Oh, there we are. Okay. Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the matine performance of the monthly murf committee advisory committee for the town of Fort Myers Beach. Uh we have one
committee member that is uh in traffic and we are going to be starting in about 10 minutes but we wanted to let everybody know that's online in case you were wondering why we didn't start. So
we will hold off starting the meeting for about 10 more minutes and with that um >> okay we'll reset know when the mic's live. >> How do you know?
can see without >> Okay, we're back live and I apologize to everyone for the late start. We had to make sure we had a quorum. So, it is um Wednesday, April 8th, 2026.
This is the monthly meeting of the Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force Advisory Committee for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. I'm calling the meeting to order. And would everyone please rise for the pledge of
allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Please be seated. >> Okay, with that I'll give a roll call. Um, Sharon Haggstrom. >> Hi, >> Ed. Uh, David Nusbomb here. Jennifer
Rusk >> here. >> Todd Zacharelli. >> Zachelli here. >> Zachelli. They keep spelling it wrong. What can I say? All right. Um and uh Robert Howell, Ed RDE, and
Bill Alough have all asked to be excused >> and they're not online Zoom. So we do have a quorum. So this is an official meeting. And with that,
I will approve the agenda. uh have a motion to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll make that motion. >> I actually think we uh I have some questions about the agenda. I think we
can narrow some of it down. I don't think if I could Does someone have a copy of the agenda that I can look at? >> Thank you. Oh, whatever. Anyhow, um if we could
maybe eliminate uh the joint AAC MURF meeting preparation. I don't think that's necessary today. Um that's it.
>> Okay. Which one was that again? >> The joint meeting preparation. I I just >> Oh, I disagree. I think that's >> But I think most of us or other people would want I think we had a discussion
that we were going to um all um have something to talk about for that. But now that there's barely a quorum or there's four of us, I >> we had that at the last meeting and we had everyone here. I I apologize for
you. I understand you had something, but we discussed that. Um and it is scheduled for the next meeting. So >> Okay. All right. That's just my two cents. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Yep. Nope. With that, I approve the
agenda. >> Okay. Is there a second to that? >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Oppose. >> Thank you. Okay. Motion carries. I
believe 3 to one. Okay. Uh moving down. Uh is I will accept a motion to approve the minutes from our last meeting. I'll make that motion.
>> I'll approve. I'll second it. >> Okay. >> Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion on the minutes? >> Hearing none. Okay. All those in favor of approving the minutes from the last meeting say I. >> I. >> I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. All right. have that done. Okay, public comment. Looking out on the vast crowd, seeing no hands up, I'll close public comment and
we're done. So, um, current items, the MURF award to the library. I bought the award, uh, but I thought someone was going to contact the library people to see if they were going to be here.
My apologies. I've been out of state for the past month, so I was unable to contact them. >> Okay, we'll try and get that on the next month agenda. Okay, moving right down the line. Um, fish kill and Buccaneer
Lagoon. This is something that uh Chad put on and he did some research on it. So, we're anxiously awaiting a report on this. >> Yes. All righty. So, um, Fish Killer Buccaneer Lagoon.
So, uh, let me just put together this timeline. Um, so we had a, uh, heavy rain event on March 7th. It was only a third of an inch, but, uh, it was, um, it did come
down hard when it was coming down. So, that's that's one thing. Uh we had anal reports of fish kill on March 11th, that was the Wednesday, and on March 13th, um staff were not notified.
Um and uh promptly went out and cleaned it up and started taking water samples. Uh big thank you to FGCU staff, Adam, um from the water school coming out and taking those samples and getting it over
to the FWC uh harmful algolooms uh group. Um so you know the I can I can read read it into the record if that makes more sense or
>> Sure. Um, so this is from uh Kyle uh Luba who is a biological scientist with the fishkill hotline um over at FWC. So uh in response to the
discolored water and fish kills reported in Buccaneer Bay and its canal system, FWC worked with local partners to investigate the event. Environmental data and water samples were collected at two locations. uh water temperature, salinity, and pH were all within normal
ranges. Dissolved oxygen was extremely low, ranging from 0.03 to 3.35 mg per liter. Water samples were analyzed by our our harmful algo bloom staff and samples
were denominated by various uh may be mispronouncing this uh rafidites rafites and uh heterocapsa species. Um so those were the two bloom
species. Uh typically water saltwater samples contain concentrations in the 100,000 range and these are enumerated at around uh 2 to 3 million for the raid
and 5 million for the heterocapsa cells per liter. So uh orders of magnitude higher than normal based on the description of the pale chalky discolored water and the cell concentrations in the algoloom.
