Cape Council to discuss proposed charter amendments
Special meeting set for 1 p.m. Wednesday
Cape Coral City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday to discuss proposed amendments to the city’s charter.
Among the proposed changes submitted by the city’s Charter Review Commission are an increase in compensation for council members and a method on how compensation could be changed in the future; additional proofs of residency and requirements for those seeking office; and how seats could be forfeited and how vacancies could be filled.
The discussion will include the following proposals : 4.02 – mayor and city council; 4.05 – candidate qualifications and election; 4.06 – mayor, mayor pro tem; 4.08 – council and mayor compensation and expenses; and 4.11 – vacancies, forfeiture of office, filling of vacancies.
For 4.02, the proposed language states that “a candidate for council member shall have been continuous full-time resident of the district in which they are seeking office for the entire calendar year immediately preceding their qualification for office. Residency shall be defined as the candidate’s place of domicile, or permanent legal address.”
The proposed language for 4.05 has excluded “a sworn statement of qualifications and has added “submission of the required proof of residency.” That proof of residency includes a “sworn affidavit at the time of qualifying that provides their place of domicile or permanent legal address and affirms that they have meet the residency requirements.” In addition, candidates shall have at least two forms of identity – voter’s registration, driver license or Florida identification card, property tax receipt, homestead exemption, utility bill, or lease agreement.
As for as the proposed addition for 4.06, the mayor pro tem shall be elected at the first regular council meeting following each City General Election.
For 4.06, the proposed rate of compensation is $70,000 per year for council members, a jump from $32,600 currently and $80,000 for the mayor, a jump from $36,600 a year. For future increase outside of a charter amendment, “the mayor and council members shall not increase the salary, any retirement benefit, any stipend, or any other type of compensation paid to its members unless such increase is approved by ordinance, subject to public hearing and public comment, after a super majority of at least six affirmative votes.”
For 4.11, one of the proposed changes includes a council member failing to attend three consecutive noticed City Council meetings, instead of three consecutive meetings.
When a vacancy occurs, according to the proposed language, “causing an unexpired term of more than two years in duration the vacancy shall be filled at the next scheduled City General Election, but the council shall appoint, by majority vote, a person eligible to hold office.” The second is when an unexpired term is less than two years with the same outcome.
The third if the “council fails to appoint an eligible replacement to fill the vacancy within 30 days following the occurrence of the vacancy, a special election shall be called to fill the balance of the remaining term.”
The charter, the city’s bedrock governing document, may only be amended by the voter approval via referendum.
Council has three options on each of the amendments proposed by the seven-member Charter Review Commission it appointed in April: The elected board can vote to bring any or all of the amendments to the voters in the 2026 Primary and/or General Election; reject any or all of the amendments, in which case they will not be brought forward to the voters; or it can modify any amendments for voter consideration. Council also can propose amendments of its own.
The special meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to explain the process for amending the city charter.