Marine and Environmental Resource Task Force Advisory Committee for the town of Fort Myers Beach. I apologize to all of you waiting out uh out there in TV land. We had some technical difficulties but we are starting and it is 1010.
So with that I am calling the meeting to order. Uh could everyone please rise and give the pledge of of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. And with that, I'm going to start a very slow roll call. Um,
starting starting with Rob. Rob How >> Rob How present. >> Jennifer Rusk, present. >> Dave Nusbomb, present. At this point in time, I would also like to introduce our new member, Todd Zachanelli, who is
>> filling in. >> Todd Zachelli, present. >> You have to give your present. >> Sharon Hegstrom present. >> Sorry. >> Dude, present. >> Bill present. Okay, we're all here.
This is uh quorum is established and with that I will take a motion to approve the agenda as published. Mr. RDE did you? >> Yes. No. Dave, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to
add >> Turn your mic on. >> Mr. Chairman, I'd like to add an item to the agenda. If if nobody objects, um it's my understanding that you uh presented the uh the award um to the council um last after last month's
meeting and um I wanted uh to for you to fill us in how that went and then I had a couple of questions that I wanted to discuss and uh get some opinions. >> Okay. Is there a second to Mr. RDE's motion?
>> Um I think would that be under members items? I mean, I don't I don't have a problem with that. >> Well, it may be something that winds up after discussion. There may be a motion and a vote. >> Okay. >> That could still be done under me. >> It could still be done under members items. >> It can't. >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, then that it's up to you to decide, Dave.
>> Okay. >> Um, whichever. >> Do you want to bring it up under members items? >> It doesn't. It's fine. It doesn't matter to me. >> Okay. Then you want to withdraw your motion. >> Okay. But I withdraw the motion. >> Okay. I would like to uh add to the
agenda the MURF budget, >> please. >> Okay. >> Is there a second to that? >> I will second. >> Okay. Motion made and seconded. Um discussion
hearing none. I'll call the question. All those in favor of amending the agenda to include the MURF budget say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Okay, we'll put that under new business.
All right. >> I actually can I request that it's um before the Arbor Day. >> A >> Okay, >> it that's fine.
I have no problems with that. Anybody else? Okay. Thank you. All right. So, with that, uh, did we take a vote on that? All those in favor again say I. >> I.
>> Oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Approval of the, uh, previous meeting minutes. >> Motion to approve them as written. >> And I second it. >> I would like some discussion on that before we have a motion. Um, and just
for clarification, it's not to uh embarrass anyone. I just want to make sure that uh we don't offend any of the uh people that have patronized the projects that we've had
here and it it was not included in the minutes. And just for the record, um, member Rusk was asked if there was a possible a problem diverting any of the funds that had been contributed
towards the coloring books. And her response, and I'm paraphrasing this is no, I don't think so. So, I would like to note that the the the board and it wasn't just one individual. A couple had the same
question and we had a discussion and we didn't mean to belittle the sponsors that were out there or to disregard the intent of their uh thing, but it wasn't included in the minutes. And I just wanted to make it
for the record that we did ask and we wouldn't have taken the vote had we thought there was a problem with it. So I would like that uh included or at least that discussion included as we approve the minutes
because I didn't mean to take anything away and I don't think any member of this group wanted to take anything away from the intent of what was donated. and we were kind of uh operating on
um Jennifer's uh committee member Rusk's um comments and she further got it clarified from the donors and so if there was any intent that we displayed
that belittle them I apologize but it was in in the recording and in the minutes so >> just just to clarify I would what I recall and when I went back to watch the meeting you had asked was this money intended when given to for the coloring
books and I said I believe so yes >> but you also stated and I went back and and read it I said is there any problem with it >> can we continue this discussion under the >> I just want to have the minutes corrected >> yeah I haven't seen the minutes so may I
look them over >> they're not in this minutes >> that's my whole But the minutes in general, can I look over? >> May I Jim? Oh, thank you. >> They don't refer to it at all. >> Well, they paraphrase a lot. I mean,
they can't put in every single thing into the minutes. >> I understand. That's all I'm saying. Would it be prudent to just for the bit of discussion in question um have whoever writes these out to go over um
the video that's on YouTube and just do it word for word just to be clear on everything? >> I think that would probably be prudent. That would be I think it would just iron it out because I do think there was a lot of question confusion back and forth where a lot of careful words were trying to be chosen not by everybody with it
because we didn't really know how to speak but it will also come up today during the budget discussion as so as far as the minutes for last one we just just have a rewatch >> and again my intent on bringing it up was only to >> clarify >> clarify it and go back to the people
that donated the money and state had there been any any um >> we just want to make sure >> reason any reason at all not to do that we would not have taken the step >> right >> that's my only purpose behind it and I
said it this is not to belittle anyone or throw anybody >> um under the bus strictly to go back and go to our two patrons that donated money or three and say geez you know we we were led to believe there wasn't going
to be a problem. Now that it's been identified, you know, we're I >> you know, I just want to go back and have that noted in the minutes before we move on. >> Mhm.
>> So, with that, uh do you want to make that a motion to go back and re redo the minutes, Rob? Yeah, I I motion um to have that that I I should I I don't I can't quote the specifics, but that discussion rewatched
and evaluated to then update the minutes from last meeting. >> Okay. And I'll second that. >> Just so there's no question about specifics there. >> Okay. >> Motion made and seconded to uh republish the minutes and we can approve them at
our next meeting. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. All any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you.
>> All right. So, with that, we're now on to public comment. Okay. Seeing the massive people in the crowd, probably not going to have a public comment. So, thank you. I'll close public comment.
Um, current items. First item on the agenda on the amended agenda is now the Mer budget >> and I'll go ahead and start that off. So, I gave you all a packet and uh it
was in this packet is basically just uh to kind of start off the conversation of the MURF bud uh budget. Um, after the vote that was made at the last meeting, uh, in regards to keeping some of the money to go towards Arbor Day, I did
speak with one of the the the, um, people that contributed some of the money and they had pointed out that on the checks that they um, felt that they the money that was given was specifically for the coloring books. Um,
so the first page is from the $4,000 contribution from the community foundation and they talked um about it on uh Fort Myers speech talk.com in regards to that money going towards the children's book. The second page is um a
copy of the check and these were provided to me by um Joe, our financeier. And that was a check for $2325 from uh the Fort Myers Beach Chamber and Water Foundation.
And as you can see, I highlighted it that it was for uh Fort Myers Beach Feathers and and Flippers books. The next ca uh the next page is a copy of a check from the Alex King group uh
for $300 and I highlighted it so you can see that it was for the Murf coloring books. The next page you'll see another check uh from Raymond James Global account. This is also from uh the Alex King
Foundation and it is also I highlighted it. under memoed for the Murf coloring books. And then the next check, next page is U made out from to Fort Myers Beach MURF. Um and uh this was the
$4,000 that was given for the children's coloring books. So, when you add it all up, what we have in MURF, not including uh I believe you had said at the last meeting you were someone was giving $500 to go
towards um the awards, your awards >> that was being donated to the u I believe it was being donated to the friends of Little Eststerero Island to purchase additional MURF awards.
for the for the presentation of to be announced MURF recipients at the time. So the beginning of the year we had $37.92 that rolled over those that was money from uh contributions to go to last
year's children books 112524 uh 4,000 uh on given on 5125 MURF donation but that was uh uh from the community foundation $2325
uh was given to Murf uh Fins and feathers books to be printed. Um, and 2,300 from Alex King that equals 8,932.92. On the next page of the packet that I gave you is an invoice, and that is to
Miss Macy Null, who uh is the one that uh that uh did the basically did the book for us. Uh that $180 was to go to if you go to
the last page to change the last page of the book to include the Fort Myers speech to everyone that you know we want to thank wanted to thank the library. The library is going to be storing the next um batch of second edition of the book. And so we wanted to thank them.
And then also you've got uh the Fort Myers Beach Chambers Water Program Foundation, their logo and their QR code along with Alex King's QR code and logo. Crow's uh QR code and logo community the
Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation logo and QR code. Turtle Times logo and QR code and mound houses logo and QR code. So minus1 180
you have $8,752.92. Uh if you want to pass this down. This is uh this is the I forgot to include this in the packet, but this is from Panther Printing. And this is um the quote that was given to me for 20,000
books. And that comes to $8,71644. So you minus that and you have $3648 left remainder in the MURF budget. if we were to uh proceed with printing the 20,000. I think ethically because these
um foundations gave the money um in good faith that we were going to do the coloring books, uh I believe that we should uh make a motion that uh that we print 20,000 for the cost of $8,71644.
