WEEK OF MAY 15, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 26
Council hears of storm funds, police building
Island officials: Storm preparation means evacuation
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
By TIFFANY REPECKI
The Sanibel City Council received a Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery funding update and approved the new Sanibel Police Department design at its recent meeting. On May 7, staff reported that the Planning Department submitted the following grant applications to Lee County for the CDBG-DR Recovery and Resiliency Planning Program: ∫ Sanibel Plan Update for $250,000: To develop a plan to review all elements of the Sanibel Plan and present an updated plan to the council. The Sanibel Plan was last revised in 2013. ∫ Sanibel Transportation Master Plan for $200,000: A comprehensive master plan will be developed to include the evaluation of roads for climate related risks, parking and transportation alternatives, and traffic management to improve level of service along roadways (mitigate congestion).
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
W
ith hurricane season approaching, island officials are advising the community to be prepared and to have a plan to evacuate because it only takes one storm — as learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Hurricane season is recognized as June 1 through Nov. 30. Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project, which has been predicting the season's Atlantic basin hurricane activity for 41 years, is forecasting 23 named storms for 2024. According to its April 4 predication — three more will be released from June through August — 11 of the storms will become hurricanes and five are expected to become “major” hurricanes, or a Category 3 or higher. “We anticipate that the 2024 Atlantic basin hurricane season will be extremely active. Current El Niño conditions are likely to transition to La Niña conditions this summer/fall, leading to hurricane-favorable wind shear conditions,” the forecast states. “Sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Atlantic are currently at record warm levels and are anticipated to remain well above average for the upcoming hurricane season. A warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic provides a more conducive dynamic and thermodynamic environment for hurricane formation and intensification.” The forecast is of “above-normal confidence” for an early outlook. “We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the See STORM PREPARATION, page 19
See COUNCIL, page 20
IslanderInsIde
Fire board OKs new fees for services and district policies By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District's commission approved an update to the fire prevention fee schedule and new district policies during its recent meeting, as well as heard about ongoing training. On May 8, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 on a resolution to set a new fee schedule for prevention services effective May 8, which consists of fire plans reviews and fire
Fire Chief Kevin Barbot
inspection fees. Prior to the vote, Fire Chief Kevin Barbot explained that due to the hurricane damage, staff are anticipating that a lot of emergency permits will be submitted for teardowns and such. He noted that the city approved a 50% reduction in its permit fees to offer some relief, but the district has not.
Barbot continued that the proposed change would apply to the fee for new and existing building construction. It would reduce it to 1/4 of 1% or a $100 minimum — versus a $200 minimum. Also at the meeting, the commission voted 3-0 to approve new policies related to: Ground Ladder Testing, Reporting for Duty, Overtime, Conduct and Behavior, Drivers License Requirement, Facility Security, Hours of Work for Administrative Employees and Vacation Leave for Admin Employees. Also during the meeting, Deputy Fire See FIRE BOARD, page 21
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