CCP covers sewer project, manatees and more
The Captiva Community Panel recently learned about a possible apportionment methodology for property owners to cover the costs of the sewer project if it proceeds, got an update on the year-round manatee zone for the Roosevelt Channel, and discussed public input on its projects and priorities.
During the March 8 meeting, panel President and Wastewater Committee Chair Jay Brown reported that the apportionment committee formed to examine ways of allocating the costs of the septic-to-sewer conversion for the island, except for the South Seas Island Resort which has its own plant, has come up with a potential method. The project will require a majority approval by property owners to proceed.
It identified five “cost centers,” which are the Village, properties along Captiva-Drive located outside of the Village, ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, Sunset Captiva, and Captiva Shores. Based on cost-share of wastewater usage, the total cost for each “center” would be allocated to those properties in it.
“It’s an allocation methodology based on how much wastewater each property will generate,” he said.
The committee came up with assessing usage by properties as: residences would be gallons per day based on the number of bedrooms, restaurants based on the number of customer chairs, resorts based on the number of rooms, shops based on the number of restrooms, and offices based on square footage.
“That’s the basic methodology that we’re looking at, and we think it makes sense,” Brown said.
He noted that the total project cost is estimated at about $25 million, which includes construction and Sanibel service costs. The hope is to get a large portion funded by Lee County and maybe the state.
Panel Member Ken Gill asked about applying a discount for residences versus rental properties.
Brown explained that the committee thought about and discussed that, whether it might be a discount for homes or a surcharge for rentals, but it could not come up with a reasonable way of doing that.
“We agree with the point,” he said. “But we couldn’t figure out a reasonable way to do it.”
“My gut was also to figure out how to do that,” Vice President David Mintz added.
He explained that he originally looked at homesteading as the barometer, noting that there are about 136 homesteaded properties. However, there are non-homesteaded homes that are not rentals because they are not permitted to, for example, by their homeowner’s association. In addition, a home may be homesteaded today and then sell and turn into a rental, but that discount would already be locked in.
“I think the committee is open to a way of how to give a discount to those who are not renting,” Mintz said. “But have not figured out how to do that yet.”
MANATEE ZONE
Mintz, chair for the Government Affairs Committee, reported that Lee County has finalized its ordinance to reintroduce slow speed-minimum wake zones in certain areas like the Roosevelt Channel to protect manatees year-round and that the ordinance has been sent up to the state for approval.
The language states that the Captiva area includes all waters of the Pine Island Sound south from the northernmost tip of the island, north and west of the Wulfert Channel, and west of a line one-quarter mile east of and parallel to the contour of the eastern shoreline of Captiva and Buck Key, including all waters of associated bayous, canals and channels north and east of the centerline of Sanibel-Captiva Road and all waters of the Wulfert Channel, which connects the sound with the Gulf through Blind Pass, east of the centerline of the San-Cap Road bridge and west of red Wulfert Channel Marker 16.
The ordinance also includes areas for North Captiva and Gasparilla Island.
PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES
Leading up to the meeting, the panel requested input from the community for inclusion into a discussion that it intended to have on strategic planning and future priorities for the panel. Kicking off the conservation, Administrator Ken Gooderham reported that 32 respondents provided input.
The often top priority mentioned was wastewater (12), followed by Captiva Drive shoulders and bicycle-pedestrian safety (12) and vacation rental issues (10). After that was golf cart traffic (eight), South Seas redevelopment (seven), ambulance service (six), sea level rise (five), underground utilities (five), Verizon and cell service (five), stormwater (four), leaf blowers (three), Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy housing (two), looking into incorporation (two), more restaurants (two), and parking enforcement (two). Additional subjects mentioned were: home mail delivery, over-regulation, noise enforcement, Andy Rosse beach access, Roosevelt Channel no-wake zone, and iguana eradication.
A few panel members shared what their big takeaway was from the input.
“We are actually dealing with the issues that the community cares about,” Mintz said. “Virtually everything we’re doing is something they care about. I think that is a testament to the panel and how it’s listened to the community over the past number of years.”
Panel Member Ann Brady agreed that the panel is working on projects the people want.
“I thought it was really great to hear from the community,” she said.
During the discussion, panel members voiced what they think are the top priorities heading into the future, with a large portion of the conversation focused on the panel’s role in working with the county. Many voiced that the relationship with the county commission has improved with the addition of past Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane, but noted concerns over what happens if he is no longer on the board.
“I think we need to develop a different kind of relationship with Lee County. Kevin Ruane has been terrific for us, but we’re relying on an individual,” Mintz said, explaining that community planning was once recognized and even funded by the county. “We have to figure out how to institutionalize our ability to meet our own needs and have the respect of the county for our kinds of local control issues.”
Reconsidering incorporation was debated, with many pointing out the expensiveness of it.
“We pay huge tax dollars to the county and we get a very small part of spend-back to our community. We try to get something done and we have to go to the county and beg,” Brown said, later adding that if the panel could get more cooperation from the county and remain unincorporated it would be perfect.
“There’s got to be a better way than what we’re doing now,” he said.
Panel Member Linda Laird, chair of the Stormwater Committee, echoed that sentiment.
“I agree with the ineffectiveness of our ability to get money to do our projects and how hard it is,” she said.
Mintz noted that the county was recently not happy when the state stepped in to pre-empt regulations related to food truck vendors and vacation rentals at the county level, providing it as a comparison.
“Our complaint against the county about local control is the county’s complaint about the state,” he said.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email