I think ethically it would be the nice thing to do. Okay, second. >> The uh excuse me, the three, >> excuse me, the uh the $300 um a few months ago that was donated by the
friends of Littleero Island, >> is it in this is it in the budget in the budget? >> I was only asking the financeier Joe uh for checks that were to MURF for the ones that I knew of, the 4,000 I knew of. I didn't I
>> So it's not it's not >> it the total budget. >> Right. Right. I'm just talking about the budget that the checks that I received for the children's books. >> And the question I have is on the check from
Patricia Almond for $4,000. Where does it say for the coloring book? >> Turn your turn your mic up. Bill. >> Oh, sorry. the uh check for $4,000. The um Patricia
Oh, no. Coleman. Anyhow, where does it say it's just for the coloring books? >> Well, it doesn't just donation MURF, but it was reported that the money was given. That's what the first page is. So
that $4,000 check came from the community foundation and it was had been reported that the money was going towards the children's books. So I believe their understanding is that's why what they were giving the money to us was going to be used for and
and I'm not against the the arbor day and the trees. I think that's a great idea, but I just think that as a committee we should honor and and e, you know, it would be the ethical ethically right thing to do would be to print the
books with the money that was received to MURF. My only concern is if we take it down to $36, are we sure we're going to end up with a positive $36
that we're not going to overspend the cash on hand? >> Well, the $3648 is what my what I did. >> I I understand. >> Including the money that maybe was given to the town to MUR for other reasons.
So, we don't have we don't have a financial accounting of what we have in our checkbook to date. >> Well, I mean, the the Joe, the finance guy, gave me the checks, so that's
>> okay. He gave you the checks, but I I'm what I'm getting at is >> And he also sent me >> We have We have a budget, Chad. I don't want to I don't want to over I don't want to overspend the budget. >> Well, there's two separate budgets. She's just t the 36 is what's left over specifically for what she added up that
she knows was for the books. >> I understand that. >> More money that's in our budget that's not specifically for the books, right? >> I don't know that. >> Okay. I would just like to make sure that we don't go up and to will at the end of the year and say, "Oh, by the
way, we overspent our budget by $3,000. We're sorry. We didn't we didn't stop and look at what we had spent prior to this point. You know, if we've paid everything and we've got the money in hand to do it, I have no problem with
that. I just want to make sure we don't over >> It's there. It's in the budget. Okay. But did you get a did you get a reconciliation of where we are in the budget? >> Be I did prior to the last two checks
that were entered into the town's account, MURF account, which is $2,300. >> But but they sent me the checks and Joe said that we've got the money. In fact, I actually had to get them rewritten because they wrote it to MURF instead of
the town of Fort Meer speech. >> Okay. >> So, we're an advisory council. we can communicate the intention of the MURF committee members via motion and then that can be um
uh examined by staff and the council has the powers of the purse to um spend the money after some um after staff looks it over. >> Yeah. And and again, I have no problems with buying the 20,000 coloring books
cuz that's the money what the money I just want to make sure that we don't spend the money that we don't have. >> That we spend the money we don't have. >> Understood. >> I mean, that's all I'm trying to prevent so we don't go up and say, gosh, we ordered 20,000 books and we only have
enough for 15,000 or 18,000 or whatever. >> That's that's my whole point. from the finance department. I received um a calculation and uh this was uh as of82025 and this is from the town. Um and we had
6,632.92 and then you add the 2300 to that which makes it $8,932.92. It's right here. >> Okay. But we don't have anything from the downtown town updating it today. >> Oh, no. Correct.
>> That's that's my point. >> I I I'm fully in support of everything you're recommending. I just want to make sure that we have enough >> money to cover what >> we want to make sure we can cover the
checks. We're going to >> I did speak um the last time I was here with Joe and when I handed the checks and I asked him, "Can I go ahead and print the books now?" And he said, "Oh, yeah, the money's in there." >> Okay.
>> So, he did tell me verbally that the money was there for me to print the books. >> Okay. Um, can we can we get I I still would like to get something before we put it in.
How many books do we have on hand right now? >> I have only two boxes and those are reserved for the upcoming sand sculpting. >> Okay. >> Oh, but other people have them. You can still get them from the library and other locations. The chamber has them.
>> Okay. But in my possession, I have two boxes which I'm reserving to because I'm sure we'll give them all out at the sand sculpting event. >> Okay. Even if we put the order when we couldn't have them for the sand sculpting which starts next weekend,
correct? >> Um, yeah, I think we perhaps could, but I I I would I don't know for sure. I can't say yes or no, but it would be great to have them for the sand sculpting, but I needed to wait um for
this meeting so everyone could um give me the go ahead. >> Well, I and and again, I don't discount anything you're saying. I would I would like to make sure that we have the cash
in the bank before we >> order the books. The cash the money is in the bank. >> If you order half the books down >> then I have we are pay spending more money because the more you order then uh the less they are.
>> Okay. Well, do we have a motion on the floor and it's been seconded. Um, so if we if we vote to release the money, we're going down to a $36
balance. Uh, which you know hopefully is there. Um, so with that, is there any further discussion? Well, it now this is just my calculation
like you like Mr. Rude said that he or his foundation had donated money. So the 3648 is just my calculation from the money that I raised. So, so could I make a suggestion
possibly if we if make a motion and we vote on this, is it possible that the vote is contingent upon getting a balance sheet from Joe, which probably wouldn't take a couple of days.
>> What what Jennifer's presented is not a budget. What she's presented What Jennifer's presented is not a budget. what she's presented is an accounting of what she's collect versus what the expenses are just for her coloring book. It's not a budget. It's not the MURF
budget. Um so I think um it would be a relatively simple and quick process. Uh that would probably only take a couple of days to just have Joe to verify what the balance would be after she writes after she pays for the coloring books. Well, you know, I mean, that's fine, but
the town's not going to write a check for $8,716 to Panther Printing unless the money is there. So, it's not like they're going to hand over money that isn't there.
>> Okay. Well, then that puts a little bit different light on it. I didn't realize that Joe was the one that was writing the check. >> No, our finance department will be writing the check. So, Chad, >> yes, sir.
If if we have a budget and there's enough funds in the budget or that we have budgeted and we're still in a positive position to write a check for
what is it 20 uh 8,000 whatever the amount is >> 8760 >> 8760 if there's enough money in the account to cover that authorization to buy the books.
Will the finance department of the town write the check? >> I can review the proper procedure with the finance department and get back to y'all. >> Okay. And let me ask it a different way. If there isn't enough money, will they write the check?
>> I doubt it. >> Okay. So then would you revise the motion to to uh spend the money if there is money in
the budget, you know, for the books and if not to return it back to the committee? >> Yes. I' I'd make a motion that provided that the treasury writes the check, then I'm good with it. I'll second that.
>> Discussion. >> Discussion. So, I've this isn't my first rodeo ordering these books and uh they the the finance department
had paid for the first edition of books uh out of our MURF budget and I'm pretty sure that's how they would pay for these books is um you know our town is that's
We didn't ask for any money from the town. We graciously were given money from our community and uh the town's not going to write a check for $8,000 or over $8,000 if the money wasn't there.
>> Okay. Well, that's what the motion stipulated. >> So, I can't order these books until I hear from Chad. >> How long do you think that'll take, Chad? Uh, I would imagine sooner than later, but we're we're all busy. So, I'll I'll
talk to uh our finance director and just make sure we're following proper procedure and money's there and no worries. >> Okay. >> Y >> can we can we get something done within 48 hours? >> I can get back to y'all within 48 hours. Absolutely.
>> Thank you. I just feel bad asking for our town resources and and staff to have to go. They wouldn't allow me to order these books. I don't I just give the go-ahad on the amount and then they have
already a contract with Panther Printing. I'm sure with others too, but uh they already know what they're doing. They have POS and uh purchase orders ready. And you know I I just >> and it should be pretty simple. Yeah. No
worries. >> If that's the case. >> Yeah. If you don't mind um going to the extent then but I just we never did that before. So >> I understand. >> The committee just said okay go ahead
order these books and you know and then the town probably took the money from the MURF account and paid for it. >> Yeah. I don't know if I was involved in that process, so I'm just hesitant to commit to that. >> Okay. >> All right. Any further discussion on the motion?
>> Okay. Motion's been made and seconded. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Nay. >> Nay. >> Okay.
