Cape Coral City Council kept it in the Cape this week, choosing a long-time city employee for the municipality’s top administrative post.

Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to authorize Mayor John Gunter to begin contract negotiations with Michael Ilczyszyn, who has been serving in the role of interim city manager since Feb. 17.

Councilmember Tom Haden, who made the motion, summed up Council’s position succinctly:

“I believe he has exceeded expectations at this point,” Councilmember Hayden said.

We believe Council’s decision was the right one.

One, we agree that Mr. Ilczyszyn is the right person for the job.

Continuity in leadership coupled with institutional knowledge is what Cape Coral needs.

Not only is the city still immersed in post-Ian recovery efforts — everything from the funding reclamation process and FEMA requirements to rebuilding challenges — but the Cape is in the midst of a building boom and the infrastructure issues that run parallel.

Council’s alternative option would have been to begin a nationwide search, a costly process that would have taken weeks and resulted in a steep learning curve before even a well-qualified newcomer could hit his or her stride.

Two, Mr. Ilczyszyn, a Mariner High graduate, understands the Cape.

In looking at our population numbers of 220,000-plus, Cape Coral’s a big city. In actuality, we’re a sprawling suburb that, as the city’s efforts to “improve” its parks has painfully illustrated, still embraces its small town roots.

But things are changing — and changing rapidly.

Single-family homes have become unaffordable and a new housing paradigm — the proliferation of multi-family complexes, some with commercial components — is changing the face of the city. New types of market-driven housing options beyond the standard standalone 3/2/2 will change it more.

This is the city’s greatest challenge and it’s going to take more than expertise on the part of staff to bring us through the transition from what we historically have been to where we will be at buildout of half a million residents or more.

We need understanding at the administrative level as well as at the elected level, though the latter is an editorial for another time.

We believe Mr. Ilczyszyn has the temperament, the kind of thing that does not find its way into a resume, to lead his team through the angst that is beginning to build.

By that we mean, or maybe we just hope, a transparency with the public that has been lacking. Sorely lacking from the top down.

Three, the intangibles aside, he’s qualified.

Mr. Ilczyszyn began his career with the city in 2002 as a water treatment plant operator. He has served as business manager, assistant director and, most recently, as director within the Public Works Department. He previously served as business manager within the City Manager’s office.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Is there room for criticism?

Sure.

We’ve yet to see a perfect candidate with any tenure.

But he is the right choice right now.

Count us among those hoping for a fruitful negotiation.

— Breeze editorial