Village Council election coming in March: candidates need to file paperwork soon
The Village of Estero will be holding an election on March 7, 2023, for Council Districts 3, 4, 5 and 7 where three of the four current Councilmembers will be termed out. The Village is asking residents from these districts to consider becoming a candidate for a four-year term Council position. To qualify, a candidate must have lived in the district they wish to represent for a minimum of one year. To avoid a filing fee, candidates may start collecting signatures of support from friends and neighbors once they have filed with the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office. Candidates [Read More.]
October 5 Council meeting canceled due to Hurricane Ian
The regularly scheduled October 5 Council meeting has been canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Ian. The next scheduled Council meeting is at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Estero’s tax rate reduced by Council at their meeting on September 21, 2022
Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-27 – 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 to reduce the tax rate every year except the first year following incorporation and in 2020 due to COVID. Estero’s tax rate is the lowest in the region. Here is the resolution. Resolution 2022-28 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Council approved this resolution adopting the budget for FY 2022-2023 at a total of $42,508,620. The Fiscal Year [Read More.]
Council declares a state of local emergency at a special meeting on September 27, 2022
As weather predictions determined the risk of dangerous storm conditions related to Hurricane Ian, Council met to declare a state of local emergency to provide for emergency governmental operations. The Village of Estero’s charter assigns Council, the Village Manager and staff the duties of leadership during storm events. However, since there may be instances when it is unsafe or impossible to obtain a Council quorum to convene emergency meetings during a state of local emergency, Council adopted Resolution 2022-30 delegating Village Manager Steve Sarkozy all powers available to Village government provided in Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, or the Executive Orders [Read More.]
Special Village Council Meeting
The Village of Estero Council will hold a special meeting at 10 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. The agenda can be viewed here.
Final budget hearings scheduled for Council on September 21, 2022
Council will start their regular meeting at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday. The second and final reading and public hearings for setting the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 millage rate and adopting the tentative budget will begin at 5:30 p.m. Please Note: the budget portion of the meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. as required by state law. 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 [Read More.]
Budget hearings, Estero on the River FDEP funding, and Imperial Parkway monument sign were among topics covered by Council on September 8, 2022
First reading and public budget hearings Resolution No. 2022-23 Council approved this resolution adopting the tentative millage rate and tentative levying of ad valorem taxes for fiscal year 2022-2023 of 0.7700 mills ($0.7700 per $1,000 of assessed property value). This is the same as last year and is the lowest tax rate in southwest Florida. The second and final public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 21. Public Comment: A resident expressed concerns about any possibility of the raising of real estate taxes. Resolution No. 2022-24 Council approved this resolution adopting the tentative budget for the fiscal [Read More.]
Millage rate, capital improvement program and redistricting of Village boundaries reviewed by Council on July 20, 2022
Recognition Pictured left to right: Councilmembers Larry Fiesel, Jim Boesch, Mayor Katy Errington (holding the award), Vice-Mayor Jon McLain and Councilmember Jim Wilson. Councilmembers Joann Ribble and Jim Ward were present via Zoom. Howard Levitan accepted the award via Zoom from his new home in Maine. Council started their meeting recognizing former Councilmember and Planning, Zoning & Design Board Co-Chair Howard Levitan who has been named Outstanding Elected Official by the State of Florida Planning and Zoning Association. Mayor Errington, all Councilmembers, Village Manager Steve Sarkozy, Community Development Director Mary Gibbs and Land Use Attorney Nancy Stroud praised Levitan for [Read More.]
Budget and redistricting of Village boundaries on the agenda for Council on July 20, 2022
Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, recognizing former Councilmember and Planning, Zoning & Design Board Co-Chair Howard Levitan who has been named Outstanding Elected Official by the State of Florida Planning and Zoning Association. They will then determine the proposed millage rate and the Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2022-23, and update the Village boundaries in accordance with the 2020 U.S. Census. 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 [Read More.]
State legislators recognized by Council on July 6, 2022
Senator Kathleen Passidomo (left) was presented with a proclamation from Mayor Katy Errington The meeting started with a proclamation recognizing the Honorable Senator and Senate President Designate Kathleen Passidomo for her commitment and innumerable contributions to the entire State of Florida. Senator Passidomo thanked Council for the proclamation and credited the Honorable Senator Ray “Ray-Rod” Rodrigues and the Honorable Representative Adam Botana for all of their hard work this past legislative session. Left to right: The Honorable Representative Adam Botana, Councilmember Larry Fiesel, the Honorable Senator Kathleen Passidomo, Vice-Mayor Jon McLain, the Honorable Ray Rodrigues, Councilmember Joann Ribble, Mayor Katy [Read More.]