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Welcome to COTI - Committee of the Islands - Sanibel, Florida

COTI seeks to ensure the continuity of good local government, to protect the environment,
and to preserve the 
sanctuary character of our barrier island community.


2024 ACTIVITIES & ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION


WHO IS THE COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS? THEN AND NOW
by Barbara Joy Cooley


WHO IS COTI? THEN AND NOW by BARBARA JOY COOLEY


COTI'S POSITION ON CLASS 2 E-BIKES ON THE SHARED-USE PATHS

Letter & Documents to Sanibel City Council from COTI President Bill Millar

September 6, 2024

On May 31, 2024, I shared with you COTI’s position opposing Class 2 e-bikes on Sanibel’s Shared Use Paths (SUP), citing safety concerns of speed and the weight of bikes. Since then, COTI surveyed its members. Members agree that the risks are too great. The survey sought opinions on various SUP use issues. Today the COTI board formally adopted the e-bike SUP policy position developed by COTI’s SUP Subcommittee, which I shared with you at that time (copy attached).

I am writing to you now to transmit the results of COTI’s SUP survey that we hope will be helpful as the City Council considers the second reading of its SUP ordinance at its September 9 meeting.

The survey was returned by 140 people over 98% of whom are Sanibel residents. While questions were asked to elicit responses to several policy areas, the questions related to the safe operation of the SUP had the strongest response.

  1. Only 14.4% of respondents supported allowing Class 2 e-bikes on the SUP.
  2. Speed limits were supported by 69.3% while differential speed limits were split 44.3% for and 40.7% against.
  3. Safe operation of the SUP is a high priority of the respondents with questions relating to safety garnering 61.3% to 92.1% positive responses.

Full results of the survey including the wording of the questions asked and the responses to an open-ended question are attached for your information.

Thank you for your consideration of our views.


E-bikes - 2024 Survey ResponseE-bike position paper 9-2024



 

2024 COTI ANNUAL MEETING FOLLOW-UP

Causeway-Rebuilding Engineer Kati Sherrard Keynote Speaker
Citizens of the Year Named
Read outgoing President Larry Schopp's introductory comments
and the follow-up press release:

2024 Annual Mtg. Pres. Comments
Annual Meeting Wrap-Up 3-30-2023 


COTI CONVERSATION
"IT'S TIME TO TALK TRANSPORTATION"

was held at The Community House February 21, 2024
Led by COTI Transportation Committee Chair Bill Millar

Bill Millar, Sanibel resident and Chair of COTI's Transportation Commmittee, summarized COTI’s recently released paper, "It's Time to Talk Transportation." COTI accepted questions and comments from those attending. 

The premise of the paper is that rebuilding and making our island paradise more resilient will require not only attention to the physical aspects of our roads and streets, but also consideration of other ideas, inclluding how to improve traffic flow and how to encourage biking.  We will consider  whether any form of public transportation service should be introduced in our community and what steps could be taken to accommodate the growing use of electrically powered vehicles by residents and visitors to the island.
TRANSPORTATION REPORT 3-2024


 

COTI OPPOSES SB 738, WHICH WOULD HINDER SUITS TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
1-2024 LETTER OPPOSING SB738


2023 ACTIVITIES & ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION


Joyce Owens COTI Conversation 12-13-2023

SEE THE FOLLOW-UP PRESS RELEASE DESCRIBING THE DECEMBER 13, 2023, COTI CONVERSATION WITH ARCHITECT JOYCE OWENS: 
"REBUILDING SANIBEL: AESTHETICS AND RESILIENCY - A BALANCING ACT"
COTI Conversation follow-up 12-13-2023

 



COTI'S LETTERS TO LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RE
AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE RESTRICTIONS
ON SOUTH SEAS ISLAND RESORT

8-29-2023 LETTER

6/14/2023 LETTER



COTI outlined topics of four resiliency workshops conducted by the Recovery Task Force June 5-9 2023 in Fort Myers. Contact ResilientLee for more information.


COTI URGES GOVERNOR DESANTIS
TO VETO SB 540
Letter Urging Veto of SB 540


COMMENTS 4-9-2023
RE: CITY-PROPOSED REVISION TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
TO ALLOW FOR "BONUS COMMERCIAL FLOOR AREA" 
by Larry Schopp, President
4-9-2023 Comments


COTI ANNOUNCES CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
AT 3/30/2023 ANNUAL MEETING
Annual Meeting Wrap-Up 3-30-2023


COMMENTS 3-28-2023
HB 671 - Permit Applications
by Larry Schopp, President
HB 671 R Permit Applications - Comments


COTI believes it has an important role to play in the recovery of Sanibel. We plan to host a series of “COTI Conversations” with our members and the community to solicit your thoughts on the best way forward. We hope you will join us to share your ideas.
You can write to us at COTI33957@gmail.com.



Welcome to COTI - Committee of the Islands - Sanibel, Florida

COTI seeks to ensure the continuity of good local government, to protect the environment,
and to preserve the 
sanctuary character of our barrier island community.


