Towers Tossed to Planning
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Candidate's Around the forum Public utilities pages 10-11 islands page 5 pages 21-22 MARCH 4, 1999 VOLUME 26; NUMBER 9: r u- 1 .n- r " l ind 40 PAGES 5 1 PORT SANIBEL &CAPTIVAf FLORIDA SHRIMP BOAT AGROUND Towers tossed to planning By Pattie Pace Staff Writer A heated debate on Sanibel's proposed telecommunica- tion ordinance was rescued from spirahng into chaos by- Mayor Bob Janes, who pounded the gavel and called for a 10-minute cooling off period Tuesday. Prior to the break, Councilmember Andrew Reding pointedly questioned Michael Kurtis, the city's telecommu- nications consultant from Washington, D.C., on whether his background working with providers might unwittingly color the way he approached the tower debate, Kurtis explained that his credentials as an attorney and an engineer, coupled with his understanding telecommuni- cation providers with whom he has worked, allowed him to offer Sambel a sound, balanced perspective that could be defended in court and keep providers honest Cheers and jeers from a packed house were followed by apologies and accusations about politeness and First Amendment rights from council members. But after the break, civility and cool heads prevailed. -v Michael Pistella Following almost three hours of give and take, the The "Doctor Tom" runs aground at Blind according to 43x$ tJvS;' Coast Guard, which is Sanibel City Council sent the proposed ordinance, designed Pass and surprises beachgoers Thursday. It investigating ^he,. incident* Initial reports to bring the city in compliance with the 1996 Federal hit a sand bar and was stuck for 12 hours, said the captain fell asleep. See page 3. O See Towers, page 2 Family gives Nudists heading to court By Pattie Pace the case. A docket hearing is scheduled today to Staff Writer determine whether the case is ready for trial. John Michael Duchesne of Fort Myers, one of six $1M to Trost Nude sunbathers are heading to court to defend people cited under the breech-of-peace statute, their right to enjoy Silver Key in the buff. plead no contest and was then found guilty by the • Guest opinion/page 7 of the wife and David Joel Waldman of Dallas, Texas, recently judge and fined $75, Casas said. mother of the plead not guilty to breaching the peace, the statute He added that Lee County Sheriff's deputies By Gwenda Hiett-Clements family it repre- E. Lindblad used to summon him to appear in court, according News Editor sents. Family members, who live on to Jesus Casas, assistant state attorney prosecuting t> See Nudists, page 3 Sanibel part time and belong to the The Sanibel/Captiva Conserva- SCCF, wish to remain anonymous. tion Foundation received a $1 mil- Erick Lindblad, SCCF's execu- lion boost to its campaign to pur- tive director, said, "The Trost prop- chase the Trost property last Friday erty will, upon purchase by SCCF, Giant squid and organizers gathered to announce be renamed Frannie's Preserve to the milestone Tuesday. honor their departed wife and moth- The gift from the Minigowin er. While the family chooses not to Foundation is made in the memory t> See Trost, page 3 on display • Shell Fair starts today/page 4 By Gwenda Hiett-Clements ABC total nearly doubles News Editor ever. I'm not sure how it's even con- This is the ship of pearl, which poets Sale nets $85,000 ceivable to even be able to top this feign, next year but it's certainly worth the Sails the unshadowed main • By Dawn Grodsky challenge." The venturous hark that flings Editor He attributed the,,»success to a On the sweet summer wind its purpled phenomenal auction, fabulous1 T- They came, they saw and they wings shirt sales, generous benefactors, In gulfs enchanted, where the siren shopped. Oh, did they shop —• more fantastic weather, stellar committee than ever before. Last Saturday's sings, people and a great turnout. T-shirts, And coral reefs lie bare, Attic, Basement & Closet Sale designed by artist Lauri Kailhanen, raised $84,925, according to Where the cold sea maids rise to sun' sold out the day of the sale, as did their streaming hair. Captiva Civic Association Executive raffle tickets. Director Paul Garvey. «The Chambered Nautilus" The CCA sold $27,152 worth of — Oliver Wendell Holmes 1809-1894 "It was an unbelievable grand ABC Sale T-shirts and $2,900 worth The newest exhibit at the Bailey- total," Garvey said, noting last of raffle tickets. The auction brought Matthews Shell Museum is dedicated to a year's sale raised $45,195. And in $33,275, the new-this-year silent woman who never visited the museum but although totals have fluctuated over auction, which will be expanded in whose love of the seashell the chambered the years, never before has the CCA the year 2000, brought in $1,602 nautilus inspired her family to remember come close to raising this much Michael Pistella money. "This is by far the