[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6398839,"mediaKeyId","2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594","parentId",2089115,"title","Council approves contracts and grants tied to hurricane recovery: debris removal, beach renourishment and CDBG awards","audioSeconds",1181,"startMs",4796000,"endMs",5977000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594&start=4796&end=5977","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594/thumbnail_4796000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6398839/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Council-approves-contracts-and-grants-tied-to-hurricane-recovery-debris-removal-beach-renourishment-and-CDBG-awards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6398839-b5140ac0fd4447caab496593f667ace0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166249&Signature=MkVjLfvYAIAtxfVg-6jcvE9fU4Gzyl4Xlxo0HJXIKSTxcezptRE4z5nn-dp3dp8QKvIs-aCfVhR3H2EHQ9XD4kwp1qbPd6BPnBRHuIrOBwahi7I1zjq-04lKCTt5sCdtNGksgoR9Jw5psK1-TzIQP1Tof9H9CVE6K0sJcAPZurvGvlKL-9uDFoLuewFptcNG7vHU1HFFNBRds3SUK0h9x7hr5DHC-sXOPje4VUSsIZjuP1x3V~3Y9ZBUsuSZS3XZakcmnmGX15QC1KBOp7A8OxVKhvvG7SubMyS5W~jid0P76BnPgJiYwS7O6erTniSRvT3Ae5832so50~Ht7-uWQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of For Myers Beach, FL","date","2025-01-08T20:13:34.55Z","article","The Town Council took several votes on Jan. 8 to move forward on storm-recovery work, contract ratifications and grant agreements related to hurricanes Helene, Milton and the ongoing beach renourishment.

Contracts and ratifications: Council ratified emergency procurements with local contractors for debris removal and other emergency measures. The council ratified work performed by ICS Materials (screening and placement of sand recovered after Hurricane Milton) and approved emergency contracting with local site contractor Andrew Site Work LLC for storm-related right-of-way debris removal. All of these activities were described as FEMA-eligible public-assistance work; town staff said the Milton and Helene operations are expected to be reimbursed at 100% by FEMA provided projects are completed and documented within FEMA timelines.

Beach renourishment: Council approved a change order adding 24 contract days to the ongoing Aetna Marine beach-renourishment contract to allow placement and grading operations to proceed; staff said Aetna has pumped more than 327,000 cubic yards to date and work is expanding to the south placement area. An earlier screening and placement contract for Old Town Hall material (ICS Materials) was also approved and will place screened sand on the beach where suitable.

CDBG funding and recovery grants: Council authorized the manager to execute two subrecipient agreements for awarded Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery funds (CDBG-DR), totaling several million dollars to support public facilities and critical infrastructure projects (estimates provided in staff materials). Staff said that documentation and compliance steps remain and that final transfer of funds is expected in coming weeks once state paperwork is complete.

Marine debris: Staff reported coordinated marine-debris clearance in canals and anchorage areas by Florida Marine Contracting and Recovery LLC and by Aetna/other contractors; staff said the work is progressing and the town expects to finalize FEMA reimbursement for Milton on the usual schedule if work completes within FEMA timeframes.

Council approved all staff-recommended ratifications and subrecipient agreements; several votes were unanimous. Council asked staff to return with any addenda and with cost reconciliation documents once the final invoices and FEMA reimbursements are confirmed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting, January 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council ratified multiple emergency contracts for storm debris removal and approved CDBG subrecipient agreements and contract change orders for beach renourishment and screening, while staff outlined additional federal/state funding flows for recovery projects.","taxTitle","Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, Florida","taxId",66110,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6398843,"Council rejects Bay Oaks redevelopment bids; directs staff to rebid",79,6780000,6859000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594&start=6780&end=6859","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594/thumbnail_6780000.jpg","/articles/6398843/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Council-rejects-Bay-Oaks-redevelopment-bids-directs-staff-to-rebid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6398843-671a6ddda940e95063c1fa15b7d00f8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166249&Signature=ApqYjPFOYzcPSz16sZmPcutmbqDm6Llf70tvOMgV8zzxMqXsjczYCzIw5XGCUKNTWKp87Cufemr14pul-ZfWtkf360cAEkxuD1o5deaiHigd3UgN-qrY~5rzUJgPmzYuDR0Id-jnYHA58Aub8rqpgzSPC0OJbMB6YF5b0CPE85wqHgsIBFkNquhdLJyBxhF27Dnb5rYNrZIIJM2IdJEJSYv3baKGiUfSGdB~sGzZRBfhNAo1cnqQqwLlHWSlZoBveqmOROxWcgjl0ZT8f2gwwxRl~EqzORARZHy~dxonTIb6MNEgOAuYPZAxWOjBFIuncxjQOdue3-8JY0x4C5dyKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council voted on Jan. 8 to reject all bids for the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus redevelopment project and directed staff to rebid the work after adjusting scope and procurement documents.

