City council raises decal costs to park
The Sanibel City Council approved price increases for its non-resident beach parking decals at its recent meeting, as well as heard reports about the Jordan Marsh Water Quality Treatment Park and the city’s short-term rental registration program.
On Feb. 2, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to raise the cost of its “B” decal to $300 and its “BC” decal to $399, while also approving a one-time 25 percent discount due to the late release of this year’s decals – setting the final prices for the 2021 non-resident decals as $225 for “B” and $324 for “BC.”
The council also voted 5-0 to convert Gulfside City Park (Algiers) to “A” and “B” parking.
City staff originally proposed an ordinance that would have increased the prices to $400 for the “B” decals and $500 for the “BC” decals, however, council voiced concerns about that being too high.
Councilmember Jerry Muench raised the strongest opposition, asking why the city is raising the cost. He was recently appointed to the council to serve in an interim position until the election in March.
“I want to ask these questions so I understand why we’re doing this,” Muench said.
Mayor Mick Denham explained that they are trying to determine the “fair value” of the decals.
“For me, it’s a value proposition,” he said. “It’s a premium area and a choice parking area.”
Denham noted the number of uses one can get from a decal before it pays for itself, and he pointed to the convenience of not carrying cash or a credit card for the meters and not having a paid time limit.
“What value would I subscribe to someone getting a ‘B’ sticker?” Denham asked.
Councilmember Richard Johnson explained that it costs the city to maintain the parking areas and beaches. He felt the mistake was not keeping up with the value for the decals, not raising prices.
“I very much agree our beaches are there for everyone,” Johnson said. “But I do think we have an obligation to properly value those parking stickers, so it’s keeping up with the market value.”
Several on council noted that the financial burden then falls on Sanibel residents.
Johnson added that he was unsure about the right price.
“But I can tell you $124 is not the right price,” he said, referring to the decal’s existing cost that was under consideration by the council for the increase. “I think the $400 level is a little excessive.”
Councilmember Chauncey Goss explained that he felt more comfortable reducing back the prices to $300 and $400 as he did not want the city sending a signal that the beaches are only for Sanibel.
Vice Mayor Holly Smith also agreed that the city staff’s proposed increases were a little high. She explained that she was considering raising the prices more to $325 and $425 for each of them.
Smith also pointed out that Lee County’s parking sticker for its beaches and boat ramps is only available for sale to Lee residents. In comparison, Sanibel’s “B” decals are open to anyone.
“I am feeling more comfortable moving forward,” Muench said after the discussion.
As part of the motion that was approved, the city opened up the sale of its “B” and “BC” decals to the public on Feb. 8. The change in parking at the Gulfside City Park went into effect on the same day.
JORDAN MARSH WATER QUALITY TREATMENT PARK
Also during the meeting, the council heard a presentation on the first year monitoring report for the Jordan Marsh Water Quality Treatment Park. Natural Resources Director Holly Milbrandt kick off the presentation, given by staff at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, with a brief overview.
She explained that construction on the project began in September 2018, with a ribbon-cutting held in March 2019. The project was designed to improve water quality in the Sanibel Slough and to help the city meet the state’s water quality standards. Secondary goals were enhancing existing wildlife habitat, providing recreational opportunities and educating the public on best management practices.
It was funded by the South Florida Water Management District, Lee County park impact fees and city funds. The project cost about $645,000 in total, plus about $156,000 for the design and engineering.
The city has contracted with SCCF’s Marine Lab to conduct sampling on the park’s progress.
Mark Thompson, research associate at the marine lab, provided the first year report to the council.
He explained that water is pumped out of the slough and into the marsh, which is designed to remove nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, then the cleaner water is discharged back into the slough.
Thompson reported that the SCCF sampled the inflow and outflow waters 11 times over one and a half years and conducted internal grab sampling events at the three stages, or areas, within the marsh. The aim was to determine how the marsh was operating at each stage related to nutrient removal efficiency.