biggest [> See ABC, page 5 Richard and Virginia Warner eye the squid. > See Exhibit, page 4 2:;Qi''IV QT1SEW0*REPORTER Towers From page 1 Telecommunication Act, back to Planning Director Bruce ('ouneilmember Andr.:\v Kedinji enured the lollowiuti ers may slow the return on investment from three to five Rogers for a rewrite. The next public hearing is scheduled juiidel:nes in his motion u> I urn ilu* propoicJ telecom- years, but the remainder is pure profit. for 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 6. nninuMiion-. oulinnnee. hack lo the Sunibel Pi.minus: Hillebrandt's observations were in line with Kreines' per- Voting 3-2, the council approved non-binding guidelines IVparlriKMii foi a rewrite: ceptions of financial ramifications within the industry. to create a framework for die revisions. The motion made by M Linnl lieisihi of towei-; or devices u> 15 leet above "Think of the (Federal Communications Commission) Reding was seconded by Councilmember Nola Theiss and IIKMH s<7:i k*u*l: require they be ailiiehed lo existing build- not only as a willing partner but an urgent partner," Kreines endorsed by Councilmember Bob Davison. ings or utility polos mid be concealed o\ eiimoiiflai'ed. explained. ''In the interest of time, I'll approve this motion," said These deueos 'Viiul«i Iv ;;ianled "by ri«in" imd noi He said that, to date, the FCC has made more than $30 Davisou, noting his vote rested on the flexibility allotted the i- ;i [iiihlk: heaniij.'. billion selling air space and, once minimal expenses are planning department if the guidelines proved unworkable or covered, the remainder goes to reduce the federal budget \li other opiim!-, \M)uld u'tjiiiio .i conditional-use deficit. :' illegal. j. with uuxjmum height limited to 150 lcv.L und Councilmembers Steve Brown and Janes voted in oppo- low \iMial impact ranked above a pwvjder"* ability lo co While tall towers will offer providers the most efficient sition. • locdic moie. liiiin one device on a struitun: and economic initial alternative, smaller towers to handle Brown said his vote reflected a reluctance to approve the increased demand and residential use are on the horizon, S Call i«u' coiuviiliiig devices in wjietatton. Kreines said, adding that new technologies will diminish the lengthy motion prior to seeing it in writing and having time B Require f H.it I hi1 cii_\ develop a wireless m.istei |)lan to analyze its nuances. need for towers. and that applications include <m ^nviioiinicntal impiuM During his presentation, Kreines flashed "sight bites," or Janes said, "My main objection is that the motion was state.iiie.nt too broad, too comprehensive. It could take years to accom- pictures of the latest telecommunication devices suitable for plish." H hlinuiiciie piefcued location i>i "green" /.one-; on Sanibel's low skyline. Small antennas concealed on or in the Siinibei. roofs of two-story condominiums; small, rectangular boxes Sanibel's last stand H hu'ludi* the. presentation made h\ consultant Ted or slim antennas attached to utility poles; and towers hidden Faced with the reality of looking outside and being Kreiues ut last week's independent workshop into the in trees were a few examples. accosted by monstrous telecommunication towers dubbed ciij's official recoid of the telecommunication hearings. "Godzillas," a group of Sanibel residents sprang into action Reeling assured Couneilmeinhers Hob Davison aud A philosophical step forward during the last month. Nola Theiss. who voted in favor of hi-, jiioliou. that these Wrapping up council comments Tuesday, Theiss said the Stepping forward with a fistful of cash was John guidelines were nol exclusionary but merely a defined stages of the proposed ordinance resemble life stages —, LaGorce, who was willing to back his convictions with starling point. However.if theycan'i be achie\ccl. Reding baby, teen-age and adult. greenbacks. LaGorce funded a series of full-page ads in sev- said the plnnniti}! department must support iis changes or "This is not a bad ordinance. It's just an early ordinance eral local publications, encouraging people to attend last objections tn his pioposal with laets. — even though it's (draft) No. 14," she said. week's workshop designed to- discover tower alternatives Erick Lindblad, executive director of the Sanibel/Captiva and to Tuesday's city council meeting. — Panic Pace Conservation Foundation, stepped up to the microphone "There was no time to form organizations," he said. "I during Tuesday's public comment, offering praise to the planning department, planning commission, city council had to move fast. I never expected to get to know so many "We had to hire lawyers from outside the area," he said. people so fast, I'm going to see this through to the end, and all involved in the evolution of the telecommunication But he said Disney's real motivation was tucked away in ordinance.