[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648032,"mediaKeyId","3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4","parentId",3589454,"title","Cape Coral council pauses proposed $600 rental registration fee after hours of public opposition","audioSeconds",8686,"startMs",120000,"endMs",8806000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4&start=120&end=8806","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4/thumbnail_120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648032/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-council-pauses-proposed-600-rental-registration-fee-after-hours-of-public-opposition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648032-300cd5d260c3bc83f093c3407ce15368/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202193&Signature=XlNrJ5mQBH6Po-hK61nIIdOSW7ObXgPFM0MwtCr6TtrHRgrpZ4QFrnz7Q3FIa0QrHAgQ0kwmZdG3cvgN8BVrypZoAlMO4WHoIQui~cNd1~DmdFYqLEJb4rXf2LhRlYQ-2EQgTWEDNcw3-urrEw5feSNWfeMdb4kgmNnxzdkiDkNiJNXFf8Ets7xQ~Y0MLyc0K-4j85NuqeY~XthtUwY7vDLrTyZ0YLWZ5NTfeXJ4GhO2ET4sPTMRk7l8UAc9j-XJUJPnuMR32aiXSyu~rU3pTPy5YXwqsevYncaDv0nK8dXX0u2vzNJ4x1wPU9AJ4J5VfJse2SCdU~IsqtMeviKjpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cape Coral, FL","date","2025-05-29T12:42:32Z","article","Dozens of residents, Realtors and members of the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association urged Cape Coral City Council on May 28 to abandon or substantially rewrite two proposed ordinances that would raise the city's rental-registration fee and create an associated tourism development fund. Speakers said the measure, which would raise the current $35 fee to $600 annually and include enforcement mechanisms, would burden small landlords and renters and risk constitutional and public-safety problems.

Supporters of the change have said the fee would fund enforcement and tourism programs. Councilmember Kevin Long, who introduced the measure, told colleagues he intended it to target short-term rentals and that any enforcement provision could be changed to civil citations. \"This is my ordinance,\" Long said, speaking at the start of the council's discussion, and then clarified his intent was to focus on short-term rental registration rather than annual rentals.

The proposal drew sustained public opposition. Adrienne Bray, a Cape Coral resident and realtor, told the council she had researched state law and municipal practice and could find no legal basis to allow police to enter a private home solely for registration noncompliance. \"My biggest concern is the dangerous precedent of allowing law enforcement to remove tenants over a registration issue,\" Bray said during the public-comment period.

Representatives of the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association took the same position in a coordinated turnout. Karen Barelli, the association's president, said landlords would pass charges on to tenants already struggling to pay rent. Kevin Besser, the association's director of public policy, and several property managers including Lisa Cohen and Patrick Quinlan warned the increase would drive small landlords out of the market and decrease housing availability.

Council discussion focused on four core questions: 1) which rental types the fee should cover (short-term only versus all rentals); 2) whether the charge should be annual or a one-time registration; 3) the correct fee level to recover enforcement costs without overburdening small owners; and 4) the form of enforcement and due-process safeguards. Councilmember Long said he intended the measure for short-term rentals and acknowledged enforcement clauses in the draft needed changes; he said civil citations should be used rather than immediate occupant removal.

After more than an hour of council debate and multiple members urging broader discussion with industry stakeholders, the council reached a consensus to withdraw the ordinances from the June 4 agenda and put a stakeholder group together during the upcoming break. Councilmember Laster volunteered to lead the stakeholder process; city staff and council members said the group should include property managers, small landlords, the Realtor association, representatives of short-term rental platforms and city staff. \"Let's bring everybody in a room, put up the post-it notes and hash it out,\" Laster said.

City staff and legal advisers said they would return with revised language and analysis. The city attorney clarified that if the draft ordinance were substantially changed it would have to be reintroduced for formal consideration. The assistant city manager and city manager told the council they would provide a list of specific questions and what additional data would be useful to the stakeholder group, including incident counts tied to rental properties, comparative fee studies, and enforcement cost estimates.

What happens next: Council removed both draft ordinances from the June 4 agenda by consensus and asked staff to assemble a stakeholder group to draft an alternative approach. Councilmembers and staff emphasized the need to coordinate with Lee County and short-term rental platforms and to examine funding alternatives linked to tourism rather than a single new fee on homeowners.

Votes and formal actions: The council did not adopt the ordinances; by consensus the items were withdrawn from the June 4 agenda and will be revised with stakeholder input.

