Public comment on non-agenda items: A resident proposed that improved access to the Estero River and Estero Bay estuary should be included in the Eco-Historic Planning Study.
Mike Kelly, VP of Business Development & Broadcasting, Mayor Joanne Ribble, and Kyle Moutain, Florida Everblades Assistant Coach, bordered by Village Councilmembers
The meeting started with Mayor Joanne Ribble and Councilmembers presenting a proclamation to the 2026 Kelly Cup winning Florida Everblades. The team captured their fifth Kelly Cup championship, setting a record for the most Kelly Cup titles in league history.
Mayor Joann Ribble then read a proclamation celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Action Items
Resolution 2026-12 – Conservation easement “swap” for West Bay Club
The West Bay Club requested the Village to release 2.5 acres from Conservation Area 2 (adjacent to their golf driving range and chipping and putting area) in exchange for the addition of 1.57 acres to Conservation Area 3 and 2.14 acres to Conservation Area 4. To make up for the loss of 2.5 acres, two new areas will be added in other locations in West Bay to total 3.71 acres, a net increase of 1.21 acres.
The West Bay Club is an 863-acre residential golf course development located at the end of Williams Road off US 41.
Council voted to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 2026-13 – Adopting updated Community Development fee
Adoption of the fee schedule is intended to prevent or minimize the need for the Village’s general fund to supplement the operations of the Village’s building permit and inspection functions so that those functions are primarily paid for by the applicants.
The Community Development Director and Finance staff will work with the Village’s contracted building and planning services provider to update all applicable application forms, publish the new schedule, and implement the revised fees. accessing those services.
Council voted to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 2026-14 – Approving a maintenance agreement for Coconut Road sidewalk Improvements
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has included the installation of a sidewalk along the north side of Coconut Road from Oakwilde Blvd to Via Coconut Point in their current work plan. FDOT is funding the design permitting and construction of the sidewalk. To proceed with final design and construction of the sidewalk FDOT requires the Village to formally access maintenance responsibility for the sidewalk after it is installed. The final design is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Council voted to adopt this resolution
Resolution 2026-15 – Approving a maintenance agreement for Via Coconut Point roundabout improvements.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has included the installation of wider sidewalks and bicycle ramps along the Williams Road and Pelican Colony roundabouts in their current work plan. FDOT is funding the design permitting and construction of the sidewalk. To proceed with final design and construction of the sidewalk FDOT requires the Village to formally access maintenance responsibility for the sidewalks and bicycle ramps after they are installed. The Village will take over maintenance responsibilities for the improvements FDOT will be installing along Via Coconut Point.
These improvements will improve pedestrian safety. Council voted to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 2026-16 – Budget amendment
The Village performs budget amendments throughout each fiscal year as new appropriations, transfers, or increased revenue occur. This is the first budget amendment for fiscal year 2025-2026.
This resolution will allocate fund balance carryforward for each fund within the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget and increase the budgeted revenues in the Building Fund and the Capital Projects Fund.
Council voted to adopt this resolution.
Resolution 2026-17 – Proposed millage rate for FY 2026-2027
The proposed millage rate for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 is 0.7300 mills ($0.7300 per $1,000 of assessed property value) which is equal to the prior year rate. This proposed operating millage rate is less than the rolled-back rate of 0.7336 mills by 0.49%.
Two public hearings will be held on Wednesday, September 9, at 5:05 P.M. and Wednesday, September 23, at 5:05 P.M
Council voted to adopt this resolution.
Veterans Day event
Village Manager Steve Sarkozy requested Council approval for a budget of $10,000 for the 2026 Veterans Day event which will be held on Saturday, November 14.
Council approved a budget of $10,000 for the 2026 event.
Village security system contract
Village staff have completed negotiations with the top-ranked firm, Mock Engineering to provide services to the Village Hall and Estero RiverPark.
Council approved a contract with Mock Engineering to install access control and security cameras at Village Hall and RiverPark and provide consulting services for future projects for $113,054, with a contingency of $11,300. Future projects include the SportsPark, River Oaks, and the Regional Pond.
Mock Engineering is expecting to complete installation and setup of the security systems with 90-days of notice to proceed.
Council voted to approve the contract.
Estero SportsPark Phase 2 preconstruction services change order
The Estero SportsPark contract includes pre-construction design and permitting services for the entire project through build out. As the project’s design, schedule and budget have evolved, it became clear funding will not be available to complete all phases of the SportsPark in the current 5-year CIP cycle. Village staff proposed to modify the contract to complete the design and permitting through Phase 2 and postpone design and permitting of all future phases until funding is available for construction.
Council voted to approve the contract change order to reduce the contract fees by $2,100,000 and reduce the scope to include design and permitting through Phase 2.
Estero River North Branch Regional Pond Change Order 03
In 2017, The Village experienced extensive flooding along the North Branch of the Estero River. Investigation immediately after the storms and subsequent stormwater modeling indicated stormwater flow in the North Branch of the Estero River is constrained through Villages at Country Creek and Rookery Point.
Construction of a pond on the Village owned property, located along Three Oaks Parkway behind the Post Office, would help reduce the flow of water through this constrained area. The lower flows will reduce overall flooding in the area.
The Village recently received final approval for HMGP and CDBG-DR grants for the Estero River North Branch Regional Pond projects. The HMGP grant is $4.9 million, and the CDBG-DR grant is $1.6 million. The HMGP grant requires design and permitting to be completed by March 31, 2027.
To meet this extremely tight schedule, Village staff is recommending JR Evans Engineering is hired to complete the design, permitting and construction of the project. JR Evans is uniquely qualified to complete the project within the required schedule. JR Evans is familiar with the Village’s drainage systems, including the North Branch of the Estero River and the Village’s Three Oaks property.
Council approved Change Order No. 03 to a contract with JR Evans Engineering to provide additional professional services including design, permitting, and construction plans for the Estero River North Branch Regional Pond Project for $107,000 with a contingency of $10,000.
First reading & public hearing
Ordinance 2026-07 – Requiring painting permits for certain non-residential structures.
To ensure owners are compliant with the exterior color regulations, the Village has historically required an exterior painting application for certain non-residential structures.
Village Attorney Robert Eschenfelder has advised that creating an express provision for a permit requirement and associated fee within the Village Code would make this permitting requirement and the associated fee more defensible if the application process were ever challenged. Therefore, adoption of this ordinance is recommended. The associated fee would be, as it already has been, reflected in the Village’s building and development fee schedules.
Council passed this first reading of the ordinance and set a second reading for September 9, 2026.
Workshop
FY 2027 Proposed budget introduction
The proposed budgeted expenditures are as follows:
General Fund $ 11,739,600
Special Revenue $ 2,269,380
Debt Service Fund $ 862,000
Capital Projects $75,920,000
Total All Funds $90,790,980
As required by Florida Statute, the Village must hold two public hearings to adopt a budget. Two public hearings are scheduled to be held on Wednesday, September 9, at 5:05 P.M. and Wednesday, September 23, at 5:05 P.M. to approve the millage rate and proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
The proposed budget summary is available here.
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 5:05 p.m., Wednesday, September 9, 2026.