Part 4: 1973-1974 How to Fix the Growth Problem – Sanibel’s 50th Anniversary Stories “The Way We Were”

December 2, 2024 – The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village is celebrating the City of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary – and its own 40th anniversary – by focusing on “The Way We Were,” which will be the theme of the museum’s February 18 fundraiser.

To complement the new exhibit showcasing the city’s incorporation, the museum is working on a series of articles outlining how the city came to be.

This is Part 4, 1973-1974: How to Fix the Growth Problem

Experts were hired to assist with the passage of necessary legislation in Tallahassee to allow binding votes to replace Lee County Authority with a new “City of Sanibel” local government.

In January, 1974, the Home Rule Study Group (HRSG) hired Eileen Lotz as a consultant. She was considered to be an expert on city government. Soon Lotz would come to be known as “The Mother of Sanibel.” She was asked to construct a draft home rule charter for the City of Sanibel, which was presented to a legislative delegation and passed on to their attorney for examination. The HRSG endorsed the Lotz report.

In March, 500 Sanibel residents attended a meeting at the Community House and endorsed the proposed home rule charter. Now the charter would be put on the November 5, 1974, ballot for incorporation.

Items that would help push the vote for the endorsement to be approved were:

1. Lee County had not produced a land-use plan for Sanibel.
2. Sanibel was not receiving its fair share of county financing for the causeway.
3. The county said there would be possible additional taxes for services for unincorporated areas.
4. The county addressed the tax issue by saying, “Only unincorporated areas of Lee County would get a fair share of the causeway refinancing.”

Next week: 1974 – The Vote