1 Lanigcapft Design • Installation • Maintenance • Tree Work
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4: Jim Sprankle Week of February 19-25, 2004 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 31, NUMBER 8, 28 PAGES 75 CENTS Council discusses vegetation ordinance for six hours proposed changes — matrix, because it By Michae! Hannan compared existing code with proposed Staff Writer changes. He broke "vegetation'" up into three categories: trees, shrubs, and ground Most of Tuesday's City Council meet- cover. He said with the exception of dunes, ing was devoted to the proposed new vege- the vegetation ratio should 75 percent tation ordinances. Rob Loflin Director of native to 25 percent exotic, but could not Natural Resources: Bruce Rogers. Director included eight species of invasive exotics, of ihe Planning Department: and Jatnes such as Brazilian pepper and Melaieuca. Evans, Environmental Planner first pre- Dune vegetation, he said had to be 100 per- sented the rationale for the proposed ordi- cent native. He defined "dune vegetation'' nances, then went through them point by as that forward of the CCCL, a line mapped point, and finally fielded questions from by the stale based on flood lines and eleva- Council members and from the public. tion. Rob Loflin led off saying that the pro- The proposed ordinances would trigger posed changes are to ensure the protection immediate compliance with the 75-25 per- of our native plants because from the foun- cent native-exotic (but not "invasive exot- dation of the City. vSanibel wanted to pro- ic") ratio, said Rogers, only under three tect our natural resources of this unique circumstances: new development,(building barrier island, which is the northernmost on a vacant lot), redevelopment (a I ear- West Indian hammock isiand and a place down replacement), or "substantial that has an amalgam of plants unlike any Photo by lienny Severance improvement to an existing building (more other place on Earth. He added that native The Sanibe! City Council debated amendments to vegetation ordinances for much of than 50 percent of market value). plants require less water and less fertilizer Tuesday's meeting before taking up setting a date for a referendum. One of the proposals that caused some and provide a natural habitat for the course of 13 years, striven to get rid of loop he said zoning protects property. See VEGETATION island's wildlife. Additionally, he said that holes and clarify the codes, keeping them Bruce Rogers, then took the Council page 2 the Vegetation Committee has, over the consistent with the Sanibel Plan. Finally, and audience through the "matrix'" of the Chamber AfterHours gets off-island visitor Bridge referendum delayed By Renny Severance among the members, introducing him- Executive Editor self and managing to chat with nearly By Michae! Hannan everyone present before making a few Staff Writer The monthly AfterHours for the remarks during the brief business por- Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of tion of the gathering. Another important issue discussed at Tuesday's Commerce was held on Monday, Feb. He especially wanted to thank the Council meeting was the scheduling of the referendum 16 on the well-tended grounds of islands community for its financial that would determine the bridge preference of the Green Earth Landscape on the San- "support of the fledgling institution, Island's voters and, by means of an amendment to ihe Cap Road. noting that FGCU's growth has been city charter, would require the city to sue the county if With music for the ears supplied by heartwarming and has actually that preference were not followed. First, however, there the Troublestarters and music for the exceeded expectations in some was some discussion about complicated legal matters tongue provided by Island Cow, respects. that centered on the subject of retroactive legislation per- Chamber members circulated on the He commented on the school's ath- taining to the chronological order of the events. lawn of the host member chatting and letic achievements and participation in City Attorney Ken Cuyler, reported that, while he had enjoying the coo! clear weather of the some NCAA events, and pointed with read some 60 to 70 cases, he found none that were on evening. pride to the growing number of gradu- point for this issue, and that he believed that any litiga- A surprise guest in the person of ates each year and their scholastic tion based on retroactive legislation would be judged on Dr. William C. Merwin, president of accomplishments as well. an individual basis. Florida Gulf Coast University was None of this would be possible Having heard that opinion. Council then set about invited by Executive Director Steve without extraordinary support from scheduling the referendum for the bridge vote. First Grecnstein. Dr. Merwin circulated the area's communities