Council started their meeting by addressing a utilities expansion program management contract.
The Village has prioritized protecting the Estero River and is considering a program to expand utilities within the community, replacing septic tanks with central sewer and water.
To fully consider and execute a utilities expansion program, the assistance of a program manager is required to serve as the Village’s representative to the community.
Scott Shannon, of Woodard & Curran, was selected to serve as program manager. Scott will act as an extension of Village staff, garnering public input, facilitating the Council decision-making process, completing grant applications, implementing assessments (as needed), and overseeing the design and bidding processes.
Council approved a contract with Woodard & Curran in the amount of $159,000, with a 10% contingency fund amount of $15,900 to cover unforeseen circumstances which may occur. (Exhibit)
Three mobile home communities and River Ranch Road have been identified as potential first projects. The mobile home communities are Estero Bay Village, Sunny Groves and Cypress Bend. Once initiated, the projects are expected to take approximately one – two years to complete.
Ordinance 2021-04
Council approved the second reading of this ordinance amending the Village Land Development Code to establish authority to appoint co-chairpersons to the Planning Zoning and Design Board. The co-chairs are Howard Levitan and Leonard “Scotty” Wood III. (Ordinance)
Ordinance 2021-08
This ordinance came to Council at the request of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as they can only control activities in Estero that comply with its ordinances. It also is consistent with Lee County, Bonita Springs and other municipality ordinances.
Council approved the second reading of this ordinance. The ordinance prohibits activities that interfere with the primary purpose of public roads and rights-of-way by causing distractions to motorists, unsafe pedestrian movement within travel lanes, sudden stoppage or slowdown of traffic, rapidly changing, dangerous traffic movements, increased vehicular accidents and pedestrian and motorist injuries and fatalities. (Ordinance)
Workshop
TECO Peoples Gas franchise agreement
Peoples Gas System, a division of Tampa Electric Company, and the Village are considering entering into a franchise agreement for a period of 10 – 15 years. There are currently 1200 customers in Estero connected to the Peoples Gas System.
The franchise fee payment will be six percent of the company’s gross revenue from the sale of natural gas to customers within the corporate limits of Estero.
No voting occurs during workshops.
Residents may view the archived meeting by going to the Village website http://estero-fl.gov/council/watch-meetings-online/
The next Council meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 7, 2021.