Staff said the advertised package — which included walking trails, parking, lighting, a multipurpose field and pickleball courts — returned bids higher than the town’s engineer and grant estimates. The town previously held a matching grant from a state program and had anticipated phasing the full campus redevelopment; the current procurement covered the site work, public amenities and landscape elements for the park and did not include the larger community center building.

Council discussed the option of breaking the project into smaller phases or refining the plan to reduce cost. Staff also noted federal procurement requirements for federally funded elements (for example, HUD or CDBG-funded elements) can differ from local purchasing rules and can affect contractor pricing.

Council unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to cancel the current bids and rebid with revised scope and phasing to seek lower, more competitive offers. No contract awards were made. Staff will return with a revised procurement schedule and a recommended phasing plan.","All bids for the Bay Oaks recreational campus redevelopment exceeded available budgets; council voted to cancel and rebid the project after refining scope and procurement approach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6398848,"Mound House advisory group urges town to explore repairs to underground Calusa exhibit",208,1257000,1465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594&start=1257&end=1465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594/thumbnail_1257000.jpg","/articles/6398848/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Mound-House-advisory-group-urges-town-to-explore-repairs-to-underground-Calusa-exhibit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6398848-1e044da3a7ef268f168426e3e24d551e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166249&Signature=jT206lPpvPwyOZq6AY0RORpY~1rk77FvScrnWInkhT4zJI3aRtl3EimmGD01xkCYZfscO9P9TZbMAPy-jchjRfuh8nyYBVARpkiinh-hRhWfEL0fClG7YmclN1fShTw02VcsUWR4WGcfxV4h7sCvjDKVZrKAU07xVtG0mVPLLCDWX~LyfOMGCcug4aFNw8NZfd2HkVoHhMZXf~dFQMNuB4jE6SthLNkP6CiKET635lXSN7BkZmGFTg-ujv7tuGf~Zb9KXL8Cj3fSqAiQgJs9u0p-TWOlvVkbVs00ggF~QC0Q1Qjyj3p7wTzM2fisogLqvbP2-Y066Dv~SJal1WAXEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The town’s Cultural and Environmental Learning Center (CellCab) and volunteers from the Friends of the Mound House asked the Town Council on Jan. 8 to direct staff to explore options to repair and reopen the underground Calusa exhibit \"Stories Beneath Our Feet,\" which staff has recommended close permanently because of repeated flood damage and sustainability concerns.

Barbara Hill, chair of CellCab, told council the exhibit — originally a town-supported $1 million project designed to accept some tidal surge — has suffered additional storm and surge damage since hurricane Milton and remains closed. Museum staff had recommended retiring the exhibit and not pursuing the substantial repairs needed, saying sustainability and recurring flooding make restoration impractical.

CellCab voted unanimously in November to recommend that council and staff investigate every feasible repair option and funding source before making a permanent closure decision. Several council members, including Vice Mayor Aderhold and Councilor King, told the group they supported further study and noted potential FEMA or other grant assistance and the museum’s role in preserving local cultural resources.

Technical concerns raised at the meeting included repeated flooding via an open pit and erosion of shell features in the exhibit, failure of sump pumps during prolonged inundation, and potential structural instability. Staff and Mound House volunteers said they had arranged an engineering review to assess whether the structure can be stabilized and to estimate rehabilitation costs.

Council members directed staff to include the exhibit in broader resilience and grant discussions, and to consult with engineers and historic preservation specialists to evaluate options and likely funding paths. The council did not take formal action to allocate funds at the Jan. 8 meeting.

The Mound House is an interpretive and archaeological site that draws local visitors and school groups; supporters emphasized its educational value and said they would work with staff on FEMA, state or private sources if repairs are feasible.

If staff finds feasible repairs, council asked for a cost/benefit estimate, identification of potential grant sources and a financing plan before committing town funds or acceptance of private fundraising commitments.","Cultural and Environmental Learning Center (CellCab) and Friends of the Mound House asked the council to pursue engineering and funding options, including FEMA, to repair an underground Calusa exhibit damaged by recent storm surge and hurricane Milton.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6398853,"Fort Myers Beach council advances Pink Shell CPD to second reading after contentious hearing",3105,2654000,5759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594&start=2654&end=5759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2089115-d8105b51bcd80cf98a48f6087caf1594/thumbnail_2654000.jpg","/articles/6398853/Fort-Myers-Beach/Lee-County/Florida/Fort-Myers-Beach-council-advances-Pink-Shell-CPD-to-second-reading-after-contentious-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6398853-31d0a41f77bc9d680d4dfb55da252a16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166249&Signature=oOQMN77OttJJmmcNmpsrBcrHSHHjlKNRLD2L5xuR1qDGui3axxa610p5bGsAKrBI8dk2wD6oSHuTAkV21Y0iQ8LPPjAIObMDpRrO4x6y8FIJVnqakPrEdIW-OVkhJ-xnVB2iwhiY0-oENCZOjsjMurUrSeAVis6SYSpKH~3dZzqAf1zKQPONNqkdhl9DBrwXfJhR0DGa3M5A~13NeqEgReQJK1gXnzP0ypbQtaZr7JW7jKPEJTAisX7oC62WOmxJrifX65Wf2niQHXArkaUh5fxuj5lqzt7F0I8RdsGmtWfxR9FPo9m5MwqqKmjRGHbe0RLgK5GjUlvUoRR7bOpydw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council of Fort Myers Beach voted 3–1, with one abstention, on Jan. 8 to advance the first reading of an ordinance to rezone roughly 6.02 acres of the Pink Shell properties into a unified commercial planned development and to allow a new 40-unit boutique hotel and related deviations. The vote sends the ordinance to a second reading and public hearing on Feb. 3, 2025.

