COTI’s Public Annual Meeting & 50th Anniversary Event

CELEBRATE THE COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS’ – AND SANIBEL’S – 50TH ANNIVERSARY AT COTI’S ANNUAL MEETING

WHILE THE EVENT IS FREE, SIGN-UP IS REQUESTED.
Click HERE to reserve your spot for this free event

“Shifting Sands and Shifted Baselines: The Once and Future Sanibel Plan” will be the topic when Dr. Thomas Ankersen addresses the Committee of the Islands’ annual meeting on Sunday, March 30. With the impending update of The Sanibel Plan – a critical blueprint for the island’s future, the talk is a key learning opportunity for all who have an interest in Sanibel.

Dr. Ankersen is emeritus professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Director Emeritus of the Florida Sea Grant Legal Program. His presentation at 4:30 p.m. will follow a brief business meeting set for 4:00 p.m. During the program, COTI will announce the organization’s Citizen of the Year.

Professor Thomas Ankersen

The public is most welcome to attend this special COTI event, which will be at The Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Beverages and appetizers will be served. Information about COTI will be available, and there will be an opportunity to join or renew membership.

The Sanibel Plan has a history like few others and is a National Planning Landmark. The Plan’s origin story dovetails with a broader national and state historical context; its authors are revered planning illuminati. Backed by a committed community, the Plan – and the city it guides – have stood the test of time, distinguishing Sanibel from the overdevelopment that characterizes most other barrier islands.

But time marches on. A changing climate has created new, and perhaps existential, challenges for the island, its inhabitants, and its natural resources. After recounting the Sanibel Plan’s venerable history, Professor Ankersen will address the challenges – and opportunities – Sanibel and its sister islands face as they seek a pathway to climate adaptation.