september 2013 chamber trends magazine
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Please enjoy the latest issue of the Chamber Trends Magazine.TRANSCRIPT
Trends The Official Publication of The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral September 2013
Chamber
To Promote and Serve Business and Community
Business After Hours, September 19th at Siesta Pebble Pool Interiors.
Join Us For The General Membership Lunch, September
11th at Palmetto Pine Country Club.
Sponsored by Centurylink, LCEC and The News-Press
Save The Date!2013 Candidates Forum
October 1st at Gulf Coast Village5:30 p.m.
Surfside Sunset Market at the Shops at Surfside, every Tuesday, 3-8 p.m.
Get In & Get Busy in the Chamber Trends Magazine More than 11,000 monthly subscribers
Basic Advertising PricesFull Page $337.001/2 Page $227.001/4 Page $147.00
Business Card $117.00(All ads can be linked to your company’s website or a
30-second commercial promoting your business. Non-profit organizations receive
2 free 1/2 page ads per year upon request with their membership.)
Prime Advertising PricingFull Page $387.00
(includes banner ad on chamber website only 4 available per issue, full page only)1/2 Page $287.001/4 Page $207.00
Business Card $167.00(All ads can be linked to your company’s website or a 30-second commercial promoting your
business and a banner ad in the Chamber Trends Weekly E-Newsletter)
SpecialsSpotlight On Business Article - One per issue $347.00
Includes a hyperlink to your company’s website or a 30-second commercial promoting your business, a banner ad on the Chamber website and a banner ad in the Chamber Trends Weekly
E-Newsletter.
Please call Donna Germain at 549-6900 ext 107 for more [email protected]
Publisher & EditorDonna Schuman-GermainCommunications Director
Contributing EditorsMike Quaintance
Chamber [email protected]
Stephanie RobersonTechnology Director
Claudia St. OngeBusiness Manager
Bill Johnson, Jr. Membership Sales Director
Melanie LempkeAdministrative Generalist
Bob KnickmanSpecial Events Director
Amanda BrunsonSpecial Events Coordinator
Chamber of Commerce of Cape CoralP.O. Box 100747, Cape Coral, FL 33910
2051 Cape Coral ParkwayCape Coral, FL 33904
Phone (239) 549-6900 Fax (239) 549-9609
SEPTEMBER 2013September 11th
General Membership MeetingPalmetto Pine Country Club
1940 SW 9th Court Cape Coral, FL 33991
$20.00 For Members w/reservationsCall 549-6900 ext 300 to RSVP
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
September 19thBusiness After Hours
Siesta Pebble Pool Interiors 1126 SE 12th Court
Cape Coral, FL 339905:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
October 1st Business Card Exchange
City of Cape Coral Economic Development Office & AAE Glass Art Studio
1228 Lafayette StreetCape Coral, FL 339047:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
October 1stCandidates Forum
Gulf Coast Village Retirement Community 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd.,
Cape Coral, FL 339915:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
To register for any of the above events online, or for more up-to-date information, please visit
www.capecoralchamber.com
2013 Board of DirectorsJoe Mazurkiewicz, Chairman - BJM
Consulting, Inc Annette Carrasquillo, Chair-Elect - LAI
Design Associates, LLC Ed Ramos, Treasurer - Ramos Builders, Inc Donna Meola, Past Chair - Achieva Credit
Union Tony Constantino, Financial Advisor - Kevin
M Burns & Assoc, CPA Barb Adams - LeeSar
Brett Bisbe - B2 Solutions, Inc Beverly Black - Black Business Solutions
Ed Bolter - Lamar Advertising Dana Brunett - City of Cape Coral
Joe Francioni - The Smart Companies Cindy Gallagher - The News-Press
Tom Giles - Avalon Engineering Tom Hansen - Boat House of Cape Coral Tim Hauck - Fuller Metz Cremation and
Funeral Services Colleen Humphries - LCEC
Wayne Kirkwood - Kirkwood Electric Cheryl Komnick - Caloosa Tent & Rental
Michelle Lewis - B2 Solutions, Inc Thomas Shipp - Tom Shipp at the Martin
Law Firm Stan Spicer - Platinum Service A/C
Chris Spiro - Spiro & Associates Elmer Tabor - Wonderland Realty
2013 Trustees Rhonda Chapman - First Citizens Bank
Matt Connar - Boost Creative Diane Everhart - Northwestern Mutual
FinancialSandra Greiner, SunSplash Family
Waterpark Toni Rae Hurley - IBERIABANK
Trish Lassiter - Lee County Electric Coop Eric Malasky - Paradise Deli & Market
David Owen - BB&T-Oswald, Trippe & CoKatharin Owen, Warchol, Merchant &
Rollings Wendy Piascik - Lee Memorial Health
System Zachary Zeis - Elysium Homes
Chamber StaffMike Quaintance, PresidentDonna Schuman-Germain,Communications Director
Bob Knickman, Special Events DirectorBill Johnson, Jr., Membership Sales Director
Claudia St. Onge, Business ManagerStephanie Roberson, Technology
DirectorMelanie Lempke, Administrative Generalist
Amanda Brunson, Special EventsCoordinator
Linda Kirby, Membership Sales
AnarchyMike “Q” Quaintance, President
In my other life as a college professor, we often discuss the merits of the SWOT analysis. It is a planning tool that identifies
an organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
As we go through the process, government is often identified as a threat; a threat due to taxation, legislation or competition. Ordinance 29-13 is a revised sign ordinance for Cape Coral that erodes our businesses ability to utilize creative means to promote their business.
