Hurricane Ian levels plans for Cape Coral Yacht Club

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Plans for a $60 million dollar renovation of the Cape Coral Yacht Club appear to be another Hurricane Ian loss with the city now looking at a total rebuild C a p e C o r a l C i t y C o u n c i l g o t a l o o k

Thursday at options for a completely re-imagined Yacht Club that would make the cityowned complex less like a park and more like a destination complete with a beach, retail and commercial opportunities and the feel of a resort

Its buildings are a total loss and cannot be repaired or rebuilt as previously constructed due to federal regulations for flood-zone structures

The main ballroom building at the historic r i v e r f r o n t p a r k w a s a p p r a i s e d a t T h e $680,000; it needs $520,000 in repair The second building, the Tony Rotino Center, was appraised at $467 000; it needs $350 000 in repairs

Both buildings at the Driftwood Parkway park fall under FEMA s 50 percent rule, which means the city can only repair a structure up to 50 percent of its value if it is in a flood zone Both buildings went well over the limit and since the city can’t raise the buildings to make them flood compliant they will have to come down, council was told Thursday James Pankonin of Kimley-Horn, which are the designers of the project said the vision of the Yacht Club was a “return to its roots as Cape Coral’s premier waterfront venue and that a resort-style atmosphere should be created that plays to its strengths, like its views of the Caloosahatchee River, historic ballroom and fountain a resort-style swimming pool waterfront restaurant marina and beach

Amenities that don’t require a waterfront location, such as the tennis courts a point of contention during the original renovation talks

The Cape Coral Yacht Club buildings are a total loss and cannot be repaired or rebuilt as previously constructed due to federal regulations for flood-zone structures The main ballroom building at the historic riverfront park was appraised at $680,000; it needs $520,000 in repair

The second building the Tony Rotino Center, was appraised at $467,000; it needs $350 000 in repairs could be relocated to other sites Council pretty much now has a blank canvas with which to work, and Pankonin gave the elected board five rough concepts These included an improved marina and boating access new and maybe multiple piers; better and expanded waterfront access; as many as three restaurants; the possibility for commercial or retail, much more parking and a range of amenities that capitalize on riverfront location As for a pool many on council liked the idea of a resort-style design and rejected the possibility of the Olympic-sized pool, something the city has said it would like to see for nearly a year but not at this location where a resort pool would be more appropriate Councilmember Bill Steinke said he wanted demolition work to start

See CAPE CORAL YACHT CLUB, page 4

James Pankonin of Kimley-Horn talks about the Cape Coral Yacht Club renovation during the City Council retreat

Annex Conference Room CHUCK BALLARO and then final

See FY24 BUDGET, page 4

City Council to discuss legislative priorities, including grant applications

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

The city of Cape Coral is looking to get a share of state money for both Hurricane Ian related expenses and infrastructure projects

To that end the Cape Coral City Council will discuss grant applications, its proposed 2023 state legislative initiatives and the possible hiring of a second lobbying firm at its regular meeting set for 4:30 p m Wednesday Council discussed the subjects during its retreat last week and expressed its wishes for the city to get as much money from the state as it can for hurricane damage and for the ongoing utilities expansion project

At the retreat City Manager Rob Hernandez suggested hiring the additional lobbying firm as he said many larger cities have two or even more to help foster local governmental interests One firm under consideration is Ballard P a r t n e r s , t h e f i r m f o r w h i c h f o r m e r S t a t e Representative and former state Department of Economic Opportunity secretary Dane Eagle has gone to work for following his resignation from the DEO last month

We need to get our priorities straight and we need to look at other opportunities and be ready for them ” Mayor John Gunter said last week “We need to be sure we’re a player and not get tunnel vision over a few items Hernandez assured Gunter that the city was not missing out on grants and other funds, that there are some grants the city is not eligible for He also assured the council hiring more than one firm would not pit the two against the other

Among the proposed legislative priorities are asking the state to provide fiscal relief to municipalities that experienced revenue loss due to Hurricane Ian to ensure that Cape Coral and others have the funding to address critical needs

Others include support for appropriations/ grants for city projects, protection of home rule authority and opposition to unfunded mandates or cost shifts support for state initiatives that address mitigating and preventing harmful algal blooms and continued funding of state and local affordable housing programs for persons with low and moderate incomes

Council is also expected to select outside counsel for its litigation against Waste Pro The hauler is suing the city and wants its contract voided citing the withholding of more than $800,000 in payments

Council also will consider adding an additional meeting to its scheduled for Wednesday March 22 at 4:30 p m following its scheduled workshop meeting

At the Jan 18 council workshop regarding the North 1 West Utility Expansion Project, the final public hearing was listed to occur in M a r c h I n r e v i e w i n g n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t s

See LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, page