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Overview

Fort MyersMission Statement: "To deliver exceptional government services and provide an environment where people will be encouraged to live, work, play, and invest."

Street address (of City Hall):
2200 Second Street
Fort Myers, FL 33902

Mailing address:
Post Office Drawer 2217
Fort Myers, Florida 33902-2217

Map of City: City Locations

Main telephone number:
(239) 332-6700

County: Lee

Internet: http://www.cityftmyers.com/

Population as of 2007: 67,851

Date Incorporated: March 24, 1886

Form of government: City Manager

Council meeting time: 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 4:30 p.m.

Assistance available to area schools:
Guest speakers, shadowing programs and tours

2008 Holidays

New Years Day Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 21, 2008
Presidents Day Monday, February 18, 2008
Memorial Day Monday, May 26, 2008
Independence Day Friday, July 04, 2008
Labor Day Monday, September 01, 2008
Veterans Day Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 27, 2008
Day after Thanksgiving Friday, November 28, 2008
Christmas Day Thursday, December 25, 2008

Ways citizens can participate in the municipal government:
Vote in city elections, attend City Council meetings/public hearings, run for elected city office and serve on the following committees/boards: Planning; Board of Adjustments; Beautification Advisory; Burroughs Home Advisory; Business Development Center Advisory; Code Enforcement; Downtown Redevelopment Association; Firefighters´ Pension and Retirement Board of Trustees; General Employees Pension Fund; Golf Club Committee; Harborside Advisory; Southwest Florida Historical Museum; Historic Preservation Committee; Housing Authority; Nuisance Abatement; and Police Officer’s Retirement Board of Trustees

Governmental services:
I. Public Safety - law enforcement, fire protection, code enforcement and animal control/protection;

II. Public Services (Transportation and Public Works) - street and road construction/maintenance, parking facilities, traffic control/signalization/street signs/street lighting/traffic engineering, bicycle paths, port/harbor, sanitation, solid and liquid waste management, water purification, wastewater (sewage) treatment, stormwater runoff, parks/recreation facilities, library services, public cemeteries, golf course facilities, cable television, and public housing assistance.

III. Planning and Zoning

History of the municipal government: Incorporated 1886. The name memorialized by this famous Florida city is that of General Abraham Charles Myers, a distinguished officer in the United States Army. It was given to the fort by General David E. Twiggs, federal commander in the Seminole Wars, who later became the father-in-law of Myers. The city was developed in the later years of the 19th Century, chiefly through the initiative of Stafford C. Cleveland, a New York newspaperman.

The Town of East Fort Myers was annexed on December 29, 1925. The present charter was adopted on May 14, 1957.

Situated on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee River, Fort Myers is the county seat.

Unique/interesting aspects of the municipality: Fort Myers was the winter home of Thomas Edison. Henry Ford, his friend, lived next door to him. The Edison Home was donated to the city in 1947 and tours are currently offered.

The Edison Festival of Light is celebrated in Fort Myers each year, which features the Parade of Light.

Fort Myers is the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox.

Miscellaneous Statistics 2007
Date of Incorporation -
1886

Form of Government -

City Manager
Number of employees (excluding police and fire):

Full time employees -

718

Part time employees -

47

Temporary/Seasonal employees -

22
Area in square miles:

48.82

Land -

40.03 sq. mi.

Water -

8.79 sq. mi.
City of Fort Myers facilities and services:

Miles of city maintained streets -

272.10

Number of street lights -

9,850
Culture and recreation:

Community centers -

3

Recreation centers -

2
Parks (includes golf courses) -

34

Park acreage (including golf courses) -

770

Golf Courses -

2

Swimming pools -

3

Tennis courts -

21
Fire Protection:

Number of stations -

6

Number of fire and personnel and officers -

148

Number of calls answered -

14,662

Number of inspections conducted -

4,865
Police Protection:

Number of stations -

3

Number of police personnel and officers -

312

Number of patrol units -

93
Number of law violations:
 

Physical arrests -

6,775

Traffic violations -

20,600

Parking violations -

6,825
Sewer system:

Miles of sanitary sewers -

337.30

Number of treatment plants -

2

Number of service connections -

25,209

Daily average treatment in gallons -

10,920,000

Maximum daily capacity of treatment plants in gallons -

26,500,000
Water system:

Miles of water mains -

378

Number of service connections -

15,678

Number of fire hydrants -

500

Daily average finished flow in gallons -

7,620,000
Education:

Public Schools -

Operated by County