City Council approves multiple contracts, budget amendments and appointments; shortlists consultants for Midtown work

Fort Myers City Council on Aug. 18 approved a slate of motions covering contracts, budget amendments, appointments and planning actions.

The council voted unanimously on a series of items brought forward by staff, including vendor and consultant agreements, distribution of discretionary neighborhood funds, and administrative appointments. Major items approved included a budget amendment to recognize $75,000 in fire-permit revenue and increase the Fire Department operating budget; multiple engineering contract amendments and supplemental task authorizations for water and wastewater projects; and disbursement of escrow funds for soil remediation tied to a 47-acre property sale.

Council also authorized staff to advertise a rezoning ordinance (Ord. No. 4059) changing roughly 4–5 acres from Commercial Intensive to single-family RS-7 and approved a separate resolution (Res. No. 2025-94) to vacate a 0.3-acre portion of right-of-way. The council confirmed the top-ranked firm for Midtown architectural and design standards (Dover Kohl and Partners, doing business as The Image Network Inc.) and approved shortlisting for a continuing landscape architecture contract after amending the shortlist to seven firms on a motion by Councilmember Fred Berson.

Most motions passed without recorded opposition. The council approved a large amendment to a reclaimed-water expansion contract that increased the contract value by roughly $137.66 million and authorized closeouts and payment releases on other public‑works projects. The council also approved routine procurement and vendor agreements: a three-year background-screening services contract with Insight, Inc., and a one-year pilot micromobility operating agreement (Spin) for downtown launch (pilot terms discussed under another agenda item).

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Consent agenda (with exceptions for items 3.7 and 3.8): approved. - 3.7 — Purchase order/contract cleanup related to Evoqua technologies (pumps): approved after staff clarified typographical fixes. - 3.8 — Shortlist for continuing landscape architecture contract: council moved to increase shortlist to the top seven firms; motion carries. - 4.2–4.5 — Ward discretionary distributions (Valerie’s House $500; Calusa Nature Center $1,000; After the Rain $500; Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts $500): approved. - 4.7 — Ward 6 neighborhood improvement closeout: $4,425 approved to Natural Barrier for Parkway Preserve. - 4.8–4.11 — Reappointments/appointments to advisory boards and authorities (Herman Dorsey; Matthew Leger; Piper Smith; Abra Sally to the Housing Authority): approved. - 5.1 — Annexation ordinance (voluntary annexation west of Treeline Ave.): approved (quasi‑judicial process completed). - 6.1 — Permission to advertise Ordinance No. 4059 (rezoning north of Kennesaw St.): approved. - 6.2 — Permission to advertise Resolution No. 2025-94 (vacating 0.3-acre ROW): approved. - 7.1 — Resolution 2025-110: budget amendment recognizing $75,000 and increasing Fire Department operating budget: approved. - 7.2 — Service agreement (Background screening RFP 25-045) with Insight, Inc., three-year term with two one-year renewals: approved. - 7.3 — Close-out change order (deductive) with Wharton Smith Construction Inc., reducing contract by $541,902.60 and release of final payment/retainage: approved. - 7.4 — Amendment #2 to AWWTP deep injection well design agreement: increase $98,611: approved. - 7.5 — Supplemental Task Authorization #2 for RO/FDEP compliance support with CDM Smith: $68,270: approved. - 7.6 — Amendment #1 to SRF planning/design loan (lead-service-line replacement): extension of planning/design completion and loan repayment dates by one year: approved. - 7.7 — Amendment #2 to RFQ 58-23 (reclaimed water expansion progressive design-build): increase of ~$137,656,683.29 to total contract value: approved. - 7.8 — STA #1 increase $1,341,193 for Hill Avenue shared-path improvements with Crystal Construction Inc.: approved. - 7.9 — Authorization #4 for traffic-signal modifications at SR 82 & Form Blvd. with TR Transportation Consulting, Inc.: $87,616: approved. - 7.10 — Amendment/reimbursement agreement for catering/beverage concession at Fort Myers Country Club (Edison Tavern / 3 Warriors Management LLC): approved. - 7.11 — Amendment to post-closing escrow agreement with CMT Ventures LLC re: 47-acre tract: approved. - 7.12 — Disbursement of $1,049,576.77 from escrow for soil remediation of the 47-acre tract: approved (council discussion noted groundwater remediation plan remains under DEP review). - 7.13 — Ranking for Midtown architectural/design standards: Dover Kohl / The Image Network Inc. ranked No. 1; council authorized beginning negotiations: approved.

Several items were the subject of brief council discussion before the vote (procurement scoring methodology, large reclaimed-water amendment, and the escrow remediation payment). Staff noted some documents were corrected for typographical errors before voting and that several items will return for additional workshops or reporting to council.