Category: SWFL Update

At its regular meeting on July 2, the Village of Estero Council approved a contract amendment totaling $2,224,726 with Chris-Tel Construction to build a new maintenance building for the upcoming 100-acre Estero sports park. The funding also covers the demolition of the existing facility.

This move aligns with the master plan for the park, which was approved in January and is scheduled for completion in 2026. Village staff recommended the updated contract to ensure the project remains on track and on schedule.

A Community Vision for Recreation

The future park is one of the village’s most ambitious recreation projects, aiming to offer expansive sports and activity areas for residents of all ages. While specific features are still being developed, the maintenance building is a critical early component in preparing the site for larger infrastructure and amenities.

Resident Feedback: Call for a Splash Pad

During the meeting’s public comment session, a local resident shared a petition with 600 signatures urging the council to consider adding a splash pad to the park — a water-based feature geared toward young children.

Although the idea gained community interest, the Council previously opted not to include a splash pad in the park’s master plan. Instead, planners have reserved space for an area potentially dedicated to food trucks and event-related vendors, which they believe could better serve a broader range of park visitors.

What’s Next?

Construction of the maintenance building will begin soon, keeping the development of the new park in motion. As plans progress, the Village of Estero is expected to continue seeking community input and balancing infrastructure needs with recreational features that reflect residents’ priorities.

For updates on the park’s development or upcoming meetings, visit the official village website at www.estero-fl.gov.

In a major win for Florida businesses, Governor Ron DeSantis has officially eliminated the state’s longstanding sales tax on commercial leases, effective October 1, 2025. Signed into law on June 30 via House Bill 7031, this marks the end of a tax that has been in place since 1969.

What Is Changing?

Florida businesses previously paid a 2% sales tax on rent or lease payments for commercial spaces — whether for office buildings, strip malls, warehouses, or retail storefronts. This tax, known as the business rent tax, also included any additional local surtaxes imposed by counties.

Starting October 1, 2025, that 2% tax will be fully eliminated, along with any optional county surtaxes.

Why This Matters

Florida was the only state to charge a statewide sales tax on commercial leases, often seen as a disadvantage for companies considering expansion or relocation. Industry groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Realtors, and Florida TaxWatch, have long pushed for its repeal.

“This is going to make us much more competitive when recruiting or starting new businesses,” said Gary Tasman, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida.

Impact for Tenants and Landlords

Though landlords collected the tax, tenants bore the cost — effectively increasing their rent. With this tax removed:

• Businesses will see a reduction in monthly rental costs

• Office spaces may become more competitive, especially in sectors still recovering post-pandemic

• Landlords may have an easier time leasing long-vacant spaces

“Even a 2% savings can help make a property more attractive,” said Stan Stouder, founding partner at CRE Consultants.

A Look Back

The tax rate has gradually dropped from 6% in 2017 to 2% in 2024, tied to economic performance and the recovery of Florida’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. Despite rate cuts, revenue from the tax increased from $1.86 billion in 2017 to $2.64 billion in FY 2024, driven by population growth and a strong economy.

A Florida Realtors study estimates that removing the tax will generate $6 in economic activity for every $1 cut in rent tax revenue.

Who’s Affected?

The tax applied to commercial leases, including:

• Office space

• Retail and strip mall leases

• Warehouses and self-storage units

• Parking, docking, and tie-down spaces

• Convention and meeting rooms

• Licenses for vending or newspaper machines

It did not apply to:

• Residential properties

• Agricultural land

• Nonprofit organizations

• Government agency leases

What’s Next?

The law goes into full effect on October 1, 2025, providing Florida businesses with a new advantage in operating costs and leasing flexibility.

For more information, visit the Florida Department of Revenue or the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The Ronto Group has officially begun construction on Encore Naples Square, marking the final chapter in the highly acclaimed Naples Square community in downtown Naples.

This boutique luxury development will feature just 15 exclusive residences, with prices starting at $3.6 million. According to the developer, more than half of the units are already sold, signaling strong demand for high-end downtown living.

