The
water quality crisis remained uppermost on the minds of both
Councilmembers and attendees at City Council’s meeting Jan. 15 at
City Hall. Vice-Mayor Mick Denham was first to take note, during
Council Comments, of newly elected Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent
water quality proposals.
“The
governor’s announcements about water management in Southwest
Florida is surprising,” Denham said. “He supports many of the
issues that we are wrestling with. He called for the resignations of
the entire South Florida Water Management District board.
“[The
board’s] intransigence has been a thorn in our side,” Denham
added. “I am holding my breath a little, but I salute the governor
for his comments, and I hope we can move forward in a different
direction.”
In
a lengthy—and passionate—discourse, Councilman Jason Maughan
echoed Denham’s sentiments. “Our own state representatives opened
the Everglades to fracking. This is insanity,” Maughan said. “I
was not at all surprised when the governor asked for the resignations
of [SFWMD] managers. I refused to go to their meetings, because they
do absolutely nothing to assist. Real change comes from committing to
basic ideals, win, lose or draw. We suffer the consequences at our
own risk.
“The
legislature will not help us,” Maughan added. “We need someone to
control the District and the Army Corps of Engineers. [Governor
DeSantis] can encourage the Corps.”
Maughan
was conciliatory about the Corps’ role in any water management
errors. “I don’t blame [the Corps]. They do what they are told,”
he said. “It is our responsibility to stop the madness, by putting
in good people, who won’t be bought, who earned their positions,
and not by cutting deals. If we don’t look after ourselves, no one
will look after us.”
Councilwoman
Holly Smith credited Council for its efforts over the long term to
improve water quality. “Never let a good crisis go to waste, but
this crisis was a long time coming,” she said. “I am extremely
proud of our Council members. We have challenged the Water Management
board for quite some time.
“I
thank the mayor and vice mayor for work that they have done over a
decade,” she added. “It has resonated in the state of Florida. We
are a rare jewel in the state. Other elected officials and national
officials look to Sanibel for what we have done.”
Resident
Peter Pappas cited the potential conflict between effective water
quality measures and economic progress. “We can have economic
growth and population growth, or we can have clean water, clean air,
and a healthy and enjoyable environment—but we can’t have both,”
Pappas said. “You can’t clean anything, if you continue to soil.”
Responding
to Pappas’s position, Councilman Chauncey Goss expressed optimism
about the future for water quality in Southwest Florida. “I spent
time in Tallahassee listening to [Governor DeSantis’s] speech. It
is mind boggling to me to see what he has done in the last week,”
he said. Speaking directly to Pappas, Goss added, “Peter, I hope it
is not the zero-sum game that you describe.”
Mayor
Kevin Ruane elaborated further on Pappas’s thesis. “I am more
optimistic than you are, Peter, because we have a governor who has
political courage. The governor’s actions are bold and what we
need. I hope the legislature approves and finds the money. That will
be the challenge.”
Commentary
on Other Issues of Island Concern
Island
resident Dorothy Donaldson addressed Council on the problem of leaf
blower noise pollution. “I live in a small community. Sunday is the
only day that we don’t have noise from leaf blowers. It is
impossible to rest and enjoy what we are all here for,” she said.
“Restricting days has been only minimally successful. I ask that
the planning commission research other communities and see if
something can be done here.”
Resident
Phyllis Gresham made a complaint about bicyclists riding at night
without lights. “It is not always the case that, if bikers can see
an oncoming car, the driver can see them. I have noticed this problem
especially as we have more visitors,” she said.
Goss thanked Donaldson for her
comments about leaf blower noise pollution. “I forgot about [the
noise], even though I hear it every day. There are better
technologies now,” he said. Goss also concurred with Gresham’s
point about the necessity for cyclists riding after dark to use
lights.