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H I G H L I G H T Sn2020 General Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

nVacant Low Mowing Increased . . . . . . . . . . . 5

nStormwater Rates Increase $6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

nFire Dept . Receives FEMA PPE Grant . . . . . . 7

nCaloosahatchee Connect Project . . . . . . . . . 8

n Improved Adopt-a-Median Program . . . . . . 9

nFire Services Assessment Set . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

nFertilizer Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

nCoral Oaks Hosts Golf Tournament . . . . . . 12

nEconomic Development News . . . . . . . . . . 13

nParks GO Bond Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

nBus Stop Safety Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

nCoral Pointe Canal Restoration . . . . . . . . . . 15

nBungee Cords a Danger to Sawfish . . . . . . 15

nTropical Plant Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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CC ape Coral’s new City Manager, Rob Hernandez, began his first day on the job on August 12 after former City Manager John Szerlag retired. The city’s

top administrator signed a three-year contract and he will be paid about $236,000 a year.

Rob was selected for the job after a consultant was hired by the Cape Coral City Council to conduct a national search for its next city manager. The search firm recommended 11 semi-finalists. Council narrowed the number of finalists. Finalists were interviewed individually by council members during closed-door sessions. The following day, public interviews were held during a Special Meeting of the City Council.

“It was a tough decision. It boiled down to that he works in Fort Lauderdale, which is similar in size to us. He has the right credentials, he’s familiar with the fire service assessment and other things we’re doing here,” Mayor Joe Coviello said. “He seems to have the right personality to meld well here.” Rob likes to be out in the public rather than behind a desk and is already getting continued on page 4

Important Changes to Waste Pro Bulk and Horticulture Services

TT he City approved a long-term contract with Waste Pro for trash collection services. The contract is for another seven years with an optional three-year

renewal upon mutual agreement.The new agreement establishes a designated weekly

bulk pickup day for each improved property, changes to horticulture service, a process for non-compliant trash that typically results from move-outs, and quarterly bulk item drop-off events.

Each residence will have a designated bulk item collection day. Your bulk item collection day is one day after your normal trash collec-tion day. For example, if your trash and recycling are picked up on Wednes-days, then any bulk items will be collected on Thursdays. If your trash pickup day is Fridays, then bulk items will be picked up on Mondays. Bulk items are large items that don’t fit into a Waste Pro container. Bulk items might include a mattress, washing machine, or furniture. Bulk items should be placed no more than three feet from the curb and neatly separated. Items should not be

continued on page 4

to know people who live in the city.Before coming to Cape Coral, Rob was the deputy city

manager in Fort Lauderdale. He previously served as city manager in Savannah, Georgia from 2016 to 2019. Rob is a 23-year veteran of the Army Reserves. His other professional experience includes serving as deputy county administrator for Broward County, Florida, deputy county manager for Fulton County, Georgia, and assistant to the county administrator of Broward County. 

Rob holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Florida International University.  He is an International City Management Association (ICMA) credentialed manager and a Florida City/County Management Association member. 

The City of Cape Coral operates under the Council-City Manager form of government. City council members are elected

Cape Coral Welcomes New City Manager Rob Hernandez

City Manager Rob Hernandez

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On The Move is a quarterly newsletter produced by the City of Cape Coral for the citizens of the city. The publication is mailed as a courtesy to every household and business in the city. Comments or questions can be directed to the

City Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027 or by email to newsletter@capecoral.net.

City of Cape Coral Council MembersD I S T R I C T 1

D I S T R I C T 5

D I S T R I C T 2

D I S T R I C T 6

D I S T R I C T 3

D I S T R I C T 7

D I S T R I C T 4

John Gunter (239) 574-0437

jgunter@capecoral.net

Marilyn Stout (239) 574-0437

mstout@capecoral.net

John Carioscia (239) 574-0437

jcarioscia@capecoral.net

Lois Welsh (239) 574-0437

lwelsh@capecoral.net

Jessica Cosden (239) 574-0437

jcosden@capecoral.net

Rick Williams (239) 574-0437

rwilliam@capecoral.net

Jennifer Nelson (239) 574-0437

jinelson@capecoral.net

City of Cape Coral AdministrationCity ManagerJohn Szerlag

City AttorneyDolores Menendez

City AuditorAndrea Russell

City ClerkKimberly Bruns, Director

Community DevelopmentVince Cautero, Director

Economic DevelopmentRicardo Noguera, Manager

Financial ServicesChris Phillips, Interim Director

Fire DepartmentRyan Lamb, Chief

Human ResourcesLisa Sonego, Director

Information Technology ServicesMichelle Hoffmann, Director

Parks and RecreationKerry Runyon, Director

Police DepartmentDave Newlan, Chief

Public WorksPaul Clinghan, Director

Utilities DepartmentJeff Pearson, Director

Editor/Public InformationMaureen Buice,

Sr. Public Info. Specialist

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Mayor’s Message

WW elcome to our fall issue of On The Move. This quarterly newsletter is mailed to all residential and business

addresses in the city and it provides valuable information to our community.

We are moving into the second half of the hurricane season. The season begins June 1 and storm threats remain through November 30. Being prepared for severe weather is the best way to keep you and your family safe.

Speaking of safety, many students, teach-ers, and school staff returned to classrooms recently. The school resource officers, School District, and your city council are committed to the safety and security of our students. I ask all drivers pay special attention so our children can get to and from school safely. Addition-ally, we are getting some positive information about the COVID-19 public health emergency. Data indicates we are slowing the spread; how-ever, the challenge is to remain vigilant and keep practicing CDC guidelines. We are all in this together.

We recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Cape Coral’s incorporation. I was honored to attend the event alongside many of the city’s original residents and longtime leaders. I also had the pleasure of attending the fire department and police department dedication to the new exhibits opened in the Cape Coral Historical Museum. The museum is a wonderful place to go and learn about the history of our city. Cape Coral looks much different today as compared to what it looked like in 1970. We have a great community and together we have accomplished so much in the last 50 years. I believe our new City Manager Rob Hernandez is the right person to make Cape Coral an even better municipality.

City Council is setting the FY 2021 property tax rate and Operating Budget. We plan to lower Cape Coral’s property tax rate and we are work-ing with City administration to develop a budget that will provide the level of service our commu-nity expects. Input from our residents serving as volunteers on the Budget Review Committee and our community is important in establishing

the budget. Our goal is to deliver the best level of service at the most reasonable cost.

Later this month, City Council will be presented a concept plan for exten-sive improvements at the Yacht Club Commu-nity Park. These improvements are part of the citywide Parks GO Bond initiative. Community input will help us select a plan that will best serve those who use or live near this wonderful park and beach.

Cape Coral is growing rapidly and how we manage this growth will determine our future. We are focused on water quality efforts, infra-structure improvements, and maintaining our impeccable safety record. I look forward to all we can accomplish together. nRegards,Mayor Joe Coviello

WW elcome to the Fall issue of our commu-nity newsletter and my first message to you as City Manager. Let me start by

thanking our Mayor and City Council for allow-ing me to serve this great community. I am fortu-nate to assume the reins of a well-run, professional organization. I am also very excited to be one of Cape Coral’s newest residents. I look forward to working with City staff and the Cape Coral com-munity for many years to come.

The new school year is underway; please be aware and careful of children traveling to and from school. As we enter the second part of hurricane season, please take the necessary time to prepare a safety plan for yourself and/or your family. We continue to work together in the fight against COVID-19. The latest information avail-able to us concerning this public health crisis is favorable, and it appears that we are headed in the right direction. However, we’re not in the clear yet and it’s important that we don’t let our guard down and become complacent. I would like to remind everyone to continue your efforts to help

slow the spread of the virus.City staff has been working for several months

with Council and the Budget Review Committee on the Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget. The City is economically viable due in part to revenue diversi-fication and the decisions of past and current City leaders. Like many cities throughout the country, we no longer rely on one major source of revenue. Revenue diversification reduces instability that is caused by changing property values. Council will be lowering the tax rate again this year; this will be the fifth reduction since 2013.

Fiscal Year 2021 promises to be an exciting year for us as we build and open new parks, and improve existing ones. Our continued investments in pubic safety include replacing our antiquated Fire Sta-tion 2, breaking ground on our newest fire station, Station 12, and designing modern training facilities for our Police and Fire professionals. Taking care of our neighborhoods continues to be a top priority as we invest in resurfacing our roads, beautifying our medians, and adding infrastructure to support our growing population. Our goal is to make sure Cape

Coral remains a safe and affordable place to live with the level of service our community expects.

We recently celebrated Cape Coral’s 50th anni-versary of incorporation. The accomplishments over the last 50 years, when the city’s population began at about 10,000 residents, are remarkable. As we reflect on our proud history, we also look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Our population is approaching 200,000 and we have plenty of room to grow, especially in the northern part of the city. The decisions we make today will impact the future of our community. We want to ensure that Cape Coral’s next 50 years are as safe and vibrant as its first 50 years.

Again, I am glad to be in Cape Coral serving as your City Manager and I look forward to working together. nSee ‘ya around,

City Manager’s Message

RHernandez

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at large from seven districts. The mayor also is elected at large and is the eighth member of the Council. The mayor presides over all council meetings.

The City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions, adopts the budget, comprehensive plan, and land-use regulations. The Council appoints the City Manager, City Auditor, and City Attorney, as well as the members of boards and commissions. The City Manager carries out the City Coun-cil’s policies, hires all department directors, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the city.n

New City ManagerNew City Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . from from page 1 page 1

Waste Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . from page 1

stacked. Items should be placed at the curb after 5 p.m. on the day before pick up and before 6 a.m. on pick up day.

Horticulture debris should be placed in carts, cans, or paper horticulture bags. Beginning October 1, horticulture placed in plastic bags will not be collected. Horticulture debris that is not in a container or paper horticulture bag should be neatly bundled and no longer than six feet in length and weigh less than 50 pounds. Palm fonds can be neatly stacked with fronds facing the same direction.

Waste Pro and City Code Enforcement staff are working together to develop a process to pick up non-compliant bulk trash piles, which often result from move-outs. Property owners will be billed for the removal of non-compliant trash piles left sitting at the curb.

The new agreement between the City and Waste Pro also memorializes the bulk item drop-off events that have proven to be successful. The next bulk item drop-off event will be combined with a household chemical waste collection event on Saturday, November 7 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event will be held at 1020 Cultural Park Boulevard, which is a parking lot located next to the Police Department building.

The Waste Pro collection rate will increase seven percent in 2021 and one percent each of the following two fiscal years. Any annual Consumer Price In-dex increases will be determined by the City Council. Additionally, Lee Coun-ty is adding a recycling fee due to the increased costs of recycling nationwide.

The Fiscal Year 2020 solid waste collection rate was $199.59 per dwelling unit. The 2021 solid waste collection fee for residents will be $210.19 for Fiscal Year 2021. Cape Coral’s solid waste rate continues to be the lowest in Lee County.n

2020 City Council General Election To Be Held Tuesday, November 3

TT he 2020 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Cape Coral City Council General Election is a non-partisan, city-wide election. Candidates are elected at large, meaning registered voters

can vote for candidates in all council districts. Districts 2, 3, 5, and 7 will appear on the ballot.The qualified candidates appearing on the General Election ballot are as follows:

Mail ballots can be requested by contacting the office of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections by phone (239) 533-8683 or visit their website for voter registration requirements at http://www.lee.vote/.

Early voting will be held October 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2020 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Cape Coral Lee County Elec-tions Branch Office (1039 SE 9th Avenue – 1st Floor, Cape Coral) and the Cape Coral Lee County Public Libraries (921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral and 519 Chiquita Boulevard, N., Cape Coral). Other locations exist in Lee County, outside of Cape Coral. Please visit https://www.lee.vote/Election-In-formation/Early-Voting-Information for a complete listing of early voting locations throughout Lee County.

For information regarding municipal elections, please contact the Cape Coral City Clerk’s office at (239) 574-0417.n

District 2 Bryan DeLaHunt Dan Sheppard

District 3 Chris Cammarota Tom Hayden

District 5 Louis C. Navarra Robert Welsh

District 7 Jessica Cosden Derrick Donnell

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO WASTE PRO SERVICESBULK ITEMS THAT DON’T FIT INTO WASTE PRO

CONTAINERS WILL BE COLLECTED THE DAY AFTER YOUR NORMAL TRASH AND RECYCLING PICK UP

BULK ITEMS SHOULD BE SEPARATEDPLACE ITEMS AT THE CURB AFTER 5 P.M.

THE EVENING BEFORE COLLECTION AND BEFORE 6 A.M. ON COLLECTION DAY

BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2020 HORTICULTURE WASTE MUST BE PLACED IN

CARTS, CANS, OR PAPER HORTICULTURE BAGS. NO PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

VIEW THE TRASH/RECYCLING SCHEDULE ONLINE :WWW.WASTEPROUSA.COM/CAPE-CORAL/

REGULAR-PICKUP-SCHEDULE/

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Remember Your Year-Round Watering Schedule

CC ape Coral will be entering the dry season in a couple of months. By following

the City’s year-round watering schedule, we expect to have enough water for our residents to irrigate lawns during the duration of the dry season. Please remember that during the dry season, lawns require less water than the hot, summer days.

The Cape Coral community relies on canal water from the freshwater ca-nal system as a supplement to the reuse water produced from our wastewater reclamation plants for irrigation uses. The City is working to increase irri-gation water supply. The Caloosahatchee Connect project will provide reuse water to Cape Coral residents and reduce the need to rely on the freshwater canal system. There is more information about the Caloosahatchee Connect project in this newsletter.

Our two-day watering schedule is in effect for all residents whether you are using the City’s dual-water system or private wells. The watering days depend on the last number of a property address.Here is the two-day watering schedule that is in effect for all of Cape Coral:

Businesses, properties or developments up to and including five acres in size with irrigation systems that must irrigate multiple properties with different watering times will be allowed to water on Monday and Friday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. This includes but is not limited to duplexes and multi-family units. Businesses, properties or developments more than five acres in size with irrigation systems that simultaneously irrigate multiple properties with different watering times are allowed to water on Monday and Friday from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. This includes but is not limited to multi-family and mixed-use units.n

Monday & Friday: Midnight to 4 a.m. for addresses ending in 0 Monday & Friday: 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. for addresses ending in 1 Wednesday & Saturday: Midnight to 4 a.m. for addresses ending in 3 and 5 Wednesday & Saturday: 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. for addresses ending in 7 and 9 Thursday & Sunday: Midnight to 4 a.m. for addresses ending in 2 and 4 Thursday & Sunday: 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. for addresses ending in 6 and 8

City Reminds Residents to Adjust Timers for Daylight Savings Time

TT he City reminds Cape Coral residents to adjust the timers on their sprinklers as part of the twice-a-year clock adjustments we must do for Daylight Savings Time. Just as residents have to change their

clocks, watches, and other timepieces, the timer on the sprinkler system should be on the checklist of adjustments to make.

On Sunday, November 1, the clocks “fall back” one hour. While the City pro-vides a grace period to allow residents to adjust their times and avoid a citation, that grace period does expire after 30 days.

If you have neighbors who are “snowbirds” returning for the winter, please consider reminding them to check their timers and make sure they have been set to the current time. n

Michael Russell Promoted toFire Deputy Chief

FF ire Chief Ryan Lamb recently promoted Michael “Mike” Russell to the vacant Fire Deputy Chief position following

a retirement.The Deputy Chief is second only to the Fire

Chief and is responsible for the day-to-day opera-tions of the Fire Department, including managing the budget and overseeing the Divisions of Logis-tics, Operations, and Professional Standards.

