Letter from the President of the Board of Directors

Dear Mission Friend(s)

CFYS is faced with the need to invest approximately $60,000.00  in paving and other improvements to the two vacant lots being used for client, staff and volunteer parking at The Mission. These two lots are owned by CFYS and have been used for parking for several years with no problem. In October 2008 a complaint was filed by a nearby (not adjacent) business owner leaving the city with no option but to serve CFYS with a separate notice of violation for each lot. Since then, Tom Beauregard, David Berry and I have met numerous times with city officials in an attempt to resolve this issue. The city has been cooperative and tolerant in allowing us to continue parking on the lots;  no fines have been imposed to date.  The complainant continues to press the issue with the city. It is essential that we proceed to upgrade the lot adjacent to Second Street during January 2010 followed by the other lot as soon as possible.  

In order to be in compliance with city codes each lot must be paved  and must have landscaping with irrigation. Fences are required to be  installed between the parking lots and the apartment building located between the two lots. Treatment (retention) of storm water runoff is  required by the Southwest Florida Water Management District         (SWFWMD).  Landscape design is being donated, a survey has been  donated and engineering is being donated.  Part or all of the  landscaping work is expected to be donated.  We need to have financing in place by early December in order to contract with a paving company for work to be done on the first lot in January. This means we need to have at least $30,000.00 available by mid December and the remainder as soon thereafter as possible. You will be hearing            about opportunities to participate in this project in the very near future.

Please feel free to make a contribution to this purpose now if you are led to do so.  I thank each and every one of you for your interest, support and prayers in behalf of the ministry of CFYS.

 Stan Burnett, President, Christian Family and Youth Services