TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH

and

JOHN GUCCIARDO

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

The category of Law Enforcement contained the greatest number (6) of issues that were also reflected in the overall top fifteen concerns expressed by survey respondents. The top five in this category are:

1. Traffic Congestion (2602)
2. Illegal Drug sales (2277)
3. Burglaries / Break-in (2203)
4. Underage drinking (2152)
5. Youth loitering - interfering w/pedestrian and vehicular traffic (2135)

Respondents rated the level of service provided by our Fire / Emergency Medical Services personnel at ninety-seven percent "Good" or better.

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HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

There was nothing surprising regarding the perception of the Town’s level of hurricane preparedness. Eighty six percent of respondents indicated they were satisfied with the level of information provided. Eighty-seven percent claimed to know which direction they were expected to travel during an evacuation. Unfortunately, Sixty-six percent of respondents did not receive and/or read "Estero Island Flood Facts," an informational brochure prepared by the Town. Another mailing of these brochures was completed during December, 1998 and this situation should now be corrected.

MARINE / WATERFRONT

Although many respondents skipped this category, citing lack of experience or interest in boating, rankings of some items contained here were also covered in the BEACH category and responses to those questions were consistent. The top five concerns here are:

1. Personal Water craft (2105)
2. Marine Wildlife (1984)
3. Anchoring within Boundaries of marked channels (1920)
4. Excessive Boat speeds (1916)
5. Live Aboard anchorage - Matanzas Pass (1809)

The majority of respondents in this category, fifty-six percent, indicated they spend most of their time on the water cruising. The remainder indicated their boating interests as fishing (thirty-seven percent), live-aboard (one percent) and personal water craft (four & eight tenths percent). One respondent wrote in his boating interest as "commercial."

Regardless of the nature of their boating activity, the overwhelming number of respondents (almost seventy-two percent) perceived their fellow boaters’ level of voluntary compliance to boating regulations as less than "Good." Similarly, their perception of law enforcement efforts on the water (over fifty-four percent) was less than "Good."

Over sixty-four percent of Marine/Waterfront respondents indicated that they considered the navigation markers at the approach to Big Carlos Pass were adequate even though the red buoy on the south side of the channel approaching Big Carlos Pass has been missing for most of 1998, leaving no warning of the shoals in that area. That marker was replaced in December, 1998.

Seventy-four percent of respondents in this category agreed that the Town should monitor and initiate dredging of Estero Bay access channels when necessary to maintain safe passage. This may be an area where coordination of efforts with other affected inland communities whose boaters use these channels may be advantageous.

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AVIATION

As a category, aviation raised the least concerns of respondents. Their concerns, listed in order are as follows:

1. Launching of Ultralights and other aircraft from beach (1788)
2. Low-flying over populated areas (1758)
3. Noise from Commercial airplanes (1536)
4. Noise from private aircraft (1478)

BEACH SAFETY

The category of beach safety had three issues in the overall top fifteen concerns of respondents. The top five in this category are:

1. Jet-ski activity near bathing areas (2397)
2. Trash and litter on the beach (2380)
3. Boating activity in the vicinity of bathing areas (2234)
4. Dogs or other pets on the beach (2080)
5. Red Tide information (1930)

Of those responding, sixty-two percent do not think that further regulation of vessels operating close to shore is necessary, but sixty-five percent favor more enforcement.

Sixty percent think there is a need to provide upgraded patrol / ordinance enforcement by the Town on the beach proper.

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POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY

This category was second only to Law Enforcement issues in the top fifteen overall concerns, The top five in this category are:

6. Pedestrian Responsibilities at Crosswalks (2307)
7. Rollerblading on roadways (2155)
8. Skateboarding on roadways (2124)
9. Bicycling on roadways (2123)
10. Mopeds on sidewalks (2109)

Although "pedestrian responsibilities at crosswalks" was ranked numerically as the leading concern in this category and number four, overall, it should be considered together with a similar question regarding driver responsibilities at crosswalks. The latter drew a response of 2073.

Once again, fifty-seven percent of respondents in this category think a greater law enforcement presence is necessary in the Town of Fort Myers Beach.

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QUALITY OF LIFE

The top five Quality of Life issues are the following:

1. Loud vehicles - night time hours (2221)
2. Abandoned vehicles, appliances and debris around residences (2175)
3. Domesticated animals running at large (2102)
1. Abandoned vehicles, appliances and debris around businesses (2073)
2. Overgrown vegetation and unkempt landscaping around businesses (2030)

Loud vehicles at night and abandoned vehicles, appliances and debris around residences earned seventh and tenth place in the over all ranking of respondents’ concerns.

Over two-thirds of respondents expressed a willingness to participate in a neighborhood group which periodically meets on a social basis to discuss safety/quality of life issues pertinent specifically to their neighborhoods.

Finally, respondents were invited to provide some information about concerns which may not have been formally addressed in our survey. Many provided personal comments and suggestions through out the survey pages.

Generally speaking, these comments were weighted toward issues that emerged as prominent concerns in the numerically rated portion of our survey. Noteworthy among them were comments expressing displeasure with dogs on the beach and uncontrolled pets in general (many called for a strict leash law), loud vehicles and youth problems. Noise complaints were numerous and, when specific, usually cited motorcycles and/or barking dogs as the offenders although many others referred to noise from businesses and loud radios. Calls for increased or upgraded street lighting, particularly in the proximity of crosswalks also ranked high.

Estero Boulevard flooding, building density, live aboard boats outside the Matanzas anchorage, fuel and waste pollution emanating from boats, calls for improvements in trolley service, weak or ineffective enforcement of existing laws and regulations, youth loitering and, interfering with traffic, and cruising were all mentioned. As expected, there were many comments about our traffic situation but while some called for increasing Estero Boulevard’s speed limit - particularly during the off season - others called for strict enforcement of the speed and traffic laws. Some respondents asked for increased brush trimming, particularly in situations that block the view of oncoming traffic at intersections.

Other respondents abandoned the public safety theme of our survey and commented on issues of current concern, such as the Publix and local building density.

Several respondents provided information regarding suspected criminal activity and, in those instances where the information was specific enough to warrant an investigation, it was forwarded immediately to the Sheriff’s Department. Again, we thank these respondents for their concern and civic mindedness.

2. FIRE/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES