November 2022 City Newsletter

November 2022

A Message from

Mayor John Gunter

A little over a month ago, Hurricane Ian made landfall, which devasted our region. Hurricane Ian was the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935. We are still feeling the aftermath of its destructive force. In the storm’s wake, millions of us were without power. The devastation left behind could be seen for miles, with snapped power poles and power lines littering the roadways. It heavily damaged our homes and building structures, many of which took on water, and the impact of the storm surge could be seen all along the coast as well as inland. Many people were forced to flee their homes, and sadly some had no homes to return to.

As soon as it was safe, our Public Work crews were in full force and could be seen clearing the debris off of the major roadways. This allowed our search and rescue teams to access those in dire need of assistance and provide aid to those in distress or imminent danger. As many of you know, it will take months, even years, to rebuild. As we continue to recover, please know that you are not in this alone. Many of you are experiencing emotional distress, overwhelming anxiety, and constant worrying. Together, we must remain strong and remain unified as a community. READ MORE-->

Sincerely,

John Gunter

Mayor

--> Click for more from the Mayor

Hurricane Ian Recovery Efforts are Underway

As the City continues to recover from the worst natural disaster in Cape Coral's history, we want to thank the community for coming together to help those in need. We also want to thank everyone for their patience as staff works hard to rebuild infrastructure, clear debris, repair roads and street signs, and reopen parks and other facilities damaged by the storm.

Debris: The City is working with Ceres Environmental to collect, haul, and dispose of what amounts to approximately 6.9 years of Horticulture and 4.4 years of Solid Waste debris left in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

160 trucks working seven days a week to cover and clear the 120 square-mile city as quickly as possible
Goal is to have 90% of the debris cleared by the end of November

Hurricane Ian Recovery: A section of our City website is devoted to Hurricane Ian Recovery information and includes:

Interactive Debris Collection Map
Emergency Permitting
FEMA 50% Rule
Variety of Individual and Business Assistance Resources

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center: A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opened in Cape Coral on Friday, November 4, at Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Boulevard. The DRC will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you notice an issue in the community that needs to be addressed, such as down or missing street signs, please contact the Citizen Action Center by cell phone at 3-1-1 or at 239-574-0425. All issues will be tracked and assigned to the appropriate department to handle.

The City understands that this is a difficult time for many residents, and we appreciate everyone's support and patience during the recovery process. We have a long road ahead, but will get through this #CapeCoralTogether.

Visit Hurricane Ian Recovery Website

General Election Includes Local Referendum Plus Mayor and Three Council Seats

During the General Election on November 8, Cape Coral voters will elect a Mayor and City Council members to represent Districts 1, 4, and 6. In addition, Cape Coral voters will be able to vote on the following local referendum:

Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption - Ordinance 31-22

· What is it? The Ad Valorem Tax Exemption is an economic development incentive tool made available to cities through the Florida Constitution that must be approved by the city's voters. Cape Coral voters will be asked whether or not to approve the Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption.

· What does it do? It grants tax exemptions to developers of specific projects, which will facilitate the growth and creation of business enterprises in Cape Coral.

See More Details on Ballot Referendum

Emergency Permitting for Hurricane Damage

With the amount of damage incurred by Hurricane Ian, the City's Permitting Department is operating extended hours at two physical locations to assist with hurricane damage permits.

The first phase of the Disaster Recovery procedures is currently expected to take 180 days. It focuses on helping residents and business owners obtain the necessary permits and inspections to correct the damage to their current inhabitable homes and businesses, with expedited permitting and review.

Please note: Permitting related to storm damage will be given priority over the processing of existing (pre-hurricane) permits. New permits not related to storm damage are not being accepted at this time.

See Emergency Permitting Info

Check FEMA 50% Rule Before Making Major Repairs

The City is advising residents who own a home that was built before 1981 not to make major repairs until after December 1, 2022.

The 50% Rule, a regulation of the National Flood Insurance Program, requires that structures with damage exceeding 50% of their market value be rebuilt consistently with the current flood elevation and Florida Building Code.

