City provides summary of monthly meeting for council
The city of Sanibel recently released the following summary of the Sanibel City Council’s regular monthly meeting, which was held on April 12 at BIG ARTS on Sanibel:
BUILDING PERMIT FEES
The council approved a resolution to temporarily discount building department permit fees listed in Chapter 14 of the city’s Code of Ordinances by 50% through Sept. 30. The reduction will be retroactive to Nov. 1. The city will process refunds to customers who paid permit fees prior to the April meeting.
The action supersedes the 25% temporary discount that the council approved in February.
The Building and Finance departments will work to reimburse customers over the next few months. Customers who paid the full cost of permit fees between Nov. 1 and Feb. 7 will be reimbursed 50% of the permit fee cost. Customers who paid for permit fees that were discounted by 25% between Feb. 7 and April 12 will be reimbursed the additional 25% based on the council’s direction.
For the permit forms, visit https://www.mysanibel.com/city-forms/building-department-forms.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT
The council approved a resolution accepting the final Recreation Department Comprehensive Assessment, Analysis and Evaluation Report completed by consultant Berry Dunn. The Recreation Department will work to implement the plan’s recommendations over a period of five to 10 years.
To view the final report, visit https://mysanibel.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11822018&GUID=8172B8E8-82D1-4BC3-8E7E-CB8B5EBABBC6.
HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION
The council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s Code to allow the mayor (by proclamation) or the council (by resolution) to change the hours of construction during a state of emergency following a natural or manmade disaster. The following language was added:
“When the city has declared a state of local emergency related to a natural or manmade disaster, the city council may amend the hours for construction or repairing of buildings via resolution or by mayoral proclamation.”
To read the full ordinance, visit https://mysanibel.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11822012&GUID=AF0B743A-D593-40CB-9FE7-86CA22311C47.
SANIBEL AUDIT COMMITTEE
The council approved a resolution appointing the following residents to serve on the Sanibel Audit Committee: Doug Congress and Kacie Vivo as voting members, and John Raho as an alternate member. Additional applicants included: Teresa Ressel, Steven Schulz and Miles Sweiss.
At last month’s meeting, the council approved a resolution creating the committee. It is charged with selecting an external auditing firm to complete the city’s financial audits. As required by Florida Statutes, the committee will be chaired by a member of the council; the council selected Vice Mayor Mike Miller. The committee will dissolve once an external auditor has been selected and approved.
To view the timeline for the committee, visit https://mysanibel.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11822035&GUID=39DE1390-FB9E-42A8-984C-3BDFAA0A4DB3.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
The council held the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s Code to allow the mayor (by proclamation) or the council (by resolution) to allow, or further regulate, the use of temporary signs when the city has declared a state of local emergency following a natural or manmade disaster. The second and final reading is scheduled for May 2.
To read the full ordinance, visit https://mysanibel.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11882782&GUID=FCC30878-C92C-4FF4-9FBB-C3B8F964B273.
BELOW MARKET RATE HOUSING
The council held the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s Code to allow tenants of below market rate housing (BMRH) who are displaced from their housing units due to a natural or manmade disaster the right to reoccupy their repaired unit or a similar vacant unit without needing to re-qualify for the below market rate housing program. The second and final reading is scheduled for May 2.
To read the full ordinance, visit https://mysanibel.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11744052&GUID=E3BF462E-9C7C-4DF3-8A90-7D2B1E3F3FBF.
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT
The council discussed possible amendments to multiple chapters of the city’s Code that would eliminate existing disincentives to mixed use development projects. The draft ordinance may include new incentives for mixed use projects that create new affordable or work force housing units. After discussion, the council provided staff with direction for additional amendments to the draft. The council will review the revised draft at the May 2 meeting.
PERSONNEL LONGEVITY AWARDS
The council recognized the following city staffers for their years of service:
– Bradley Gloer, Information Technology Department, 15 years
– Cpl. Nicholas Hubatch, Sanibel Police Department, 10 years
– Ella Bell, Public Works Department, 10 years
– Samuel Halverson, Public Works Department, five years
– Michele Herman, Recreation Department, five years
– David Imhoff, Public Works-Utilities Department, five years
CITY PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Richard Johnson led the discussion for the following that the council approved:
– April 9-15 proclaimed as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
– April 10 proclaimed as Gopher Tortoise Day
– April 30 through May 6 proclaimed as Professional Municipal Clerks Week