Town Council gives Sanibel mayor its support
Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane was busy Monday as he went throughout Lee County to garner support for an appeal to a decision made by the South Florida Water management District that could impact the ecosystem in our region for years to come.
One of his first stops was Fort Myers Beach, where the Town Council voted unanimously to sign a formal letter to the South Florida Water Management District to support a formal appeal, a process that could take both time and money.
“Management of the lake is complex, but our economies are collapsing and this appeal is to say that enough is enough,” Ruane said.
On Sept. 13, Ruane, Beach Mayor Tracey Gore and other area mayors went to Palm Beach for a water management meeting and asked the SFWMD release more water from Lake Okeechobee during the dry season so not as much has to be released in wet season. The schedule would keep salinity levels at a level that would better protect the Caloosahatchee River ecosystem.
The request fell on deaf ears. Ruane later went to Cape Coral with the same plea, which its city council also approved.
In other business, Town Council was split on a couple measures. Regarding the first reading on a moratorium on the processing of development applications for approval that require density calculations, Council member Bruce Butcher said he didn’t see the need to have a moratorium.
Council member Anita Cereceda said moratoriums place undue hardships on landowners unless the intent is clear, which she said it is not.
She joined Butcher in minority dissent against allowing the ordinance to go to a second hearing.
Also discussed was how to solve the dilemma regarding the hiring of a new town attorney after the board’s first choice withdrew.
Cereceda wanted the vote to happen when a new council is voted on in the spring.
Council ultimately voted to go back out and seek new requests for proposal for legal services.
They did agree that Myrnabelle Roche would make the perfect Special Magistrate. She was appointed unanimously.
Cereceda also questioned Town Manager Roger Hernstadt on the town’s decision to outsource planning services when it would be much cheaper to have the work done in house.
Hernstadt said community development has been “weaponized” over the years and the common enemy is staff.
“Until the town accepts the fact that staff gives the best recommendations, we need to utilize consultants. They are not influenced by job security. They are just doing their jobs,” Hernstadt explained. “These are the growing pains communities go through and we’ll get through it.”
Cereceda accepted the answer and added the town manager should encourage the townsfolk to grow up and prepare the town to bring in locals to do the job.
The council also approved the special event application for the Sandsculpting Championship on Nov. 16 to 25, waiving the noise ordinance, open container and vehicle fee, a cost to the city of $1,290.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct an error originally reported in Council’s legal services vote. The Observer apologizes for any confusion.