Cape Coral City Council is expediting the approval of an ordinance that may remove regulations, to make it easier on the homeowner when determining calculations for the 50% rule.

See Details on FEMA 50% Rule

Cape Coral's 2022-2030 Strategic Plan is Complete

An updated Strategic Plan for the City of Cape Coral has been developed with input from the community, City employees, and the Cape Coral City Council. This plan sets the course for the City to achieve a specific set of priorities, goals, and objectives by 2030.

Rather than adapting to the future, strategic planning focuses on allocating resources to bridge the gap between present conditions and future goals. The City of Cape Coral's 2022-2030 Strategic Plan is a management tool that helps the organization assess the current operating environment, anticipate changes, and envision the future. This plan provides a framework for decision-making and helps meet the community's future needs.

View Cape Coral 2030 Strategic Plan

Upgraded Utility Billing Software Requires Customer Registration

The City of Cape Coral performed a necessary upgrade to its Utility Billing software in early October to improve the system's security.

All customers who wish to use the online Citizen Self-Service (CSS) portal must re-register in the CSS tab of the upgraded portal.

Note: If you use the same email address that was previously registered, your linked accounts and preferred payment methods will remain in place, and you will not need to set up recurring bank draft or credit card payments again.

See How to Register

Water Bill Adjustments for Hurricane Leaks

We understand the financial difficulties our citizens are facing due to the impact of Hurricane Ian.

For those Cape Coral utility customers who incurred a high read or high water bill as a result of hurricane damage to your property, please see information about the City's "Hurricane Leak Repair Adjustment" option on the Utilities Customer Service web page.

Customers who meet the criteria may contact Customer Service about potential adjustments to their bill by calling 239-574-7722, pressing 3, then pressing 5.

Visit Utilities Customer Service

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

Inaugural Trunk-or-Treat at City Hall is a Monstrous Success!

Thousands of fun-seekers of all ages came out to celebrate Halloween and the fall season by participating in the City's Inaugural Trunk-or-Treat event on Friday, October 28.

This skele-fun event included free candy giveaways, music, a slightly scary zone, and a showing of the movie "Hocus Pocus" on the City's front lawn at dusk.

Thank you to everyone who came out to be a part of this community celebration!

Click here to see a photo album from the event on the City's Facebook page.

The next event at City Hall will be the 2nd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting event on Thursday, December 8, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Veterans Appreciation Breakfast to be Held November 11

Due to Hurricane Ian, Cape Coral's annual Veterans Day Parade was canceled. In place of the parade, the Cape Coral Special Events Division will host a Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Founders Park on Friday, November 11, starting at 9:00 a.m. This event is not open to the public. It is only open to Veterans with a Military ID plus one guest.

Space is limited, so all Veterans who would like to attend must register in advance. Those Veterans who plan to bring a guest must pre-register for two tickets (all tickets are free). Once capacity is reached, the event will be "sold out," so reserve your tickets today!

Veterans: Click to Reserve Tickets

Cape Coral Fire Department Annual Toy Drive Coming Soon

Beginning the week of Thanksgiving, the Cape Coral Fire Department will begin collecting toys and gifts for children in our community who have special needs, suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, are in foster care, or have families struggling with financial difficulties.

Donations for boys and girls of all ages (newborn to 17 years) are needed. Gifts for teens are often in short supply. Please consider donating gift cards, makeup, body soaps and lotions, perfume or cologne, arts and crafts supplies, sports equipment, or entertainment items for this age group.

“This year, due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, we expect the need for toys and gifts to be even greater,” says Fire Chief Ryan Lamb. “We are grateful that through the continued support and generosity of the Cape Coral community, we are able to help our neighbors enjoy the holiday season, which they may not otherwise be able to do.”

To contribute, please bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift to any of Cape Coral's 12 fire stations (shown below) by Monday, December 19.

If you have a business or a group that would like to partner with the Cape Coral Fire Department for toy collections or if you or someone you know could use a little help this year, please contact visit capecoralfire.com/toy-drive.