Sanibel City Council talks facilities, plus COVID
The Sanibel City Council discussed the Center4Life, Sanibel Police Department and Sanibel Recreation Center at its recent meeting, as well as canceled COVID-19 related restrictions.
On May 4, Mayor Holly Smith explained that the initial plan for the C4L relocation and police department modernization as presented to and considered by the prior city council was to do both projects. Financial feasibly was based on the retirement of the city’s debt service and payments.
Finance Director Steve Chaipel provided the dais with an overview of the city’s existing debt and current rate of retirement. Based on the numbers, he reported there are several potential options that could be structured for a loan for the police project, with 2022 possibly seeing some debt overlap.
“We are finishing up our audit for fiscal year 2020,” Chaipel said.
He explained that once completed, the city will know the end fund balance for every fund.
“We are estimating our beginning fund balance for the current year we are sitting in. They can be positive or negative. I am anticipating a positive one,” Chaipel said, adding that some of the estimates came in much better than city staff had expected in terms of the pandemic and its financial impact.
During discussion, the council agreed with proceeding to plan for both projects if feasible.
The council members also discussed the reopening of the current C4L building.
“I think there’s a sense of urgency for restarting the Center4Life programs for island seniors,” Vice Mayor Richard Johnson said of the year-long closure, pointing to restaffing as the first step to do that. “I would not want to hold back the programming to wait on the remodeling of that (new) building.”
The others agreed, asking about the time it would take to restaff the facility, while Councilmember John Henshaw pointed out that the ventilation system may need an upgrade like the recreation center.
“To make sure we can make the current facility as safe as we can make it,” he said, adding that the more physical activities like the exercise programs should perhaps be moved to the rec center.
Smith called the process a two-part examination of the facility’s operations.
“We’ve got a short-term opening — and then there’s the longer term opening,” she said. “We don’t know what the staff limitations are right now. We need to see what the staffing ability is.”
Council directed staff to evaluate the soft opening options for the C4L, including communicating with island seniors on the programs they want reinstated, and provide a status report at the June meeting.
As for the police department modernization project, Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater opened the discussion by floating the idea of constructing a long skinny building on the City Hall campus rather than renovating and expanding on the department’s existing wing as is the current proposed plan.
With the architect already hired and working on the original expansion design idea, some on the council asked if the firm could provide two options, with the second being the stand-alone building.
Community Services Director Keith Williams reported that the architect is currently on the brink of submitting its conceptual design for the modernization and expansion of the police wing. However, he continued, that does not mean the council cannot request a pause for it to evaluate the second option.
Henshaw questioned if the city has considered buildings outside of the City Hall area.
Police Chief William Dalton reported that prior to COVID, they had been looking at potential properties not owned by the city. He noted that a stand-alone building would be more expensive.
“I do think that would be in the best interest of the city,” Dalton added, however.
While he supported looking at city lands, he suggested keeping the police on campus.
A motion to direct staff to instruct the architect to pause in its current design services and provide a proposal for an alternative design for a stand-alone building on the City Hall campus passed 5-0.
The council also took up the subject of the Sanibel Recreation Center.
City Manager Judie Zimomra reported that the city posted the advertisement for the aquatics program manager and has narrowed it down to three candidates, one of whom it has made a tentative offer to.
“So we are very hopeful,” she said of filling the vacancy.
Zimomra also presented the council with a staff-recommended expedited process for hiring a seniors program manager. In comparison to the normal process, the ad will post both internally and externally.
“In this case, we would proceed with a dual track, if that’s council’s pleasure,” she said.
The city council approved the expedited hiring plan 5-0.
During the rec center discussion, the council touched on a full reopening for the facility as possibly October. Some voiced support for reopening more of the programs prior to the fall, similar to the soft reopening of the C4L, as a way to start drawing back members who have not been using the facility.
The council also discussed potentially reopening lane sharing at the pool during open swim.
A motion to direct the city manager and recreation director to evaluate the staffing levels and decide when the center could provide times for both double lane swims and solo lane swims passed 5-0.
The council also approved a $24,885 upgrade to the center’s ventilation system in a 5-0 vote.
COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS
In response to action by the governor, which included his recent signing of executive orders, the Sanibel City Council allowed its state of emergency — a result of COVID — to expire on May 4 without an extension. As part of the expiration, the city’s face cover mandate for businesses also expired.
Additionally, the council took the following actions related to COVID:
– The temporary outdoor dining approved during the COVID-19 state of emergency by the council will be allowed to continue while it considers legislation to permanently allow outdoor dining, which was temporarily permitted during the pandemic.
– City buildings, including City Hall offices, will be open to the public; at this time face coverings will continue to be required inside all city buildings, including the Sanibel Recreation Center.
– COVID related restrictions on special events implemented by the council are lifted. All other pre-COVID city special event requirements remain in place.
– City Hall Council Chambers public seating is increased to 50 percent of capacity.
– The Sanibel Farmers Market will determine its own face covering policies.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email