February Edition

MAYORAL MINUTE

Dear Neighbors,

As we move forward together in 2026, I remain grateful for the many opportunities to recognize the spirit that makes Fort Myers such a special place to live, work, and visit.

In January, I was honored to deliver the year’s first State of the City Address at the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce luncheon, where I shared the City’s current progress and vision for the future. You can view the photos on Facebook here. On the topic of progress, I was proud to recognize the 10-year anniversary of Valerie’s House at the

January 20^th City Council Meeting. It’s been an honor to serve as a Board Member for an organization that delivers compassionate, niche services to grieving families across Southwest Florida and beyond – work that deeply aligns with my own childhood journey with grief. Warm mayoral congratulations to Founder and CEO Angela Melvin and her tireless team!

I also had the pleasure of offering remarks at the Knights of Columbus San Carlos Council 2596 100th anniversary celebration, marking a century of service and community impact. The following day, celebrating yet another milestone - the ringing of the opening bell at our new Fort Myers Farmers Market - a meaningful way to connect with and support local businesses. Watch the WINK News coverage here, and I look forward to seeing you downtown on Saturday’s!

Later in the month, I joined municipal leaders from across Florida in Tallahassee for the Florida League of Cities (FLC) Legislative Action Days, advocating for local decision-making and ensuring the City’s voice is heard at the state level. These conversations are especially important as we advance appropriation requests for capital improvement projects, from public safety and infrastructure to enhanced water quality efforts and the restoration of treasured green spaces.

Today, I attended the 2026 Horizon Foundation Annual Meeting on the region’s economic growth and will support the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Honors Gala this Saturday as we celebrate Black History Month and reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy. Furthermore, mid month, I’ll participate in the Florida League of Mayors Roundtable on Leading Through Crisis, where we'll focus on leadership, communication, and collaboration during times that test us the most.

Additionally, remember to join residents and visitors alike in celebrating the annual Edison Festival of Light, including the many events surrounding this beloved Fort Myers tradition. Learn more at edisonfestival.org.

Thank you for staying engaged and being part of what continues to make the City of Palms welcoming, strong, and vibrant. On that note, read on below for more information on City of Fort Myers projects, upcoming events, and how to get involved!

As always, please contact my office at 239-321-7020 or email mayoranderson@fortmyers.gov with any questions or feedback.

Yours in public service,

Kevin B. Anderson

Mayor, City of Fort Myers

Tarpon Pier and Riverside Pier

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The City of Fort Myers invites the community to join elected officials, City management, and the Parks & Recreation Department for the grand reopening of the historic Tarpon Pier and Riverside Pier. Both piers have undergone extensive rebuilds following Hurricane Ian and have been restored largely as they were, with improved structural components to enhance resiliency. The projects were supported by FEMA recovery funding.

Date: Monday, February 9, 2026

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Location: Riverside Community Center
3061 E Riverside Drive

Fort Myers, FL 33916

In addition to the reopening celebration, City representatives will provide updates on how the voter-approved General Obligation Bond will enhance the adjacent Tarpon Park. Attendees will also receive information about upcoming community meetings where residents can share input on future park amenities.

A fresh chapter begins at Tarpon Pier.

We’re excited to welcome the community back!

Keeping Fort Myers Flowing

The City of Fort Myers Public Utilities Department plays a vital role in keeping our community running every day. From delivering clean, reliable drinking water to maintaining wastewater, our dedicated staff works behind the scenes to protect public health and support quality of life for residential and commercial customers.

In January, the Public Utilities team continued its commitment to service excellence through routine system maintenance, infrastructure monitoring, and rapid response to service needs across the City. These efforts help ensure reliable operations while minimizing disruptions for the community.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Public Utilities is focused on improving system efficiency, supporting ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and exploring opportunities for sustainability and resilience. These initiatives are designed to meet the needs of a growing City while safeguarding vital resources for future generations.

Utility Fort Fact: Public Utilities employees monitor, maintain, and manage miles of underground pipes and critical facilities, most of which residents never see, but rely on every day!

