WEEk oF JANUARY 24, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 10
City council approves filling vacancy, more By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council signed off on the next steps for filling the seat left vacant by the recent resignation of former Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater at its meeting, as well as received an update on the post-Hurricane Ian beach restoration project and approved a new contract for the city attorney. On Jan. 16, the council discussed the process to fill the open seat on the dais. City Manager Dana Souza and staff explained that the Sanibel Charter requires a special election to be held, plus outlined options for the council to consider in terms of filling the seat on an interim basis until the election. Following their discussion, the council members voted 4-0 to advertise for applications from Jan. 16 to Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. and to appoint someone at their Feb. 6 meeting for an interim term to end on June 3. Staff reported that the date of May 21 See CITY CoUNCIL, page 20
Study quantifies economic impact of harmful algal blooms IslanderInsIde
By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
More action is needed to ensure the disastrous environmental and economic tolls of harmful red tide and algae blooms do not return. That was the unified message from the leaders of several environmental groups committed to clean water at a press conference on Jan. 16 at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Fort Myers Beach. A new study undertaken by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Captains for Clean Water and Sanibel-Captiva
Conservation Foundation sought to quantify the cost of unclean water.
See STUDY, page 19 Captains for Clean Water Executive Director Daniel Andrews speaks about the importance of water quality on Jan. 16 at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille on Fort Myers Beach. He is joined by Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis. NATHAN MAYBERG
Public reminded to ‘Mind Your Line’ after eaglet incident By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Two island entities responded after the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam in North Fort Myers recently captured on camera M15 and F23's eaglet with what appeared to be a fishing hook in its mouth. On Jan. 14, the cam shared via social media that after having fish for breakfast that morning, E23 showed signs of distress and a possible hook was seen lodged within its mouth. F23 attempted multiple times to free the material with See MIND YoUR LINE, page 20
Eaglet E23, of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, with a fishing hook in its mouth on Jan. 14. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLE CAM
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