January 2023 City Newsletter

January 2023

A Message from

Mayor John Gunter

As I look ahead to 2023 and reflect on the past year, I am reminded how fortunate I am to have been elected to represent this incredible community. Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you as your Mayor. It’s my hope for all residents that 2023 is filled with opportunity and joy. I hope we come together and celebrate when amazing things happen and rally around those in need of support. We are stronger when we work together.

Sincerely,

John Gunter

Mayor

--> Click for more from the Mayor

City Surpasses Two Million Cubic Yards of Hurricane Debris Collection

As the City continues to recover from Hurricane Ian, one of the most visible signs of progress is the huge reduction of hurricane debris from Cape Coral's streets and neighborhoods.

Since hurricane debris collection began on October 5, the City's debris hauler has removed more than two million cubic yards of hurricane debris from the streets, nearly six times the amount of debris removed after Hurricane Irma. Crews have cleared debris from 1,400 miles of Cape Coral roads, approximately the distance from Cape Coral, FL, to Boston, MA.

Collection operations will resume on January 3 after a short holiday break. Crews will continue to collect debris, and additional passes will be conducted as needed, especially in areas with severe flooding. Residents can track debris collection progress here: Interactive Debris Map.

Additional updates and hurricane recovery resources can be found in the Hurricane Ian Recovery section of the City's website.

Visit Hurricane Ian Recovery Website

Improvements to Permitting Process Yield Record Results

In early August, the City implemented a 60-day action plan to improve the permitting process, which included a complete system upgrade to EnergGov 2021. Despite the timing of Hurricane Ian, the upgrade was successfully performed in early October, and staff has seen significant improvements since then.

The City issued a record total of 48,353 permits from January 1-November 30, 2022. After processing over 5,000 emergency permits in October and November related to hurricane damage, the City began accepting new building permits not related to storm damage on November 14 through the EnerGov Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal on the City Website.

Other recent improvements include:

The URL to access EnerGov was shortened for easier resident access to the portal via computers and smartphones: www.capecoral.gov/EnerGov

12 types of common permits have been simplified into “push-button” permits. These types are permits, which include residential re-roof permits and fence permits, are issued immediately after a permit application is submitted through the EnerGov CSS portal.

Additional building inspectors are being hired to improve post-storm inspections, and City inspectors are working weekends and holidays to complete outstanding inspections.

Four different private providers have been contracted to assist with post-storm inspections

The City is researching options for virtual building inspections.

Starting on January 3, 2023, the City of Cape Coral Permitting Counter at City Hall will resume its regular hours of 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The Permitting Counter will be closed to the public on Fridays. The City is also preparing to launch a virtual queue system to prevent visitors from having to wait in line at City Hall.

Learn About the City's Permitting Process

City Presents FY23 Road Resurfacing & Sidewalk Construction Plans

During the CTAC - Transportation Workshop on December 14, the Public Works Department presented its FY23 road resurfacing plan. The plan includes an estimated budget of 6.5 million, with the majority of the budget being allocated toward resurfacing local and major roadways.

--> View the FY23 Road Resurfacing presentation

Public Works also shared updated plans and funding to continue construction of the SUN Trail, as well as construct new sidewalks within a 2-mile walking distance from schools. The presentation also included a status update on sidewalks being funded by grants.

--> View the FY23 Sidewalk Construction presentation

Updates on the City's landscape and median beautification program were also shared during this meeting. While work on some of the landscaping projects was delayed due to the storm, work is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

Click below for information on the status of these projects:

Landscape Project Update

Median Beautification Program

Median Landscaping Priority List

Council Approves FY23 Utilities Master Plan

Over the years, various engineering reports, plans and documents have been prepared to outline a phased program of infrastructure improvements to expand utility services to the residents of Cape Coral. However, as the City continues to grow, an updated comprehensive potable water, wastewater, and irrigation quality water and supporting utilities master plan was needed.

The City Utilities Department retained AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM) to provide professional engineering services for development of a Comprehensive Utilities Master Plan Update to address:

Commercial and residential growth
Prioritization for expanding utility service
System capacity to meet projected demands
Reliability of service
Regulatory requirements

On December 7, 2022, City Council approved the new Utilities Master Plan. The City priority is to expand utility service to all City residents and commercial developments. There are plans to extend utility services to North 1 and the Pine Island Corridor by FY 2024, North 3 by FY 2025, and then the City UEP proposed schedule will follow the established priority order and expand utilities to two UEP areas every five years.

