Council expected to consider contract for firefighters union
City Council is expected to give final approval at its Monday meeting at City Hall for the negotiated tentative collective bargaining agreement reached between the city and the Professional Fire Fighters Local 2424 union.
Pay increases continue moving toward the 75th percentile and not to exceed 3 percent in Fiscal Year 2017 and 3 percent in 2018.
The agreement applies to the battalion chiefs and the rank and file members. Assuming the union membership votes for approval by today, the agreement is expected to be ratified by council on Monday.
Council also is expected to vote on five ordinances in public hearings dealing with zoning changes, releasing a public utility easement and the creation of a youth council.
Either the Planning & Zoning Commission or the new Hearing Examiner have recommended approval of all zoning change cases.
One ordinance amends the Land Use and Development regulations for the Village District zone. The amendment allows for the addition of veterinary and animal clinics as approved uses, which was brought to the city’s attention when a veterinarian was prevented from opening an office earlier this year in the Publix shopping center at Burnt Store Road and Pine Island Road. Allowed uses previously included pet shops and pet services, but not veterinarian or clinic uses.
The youth council will be a 14-member advisory group to assist council by identifying needs and wants of young people in the city. Council would then help identify solutions and make recommendations going forward. The council will consist of one junior and one senior to represent Mariner High, Ida Baker, Island Coast, Oasis and Cape High, plus two Cape resident students from North Fort Myers and two at-large members to represent home schooling or other source.
Students would be appointed from a pool of candidates by council with seniors having one-year terms in the first year and juniors to two-year terms.
Council’s next scheduled regular meeting is Oct. 17.
In the meantime, council will hold a special workshop session on Oct. 5.