Mayor calls special meeting for $400 million solid waste contract discussion
Meeting scheduled to take place 90 minutes before new council members are sworn in
City Council meeting Presentation 2026.11.18
RFP Proposal – FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC (2)
A special meeting to consider a $400 million contract for the collection of solid waste has been called for Wednesday at 2:30 p.m, 90 minutes ahead of the swearing in of new and returning council members.
The current Cape Coral City Council will consider awarding the contract to FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC, the highest ranked among three qualified bidders by city staff.
The contract would be for a period of 10 years beginning at the start of Fiscal Year ’28 — which begins Oct. 1, 2027 — and expiring on Sept. 30, 2037. The contract includes the option to renew for one five-year additional term under the same terms and conditions as the initial period.
If approved, the franchise period will begin with new vehicles, which will run on compressed natural gas.
The first-year residential monthly collection rate under the FCC Environmental Services proposal equates to $18.23, or $218.76 annually.
The city’s estimated rate for FY28 — which also includes disposal fees for Lee County, city operating costs, tax collector costs and statutory discount recovery — shows no overall increase. The total assessment per home as projected by the city is $384.25 for this year and next with FY28 marked as subject to change.
According to the presentation for Wednesday’s meeting, the city-assessed franchise fee would be 8.5% of gross revenues, both residential and commercial, less commercial only disposal costs. The city pays the residential disposal cost.
The residential collections service includes a weekly collection limited to 95-gallon contractor-provided cart, with a second available at an additional charge billed between the franchisee and customer.
The recyclables collection is also a weekly collection with a limited 65-gallon contractor-provided cart. A second is also available at an additional charge.
The horticulture waste is a weekly collection in customer-provided cans, bags, or properly prepared bundles, excluding stumps, not to exceed 50 pounds each.
There are also commercial services offered.
Bulk waste is available weekly curbside with set out restrictions, and white goods are on call service at no additional charge.
The collection hours from Oct. 1, through April 30 are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from May 1, through Sept. 30 the hours are from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The contractor will be responsible for providing a smooth transition resulting in no service interruption.
Within 30 days of the effective date, the contractor will provide a transition plan to the city and meet with staff at least monthly to effectuate a smooth transition of services.
The contract also includes that the contractor provide commercial-sized waste containers for community events free of charge with he city to pay disposal costs; pay $50,000 per year for community outreach events; provide service for up to four hazardous waste events per year within city limits; and provide personnel, equipment, and all services necessary to operate a bulk solid waste drop off site at Northwest 14th Avenue South and Kismet Parkway.
History of the bid process
• On Feb. 20, the city issued a request for proposal for the solid waste, recyclables, horticulture and bulk franchise collection services with 212 plan holders being noticed and 26 firms viewing the solicitation.
• On April 30, the bid process closed. The city received three responses: From Coastal Waste and Recycling of Florida, Inc., FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC and Waste Pro of Florida, Inc.
The evaluation team scored the proposals, FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC ranking first, Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. ranking second and Coastal Waste and Recycling of Florida, Inc. ranking third.
• On Aug. 6. the city sent a notice of intent to award to FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC
• On Aug. 12, a notice of intent to protest was submitted by both Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. and Coastal Waste and Recycling of Florida, Inc.
• On Oct. 7, Cape Coral City Council referred both protests to the Department of Administrative Hearing for an independent review by an administrative law judge.
• On Oct. 21, Cape Coral City Council reconsidered and pulled the letters of protest back from the DOAH. Council reconsidered the protest letters – denying them and authorizing the continuation of the contract award process.
How to get involved
The special meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting agenda is available online at https://pub-capecoral.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=f11ea786-38a1-4dc9-9843-c6392baa62c0&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
Interested parties are invited to submit e-comments on regular meeting agenda items. For City Council Regular Meeting items, E-comments must be received by 12:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Any comments received after 12:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be applied and distributed to Council at their next scheduled meeting. visit capecoral.gov/departments/city_clerk/e_comments.php
The council meeting can be watched live on Comcast Channel 98 or YouTube (CapeTV).
The meeting also can be viewed on demand on the City’s website. These videos are typically posted within 24 hours.