New council seated, along with mayor and vice mayor
The Sanibel City Council welcomed three new faces to the five-seat board at a recent meeting.
On March 16, newly-elected Councilmembers Dr. Scott Crater, John Henshaw and Mike Miller joined sitting Vice Mayor Holly Smith and Councilmember Richard Johnson by taking the oath of office. Following the swearing-in ceremonies, the new council held elections for a new mayor and vice mayor.
Johnson nominated Smith to serve as mayor, with no other nominations put forward.
In an unanimous 5-0 vote, Smith was elected.
She next nominated Johnson for the role of vice mayor, with no other nominations put forward.
Again in an unanimous 5-0 vote, Johnson was elected.
“This is an exciting day for all of us,” Smith said during council comments.
“We have an excellent team of individuals,” Johnson added. “I look forward to working with you.”
IN OTHER NEWS
– The council voted 4-1 to make adjustments to the Sanibel Recreation Center’s operations in the areas of the tennis courts, ball fields, gymnasium and operation hours; Scott was the sole dissenting vote.
Based on staff recommendations, it approved opening all four tennis courts, continuing to use the reservation system, and offering tennis lesson and Round Robin starting April 12. The center will also offer co-ed softball, with registration to begin on April 9 and the season to start on May 5. Inside the gym, all courts will be open for indoor pickleball, with continued use of the reservation system; three courts will be open on Monday and Wednesday and six on Saturday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
The council also approved continuing with the current hours of operation through May.
– The council voted 5-0 to resume accepting applications for special events set for Oct. 1 and later and to maintain the process of having the council approve new events scheduled from October to April.
– Council directed staff to proceed with a suggestion to go virtual with the city’s Annual Hurricane Seminar this year in light of the pandemic. Staff plans to use a new video prepared by Lee County and incorporate local officials and experts covering Sanibel-specific information for the public to view.
– The council voiced agreement with continuing to support Captiva’s efforts to research and possibly implement a central sewer system that would connect it to the city of Sanibel’s processing system. The council voted 5-0 for Smith to draft a letter as mayor with staff that will be sent on to county officials.
– The council voted 5-0 to let Smith work with staff to compose a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the current process of updating LOSOM, with feedback on the modeling efforts.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email