>> Yeah, I'm a nay, too. So, uh, we have a four to three, uh, vote. So, uh, Chad, if you could honor the split wishes of the count of
the committee and try and find out as soon as possible if we have funds to cover it, then we can be on our way. >> Yes, sir. We'll do. >> Thank you. Okay,
moving on to Arbor Day. Um couple of things and first of all I um was very u excited that we were moving forward and
contacted a bunch of uh nurseries on Pine Island and to date have received one response saying let me talk to the owners. Uh that was several
several days ago. So I'm getting a very cool response on that. So I'm not sure we're going to get a lot of traction from any of the nurseries locally. I also did some looking and even the
youngest trees are going to be somewhere between u75 and $125 per tree which is you know not cheap but um it's going to be costly
uh and we're not going to get a lot of trees. So, I'd like to uh point out a couple of things to the uh committee. The Arbor Day in Florida is in
January and they have it in January because the trees can be planted in a cooler climate and get their roots established. normal Arbor Day is in April for the National
Arbor Day. So, my thought was perhaps, and I just wanted to bounce this idea off of the uh committee and see what their thought was. Uh Kathy Turner, who's president of
the garden club, was on Beach Talk Radio Saturday and came out, handed out a list of all of the trees that survived and and recommended planting survived. And I thought um if we could look at
possibly getting the seeds for the correct trees to plant and that includes you know sables uh royal palms. um they had two or three other palms listed
on their um recommended plantings and if we could provide the seeds and potting soil to the garden club and see if they couldn't take it on as a project to
grow grow a palm for the island and we could plant it in a year. Um we could approach the garden club. One of the things that uh she discussed was, you know, their membership was getting um
uh older and is not as active, needed more volunteers. And I thought, what a great way for each member to go and try and germinate a palm for the island and then donate it to the town for different places. But it
would take a year at least to get the thing going. The other thought was for this coming Arbor Day in April is to get the town and say if you'd like to donate a tree in memory of someone that has
passed away, um we could we could take that and an individual could go out and buy aundred or $150 palm or uh buttonwood or gumbo limbo.
and have it planted at one of the town sites in memory of someone, you know, that was on the island or just a um someone that was a close relative u or just a memorial tree.
>> I love both those ideas or all those ideas. Um I would still like to have a Florida Arbor Day event and um I can uh get that together and get back to y'all on that. >> Okay. Um, how does everyone feel on that? As far
as um going approaching the council and seeing if we could get their blessing on either one, h >> how many trees how many trees are we talking about, Dave? >> How many how many trees would it take to have the event? Are we talking about a dozen trees or 50 trees? What are we
talking about? >> Well, from memory and this is preend, so it was five plus years ago. So, I think we got, you know, maybe 150 trees, like 75 of one species and 75 of another. Um, like gumbo limbos and maybe sea grapes
we did. Um, but there's no I mean, it could be one tree that we're planting and have an event together and maybe some smaller sapling giveaways um would be a great great thing, you know, as much as we can afford. I don't think there's any necessarily magic number
that needs to be hit. >> Well, is there is there a possibility that between now and January um in in the in the six weeks time or seven weeks time um that we could get some private donations to pay for some of the trees? >> That sounds like a great idea, Mr. Ed.
>> I don't I can't imagine why it would hurt to ask and then we would know before Arbor Day, you know, what we were doing if we had one tree or 10 trees or 40 trees. So maybe over this next month we can um put our heads together and try and pull something together and have it for next meeting. >> Yeah, I can.
>> Arbor Day is not till January 16th. So we have a little bit of time, >> right? >> So we actually have about eight weeks. >> Yeah, we're correct. >> Yeah. >> And just and I'm not holding your feet to the fire on this, but um how many
town areas like um uh access points so on? and so forth u are in need of trees. Just a rough estimate. >> Uh all of them. >> Okay. >> So, >> we um so we planted 75 royal palms over
at Bay Oaks and we're going to follow that up with some canopy trees um to intersperse in there. Uh all of the beach accesses are on the list to get trees. Um, we do have another FDAX grant um that I'm working on and uh need to work on the that one actually has a a
match associated with it. So, that's a little bit more homework for me. Um Um but there's we we have some options. >> Okay. All right. Excellent. Well, does anyone
have any uh reservations about me reaching out and contacting the garden club to see if they would like to start a palm germination program for the town? >> Just if you can um if we can get
together on a conference call or get an email thread going um with me in there um I'd appreciate it just so I can be in the loop. >> Very good. Anybody have any >> Dave? You said you would talk to uh nurseries. Did you talk to any like um
landscapers who may have a a better relationship with nurseries? >> No, I did not. But that was my second second round. I >> Okay. >> kind of blanketed a lot of nurseries on Pine Island and I only got one response
back from one guy who said, "Let me talk to the boss." Um, but I'm sending it out under my personal Gmail account, which probably SCA spammed a lot of
>> I went went into the spam folder, I'm sure, on some of them, but um Okay. But yes, I can reach out to a lot of the local um planters and see what they have. >> Yeah.
All right. Okay, that's my report on Arbor Day. Um, next on the agenda, and I just want to bring it up so we continue to remind everybody on the island that the
hazardous waste collection date is February 4th, 2026 at Bay Oaks. And again, uh, Chad, if the, uh, town I realize we're looking for a new PIO
soon, but, um, if if we could start blasting that out just as on a weekly basis to continue because not everybody checks their advisories, but I think this is one of the best
things we can do to to help the environment of the island. Um, I know I've got a couple of paint cans that I want to get rid of and I'm just one guy. You multiply it by everybody on the island and I think if we can get
everyone to get rid of it, it it will help the environment immensely. >> Yep. I agree. I think, you know, whenever after we've gotten overwashed a few times, you start to realize anything that's stored below flood ends up diffusing into the environment. So, the
more stuff we can get out of the flood zone and off the island and not uh dispersing into the environment, um should we have another surge event? >> Okay. Excellent. Anybody else have any
discussion on that? No, >> I would think >> I I had a discussion though um to the Arbor Day if we I know we went on, but I just had a question. Is there any way that we can maybe start uh growing uh
maybe for the Arbor Day um at Newton Park? >> Uh I believe we have a RFP out for that. I'm a little hesitant to commit. No, not I'm I guess I'm asking for the Arborgate to start some seedlings and use that
property or Bay Oaks an area that we could >> I'm sure we can find, you know, an area we can we can take a look and um and get some things going. I can ask, but um >> might be something you want. >> I wouldn't want to commit. Yeah, Newton Park's going to hopefully be under
contract soon. I think they're maybe I don't know if it's just design right now or for this construction, but I know I saw a RFP, so I wouldn't want to commit >> Newton Park. Um, and typically you kind of, you know, if you're growing those things, you want some a greenhouse shade
kind of thing, so it's a little more protected. Um, but it's a great idea. I've uh I've fantasized about having a a town nursery and that kind of stuff before. So, >> be amazing. uh to look into space.
>> Oh, >> thank you. >> Okay, next up, Rob, you're up. Um got the final got the final um turtle friendly viewers um with the uh film inside the viewer
that does not let the uh well it allows the negative wavelengths through but it stops the wavelengths that the turtles um can see in. So it it if you are a beachfront property owner or even if you're back on the other side of a
stereo um and you are getting questioned about your lighting, you can get one of these, go out on the beach and if you can see your property through this at night um then those lights are not in compliance and it's kind of a way to be ahead of things for next year. So and
then you can also keep these all you know all year round. But >> I'll just caveat this. I I think it's a great educational tool. Um it's it's a great way to pass things out and let people recognize it. It is not an end all beall. It's not I don't want someone
to, you know, go up and I can't see it and therefore it's okay. Um, you know, the spectrometer that the town staff has is the is the scientific tool that we can uh really determine whether or not um
it is true wavelength with no uh wave, you know, shorter wavelength light below that 560 nmter mark. Um, but I do think this is an excellent tool for people just to educate people and get out there, look at your property and see if
there are any red flags out there >> um that you can see. >> My my big um worry is please don't be going at your neighbors or other people, you know, about it. It it's not like like just Chad said, it's it's not the end all be all. It's a tool to help. So,
if you want to help educate others, do it in a, you know, kind, positive way. you know, don't be coming at anybody. >> And and Chad, as you once told me, you know, there are people shouting on the beach, there are people talking on the beach, and people whispering on the
beach. >> Yes. >> And if this gets if this helps some of the shoutters, >> you know, at least it's a crawl, walk, run type thing. you know, we can we can get the
>> we canless identify some of the some of the more blatant >> u issues on the beach and then start fine-tuning from there. So, it's a it's it's a I think it's a great method to
get rid of the shelters in the crowd and then we can, you know, keep working down to get to a point that, you know, we can actually, you know, be beneficial to the to the nesting season of the turtles.
