Town hosts Beach Leadership Conference
The Town of Fort Myers Beach will be completing its three-day Beach Leadership Conference today (Wednesday, May 19) with a dinner at South Beach Restaurant in Santini Marina Plaza. Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah will be the guest speaker and Certificates of Completion will be given to those who attended the full program.
Jim Rodwell, the chairman of the Community Resources Advisory Board, hosted the informative conference which featured guest speakers, field trips and interactive group discussions on various Beach government processes and community resources.
FMB Mayor Larry Kiker opened the conference on Wednesday, May 12, by cautioning the attendees not to learn how to manage by committee.
“It’s called learn how to manage by working together,” said Kiker. “The point is can you get someone to accept what it is that you have to say and what you have to think. If you work with other people, you will find the right answer. That’s what it’s all about.”
The day’s agenda involved six other Town government speakers in the morning, five Town advisory committee chair speakers followed by walking trips to Beach Elementary School, Matanzas Pass Preserve, the Historic Cottage and Bay Oaks Recreational Campus in the afternoon. Councilwoman Jo List finished the first session with a talk about CRAB.
Here is a capsule look from the discussions by the morning speakers:
– Terry Stewart, Town Manager — Stewart disclosed the Beach community population to be 6,973 residents during his inspirational talk on past and present town government. “Towns/cities is the one enduring form of government. The thing that you are doing right now is the most valuable thing that you can possibly do for your community. You have the opportunity to have a positive influence in people’s lives. There is only one abiding reason for government to exist, and that reason is to do things for people that they cannot do for themselves.”
– Cathie Lewis, Public Works Director — Lewis explained the functions and different departments of public works. “Public works departments are put in place to provide maintenance, facility improvements and infrastructure projects. Our departments consists of seven divisions (maintenance, facilities and project management, harbor and mooring facilities maintenance, public services, parks & recreation, the water utility and storm water management) with 19 full-time employees and 20 part-time and seasonal employees.
– Amanda Anderson, Finance Coordinator — Anderson (subbing for Finance Director Evelyn Wicks) provided a power point presentation to describe her office’s functions. Key points: only 5.07 percent of all Beach residents’
total tax bill returns to town; Town uses general funds, special revenue funds (road impact fees, beach re-nourishment, gas tax, emergency preparedness) and capital project funds (north Estero improvements, Newton Park, neighborhood landscaping, beach accesses); ad-valorem taxes represent 42 percent of all operating revenue.
– Michelle Mayher, Town Clerk — Mayher’s duties include accurately compiling and maintaining records of the actions of the town council and directs the management and maintenance of all town records. “After past failed attempts in corporation, the Fort Myers Beach incorporation committee was formed in 1995 and consisted of local residents and business owners. Of the 4,179 registered voters, 2,918 ballots were cast with 53.5 percent voted yes for approval and 46.95 voted no for rejection. Out town was born. Twenty-three islanders qualified for the five seats. “Rusty” Isler, Ted Fitzsimmons, Anita Cereceda, Garr Reynolds and Ray Murphy took office at the first town council meeting held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 14, 1995, at the Bay Oaks Community Center.”
– Frank Shockey, Community Development Director — Shockey explained his office’s responsibilities. “We’re supposed to look at the whole community and decide through cooperative and public input-type measures what parts of the community are going to be residential, commercial and mixed in the future as well as what it’s going to look like. This falls within the domain of the comprehensive plan. In addition to planning, you need to have rules which either fall under zoning, development review and building code/permits. Code enforcement and law enforcement are mechanisms for enforcing the coordinances.”
– Anne Dalton, Town Attorney — Dalton will be leaving her duties once town council finds a replacement. She has aided the council in legal advice during the business and governance of the town. “Part of my job is assisting with the business of the town from a legal standpoint.” Regarding the governance, she discussed the requirements of the Florida Sunshine Laws. “In one way it protects the community and protects the process of governing and, in another way, it’s actually very destructive to the process of governing. If you serve on an advisory committee or town council, any part of the decision-making process you engage in must occur in the sunshine. Every piece of your decision-making process has to occur in a public arena with the public able to observe. The Sunshine Law requires you to give adequate notice so that the people can come and listen.”