In the first stage, there was 30 percent nitrogen and 43 percent phosphorus removal overall. In the second stage, there was 4 percent nitrogen and 12 percent phosphorus removal. In the third stage, there was 0 percent nitrogen and 0.1 percent phosphorus removal. In the first year, the system removed a total of 34 percent nitrogen and 55 percent phosphorus.
“Phosphorus is really what we want to focus on for removing nutrients,” he said.
Thompson continued that the inflow of gallons per day reached about 30 percent in the first year.
“The flow rate can be greatly improved as we go forward,” he said.
In terms of total maximum daily load, which ties into the state’s water quality standards, the system reached about 35 percent of nitrogen and 8 percent of phosphorus removal. SCCF projected it could do 59 percent of nitrogen and 12 percent of phosphorus during the second year with a higher flow rate.
“And the flow rates are way up this year,” Thompson said.
“It’s actually doing a better job in nitrogen removal than I thought it would,” he added.
For recommendations, the SCCF suggested that the city improve mass nutrient removal by increasing the input rate, as the first year was only at about one-third of the design flow. It also noted that the third stage is deeper than the other two – with fewer plants – so little to no nutrient removal is occurring. It recommended adding plants and improving mass removal with the possible addition of floating plants.
“Typically, a third stage doesn’t do as much as a first stage or second, but basically we’re not getting anything done in third stage,” Thompson said. “Third stage seems to be too deep for emerging plants.”
SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM
Also at the meeting, the council were provided an update on the Dwelling Rental License Program. Community Services Director Keith Williams provided the following status report, as of Jan. 30:
– Estimated number of rental properties eligible: 2,011
– Number of applications (ready for a license, issued a license or eligible for a license): 1,664
– Number of licenses ready to issue or have been issued: 1,369
– Number eligible for a license (applications under review): 295
– Number of outstanding rental properties that have not enrolled in the program: 347
Williams noted that the total decreased from 420-plus after a second notification in December.
“We’re going to continue that effort to continue to reduce that number,” he said of the unenrolled.
Williams reported that the city received 100-plus complaints reporting illegal short-term rentals between June 2018 and June 2020, in comparison to less than 20 complaints since last June.
He added that staff is now working with host compliance, which is providing Web monitoring for advertisements for rental properties, to break down those properties that are renting less than 28 consecutive days – in violation – and those renting in compliance but not enrolled in the program.
“We do think this program has significantly reduced those who were coloring outside of the line,” Williams said, noting that there is a drop in blatant offenses. “We believe it’s coming down.”
“Our number one goal on Sanibel is education and compliance first,” he added.
IN OTHER NEWS
– The council approved 5-0 the Sanibel Police Department’s request to purchase body wearable cameras and equipment through a state contract; it does not increase the budget for FY 2021.
– City Manager Judie Zimomra reported that the county received an additional $23.6 million in federal funds for “emergency rental assistance” for use toward rent in the arrears and rent coming up, plus utilities like water, electric and sewer. It will distribute the funding proportionally based on population.
She noted that Sanibel’s allocation is in the $213,000 range, of which 10 percent can be used for administration as with other Lee County CARES funding. That leaves just under $200,000 available.
Zimomra explained that the city can allocate the funds itself in-house or ask the county to do so. She added that city staff is recommending that Sanibel ask the county to administer its funding share.
“This program is to find the people who are slipping through the net and have no other resource to fill that gap in their housing cost,” Zimomra said.
The council voted 5-0 for staff to notify the county that Sanibel will work in partnership with it, with the county taking the lead in administering the new federal emergency rental assistance program funds.
– Milbrandt reported that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notified the city of its approval of Sanibel’s ordinance to establish local manatee protection areas within the Pine Island Sound and San Carlos Bay on the bayside, adjacent to the island. She explained that the next step is to go through the FWC’s permitting process, which could take two or three months. It would then take another month or so to install the buoys.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email