nd flR1 PORT Week of Sept. 6-12,2001 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 35, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS City to offer News Briefs Sanibet to study Causeway buy Bunchc Beach is ofiicial- ly in the hands ol the By Pete Bishop county and piotected as News editor Zimomra environmentally sensitive land. At Councilmember Steve Biown's request, the Sanibel City —See page 2 Council agreed unanimously manager job Tuesday to hire former City Attorney Bob Pritt to investigate By Pete Bishop Under review the feasibility of a lease purchase News editor Sambel City Council of the Sanibel Causeway. Pritt cur- votes to send the pioela- rently is with Roetzel and Andress The Sanibel City Council on malion appiovmg the LPA in Fort Myers. Tuesday named Judith Ann city's endoiscmcnt ol" the "Since I've been on council, the Zimomra as its top Earth Chattel document two most important things we've choice for back to the Shaied Vision dealt with are looking tor a city SanibePs next city Eaith Chartei Conimitlee manager and the causeway," said manager, selecting for fuither study. Blown. "This is, in my mind, our her over four other last oppoitunity. We have to con- candidates who also interviewed —- See page 3 trol oin own destiny. It not we'll Michael Pistella have a fixed span . We need to for the position Some say that even the Sanibel Drawbridge could be last week. stop everything right now and rebuilt if the city does not buy the Causeway. have control of the bridge. Zimomra has Zimomra Officer awarded Rehabilitate but not rebuild." precipitated by county plans to has sent plans to rebuild the mid- been Cleveland, The city's latest investigation rebuild at least one of the struc- die bridge to the U.S. Coast Part-time Sambel Police ture's fixed bridges. The county t> See Manager Ofhcet Jell Santclla wins into buying the causeway has been page 3 a Law Entoicemenl p> See Causeway, page 2 Ti diner of the Yeai awaid. —See page 4 Referendum on commercial property set for November By Pete Bishop the two parcels in July, but Pavelka the city should purchase the signed contract by Sept. 18, on News editor rejected that offer last month. acreage using a bond or other form voter approval and on a closing Talking tourism According to Pavelka, a recent of indebtedness at a market rate of date in January, among other fac- The Sanibel City Council appraisal contracted by Sanibel interest and for a period of time of tors. If the city finalizes the pur- Tourism soothsayer Dr. passed a resolution Tuesday call- no longer than 30 years. Although chase by Dec. 28, it will receive a Walter Klagcs will be the Land Company placed the land's ing for a Nov. 6 referendum con- the city recently applied for a featuied speakei at the value at $6.25 million. An appraisal discounted price. Chambei of Commeice cerning the city's purchase of 8.61 contracted by the city last February grant from Florida Communities Pavelka also wants the deal to be Box Lunch Tuesday. acres of commercially zoned prop- set the value at $4.9 million. Trust, the referendum would make contingent on the approval of a erty lining the north side of "We've agreed on some negoti- the sale possible even if the city major subdivision application he Periwinkle Way near the Bailey does not obtain outside funds for —See page 8 ating points, but there are a couple has filed with the planning depart- Road intersection. Interim City that we need to go over and refine," the purchase. ment, which would separate the Manager Sam Ackley and Sanibel said Ackley, pointing out that there "We may get funded this time, commercial property from the rest Land Company Ltd. representa- are 11 terms that still must be nego- we may get funded next time, or not of the 44-acre parcel of land. The tive Ray Pavelka have tentatively tiated before both sides can agree. at all," said Ackley. "But we have a subdivision would help make plans agreed to a price of $5,621 million Ackley said he is unsure about at reasonable chance ... By taking to relocate and expand the Sanibel Here's trouble for the land, but the two sides are least two of those terms. this to referendum, we can purchase still negotiating. The referendum will ask despite a grant or funding." t> See Property Captiva's Troublestarters The city offered $4.5 million for Sanibel citizens to decide whether The purchase is contingent on a page 2 band marks Labor Day with a CD release party at the American Legion. —See page 10 First members Planning staff about to start named to parks, island Gardening Ron Sympson supplies rec committee work on two more projects readers with plenty of By Pete Bishop hints about how to put a News editor By Pete