A Message from Mayor John Gunter |
Welcome to the February edition of Cape Connect. It’s only the second month of the year and already 2022 is shaping up to be an extremely busy year for Cape Coral.
Some of our top priorities, which include the expansion of utilities, the addition and renovation of city parks, residential and commercial growth, public safety, and finalizing the strategic plan, have built significant momentum and continue to propel us forward. Our strategic plan includes managing the city’s increase in population and ongoing development while providing exceptional services to our community.
Like any large city, we have challenges we are working to overcome. As many of you are acutely aware, our community is experiencing horticulture and bulk waste pickup delays throughout our city. I am committed to resolving this issue, and I’m asking for your help. I am asking residents to use our 311 Call Center to report missed waste collection pickups. Reporting your missed pickup helps the city to analyze the magnitude of the problem, as well as to resolve individual concerns by identifying homes where waste collection has been delayed. Council will be discussing possible alternative solutions at our upcoming meetings. In the interim I appreciate your continued patience and support until we get this issue resolved.
Finally, I can’t complete the February edition without mentioning Valentine’s Day. I think it’s a great time to recognize the people who are the most important to us. Please remember your family, friends, neighbors, first responders, city employees, and volunteers who make a positive impact in our lives. Our community is a great place to live because of the people who live and work here. Whether you give them a smile or send a thoughtful thank you message, a little goes a long way.
I am honored to serve as your Mayor and will continue to work diligently to set high expectations for our community while moving our city forward.
Sincerely,
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North 1 UEP Design Nearing Completion
City Staff presented a North 1 UEP Project Update to Cape Coral City Council on October 13, 2021. Due to past concerns that the UEP areas are too large, City staff brought forward a split of the North 1 UEP with Area "A" (West of Del Prado) and Area "B" (East of Del Prado) per the attached plan. An additional area to the east of the Project (Contract 11) will be completed with the North 1 Project. The design of the original boundary of North 1 is approximately 80% complete, with Phase 1-A at 90% complete and Phase 1-B at 80% complete with Contract 11 at approximately 30% complete. The N1 UEP design includes the following: 14 new Lift Stations, 2 existing Lift Stations, which will require upgrades, two Master Pump Stations, two Irrigation Storage Tanks, replacement of existing storm drainpipes, replacement of existing catch basins, and newly paved roads.
Currently, the design anticipates multiple contracts for the Utilities, one contract for the two Master Pump Stations and one contract for the two 5 MG Irrigation Tanks w/Booster Pump Station (Storage Tanks).
The project area is located in the northeast quadrant of the City of Cape Coral. It is generally bounded on the west by Santa Barbara Boulevard and Andalusia Boulevard, on the south by Hermosa Canal, Arrowhead Lake, Fairmont Canal, Balmoral Canal, Lake Zurich, Zurich Canal, and Banjo Canal, in the east by Northeast 24th Avenue, Diplomat Parkway and Corbett Road and on the North by Northeast 28th Street.
Construction for Phase 1 is anticipated to begin at the end of 2022; Phase 2 is projected to start at the end of 2023. Availability of assessment details for North 1 UEP is anticipated in late summer or early fall of 2022. The City currently expects completion in 2025.
Click below to learn more information on Capital Improvement UEP Projects:
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Bulk Item Disposal and Household Chemical Waste Collection Set for February 5
The City is partnering with Waste Pro and Lee County’s Solid Waste Division to collect bulk items and household chemical waste (HCW) at a disposal event on Saturday, February 5 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event will be held in the City Hall parking lot (1015 Cultural Park Boulevard).
These quarterly events provide another option to residents for the removal of large items as well as a safe and responsible way to dispose of HCW.
Items that will be accepted at the event include:
- Drain cleaners
- Pool chemicals
- Pesticides/herbicides
- Liquid paint and thinners
- Polishes and strippers
- Fluorescent tubes
- Electronics
- Car and boat batteries
- Auto oil
- Gas propane tanks
- Appliances
- Mattresses
- Yard Waste
Materials for drop-off will be collected from trunks of vehicles and beds of trucks. Proof of residency may be required.
Mark your calendars for future events to be held on:
- May 7, 2022
- August 6, 2022
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New Utility Billing System is Live
The City of Cape Coral has launched its new online billing and payment system. The software will improve efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness to meet the needs of Cape Coral’s utility customers more effectively. Now that the system is live, customers will notice new billing statements beginning this month.