The proposal prompted more than two hours of testimony and expert presentations at the quasi-judicial hearing. The applicant, represented by land-use attorney Amy Tubow and a team of planning and architecture experts, described changes made since the Local Planning Agency review to reduce building mass, remove a proposed public parking element on the gulf side, and revise setbacks and public-benefit commitments. Staff recommended conditional approval only if the council found the proposed public benefits adequate to justify deviations for height and equivalency factors.

Opponents and public commenters focused on whether historically recorded documents and a 2000 resolution and restrictive covenant removed development rights from certain Bayside parcels. Several residents and former local officials told council they understood the earlier actions to have preserved the Bayside parcels from future development. The applicant’s attorney and planner pointed to recorded legal descriptions and the amended 2000 zoning resolution and argued those documents do not encumber the two boutique-hotel parcels, allowing the applicant to request development within the CPD process.

Council members and staff discussed technical issues including equivalency factors (the code’s hotel-unit multiplier), floor-area ratio, setbacks, stormwater, parking and pedestrian access. The application asks council to apply an increased hotel equivalency multiplier (proposed 6.7) across the unified CPD to achieve a total of 239 guest units across the resort; staff and the applicant said the proposal would remain under the comp-plan floor-area-ratio limit and meet parking requirements as designed.

The applicant outlined public benefits the project would deliver as part of the trade-off for deviations: a new and enlarged interpretive boardwalk and landscaping along the Bayside, enhanced public access and public parking elements on the bayside, continued pump-out service for the anchorage/mooring field, coordinated stormwater improvements, and donations or in-kind commitments for Bay Oaks programs. The town attorney and staff said specific financial values and commitments should be captured in conditions of approval and cited the need for concrete, enforceable commitments before the second reading.

After public comment concluded, Councilor Scott Safford moved to advance the ordinance to a Feb. 3 second reading. Councilor John King seconded. The roll call voice vote recorded Councilors Safford, King and Vice Mayor Aderhold as voting yes; Councilor Woodson voted no; Councilor Mary Allers abstained. The motion carried 3–1 with one abstention.

Council members said they wanted more specific documentation of the public benefits and cost estimates before the final vote. Council asked staff and the applicant to provide written values and binding conditions for the pump-out service, the interpretive walkway improvements, stormwater actions and any public-parking commitments before the second reading. The applicant said in open remarks that several commitments would be memorialized and that the project team would provide cost estimates and draft condition language in the coming weeks.

The ordinance advancement does not authorize permits or construction; it moves the CPD to a legally required second reading where the council will consider final findings, conditions and the written records about public benefit adequacy. The Feb. 3 hearing will be the council’s next opportunity to take final action to approve, modify or deny the requested CPD and deviations.

The council also received requests from a number of residents that town staff pursue clarity about historical documents that created the Bayside development rights; the applicant and staff provided copies of recordings and mappings to the council at the hearing and committed to post the referenced records in the project file for public inspection before the second reading.

The council’s action advances a high-profile development conversation that councilors and many residents said will shape the future balance of tourism and residential character on Fort Myers Beach.

Looking ahead, the council set the second reading and final public hearing for Feb. 3, 2025 at 9 a.m. Staff and the applicant were directed to exchange written draft conditions and to submit concrete cost estimates for the public-benefit items discussed in the hearing.","After hours of testimony and legal review of century-old covenants, the Town Council voted 3–1 with one abstention to advance a proposed Pink Shell commercial planned development (CPD) rezoning to a second reading, conditioning review of public benefits and retaining opportunity for further input.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves contracts and grants tied to hurricane recovery: debris removal, beach renourishment and CDBG awards

Council rejects Bay Oaks redevelopment bids; directs staff to rebid

Mound House advisory group urges town to explore repairs to underground Calusa exhibit

Fort Myers Beach council advances Pink Shell CPD to second reading after contentious hearing