The algoloom was collapsing leaving the silicate cell wall suspended in the water column discoloring it. So that's the chalkiness that we're seeing is that silicate cell wall from the algae. Uh and then this decomposition would account for the depleted oxygen and the
odors emitted by anorobic bacteria releasing sulfides and similar chemicals which smell similar to rotten eggs or sewage. So, um, and just to update y'all, um, we
did meet with, um, the condo, uh, owners, managers, um, the, uh, wateride association manager, uh, as well as the, um, uh, landscapers that are in charge of
the, um, you know, fertilizing and whatnot over there. Uh, everybody was very helpful. It was a good discussion. Um and uh we walked the grounds. Um there are
areas where grass is being fertilized that um would run off into the mangroves um mangrove area. Um and you know this kind of thing you're it's very tough to play detective and there's likely
uh a confluence of factors that are driving and you know this algoloom can be um just occurring naturally. Um however um fertilizer can exacerbate that and that's why we were asking these questions and meeting and um educating
uh everyone on what our fertilizer ordinance is and um why it's important and you know everybody was in agreement. Um you know we're here for the natural beauty. Uh, nobody wants to see a fish kill. And um staff met uh actually this
morning with our stormwater um inspector from the Jacobs group and uh we put together some um some suggestions that we're going to be bringing back to those condos. And uh that's uh where we're at. We also
collected um you know houses that have really green grass that are around the lagoon as well. um just to again um get in touch with these people. Hey, you know, this is our fertilizer ordinance. This is why it's important. Nobody wants
to see dead fish, especially when you have either, you know, you're living there or if you have a business that's not going to, you know, a rental. It's not going to um it's not in anybody's interest to have that happen. So, I think everybody's interested in um
working to find the solution. Like I said, it's a confluence of factors, so you can't just it's not like, oh, you need to flip this switch today and that'll solve it. Um, we don't know which switches we need to flip, but just in general, best practices, implement those, stick to them. Um, like I said,
everybody was very helpful and uh uh I think we're moving in the right direction for that. Um, unfortunately, we also had another fish kill in the um beach lagoon uh on the 7,000 block. um uh on the order of dozens of fish uh
around maybe uh 70 or 80 fish. Red fish, mullet um were the main two species that um were identified. Um so over there um it is shallow. It is not tightly
connected at the at uh currently. So it's um might want to use the word stagnant water. you know, it's not it's not flowing. You know, it may have some up and down with, you know, through the groundwater with the tide. Um, but it is
noticeably low. Um, you can see how much the the shoreline has um retreated, which is probably um due to the drought conditions that we've been having. >> And uh so,
you know, if we you know, again, took samples. Um, this was only yesterday that we did this. So, right now, the only, you know, the data that I have is, uh, not quite as much as what we have for Buccaneer Lagoon. Um, but I can pull
that up. Just bear with me. Um, so again, thanks to Adam over at the FGCU um, water school and the uh the Veester uh,
Vester Field Station um, for helping us out. So So the sample is being shipped to FWC now. We got confirmation on that. Um and so water temperature 27 degrees C
dissolved oxygen oxygen was um I believe that's within normal range 156% so didn't not seem like a uh dissolved oxygen issue um but the chlorophyll was high 67 and I think Adam said it usually
is around uh five so indicative of algoloom um again, but it's not clear, you know, if oxygen wasn't an issue. It's not kind of clear what's happening. I didn't notice any smells of um that was offputting. You know, it was
a normal low tide smell. I mean, I'm not saying it smelled great, but it didn't ne necessarily smell abnormal. Um so, we're still waiting for more data on that. Um uh yeah so unfortunate again but I think
it's a different circumstance over there between you know it being really low the salinity was really high so you know that water >> that's evaporating out of that system and you know the salt staying there that was kind of the opposite of what I thought it may be just because I thought maybe like recent freshwater input maybe
it went too fresh or something on them but um you know we're still waiting for data So that's where we're at on that one. >> On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, u do you feel the fertilizer runoff was
most likely the cause at Buccaneer Bay? And I say that only because the storm sores are hooked up for discharging into the Back Bay. And I also want to just float the possibility
that somebody dumped something into a storm sore at the point where it flowed into the back bay and created the fish kill. So again, you know, we we cruised the whole
lagoon. We went outside the lagoon um on the very I guess it'd be east no west side of the lagoon. So kind of where the golf course on this you know on this side. So north or east whatever that is. I don't have
the map in front of me but at the end of the lagoon there is Lee County storm water. Um so there is an input there but the waters looked normal. It was a normal tan in color. Um, you know, and that area is that that far back is not flushing. I mean, the tide is bringing
water in and out, but that would be the least flush. So, if it was something happening there, it likely would have still been there whenever we were kind of scouting around. So, that storm water didn't seem like, you know, everything seemed situation normal over there. Um,
and again, while the fish collected in the canal, um, you know, whether it's a life preserver or a coconut or a dead fish, everything kind of collects in that one spot. So, it wasn't surprising to find fish back in the canal where we found it. Um, and given the wind was
blowing, if you have an incoming tide or, you know, or the fish were dying in that mangrove area where the chalkiness and the rotten egg smell were the worst, um, or most noticeable, I should say. Um, that wind would have blown it straight up into the canal.
>> Okay. Um, so you know, if you're if we're just talking about likelihood, and again, this is a it's, you know, I'm I'm not trying to say this is it and because I wish I did if I knew what was it, it it'd be it it'd be an easier fix at least, but it seems likely that, you
know, that's kind of the epicenter of where, you know, those mangroves next to the condos is kind of the epicenter of where things were happening. So, um, and again, this isn't a fingerpointing exercise. Um it's just um and and we're not trying to shame
anybody. Everybody wants to do the right thing and I think we're we're well on that way. But I think it it has all the hallmarks of being a utrophic event where you have an increase in nutrients. um the algae that is already naturally
there blooms and then um you know those those algae while they photosynthesize during the day um they still respire at night and those elevated numbers they would deplete the oxygen uh low oxygen dead fish and dead other things that you
know decay and um part of that anorobic process when things are being broken down >> sure >> is um those anorob roic bacteria producing those sulfides that we smell. So it's a typical utrophic has all the hallmarks of being a typical utrophic event. >> Okay.
