Each week through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response.

This week’s question is: What is your vision for the city park known as the Cape Coral Yacht Club?

District 2

Bryan DeLaHunt

I attended all the GO Bond Community meetings for the Yacht Club. Most concepts had a two-story parking garage, which should be considered city infrastructure and come from general funds. GO Bond was presented to bring new parks and improved park amenities. The city website has no budget for the project but at the meetings it was over $20 million meaning over 1/3 of the GO Bond will be spent on the Yacht Club, not new parks. The GO Bond had no actual park plans prior to passing, which has caused conflicts between residents over Sands and Tropicana Parks. As a council member you must listen to the community, and I heard loud and clear at the community meetings a parking ramp was not wanted.

Dan Sheppard

Coming up shortly city staff and council will be reviewing some ideas for the Yacht Club. We must voice our ideas and concerns at this time. The most important thing to me is that we protect and enhance The Magnet of this location. Adding some small Tiki huts for shade, some coconut palms with hammocks to give it that resort island feel. We need to raise the bar. These special locations need to be top notch to increase the value of our city always keeping in mind its ability to service all our citizens.

District 3

Chris Cammarota

Many residents feared that the city would use the Go bond funds for things other than true park amenities. The $60 million bond money should not be used to subsidize a parking garage. That is city infrastructure!

Previous neighborhood meetings stated the needs of the residents.The residents paying the tab should be served as promised when the city aggressively marketed the GO bond. Residents living in that area have numerous needs and most want the funds spent on real park amenities, not a parking garage.

There is COW meeting on 9/23 at 4:30 p.m. and it is devoted to this park.

Tom Hayden

I would like to explore a public-private partnership where a small hotel or additional meeting rooms can be added to the existing ballroom at the Yacht Club. Key to this would be preserving the history and legacy of the Yacht Club — one of the first public buildings in the community — and its centerpiece — the remarkable ballroom. This building is still a popular place for weddings and other events and creating a way for more people to enjoy the space and possibly have an extended stay there builds on the character of the site and its beach front. Moving the Tony Rotino Center to one of the new community parks also is an option. The partnership should also include keeping the pool and tennis courts for community use.

District 5

Louis C. Navarra

My vision is to use the taxpayers dollars I will save (Example: Council: NO trips to China). Use that money and GO bond money to rebuild the Yacht Club. I see a brand new state-of-the art hall, new and modern picnic tables (not like the nasty ones there now that look like a breeding ground for COVID-19.) For any modernization of the boat slips, I will take the boaters input. Beach nourishment, if needed, and, as always, comply with environmental laws.

Robert Welsh

Looking at what was proposed for the Cape Coral Yacht Club, I like the idea of moving the boat ramps to the canal side and adding more parking and beach area. There is a lot of history at the Yacht Club and I want to preserve that however we can. So moving the high boat traffic away from the beach and pavilion and adding more parking is the best solution to accommodate the growth we have in the Cape.

District 7

Jessica Cosden, incumbent

Since the birth of our city, the Yacht Club has been its true heart. It’s where we have our community gatherings, celebrations, and countless city events. However, it’s showing age so it’s time we modernize this hallmark. I envision an updated facility with modern amenities, while preserving the original character. As a “waterfront wonderland,” we should expand the size of the beach, and if practical and safe, relocate the boat ramp. Additional parking (that fits with the makeup of the Club) should be added. Finally, we should look into adding another successful private-public partnership to benefit both the residents and the City.

Dr. Derrick Donnell

The Cape Coral Yacht Club continues to be a signature destination for our city since the first year it was opened back in 1962. I have fond memories of my 3-year-old daughter jumping off the diving board at the community pool and then quickly swimming to her mom. The citizen-approved GO Bond provides for the Yacht Club to be effectively and efficiently upgraded. My vision is to support the master plan and the conceptual plan for the upgrades to the park. One of those much-needed upgrades is the construction of additional parking spaces that are both strategic and convenient.