>> Yep. And just so if anybody's wondering what he's talking about. So it's just an analogy just you know there's there's bright lights that we want to tackle first and then you turn off those lights and then another you know set of lights all of a sudden becomes a vis uh visible to you and it's becomes apparent that those are also issues but until you get
those bright lights out you may not be able to see those dimmer lights and and that kind of thing. So, it's a little bit of a triage analogy um that he's referring to just uh in case you were confused about who's shouting at and who on the beach. But these are excellent
that the idea, you know, I saw the one from I think it was Broward County on the other side and they had a little square about the size of this turtle. And this is a much bigger uh viewing optic
>> that that I think will help. And again, it's it's a tool. It's not an endall. It's just a tool. Sure. >> Um, one last thing about these, there's there is some information on the on the back. Um, it does have the Turtle Time,
Inc. phone number, contact information, website, and all that. But something to be very clear of, if you find a sea turtle, hook a sea turtle, it the report goes to Florida Fish and Wildlife first, and then they will reach out to Turtle
Time, Inc. or whoever else needs to respond. But, um, both those informations are on there. turtle time information is on there to get more information to educate yourself. Um, but reporting wildlife always goes to Florida Fish and Wildlife. >> Yeah, >> Rob, the plastic coating doesn't affect
the uh readings, do it, does it? >> Not that I could tell. I did think about that and I messed with it a couple of times, even different layers of it, and it didn't seem to mess it change it at all. >> No. >> Good. >> Any other discussion?
>> Uh, yes, I have some things if that's okay. Yeah. >> On this item >> on this item >> for sea turtle conservation. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. >> So, um I don't know how long ago it was, but on the order of a year maybe plus um
we got direction from council to uh on how to our our policy for how to apply our ordinances. We have our sea turtle conservation ordinance and we also have our lighting standards ordinance. And the direction that we got was that if lights, exterior lights
specifically are directly or indirectly visible from the beach, the sea turtle conservation code would apply. So uh and then if the lights are not indirectly are directly visible from the beach, uh then the lighting standards code only
would apply um to reduce the cumulative lighting impacts on the beach. Um so with that staff uh you know reviewing properties
um we would caveat we we we did not really have a uh policy in place to review single family homes uh landward of the triple CL. Um we do have that in place with the sea turtle conservation
ordinance uh waterward of the triple CL. So, lighting standards and sea turtle conservation code do apply to all properties on the island uh on Fort Myers Beach.
So, there's been some um we had a we had a tough year. We had a lot of disorientations and we have a lot more open area uh that's not shielded by structures and shielded by vegetation than we did in
the past. Um with the uh volume of work, not necessarily with permitting, but just in general. Um with the volume of work, staff would uh caveat all issu all permits that were
issued. um on the beach with, you know, you shall comply with the lighting standards code and you shall comply with the sea turtle conservation code for the houses that were landward of the triple CL and um you know hoping that the
contractors you know knew the code and would uh do the lighting do their lighting accordingly. uh that's not always the case and um we we've we have some issues and we're addressing those issues. Uh but
you know as a as a pivot or as a response to hey you know we've asking we're asking these people we're asking people to um um you know follow the code and condition these permits accordingly but
not really having a process on the back end to go and inspect it. Um, I'm trying to get rid of the headaches on the back end and start inspecting the or start reviewing the lighting uh for the exterior lighting for houses
um that are landward of the triple CL on the front end to get rid of that headache on the back end. Um, so there has been some, you know, I don't know if you want to call push back or questioning and and I get it. It is it is a new um
procedure, but it's it's nothing new in terms of the code. So, we're looking at, you know, one of one of the things that we're seeing a lot of are these uh linear uh vertical lights that are, you know, 1600 lumens
um that are not necessarily uh uh fully shielded and and full cut off as the lighting standards require. And they're bright and they're they just push light straight out. So um there's another you know the LEDs the you know
there's every you know things are adjustable etc. But just to give you an idea um if a light you know the the lighting standards code says if you know all lights shall be fully shielded and full cut off unless it meets one of these exceptions. So if it's not fully
shielded and not full cut off then it should be under 260 lumens. So whenever you see a light that's not fully shielded and full cut off that's 1,600 lumens. there's a big difference there. Um, and even if it's partially shielded, it still has to be under 1,000 lumens.
So, um, you know, I'm just we're we're we're going to be reaching out to contractors more and more and I think it, you know, with the Coconut Telegraph kind of the word's already out on the street that we're we're looking at lighting. We're trying to reduce the cumulative effects of lighting and um
so so that is happening. And also um you know just just get the word out you know with the condos um um you know get the word out that uh we are going to be scrutinizing the
lighting a lot more um multif family and commercial buildings are under more scrutiny um uh for their exterior lighting than the single family homes are. single family homes that are waterward of the triple CL on the Gulf side of the triple CLL as well are under
more scrutiny than um ones that are on the other side of Asterero. Uh but given things that are so open right now, a house that's on the landward side of Asterero is still directly visible from the beach and we are approaching it
accordingly and they um will be subject to the sea turtle conservation code when they're directly or indirectly visible from the beach. Um, another, um, issue, uh, that, uh, we're, you know, noticing,
especially from the disorientations and just what we're seeing pop up, um, on condos specifically that I need to get with uh, uh, you on, Mr. Nesbomb, you're the condo association, president of the condo associations. >> No,
>> not anymore. No, I'm I'm a member I'm a member of the uh condo assoc condo associations of Fort Myers Beach, >> right? >> But that meets uh that meets monthly and it's just all
of the board members or presidents of condos that choose to join, but it's a very good representation of the beach. >> Right. So, um, one thing that we're, you know, uh, fan lights, fan lights have been an issue where the fans, it's very difficult to shield a fan in general,
and, uh, it's even more difficult to shield a fan from being visible from the beach that's at a downward angle from that fan. You know, you can't you just can't build something long enough on a 9 ft high lenai to properly shield a
light. Um, so they're I I've been in talks with um STC, Sea Turtle Conservation, um, and they've given me one fan that, um, does have a a shielding built into the light, and I'll be passing that on
to the association. Um, and I'm saying this because whenever we do a exterior lighting plan review of a condo, those individual condos um are not, you know, it's not all one
property. Those are individual properties in those lenai. So, I don't necessarily get a review of those individual properties that have lenai lights, be it wall sconces, fan lights, ceiling lights, um, etc.
So, and and what you know, sometimes they're asking the question, what should we do? But a lot of times nobody's asking and and lights are popping up and especially these fan lights. And it's a concern because, you know, we're, you know, one condo comes on online and all of a sudden it's
it's, you know, dozens of lights if not, you know, hundreds. You know, it it's it's a lot of lights that all of a sudden are coming on and people are, you know, redoing it. and um I'm trying to get ahead of it. So, um,
>> what I I would recommend that, uh, we get you on the agenda and I can reach out to the secretary of the condo group and see if we can't get you on
either a Zoom meeting or a meeting and have them, you can bring your card and also bring in I know every condominium has different declarations
and different rules in in ours. The the association is responsible for the fans and the lights on the lenai. So, we just pretty much put turtle lights in and said, "Okay, it's turtle lights that's
going to be the light that that goes in." No, you know, because we have the maintenance for it. For some, it's an individual owner's responsibility for the lights in their LAI. Um,
and again, if there's if there's lights that can go in the fans, and I'm sure there are cuz we put amber lights, we put in turtle lights in our fans, um, it can be done. It's just a matter of educating the
people and saying, "Here's the lights that have to go in, >> right?" and I can I can find out when our next meeting is for the condo association group on the beach and see if we can't get you in and if there isn't one scheduled have you do a
one-hour Zoom meeting and just kind of go through because we can all Zoom something like that too. >> That'll be great. Um, and then also uh just uh just an FYI, I got invited to the sea turtle workshop that's going to be in at UF um
next week. So, uh planning to learn a lot. It's they've got an interesting agenda and uh I'll be coming back to y'all next meeting with um the fruits of that workshop.
>> I think we'll also be there. See you there. >> Awesome. Um, I just wanted to despite all the inconveniences with pipes and more construction and equipment on the beach, heavy rainfall, beach flooding, etc., we had 5,465 hatchlings.