These reduced entrepreneurial freedoms restrict and prohibit certain kinds of marketing tools that our business community hinge on for it success. These reduced freedoms are the result of subjective evaluations on aesthetics. In essence, these new restrictions suggest that businesses deploying feather banners, window/door signage, 3-D displays, are creating blight.
While I am sure that many of us have suggestions as to what we do and do not like, what disturbs me the most about the proposed sign ordinance is the slow erosion of our freedoms at all levels of government. There seems to be this blatant disregard for the individual and entrepreneurial way of life that made our country great. Government was
created to protect us and to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. However, we seem to be continually moving towards an Orwellian way of life.
Have we forgotten the teachings of Adam Smith, moral philosopher and pioneer of the political economy? Laissez-faire translates into creating an economic environment in which transactions between private parties are free from government restrictions, tariffs, and subsides, with only enough regulations to protect property rights. This line of thought assumes that the individual is the basic unit in society, the individual has a natural right to freedom and that the physical order of nature is a harmonious and self-regulating system. I believe that these are some of the considerations that our forefathers considered when engineering this great nation.
I believe that our membership will land on both sides of the aesthetics argument conveyed in this sign ordinance. I am not an anarchist by nature, but I wonder how many of you are distraught over the continued encroachment of government into our lives? As our world is changing, I do believe it is imperative to hang on to those principles that made our nation great, if not for ourselves, for those who we call children and grandchildren. I know that if we say or do nothing, we surrender those principles that so many before us have sacrificed for. It is up to each of us to determine the level of control we allow government to exert upon us. We can choose to be vocal, send e-mails, attend meetings and vote, or we can choose to do and say nothing.
We will keep you informed about the opportunities for input to City Council as the sign ordinance moves through its final stages in September. For your convenience you can send emails to [email protected] or call City Council at 574-0437.
with a purpose....
Q’s WORLD
How to Plant Seeds and
Grow Your Business!
The Cape Coral Farmers’ Market has two sponsorships available for the upcoming season starting October 19, 2013 through May 10, 2014.*
Cultivate your business by getting in front of 3500-8000 potential customers every week for 30 weeks.
Music Sponsor-$4500.00Includes weekly 10x10 space-Value of $3000.00
Logo recognition in season long advertising-newspapers, posters, coupons ,etc.
Logo on Market and Chamber websites.
Event Sponsor- $ 6000.00Includes weekly 10x10 space-Value of $3000.00
Logo recognition in season long advertising-newspapers, posters, coupons, etc.
Logo on Promotional ItemsLogo on Market and Chamber websites.
For more Info contact Claudia St. Onge at 239-549-6900 x 101
* Non Real-Estate/Builder Businesses’ only
So Much Going OnJoe Mazurkiewicz, Ph. D. 2013 Chamber Chairman
Summer 2013 is turning out to be a very busy time of year for the Chamber.
We just finished the most successful Red, White and Boom ever. This was a massive undertaking that could not have happened without our Title Sponsors RE/MAX Realty Team and the City of Cape Coral as well as our staff, sponsors, volunteers and members. It was a great
event and I want to thank everyone who was involved in making this undertaking a huge success.
The Leadership Cape Coral program is off to a great start. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary of the program this year and are happy to have a full class of 30 participants.
We just held our Women’s Leadership Conference with Keiser University and I hear it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who participated. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to put on this conference.
Next we have our Cape Coral Primary Election on September 10th where we get to pare down the field of six candidates for Mayor and four candidates for District One Council Member to the two candidates who will face off in the November 5th General Election. Prior to the General Election, we will be hosting our Candidates Forum at Gulf Coast Village on October 1st. Join us to find out if you are “Smarter than a Politician.” This is a fun and informative event that is a must for everyone who wants to be an informed voter on Election Day.
We continue to operate our Surfside Sunset Market on Tuesday evenings at the Shops at Surfside. This event is drawing large crowds and becoming a distinct event as it is held inside an air conditioned facility. If you have not had a chance to stop by this event, you need
to make room for it on your schedule. I am told that you do not want to attend while you are hungry as the available food is great.
We just found out that our city is in the finals to be chosen as a home for the Hertz Video Kiosk Center. If this effort is successful it will bring 250 new jobs to our area. The City Council already approved an incentive grant for the project and the County Commission voted on a matching dollar incentive on Tuesday, September 3rd. Kudos goes out to our Director of Economic Development, Dana Brunette for his efforts in bringing these potential jobs to the Cape.
