Community resource board updates work list
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Community Resources Advisory Board reviewed six action items that had been assigned to the group by Town Council. The committee is anticipating discussion on the items when it meets with the policy makers in a future joint session.
The following are the six work list points and a capsule look at where the board is at with each:
n Beach Accesses: Since Council approved improvements to be implement at two beach accesses and two bayside accesses in April 2014, the process has included permitting and environmental research and was reported to be currently in the hands of the Town public works department. While no final plans are in place, the process for construction of passive parks or improvements at water accesses on Gulf Road and Canal Street (beach accesses) and Gulf Beach Road and Delmar Avenue (bayside accesses) continues.
Prior to approval, CRAB had made recommendations to develop improvements for both beach accesses and the possibility of opening up some bay access areas. Picnic tables, foot washes, memorial benches, water fountains and bike racks were some suggestions for the beautification program that would also improve ADA accessibilites to the accesses.
Beach access signage appears to be moving forward and will be brought to the Council’s attention in the near future. Lee County Tourist Development Council funds will fund this part of the project. It includes new road signage for the beach accesses and the actual access signage at each of the public accesses.
CRAB has been working on the concept of access improvements for more than three years now.
“(Town Environmental Sciences Coordinator) Keith (Laakkonen) is in the process of getting approval for cutting of the mangroves for the bayside accesses, specifically the Delmar project,” said CRAB liaison Josh Overmyer.
n Restrooms at Beach Accesses: Public restrooms at certain beach accesses have been a tough sell for more than four years now. CRAB is working on designing the mobile “comfort stations” to camoflage them and make them look more appealing and less intrusive.
Back in June 2010, the Council agreed on the purchase and installation of three mobile-type restroom facilities. Lee County Tourist Development Council dollars funded the units.
The original intention for the restrooms -plus a fourth that was used at Newton Park while the property’s building was being reconstructed- was to install them at Palm Avenue, Connecticut Street, Dakota Street and Aberdeen Avenue beach accesses to help provide accommodations at approximately one-mile intervals for the seven-mile-long island. Public restrooms were already situated at Bowditch Point Park, Lynn Hall Park and Newton Park.
But, after Council gave staff its approval on the proposed sites and Town officials notified owners of properties abutting the affected beach accesses, many Beach residents and legal representatives expressed their concerns during public input at a mid-November 2010 meeting. Concerns centered on the disfavor of having bathroom facilities next to residential properties or on residential beach accesses in general. A mobile facilities -an ADA accessible unit- was installed at the beach access at Palm Avenue (beach access #30; north of Diamondhead Beach Resort).
“We are still seeking eager and willing participants for restrooms at the moment,” said CRAB chairperson Miffie Greer.
n Beach Leadership Conference: Town volunteer-seeking informational sessions and field trips will return to Fort Myers Beach for a two-day interactive seminar that serves as public education on Feb. 27-28, 2015. CRAB has hosted the Beach Leadership Conference, slated to take place every 2-3 years, and set goals of the free conference to include giving participants an opportunity to interact with Town leaders, increasing participants’ knowledge about the way the Town of Fort Myers Beach works and encouraging participants to become volunteers in areas of their interest.
CRAB members agreed to ice down details during the next meeting.
Vice Mayor Dan Andre is one notable person who participated in a conference and worked his way up the ladder to the municipality government level. Greer is also a product of the system that graduated 20 students in 2013 and 17 more in 2010.
“We had some great participation,” said Greer. “That’s a good selling point.”
n Community Garden: CRAB members have scoured the Beach to try to find a place for residents to have individual garden space within a community garden, much like within Lakes Park in Fort Myers.
The Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club was once thought to be a viable spot, and others areas were looked into.
Chapel by the Sea may have space in a portion of their overflow parking lot off of Chapel Street. Greer will continue to seek approval from higher-up officials there. CRAB would like to start with 10 plots to check on the interest level and see how the project goes.
n Film Commission: This project has become a task. Many CRAB members are for the formation of such a commission, but money is hard to come by. This film commission would serve to attract motion media production crews (including movies, TV and commercials) to shoot on location on the Beach and offer support so that productions can accomplish their work smoothly.
CRAB member Elizabeth D’Onofrio-Halladay, a film producer by trade, has been pushing Town officials for a chance to do a three-year trial. Initial cost analysis is projected to be $30,000 for the first year, $52,000 for the second year and $58,000 for the third year.
“This is another good way to market the area,” said CRAB member Keri Hendry Weeg. “It’s another economic engine that could drive the Town.”
“This is something we should pursue,” said CRAB member Olga Carballo.
“I’m concerned about the cost,” said Bobbi Kemp.
“I have mixed feelings,” said Greer. “I am not sure if it should be Town sponsored.”
The topic has been moved to the next meeting as D’Onofrio-Halladay looks to provide more information for recommendations to Council.
n Special Event Permits: CRAB members have been tasked to review the process for application on special event permits. The process has been deemed cumbersome, confusing and too detailed to those who have to fill out the proper paperwork.
Ways to lessen the burden include a flow chart process, one that would minimize a staff checklist by skipping certain numbers within the procedure, like environmental writeoffs if not applicable.
“We can almost do it the way we do zoning applications,” said Overmyer. “One part you can tell us about the event, and then you could fill out the supplement for beach activites DEP, Turtle Time, environmental. Whereas the other supplement, if it was on Old San Carlos (Boulevard) you would just need say a fire permit.”
“I really don’t like the idea of someone coming in and finding this so overwhelming,” added Greer. “This can be done with much less detail.”
Greer will continue to work on the paperwork edits as an amended version, then send to Ovewrmyer who will distribute via email to the other members.