Florida and Estero.  Lee Memorial owns 22 acres in Estero for future building. They also are half owner of the Bonita Community Health Center.  Jim gave some statistics about the health care community in the region.  Southwest Florida is twice the national average of over 65 in population.  Seniors use health care twice as much as others. Southwest Florida boasts a 2.6% unemployment rate.

One quarter of the under 65 population in southwest Florida has no health insurance. These people rely upon emergency rooms for their health care.   New residents are kept busy with moving and do not quickly find a primary care physician.  They also use the emergency room in large numbers. Southwest Florida was named the worst place for physicians to locate.  The demographics are high Medicare, high medicate and high numbers of uninsured, highly litigious state, high cost of malpractice insurance.  The usual way for physicians to join a practice and move up as the older partners retire doesn’t apply here in SW Florida.  These just show that a lot of the traditional market forces don’t always fit in the health care industry. 

Mr. Nathan talked about free standing emergency departments and mentioned the current moratorium on building a facility like this today.  He mentioned a very good study that may be accessed by going to www.fha.orgg and clicking on the 911 task force.  The study is on the challenges facing emergency departments.     Nathan mentioned working with the legislature regarding freestanding emergency departments, the short supply of physicians for our population, the possibility of volunteer medical staff working in clinics serving the uninsured and provisions made for their malpractice insurance etc.  Many avenues are being explored.  Nathan stated that the petition being encouraged by the ECCL and ECA cannot hurt.

Sam Levy has more petitions for your organizations to sign.  A deadline has not been set for the petitions.  They will be handed to various legislators to let them know that thousands of people have signed these petitions and are expressing their wish for the moratorium on stand alone emergency care facilities be lifted.  The forms can be accessed from the www.esterofl.orgg website. 

Estero’s Commercial Growth

Greg Toth from Select Real Estate gave a presentation on commercial growth in Estero.  He complemented this group on their volunteer efforts and dedication to Estero.  He gave an example of property value growth.  They assembled the acreage which became the North Point property and sold it in 1998 for $18 million.  Just recently, this property sold for $34.4 million.  This, he said, is a good example of good land planning creating better value on the market.  Tiffany Longo, also of Select Real Estate, talked about recent projects going up in Estero. Estero Park Commons has pre-sold 80,000 sq.ft.  Veterinary specialists have taken an entire building with ophthalmologists, dermatologists, surgeons, cardiologists and 24 hour veterinary care.  The Estero Medical Center, now under construction at Corkscrew and Three Oaks has about 5,000 sq.ft. leased already.  Greg mentioned drawings he brought to the first planning panel depicting blocks of buildings; he noted how very different and a huge improvement the development has taken since its early inception.

Sheriff’s Office at Coconut Point Town Center

Sam Levy confirmed that the Lee County Sheriff will open and office in space that is being donated by Coconut Point.  In 30 to 60 days all permits should be in place in readiness for the Sheriff’s office to be ready for occupancy late this year.

Transportation Committee

I-75 Coconut Road interchange has become a controversial matter.  Don Eslick wrote an article for the newspaper discussing the many pieces to this puzzle that can be accessed at http://esterofl.org/eccl/EDR/estero_development_report_february_2006.htm.

Eslcik and Neal Noethlich will Participate in a Growth Forum led by Commissioner Albion at FGCU on Thursday, February 23. The bottom line is the $10 million would move this project up in priority while other projects already in the plan get pushed back and overall the County is already $2 billion short in the funding of existing projects.  This is the foremost reason the ECCL has been against this project at this time.

Bonnie Brandt reported on the progress of US 41 from Corkscrew to San Carlos Park.

The retention pond at the location of US 41 and Broadway on what was the Boomer property is the last obstacle to having final design, permitting and fight-of-way. The Lee County BOCC has to make the final decision on the use of this property for detention purposes.  Commissioner Judah is against this location. As an alternative he suggests the developers donate the space for the pond.  They need about 3.5 acres for the pond.

On April 4 from 5-7 p.m. FDOT will conduct a public meeting at the South County Regional Library to discuss this section of roadway.  The County has agreed to build the road with the developers paying the interest on the $25 million loan.   A motion was made and seconded  that ECCL support the County’s request that FDOT accept the responsibility for any cost overrun on the US 41 widening project from Corkscrew Road to San Carlos Park.  A letter detailing this motion will be sent to Mike Rippe, Regional Director of FDOT 

Three Oaks Parkway, in all of its segments seems to be on schedule. The widening of the intersection west of US 41 at Williams should be started by the end of the year, all paid for by the developer—no County money involved.  This will create two left turn lanes onto US 41, straight through lanes in each direction and a right turn lane in each direction.  Coconut Road/US 41 intersection will be developed in a similar configuration by the developer of Coconut Crossings, located on the northwest corner of US 41 and Coconut.

Dick Steele is heading a County task force to study road development with the goal in mind of saving time and money.  He has 4-5 students from FGCU to help with the needed research.

There will be a joint meeting of the Lee and Collier MPOs on February 24 at FGCU with emphasis on the toll way. 

Sam Levy discussed the traffic at Corkscrew and I 75 and the backups that occur going to Miromar, especially on I-75 from the south.  The one left turn lane into Miromar Outlets  is not enough. Gordon Lyons suggested a “Miromar Outlets” sign at Alico, but the state roads will not allow commercial entities any signage of this sort.

Financial Development Committee

Jim Ramsburg and Dan Dronkers will have a fund raising strategy prepared for next month.   

Arts Development Committee

Frann Wagner reported that the Estero Arts Event will be held at the Coconut Point Hyatt Resort on April 8, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Those participating so far include the Southwest Florida Symphony, Gulfshore Playhouse, Estero Historical Society, Estero Art League and FGCU Performing Arts Department.  Shirley Furry from the Southwest Florida Symphony is working on the dates for three performances at the Estero Community Park during the 2006-07 season. 

ECCL “Seasonal” Social Event

Jim Ramsburg reported that discussions are underway to plan a strictly “get to know you” social event for the members of the ECCL, ECA, ECPP and EDRG committees and their spouses.

ECPP Appointments

A motion was made to approve Neal Noethlich and Don Eslick to be members of the ECPP board for 2006.  The motion was seconded and approved.  No other names were put forth.  Neal emphasized the fact that both he and Don need a “shadow” person to intern for their jobs.  Hours can be from 15 to 30 hours a week, depending on the number of meetings. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.  The next meeting will be March 10, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Rapallo.

Respectfully submitted,

Faie Saunders, Secretary