Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

                                               Minutes of the 49th Monthly Meeting
                                                            February 16, 2007
                                                            1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
 
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Eslick at 1:00 p.m. at the Estero Community Park.  A quorum was present. Mr. Eslick announced that 1 p.m. would be the regular meeting time for the Council at the Estero Community Park.
 
Forty people were in attendance representing nineteen residential communities and five community wide organizations.  Three guests were present.
 
Guests were introduced.

Minutes

Due to the holidays, the minutes of the December and January meetings are not quite ready.  They should be available online at www.esterofl.org shortly and will be presented with the February minutes at the March meeting.  Hopefully, at that time we will be up to date.  We apologize for the delay.

Treasurer’s Report

Chris Smith reported a balance of $3,375.96 with an income of $1,000 in dues and expenses for the month of $168.  The Estero Community Improvement Foundation has a balance of $12,601.17.  ECIF income this month totaled $2,050 for the Dillard’s fashion show and $2,500, a donation from Kite Realty.  Expenses were $114.  Reminders have been mailed to communities that have not paid their 2007 dues.  Chris has extra invoices for those needing them.  Don read the names of those communities not yet paid and encouraged their members to work with their Boards to get their dues paid.   The treasurer’s report was approved, seconded, and accepted by a unanimous vote.

Estero Fire Rescue Report

Dick Schweers, Chairman of the Board of Estero Fire Rescue, reported about the need for a traffic light for their newest station, #2 which was opened in October 2005.  The station is directly opposite Fountain Lakes on US 41.  At times, the Estero Fire Rescue can be crossing ten lanes of traffic when going south to a call. 
 
The district expected a traffic signal to be installed when the station opened for business.  Time is of the essence on many calls.  Oakbrook Properties, the developer of Coconut Point, will install the signal when FDOT warrants it to be a full working traffic signal.  FDOT will now approve an emergency signal, one that can be activated at the fire station when the equipment needs to leave the station.
 
The signal needs to be hurricane proof, hurricane resistant and would cost nearly $300,000.  Oakbrook will pay when the FULL signal is warranted, but it is not warranted now.  Fountain Lakes will contribute $5,000 to the emergency signal as will Joe Pavich, who owns property on the southwest corner of the intersection.  Oakbrook properties will pay for one-half of this project; they do not have to do this, but it is a good public relations gesture.  Mr. Schweers has asked the Estero Fire District board to approve $145,000 for the project.  This money would be an advance which would be paid back when the full working traffic light goes in.  The district has also been working with Commissioner Judah and he has stated that he will get the county moving on the design and installation of the emergency light.  Once the approval is there, it will be ten months before installation.
 
A motion was made to inform FDOT of the situation and our wishes to get that light in place as soon as possible.  The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.  A letter of information will be sent in the name of the ECCL.
 
Susan Lindenmuth of Estero Fire Rescue reported that a drafted financial master plan is on their website, www.esterofire.org.   Lee Memorial Health Systems has instituted a File for Life plan whereby an individual’s emergency health information can be entered  on a form, inserted into a RED magnetized pouch and placed on the refrigerator in your home.  The firemen and EMS personnel are trained to look for this upon entering a home during an emergency situation.  These may be obtained from any fire station. 

Policy Coordination with Bonita City Council

Councilman Joyce, Sam Levy and Don Eslick met with the Chief of Strategic Planning for Lee Memorial.  Mike Riley, who runs the Bonita Springs Health Center, was also present.  Lee Memorial’s study of the hospital needs of Estero and the surrounding communities is about two years old.
 
The ECCL and Bonita Springs pointed out to Lee Memorial that their population projections were not at all accurate or up to date.  Bonita has just completed an Evaluation and Appraisal Report for the State Department of Community Affairs which projects the City’s population through 2014.  Population estimates based upon building permits in Estero were also provided.  This committee will also meet with Dr. Weiss, the chairman of Naples Community Hospital to determine if they have any interest in serving the medical needs of our area.
 
Commissioner Judah has been contacted by the ECCL asking him to try to get some funds into the county’s capital improvement program for the design of the Sandy Lane extension going into Bonita Springs. Bonita has said they will “supplement” these costs but cautioned the county to not diminish any funds from the Bonita Springs Road or other projects now under their consideration by the City.
 
Bonita is supporting the efforts of the ECCL to obtain grant money to study land use Planning for the DR/GR. 

Estero Community Improvement Foundation Report

Dan Dronkers had tickets for the Dillard’s fashion show which will be Saturday, February 17 at 8:30 a.m.  He also had tickets available for the All Fun and No Work party which will be on the evening of March 19 at Country Creek Country Club.  Tickets are $10 per person. One future fund raiser involves golf and one involves turtles. 

The Paulette Burton Award

Neal Noethlich reported that Don Eslick has been nominated for the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award to be awarded to the winner on Tuesday, February 20 at 9:30 a.m. at the Board of County Commissioners regular weekly meeting.  (Mr. Eslick did win the award.)

