Smalltooth sawfish study among items up for council consideration Wednesday
Evaluation of the smalltooth sawfish in a Cape waterway is among the agenda items Cape Coral City Council is expected to vote on Wednesday.
Resolution 316-25 is a proposed contract with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for a smalltooth sawfish evaluation in the South Spreader Canal. The contract is for $170,000 with the funding to come out of the city’s stormwater fund.
This evaluation is part of the requirement of the state and federal permits related to the removal of the Chiquita Lock. The city, according to agenda documents, “is obligated to support research on the federally endangered Smalltooth Sawfish in the vicinity of the Chiquita Lock project area.”
The scope of the work will include tagging, data summary, and the number and demographics of tagged smalltooth sawfish in the South Spreader Canal. The duration of the project is for 1,095 calendar days.
Other agenda items include:
• Resolution 330-25, an amendment of a contract between the city and McKim & Creed, Inc. for additional engineering and design services for the North 3 Utilities Extension Project for $3,205,679.
The amendment would add 476 calendar days to the agreement with the completed date of Aug. 3, 2026.
According to agenda documents, the quantitative and qualitative calculations is to determine where “V” notch openings should be used, rather than traditional circular bleeders and upsizing of pipes. The city requested, as part of the design process, to evaluate a small portion of the project using the “V” notch openings, which would reduce the number of pipes needed to upsize and would provide the city with flood mitigation and construction cost savings.
For this reason, the city has requested an evaluation of the entire North 3 area.
Cape Coral City Council has endorsed two proposed roundabouts at Old Burnt Store Road and Kismet Parkway, as well as Old Burnt Store Road and Tropicana Parkway. There was also agreement for the road redesign of Tropicana Parkway, Yucatan Parkway, Gulfstream Parkway, Kismet Parkway and Old Burnt Store Road. This alternative also includes two 10-foot multi-use paths on either sides of the road.
The master pump station also had some adjustments with an elevation of 11 feet for further protection.
Coral Oaks Golf Club will also be serviced by North 3 UEP, expanding the boundary.
The original contract amount was for $14,114,622. The amendment would increase the amount to $17,320,301.
• Resolution 354-25 includes several updates for the city’s Banner Program, which previously changed from a program for the Community Redevelopment Agency to a city initiative.
Updates include the city’s Office of Communications and Marketing to manage the program; all messages are to be city-only; a minimum of six banner changes each year and an annual resolution will establish the display schedule of the banners.
• Resolution 315-25 – the license agreement of Seahawk Airfield at Festival Park between the city and Cape Coral R/Sea Hawks, Inc.
The airfield for remote-control devices is at 1030 N.W. 28th Street. The license agreement is for a term of 10 years with two five-year extension options, the nonprofit to provide annual business plan and IRS 990 form, a defined designated flight area, as well as R/Sea Hawks paying for utilities, taxes, and city assessments.
The agreement also includes quarterly meetings between the organization and the city.
• Public hearing for Ordinance 64-25, Economic Development and Business Incentive Programs.
The Wednesday, Dec. 3 meeting will be held at 4 p.m. in Cape Coral City Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com