by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Sanibel Council members reviewed the city’s legislative priorities and policy positions on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the regular meeting. The full text is available on the city’s website, but a summary is provided below.
• The City supports Water Quality and Quantity legislation and budget appropriations that support continued funding and construction for regional water quality and storage projects; the ongoing work of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Red Tide Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force; and the Water Quality Improvements Grant Program.
• The City supports Everglades Restoration funding and expedited progress on the Central Everglades Planning Project.
• Regarding Renewable Energy and Net Metering, the city opposes any legislation that would diminish a property owner’s investment in customer-owned renewable energy sources.
• Regarding Potable Water Facilities and Infrastructure, the city supports any legislation and budget appropriations that will improve the resiliency of Island Water Association’s facilities and infrastructure.
In addition, the city takes these policy positions:
• Home Rule Authority. The city supports upholding Sanibel’s current level of home rule authority and opposes any legislation that would diminish this local authority without the creation of replacement revenue sources.
• Local Land Use Planning. The city supports legislation to revise Senate Bill 180, which severely limits Sanibel’s ability to put forward needed amendments to its comprehensive plan and land development code following the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
• Vacation Rentals. The city opposes any changes to State law that would reduce the effectiveness of Sanibel’s existing regulations relating to short-term and vacation rentals.
• Elevate Florida Program. The city supports increasing funding for this program.
• Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The city supports increasing the limits to $200,000 for disaster-impacted businesses. The present program caps the loan amount at $50,000. This limit is no longer adequate and should be increased to at least $200,000 for a minimum term of five years with zero interest.
The city has funding requests on three items: Shared Use Path Reconstruction ($2.5 million), Weir Flap Gate Modification and Installation ($600,000), and the Tradewinds Drainage Project ($4.2 million).
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