Marine Resources Task Force: Work In Progress Report for Nov. 4 meeting
MRTF is pleased to report to the Town Council on the projects it has taken up, progress in that regard and the status of other items that may be of interest to the Town Council. Following is a list and update on each. MRTF welcomes direction from Town Council on any of these issues:
– “Welcome To FMB” Brochure The Print Shop Ink of Ft. Myers Beach, with a low bid of $699.00, was selected to reprint a run of 5,000 copies of the third printing of the “Welcome to FMB” brochure. Printing will commence this month.
– “Beach Do’s And Don’ts” Poster Member Roger Johnson distributed a couple of hundred of these posters at October’s FMB Condominium Association meeting, and e-mailed a digital version to that organization’s members, as well. Roger will next target beach rental homes and small inns using a laminated version of the poster, laminated with the Town’s equipment.
– Beach Raking MRTF reviewed the Town staff’s recommendation for permit requirements for beach raking businesses presented by Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen. MRTF suggested some changes to the staff’s recommendations and stressed the need to begin enforcing current beach raking ordinances MRTF will plan a public workshop on beach raking permitting this winter. Keith will bring a revised version of the staff recommendation to the December MRTF meeting.
– “No Wake Zone” Buoys – Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen reported that Lee County recently completed its annual survey of “no wake zone” buoys that are located 500 feet off our Gulf beaches. All missing buoys have been replaced.
– Fertilizer Ordinance Education Member Charles Hester will be developing updated information for inclusion on the Town’s website and will have more information at our December meeting
– No Motorized Zones (Pole & Troll) Member Al Durrett is coordinating the ongoing educational efforts regarding this matter will have an update at the December MRTF meeting.
– Canal Depth Survey Chair Jeff Werner and Vice Chair Jay Light will continue the survey during the month of November.
– Monofilament Recycling Project Environmental Sciences Coordinator Keith Laakkonen reported that Lee County has donated three bins to the Town as part of their Monofilament Recycling Program. These bins will be placed on the Estero Island side of the Matanzas Pass and Big Carlos Pass bridges, as well as the Mound House during the month of November. Since volunteers will be needed, on a weekly basis, to empty, record data and recycle the monofilament fishing line from the bins, Vice Chair Jay Light suggested this might be a good project for our local Boy Scout troop. Chair Jeff Werner will follow up on this once the bins are installed.
– Fertilizer Ordinance Review All MRTF members at the meeting agreed that the Town’s current fertilizer ordinance is working properly and does not need to be amended.
– Town Council-BOCC Environmental Topics Councilman Tom Babcock asked MRTF for environmental topics for potential inclusion in the discussion during the upcoming Town Council-BOCC meeting. Vice Chair Jay Light suggested the County help defray the cost of operating the Town’s pump out boat for boats anchored in County waters outside the Town’s mooring field. MRTF passed a resolution to strongly encourage all elected officials at the Town, County, State and Federal levels to oppose legislative attempts to allow offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
– Beach Conditions Monitoring – Member Charles Hester introduced an offer by Mote Marine Laboratory and START (Solutions To Avoid Red Tide) to provide funding for the Town to add two more Estero Island locations to the daily online beach conditions report operated by Mote Marine. Currently, the County reports beach conditions from Bowditch Point, Lynn Hall Park and Lover’s Key. MRTF recommended the two new reporting sites be the beaches at Newton Park and Holiday Inn. The Town will receive a Blackberry smart phone from Mote and the Beach Patrol staff will be trained to complete the data reporting. Interim Town Manager Jack Green has approved this project.
Respectfully submitted to Town Council members following the regular monthly meeting of the Marine Resources Task Force.
Jeff Werner
Chair