Town officials join forces for meeting of minds
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council and Local Planning Agency discussed five issues as part of their first joint workshop of the year at Town Hall Thursday. The two groups talked about historic preservation, beach furniture compliances, right-of-ways, current LPA activities for Council direction; and action lists for Council’s Agenda Management.
The latter discussion focused on ways to link joint Council/LPA items for improved priority and scheduling. The town officials set more dates for future workshops, including a meeting between the LPA chairman, mayor and town manager on Oct. 21, and possibly every third Wednesday of each quarter at 1 p.m.
“The Town Council has made a commitment to speak to each of the committees,” said FMB Mayor Larry Kiker. “At the end of the day, we came up with what I think is better quality control communications. We’re using agenda management as a straw horse for all the other committees. I’ll probably be going to each one of the committee meetings to explain it to them.”
Each LPA member of the discussion group weighed in on sharing each group’s action lists and offered suggestions about overall communication between committees and Council.
“My reaction after having watched the Town Council meetings for about three years now is that you don’t get the time and information that the LPA and Historic Preservation Board has, said LPA Chairman Dennis Weimer. And, I know the amount of time that the people in our group spend cogitating these issues. I did an evaluation of all of the resolutions that have passed through the LPA over historic signs. I’m here to tell you that in 10 cases that came before the LPA, the criteria were listed, the hearings were held, the applications were reviewed, and every one of those had a unanimous vote. I’ve seen what Town Council has on its plate, and I don’t think you have the time.”
“I really think we need a lot more of these committees covering topics with all the research gathering, all the evaluation and all the staff input to the committee that then comes before the LPA or Council so that you have a really good packet of information in an effort to limit the number of those kind of meetings where maybe nothing is getting done,” said LPA Vice-Chair Alan Mandel.
“I have one tremendous concern about the future of the LPA,” said Bill Van Duzer. “Right now, we are one member short and people aren’t applying for that open position. We also have two or three members whose time is running out shortly. I really do like the idea of the work session meetings and easier open communications between the LPA and Council.”
“Time is money, and when you don’t communicate well and you’re not efficient, you waste a lot of money that you can’t even comprehend,” said Joanne Shamp. “We want clear direction and that’s important. It’s also important because it is a waste of our time as volunteers. We want to utilize the time that we give wisely.”
“I agree with everything Joanne said and, being the new kid on the block, hopefully I’ve done some good,” said Carleton Ryffel. “Hopefully, (these meetings) serves us all well.”
“This meeting today went very well,” said Rochelle Kay. “I think that we are a group of people who can work well. I think (the LPA) is a good committee who works well together and likes each other. It’s important.”
LPA Staff Liaison Frank Shockey and Mayor Larry Kiker also gave their viewpoints on the subject.
“I still have ambitions that the policy that is desired by the people in the town by the appointed committees and elected officials can be implemented with as little procedural issue as possible and yet give people the proper hearing and process as they deserve,” said Shockey. “It’s your collective wills that those things stay the same or change.”
“If it wasn’t for the folks in this room that do volunteer their time, we would be done,” said Kiker. “We’re not a big town and we don’t have a huge staff, so every component of Town government covered exists here. We appreciate what you do.”