The city of Cape Coral is looking to take part in a single-family housing development program that has funding available in Lee County.

Cape Coral City Council members agreed Wednesday they would like to pursue the application process for single-lot housing units in the Cape.

The discussion came as part of a Hurricane Ian recovery update.

Housing Coordinator Amy Yearsley said she wanted to gauge Council’s interest in a program that has a total of $50 million available.

“The minimum number of single-family units to be constructed is 10,” she said.

The minimum award is $3 million and maximum award is $20 million. The maximum subsidy per unit is $300,000.

There are two project models within the Notice of Funding Availability — new construction for single-family subdivisions and “infill and scattered site development,” the one in which Council indicated interest.

“We have an opportunity to talk about a city application for the development of scatter-site single-family homes,” Yearsley said, adding city staff would target city-owned residential lots and leverage Hurricane Housing Recovery Program unprogrammed funding.

The homes would be required to incorporate hazard mitigation measures and green building standards and comply with the CDBG-DR Affordable Single-Family Program guidelines.

The homes would then be sold to households at or below 80% area median income.

“Right now, on our surplus list for affordable housing, is 12 (lots),” Yearsley said.

Because the city does not have any large tracts to develop, staff is looking at the scattered site single-family option.

“We can do it ourselves, serve as the developer. We could potentially go out and say we are looking for a partner to come in and do the program with us,” she said.

Recovery

Discussion also included assistance provided to the city in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which was presented by Financial Services Director Mark Mason.

There have been 92 total project worksheets created with a potential of reimbursable value of $109.7 million, he said.

Fifty-six project worksheets have been submitted to FEMA for review totaling $72 million and 36 project worksheets under development by staff for submission to FEMA totaling $36 million. Mason said there are 17 projects obligated, totaling $27 million and 14 projects have been paid by FEMA with cash receipts totaling $26 million.

“There has been very little out of pocket cost for these particular projects,” he said.

Mason said 37 turnkey projects have been completed and funded by insurance totaling $3.9 million.

“We are talking about a lot of buildings,” he said. “We picked up deductibles and submitting for reimbursements from FEMA.”

Mason said the $51 million zero percent interest loan was received from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which he said they refunded themselves for the debris work.

“We will reimburse the state back for $51 million,” he said.

Mitigation

The presentation also dove into the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Ryan Lamb providing an update.

He said 20 projects have been submitted for roughly $162 million.

“We expect awards to start coming in this month, or next month,” Lamb said.

Two of the projects highlighted included a wind retrofit generator for Fire Station 6 and Lake Kennedy Center and generators for critical lift stations. Other projects included hardening of the Cape Coral Police Department headquarters, expansion of the Emergency Operations Center and hardening of City Hall.

The CDBG-DR Notice of Funding Availability for recovery and resiliency planning, multi-family rental rehabilitation, public facilities and critical infrastructure were discussed.

The plans — a total of $4,124,733, submitted included:

• North Cape Coral Drainage Basin Alternative Restoration Plan: $2,558,750

• Disaster and Cost Recovery Plan: $400,000

• Communications Plan: $300,000

• Cape Coral Parkway Corridor Resilience Planning Study: $565,983

• Business Community Resiliency Plan: $300,00

“All of our projects scored over the minimum threshold. We’ve tentatively been awarded all five projects pending approval of county commissioners,” Lamb said.

The public facilities include four proposed projects at $81 million. Those include a disaster shelter and community recreation center project; South Cape mobility hub; Cape Coral Police Department sub-stations and City of Cape Coral Non-Profit Capital Program.

“The shelter would be in function during a gray sky system,” Lamb said of the 90,000-square-foot pet-friendly shelter that could accommodate 4,500 people during an event. “Blue skies recreation center and resilience hub for community meetings.”

There were three proposed projects for critical infrastructure totaling $110 million. Lamb said there is $129 million available across all Lee County for projects. The projects include emergency wells and small-scale RO system for essential city facilities; weir rehabilitation upgrade or replacement program and UEP main line development, all in low moderate-income areas.