Fort Myers Beach committee seeks new role; explores neighborhood watch, CERT, call boxes and downtown barriers

The Public Safety Committee asked Fort Myers Beach council on Monday to clarify the committee’s purpose and help move several volunteer-driven safety projects from idea to implementation. Don, speaking for the committee, said members feel recent meetings have been redundant and asked for guidance on whether the panel should be revamped or given new tasks.

The request prompted a series of concrete proposals. Council member Will urged the town to help organize neighborhood-watch programs tied to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office so residents can report thefts and disturbances and avoid putting volunteers at risk. “Neighbors stepping up as eyes and ears — that’s great — but they need clear boundaries so they don’t put themselves in danger,” Will said.

Riley Baker, the town’s neighborhood services coordinator, supported adding a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program of trained volunteers and revisiting emergency call boxes downtown and at tram stops. “CERT teams are prequalified volunteers who get trained and can help in emergencies or at special events,” Baker said, adding staff will look for grant funding and training partners.

Councilors and staff also discussed short-term, seasonal measures to manage foot and bicycle traffic on Estero Boulevard and in Times Square. The bridge services director said permanent barrier work for the worst choke points could be costly — “somewhere in the range of about $400,000,” he said — and that any physical changes near the roadway require county or state approvals. Staff noted temporary plastic barriers or volunteer-managed crossings could be used during peak season while staff develops a long-term plan.

Committee members reviewed prior work on emergency call boxes, noting a pilot near the library and bus stop was in place before Hurricane Ian but never fully implemented. The call boxes under consideration would connect directly to the 9-1-1 center, staff said. Committee members were asked to focus on funding research, grant opportunities and identifying volunteers (including potential volunteer grant-writers) to support implementation.

Councilors emphasized process and follow-through: councilor John McLean and others said the committee should prioritize a few high-impact projects, gather data (accident counts, incident reports) and prepare a clear package staff can take to the county or state for approvals. The council agreed staff would meet with the committee, and the public information officer will be asked to attend to advise on low-cost outreach options.

The meeting ended with council directing staff to return to a future Management & Planning session with more detailed plans and funding options, including cost estimates and next steps for vendor outreach and permitting.