Council Meetings

Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, conducting a workshop on Hurricane Ian followed by a presentation by the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s staff on the Rail Trail Feasibility Study. Action items include rezoning of the Village-owned Williams Road property, I-75/Corkscrew Road landscape maintenance agreement and reclaimed water feasibility study, among other topics. 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 may view the meeting here and provide public comment by utilizing the eComment Card on the Village website.  Comments [Read More.]

Community Development Director Mary Gibbs “presents” Howard Levitan (on Zoom) with the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Elected Official Award The meeting started with Community Development Director Mary Gibbs recognizing former Councilmember and Planning, Zoning & Design Board Co-Chair Howard Levitan for receiving the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Elected Official Award.  Gibbs stated that, “This is a very prestigious award given out annually for outstanding leadership and commitment.  It’s unheard of to receive two awards in one year and is certainly a testament to Howard’s commitment, vision and passion.”  Levitan, who served two terms on [Read More.]

Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, addressing the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce’s financial support for strategic plans for future growth and impact. They will then review a resolution for Village Attorney and a final budget amendment, then conduct public hearings for Milan Villas rezoning, flood hazard reduction standards and adopting the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Council will then conduct a workshop for an update on utility expansion projects. The full agenda is here.

Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-33 – final millage rate Council approved this resolution adopting the ad valorem taxes for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 at a millage rate of 0.75 mills, which is a reduction from the prior year’s rate of 0.77.  Council has voted five times to reduce the tax rate since incorporation, making Estero’s tax rate the lowest in Southwest Florida. Resolution 2022-34 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Village Manager Steve Sarkozy gave a short presentation on the FY 2022-2023 budget commenting on the fact that the Village is debt-free, having paid off the loan for the Estero on the River [Read More.]

Council will start their meeting at 5:05 p.m., Wednesday, with public hearings to set the millage rate and adopt the final budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. 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 may view the meeting here and provide public comment by utilizing the eComment Card on the Village website.  Comments must be received by noon one day before the actual meeting and they will be distributed to the Council but will not be read at the meeting.

Public Comment on non-agenda items: George Zaluki, Chair, Board of Directors, Estero Forever Foundation (EFF), gave an update on the Foundation’s Hurricane Ian relief fund. To date, about $91,000 has been donated by Estero residents, churches and businesses. All monies will go to Estero residents who were drastically affected by the hurricane, primarily those residents along West Broadway. The EFF is partnered with the Village of Estero, the ECCL and the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce in this relief effort. It’s easy to donate. Go to the Foundation’s website where you may donate online or get information on how to [Read More.]

Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday addressing financial support for the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce’s strategic plans for future growth and impact. There will be a first reading of an ordinance pertaining to the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and second readings for two Land Development Code amendments and zoning amendments for Coconut Trace, Pelican Sound and Genova. 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 may view the meeting here and provide public comment by utilizing [Read More.]

Mayor Katy Errington told a large group of residents from The Vines that the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Rail Trail Feasibility Study was not on the agenda but they were welcome to speak. Public Comment on non-agenda items: 3 residents representing The Vines spoke of their community’s concerns regarding two of the three proposed paths of the Rail Trail Feasibility Study. They stated that two of the proposed paths would traverse their community and would create safety issues as well as devalue their properties. Public Works Director David Willems explained that the findings of this study are to be discussed [Read More.]

Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, with presentations relating to Hurricane Ian’s impact and the community’s response by Village Manager Steve Sarkozy, Lizbeth Benacquisto, Sarah Owen, and George Zaluki. There will be a first reading of ordinances pertaining to flood hazard reduction standards, Coconut Trace, Pelican Sound, and Genova, with second readings of ordinances pertaining to the Planning, Zoning & Design Board, Estero Town Center, Milan Villas, and an amendment to the Land Development Code for lot coverage. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, Village Hall, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, [Read More.]