As you can see there are many good things happening in our community and I believe it is a direct result of the efforts of our members and staff. Let’s all continue to “Get In and Get Busy with a Purpose,” there is no telling what we can accomplish if we continue to work together.
with a purpose....
CHAMBER TRENDS
New Members
Aristocrat Flooring, Inc. Matthew Cates
Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon Jay Johnson
Cape Coral Municipal Charter School Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Angela Pruitt
Christa McAuliffe Charter Elementary School
Jacqueline Collins
Competent Solutions Lenny Klausner
David P. Carr, CPA David Carr
El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant Salvador Garcia
Family of Faith Christian Academy Preschool & Daycare
Christine Mosley
Family Private Care Sherry Fausone-Ramsay
Ford’s Garage Cape Coral Jeff Grethel
Individual - Caileen Adamson
Jet’s Pizza Lorraine Barraco
KidzArt of Cape Coral Andrew Duncan
LaVon Lamke w/ Rodan + Fields Dermatologists
LaVon Lamke
Oasis Charter High School Kim Lunger
Oasis Charter Middle School Kevin Beckman
Sky Zone Ft. Myers Lesley Mercer
Wade’s Heating and Cooling Keith Lewis
Renewals
All Power Electric, LLC
Andrew Barnette & Assoc. CPA,PA
B2 Solutions, Inc
Backstreets Sports Bar
Best Pets
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun
Coast, Inc
Blind Gallery
Cape Coral Insurance Group, LLC
Cape Coral Mayors Scholarship Fund,
Inc
Cape Dental Care
Casa di Fiori, LLC
CC Stone w/Coastal Realty SWFL
Coastal Elements, Inc.
Coral Ridge Funeral Home and
Cemetery
DJC Insurance & Financial Services/
New York Life Ins. Co.
Early Learning Coalition of SW
Florida
Elysium Construction, Inc
Extraordinary Eventz
Florida Buyer Broker
Florida Everblades
Floridian Insurance Agency
Home Services By Rafael
Hughes, Snell & Co., P.A.
Italian American Club of Lee County
Kinetic Thoughts LLC
Krater & Associates LLC
Lamar Advertising
Men’s Rights Law Firm
Miracle Professional Baseball
Mullins Memorial Funeral Home &
Cremation Service, LLC
Napa Auto Care Center
Northwestern Mutual Financial
Network
Oasis Charter Elementary School
PartyLite - Candle Ladies Renee’ &
Rhonda
Premier Designs Jewelry, Jim & Linda
Kirby, Independent Distributors
RE/MAX Realty Team
Rebecca A. Ross with Robert W. Baird
Red Salon & Spa
Riverchase Dermatology & Cosmetic
Surgery
Simonson & Sons, Inc.
Stabley Marketing, LLC
Stifel
Sunset Home Health Services, Inc.
SunTrust Bank
The News-Press
Wonderland Realty/Cape Coral Town
Center
Thank you for your membership!!
JULY NEW MEMBERS & RENEWALS
LEADERSHIP CAPE CORAL 2013Donna Germain,
Communications Director
The Leadership Cape Coral Class of 2013 “Lucky 13” has had quite a first month. We kicked off out 20th
Anniversary class on August 9th at The Westin with some Team Building and a dinner and reception in their honor with our very own Leadership Alumni. Thank you to the 20-12 pack for hosting such a great event!
Next came Made In Cape Coral Day which started out with a fantastic presentation by Cape Coral Historians Paul Sanborn and Elmer Tabor. Following breakfast, the group boarded the bus for a tour of the city and it many manufacturers. Chamber Chairman Joe Mazurkiewicz served as our tour guide and as we traveled through the city’s industrial areas. The class also traveled to Marine Concepts, Ecological Laboratories and Wicked Dolphin Rum.
Media Day Came Next. The class traveled to FOX-4 where they appeared on The Morning Blend, WINK TV and The News-Press. During lunch, Chris Spiro, CEO of Spiro & Associates Marketing & PR spoke to the group about developing their personal brand.
The Leadership Class of 2013 learned about Non-Profit sector of our community during Community Steward Day. The
day started at Special Populations where the group learned about this amazing program offered to our residents with developmental/intellectual disabilities.
Program Director Sara Sandsone presented to the group and introduced the class to all of the hard working participants in the Special Pops program.
Next, we traveled to CCMI (Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. where the class learned about all of the amazing programs offered there. The class finished the day at the SWFL Veteran’s Museum, another amazing organization.
On behalf of the Leadership Committee, I would like to thank all of our day chairs and sponsors thus far; Dane Eagle ‘11, Joe Francioni ‘11, Brandon Deaver 12, Paul Sanborn, Elmer Tabor ‘93, Joe Mazurkiewicz ‘93, Gulf Coast Village, Wicked Dolphin Rum, Marine Concepts, Ecological Laboratories, The Cape Coral Council For Progress, The Crazy Olive and Vince Cummings for CC Mayor ‘12. Donna Germain ‘05, Reggie Germain ‘12, Lynnie Guzman ‘11, Brent Struense, Burt Spangler, Michelle Whitlock ‘12, Chris Spiro ‘96, Tom Hayden ‘03 and Orestes Baez, Beth Sanger ‘05, Woody Woodward ‘12, CCMI, Special Pops, SWFL Veterans Museum, Ralph Santillo, Sean Hoover. I apologize if I missed anyone.
