Front: Procurement Manager Steve Gillette, Finance Director Kevin Greenville, Accounting Supervisor Lindsey McNeal and Finance Clerk Beth Shapiro. Back: Councilmembers Jeff Hunt, Lori Fayhee, Jon McLain, Vice Mayor George Zalucki, Rafael Lopez and Jim Ward.
Council started their meeting recognizing receipt of the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. This is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The Village has achieved this prestigious award each fiscal year since inception.
Front: Mayor Joanne Ribble, Community Development Director Mary Gibbs and Floodplain Manager Kristin Schumacher. Back: Councilmembers Jeff Hunt, Lori Fayhee, Jon McLain, Vice Mayor George Zalucki, Rafael Lopez and Jim Ward.
Mayor Joanne Ribble then presented a proclamation in coordination with Lee County and local area municipalities proclaiming March 9-15, 2026, as Flood Awareness Week in Estero.
Action Items
Estero River North Branch Regional Pond Project
The Village maintains a continuing contract with JR Evans Engineering, P.A. for miscellaneous professional services. Work is authorized through individual task orders, with “not-to-exceed” amounts negotiated and established on a project-by-project basis.
As part of the permitting process with the South Florida Water Management District for the Regional Pond Project (stormwater pond), and due to the proposed drainage infrastructure within the Three Oaks Parkway right-of-way, the district has required a modification to the existing Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) for Three Oaks Parkway.
Council approved Amendment 2 to Task Order No. 4 of the contract for the Estero River North Branch Regional Pond Project for $98,000.
Broadway Ave East Utility Expansion Project
Council approved a change order to a contract with Wright Construction Group to add preconstruction services for the Broadway Ave East/Sandy Lane project to Wright Construction’s Construction Manager at Risk contract for $36,530.. This brings the contract total amount1 to $403,895.16. This is Phase 1 of the overall project.
The Village has received an $800,000 state legislature appropriation to extend water and sewer to Broadway Ave East/Sandy Lane.
Estero Orange Park (See See Street) Utility Expansion Project
Council approved a contract with Wright Construction Group, Inc. to provide Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services for the Estero Orange Park (See See Street) Utilities Extension Project for $36,500, with a contingency of $4,000.
The Village has received an $800,000 state legislature appropriation for this project.
BERT acquisition
The Village has been involved in discussions for over a year with the Trust for Public Land, Seminole Gulf Railway (SGR), Bonita Springs, and Collier County regarding the potential acquisition of a portion of rail line controlled by SGR within these respective jurisdictions.
The Estero segment of the line extends from the Estero Parkway right-of-way south to the Village’s boundary with the City of Bonita Springs. The total length is approximately 4.1 miles, 130 feet wide, and the purchase price is $19,792,209.
Public comment: 1 eComment card was placed into the record; 2 people spoke supporting the project.
Council approved a Purchase and Sale Agreement and authorized Village Manager Sarkozy to initiate the due diligence efforts. The Village Manager will initiate those efforts and report back to Council well in advance of the September 29 due diligence period expiration date. The cost of this work will be $200,000 to $250,000.
Planning Zoning and Design Board Appointments
The Planning, Zoning & Design Board members: Front: Kristin Jeannin and Chairman Anthony Gargano. Back: Jim Wallace, Barry Jones, Al Paivandy, James Tatooles, Vice Chairman Mike Sheeley, and Dan Williams.
The Planning Zoning and Design Board is a volunteer Board appointed by the Council. The Board serves as the Local Planning Agency which is required by State statute. Five members of the Board have terms that expire on April 30, 2026.
Council approved Resolution 2026-04 reappointing the five members currently serving on the Board. The staggered terms are James Tatooles and Al Paivandy, appointed to two-year terms, and Barry Jones, Jim Wallace, and Kristin Jeannin appointed to three-year terms. Anthony Gargano was reappointed as Chair.
Workshops
Code compliance liens – proposed policy
After reviewing the list of code enforcement liens with Village Attorney Eschenfelder, including those with outstanding unpaid fines, staff is proposing a procedure to prevent the accumulation of code compliance liens older than one year and voluntarily resolve older pending code liens.
No voting occurs during workshops; however, Council reached a consensus to proceed with this procedure.
“Live Local” State Legislation
“Live Local” is the name of the state legislation (Florida Statute §166.04151) designed to increase the supply of affordable housing (i.e., workforce housing) in the state. The legislation preempts some local land use codes and processes.
Community Development Director Mary Gibbs discussed several recent inquiries regarding potential properties to be considered for “Live Local” multifamily developments. Those inquiries include: the property on northwest corner of US 41 and Pelican Sound Boulevard, Hertz vacant parcel on Williams Road adjacent to Via Coconut and roundabout, the Downtown Estero property at US 41 and Broadway East, and the property at southwest corner of Estero Parkway and Three Oaks Parkway.
Gibbs pointed out these inquiries have not gone forward; she was just making Council aware of them.
No voting occurs during workshops.
Residents may view the archived meeting by going to the Village website.
The next Council meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2026.