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Fort Myers council tables move to rescind minority-business and local-preference rules after public outcry
Summary
Faced with multiple public speakers and council concerns about home-rule and economic impacts, the council voted to table action on rescinding the Minority Business Enterprise ordinance and the local vendor preference and directed staff to develop replacement policy options.
The Fort Myers City Council on June 15 declined to immediately rescind the city’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) ordinance and local vendor preference provisions, instead voting to table both items and asking staff to explore alternative, legally compliant approaches.
Multiple residents and business advocates — including Johnny Streets, Ladovic Kimball, Jacqueline McMiller, Amber Ware and Catherine Pogen — addressed the council during a lengthy public hearing. Speakers urged the council to retain or revise the MBE ordinance rather than remove it, requested data on past MBE participation and argued that race-neutral small-business frameworks could preserve local economic benefits while complying with state and federal constraints.
Councilmembers debated home-rule authority and state law timing. Deputy City Attorney Ron Dente reminded the council that the relevant state statute does not take effect until January 2027 and that revisions or a carefully drafted replacement policy might avoid violating state directives while preserving local goals. Some councilmembers argued the city should explore race-neutral procurement criteria that prioritize local businesses and produce a data-driven alternative before rescinding existing protections.
The council voted to table the proposed rescissions and asked staff and the city attorney to draft replacement options and analyses, including an assessment of federal-grant implications and the potential economic impact on local contractors. The motion to table carried with no announced opposition.
What happens next: staff will research race-neutral small-business frameworks, collect historical participation data for MBEs, analyze grant and federal restrictions, and return to council with proposed policy alternatives and legal guidance before taking final action on rescission.
