President's Message - Bulk Waste Drop Off

NWNA Members: We will be hosting several Clean-the-Cape events in Northwest Cape Coral in 2022. Sponsors are lining up and many of you have reached out to ask when the events will be held. The news will follow on those events shortly from Patricia White, our Environment Committee Chair. You will also hear about Adopt-a-Spot, another 2022 initiative that will bring us together as a community and move us toward our goal of making Cape Coral the cleanest city in Southwest Florida.  We have many new residents and I thought a friendly reminder on the rules of the road for trash collection would be helpful. The City of Cape Coral has done a great job of putting all the information together for us. Please see the attached email from Melissa Mickey, in the Office of Communications. Everything we need to know is contained in the message.  There are several factors that contribute to the waste we all see strewn in vacant lots and on the side of the road. Please understand it is a complex issue and we are trying to address all of the factors, but the easiest one to tackle is how we put out the trash for pick up. Thank you to all of you who have participated in our Clean-the-Cape events and to the many residents I see picking up trash while you walk. It is making a difference.  John Bashaw (920) 449-2000

Good afternoon John,

Per our conversation earlier this week I am sending you some links to information regarding trash, yard waste, recycling do's, and don'ts. 

The following is a link to our webpage which includes FAQs that may be helpful/useful, See below.

All Residential curbside services start at 6:00 AM, all items for collection should be placed curbside by 6:00 AM to avoid missing any of the collection vehicles. 

City ordinance dictates that items for collection cannot be placed curbside until after 5:00 p.m. one day prior to your collection day.

Extra garbage that does not fit in the brown garbage can be placed out for collection in plastic bags set next to the can. Each bag cannot weigh more than fifty (50) pounds and be stacked neatly at the curb.

Remember to keep a three (3) foot clearance between and around each can for collection and that the wheels and handle are to face the house. Please remember to also keep at least a five (5) foot clearance from mailboxes, trees, parked cars, etc.

Webpage Link Including FAQ's

The follow the link below to our webpage on solid waste, recyclables, horticulture, and bulk trash removal  - if you scroll through this page there is a lot of information and several videos created by Waste Pro on how to properly dispose of trash, the holiday schedules are listed, and there is additional helpful information.

Also, just FYI this year we have a post-Christmas holiday recycling event. It is at the Bulk Waste Drop Off located at the North Cape Government Complex on Kismet. The entrance to the Bulk Waste Drop Off is on NW 14^th Ave. 

The event runs from December 26 through the 30^th from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is for recyclable cardboard only.  

Cape Coral Webpage on Solid WasteBulk Waste Drop Off site on NW 14th Ave.

Northwest Cape Coral 1st Annual Christmas Boat Parade

Thank You All So Much.....

NWNA Members:

Please see the message below from Dean and Jan Fox, the Boat Parade organizers. What a turnout!!!! Look for news next November on the 2022 Parade. I am sure it will be even bigger.

My very best to all of you for a safe and happy holiday season and a great Christmas!

John Bashaw

(920) 449-2000

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you all had as great a time as I did, participating in the parade. I want to thank all the Captains and their crew for their participation and creativity. It was truly amazing! I would also like to thank all the homeowners for their decorations and parties! It was so nice to have so many homes cheering us on. Your contributions were fabulous. Thank you to all the people that participated on bridges and the empty lots holding lanterns and on golf carts - your cheers were much welcomed and we saw you!  The boats on Wazee Lake that contributed with decorations and horns were a pleasing sight in the dark of night. Thank you also. The best count we had was 48 boats in the canals and 6-8 on Wazee so about 55 boats contributed. Wow! Last but not least, a special thank you to John Bashaw and Randy Cantrell for their help with planning and Linda Stevens for her video -- she was definitely Head Cheerleader! Her video is on the public Facebook link "Northwest Central Cape Coral 1st Annual Christmas Boat Parade" for you to view and add pictures if you wish.    I cannot thank you all enough for your comments and nice thoughts. Best to wish you a very Merry Christmas and prayers to all for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!            ~ Dean & Jan Fox

X-Mass Parade on the Spreader Canal 12/18/2021

Posted by NWNA on Saturday, December 18, 2021

NWNA Meeting Summary - Dec 4, 2021

John Bashaw President of the NWNA, gives us a summary of the Regular Meeting that took place at the future home of Tropicana Park on Dec 4, 2021.

NWNA Regular Meeting - Welcome Back!

Come Join Us and See what We've Been Working On

Save the Date When: Saturday, Dec 4, 2021 Where: Tropicana Park Time: 10:00 AM What to Bring: Hat with a visor, a Lawn Chair, Water, and an Umbrella for shade if you wish.