Deputy Chief Russell is a Florida certified Fire Instructor, Fire Officer, and Public Sector Labor Relations Professional. He has an associate degree in fire science technology and a bache-lor’s degree in public safety administration from Edison State College. He also has a master’s degree in administration from Barry University. Deputy Chief Russell is currently enrolled in the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, which he will complete at the beginning of next year.

Russell is originally from Wheeling, West Virginia where he worked in public safety. He moved to Cape Coral in 2004 and was hired by the Cape Coral Fire Department about a year later. Russell served in the positions of Firefighter, Engineer/Driver, Field Training Officer, Lieutenant, Battalion Chief, and Division Chief before being promoted.

Russell believes constant growth is the pathway to success. He motivates the team to overcome challenges with conviction and empathy and a relentless pursuit of excellence. While managing the complex needs of the Department, he provides support, guidance, and inspiration with a vision and focus toward the future. Congratulations Deputy Chief Russell and thank you for your service.n

Fire Deputy Chief Mike Russell

Vacant Lot Mowing Increased to 10 Mows a Year

TT he City of Cape Coral’s Lot Mowing Program was established in 1971 to provide mowing on all unimproved and certain non-exempt vacant lots, medians, and rights of way in the city. This includes easements,

alleyways, drainage easements, and cul-de-sacs. The program provides benefits to the citizens of Cape Coral by controlling vegetation, growth, and vermin habitats. In Fiscal Year 2017, the City added trimming around burrowing owl nests as part of the responsibility of the mowing contractors.

Vacant lots that are part of the lot mowing program were currently cut seven times a year. Over 390,000 mows are performed annually as part of this program. The vacant low mowing begins in March and continues through December. Property owners of the vacant lots are billed for the mowing ser-vice in their annual tax bill as a separate non-ad valorem assessment.

The City Council recently approved an increase from seven mows a year to 10 mows a year beginning in Fiscal Year 2021. Lots are assessed based on the square footage of the parcel. For FY 2021, the annual lot mowing fees range from $65.32 to $92.30 depending on the location of the lot.

Property owners who have unimproved parcels can elect to opt-out of the Lot Mowing Program by contacting the 311 Call Center (311). If owners opt-out, they still will be required to maintain and mow the property.n

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North 2 UEP Almost Complete

AA ll contractors have obtained substantial completion of their contract area in the North 2 Utilities Extension Program (UEP). The remaining Notices of Availability (NOA) are being issued to owners

of developed properties in this area. When contractors reach substantial completion crews will continue to address all incomplete items, such as swale and driveway restoration, mailbox replacements and the like. Owners of developed properties have 180 days after receipt of the NOA to connect to City water, sewer and/or irrigation, as appropriate. The NOA provides information to property owners on how to apply for an account with the City, how to obtain required permits and approvals, as well as additional pertinent information regarding City water, sewer and irrigation connection and service. Owners of undeveloped properties receive a postcard notifying them that water, sewer and/or irrigation service is now available at their property. At the expiration of the 180-day plumbers’ connection period, contractors will place a second lift of asphalt on all roads within the North 2 UEP. NOA dates for each lift station service area can be found on the City website www.capecoral.net/uep.n

Stormwater Rates Increases $6 Water Quality Funding a Priority

TT he annual stormwater fee is collected as a separate non-ad valorem assessment on the property tax bill. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, the Council approved stormwater rate will be $125. The annual fee was

$119 in FY 2020.In 2016, City staff presented the CDM Smith Rate Study for the storm-

water fee to City Council. The study recommended a stepped approach to increasing the stormwater fee to maintain the sustainability of the Stormwa-ter Fund. The Study was updated in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2020,

The CDM Smith Rate Study detailed the dire financial situation with the Stormwater Fund, which was close to exhausting its fund balance. Rate increases were necessary to maintain the level of stormwater management required for a 120-square-mile city. Stormwater operations include the maintenance of 23,700 storm drain inlets, 3,360 miles of swales and 27 weirs annually to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sys-tem under the Clean Water Act. Other stormwater activities include drain pipe replacement, drainage management, canal dredging, drain pipe reloca-tions, and weir maintenance.n

Stormwater Improvements in North 2 UEP

TT he City received $2.2 Million in To-tal Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) grant funding from the Department

of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for stormwater improvements in the North 2 Utilities Extension Project (UEP) area.

The grant funding will be used toward replacement of about 1,600 catch basins and installation of almost 9,000 lineal feet of bioswales. Replacement of the catch basins is complete. The bioswale installa-tion is beginning soon and will be completed by the end of the calendar year.

Bioswales are designed to convey stormwater runoff while removing debris and nutrients. The removal of nutrients improves the water quality in the city’s canals, as well as the adjacent Charlotte Harbor estuary.

Homeowners with properties adjacent to swales that are part of the bioswale program will receive letters in the mail. There is no visible difference between a bioswale versus a conventional swale. The difference is a 12-inch thick layer of bioactivated material that lies below inches of common fill and grass.

Two types of bioactivated material are being used in a pilot project. In the Contract 2 area of the North 2 UEP, the City is using “Bold and Gold”. The “Bold and Gold” product consists of inert biosorption activated materials with no organics. In Contract 1, the city is utilizing “Nutrigone”, which consists of all-natural denitrification and phosphorus adsorption media. Both products have been tested and successfully remove nitrogen and other nutrients in other Florida municipalities, however, with different applications. 

Monitoring is a major part of the bioswale pilot program. The City’s En-vironmental Resources Division will continue to monitor the water quality after the installation of the bioswales. The results of the data collection and water quality analyses will be reported to the FDEP to fulfill the require-ments of the grant agreement.n

$2.2 million grant funds installation of bioswales and catch basins

Example of a Example of a vegetated bioswalevegetated bioswale

Fire Station No. 2 NEARING COMPLETION

CC onstruction for the rebuild of Fire Station 2, which will be located at 521 Nicholas Parkway, began in February and should be complete by the end of the year. The new building will replace the current

Fire Station 2 building that is located at 701 Nicholas Parkway. The current station was built in 1974 and it does not meet the current hurricane building codes.

Fire Station 2 will contin-ue to house a three-person

fire engine that provides fire suppression and Advanced Life Support (ALS) services and a two-person rescue truck that provides Basic Life Support (BLS) services. The total building cost, including design, permits and con-struction will be about $4.5 million. The construction is funded by debt proceeds secured by the Fire Services Assessment. The station design plan was also used for Fire Station 11. The City purchased the design plan to save time and money when new fire stations are built. The building will be 10,559 square feet on a 3.2 acre site.

The Fire Department is also expanding with the future construction of Fire Station 12. The new station is currently in the design phase and will serve a growing population. Fire station 12 will be located on Chiquita Boulevard near Veterans Parkway. Construction of Fire Station 12 is expected to begin in 2021.n

The rebuild of Fire Station 2 is currently underwayThe rebuild of Fire Station 2 is currently underway

Design of Fire Station No. 12 Underway

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Cape Coral Art CenterFall Activities

DD o you want to learn something new or expand an existing talent? Class-es are back in session at the Cape Coral Art Center (4533 Coronado Parkway). Safety measures have been put into place including increased

disinfection and social distancing procedures.The Art Center’s fall session begins the week of October 12 and runs through

November 14. Day and evening classes offered Monday through Saturday, there is something for everyone.

Fine artists, craftspeople, and beginners will find a wide variety of classes for adults including Painting, Pottery, Fused Glass, Jewelry, Polymer Clay, Silver-smithing, Stained Glass, Stone Sculpture, and more. Since class sizes are limited, classes will fill up quickly, save yourself a seat and sign up today.

