The Captiva community panel received an update on its proposed Captiva code and the changes to the ordinance, expressed support for the changes to its golf cart ordinance, and heard from the committee on raising the level of the sea on a national grant application and the installation of a tide sensor at its recent meeting. .

On June 8, government affairs committee chair David Mintz provided an update on work underway with Lee County officials and staff to get island code changes and some ordinances approved. He’s already gone through a similar process on his Captiva plan.

Mintz told the panel that negotiations with staff over the changes to the Land Use Code he proposed had recently been finalized and accepted, with one exception. At a June 1 meeting, county commissioners voted to send the revisions to their advisory committees.

The Planning Code Advisory Committee, the Executive Regulatory Oversight Committee and the Local Planning Agency will review the changes. After consideration by the committee, the proposed changes will be presented to the county commission for review and approval in two public hearings.

“As you can see, this is a process and it is vast” he said.

Regarding the revisions accepted and forwarded by county staff, Mintz indicated that the panel’s amendments regarding beach furniture and equipment, outdoor lighting, trees and landscaping adjacent to Captiva Drive, and residential identification signs and temporary real estate signs have been accepted.

“They accepted our Dark Sky (settlement). They accepted our beach furniture and equipment policy – lighting. All of our changes in the property regulations regarding the signs, regarding the buffer zone on Captiva Drive for the shoulder and everything, ” he said. “The litter is covered.”

Mintz continued that the part not accepted by the staff, which was crossed out from the documents, concerned the dune vegetation protection proposed by the committee and prohibited walking, sitting, standing or the like on the dunes. except when using approved and licensed beach crossing structures. and ramps.

He noted that staff pointed to existing LDC language prohibiting such activities, although the word “market” Is not used. But, Mintz added, the Captiva erosion prevention district is installing signs.

“So the only thing they didn’t accept was not to walk on the dunes” he said. “They have banned everything else on the dunes, and walking, I think, will be covered by the EDPS.”

Mintz noted that he anticipated that the revisions could be submitted to the county commission in the fall.

As Code changes cycle through advisory committees, Mintz will begin the same process with staff members and county officials on a handful of order changes proposed by the panel. The ordinance changes relate to the regulation of septic systems, fertilizers, parking and noise.

He said the plastic straw ordinance will need to be reconsidered in the future, as it appears the panel’s proposal has met with significant opposition in unincorporated Lee County.

ORDER ON GOLF CARTS

Mintz reported that vice chairman and chairman of the golf cart committee, Antje Baumgarten, previously presented the group with proposed changes to an existing county ordinance that regulates the use of golf carts on designated routes in Captiva. However, the panel’s position on the changes was unclear.

He explained that by starting to work with county staff on the aforementioned ordinance changes, which include golf cart use reviews, an official panel position would be helpful.

There are two proposed additions to the ordinance, which are:

– No person on a golf cart should have open alcoholic beverages in their possession.

– All golf carts that are rented or leased for use on Captiva, or that are provided by rental properties on Captiva for use by renters, must have a visible identification and number of the company or company. property on both sides of the golf cart and a permanent sticker on the dashboard or windshield advising customers that underage drivers, open alcoholic beverages, driving on the beach, on the shoulders of the road and outside the authorized areas for golf carts are strictly prohibited. Businesses that rent or lease golf carts for use on Captiva must inform their customers at the time of rental of the rules set out in this ordinance governing the use of golf carts on Captiva.

Panel member John Jensen asked about the fine or punishment for violators.

“It is a non-criminal offense” Mintz said. “It’s a traffic violation.

A motion to approve the proposed additions to the existing ordinance was passed.

SEA LEVEL RAISE COMMITTEE

Linda Laird, panel member and chair of the SLR committee, provided an update on the grant application submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the City of Sanibel and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, to secure funds for create an adaptation plan for the islands.

She indicated that the joint application has passed the first phase or pre-proposal stage of the grant application process, and that they have been invited to submit a full proposal this month.

A motion for the panel to write a letter of support for the grant application was passed.

Laird also reported that the Sunset Captiva community board agreed to install the tide sensor on one of its docks. At last month’s meeting, the panel approved the purchase of the sensor for $ 500 to participate in a flood monitoring and sea level forecasting project that uses real-time water level data. .

She added that the council thought it would be good for the community.

“So that’s all well and good” Laird said.

She noted that Sanibel is also participating in the project, which focused on the Carolinian coastline and now includes different areas. The city will place its sensor on the Sanibel police dock.

Laird also reported that the documents have been signed for the accommodation alternatives proposal and that consultant Cheryl Hapke, of Integral Consulting, is about to start the adaptation planning project.

IN OTHER NEWS

– Expert Panel Chairman and Wastewater Committee Chairman Jay Brown reported that Kimley-Horn, the engineering firm leading Phase 2 – Septic Conversion Feasibility Study, “Proceed very aggressively” with the plan. The study is funded by a $ 100,000 grant from Lee County.

“Much progress has been made since I last reported to you,” he said.

Brown explained that the company visited Captiva’s three packing plants and that it looks like there would be no problem hooking them up to a main sewer line and replacing them with small lifting stations. .

Kimley-Horn will present his basic concept plan at the panel meeting in July.

The company also completed a nutrient reduction analysis to determine if the island should convert from septic tanks.

“Their analysis is very close to the analysis we had of the SCCF in the past” he said, adding that the results are that septic systems contribute significantly to the nutrient load of coastal waters.

– Jensen, who served as the iguana liaison, reported that Alfredo Fermin of the AAA Wildlife Trapping and Removal Services continues to go out every week on Tuesday. He added that Lee County will only cover the service until September, as the MSTU has not received community approval.

“We are alone after that” Jensen said.

He offered a comparison of the distribution of neighboring areas.

According to Jensen, Marco Island is 24 square miles, has weekly service with the use of a licensed firearm, and a budget of $ 25,000 per year with approximately 450 properties serviced. Sanibel is 17.5 square miles, has weekly service with the use of a licensed firearm, and a budget of $ 40,000, with the total expected to rise to $ 70,000. Captiva is 2 square miles and allows the use of a firearm except in the Southern Seas.

He continued that while speaking with Fermin, Fermin explained that having the service once every two weeks would always help the island keep the iguanas under control. Fermin offered to go out every two weeks for $ 550 – the county currently pays him $ 500 a week – for about $ 14,300 each year.

“We could either go back to the county and see if they want to pay for it, we could accept private donations, or we could let the owners deal directly with Alfredo,” Jensen said.

After some discussion in the panel, Brown and Mintz agreed that they would return to the county to see if he would be willing to cover the annual cost, while Jensen would continue to speak with Fermin.

– Verizon will make a presentation at the July meeting on adding small cell towers to Captiva.