[0:11] Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for the opportunity

[0:14] to serve our community as we gather tonight. Give our

[0:17] council members clear minds, steady hearts, and the courage to

[0:20] do what is right, protect us. From temptation, especially temptation.

[0:26] To the act of pride, anger or self interest and

[0:29] guide our decisions towards fairness, safety and peace. Grant wisdom,

[0:33] patience and unity in our discussions this evening. And may

[0:37] your grace be upon this city. Its leaders and every

[0:40] family that we serve. Amen. Amen. Of the United States

[0:45] of America. And Syrian.

[1:03] Madam City clerk, please call the role. Mayor Gunther here.

[1:10] Council members done now here. Hadoop here. Last row. Here,

[1:16] Lehman. Long. Here. Thank you. Here. All present. Thank you.

[1:22] Item five is. Changes to the agenda. Are there? Any

[1:25] changes to the agenda or entertain a motion to adopt.

[1:28] The agenda is presented. Motion to adopt. Any other council

[1:33] discussion. Seeing none, Madam City clerk, please call the role

[1:38] lastra aye Lehman. Long, aye. Steinki? Aye. Danelle. Gunter, aye.

[1:45] Kadoo? Aye. Kill rain. Eight eyes. Motion carried. Item six

[1:50] is recognitions and achievements. Six a is community recognition's. Award

[1:54] for the Cape Jr. Sharks cheer team. Mr. City manager.

[2:42] Hold that. Ready?

[3:00] Today it is my honor to award the Cape junior

[3:02] Sharks mighty mites cheerleading team with the city's Community Recognition

[3:07] award for an extraordinary 2025 2026 Pop Warner season. The

[3:14] team has represented Cape Coral. With excellence, sportsmanship and heart.

[3:23] Their achievements this year placed them amongst the elite youth

[3:26] chair programs. In the region and across the country. This

[3:30] season, the mighty mites earned first place at three major

[3:34] competitions, the local peace river conference in Fort Myers, the

[3:39] regional championship. In Orlando and the national championship in North

[3:43] Carolina. At regionals in Orlando, they defeated their biggest rival

[3:48] by an impressive eight point margin, a truly impressive achievement

[3:52] in pop Warner cheer, where scores are usually separated by

[3:56] only a few points. At nationals in North Carolina. The

[4:01] mighty mites not only took first place in their division,

[4:04] Yet this, but they also received the highest show score

[4:09] across all ages, marking them as one of the most

[4:11] dynamic and outstanding teams in the entire event. Their victory

[4:17] at nationals earned them an invitation to the prestigious globals

[4:21] competition in Atlantic City on February 26, giving Cape Coral

[4:26] a national and now global stage presence in youth cheer

[4:30] the success of the mighty mites has been guided by

[4:33] their coaches, who have dedicated countless hours to. Training, mentoring

[4:37] and encouraging these athletes. And to the families and supporters

[4:41] who have traveled, fundraise and cheered every step of the

[4:44] way as they prepare to compete at globals in Atlantic

[4:48] City on February 26. They are working hard to not

[4:51] only on their routine, but also raising funds needed to

[4:54] get to globals. Congratulations to every athlete, coach and family

[5:00] member on this remarkable achievement and best of luck at

[5:04] globals in Atlantic City. Everyone is confident that you will

[5:07] represent Cape Coral with the same pride and excellence that

[5:10] brought you here today. Congratulations.

[5:24] Congratulations on your achievements. Go get them, ladies. So get

[5:33] up, you. Go. Yes. That's me. I know they'll be

[5:42] doing some fundraising for the February 26. So maybe our

[5:47] community can help out in that endeavor. But congratulations. And

[5:52] we'll move on to the next item on the agenda.

[5:54] Item seven is approval of minutes. Do we have a

[5:56] motion regarding the minutes from the regular meeting? Motion to

[6:00] approve seven 2026. 2nd. I hear a motion. And the

[6:05] second. Is there any council discussion? Seeing none. All in

[6:10] favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item eight is

[6:15] business. Eight a is. The consent agenda. I'll open up

[6:17] the consent agenda for council to pull any items for.

[6:20] Discussion. Where I will entertain a motion. For the consent

[6:26] agenda. Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Any

[6:32] other council discussion? Seeing? None, madam. City clerk, please call

[6:36] the role. Last draw. Aye. Long. Aye, thanking. Aye, danelle.

[6:46] Aye, center. Aye, Kaduk. Aye, Kilraign. Eight eyes. Motion carried.

[6:52] Thank you. Item eight. C is unfinished business. C one

[6:55] is follow up items. For council. There's none listed. Item

[6:59] two is follow up items for city management. There's. None

[7:02] listed. Item nine is ordinances and resolutions nine b is

[7:07] legislative public hearings. First of which. Is ordinance 60. 25,

[7:16] and this is a legislative hearing. There wasn't any quasi

[7:19] judicial. Hearings noted on the agenda under nine a, nine

[7:25] B are the legislative hearings, first of which is ordinance

[7:28] 60 25. Madam City Clerk, please read the title and

[7:32] read the second and final for the second and final

[7:35] public hearing ordinance 60 25, an ordinance of the mayor

[7:39] and city Council of the city of Cape Coral, Fl.

[7:41] Florida, approving the development agreement by and between the city

[7:45] of Cape Coral, a Florida Municipal Corporation. And both Gateway

[7:49] Resort and Marina LLC, Florida Limited Liability Company for a

[7:54] mixed use project known as seven islands located on approximately

[7:59] 47 acres properties located at one. Hundred and six old

[8:02] birthstore road north and 606 Old Burnt Store Road north,

[8:07] providing for severability and an effective date. Thank you. I'll

[8:11] turn it over to staff to start with. Good evening,

[8:14] mayor, council members Sharon Woodbury, economic development manager. As was

[8:22] stated, this is the second hearing for this project which

[8:26] is a development agreement. And a precursor to the purchase

[8:30] and sale. Of the seven Islands property. That's approximately 47

[8:35] acres. In the last hearing I discussed with the components

[8:40] of that would be I'm happy to answer any additional

[8:44] questions. Or review it again. If that's the desire of

[8:48] council. I did want to reiterate. That this is the

[8:52] result of. Community engagement that's happened over an extended period

[8:57] of time in terms of what the residents wanted to

[9:01] see at the Seven Islands location. The Northwest Neighbors association

[9:06] was very much engaged in the plan that you see

[9:09] before you. That plan lays out what the developer is

[9:13] proposing to develop. In exchange for the sale of the

[9:17] property. We have representation from the developers if you would

[9:25] like to hear from them as well, but I'm going

[9:27] to leave it to council to determine whether you want

[9:30] any additional information from me. Or to review the project

[9:34] again. Thank you. I know we had a presentation. In

[9:39] the last hearing, so. Is everyone. And I know it's

[9:42] part of our backup material, so is it already? If

[9:45] we continue moving forward. In the public hearing or does

[9:50] anyone want to hear the presentation again? All right. We'll

[9:54] continue moving forward. Thank you. I'll now open up our

[9:58] second and final public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on

[10:01] ordinance. 60 25. Please come forward. Use the podium to

[10:05] my left. You're right.

[10:18] Well, good afternoon, mayor, city council. My name is Jerry

[10:22] Smith. I'm from the Northwest Cape. Coral, and I am

[10:26] the immediate past president of the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood

[10:30] Association. I represented the membership of NW and a while

[10:35] serving on the Seven Islands Design Plan Committee meetings with

[10:41] fellow board member John Smart is also here. He's our

[10:45] development chair. John. So. As you heard in the last

[10:50] hearing. We were part of that 40 person super group

[10:55] of stakeholders that were put together. No easy task trying

[10:59] to get everybody's point across, but it really worked that

[11:02] well, and I thought Sharon did a great job. As

[11:06] time progressed, open communication between. Nwna. City staff sharon woodbury.

[11:14] And surprisingly. The developers. Result in a common ground for

[11:20] collaboration. And I thought a very good work and relationship.

[11:26] From there, the members of. City staff. The developers. They

[11:31] were invited to our open public meetings. They were willing

[11:34] to come. And they directly engaged our members and citizens

[11:40] and. They were willing to openly talk about the project.

[11:44] And really educate our members and anyone who showed up

[11:48] at those meetings. As well as people in this room

[11:51] did. The developers continue to respond to our members by

[11:56] sponsoring social events. Producing architectural renderings for all to see.

[12:03] In doing so, it really gave us the first visual

[12:06] of this project. And it really gave us full transparency

[12:13] and full disclosure, which I thought was important. You really

[12:15] got to see what it's going to look like. So

[12:18] on behalf of nwna. We supported. We approved the Seven

[12:24] island site plan as presented in committee. You got to

[12:29] realize this was over a few years. A couple of

[12:30] years. So on behalf of our over 1900 members at

[12:35] the time, John and I did represent the entire group,

[12:41] and having a common voice to do so. Gives us

[12:45] the opportunity not to fill up bus loads of people

[12:47] that come here and address you. Today. We can do

[12:50] that for them. So our takeaway from those meetings is

[12:55] we are aligned with city staff and the members of

[12:58] the economic development committee. So this project delivers the sense

[13:03] of place. And the quality of life, destination. That was

[13:09] portrayed. In the Northwest Cape Seven Islands Vision plan, which

[13:13] was published. In 2016. In closing. The abundance of public

[13:22] amenities featured. In the community. Island seven. Thank you.

[13:33] Good afternoon, mayor. Council. Kevin Black. I'm the current president

[13:37] of the Northwest Cape coral neighborhood. Association. I'm here today

[13:41] to share with you. Results of a survey that we

[13:46] conducted with our members. We do this often to gauge

[13:48] the interest of our membership, what concerns them most, what

[13:52] issues they have with the big projects that might be

[13:54] facing Northwest Cape Coral. We had over 300 respondents over

[13:59] the past two weeks, 150 within 24 hours. Which shows

[14:03] you that our association, our. Membership is engaged in what

[14:07] we do. The Sevens Islands project. Didn't even come up

[14:11] as a primary concern for the membership. In fact, It

[14:16] was UEP three, the two lane section of Burnt store

[14:19] Road. Burst a new exit at the spreader, but not

[14:23] seven islands. I think that's in. Large part is our

[14:27] membership has been exposed to what seven islands is going

[14:29] to be all about. Thanks to how the developer has

[14:32] engaged with them. A lot of people, when they don't

[14:35] know things, they come up with their own. Solutions or

[14:39] what they think it's going to be, and that's not

[14:41] the case. And I think that minimized. Any comments we

[14:45] had? We had one negative comment. And that happens. Everybody's

[14:49] welcome to their opinion. And I would add also that

[14:54] seven islands is the number one hit. On the nwcape.com

[14:59] website month after month after month. People are going there

[15:02] for information to stay on top of the project. I

[15:05] believe Gulf Gateway and Marina will be a hub in

[15:08] the northwest. Something that the members have been looking for

[15:12] for a long time. Restaurant shops, a place to meet

[15:15] the ability to bike ride, golf cart, boat, you name

[15:19] it, to go meet neighbors where neighbors can meet neighbors,

[15:23] hang out with your dog in the dog park that

[15:24] they're going to build. Maybe go see some entertainment in

[15:28] the amphitheater. They're building a community center. And we were

[15:33] at a meeting when Peter leaned over to me and

[15:36] said, we have got to get that community center for

[15:38] you all in the northwest, so you have a place

[15:40] to meet and have events, and I think that says

[15:43] a lot about this. Developer and what they want to

[15:45] do. The northwest is going to be a great place

[15:48] to live in the future as it is now. When

[15:50] you think about what this body approved in terms of

[15:52] median enhancements along with UEP three. We're going to beautify

[15:56] all the medians up through the northwest to kismet. Over

[16:00] to burnt store and what the developers are going to

[16:02] do. It's going to be amazing when we add this

[16:05] onto that as well and we look forward to seeing.

[16:09] It come to fruition. Gulf Gateway Museum is a project

[16:13] at the Northwest Neighborhood Sports association supports, as Jerry said,

[16:18] and we hope you support it as well and move

[16:19] forward with the development agreement. Thank you. Thank you. Good

[16:24] afternoon. My name is Michael Hannon. I'm a resident of

[16:27] Matt Lache and. A member of the Matt Lache civic

[16:29] association, and I'm opposed to the resolution involving seven islands.

[16:35] I should note that the city of Cape Coral, to

[16:38] my knowledge, has done. Nothing to reach out to the

[16:45] island of Matt Lachet or the island of Pine island

[16:50] to talk with them about the adverse impact that this

[16:53] project is going to have on our waters. All of

[16:55] the boaters that are going to be using this facility

[16:58] if it's eventually built. Are going to be coming into

[17:01] the Matt Lachet pass. The mattle Shay pass has been.

[17:05] Polluted under EPA guidelines now for ten years as a

[17:08] result of the pollution that's coming out of Northbreaker Canal

[17:11] and the 400 miles of canals and Kit Coral, the

[17:15] city of. Cape Coral currently is in violation of a

[17:18] consent order that was issued in the 70s by the

[17:21] Florida Department of environmental protection by. Removing the Cedars boat

[17:26] lift barrier. In viewing the documents that were prepared. It's

[17:35] difficult for me to understand everything, but I believe it's

[17:38] contingent on the developer obtaining all the necessary permits. I

[17:42] certainly hope that the money between the city of Cape

[17:46] coral and the developer will not change hands until all

[17:49] permits. Are actually applied for and obtained. And the developer

[17:55] should be aware that those of us who. Are looking

[17:59] out for our clean water that you care not anything

[18:02] about. They can count on opposition. To every single permit

[18:06] in every single venue as soon as they begin rolling.

[18:09] I also wonder whether the City of Cape Coral has

[18:12] reached out to the Florida Land Trust, which owns all

[18:14] the land. That's west of the spreader waterway. Certainly they're

[18:21] going to have to be a part of this process

[18:23] and participation. I've never known the Florida Land Trust to

[18:26] permit any kind of development adjacent to or through their

[18:30] property, such as being planned here. And I have a

[18:35] question. There once was, as I saw, an eagle's nest

[18:40] on one of the islands. Is that. Still the case.

[18:43] Thank you, sir.

