Lions hear from city manager on Sanibel’s past, current state
As she approached her retirement after 20 years as the city manager for Sanibel, Judie Zimomra addressed the Sanibel Captiva Lions Club at its September meeting.
She briefly recapped her years of service to the community. Zimomra emphasized that she was just the manager, and it was the dedicated and competent staff that makes the city run smoothly. She pointed out that over the 20 years the city received almost $72 million in grants, which helped it maintain a healthy financial position.
Zimomra talked about the current state of the city, and the future changes that are likely to take place. She highlighted the completion of the sewer plant, which uses the latest technology to protect water quality. Amy Nowaki has been hired as the architect for the Center 4 Life building and the financing is in place for the reconstruction of the old bank building. Planning is underway for new facilities for the police department. Zimomra pointed out that when the current facilities were completed there were no computers, and the department was smaller and predominantly male. Now almost one-half of the force is female and there are inadequate locker facilities and no space for training. The city is facing the same labor issues as are other economic entities. Most employees do the type of work that they must be physically present and cannot work from home. Similar to what is happening to other entities, applicants do not appear for interviews; some who accept job offers never show up, and when a current worker has a better offer, they quit with almost no notice. The offering of signing bonuses or higher starting salaries is causing a salary compression that affects the morale of more senior workers.
Zimomra pointed out that Sanibel has some advantages to attract talent. Its “brand” is well known, not only regionally, but throughout the country. The Sanibel Plan has been copied by other cities and the city is renowned for keeping the environment as the number one priority, she reported.
The club wished Zimomra the best in her future endeavors.
The Sanibel Captiva Lions Club holds regular dinner meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month throughout the year. Visiting Lions or other interested people are welcome to attend.
For more information about the Sanibel Captiva Lions Club, contact Membership Chair Steven Schulz at P.O. Box 391, Sanibel, FL 33957, or 239-233-6261, or visit www.sanibelcaptivalionsclub.org.