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Cape Coral council weighs FY26 legislative priorities; staff recommends contract changes for lobbying team
Summary
City staff presented proposed state and federal priorities for the 2026 legislative session and recommended restructuring the city's lobbying contracts to keep local institutional knowledge while trimming costs. Council expressed broad support and asked staff to proceed with the recommended changes and finalize priorities for a future resolution.
City staff on Oct. 15 presented Cape Coral's proposed federal and state legislative priorities for fiscal year 2026 and recommended a small change to the city's lobbying contracts to keep continuity in Tallahassee while slightly reducing annual costs.
At a Committee of the Whole meeting, Maureen Biesse, assistant to the city manager, summarized top policy themes the city plans to pursue in 2026: funding for the Utility Expansion Project (UEP), short- and long-range transportation projects including expansion of State Road 78, water-quality and resiliency funding, consistent statewide floodproofing regulations, and changes to the county Tourist Development Council allocation method to better reflect Cape Coral's short-term rental revenue.
Dane Eagle of Ballard Partners, Cape Coral's executive lobbyist, joined remotely from Tallahassee and outlined the 2026 calendar, the state's fiscal outlook and key issues expected in the session. Eagle warned of tighter appropriations as the state moves from a projected $3.8 billion surplus to forecast deficits in later years, and urged the city to emphasize shovel-ready infrastructure items and a small number of focused appropriation requests. "Perhaps two projects, maybe three, and really focus on those infrastructure projects," Eagle said.
Staff also recommended an adjustment to the city's federal/state lobbying mix. Sharon Woodbury and other staff described a plan to retain Ballard Partners for executive lobbying and Becker & Poliakoff for federal work while moving state advocacy to Nick Matthews at The Southern Group, who has represented Cape Coral in Tallahassee. The proposed change would reduce annual lobbying costs from $240,000 to about $234,000, according to staff. Councilmembers praised the continuity offered by keeping the individuals the city has worked with and signaled support for the change.
Council discussion focused on whether to pursue three top appropriation requests: continued funding for UEP, road projects (the Northeast 24th Avenue improvements were named), and a public-safety request (equipment such as a crisis response vehicle). Several councilmembers asked staff to prioritize projects that are shovel-ready and have regional impact; staff reiterated the deadlines and technical rules on appropriation drafting and the House's 50% rule for earmarks.
What happens next: staff will finalize the legislative priorities and bring a formal resolution for council approval and directed lobbyists to begin early outreach to the Lee County delegation and statewide committees.
Council action: Members gave informal consensus to the staffing recommendation and to proceed with the priorities as presented; no formal vote was taken during the workshop.
Why it matters: Cape Coral has used legislative appropriations and executive grants to fund major local infrastructure projects, and with tight state budgets ahead, council members and their lobby team are prioritizing a short list of shovel-ready projects to maximize the city's chance of securing funds.
