Thank you for taking time to visit our beautiful City of Fort Myers on-line. We’re glad to have the opportunity to introduce you to the City of Palms and the office of the Mayor.
Since taking office in November of 2000, this administration’s primary goals have been to:
- Enrich the quality of life of our citizens
- Develop a well-integrated family oriented community
- Establish an environment at City Hall, which fosters civility and respect, integrity and encourages achievement
- Select and retain highly qualified and motivated men and women as city employees
- Improve and maintain the physical assets and the city’s infrastructure
Our Fort Myers Police Department continues to do a great job in reducing crime. This is the third year in a row crime has decreased. Since 2000 crime in the City has dropped a total of 28%. In 2003, crime dropped below the 1988 levels with 4% more arrests.
The City’s financial condition continues to improve. A management letter from outside auditors Purvis, Gray & Co. states “The City’s financial condition continued to improve during 2003. We are pleased with the progress the City has made over the last several years.” In April 2004, Moody’s Investors Service and The Fitch Rating Agency upgraded the city’s financial position.
Over the past few years, the City has won numerous awards and designations to include being designated in March 2004 as a Preserve America Community by the Council on Historic Preservation and the U.S. Department of Interior.
We have also obtained millions of dollars through grants. In 2003, the State gave $2.85 million in funding for the repairs and restoration of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The Estates also received $1.5 million from Lee County for restoration. The City obtained a $5 million grant from the State for improvements to the major north-south roadway Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard. The City also received a grant totaling $325,000 for restoration of the historic Langford-Kingston Home.
In 2003, the City completed $2 million in repairs and improvements to Harborside Event Center. We are currently working on repairs and improvements to our Yacht Basin in downtown Fort Myers, which will be funded by revenues received from the Yacht Basin. We are working on water main and wastewater line replacements throughout our City. We are working on expanding and improving Clemente Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This was home to the Williams Academy built in 1913. The City received a $350,000 donation from the Bonita Bay Group.
As you can see, the City is on an up swing and is continuing to receive awards from the state and nation. Our goal is to continue to make Fort Myers a desirable place to live, work and play.