[18:53] Hi. Tom shadrak, cape coral. I'm okay with the project

[18:59] going forward. No matter what you do, Matt, lache and

[19:03] pine Allen will never be happy. So I don't know

[19:07] what to do about them and how that they screwed

[19:09] around with our lock. Getting a Chiquita lock. Getting out

[19:12] was just crazy. But my issue. Is. One of a

[19:18] conflict of interest or ethics. With a donation made by,

[19:24] I guess, a principle of forest development in Gulf Gateway

[19:28] to the flag. The passion of the city manager. Of

[19:32] $5,000. All as a developer of the seven island. 5000

[19:37] is not a lot of money when you're talking millions

[19:40] of progress. But again, it's the perception. Of. Ethical behavior.

[19:49] When a cinema is sponsoring a fundraiser. It's just not

[19:52] appropriate. And a donation like that can be perceived by

[19:56] public. As influence. For a proper decision. And I think

[20:02] it's wrong that the city is sponsoring this fundraiser. For

[20:06] the flag. It should be an ambit thing or foreign

[20:10] wars organization. That should have been pushed to try to

[20:14] do this and not. The city of Cape Coral because

[20:17] it looks bad. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing

[20:22] to speak. Torn the public hearing. Or an ordinance 60

[20:28] 25. Come on up, sir.

[20:42] Hi. My name is Emil Ledon. I live right across

[20:46] from the project. Off of embers. I think the plan.

[20:53] Is way too large. And if you consider the size

[20:57] of the canal, I'm guessing none of you use the

[21:00] canal on a regular basis and have any idea what

[21:03] the voting traffic is like during the high tides. On

[21:07] weekends when the traffic is there. The canal is way

[21:09] too narrow to handle this kind of boat traffic. I

[21:13] think Woolborn's thorough road is too narrow to handle the

[21:15] car traffic. And I just think it's a bad plan.

[21:19] It's an overbuilt. I'd like you to consider what's happened

[21:22] at the Sunseeker resort. Same. Kind of mixed use project.

[21:27] Big hotel right on the harbor with killer sunset views,

[21:30] restaurants, the infrastructure already in place. Massive failure. Bleeding them

[21:36] dry. Sold for one third, less than one third of

[21:39] the cost that it costs to build the place. This

[21:43] is the exact same thing. How can you think the

[21:46] builder is asking for 30 years to build this project.

[21:49] He obviously has cold feet about it. The economics of

[21:53] it. He should be wanting to jump on this and

[21:55] get moving. To spread this out over 30 years shows

[21:59] he's afraid of the economics of this project. I think

[22:01] the city should take that as a red flag and

[22:03] be very concerned about it as well, the reason he's

[22:06] concerned about it is for the exact same reason. What's

[22:10] happened up at the sunseeker? The sun seekers has less

[22:12] than 50%. Occupancy up there. The restaurants are closed. Half

[22:17] the other amenities are not open. How can you expect

[22:21] this to be a success on 150 foot wide canal

[22:25] if you can't? Have a hotel be a success on

[22:28] a bay with sunset views and all kinds of great

[22:32] amenities around it. I think the project is way too

[22:35] large for the plot. I don't see how you fit

[22:38] anything. On the small strip of land right on Birch

[22:42] Store Road that makes the islands the boater. Is going

[22:45] to ask to fill those in because there's not enough

[22:47] space to put anything there. You're ruining the water retention

[22:51] for all the local neighborhoods. There in the traffic. Like

[22:56] I say, it's a massive overbuild. I've. Been a builder

[22:58] my whole life. I look at this plan and I

[23:00] see so many problems. With it. That. I'm stunned at

[23:04] it's got this far. I'm stunned that city. Council hasn't

[23:08] taken. More feel of. The current construction trends here that

[23:15] people are moving out, not buying here. Now the condo

[23:19] prices are way low. He's not going to get the

[23:21] prices he needs to successfully sell the condos. There. You

[23:24] can't rent hotels at the sun. You can't fill the

[23:27] rooms. At the sun seeker. How do you expect the

[23:29] full rooms on this place? I think some of the

[23:32] restaurants and shop. Shops. Great ideas. Some parklands. Great idea.

[23:36] The massive hotel and the high density of the residential.

[23:39] Is just too much for this plot plan, and I

[23:42] really hope the city takes. Into account the economics of

[23:46] this proposal and the failure of the sunset. Thank you.

[23:50] Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak. Or in a

[23:55] public hearing for ordinance 60 25. Seeing none. Public hearing

[23:59] is now closed. Is there a motion regarding ordinance 60

[24:05] 25? Now open up for any council discussion. Council member

[24:11] Kilbrain. I think that this project is a perfect example.

[24:18] Of a neighborhood group. The city and the developer working

[24:24] hand in hand over a long period of time. With

[24:28] a lot of input, and it's the right way to

[24:30] do a project. The concerns that I heard tonight. Were

[24:36] based. On the current conditions. I would ask those who

[24:42] are worried about the traffic and at the density up

[24:45] there to look at the project itself in the detail

[24:49] on some of the infrastructure that's going to go in

[24:50] with it. This project is going to be a long

[24:53] term project. It's not going to be finished very quickly.

[24:58] It's going to get started, hopefully. Fairly quickly, and I

[25:02] think that based on. The quality effort and quality thought

[25:07] process and interaction that went on. It's a very good

[25:10] work product. As far as the concerns brought forth by

[25:15] Mount Lachet. We're here to look at the things that

[25:20] are best for Cape Coral and Cape Carl. Considers the

[25:25] water quality as a high priority, and we certainly will

[25:29] continue to do that. And to the extent that we're

[25:32] going to pursue projects that might have an effect on

[25:36] that. It's worth discussion, but it's certainly not an impediment

[25:41] to proceeding. Forward. And with that, I fully support the

[25:45] project, and we'll be supporting them. And I thank all

[25:48] those who participated in bringing forward so far. And as

[25:51] I said, I think it's a great model for how

[25:53] we do projects into the future. Thank you, mayor. Thank

[25:56] you, council members. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I would

[26:01] ditto everything. Council member Kilran just said, and. I would

[26:05] also give accolades to the Northwest Neighborhood association for the

[26:09] great amount of involvement they had. The interest that they

[26:11] took in that and the facility with which the leadership

[26:15] up there gave the citizens to participate in the active

[26:18] involvement with the developer as well. Since the developer is

[26:23] here. I don't know. Certainly a little bit of prep

[26:26] might have been better, but I wonder. If they might

[26:28] just take a moment and speak to the economic feasibility.

[26:32] In the 30 year project time horizon. And if you're

[26:37] prepared to know anything about it, maybe a compare and

[26:39] contrast to sunseeker. And why seven islands is expected to

[26:46] be successful in light of what has been seen of

[26:48] a sunseeker. Good evening, mayor, council members and staff. We'd

[26:55] like to thank you all for your time. And your

[26:56] dedication to the city. And thank you for providing us

[26:58] the opportunity to speak. As you're all aware, this process

[27:04] spans over a decade, and we didn't show. Up with

[27:07] our plan and the position of this is what you

[27:09] get. We agreed with the densities proposed in the D

[27:13] one concept plan. Which was developed through extensive public outreach

[27:20] and numerous Cape Coral publicly advertised hearings. Throughout this process.

[27:27] As stated, we included our neighbors and we wanted to

[27:30] thank them for their time and participation and their invaluable

[27:34] input. It's important that. The public is aware of that.

[27:40] Our development plan not only addresses the needs of our

[27:44] direct neighbors, but it also considers and encompasses the greater

[27:47] good of the city as a whole. In respect to

[27:52] the environmental points that were raised. As I had stated

[27:56] at the previous hearing, we've conducted numerous. Extensive on land

[28:02] and in water studies related to our intended development. We

[28:07] developed our plan to dramatically reduce the impact on the

[28:11] mangroves and maintain wildlife habitat, not because it was demanded

[28:15] of us, because we knew it was the right thing

[28:18] to do. Excuse me. I don't believe anything has been

[28:23] presented to you this evening. That would challenge the validity.

[28:30] Of our studies. In reference to the traffic and infrastructure.

[28:35] The introduction of previous unavailable commercial space containing shopping and

[28:40] dining. Opportunities, just to name a couple, actually has a

[28:44] reduction effect on traffic you don't have to travel across

[28:46] the city anymore to go get something to eat or

[28:49] to shop. Our plan was developed as an extension of

[28:54] the existing community and encourages a variety of alternative modes

[28:59] of transportation such as golf carts, biking. Arrival by boat

[29:03] or walking. The plan was developed with the city. And

[29:09] considers the existing infrastructure while incorporating significant infrastructure improvements. The

[29:16] buildings will be constructed, hardened to withstand the most severe

[29:19] storms that the city has ever experienced. And the hotel

[29:23] could potentially serve as an emergency operations center and temporary

[29:27] housing for displaced citizens in the event of a storm.

[29:31] Finally, in reference to the positive economic impacts, they will

[29:36] include. Significantly increased property values. And millions. Of reoccurring tax

[29:46] dollars in perpetuity. In reference to the timing and the

[29:51] sellout of the project. As I had stated at the

[29:56] previous hearing, real estate goes in cycles. I believe all

[29:59] of you. Are aware of that. We would be perfectly

[30:05] happy with selling out the entire project tomorrow and moving

[30:07] forward. We will do whatever. Is. Marketly and economically feasible.

[30:16] To move through the project as quickly as possible. Just

[30:18] because the timeline is laid out, it doesn't mean that

[30:20] we're looking to extend it any further than we have

[30:23] to it's in our best interest to complete it as

[30:25] quickly as possible. And bring the product to the market.

[30:30] I believe that that answers all of the questions, but

[30:33] if you have any additional questions, I'm here for you.

[30:37] No, I think that's great. And I think it was

[30:39] great for everyone to hear. And I am in full

[30:45] support of the project. As I have been since I've

[30:48] learned more about it over the last few years. Thank

[30:51] you. I would also like to introduce Peter Batesarian. He

[30:55] is the owner of forest Development. Good evening, mayor, council

[30:59] members and staff. I'm Peter Baitarian, managing partner of forest

[31:04] development. After reviewing the response received from the RFP RCM

[31:11] M 221 96 MC, the city selected forest development acquisitions,

[31:17] LLC to enter into negotiations with the city. Since then,

[31:23] we have collaborated with the City of Cape Coral to

[31:26] implement the D one legacy development. Plan. Understanding and sharing

[31:31] the city's vision and have assembled the aid team of

[31:34] development, environmental, construction and finance professionals. Our project, Gulf Gateway

[31:41] Resort in Marina village will be a unique destination. Gateway

[31:46] for Cape Poor. It will feature condominiums, apartments, a hotel,

[31:50] a marina resort, lagoon restaurants retail as well as an

[31:55] entire island to include a community center, restaurants on the

[31:59] water with outdoor seating splash pad with shade, canopy, kayak

[32:03] launch, outdoor spaces and. A hip food truck park. We

[32:08] are excited about the partnership, and we'll continue to work

[32:12] with the City of Cape. Coral and our neighbors as

[32:15] we create this amazing resort destination that will enhance. An

[32:19] area and provide amenities for residents and visitors. We're super

[32:23] excited to get going on the project. We're super excited

[32:26] to start. The infrastructure work. And one of the first

[32:31] things that we're going to do is that community center

[32:33] island. So our residents have a place to gather. They

[32:36] have amenities to enjoy. And people from out of the

[32:40] area can also come into this area and enjoy it.

[32:42] So we're very, very excited to start this process. Thank

[32:46] you. That's it. Thank you, mayor. All right. Council member

[32:51] Donnell thank you, mayor. And one of the goals that

[32:55] we have here in the city. And what you hear

[32:57] today to be highlighted is the Northwest neighborhood association. We

[33:01] talk about how the city. We all work together. You

[33:04] hear me always talking about that. And this is a

[33:06] classic example. And I heard it hadn't always been the

[33:10] way that with the northwest, in some conditions, where they

[33:13] were supportive, but to hear that it's full support, both

[33:16] past and present, working with the developer. Thank you, developers

[33:20] with the city. That's how we want to move these.

[33:23] Projects forward as far as there were some illegal concerns

[33:25] that came up. That's why we pay our legal team.

[33:29] To take care of those issues, so we have full

[33:31] confidence that they've been breached. That have not been breached.

[33:34] And I did want to say to the neighbors, though,

[33:37] That's a little concerning. I do know that we do

[33:40] seek to be good partners. And. Sometimes. It might feel

[33:45] that way, but I appreciate us trying to thank you

[33:47] for coming and bringing that to our attention. But that's

[33:50] not for us to alienate anyone. We're here. In the

[33:53] best interest of cape corps. But always be good neighbors,

[33:55] so I wouldn't mind. Continuing that conversation, but thank you.

[33:58] I'm in full support. And for the past councils that

[34:02] had the fortitude to go and purchase that property to

[34:04] see you all. Getting the shovels in the ground. It's

[34:08] full circle. Thank you. That's all. Thank you, council member

[34:11] Lasser. Thank you, mayor? Yes, I would. Echo also, like

[34:15] I mentioned, and I think our last meeting. I've never

[34:18] seen developers work so cohesively with a major neighborhood group.

[34:24] Where you have over 1000 members in that group. So

[34:26] kudos to you all for working this out and getting

[34:29] it decided. To the gentleman that commented about the density,

[34:33] please note that this project the density was actually decided

[34:37] back in 2016 by the council who served at that

[34:40] time. So that was decided quite some years ago and

[34:44] things moved slowly in government. So please note that. And

[34:49] then also, I believe the army corps permits have already

[34:52] been approved, correct? I was just going to speak about.

[34:58] The comment regarding the environmental impact study, which is part

[35:03] of the Army Corps, I believe. Yes, again. Sam Bauer,

[35:06] speaking on behalf of forest development. Those permits were submitted

[35:09] in may of 2023 and are in process near completion.