Dear Members:

Our next membership meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2021, at 10:00 AM at Tropicana Park. The 90-minute outdoor event will be a great opportunity for us to connect again and for me to update you on the priorities we agreed to at our last meeting. I'm pleased to announce our Mayor, John Gunter, will be our guest speaker.

During the meeting, we will update you on progress on our top initiatives, announce the results of our officer elections, and bring you up to speed on many of the developments in NW Cape Coral.

I hope to see you all there. I promise you will leave with the information you did not have when you arrived.

John Bashaw

(920) 449-2000

Guest Speaker

Mayor John Gunter

Here is what we plan on discussing at this meeting:

Utilities Expansion Project (UEP)

7 Islands

North Spreader Waterway Exit (Feasibility Study)

Beautification, Safety, Lights, Walkways, etc.

Internet Upgrades

Park Updates

Boardwalk

Medians

Clean-the-Cape Event

We have all been very busy and can't wait to share what we've been doing.

Utility Expansion Master Plan Update

On November 10, 2021, City Council was briefed by the Cape Coral Utilities Director, on the tentative results of the ongoing Utility Expansion Project (UEP) Master Plan. 

Presently, utilities (water, sewer, and reclaimed water- treated wastewater to be used for irrigation only) are being designed in the North 1 area of the city, and construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2022. The remaining areas of the city without public utilities are the subject of the UEP Master Plan. 

The UEP Master Plan is necessary to prioritize future areas for utility expansion, to identify existing infrastructure needs necessary to accommodate future expansion, to establish realistic schedules, and to establish preliminary cost estimates. 

The entire agenda and presentation given to City Council are available below. 

UEP Master Plan Update

The following is a brief summary of the preliminary findings and recommended improvements with the future service areas. Service areas are shown on the map below.

My Summary

• North 3 will be the next area to receive utilities after North 1. This area is west of Burnt Store Road to the North Spreader Waterway, north of the recently completed North 2 area, and extends north to Kismet Parkway. Utilities are expected to be installed by 2025.
• Also expected to be completed by 2025 is an expansion of utilities north on Burnt Store Road to the city line. This allows the planned Hudson Creek development to move forward and will spur commercial development along Burnt Store Road. Much of this expansion may be funded by the Hudson Creek project. Finally, by 2025, a new 22,000 linear foot sewer main on Veteran's Parkway will be constructed which is necessary for future sewer expansion.
• By 2027, the existing North reverse osmosis water plant on Kismet Parkway needs to be expanded from 6 to 18 million gallons per day.
• By 2030, the city intends to construct utilities in the North 4 and North 5 areas. Also, a new water storage tank will be constructed in the northeast section of the city.
• By 2035, the city intends to construct utilities in North 6 and North 7 areas. The city also intends to build a new water reclamation facility (wastewater treatment plant) in the northwest. The site is adjacent to the existing reverse osmosis water plant on Kismet Parkway near Chiquita Boulevard.
• By 2040, the city intends to construct utilities in North 8 and North 9 areas.
• North 10 through North 12 areas are planned for 2045.

Yes, planning level cost estimates have been included in the UEP Master Plan and these were shown in the presentation given to City Council. However, these costs are on a macro scale, and it's too early to speculate what each homeowner will pay.

It is important to note that the UEP Master Plan is intended to be a guide for future utility expansion. Specific details of pipe and pumping station placements are not yet completed.

This document will be modified (and boundaries of service areas will likely be realigned) as the project moves forward. In fact, City Council and the Mayor have already requested that engineers look at the possibility of moving North 11 up in the schedule.

So, the next steps are as follows:

• Engineers will address comments from city staff, City Council, and the Mayor, including the pros and cons of constructing utilities in North 11 sooner.
• The UEP Master Plan report will be finalized.
• The city will hire a consultant to re-evaluate impact fees, one-time utility assessments, and user fees taking into account the timing and estimated costs of the above projects.
• The city will hire a consulting engineer to design Area 3 and improvements scheduled to be online by 2025.

Again, this is a high-level master plan and is not intended to include specific project details.

If you have comments and questions that you believe are appropriate at this point in the planning process you may email me at publicworks@nwcape.com.

I will prepare a consolidated response of appropriate comments to the city. You may certainly contact your City Council Member directly if you prefer.

