CCP updated on sewer, LDC changes and more
The Captiva Community Panel received updates on the potential septic-to-sewer project and the proposed amendments to the county’s Land Development Code and ordinances for the island, as well as learned the selections put forth to replace three seats on the board in January, during its meeting.
On Oct. 12, panel President and Wastewater Committee Chair Jay Brown shared that it had been an active past month, which included a meeting with Lee County Commission Chair Kevin Ruane.
“During the meeting, it became apparent that Kevin is viewing our septic-to-sewer plan as something that has a lot of significance beyond our own project,” he said, explaining that there are issues with septics tanks in other areas of Lee and a year-long consulting project has been launched to look into it.
“Kevin is viewing our project as a first-step pilot project for septic-to-sewer conversation,” Brown said.
Ruane also shared that Lee County has about $40 million in funding for infrastructure projects.
“Kevin believes that our project should be able to access at least some portion of that funding to help us along,” Brown said. “That’s the positive side of what happened during the month.”
He continued that it had been assumed the conversion project, which would require approval from Captiva property owners for implementation, would be easy to connect to Sanibel’s existing system. It was also assumed Captiva users would pay the same $5,000 access fee as Sanibel users to connect.
“It’s looking like Sanibel’s going to have to do some pretty significant work in determining what changes they’re going to have to do to their system to receive our wastewater,” Brown said.
“They also want to take a longer look at what the access fee should be,” he added.
Brown reported that the developments have resulted in the city wanting to conduct two consulting projects: one on connecting Captiva to its system and the other of a financial nature, like access fees. Ruane is going to work to get the county to fund both as amendments to the panel’s original study.
The county board approved a $100,000 grant for the Captiva Central Sewer Study.
“They should be able to be done over a three-month time period,” Brown said of the projects.
He explained that in another development, the South Seas Island Resort has new owners and the owners have expressed some initial interest in connecting to the sewer system if it is built.
The Captiva Central Sewer Study was intended to create a design and plan for all properties outside of the resort, as it uses a FGUA plant. However, the plan would include a method for future connection.
Brown reported that Ruane would like to see South Seas included in the project if it does receive the green light from property owners because he has concerns about the longevity of the FGUA plant.
Past panel President and current Government Affairs Committee Chair David Mintz, who was in attendance for the Ruane meeting, noted it was never a question of could the resort connect but when.
“Even without South Seas, we were going to engineer a design for a collection system that would allow South Seas at some point to join the system,” he said, pointing to the vulnerability of the FGUA plant to sea level rise and storms due to its location in the middle of a mangrove forest, plus the system’s age.
“There is a large sum of money available for a good project, if this project can be deemed as a good project,” Mintz added, referring to the pot of county funds available for infrastructure projects.
Brown noted that if the resort were to join the system, the cost of the project would increase. However, the total amount that property owners would be assessed would be split among even more properties.
LDC, ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
Mintz reported that the panel’s recommended changes to some of the county’s Land Development Code in relation to Captiva were approved by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 21.
“So those amendments are now law,” he said.
Mintz reported that the Government Affairs Committee will work with the panel to publicize those changes to the community and help educate the island on the amendments so the public is aware.
He continued that the next step is going through the same process with the county on a set of amendments to the Lee County Code that are applicable to Captiva that the panel had suggested. The changes are tied to fertilizer, noise disturbance, septic regulations, parking and golf cart rules.
“Ruane has authorized staff to work with us in the same process,” Mintz said.
Brown pointed out for the panel that Mintz had to make four trips at his own expense to meet with county committees on the panel’s behalf during the process of getting the LDC amendments approved. He reported that Mintz’s travel expenses totaled $2,423 and he suggested that Mintz be reimbursed.
In a vote, the panel approved reimbursing him for those expenses.
PANEL MEMBER NOMINATIONS
Treasurer Tony Lapi, panel representative and chair of the Nominating Committee, shared that the committee had two people apply and one recommendation for the position opening up in 2022.
“Our job was to pick the best candidate of those that were applying and make our recommendation. David Mintz won the nomination. That is our recommendation to the board,” he said. “We felt David’s connection — he is so involved in processes that are still going on and will continue that we did not want to disrupt that chain. Plus, all that he’s done.”
Brown explained that the panel will vote on the nomination in December. It does not have to accept the suggestion, and anyone from the public who is interested can submit their resume for consideration.
In addition, Panel Member Rene Miville shared the Captiva Island Property Owners Association’s pick to fill his seat. It selected Ken Gill, who was a candidate for the committee’s nomination like Mintz.
Miville noted that Gill attended New York University and has a degree in planning.
“The CPOA was more than happy to accommodate the other winner, if you will,” he said.
Also, the Captiva Civic Association appointed Brown for a second three-year term.
In accordance with its bylaws, there are 11 seats on the Captiva Community Panel. A certain number of appointments are reserved for the panel and its Nominating Committee, plus the CPOA and the CCA.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Mintz reported that as suggested by the county, he intends to draft a letter to the city of Sanibel asking it to consider extending its iguana control services for one day. After an update to its existing interlocal agreement with the county, the city would receive an additional $25,000 annually from the county, which would cover the extra day and provide Captiva with the services one day per week.
“We’re about to make that proposal,” he said.
– Mintz reported that the county is preparing the final draft of the ordinance that will return Roosevelt Channel to a year-round manatee slow zone. He is anticipating it will be in place in a month or two.
“So that’s a positive thing,” Mintz said.
– Panel Member and Sea Level Rise Committee Chair Linda Laird reported that the Lee County Department of Transportation attended the committee’s last meeting. The panel previously decided to combined the SLR Committee and Stormwater Committee because the two subjects can overlap.
She said the last meeting focused on stormwater issues on the island.
“They told us they will add more grate filters — on Captiva Drive and Andy Rosse Lane. These prevent debris and oil from entering the system,” Laird said. “They were very responsive.”
In addition, she reported that the tidal gauge at Sunset Captiva is starting to track the tides.
“In the future, we’ll start predicting what they expect to happen and chart it against what did happen,” Laird said.
– Mintz reported that the county confirmed that the county Code requires a minimum seven-day rental for residential dwelling units, and it is applicable on Captiva. It does not apply to resorts and hotels.
“There are some pretty serious enforcement regs associated with that aspect of the Land Development Code, including fines,” he said, adding that he told the county he thought educating the rentals would be more effective. “We don’t need to have draconian enforcement here. We just need some education.”
– The panel decided to resume in-person meetings starting in December. However, the meetings will continue to offer a virtual option for those who cannot attend but want to take part in the process.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email