What to Expect from Encore Naples Square:

• Spacious floor plans ranging from approximately 2,700 to over 4,600 square feet

• Gourmet kitchens, designer finishes, and expansive living areas

• Large private terraces perfect for indoor-outdoor living

• Optional rooftop spaces available for select units

Located within walking distance of Fifth Avenue South and Naples’ popular dining and shopping district, Encore offers a prime blend of luxury, lifestyle, and location.

With construction now underway, Encore Naples Square is expected to elevate the standard of downtown living one final time.

For more information, visit ronto.com or contact the sales team for availability.

Starting July 1, a new rule is in effect for teen drivers in Florida. The Lee County Tax Collector’s Office has announced that all new drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 must now complete specific steps to obtain a Florida learner’s permit:

• ✅ Six-hour Driver Education Course

• ✅ Four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) Course

• ✅ Required REAL ID documents, proof of address, and parental consent

However, there’s a temporary exemption available:
Teens who complete the TLSAE course online before August 1 will not be required to take the six-hour Driver Education course. Keep in mind, teens must be at least 14 years old to take the TLSAE.

You can find a list of state-approved TLSAE course providers on the official Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website: www.flhsmv.gov

Already have a permit?
No worries — teens who received their learner’s permit before July 1 are not affected by this new rule. Additionally, teens moving to Florida with a valid out-of-state permit or license are also exempt from the new requirements.

Want more details?
Visit the official bill page here: Senate Bill 994 – 2025

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has released a new progress report on the ongoing work along the Sanibel Causeway. Crews are now completing final construction items west of the toll plaza, and the 35 mph speed limit has been reinstated in that area. Please note that reduced speed limits remain in effect east of the toll plaza, and pedestrian access on the causeway is still prohibited for safety reasons.

What to Expect:

While progress continues, the following work activities are scheduled—but may be impacted by weather or unforeseen conditions:

• Frontage Road Under Span A: Work is ongoing in this area, and motorists should proceed with caution.

• Punta Rassa Staging Area: Crews are restoring this area as FDOT prepares to return it to Lee County later this summer.

• Bay 3 Remains Closed: Lee County continues maintenance on toll equipment at Bay 3. Please plan accordingly when traveling to or from the island.

• Signage Installation: New road signs are currently being installed east of the toll plaza to enhance safety and navigation.

Important Reminders:

Drivers are reminded to stay alert and courteous, especially as bicyclists share the roadway. Extra care should be taken near Causeway Islands Park, where vehicles frequently enter and exit public beach access points.

For ongoing updates and full project details, visit:
www.swflroads.com/SanibelCauseway

Questions? Contact Jennifer Dorning at
Jennifer.Dorning@dot.state.fl.us
239-338-7723

Celebrate America’s independence in Southwest Florida with an exciting lineup of patriotic events, from fireworks displays over the Gulf to parades and beachside barbecues. Here’s where you can join in the festivities across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Glades counties:

LEE COUNTY

• Fourth of July Celebration in Downtown Fort Myers
  Hosted by River District Alliance, Caloosa Sound Amphitheater & The City of Fort Myers
  Location: 2101 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

• Freedom Fest 2025
  Hosted by Victory Town Center & SWFL Business Alliance
  Location: 1201 Taylor Lane Extension, Lehigh Acres
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

• Red, White, & BOOM!
  Hosted by Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department
  Location: Cape Coral Bridge Rd, Cape Coral (at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge)
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

• 4th of July 2025 at Sidney’s Rooftop
  Hosted by Sidney & Berne Davis Center for the Arts
  Location: 2301 1st St, Fort Myers
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• July 4th Parade
  Hosted by the City of Sanibel
  Location: 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Star-Spangled Bonita
  Hosted by the City of Bonita Springs
  Location: 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

COLLIER COUNTY

• City of Naples Parade and Fireworks
  Parade starts at 3rd Street South and 5th Avenue South, Fireworks at Naples Pier
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | Parade 9 a.m., Fireworks 9 p.m.

