Proposed millage rate, utility expansion and Home2 Suites addressed by Council on July 2, 2025
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.]
River Oaks Preserve, Sports Park management and Capital Improvement Plan among topics addressed by Council on June 18, 2025
River Oaks Preserve Action Items Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Finance Director Kevin Greenville presented this annual financial report prepared by Jeff Tuscan, CPA.. In compliance with Florida Statutes 218.39, the Village’s financial statements have been independently audited by Tuscan & Company, PA, a firm of licensed certified public accountants. The report provides details of operations for the twelve months ending September 30, 2024. The independent auditor has issued an unmodified (“clean”) opinion on the Village’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Public Comment: 1 eComment card was placed into the record. Council approved this report. Disaster [Read More.]
Capital Improvement Plan among topics addressed by Council on June 4, 2025
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.]
Home2 Suites and Broadway Avenue West design improvements grant among topics addressed by Council on May 21, 2025
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.]
Entertainment Campus & Estero RiverPark among topics addressed by Council on May 7, 2025
Front left to right; Mayor Joanne Ribble, Michael DiPierro, Immediate Past Flotilla Commander, and Chuck Moore, Flotilla Vice Commander. Back, left to right: Councilmembers Lori Fayhee, Jeff Hunt, Jon McLain, Rafael Lopez and Vice-Mayor George Zalucki. The meeting started with Mayor Joanne Ribble presenting a proclamation for National Boat Safety Week recognizing the Flotilla 96 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary offering boating safety classes, vessel safety checks and other boating safety awareness programs during the week of May 17-23. Action Items Comprehensive Plan evaluation & appraisal notification letter State law requires that each local government regularly review [Read More.]
Sports Park CMR contract among topics addressed by Council on April 16, 2025
Public comment on non-agenda items: The president of Engage Estero related that, as Estero grows, consideration of its brand and sense of place needs to be considered. Action Items Progress Report on Local Mitigation Strategy The Village is required to conduct a yearly review on the progress of Local Mitigation Strategy projects, which serves as the flood mitigation plan. This requirement allows the Village to maintain its current Community Rating System (CRS) classification of 6, providing Estero residents with policies issued under the National Flood Insurance Program a discount rate of 20%. Council approved the Progress Report on Local Mitigation [Read More.]
Estero high school students recognized by Council on April 2, 2025
Pictured left to right front row: Amelia Krupp, Katelyn Kuieck, Jennifer Pichardo, Mayor Joanne Ribble, Jiya Naik, Meghan Lay and Natalia Gonzalez Cabrera. Back row: Councilmembers Jeff Hunt, Lori Fayhee, Jon McLain, Jim Ward, Vice-Mayor George Zalucki and Councilmember Rafael Lopez. Mayor Joanne Ribble read a proclamation for the Estero High School and high school students who were awarded the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. These are a group of awards which recognize exceptional learner achievement in Cambridge examinations around the world. In addition, Estero High School students Amelia Krupp, Katelyn Kuieck, Jennifer Pichardo Jiya Naik, Meghan Lay and Natalia Gonzalez [Read More.]
Joanne Ribble elected Mayor and George Zalucki elected Vice Mayor as three Councilmembers start new four-year terms on March 19, 2025
Front row: Councilmember Lori Fayhee, Mayor Joanne Ribble, Councilmember Jim Ward. Back row: Councilmembers Jeff Hunt, Jon McLain, George Zalucki and Rafael Lopez. The meeting started with the Honorable Rachel Loukonen, 20th Judicial Circuit Judge, administering the oath of office to Joanne Ribble. District 1, Jeff Hunt, District 2, and Jim Ward, District 6. These Councilmembers were sworn in to serve four-year terms. Elections are staggered so that elections occur every two years. Former Mayor Jon McLain passes gavel to Mayor Joanne Ribble Council then voted to elect District 1 Councilmember Joanne Ribble as the new [Read More.]
Land use board reappointments and Coconut Trace addressed by Council on February 5, 2025
Public comment on non-agenda items: State Representative Adam Botana appeared on Zoom to address Estero’s election cycle. Resolution 2025-01 – Reappoint two Planning, Zoning & Design Board members for one year Two members of the Planning, Zoning, and Design Board have terms that expire on April 30, 2025. They are James Tatooles and Al Palvandy. Council approved this resolution reappointing them for another one-year term. RFP Estero Sports Park CMAR This topic was tabled for two weeks. Second reading & public hearing Ordinance 2024-14 – Coconut Trace amendment This is an amendment to the commercial zoning for a lot in [Read More.]
Estero Sports Park master plan approved by Council on January 22, 2025
Public Comment on non-agenda items: A resident invited pet owners to attend the Blessing of Pets at the Estero Community Church at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 15. Estero Sports Park Council approved the Estero Sports Park master plan presented by Perez & Associates which is now ready for submission to the South Florida Water Management District for infrastructure permits. The infrastructure includes the underground utilities, sidewalks, parking lots and storm water conveyance and ponding needs for the entire site. The Village has assembled about 100 acres to develop into a Sports and Entertainment District to serve the entire community located [Read More.]