>> And the town uh sends out notices on fertilization and bands and things like that to all the um community members or how does that work? >> Uh so we're working on some um um educational materials to send both to
the houses and for the condo owners. and we're working on um some specific direction to the condo um kind of best best practice suggestions of what could be done to help prevent um this from happening again. And yes, uh uh we are
working uh working on um um putting out some additional information for uh the fertilizer ordinance. Yes. I was curious because when does that ban start and when does it end? In June, but
we have such a huge population and and people part-time uh visitors and uh maybe we could as a town get more information out during the season when people are here just to help educate. >> Absolutely. Yeah, I think it's more I
think it's it's it's very topical right now. Nobody wants to see this. So, it it's a it's a great time to educate while it's um fresh in the mind of what happens if we don't do the right thing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And and let me just say this, even fertilizing and complete compliance with
the ordinance could still it could still work its way down and could still cause a bloom. So, you know, it complete compliance could still you could still have that wash. You know, it you know, you don't anticipate a rain. We've been in a in a very long hard drought and that was a
first flush event and anything that's been sitting around including slow release fertilizer gets washed into the um into the waterway and those mangroves water doesn't quite move as much. Things sit for a while. Um slow release
fertilizer is not slow release when it's submerged in water. It dissolves. And um so again I want to emphasize even complete compliance with the fertilizer ordinance could lead to a negative event. So uh again it's just trying to you know we all learn from things that
happen and um I don't even want to say mistakes happen. Again you could be in complete compliance with the rules and you know still bad stuff could could come about. It's an unfortunate but very
illustrative u result of what can happen and why the ordinance is in place. And I think you know unfortunately u it shows a very good good example for
everyone on the island as far as why we need to follow it. >> Yep. Yep. our canals and our um lagoon, you know, and even even, you know, the Gulf to some extent. I mean, it's it's um it's it's sensitive and it's very uh
responsive to um nutrients. So, >> Okay. Can you follow up with us at u when you get a little firmer the final details on it and then we can you know I don't know if there's anything we need
to do to advise council revi regarding tweaking the ordinance or >> I think our main messages are going to be u I think there was a little bit of um misconception as to where the water began and ended there you know we had
this huge buffer of mangroves before you even get to there. Well, actually those are red mangroves and surface waters are are right there. You don't really find red mangroves um unless there is some tidal tidal uh flux. So
um you know just educating that mean high water or the water is not 50 feet over there. It's it's actually right here about you know >> sure >> you know so that and maybe not fert you know the grass isn't going to thrive if you don't fertilize it. So maybe let's plant natives um where it's closest and
there's a direct runoff um uh happening. Uh you know, let's let's talk about not fertilizing there and maybe planting native alternatives that don't need uh fertilizer to thrive. Um and then you know just
I think those are are two main points to try and limit it. >> Does a >> but I will follow up with you chair. >> Yeah. And when the town issues out permits, final permits for landscaping and things like that, uh because we have so many new uh uh you know, homes being
built, does a town hand out some sort of packaging on this information with a permit? Like when someone comes in and says, "Okay, we're done building. We want to do all the landscaping. this is,
you know, the permit we need for it. Does a town then say, "Okay, here's a package of uh of, you know, information on um on fertilizing and things like that because you have so many people
coming here from all over that may not know." >> Sure. And we have a very um lengthy uh list of codes and I mean, you can make the argument for most of those codes. Um >> like I love that list of the um plants
that we had the you know >> Yeah. So for commercial properties we review landscaping. There's no landscape review for single family homes. There's no code regulating single family homes per se. Um we do look at pvious and versus
impervious. Um but there is not a review for single family homes. But I mean to your point, you know, whether you know, I don't we we give them a lot of information and and you know, you whenever you're in this business or you're in marketing or
whatever, you know, you realize people don't read and you can you know, >> I I hear what you're saying and >> so it's all about just getting out there and educating. Yeah, I think just yeah, we we can try and um get, you know, our
PIO is very talented and I'm sure she'll do a good job at getting the the word out on all the channels she has um available to her. >> One a couple of good pictures tell a pretty good story. >> Yes. >> And you know, you show a lot of dead fish, you know, and say here's here's
what you need to do. And that that gets a point across because people remember a lot of visual cues and looking at dead fish and saying, "Are you fertilizing correctly?" >> Yep. And uh you know, speaking of a lot of dead fish, kudos to our harbor master
and marine operator um who were out there and our public works staff who were out there collecting those dead fish. >> Absolutely. >> Um they you know that's it's a stinky job, but somebody had to do it. >> Yep. >> Okay. Anything else from anyone?
All right, we'll move along. U helicopter activity is next on the agenda and Sharon, you wanted that. >> I know management. >> I'll just say that the the those yellow helicopters that were just zooming every
day over uh the critical wildlife area aren't doing it right. I haven't seen any. The only thing I'm seeing are the black helicopters. They're being much more careful going over the CWA. That's what I was the most concerned since that's where I live. But I don't
know that they're not damaging other places. >> Yeah, I did see a yellow one this morning. >> Did you? >> So, and it was yellow. Yeah. So, um I don't know whether you know it was far enough that I couldn't read its tail number. Uh, I've
seen the yellow ones flying very close to the beach and by the time I grab my phone trying to get a picture, it's >> they're gone. But they're they're smoking by at a pretty good clip. Uh, the black ones surprisingly are
>> out offshore and in your >> in a in a good in a good purview. So, >> not in mine. They fly right over. So, >> my house and uh just, you know, on this topic,
I'm actually really annoyed with uh this uh company that's had its barge out there. From what I've, you know, seen, I've sat out there for hours and hours watching them. They fly right over the
osprey nest uh at Pink Shell for this was when the female had laid her eggs and was sitting and I physically watched the female be spooked every time he would take off and then start to come in
and land. it was so low and uh we ended up with uh typically in years in the past we've had two to three fledgings and this year the mom was so spooked that we only got one baby out of it
which ended up having to be rescued. We had the fire department out this morning and uh Ranger Rob was there and they were able to uh get a fishing line off of this baby. But two eggs did not hatch
because and I fully 100% blame the helicopters for spooking this mama and and I'm appalled by it all. And honestly, this is going to be an issue for all of Florida if we allow barges in
areas where we have manatees and dolphins and sea turtles and wildlife and birds and uh and it's just appalling to me that he is able to do that. And uh
I I promise my community I will fight like tooth and nail for all of Florida. not to just allow barges. I mean, can you imagine barges all up and down our coast? It would be horrific and I will
fight tooth and nail to not allow that to happen to our wildlife. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything else on from anybody else? Okay.