• Drones in Paradise
  Hosted by Paradise Coast Sports Complex
  Location: 3940 City Gate Boulevard N., North Naples
  Date & Time: Sunday, July 6 | 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• Red, White, and Groove Mercato
  Hosted by Mercato
  Location: 9110 Strada Place, Naples
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Marco Island Fireworks
  Hosted by the City of Marco Island
  Location: Between Tigertail Beach and South Beach
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 9 p.m.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

• Fishermen’s Village Independence Day Celebration
  Hosted by Fisherman’s Village
  Location: 1200 W Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.

• Fourth-fest and Fireworks
  Hosted by Laishley Park
  Location: 150 Laishley Ct., Punta Gorda
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.

• Summer in the Parks Workshops: 4th of July Paper Lanterns
  Hosted by Summer in the Parks
  Location: 16050 Babcock Trail, Punta Gorda
  Date & Time: Tuesday, July 1 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

DESOTO COUNTY

• 3rd Annual Freedom Fest
  Hosted by Turner-Agri Civic Center
  Location: 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

GLADES COUNTY

• 4th of July Celebration
  Hosted by Deep South Fireworks
  Location: 1754 Alvin Ward Rd, Moore Haven
  Date & Time: Friday, July 4 | 9 p.m.

Celebrate Independence Day in style with family-friendly events, fireworks, parades, and more throughout Southwest Florida!

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has reached a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in total assets. This achievement marks an important operational and regulatory benchmark for the community bank, demonstrating continued growth, increased lending capacity, and scalability to better serve its customers. The bank attributes its success to its relationship-driven lending model and commitment to reinvesting in the community.

Founded in 2003 with a single branch on Sanibel and $27 million in assets, the bank has grown into one of the top-performing community banks in the region, with nine locations across Lee County. This accomplishment places it among a select group of community banks nationwide, with only 12% of over 4,500 community banks in the U.S. reaching the $1 billion to $5 billion mark.

Sanibel Pilates & Spa Hosts Event

Sanibel Pilates & Spa hosted a successful “Come to the Barre — Sip & Shop & Barre” event on June 5. The event featured two complimentary barre classes and chair massages for attendees. In addition to fitness and relaxation, participants supported causes like trafficking, contributing to a meaningful community cause while enjoying a fun and healthy experience.

SCIAR Holds Monthly Meeting

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its monthly meeting on May 29 at its office. Sanibel Mayor Mike Miller was the guest speaker, providing an update on the city’s hurricane season preparations, emergency response strategies, and recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian. The meeting also included updates on city initiatives, infrastructure projects, and continuing education opportunities for SCIAR members.

Sanibel Sea School Welcomes New Staffers

The Sanibel Sea School recently introduced its new Summer Camp counselors, who will teach at both the flagship campus and the Bailey Homestead. The counselors are an integral part of the Sea School’s mission to improve the ocean’s future by inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards. The new staff includes Stevie Hyle, Frankie Just, Sophia Morgan, Jake Raterman, Ethan Robbins, James Spencer, Zoe Vadas, and Kaley Wright.

City Official Honored with Award

Sanibel Vice Mayor Holly Smith was recently named a recipient of the Florida League of Cities’ Home Rule Hero Award for 2025. This marks the eighth consecutive time she has received this honor for her dedication to advocating for local solutions to local problems. Smith’s ongoing leadership in the Florida League of Cities and the Southwest Florida League of Cities Chapter continues to impact the community positively.

Rotary Recognizes Paul Harris Fellows

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club honored Mark Brislin as a Paul Harris Fellow +2 and John Raho as a Paul Harris Fellow +1. These prestigious awards recognize their significant contributions to the Rotary Foundation’s humanitarian and educational programs. The club congratulated both members for their continued support of these important causes.

Kiwanis Welcomes New Members

The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club recently inducted Christina Candelario and Steven Schulz as new members. The club is excited to welcome them and looks forward to their fresh perspectives and contributions to the mission of serving the children and families of the community. For more information, visit www.sanibelkiwanis.org.

