August 2022
A Message from
Mayor John Gunter

It’s August already and as our rainy season continues, I encourage residents to continue to refrain from the use of phosphorous and/or nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Runoff from these nutrients feeds algae in our waterways and can cause harmful algae to bloom and affect our quality of life.  
 
The hurricane season began June 1 and being prepared for severe weather is the best way to keep you and your family safe. Our city is well-prepared thanks in part to our Fire Department and its Emergency Management Division. Hurricane season continues and I encourage residents to be prepared as storm threats remain through November 30.
 
Speaking of safety, the new school year begins this month, and your City Council and the Cape Coral Police Department’s school resource officers are committed to the safety and security of our students. I’m asking all motorists to be extra careful so students can get to and from school safely.  City Council is doing its part with plans to continue to fund the construction of more sidewalks prioritizing those near schools. Also, last year the city expanded the partnership between the city and the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs of Cape Coral by replacing deteriorating picnic tables at school bus stops with new longer-lasting benches.
 
City Council is in the process of setting the FY 2023 Operating Budget for the City. What is before us now is the responsibility of establishing a budget for the year ahead. We are working with the City Manager and his staff to develop a budget that will provide the level of service our community expects...READ MORE-->

Sincerely,
John Gunter
Mayor

High Service Pump Building & Irrigation Tanks to Host Ribbon-Cutting on August 5

Construction was recently completed on a remote storage and pumping facility located on a City-owned parcel serving the City’s irrigation systems. The new facility includes two 5-MG prestressed, reinforced concrete ground storage tanks, a high service pump station, an electrical room housed in a concrete masonry building, plus partial chemical storage and feed systems that are included within the building and outside canopy. This Capital Improvement project also includes:
 
  • Reclaimed water transmission pipeline from the new facility to the intersection of Pine Island Road and Commercial Park Place, where a connection is made to the irrigation water distribution system.

  • Electrical distribution equipment, a standby power system with a diesel generator and diesel storage system, PLC-based control system, instrumentation, and radio infrastructure to communicate with the City SCADA system.
 
  • Temporary erosion and sediment control, grading, sodding, perimeter wall, electric access gate, communication tower, and landscaping as detailed on the plans and required by governing authorities.
 
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for this new Utility facility will be held on Friday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. at 610 Commercial Park Place, just north of SW Pine Island Rd. and west of Chiquita Blvd. The public is welcome to attend.
City Offers EnerGov Training Workshops
 
The City of Cape Coral has begun offering regular EnerGov training workshops for contractors, private builders, and any other interested parties. These training workshops include staff presentations on a variety of EnerGov-related topics and will provide an opportunity for hands-on training and troubleshooting with members of the Development Services and Information Technology Services teams. 
 
The schedule for August workshops is as follows:
 
·    Wed, 8/3, 2pm - Applying for Common Permits - Sign Up Here
·    Thu, 8/11, 9am - Inspection Scheduling - Sign Up Here
·    Wed, 8/17, 9am - Single-Family Residential Permits - Sign Up Here
·    Thu, 8/25, 9am - Licensing/Registering - Sign Up Here
 
All training workshops will take place in City Council Chambers, located at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33990. The training workshops will be limited to 50 attendees and signing-up is strongly recommended. 
 
To reserve your spot, please sign up by clicking the “Sign Up Here” link next to each session you would like to attend. For the workshop portion of the sessions, attendees should plan bring a laptop computer to fully participate.
City Announces New Online Bidding System
 
The City of Cape Coral is pleased to announce the use of a new online bidding system for the procurement of goods and services. All vendors interested in doing business with the City will need to register with this new system to receive communication about bid events relating to their respective goods or services.
 
Once registered, vendors will have the ability to log in to the system to view and respond to bid events as they are issued. The official "Go Live" date for electronic submissions will take place later in the year. All registered vendors will be notified.
 
Current City vendors who received an email from Ion Wave about this change should follow the instructions on the email. Any questions regarding registration can be sent to eprocurement@capecoral.gov.
Bulk Waste Day Set for August 6 at City Hall
 
The City partners with Waste Pro and Lee County's Solid Waste Division to offer quarterly drop-off events to collect bulk items and household chemical waste (HCW). The next Bulk Waste event will be held on Saturday, August 6.
 
Waste will be collected from 7:00-11:00 a.m. in the City Hall parking lot at 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard. Proof of residency may be required to drop off items.
 
Learn more about Bulk Waste Events, including what items will be accepted, by clicking the button below: 
Two Local Referendums Up for Vote in Primary Election

Through the petition process, a referendum allows citizens to refer acts of the Legislature to the ballot before they become law. A referendum also permits the legislature to refer proposed legislation to the electorate for approval or rejection.
 
The following referendums regarding amendments to the City Charter will be on the ballot during the Primary Election scheduled for August 23.
 
Filling of Vacancies of Mayor and Councilmembers - Ordinance 27-22
 
·    What is it? This is an amendment to the City Charter regarding filling City Council vacancies.
 