Don Freeman, P.E.
NWNA Public Works Committee

Cape Coral Fire Dept. - Annual Open House

Hi Members On Saturday, November 6, the Cape Coral Fire Department will host our annual Open House. From 9 am until 12 pm, the public is invited to visit any of our eleven fire stations for the opportunity to meet firefighters and learn about the fire apparatus, equipment, and services. In addition, a variety of fun and educational activities and displays, many from our partner public safety agencies, will be available at each station. Some of these include: • Friends and Family CPR Instruction • Blood Donations • Coastie and the Coast Guard Auxiliary • Public Works Vehicles • Lee County Mosquito Control District Helicopter and Educational Bug Display • Interactive, Inflatable Fire Safety Smoke House • Vehicle Extrication Demonstrations • Junior Firefighter Obstacle Course • Car Seat Checks with Safe Kids • Lee County EMS Ambulance and Helicopter • Pet Safety and Adoptable Dogs from the Cape Coral Animal Shelter • Scavenger hunt, face painting, and more. Come out and visit the Fire and Rescue stations around Cape Coral and bring the whole family for a fun day!

High-Speed Internet Service Update

Good Afternoon!

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that it has received more than 230 applications for the Broadband Infrastructure Program, for a total of more than $2.5 billion in funding requests across 49 states and U.S. territories. The city of Cape Coral applied for this grant in August 2021. See NTIA Grant Information below.

As you can see from the attached article this is a highly competitive grant. The city feels they submitted a very good grant application, but there are so many places that are in need of broadband infrastructure.

In Florida, applications were submitted from Monroe, Martin, and Indian River counties. Cape Coral was the only Florida city to submit an application.

NTIA expects to complete its review, selection of successful applicants, and award processing by November 15, 2021. NTIA expects the earliest start date for awards to be November 29, 2021.

Note: The city had a positive meeting with one of the broadband vendors this week. They are not at liberty to discuss the details of the meeting, however, as soon as the NWNA receives an update it will be immediately communicated to our members.

Linda Stevens
Secretary for the NWNA
Linda.Stevens@nwcape.comNTIA Grant Information

Flood Insurance Data Needed

Members, Council Member, Gloria Tate is asking for our help to gather information to help effect changes affecting residents. Please send her a copy of any bills you receive that are renewed higher than 18% and send your old bill for comparison. She wants to continue to gather information on how these rate changes are affecting our residents. Please send it to the email address below. Gloria Raso Tate District 1 Cape Coral City Council gtate@capecoral.gov 239-940-1538

Risk Rating 2.0: Projected Premium Changes by Zip Code - SFH Policies

Please click on the button below to see the latest FEMA information showing the areas that will see an increase and approximately how much it will be.The 'Dashboard" will have several sections and a lot of information so look for the data for the state of Florida by selecting it from the filter in the window in the upper right corner. Then look for your zip code at the bottom corner window.

FEMA Data Dashboard Link

Member Issues Addressed

Members: Councilmember Keith Long (District 6) has appraised me on two issues related to issues you have raised with the NWNA. The first is regarding Burnt Store Road.  Many of you have raised concerns regarding the intersection of BSR and Tropicana Parkway. Accidents and near misses are frequent. CM Long is aware of your concerns and is bringing them to the attention of the City and County - keep in mind, Lee County has jurisdiction over BSR.  You may have noticed additional police presence in the area of BSR. This is directly related to residents raising concerns over safety in the area. Additionally, changes have been made to the Embers / BSR intersection during construction to prevent accidents.  Several accidents have occurred at that intersection as a result of the construction and speeding, so changes during construction were warranted. Any inconvenience caused by the devices installed to prevent right-angle collisions is outweighed by the potential prevention of a severe crash.  Please continue to be cautious as you drive through the construction area on BSR.   Second, many of you have raised concerns about ATV use on city streets and in the Yucca Pens Preserve. Safety hazards and noise are the two symptoms residents who live in the inflicted areas have to endure. The Cape Coral Police Department has increased patrols in those areas and will write citations for illegal use. Please keep in mind, ATV use on a city street is illegal. ATV use on private, vacant lots is also illegal.  Additionally, the Lee County Sherriff's Department and the Cape Coral Police Department are partnering to increase patrols and presence in the Yucca Pens Preserve to curb incidents.  CM Long continues to raise these and other issues to the proper parties. If it is convenient for you, please continue to raise your concerns to the NWNA and we will bring the issues forward. John Bashaw (920) 449-2000

Flood Insurance Changes - FEMA Risk Rating 2.0

Town Hall Meeting Summary

On behalf of the NWNA, I would like to thank Councilmember Gloria Tate for hosting this very informative and important meeting pertaining to the FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 implementation and possible Flood Insurance implications.