he said. Council considered the two options, which included a "special election," one requiring 120-day prior notice to the Commissioner of Elections, or the next '"general elec- tion." *'&? Some discussion followed as to what constituted a lira IT Foam "general election." The consensus was that a •"primary"' would not fall into that category, but the question arose • l.i • II ;^ pdge 6 Forum speaker It's time for Community as to whether the definition of "general election'" is spe- • IV.IIVWIIAI page 9 looks at U.S. Mardi Gras Foundation to cific to Sanibel or would include the general election in strategy in again give away $77K November. • SIXIRIS page 1J Middle East Councilman Walsh urged a mail-ballot special elec- • Ri \i ES'IMI page 14 tion as soon as possible (120 days after notice). Councilmen Harrity and Jennings wanted to wait. • D.-Yihu\i: page 16 Judith Kipper suggest Mike Hannan takes a Foundation to make grants to local non-profit During public comment, Sanibel resident, Claudia U.S. pursue a tactic of look at some New Burns, argued that the referendum would reinforce the • OniiuARicb page 18 "soft power." Orleans traditions and institutions this vear. history Council's work and demonstrate that the citizens of • TV LISTING?) page 19 See REFERENDUM • CLASSIFIEDS page 23 — See page 5 — See page 7 See page 11 page 3 -1 LANIgCAPft Design • Installation • Maintenance • Tree Work s.milnl ( jpii\a Kd I'honc 1 >11 4", 1 I '1 0 l Isi.uul 1 I 28 YEARS BEAUTIFYING SANIBEL & CAPTIVA 2 Q Week of February 19-25, 2004 • ISLAND REPORTER CITY • COUNTY • STATE work with him on such a list, but also pointed out that exotics in Florida num- AROUND THE COUNTY bered more than 26,000 species. VEGETATION Sonya Smith and Linda Naton, both County continues record permitting pace primarily for Justice System expansion. From page 1 representing CASI, suggested that condo Lee County's Department of Com- The county hopes to receive approval in dwellers represented a special case. They munity Development issued 547 single- the next month from the City of Fort wanted exemption for clearing exotic veg- family home permits in January, only the Myers to vacate Heitman between Dr. concern was one which would apply the etation for small replacement/repairs and a second time ever the county has issued Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 75-25 ratio separately to each side of the clearer definition of when permits would more than 500 permits in a single month. Main Street for future growth of the property rather than to the entire property be required. In August, the county issued 571 permits. Justice Center if needed. The county esti- as a whole. Landscaper Bob Walsh (no Rob Jess, Ding Darling Refuge The mark continues the record pace for mates it saved millions of dollars by buy- relation to Councilman Walsh) said that Manager, said that habitat and wildlife permitting, set in 2003 when the county ing an existing building instead of con- people generally want their exotics, by would suffer if Council compromises the issued $2 billion in permits -— a $500- structing a new facility. which he meant non-invasive exotics such proposal. He gave kudos to Loflin. Rogers, million increase from 2002. as hibiscus, in the front of their property. and Evans, saying their work now closely Tri-County Meeting Requiring an equal distribution on each parallels federal and state regulations. He Road Paving Project Saves Money The County Commissions of Lee. side might in fact result in owners watering also reminded Council that this is a sanctu- The county recently saved $523,000 by Collier and Charlotte counties will meet more than they would have to if the exotics ary island and that exotic vegetation on pri- using a new road paving technique for the in a joint workshop Feb. 17 to discuss were concentrated in one area. Council and vate land can be dispersed by wind and resurfacing of Stringfellow Road on Pine issues of mutual concern and cooperation. staff agreed and were ready with a revision birds to public lands where the exotics will Island. "Hot in Place Paving" mills The meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that would focus on the entire property. have to be removed with public funds. (scrapes) off two inches of existing at the Lee County Port Authority's There seemed to be a lot of confusion Erick Lindblad, speaking for the asphalt, adds rejuvenating oil, as neces- Training and Conference Center (where with regard to just who would be affected Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation sary, and re-lays that asphalt-as it goes in the Board of Port Commissioners meets). and under whal conditions. One area of Board also urged the passing of the pro- a chain of three or four pieces of equip- Southwest Florida International Airport, confusion was vegetation buffers and posal. ment followed by rollers.