Cape Council discusses assessment break for conservation
The north Cape is scheduled for water, sewer and irrigation services, not just in North 1 where the next city utility expansion is pending but throughout.
However, not all of that land is going to be developed.
In North 1, there are three lots that are owned by a conservation group that is going to keep the land as is to allow for burrowing owls, gopher tortoises and other animals’ habitat.
Instead of making the organization pay for utilities they will never need, the Cape Coral City Council reached a consensus that would ensure conservation groups would not have to pay UEP assessment on land meant for conservation.
Councilmember Jessica Cosden proposed the Cape Coral Conservation Program as a way to eliminate costs on sites that will not be developed in the future, which council agreed to take on more fully in future meetings.
The amount of funding for this program is $100,000, which would come out of the city’s General Fund reserves and fund three parcels of conservation property that will not receive UEP services.
Cheryl Anderson, president of the Cape Coral Wildlife Trust, said most conservationists don’t want to accept the fact that a single lot can produce successful habitat for burrowing owls.
“We have proven over 20 years with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife that a single city lot is viable habitat for this threatened species,” Anderson said. “This is good because all the people get to see them and enjoy them.”
The Cape Coral Wildlife Trust owns the properties in question. However, the city has a lien against them for UEP assessments.
Cosden proposed $115,000. However, Mayor John Gunter said there was $14,000 leftover money in another similar account that was approved in 2019, which should about cover the expected $35,000 cost per UEP parcel for three properties
“We need to make sure that any time we’re going to replenish that dollar amount, that it has to come back before Council,” Gunter said. “We have no clue what the economic future will be.”
Gunter also told City Manager Rob Hernandez that the program was not in the FY 2023 budget and asked when the assessments for the UEP would be paid.
Financial Services Director Mark Mason said those first assessments would be in November 2024, unless property owners choose to prepay between April and July of 2023.
Since there was no formal resolution to pass, Council reached a unanimous consensus, with only Councilmember Keith Long expressing concern over whether this would become a yearly thing if other organizations buy properties or new UEP assessments come into play.
Gunter said he appreciated that and expressed interest in doing a similar program for each ensuing UEP.
Anderson said she was pleased with how things went down.
“We got a consensus from Council that this was a good thing. I like the idea of putting in $100,000 for each UEP so we don’t have to do this every time,” Anderson said. “We own three lots in the next UEP where there are 27 owls. This will be very helpful.”
In other business:
n Council also got updates on the recovery from Hurricane Ian. Finance Director Mark Mason explained the reimbursement and cost sharing for debris removal.
For the first 75 days, the federal government will pay the city 100 percent of total eligible costs, which was through Dec. 7.
After that, the federal government will reimburse the city 75 percent, with the state and city each paying 12.5 percent.
The state has requested the cost-sharing to be modified, with the feds paying 90 percent, with the city and state paying 5 percent each. The request has not been granted yet. If it is, it would be retroactive to Dec. 8.
n Council gave its unanimous approval of retaining CRA Chair Linda Biondi and Vice Chair James Brantley for 2023.
n The city received an award as an exceptional employer through the Florida Abilities to Work Agencies for those with disabilities.
The city won the award along with 12 other companies in the state, with the city being the only government entity to win. The city employs 48 people with unique abilities.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com