56% emerged from the 113 nests that we had. I'm hoping uh I'm hoping it's a better year next year. >> Thank you. >> Okay, any further discussion, Chad? Uh,
no sir. Thank you. Okay, moving on to the uh beach management item on our agenda. and we kind of had a discussion and I
talked to um not just people on the 6,000 block but other people where they were looking and what prompted this was uh Chad had a discussion with me regarding
um the possibility of putting um sand fencing up in some of the wider beach areas. is to act as kind of a in the Midwest, we put up snow fences to to
start snow drifting in places that you want. And we were thinking if we could find if we could get an approval to put some sand fencing or some type of sand barricades up in some of the areas where
we could trap the blowing sand and and create a drift that would help in some of the wider areas um bring bring the low areas up naturally. and Chad and I were discussing it and I said, "Geez, I
if we want, we can bring it up at the at the meeting and make a determination." Chad, you were going to look into what FWC or FDEP had to say about it, >> right? Yeah. >> So, I I still need to reach out to FDP
on that one to see uh I feel like I've talked to Salor on that and it may be it's definitely an option if it's not in sea turtle season. Um, but let me confirm that and uh I'd like to get some feedback from from y'all on that as well before I reached out.
>> I know we have a new member uh here. So, could you um uh just tell us what FD is? >> Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Where would the um uh snow fences, sand fences, whatever you want to call them,
where would they be located on the property? Closer to the water's edge in the depressions that are are out there between the new and old beach or where would it be located? >> Yeah. Well, so if you've been to the 6,000 block, it it gets beat up during
storm season. um fills up with water. Wind kind of scour out um and uh you you get a lot of contours that weren't there necessarily whenever uh during the people season during the winter season. So I think it makes sense
to you know get some something to aggregate sand in those depressions um that they could uh and then rake out. I mean that beach is somewhat accretional so it's gaining sand and I think that'll become even more apparent with all the sand sand that we did put
into the system with this latest renourishment. So um somehow keeping that sand on the beach rather than it um blowing out if um if vegetation's not an option. I think that the sand fences
would be a great way to try and manage and get some sand into that lower depression depressional area and have a try and establish that positive gradient. >> I have a question. Uh do they rake at the 6,000 block of beach management? Do they rake at the 6,000 block
>> the beach? Do they rake the beach? >> Uh yeah, they rake it and they till it. It is raked and tilled. Uh to preserve the snowy clover nesting area. Uh snowy clovers look for a flat non-veetated
beach uh for nesting. and FWC has uh given every owner on that section of the beach accolades for the uh continuing to promote the population
of the very endangered snowy clovers. >> Yep. So the 8,000 block and the 6,000 block um are the only sections of the beach where they rake and till it. And then I would say the majority of the uh beach on Fort Myers Beach is ragged. Miss Russ, >> I don't see it. I don't think it's fair
to say they do it for the birds though. >> Sorry. >> He said they do it for the birds. They don't do it for the birds. >> Uh no, that the part of the tilling permit and the and the raking to remove the vegetation >> is specifically for the birds.
>> Exactly. >> Specifically for the snowy clover. >> Uh yes. Yep. They like open sandy areas. >> Okay. So, until we find out from FDEP, there's not a lot we can do as far as um
Bill, you had mentioned at a previous meeting about uh doing that further down on the beach. Is that something you think further down would be interested in? when you're saying further down towards the water's edge >> or further down from the 6,000 block.
>> Oh, we're all about trying to maintain a beach down there. >> Uh, so if we can do a a snow fence, that would be good, but it would have to be in a spot we all agree to. >> Same as the vegetation. >> We like to put the vegetation in, but we
need an agreeable spot. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Any further discussion on that before we move on? >> And I do commend you guys up at the 6,000 block for the uh snowy clover nesting.
>> I think that's outstanding. >> Another question I had. Um you had mentioned 501c3 for raising money for sand or has that gotten any >> um I I'm working on that. That's a u
that's on my to-do list after November because it's been a >> wants to do otherwise. >> It's it's I got here in October and I've been non-stop ever since. But after our annual owners meeting, I should get a
little more free time. >> And as far as just getting a um collaborative or a comprehensive 6,000 uh block beach management plan schedule,
you know, schedule of activities for lack of a better term. Um have you gotten any consensus from all the property owners? >> No. And again, uh I apologize. I haven't >> I I've had a lot of issues going on just
with uh the condominium that I'm responsible for. So, but that's one of the things on my to-do list after we get u Thanksgiving and our annual meeting out of the way and a few other things. We've had contractors coming in,
finishing up, so on so forth. So, I do apologize, but I will get on it. >> Yep. Yep. >> Okay. >> That takes us to the end of our agenda. Um, members items starting with you, Rob.
>> Um, I don't really have anything at this time. I mean, besides these, you know, let me know if you want some. >> Okay, >> I got a bunch. >> So, I have a question. >> Oh, yeah. >> Who will these be given to to be >> anybody who wants them? >> Okay. So, would you have these for Chad
so when he's out there? >> Yeah, I can I can >> Would you give these out or? >> Uh, yeah. I think it would be great to for the condo meeting if I'm there. That would be a great opportunity to um pass them out at least to maybe the
board members and uh >> you know for each condo and um >> be a great thing. >> All right, Rob, I would like to have a handful of them too. >> Okay, >> that would be outstanding. We're starting to have u meetings on site now.
>> Okay. >> And we actually had a quorum here for the first time yesterday. >> Nice. So, it's getting there. >> Excellent. >> Very good. Um, yeah. So, I I I guess I'll be transparent where where some of this came from. The uh actual filament
was provided by Turtle Time. And then the rest of the um the paper, the um laminating and all that was done with my nonprofit, Keep It Wild. >> Okay. >> Donated that. So, great. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. Thank you.
>> And thank you for the nonprofit. Of course. >> And I would recommend that if we put a limited amount at the town, uh, Commissioner, do you think, uh, there'd be any problem leaving them there?
>> I go by Commissioner Gordon now. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Um, no. I wouldn't say a problem at all. >> Councelor, >> I'll get to work. >> Rob, um, you may know this off top of your head. Is the green
turtle now off of the endangered list? >> Yeah, so their numbers um in the past few years show an incline. So they have went from an endangered to a threatened species. >> Okay. >> Um so they have popped up. >> Um there's debate within the scientific community if it was premature or not, but it's still the fact that they are
uptrending right now is something to be talked about. So >> yeah, >> that's great. >> Good. >> Yeah, we had one at Castle Beach. Oh, you're next. >> I'm up. Okay. Uh, I have a few items.
Uh, one is the sand sculpting u uh event that's coming up uh on the 20th and it goes until I believe the 24th. Uh, we will be there and have a booth. I have some sea uh turtle time volunteers, but
I need um a break. So, if someone could please come and at least let me go have lunch, that would be um awesome. So, I'm asking today uh if anyone's interested. >> I am. >> You are Sharon? >> Sure.
>> You know, I'll be there after work. >> And what time would that be? >> Um I'm out at 2:30. So, >> perfect. Okay. I just need to give your name to uh the gate. So, when you you don't have to wait in line. Uh you should there should be a volunteer table that you can go in and give your name
and >> Okay. >> Okay. Um >> I unfortunately am running a parking lot for the entire thing. So I am booked. >> Okay. And now this is just we're just going to be there Saturday from uh 10:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. So I broke it down into uh two. >> All right. I'll see if I can get out of my duty Saturday uh at some point and I'll let you know. >> Okay. And it would be a 10 to one or a
one to uh five. So, or whenever you could get there. I'm I will be very excited to see all your faces there. So, >> okay. Uh the next item is uh I received um a check just a few minutes ago from
Sharon Nexrom, a member, and uh I assume this is to go towards the books. >> Yeah, >> this is a $500 check. And thank you so much. I really appreciate it. So this money, even though the 20 we have the money, uh in fact, I received an email
from Joe Onik. I believe I'm saying his last name correctly. Um, in regards to the budget and uh I believe he sent it to Chad as well. It says yes, MURF has $8,932.92 available to cover the costs of the
children's books. Um, so we've got that $4,000 check from Community Foundation. It doesn't say there specifically it's for the books, but it was written up as though it was to go towards books. So, if we all agree that we've got the money
to cover the 20,000 copies, I'd like to pursue that and try and get them in time for the >> sandpad if we had the cash. So, >> so is that now I can go ahead and print? >> If that's what he said. Yes. Chad, are
you in agreement? >> I haven't read the email, but it sounds good. Yeah, we're still under operating under the same rules. Yes. >> Just wanted to make sure because the general donation check for 4,000 didn't specify the books on the check, but I just needed to make sure we were all in agreement.
>> I And again, all I wanted to make sure is we didn't we didn't we didn't write a check. I If he's got it, I'm fine. >> Turn on your mic. >> I just wanted to make sure we didn't write a check we couldn't catch. >> Great. So, can I may I proceed with
>> Go ahead. >> Can we have a motion to do that? Since there was a motion that I had to wait for Chad to get that information, >> I motion we order the books. >> The How many? I my motion we order the 20,000
uh books with the Where's the >> a motion we order the 20,000 books with the $8,71644 that >> I'll second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Want to have a discussion?