[35:15] Okay, awesome. So the environment is being considered. When you

[35:19] think about environmental impact, developers are required to receive those

[35:24] permits from federal and state agencies. In order to move

[35:28] forward. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council member Lehman. Yeah,

[35:31] I just have a. Quick question, sir. When you said

[35:35] that with the hotel, that in the case of a

[35:39] storm or whatever kind of. Situation came up that you

[35:44] were hoping that it could possibly be a shelter for

[35:47] anyone. Displaced homeowners. Whatever. Are you planning on having a

[35:53] generator there? Yes, absolutely. To handle the whole hotel. That

[35:59] is our intent. The hotel also encompasses a fully automated

[36:03] parking system, and so that the generator is really a

[36:07] must. Okay. Because in the case of a storm, as

[36:13] we all saw with Ian, Nobody wants to spend 12

[36:17] hours on the road. To evacuate. Exactly. That would be

[36:22] a good thing. Yes. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you,

[36:25] Mr. Mayor. Council member Kilbrain yeah. One point that I

[36:29] missed, and I just wanted to comment on with respect

[36:33] to the insinuated pay for play that is associated with

[36:36] the vendor's contribution to the flight. I support the flag

[36:41] going forward. And. I guess my background from private industry

[36:46] is such that I'm not used to pay for play.

[36:49] Some people have other backgrounds, may be used to that.

[36:54] I work for private companies. That in small ways did

[36:57] it, but that wasn't part of. Their. Menu for proceeding

[37:01] with all work. To that extent, we welcome. Contractor donations,

[37:07] I think. I would love to see that fly go

[37:10] up. So anyone who like to participate in helping on

[37:14] a volunteer basis. With no attachments. Or expectations with it.

[37:20] I'm certainly in support of that. If I may comment

[37:24] in reference to that. We learned about that as we

[37:26] were traveling over here for a meeting, and we were

[37:29] listening to the radio and heard that there was a

[37:32] fundraiser for a flag, we felt like it. Was the

[37:35] right thing to do. The city is ours and just

[37:39] as well as anyone else as we care about it.

[37:42] And we just thought it was the right thing to

[37:44] do and called it into a radio show. So. That's

[37:49] how that came to fruition. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you

[37:53] real quickly for me. We've been talking about this project

[37:57] for many years. As council member Laster said back in

[38:02] 20 15 16, we were talking about this particular project

[38:07] I think it's going to be an incredible project for

[38:08] the southwest region of the city. It's going to provide

[38:12] amenities. That are much needed in that area. And. I

[38:19] want to congratulate the developer for collaborating with the community

[38:24] as much as you have. Along the way. There are

[38:28] some developers that won't do that. I personally believe that

[38:32] that was the right thing to do, because if you

[38:34] could get the buy in of a majority of the

[38:36] community. I. Think that's only going to help with the

[38:41] process. So with that being said. I think it's a

[38:47] great project. I'm going to support the project. And I'm

[38:52] sure I'm like a lot of other residents in the

[38:56] city, we wish we could snap the fingers and the

[38:59] projects done. We realize that there's going to be a

[39:03] phased in type project. But we're definitely looking for. Completion

[39:11] with all of the residential, the commercial, the restaurants, the

[39:14] marina, the hotel. When you look at the entire project.

[39:19] It's an incredible project. So I want to thank the

[39:21] developer for picking Cape Coral because we know you have

[39:24] many choices. So we wanted to thank you for picking

[39:27] kcore. To build your project here. Thank you. It's an

[39:31] honor and a pleasure to be here, Mr. City manager.

[39:34] Thank you, mayor. I just wanted to utilize this. Development

[39:39] agreement and where we sit today. As an example of.

[39:45] How? Utilizing a vision plan. Brings success in project delivery.

[39:51] So a previous council back in 2015. Eleven years ago,

[39:58] said, we need to figure out what to do with

[40:00] the seven islands, which was purchased in 2000. I believe

[40:05] it was twelve as part of the 491 purchase. So

[40:10] council said this is going to be and has the

[40:13] opportunity to be a major impact on our community. Let's

[40:17] bring a vision, plan forward. Let's engage the community. Let's

[40:20] engage. Council. Let's engage the stakeholders. On November 4 through

[40:27] November 6 of 2015, there was a three day chart.

[40:33] With the community, involving the Northwest Neighborhood association and multiple

[40:37] business owners. That ended up with the delivery and acceptance

[40:43] of on November 14, 2016. So over a year, work

[40:50] went into developing the vision plan for the northwest and

[40:54] what the seven islands could do in changing how the

[40:57] northwest operates today and into the future. And since that

[41:03] time. Staff has moved forward with that vision plan, seeking

[41:08] developers to bring forward. What we saw was the ultimate

[41:13] vision in the Northwest Cape. We've used that plan. As

[41:18] was discussed by one of the members today. To make

[41:22] changes. To the cross sections of the road as part

[41:25] of the UEP, and we have a development agreement today.

[41:29] To ultimately see our potential, our highest and best use

[41:32] for the project that is going to be contemplated. If

[41:35] this development agreement is approved tonight, we have had to

[41:39] make some small tweaks. With anything. A vision plan is

[41:42] a general sense of direction. For example, The original plan

[41:47] that was adopted. Had a full scale marina in there

[41:52] that was going to involve some permitting challenges. And so

[41:55] we worked with the developer in this development agreement and

[41:58] in their site plan. To maybe. Revision or recast how

[42:04] a marina might work in this area. And actually, through

[42:08] that, we were able to then also come up with

[42:11] an. Alternative sea wall design that was more friendlier for

[42:14] the environment and allowed the mangroves to stay in situ

[42:18] with a sea wall built upland behind the mangroves. So.

[42:25] This project, this development agreement. Eleven years in the making.

[42:30] And a shining example of why vision plans are utilized

[42:34] in government many years in advance of development. And. How

[42:39] getting the community involved in that plan carries all the

[42:42] way through the development, as you heard. Today, members from

[42:46] Northwest Neighborhood association speaking on behalf of the project. Thank

[42:50] you. Yeah, I think I might have said Southwest earlier

[42:53] in my comments. I met northwest. That's a great location

[42:58] up here on Old Burn Store Road, so I just

[43:00] wanted to. Clarify that, seeing no other comments. We have

[43:05] a motion a second on the floor, madam. City clerk,

[43:07] please call the roll. Lester. Aye. Lehman. Long. Aye, steinki?

[43:15] Aye, danelle. Gunter. Aye. Caduce Kilraign. Aye. Seven eyes. Motion

[43:24] carried. Okay, let's move on to the next item on

[43:29] an agenda. We have ordinance 63 25. Madam City, please

[43:35] read title ordinance 63 25. An ordinance of the Mayor

[43:39] and city Council of the City of Cape Coral, Florida,

[43:43] approving the lease purchase agreement between the City of Cape

[43:45] Coral, a Florida municipal corporation. And Dear Credit Inc. For

[43:50] the acquisition of John Deere brand equipment for the Coral

[43:53] Oaks Golf course authorizing the mayor to execute the lease

[43:57] purchase agreement authorizing the city manager or their designee to

[44:01] execute any purchase order. And any other related documents necessary

[44:06] for the lease and purchase of the equipment, providing for

[44:10] an effective date. Okay. Thank you. I'll turn ordinance 63

[44:18] 25 over to staff. Good afternoon, mayor and council. Joe

[44:23] Petra, parks and recreation director. I don't have a formal.

[44:29] Hold on just 1 second. Anyone speaking in the back,

[44:32] if you would, please, if you'd. Go out in the

[44:34] hall, Miss Woodbury. Sharon. You guys would go out in

[44:39] the hallway and speak. Thank you. Joe. I'm sorry. No

[44:46] worries. There's no formal presentation for this. But this is

[44:52] a four year. Sorry, a 60 month. Lease. For big

[44:57] equipment on the golf course that tends to last longer

[44:59] than five years. And with this lease comes a one

[45:03] dollars buyout after the five years which we fully expect

[45:06] to do at that time. It's different than this one,

[45:10] than one in the resolution prior that was just passed

[45:13] was that was a 48 month fair market value lease

[45:16] for real mowers which operate on the greens and T's.

[45:18] Those tend to get very costly as they age, both

[45:21] in terms of repairs and potential turf damage. So that's

[45:24] why we separated out the equipment into two different ones

[45:27] we plan on bringing back another. 48 month lease if

[45:30] they need to be done. In the next 48 months

[45:33] once that's done. So that's kind of why there was

[45:35] a difference between the resolution. I know there was a

[45:37] question about that in our e comments. For any questions

[45:41] on it. I can cover a little bit more of

[45:43] it. Go ahead. I'm happy to answer anything. Thank you.

[45:45] I now open up the public hearing. Anyone wishing to

[45:48] speak. On ordinance 63 25, please come forward. Seeing none.

[45:54] Public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion regarding

[45:56] ordinance 63 25? Motion to approve second. Is there any

[46:04] council discussion? Seeing none, madam. City clerk, please call the

[46:08] role. Astro. Aye, lehman. Long. Thank you. Center. Aye.

[46:17] Kaduk. Aye. Kilraign. Aye. Eight eyes. Motion carried. Let's move.

[46:22] On to ordinance 66 25, Madam City clerk, please read

[46:26] the title. Ordinance 66 25, an ordinance amending the City

[46:31] of Cape Coral Code of Ordinances, chapter two. Administration Article

[46:36] six, Pensions Division two firefighter pension, amending section 2122.5 contributions

[46:46] section 2122 point. Six benefit amounts and eligibility section 2122.9

[46:54] vesting section 2122.27. Deferred retirement option plan, providing for severability.

[47:04] And of provisions repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith and

[47:07] providing for an effective date. Thank you. I'll turn the

[47:10] server to staff. Thank you, mayor. With the passage of

[47:17] the collective bargaining agreement for the International association of firefighters,

[47:21] we have to take those items that were bargained and

[47:24] approved and move them into the plan document or the

[47:27] city. Code to actually formalize the benefit that were negotiated

[47:32] in that plan. So this puts them formally into the

[47:35] pension plan. Thank you. I'll now open up the public

[47:38] hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on ordinance 66? 25. Please

[47:41] come forward. Saying none. Public hearing is now closed. Is

[47:46] there a motion regarding ordinance 66 25? Motion to approve.

[47:53] Is there any council discussion? See a none. Madam. City

[47:57] clerk, please call the role. Lestro. Aye. Lehman Long. Aye.

[48:03] Thank you. Aye. Danelle. Gunter, aye. Kaduk, aye. Kilraign, aye.

[48:10] Eight eyes, motion carried. Move. On to ordinance 326. Madam

[48:14] City clerk. Please read the title. Ordinance 326, an ordinance

[48:19] of the mayor and city council of the City of

[48:21] Cape Coral, Florida, amending City of Cape Coral ordinance 50

[48:26] 25, which adopted the City of Cape Coral operating budget

[48:30] revenues and expenditures and capital budget for fiscal year 2026

[48:35] by increasing the total. Revenues and expenditures by a total

[48:39] of $48,023,980, providing for separate ability and an effective date.

[48:47] Okay, thank you. I'll turn it over to staff. Thank

[48:50] you. Good afternoon, mayor and city. Council Crystal Feast financial

[48:54] services director. As read into the record. The item before

[48:58] you is the first budget amendment for fiscal year 2026.

[49:02] It was first introduced January 7 and is before you

[49:05] and the public tonight for formal or final hearing. So

[49:09] what I'll cover tonight is the purpose of the ordinance.

[49:12] I'll do a summary of the overall adjustment, and then

[49:15] I'll go into details of the categories. Related are included

[49:19] in this budget amendment. So this budget amendment is governed

[49:24] by Florida 166.24, one three, which allows the city to

[49:29] amend its budget at any time within the fiscal year

[49:32] or within 60 days following the end of the fiscal

[49:34] year. This is the first budget amendment for fiscal year

[49:37] 2026, and it captures city Council action items approved from.

[49:43] October through December of 2025. As well as needed personnel,

[49:48] services, operating and capital adjustments not already included in the

[49:52] budget. So in short. This ordinance aligns the adopted budget

[49:57] with council policy decisions and the operational needs that have

[50:01] arisen in the first quarter of the fiscal year. So

[50:05] budget amendment number one increases the fiscal year 26 budget

[50:09] by $48,023,980 which is an increase of 3.35% from the

[50:16] original adopted budget. The budget amendment is organized in four

[50:22] categories and. This categorization. Is in accordance with the exhibits

[50:31] that were included with the ordinance tonight. And so it

[50:35] was separated into four categories. First, you have your previously

[50:39] approved city council items totaling 24.6 million. And these are

[50:44] items you've already approved, typically by resolution. And it includes

[50:49] items such as interlocal agreements, design and construction contracts, and

[50:53] grant awards. The second category are other adjustments, which total

[50:58] $1 million. And these are technical changes and may include

[51:02] things such as adjustments to revenue estimates, capital project reconciliations

[51:08] changes in budget category and year end close out entries.

[51:13] The next category is encumbrance carry Fords from fiscal year

[51:16] 25, which totaled 22.4 million. These represent outstanding purchase orders.

[51:24] For operating services and products ordered but not yet received.

[51:28] By the end of September 30 of last year, and

[51:31] this can be things such as equipment, vehicles, engineering and

[51:35] professional services, and ongoing maintenance projects. And then finally, personnel

[51:41] changes total approximately 68,000. And these requests are focused and

[51:45] targeted to enhance our delivery service delivery and may include

[51:49] new job classifications and reclassifications of existing positions. So this

[51:56] slide provides you with a different perspective of the overall

[51:58] adjustment and includes a breakdown by source. And this is

[52:01] what was presented to you at. Your last council meeting.

[52:09] So the next slide that I'll go over will provide

[52:11] a further breakdown by this categorization. So over the last

[52:18] quarter, $460,000 in grant awards were accepted by city council.

[52:25] Grants reduced the burden on our local tax dollars, but

[52:27] it is considered new spending, and so we must recognize

[52:30] these funds in the budget by increasing revenue along with

[52:34] the associated program expenditures. A portion of this amendment is

[52:39] related to two projects that will be already are supported

[52:43] by debt. And today's action ensures the budget reflects council's

[52:47] prior approval to move these projects. Forward. These adjustments are

[52:54] considered new spending and. Will be included, are included in

[52:58] the amendment tonight and will increase the overall budget. And

[53:03] the two projects are yacht based and improvement project in

[53:07] the JC park improvement projects. And the description of. What

[53:12] was added are here before you. The next category is

[53:17] transfers. And this is an internal transfer from the six

[53:21] cent gas tax fund. Into capital project fund to cover

[53:25] additional alleyway drainage improvements. These improvements were approved by resolution

[53:29] 300 and 325. The amendment also includes adjustments.

