Meeting planned to discuss project at The Green Flash

The Captiva Community Panel reported that The Green Flash will hold a public information meeting on a proposed project today, July 19, at 5 p m at the restaurant, at 15183 Captiva Drive, Captiva

The project team will be available to able to answer questions and address concerns

According to the CCP, the purpose of the project is essentially to rezone the property so that it no longer has two con-

Ccp

From page 6 panel as it is a quasi-governmental organization and governed by the Sunshine Law

He explained that it effectively means there would be no lawyer-client privilege for the panel

“It's my hope against all hopes that we don't have to litigate this,” Mintz said

He continued that the CCA has agreed to manage the legal fund, however, if a r e s o l u t i o n a n d c o m p r o m i s e c a n n o t b e reached between the involved parties It is in the process of putting together the fundraising mechanism. The SCCF has a l r e a d y p l e d g e d a l e a d d o n a t i o n o f $10,000 toward it

President Jay Brown suggested that it seems appropriate for the panel to contribute the same

After some discussion and questions about whether the panel could donate because of its nonprofit status, a motion

From page 6 resources and executive assistant Pawul cited the state requirements and paperwork that are only increasing with time

“I think it's something that we need to do,” he said, noting that they are the only fire district in Lee County that does not already have one

Also during the meeting, Pawul provided a preliminary overview of what the commissioners will be considering when they enter into their budget talks in the upcoming months for the next fiscal year He reported that operating is stagnant but going down a bit and the anticipated capital outlay is minimal

However, debt service is expected to increase as the district needs to purchase a new apparatus

P a w u l e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e p l a n s t o include $200,000 in the budget for a new ladder truck, which would come with a 10-year lease purchase like the district did for the existing fire engine and boat He continued that the reserve truck needs to flicting zoning districts (C-1 and CM) and will instead have a singular Commercial Planned Development (CPD) zoning district

The restaurant has been in existence and pre-dates several of the zoning ordinances that are in effect today, so the CPD will allow some flexibility in the rezoning process, particularly for some of the restaurant's features that may not be able to meet a strict reading of certain codes, including parking w a s a p p r o v e d u n a n i m o u s l y t o d o n a t e

$10,000 to the fund if it legally can do so

On the same subject of the proposed L D C a n d P l a n c h a n g e s , P r e s i d e n t s Council of Associations Chairman Ken S u a r e z r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e T i m b e r s Company one of the owners of South Seas has scheduled several webinars with the various HOA and condo associations to provide information

In other news

∫ B r o w n p r o v i d e d a n u p d a t e o n Verizon and the project to improve service across the island

“They are in the process of installing the small cell towers now,” he said “They expect to have the five towers fully operational, with improved signal strength, in the first quarter of 2024 ”

“Those cell towers are going up in the be replaced, so it is just whether it is a ladder or engine truck

With property owners looking to build up for resiliency, and if proposed changes to the county's Land Development Code and Plan require taller buildings, only a ladder truck will be able to reach those Pawul also reported that the unassigned fund balance will increase from 20% to 25%

In other news

∫ Pawul reported that of the structures that applied for the tax refund following Hurricane Ian, 345 qualified on Captiva The rebates come to just shy of $120,000, which the district will not get

∫ On June 30 at about 11:30 a m , crews were alerted of a tall or high fall that occurred at the Tennis Villas at the S o u t h S e a s I s l a n d R e s o r t A p e r s o n showed up at the fire station to report the incident.

“We found the patient inside of a large

Since the restaurant also has grandfather status from several of the current zoning codes, there is no opportunity for it to expand without rezoning and bringing everything into compliance with the codes

To view the application for planned development, visit https://captivacommunitypanel us6 list-manage com/track /click?u=656168b945160d61770bf02f5&id=c0373f679 e&e=8d4baae3d0 exact locations that we previously discussed,” Brown added

He noted that two had already been installed as of the meeting

“They don't stick out all that much,”

B r o w n s a i d “ T h e y d o n ' t l o o k l i k e a tremendous eyesore ”

∫ Panel Member John Jensen provided an update on the iguana control Alfredo Fermin, with AAA Wildlife Trapping and R e m o v a l S e r v i c e s , c o m e s o u t e v e r y Tuesday and catches about 20 to 30

“Ninety percent of those are the big ones, like 2 feet or longer,” he said

Anyone who notices an abundance on their property can email the panel with their address

“When he comes out, he knows there's hotspots for them,” Jensen said

∫ Captiva Island Fire Control District

Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reiterated that busi- nesses planning to reopen post-hurricane must undergo a basic safety inspection before opening and operating

He also asked that anyone planning to demolish a structure contact the district before doing so

“Home or business,” Pawul said “We can usually make some useful training on it ”

∫ Lee County Sheriff's Office Lt Mike Sawicki reported that there have been complaints of derelict vessels showing up at properties on the Roosevelt Channel with missing registration and PIN numbers The LCSO is working with t h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e Conservation Commission on the problem

He directed property owners to contact him so they can locate the owner or have it removed bush,” Lt Shawn Kilgore said

The adult male was a construction worker working at the site

“Witnesses said he fell approximately 23 to 30 feet from the stairwell landing, so not the top floor but the final landing before the top floor,” he said “He was actually trapped inside of that bush ”

Crews had to use saws to extricate the pinned man from the vegetation

“We were able to cut the patient out,” Kilgore said

“He had very significant injuries from the fall fractures,” he added

Once fire crews and Lee County EMS stabilized the man at the scene, he was taken via ambulance to the landing zone in South Seas, where he was picked up by LeeFlight and transported to a hospital.

Pawul reiterated for people to call 911 in an emergency, not come to the fire station

∫ The district responded to 29 incidents in June compared to 72 for the same month last year

To date, the year-over-year numbers are 129 calls this year versus 342 calls for 2022

From page 6

The week ended with a celebratory banquet honoring this year's Golden

Academy of Teachers and acknowledging the hard work of all the Collegium

The foundation extended its thanks to the sponsors for making the week possible