". •' •- * * u>. , : •' l'- . •- :• i • 111 ,ir , ' t * ,* »" J ; REPORTER Week of July 12-18, 2001 SANIBEL&CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 27, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS FUN ON THE FOURTH City briefs City taxes may go up Sanibcl Planning Commission has lccom- .Although the decision is pre- mcnded that the City Property values up Council make changes to liminary, the vote indicates coun- the ecological /one map to more than 18 percent cil members may abandon the allow a home to be lebuilt roll-back rate for the first time in on Woodnng Road. but roll-back rate almost a decade. abandoned for now The roll-back rate is an adjust- —See page 2 ment in millage that ensures resi- • Where island property taxes dents' property taxes do not auto- go. See page 2 matically increase along with ris- More lawsuits ing property values. Sambel has By Pete Bishop retained the roll back rate each of The city oi Sanibel faces Staff writer the last nine years This year's two lawsuits, one (torn a rolled back millage would be 1.46 foimei iesident and anothet Michael Pistella In a 4-1 vote, the Sanibel City rather than the 1.7291 rate tenta- fiom a visitoi from New tively adopted. Yoik Sanibel City Councilmember Marty Harrity reaches Council decided July 3 to retain last year's millage rate until con- The county property appraiser —Sec page 3 over fellow Councilmember Judy Workman in an attempt to fight water with water by getting Dick sideration of the city budget is completed in September. t> See Taxes Funds at risk Muench and Dave Owens with a borrowed water gun. page 2 Sanibel City Council decides to amend a joint lesolution concerning the city's shaie oi fedeial Council close to choosing city manager •ifioidiihlo housing funds By Pete Bishop Wednesday to discuss the intei- H Bonnie Kraft. Cunently the Staunton, Va in 2000 m ordei to —See page 3 Staff writer views. city managei, Kialt has woiked move to Honda and eilhei puisue More properties The candidates selected loi Gresruim, Oic since 1979, a second caieei oi continue his Sanibel City Council members H Michael Copp Copp has including expenence as the city's public administiation caieei with Si\ moie ptopetties have mteiviewed six applicants lor the been city managei ol Glenwood tieasuiei, hnance dnecloi and new and diriment challenges, he been added to the city's peimanent city managei Spiings, Colo, a mountain lesoit duectoi of management seivices, wiote in his covci letter. Miuphy Envnonmeiually Sensitive position during the past two weeks town midway between Aspen and Gresham has grown from a popu- currently lives in Onnond Beach, Lands Distuct and selected three finalists during Vail since 1984. He has also served lation of 10,000 in 1979 to moie Fla. and lists as his strengths expe- - -See page 3 a meeting Wednesday afternoon. as city administrator in Elkhorn, than 90,000, becoming the fourth rience, consensus building, inter- Selected where Michael Copp Wise, and Tracy, Minn. Among the largest city m the state. personal skills and nsk taking, Bird at Jerry's stolen ol Glenwood Springs, Colo., strengths Copp lists on his resume Kraft wrote she has taken the Murphy has also served as city A white umbiella cockatoo Bonme Kraft of Sandy, Ore,, and is the ability to work with various city from severe budgetary prob- manager of Oimond Beach and named Willie was stolen foimer Sanibel City Manager groups and all employees. lems to strong financial condition, Auburn, Maine, as town manager horn Jeny'.s courtyaid ovci Beinie Murphy, now living in Copp's accomplishments created a strategic planning in Acton, Mass, and as deputy city the weekend. Other police Ormond Beach, Fla. include increasing revenues for piocess for the city and developed manager in Gainesville. Murphy is blottei news. Interviews with the remaining Glenwood Springs through a bed an inventory of 746 acres of open a past director of the Florida City six candidates occurred last tax increase, a sales tax increase space and 300 acres of parks. and County Management —See page 16 Thursday, Friday and this past and annexation At the same time, • Bernie Murphy. The former Association. Wednesday. The council set a Copp wrote, he lowered the city's Sanibel city manager resigned The council intends to make a worksession for 1:30 p.m. millage levy by 15 percent. from his last job as city manager of final selection by July 31. ON THE LOOK OUT Mango fever Looking for resolutions Staff writer Dawn dcBoer tiavels to Pine Island to will also begin to investigate buy- learn all about mangos dui- City will investigate ing the causeway. mg this past weekend's "I see this as a 'can do,'" said MangoManm