Ending: Council members asked staff to return with a menu of options and cost estimates after stakeholder consultations. The group agreed the city should aim for a balanced approach that funds enforcement and tourism programming without imposing undue burdens on small-property owners or creating enforcement practices that raise due-process concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of the Whole Meeting - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents and Realtors urged Cape Coral City Council on May 28 to reject proposed ordinances that would raise the city's rental-registration fee from $35 to $600 and allow broader enforcement, and council members agreed to withdraw the proposals for further stakeholder review.","taxTitle","Cape Coral City, Lee County, Florida","taxId",4188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648028,"Residents urge Cape Coral to repair or replace Sands Boulevard bridge; council awaits FDOT funding guidance",7920,275000,8195000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4&start=275&end=8195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4/thumbnail_275000.jpg","/articles/6648028/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Residents-urge-Cape-Coral-to-repair-or-replace-Sands-Boulevard-bridge-council-awaits-FDOT-funding-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648028-8324603f74c4a839043c2263f86657e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202193&Signature=MsxuJ~GG-I829d2FUkBZHctPmAQqRURtx87kjYzC3Wbw-w~Fb8rG6lNHMjoggGhOX4h4BZrR0fuSK82wM3oL22vh0FOOoh6qJJE48yYNOhm0z8EORLMEHtJUFJyie0WvO8V45F1YVm6LDBd~0u~eHhooMqmVnAO1mlfbO2U4zSBRfQZHm9Vt~yUGlKG~ZPP6v8x~1uQy-3sKrYON8Nr80AJp-bmKO90M6rbd9jo3WcvA6cFRoDYej7D7-FhbMAoibyhTOSO~YYH3DxvtoBIIDwciPdXbRUC0wpPxo6RNqiI3ge7YZRz-M~sGmXQYj53NlAhDAueiZ7UmtgXYV9zRtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scores of residents from neighborhoods served by Sands Boulevard told Cape Coral's committee-of-the-whole on May 28 that removing the Sands Boulevard bridge would increase evacuation times, slow emergency responders and push traffic onto local residential streets.

\"Safety is the key reason,\" said Tim (William) Kerrigan, who identified Sands Boulevard as a city arterial and said the bridge serves hundreds of homes in the southwest Cape. Many speakers said hurricane Ian showed how loss of bridge access can isolate neighborhoods and lengthen ambulance response.

Resident testimony detailed multiple concerns: longer bus rides for students, more traffic on narrow residential streets, flooding at nearby intersections and uncertainty about how sewer and water utilities would be rerouted if the bridge were removed. \"What are you gonna do with water and sewer?\" asked Lois Bridal, pointing to pipes attached to the bridge approaches. Residents also raised recreational and community concerns, noting the bridge provides pedestrian access to the marina and local events.

Staff presentation: City transportation staff and consultants presented updated engineering and cost estimates after a March inspection showed further erosion at a seawall and loss of fill around the north abutment. The report laid out three options with preliminary cost ranges and funding implications: 1) permanent removal (approx. $1.47 million construction estimate before contingency and utility relocation costs), 2) repair (federal cost-share program could cover up to 80% of eligible costs under the existing FHWA agreement; city's 20% share estimated around $341,000 for the revised repair scope), and 3) replacement (higher total cost; staff noted FDOT/FHWA could apply eligible repair funding toward a replacement only up to the repair-eligible portion).

Staff said temporary emergency mitigation work was already underway to stabilize the seawall and slow further erosion while the city awaits definitive guidance from FDOT and the Federal Highway Administration about whether federal funds could be applied to removal or replacement. \"We are continuing the emergency work to protect the structure,\" a staff representative said.

Advisory recommendation and council direction: The city's Transportation Advisory Commission had recommended removal at its earlier meeting; council members and staff stressed that the commission vote was advisory and that more technical and funding information was required before the council could make a final decision.

Council members voiced divided views. Some prioritised replacement as a longer-term investment if federal funds could be applied; others said the city should not throw good money after bad on repeated repairs to an aging structure. Several council members said they needed FDOT/FHWA's funding determination before committing to any option. \"If the money's not there, we've answered our own question,\" said one councilmember.

Next steps: Staff will provide further technical details (including a breakdown of the cost estimates, geotechnical/boring needs for utility relocation, and a bridge-master-plan context) and report back after FDOT/FHWA clarifies funding eligibility. In the meantime the city will implement temporary seawall stabilization measures to reduce immediate risk.

