$46 million fleet maintenance facility gets key nod

Sep 17, 2026 By Tom Hayden 5 min read

Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday took another step toward a much-needed fleet facility building, approved a loan for stormwater improvements, learned of the effectiveness of city’s school zone speed detection system and created more flexibility with its commercial paper program.

The meeting was without Mayor John Gunter, who is taking an excused medical leave of absence. Mayor Pro Tem Bill Steinke presided over the 3-hour meeting with Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra participating remotely.

After discussions that have lasted nearly two decades, council finally approved a contract to Charles Perry Partners Inc. for a guaranteed maximum price of $23.2 million for the exterior portion of the North Cape Government Complex Fleet Maintenance Facility by a 5-2 vote. The indoor work bid is still to be determined. The total project cost is about $46 million and is being funded through the Fleet Capital Projects fund. Council members Rachel Kaduk and Keith Long voted against this phase of the project.

The intent is for a building that will handle the needs of current and future vehicle maintenance to at least the year 2045 with the flexibility to expand to even more bays to handle needs through 2070. The facility will be located on 30 acres on Kismet Parkway West. The building will take about 17 months to complete.

“If we kick it down (the road) the costs will continue to go up,” said Councilmember Derrick Donnell, noting the length of time this project has been discussed.

Kaduk said: “We are putting money down to just finish it later, and this should not be this council’s decision.” Kaduk added she supports the facility but not one built for needs through 2070.

Speed zone cameras fine tally for first year nearly $3 million

Police Chief Tony Sizemore reported to council on the effectiveness of cameras in school speed zones near 23 schools since the ordinance went into effect more than a year ago. He said from Aug. 11, 2025, through Sept. 10, a total of 37,191 violations were given, and 28,360 fines were paid totaling $2,894,550. The police department’s share of the money collected was about $1,171,909 with other organizations like the School District of Lee County and the system’s detection company for the RedSpeed cameras also sharing in the revenue.

Citations are $100. There were 163 vehicle owners who contested their violations; 109 were upheld while 54 were dismissed.

“In the beginning there was shock and confusion (about the program),” Sizemore said. “Behavior of drivers has now set in. We have not had a child injured in a school zone (since the program started).”

Councilmember Laurie Lehmann noted she received a ticket for going at least 10 miles an hour over the speed limit in a school zone.

“I got caught on Coronado,” Lehman said. “They (the cameras) are very effective. They are slowing people down.”

City to borrow $10.1 million for stormwater infrastructure

Council also unanimously approved for the city to take out a $10.1 million bank loan to fund the stormwater construction and other improvements related to the $250 million North 1 East Utilities Extension Project.

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said as crews move forward with the UEP and stormwater work, they are also replacing pipes, drains and catch basins that are approaching 70 years old to help with a more efficient drainage system. Ilczyszyn also said they are embarking on a new five-year rate model to help lower costs to residents.

Commercial paper increases

The city’s commercial paper program, which provides additional flexibility to borrow money in smaller amounts and avoid higher interest rates attached to longer term loans, also received unanimous approval from council. The amount the city could borrow in commercial paper was increased from $150 million to $500 million to help fund projects like the UEP and was used to help fund renovations at Jaycee Park and land acquisition at Festival Park.

“This doesn’t give us cart blanche,” Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said. “We would come back (to council) for specific projects to issue up to a certain amount.”

Resident Tom Shadrach, who has often been critical of how the city spends its money, agreed with the increase in commercial paper. “It’s savings,” he said. Shadrach also is a candidate for the council’s District 1 seat.

In other business:

• City council unanimously approved awarding lots from the city’s surplus property to the Lee Building Industry Association’s Builders Care program. Phillip Ford, executive vice-president of Builders Care, said the homes for deserving families would be built on the lots. He thanked council for its partnership. Councilmember Rachel Kaduk questioned the $104,000 appraisals for the property, believing the amounts were high. She wondered if the lots couldn’t have been sold by the city for additional revenue.

• Council also passed a resolution giving 14 job classifications within various departments the power to enforce certain codes and ordinances without first going through code enforcement. The intent is to help the enforcement process run more efficiently.

• Councilmember Joe Kilraine was appointed the voting delegate to the Southwest Florida League of Cities, replacing Gunter.

To reach Tom Hayden, please email news@breezenewspasprs.com