Town proposes agenda for Newton Park/fees for BORC
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council began a series of work sessions Monday night by discussing in detail the agenda plans for officially opening Newton Beach Park. This session -as well as a Tuesday morning meeting to discuss fees for the newly acquired Bay Oaks Recreational Campus- was set at the Council’s Management and Planning meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the Town officials prioritized certain impending issues under agenda management. Both topics will be further discussed at the Town Council meeting Nov. 2.
“These workshops will position ourselves to be ready to conduct business when we get into our Council meetings and not beleaguer the point so much,” said FMB Mayor Larry Kiker.
Green echoed the sentiment about the agenda management issues.
“It seems to me the better prepared you are, the better decisions you make,” said interim Town Manager Jack Green. “I think it’s important for the public to be allowed to impart their opinion. (Council) can make their accommodations at that time. An informed Council is a better thing.”
Newton Beach Park
On Monday, the Council met with two Town officials: Green and Director of Cultural Resources Theresa Schober, who oversees the project. The discussion went over details about the Park’s Master Concept Plan; the Dune Cross-over; landscaping aspects; scheduling time line; and budgeting issues. The plan is to go out to bid for the listed items Monday, Nov. 2.
Regarding the Dune Cross-over, the Town expects to implement a minor modification to an existing path to allow those using the public right-of-way from the south side of the Park to come across the Newton Park land for cross-over usage to the beach. The officials also agreed to add a vegetative buffer between the park and the residential property on the south side of it.
Landscaping will include five different types of trees: canopy, palm, cabbage palm, seagrape and understory. Mayor Larry Kiker questioned the vision of the park due to too much of its space being occupied by plants, while he and Councilman Tom Babcock expressed interest in having more picnic tables with shade coverings.
“If we take up all the property with plants, we’ll have no place for the kids and visitors,” said Kiker.
“I would be more interested in seeing more picnic areas that are closer to the beach,” said Babcock.
The session officials then worked around the scheduling of the project. By Jan. 1, the Seven Seas building is expected to be complete; the cottage is expected to be demolished and removed (but its fireplace could be a fixture for either fires or ornamental reasons); and the grounds are expected to be cleaned up and include added features such as tables.
“We’re going to be open at the beginning of the year,” said Kiker. “South Seas restoration will be complete; the cottage will be removed; and the grounds will be secured and made usable for the public. Then, we’ll have incremental projects like the development of the grounds and plantings.”
Schober would like to see a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Seven Seas and a ground-breaking event around the New Year.
“We’re hoping to include all of the improvements as one package,” she said. “That would be the most cost efficient to the Town.
Regarding the park’s budget, the Town officials went over what appropriated monies have been spent as opposed to what hasn’t been spent. Schober also recommended night time site security.
“It would be my recommendation that you gate the parking area where you enter and exit to prevent vehicle access at night,” she said. “Most of the neighbors are concerned about vandalism and transience.”
The annual cost of running Newton Beach Park was reported to be roughly $15,000. Green said that figure is expected to be added to Capital Reserves when Council meets for an upcoming budget process for next year.
According to town documents, The Town purchased the nearly one-acre beach-front property in 2003 for $2.5 million with the bulk of the funding coming from a grant from Florida Communities Trust. It is the former residence of Jim and Ellie Newton.
The project, which was put on hold after Hurricane Charley in 2004, was made a priority when Kiker took office in 2006.
Bay Oaks Recreational Campus
On Tuesday, the Town Council and interim Town Manager Jack Green met with Bay Oaks Ad Hoc Member Pete Yeatman at Bay Oaks Recreational Center to discuss the appropriate rates for admission into the campus.
The discussion centered on a proposed fee schedule for the campus; compared rates with other municipal recreation facilities; and supplied responses to questions posed by Councilman Tom Babcock.
The fee schedule touched on certain general membership and non-membership rates including costs for residents as opposed to non-residents. It also includes rates for programs and the Community Pool for both classes as well as seasonal residents. The group then focused on facility rental/reservations to further provide income for the campus’ building, pool, courts and fields.
“Our goal was for you to fully understand the fee schedule and how it was developed,” said Green. “On Nov. 2, when you have the resolution and a fee schedule in front of you at that meeting, you’ll be better prepared to make a decision.”