Um just so you know you were not here for the meetings uh when we had the discussion and there was a lot of discussion a lot of uh resident input um and the town manager was here and
everyone else I don't know if you had a chance to watch it or not >> no >> but you should watch it because u it was a very enlightening meeting well attended by everyone including town and town staff. >> A town council meeting or a >> No, a Murf meeting. >> A Murf meeting.
>> It was our meeting. >> So, people spoke up. >> Yes. >> Oh, good. >> We had a lot of people. So, I urge you to watch that. >> Okay, I will. >> Thank you. Okay, >> just uh real quick, um FWC is uh meeting. I think there's several
helicopter companies and there they they are still following up. Um so, um it's not lost on them. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, I'm gonna, if everyone doesn't
mind, I'm going to try and move the MURF priority down so we can get to uh, cruiser appreciation day. >> And, um, I bring this up because we were invited after our our
um, last month meeting. Uh the Anchorage Advisory Committee invited the Murf Committee and numerous other um committees and nonprofits to be at I guess it's the second annual
Cruiser Appreciation Day. >> Oh, it's been going on longer than that, but >> Okay. And uh >> in a row. >> Yeah. So, u I took the liberty
of answering for the committee uh that yes, the MURF uh advisory committee would attend and I will be there. I was there last year, couldn't finish it all out, but um
that's another story. But I will I will uh be there and Todd has uh said that he would be there. >> Um and because it's cruiser appreciation day, first of all, I'd like everyone to um
give me a motion that we can attend the the function. >> Okay, I'll make that motion. >> Okay. >> Sure. >> Can I second it? >> Yes. >> Oh, I'll do that then. >> Okay. >> Up for discussion? >> Yes. Okay. I've got lots of books that
you guys can hand out and >> Well, I was getting to that. >> Oh, okay. Good. >> I will be in North Carolina helping my husband. >> That's fine. So, um and I have been talking to everyone uh the last couple
of times that Mary Torus has put together a task force trying to figure out ways to control the speeding on the Back Bay. Uh, and I've been invited representing kind of the
condos of Fort Myers Beach, but also indirectly the MURF. Chad's been on the same meeting schedule that I've been on. So, one of the things that they put together, and I'll hold this up, is a map indicating the uh speed zones on the
Backbay, where the manatees are, where the no wake zones are. And I talked to Mary Toruson and she said she would give us a she would print a hundred of these, pay for the printing of a hundred of
these. And uh we are going I'm having them laminated. So they're going to and I can send them to you. You don't have to take a picture. I mean it's >> too late. >> All right. But they're going you can pass it down so they can see it. But
we'll be handing that out at the table now that it's approved. And we've got about a hundred of them to uh hand out to the voters there eventually uh per Mary and the task force. We're going to have the little whatever you
call those things that you can take a picture of and >> QR code >> QR code and put it right on your >> right on your phone, right on your app so that the map goes there. But we're not there yet. So, this is kind of like old school. Let's laminate a map, give
it to the voters so that they can put it in the dashboard of everybody's boat. So, if there's any question, they can pull it out and look at it until we get the QR code put in. And so it's um gives
us a you know reason to talk because speed kills on the back bay. We know it it it hurts the manatees, it hurts the dolphins, it it wrecks the seagrass. And the more we can get the message out to
the boating community, here are the speed zones. Here's where you need to go. Here's where no wake is no wake and no wake does mean no wake. It doesn't mean slow down to 20 miles an hour or whatever. It means no wake.
>> So is this the actual map that we would be giving out or the Okay, because this is from September 2005. >> Yes, it's the most recent fullblown map that the committee had that I was working with.
But the speed zones are intact are actual as they are today. So, >> excuse me. Are the marinas that have the boat rentals, are they aware that we're having a map made or
>> um Yes. They were all in attendance as well at the they were >> at the meeting. >> Okay. >> And again, this is just this is kind of a stop gap. This isn't anything other than it's better than saying please slow down. This is like please slow down and
here's a map of the back bay showing you where you have to slow down. >> Correct. >> And where the manity zones are so on so forth. It's not perfect, >> but >> but it's better than the sharp stick in the eye, you And I would say 50% of the
>> the people breaking the rules are the boat rental, >> right? >> Because they're in a hurry to get back before >> correct >> charged >> extra. >> So that's and then the other thing we were going to hand out and I was going to ask you which is there are boxes of
the books activity books at the library. Correct. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. So, I will um if you can give me a name of the library person, I will stop by and pick them up so that we have enough to hand out during the during the
um >> event Sunday. >> I I'll do one better. I'll uh tomorrow I've got to come down this way and I'll drop off a couple boxes to the town if that's all right. And
then you can pick them up from here. Is that easier? >> Well, if they're at the library, I can just swing by and get them. >> Okay. >> It doesn't matter. >> Well, then you have to get someone to unlock the door and get in there into the um into the store.
>> If you want to bring them down to the town, that's fine. >> Okay. >> I tell you what, I will pick them up for you since I have a key here. I can get >> Awesome. >> All right. >> So, if you leave them here, Jennifer, I'll get them and pick them up Sunday and take them. >> Awesome.
