City council green lights comments on county plan, funds | News, Sports, Jobs – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA | #citycouncil

CITY OF SANIBEL
The Sanibel City Council presented the Employee Service Awards at its meeting on Sept. 11. Shown with the council members are, front from left, Scott Robbins, Scotty Lynn Kelly, Steven Chaipel, Jocelyn Upchurch Hawkins and Charlotte Durand; Nicholas Gleason was not present.

The Sanibel City Council approved proposed comments about the Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery Action Plan and sending them to Lee County at its recent meeting.

On Sept. 11, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the comments drafted by staff on the county’s plan for the $1.1 billion in federal funding. The city’s recommendations will include:

Waivers and clarifications

– Seek clarification from HUD that funds expended on programs and projects that create employment opportunities for low-to-moderate income (LMI) populations are in the heavily damaged coastal communities with populations less that 50% LMI populations are eligible expenses.

– The county should seek waivers from the secretary, where necessary, to fund Sanibel’s affordable housing, economic revitalization, infrastructure, public services and planning needs to recover from Hurricane Ian.

CITY OF SANIBEL
At its Sept. 11 meeting, the Sanibel City Council recognized Public Works Department employee Steve Schweitzer, fourth from left, for achieving his Associate of Science in business management, with honors, from Rasmussen University.

Allocations

– Allocate funding to economic revitalization by a minimum of $29.4 million. Reduce housing allocation to fund economic revitalization.

– Provide direct funding to Sanibel for economic revitalization, without a requirement to apply for funding through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

– Collaboration with Lee County, Fort Myers Beach and business leaders to develop more specific programs and activities that will assist businesses recover quickly.

Housing

– Priority funding should be directed to Sanibel/Community Housing and Resources to redevelop lost and damaged units directly and outside of any NOFA issued for housing project proposals. The same should apply to any other community that lost housing directly from the impacts of Ian.

– Likewise, priority funding should be granted to Sanibel as one of the most impacted communities to acquire land and develop new affordable housing on the island that will better serve low-income and moderate-income employees of Sanibel businesses.

– Funding should be provided to develop near-island affordable housing units that could benefit workers who travel to Sanibel and Forty Myers Beach daily for work. Affordable housing units are needed near coastal communities.

– Provide individual assistance to qualified residents — assistance to include: home renovations, home elevations and home reconstruction.

Infrastructure

– Allocate funds directly and without having to apply for a NOFA to Sanibel for significant infrastructure repairs and reconstruction.

– Sanibel agrees that the local match for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects should be funded from Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDB-DR) funds.

Public services

– Partner with F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva to deliver services on Sanibel.

– Assist F.I.S.H. with its renovating and expanding its building to better service LMI clients.

Planning

– Plan for barge landing facilities on Sanibel and Lee County mainland to plan for any future natural disasters that may make the Sanibel Causeway inaccessible.

– Plan for high-speed broadband fiber network on Sanibel for resiliency and reliability

Also during the meeting, the council discussed Sanibel’s building heights.

Planning Director Paula McMichael explained that some council members recently asked for more information as to how building heights are measured, as questions have been raised as to whether they should be tied to required flood elevations for all uses: residential, institutional — which could be government, church, school, fire station and such — commercial districts, and resort housing district.

She reported that the Sanibel Plan establishes a blanket limitation on buildings of three stories and approximately 45 feet above mean sea level. Staff’s interpretation is exceeding 45 feet would require approval of registered voters through a public referendum and ballot vote. The only land use where building height is dependent on the required base flood elevation is within the resort housing district.

After some discussion at the dais and at staff’s recommendation, the council directed the Sanibel Planning Commission to evaluate heights and provide a recommendation if changes are suggested.

IN OTHER NEWS

– The council voted 5-0 to approve an ordinance that amends the Land Development Code relating to extending the deadline from 12 months to 24 months for re-establishing a nonconforming use following a natural disaster.

– The council voted 5-0 on an amending resolution to extend the temporary waiver or discount of certain permit fees charged for certain permit and development fees.

– The council voted 5-0 on three separate resolutions to approve the labor agreements between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police representing Sanibel’s police officers and dispatchers and Sanibel’s sergeants and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for general staffers.

All three agreements included a 5% wage increase, which even non-union employees will receive.

– The council voted 5-0 to approve a lease agreement between the city and Local Roots to provide the farmers market on city grounds for a term of five years, with the option of two one-year extensions.

– The council voted 5-0 to approve an amendment to the agreement between the city and CHR to temporarily reduce the annual funding that the city provides by 20%, due to Ian’s financial impact on the city. Staff noted that council can amend the funds later based upon the city’s financial situation.

– The council held the first reading for an ordinance that amends the Land Development Code relating to architectural design requirements for multifamily housing to clarify regulatory language and ensure redevelopment will be conducted consist with island style character and scenic preservation within the built environment. The second reading will be held on Oct. 3.

– The council presented the following Employee Service Awards: Steve Chaipel for 10 years; Charlotte Durand for 10 years; Nicholas Gleason for 10 years; Jocelyn Upchurch Hawkins for 10 years; Scotty Lynn Kelly for 10 years; and Scott Robbins for five years.

– The council recognized Steve Schweitzer, with the Public Works Department, for achieving his Associate of Science in business management, with honors, from Rasmussen University.