If I Could Do Just One Thing
Salvatore Lacagnina, D.O.Vice President of Health &
Wellness, Lee Memorial Health System
When we are looking to improve our health, we are often
overwhelmed by a multitude of things we are being told to do to make health better; and when there are so many things to do, we often do nothing. In thinking about how to solve this dilemma,
I am recommending starting with just one thing that will make your health better. We can go through this system by system and then you can decide which of these items you want to work on.
Starting with the brain, one thing you can do to help the brain stay healthy is to learn something new each and every day. The brain responds to the challenge of new learning in a way that helps strengthen the neuro-chemical connections in the brain. This makes the brain less susceptible to cognitive decline as well as Alzheimer’s dementia.
Let’s move next to the heart. If you can do one thing to help the heart stay healthy, start by ensuring that your blood pressure is well controlled (around 120/75). At this level the incidence of heart failure is decreased since the heart pumps more efficiently when the blood pressure is low.
As for the lungs, it is easy to know what to do to keep them healthy: NO CIGARETTES! It is so destructive for the lungs and all other areas of the body when you smoke even one cigarette per day. If you want to keep the lungs healthy, do not inhale cancer causing smoke!
Next in line is the GI tract which includes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines. In order to keep this area healthy, feed the GI tract only healthy food and drink. Limit caffeine, alcohol, meats and processed foods. Eat natural foods that are high in nutritional value such as all the foods that are grown naturally and not processed. Meats, especially red meats, increase the risk of GI tract cancers. By limiting the intake of red meats, especially BBQ, you will decrease the risk of stomach cancer as well as bladder and other cancers.
Keeping the liver healthy involves limiting the toxins; the number one being alcohol. Over time excess alcohol destroys the liver and when liver failure occurs, the life span can be tremendously decreased. Alcoholic cirrhosis increases the risk of liver cancer as well as liver failure so limiting alcohol to 1-2 drinks per day is the best recommendation.
Although weight is not a body part per se, what is the one thing you can do to keep the weight near the ideal body weight for your height? The answer is: exercise & nutrition. I know that these are two things to do, but since they essentially go hand in hand when it comes to weight management, I listed them as the one thing you can do. Regular physical activity 30 minutes per day for 5-6 days per week is extremely beneficial for weight control; and when you control the weight, you decrease your risk of diabetes and many other chronic illnesses and cancers. “Eating the Rainbow” means
eating foods with lots of color which signifies the vitamins, mineral and anti oxidants in the food which directly improve your health.
As you might know, the largest organ in the body is the skin. What is the one thing you can do to keep the skin healthy? Practice safe sun exposure. I know this is difficult living in Florida but realize that the risk of skin cancer increases with each and every unprotected sun exposure. This is a cumulative risk – it adds up over time. If you do get a fair amount of sun exposure, be sure to wear sunscreen and reapply it every 60-90 minutes. SPF 30 is just as effective as SPF 70 when applied correctly. Choose the sunscreen with the highest amount of mineral content (Iron, Zinc or titanium); and the lowest amount of other chemicals (look for ones with less than 4% of other chemicals).
Since mental health affects physical health, we cannot ignore the emotional system of the body. What is the one thing you can do to keep the emotional system healthy? My answer would be to keep the stress level down. When we are chronically stressed, this leads to overproduction of cortisol which causes the accumulation of fat below the skin, but more importantly around the organs in the body. When this occurs, the organs cannot function normally and the health of the body starts to decline. Getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night is another way to keep the stress level down.
There is a part of the brain that is considered the pleasure center. What is the one thing we can do to keep this area of the body healthy? I believe it is learning how to be grateful. When we give thanks for our blessings; help others in need by giving back and “paying it forward”; when we work each day trying to make the lives of others better; and when we live each day to leave a legacy that will be remembered for years to come, the pleasure center in the brain is happy and healthy and this affects all other areas of the body, mind, spirit and soul.
The recommendations above should make it easier to live a healthy lifestyle without getting overwhelmed by the many things we can do each day to stay healthy. Take one recommendation at a time and try it out. See if this helps you to feel better and to live a more productive, fun and quality life.
“Your Business Connection”Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
2051 Cape Coral Parkway E. Cape Coral, FL 33904(239) 549-6900 Fax (239)549-9609 Toll Free (800) 226-9609
Scan to download our mobile siteor download our mobile site at web.capecoralchamber.com/mobile
iPhone and Android compatible
HEALTHY TRENDS
2013 Are You Smarter Than A PoliticianCandidates Forum
Tuesday, October 1, 2013Gulf Coast Village
1333 Santa Barbara Boulevard Cape Coral, Florida 339915:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
2013 SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
Gold Sponsors $500 Sponsor logo included in all promotions For This Event• Banner Placement at event• Display table at event• Logo to appear in all media advertising • Logo to appear in scrolling power point presentation at the event• Logo to appear in event program• Sponsor recognition in all printed materials, flyers, etc for the
event. • Sponsor recognition in all electronic media advertising• Link to your company’s website will also be included in all
electronic media• Your company will be mentioned as a sponsor in all other press
releases and/or media correspondence as an event sponsor.