>> Can we have a discussion? >> Oh discussion. Um, I think the first part of this with Chad getting involved was to make sure that there's traceability to prudent financial management.
How does this work with what we agreed to in the first part of this meeting? >> Well, Chad, I I took in my head that Chad's going to go to make sure everything is copacetic as far as financially. Chad,
do you have your phone? >> Do you have stuff in writing? >> Do I have my phone on? >> Do you have your phone with you because or you're Can you check to see if you received the email? >> Yeah, I'm I'm I'm sure it'll be fine. I you know, we'll we'll double check with Joe and I'll talk it over, make sure the
procedure is fine, and think everything is going to be what's that word? Cobraetic. >> Looking for something that's prudent. >> Did you receive that email? >> Uh, let's see. went and got eyeglasses. So, just uh excuse my uh
>> cumber getting to that age. >> You can borrow mine, Chad. >> Just for the record, I need you to if you don't mind. >> Who do I need for the town or to Murf? >> Chad and Jennifer. Yes. Murf has $8,932.92
available to cover the cost of the children's books. Assuming that MURF is allowing the use of the general donation check of 4,000 from the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation to be used to the fund to fund the books. Thank you, Joe.
>> Okay. >> Super. >> Good. >> Joe said good to go. >> Motion made and seconded. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I I I >> oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right.
>> Okay. >> I'm next. Okay. >> One more. No, I have one more. Just thank you again for the check. I You will need to make it out to if you decide to Murf. Uh the f the town of Fort Myers Beach. Murf. Oh, that's what you
>> and then down at the bottom if you whatever you're intending the money to go to. >> Okay. >> And thank you so much. I really really appreciate it. >> Now, are you done now?
>> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, I would I would just say that I've been doing the uh Kousa waterkeepers course for the last year and hopefully we'll soon graduate in January. But um uh the waterkeepers
protect and restore a thousand uh square miles in Florida. So, they're very busy protecting and res trying to show people if the numbers are wrong, how to correct. Um, so it's it's a it's a wonderful community really. But in the
last class we had they recommended a book and what we have talked about a lot is the Everglades. Florida has the ever Everglades is is quite a huge area actually and it's a it's an important area and you f and in this
book you'll find the actual history of um the kousas of the seolles how the white how the white people have uh interfered with their lives and everything but it's it's terribly it's very interesting so it's called the
swamp written by Michael Grunwald and I I'd highly recommend it to to understand the Everglades, the water, the water is everything in Florida. So that's my comment. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. >> Oh, >> anything, Todd? >> No, I have really have nothing to add other than uh it's a pleasure to be here, get to know you folks, and uh I hope I can help out. >> Welcome aboard. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Yeah.
>> So, Dave, I was wondering if you could just take a minute and kind of give give us an update or or or what what your uh uh what what uh transpired um with the council meeting a month or so ago when you presented the u uh the
MURF award and you um um asked them what their opinion was and if if it was all right to use it and um and just give us just give us kind of an update. and then then some more one of us may have a question or so. >> Well, there was u actually I presented
the the u the award the MURF award and they passed it and said they had no issues at all with using the FMB logo on it. Uh thought it was very stylish. Um and >> the Murf Award
>> the Murf award >> on that plaque award. No, the MURF award. >> That's what he's talking about, the MURF award. And and it was it was kind of a they passed it all. They said, "No, they
have no objections." And and I think they said, "Do we need to have a motion?" And I think the attorney said, "No, if you're all in agreement." So, and maybe they did. I don't know. I I can't go back. But they were very pleased with the appearance of the award and uh and
>> said go ahead and use it. >> So but there wasn't any objection as the as the as the award was was u um presented to it being the MURF award. >> Uh I don't think we got into the MURF
versus u >> Murphy >> Murphy award. Um, I've I've always called it the MURF Award, but you know, it's me. >> It was just about the logo use as I recall. >> Yeah, if I can read the minutes.
>> So, it's come to my attention, if you don't mind, I'd like to pass this out right quick to everyone. >> This is Are we talking about the Murphy Award or the Maholand Award? >> Murphy award. >> Murphy. >> So, um, you can just pass it pass them
down. Um, so, um, I emailed I took it upon myself to email Amy Baker because there seemed to be some, uh, u confusion or possibly controversy, um, pertaining to the actual name of the award. And so I uh took it upon myself to email Amy
Baker and to ask her uh for uh the minutes of any meetings or uh where it was determined or any votes or anything that that uh where the award was actually um um discussed or the name of it discussed. And as you can tell by the
email, uh there is nothing there's nothing in the records, nothing in the minutes of any meetings. there's never been anything that's been voted on or that any motions have been made. So, in an effort to try to clear up this this this confusion or controversy, I I have
no idea in the research that I've done where the where the award how the name Murphy came up. Um the only the only thing I can think of is I did I do know at one time uh in years past that Ray
Murphy was on the Murf committee. Um, I'm not sure if he was ever the chairperson, but nonetheless, I mean, even if he was the chairperson, I don't know that the award would be named after him. I mean, we could call it the Nesbomb award, you know. >> No, we couldn't. But but anyway, that
being said, um uh we are the MURF committee and we present the award uh to the person that we feel that's u that it's appropriate to be presented to for their efforts u uh to to to help the environment and the wildlife. And so I I
would like to um I would like to make it something that's official where it's in the record, in the minutes, and something that's voted on. And so I would ask the committee today, I'm going to make a nomination that we um um decide uh that the the the name of the
award, the monthly award is does reflect um the the name of the committee or the abbreviation for the committee and that going forward that it is officially the MURF award. >> If I can get a second on that. >> Second. Give that a second.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh motion on the floor and seconded. Is there any discussion on it? >> I'm just looking up uh the Murphy Award on AI overview and where they got the
name is uh the Murphy Awards institutions such as the Jerry Murphy Prize in Australia. I believe that's maybe at years ago Murf decided to use that name. I don't know if that's in the minutes anywhere,
but that would be difficult to find out. Maybe have to go back to uh an original member of MURF to find out. >> The records the the anything that was officially decided or or an official designation would have been in some records of some meeting somewhere and
Amy Baker has access to electronically to all of that information. Yeah, I can tell you anecdotally uh this goes back to 201 19 or somewhere around there and uh at
the time Mayor Murphy attended a condo association uh for Fort Myers Beach meeting and uh I referred to it as the Murphy award and he corrected me and said it's the Murf award, >> not Murphy. So, that
>> if it came from Ray Murphy, it if it I can tell you it was not >> named after Ray Murphy. >> Exactly. >> So, um that's all I can tell you about it. Um I've always referred to it as the MURF award after being corrected by the mayor and saying, "No, it's the Murf
Award, not the Murphy Award." >> So, I I just I just feel it'd be appropriate to to to to um um um um to to to make the motion and have the vote. So, we have it in the records and it's in the minutes going forward.
>> Any further discussion? >> Okay. All those in favor of calling it the Murf Award, say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> But I can't. What if I accidentally call it Murphy? >> That's just habit. >> You're You're off the board.
>> I'll I'll have former mayor Murphy call and correct you. How's that? >> All right. Thank you. Motion carried. It is now officially in the minutes of Murf Award. Thank you everybody. Anything else, Mr. Root? >> That's it. >> Okay. >> I have nothing this week.
>> Okay. I have a couple of things. >> Did Did we talk about what you wanted to earlier, Ed? >> I'm sorry. >> Did we talk about what you wanted to earlier when we pushed it to members items? Did we discuss? Was that what you wanted to? >> No, this was just said we could do it
during during the comments. >> Good. No, I was just making sure you got everything you want. >> Okay. And again, this kind of goes back to the now officially named MURF award. Um, first of all, uh, Mr. RDE, U, we are
going to be handing out several MURF awards this coming year. So, u, officially, I would like to ask you to please use part of the donation money and order a bunch of awards so that we can have them and hand them out.
Dave, how many how I've lost count. How many do you have left right now? Do you have >> Well, right now I have two that are in my briefcase. Um, and that's for the two individuals from FWC.
