DELINQUENT The islands' newspaper TAX of record NOTICES i Where to find the lists • see page 19 Week of May 6 - 12,2004 SANiBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 31, NUMBER 19, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Feeding alligators still a problem on Sanibel Jenny Burnham approached the officer. The state wildlife Staff Writer officer made a determination that Gates was aggressive, and contacted the Sanibei His nickname was "'Gates,'" and he was Police Department. The Police always there, sunning himself on a bank Department responded with assistance, as not far from the entrance to Gulf Pines off they are required to do. A state-licensed the Sanibel-Captiva Road. He had lived at trapper was summoned and used a cross- Gulf Pines for most of his life, and he was bow to kill Gates. "kind of a mascot to some people'" in the The villain in this story is not the Fish community, according to resident John and Wildlife Commission, nor is it the Elting. Sanibel Police Department. The villain But Gates died, not because of disease, here is the person who ignored clearly or poachers. Gates lost his life because an posted warnings noi to feed the alligators. unknown person tossed him some tidbits This is the person who really killed of food. Gates. According to the City of Sanibel According to the Florida Fish and Alligator Management Program, wild Wildlife Conservation Commission, "by alligators, even big ones, fear humans and tossing scraps to alligators, people actual- will move away when approached. Any ly teach the reptiles to associate people alligator on land that does not retreat, or with food.'" and alligators seldom attack that approaches at the sight oi" humans, is humans for any reason other than food. "unnaturally bold and aggressive.'" This Most of the serious alligator attacks type of animal has most likely been fed recorded in Florida involve reptiles that by humans and is considered a "nui- were seeking food. sance" alligator, one that poses a potential Gates was about five feet in length, threat to life and must be destroyed. which indicates thai he was a young alli- That's what happened to Gates. Photo by -Jenny Burnham gator approximately five years old. An officer of the Florida Fish and Neighbors near Gates' pond mourn his demise due to feeding by humans. However, even the smallest alligator is Wildlife Conservation Commission was following up at Gulf Pines in the wake of Keefer in April, 2004. The officer exited the vehicle and stepped to (.he edge See GATES the alligator attack upon resident Jane observed Gates and stopped his car. He of the road. Gates left his bank and Council hears advice on bridge rehabilitation Periwinkle pines to go By Donna T. Schuman struction time. By Donna T. Schuman Staff Writer "The permitting i> faster, the construction wouia 'JC Staff Writer faster and there M ould be a less negative environmental By rehabilitating as opposed to replacing portions of effect." Lubetkin said. Prompted by a request from the Congregational the Sanibel Causeway, the county could save millions in The proposed rehabilitation method consists of reha- Church and recent accidents, the Sanibel City Council construction costs. bilitating span A of the Causeway by replacing the deck unanimously approved a resolution establishing a policy According to a repot prepared by Sanibel residents and concrete beams in the 13 low level spans of the for removing Australian Pines within the right-of-way on Bernard Lubetkin and Clifford Fit/gerald, Jr.. rehabili- bridge. Lubctkin's plan also caiis for raising the bridge Periwinkle Way. tating the drawbridge, or span A of the Causeway, could decks out of the splash zone. The report incorporates The resolution, which requires city council approval save Lee County an estimated $10 million. this process into Lee County's plan to replace spans B for any removal request, clarifies the council's position Lubetkin is a retired engineer who was licensed in and C. regarding Australian Pines. The policy, City Manager New Jersey and Fitzgerald earned a master's degree in The total rehabilitation project, including the Judie Zimomra said, only addresses tree removal along business administration from Harvard. The two are also replacement of spans B and C would cost the county an the Periwinkle Way right-of-way and does not change the consultants for Save Our Bay, Inc. As per its request, estimated $55 million. The cost estimated by the coun- cuirent policy for the rest of the island. That policy still Lubetkin and Fitzgerald presented their findings to the ty for the entire replacement was originally valued at provides special consideration for (he removal of the Sanibel City Council Tuesday. $67 million. That estimate, however, has increased in