ECCL Organizational and Membership issues

Barbara Akins reported that the Estero Civic Association has a booth this morning for the Grand Opening of Coconut Point Mall and the Arts in Estero 2007 event.  Barbara was verifying membership in the ECCL and trying to update the records.  New communities were encouraged to appoint a member and alternate member to the ECCL.
 
A list of all Board of Directors members of the participating residential communities is requested so that they might receive the monthly Estero Development Report, the ECCL agenda and meeting minutes.
 
The executive committee would like to recommend for approval the following ECCL members as liaisons to various organizations:
 
            FGCU                                                                  Sam Levy
            CREW                                                                 Jack Meeker
            Southwest Florida Regional Planning Commission   Don Vilnius
            Southwest Florida Expressway Authority                 Jack Meeker
            South Florida Water Management District                Bill Hillemeyer
            Lee County Code Enforcement                                Sam Levy and
                                                                                        Dan Dronkers
 
These liaisons were approved unanimously; their help is very valuable to the organization.

Estero Civic Association

Jane McNew reported that the ECA will present Scotty Wood who will speak about the legislation regarding homeowners insurance. Bob Malloy, an expert in wind damage, will also speak at the meeting.  This meeting will take place on Monday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m.

DR/GR Mining and Truck Traffic

Neal Noethlich reported on his research with Lee County on the subject of truck traffic counting.  The county does only vehicle measurements, not specifically truck traffic counts.  Therefore, Estero volunteers will have to do the truck traffic counts at several locations during March and April.  This study will be an important piece of information for the Hearing Examiners when deciding on their approval or disapproval of any new mines because it demonstrates that the mines affect, not only on the immediate neighbors of the mines, but the overall community. 
 
Certification of the report was stressed.  A video report needs to be developed to supplement the traffic count documentation.  Noise levels should also be tested at different times of day and at various locations. One additional point was made; when the dump trucks leave a standing position, they emit carcinogens in their exhaust, making the abundance of these trucks a health threat.
 
Don Vilnius reported that a grant application is being made to the E.O. Dunn Foundation in order to analyze the best ways to plan for the future use and preservation of the DR/GR.

Incorporation Referendum

John Ruehl reported that he would like to encourage the ECCL to once again establish a committee to discuss and determine if a referendum is appropriate at this time to discuss incorporation of Estero.  The referendum would give the community a chance to vote on incorporation now.  Jim Fraser spoke to the subject.  Incorporation is an act of the state legislature.  The two mile buffer between Estero and Bonita Springs would be an item of discussion if incorporation were to take place and Jim would spearhead a committee that would challenge the state that would disenfranchise his rights to choose to live in Estero or Bonita Springs.  He believes that this is an unconstitutional infringement of his rights under the 14th amendment.  The referendum item will be under consideration.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Jennifer Hecker came to the meeting to speak about the Conservancy’s efforts to stop the “Agripartners Ditch”.  Agripartners has obtained the approval from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to dig a four mile long ditch on the west and south sides of its property east of I 75 in the DR/GR.  This would drain the adjacent wetlands and more than likely lead to residential development of the property.  The Southwest Florida Regional Planning council determined that almost 1,300 acres of wetlands would be drained by this four mile canal. The Conservancy feels that the water management board did not do a very scientific study in determining this decision.  Water quality, recharge of the aquifer, draining of contingent lands, wildlife habitat, etc., was not taken into consideration.  The Conservancy believes a federal permit is needed to dig and has a filed a petition to stop the activity. Barb Akins made the motion that the ECCL support the candidacy of Wayne Daltry and Greg Rawls for appointment by the Governor to the governing board of the SFWMD.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.  Consideration of the ECCL joining the Conservancy will be discussed next month.

US 41 from Corkscrew Road to San Carlos Park

No response was received from Trudy Williams regarding this project.  Senator Aronberg was very positive and supportive and will let FDOT know that this is a priority item with him.  Neal Noethlich also met with the pastor and building committee of the Estero United Methodist Church at Broadway and US 41.  The church is willing to sell the Sate the two acres that it needs for a detention pond in this area but wants a clean sale, no responsibility for maintenance of the detention pond.  Both parties agreed that the southernmost area of the property is the best spot for this pond. Now, FDOT has no reason to say the location of the detention pond is what is holding up the highway project.  They still need to come back to the church with a firm fair market value offer.
 
Don Eslick has asked Lee DOT to provide updated monthly pictures of the progress of constructing Imperial and Three Oaks south of Coconut Road and they have put this on their website. 

Website Update

Kim Dailey has reported that January had 4,115 visitors, an average of 212 visits per day

Southwest Symphony

The Southwest Symphony will be giving a concert in the band shell at Estero Community Park on Sunday, March 4 at 4 p.m. 

FGCU Presidential Search

Phil Douglass has attended meetings of FGCU’s search committee in their effort to find a new president for the university.  The search committee will have a public forum on its website which will ask what qualities and requirements you believe should be considered in this search.  Please check the website.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.  Next meeting will be Friday, March 16, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the Estero Community Park.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Faie Saunders, Secretary