Two exhibits are on display until the end of the month. The 21st annual “Aquarium” exhibit, which is a favorite among patrons, will be on display in the Main Gallery. In the Side Gallery, “Ring of Fire” will be on display and features artists from the Florida Society of Goldsmiths Southwest Chapter. Admission is free to the gallery. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The Cape Coral Art Center has a fine arts supply store and a gift shop located in Building No. 2. The supply store is stocked with all kinds of fine art materials needed for the classes offered. These supplies be hard to find locally sometimes. A 10% discount on supplies is available to those who are currently enrolled in Art Center programs. In addition, the gift shop is filled with original artwork by our teachers, students and partner affiliates. 

The Cape Coral Art Center is located at 4533 Coronado Parkway in Rubicond Park. Registration is available online at www.CapeParks.com. Class descriptions, supply lists, and fees are available online. For more information on any of the offered programs or exhibits, please stop by the Art Center, e-mail artcenter@cape coral.net or call (239) 574-0802. Thank you for supporting the arts in Cape Coral.n

Cape Coral Fire Department Receives FEMA Grant for PPE

II n August, the Cape Coral Fire Department received a Federal Emergency Management Agen-

cy (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Supplemental Grant. The $37,120 grant was used to purchase personal protec-tive equipment (PPE). PPE includes eye protection, footwear covers, surgical face masks, face shields, isolation gowns, respirators, gloves, and protective cover-alls. Critical PPE and supplies are used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Firefighters serve as front-line responders and protection is necessary to do their jobs as safely as possible. This grant assists with the unanticipated costs related to COVID-19.n

A Cape Coral firefighter wearing basic personal protective

equipment (PPE).

Special Events Coordinator Special Events Coordinator Todd KingTodd King Achieves Nationally Achieves Nationally

Recognized CertificationRecognized Certification

CC ity of Cape Coral Special Events Coordinator Todd King received his Certified

Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification, a national-ly recognized designation by the National Recreation and Park Association. CPRP designation demonstrates a person’s knowledge, education, qualifications, and com-mitment to the profession. n

➤Special Events Coordinator Todd King

Cape Coral Animal ShelterAnimal Shelter Opens Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic

AA fter years of planning, fundrais-ing, building, and preparing, the Cape Coral Animal Shelter

(CCAS) opened its doors on March 19. Four days later, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were forced to close to the public, doing adoptions by appoint-ment only. Under very trying circumstances, they saved hundreds of animals, provided medical care, and found them loving, forever homes. By mid-Au-gust, just five months after opening, CCAS reached its 400th adoption.

To support the lifesaving work of the shelter and to provide a much-needed service to our community, CCAS opened a low-cost, state of the art veterinary clinic in August. “We believe now more than ever people are going to need a low-cost alternative to keep their pets healthy, happy, and out of the shelter. Our services will include vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, illnesses and wellness visits, dental procedures, and the sale of flea and heartworm preventative and prescription food,” said Melanie Waite, Director of Operations.

CCAS hired Dr. Kristie Welsh to provide veterinary care to their clients’ pets. Originally from Kentucky, Dr. Welsh graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Biology and later received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University. She moved to Florida in 2004 to practice in the Sunshine State and lives in Cape Coral with her husband, Chris, son, KC and three miniature dachshunds.

“We are fortunate to have hired a veterinarian with Dr. Welsh’s experience and compassion for animals of all kind. She is a welcomed asset to our team” said JoAnn Elardo, President of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter Board of Directors.

The clinic, located at 325 SW 2nd Avenue, will be open by appointment only Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 239-573-2002, Extension 106. For

more information about the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, please visit the animal shelter website at

www.capecoralanimalshelter.com. n

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and the City of Fort Myers, a signature brand and logo were created for the project that is now known as the Caloosa-hatchee Connect Project. The logo design represents connec-tion, unity, and water. With two interlocking water droplets, the logo stands for the connection of two cities, two commu-nities and two water sources. In addition, it symbolizes the reuse and recycling of water that will occur once the project is complete. It also emphasizes the municipality interaction to accomplish benefits that will serve as an improvement to Cape Coral, Fort Myers and the Caloosahatchee River.

For more information about the history of the project or to learn more about the Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) installation process, please visit the project web-site at www.CaloosahatcheeConnect.com. You can sign

up to receive email updates about the project. For questions or concerns about this project, please contact the Public Information Consultant for the project at (239) 337-1071 or via email at info@CaloosahatcheeConnect.com.n

Caloosahatchee Connect Reclaimed Water Pipeline Engineering and Design Nearing 50 Percent Completion

TT he Caloosahatchee Connect engi-neering team began permitting and preliminary engineering to design

a reclaimed water transmission main across the Caloosahatchee River. The pipeline will transport reclaimed water from the City of Fort Myers to Cape Coral’s Everest Water Reclamation Facility (EWRF). The reclaimed water will provide an additional source for irrigation water used for lawn watering.

Much of the work happening now is be-hind the scenes, however, design team mem-bers have been busy working in their areas of expertise on several tasks to bring this proj-ect to fruition. Surveying along Everest Park-way and in Horton Park has been completed. Engineers are designing the reclaimed water pipeline along Everest Parkway and working with Cape Coral staff to finalize the layout and location for a connection to the EWRF. The connection will allow the Fort Myers flow to be distributed to Cape Coral’s reclaimed water distribution system, the above ground storage tanks and/or the injection well, if needed.

The team filed for and received authorizations from the Florida Depart-ment of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct geotechnical borings below the Caloosahatchee River along the proposed pipeline alignment. Environmental surveys were conducted ahead of the permitting to ensure subsurface borings would not impact submerged aquatic resources (e.g. oysters, seagrasses, etc.).

Upon receiving state and federal approvals, subsurface geotechnical infor-mation was gathered to help determine the precise route of the pipeline as it crosses underneath the river. To do this, crews mobilized a truck-mounted drilling rig and mounted it atop a 50-foot long barge using a special drill-ing platform designed specifically for this job. The drilling team performed sampling operations to depths of up to 120 feet below the surface. Samples collected by the drill team from the 10 geotechnical borings are being labo-ratory tested to gain a better understanding of their properties to help assist the team with their design of the pipeline route.

With design nearly halfway completed, the appropriate pipe size and pipe material have been selected, along with the proposed alignment and work areas. The design team is using the recently acquired geotechnical data, includ-ing the deep borings drilled in the waterway, to optimize constructability of the trenchless crossing. The design will be finalized in 2020, incorporating input from various stakeholders and permitting agencies.

To bring awareness to the cooperative projects between the City of Cape Coral

A truck-mounted drilling rig atop a 50-foot long barge is using

a special drilling platform designed specifically for this project.

Grant Funds Available to Residents to Connect to City Utilities

GG rants funds are available to eligible Cape Coral residents to connect their homes to City water and sewer. The program

is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Develop-ment Block Grant (CDBG).

The grant includes payment for a licensed pro-fessional to run lines from the street to the eligible resident’s home. The grant also includes the septic abandonment permit and water meter fees. The maximum amount of grant assistance is $3,500. This program is limited to owner-occupied properties.

Homeowners must meet income, assets, and property eligibility requirements to participate in the program. Calculated homeowner assets (as defined by US Department of HUD) cannot exceed $20,000. Funds are available on a first-come, first-ready basis with priority for households that include persons with special needs.

To determine if you meet the income qualifica-tions use the chart to the right.

This program is being administered by Cape Coral Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation. The Agency can be reached at (239) 471-0922. An application can be requested by phone, email, or by visiting the Agency.n

*Income limits are published annually and are subject to change.

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City Launches ImprovedAdopt-a-Median Program

TT he City recently expanded the “Adopt-a-Median” program, which allows residents, businesses, or community organizations to maintain and modify medians in Cape Coral. Adopting a median

provides an opportunity to maintain and beautify the grassy strips of land in the center of the streets.