Genesis of "People's Choice" Amendments
to Sanibel City Charter
Genesis of People's Choice Amendments to City Charter


COTI urges Sanibel City Council
to reject ordinance that would
violate City Charter
COMMENTS ON REVISIONS 2-7-2023



COTI Opposes Variances on Woodring Road
WOODRING RD. VARIANCES - OPPOSITION BY COTI

Comments submitted in September 2022,

to be addressed at meeting postponed to January 24, 2023

 


2022 ACTIVITIES & ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

Chauncey Goss at Annual Meeting

Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith joins several other Sanibel citizens including South Florida Water Management District Chairman Chauncy Goss,  Chamber of Commerce President John Lai,  Sanibel Vice Mayor Richard Johnson, and Councilman John Henshaw as Governor DeSantis announces his veto of SB 2580 on June 8, 2022.  COTI joined thousands of concerned citizens, local government officials and business owners in voicing our opposition to this bill which, as written, would have tipped the scales against responsible Lake Okeechobee water management.

Chauncey Goss at Annual Meeting

COTI president Larry Schopp addresses the Sanibel City Council at the June 7th meeting about the wording of an ordinance that makes it easier for homeowners to install emergency generators.

Chauncey Goss at Annual Meeting

South Florida Water Management District Chairman Chauncey Goss addresses the March 2022 COTI Annual Meeting at the Sanibel Community House. Chairman Goss talked about the recent efforts the District has undertaken as they continue their work to preserve water quality in South West Florida.

COTI at Residents Reception

Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza and Mayor Holly Smith recognize COTI at the May 2022 "New Sanibel Residents" reception at BIG ARTS.



9/7/2022 LETTER TO COLONEL JAMES L. BOOTH, JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS EXPRESSING COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE OPERATIONS MANUAL (LOSOM).

LETTER TO COL. BOOTH RE DRAFT EIS FOR LOSOM


7/12/2022 LETTER TO COUNCILMAN HENSHAW URGING HIM TO PROPOSE A BAN ON SMOKING ON SANIBEL'S BEACHES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH HB 105, RECENTLY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS
HB 105 BANNING SMOKING ON BEACH


5/27/2022 UPDATED COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY PRESIDENT LARRY SCHOPP TO CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF COTI  RE: ORDINANCE 22-004 RE - GENERATOR APPLICATIONS AND APPROVALS

5-27-2022 COMMENTS  TO CITY COUNCIL RE: ORDINANCE 22-004 - GENERATORS

4/2/2022 LETTER TO SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL FROM COTI PRESIDENT LARRY SCHOPP RE: PERIL OF FLOOD EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT


PERIL OF FLOOD EAR LETTER 4-2-2022


3-2-2022 FOLLOW-UP EMAILED LETTER TO SENATOR BEN ALBRITTON FROM COTI PRESIDENT LARRY SCHOPP RE: SB 2508 AND THE UNDERMINING OF LOSOM-BASED MANAGEMENT OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND EVERGLADES RESTORATION

 


2/25/2022 STATEMENT FROM COTI PRESIDENT LARRY SCHOPP TO SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL RE: POLITICAL SIGNS - IN SUPPORT OF DOUBLE-SIDED SIGNS AND PERPENDICULAR PLACEMENT

 

STATEMENT TO CITY COUNCIL ON POLITICAL SIGN PLACEMENT


2/14/2022 LETTER TO SENATOR BEN ALBRITTON FROM COTI PRESIDENT LARRY SCHOPP RE: SB 2508 AND THE UNDERMINING OF LOSOM-BASED MANAGEMENT OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND EVERGLADES RESTORATION


READ THE LETTER RE: SB 2508 DATED 2-14-2022

 


COTI JOINS CITY OF SANIBEL IN SUPPORTING BILL (HB 105)
AIMED AT CREATING SMOKE-FREE PARKS AND BEACHES

LETTER SUPPORTING SMOKE-FREE BEACHES & PARKS



2021 ACTIVITIES & ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION


TOPIC              

 ACTIONS

  
City Manager
Selection  

Letter to City Council dated September 27, 2021

   
Gas Powered Leaf Blowers

President Larry Schopp comments to Sanibel City Council in support of Ordinance 21-004 regarding gas-powered leaf blowers

 
These comments encourage Sanibel City Council to take a leadership position on gas-powered leaf blowers and ban them.  This is a quality of life and a health and safety issue.  

Comments to City Council on Gas Powered Leaf Blowers  

   
 Caloosahatchee

Letter to the Army Corps of Engineers from President Larry Schopp regarding Modifications needed to Alternative CC to LOSOM

 
This letter objects to the Caloosahatchee remaining the primary outlet for Lake Okeechobee resulting in harmful algal blooms to the detriment of our estuary.

Modifications needed to Alternative CC to LOSOM


   
Gas Powered Leaf Blowers  Stop the Pollution

 
  This commentary by Barbara Joy Cooley, the environment chairperson for COTI, summarizes our leaf blower history and some of the harmful effects of gas- powered leaf blowers including significant air pollution in addition to noise.  

Stop the Pollution 

 

   
 
 COTI COTI chooses directors and officers.  At it's regular meeting on April 12th, COTI elected Larry Schopp President, Christine Andrews Vice President, Peter Walcott Secretary and Chet Sadler Treasurer. 



The Sanibel Vision.....



To provide a sense of direction for the future, this Vision Statement is a confirmation of the community's shared  values and goals, to guide future decisions.
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Making it all work...



Working with you, the residents and friends of Sanibel - and with the city government and other island organizations - COTI endeavors to help keep Sanibel the very special place that it is.
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