INSIDE: Legal Notices
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Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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City wage study: Base salaries mostly competitive; benefits ‘leading the market’ By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The city of Cape Coral’s total compensation package for employees is, for the most part, competitive with comparable cities in the state, according to a wage and benefits study commissioned by the city. Using a standard that defines market competitiveness as 95%-105% of the market average, Segal, the consulting
firm, found the city is competitive across the board with three lags: The City’s General Union positions, on an overall basis, lagged the market at the minimum and maximum for base pay, coming in at 94%, just under the competitive minimum of 95%. Overall Base Pay as a percentage of the market 75th Percentile across all non-bargaining benchmark job titles also was reported at 94%
In terms of overall compensation, which includes benefits, Segal found the city exceeded the top percentile for competitiveness, coming in at 106% for all benchmark positions — “leading the market” — save paygrade minimums for starting non-union employees which hit the top competitive percentile of 105% In terms of benefits, the October summary report submitted by Segal states the
DOH-Lee offices to be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
front with a shallow area for the kids. “I like the second pier towards the west end of the beach. The extended parking garage is a must,” he said as it adds 100 spaces to the original concept. “We are going to need that parking out there for how popular the Yacht Club will be.” The first of two concepts includes a playground, expanded beach, proposed 6,700-squarefoot restaurant, 15,000-square-foot resort style pool, Community Center, the existing Boathouse Restaurant, existing boat fuel pump, landscape berm, 72 surface parking spaces, a three-level parking deck of 500 spaces, harbor master building, 39-space boat trailer parking, boat ramp, pier with shade structure, boardwalk, fountain and water feature and restroom. The second concept features the same amenities
A cultural shift in under way to better serve students in the School District of Lee County's English for Speakers of Other Languages program with plans to implement changes in every school. The goal? To transform the district’s ESOL department to better serve students in the program, something officials said will not happen overnight. “It’s going to take time. Your work will speak for itself, and it will spread. Work with the willing at the moment and (it will) start to trickle down,” said ESOL Director Sohira Sarmiento in explaining the initiative at a recent school board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the shift began with the coalition of the willing, who immediately jumped on board. “All of them will come through this process and will have a plan,” he said. Sixteen schools, including some charter schools, are still to be included. Sarmiento, who was born and raised in Miami as a student within the ESOL program, has recently become the director in the district. “I am very passionate about it, and it means a lot to me because it’s a full circle moment to help these students,” she said. The change will be transform the ESOL department. “I would like to transform the ESOL department — building capacity within our schools. My small team cannot be at every school to teach the child. Transformative change is needed to grow into a world class system that includes ESOL students,”
See YACHT CLUB REBUILD, page 2
See ESOL, page 4
GRAPHIC PROVIDED
The cover of the Yacht Club Master Plan proposal that will be discussed today by the Cape City Council at its workshop meeting.
Cape council to discuss design options for Yacht Club rebuild By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Design concepts for the Cape Coral Yacht Club will be back on the table today. Cape Coral City Council is slated to discuss options at its workshop session with preliminary designs including a community center, “resortstyle” pool, a pair of piers, beachfront, restaurants, NDEX marina and boat slips and a parking garage. Councilmember Tom Hayden said once he got Legal Notices . . . 5-11 past Council’s decision to raze the historic Yacht Local Tides . . . . . . . 3 Club Ballroom, leaving a clean canvas, he liked the option of a larger Community Center that Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 3 allows for more event space downstairs and upstairs with a covered porch on the second floor. He said he would also like to see the Community Center have a dedicated room to honor the old Yacht Club with pictures and memorabilia. He also likes the ideas of resort style pool out 7 48445 46010 1
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See CITY WAGE STUDY, page 4
Lee Schools look to better serve ESOL students
NEWS OF NOTE
All Florida Department of Health in Lee County offices will be closed this Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day. Offices will reopen Monday, Nov. 13, with regularly scheduled hours. For medical emergencies, residents needing immediate assistance should dial 911. For more information, visit the local department's website lee.floridahealth. gov and follow its Twitter page at @flhealthlee. The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow the DOH on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
city is competitive in its employee package. “Across each category reviewed, inclusive of core offerings, supplemental, retirement, wellness, life insurance and disability, the City of Cape Coral’s benefit package is competitively positioned in terms of cost, plan design and benefits