City Council Honors Goss, Re-Elects Officers And Other Business

by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

The April 2 Sanibel City Council meeting began with a moment of silence for Mariel Goss, who passed away March 25. Although her husband of 62 years, Porter Goss, was the public figure in their marriage, Mariel made many contributions to Sanibel. When the roads became too dangerous for children to ride bicycles, she rallied her friends and worked tirelessly to raise support for a bike path. Her determination led to the construction of a shared-use path that today is known worldwide for its beauty and is enjoyed by many thousands each year. Thanks to Mariel, Sanibel has a bike path that helps define the Sanibel community.

Following the moment of silence, the annual organization meeting began at which Mayor Richard Johnson and Vice Mayor Mike Miller were unanimously re-elected. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve,” Johnson said. “We’ve come a long way in the past 18 months and still have a long way to go.” Said Miller, “I’m honored to serve for this Council and for the community.”

Mike Miller is sworn in as vice mayor at the Sanibel City Council meeting on April 2. SC photo by Emilie Alfino

Richard Johnson is sworn in as mayor at the Sanibel City Council meeting on April 2. SC photo by Emilie Alfino

The City recognized Summer Camp Programming Sponsorships from Kiwanis and the Captiva Civic Association Foundation. City of Sanibel Recreation Director Andrea Miller said, “We thank them for their generous sponsorships, totaling $15,000.” Johnson commended them for their efforts. “These are two wonderful civic programs,” Johnson added.

City Council declared a Proclamation recognizing all Sanibel Police Department Dispatchers for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. “Public Safety Telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services,” Johnson read from the Proclamation.”[They] are the single vital link for our police officers by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information and ensuring their safety.” The telecommunicators field 2,700 calls to 911 each year along with tens of thousands of other calls. “I can’t be more proud of them,” said Police Chief Bill Dalton. Added Johnson, “I can’t say enough about what they do, especially considering what we’ve all been through the last 18 months.”

“You’re planting the roots of the city of Sanibel,” Johnson said. He was talking about CECI, the Children’s Education Center of the Islands, which originated in 1974 and is celebrating 50 years of service to the islands. “The Children’s Education Center of the Islands believes nature is the best classroom, and by teaching in, with, and alongside nature, students develop not only educational and life skills, but also establish early connections to the sanctuary island where the live, work, and play,” the Proclamation reads.

In 2016, the Gopher Tortoise Council adopted April 10 as Gopher Tortoise Day in Florida to increase awareness and appreciation for this protected species. The gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species and is an essential indicator of ecosystem health. The island’s gopher tortoises, their burrows, and their habitats were significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian, and the recovery of gopher tortoise populations and their habitats will require continued commitment by the citizens of Sanibel. “We’re thrilled that [the tortoises] are resilient, as are our citizens, and grateful they are recovering,” said Natural Resources Director Holly Milbrandt. City Council again declared April 10, 2024, as Gopher Tortoise Day on Sanibel and urged all citizens to celebrate the Gopher Tortoise and to help protect this keystone species of the island. “We’re proud to live in a community that values its wildlife,” Johnson added.

Resident Chuck Ketteman was unanimously approved to be appointed to the Lee County Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Affordable Housing Committee. The responsibilities of the committee are to review and recommend proposals for CDBG-DR affordable housing development projects (to the Board of County Commissioners) in an objective and fair manner.

Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding to include Police Lieutenants in the Fraternal Order of Police Sergeants bargaining unit and recognize Lieutenants as current bargaining unit members.

The City received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – this for the 38th consecutive year – from the Government Finance Officers’ Association (GFOA) for the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2022. The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (COA) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.

Council members would like to see the following items put on an agenda for future discussion:
• So-called Form 6 was a topic of interest. Form 6 refers to the requirement for any elected official to disclose their net worth. This requirement is discouraging people from participating in City Council. A lawsuit about Form 6 is pending and Councilmember John Henshaw expressed an interest in joining the suit. There is a question whether Sanibel can be excluded from Form 6 requirement as a small city whose council members are volunteers.
• Mike Miller would like to discuss the coyote issue.
• Holly Smith had several topics for possible future discussions: the bike path, particularly education and discussion around e-bikes; vacancies; boat ramp abuse; November 12 City Council, 5:30 meeting time, request a change to 9 a.m. start time.