Sanibel city manager addresses CASI breakfast
Over 100 condominium board members, owners, and guests gathered at The Sanctuary Clubhouse to hear City Manager Judie Zimomra and her staff at the January breakfast meeting for the Condominium Associations of Sanibel, Inc.
East end properties were delighted to learn that construction of the cell tower on Donax is scheduled to begin in early February and be completed in eight weeks. A final pre-construction meeting occurred on Jan. 20 between Verizon and the city. Verizon is waiting for permits from regulatory agencies but does not anticipate a delay. The primary contractor must allow other carriers space on the tower for transmission. CASI has appointed a cell tower committee headed by Sharon Murphy, president of Loggerhead Cay.
To substantially improve wifi and cell phone reception throughout the island and stay in step with evolving technology in the future, city staff will be meeting with a telecommunications expert who will help them anticipate needed ordinances and projects.
The city manager reported that the city saw an opportunity to create a “town center” as envisioned in the Sanibel Plan when BIG ARTS, the Center4Life (Senior Center), and the Community Association were all separately discussing expansion plans. The mayor invited those groups to get together, in a series of public meetings, to explore the possibility of somehow sharing resources and space in the vicinity of City Hall, the Historical Village and the Library to create a “civic core”, a heart-of-the-island campus for community events and gatherings. The stakeholders are about 85 percent in agreement. When they reach more substantial agreement on a concept, a preliminary plan will be developed and presented to the public for comment and fine tuning. Whether this project will come to fruition will be determined by island voters through a referendum.
Holly Millbrandt, acting director of Natural Resources, reported that there were 134 days last summer when rainfall reached a threshold where ecological harm was possible. To address the problem the mayor and DNR Director James Evans have been working with local, regional, state and federal agencies and policymakers, visiting Tallahassee, Washington, D.C. and interested groups across the state. Most solutions are long term but petitions for funding at the state and federal levels are immediate. To be successful, these water quality initiatives need the attention and support of island property owners.
Milbrandt asked properties to review their trim permits annually to make sure they are taking full advantage of allowable trimming to preserve views and contain long term costs.
Planning Director Jimmy Jordan reviewed the ways condominiums are able to rehabilitate and redevelop because of the city’s Build Back and Resort Redevelopment ordinances. He encouraged properties to register, at no cost, for build back. Properties may choose what to put in their registration file. Surveys, property appraisals, and photographs are are often submitted. Jordan brought copies of the registration form to the meeting and noted that these forms are also available on the city website at mysanibel.com/Departments/Planning/Forms.
At this meeting, the city manager made the first public announcement that Sanibel has been ranked the fourth safest city in Florida, out of 202 cities ranked. Police Chief Bill Tomlinson noted that despite such good news, crime was up 30 percent in the past year primarily due to break-ins at condominium units and in cars on condominium lots. He estimated that in 95 percent of the cases, the units or cars were left unlocked. The chief urged associations to continue to instruct residents and guests to lock up. He noted that Sanibel Arms West installed cameras on their buildings which may discourage theft and also may help catch the thief.
Several associations reported that some of the dark skies standards are creating safety and security issues on their properties. The extent to which light must be shielded and directed fails to adequately illuminate some public stairwells, walkways, and common areas. Properties which serve vacationing guests and an aging population must provide safe passageways and secure public spaces. The city manager noted that the ordinance was adopted more than 14 years ago to reduce light pollution into night skies. At the time the ordinance was adopted, a 15-year grace period was granted with the expectation that most properties would redevelop during that grace period. The economic downturn in the last eight years has postponed such redevelopment. She encouraged properties with a particular problem to address Council. CASI members hope to address this issue at the Feb. 4 Sanibel City Council meeting.
Mark Magnotti of Sanibel Seaview asked whether the build-up of sand and beach at properties could provide benefits such as increased permeable area. The city manager encouraged property owners with such situations to contact the city attorney. Because beaches erode and accrete throughout Florida, there is case law governing these occurrences.
This CASI breakfast was sponsored by American Gallery Homes of Sanibel. Founder Ken Colter has been serving the island since 1979. CASI members have found his condominium and home renovations a great value and his workmanship meticulous. Ken’s phone number is 851-1357.
The next CASI breakfast will be Friday, Feb. 21. Joseph Adams of Becker & Poliakoff will respond to questions from CASI members. Steve Mackesy of Island Management will address changes the state has made that will affect swimming pool management.