Adopting a median can help reduce the city’s costs, improve the landscaping in your neighborhood, and foster community pride.

These improvements were the result of collaboration between the Median Landscape Design Stakeholders Group, the Transportation Advisory Commis-sion, and City staff. The stakeholder group was convened to provide community input in the development of the design and maintenance criteria of the city’s landscaped medians. The result of the collaborative effort was an expansion to the City’s existing Adopt-a-Median program that promotes citizen participation.

Previously, residents, businesses, or organizations funded the initial median installation costs and were required to maintain the median landscaping. The Stakeholders Group recommended the elimination of the perpetual mainte-nance requirement, which discouraged program participation. Now, the City assumes all maintenance responsibilities in the new Adopt-a-Median program.

The expanded program includes the development of landscape templates for specific roadways to help guide the design of any median improvements and provide a more consistent, cohesive look within a neighborhood.

The City is looking for people to care for medians throughout Cape Coral. For more information regarding the Adopt-a-Median program, please contact the Public Works Department at (239) 574-0701.

A sign will be posted in any adopted median, recognizing the median land-scaping donation.n

Cape Coral Receives #HurricaneStrong#HurricaneStrong Community Designation

TT he City of Cape Coral was honored last month for its hurricane preparedness and was designated as a #HurricaneStrong commu-nity. The honor is presented to a community for its commitment

to hurricane safety, preparedness, and resilience. The recognition is part of a collaborative program hosted by the Federal Alliance of Safe Homes, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The Weather Chan-nel. The award is designed to increase public safety and re-duce economic losses from hurricanes.

Cape Coral is the first municipality and the fourth commu-

nity in the Southeast to receive this honorary designation. “The City of Cape Coral is committed to continually improving our preparedness and resilien-cy to hurricanes,” said Fire Chief Ryan W. Lamb. “It is a great honor to be recognized and to be a model for other communites across the country.” n

The City of Cape Coral is presented a Hurricane Strong Community award for its preparedness efforts.

Cape Coral Police DetectivesGO TO THE DOGS

For a Good CauseCC ape Coral Police Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit teamed up

with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida (CAC) for a good cause. The CAC is planning a fundraiser that incorporates

their Beesley’s Paw Prints Therapy Dog Program and the detectives who investigate the crimes involving children and families. Beesley’s Paw Prints Therapy Dog Program helps children in their healing process by giving unconditional love and companionship through canine hugs and kisses.

Major Crimes Unit Detectives posed for photos with CAC Therapy Dogs Elvis, Bryn, Whysper, and Stella. The photos are going to be used in a calendar that will be sold to raise funds for the CAC.

“We are very excited about this new fundraising project for the Children’s Advocacy Center and the law enforcement agencies we work so closely with. It’s the perfect way to recognize that our Child Protection Team assists law enforcement with child abuse cases, and how our Beesley’s Paw Prints Therapy Dog Program aids children in healing from that abuse,” said Lisa

Rizzio, CAC’s Development Director.The mission of the Children’s Advocacy

Center of Southwest Florida is to provide a coordinated response to child victims of abuse and neglect and improve the lives of at-risk children and their families through prevention services. At CAC, they assess and treat children believed to have been physically or sexually abused or to be at risk of such abuse, and

provide a safe place for them to be heard. The CAC offers abuse determination services as well as therapeutic counseling, parenting education, and

prevention programs in Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte Counties.

The Cape Coral Police Department will announce when the

calendars are on sale. n

Cape Coral’s Taxable Property Valuation Increases by 7.62 Percent

OO n July 1, the Property Appraiser’s Office provided the City with the Certificate of Taxable Value for FY 2021 ad valorem tax rolls. The City’s preliminary total taxable value increased by 7.62 percent.

The City’s taxable assessed value was just over $16.5 billion, which is an in-crease from about $15.4 billion last year. New construction taxable valuation is about $494.8 million, which is an increase from last year of about $473.6 million.

While the City’s total taxable value increased 7.62 percent, properties in Cape Coral that are homesteaded only can increase by the CPI or 3 percent, whichever is less.

Ad valorem taxes are the single, largest revenue source for the City’s General Fund, which is the primary operating fund. This fund includes police, fire, parks and recreation, public works and administrative services. The Final Taxable Value will be provided by the Lee County Property Appraiser in October.n

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Fire Services Assessment Remains at 62 Percent in Fiscal Year 2021

CC ity Council set the recovery rate for the Fire Services Assessment at 62 percent for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Operating Budget. This rate maintains the current cost recovery rate from FY 2020.

The “recovery rate” is the percentage of the Fire Department’s fire service costs being collected through the fire services assessment. The remainder of the costs are funded through General Fund revenues.

The Fire Services Assessment is two-tiered. Tier 1 brings the vacant parcels into the equation. This means every parcel, regardless of size or status, will pay a flat fee for the Tier 1 portion. The Tier 1 rate per parcel for FY 2021 will be $147.42, which is an increase of $4.71 per parcel from FY 2020. The Tier 2 rate will increase $0.01 per Equivalent Benefit Unit.n

AA mooring field is an area where boaters can anchor utilizing an organized and permanent mooring system affixed to the bottom of the waterway for specified periods. The mooring field area is a defined boundary that

is legally regulated and complies with state, federal, and local laws.Currently, under Florida law, there is no legal way to regulate existing boat

anchoring in the Bimini Basin without a mooring field. An established moor-ing field will allow the City to regulate boat anchoring within the mooring field once it is adopted and permitted through various agencies.

Mooring fields have become increasingly common, and many communities in Florida have established them, including Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, Key West, Marathon Boot Key, Stuart, and Vero Beach.

In 2018, City Council adopted a Bimini Basin mooring field ordinance. This ordinance allows the City to regulate the time, place, and manner for the mooring of vessels in the basin. Without such an ordinance, the City could not regulate mooring in any way in state waters. Adopting the mooring field ordi-nance was the first step of a three-step process to establish a mooring field.

Public open houses were held in June and August to answer questions from the community about the mooring field. Currently, the City is working on step two of the process, which involves the development of a mooring field plan, which contains the design specifications. This step also involves an applica-tion for the required state and federal permits. The mooring field plan must include the number of mooring sites and boat size limitations. Once a plan is finalized, it is submitted to the state and federal permitting agencies. Staff estimates that this process could take up to 18 months.

The final step would be the actual construction of the mooring field and any related land-based facilities. The cost depends on the finalized plan. City staff are working to search for potential grant funding for this project. Currently, funds have not been identified for the project. Many details for the mooring field will be determined after the necessary permits are obtained. For more information, please visit www.capecoralmooringfield.com.n

Bimini Basin Mooring Field Bimini Basin Mooring Field Plan UnderwayPlan Underway

SHARPS CONTAINERS AVAILABLE at All Cape Coral Fire Stations

TT he Cape Coral Fire Department wants to remind the community that even though fire stations are closed to visitors and tours, due to COVID-19, sharps containers are available at any of the fire stations.

The Sharps Disposal Program provides our community a safe and legal way to dispose of syringes, needles and lancets. Pick up a sharps container at any of the Cape Coral Fire Stations. When the container is full, return it to a fire station for disposal and to receive a new empty container. There is no charge for the container or disposal.

It is important that sharps are discarded properly. Please do not use

unapproved containers such as coffee cans, milk jugs, bags, or cardboard boxes. This is for the safety of our community. Needles can poke through these con-tainers and potentially injure someone. Used syringes with needles and lancets should never be placed in a garbage container or recycling bin.n

Approved sharps containers are Approved sharps containers are available at Cape Coral fire stations.available at Cape Coral fire stations.

Residential Parking Regulation CHANGES

CC hanges were made to the residential parking regulations earlier this year and the City wants to remind everyone about these changes.