And that's going to be our participation in cruiser appreciation day. Thank you for voting and allowing us to participate. I think it'll be a lot of fun. We met a lot of good people last year um up until when I had to leave
and that was uh and it should be uh a lot of fun this year. It was a very nice event. And by the way, for all those listening, I encourage all of the voting public on Fort Myers Beach to please
come. It's at the uh Veterans Memorial >> Bayside, >> Bayside Park. >> It's a helicopter promoting that. >> Starts it starts at noon to three
>> and goes till 3. Is is Steve the helicopter guy promoting it? >> I don't know who's promoting it. It's not I'm not in charge of it. I was just invited to be there. So, >> next on the agenda is the
uh Malhullen award applications. Um, I know it just seems like we did this, >> but we have to uh ask the town to issue invitations and
for the residents of the town to send in their candidates for the Malhullen Award. As everyone knows, it's one of the highest awards that the town of Fort Myers Beach can bestow on a
resident. Um, and it's for an individual that has actively demonstrated uh stewardship for the island. Um, and there's a long list of some very
uh wonderful recipients. Um, we will have the uh public information officer send out the the official uh entry form. And I encourage everyone
to please fill it out and submit it to the town. Attention Amy Baker, not to me, not to anyone else. It should go to Amy. So, any questions or any comments on that?
And then I believe uh in the May probably uh the June meeting we'll probably vote and then give our selection to the town. >> How will how will the applications be emailed?
>> They have to be they will be they will be online from the town of Fort Myers Beach. >> Okay. on the from the PIO and then you have to take it, fill it out and send it back to Amy Baker unless they've changed
it from last year. But Amy took up all the applications and then we as a committee had to give our recommendation to the town council for who we felt should be awarded or and
then the town accepts or not. So that's one of the privileges that we have on the MURF committee is u going through and selecting the recipient of the Mhullen award and
advising the town that that's our recommendation. Okay, everyone okay on that? All right. All right. Um talking about the next item down which
is a joint AA anchorage advisory MURF committee meeting in May. Um and we had a lot of atlength discussion on that at the last meeting. Um, we have been putting together
kind of what our list of wants and needs are for a taxi service and for a ferry service and what the pros and cons are
of each. And uh we're going to sit down with the Anchorage Advisory Committee next month and go through what we think the town should look for as far as
what should we do? Should we do a taxi? Should we do a hybrid Uber service? Should we do a ferry? Should we do a combination? Should it be one company, three companies? That's where we need to look at what our wants are, what our
needs are. Um, will it be supported by the by the residents here or just, you know, should it run only during tourist season? Uh, do we think it can be supported during the during the off
season? So on so forth. So there's a lot of things. One of the things I'm working with right now with another individual not on the committee is um we have uh
we have a um u company in u Ocean City, Maryland that is um has a ferry service for Ocean City,
which is a barrier island, but they don't use any of their equipment in the winter months. They shut down obviously because it's Maryland in the winter. And I'm thinking, boy, what what an I first of all, they know how to do it
because they're running a ferry service. What an ideal opportunity if we could contact some of those people and say, "Would you like to bring your equipment down here and run a ferry system for the high season?"
And then you can take it all back to Maryland and do kind of a flip-flop >> back and forth. That way they don't have the expenditure of having >> a huge overhead here and people. They've
got a captain, they've got crews, but they can flip-flop it with the northern climate because we're absolutely opposite. >> And I think that would be an ideal solution at least
to get a discussion going with those people and get something started. So hopefully I'll have a little more information on that for next month. See if I can get something going. Um, but this is a big project. We the town has
done a survey and again they've asked us and the anchorage advisory committee to kind of get together and and put what we feel would be a good wants, needs,
you know, it's there's no answers. Um there's just what we're trying to do is trying to develop a good game plan going forward for the count to advise the council. I also I also was wondering
>> would there be any chance that we could run the taxi service along the Gulf the Gulf side instead of the bay and then use Newton Park um and maybe other and beach accesses that we could expand the parking.
>> I'm still so confused by this whole topic. I mean, we don't even have a company that has shown interest that I know of. >> Well, I don't think anybody's, you know, gotten a hold of one to give them the
idea because we're not sure on what we're going to do, >> right? >> Or what we'd like to see. >> You know, I I personally think it should just be a shuttle service with commercial stops in the back bay. But is this really something that as a
town and um that you know >> I think it'll be more popular than the shuttle service that we have on the street >> especially for people on the south end. >> No >> to come down here >> and not have to get in their car.
>> Okay. So, I have spoken with people that actually had a a taxi boat service back in the 80s and 90s. >> It didn't work out. I've also spoken with other people that had taxi
services. It didn't work out because it it's just not feasible. >> No. Was it a taxi service or a shuttle >> where it's got a set stop and it comes down it makes set stop? >> It would go and pick up people. They would almost like Uber where >> Yeah, that I don't think that would work
either. >> I think it would have to be >> say Santini Plaza behind there's Fishtails. They could stop there on the hour, whatever it is, and people would get on and get off >> Salty Sams or the Veterans Park.
>> Yeah, it just wasn't feasible for these. >> I would I would agree. Taxi service would not be. >> Yeah. >> So, again, there's a lot of options. There's a lot of things. There's there are companies that are currently doing it
in other localities. You can go across to Fort Lauderdale. They have a water taxi system and it works very well. >> I I don't think that's a taxi service. I from what I read, it's a shuttle. >> A shuttle service stops. >> Yes. >> Not coming to your house.
