Guest Commentary | Mayor’s Message
Dear Cape Coral residents,
Since I became Mayor in 2021, I have been proud to help Cape Coral grow and change in many ways. As our city grows, our primary goal is to keep everyone safe and make Cape Coral a great place to live.
We have worked hard to make sure our police officers, firefighters, and emergency workers have what they need to protect us. We opened new fire stations, improved training, and made sure our workers are paid well so they want to stay. Both our Fire and Police Departments have won national awards, and Cape Coral remains one of the safest large cities in Florida.
We have also spent a significant amount-almost $450 million last year-to repair and improve our roads, water pipes, parks, and other public facilities. We plan to spend even more, approximately $2 billion, by 2030. We have brought water and sewer services to thousands of homes, replaced outdated systems to maintain clean water, and enhanced our parks to make them better and more beautiful.
We are revitalizing old parts of the city, transforming empty or run-down areas into vibrant spaces for people to enjoy, and initiating major projects that will attract new businesses and create jobs in Cape Coral. Because we carefully manage our finances, Cape Coral has won awards for sound budgeting and transparency, and we consistently receive grants and assistance from the state.
All these things demonstrate that we want Cape Coral to be a safe, connected, and thriving community for many years to come. Now, as outlined in a short video that will be posted on the city’s social media pages on Wednesday, July 9, which I invite you to watch, here are some of the great things we’ve accomplished together since 2021.
Public Safety
• Opened Fire Stations No. 12 and 13 to serve the city’s rapidly growing population.
• Increased public safety staffing by adding over 64 new positions each to both the Police and Fire Departments, significantly strengthening our community’s emergency response capabilities.
• Implemented new pay structures for recruitment and retention, bringing salary ranges to the 75th percentile among peer cities. The City Council has set a target to compensate city employees, including police officers and firefighters, at the 75th percentile of wages paid for comparable positions in similar cities. This means the city aims to ensure its pay rates are equal to 75% of peer municipalities, making Cape Coral more competitive in attracting and retaining talent.
• Instituted a $10,000 hiring bonus for newly hired police officers.
• The Cape Coral Fire Department earned its initial accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) in 2024.
• The Police Department maintained law enforcement and communications center accreditation through CALEA; its Forensics Lab received laboratory accreditation by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board in 2018.
• Maintained status as one of the safest cities in Florida with a population over 150,000.
• Managed Hurricane Ian response in 2022, including emergency operations, restoring municipal services, and citywide debris removal.
• Created the Department of Emergency Management and Resilience.
• Maintained the City’s CRS rating of 5 and insurance premium discounts up to 25% after an extensive FEMA review concerning hurricane recovery and adherence to National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
• Opened new, state-of-the-art police and fire training centers for advanced public safety training.
Infrastructure
• Completed the $286 million North 2 Utilities Extension Project (UEP), adding 880 new water, sewer, and irrigation connections.
• Advanced design and bidding for the North 1 UEP, with 7,400 new utility connections under design and 90 miles of road to be paved.
• Advanced design for the future North 6 UEP area to assist with the declining mid-Hawthorne aquifer levels.
• Extended city water, sewer, and irrigation services to approximately 8,800 parcels in the North 2 UEP area and extending all three utilities to 8,400 parcels in the North 1 area, and 5,100 parcels in North 3 replacing thousands of septic tanks that can contribute to water quality issues and harmful algal blooms. By providing reliable potable water service, the project helps protect and preserve the water resources of the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer.
• Invested $5.5 million annually in local road resurfacing and $1.3 million in median beautification.
• Paved more than 400 lanes miles of roadway since 2021 (2021: 95.3, 2022: 51.4, 2023: 63.6, 2024: 111.5, 2025: 78.3)
• Implemented a Bimini Basin anchoring limitation area to manage derelict vessels and navigation hazards.
• Continued planning and design for future utilities extension projects, including a citywide master plan for unserved areas.
• The complete removal of the Chiquita Lock represents a milestone achievement following more than a decade of dedicated effort by the city.
• Purchase of a water reservoir in Charlotte County to secure future citywide irrigation water supply.
• Completed the Caloosahatchee Connect project to transfer treated reclaimed water across the river, supplementing irrigation supply for fire suppression and lawn irrigation purposes while reducing Fort Myers’ discharges to the river.
• Developed the city’s first-ever multimodal transportation master plan. The plan is designed to create a comprehensive, long-term vision for a city’s transportation system, considering all modes of travel, including walking, cycling, public transit, and automobiles.
