by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Fishing Pier Grant Accepted. Council voted unanimously to accept a Tourist Development Beach and Shoreline Funding Grant approved by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in the amount of $2,148,209 for the construction of a new pier. County Commissioner and former Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane was instrumental in making this happen. City Manager Dana Souza said work will continue on repairs to the existing pier.
City Manager Review. City Council members conducted a performance review of City Manager Dana Souza. He was rated almost entirely 5s, with no score below 4.7 across categories ranging from Individual Characteristics to Professional Skills, Relations with City Council, Staffing, and more.
Council granted Souza a 6 percent raise retroactive to November, as well as a $5,000 cash performance bonus. Several Council members noted that Souza never wants to be granted a percentage increase greater than what his employees get.
His salary as of November 3, 2025, was $250,986, with a monthly car allowance of $550, a monthly travel/commuting allowance of $800, and a cell phone allowance of $100/month. By comparison, city managers in comparable cities earned: Cape Coral, $336,981; Naples, $312,000; Fort Myers, $282,610; Bonita Springs, $250,000; Ft. Myers Beach, $205,200.
Upon his return to the meeting, Souza thanked Council and stressed that his successes are due to the great teams working for him and all city employees.
Contract Approvals.
• Contract with Tru Spec Mechanical Inc. for $2,872,810 for the Donax Water Reclamation Facility post-Hurricane Ian repairs
• Grant Agreement for $2,500 from the Florida Department of Transportation to repair certain sections of the shared-use path system
• Agreement with EarthBalance Corporation for the island-wide beach erosion control project for $397,494
• Agreement renewal with Vital Records Control for records storage for $54,360 for a three-year term
• Approval of a $5,500,000 grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the replacement of the East Periwinkle Way bridge
• Approval of a contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to assist the City in determining the appropriateness of a stormwater assessment fee program, in the amount of $25,000 in funding to support the consulting services. The remaining $59,700 in funding is available in the Finance Department Operating Budget under professional services, based on a reduction in fees for the City’s investment program, which was amended earlier in the year.
General Council Comments. Vice Mayor Holly Smith suggested moving General Council Comments up on the agenda to an earlier time, as many attendees are gone by the time the meeting reaches this item (often after 6 p.m.).
In addition, Smith said, as she has at previous meetings, that the neighborhood of Island Woods, across from Periwinkle Place, badly needs a crosswalk. The current situation is dangerous, she said.
Smith said the owners of the Island Cow property are looking at adding a “recreational amenity.” This would include expanding the Island Cow with a botanical-themed “putt-putt” miniature golf course. There will need to be discussions about what constitutes an amenity vs. an attraction; it would not be a permitted use, and the Land Development Code would have to be amended. Smith wants to begin the conversation at the April Council meeting.
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