Silver Sponsors $250 Sponsor name included in all Promotions For This Event• Banner Placement at Event• Business name to appear in event program• Company name in scrolling power point presentation at the event• Display table at event• Company name in media advertising • Company listed as a sponsor in all printed materials, flyers, etc.• Company name in all electronic media advertising prior
Friend $100.00 Sponsor name included In The Following
• Event Program• Print Media Advertising
_____ Gold $500 NAME____________________________________________________________________________________
_____ Silver $250 BUSINESS _______________________________________________________________________________
_____ Friend $100 CREDIT CARD __________________________________________________________________________
BILLING ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________ CARD TYPE ______________________ EXP. ________________ 3 digit Code______________
PHONE_________________________E-MAIL _____________________________________________
Contact Donna Germain at 549-6900 ext. 107 for more information.
LCEC
A Family of Senior Living Options
A BIG Thank youAmanda Brunson, Special Events
Coordinator
Thank you to all of the sponsors, speakers & attendees that help support The 2013 Women’s
Leadership Conference last week. It was a great day of uplifting and empowering business women in our area.
Thank you to all the attendees who took a full day out of their busy schedules to help support Women’s Leadership in Southwest Florida.
SPONSORSTitle Sponsor: Keiser UniversityExecutive Sponsors: LCEC, Best title Solutions, Inc. & Renaissance SchoolCardinal Sponsors: Fisherman’s Village, First Citizens Bank & Dellutri Law. Marketing Sponsors: The News Press Media Group & Lamar advertising
GUEST SPEAKERSJudge Josephine Gagliardi (Lee County Circuit Judge), Belinda Keiser (Vice Chancellor of Community Relations and Student Advancement for Keiser University) & Mei Mei Chan (President & Publisher The News-Press Media Group)
BREAKOUT SPEAKERSJessica Barton (Spiro & Associates), Yvonne Werline (Kevin M. Burns & Assoc. P.A.), Diane Everhart (Northwestern Mutual Financial Network), Dorothy Saviste (Dellutri Law), Tiffany Whitaker (Pushing the Envelope) and Amy Emme (AHA).
Also a Big Thank you to Rhonda Chapman and all of my planning
committee members who helped coordinate this event.
We hope to see you at our next Women’s Power Networking event November 14th 5:30-7:30pm at First Citizens bank in Bell Tower.
The topic will be on community and giving, with an emphasis on helping non-profits in our area. We are doing something very special at this event for anyone that purchases a vendor table they can give the table next to them to
a non-profit group to help jump start their Holiday Season.
For every donation you make to a non-profit you will receive a ticket for your name to go into a drawing to win some great prizes.
Come support local charities in our area and a great night of networking. Tickets are on sale now at www.capecoralchamber.com for more information you can contact Amanda at 549-6900 ext 111 or [email protected].
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Featured Speaker:Former Mariner Triton, Florida Gator & Tampa Bay Buccaneer
EARNEST GRAHAM
October 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.at the Cape Coral Italian American Club
The Education Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral will be hosting area Principals at the October 9, 2013 General Membership Luncheon. Grab the opportunity to sponsor a Principal for $100.00. Your business or organization will be featured in the Power-Point presentation during the lunch and will get the opportunity to be seated with the sponsored Principal. If you know of a specific principal you would like to sponsor, contact the Chamber today. If not, a full list of available principals will be emailed to you in the next month and a listing will also be available at next months General Membership Luncheon.
This is one of the only events where Principals are able to hobnob together with the local community. If you care about education, this event is a no-brainer.
Winning Principal Of The Annual Photo Contest Will Be Announced.
Join Us For A Chance Auction <<featuring auction items from prominent area businesses like the Florida Everblades and the Gulf Coast Symphony. All proceeds will directly benefit local schools.
Event & Table Sponsorships Also Available:
239.549.6900 ext. 102
T H I S LU N C H E O N H A S T H E L A R G E S T T U R N O U T A L L YE A R.
Reality CheckBerge Aslanian (CDPE)
Realtor, RE/MAX Island Harbor, www.RECapeCoral.com
What’s all this we are hearing about assessments or UEP
in Cape Coral? Every current property owner and potential property owner should be up to speed on this, especially those from out of this area who do not get exposed to the local news.
But first, let’s look at the numbers .
It appears that the number of listings has been fairly steady while the listed prices have slightly decreased. The important information is that while numbers of homes sold have decreased each month, the median sale price has risen 9.5% in three months. Wow!