·    What does it do?  In the event that a special election is required to fill a Council vacancy, if there are three or more qualified candidates, a special primary election will be required. The special primary election would need to occur 90 days after and before 120 days from the vacancy date. It also requires a special general election to be held within 45 days following certification of the special primary election results.
 
 
Authentication, Codification, and Availability of City Records - Ordinance 28-22
 
·    What is it? The referendum removes the requirement of printed copies being maintained in libraries and public offices and will allow accessibility by electronic means. 
 
·    What does it do? It proposes allowing the City Clerk to authenticate and maintain ordinances and resolutions in codified form, making them accessible to the public quickly once they are adopted.  
 
Cape Coral's 2021 Drinking Water Quality Report Available
 
The City of Cape Coral's drinking water met or surpassed all federal and state standards for 2021.
 
This annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), tells you where your water comes from, how it is processed, and what our tests show about it. It also contains information on testing results for potentially harmful contaminants in your tap water. 
 
The City of Cape Coral is proud to once again have high-quality, award-winning tap water that meets state and federal standards for both appearance and safety. Thanks to our residents' conservation efforts, Cape Coral Utilities is among the leaders in per-capita drinking water usage, with some of the lowest usage numbers in the state.
 
The Utilities Department is committed to providing residents with a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water by processing and testing our water using sophisticated equipment and advanced procedures.
 
A printed copy of this report has been mailed to each billing customer and can be accessed electronically by clicking on the link below. 
Back to School Safety
 
While it may be hard to believe, it is "Back to School" time! According to a report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, now is the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians. Below are some safety tips to follow as summer vacation wraps up and students head back to school.
 
1.     Respect the big yellow bus. Yield when they are attempting to merge, maintain a significant distance behind them, and never pass a stopped school bus.
 
2.     Get in the Zone. Always abide by school zone speed limits (usually 20mph) and look out for pedestrians.
 
3.     Watch pedestrians. Pedestrians also need to remain visible* and abide by the rules of the road.
 
4.     Do not be distracted. Stay focused on driving. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by phones, GPS, electronic devices, etc.
 
5.     Buckle up. Always keep your seatbelt fastened. It’s the law, and it saves lives!
*The Cape Coral Fire Department is offering FREE backpack reflective flashers to help students be more visible as they wait for the bus or walk to school in the mornings.
 
Please stop by any of the City’s 12 fire stations or the Fire Administration building to pick one up! 
 
--> For more information on station locations, visit the CCFD website at www.capecoralfire.com
Cape Coral Police Department News

The men and women of the Cape Coral Police Department work hard every day to help keep our City safe. Click on the newsroom link to see recent law enforcement news and follow them on Facebook for regular updates.
Fall Sports Registration Begins August 1
 
Fall sports are back and the City of Cape Coral Athletic Division will begin accepting registrations for its youth and adult fall programs on a first-come, first-serve basis on Monday, August 1. 
 
Youth sports leagues include Cal Ripken Fall Baseball (4-12 yrs), Biddy Basketball (5-8 yrs), Youth Volleyball (9-15 yrs), Jr/Sr Fall Baseball (13-16 yrs), and Junior Tennis (7-18 yrs).
 
Adult sports leagues include Men's, Women's, Co-Rec, and Church Softball, and 7-on-7 Flag Football.
 
Get more information on the sports being offered, as well as individual and team fees, and register online at www.CapeParks.com.
Parks GO Bond Projects Making Progress
 
In 2018, Cape Coral voters approved a $60 million expansion of the city's parks and recreation amenities.
 
During the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting on July 18, the Parks Maintenance Division presented updates on several Parks GO Bond projects currently under construction, including Cultural Park, Gator Trails Park, Sands Park, and Del Prado Linear Park.
 
Highlights include pavilions, retention ponds, playgrounds, utilities, and multi-use paths that have been installed or are currently in progress.
 
See photos, project updates, and the final site plans for all of the new parks at www.capecoral.gov/GObond.
Reminder: New 2-Day Watering Schedule in Effect
 
City Council approved a new year-round two-day irrigation watering schedule in June that applies to all Cape Coral residents. The new citywide irrigation watering schedule applies to all Cape Coral properties whether on private well or City water. 
 
Residents still have the same number of hours for irrigation; however, the new schedule adds more time slots reducing demand by 40 percent. The new schedule will allow the City to better manage watering demand, pressure, and flow, and it will improve water pressure for reclaimed water fire hydrants. Watering days and times depend on the last number of the home address.  
REMINDERS:
August Happenings Around Cape Coral
 
 
Monday, August 1
 
Friday, August 5
  • Two New Exhibits Open at the Cape Coral Art Center
  • "Folks, Tails, Blooms, Creepy Crawlies, the Sun and the Moon" will be on display in the Main Gallery from Aug. 5-25

  • "Chosen Family," reflecting themes of equality and acceptance, will be on display in the Side Gallery from Aug. 5-Sept. 22
 
Saturday, August 6
 
Friday, August 12
 
Saturday, August 13
 
Monday, August 15-Saturday, August 20
 
Saturday, August 20
 
Sunday, August 21
Your City Council