[53:42] To the city's estimate of LCI funding from the charter

[53:45] school by $1 million. This revenue will be added to

[53:48] the budget and appropriate toward the charter school's building maintenance

[53:52] and equipment. It also includes. An approvement resolution 189 25.

[54:01] Which was amended, which actually amended construction contract for additional

[54:06] services at festival park. The funding source for this was

[54:09] interest earned on go bond proceeds. A large portion of

[54:13] this budget amendment includes the carry forward of outstanding purchase

[54:16] orders that were encumbered for products and operating services, but

[54:19] not purchased or received by the end of the fiscal

[54:22] year. As I mentioned before, this adjustment carries forward the

[54:25] previous year's approved funding into this year's budget. In the

[54:33] stormwater fund. Resolution 288 25 approved was approved to amend

[54:39] the contract for Hancock bridge parkways, drainage improvements, adding utility

[54:43] crossing and relocation elements to the project and the source

[54:47] of funding. Was the stormwater fund balance. In the transportation

[54:52] fund. Resolution 263 25 was approved. Which allowed for additional

[54:57] transportation improvements along Pine Island Road. And the source of

[55:01] this approval was road impact fees. And finally, the personnel

[55:08] component of this amendment is relatively modest in cost, but

[55:11] it's important for service delivery. The public works department is

[55:15] reclassifying an existing custodian position to a custodial supervisor to

[55:20] maintain service levels and ensure effective oversight over those services.

[55:27] And with that, I ask for your approval of the

[55:28] ordinance. And I'm here to answer. Any questions. Thank you.

[55:32] I now open up public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak

[55:34] on ordinance 326, please. Come forward.

[55:44] Hi. Tom Shadrak, permanent resident. A couple of questions kind

[55:50] of brought him up a couple of weeks ago at

[55:51] the introduction or during the citizen's input. It's great to

[55:54] see that the yacht club has finally started after seven

[55:58] years of the go bond. And I hope at the

[56:02] workshop. Next week. We got two days to talk about

[56:07] the budget and finances going forward. Usually we try to

[56:11] rush and get through that in one day. So you

[56:13] can have Friday off. But I think you could spend

[56:15] all day trying to figure out this yacht club funding

[56:19] that we need to spend on what we're going to

[56:20] do and try to reduce this budget. And get consensus

[56:24] that it should be reduced. I sent you all a

[56:27] plan that I proposed. To really reduce the money, and

[56:32] we could have that park open by the end of

[56:33] next year. My point. Too. Note number nine. That you're

[56:40] using interest from the go bonds to fund new work.

[56:45] Or overruns or whatever you want to call it. That.

[56:49] Interest. That's our money that's sitting in those accounts from

[56:52] millage rates and. Funding that we've put into it. That

[56:56] money should be used to reduce that debt. Not used

[56:59] for new work. That's $500,000 you could apply next year

[57:05] to. A millage rate reduction. For our repayment of that

[57:09] debt of 60 million. That's what we voted on. If

[57:12] you're making money. On our money we put in there.

[57:17] We should see that in the future as a reduction

[57:19] to that debt, not using it for something. Else. And

[57:23] that goes for all the interests that we're collecting now.

[57:26] We got 900 million, 800. Million, maybe. A billion dollars

[57:30] in money that's earning interest, that's $30 million. A year.

[57:35] What are we doing with it? My last point. I

[57:39] did get a copy of all the encumbrances. Appreciate it.

[57:43] I don't. Know what a lot of it is. I

[57:45] assume that's what the $22 million. Is. I did have

[57:48] a question, though, when I was on the budget committee.

[57:52] There was always a discussion of what happens if money.

[57:56] Didn't get spent yet or even on PO yet. If

[57:59] you opened a purchase rack, you would preserve your budget.

[58:03] Now? I don't know. If that's something that's still being

[58:07] done or not done, but it looks like this list

[58:09] was just purchase orders. Is there another bucket? That's purchase

[58:13] wreck money. That's. Saved because that was a discussion during

[58:16] the budget meetings. So I was curious. If there's another

[58:19] lump of stuff that's not done, that's preserved, that's called

[58:23] purchase, Rex. So just a question for crystal there, okay?

[58:28] That's all. Thank you. Okay. You know me, julia.

[58:36] Tari. All I see here is maybe I'm confused, but.

[58:40] It's increase, increase. Now the JC park and the yacht

[58:44] club caught my interest. Why are we increasing? You haven't

[58:47] even decided what we're going to do. With the yacht

[58:51] club yet. I thought that that was still in the

[58:53] discussion. And JC Park Madone, this is getting out of

[58:57] hand. Sorry. More money. You just ask for 200 and

[59:02] something. Thousand dollars for a roof. More money so you're

[59:06] going to have to really explain this a little better

[59:08] to the people, because I'm here every week, and this

[59:11] is starting to boggle my mind, so I can't. Imagine

[59:14] how the citizens could understand why we keep asking for

[59:18] more money. Explain it, please. Anyone else wishing to speak

[59:25] during ordinance 326 public hearing. See a non public hearing

[59:33] is now closed. Is there a motion regarding. Motion to

[59:39] approve 326. Motion to approve second. All right. And open

[59:44] up. For council discussion. Council member Lehman. Yeah. Question on

[59:50] jc park. Mr. City manager. What are these? Sports enhancements.

[59:58] I thought that JC park everything that was going there,

[1:00:02] we already knew about. And I understand the carryovers from

[1:00:06] previous years, things that have not been completed or delivered.

[1:00:10] But enhancement says that there's more going in. What? These

[1:00:15] are the same things that we discussed in the meeting.

[1:00:18] All this is, is formally aligning. The budget that was

[1:00:21] approved for the roof. And the enhancements were, I think

[1:00:25] they were cornhole boards and some other amenities in the

[1:00:29] park. This is already included. You did. So that action

[1:00:35] was approving the change order to that contract to give

[1:00:39] it. This now then takes that change order that you

[1:00:44] all did and we formally now have to make. Sure

[1:00:47] that the money is available to be spent. Okay. Thank

[1:00:51] you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that's been a

[1:00:56] common theme, this budget amendment. Is that people are thinking,

[1:01:02] we've already done this, we've already approved it, or we've

[1:01:05] seen this. That's right. Those individual actions that you all

[1:01:11] take when we present an item for you. Is the

[1:01:16] approving of the appropriation to become an expenditure. In some

[1:01:21] cases where it says budget amendment required. This is the

[1:01:26] budget amendment. Then that wraps all those previous approvals into

[1:01:30] formally making sure the funds are there to be spent.

[1:01:35] Yeah, I think it's important to mention. Because the last

[1:01:42] speaker kind of insinuated these are additional expenses that we're

[1:01:47] talking about today. And that is not the case with

[1:01:50] the yacht club base and improvements for the sea walls

[1:01:52] boat. Ramps, covert and dredging. That is something that we

[1:01:56] approve back in 2025 under resolution 329. 25 JC park

[1:02:03] improvements was additional floodproofing sports enhancements. And the building roof

[1:02:08] expense. Which totaled 648,000. We heard that in 2000. And

[1:02:15] 25 two under resolution 386 25. What this is doing

[1:02:20] is memorializing and updating. The budget to reflect all of

[1:02:25] the decisions. That we did in the first quarter, which

[1:02:30] is an October, November and December. We're basically putting that

[1:02:35] all together, updating the budget to reflect all of the

[1:02:38] decisions. That we made those three months, so I just

[1:02:40] want to make sure that's clear for the community. This

[1:02:44] isn't something that's an additional expense over and above what

[1:02:48] we've already talked about or what we've already approved or

[1:02:51] voted on and awarded. So I think that's important to

[1:02:54] make sure we get that message out. Seeing other lights

[1:02:57] on. We have a motion. Second on the floor, madam

[1:03:00] said to clerk, please call. The role. Yes, sir. I'd

[1:03:03] like to have Rachel. Just Rachel. Rachel's down this. Way,

[1:03:07] crystal. Crystal addressed the purchase Rex versus purchase order. Okay.

[1:03:15] So in our system, our financial system, the first step

[1:03:19] is to create a requisition. And that is basically staff's

[1:03:24] request. To get things approved, to make purchases, to request

[1:03:29] services. Once that is approved and it goes through the

[1:03:33] workflow in the system, it becomes a purchase order. So

[1:03:35] a requisition is just the first step. In converting or

[1:03:39] creating purchase orders, so there's no separate bucket of requisitions.

[1:03:43] That are getting carried forward. Are separate category. Those requisitions

[1:03:48] actually become the purchase orders, and in this case, the

[1:03:52] encumbrances are purchase orders that were not completed. Or completed

[1:03:58] within the time frame, and so we're just carrying those

[1:04:00] forward. Okay. Any other comments by council? See a none.

[1:04:08] Madam. City clerk, please call the role. Last row. Aye,

[1:04:12] Lehman. Aye. Danelle, center, aye. Gil rain.

[1:04:21] Aye. Seven eyes. Motion carried. Okay, we'll move on to

[1:04:25] ordinance 426, madam. City clerk, please read title. Ordinance 426,

[1:04:31] an ordinance of the mayor and city council of the

[1:04:34] City of Cape Coral, Florida. Amending the City of Cape

[1:04:37] Coral, Florida Code of Ordinances, chapter 26 Cape Coral Charter

[1:04:41] School authority section 26 two creation of charter school authority

[1:04:46] and board. Section 26 three student. Community section 26 four

[1:04:53] composition of authority board section 26 five background and verification.

[1:05:01] Section 26. Six board appointments and participation section 26 nine

[1:05:07] terms of board members section 20 611 conduct of Board

[1:05:13] section 20 613 appointment of committees section 20 614 adoption

[1:05:19] of regulations, rules and resolutions section 26. 15 powers and

[1:05:24] duties of charter school authority superintendent and city and section

[1:05:28] 26. 17 administrative services. Providing for severability and providing for

[1:05:35] an effective date. Thank you, Mr. City attorney. Thank you,

[1:05:39] mayor. As I discussed during the introduction of this amendment

[1:05:44] to the city's chapter 26 ordinance, this memorializes the final

[1:05:51] position that was taken by the city council during the

[1:05:53] committee of the whole meeting on the January 7. I

[1:05:58] did disclose and identify that I did include a new

[1:06:01] section, which is 26 five, which is background and verification

[1:06:05] that remains unaltered and everything that you ultimately agreed during

[1:06:09] the committee of the whole husband memorialized in this document.

[1:06:13] And so it is unaltered from the November 7 presentation

[1:06:16] where I discussed all the various changes. So. With that.

[1:06:21] I would look to see that. There is the passage

[1:06:24] of this legislation. Okay, thank you. I now have enough

[1:06:27] public hearing. Anyone wish to speak on ordinance 426, please?

[1:06:31] Come forward. Saying none. Public hearing is now closed. Is

[1:06:35] there a motion regarding ordinance 426? Motion to approve second.

[1:06:44] Is there any council discussion? Council member Kilbring? Yeah, I'll

[1:06:48] just mention mayor that. In our charter board meeting, we

[1:06:52] discussed the changes and there were no oppositions, any changes.

[1:06:56] They were in full support of this step. Thank you.

[1:06:58] Thank you. Seeing no other discussion. We have a motion

[1:07:02] a second on the floor, madam. City clerk, please call.

[1:07:04] The role last round. Aye. Lehman. Thank you. Aye. Done

[1:07:09] now. Center. Aye. Kaduk. Aye. Hillaryne I eight eyes. Motion

[1:07:17] carried. Okay. Just want to remind everyone. If you are

[1:07:21] here and want to participate in citizens input, just remind

[1:07:24] you to fill out a comment card. It's located over

[1:07:27] here on the desk. And the city clerk will call

[1:07:32] your name up. Just stay seated. She'll call your name.

[1:07:35] Up. Once we get the citizens input, time. I will

[1:07:39] move to introductions we do not have. Any. So we

[1:07:44] will move straight to item ten as citizens input. Citizens

[1:07:49] input is a maximum of. 60 minutes. A set on

[1:07:51] input of matters concerning city government. Three minutes per individual.

[1:07:55] Please remember to state your name for the record and

[1:07:58] remind you that. You address the city council as a

[1:08:01] collective body, not as an individual. So, Madam City clerk.

[1:08:07] Marie kavanaugh and julia atari. Ms kavanaugh.

[1:08:18] Can barely hear her. Marie Kavanaugh, secretary who take out

[1:08:24] the trash committee of Cape Coral first. I want to

[1:08:33] remind everybody that on January 31 we're having a citizens

[1:08:36] town hall. At Lake Kennedy. This is an advertisement. This

[1:08:41] is for citizens input on city government. This has everything

[1:08:46] to do with city. Exactly. And that's why you shouldn't

[1:08:48] be. Commenting on it. This is for citizens input. First

[1:08:52] of all, I tried going to the art festival on

[1:08:59] Saturday after driving around for 15 to 20 minutes. No.

[1:09:03] Parking. No parking. We've got 18 plus acres in Bibani

[1:09:08] east. You guys could have set up some sort of

[1:09:10] a parking situation for people and maybe had a little

[1:09:14] shuttle go. Back and forth, but. No. Make life miserable.

[1:09:18] I went back Sunday, same thing. And I want to

[1:09:22] challenge. Every one of you up there. To tell all

[1:09:30] of us. Give all of us, other than the canals,

[1:09:34] which are disgusting, filled with algae, fishless. Name one. Unique

[1:09:42] project or attraction. That only Cape Carl has that people

[1:09:47] will want to come here and see. Spending $300 million

[1:09:52] on the yacht club is not going to do it.

[1:09:54] Take a look at what happened to sunseager? They've spent

[1:09:56] 700 million. What? You're going to. Build down there isn't

[1:09:59] going to come close. And nobody. It's a waste of

[1:10:02] money. The people do not want it. And the vacancy

[1:10:08] rate. In Cape Coral is over 20%. Infrastructure can't handle

[1:10:15] what we have now yet. You continually approve. More and

[1:10:19] more and more and more housing units and more and

[1:10:22] more and more. In the future. The infrastructure has got

[1:10:27] to stop. I went up from my house, which is

[1:10:32] Cape Coral Parkway and Pelican, to Panera. The other morning

[1:10:37] and it took me 20 minutes. On Cape Coral Parkway.

[1:10:41] Ludicrous. And you want to add, you're looking at redfish.