Parking on the grass in residential areas➤ Parking on pervious surfaces located on private property is prohibited. Pervious surfaces include sod, shell, rocks, dirt, or stones. Vehicles may only park on impervious surfaces including asphalt, concrete, or pavers. Parking on vacant lots is still prohibited under the new regulations.➤ Parking in the city-owned right-of-way (the area between the roadway pavement and swales) is permitted. A vehicle parked in the right-of-way must be parallel to the roadway, facing the same direction of travel, and can not block a bicycle lane or sidewalk. Business advertisements on vehicles in residential areas➤ A maximum of two non-commercial vehicles (pickup trucks, light vans, SUVs, or cars) WITH business advertisements/graphics/lettering may be parked in a residential driveway. Vehicles with business graphics were not allowed before the recent changes were made.➤ Vehicles with ladder racks, utility boxes, or equipment left in a truck bed are considered commercial vehicles and are prohibited in residential areas. Car covers➤ Car covers must be properly maintained and in good condition. Anything used to cover a vehicle must be manufactured for the specific purpose of being used as a car cover. Commercial vehicle parking in multi-family residential areas➤ Commercial vehicles are prohibited from parking in multi-family zoning districts. Commercial vehicles include semi-trucks, box trucks, and vehicles with ladder racks, utility boxes, or equipment left in a truck bed.

These residential parking changes were the result of multiple public meet-ings and a recommendation for approval by the Planning and Zoning Com-mission. If there are any questions about these changes, please contact the City’s Code Compliance Division at (239) 574-0613.n

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Virtual Recreation ActivitiesVirtual Recreation Activities Available on City’s Website

TT he Parks and Recreation staff created some fun activities earlier this year as alternative ways to encourage people in the community to stay active, healthy, and engaged without having to leave their homes. The “Recre-

ation at Home” section of the City’s Parks and Recreation website (www.CapeParks.com) was launched earlier this year.

The activities are grouped into five categories, arts, fitness, nature, puzzles/games, and youth/family. The content

is a variety of recreational activities that people can do at home or in their neighborhood while practicing safe social distancing.

The content is designed for fun-seek-ers of all ages, with activities including preschool learning videos, art projects for youth and adults, fitness videos, word/photo puzzles, and much more. Nature lovers can learn about Cape Coral’s most common birds, butterflies, and flowers through the use of photo charts and links within the nature category.

Online content is updated regularly in the “Recreation at Home” web pages to give our community another recreation option. To access the activities, please visit www.CapeParks.com and select “Recreation at Home” from the quick links in the middle of the home page.n

Cape Coral Achieves GFOA Distinguished Budget Award

TT he City of Cape Coral received the Gov-ernment Finance Officers Association (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presenta-

tion Award” for the FY 2020 budget.The GFOA has been promoting the preparation

of high-quality budget documents since 1984. The purpose of the program is to encourage and assist governments in preparing excellent budget docu-ments for the benefit of citizens and other parties with a vital interest in the government’s finances.

The City of Cape Coral has been presented this award 21 times. To earn the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the City had to substantially conform to the program’s demanding cri-teria. This required the professionalism and commitment of numerous individuals as well as many hours of staff time. The award reflects a high degree of dedication and leadership. Congratulations to the City staff who worked hard to achieve this award.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional services association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners.n

City of Cape Coral Oasis Charter School Students Return to Class

TT he City of Cape Coral Oasis Charter Schools are back on track and bolder than ever. Visit their website at www.capecharterschools.org

and learn how the award-winning school system continues to provide quality education to Cape Coral’s K-12 residents.

Along with a new system logo that unifies Oasis Elementary North, Oasis Elementary South, Oasis Middle, and Oasis High School; the A-ranked K-12 charter school system also has a few new staff members.

Oasis Transportation Supervisor of Business Operations Jamie Cooper will direct the team of 18 school bus drivers as they shuttle more than 1,189 students across the city.

Lori McClain is kick-starting the Oasis Stem and Innovation Program this fall in Oasis Middle School’s “Gator’s Garage.” This innovative maker space is a school-wide zone where STEM curriculum can be explored by students and enhanced by teachers who will use the cool working space to encourage students to be creative, tinker, build, redesign, problem solve, and collaborate.

The Oasis Shark Tank welcomes its new leadership. Catherine Watters has been hired as the Athletic Director for the Oasis Charter Schools. This season, Oasis Head Football Coach Jeff Love is bringing miles of rough waves for op-posing football teams. Coach Love, a math teacher and SWFL native predicts a winning season for Oasis players both on the field and in the classroom.n

TT he City’s fertilizer ordinance was adopted in 2010 and regulates the application of fertilizer. Beginning June 1 each year, the use of fer-tilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus is prohibited in the City.

These nutrients negatively impact the city’s canals and surrounding waters, leading to poor water quality and algal blooms.

These regulations were enacted to keep harmful nutrients found in fertil-izer from washing off lawns in the rainy season and into storm drains. The water that enters storm drains is deposited into canals. The fertilizer restric-tions apply to citizens and commercial lawn services. Key py points of the fertilizer ordinance: No fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus is permitted between

June 1 and September 30. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the first two numbers on a fertilizer label.

No fertilizer use is allowed of any kind if a storm watch or warning is in effect.

No fertilizer can be used within 10 feet of any body of water – mea-sured from the top of a seawall or edge of water.

Fertilizer must include at least 50 percent of slow-release nitrogen during the remainder of the year (January-May and October-December).

No grass clippings or vegetative debris may be swept or blown into stormwater drains, conveyances, bodies of waters, sidewalks or roadways.

Violations of the ordinance may result in fines.The City is evaluating the current fertilizer ordinance and to determine if

changes should be made to the current regulations.n

FERTILIZER RESTRICTIONS Aim to Keep Harmful Nutrients

from Waterways

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TT he Cape Coral Historical Museum is continuing our celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the in-corporation of the City of Cape Coral with the sec-

ond segment of our exhibit titled “Behind the Mask: Cape Coral Heroes.” This segment will feature the Cape Coral Police Department and its history. The exhibit opened to the public on September 10 and runs through October 31.

The exhibit title “Behind the Mask: Cape Coral Heroes” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the current COVID-19 public health crisis, which calls for wearing a mask in order to stay safe while doing your job. It also harkens to the idea of the Superhero. First responders really are modern day super-heroes who willingly put their lives on the line in order to save ours every day. It takes a special type of person to put themselves in harm’s way, to run into the chaos instead of away. Cape Coral’s first responders have always done so much

for the community. Now it is time for us to honor them.

The Cape Coral Histor-ical Museum is located at 544 Cultural Parkway in Cape Coral. The Museum is currently open to the public Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Available by guided tour only.

To sign up for a tour please call (239) 772-7037, email info@capecoralhistor-icalmuseum.org, or check out the website at www.capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org. Adults are $5 and chil-dren under 18 and students with ID are free.n

BEHIND THE MASK:Cape Coral Heroes featuring

the Cape Coral Police Departmenton display at the Historical Museum

Coral Oaks Golf Course

CC oral Oaks Golf Course will host the 2020 Storm Smart Cape Coral City Championship and Pro-Am, October 16-18.

The Roger Dean Chevrolet kick-off Pro-Am will be held Friday, Octo-ber 16. The entry fee is $100 per person for Friday’s Pro-Am and $175 per player for the two-day, 36-hole, stroke play City Championship Tournament.

This year’s event will look and feel different from past years due to the Covid-19 guidelines the course is following. With some creative planning and ad-justments for crowd control guidelines and distanc-ing requirements the event won’t have to be can-

celed. This year’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Pro-Am will not include the Friday night Kick-Off BBQ Party and entertainment. The same fun and extras will be provided throughout the day instead. The Pro-Am will be held in a double-tee crossover format with tee times beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running until 10:30 a.m. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served prior to play, along with the traditional barbeque after the round. The food options will be served individually as an extra safety measure. The crossover tee time format will allow Coral Oaks to maintain the distancing requirements and crowd control needed to host the event.