Islander Produces Award-Winning Video

Whitney Wolanin of Sanibel was honored at the 46th annual Telly Awards for her work as the producer of “Seven Weeks In County” by Billy Strings. The video won a Gold Award in the General-Music Video category. Wolanin, also a director and recording artist, is known for her Billboard hits and has a strong local connection with her roots at The Sanibel School, Fort Myers High, and Vanderbilt University.

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that will allow Lee County voters to decide in 2026 whether they want to elect members of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners by district.

The bill, HB 4001 — Lee County, was introduced by state Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral. Currently, commissioners are elected at-large, meaning voters from across the entire county choose all the commissioners. If voters approve the change in 2026, beginning in 2028, commissioners would be elected only by the voters within their respective districts. This would mean voters in one district would only be able to vote for the commissioner representing their area, rather than all countywide seats.

Under the current system, commissioners must live within their district but represent all voters in the county.

The bill has faced opposition from some county leaders. District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass expressed concern that the legislation could discourage commissioners from appealing to all county residents or addressing concerns outside their district. District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell also opposed the bill during its initial introduction in 2023. However, some residents from Greenwell’s district have supported the measure, citing an unsuccessful primary challenge to Greenwell in 2024, where the results would have been different if only District 5’s votes had been counted.

Rep. Giallombardo, who introduced the bill, has argued that the legislation would make the county’s government more representative. As of press time, he could not be reached for comment.

Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, the only member of the Lee County state delegation to oppose the bill, noted that her husband, David Mulicka, holds the District 3 seat on the county commission.

Frontier Airlines announced the launch of a new nonstop flight service from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), starting June 12. The service will operate twice per week, offering a convenient option for travelers between Southwest Florida and Atlanta.

Promotional Fare Offer:

To celebrate the new route, Frontier is offering promotional fares as low as $59 as part of their “America’s Greenest Airline” campaign. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 25, 2025, with travel available between June 27, 2025, and November 19, 2025. Please note, the following blackout dates apply:

• July 3, 2025

• July 6, 2025

• September 1, 2025

A 14-day advance purchase is required, and a round-trip purchase is not necessary.

What Frontier Airlines is Saying:

“We are thrilled to offer our signature ultra-low-cost flight options to consumers in Southwest Florida traveling to Atlanta or one of the many exciting destinations we serve beyond,” said Josh Flyr, Vice President of Network and Operations Design at Frontier Airlines. “We are redefining ultra-low-cost air travel, providing more comfort and convenience without compromising the affordability we’re known for.”

Airlines Serving RSW:

• Air Canada

• Alaska Airlines

• American Airlines

• Avelo Airlines

• Breeze Airways

• Delta Airlines/Delta Connections

• Discover Airlines

• Frontier Airlines

• JetBlue Airways

• Porter Airlines

• Southwest Airlines

• Spirit Airlines

• Sun Country Airlines

• United Airlines

• WestJet

For more details and to book your flight, visit Frontier Airlines and take advantage of the promotional fares while they last!

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is moving forward with plans to expand Interstate 75, adding new lanes between Corkscrew Road in southern Lee County and Golden Gate Parkway in Collier County. The expansion will stretch over 18.5 miles, bringing the total to 10 lanes—five in each direction.

The project aims to address the growing traffic congestion in the area, which has been exacerbated by the rapid population growth. Janella Newsome, an FDOT spokesperson, explained that the expansion is designed to alleviate the constant complaints about traffic congestion.

However, the plan has raised concerns among some local residents. Allan Bowditch, president of Engage Estero, voiced concerns about the increased noise levels that may result from the expansion. He noted that even with the current three lanes, residents living just a mile away from the highway are already expressing significant concerns about the noise.

FDOT is currently conducting environmental and sound studies along the interstate to assess the potential impact. If the studies reveal that the expansion will lead to a considerable increase in noise, FDOT has committed to considering the addition of noise walls to mitigate the impact on nearby communities.

Bowditch suggested that sound-proof walls or vegetation could help reduce the noise levels and provide relief to residents.

The study results are expected to be released later this summer, and FDOT will hold a public meeting in August to share the findings and gather input from the community.

This expansion project aims to improve traffic flow, but FDOT is also focused on addressing the concerns of residents affected by the changes.