[1:10:46] Point. Adding 800 units there. I mean, come on, give

[1:10:49] me a break. You also need to have a moratorium

[1:10:54] on hiring of city employees. I know Connie Baron's. Getting

[1:10:58] ready to retire. Her position should not be filled. We

[1:11:01] already have the city manager and. We now have two

[1:11:03] city managers. Assistant city managers. We don't need that. And

[1:11:10] I'm still waiting on updates of Bimini east. The RFP

[1:11:14] expired on the 30 October and we have heard nothing.

[1:11:20] Are there interested people? We don't know if there are

[1:11:23] people interested. What kind of proposals? Are they making? I

[1:11:26] think we have the right to know that because we're

[1:11:28] going to. Pay for it, because basically what happens in

[1:11:31] Cape Coral is you have all these elaborate schemes where

[1:11:34] you spend millions and millions of dollars, we have to

[1:11:37] pay for it. And then when they're, complete. You make

[1:11:40] us pay to utilize them? No clapping, please.

[1:11:53] Julian Chari, vice chair, take out the trash, Cape Coral

[1:11:56] and yes, the citizens town hall is about citizens. City

[1:12:01] business. Anyway. Last week when I was here,

[1:12:11] I did ask about. Getting the drop paperwork, and I

[1:12:17] got another call from the gentleman. He got 100 and

[1:12:21] something names of the people that are on that drop

[1:12:24] with abbreviations of their job description. Is there somewhere where

[1:12:28] we can find out what those abbreviations mean? Because he

[1:12:31] would really like to know about that. Public records request.

[1:12:37] We found out that. The road that goes into the

[1:12:43] food truck park down by Abbashan quite a few months

[1:12:47] back. I was at one of the town hall meetings

[1:12:49] for councilwoman Lee, man. I mean, Nelson and. I was

[1:12:55] told that the road going into that town, into the

[1:12:59] food truck park, needs to be. Fixed or widened. I

[1:13:03] guess the study was done in the summer, but the

[1:13:05] people are using it. In the winter. So did anybody

[1:13:09] ever figure out when that's going to be done? Because

[1:13:12] I really want to know. It was told to me

[1:13:14] by the city manager that that has to be done,

[1:13:17] but. They have to wait till the bridge is widened.

[1:13:19] I'm a little confused on that. I'd like to get

[1:13:21] an answer to that. Do we have to widen that

[1:13:23] road? And who's going to pay for it. That's kind

[1:13:27] of important. Because that's going to be another thing. We

[1:13:32] asked about the steps, and quite honestly, we didn't mention

[1:13:37] whose address it was, but. The mayor outed himself. Did

[1:13:41] we ever get an answer as to why that was

[1:13:43] approved? There was no railing on those stairs. We have

[1:13:47] a photo. So saying that we didn't know. What we're

[1:13:49] talking about is kind of incorrect. That's what you need

[1:13:53] to learn. Yeah. Because we have builders that call us

[1:13:55] and say, they're getting fined and they're getting there held

[1:13:58] back for doing the same thing. You did. They want

[1:14:00] to know why. Thank you. Tom Shadrack and David Holsey.

[1:14:07] No clapping, please. Mr. Shadrak, before you get started, because

[1:14:13] I don't want to interrupt you, so. Just give me

[1:14:15] a minute, if you would, please. I was going to

[1:14:18] read this earlier. But since we have individuals that don't

[1:14:22] want to follow the rules, I want to make sure

[1:14:24] everybody understands the rules clearly. Citizens are given opportunities to

[1:14:30] be heard concerning city matters scheduled on the council agenda

[1:14:35] or any other matters pertinent to city business. In order

[1:14:40] to promote an orderly system and hold a public business

[1:14:43] meeting and to ensure that individuals are not embarrassed or

[1:14:46] harassed as a result of their exercise right of free

[1:14:51] speech. The city has established rules that must be followed.

[1:14:55] These rules. Are council rules of procedure which are established

[1:15:00] and adopted by resolution by the city council. A speaker

[1:15:05] is required always to maintain proper decorum. Only the person

[1:15:10] recognized by the mayor should address the city council or

[1:15:14] make any audible remarks during the business portion of the

[1:15:17] meeting. Which includes citizens input. Speakers shall address their comments

[1:15:22] to the city council as a whole, not to an

[1:15:26] individual council member or to a city staff or a

[1:15:29] member of the audience. No person. Shall not make personal

[1:15:34] or profane remarks or gestures. Unauthorized remarks, stomping of feet,

[1:15:39] whistling. Or similar demonstrations shall not be permitted during the

[1:15:43] business meeting. No person is permitted to interrupt the city

[1:15:46] council procedures or the comments of any person recognized by

[1:15:50] the mayor in any manner. No person is permitted to

[1:15:54] behave in a disorderly manner by shouting, yelling, whistling, chanting,

[1:16:00] singing, dancing. Collapsing footstomping cheering. Or engage in any other

[1:16:07] disruptive display during the council meeting. No person can display

[1:16:13] banners, place cards or signs. No person can distribute any

[1:16:17] handouts or materials. Any members in the audience within city

[1:16:21] hall. No person is permitted to refuse to follow the

[1:16:25] instructions. Of the adopted rules at the direction of the

[1:16:31] mayor and comply with these policies and rules that are

[1:16:34] governed by the city council seatings any person who engages.

[1:16:39] It in this behavior that is prohibited within the rules

[1:16:42] and who is boisterous, disruptive, in any manner in the

[1:16:46] city council meeting shall be asked to leave that may

[1:16:49] be escorted for. The meeting room by the police department.

[1:16:53] So that is what the adopted rules are by counsel.

[1:16:58] Known as our council rules of procedure. Those rules will

[1:17:01] be followed unless they change. And it is imperative during

[1:17:06] this business meeting you follow the rules. If you don't,

[1:17:09] you will be asked to leave. It's as simple as

[1:17:11] that. So I just want to warn everyone. And this

[1:17:14] may be something that I'll have to read each and

[1:17:16] every time to. Make sure that we adhere to the

[1:17:18] rules. Mr. Shadrak, I apologize for interrupting you, but. You

[1:17:22] have the floor now. Okay. Thanks, mayor, but I think

[1:17:24] you took more than three. Minutes. I'll give you. Got

[1:17:29] the time clock? I don't. Even make a payment to

[1:17:32] the flag. It was a joke, guys. It was a

[1:17:36] joke. Relax. Tom Shadrak, permanent resident. Mike, clock has started.

[1:17:43] All right. Last January, I think there was a consensus

[1:17:46] of this council. To have our financial monthly report start

[1:17:51] being reflective of what Lee county gets. As their monthly

[1:17:56] or even quarterly now, I think. But it's very detailed,

[1:17:59] very great information. And I believe you all voted, or

[1:18:03] at least gave a consensus. I think it was a

[1:18:05] cow. To start producing this type of information. Now. The

[1:18:12] financials did come out monthly now, and we got a

[1:18:14] good shot of what the year. End was with the

[1:18:16] September monthly, but it was still very limited. In detail,

[1:18:21] and we really need all this data. We got the

[1:18:25] workshop next week. To get something with all this data

[1:18:29] so you guys can make some intelligent form decisions would

[1:18:33] be. Helpful because this is great stuff. If you haven't

[1:18:37] looked at it, please do. I've shared it with several

[1:18:39] of you. But. It's something the city manager and finance

[1:18:44] department has, and you're not getting it. Because I can't

[1:18:48] get it, so. If I can't get it, you're not

[1:18:53] getting it. And again, that September report. Showed. That we

[1:18:59] have 85 more million dollars in revenue. At the end

[1:19:03] of the fiscal year. Then you were at the adopted

[1:19:05] budget in 25 85 million. More. Now, what was that

[1:19:09] from? And I'm only looking at the general front and

[1:19:11] the Special Revenue Fund, which I think are mostly yearly

[1:19:14] money, so 85 million more, and then the actual. Expenses

[1:19:20] were 68 million more than the revenue. I mean, less

[1:19:25] than the revenue. So we didn't spend a lot of

[1:19:28] that money, that extra money, and we have it. Over

[1:19:31] now. How much do we have? That's why we should

[1:19:35] have a fund balance to understand that. And our debt.

[1:19:38] What new debt did we create? Those types of things

[1:19:40] are in this report. If you had an update monthly.

[1:19:43] It would help you greatly, and you could see they

[1:19:46] even produced great charts that show variances over the last

[1:19:49] three fiscal years. Really good, helpful information. So not having

[1:19:54] it, I think, put you at a disadvantage, and you

[1:19:57] should be able to get it. And that's what you,

[1:19:59] I thought, agreed to a year ago. And we don't.

[1:20:02] Have it today. So any comment on that, I'd appreciate

[1:20:06] it afterwards. And I think I've sent you guys. All

[1:20:09] this data, the numbers. I know Dr. Denel. He always

[1:20:13] challenged me. Do you say numbers without proof? I think

[1:20:16] I. Sent that to you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

[1:20:26] Hi. I'm David Halsey. I understand. Last week after speaking

[1:20:31] with the mayor offline that I kind of missed the

[1:20:34] boat when I was talking about the yacht club and

[1:20:38] how we could save the. 40. Save the $38 million.

[1:20:46] The idea of moving the pool. In the community center

[1:20:50] to the golf course. We would not need a three

[1:20:53] story. Parking garage at the yacht club, and that would

[1:20:57] save us the 38 million. And right now, after listening

[1:21:02] to the cow, we have a four point. 48. 4.4

[1:21:08] million. Credit in the design. We haven't spent all the

[1:21:12] 9 million there, so I just wanted. To point that

[1:21:14] out. I'm sorry. If I didn't make my point last

[1:21:19] week. I'm on a committee to rebuild my timeshare down

[1:21:25] at Fort Myers beach, and. I went to the construction

[1:21:28] meeting on Monday. And something I didn't know is we're

[1:21:31] having to put pilings in of course. Down. The building

[1:21:36] was down. Next to the diamond head. We're having to

[1:21:39] put pilings in for our pool. Now do we have

[1:21:45] to put pilings in? If we put the pool down

[1:21:48] at the yacht. Club. And how much more is that

[1:21:50] going to cost us? I had never heard that before,

[1:21:53] and I'm sure we're going to have to put pilings

[1:21:55] in for maybe the community center, so I don't know

[1:21:58] how much more that's going to cost us. I just

[1:22:01] wanted to throw that out. I just learned that this

[1:22:03] week. And I don't know if we've even discussed pilings

[1:22:06] being driven to build down at the yacht club. Thank

[1:22:10] you. Thank you. Lizette fialo. And j. Michael hannon.

[1:22:23] Good evening to everybody. Ang mistyalo. On December

[1:22:32] 829, I submit five requests to the clerk. Question. Why

[1:22:41] I did not receive any response. To Rachet kaluk. Last

[1:22:49] year by. Email. You respond to me? That you work

[1:22:54] full time at the bank. Question. Why is that mean?

[1:23:03] I assume. You don't have time to. Work. As. A

[1:23:09] council member. Question. Is this the case? What are you

[1:23:16] doing sitting in that chair? Or. Another. Just.

[1:23:26] A puppet. In that seed. Last year. Last year. Last

[1:23:35] year. Council member. I'm sorry. I didn't hear that. I'm.

[1:23:39] Trying to listen to her. She's hard to understand. Just

[1:23:41] make sure you address us. As a collective body and

[1:23:44] not as an individual council member. Talking Dombank saying to

[1:23:50] you today? Is different rules. Just express what your concern

[1:23:57] is, but you can't single out any one particular council,

[1:24:01] okay? Last year. Gonker and Kaduk told me in this

[1:24:07] meeting room. That sound like two different names. I know,

[1:24:11] but I say the city council. Okay. City council. There

[1:24:15] we go. Okay. Mary room. I need to get a

[1:24:19] lawyer. But Jesus. Lets him see. For everybody.

[1:24:30] City council. Don't be sarcastic. And respect to the taxpayer.

[1:24:37] To any counselor. I'm feeling sorry for you. Be honest.

[1:24:45] Be right in your position. Everybody. Sit there, work for

[1:24:51] us because Gui bought. Borate for you and. You have

[1:24:59] to answer to taxpayer. When.

[1:25:10] I request something? Nobody answer, so. I don't have to.

[1:25:17] Explain. Name. By name. So this is my proof. On

[1:25:22] December right, 2025. I present five differing request. And today

[1:25:29] is January. 2026. Nobody answered to me. You work for

[1:25:35] me. Or you are poopet in the chair. Thank you.

[1:25:41] And don hazeln.

[1:25:53] Good evening. My name is Skylan Brown, and I'm here

[1:25:55] to speak on the proposed. Development at redfish point and

[1:25:58] the patterns of behavior behind it. First. I want to

[1:26:05] make something very clear. Your silence on this issue is

[1:26:09] loud. When a council refuses to publicly discuss. Environmental impacts,

[1:26:15] refuses to show updated data, and refuses to engage the

[1:26:19] community. It is not neutrality. It is neglect. And neglect,

[1:26:24] my friends, is a choice, and it definitely has consequences.

[1:26:29] Redfish point is not empty land waiting for a developer.

[1:26:33] It is a functioning Estherine system. It filters pollutants, acts

[1:26:37] as a first line of defense against storm surge. Houses

[1:26:40] juvenile fish populations, and I could go on and on

[1:26:43] about the benefits of this piece of land. When you

[1:26:46] pave over wetlands and cut into mangroves, you are not

[1:26:50] creating value. You are removing natural and free infrastructure that

[1:26:56] keeps this city alive. After Ian Milton, Debbie, Helene, we.

[1:27:01] Saw the difference between neighborhoods with and without buffers. That

[1:27:05] wasn't luck. That was simple. Ecology. Which brings me to

[1:27:09] my economic piece, because Cape wants. To pretend that environmental

[1:27:13] issues are separate from financial ones. Did you know that

[1:27:16] our ecosystem generates billions? Of dollars in tourism revenue. Boating,

[1:27:22] fishing, kayaking, eco tours, hospitality, bait shops, marinas, the entire.

[1:27:28] Sector exists because of our waterways, our mangroves and our

[1:27:32] wildlife. Destroying the very ecosystem that fuels our economy. Is

[1:27:37] not smart growth. It is a self inflicted economic harm.

