Cape Council approves seawall standards
For at least two years, the city of Cape Coral and stakeholders were at odds regarding engineering standards for seawalls. How tall would they be? Could vinyl be used to cast them?
After years of hammering out specifics and listening to builders and engineers, the city came up with seawall engineering design standards with which everyone could agree.
Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday got a presentation on what those standards would be and unanimously approved them after those stakeholders praised the standards as the perfect middle ground.
The design standards for seawalls were drawn up in 1988 and based upon a precast concrete panel and cast-in-place concrete cap. Aside from some minor revisions in 2002, they had not changed.
In 2017, many seawalls failed when Hurricane Irma hit, prompting a review.
Among the things the city and stakeholders discussed included installations, approved seawalls, design standards and seawall height and permitting.
Former mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz called the long-awaited standards a win-win for the citizens, who will get better and safer seawalls more quickly.
“For two years we worked on this. We were far apart at first and we argued over what was and wasn’t necessary,” Mazurkiewicz said. “This will make for better seawalls and allow contractors to have more oversight over their projects.”
“We have come a long way. The city met us more in the middle. As of March, there will be a new standard,” said Melanie Williamson, president of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association.
The new standards will take effect on March 1, 2022, with permits submitted to the city before then being grandfathered.
In other business
– Council unanimously approved an updated ordinance regarding bulk waste pickup.
The update will align with current practices and the contract language for solid waste, horticulture, and bulk trash pick-up and create a process by which non-compliant bulk trash may be removed and the property owner held responsible for the costs associated with the removal.
Councilmember Jennifer Nelson was happy with the ordinance, but was concerned about education and enforcement and how the residents would know what is compliant and non-compliant.
– Council approved an ordinance regarding improvements to marine structures such as boat lifts, docks, mooring posts, walkways and other items.
During development of the Land Development Code in 2018 the consultant inadvertently eliminated several sections of this code, city officials said. This text amendment restored language that was deleted, reformatted the chapter, corrected grammatical errors, and added new language for clarification purposes.
This amendment also restored the deviation process for marine improvements that existed in the former Land Use and Development Regulations.
The new language and reformatting provide better organization and add clarity to these regulations. Restoring the deviation process interjects flexibility into the code by allowing property owners to seek relief from site-specific hardships imposed by the regulations, officials said.
– Council named Gloria Tate as Mayor Pro Tem in 2022 and retained Mayor John Gunter as Council’s “office manager,” as well as name council members as liaisons to the numerous committees and boards in the city.
_ By a 6-1 vote, Council approved a motion by Mayor John Gunter to call Councilmember Robert Welsh’s absence Wednesday “unexcused.” Councilmember Keith Long, who was appointed following the resignation of former council member Rick Williams due to health reasons, cast the dissenting vote. Gunter said he looked at Welsh’s attendance record and said he missed meetings on Aug. 10 (a budget workshop) and 18, on Sept. 23 and 29, both of which special meetings regarding the 2022 budget, and then on Wednesday, and so made a motion to make Welsh’ absence unexcused. Other Council members said their understanding was Welsh was on vacation. According to the city charter, if a council member has three consecutive absences from regular meetings that Council determines to be unexcused, it could result in the council member’s removal from office. Remote participation is permitted.
– The Committee of the Whole, or workshop meeting on Nov. 10 was moved to a 4 p.m. start instead of 3 p.m. for the purpose of holding a collective bargaining meeting at 2 p.m.
City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com