Bishop to talk about. Commissioners stat- blaze of color in your News editor ed that they needed direction from flower beds this winter. Mine Sanibel residents haw council so they could resume been named as the first niem- The Sanibel City Council autho- work on larger projects. —Seepage 11 bers of the city's new Parks and rized two more priorities for plan- The council also decided Aug. Recreation Committee and will ning department staff to work on 21 that a joint meeting with com- begin to study the recreational during Tuesday's meeting, adding missioners should be held during needs of islanders soon. resort housing regulations and October to discuss goals, and that Members appointed by city accessory beach equipment regula- a study of the department's effi- council Tuesday are Jean Baer, tions to the big house problem. ciency and needs is needed. The •ENVIRONMENT. -.page 5-7 Armand Ball, Scott ConWay, At the Sanibel Planning council asked Planning Director Steve Faraone, Trisha-Lynn Commission's request, the council Brace Rogers to provide a pipeline • BUSINESS ..page 8 authorized the department to start report of all the projects the Herman, Dick Muench, Steve Michael Pistella Mullins, Dave Owens and working on a way to limit the pre- department is handling, and where • OPINION ... .page 9 Patricia Waters. ponderance of bigger and bigger those projects stand now, Rewriting of the city's The new members should houses appearing around the In Rogers' report, which he pre- special events ordinance, •LOOKING BACK .page 9 island during their last meeting sented to council Tuesday, the plan- which deals with such have their hands full. Since City things as this weekend's Councilmember Marty Harrity Aug. 21. The planning commis- ning director recommended council sion had asked the council to Labor Day sidewalk sales, *DArEUNE...~..~™™.,.page 12 proposed the new committee in authorize work on clarifying the will have to wait while authorize the work after their sec- Planning Department staff * TV US riNGS™..™«.page 16 $> See Committee ond consecutive legislative meet- t> See Planning works on other projects. page 15 ing occurred with no agenda items page 3 * CtASSIFlEDS page 20 2 • Week of Sept. 6-12, 2001 • ISLAND REPORTER Newi Brief! County closes on $6.38 million Bunche Beach deal One of the region's most significant cost of the purchase early next year, after Ackley has released a preliminary budget Advisory Committee combines the large tracts of environmentally sensitive a public hearing process concerning plans for next fiscal year and the City Council Zoning and Development Standards land is now officially m public hands after to expand J.N. "Ding" Darling Refuge will hold a budget workshop this Ordinance Task Forces into one advisory Lee County closed Aug. 30 on the pur- boundaries is complete. Once Fish and Saturday. committee. Committee members will be chase of Bunche Beach for $6.38 million. Wildlife makes its contribution, the ser- The workshop will be held in responsible for advising county commis- The 730-acre parcel fronting Estero vice and Lee County will work on an MacKenzie Hall and starts at 9 a.m. sioners on amendments to the Land Bay and the Gulf of Mexico is located agreement concerning removal of exotic On Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 5:01 p.m. the Development Code on an annual basis. south of Summerlin to either side of John vegetation and management of the land. council has scheduled a public hearing for "Dick Downes' experience and knowl- Morris Road. The Board of Lee County The land was purchased from approval of the budget. edge on planning issues, which comes Commissioners unanimously approved Summerlin Sands Limited Partnership, from serving on the city of Sanibel's the purchase Aug. 14. which at one time sought to develop the Commissioner Coy to speak planning commission, will make him a The purchase is expected to help alle- property. The land was at the center of a valuable asset on this committee," said viate stress from barrier island beaches by development rights battle in the 1970s that at Republican Club meeting Janes. "Dick was the first name that came providing a public beach and passive went all the way to the Supreme Court. Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy to mind when I started looking for a recreation opportunities for Lee County The Bunche Beach parcel is the third will speak at the Sanibel-Captiva replacement to a recent vacancy on this residents and tourists. largest tract of land purchased through Republican Club's September meeting committee." At the same time, the land will serve as Conservation 2020. In December, the tonight starting at 7:30.