• The City’s legislative priorities included advocating for regional transportation improvements, including a Cape Coral dedicated I-75 exit and widening SR-78/Pine Island Road.
• Cape Coral advance funded the SR-78/Pine Island Rd. A Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study, conducted on behalf of the State, is a necessary step in the road widening process.
• Completed Phase I of the Cape Coral SUN Trail project, delivering a 3.4-mile, 12-foot-wide multi-use path in North Cape. A $5.4 million grant funded this phase. The SUN Trail is part of a statewide network designed for bicyclists and pedestrians. Phase II will extend the trail by an additional 2.9 miles and add two more pedestrian bridges, with a $7.6 million grant secured for construction.
• Completing designs for D&D boat ramp facility, Fleet Facility building, Yacht Club Community Park, Andalusia Boulevard extension and completed a study for the expansion of the Emergency Operations Center.
Financial
• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting annually from GFOA since 2021.
• Received the prestigious Triple Crown Award for budgeting and finance from GFOA in 2024.
• Annual external audits completed by independent experts with no material issues.
• Published the city’s first-ever Popular Annual Financial Report to enhance transparency.
• Grant revenues since 2021: $630.6 million
✓ FY22: $115.1 million
✓ FY23: $130.3 million
✓ FY24: $157 million
✓ FY25: $228.2 million.
• Millage rate decreased from 6.3750 in 2021 to 5.2188 in FY25.
History of the millage
✓ 2021: 6.3750
✓ 2022: 6.2500
✓ 2023: 5.3694
✓ 2024: 5.3694
✓ 2025: 5.2188
✓ City received the most significant state appropriations award ever in 2023 in the amount of $17 million.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Amenities
• Completed construction on the following new parks: Crystal Lake Park, Cultural Park, Del Prado Linear Park, Gator Trails Park, Giuffrida Park, Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, Joe Coviello Park, and Sands Park.
• Construction is underway at Jaycee Park, Tropicana Park, Yellow Fever Creek, and Festival Park.
• The City secured new agreements for the operation of SunSplash Family Waterpark and Coral Oaks Golf Course, significantly reducing reliance on general fund subsidies and enhancing the financial sustainability of these recreational facilities.
• Purchased the long-vacant former golf course property for future recreation and community amenities.
Education
• Oasis Charter Schools was recognized as a Florida High-Performing Charter School System, with all four municipal charter schools ranking among the top performers in Lee County.
Strategic Planning and Economic Development
• Developed a comprehensive suite of economic development incentives designed to attract key industries and promote business investment in the city.
• Acquisition of Bimini East properties for CRA redevelopment and economic revitalization of the South Cape.
• Earned Home Rule Hero Awards 2022, 2023, 2024.
• Developed long-term vision for the city through the Cape Compass 2030 Citywide Strategic Plan, establishing a comprehensive framework to guide Cape Coral’s growth, priorities, and community aspirations through the next decade.
• Completed the City’s Economic Development Master Plan, a strategic document designed to guide the long-term economic growth and sustainability of the city. Its purpose is to create a clear vision and actionable roadmap for improving economic conditions, attracting investment, creating jobs, and enhancing quality of life.
• Opened a veteran’s service location at Lee County Human Services in Cape Coral
We have accomplished a great deal together, including opening new fire stations and training centers, hiring additional police officers, and winning national awards for safety. This demonstrates our commitment to maintaining Cape Coral as one of the safest cities in Florida.
Last year, we invested nearly half a billion dollars to repair and improve our roads, water systems, parks, and public spaces. We are also working on major projects, such as the Utilities Extension, the SUN Trail, and removing the Chiquita Lock, to improve lives and protect nature.
Because we manage our finances well and have good credit, Cape Coral has won awards for budgeting and financial transparency. We also have more money from grants and smart planning, and our city taxes are the lowest they’ve been in years.
We are making the South Cape area more attractive by building new parks and adding fun activities for people of all ages. Our schools are doing well, and we are attracting new businesses and jobs to ensure Cape Coral remains a place of opportunities.
All these things demonstrate what we can achieve when we prioritize safety, create better places, and collaborate as a community. I believe that if we continue to work together, Cape Coral will become even stronger, safer, and more exciting for everyone.
Together, we are building a bright future — and the best is yet to come. It is an honor to serve our community, and I will continue to work hard to move our city forward.
Best regards,
John Gunter
Cape Coral Mayor
John Gunter has been Cape Coral’s mayor since November 2022 and has been on City Council since 2017.