>> A shuttle stop. Yeah, it is a shuttle service. Yes. But just a reminder that Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers speech are two totally separate entities, right? There's companies doing it, but would it be feasible or economical for a
company? >> That's what we're trying to figure out. >> Well, I don't think that is really our, you know, that shouldn't be something that we decide whether or not it's feasible for a company to come in and actually start a business. >> We're not deciding anything. We have
been asked by the town council >> to sit down develop, >> you know, wants and needs >> for some kind of water transportation system, how it would impact the Backbay, what we think it would do, working with
the Anchorage Advisory Committee so that they can go forward and say, "Okay, now we kind of know what's going to impact. This is what we're looking for." >> And Jennifer, you're right. It is not your responsibility to decide whether a company can make it happen. That's not
something we do. But there has been interest out there. Former counselor Adhalt was involved in it. Uh usually around the arches was with the Arches project. But >> your charge is to it's going to happen probably. Uh so
let's be ready for it with uh the environmental aspect of it and uh >> well so at the last meeting we had my understanding was that um there's already companies out there doing sort
of that thing not a set spot like you're talking about but they're actually picking up people from their homes and taking people to restaurants and things like that. That's okay. That sounds more like a water taxi service and but the
also is the water ferry which uh Todd was alluding to with set stops at certain points during probably peak season. >> So have any companies come to town council with um a proposal?
>> Not necessarily to town council. Again, I'll tell you that I remember councelor Adder was involved in early discussions with people that had an interest in it. >> Yes. >> Yes, I remember them. I think they went to the they purchase some property across the island. Um
>> Yeah. I'm not sure about that. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, anyhow, I just uh you know, if there's already you know, we have lots of boats out there. We have lots of uh tour boats and things like that. So
I guess my question is is do we have guidelines for them as well? Will they >> that's what we're that's what we're trying >> we're trying to put together some guidelines at the request of the town council. >> No >> they were they have they have asked us to do that.
>> So that's what we're going to do. >> Okay. >> You know we are here at the pleasure of the town council and we've been given that direction. So, you know, that's what we're going. >> How'd the tram start? I'm sure it started the same way before we had the
tram going on the beach, which we didn't have, you know, when I when I first came here. >> So, I'm guessing it's the same way. >> So, again, I would encourage everyone go through and and look at your wants,
needs, what you think should happen, should not happen. Let's look at guide rails >> for the back bay and and what we do. U speed zones obviously are a critical thing because we have to make sure that
those are followed. Um there's there's a whole list of things that we need to put down on a piece of paper and say here are the concerns that the MURF committee has. Here's the concerns that the Anchorage Advisory Committee has. Here
are the guidelines. M >> and then we hand that over to the town council >> and say because that's what they've asked us to do. >> Yes. Yes. Exactly. >> Okay. So, I look forward to everyone
next month having your wants, needs, and a very good discussion. We're going to have a combined meeting and um I think it'll be very fruitful. So, Um,
with that, uh, I had asked Chad to put the, uh, the, uh, opening MURF organizational paragraph, and it didn't get on. So, I'd like to table that for another meeting down the road. >> Sorry, I thought that was, did I have
MUR priorities in there? >> You did, but you didn't put the paragraph down. >> Gotcha. Sorry, I misunderstood. Okay. So, we want to go back and take another look at that. So, unless somebody wants to talk about
MURF priorities, >> we can table that to the next time. >> I have MURF priorities for sure. I've got a list, but we'll table in till next time. >> Okay.
All right. Going down the list, we are now at members items. You're on. >> Uh I think I was just going to, you know, talk about the helicopter uh barges out in, you know, the water. It
just really has frustrated me and broken my heart to be honest with you. And you know, I've contacted FWC. I've contacted many people and I've received a lot of emails and a lot of phone calls in in
regarding it. It's regardless whether it's just taking the piece from just sitting in your backyard and having helicopters hover over you or flying by. When I first moved here, I remember back in 2012
and the airplanes um landing uh at RSW, their flight path used to fly right over our island to the point where the lights shining from the airplanes you could see from our living room window. I mean, it
was so low. >> And our island came together. I think a lot of people in condos, it's frightening when they're, you know, so loud and they're so they're intrusive. The sound and the it's just really intrusive. It takes the peace away from
our island. And um with this helicopter coming in and putting a barge out, you can only imagine what wildlife feels like, you know, and uh I'm really concerned. And um I'm concerned for
other communities because if this is something that's new that you can just put a barge out and get some permits and you don't have no one really has a say, it it's heartbreaking. And the fact that
um two of these osprey, this um ospreys are federally protected species. And the fact that they were getting she was getting spooked and flying away every time the helicopter would fly near or
above. Um to the fact where losing a federally protected species is an outrage. Um and I'm I just hope that my community will come together and really and I I
I'm so happy to hear um chair that the community came out to discuss this issue uh with MURF and I hope they continue but it just breaks my heart and uh I I
plan on going to other communities, neighboring communities, Marco Island, Santael uh all the way up the coast and I'm going to contact every single environmental group and I will make it my mission this year to make sure that
other communities don't have another issue or what has happened with us. It is just outrageous and I'm not going to stand for it. So, we're going to have to go to legislation and uh insist that uh
that someone just can't put a barge out and land over manatees and and critical wildlife areas. It's just unacceptable. So, that's it. That's all I have. Oh, no. I have one more thing. I have I'm on a big text message ring with a lot of
neighbors and people were really uh and I was out of state so I didn't really understand what was going on but I guess the town didn't start issuing the hurricane passes until just recently and
didn't announce it and people left to go back to their home out of state >> and now they don't have the passes and you have to come in and show your identification and get your hurricane pass. But these passes should be
available to uh the community really, you know, the beginning of the year. It should start January 1st or whenever and be available to the whole community to be able to get their hurricane passive while they're here and not find out that once they go they
can't they have to fly back in to get it. I don't know if there's a way that they can maybe, you know, email or contact the town to be able to get their hurricane pass, but I really do believe that those should be available to pick
up while people are here. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you, Todd. >> Uh, I have nothing at this time. >> I do. >> Thank you, >> Sharon. >> Yes, I do. Um, I would like to uh talk
about the crosswalk that we have and the Laguna Shores crosswalk at the north end of our property on on Castle Beach. Okay. Um, several years ago, one of our owners was hit by a car. She flew up into the air that it turned out that the
people did stop, but somebody came around the stopped car and hit her. Okay. and she's she's had nothing but trouble ever since with her legs. So, the point is I'm asking, can we please have a flashing light there? We It's one
thing to have a sign, but people come off that bridge and the last thing they're looking at is the signs to to stop for a crosswalk. And I'm I highly I really recommend this. I mean, you can you could sit there for 15 minutes and nobody would address it. Nobody would stop.