Condo inventory continues to decline slightly with listed prices in the same range as prior months. June was a very slow month for numbers of condos sold but prices of condos sold continue to march upward. The median sale price for condos rose, like single family homes, 9.5% too. Double Wow!
When we see a spike upward or downward for a month or two that then changes direction it is usually identified as just a sudden change. But, when the change continues in the same direction for three months or more, we can safely call it a trend. As we have seen over the past two years, prices have been increasing at an average of 2.5% per month. During the last three months the increases have averaged over 3%.
The market has been heating up as prices continue to get closer to national averages. Our prices are still below national averages by at least 25% and closing the gap even though national averages are increasing too. Knowing that we have been going upward steadily and we are still below national averages should prepare buyers and sellers to capitalize on these trends with condos and single family homes either as end users or investors.
So now we can look at this assessment thing here in Cape Coral that seems to ignite passionate responses from those for it and those against it. The assessment thing is formally known as the Utility Expansion Program (UEP).
During the go-go years when prices were sky-rocketing our elected officials decided to spend, spend, spend all that tax revenue money that flooded their coffers. In fact, in anticipation of continued growth they over-spent and created several debts that became more apparent as the revenue stream was reduced to a trickle when prices here crashed.
One of the more visible examples of this was the creation of the Kismet Water Treatment Plant financed by a bond issue of about $35 million. Since users were never hooked up to it, the debt service fell on the shoulders of those already attached to the Cape Coral Water Utility system. To pay the bonds all properties on city water have experienced significant annual increases for their service whether they like it or not.
To alleviate this unfair burden, our current elected officials are pressing forward with the UEP. As they come to the proscribed neighborhoods, each property owner will be hit with fees of about $16,500. A property owner may pay whatever they can afford up to the full amount; if they pay less than the full amount, the remainder will be financed by the city and added to the annual property tax bill. Financing the entire cost adds about $1,600 more to a property tax bill for the first 6 years.
By adding additional users to the water system, future increases should be minimal (really?) they tell us. We are also told that this project will add value to the properties in the areas where city water is installed. As an experienced realtor who has dealt with properties having monies owed for water/sewer/irrigation assessments I can testify that value is not added in any measurable amounts. In fact, usually the opposite is true but that doesn’t fit the spin required to justify the project to the constituents.
If you have a vacant lot (at least 30% and more of the properties in areas soon to experience the UEP) that is worth $6-10,000 and you add $16,500 in assessments, the lot may be worth $8-14,000 when all is said and done. How do we know this? Simple, just look at the lots for sale in areas that already have city water/sewer/irrigation; decent dry lots in those areas can be had for $8-14,000 today. The same hold true for houses in these areas. By expensing each home at about 10% of their value (look at the median price sold above) now is not the time to do this; it becomes more economically viable when the costs are 5% or less of the total home value.
So, now that you know what is going on, be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you. And if you have any questions or need to clear any uncertainties, please contact a licensed realtor for additional information. Doing that will insure your success. Happy House Hunting!
8-27-13 Real Estate Trends
Reality Check What’s all this we are hearing about assessments or UEP in Cape Coral? Every current property owner and potential property owner should be up to speed on this, especially those from out of this area who do not get exposed to the local news. But first, let’s look at the numbers for the three month period ending 8/26: June ’13 July ’13 Aug ‘13 Homes Median $ Homes Median $ Homes Median $ For Sale 1166 $258,000 1136 $250,000 1178 $248,000 Sold 389 $159,750 362 $159,900 305 $175,000
June ’13 July ’13 Aug ‘13 Condos Median $ Condos Median $ Condos Median $ For Sale 274 $135,000 262 $135,000 251 $130,000 Sold 29 $105,000 44 $112,000 52 $115,000
It appears that the number of listings has been fairly steady while the listed prices have slightly decreased. The important information is that while numbers of homes sold have decreased each month, the median sale price has risen 9.5% in three months. Wow! Condo inventory continues to decline slightly with listed prices in the same range as prior months. June was a very slow month for numbers of condos sold but prices of condos sold continue to march upward. The median sale price for condos rose, like single family homes, 9.5% too. Double Wow! When we see a spike upward or downward for a month or two that then changes direction it is usually identified as just a sudden change. But, when the change continues in the same direction for three months or more, we can safely call it a trend. As we have seen over the past two years, prices have been increasing at an average of 2.5% per month. During the last three months the increases have averaged over 3%. The market has been heating up as prices continue to get closer to national averages. Our prices are still below national averages by at least 25% and closing the gap even though national averages are increasing too. Knowing that we have been going upward steadily and we are still below national averages should prepare buyers and sellers to capitalize on these trends with condos and single family homes either as end users or investors. So now we can look at this assessment thing here in Cape Coral that seems to ignite passionate responses from those for it and those against it. The assessment thing is formally known as the Utility Expansion Program (UEP). During the go-go years when prices were sky-rocketing our elected officials decided to spend, spend, spend all that tax revenue money that flooded their coffers. In fact, in anticipation of continued growth they over-spent and created several debts that became more apparent as the revenue stream was reduced to a trickle when prices here crashed.