City of Fort Myers team members who recently presented at the

35th Southwest Florida Water Resources Conference at FGCU (L to R):

Environmental Compliance Manager Justin Mahon, Assistant Public Utilities Director Jason Sciandra, Public Utilities Director Richard Moulton, and

City Attorney Grant Alley

Beautification in Action

The City of Fort Myers Public Works Beautification Crew continues to demonstrate its commitment to keeping our municipality clean, welcoming, and well-maintained through steady efforts across the cityscape.

During the month of December, crews collected 52 bags of litter, bringing the total to date to 11,489 bags! These numbers reflect not a single moment in time, but the result of routine maintenance and long-term care of public spaces.

In addition, roll-off containers were serviced twice in December. A roll-off is a large, open-top waste container delivered by truck and used to collect heavy debris and large volumes of material, which is hauled away once full to support ongoing cleanup efforts. A roll-off was pulled on December 13, 2025, removing 3,040 pounds of debris, and again on December 20, 2025, removing an additional 5,940 pounds. This brings the total amount of material removed to date to an impressive 351,333 pounds. These scheduled removals are part of a proactive strategy to manage debris efficiently as cleanup efforts build over time.

The Beautification Crew also completed approximately 5.75 miles of roadway maintenance, contributing to a cumulative total of more than 773 miles of roadway maintained throughout the City. This work ensures that roadways, rights-of-way, and public corridors remain safe, attractive, and reflect the City's goals.

Maintaining an attractive City is continuous process, and these results highlight the value of consistency, teamwork, and dedication. The City of Fort Myers remains committed to preserving its natural beauty and public spaces one mile, one bag, and one day at a time!

A Fresh Welcome to Downtown

What was once an underutilized parking lot has been thoughtfully transformed into a welcoming gateway into the downtown corridor. Initiated by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), this new gateway feature enhanced walkability, introduces much-needed green space, and creates an inviting place to pause, connect, and enjoy our City.

Designed with people in mind, the space supports a more vibrant streetscape while encouraging residents, visitors, and businesses to engage with the downtown area in new ways.

By reimagining underused spaces, the CRA helps create environments that are not only functional, but also beautiful and accessible.

Project Name: Gateway Gardens

Overview: A gateway welcome transforms a mere entry point into a powerful statement about the area’s identity, aspirations, and vitality, creating a positive ripple effect across its economic, social, and aesthetic dimensions.

Learn more

The City Earns National Finance Awards

The City of Fort Myers has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) with the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR Award) for its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.

This national recognition represents a significant achievement and reflects the City’s continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and clear communication with residents and stakeholders. The PAFR Award is presented to governments that successfully present financial information in a way that is engaging, easy to understand, and accessible to the public.

To be eligible for the PAFR Award, a government must also submit its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) to GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement (COA) for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program and receive the Certificate for the same fiscal year. The City met this requirement, further demonstrating the high standards upheld by its Financial Services Department.

Each eligible report is evaluated by an independent panel of judges and scored based on several criteria, including reader appeal, understandability, distribution methods, creativity, and overall effectiveness in communicating financial information.

The City of Fort Myers is proud to receive this recognition and remains dedicated to maintaining best practices in financial reporting while ensuring residents have clear insight into how public resources are managed.

Financial Fort Fact: Last year, the City of Fort Myers also earned the prestigious Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown designation for its FY2023 financial reports - a first for the City - and aims to maintain this level of excellence!

Statewide First for Legal Leadership

The City of Fort Myers has achieved a significant professional milestone with the election of City Attorney Grant Williams Alley as President of the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association (FMAA) for 2026, a statewide first for the City of Fort Myers. Leadership within FMAA underscores the City’s ongoing commitment to legal best practices, ethical governance, and strong municipal representation at the state level. This recognition further positions the City as a leader in municipal law and public service across Florida.

Additionally, all City of Fort Myers attorneys: Deputy City Attorney Ron Dente, Assistant City Attorney Amanda Browning-Richardson, and Assistant City Attorney Travis Glen Cary, are now certified by The Florida Bar as experts in City, County, and Local Government Law, a distinction that reflects a high level of specialized knowledge and professional excellence. City Attorney's Office - raising the bar for legal excellence!

A Historic Promotion in FMPD Leadership

Last month, Gloria Camacho was promoted to Captain with the Fort Myers Police Department, becoming the first Hispanic female to be promoted into this position, a historic milestone for the department.

