City council picks leaders and seats new member
The Sanibel City Council selected the mayor and vice mayor for the year at its recent meeting, as well as bid an early farewell to an interim appointee on the dais and swore in a new council member.
On April 2, Councilmember Holly Smith nominated Mayor Richard Johnson to retain his position.
No other nominations were put forward and he was elected unanimously 5-0.
Johnson thanked his fellow council members.
“It has been both a pleasure and an honor to provide a leadership role in this team of leaders for this past year, and I appreciate the opportunity to continue it again for the coming year,” he said. “We’ve come a long way in the last 18 months. We still have a ways to go, but I’m optimistic about where we are today and where we will be in the future over the next 12 months.”
Next up, Smith nominated Vice Mayor Mike Miller to also retain his position.
No other nominations were put forward and he was elected 5-0.
“I’m honored to serve with this council and for this community, so thank you,” Miller said.
Also during the meeting, the council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution declaring Laura DeBruce as council member-elect. As the only candidate to qualify for the city’s Special Election in May, she was elected unopposed. The resolution also canceled the election and DeBruce was to be seated in June.
However, Councilmember Arlene Dillon asked that the council consider seating DeBruce sooner.
Dillon was selected by the council in February to take up the seat of former City Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater, who had resigned. It was an interim appointment to allow for the election to be held.
Dillon explained that it has been an honor and a pleasure working with the council as an interim member, but she would like to see DeBruce sworn in at the meeting so she could get to work.
“So that she can officially be the new city council member,” Dillon said.
Before the close of the meeting, the council voted 5-0 on a resolution that terminated Dillon’s interim term and commenced DeBruce’s term. Next, DeBruce was sworn in by staff and seated at the dais.
She will serve out the remainder of Crater’s term through March.
IN OTHER NEWS
– The council held a public hearing on the Phase 4B Sewer Assessment and voted 4-0 to approve two resolutions related to the project, which includes certain properties in the Sanibel Gardens and in the Winterbotham area and on Tamarind Road, Ferry Road and Middle Gulf Drive. The first resolution determined the propriety and advisability of establishing and implementing the assessment district for the project, and the second resolution equalized and approved a special assessment for the district.
Smith recused herself from voting as she owns property in the project area.
– The council voted 5-0 to express its intent to enter into a ground lease agreement or development agreement for a term not less than 30 years for developing mixed-use with affordable housing on three city-owned parcels at 2401 and 2431 Library Way and on Periwinkle Way and to direct staff to begin discussions with Community Housing & Resources to develop the lease or development agreement.
– The council voted 5-0 to approve a proposal from Kimley-Horn in the amount of $164,465 for an intersection evaluation and study for intersections on Periwinkle Way, Lindgren Boulevard and Causeway Boulevard.
– The council conducted its annual performance evaluation for City Manager Dana Souza.
Administrative Services Director Crystal Mansell reported that his last review resulted in an 8% increase to about $219,240, which reflected the same raise for general employees. They received a 5% increase for 2024, and Souza previously said he does not want a bigger raise than what staff gets.
She provided the following salaries of area city managers for comparison:
—- Cape Coral: $285,000
—- Naples: $283,500
—- Fort Myers: About $256,330
—- Marco Island: About $210,081
—- Bonita Springs: $205,000
The council voted 5-0 to approve an 8% increase and salary of about $236,779 for Souza.
– The council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution for a $1 million grant between the city and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to construct an elevated and storm resilient Sanibel Police Department building.
– The council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution for a $750,000 grant between the city and Florida Department of Transportation for the design of a resilient bridge to replace the East Periwinkle Bridge.
– The council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution on milestone inspections that updates the Land Development Code and amends the buildings and building regulations to create a new mandatory inspection of aging condominium and cooperative buildings that addresses inspection, reporting, repairs, enforcement and penalties.
– The council held the first reading for an ordinance that would amend the Code related to housing standards and policies for the Below Market Rate Housing program. The second reading is set for May 7.
– Building Director Craig Mole’ gave a presentation on the city’s new Flood Plain Management Software, which will launch online in mid-April.
– The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club and Captiva Civic Association Foundation presented sponsorship checks in the amount of $12,000 and $3,000, respectively, to support the Recreation Department’s Summer Camp Programming.
– The council recognized April 10 as Gopher Tortoise Day through a proclamation.
– The council recognized through a proclamation the Sanibel Police Department’s dispatchers and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
– The council recognized through a proclamation the 50th anniversary of the Children’s Education Center of the Islands.