The two-round City Championship will be much the same as in the past, al-though the field size is being reduced to 144 players or 72 players per tee time wave. Each tournament entry fee includes greens and cart fees for two rounds, practice range balls, tee gifts for every player, Saturday lunch, beverage stations, and an awards banquet on Sunday.

Those who have participated in the past can attest that this is the premier amateur golf tournament in Southwest Florida and a great value. Registration will be online ONLY and registration is open at www.CoralOaksGolf.com. Be sure to sign up early to ensure your spot in the field before it sells out.n

Hosts Storm Smart City Championship and Roger Dean Chevrolet Pro-Am

Fire Department OffersFIRE PIT SAFETY TIPS

WW e may not have the traditional “fall weather” here in Cape Coral, how-ever, we often enjoy a break from the humidity during the fall season. For this reason, many people have fire pits in their backyards.

The Cape Coral Fire Department offers these fire pit safety tips so that everyone can be safe while having fun:✱ Only firewood and clean, unsawn

wood may be used in your fire pit. Yard debris and construc-tion materials are not allowed because they produce too much

smoke, which may be a nuisance and can be harmful. ✱ Firepits must be at least 25 feet from any structure.✱ The burn area must be cleared of any combustible material and cannot be

larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. ✱ A hose or fire extinguisher must be nearby to put out any fires, if needed. ✱ Please use extra caution or postpone, which is even better, any fires during

windy or dry conditions.n

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Family-Operated Businesses Highlight Growth and Success in Cape Coral E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t N e w s

T T here are an esti-mated 5.5 million family-owned

and operated businesses in the United States. These businesses employ nearly 63 percent of the work-force in this country and continue to rise. While working with family can be both rewarding and challenging, multiple Cape Coral family-owned businesses have found that keeping it in the Cape is a key to success.

Ecological Labs, es-tablished in Cape Coral in 1998, was originally founded in 1976 in New York by brothers Michael and Barry Richter. When it came time to expand the company and focus more on what the future of Eco-logical Labs could be, the brothers decided Florida was the best next step. After meeting with Lee County and Cape Coral officials at a convention, the family settled on Cape Coral as the perfect new home for their headquar-ters. Matthew Richter, son of Michael Richter and current vice president and chief information officer, shared why his family decided specifically on the Cape.

“The Cape offered the ability to find large amounts of space to grow, where there were very few options in New York due to high taxes and lack of space. Cape Coral is a blank canvas that allows people to structure the area to their business needs. We started with one small to medium-sized building and since then we have added five additional buildings on the land we bought. It was extremely cost effective compared to other cities. The Cape gave us the oppor-tunity to grow. Plus, benefits like no state income tax made it easier to convince our workers in New York to relocate to Florida. We could provide the same salary, but no state income tax, and homes twice their current size were half the

price. Overall, it provided a much better lifestyle.”

Richter also shared future goals stating, “Eco-logical Labs is currently in the architectural stage for building the last and final piece of property on our campus. Our goal is to have the sixth building completed in the next year to year and a half. This structure will include a new laboratory, new bio-technology manufac-turing equipment and add much-needed space. These improvements mean we will need to hire even more local employees.”

Another Cape Coral company, Architectural Metal Flashings, is also a family owned and operated business, which has called the Cape home since 2016. Husband and wife team Jeff and Darla Bonk chose Cape Coral for their business headquarters due to an abundance of local contractors and strong relationships with distributors through-out Florida. When asked to give advice on starting a family-owned and operated business, Jeff Bonk replied, “Pray a lot. If you are starting your own business, you need to have determination and the word ‘no’ cannot be in your vocabulary.”

Jim Gaubeart of Cabinet Genies started in the kitchen and bath business over 40 years ago and has been proudly serving the Cape Coral area during that time. Roughly 10 years ago, Nate and Jordan Gaubeart, both born in the Cape, joined the company. And just a few weeks ago, the family team broke ground on a brand-new showroom in South Cape. It is a 5,300 square foot fa-cility with a 1,300 square foot outdoor event space. Slated to be complete early next year, their goal is to make the showroom a destination location for anyone in the area interested in transforming their home into a beautiful space.

Cabinet Genies could have expanded and built their new showcase in almost any city, but to the Gaubeart family, Cape Coral is more than home, it’s smart business. Jordan Gaubeart shared, “At its heart Cape Coral is a blue-collar town that values honesty and directness. As a family-run business, our reputation means everything and our clients’ word-of-mouth has been the number one reason we continue to grow and maintain our status as a trusted firm in the community. The city also is seeing an ever-increasing amount of high-income professionals and retirees that expect high-quality products and reliability.”

Cape Coral is a perfect location for family and small businesses. More fami-ly-owned businesses equate to job growth, population growth, support for local establishments and they provide a foundation for economic growth. As the cCi-ty continues to grow, the families who call Cape Coral home are growing with it and reaping the benefits of this quickly advancing community.n

Ecological Labs family and team (below).

Architectural Metal Flashings was honored at the 2019 Horizon Council Industry Appreciation Award

for Startup of the Year.

Cabinet Genies, a Cape Coral company, is owned by the Gaubeart family (below).

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Parks Improvements and Parks GO Bond UpdateTT he voter approved Parks GO Bond includes many im-

provements to existing Cape Coral parks. To view any expenditures related to the

Park General Obligation Bond, please visit www.capecoral.net/GOBond, then select “GO Bond Expenditures” from the left side of the webpage.

Significant projects completed this year include: Four new 20-foot picnic pavilions. Two pavilions were constructed at the

Northwest Softball Complex (1030 NW 16th Place) and two new pavilions were added to Horton Park (2600 SE 26th Place). Three new playgrounds were built at Koza-Saladino Park (301 SW 30th

Terrace), Pelican Baseball Complex (4128 Pelican Boulevard) and the NW Softball Complex. A new eight-foot perimeter fence should be completed soon at the Pelican

Soccer Complex (4020 SW 2nd Court). A new shade structure will be constructed over the playground at Guiffrida

Park (1044 NE 4th Street). More shade structures over playgrounds will be added in the next year. The Yacht Club Community Park concept plan will be discussed by City

Council at a non-voting Committee of the Whole meeting at the end of September. A vote on the final concept is expected in early October at a City Council Meeting.

Staff has been busy working on other park projects that are not being funded by the Parks GO Bond: Joe Stonis Park (3444 Ceitus Parkway): The tennis and pickleball courts

have been resurfaced and relined. The courts were lined for four pickleball courts, previously there were two pickleball courts. Portable pickleball nets are stored in the new deck boxes that are located on the courts. Burton Memorial Park (1502 NE 3rd Street): The tennis and pickleball

court was resurfaced and relined. This court will continue to share the net for tennis and pickleball. Veterans Memorial Park (4140 Coronado Parkway): The clay bocce ball

courts have been refurbished. All four clay bocce ball courts have new clay, laser level grading, new backboards, plus new sidewall and backstop court carpet. The warning marks were also re-painted and new timer controls were added for the lighting system.The Parks Maintenance team is also obtaining cost estimates for parking lot

improvements at the Cape Coral Sports Complex (1410 Sports Boulevard) and the Pelican Soccer Complex. There are plans for sealcoating and relining of the existing parking lots.n

walking or bicycling to school.• Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street,

especially if there are no sidewalks in neighborhood.• Do not text, check your email or drive while dis-

tracted. • Watch for children playing and congregating near

bus stops.• Be alert. Children arriving late or in a hurry for the

bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

• Learn and obey the school bus laws as well as the “flashing signal light system” that school bus driv-ers use to alert motorists of pending actions:

➤ Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should

slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.➤ Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and

children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.n

Police Department Offers Bus Stop Safety TipsMM any students headed back to school on Au-

gust 31. The Cape Coral Police Department wants to remind everyone to be aware that

students will be at bus stops. The Police Department offers the following safety tips:n Children:• Keep an eye on traffic.• Do not sit in the roadway. Drivers might not see you.• Do not play running games or push and shove at

the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.• Make sure you stand at least 10 feet from the road

while waiting for the bus so you are away from traffic.• If your bus stop is on a corner of another person’s

property, be courteous and never leave litter behind.• Use reflective materials. There are backpacks,

flashers and clothing with reflective material sewn into it.• If headphones are worn, only use one so you can still hear traffic.n Drivers:• Always look for children at bus stops and children walking to/from bus stops.• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children

Do you know when to stop for a school bus?

