Public Comment: Two residents addressed the banner rule in the lease agreement with Estero High School. FDEP grant for Orange Park Utility Extension Project Council approved a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in the amount of $800,000 for the Orange Park neighborhood (See See Street). Estero is actively advancing its septic-to-sewer conversion project to enhance the water quality of the Estero River and Estero Bay. The grant funds will be used to offset a portion of the construction for this project. FDEP grant for Broadway Ave East Phase 1 Project Council approved this Florida [Read More.]

The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, with Council addressing grant funding agreements for the Estero Orange Park Utility Expansion Project and the Broadway Avenue East Phase 1 improvements, followed by a third amendment to the Public Improvement Agreement between the Village and High 5 Up Top, LLC. There will be first readings for ordinances pertaining to creating a right of way use code and repealing Ordinance 2015-13 (related to development application review cost recovery).  There will then be a second reading and public hearing for Ordinance 2025-10 updating the Capital Improvements Element which includes the Capital Improvement Program [Read More.]

Council adopted the fiscal year budget at $70,938,016 and the millage rate at .7300 mills, which is equivalent to last year’s rate and is the lowest tax rate in Florida. Capital Improvement Projects include $27.3 million for parks & recreation, $13.4 million for utility improvements, and $11.9 million for roadway improvements.  The FY 25/26 Budget information is available here. Residents unable to attend the meeting may view the meeting here. The next Council meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 1.

Council will set  Estero’s 2025-2026 millage rate and budget during their meeting at 5:05 pm, Wednesday. Estero, one of only 12 municipalities in Florida to earn the S&P’s AAA rating, currently has the lowest millage rate in the state. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, Village Hall, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle  at the entrance to Estero Park. Residents unable to attend the meeting may view the meeting here and provide public comment by submitting an eComment Card on the Village website.  Comments need to be received by noon one day before the actual [Read More.]

A first reading of the proposed budget and property tax rate was held Sept. 10. Residents unable to attend the meeting may view the meeting here. The second and final approval hearing will be held Sept. 17 at 5:05 p.m., as budget hearings are required to be held after 5 p.m.

A first reading of the proposed budget and property tax rate will be held Sept. 10 with a second and final approval set for Sept. 17.  Both hearings will be held at 5:05 p.m., as budget hearings are required to be held after 5 p.m. Estero, one of only 12 municipalities in Florida to earn the S&P’s highest AAA rating, currently has the lowest millage rate in the state. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, Village Hall, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, near the entrance to the Estero Park. Residents unable to attend the [Read More.]

Public comment on non-agenda items: A resident spoke of concerns regarding the intersection of US 41 and Williams Road adjacent to Walgreens. A resident spoke of Estero’s need for an aquatic center or Olympic-size pool.  A resident stated a petition with 600 signatures were expressing the need for a splash pad in Estero SportsPark. Action Items Resolution 2025-10 – Proposed millage rate for 2025-2026 The proposed millage rate for fiscal year 2025-2026 is 0.7300 mills ($0.7300 per $1,000 of assessed property value) which is equal to the prior year rate. This is the lowest tax rate in the state of [Read More.]

Front: Mayor Joanne Ribble & Vice Mayor George ZaluckiRear: Councilmembers Jon McLain, Lori Fayhee, Rafael Lopez & Jim Ward The meeting started with Vice Mayor George Zalucki presenting Mayor Joanne Ribble with the Florida League of Cities “Home Rule Hero Award.”  Ribble was honored for being a champion in the defense and protection of municipal Home Rule.  This is the fifth time Ribble has been honored with this award from the Florida League of Cities. First Readings Ordinance 2025-05 – Capital Improvement Plan The Capital Improvement Plan will set the funding for the Village capital improvement projects for [Read More.]

Action Items Resolution 2025-04 – Establishing a policy regarding Council approved proclamations In light of the many proclamation requests received by the Village each year, this resolution formalizes a policy on the subject so that, moving forward, there will be known criteria and a uniform method of review. Village Attorney Robert Eschenfelder surveyed a wide variety of similar policies from around the state and this resolution is a compilation of the best of those policies. Council adopted this resolution. Resolution 2025-07 – Shadow Wood Lifestyle Center final plan approval Shadow Wood Country Club was requesting final plan approval and one [Read More.]