Ending: Residents asked the council to prioritise safe, long-term access. Council members said they would consider the full technical, fiscal and public-safety picture once the outstanding federal-funding questions and detailed cost breakdowns are available.","Residents urged Cape Coral officials to repair or replace the Sands Boulevard bridge on May 28, warning that removing the bridge would hamper evacuations and slow emergency response; staff said temporary stabilization is under way while awaiting FDOT/FHWA guidance on federal cost-sharing for removal or replacement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648012,"Cape Coral emergency managers urge residents to prepare as hurricane season begins",1874,8380000,10254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4&start=8380&end=10254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4/thumbnail_8380000.jpg","/articles/6648012/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-emergency-managers-urge-residents-to-prepare-as-hurricane-season-begins","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648012-095f056b174286b72a37629595917088/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202193&Signature=DSowxxaEU7aJYP7Vl-Sczj4RHQGV3SeIxQZXR72uE~u0A4MvNIsZe4KFbEPwmzLhb~vtrxy1rJSXlKs~ev8mvdV5pfNXeOU6A2gyUGUbAYFANhjG~QMl-wwRIGGEL5TGy-sU8ibp034Q9NGSoXaeRst9HEZgtw5~Zh9XpCdbE0k9Twp0A9MwKOfero4cFsMF2kEpTbQxE9phk43EPhZuASy7NzmOin4n8pXoqVVksjfiIXDm1clTcp84uyksBnvDOQzzTKqb6HxoTEidfmOgQ48-VmXeYF7ty7~ZBbW4~Qa1EBQcFztjgTCHuvI5~JcxeGwZbjqfI2JUwyKkip05nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City emergency-management officials on May 28 outlined Cape Coral's preparations for the 2025 hurricane season and urged residents to make family plans, assemble 72-hour kits and know their evacuation zone.

Merchant Management Resilience Director Ryan Lamb noted that the city tracks storms using an all-hazards approach and prepares for wind, rain and storm surge. He emphasized that storm surge poses the greatest mortality risk: \"We run from the water and we hide from the wind,\" Lamb said, explaining that surge and water-driven waves are the primary danger.

Officials reminded residents the city does not distribute sandbags as a general practice and recommends commercially produced temporary flood barriers for property protection. They also said radio will be a primary backup channel if internet and cellular service fail and that city fire stations and three local radio stations will be points for public information during a major outage.

The city manager and emergency staff said they would convert department operations centers and the Emergency Operations Center to support response and that shelters are coordinated through Lee County; the city currently operates one large shelter capacity and continues to work on resilience hubs and partnerships.

Ending: Officials encouraged residents to review their zone at the Lee County 'Know Your Zone' portal, prepare emergency kits and follow official city channels for accurate, timely updates during storms.","City emergency and resilience staff briefed council on hurricane-season preparations, urged residents to use radios and local fire stations for updates if communications fail, and said the city will continue mitigation steps and coordinate county sheltering and recovery efforts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648017,"Cape Coral explores selling naming rights and sponsorships for parks and facilities to raise revenue",2110,9962000,12072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4&start=9962&end=12072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4/thumbnail_9962000.jpg","/articles/6648017/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-explores-selling-naming-rights-and-sponsorships-for-parks-and-facilities-to-raise-revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648017-87c81380c5adea0ed2edc401276e5338/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202193&Signature=flYNanyFEoWEG-heDMtMxJJ0QMTeOEGhSaBUZ8tuGR6jcQWapCxe74u4yOM2QQRRkZ-QkRzNG-YUWrBEW4ufTJa9XdFpTfnt4EFhpsRS7jz1-jcIyjzU~szMIXeFhc4OVaznkI4ffqMXlpvJFtNSpkjbM7RoGpDDHh98BIBhFl9o8b045IxXAC0l9OJejPQ4G6xODTLwx9tK~V~pU0wA4n2XidQYcDjde8XrcR12lM5vzaLRcXyLTYoczU9VHd3HYnDZNHSNldJegbhLFQHQCZVoSMVqUmwd2~~TD4KjIEjcHWhoPbJ6tr2kM39n8sm77-n0oLPI0GIfCCAlQCypkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Cape Coral on May 28 heard a presentation from Parks & Recreation staff and a private consulting firm, the Superlative Group, outlining the results of a preliminary inventory and valuation of park assets that could be packaged for corporate naming rights and sponsorships.

Parks & Recreation Director Joe Petrella introduced consultants Sean Gallagher and Ethan Richards of Superlative, who said they had completed a phase-one valuation to estimate fair-market ranges for naming rights and sponsorship packages across the city's park assets and events. The firm's methodology combined estimated audience impressions with industry-standard media CPM rates and local exposure factors to arrive at a market-based valuation for candidate assets.

Consultants said the phase-one report intentionally left out detailed price quotations in this public forum to avoid undermining sales outreach; they offered to share proprietary valuation materials with councilmembers and staff in private briefings. The firm described a two-stage process that would move from valuation (completed) to a phase-two sales campaign (18-month market launch) that mixes longer-term naming-rights agreements with category-level partnerships and event sponsorships.