Festival buying the causeway Brown of the prospect of a cause- By Pete Bishop way purchase. "I plan to pursue —See page 7 Staff writer this all the way. Of comse it's not going to be easy, but if set as a Sanibel City Attorney Doug goal, we can do it." Wyckoff has forwarded a resolu- Although Brown made a tion asking the Lee Board of motion to proceed with steps nec- County Commissioners (BOCC) essary to purchase the structure BIRD WATCH to participate in a conflict resolu- during the council meeting July 3, — This red- Island Gardening shouldered tion process concerning the coun- he agreed to withdraw the motion hawk spent Ripped off for queen palms? ty's plan to rebuild parts of the some time Ron Sympson answers that causeway. At City Councilmember |> See Causeway PROTECT Monday question mis week. Steve Brown's suggestion, the city page 18 looking out for a —See page 15 neighborhood along Dixie Wildlife Drive paving begins Beach Boulevard. Wildlife Drive in the J.N. g the drive lias GHBORHOO • Environmental News page 5 "Dine" Darling National Wildlife been under discussion for almost Photo/Michael Refuge is now closed to vehicular two years. The specifications call Pistella • Business & Technology page 7 traffic through mid-December, as for using an op^n grade mix four water control structures are (OOEM) surface that, as it ages, • Opinion page 9 built and the road is paved, turns "dirt" colored, not black or However, tram service will be dark gray. Refuge staff expects this •Dateline page 11 provided [see page 11], and bikers type of surface to be more aesthet- and hikers will be allowed to use ically pleasing, as well as better for • Looking Bail page 12 the drive during most of the con- the environment as it allows pollu- struction period. The Visitor Center, tants* to percolate through the sui- • f\ lwinys page 1ft Indigo Trail and the Bailey Tract face rather than run off diiectly will be open seven day*, a week. info the sui rounding watei. •(Its ilutK p>ijv21 2 • Week of July 12-18,2001 • ISLAND REPORTER F* Wood ring Road rezoning Sewer work on schedule Although several Sanibel residents recommended called the Sanibel Utilities Department The Sanibel Planning Commission concerning a broken water main near a determined July 10 that portions of a San Carlos Bay Drive sewer construction Woodring Road property constitute site Monday morning, the broken main altered land rather than lowland wetlands was unrelated to the Phase IIB sanitary and mangrove forest and has recommend- sewer expansion project. ed that city council make a zone map cor- Intersecting water pipes coincidentally rection. ' burst within a few hundred feet of the Darrell and Roberta Hanson asked the sewer construction, flooding a small area commission for a determination so they on the east side of Dixie Beach can rebuild their home and add a pool. Boulevard. Some residents lost water for The commission will hear the Hansons' a few hours, but Island Water Association request for three variances that would workers had the water main repaired by make the improvements possible during a Monday afternoon. July 24 board meeting. The installation of gravity sewer along The Hanson parcel is bisected by San Carlos Bay Drive should be complet- Woodring Road, with the existing home ed by the end of the month. Sewer con- located on the western, or bay, side of the Michael Pistella struction along Sabal Street, Las Tiendas road. That portion of the property is cur- ABOVE: The view from across the street of the Hanson's house on Lane and Schooner Place has already rently zoned bay beach, altered land and Woodring Road. been completed, and work on a gravity lowland wetlands. BELOW: A marker shows the elevation Of the property across the sewer along Lagoon Drive will also be If the city council decides to follow the street from the Hanson's house. finished soon. board's recommendation, the wetlands During the week of July 9, preliminary zone on that portion of land will be reclas- the Hansons to rebuild their home and work along North Yachtsman Drive will sified altered land. install a pool within the bay beach begin, with construction immediately fol- On the parcel east of Woodring Road, zone, or within 50 feet of mean high lowing. Most of the work in these areas the commission recommends land sur- tide; to allow the home to be built clos- will take place within the roadway but rounding a shell driveway back to a er to the road than is currently allowed homeowners, garbage trucks and mail garage also be reclassified, from man- and to allow the amount of imperme- delivery vehicles will be provided access. grove forest to altered land. able surface and development to exceed D.N.