>> Okay. But and I appreciate that. Okay. >> You should tell the town council that. >> Well, that's what she's doing right now. He's she council right here. >> This isn't an open form for, you know, >> it's her item.
It's my member comment >> and FOT, you know, we can definitely contact FDOT and they actually have on their website they have like concern areas that you can put in the street the and put in your comments. So, that is something to look into.
>> Coming up. Okay. >> And I have to apologize, Chad, to you. I checked this off and we weren't there yet and we were going to talk about beach management. So, um >> yeah, no worries. I can take care of it in the staff. Um
>> that's So, I'll roll that over and say my my com my info is is uh beach management. My member item is beach management. So, if you could go into that, please. >> Yeah, no worries. Um, so
>> may I interrupt you? I'm sorry. But I just wanted to remind also everyone that turtle season is starting uh in a few weeks and uh but there's still volunteers getting out there early just in case we have an early uh uh crawl and
uh so everyone, you know, please uh throw away your garbage and uh pick up after yourself and keep your dogs on a leash. Fill in holes and turn off lights. Shut the blinds. Make sure that
our beaches are friendly turtle season. Thank you. >> Go ahead. Sorry. All right. So, uh, beach management. Um, we did our permit required tilling. Um,
all the tilling passed those, um, compaction tests that our engineer did. Um the contractor did a great job and we avoided the vegetated areas and um got the sand nice and soft for our
sea turtles to lay their nest. We also had some escarment which is that you know wall of sand that you see where you have some erosion uh from all these winter storms. Uh thankfully ours wasn't as bad as some of our neighbors in Captiva and Bonita, but we still had uh
you know 3- foot plus uh escarment that um our public works um crew did a great job at uh sloping that out. Um down here on the south end uh right in front of the auto arms is one of the more erosional areas.
Um, so not um not necessarily unexpected for there to be some scarfing there, but uh we've taken care of it per our permit requirements and the marine turtle permit holders request. Uh plantings are coming. Um I am waiting
for some news from FDM before I uh go forward with the projects regarding our grant. But as soon as I get the green light from them, um we'll greenlight those projects. I just don't want to be spending money that we don't necessarily have. So, just waiting for some
um news from our our partners over at FDIM. Um we already went over the fish kill. Uh shorebird nesting season started February 15th and I'm hearing we have um eggs on the ground. I don't know
if it made it in time for Easter, but um the eggs are there now nonetheless. Uh so the public is reminded with the CWA that um um April 1st it is an official CWA. Um
you have areas that are closed to the public that you cannot enter. Uh also no dogs are permitted inside the CWA even if they are on a leash. Um uh I'm FWC biologist. We have a new FDWC biologist, Heather, who will be getting
in touch with um our stakeholders and staff. Um she's replacing Brianna, so we're excited to have her. Uh Monica um will still be uh with us from a regional perspective. And Rebecca um as well. So um we have a lot of
support over there and they have done the um uh herbicide treatment and um uh like I said we have some closed areas uh on the
north side of the CWA and uh again just be reminded that those that that roped off area is for you to not enter. It's signed as well, so people should be able to read and pay attention, but please do not enter those areas. There are um
shorebird nest inside of there. Um so also sea turtle season, so um we're seeing some runaway lighting with uh some houses and uh commercial places, and we will be getting in touch with
uh people even prior to sea turtle season. Um, so we're going to educate and um, the goal is to get some compliant lighting out there so lights can stay on. Um, you know, that amber uh, long wavelength
downward directed shielded from the beach, stay on for human safety and still be uh, uh, hospitable to the sea turtle nesting. So, um, uh, that is on top of the to-do list.
Um, along with a lot of permitting and development, uh, permitting that's, uh, reviews that are coming through. So, it's good to see the development is coming back hot and furious. So, um, >> where's a town at with signage,
beach entrance signs? Uh I'm not sure how far he's complete, but he's made great progress. Um our uh assistant public works director and they've been um putting signing up the uh you they've gotten the the rope and
ballards in to stop the uh Saturday beach cruisers and uh um the vehicles that we're getting on the beach and they are putting in um the signage. I saw them putting one in I think it was Palm Avenue today. So it's uh it's coming
through. >> I have just on going on back to beach management. I uh watched the town council meeting where they were voting on, you know, authorizing the town for a
letter of intent u for the beach management and u do we have a a format for the letter of intent or >> Yes. We're talking about the memorandum of agreement.