Examples and approach: Superlative highlighted a recent comparable of a municipal waterfront amphitheater where a naming-rights partner agreed to a multiyear, multimillion-dollar term. The consultants recommended the city prioritize high-value assets and then assemble packages that weave benefits through the parks system, rather than try to sell naming rights to every small neighborhood park.

Council response and direction: Councilmembers expressed general support for exploring sponsorship revenue and asked staff to proceed with a controlled sales campaign. Staff said any completed deals would return to council for final approval of terms. \"I didn't hear any opposition,\" the mayor observed, and staff confirmed the intent to move forward with a sales strategy that would be presented to council when agreement terms were ready.

Staff noted the naming-rights work could dovetail with other efforts to finance tourism-related programming, but councilmembers emphasized the need to match sponsors to appropriate assets and to preserve residents' sense of place. Consultants said they would build a prospect list, prepare tailored outreach and draft term sheets and agreements for negotiation. The city would decide whether to accept each prospective partner and to approve final contract language.

Ending: City staff and the consultant will proceed with a phase-two sales campaign; council will review any proposed contracts and retains final approval authority.","City staff and outside consultants presented a valuation and sales roadmap for naming rights and category sponsorships across Cape Coral parks and venues; council gave general support and asked staff and the consultant to continue with a sales campaign plan, leaving final approval and contract terms to future council action.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648023,"Cape Coral negotiates new boathouse concession; council sets July 16 deadline and flags safety concerns",1811,7426000,9237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4&start=7426&end=9237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3589454-6710b36531a26098ba6de70b115422d4/thumbnail_7426000.jpg","/articles/6648023/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-negotiates-new-boathouse-concession-council-sets-July-16-deadline-and-flags-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648023-a518bc562d5770c62a9676291b672080/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202193&Signature=a-~ODZk9UiMXv87RvzyW19Zq9nIyHWPeKMICn9UiHr-odLeSCks2lM4K81HAYkagbP7v9LsqNSk47KDli1yziX8fMmgz6LgDUiSdwBchFvv6WrpQHzYgVxEiTHjhjsB5sXmsQeLD1-DVAAGUYBPq4cf6Bckro2jMqVoFYPC8viOxqUhKpqxX6YeBUFeTy1j7n1XvL1iXCB2FWZyyUG2msZVyEua3reVA1Abh6ls21gq11rsIJDBy-qMaZU60J3tiPulsET6fpPRkl0S7QrnzdJDXCZFD7SDmZBRfo2EY-c6kHb0YZSOXk~v5MLQiFce4aVlJ66v5Q4VE-9mU9ZdHVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and the current concessionaire at the JC Park boathouse told Cape Coral's committee-of-the-whole on May 28 that they are continuing negotiations on a replacement concession or settlement agreement after the October fire that destroyed the boathouse.

City Manager and staff said negotiations remain narrowly focused and that a settlement agreement and concession term sheet are close, but unresolved. The concessionaire, Kearns Restaurant Group, said it remains willing to rebuild and asked for time to finalize terms. \"We are more than capable, willing, and able to do it,\" Kearns said.

Council members said the city should set a firm timeline for resolution because more than 200 days had passed since the fire and the partly standing structure remains at the site with hurricane season approaching. Councilmember Dan Shepard and others expressed concern about debris and the potential for loose material to become projectiles during storms.

Council and staff agreed on two near-term actions: 1) staff will continue negotiations with Kearns with a target date for a completed agreement of July 16, 2025; and 2) if the concessionaire formally consents to cancellation of the existing lease, the city manager said the city would immediately authorize demolition and permit issuance so demolition can proceed. The city manager also said staff were prepared to issue a demolition permit if the parties reached settlement terms requiring removal of the remains.

Kearns offered a short-term accommodation on its side: representatives said they would be willing to pay demolition costs if the city would acknowledge lease cancellation and permit removal, but they said they preferred to reach an agreed settlement that would allow reconstruction and continued operation.

Ending: Council set a clear near-term expectation for a resolution while flagging public-safety and permitting steps that would apply if an agreed settlement were not reached. Staff will return on July 16 with the outcome of negotiations or a recommended alternative procurement or legal path.","Council and the boathouse operator continued negotiations over a replacement concession agreement for the burned Boat House at JC Park. City manager reported ongoing talks; council asked for a firm resolution by July 16 and raised public-safety concerns about the partially standing structure ahead of hurricane season.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cape Coral council pauses proposed $600 rental registration fee after hours of public opposition

Residents urge Cape Coral to repair or replace Sands Boulevard bridge; council awaits FDOT funding guidance

Cape Coral emergency managers urge residents to prepare as hurricane season begins

Cape Coral explores selling naming rights and sponsorships for parks and facilities to raise revenue

Cape Coral negotiates new boathouse concession; council sets July 16 deadline and flags safety concerns