WEEk of SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
VoLuME 62, NuMBER 44
Council approves new timeframe for permits By CHUCK BALLARO
news@breezenewspapers.com
Shell museum to host next lecture in seasonal series The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is continuing with its seasonal lecture series, which is offered virtually via Zoom for free. The next lecture in the series will be: ∫ Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. on “Towards a New Great Hall of Shells” with museum Executive Director Sam Ankerson and curator and Science Director Dr. Jos H. Leal In the fall, the museum’s permanent exhibits of shells will reopen following more than two years of reimagination, planning and design. The new Great Hall of Shells will display thousands of specimens from all over the world, expanded exhibits of shells in human history and culture, and brand-new educational exhibits about conservation and the environment. With a unified and elegant design by Matter Practice of New York City, the project is the capstone of the museum’s multi-year rebuild from the impact of Hurricane Ian. It will be one of the largest and finest exhibits of shells in the world.
Leal and Ankerson will offer a preview of the new hall and share some of the motivation and thinking behind the new exhibits and their educational outcomes, insights into the planning and strategy, and views of the new design that will serve as the heart of the museum experience for the future. While the lectures are free, advance registration in required. To register or for more information, visit ShellMuseum.org/online-lectures. People can also watch recordings of previous lectures online. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
In a meeting that took more than six hours, the Sanibel City Council got a lot done. That included changing the timeline for conditional use permits in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Council voted 4-0 to shrink the timeline for application permits by one year, from December 2025 to this coming December. The city seeks to expedite certain conditional use permits and amend conditional use application requirements in support of redevelopment while maintaining consistency with the city’s vision. Other Ian-related ordinances were also passed, though they passed in much faster order than the first, which went well past lunchtime. The ordinance specifically spoke of two places; Bailey’s General Store and the old Chevron station. As a result, Mayor Richard Johnson passed the gavel to vice-mayor Mike Miller as he had a conflict of interest. See PERMITS, page 20
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A virtual lecture on “Towards a New Great Hall of Shells,” with Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Executive Director Sam Ankerson and curator and Science Director Dr. José H. Leal, will take place on Sept. 19./BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
Tax rate of 2.5 mills gets Sanibel City Council nod By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breeznewspapers.com
Sanibel City Council unanimously voted to move forward with a millage rate of 2.5000 mills during its first budget hearing last week, as well as a tentative budget of $233,208,969. Deputy City Manager Steve Chaipel said the estimated property valuation of $4.6 billion — down 26.7% —was used to determine what the property tax rate will be. The pre-storm valuation was $6,357,621,055. “The residential taxpayer pays to vari-
ous entities. The city’s responsible portion based on the tentative millage rate is about 18.2%. The vast majority of taxes goes to other taxing authorities,” Chaipel said. Independent district taxes make up 19.2%, the School District of Lee County 36.5% and Lee County at 26% of the total property tax bill. The 2.5000 operating millage will generate $11,300,552, an additional $1,073,644 in additional property tax revenues, into the General Fund. In Fiscal Year 2024, 2.5000 mills generated $10,226,908 .
The debt service millage rates are .1200 mills for FY25 for recreation center construction and .0169 mills for the sewer system expansion for a total debt service levy of .1369 mills. This is a 29% decrease from the prior year. The 2.500 operating millage rate, .1200 recreation voted debt mills, and .0169 sewer voted debt mills equates to a total levy of 2.6369 mills for residential property owners. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable valuation. See RATE, page 20
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