by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
The Sanibel City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 7, unanimously voted to approve a resolution declaring the city’s intent to establish the Sanibel Harbours Inlet Dredging Assessment District. It will finance public improvements for periodic maintenance dredging of the inlet.
Historically, the residents of the Sanibel Harbours neighborhood have worked in partnership with the city for the periodic maintenance dredging of the inlet. As with other dredging projects, the city has paid 33.33 percent of the cost, and the residents have paid 66.67 percent of the cost.
The inlet was dredged using this payment methodology in 2001, 2008, 2014, and 2024. And it needs to be dredged again in 2025 due to the hurricanes that impacted Sanibel in 2024.
Since there is no Special Assessment District established for Sanibel Harbours, the residents’ share of the cost was paid in full to the city.
The residents are requesting that the city establish a Special Assessment District so they may pay an annual assessment toward future dredging instead of a larger lump sum payment when dredging is needed, which is the current practice.
City staff estimates the cost to dredge the inlet in 2030 to be $193,447.81, based on the current price of dredging 1,200 cubic yards of material and assuming it may need to be dredged once every five years.
The district will include 44 assessable units, each paying an equal portion at an annual rate of $586.23 per unit. The assessment will appear on the owner’s property tax invoice.
While establishing a special assessment district will allow the residents and the city to establish a fund for future inlet dredging projects, Sanibel Harbour residents will fund this year’s dredging under the existing methodology.
In a letter to the council, Sanibel Harbour residents Erika Steiner and Marty Harrity wrote, “We believe that the creation of an Assessment District is the most equitable and efficient mechanism to fund this essential project.
“We are currently estimating that the Canal will require dredging around every five years. We contacted the owners of 41 impacted properties (three were added subsequently) and 73% responded, all of whom were in favor of this assessment,” the letter said.
“Our community is prepared to collaborate closely with City staff to move this project forward. We believe that securing safe and reliable water access is a shared priority.
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