Captain Gloria Camacho brings more than 18 years of dedicated service to the Fort Myers Police Department, with a career that reflects leadership, versatility, and a deep commitment to public safety. She began her career with FMPD in 2008 as a dispatcher before transitioning to a sworn position in 2011. Captain Camacho served in Patrol, the Violent Crimes Task Force, and later as a General Crimes and Homicide Detective, gaining extensive investigative and operational experience.

Promoted to Sergeant in 2019, she led Patrol on Delta Shift and the Group Violence Intervention Unit, focusing on mentorship and community-centered policing. In 2021, she was promoted to Lieutenant and went on to lead the Special Enforcement Division, overseeing multiple specialized units and task force assignments. In January 2025, she served as Special Events Lieutenant within the Special Operations Bureau, coordinating complex public-safety operations for major City events.

A member of the SWAT Team since 2015, Captain Camacho rose through the ranks to become SWAT Commander, making department history as the first female to lead the team. She holds a Master of Arts in Administration and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development Course and the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy.

As she steps into the role of Captain, Gloria Camacho brings a leadership philosophy rooted in service, trust, and collaboration. She remains grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and family who have supported her throughout her career. Congrats, Captain!

Building the Future of FMFD

The Fort Myers Fire Department’s annual directional meeting took place in January, bringing together administration and floor personnel, which includes frontline firefighters and emergency responders who work directly in stations and in the field, for a meaningful conversation centered on growth, teamwork, and support.

This important annual gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on where the department stands today while looking ahead to the years to come. With the team continuing to grow, the meeting highlighted the addition of new firefighters who have recently joined the department. Investing in people remains a top priority, and these new hires represent the future of fire and life safety services in the City of Fort Myers.

Discussion also focused on the department’s continued expansion, including plans for a new fire station that will enhance response capabilities and better serve our growing community. In addition, upcoming fleet improvements were shared, with new fire vehicles in tow, ensuring firefighters have reliable equipment needed to safely and effectively do their jobs.

Most importantly, the meeting reinforced the value of collaboration and open communication between leadership and personnel. By coming together, sharing goals, and aligning priorities, the Fort Myers Fire Department remains well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the community.

Support Future Firefighters

These cold temperatures aren't stopping the Fort Myers Fire Department from bringing the heat all year long with the launch of its first ever co-ed calendar. Running from December 2025 through January 2027, the calendar showcases the dedication and strength of Fort Myers firefighters, proving they can do the job and look good doing it!

Calendars are available for $20 with proceeds benefiting the Fort Myers Fire Department Cadet Training Program. This program helps local teens prepare for a career in the fire service by providing hands-on training, guidance, and mentorship from our firefighters.

Calendars can be purchased at Fire Station 11 (2033 Jackson Street Fort Myers, FL 33901) Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Payments are accepted via cash or Cash App on your mobile device.

Support our firefighters, invest in the next generation, and grab a calendar while supplies last!

🔥 Don’t miss out! Follow the Fort Myers Fire Department on social media to stay up to date on upcoming calendar signings and special events. 🔥

City Accepts Applications for

Hurricane Ian HHRP Funds

The City of Fort Myers invites residents to apply for the remaining $1,522,794 from the initial allocation of $3,096,340 in funding from the State of Florida’s Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP) to repair homes impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Since 2022, the City has awarded $1,573,545 to assist 13 families with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. To support our residents further, the City is preparing to launch the SHIP-HHRP mortgage and rental assistance program, providing families with up to $10,000 in housing assistance. Stay tuned for more information.

To be eligible for the HHRP, applicants must be homeowners residing in the City of Fort Myers, the property must be owner-occupied and qualify for homestead exemption and the area median income (AMI) for the household must be no greater than 120%. This percentage is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess income eligibility for housing programs.

“Through the HHRP, we’re thrilled to be able to award up to $225,000 in home rehabilitation activities per applicant,” said Cindy Cruz, housing grant coordinator for the City of Fort Myers Community Development Department. “We encourage residents to apply as early as possible, as funds are available on a first-come, first served basis through June 2026."

Spanish-speaking staff are available to assist with questions and the application process. If an applicant does not qualify, other City programs may be offered to income-qualifying residents.

For more information and to apply, visit fortmyers.gov/HHRP or call

239-321-7970.

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