Sanibel Captiva Chamber reopens

During the past months since Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce has had strung yellow ribbon across about 50 island businesses for owners and staff to snip in celebration of their triumph over storm destruction. On Tuesday, June 6, Chamber Board Chair Calli Johnson was doing

In The News

State DOE: SWFL continuing to add jobs in midst of Ian recovery

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Fort Myers’ private sector employment increased by 4.7% over the year, adding 11,800 jobs, despite being one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian. As of May 2023, with the exception of October 2022, Florida employers have added jobs for 36 months since May 2020. Industries gaining the most jobs over the year in the Naples area were education and health services, adding 1,300 jobs, and construction, adding 1,000 jobs. the snipping as an estimated 125 chamber members and residents gathered to cheer the reopening of the Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center on Causeway Road.

The Naples area’s unemployment rate was 2.5% in May 2023, a 0.1 percentage point increase from 2.4% one year ago. The Naples area’s private sector employment was 151,500 in May 2023, a decrease of 300 jobs (-0.2%) over the year. In May 2023, the Naples area’s labor force was 190,375, down 547 (-0.3%) over the year.

“It’s hard to believe that on October 5, the first day we were allowed back on the island after Ian, my board members and I came back on island by boat,”

Chamber President and CEO John Lai told gathered celebrators. “Eight months seems like forever, and it seems like yesterday all at the same time. If you would have told me that we would be here eight months from that day for this occasion, I would have wanted to sip whatever it was you were drinking.”

CHAMBER See page 14

Important Business Notes

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LEGAL & SECURITY

Lee County Bar Association holds inclusion, equality panel

Local legal professionals recently gathered for a lively panel discussion entitled, “Inclusion & Equality: A Look From All Angles.”

Left: The panel addresses audience-provided questions. Moderator Kelly Fayer, Esq.; Hon. Charles Williams; Scott Westheimer, Esq.; Ita Neymotin, Esq.; Hon. Josephine Gagliardi; Hon. Gilberto Perez.

Right: LBCA President, Spencer Cordeil, Esq. addresses the audience.

Photos by Jim Jett

Guest Commentary

Mission accomplished: New resolution for enforcement of liens, fines

I’m pleased to report the new “beefed up” resolution I recently introduced to my fellow Commissioners passed unanimously. This now puts more teeth into our County Ordinance which dictates the collection of fines and imposed liens on property when an owner has broken the law. This newly unanimously passed document also gives more specific guidance to our Code Enforcement Board and county staff concerning our expectations on collecting liens and fines to ensure all know our starting position is collection in full and any extenuating circumstances are the exception — not the rule.

Soon after I was elected in November 2020, it became immediately apparent Collier County had a solid operation when it came to “issuing fines or liens” but a horrible record actually enforcing and collecting. We work hard to balance the budget and save dollars and dimes so we can best utilize taxpayer money, but when it comes to collecting legitimate fines (money owed to taxpayers that can be utilized by the County elsewhere) we somehow have been “Santa Claus” for many years. Not any longer.

There are always unique and extenuating circum- stances. A citizen who possibly hasn’t mowed their grass because they’ve been in the hospital for a significant period of time and a ticket was taped to their door — we’re not looking to stretch those citizens over hot coals and demand the money. Bringing the property into compliance once they are able or working with them (or a neighbor) to find a solution is our expectation — that’s the exception. However, legitimate fines can pile up daily but are often ignored. Often when the contractor or citizen finally fixes it (and brings the violation into compliance) current County precedence either greatly reduced the total or wiped out the fine completely. Not any longer. ance — but the fines for violation still have merit. We shouldn’t quickly excuse them because they “finally” decided to follow the law. As a Commissioner I wanted to make it clear to our Code Enforcement Board they shouldn’t quickly or exponentially reduce any fines as their first course of action. A graduated reduction can be considered (or not) — but our initial going in position should be payment in full, especially if there are NOT extenuating circumstances but rather a clear case of ignoring the law.

BY RICK LOCASTRO Guest Columnist

We have developers, landowners, etc., who often knowingly violate County code and also ignore the exponentially increasing fines that accumulate as they ignore the violation. It’s commendable if months or even years later they bring the issue into compli-