[1:27:42] The real slap in the face is when we are

[1:27:45] told growth is justified by outdated data using. 2020 census

[1:27:49] data. As if Cape hasn't gone through major storm displacement

[1:27:53] insurance upheaval. Constant recovery of the last four years. Investors.

[1:27:58] This is for you. No matter what they say, Ian

[1:28:01] was not an isolated event. Extreme storms. Are increasing in

[1:28:06] frequency and severity. Insurance companies know it, scientists know it,

[1:28:10] and developers. For some reason ignore it. Which is why

[1:28:13] our growth does not reflect. That. That's not planning. That's

[1:28:19] wishful thinking disguised as policy. So here's the ask. Stop

[1:28:24] approving development on autopilot. Stop pretending. Silence is transparency. Stop

[1:28:29] choosing short term developer profit over long term community. Silence.

[1:28:34] I will close with this because no one here gets

[1:28:37] immunity from reality. I just want to note that mother

[1:28:40] nature does not care. About. Your tax bracket. Thank you.

[1:28:45] Thank you. Well, y'all know who I am.

[1:28:57] I'd like to know what you plan to do. Mayor

[1:28:59] or any council members. You know what I'm talking about,

[1:29:04] right? Are you going to sit up there and pretend?

[1:29:07] You don't know what I'm talking about. Which is it?

[1:29:11] Last time he tried to intimidate me. Looking at me,

[1:29:13] I'm not scared of, none of. You are not allowed

[1:29:16] to make laws that infringe on my rights. But the

[1:29:20] police infringed on my rights quite a bit. And you

[1:29:24] guys ignore it like it doesn't matter. Why is that?

[1:29:29] I think that deserves an answer, don't you? I was

[1:29:34] attacked by the police department. You told me my fight

[1:29:36] was beaten. Not you, but you're. Their boss. So what's

[1:29:42] the deal? I'm giving everybody wanting to get a chance

[1:29:46] to speak. I brought premeditated murder to the police department

[1:29:53] and how that family tried to do the same thing

[1:29:56] to me. And you guys act like I've done something

[1:29:59] wrong. Because I don't want to put up with your

[1:30:02] disrespect and your nonsense or your threats. I'm not the

[1:30:07] one. You all made a mistake. A very big one.

[1:30:12] Now, what happens when. The society hears about what I

[1:30:16] went through because of you and your dereliction of duty

[1:30:20] by ignoring me. What happens to the property values then,

[1:30:25] mayor, when people can't even feel safe with their own

[1:30:29] police department or their own city council, mayor, anybody. When

[1:30:36] do the citizens get protected from you? Those are all

[1:30:41] fair questions. You're awful silent. You wanted to intimidate everybody

[1:30:48] else speaking. Intimidate me, sir. I'm really not the one.

[1:30:56] And I have to have in my life threaten again.

[1:30:58] I'm done playing with you people. These are crimes, legitimate

[1:31:04] federal crimes. That are being covered up. Or ignored. Which

[1:31:10] is a dare election that everybody up there. Wasn't including

[1:31:14] this clown right here. I'm not happy with none of

[1:31:18] you. I'm actually disappointed in all of you. You should

[1:31:21] be ashamed of yourselves. You just have to stand there

[1:31:24] and speak so you could rubber stamp whatever you're going.

[1:31:26] To do anyway. That has nothing to do with me.

[1:31:29] I'm talking about murder. That is being ignored. Attempted murder.

[1:31:35] Murder for hire. I'm not making anything up. I'm not

[1:31:40] lying. I don't have any. Mental disorders or any of

[1:31:43] the other false narratives that your police created for me

[1:31:46] in the courthouse. So how do you all want to

[1:31:50] answer this? We're just going to sit there and. Be

[1:31:51] quiet, because I'm not going to be. Thank you, sir.

[1:32:01] Thank you. Sir, please. Your three minutes is up. Have

[1:32:09] a seat. Have a seat. That's the last comment card,

[1:32:16] sir. All right. Was that the last one?

[1:32:25] Yes. All right. Okay. The citizens didn't put is now

[1:32:30] closed, and I'll open it up for any council discussion

[1:32:34] for citizens input. Council member Lassra thank you. Mr. Hazelt,

[1:32:38] if you would. Stay. I'll say this again to you.

[1:32:41] I've recommended twice now for you to file a complaint

[1:32:44] with the Florida Department of law enforcement, if you have

[1:32:47] any. Issues concerning our police department. That is the appropriate

[1:32:52] way and vehicle. To formalize that complaint. Because your case

[1:32:56] is in the court. It is above our jurisdiction as

[1:33:00] a council to be able to assist you. Let's see.

[1:33:04] Ms. Kavanaugh, thank you for speaking. We do have 420

[1:33:07] miles of canals, which makes us very unique. As a

[1:33:11] young lady, Skylan stated. Ecotourism is a big thing for

[1:33:15] us. And I think. Us utilizing our waterways. And bringing

[1:33:21] some new attractions to our city. Along those waterways is

[1:33:26] something that our vision has been for this city long

[1:33:29] before I got here. So I appreciate you speaking. I'm

[1:33:34] going to kind of bounce around. Skylan. I apologize. I

[1:33:37] call you scholar last. Time scholar. That was very texting.

[1:33:40] I'm sorry, but your name is Skylan and. I wanted

[1:33:43] to say to you that redfish point hasn't come up

[1:33:45] yet for us. But I could assure you when it

[1:33:49] does, all of those environmental concerns that you and other

[1:33:54] residents have, have been taken into consideration. And we've been

[1:33:57] researching. I know for myself personally, I worked out on

[1:34:01] captiva for a year and a half. For the Erosion

[1:34:04] Prevention District, which is a special legislative district. I learned

[1:34:08] all about natural sea walls. And you're absolutely right. Mangroves.

[1:34:13] All of those growth in natural seawalls help. Prevent shoreline

[1:34:16] erosion, and they protect our coastlines. So you're preaching to

[1:34:21] the choir and I appreciate you. Let's see. Mr. Tari.

[1:34:25] Mr. City manager. Can you answer the question again? Like

[1:34:28] you. Did at my town hall when we talked about

[1:34:31] slip away. And the issue with the widening of the

[1:34:35] road there. And that entrance in was going to be

[1:34:39] handled by the county when the bridge was widened, could

[1:34:41] you address that again? That is correct. They had to

[1:34:46] work with Lee county and their design plans for the

[1:34:51] bridge project. It was not installed now, because if they

[1:34:56] did, it would get destroyed at the time when the

[1:34:58] project came through. But. They have to have a turn

[1:35:03] lane, and I don't know if they did money. I

[1:35:05] don't know the financial side of it. I don't know

[1:35:07] if they did a money in lieu of or a

[1:35:09] deferred site plan improvement where when it's done then they'll

[1:35:12] construct their piece. Or I don't know how it's going

[1:35:16] to be resolved, but I do know. That that was

[1:35:19] part of it, because they had to come back in

[1:35:22] and amend their plan with us to incorporate that. Okay,

[1:35:25] maybe we can ask that some of us are going

[1:35:27] on Friday to MPO at Lee county. I'll put that

[1:35:29] on my list. I can make a call. To the

[1:35:31] that would be great. The Lee County Department of Transportation

[1:35:34] directory. Find. Out and I'll send you all an email.

[1:35:37] Yeah, I should have asked that question. This morning. In

[1:35:40] our ctac meeting, Mr. Halsey. Again. I hope you're able

[1:35:44] to come to my town hall on Saturday. On Saturday?

[1:35:50] At Vanyon Trace. We will be talking about the old

[1:35:52] golf course, but I think it was. The mayor who

[1:35:54] mentioned last meeting that that project we're looking ten years

[1:35:58] out and my hope is, and I think a lot

[1:36:01] of people's hope, and we'll know when we see the

[1:36:03] survey results. That we keep that as green as possible.

[1:36:07] But again, I don't think anyone's supposed to putting a

[1:36:10] community pool there, especially because we no longer have one.

[1:36:14] I hope we get several in the next 20 years.

[1:36:18] Ms. Falco, I apologize, but I don't know what you've

[1:36:22] sent five times. To us because I have not seen

[1:36:25] it. Maybe staff could get with you after the meeting

[1:36:29] to get clarification on that. And Mr. Shadrak. Yes, you

[1:36:35] were correct. We did talk about that. We talked about

[1:36:37] that. Emulating that county report. I thought we had consensus,

[1:36:42] but I don't remember. I'll. Reach out to finance and

[1:36:45] ask that question, because I think we all agreed that

[1:36:48] it was a pretty clean and easy to read report.

[1:36:53] And let's see. I think that's it. Thank you, mayor,

[1:36:56] Mr. City manager. Just an update on that report. That

[1:37:05] was an example of a unilateral decision made by administration

[1:37:09] against council. Got you. Okay, so we're not going to

[1:37:12] get that report. What, were you kidding? You were kidding.

[1:37:18] That what happened there? I know. I'm kidding. And I

[1:37:21] know most of you think I am as well, or

[1:37:24] no, I am as well. So what happened with that

[1:37:26] was there was a. Request to produce additional financial reports.

[1:37:30] We were producing quarterly reports. And there was a reference

[1:37:36] made to the data that was in the.

[1:37:45] Unaudited monthly financial. So what we did was we came

[1:37:51] to you all. I brought our quarterly financial report. Said,

[1:37:56] we can easily add. Do this monthly. So increase the

[1:38:01] period from four times a year to twelve times a

[1:38:04] year and it has the data that's available. How much

[1:38:07] revenue we collect each month, how much expenditures? We collect

[1:38:10] each month, and at year end, it would be an

[1:38:12] unaudited number that we would produce. You all have been

[1:38:16] getting that since we did that. And I think there

[1:38:20] is an expectation by the resident that he was going

[1:38:23] to get the format. He wants. But we produced what

[1:38:27] we could produce with the files and the software that

[1:38:30] we have. And the audited numbers. Correct. The audit numbers

[1:38:33] come with the AK for got you. So they're unaudited

[1:38:36] monthly financials. Okay. Thank you for. Request that I made,

[1:38:40] and they satisfied that that way. Okay. Thank you. Thank

[1:38:44] you, Mayor. Council member down now. Thank you, mayor. The

[1:38:50] gentleman that brought up the yacht club. Thank you in

[1:38:54] advance of our meeting, Mr. City manager, could we please.

[1:38:58] Have an update to how we're going to be funding

[1:39:01] the funding mechanism for the yacht. Club. I think you

[1:39:03] all. Ran a report. A few years back, but that

[1:39:07] was based on, I think, $150,000,000 number. So in advance

[1:39:11] of that. Could we get that so we can go

[1:39:13] over and be prepared to have a concise conversation about

[1:39:17] those numbers. Do I need to forget a second or

[1:39:21] something, council, but I think that'd be very. Helpful for

[1:39:24] outdoors. Yeah, we're paying for. We can put one together.

[1:39:27] All right? And then. Number two. The last thing for

[1:39:30] me. There was one thing. Mayor, thank you for reading

[1:39:32] that. There's one other piece that I want to offer

[1:39:37] when everyone comes to meetings. We get this packet? It's

[1:39:41] online. There was something in there called the pledge of

[1:39:45] civility. You know, I like to accentuate. The positive for

[1:39:47] all the speakers. They have seen an improvement in addressing

[1:39:52] issues. But there are two other pieces says we will

[1:39:56] direct all comments to the issues, but there are two

[1:39:58] other. Things that say we will be respectful to each

[1:40:03] other. Even when we disagree. And we will avoid personal

[1:40:07] attacks. We can't make the speakers do that. But I

[1:40:12] would just say to you once again, I thank council.

[1:40:17] For providing that. And conducting themselves in that professional manner,

[1:40:23] letting you all know, the ones that come here, the

[1:40:25] children. Are listening. And the things that they ask and

[1:40:30] they say. I understand. And it's disappointing to me because.

[1:40:35] It's a choice. So those that come here understand that

[1:40:39] people are watching, listening, and we ask as council members

[1:40:43] that you all abide by because you see how we

[1:40:46] abide. We want to practice what we preach. But again,

[1:40:50] at the end of the day, Understand that you can

[1:40:53] interpret and do whatever you want, but that would be

[1:40:56] surely appreciated in the new year. That's all. Thank you.

[1:40:59] Thank you, council member Lehman. Yeah. Councilwoman lost her pretty

[1:41:03] much. Covered almost everything. The woman who spoke about redfish

[1:41:10] point. You're correct. It has not come up in front

[1:41:14] of council yet. But not only that. You need to

[1:41:16] be aware it is not owned by the city. It's

[1:41:21] privately owned by the zombie Trust, so when it comes

[1:41:23] up to council, it would. Be for a rezoning. Thank

[1:41:28] you, Mr. Mayor. Do you want me to bring up

[1:41:33] that other. I thought you were going to do that

[1:41:36] under reports. Okay, I will do that at reports. Thank

[1:41:39] you, council member Kilray? Yeah, I'm reacting to an e

[1:41:43] comment we had from. Mr. Stolesis, basically. He referenced that

[1:41:49] we should be looking at infrastructure and improving our water

[1:41:53] situation by using desalinization and I couldn't let that one

[1:41:56] go by because desalinazation is. Very expensive, energy intensive. And

[1:42:03] the process that we have right now. Are a reclamation

[1:42:07] system, an RO system. Puts us in a cat bird

[1:42:11] seat in years to come. Ro is using water. That

[1:42:16] is not capable of being used for anything else because

[1:42:19] of its salinity and murkiness. We clean up the perfection

[1:42:24] and recycle system. Is the best system around and probably.

[1:42:31] Those combined systems. Are better than anything else in the

[1:42:34] United States. So with all due respect and happy to

[1:42:38] talk to them about in further detail, Desalinazation is not

[1:42:42] an outlet that would be beneficial to the city, so

[1:42:45] thank you. Mayor. Mr. City manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:42:49] I just wanted to enhance councilwoman Laster's. List. Of unique

[1:42:54] opportunities that Cape core offers. And this is going to

[1:42:57] springboard off of something. Dr. Donnell asks every week is

[1:43:01] to bring something positive to our community. And so this

[1:43:03] was a great question. List some things that Cape Coral

[1:43:07] has that are unique, that will drive people new our

[1:43:10] city. I have a short list. Gator mics amusement park.

