September 2023 City Newsletter

September 2023

A Message from

Mayor John Gunter

It's remarkable how quickly September has arrived, bringing us closer to the peak of the 2023 hurricane season and the first anniversary of Hurricane Ian. While Ian left a mark as one of the most devastating natural disasters ever to strike Cape Coral, the anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the significance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place. If you haven't already, I strongly urge everyone to download and follow the guidelines outlined in the Cape Coral 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The path to recovery from Ian remains a lengthy journey, akin to a marathon rather than a sprint. Nevertheless, I take pride in witnessing the strength and resilience of our community in the face of adversity and the remarkable progress we've made over the past year.

Read more from the Mayor-->

Respectfully,

John Gunter

Mayor

Public Hearing Dates Scheduled to Finalize City's FY24 Budget

The first public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget for the City of Cape Coral will be held Thursday, September 7, at 5:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (1015 Cultural Park Boulevard). The tentative millage rate and budget will be set at this meeting.

The second public hearing on the proposed FY24 budget is scheduled for Thursday, September 21, at 5:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The final millage and budget will be set at this meeting.

State law requires that two public hearings be held to discuss the budget. These hearings occur every September.

Online Owner-Builder Permit Applications Now Available

The City has recently begun accepting online owner-builder permit applications for two types of permits: residential A/C changeout permits and new single-family residence permits, with a goal of making more permit types available online in the future. Read More-->

Temporary Change for Waste Pro Pickup Effective September 1

Waste Pro will begin picking up trash and recycling an hour earlier, beginning Friday, Sept. 1. Please place all items for collection curbside by 5 a.m. to avoid missing any collection vehicles.

City Council approved Ordinance 235-23, temporarily modifying Waste Pro’s collection schedule and noise exemption from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2023. Due to unprecedented temperatures and heat index in Southwest Florida, Waste Pro requested that their drivers begin their collection routes one hour earlier at 5 a.m.

Trash totes should be placed curbside no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection day. Carts should be five feet away from your mailbox, trees, fire hydrants, cars, sprinkler heads, or any other damageable property.

View Waste Collection Info

Cape Coral Warns of Event Vendor Scam

The City of Cape Coral has been made aware of a scammer on Facebook attempting to take vendor payments for City events.

The scammer is requesting payment via money-transferring phone apps using a non-government email.

The City of Cape Coral never collects vendor fees via third-party applications like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle.

If you think you may have fallen victim to this scam, please report it to the Cape Coral Police Department at 239-574-3223 or ccpdfraud@capecoral.gov.

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at City Hall

The public is invited to join the Cape Coral Fire Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, and the City of Cape Coral in a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, September 11, at 8:30 a.m. on the front lawn of Cape Coral City Hall (1015 Cultural Park Blvd.)

After a brief presentation, attendees will stake 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, on the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirm that “We Will Never Forget.”

Cape Coral Police Department News

The men and women of the Cape Coral Police Department work hard every day to help keep our City safe. Follow CCPD on Facebook for regular news and updates.

Follow CCPD on Facebook

Parks & Rec Fall Activity Guide is Ready to View

The Parks & Recreation Fall Activity Guide, which covers the months of Sep-Dec 2023, is now available to view at www.CapeParks.com.

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

There will also be a limited supply of printed copies that can be picked up after September 12 at City Hall, Cape Coral's recreation centers, and the two libraries in Cape Coral.

For more details, click on the link below or visit CapeParks.com.

View Fall '23 Activity Guide

Jaycee Park Community Survey Open Until Sept. 8

Residents who could not attend the Jaycee Park Community Forum in August can provide feedback online.

Please click on the "complete the survey" graphic above to provide constructive feedback on the proposed Jaycee Park designs. The survey will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 8.

Proposed improvements to Jaycee Park, located at 4215 SE 20th Place, include a boat dock with finger piers, a splash pad, additional walking paths in the park and along the shoreline, a food truck court, and other items.

See more information on this project, view concept renderings, and access the survey at www.capecoral.gov/jayceepark.

Cape Coral Together: Resilience Rally Set for Friday, September 29

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian, the community is invited to join us for the Cape Coral Together: Resilience Rally on Friday, September 29, from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the German American Social Club (2101 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral).

In addition to bringing the community together for some fun, the goal of this event is to give back to local non-profit organizations whose resources were depleted after Hurricane Ian. The rally will feature live music and food trucks.

Please bring canned and non-perishable foods for human and four-legged friends, hygiene products, etc., or a cash donation to help "restock the shelves" of our participating non-profits, and your admission is FREE!

Benefiting organizations include the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Faith Generation, and the Kiwanis. Thanks in advance for giving back. We are #CapeCoralTogether.

See Cape Coral Together: Resilience Rally Details

Fueled by Fire 5K Returns October 7

The Cape Coral Fire Department is partnering with the Cape Coral Fire Department Community Foundation (the Department’s 501c3) to host the "Fueled by Fire 5K and Challenge" on Saturday, October 7 at 7:00 a.m.

Located at beautiful Tarpon Point Marina, this 5K & Challenge includes running or walking through beautiful areas of our city and puts peoples' skills to the test as they engage in a firefighter physical obstacle course.

This event is open to all ages (16+ for the obstacle course.) For more details and to sign up, visit www.CCFDFoundation.org.

City Beautification Remains a Top Priority

With the city's extensive growth, Cape Coral City Council has expressed its interest in keeping city beautification as a top priority.

One way community members can get involved is to participate in the Median Beautification Program. This program allows residents, businesses, and organizations to fund the “adoption” of a median by installing landscaping that the City would then maintain in perpetuity. The City also provides signage to show appreciation to participants in the program, allowing the public to recognize the generous donation.

Learn About the Median Beautification Program

Cape Coral Welcomes New City Attorney

The City of Cape Coral welcomes Aleksandr Boksner as the new City Attorney. Boksner joined the City in August and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the City Attorney's Office and provide legal services to the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager, City Departments, and Agencies.

Boksner is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law. He previously worked for Sarasota County as the Deputy City Attorney and the City of Miami Beach as the Chief Deputy City Attorney.