BIG ARTS Won't Expand Party Role Or Serve Alcohol
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i*s*&&&A& VOLUME 32. NUMBER 45 WEEK OF JANUARY 4, 2007 Giants in the Storml BIG ARTS won't expand party role or serve alcohol Author Mark Renz leads Audubon's It's beer and wine only at BIG ARTS functions 2007 lecture By EMILIE ALFINO assured council members. "You'll series dis- "It seems to me the lease is functioning well. I ealfino @ breezenevvspapers.com never see another request from a cussing his renter trying to serve hard liquor." think the partnership is working well." book on fossils and Florida Groups looking to plan a party with a full bar will not have BIG In addition to council's concern — Mayor CarSa Johnston ARTS' facilities on their short list of about serving alcohol on city prop- 7 possible locations. This fall, after erty, some members were afraid an reviewing a civic group's request to increasing number of functions held serve alcohol during a Christmas at BIG ARTS might represent unfair functions for about $100 to $200, be in the food catering business." Mew party at BIG ARTS, Sanibel City competition with island businesses. money Ketteman said represents He went on to say that BIG Council asked the nonprofit agency BIG ARTS rents its Dunlop Road only about one half of one percent ARTS refers renters with catering committee to define the parameters of its rental facility from the city pursuant to a of the agency's revenue. needs to island businesses, and the starts policy. Part of the policy BIG 30-year lease that expires in 2024. "We are not in the business of rental policy the board passed in ARTS' board of directors approved They pay no rent for the converted renting our facilities to others to November states this specifically. A/ork in November and presented to coun- duplex building, multi-purpose make a profit. That's not how we Councilman Steve Brown said it Sanibel's new cil members Tuesday allows "only a gallery and lecture hall, but are think of ourselves," Ketteman said. seemed like an increasing number of 1 Medical tasting of wine and/or beer" with responsible for maintenance and "We rent our facilities to communi- requests for special events or to Advisory Committee launch- refreshments. repairs inside the structures and for ty organizations, other nonprofits, serve liquor at BIG ARTS had been es query into red tide and Charles Ketteman, BIG ARTS liability insurance. and members of our organization coming before city council. "We algae problems. board president, said last fall's The city maintains the landscap- solely as an accommodation — to don't want this stuff to be brought to request and the questions it prompt- ing and parking lot, pays the utili- be a good neighbor, recognizing we council," he said. "I'd just as soon ed from city council clarified BIG ties, and carries the insurance for have kind of unique facilities on the we never have to give another per- ARTS' thinking. "We now will not hurricane and wind damage. island. We're not in the food cater- allow hard liquor," Ketteman About four times a year, BIG ing business, and we don't want to See BIG ARTS, page 2 The ARTS rents its facilities for outside Reporter wants your Commercial zoning goes news Scholarships awarded before council Jan. 16 Post to the vir-K tual City authorizes RFP for professional newsroom: to plan Town Center District breezenewspapers.com By EMILIE ALFINO easf'no'i'breezenpwspapers.corn Sanibel City Council will conduct a second pub- Answer me this... lic hearing Jan. Take part in our 16 before vot- "This was online poll. ing on an ordi- This week's ques- nance to brought tion is: amend forward to v'vii! tourism contin- Sanibel's com- help small local ue to De the major mercial zon- businesses, not industry in our area ing. City coun- to hurt them." in 2007? cil will review the recommen- Answer online at dations of both Steve Brown island-reporter.com and see the Planning anrnei City Council what others have said. Department and the planning com- mission, which differ. Sea" Turtles See ZONING, page 3 Bev Ball is retir-J ing after 10 SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER Council honors outgoing years with the DDWS President Jim Sprankle, Honey Archey, Amanda Brink, Jessica island's turtle Wheeler, Bethany Highsmith, and Tarpon Bay Explorers owner Winston planning commissioners monitoring program. Get the Spurgeon. full story in this week's By EMILIE ALFINO ISLANDER. DDWS and Tarpon Bay Explorers give four scholarships ealfino @ brsezanswspapers.com Sanibel City Recently, the "Ding" Darling Wildlife at New College and a summer intern at the Council presented Every issue Society (DDWS) Environmental refuge. outgoing Planning "| think Gardening 4 Education Committee, and Tarpon Bay "Congratulations ard we hope to see Commission you're in good Explorers completed its review of applica- these scholarships put to good use to ben- Chairman Jack Community Calender .... 