From Our Chairman2012
Donna Meola, Kirkwood Electric2012 Chamber Chairman
I can’t believe its December and I am writing my last article as Chairman of the
Board. 2012 has just flown by and there have been so many accomplishments I would like to share. (Please forgive me if I have forgotten any!!)
How fortunate we are to live in Paradise! Our economy is growing and the outlook for 2013 is for continued growth.
2012 was a great year!! Much was accomplished for you, including making Cape Coral a better place to do business. Here are a few of the highlights:
The Cape Coral Economic Development Office delivered on their promise to increase business, investment and employment in the area. The team closed 137 economic development projects, which represents 85 new businesses in the Cape and 52 expansions.
The EDO created a public/private strategic partnership with Lamar Advertising and HDPR Group and a new marketing campaign that says “Cape Coral is Open for Business.”
Cape Coral welcomed the opening of 1,156 businesses in 2012 including 301 place based businesses, 809 home-based businesses and 46 unspecified businesses. Commerce means shorter distances to travel for your goods and services. Commerce also means a diversified tax base and jobs!
The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral continues to grow as well; in December 2011 our membership was at an all time low of 583 members, today we stand at 744. This resulted in a 78 percent membership growth with a retention rate of 81 percent. This could not have been accomplished without the referrals from our members, a dynamic sales team and an awesome membership development committee.
Chamber Leadership programs continue to develop community leaders. In November, 20 men and women graduated Leadership Cape Coral. Twenty-four members of the 2012 Chamber board have graduated from the Leadership Program including the Chairman and
Chair-Elect. We currently have 27 high school juniors in our Junior Leadership Program.
The Chamber successfully presented (2) Disney Institute programs in 2012. The Chamber Special Events team (yes, I say teams because it takes a village!!) brought an astounding 250,000+ citizens and members together for Red White and Boom , Golf Tournament, Farmers Market, Business Expo , Family Bowling Day, a Casino Trip to The Price is Right, as well as our Holiday Festival of Lights on December 1st.
Our on-line business directory resulted in 1,300,829 web referrals in 2012 that equates to 3,544 on average over the year per member!! (Who says membership doesn’t pay?)
A new Chamber mobile app was introduced in 2012.It was also a very busy election year for our Public Affairs
Committee! This is a group of passionate people who make sure that the “voice” of business is heard, not only at the local level but also state and federal. The candidates’ forums were very well attended by members and citizens of Cape Coral.
Our education committee hosted the Excellence in Education Awards in April and awarded $4,500 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors!
It was also the first year of our “rotating” luncheons that are being very well received by our membership.
Serving as your Chairman of the Board has been an excellent experience and I feel blessed for having had the opportunity of meeting so many of you at meetings and events.
Thank you for honoring me with your trust and commitment! It has been my privilege to work with my fellow directors and amazing staff as well as the membership.
I look forward to seeing all of you at future events and I wish you good health and prosperity!
We deliver, every day.
Call Lynnie to advertise 910.4575
REAL ESTATE TRENDS
Lee Memorial Health SystemP.O. Box 2218
Fort Myers, FL 33902
CenturyLink Store2710 Del Prado Blvd. South
Cape Coral, FL 33904
RE/MAX Realty Team2326 Del Prado BlvdCape Coral, FL 33990
LCEC4980 Bayline Dr
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
All Power Electric2534 NE 9th Ave, Cape Coral, FL
Wades Heating and CoolingCCI
Competent Solutions1209 SE 9th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL
Gulf Coast Village Retirement Community 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. Cape Coral
Premier Oncology RadiationSpecialists In Urology
24 Del Prado Blvd N, Cape Coral
The News-Press - Fort Myers Office2442 Dr. MLK Blvd. Ft. Myers
413 NE Van Loon Lane, Cape Coral
DiamondMember
Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
ExecutiveMember
Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
$LCEC works hard to manage costs, maintain the electric system, improve processes and create efficiencies so that electric rates can remain competitive for customers. We do not plan to raise rates in 2013 and will continue to do everything possible to keep rates stable.
The increase on your upcoming electric bill is due to a tax imposed by the City of Cape Coral. LCEC customers in Cape Coral will notice a change in their electric bill beginning October 1, 2013. Cape Coral City officials recently levied a public service tax of 7 percent that will be added to monthly electric bills. The new tax will be displayed on your LCEC bill as a separate line item so it can be easily identified. LCEC is required by law to collect the tax from business and residential customers who purchase electricity in Cape Coral. LCEC will deliver funds to the City similar to how Cape Coral franchise fees are delivered, which are also collected through electric bills.This new tax will be used to fund the City’s general operations. To calculate the amount the monthly public service tax will add to your electric bill, visit www.capecoral.net and utilize the PST Calculator. Please refer any questions regarding the Cape Coral public service tax to the Cape Coral Citizens’ Action Center, 239-574-0425.