The new Customer Self Service (CSS) portal allows users to perform any of the following functions quickly and easily:
- Sign up for electronic utility bills
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Set up automatic recurring payments (feature not functioning yet)
- Schedule a one-time utility payment
- Change physical &/or email address
- See account details (e.g., consumption history)
Note: All customers previously enrolled in electronic billing and/or automatic payments must sign up for these options in the new system. Paper bills will be mailed to customers who do not elect to receive electronic payments.
Traditional payment options, such as paying in person at City Hall, are still available.
Click below for more details about the new system, instructions for use and a place to sign up and link your account.
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February Happenings Around Cape Coral
Sunday, Feb. 6
Saturday, Feb. 12
Monday, Feb. 21
Saturday, Feb. 26
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Code Compliance Vehicles Get a Makeover |
Say hello to the redesigned City of Cape Coral Code Compliance Vehicles! Improvements include:
- Provide better visibility in the daylight
- Reflective for the safety of nighttime staff and residents
- Quickly see how to contact 311 with questions about city services or learn more at the city website
- Graphics use updated city logo
- Easy to distinguish Code Compliance vehicles from other city vehicles
- Professional appearance and aesthetically pleasing
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Redistricting Discussion at Council Meeting
In the January 19th Regular Meeting, Cape Coral City Council heard recommendations from the Redistricting Commission regarding district boundary changes. The two options presented were based on critical factors.
Considerations include the U.S. Census data, taken every ten years. Analysis of this data ensures the city's districts are similar in population size. Projected growth areas are also considered when looking at the division of districts.
Council voted to approve the second option presented at that meeting. Districts 3 and 5 had the most significant changes to boundaries. The community of Sandoval now belongs to a single district.
New boundaries mean new constituents for Councilmembers Tom Hayden and Robert Welsh.
Click below to watch a recap of this discussion during the January 19th meeting.
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Fiscal Year '23 Budget Work Begins Early
Taking a proactive approach to developing the fiscal year 2023 budget, City Council started the process early at the Winter Retreat in late January. The retreat's objectives included:
- Identifying funding priorities and service levels.
- Reviewing and considering policies for financial sustainability.
- Identifying a potential millage rate target.
Some priorities discussed include funding for public safety, new sidewalks and more median landscaping, supporting economic growth and development, and environmental and recreational improvements in neighborhoods.
Future steps in the process coming in the months ahead include departments developing their operating budgets and collaborating with our Financial Services Director to set strategic spending priorities and work toward the eventual budget adoption.
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Parks and Recreation
GO Bond Updates
Construction Already Underway on New Parks;
Improvements To Begin on Giuffrida Park Starting in February
After much planning and permitting, physical construction has officially started at two of Cape Coral's future neighborhood parks. The initial work at Cultural Park and Gator Circle Neighborhood Park includes setting up erosion and site control fencing, performing any vegetative clearing and rough grading of the site, and installing storm drain pipes and detention ponds.
In addition to these two parks, physical construction is expected to begin in February at Sands Park and Joe Coviello Park (formerly Oasis Woods Park).
Contractors are scheduled to begin work on February 8 at Giuffrida Park, located at 1044 NE 4th Street. Their work will begin outside of the existing public facilities at the park. Starting Monday, February 28, the entire park will be closed to the public for approximately six months as the main areas of the park undergo construction.
Giuffrida Park improvements, funded by the Parks GO Bond, include the addition of walking pathways, stormwater ponds, overflow parking, and pickleball courts. These improvements are in addition to the new playground shade cover and play structures added in the fall.
While Giuffrida Park is closed, the public is encouraged to visit other local neighborhood parks with playgrounds, including Paul Sanborn Park (2310 SE 3rd St) and Saratoga Lake Park (170 SE 4th Terr).
See site plans, park renderings, and construction updates for all of the Parks GO Bond projects in the GO Bond section of the City's website at www.capecoral.gov/GObond.
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Coral Police Department News |
Cape Coral was recently ranked among the top 10 safest cities in the U.S., according to a recent study by MoneyGeek, a personal finance and technology company. The ranking is due in no small part to the hard work of our men and women of the Cape Coral Police Department. Here are highlights of some recognition for their hard work. Click on any headline or the newsroom link below for more details:
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Cape Coral Fire Department Offers Free CPR Classes and Infant CPR Anytime Kits |
Did you know the Cape Coral Fire Department offers free Family & Friends CPR classes for the community? These classes teach the lifesaving skills of adult hands-only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR, and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. In addition, the CCFD has a limited number of free Infant CPR Anytime Kits available. Click below for upcoming class dates and details. |
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