[1:43:17] Gator Mike's amusement park, go cart rides. Zip lines. Mini

[1:43:23] golf four mile cove. Trails, walking, parks, environmental sightseeing. Serenia

[1:43:32] vista manatee park. We have people come from all over

[1:43:35] to see our manatees. That serennia vista manatee park. Cape

[1:43:40] Coral Museum of History if you want to see. The

[1:43:44] things we're dealing with today. Ten years ago, 20 years

[1:43:47] ago, 30 years ago, it's all the same. UEP traffic

[1:43:51] growth. Same stuff over and over, but it's really interesting

[1:43:56] to see. How previous councils and previous administrations dealt with

[1:44:00] it. That's a great spot to visit. Wicked. Dolphin. We

[1:44:06] have our own craft distillery. Offers tours. Pretty neat place.

[1:44:11] Sun, splash. Wonderful location. Just added a wave pool. The

[1:44:16] quartz third largest pickleball facility in the state of Florida,

[1:44:21] but also host to our very own. Tournament, the Cape

[1:44:25] Coral Open, which brings the number one. Men and women's

[1:44:29] pickleball players in the world to our community. Yellow fever

[1:44:35] keep yellow Fever Creek Campground will soon be open, but

[1:44:39] it's on its way. In the middle of. A beautiful

[1:44:43] environmental park. The Charlotte Harbor Preserve. Great place for fishing,

[1:44:48] canoeing, kayaking. Wonderful outdoor place and keep Coral BMX, which,

[1:44:55] by the way, for those of you who went this

[1:44:57] past weekend hosted the national tournament in Cape Coral. And

[1:45:03] for those riders who won. They punched their ticket to

[1:45:07] worlds in Australia. Those are just some places we have

[1:45:12] wonderful events that bring people from all over. Boom. Art

[1:45:16] fest tour to cape and so forth. Thank you. You

[1:45:19] forgot the largest flag in the state or we don't

[1:45:21] have that yet. That's right. Okay, thank you. Let's move

[1:45:27] on to the next item of the agenda. We have

[1:45:29] reports. Council member Steinki report. Thank you, mayor. January Eigth,

[1:45:35] attend the Lee county tourist development. Council, where I'm a

[1:45:38] member on the 14th. I participated, like all of us

[1:45:43] did in the CRA and our committee, the whole in

[1:45:46] the 15th, I attended the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association's

[1:45:50] showcase of Homes awards celebration 21 January this morning. I

[1:45:56] wanted to thank the mayor for filling in for me

[1:45:58] as I had a conflicting obligation. And so he sat

[1:46:02] in for me at the CTAC this morning. I would

[1:46:05] remind all of our citizens, those watching. That. The city

[1:46:11] managers annual report just came out. It's available on the

[1:46:14] website. For anyone that was listening in around concerns of

[1:46:20] us being a safe city. You'll find some interesting information

[1:46:23] in there about the pride we can have in our

[1:46:25] local law enforcement and the safety that's provided to our

[1:46:28] citizens as well. As. The reaction and attendance by our

[1:46:33] fire department in dealing with our folks. When their safety

[1:46:37] might be in peril or their health might be in

[1:46:40] peril. So it's a great read. It's only about 24,

[1:46:45] 25 pages long somewhere in there, but great information there.

[1:46:49] I'd encourage everyone to go to the website and take

[1:46:51] a look at our annual report. And unless there are

[1:46:55] any objections by my colleagues here, I would plan on

[1:46:57] leaving Sunday and making my way to Tallahassee. Where I'll

[1:47:03] attend. The legislative meetings in Tallahassee, along with our Florida

[1:47:08] League of Cities. And our lobbyists that work on our

[1:47:12] behalf there in Tallahassee and then be returning on Wednesday.

[1:47:18] Late afternoon, early evening. That's it for me. Okay, thank

[1:47:22] you, council member Lehman. I see your light on, but

[1:47:25] we do have a list going down for our reports

[1:47:28] in a specific order, so we will get to you

[1:47:30] here. Shortly. Not a problem. Council member Donnell, report. Thank

[1:47:33] you, mayor. Yesterday, for Dr. Martin Luther King. Annual celebration

[1:47:40] breakfast in Fort Myers. I was able to attend it,

[1:47:43] represent the city, and it was just great to see

[1:47:45] the honorees that they noted and people out there. And

[1:47:48] Justin reminded that at the end of the day, with

[1:47:50] all the speeches and the celebration is all about how

[1:47:54] we respect each other, and that was the premise and

[1:47:56] the theme. So it was a great event and I

[1:47:59] was glad to be able to att. Attend. Thank you.

[1:48:00] That's all, council member cadoo. Thank you, mayor. On January

[1:48:04] eigth I attended the Horizon Council Arts and culture committee

[1:48:08] meeting. It was the first one I'm looking forward to

[1:48:10] being a part of this committee. In that same evening,

[1:48:13] I attended the community cooperative event supporting them at top

[1:48:16] golf on January 9. I attended the horizon Council executive

[1:48:19] meeting, and today we had our keep coral Transportation advisory

[1:48:23] Commission and just like council member Stanky, I too plan

[1:48:27] to attend the FLC days in Tallahassee. January 25 through

[1:48:31] 28th. And just a reminder, I did ask, and it

[1:48:34] has been set up, that on January 30, which is

[1:48:37] day two of our budget workshop that I attend via

[1:48:39] phone. Thank you. Okay. And we have council member Kilbrine.

[1:48:43] On January, that town hall will attend over 100. People.

[1:48:47] I'd like to thank Sharon Woodbury for a great presentation

[1:48:51] on Edo. And we had some good discussions on a

[1:48:56] whole variety of topics. But thank you for staff in

[1:48:59] support of that. January 9, attend Michelle Hoffman. It's retirement.

[1:49:04] January 10, stop by the art festival, and I was

[1:49:08] able to find a park in place. On January 13,

[1:49:12] I was on Jason Jones Daybreak speaking a little bit

[1:49:15] about Venezuela oil, but he got me in a corner

[1:49:18] on redfish point in property taxes, so I commented on

[1:49:21] those. So that's a recorded. Dialogue. So if you want

[1:49:26] to go to Jason Jones State break, you can listen

[1:49:29] to that. January 13 participating in Georgia school board I

[1:49:34] would like to invite anyone who is interested in the

[1:49:39] quality of the programs and the staff. That the charter

[1:49:44] schools has a principal gave a report and it was

[1:49:47] excellent wet energy and just total. Good things happening at

[1:49:55] the skull again. They had the 100% graduation rate the

[1:49:59] first time that that's attained in a long time, and

[1:50:02] they're pressed right now to find space. Actual physical space

[1:50:06] to support. Out of 54 additional students matriculating in for

[1:50:10] next year, On january 14, the participant cra in cal

[1:50:16] and january 15 attended the cccia showcase of homes. Along

[1:50:23] with Bill Snikey. Councilman lost her and Lehman and mayor.

[1:50:29] A great showcase. Probably the best done that I've seen

[1:50:33] in a long time, and I think they had over

[1:50:35] 200 people their weight. I think you said 209. So,

[1:50:39] excellent presentation. January 15 also tended the BIA. New board

[1:50:45] of directors with mayor also attended. And on January 15

[1:50:49] in the south. We went to the southwest Florida. League

[1:50:54] of cities. Mayor hosted that an excellent job presentation by

[1:51:00] Tico. There are natural gas and. Opportunities to expand natural

[1:51:06] gas to both moving fleets, school buses. And garbage and

[1:51:11] also looking at maybe some infrastructure in the Cape in

[1:51:14] future years. On the 16th, along with mayor and councilor

[1:51:19] Lehman. And city staff. City manager went to the BMX.

[1:51:25] Little did I know, I was greatly surprised at the

[1:51:28] sophistication of that operation down. There. That's ranked, I guess,

[1:51:33] 7th in the nation. What an incredible event. I start

[1:51:37] back again. Another day just in froze, but. They really

[1:51:41] had that thing filled up. And. A great attraction. On

[1:51:47] January 20 legislative action days. And flc webinar. And on

[1:51:54] January 20, lcRec. On january 21, ctac. I will also

[1:52:02] be going up to Tallahassee Sunday night, returning Wednesday. So

[1:52:08] thank you, mayor. Okay. Council member last thank you, mayor.

[1:52:12] Last weekend, I also attended the art festival. Congratulations to

[1:52:15] the rotary for putting on such an incredible event. It

[1:52:18] was very well attended, packed, and the weather was gorgeous.

[1:52:23] Last Thursday. I also attended the Southwest Florida League of

[1:52:26] Cities luncheon out in LaBelle. It was great. It was

[1:52:30] informative. I didn't know we had natural gas in our

[1:52:33] city. So I look forward to that for our future.

[1:52:37] And I also attended the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association

[1:52:41] Awards dinner. Congratulations to that group. That was an incredible

[1:52:45] vent and. To hear about and see some of those

[1:52:49] gorgeous homes that we have in our city. We're very

[1:52:52] proud. I'm very proud that we have that today. I

[1:52:54] also attended our transportation. Advisory council meeting along with some

[1:53:00] others. I'll also be attending the Florida League of Cities

[1:53:03] in Tallahassee, leaving Sunday, coming back Wednesday. And our biggest,

[1:53:08] exciting, most great news is that we hit our goal

[1:53:11] for youth council $21,972. So we were able to take

[1:53:18] ten children. And we are very excited. The children. Are

[1:53:24] beside themselves. Anything that we raise after. We'll be using,

[1:53:28] hopefully, to take them on some excursions tour of the

[1:53:31] monuments as well, as I think the Smithsonian is what

[1:53:35] they voted on wanting to go see, and the National

[1:53:37] Archives, so they're going to have a pretty jampacked trip,

[1:53:41] those of us that are chaperoning. Get ready. Put your

[1:53:44] running shoes on because it's going to be. Busy. I

[1:53:47] will also be attending national League of cities in DC

[1:53:51] and working with our federal lobbyists. To meet with our

[1:53:55] legislators on the hill, so I'm very excited about doing

[1:53:58] that. And then lastly. We have a movie in the

[1:54:04] park for youth council. It's on Friday the 13th. It's

[1:54:07] a Valentine's movie in the park. We sold a whopping

[1:54:09] two tickets online. So get your tickets. We'll be selling

[1:54:13] popcorn. We'll be showing the movie clueless. And we need

[1:54:18] a lot of people to come because we have four

[1:54:20] amazing food trucks coming. And it would be sad if

[1:54:24] they were only cooking for, like, six of us, so

[1:54:26] please. Come if you can. You can purchase your tickets

[1:54:29] online, or you can buy them at Cultural park. Where

[1:54:33] we will be set up by 04:00 p.m. the movie

[1:54:35] starts 07:00. P.m. sharp. And council member long. I'm sorry

[1:54:39] about your canes. It was a nail biter till that

[1:54:42] last interception. Sorry. Thank you, mayor. Council member Lehman report?

[1:54:49] Yes. I'd like all the citizens to know that. We

[1:54:54] have a young lady here in the city who was

[1:54:59] going to the Olympics. She made the Olympic women's ice

[1:55:04] hockey team. Kudos all the way. Her family is thrilled.

[1:55:11] I've talked to them. And we only wish her the

[1:55:15] best. I also want to mention that. On the 10th

[1:55:20] and the 11th. Now on the 15th? Yes, the awards

[1:55:24] dinner for the CCCIA. Was as a result. Of the

[1:55:31] six of us that were judges, of which I was

[1:55:35] one on the 10th and the 11th, and there are

[1:55:39] some beautiful, beautiful homes. There is a book. On the

[1:55:45] showcase that has a map in it. And on the

[1:55:49] weekends, Saturday and Sunday, you can go and look at

[1:55:52] these homes. It is well. Worth doing. There are some

[1:55:58] absolutely phenomenal homes. Thank you. And Friday. Friday, Friday, Saturday

[1:56:05] and Sunday. Excuse me. You're right. I'm sorry. Thank you

[1:56:09] for the correction. Council member long. Thank you, mayor. Just

[1:56:14] real quickly, I, too, planning on attending legislative action days

[1:56:18] in. Tallahassee from January 25 to the 28th. Looking forward

[1:56:22] to a productive trip, advocating on behalf of the residents

[1:56:25] with you all. Thank you. Okay. Back on the twelveth,

[1:56:30] I was a guest speaker on the Cape Coral talk

[1:56:33] radio on the 13th, I attended the fire department union

[1:56:37] meeting. It was a good meeting where we were trying

[1:56:43] to make the process maybe better in the future. Some

[1:56:46] recommendations. From some of the board members. Thank God we

[1:56:51] had some paramedics here, but I was able to walk

[1:56:53] out on moon. Power. But we had a well rounded

[1:56:58] discussion that look forward to maybe trying to make the

[1:57:00] process a little better for the future. Also on the

[1:57:04] 15th I attended. The Southwest Florida League of Cities meeting

[1:57:08] in LaBelle, and also on the 15th, I attended Cape

[1:57:12] Coral construction industry showcase a homes award dinner. A great

[1:57:17] event there. Probably at least 200 people there, so it

[1:57:22] was probably the most participated. Award dinner that I can

[1:57:28] remember since I've been going there. So guys did a

[1:57:30] great job also attended the Cape Coral BMX national race.

[1:57:35] We had a national race here in the city of

[1:57:37] Cape Coral. And I was told that we had every.

[1:57:43] State in the United States. Had a representative. From every

[1:57:48] state to participate in the race. It was about a

[1:57:50] three day event and. The winners were trying to qualify

[1:57:56] for. Australia. Mr. City manager wasn't in Australia. They were

[1:58:01] trying to go to the race in Australia. So I

[1:58:04] know many of them were extremely hopeful that. They would

[1:58:08] qualify and move on. Also today I attended the CTAC

[1:58:14] meeting and also. Attended a meeting with. County commissioner Ruane.

[1:58:22] And the city manager was present. An accounting manager, and

[1:58:27] what we were doing was going over the topics. We

[1:58:30] had a meeting about. Six weeks ago, I guess. And

[1:58:34] during our first meeting, I think we identified. About. 1213

[1:58:42] items of concern that we wanted to try to work

[1:58:44] out with the county. So between that meeting and the

[1:58:48] meeting that we had and all the discussion that the

[1:58:51] city manager had with the county manager over the last

[1:58:54] six weeks or so. I just wanted to give you

[1:58:56] a quick update. Del Prada Boulevard. I know there was

[1:59:01] some concern with the medium beautification. I know. We had

[1:59:03] spoke about that as a council. And that was one

[1:59:07] of the discussions. That we had with them. And I

[1:59:14] am pleased to let you know that in yesterday's meeting,

[1:59:17] there was a five to zero vote to approve $500,000.