8 tions from Lee County students and efit the environment," Winston Spurgeon Samler and long- hands with the new Sports 10 bestowed a late holiday gift to four local said, owner of Tarpon Bay Explorers, the time commission students who will receive a $1,000 a piece official recreation concession for Sanibel's member and appointees." Police Beat 11 in scholarship money. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife island volunteer Deaths 11 Winners included Honey Archey, a Refuge, donated $2,000 for two $1,000 John Veenschoten Environmental Studies scholarships last with proclama- — Jack Samler Classified Ads 12 third-year student at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in environmental September. tions and memen- Weather Map 15 studies; Amanda Brink, a senior at Fort DDWS, is a non-profit, friends-of-the tos of Luc Century glass at a special reception Tuesday. Both men Word on the Island 15 Myers High School who will be majoring refuge organization that supports the in biology; Bethany Highsmith, a second- Education Center, "Ding" Darling Days, received standing ovations from the big crowd in MacKenzie Hall, and for Veenschoten, the island-reporter.com year biology student at New College of and other educational programs at the Florida in Sarasota; and Jessica Wheeler, a Hammerheads jumped up and cheered. This newspaper is second-year environmental science student o printed on recycled paper See SCHOLARSHIPS, page 2 See HONORS, page 2 ENJOY ISLAND LIFE "> 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. One of the Ton free 800.2J3.8829 jtfeest Old Style Florida homes in Main Office 239472.15*1 Re At. ESTATE Captiva Village, split floor plan, Causeway Over 50 Years of Real newer pool & enclosure. Short Captiva 239,472.5154 stroll to beach, shops & Stimmeriift Road 239,466,5533 LealEstate.com restaurants $1,495,000 Fort Myers Beach 57 Sanibel, Fi 33957 Kim Herre* 239.472.5154 BIG ARTS from page 1 from page 1 u 1 LOGO © BIG ARTS EM1L1E ALFINO H Mayor Carla Johnston presents the city council's o mit to BIG ARTS." this conversation, but we should move on." honors to outgoing planning commissioners, Ketteman agreed. "I do think it's kind of crazy to take Ketteman then asked city council for what he called "a Jack Samler (left) and John Veenschoten (right). this kind of time on a $200 lease for an evening where 50 favor." He asked to have a workshop with council members people show up," he said. "It's kind of crazy for you guys to and anyone else they deemed appropriate to talk about BIG Samler joined the planning commission in May of be dealing with that." ARTS' role and future programming plans. 1999 and ascended to the chairmanship in 2005. Councilman Tom Rothman, who was the first to raise his "While we may represent a substantial part of the com- Veenschoten, the body's longest-serving commissioner concern about BIG ARTS competing with island business- munity, we don't represent the entire community," having been appointed in March 1995, is also known for es, suggested the organization might consider increasing its Ketteman said. "We need input, anjd one of the groups I his service with the Hammerheads. rental fee to a rate more comparable to that of other busi- would love to get input from is you. We're looking for Samler joked that he wouldn't miss the planning com- nesses, "because the fact is that you have a competitive advice. You all think more about the next five years than any mission work but would miss the council members and advantage in that you don't pay any rent to the city." other five people on the island." city staff. "They're exemplary," he said. "We can be proud After hearing Ketteman's presentation, Rothman decided But if council takes on this role with BIG ARTS, what of them." He also thanked his fellow planning commis- it was not a matter of great concern unless BIG ARTS about the Sanibel Community Association, the Shell sioners by name and said, "I think you're in good hands expands. "Then it would become a real concern," he said. Museum, C.R.O.W., and others? "I don't think the city is in with the new appointees." City council named Les Forney Mayor Carla Johnston did not see it as a big issue. "It a position to start working with one group," Brown said. So and David Berger to fill the vacant seats on the planning seems to me the lease is functioning well. I think the part- Ketteman suggested the topic for the workshop could be commission. "I have enjoyed it," Samler concluded.