LCEC hasn’t raised electric rates in nearly 5 years!
www.lcec.net • 239-656-2300
Top Left: Welcome to our newest Chamber members! Top Right: Guest Speaker Greg Frith, Fireservice Disaster Kleenup speaks to the membership about Hurricane Preparedness. Right: Thank you to our lunch sponsors, CenturyLink, The News-Press and LCEC represented by Trish Lassiter.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCH
Call or visit one of our Cape Coral branches today!1715 Cape Coral Parkway West | (239) 541-5200812 Del Prado Boulevard South | (239) 985-8120
2546 Heydon Lane | (239) 433-6000
www.iberiabank.com |
Personal and BusinessSolutionsto meet your banking needs.We make banking easy and convenient for your business and personal banking needs, so that you have more time for the things in life that matter most.
Fort Myers: 9101 College Pointe Court | 2247 First Street | 6651 Orion Drive | 4670 Summerlin Road | 8341 Dani Drive | 8870 Daniels Parkway | 7580 Winkler Road | Estero: 23250 Via Villagio
Abaez Builders, LLC2710 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 2-169
Cape Coral, FL 33904(239) 205-3669
www.abaezbuilders.com
Achieva Credit Union1631 Del Prado Blvd.Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 989-4030www.achievacu.com
RIBBON CUTTINGS
2010 Arcadia Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33916
Just off Martin Luther King Blvd., across from FleaMasters!
The Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic is no ordinary veterinary practice. 100% of the clinic’s operating surplus is used to provide funding for safe refuge and quality care for the more than 1,000 abandoned and neglected cats and dogs brought to our shelter each year.
Spay/Neuter Vaccinations Microchips Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Services General Surgery
Dental Care Laboratory Pharmacy Flea & Heartworm Prevention Behavior Counseling Dietary Counseling
Veterinary Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm, Saturday: 9am to 4pm
Network AdministrationMaintenance Agreements
Off-site Data StorageDell, Acer, Apple(239) 573-1000
www.entechcomputers.com
Get In Touch with New Residents, Prospects and
Visitors with our Relocation Leads
Program!Contact Donna Germain at
549-6900 ext 107 or [email protected]
Network AdministrationMaintenance Agreements
Off-site Data StorageDell, Acer, Apple(239) 573-1000
www.entechcomputers.com
The News-Press Media Group connects Cape Coral residents and visitors with news and information in Cape Life every Thursday, and in the Cape section on Sunday. Get the latest updates online and on your mobile device at news-press.com
We deliver Cape Coral news 24/7
Subscribe:1.800.468.0233
Cape Coral Editor: Casey Logan | [email protected] | 344.4721Advertise: Lynnie Guzman | [email protected] | 910.4575
Get In & Get Busy Advertise In
The Chamber Trends Magazine
Contact Donna Germain at 549-6900 ext 107 or
For Goodness SakesDon’t MIss Out!
Claudia St. OngeFarmers’ Market Director
The Surfside Sunset Market is open year-round every Tuesday from 3p-8p. The Shops at Surfside Veteran’s Pkwy & Surfside Blvd.
Inside Unit D-101 for you summer shopping comfort.
COMING SOON! The Cape Coral Farmers’ Market re-opens for its 20th year. Every Saturday from 8a-1p, Club Square in Downtown Cape Coral SE 47th Terr. & SE 10th Pl. DON’T MISS A WEEK OF ALL THE GOODNESS!
CAPE CORAL FARMERS’ MARKETS
Get Out and Vote on September 10th Cape Coral!!
Donna S. GermainCommunications Director
The Chamber hosted its annual Candidates Hobnob on August 7th at Gulf Coast Village.
More than 150 people were in attendance throughout the evening to meet their Cape Coral City Council Candidates.
While the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral does not support or endorse candidates in any way, we feel it’s important to provide our members and the community with a venue that allows them to speak one on one with their candidates and ask the questions they want answered.
On behalf of the Chamber and the Public Affairs Committee, I would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of this event.
Gulf Coast Village, The News-Press, FOX-4, Lamar Advertising, Becker & Poliakoff, High Fidelity Studios, WastePro, Sunshine Jewelers & Gold Exchange, Dixie Roadhouse, LAI Design Associates, Smith Insurance Agency, LCEC and Windstream.
Be sure to mark your calendars for October 1st. We will be back with our Annual “Are You Smarter Than A Politician” Candidates Forum. The first round will be a traditional Q&A forum with they candidates and they we have some fun with our audience participation round as you test your skills against the candidates.
Sponsorships are available, please contact me for more information. [email protected]
CANDIDATES HOBNOB
with a purpose....
2051 Cape Coral Parkway ECape Coral, FL 33904
(239) 549-6900(800) 226-9609
www.capecoralchamber.com
6th Annual Arts & Crafts FestivalFriday, Nov. 22, 2013….4pm – 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013….9am – 3pm
Grace Community Center4151 Hancock Bridge Pkwy. North Fort Myers, FL
FREE Admission FREE Parking Farmer’s Market Food Vendors Plants & Trees Kid’s Activities
Expecting 80 + vendors, 3,000 + visitors VENDOR application and rules: [email protected]
Marsha Smith (239) 297-3781