>> Yes, that >> Yes. Yes, we have a format. We have um Margaritavville was our uh trial run and our attorney provided us the legal ease to uh for the MOA. Um the um process is
outlined in the new management plan. Um and uh we are starting to get signups um for anybody who would like to um adjust the the nature and and height of
the dune composition. Okay. I would like to make just a couple of recommendations if I can. U number one on on whatever whatever is is sent out especially in
dealing with the condominiums u that are along the south side and pretty much all the way up and down. And I can't speak for every condominium, but I do know that we're all bound by our declaration
which we're incorporated under. And in many cases, um, the property of the condominium, depending on where they are, when they were founded, so on so forth. You know,
the deed ends up going all the way out to the mean high water line. If there is erosion, if there is an erosion control line that is established per the letter of agreement or whatever,
whatever it's called, at least in our circumstance, um, and I'm the president, I don't have the authority, nor does the board have the authority to sign that. I have because it's a common limited common
area and it's owned by everybody in the association. You have to have a condominium vote with all of the members to want because once you put a an erosion control line down,
um everything seawward of the east erosion control line no longer is a limited common area of the condominium. And so you have to have a vote of at least in ours it's twothirds
to to make it a legal and binding letter of agreement at least with a and and I'm sure that's the same with every condominium up and down the beach when you when we were doing some other
work the town had and I had to sign the paperwork. The town had an attorney that asked for an attorney's opinion, our attorney, stating, "I had the legal authority to sign the document." And I
would recommend that on any of this, especially dealing with condominiums or time shares or condoels, that the town request a letter of an uh an attorney's letter signifying that
whoever is signing this has the authority to do it. Purther documents of that particular association. >> Yep. Well received. I've had the conversation with um several of the condos that were asking for adjustments to the dune management plan and I can
review that advice with the town attorney >> because it's and again that's just saving you work down the road because it's >> and headaches >> and headaches. So that's that's my only recommendation on that.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I do have one more question for Chad. So, where are we in uh we are coming up to turtle season. Where do you are you ready for it for making sure that um
that uh we promote and make sure that lights are out. >> You're ready as I'll ever be. >> I'm going to try and get in touch with uh Rob. I wish he had been here to see
how many of his little placards he has. >> Yeah. >> Cuz I'm going to try and make a contribution to his 501c3 and try and buy whatever he's got uh as my donation there. And then hopefully we
can hand some of those out at the cruiser appreciation day. >> Talking about the blue um viewers. That'd be great. >> Um it's good educational tour tool. So, um, and we did update the sea turtle page, so y'all can take a look at that as well.
>> Okay. >> Super. >> Okay. >> And anything else for Hey, >> am I considered staff or >> Sure. Yes, you are. Uh because there was an issue that a member brought up last month and I have an answer for them and
u member Howell brought up uh the plastic flower petals that were being used in beach weddings and I took it to town management and town staff acted on it and we have added it to the special events permits that those are not permitted. Awesome. >> Uh so that has been taken care of.
>> Awesome. >> Excellent. Counselor K. >> Yes. >> Nice job. >> I try It's a job. >> Okay, that ends staff update. I'm going
to open it up for public comment. Public comment. Going once. Going twice. No, sir. You spoke before. Okay. I'm closing public comment. All right. >> The any um any nominations for the MURF
award? Um Ed uh RDE had sent in an article to all of the um members via Chad, but I don't have that article
um about a group that took part in a beach cleanup. >> Uh the tuna skin. Yes. >> Was it the tuna skin or was it somebody It was somebody else. >> Was it somebody else? Let's see. I thought we were going to be able to get him online.
>> You can go. You don't go. Yeah, go. I insist. Uh so yeah, the article for um consideration for to award the Beachkeepers Club and the HM Restaurant
Group, also known as known for Doc Fords and Dixie Fish Company, um for their uh beach cleanup. So, uh, because he isn't here, but I would
like to nominate the HM restaurant group for for organizing a beach cleanup. >> I will second that. >> And uh, have that for our MURF award for next month.
Try and get the library done, too. >> Any um, >> any further discussion? And do we have the awards to give out? >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. >> I brought brought one for the library. >> Okay. So, >> um, any further discussion on the MURF
award? >> I won't be here for the next meeting. >> Okay. >> So, >> we can postpone it to the one after that if you wish. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um, >> All right. So, all those in favor say I.
for the restaurant group. >> I >> I >> I think we need four a quorum. >> To pass out. >> I know, but you know when a lady's got to go. >> Here she comes. Sharon Ed RDE had u nominated the uh
restaurant H&R restaurant group for a beach cleanup for the MURF award. >> Can I just interrupt real quick? So it's the >> they own Doc Fords and and >> Yes. Doc Fords, Bonita Bonita Fish, and Dixie. >> Yes.
>> Those three. So you have the uh the the Tuniskin Beachkeepers Club and uh Keley County's Keeley County Beautifuls 11th annual beach cleanup.
So I'm just Ed had mentioned um the uh Beachkeepers Club, but that must be Keepley County. Beautiful. So yeah, Dixie Fish Company, Doc Ford's employees. >> Yeah. And what's the name of that
company again? That's >> HM. >> HM HM Restaurant Group is per per Ed. I'm not I'm not >> Yep. >> Okay. >> I'm not >> No. No, I know. So, >> are you okay with that? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> That makes it four. It's good.
>> I'll uh notify them of saying. Okay. That brings us to uh next meeting which is going to be on uh May 13th joint meeting 10 o'clock with the Anchorage Advisory Committee. And with that,
>> may I be excused for that meeting? >> Certainly. >> Thank you. >> With that, I'll accept a motion to adjurnn. >> I will make that motion >> and I'll second that. >> Thank you. All those in favor say I. >> I. Hi.
>> Okay. It is Wednesday, April 10th. The time is 3:28 and the MURF meeting is a journ.