By the numbers: City accomplishments add up
In terms of accomplishments, 2025 was a good year of achievement for city departments, officials said Wednesday.
Cape Coral City Councilmember Bill Steinke, self-described as a “fairly data driven guy,” provided some highlights.
“Many things were accomplished and had been in the works to be accomplished for the past couple of years that other administrations just talked about,” he said. “The removal of Chiquita Lock, the acquisition of the original golf course, and slum and blight east of the Bimini Basin.”
Steinke said 2025 brought new business openings and existing business expansions.
The South Cape also saw a revitalization of entertainment.
Meanwhile, there have been massive accomplishments in moving the city forward, Steinke said.
When looking at the data driven side – code enforcement, Parks and Recreation Department events, and the Cape Coral Fire Department stood out.
There was a 75% proactive enforcement rate for 2025. In addition, there were 22,405 code cases investigated and 16,121 code cases created proactively.
According to City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn’s Annual Report, the city partnered with the Florida Association of Code Enforcement and hosted two advanced courses in the area. There are also ongoing educational programs provided.
The city’s collectively code enforcement process was refined, therefore making them faster through EnerGov workflow improvements. In addition, the city continued proactive team inspections to raise standards citywide through the Commercial Property Inspection Task Force.
There is a new construction site inspection time to ensure safer, tidier job sites and the city had faster case resolutions.
Steinke said an area of concern since sitting on the council is the enforcement codes throughout the city and cleaning up the city.
“When you look at the report – there were 16,121 code cases that were created by the actual department,” he said of the proactively created cases. “There are about 250 working days in a year. Those 16,121 were accomplished in 250 days. That is 64 cases a day where they actually identified and created a case. Then all the cases, whether proactively identified or citizen initiated, there are 22,405 investigated.”
Steinke said when dividing those, that is almost 100 a day.
“That is a tremendous amount of work. Hats off to our code department for doing the best they can to make sure our city looks nice, and rules are followed by everyone,” Steinke said.
According to the report, there were 145 community special events permitted with an estimated 380,790 people, collectively, attending. Further data showed that there were 19 city-run events with an estimated 130,700 people collectively attending. The largest event of the year was Red, White & Boom! had more than 23,000 people in attendance alone.
Steinke said there are between one and two city-initiated and city-managed events every month and then there are outside organizations, companies and interest groups that also apply for permits to hold special events throughout the city.
“Between the two the citizens have had a little more than 10 events a month to participate in, enjoying the environment here, celebrating different things. The community is extremely active, and there are hundreds of thousands of people out enjoying the Cape every day. I am proud of that. Things are done within our city for our citizens to enjoy the city,” he said.
The Parks and Recreation Department opened Crystal Lake Park, and launched the South Cape Community Center, installed a $2.5 million irrigation system at Coral Oaks Golf Course, replaced three playgrounds – Four Freedoms, Youth Center and Jim Jeffers, and installed a new sand volleyball court and renovated athletic fields at key complexes.
The Department also had 16,790 annual parks and rec reservations.
The Cape Coral Fire Department also had a huge community impact with 30,012 calls for service among their 12 operating fire stations.
“We don’t have a separate EMS department,” Steinke said. “We partner with Lee County for Lee County EMS services. Our fire department is the one that handles initial 911 calls and calls for health-related issues. They are far more than a fire department.”
When you have 30,000 calls for service it is not just the firefighters waiting for fires to break out – they go into action every single day, he said.
“Those 30,000 calls for service add up to 82 calls a day. To be on the ready, take care of citizens and businesses when life and health matters occur, I think that is a hats off when you do the math. I don’t know if people take the time to realize the magnitude of the job and all that is done on a daily basis to create a fabulous environment to live in and execute that to have people to enjoy the city the way that they do,” Steinke said.
He said obviously the city can become better at many things, and will continue to address those items, but for Cape Coral to be No. 1 for a warm weather destination for retirees, seniors and snowbirds by Travel and Leisure, and Forbes naming Cape Coral the fourth best city to live in Florida, the city has a lot to be proud of.
“The reason why we don’t hear all the people shouting accolades, but hear a number of people share they are not happy – the people that are sharing the accolades are out enjoying the city. God bless them for taking advantage of everything there is to enjoy and sharing it with others,” Steinke said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com