Cape Council moves forward with utility assessments

Sep 29, 2026 By MEGHAN BRADBURY 5 min read

North 3 East UEP Initial Assessment Resolution (9-28-26) RDC 8.25.26 EME 9-18-26 (1) copy

Before a packed house of property owners decrying the financial impact, Cape Coral City Council moved forward Monday with assessments for the North 3 Utilities Expansion project.

Residents filled the Cape Coral City Council chambers and spilled into an overflow area to weigh in at the hours-long special meeting, with many asking that the project to be put on hold and brought back after the new board is seated in November.

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra made a motion to pause and suspend the UEP project until after the Nov. 3 election, even if the cost of the assessments rises in 18 months. She garnered support from Councilmembers Keith Long and Rachel Kuduk with the motion to delay failing 5-3.

“If we delay, it will only get more expensive,” Councilmember Joe Kilraine said. “It’s important we move forward and not delay it. I vote against the discontinuous and ask we continue to pursue this refined number, and we carry forward to continue on the date we originally thought.”

Mayor John Gunter, who participated remotely, said if they look back historically at these types of meetings, there is always a packed house with residents expressing this is not the best time to move forward as the city works to expand water, sewer and irrigation water utilities throughout the city.

“What is important is to look at the data. We had already had the historic data that shows if we push the UEP off, it always cost us more money in the long run,” Gunter said. “For me, what we should be doing as a council is trying to make the best decision and cheapest decision for residents to be impacted in the UEP project.”

Gunter said if the city pushes the project off, the bids they have currently will no longer be valid and the city will have to put the project back out to bid.

“If we come back 12 to 18 months from now, no matter who is sitting, the cost is going to be higher than it is today,” he said. “The data tells us this. Make your decision based on data.”

Gunter said the city is five years past where it should be with its utility expansion project. He said if the city could turn the clock back five years, he guarantees that property owners would have paid substantially less than what the assessments are today.

“I don’t want to make a decision to cost our taxpayers and residents more money. This is a need. Adding another $3,000 to $4,000 is a disservice. I will not support pushing this can down the road because it will only cost residents more money in the long run. Why we would do that is beyond me. I surely don’t want to do anything that will cost more money,” he said.

Three resolutions were passed Monday after a more than five-hour meeting – Resolution 243-26, Resolution 244-26 and Resolution 245-26, which are all for North 3 Potable Water Improvement area.

Financial Service Director Crystal Feast went over the assessments, which applies the same methodology as prior UEP areas. She said the basic unit of measure is an equivalent parcel (EP) – 10,000 square feet of land, which is the typical size of a residential parcel in Cape Coral.

Feast said 93.5% of parcels are between one and two EP.

This means the assessments for oversized parcels will be higher.

The line extension – land area is based on equivalent parcel method for water and irrigation distribution mains and wastewater collection mains and the capital facility expansion charge (CFEC) is based on equivalent residential unit method for treatment and transmission.

Costs

Residents and lot owners in North 3, east of Burnt Store Road are facing an estimated assessment of $35,264 – land area assessment per 1 EP for an estimated total of $26,920 and CFEC for an estimated total of $8,344. These estimates include water, wastewater and irrigation.

Parcels in North 3, west of Burnt Store Road have an estimated assessment of $41,029 – $32,685 for land area assessment, and $8,344 for the CFEC. These property owners also have the alternative five road improvement that adds $5,765 per EP. The improvement allocates more space to roadway and drainage/greenway functions and providing enhanced multi-modal facilities.

There are other costs as well —  $3,000 to $5,000 for the average plumber’s connection cost, $100 for the Department of Health septic abandonment permit, $325 for the water meter purchase and install and $225 for an account deposit.

There are three payment options, initial prepayment from Nov. 3, 2026, through March 31, 2027; interim prepayment period from April 1, 2027 through July 31, 2027 and the amortized default method, which is billed on the tax bill annually for 20, 25, or 30 years with the first billing to occur in November 2027.

Feast said initial prepayment has the lowest total cost, with the interim repayment period slightly higher. She said the interim cost goes up $279 for the east, and $322 for west of Burnt Store Road.

Paying over time adds interest and so comes in at a much higher total. The annual cost is added to the property owner’s tax bill.

The annual payment over 20 years is $4,266 for east of Burnt Store Road, and $4,963 for west of Burnt Store Road; $3,895 for the 25-year term for east of Burnt Store Road, and $4,532 for west of Burnt Store Road; and $3,648 for 30-year term for east of Burnt Store Road and $4,244 west of Burnt Store Road.

There are two assistant programs – hardship program – deferral of annual payments based upon income qualifications, and Community Development Block Grant – grants for very-low income families to connect from meter to the home, septic abandonment fee and the water meter fee, Feast said.

There will be a homeowner’s information meeting on Oct. 19, followed by a public hearing for the final assessment resolutions an assessment rolls, approval of construction contracts and approval of construction engineering and inspection contract on Nov. 2, the day before the municipal election for Cape Coral City Council. Four of the city’s eight council seats are up for grabs.

A notice to proceed for construction will take place in December.

To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com