Estero Council of Community Leaders

Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting

May 13, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Eslick in the River Club of Pelican Sound at 2:05. A quorum was present.

New attendees were acknowledged and introduced. Thirty eight people were in attendance representing twenty five communities.

Minutes

The minutes of the April 15, 2005 meeting were approved and seconded.

Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of Treasurer Chris Smith, Faie Saunders, Secretary, read the report. $200 in dues was received from the ECCP and Cypress Bend. There were no expenses. The balance is $1644.60. The report was approved and seconded.

National EMS Week

May 15-21 has been designated National EMS Week to recognize EMS providers throughout the U.S. The resolution was read and adopted to honor those EMS providers.

Estero Community Park

John Yarborough, Director of Lee County Parks and Recreation, came to speak to the ECCL and discussed the many programs that will be offered once the Recreation Center building is completed in May or June of 2006. Completion is two months behind schedule due to delays caused mostly by rain. Charts were passed showing the numerous programs that will be offered. The total budget for these facilities is $12 million. There will be meeting rooms of at least 2,000 square feet, 3 basketball courts, 4 volleyball courts plus a full size gymnasium. Rooms will be used for “Mommy and Me”, crafts, weights, fitness center, yoga, bridge, art class, senior programs and more. Phase one of the park will open all at one time. In addition there will be a open area concert facility, a dog park, a cross country track and a water playground. Phase II will have a roller hockey facility, skateboard park, and soccer fields. Impact fees are about to go up about 33% as a result of land values and increased building construction costs.

Member Status

Stan Reese has been designated by the Breckenridge community to be an alternate to Bill Brown. He was approved and seconded.

Estero Chamber of Commerce

The Estero Chamber of Commerce has asked that we no longer use their name in any publication or advertisement. In response to this request The Estero Development Report will no longer indicate that the EDR will appear on their web site and will no longer include the schedule of the Chamber’s Business After Hours. In addition Jim Ramsburg has been asked to remove the Chamber from any mention in the Village with a Vision program and its advertising. Hope was expressed that in the future the ECCL could work with the Chamber on issues of common concern.

Estero High School Landscaping Project

Dan Dronkers from Marsh Landing will take over the responsibility of managing this project. Bill Pryzi, a licensed landscape architect has agreed to donate his time to design this project and a 501© 3 corporation will be created to enable donations be raised in a tax-exempt form.

Website Development

Someone is needed to develop a website in conjunction with the ECPP, EDRC and the Estero Civic Association.

Association Insurance

Jim Frasier has been working on general liability insurance for the association. We now have in place, directors and officers’ liability insurance. Jim is checking three companies; the insurance would cost about $700. We have this amount in the budget. A resolution was moved and seconded to further pursue and later report about this coverage. Neal Noethlich reported that Stuart and Associates is the broker who obtained this kind of insurance for the ECPP.

Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee has met with many State and County transportation related agencies and the county commissioners, including the County Public Lands Department. Jane Sespaniak reported on the meeting with the County Lands committee. They have 87 projects going on currently with 4 in our immediate area.

Neal Noethlich reported that after many meetings, it is clear that we can influence what transportation projects get done and when and that we need to prioritize because of the number of projects that is ongoing. At this time, the two that need to be watched most closely are Three Oaks Parkway and the Estero Parkway Flyover. The “education” part of our program seems to be over and now we must decide where to concentrate our efforts.

At this time, US 41 from Corkscrew to San Carlos Park will not be 6 lanes until 2011. We are not confident that the Design, Right of Way acquisition and permitting will be completed by mid-2006 as scheduled. Wal-Mart is attempting to find if there will be a delay and what could be causing it. A traffic signal at Estero Parkway and US 41 must be part of this design effort. The price for construction of the six-laning of this section has been increased to $22 million dollars, up from $17 million a year ago. Five development projects have been proposed along in the last six months along this short span of US 41. It is imperative that the adjacent communities get involved; when meetings come up, be aware and attend. Delay means higher cost, higher cost means delay. The “push” must come from the community

The intersection of Corkscrew Road and Interstate I-75 is a state and county project. The Transportation Committee has made both agencies aware of our concerns about the traffic congestion in this area. We are now working with the MPO and FDOT regarding possible use of Congestion Management Funds to address some of this problem. This is the first time the Committee has become aware of this fund. Perhaps the fund could have been used for another west bound north turn lane onto I-75.

The Estero Flyover, when completed would relieve the Corkscrew problem. Jim Boesch reported that the county has found the $9.4 million for this project.

Williams Road and US 41 is still being coordinated with Paradise Shoppes, West Bay, Fountain Lakes and Pelican Sound. They are awaiting County approval of the design for the first phase of the improvement.

Harry Campbell is the head of traffic safety. In his meeting with the Committee he indicated that the county has 53 separate traffic signal systems that are not coordinated with one another. We need to continue to work with Campbell to obtain funding for an advanced traffic signal system. Traffic and transportation are keys to the success of Estero as a community and help is needed everywhere.

More detailed information may be found within the Transportation Committee Reports.

Friends of the South County Regional Library, Inc.

The Readers’ Digest book collection has been very successful. The library receives $1 for each book it obtains. They have thus far sold 700 books with the proceeds being allocated to unmet Library needs.

Post Office

The post office is looking for a site of 5 to 7 acres. The school board has 76 acres on the east side of Three Oaks just north of Corkscrew; however, it may not be available in time for the Post Office. If anyone is aware of a site of this size, please let the ECCL or the Post Office know. Conceptually, it would be “nice” if all of the areas in the Estero Plan were served by that new post office. On the other hand, all our personal legal documents would have to be changed and this must be considered down the road. Residents may have mixed feelings about this. It was pointed out that the phone company has changed our area code three times in the last fifteen years.

EDRC

The May meeting lasted three and one-half hours. There were five projects presented that evening and they are all coming back with revisions. The EDRC is getting very busy and their role is critical. Walgreen’s, Lowe’s, Arizona Pizza, Barkis Carwash and Bella Vista (NW corner of Broadway and US 41) presented plans. The EDRC has been in existence since October of 2002 and has had 34 meetings. The committee consists of volunteer professionals in architecture, construction and landscaping. They are “the keeper of the code” according to Neal Noethlich. Lowe’s had the “most pleasing” presentation and Arizona Pizza was the least desirable, least imaginative design.

Anyone interested in architecture and what the community will look like, let the ECCL know. There are numerous meetings prior to a development and other eyes and ears would be helpful.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Faie Saunders
Secretary