Other News from the November 4 Sanibel City Council Meeting
• Boat Ramp Fees. In September, the City Council agreed that the temporary $500 penalty for violations at the Sanibel Boat Ramp, established through the Mayoral Emergency Proclamation, should remain in place when the State of Local Emergency is discontinued. The city attorney advised City Council that an amendment to Florida law would require City Council to approve a tiered fine structure consistent with Florida Statutes, which provide that the first offense shall not exceed $250 and that the fine shall not exceed $500 for second or subsequent offenses. Therefore, the Council voted unanimously to follow the tiered penalty structure as follows: First offense = $250 plus $10 filing fee. Second or subsequent offenses = $500 plus $10 filing fee.
• Amending Provisions for Plats. An amendment was necessary to update Sanibel’s codes regarding plats and replats to align with recent amendments to state statutes. Among other changes, the state legislation requires that plats and replats be approved administratively rather than through a public hearing process. These statutory amendments were intended to reduce permitting timelines and create a more consistent subdivision review process statewide. The city’s Land Development Code currently requires the City Council to approve final plats. To ensure compliance with state law and maintain a clear, efficient process for subdivision approvals, an amendment to the Land Development Code was necessary to reflect these recent legislative changes. Previously, the City Council approved a resolution granting the city manager or the city manager’s designee the authority to receive, review, process, and approve a plat or replat pursuant to updated Florida state statutes…