pines, but also provides adequate protection necessary for The report, which offers the city and county an alter- the health, safety and welfare of Sanibel's citizens, according to the resolution. native to replacing all three bridges, claims rehabilita- See RE-HAB tion would not only save money, but also shorten con- "This does not change policy, but puts it in a written page 3 resolution regarding Australian pines,'" Zimomra said. So far, the city has only received one removal request. However. Public Works Director Gates Castle said he has ton it Wircit identified at least a dozen more trees should be removed along Periwinkle. • LEITERS page 6 Victor Legarreta After retirement? Isiandl classroom "Until someone requests their removal, they won't be • PERMITS page 9 removed," Castle said. "This resolution would maintain the standard that they are treated differently than other • DATEHME page 10 The theater has a new Janice Caron looks at The Sanibel Mudflats pine trees on the island."' artistic director who • REALEsrATE page 12 ways to keep our brains make an ideal classroom The current request, which was also approved by the plans to keep a good tra- from retiring after we do. to teach kids about council, calls for the removal of one large pine on the east .• SPORTS page 14 dition going. nature. side of the Church's driveway. However, the results of a • TV LISTINGS page 15 site distance survey on the property indicated that a small- • LOOKING BACK page 18 er tree should also be removed from the property. The • CLASSIFIEDS page 20 See PINES — See page 23 -See page 11 — See page 8 • OBITUARIES page 22 page 3 GE^EN HLAND Design • Installation • Maintenance • Tree Work -3889 Sanibel Captiva Rd. Ph-one 239-472-13/0 * v l 28 YEARS BEAUTIFYING SANIBEL & CAPTIVA Sanibel Island, ih 33 >57 Pa\:239-"395-?082 ^,^ 2 • Week of May 6- 12,2004 • ISLAND REPORTER CITY * COUNTY • STATE By Donna T. Schuman vote of the Sanibel City Council. The sec- Coy resigns from county commission Staff Writer ond reading of the ordinance will be held June 15 at 9:30. Cape Coral Daily Breeze ly 10 years. His district includes Cape The Sanibel City Council... Staff Report Coral. ^Held the first reading of a proposed ordi- If elected to Congress, Coy said his main ^Held the first reading of a proposed ordi- nance amending the city charter to Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy, local office will be located in the Cape, nance amending the city charter increas- increase the permitted height of buildings on who is running for U.S. Congress, hopefully in the city-county building where ing impermeable coverage, vegetation the island. The ordinance would provide announced his resignation from the local his commission office is. removal or developed area. The ordinance that actions to increase the permitted height board Tuesday. He will seek appointment to three com- would provide that actions to increase the of buildings on the island be taken before His last day will be Nov. 15. mittees, if elected: the veteran's committee, permeable maximum land area to be cov- the city only by ordinance approved by the "This was one of the hardest decisions I where he wants to work to obtain a veteran's ered with impermeable surfaces, cleared of majority of electors at the next general elec- have had to make," Coy said in a telephone hospital for southwest Florida; the trans- vegetation and or used as a development tion. The second reading of the ordinance interview Tuesday night. "I love being a portation committee, where he would work area may be taken before the city only by will be held June 15 at 9:30. commissioner. I love representing Cape for additional funding for 1-75; and the edu- ordinance approved by the majority of elec- the first reading of a proposed ordi- Coral and Lee County. cation committee where he would work to tors at the next general election. The second nance amending the city charter estab- "However I feel a bit of a calling to rectify problems with the No Child Left reading of this ordinance will be held May lishing a section titled "Changes to Washington, to be a congressman represent- Behind legislation, particularly funding 18 at 9:30 a.m. Highway 869 (Causeway Road, Periwinkle ing southwest Florida." issues which placed a burden on state and the first reading of a proposed ordi- Way, Palm Ridge Road and Sanibel-Captiva As a congressional candidate. Coy is county governments, Coy said. Road.) The ordinance would explain the sig- required by Jaw to resign his seat no later The District 14 Congressional seat is cur- nance to increase residential development density. The second reading of this ordi- nificance of the highway to the City of than the date he qualifies to run for the fed- rently held by Porter Goss, who is retiring.