Following is a summary of the issues that were discussed at the meeting. 1.   FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 will utilize the Cape Coral Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) maps for determining the cost of future FEMA Flood Insurance. FEMA will no longer use elevation or home values in determining the price of FEMA Flood Insurance. 2.   The current SFHA maps identify flood zones for Cape Coral residents. In District 6, all the homes West of Burnt Store Road are classified as Special Flood Hazard Area. 3.   The Cape Coral City Representative identified that the SFHA maps would be revised and some of the homes in the NW East of Burnt Store on canals may also be included in this Special Flood Hazard Area classification. 4.   The insurance discussions identified that we can expect an increase in the cost of FEMA Flood Insurance using the FEMA Risk Rating 2.0. Several examples were briefly discussed that were in our flood designation areas (Special Flood Hazard Area) and they identified that the costs went up 2 or 3 times more than past costs. Realtors need to educate their buyers that new homes under construction will have higher costs for Flood Insurance under FEMA Risk Rating 2.0. For new construction, the 10/01/21 implementation of FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 is in effect. 5.   The FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 went into effect on 10/01/21. For current flood FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 insurance holders, the new flood insurance rates will be effective 4/01/22. 6.   There are processes such as Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) and Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) that residents can use to ask for an exemption based on such factors as elevation, history, costs, etc. However, the cost for either is currently $450.00 which requires Engineering support. Talking with the City representative it would be very hard to get an exemption if you were in the Special Flood Hazard Area. 7.   The presenters identified Senator Marco Rubio as leading an effort in Congress to get the FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 implementation either delayed or deferred. It will be an effort that requires bipartisan support. With today's current issues in Congress, he needs all of our help to get the attention in Congress. They suggested we all write, email, or phone our Senators and Representatives voicing our displeasure with the FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 implementation and rising costs of Flood Insurance under this system.

Representative Byron Donalds
https://donalds.house.gov/contact/Senator Rick Scott
https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/contactSenator Marco Rubio
https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Risk Rating 2.0: Projected Premium Changes by Zip Code - SFH Policies

Please click on the button below to see the latest FEMA information showing the areas that will see an increase and approximately how much it will be.The 'Dashboard" will have several sections and a lot of information so look for the data for the state of Florida by selecting it from the filter in the window in the upper right corner. Then look for your zip code at the bottom corner window.

FEMA Data Dashboard Link

Please take the time to review all of the handouts from this meeting attached below. Each one has eye-opening data and information you may want to consider in your communications with our Senators and Representatives.

Special Flood Hazard Area City MapHow to Buy Flood InsuranceFlorida - Risk Rating 2.0The Truth about Flood Risk Rating 2.0

Catch the Vision

Here We Grow Again - October Edition

Wow! Cape Coral is really Rockin It!

Last month we reported on the numerous apartment developments planned from Santa Barbara Blvd. to the west, along Pine Island Rd. Now there are more plans in the mix. 

Sovereign Properties, LLC intends to build 380 apartments in four (4) buildings with a central clubhouse and amenities on about 16.7 acres on the north side of SW Pine Island Rd. just east of Sunrise Senior Living and across Pine Island Rd. from the Carolina Apartments.

Recent zoning changes by the city require that multifamily dwellings be setback at least 250 feet from Pine Island Road so there will be a commercial component along Pine Island Rd. That portion would be developed by a separate property owner. 

Is there a Cape Coral Town Center in our future? But there's more for SW Pine Island Rd. A zoning amendment request was brought before the Cape Coral Hearing Examiner to change Single-Family zoned land along Pine Island Rd. to Commercial Corridor. The property runs along the north side of SW Pine Island Rd. from the electrical power station, east to Bubbas, and then up and behind the German American Club. The owners of the land, Surfside Corner LLC, brought the Oasis Surfside Apartments to Veterans Parkway. They are working with L&L Florida Management of New York City. The plan talked about at the hearing calls for a 700,000 sq. ft. shopping center, 70,000 sq. ft. of office space, a 200-room hotel, a 50,000 sq. ft. movie theater/entertainment center, and 1,500 multi-family mid-rise dwelling units. It's still early in the process and things could change but if plans are followed through on, this could be a game-changer for our area of the city.

Leave it to Gator Mike's, on Pine Island Rd. across from Cape Coral KIA, to come up with something different. They are in discussions with the city to erect a drive-in movie theater capable of accommodating 80-100 cars just east of Gator Mike's.

If you remember, there's a Mellow Mushroom Pizza restaurant also coming to the east side of Gator Mike's. That project will be in permitting soon.