Virtual Rain Barrel Workshop:

JJ oin the City of Cape Coral and Lee County Master Gardeners online at a Virtual Rain Barrel Workshop at

10 a.m. on Saturday, October 24.Rain barrels are a great way to reduce

stormwater runoff and to collect water for the dry season. Using rain collection barrels can help water gardens, plants and flowers. If you have gutters on your house, you may be able to collect 55 gallons of water during a 1/2-inch rain by directing a downspout to a rain barrel.

In the online workshop, you will learn how to make and install a rain barrel at your home. Participants will receive a 55-gallon barrel with the necessary hardware for installation built by staff and volunteers.

Advance registration is required. The cost of the workshop is $45 and includes a pre-assembled rain barrel. Participants will receive an online code to attend the classroom portion of the virtual workshop. A limited number of barrels are available, and pick-up will be arranged during registration.

For information or to enroll, please call Rotary Park at (239) 549-4606 or email rotaryparkinfo@capecoral.net.n

Learn how to build a rain barrel and reduce stormwater runoff

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Share Your Cape Coral Photos & Enter ToWin the 2020 Resident Photo Contest

TT he City of Cape Coral is pleased to announce its 2020 Resident Resident Photo ContestPhoto Contest. In preparation for Florida City Government Week in . In preparation for Florida City Government Week in October, this contest will run October, this contest will run through October 15through October 15 and will celebrate and will celebrate

the beautythe beauty in our city from the perspective of our residents.Categories include:

n Aerial/Drone n Nature and Landscapen Digital Manipulation (add an artistic layer to your photography)n Infrastructure (e.g. buildings, roads, bridges, etc.)

All photos must be taken in Cape Coral. Submitting a photo gives the City of Cape Coral permission to use the photos in digital, print, or online materials. Photos should be in .jpg format, 300 dpi min., 8MP max size. Submissions are accepted via email at rmurphy@capecoral.net. All submissions must be received no later than 5 p.m. on October 15, 2020. Please include the category for each photo.

Winners will be notified by email. First place winners for each category will receive a $50 Parks & Recreation gift card.n

Coral Pointe Canal Shoreline Restoration and Preservation

TT he final stage of restoration work along the Coral Pointe Canal was completed with the support of volunteers in July. Shoreline resto-ration was required on a section of the south side of the Coral Pointe

Canal when protected red mangroves were among some of the trees removed during a City canal maintenance project.

Under state law, red mangroves cannot be removed, or significantly altered without a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Red mangroves are an essential part of the coastal ecosystem, not only serving as roosting and nesting areas for numerous shorebirds but also function-ing as a nursery for many species of gamefish. The mangle of roots is an ideal habitat for barnacles and oysters that affix themselves to the roots or crabs that live in the tangle of root structures. Red mangroves not only act as a buffer for

excess nutrients coming from land, they provide habitat for shellfish that filter the water and are a natural buffer against wind and storm surges.

Organized by the Keep Lee County Beau-tiful organization, 40 volunteers helped plant 160 red mangrove trees along a section of the Coral Pointe Canal. Previous restoration work on the site included removing the remaining invasive Australian pine trees. The canal bank was stabilized with a bonded fiber matrix that contained seeds of native plant species such as; gaillardia, spotted beebalm, coastal panicgrass, and seaside goldenrod. Cardno Engineering, the City’s Environmental Resources Division, and the FDEP will continue to monitor the restoration work to assess the regrowth of veg-etation along the shoreline.

The Lee County Commis-sioners recently approved up to $6 million to purchase the 193-acre privately-owned parcel along the Coral Pointe Canal, which is located off Four Mile Cove Parkway in Cape Coral, as part of the County’s 20/20 conservation program. The purchase will

create a contiguous coastal ecosystem encompassing over 500 acres and over 7,000 feet of mangrove shoreline on the Caloosahatchee River.n

Keep Lee County Beautiful volunteers planted 160 red

mangroves in about 2 hours.

Small Bungee Cords Causing Smalltooth Sawfish Entanglements

RR esearchers have seen a growing number of smalltooth sawfish entanglements associated with small bungee cords. These bungess are often asso-

ciated with boathouse/boatlift awnings that are commonly installed throughout Cape Coral and other parts of Charlotte Harbor.

The plastic balls on these bungees are buoy-ant enough to partially lift lost bungees off the canal or waterway bottom, where sawfish live. They are not buoyant enough to float the entire bungee to the surface. This results in lost bungees sitting upright along the bottom, where sawfish risk swimming their rostra through the opening of the bungees. Once the sawfish swims through the bungee opening, the bungees work their way to the head where they remain in place and slowly become more constrictive as the sawfish grows.

NOAA Fisheries want to alert homeowners to this escalating issue so that extra care can be taken in the assembly or disassembly of these boathouse/boatlift covers in the future to help protect this local endangered species. For general information about the smalltooth sawfish, please visit http://www.sawfishrecovery.org. To report a capture or sighting, please contact the sawfish hotline at 1-844-4SAWFISH or sawfish@myfwc.com.n

Awning bungee

cord

Entangled Sawfish

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Rain washes poo-llution into our canalsPLEASE BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

PICK UP AFTER YOUR PETS

JOIN US AT THE Tropical Plant Sale on Oct. 24

II f you are considering improvements to your yard, the Cape Coral

Parks and Recreation Depart-ment can help create your own backyard oasis. A Tropical Plant Bazaar is being held on Satur-day, October 24 at Rotary Park (5505 Rose Garden Road) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Multiple vendors will be offer-ing a wide variety of plants for sale. Tropical plants, fruit trees, bromeliads, and native plants will be available for purchase. Come out to the event and we hope you will find something you like. There is plenty of room to social distance in the park.

There is still room for more vendors. For more information, please call Rotary Park at (239) 549-4606 or email rotaryparkinfo@capeocoral.net.n

Bromeliads flourish in tropical and subtropical climates.

#don't t ex t a n dd r i ve

Texting and Drivingin School or Work Zones

IS AGAINST THE LAW

SS ince 2019, it is against the law for Florida drivers to hold cell phones in work zones or school zones. Drivers in these zones should not hold

the phone in their hand or up to their ear, type on their phone, or hold their phone to read directions. This law was enacted to keep children and construc-tion workers safe from distracted drivers.

Please put the phone down. It can wait.n

Swing into Fall at Coral Oaks Golf Course

CC oral Oaks Golf Course offers Mens’ and Ladies’ Golf Associations, junior golf programs, PGA golf instruction, clinics, golf schools, charity fundraising events and special discounts

for group play outings that are professionally conducted and competitively priced. Make sure you check with Coral Oaks before you go anywhere else. In addition, season pass memberships are a fantastic value for golfers who like to play more than two times per week.

Find out about special deals on the Coral Oaks website at www.CoralOaks-Golf.com then book tee times up to seven days in advance. If you have an interest in golfing programs, golf outings, group bookings, and/or to book a tee time, please call (239) 573-3100 or visit the Coral Oaks website.

Coral Oaks is unable to host charity outings of more than 50 players at this time, however, we are on our

way to full recovery and look forward seeing all of our favorite players back on the course.n