[1:59:23] For meeting improvements on Del Prado Boulevard. So I think.

[1:59:28] Our discussions were very fruitful, and I'm glad to see

[1:59:31] a result. As a result. Of that. Capcor Bridge widening

[1:59:36] project that's still moving forward on the same schedule. There

[1:59:40] are some concerns how to pay for that project. I

[1:59:44] know there's a variety of ideals. That they were discussing.

[1:59:48] One was possible toll increase for the debt that's needed.

[1:59:54] But we'll see exactly where that lands. But that project

[1:59:58] is moving. Forward. And. We do have. An interlocal agreement.

[2:00:08] With that particular project as well. Then there was Pondella

[2:00:12] Boulevard in northeast 25th Avenue. Concern for a traffic signal

[2:00:17] at that location. And as a result, Of our discussion.

[2:00:23] The city and the county agreed. It will verbally agreed.

[2:00:28] It needs to be memorialized with a mutual understanding that

[2:00:32] we will split the cost to that particular project 50

[2:00:35] 50. So we've already done a traffic study there. It

[2:00:39] warrants a signal, so that'll. Be moving forward and we'll

[2:00:43] see some additional. Things coming forward as a result of

[2:00:47] that discussion? Mayor yes. I see some squint. On. The

[2:00:54] north side of that intersection. It's actually Hancock Creek. Boulevard.

[2:00:58] So in that signal, the road changes names, but it's

[2:01:01] on the eastern end of the city on pondella, right?

[2:01:06] The other road that we discussed that at this point

[2:01:10] have not identified any type of funding. They said for

[2:01:14] now. It's on an indefinite hold. No funding has been

[2:01:20] identified. And that was for the intersection. Of Northeast 24th

[2:01:24] Avenue in Kismet Parkway. We talked about a roundabout, but

[2:01:28] at this time the county doesn't have any funding to

[2:01:31] move that project forward. Item five was land use and

[2:01:35] zoning on Bernstore Road. Basically alignment of the city and

[2:01:39] county land use and zoning ordinance because there are some

[2:01:42] county parcels, some city parcels. So we wanted to come

[2:01:46] up with an agreement. So staff. Will be, I think,

[2:01:53] the two city, our city manager, the county manager, or

[2:01:56] coordinated effort on a possible solution for that. Where we're

[2:02:01] both had the same types of recommendation, no matter if

[2:02:05] it's a city property or county property. So that'll be

[2:02:10] future discussion on that. 6th was land use and zoning

[2:02:14] on Pine Island Road. And again, same scenario. We'll have

[2:02:21] a future meeting with the county and our staff. Because

[2:02:24] there are some county parcels and some city parcels. So

[2:02:27] when it comes to some alignment, there we want to

[2:02:30] make sure that we both can agree on one scenario

[2:02:35] where we're applying the same rules that they are. Great.

[2:02:39] Order up. Pine Island Water association franchise. Territory swap negotiations

[2:02:46] and agreements involving service territories requiring joint approval on that

[2:02:51] particular. Item. I have here is number seven development on

[2:02:57] hold? So I don't think that coordinates that. But I

[2:03:00] know you're having future discussions. My understanding with the county

[2:03:05] to try to come. Up with an agreement, whether the

[2:03:09] water services Pine island or the city of Cape Coral.

[2:03:13] Maybe you can elabor. Elaborate a little bit in the

[2:03:15] city management. The development of the territorial swap. Is on

[2:03:20] hold. The developments that were triggering. That right now are

[2:03:24] not moving forward. And so what we're trying to do

[2:03:27] is get an agreement with Jippewa for that, but the

[2:03:32] development that was triggering that. The development that kind of

[2:03:36] triggered that conversation. Doesn't look like that particular development zone.

[2:03:40] Hold. So it's not pressing, but I think we're still

[2:03:42] having those discussions. Item eight, Lee County EMS, the five

[2:03:48] year growth plan. They've already identified the five year growth

[2:03:51] plan. They've actually funded it. So they are moving forward.

[2:03:57] I know. We are going to get a new EMS

[2:03:58] station here in Cape Coral as a result of that.

[2:04:03] We've already increased our EMS units. We went from five

[2:04:06] about three years ago to. Ten or eleven today. And

[2:04:11] I believe ten. So we've over doubled in the last

[2:04:14] three years. So. They are really investing in public safety

[2:04:19] just like we are. Dnd boat rant property discussions regarding

[2:04:23] improvements and redevelopment of the boot rant property. We are.

[2:04:28] I think the interlocal agreement was just sent over to

[2:04:31] the city manager. The last day or two. So we're

[2:04:35] going to review that. I know the county needs a

[2:04:38] site plan from us. And. We're trying to come up

[2:04:42] with an agreement, how we're going to move forward. And

[2:04:44] how we're going to partner with any development of the

[2:04:47] DND property so that's still ongoing as well. And then,

[2:04:53] of course, Everybody's talking about the Burn store road widening.

[2:05:00] One of the things in our discussion today right now.

[2:05:02] That particular project is slated for 2036. We all know

[2:05:06] we're trying to move that up. Considerably. It is one

[2:05:10] of their top priorities. And they are looking at a

[2:05:15] variety of scenarios how to fund that. One of the

[2:05:18] scenarios that they are entertaining is trying to incorporate the

[2:05:22] debt for that particular project. Into the Cape Coral Bridge,

[2:05:27] New Cape Coral Bridge to put both of those projects.

[2:05:32] Under. That bond going forward. So that's what they're discussing.

[2:05:37] But in the meantime, Understanding that there is. A safety

[2:05:43] hazard up in that area. We had those three deaths.

[2:05:47] The commission did approve $5.7 million to do temporary. Improvements,

[2:05:54] safety improvements on that property. To at least try to

[2:05:58] make it safer until we can identify the funding mechanism

[2:06:03] and get that project started. So I just wanted to

[2:06:06] thank the commissioners in the county. For recognizing the need

[2:06:11] of some safety improvements. And again. They approved $5.7 million.

[2:06:19] You're going to see things of rumble strips passing liens,

[2:06:22] paved shoulders. In order to make that stretch. I believe

[2:06:26] it's a little river, 5 miles. A little? More safer

[2:06:29] than it is now. We talked about. A problem with

[2:06:35] trash on Veterans Parkway. As I had mentioned today in

[2:06:39] the meeting. There's a lot of construction in the northwest

[2:06:43] part of the city. You have construction workers, delivery trucks

[2:06:47] up and down veterans highway that are constantly losing the

[2:06:51] load and you're seeing a lot of trash. Then when

[2:06:53] it hits, it's just going everywhere. So. It's basically they

[2:06:58] said, hey, just let us know. When you see something.

[2:07:01] So my recommendation, if anyone's watching in the public, please

[2:07:06] utilize 3111. If you see something up there, let us

[2:07:09] know. And then we'll make sure that we get that

[2:07:13] information. Over to the county so they can respond out

[2:07:16] there and said they would try to do that. As

[2:07:18] quick as possible. Joint meeting with Lee County. I know.

[2:07:25] Some council members here had a desire to have a

[2:07:27] joint meeting. With the county. And I think a lot

[2:07:31] of it had to do with a lot of the

[2:07:32] items that's on this list, but as you can see,

[2:07:35] we've made a lot of progress. On this list just

[2:07:38] in a couple of meetings, so I'm glad that we

[2:07:41] had those. And we will continue. To have those until

[2:07:45] all these items were resolved. But at this point in

[2:07:49] time, the county commission does not have a desire to

[2:07:52] have any type. Of a joint meeting, so we will

[2:07:54] just continue. In the path that we are doing now,

[2:07:58] as long as. It's fruitful and we're getting things accomplished,

[2:08:02] which I think we are, will. Continue in that path.

[2:08:07] So I would recommend to any of the council members,

[2:08:10] if there is something else that's. Not on those lists

[2:08:12] that I talked about today. Of course you can go

[2:08:14] and talk to. Your county commissioner as well, but. If

[2:08:19] you want me to incorporate. That topic of discussion in

[2:08:23] these meetings that we're going to be having. Probably every

[2:08:27] six to eight weeks. Feel free to get that information,

[2:08:31] either to myself or the city manager who attends those

[2:08:34] meetings at will. We talked about the Cdbgdr awards and

[2:08:39] agreements. And as you heard in your, I believe, your

[2:08:43] one on one meetings this week, there's some concerns with

[2:08:47] that. Exactly. There is, I think, a push in federal

[2:08:52] government. I know our city manager and staff have been

[2:08:56] talking with our federal lobbyists. There's a six year window

[2:09:02] to award those monies. And I think. There is a

[2:09:08] push to try not to award those monies. So I

[2:09:13] think we had about $128,000,000 of projects that we identified.

[2:09:19] We're hoping to get some, but there could be a

[2:09:21] possibility we get none. So we will work hard. Continue

[2:09:25] to work hard on. Those projects. There are some great

[2:09:28] projects that I think would benefit the city, but. We

[2:09:32] have to go through the red tape of the federal

[2:09:34] government. And not we, but the county will be asking

[2:09:38] for an extension over and above that six year period.

[2:09:44] Don't know if that's going to be. Awarded. But they

[2:09:48] will be asking for that. And if I hear something

[2:09:51] on that, I will report. Back to council at a

[2:09:55] future date. That's about what I took out of the

[2:09:58] meetings. Anything that you would like to add? To that,

[2:10:02] Mr. City manager. I would just like to thank Commissioner

[2:10:07] Rowan and county manager Dave Harner for the collaborative relationship.

[2:10:11] They have to address items in Cape Coral. That also

[2:10:16] impact people that they represent. So thank you. All right.

[2:10:21] And that's all I have for report, Mr. Commissioner. But

[2:10:26] you just got raised council member. Kilren. I see you're

[2:10:30] late on, so I just want to mention that based

[2:10:33] on that incredible list of things that you just went

[2:10:35] through. Hats off to you and to Kevin Roane and

[2:10:40] to city manager and county manager. I certainly am satisfied

[2:10:44] with the way that that thing is progressing. Full support

[2:10:47] of what you've. Done on that and. Incredible what experience,

[2:10:51] expertise and knowledge of the city and what's important for

[2:10:54] the city does. And being able to get stuff accomplished.

[2:10:58] And thank you for what you did. Thank you, city

[2:11:00] manager. Really appreciate it, and it's a demonstration of expertise

[2:11:05] at work, and thank you. And I'd like to mention

[2:11:09] also the collaboration. Was forthcoming on both sides. And I

[2:11:15] think it was extremely beneficial to be able to sit

[2:11:18] down at the table. Roll your sleeves up and try

[2:11:21] to find results for some issues. And. They were aware

[2:11:27] of some of those issues, and the ones that they

[2:11:28] weren't, they worked. With us. And I think Commissioner Ruane

[2:11:33] has a desire. He represents the city of Cape Coral.

[2:11:36] And he lives here in the city of Cape Coral,

[2:11:38] and he wants to do all he can. So I

[2:11:40] just wanted to thank him. And the county manager for

[2:11:44] taking the time, being collaborative and being able to find

[2:11:48] solutions to problems. And that's what it's all about. Thank

[2:11:52] you, Mr. City attorney. Nothing to report. Thank you, Mr.

[2:11:56] City manager. Thank you, mayor. Have a couple of announcements.

[2:12:00] Kim Corals hosting the 35th annual tour to Kate cycling

[2:12:04] event Sunday, January 25. Weekend festivities begin with a kickoff

[2:12:08] celebration from four to seven, Friday, January 23, at the.

[2:12:13] West end marker 92 waterfront bar in Bistro. We will

[2:12:19] be hosting our budget winter workshop next week, January 29

[2:12:23] and 30th. That will be located here in council chambers

[2:12:26] at 09:00 a.m. And we are also hosting our third

[2:12:34] annual waterway science festival on Saturday, February 7 from 10:00

[2:12:39] a.m. to 04:00 p.m. at 528 Cultural Park. Boulevard. This

[2:12:43] is a family free event featuring educational activities and games

[2:12:47] highlighting the importance of our waterways. We do have. Live

[2:12:52] animals, mangrove and native tree plant giveaways volunteer opportunities, arts

[2:12:57] and crafts hands on lab experiments, boarding education, food trucks

[2:13:03] and more. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Time and

[2:13:08] place, a future meeting. We have a Cape Coral council.

[2:13:13] Says here budget workshop. But I know that. Is. A

[2:13:18] budget workshop. It's a two day event be held on

[2:13:21] Thursday, January 29, 2026. And Friday, January 30, 2026. Here

[2:13:29] and council chambers beginning at 09:00 a.m. and Mr. City

[2:13:33] manager, I'll see you later on. I'm sorry. I forgot

[2:13:35] my high five highlight for tonight. I'm going to ask

[2:13:39] Maureen to put up a couple of photos. So which

[2:13:42] one are you doing first? The sign. So we all

[2:13:47] had approved a new sign at Sunsplash in the courts.

[2:13:51] This was an example of what was there was kind

[2:13:54] of a makeshift wood sign. With kind of a pseudo

[2:13:58] roof. Here's a picture of what the new sign looks

[2:14:02] like, so that is now backlit. Looks very professional and

[2:14:07] really draws attention to two of those great amenities that

[2:14:11] generate tourism in Cape Coral. The next item is. So

[2:14:17] we had several complaints about. The condition of our fields.

[2:14:23] These actually happen to be the fields? Condition at Jim

[2:14:27] Jeffers. And so. Mole crickets infestation, lack of time to

[2:14:32] rest. Our parks department and our staff shut those fields

[2:14:37] down over break. The park was closed. There wasn't any

[2:14:41] soccer or any type of events at night. This is

[2:14:44] what those fields look like. Today. So high five highlight

[2:14:48] to our parks and rec department all the great things

[2:14:50] they're doing. For our community does not go unnoticed. Thank

[2:14:54] you. Okay with that. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

[2:15:01] Second. All in favor, say aye. Any opposed? Meaning journal?

City Council – Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript