Council gets update on Sun Splash
Cape Coral City Council got on update on its city-owned/privately operated water park on Wednesday.
Council heard from Curt Caffey from Pro Parks, which has run Sun Splash Family Waterpark for the last year. He said that revenues have risen sharply in their first year of operation through the use of online promotions and sales.
However, for the park to continue to grow, there is a need to make some changes, such as improved and increased parking. Since there is now an animal shelter and Lake Kennedy Park coming in the near future, the need for parking in the center of town is imperative, officials said.
Caffey added there is a possibility for adding a pool for swim lessons as the city is in desperate need for such a pool or aquatic center. It is also simpler than adding another slide.
“When you look at the numbers of what you have done in the first year, it’s pretty remarkable. That’s why I was committed to having a private company come in,” Mayor John Gunter said. “This is your expertise. I don’t think city government should be in the business of running a water park.”
In other business:
— Council discussed ending an ordinance regarding false alarms. Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said with the new technology such as security door bells and better security systems and installation, it really isn’t needed anymore as it was at the start of the first building boom in 2005.
— Council discussed and seemed receptive to speeding up the replacement of the so-called “break trucks” that utility workers use to go around the city and fix water and sewage issues.
Councilmember Dan Sheppard brought up the issue several weeks ago at a city council meeting that workers were driving around in vehicles with little or no air conditioning, creating a difficult work situation.
The city is planning to purchase two more vehicles this year, but instead of replacement set to end in 2029, they will purchase more vehicles faster and have them all replaced by fiscal year 2025.
The trucks will be air conditioned and cost around $72,000 apiece. They will also seat five passengers instead of four.
“My goal is to look out for these people, especially with the storm and what they were able to pull off,” Sheppard said. “I want to look out for them and make them safe.”
— Council expressed an interest in an elevator ordinance after several complaints of people getting stuck in elevators for hours at a time because the companies that run the elevators were not responding to calls for help when riders pressed the emergency button.
If an ordinance is approved, the calls would now be taken by the city, with city fire and EMTs answering the calls.
— The city also discussed (in heavy detail) changing the city’s financial overview policies and revisions in the ordinance regarding procurement.