View the Utilities Master Plan

Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site Continues as Ongoing Program

In January 2022, the City partnered with Waste Pro to offer residents a bulk waste drop-off site as part of a year-long pilot program. Due to the success of the trial period, the Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site has become a permanent program. The site is a complimentary service and an addition to the residential bulk item collection already provided.

The bulk waste drop-off site is located on the west side of the North Cape Government Complex at 1200 Kismet Parkway; however, the bulk-drop off-site entrance is off NW 14th Avenue at the western portion of the complex. This site is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Commercial businesses are not permitted to use the facility because the program is an optional service for residential use only. Proof of residency may be required to dispose of items. Household chemical waste and recycling will not be accepted at the drop-off location.

For more information on the Bulk Waste Drop-Off Site and to see a list of acceptable and unacceptable bulk waste items, visit www.CapeCoral.gov.

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.

Follow CCPD on Facebook

City Welcomes New Parks & Rec Director

The City of Cape Coral is pleased to welcome Joe Petrella as the new Director of Parks & Recreation. He joined the City's Executive Leadership Team on Monday, December 12.

Petrella has more than 24 years of parks and recreation experience, beginning in 1998 as a Recreation Supervisor in Vernon, CT. He has held multiple leadership positions, including Director of Parks and Recreation in Great Falls, MT, and Recreation Manager in Chandler, AZ.

Petrella has a Master’s degree in Recreation Management, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Connecticut.

Please join us in welcoming Joe Petrella to the City of Cape Coral.

Parks & Recreation Winter/Spring Activity Guide is Online

The Parks & Recreation Winter/Spring Activity Guide, which covers the months of January-April 2023, is now available to view online at www.CapeParks.com.

This electronic document contains clickable links to online registration making it easy to learn about upcoming classes, programs, and events, and sign up to participate.

Please note: This issue of the Activity Guide is available online only. For more details, click on the link below or visit CapeParks.com.

View Jan-Apr P&R Activity Guide

Cape Coral Junior Golf Association & Coral Oaks Award Three Scholarships

For the sixth year in a row, the Cape Coral Junior Golf Association (CCJGA) and Coral Oaks Golf Course awarded scholarships to children who have participated in the Junior Golf Program and attained the scholastic criteria required.

This year, Coral Oaks and Cape Coral Junior Golf Association awarded three Scholarships to deserving young students:

Mackenzie Paolino received a $1500 scholarship for the fourth consecutive year
Austin Carver received his first scholarship for $1500
Aiden Denlinger received his first scholarship of $1500

The Cape Coral Junior Golf Association is a 501(3c) nonprofit youth sports organization that has been sponsoring the Junior Golf Program at Coral Oaks Golf Course for the past 30 years. The Association’s goal is to introduce and stimulate interest in golf for children ages 7 to 18 by offering golf instruction and teaching golf etiquette and the rules of golf while providing healthy competition and fellowship.

The Junior Golf Association program at Coral Oaks Golf Course is held for six weeks every summer, with registration taking place in March. Visit the Junior Golf website for more details.

Visit Cape Coral Junior Golf Website

Get to Know Your City Government

Did you know the City of Cape Coral operates under a Council-Manager form of government?

Cape Coral's Council members are elected at large from seven districts. The mayor is also elected at large and is the eighth member of the Council.

The Council is the legislative body of the City. Their power and authority are identified in the state constitution, state law, and city charter. Their primary responsibilities include creating public laws (ordinances) and policies (resolutions). They adopt an annual budget and manage the use of public funds. They also adopt the City’s comprehensive land use plan or comp plan.

The Mayor presides at all council meetings, is the chief elected officer, and serves as the ceremonial head of the government. The mayor’s powers are similar to other council members as he is a voting member of the Cape Coral City Council.

With this form of government, the Mayor and Council appoint a City Manager who serves as the chief administrative officer of the City. They also appoint a City Auditor, City Attorney, and members of all boards and commissions. The City Manager hires all department directors and oversees the day-to-day operations of the city.

Regular Council Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 4:30 pm in Council Chambers. Click below to learn more.