>> Okay. And I believe you have one that I gave to you that uh you were going to take to the council meeting and if we could have that back which is going to be and so we had three >> and I think we're >> So you need one additional one for
December to finish this year out. >> Yeah. And and I'd like to get >> several ordered for next year so >> so we're not sitting there waiting for them. >> Right. >> What about past awards? >> Well, I'm getting to that. Okay, good. Okay,
>> that was part of my my second thing. Um, I would like to get uh an approval and I don't think well if we start going retroactive we could go retroactive on awards going back for
years which um I don't know if our budget or the contributions can hold that out but there is one that I wanted to have the committee consider as an retroactive award. And that's going to uh we did award the
MURF award to um the uh operator at Tuna Skin uh for doing the beach cleanup earlier this year. And I thought since we now have a an actual
award that they could put in the shop that we make an exception and uh go back on a retroactive basis and give uh the tuna skin shop uh the award so that they could hang in there. And I
do that from the selfish standpoint of it it will be displayed in their shop. People go into their shop. it it generates interest and it you know and it's something that u helps promote the
stewardship of the island. They're obviously going to talk about it and I just thought if we could do that um and reaching back for that one award recipient with the permission of the committee. I think that would be a great
uh bolster to us as far as getting the award out in the public eye. >> Dave, let me ask a question. The Mahulland award is only a once it's an annual award. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> So, in in 2026, we just gave out the
Mahulland award uh this previous month. Is that right? >> That is correct. >> Okay. So, I was think and I meant to ask this at last month's meeting u u but but I it slipped my mind before the meeting was over. So, um, since we have the the
monthly a small award, an inexpensive award for the for the, uh, for the MURF award, um, would it be appropriate, do you think, to have, uh, one award for the for for the Mahulland recipient that that's maybe a little bit a little bit
nicer and a little bit more expensive? The award for the Mhalland recipient is there is a tree that will be in here somewhere, >> right? >> And every leaf on the tree has the
recipient's name and date of receiving the Malhullen Award. And it's a beautiful tree. It survived Ian. It's being cleaned and refurbished right now. And when they bring it back, what they do is they present the leaf
>> to the recipient. >> Um, and a certificate that they get, okay? But the leaf goes on the tree. Um, and there's some pretty significant names on the tree. as soon as it gets back up. If you go and and look and it's
it's got some of the some of the real founders and people that that literally helped build Fort Myers Beach, >> but they but they do receive a plaque that they get to take home. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. That that then that covers
>> I mean this is this is the highest honor the town can bestow. So, bigger than the keys to the city. All right. So, if everyone is okay with that, um I don't know if we need a
motion or not, but I would like to take it down and take one of the plaques and and put it >> tuna skin >> to tuna skin so they can display it in their store. >> Good idea. Okay. I don't know whether >> we need a motion or a vote. I mean, I
think I think everyone's in agreement with it. I mean, >> okay. All right. >> Just do it. >> All right. I'll take it down. Thank you everybody. >> Do I bring the one I have next meeting or do you want me to drop it off here or? >> Yeah, just bring a next meeting. >> Okay.
>> And then finally, Mr. Rude, if you would give me the contact names from the FWC people so I can send them an official invite if they want to come and pick up their plaques here. Um, >> well, Chad, they work here, don't they?
>> Press your button. Sorry. Bri, >> doesn't Brianna Doesn't Brianna work out of town hall or out of public works or something? >> No, no, she she is an employee of FWC. >> Okay. All right. What about >> So get so give me the contact
information for both. I will send them an email and then u ask them if they would like to come here and receive it or if they want us to send it out. >> Chad, I I have Brianna's email, but I do not have the other girls email. >> Do you have is it Robin Cern you're
talking about? It's gone. >> No. >> Yeah, I would I would maybe just I don't have the other lady's um >> So name either. So maybe just reach out to Bri and >> I'll reach out to Brianna and find out who the who the girl is that's is helping her and then I'll get the information back over to you.
>> Thank you. >> And that's all I had. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Staff update. Anything you've got, Chad? >> Uh yes. So,
uh, we planted 75 Royal Palms. Um, that was funded by a FDAX grant. Um, thank you FDAX. Thank you to the congressmen that made that grant available. We'll be sending out thank you letters uh for that. And FDAX staff will be coming um
over to Fort Myers Beach in a week or so to uh have a look at the trees. And we are planning on following up with some more uh some canopy trees to give some shade and uh color and uh uh canopy to
bay oaks as well as uh we are um planning to again uh uh add some canopy to beach accesses uh the seagrae trees and some other native uh salt tolerant dune trees um or
salt tolerant trees um around the accesses and in the in the dunes and um again kind of try and restore some canopy uh to our island and um uh help shield some of that light that's
uh just coming out. You know, it's it's it's helpful. Uh everybody in the sunshine state loves some shade, so we want to get some more trees out here. Uh news, this is a little bit more Anchorage associated, but we're we are
marine. So, uh, US Coast Guard gave us some positive news about, um, the six mooring balls that have been out of, uh, service, and we're getting some positive feedback that we may, uh, be able to shift the Etons that were a little bit out of alignment. They weren't
necessarily on the the the the turn elbows of the uh, channel that is adjacent to the West Moringfield uh, in in our in the town in the town Moringfield. So, we're getting some positive feedback that that may happen. Um,
I want to say sooner than later, but it it takes a little bit of time. So, we don't have a a date on that yet. But it again, getting some positive feedback. That's the best news we've gotten in years, literally. So, uh we're very excited about that. I know uh Captain
Kurt is uh our harbor master is uh very happy about that as well. Um got some sea turtle stats. Um, so if you'll forgive me for repeating Miss Rusk a little bit, but I just wanted to go through them. Uh, so this past uh 2025
nesting season, we had 113 loggerhead sea turtle nest. Uh, 317 false crawls, which they refer to as non- nesting emergences. 9,678 eggs laid.
Um, of those 3,843 were unhatched and 5,646 were hatched. And of those hatched, 5,465 were live hatchlings.
Um, so that was about 56% of the total 9,678 eggs that were laid. Uh we did have 82 of the 113 nests hatched. 29 nests that did hatch were
disoriented by lights, which is um uh that's a tough number. Having said that, um that was the trend up and down the coast and it's just a symptom of again we have a lot less structures, a
lot less vegetation following uh literally years of devastating hurricanes. So, and then with whenever you're having buildback and you're having construction and new construction, um
it it's it's it's part of the buildback. uh part of the kind of, you know, two steps forward, one step back kind of thing. So, we're we're working with everybody. Uh I always tell everybody I'm amazed by the community support for sea turtles. Uh you don't see this in
every community in Southwest Florida where um we do have a lot of sea turtle compliant lighting. Unfortunately, it only takes one full spectrum light to negate all the amber lights that you have up. So, um, you know, even even one
I've, you know, I've seen even one stair light that was on the old wave, um, you know, I don't know if you'd call it a Airbnb or hotel or whatever it was, but that multif family wave house that was kind of mid beach or one little LED
stair light, you know, foot off the ground and that caused a disorientation. So all you can have the whole entire beach amber and and one light will will basically negate that. So it is tough. Uh and again 29 nests were disoriented. Nobody was happy about that especially
uh Miss Eve. Um but again that was that was a trend up and down the coast. So uh we're going to continue to work on that. We're working um with property owners and contractors to help educate them. we'll get out some notices to
contractors um and and continue to uh fight the good fight and I I'm still a big believer in um I'd rather tackle the problem as we're building back than rather trying to get it on the back end with
enforcement. So hopefully we can get it on the front end as much as possible and where we do make some missteps. Um just educate contractors and property owners that um you know this is what we need for our our sea turtle conservation and
help these hatchlings uh go the right way. Um so 113 nests and 317 non- nesting emergencies. And I just wanted to say having said that this has been a down year. I don't
want to be all negative. So, it is the best year that we've had in the last 3 years. Uh we only had 27 nests that hatched in 2024 and only 58 nests that natched hatched in 2023 with these
hurricanes. So, um you know, there is I'd rather be positive than all negative. So, I'm I'm trying. Um, so, uh, we also got an official, >> uh, certification of our beach from, um,
the well- reggarded, uh, Michael Poff, our coastal engineer. Uh, I would just, um, I'm going to try and summarize it. So, if you'll just bear with me as I I read through it. So we we uh on the north beach which would be Crescent
Beach uh and north to Baldage um they placed 200 uh they being ATNA placed 284,000 cubic yards of sand on the on the inside the template. Uh total sand
placed was 305,373 cubic yards. So that differential so we only paid them for what went in the template. So, we got some free sand there. Uh quite a bit of free sand. Um
about 20,000 cubic yards. And we also on the north end placed about 6,400 cubic yards of truck sand from Steuart Materials um as a part of the uh Helen and Milton CATG G FEMA project
um uh to to uh repair the damages that happened from from those hurricanes. So there was a trough that formed after those hurricanes. It was very mucky and uh not nice. It kind of extended from
the pipe that Atna had and extended over to Baldage. So, we were able to use that that volume to uh fill in that trough and make it a little bit more pleasant and uh tourist friendly and um
uh following those storms. On the central beach, we placed 299,922 cubic yards. Um, and the total volume was 324,
374 cubic yards. So, again, we got about 25,000 uh cubic yards for free from the from ATNA. um that you know that 25,000 was placed on the beach but wasn't necessarily in the template where they got paid for it. Uh and on the south
beach they placed 297,71 cubic yards which was both pay and total volume. Um and that's because you know in the CWA we only placed it further out. They didn't have much sand that uh
went into the uh kind of like the upland property where the template wasn't there. So, um that was spot on between the pay and the total volume. Um so the um total volume that was placed on Asterero Island from that project was
927,448 cubic yards. Um uh so that was um it was a great project. I'm glad we're done. It's happy happy to see the beach. uh approximately
160,000 plants and counting have been um installed on the beach to date. So, we're still going to be working on uh uh with Earth Balance to get some more plants out here and start uh getting these accesses planted.