Macritchie Storage Ventures, LLC out of Alberta Canada is proposing a self-storage facility with five commercial buildings in the vacant area behind Office Depot and Kohls, just east of Nicholas Parkway.

In case you missed it, Lee Health has purchased nearly 23 acres in western Cape Coral for the future site of a medical complex similar to the outpatient physician and surgical center it operates just south of the Coconut Point Mall in Estero. Lee Health is spending about $3.7 million for the property located on SW Pine Island Rd. between Carolina Apartments and the Honc property to the west. There are no immediate plans to develop the property but as the population grows in Cape Coral the need will be there for a facility in the western part of the city. Now, you know where it will be. A facility on SW Pine Island Rd. would be similar to the Lee Health facility at Coconut Point

New Fertilizer Ordinance Goes Into Effect

Changes to City Fertilizer Ordinance

Members, On Wednesday (Oct 6) the Cape Coral City Council passed Ordinance 79-21, effective immediately. The ordinance pertains to the use of fertilizer in the City of Cape Coral and strengthened the current requirements for Florida-Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes to protect the local surface and groundwater quality. As our city grows at a rapid pace, it is critical to take steps now to achieve further reductions in the discharge of pollutants and improve our waterways, currently characterized as "impaired" due to excess nutrients. The changes will help and are as follows:   1. The width of the fertilizer-free zone extended from 10 ft to 15 ft from the top of a seawall or any water body or wetland to ensure no fertilizer is dispersed directly into the water.  2. A voluntary educational program for residents and fertilizer retailers has been added and is in development.  3. Fertilizer containing phosphorus is not allowed at any time unless a soil test was performed within the past two years showing phosphorus deficiency. *Note that soil tests have been conducted throughout the city and a negligible number of samples indicated a deficiency.  4. Commercial fertilizer applicators are required to hold a 4-year license, subject to a validity check.  5. The City Manager has the authority to extend the Prohibited Application Period to include the month of May, for a total of 5 months (Currently June 1 to September 30 - 4 months)  6. Code Enforcement is authorized to sample fertilizer tanks and spreaders and submit them for analysis at the City's expense. The ordinance markup document (link below) will be added to the city website in the Codes, Land Use, and Charter section (Chapter 9 Article VI). *Note that additional ordinances addressing the use of fertilizer on golf courses and city parks are also in development. Let's all get on board with these changes and do our part to help protect the waterways in our little piece of paradise! You'll be glad you did! Thank you for your support! Patricia White Environment Committee Chair

Tropicana Park Update with Kevin Black

Kevin Black gives us an update on the current status of Tropicana Park with his dog Tito. He describes what we can expect to see for amenities and an approximate timeline.

Burnt Store Rd Boat Ramp Updates

John Bashaw, President of the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association, Inc. visits the boat ramp and describes the upgrades and new amenities available for the residents.

New NWNA Member App is now available for Download

About Us - Current Leadership Website - All Access Notifications - All Bulletins Email Council - Access City Leaders Facebook - NWNA Page Our YouTube Channel Forum - Ask a Question Your Membership Card Join/Donate Pictures of Us Upcoming Events and More....	About Us - Current Leadership Website - All Access Notifications - All Bulletins Email Council - Access City Leaders Facebook - NWNA Page Our YouTube Channel Forum - Ask a Question Your Membership Card Join/Donate Pictures of Us Upcoming Events and More....
About Us - Current Leadership Website - All Access Notifications - All Bulletins Email Council - Access City Leaders Facebook - NWNA Page Our YouTube Channel Forum - Ask a Question Your Membership Card Join/Donate Pictures of Us Upcoming Events and More....

New Hospital Coming to Cape Coral

Members:

Please see the article below regarding a new hospital for Cape Coral. This is a wonderful announcement - many of you have commented on our need for closer health care. Here it is. These things take time, but the good news is a commitment has been made and land has been purchased.

It took many people working together to make this happen, but it was Council Member Dan Sheppard who led the effort. His leadership and persistence are the reasons this announcement is being made.

John Bashaw
(920) 449-2000News Press Article - New Hospital

Burnt Store Road Construction Progress

The NWNA Webmaster, Paul Dworianyn, gives us an update on the progress being made along Burnt Store Road from Pine Island Road to Embers Parkway.

Mayor John Gunters First Monthly Message and New E-Newsletter

Members:

Please see the first monthly message from our Mayor, John Gunter. I am sure you will find this information insightful.

If you so desire, you can receive the messages directly from the Mayor as well as other city messages by signing up for the E-Newsletter below.

John Bashaw
(920) 449-2000Mayor Gunter's Monthly MessageE-Newsletter Sign-Up