Council mulls over permit fee strategy
Town officials are seeking clearer policy in regards to the action of waiving special event permit fees for qualifying non-profit organizations. On Friday, they discussed the matter during a work session at Town Hall.
In the past, Town officials have made contributions to nonprofit organizations or have granted permit waivers to like groups who have put on Beach events or a series of events. The waived fees have occured prior to or after the day of the actual event. Distributed money has come on a first-come, first-serve basis until the allotted money is exhausted. That number of money seekers have grown, inciting a need for better guidelines.
As of now, the Town does not have a solid policy in place. Permit fees are $40 apiece.
“We need to have expectations for everyone,” said Councilwoman Summer Stockton.
Stockton stated she called six other municipalities -Sanibel, Marco Island, Venice, Punta Gorda, Bonita Springs and Long Boat Key- to see what policy each had in regards to permit fees.
“Not one of them actually waived permit fees altogether,” she reported. “Some of them reduce fees.”
Bonita Springs is one community that has assembled a special committee to be responsible for equally dividing its budgeted money and addressing issues once they arise.
Venice, like Fort Myers Beach, has no formal policy. Ironically, officials in that town have a discussion planned on the subject on April 29.
Council members discussed non-profit fee waivers at a Oct. 21 work session and decided to narrow the evaluation criteria before re-addressing the matter. When it was brought up again at the March 18 meeting, the agenda item was designated for a workshop.
“We never really reached a conclusion,” said Councilman Alan Mandel.
Town officials have budgeted $60,000 annually for special events.
“When we budgeted that, the envision was for promoting the Beach,” said Vice Mayor Dan Andre, who compared the funds to TDC money.
Beach Mayor Anita Cereceda stated she would begin to assemble a group of residents and business people to dig further into the matter. Bringing in officials from Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Beach Fire Department may be beneficial as well. She plans on giving a progress report on Monday (April 7) during the Council’s morning meeting.
“This needs to be looked at comprehensively,” she said.
Beach Chamber President Bud Nocera and Santini Marina Plaza Manager Al Durrett are two potential committee members. Both offered comment at the Friday workshop.
Nocera believes there are two issues that need to be delved into: the cost and the process. Events, particularly off-season events, are essential in driving business to Beach businesses.
“The whole idea is to use them as an economic development tool,” he said.
Event organizers have to deal with other costs for the set-up and breakdown as well as within an event’s scope.
“It’s not just the $40 to the Town,” said Nocera. “For instance, during the Taste of the Beach, we are going to get hit with a cost for the parking meters for that afternoon.
During Pirate Fest 2013, Nocera said the Beach Chamber was charged $350 for parking meter usage. That fee is equated during a cost breakdown for the whole year, and not looked at as an event held during a slower portion of the year.
Event costs can add up quickly, says Nocera. Some events require fees for water, electricity, barricade delivery and a rental fee for the public right-of-way near the Town fountain.
“When we’re trying to do something for the good of the community, I would like to see the Town become more of a partner with that,” said Nocera. “Putting on an event is an expensive process.”
Durrett stated he began putting on events at Santini Marina Plaza to boost business for the plaza-based businesses during the rough economic downturn of a few years ago. It also gave southern islanders an outlet.
“It’s given our tourists who come here six months out of the year a thing to do,” he said.
Durrett has hired two marketing people -one to handle events for Fish-Tale Marina and one for the plaza events. The cost to employ two people to manage such events is not small.
“I think the paperwork needs to be streamlined, and there needs to be a yearly permit,” he said. “There are some changes that can be made to make it easier for anybody in town that is trying to help the community become a better community.”
Agenda management list reviewed
In a housekeeping move, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council reviewed a large laundry list of agenda management items during its Friday workshop. The main reason for the lengthy discussion was to get the new Council members up to speed in regards to the list of projects and issues accummulated over time and provide them with perspective as to what to expect in future meetings and work sessions.
Some items were taken off agenda management, while other were placed on “radar” or assigned to workshops or to legal or Town staff.
Existing items discussed included Seafarer’s/Helmerick parcels, beach management, beach accesses, North Estero vegetation plan, Town Hall lease, noise ordinance, special permits, use of town right-of-way, Estero Boulevard, Storm water management, bridge alternative, sign ordinance, post-disaster recovery ordinance, portable gazebo for event usage, QR codes, derelict properties, mooring field management, public information officer, short term rentals, code enforcement, taxi stand, Beach Film Commission, elevated pools, in-house water utility, increased code enforcement, flood insurance, annexation of Mound Key, aircraft over-flight issues, TDC funds requests, outdoor display, Town Hall window decorations, eliminating administrative variances, proposal for legal services and charter review commission.
Council also plans on sitting down with Town staff employees to review their functions and roles within the Town. A Council workshop may also be planned with chairs of all advisory committees to see what each board is working on at the present time.
“I think the more communication we have, the better we do,” said interim Town Manager Don Stilwell.