>> Sorry, can you repeat the amount of plants that have been? >> Uh about 160,000 I think we're we're at to date. You're going to go out there and count them or >> I'm sorry. >> You're going to go out there and count them?
>> No, I just just for my records. >> Is that it? >> Uh yeah, that's that's all I have for now. >> Okay. Thank you, Chad. >> You're welcome. >> And very by the way, congrats on getting on the project. that had to be just a
killer for you for the last two and a half, three years. So, >> believe it or not, I enjoyed it. I really do. I love I love building projects and one like that it um it's um I really did. I enjoyed it. Thank you. It was a pleasure and an honor to uh be a part of it.
>> Super. >> All right. >> On the uh let's see, next on the agenda is uh public comment. And once again, everybody stuck around till the end, so there's no public comment. So, moving
right along. Um, the MURF award, we have one in the bank from last month. >> The Hunky guys, the um >> Mike, >> I found their picture after last meeting
and now I can't I I can't find it, but I'll look for it. It's the um I believe it's called the hunk hunky college. >> I believe it's college hunks with trucks. >> Thank you. That's it. Yeah, >> you knew that real quick.
>> I just, you know, >> maybe maybe I'm a member. Maybe I'm not. >> Maybe. >> Maybe. >> So, just a recap. They were out there for our coastal cleanup and uh helped keep Lee County beautiful and the
community foundation. They came and picked up all the garbage off uh that people had gathered and they did it with the kindness of their heart and they um when I spoke to Keep Lee County Beautiful, they had said that they have been a real contributor to uh Lee County
and to our area and helping helping with the events like that. >> Okay. Do we have any other nominations? Okay. Um, I'll make a motion that the U
College Hugs with a truck get the award. >> Uh, I will second that. >> All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Opposed? Motion carries.
And you can give them the award. If you can reach out to them, you could give them the award that you have. That means you don't have to give it back. >> Oh, that's a good idea. Um, would it mean more to for it to be presented by the chair?
>> They can come here and they >> during the meeting, invite them to a meeting if they'd like to next month's meeting. just so we have it on the agenda and we know they're coming so we can recognize them. >> Just to be precise, it's college honks hauling junk.
>> And I've lost my membership now. >> Wait, can you repeat that one more time? >> College hunks hauling junk. >> Okay. >> Now, do we still Sorry. Do we still write articles? >> That's previous years. That's what we
did once a month. We would write an article and the town would put it out and uh certain people would pick it up and and post it >> well or what >> print it. What we were doing before was sending it out to a specific publication
which um we had a PIO officer that was hired into the town which should be doing which should actually be disseminating it and we kind of lost track of of that. If the committee would
like to restart the >> um articles on the beach, I have no problems with that. >> Believe it was Beach Observer that posted those. Okay. So, >> I believe that I was the last one that did that. I don't think it's been done
since. And then I don't know where it went, but it was never never was >> sent to the uh observer or anything. >> No, it was sent to the PIO officer. >> Yeah. Okay. is, you know, supposed to disseminate the information to to the
publications. Yeah. >> That's that's their function. >> Yeah. Evidently, evidently that didn't end up happening. And I don't I never saw anything about Sharons either. >> No. >> Okay. So, now that we're getting a new PIO officer, I would I would say that
let's wait to see how the town is going to go going forward and we can reestablish uh or restart the process once we reach out to the PIO officer and see what they wish to do.
>> And you can resubmit. I will resubmit >> but >> okay agenda for next meeting Chad you wanted to uh you by next meeting you'll have a um hopefully some contact back from
uh FDEP. Yeah, I think Arbor Day uh update and um 6,000 block beach management should carry over for sure. >> Yep. Anything else? >> We could certainly add something, but >> one thing I forgot on my staff update,
we also did uh renew or um um extend our uh FD permit for the 8,000 block. So that that bird management plan um was extended uh with FD while I'm thinking about it. So just an update
that uh everything >> maybe you can bring that up at the next meeting and just go through what the plan is. >> Yes, everything's copacetic. >> Okay, >> Chad, let me ask a quick question. Um the uh herbicide treatment on the south end of the island that they do in
January, is that do we have to get permission from the council to do that each year? Did the the one that was we got last year when I presented to the council, is is that a blanket approval going forward? >> Oh, I'm not sure if it's a blanket. It
might just be like a pillow or, you know, like a a foot cover, you know. I think I think while FWC is um recommending it for shorebird conservation um the my my what I've taken from
council is if FWC is recommending it for shorebird conservation um we're okay with uh destroying dune vegetation. I think if it's not for shorebird management um that's where that that blanket may
be. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify because um the FWDC did indicate to me last year that they they had to have the town's approval even though they had to have the town's approval um um because it was
outside the critical wildlife area and so that was why I was asking the question. >> Yeah. So, we've talked to council before and I I haven't heard anything to the contrary. So, I I generally just put it in cruise control. It's policy. If if there's no complaints, then I um I
assume everybody's happy with how things are going. Uh >> as I've stated in the past, I'm not a big fan of herbicides, but for the sake of shorebird conservation, um >> if you've seen one of those birds hobbling around with the uh the stickers
in their legs and then you see their cousins uh dead right next to them, you realize it's something that we needed to get under control. Um, it was very successful this past year. Um, so hopefully we're getting under under control. I don't think anyone wants to
put herbicide on the beach. Um, you know, you see kids putting sand in their mouth and all that. You kind of think uh maybe not a great idea, but um right now I'm I'm not hearing anything to the contrary. >> I just wanted to be sure nothing
interrupted it. The communication that I received from FWC, FWC said uh to their knowledge they didn't think we lost any fledly fledglings in the critical wildlife area due to sand spurts which compared to
which compared to years past is is an enormous boon for the birds and their survival rate. you know, because it it you know, pictures of the of the fledglings covered in sand spurs and, you know, they were just toast.
>> And >> um >> people aren't getting sand spurs at down at my end at all. >> Yeah, >> it's they're walking barefoot. >> Very successful. You know, >> it's great. So, I I will I will also reach out to her,
but I I specifically said we're going to have to look at herbicides on the beach, you know, going forward on the CWA critical wildlife area. And I said, "What was the result that you saw?" And she sent a note back that said, "We were
very pleased with the results." So, and if we want to put that on the agenda for next month, just to be sure, we can. Or just leave it on cruise control. Yeah. My intent was just to make sure that nothing interfered with the program going forward.
>> No, we're good. We got our permit renewed and um I think we're good. Bree's happy. She did she did send in a report. I'll see maybe if she's available to come to a meeting or um read that report. Um, we got that in the last month as well. So, be nice to uh
brag about those numbers. We're doing >> that would be excellent. >> Yep. >> Okay. See if we can get around in December. That'd be great. >> Do we meet in December? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> The 11th. >> Our meeting date is the second Wednesday. >> Oh, that's the 10th
>> of of the month. >> That's the 10th of December. >> I have a question for Chad. >> Are we Are we back to Wednesdays again? >> Yes, we're back to Wednesdays. Second Wednesday of the month. >> Okay. And the date was
>> Hopefully, we'll stay put unless Amy decides she wants to play games with us again. No offense, Amy. I'm just kidding. >> Okay. But it is on the 10th U at 10:00. Got >> December 10th.
>> Okay. regards to the agenda. Um I really like your idea of uh having a town nursery. Um and I was uh I would like to maybe continue the that discussion or have a discussion about the idea.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Super. All right. With that, it's 12:02 and I will accept a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I move. >> Second. made and seconded. All those in favor
say I. >> I. >> Okay. Meeting adjourned at now 12:03. Thank you everybody for seeing me again. And uh