City Council approves capital expenditures, grant applications
City Council approved the budgeted purchase of $17.7 million in vehicles, equipment, software and capital maintenance items at Monday night’s meeting, as well as submission of grant applications to the state of Florida to fund improvements at Veterans Park and Joe Stonis Park.
The capital expenditures include $6 million for city vehicles, $7.4 million in other equipment, $566,000 for new software and $3.7 million for maintenance. The expenditures include $3.6 million in carryover funds from the 2016 budget.
Council approved a request by the Parks & Recreation Department to file for two state recreation assistance grants totaling $250,000. The city will be required to provide a $37,500 match for one of the two grants.
The funds will be used to install two pickleball courts at each park in addition to upgrading playground equipment, restrooms and basketball court resurfacing at Veterans Park. Pickleball courts are one of the top requests stemming from the city’s Parks Master Plan study this year.
Council also approved going forward with hiring an outside recruiting firm to search for a replacement for City Auditor Margaret Krym, who is retiring at the end of February after 10 years of service. Human Resources can begin the process by seeking bids from recruiting firms.
Staff indicated the search could cost the city in the neighborhood of $15,000.
Two items on the agenda were delayed by council. One was a fire sprinkler connection to city utilities system for a condominium complex to be built at 2408 N.E. 4th Terrace. It came before council in the form of a petition by Joe Mazurkiewicz, president of BJM Consulting, representing the property owner Diamond Construction.
The petition seeks relief from a requirement to connect to the city’s potable water system for fire sprinklers and hydrants instead of the irrigation system.
The city decided in 2005 to change the requirement for new construction to use potable water for fire services as a matter of safety and reliability. Water pressure in the potable system is far more reliable than the irrigation lines and requires the developer to upgrade off-site service lines at their expense.
“It’s our policy that growth should pay for growth,” said Utilities Director Jeff Pearson. “The irrigation system provides up to 43 million gallons a day at its peak and we don’t want to use that system for fire suppression, especially during the dry season. A 14-unit condominium requires a higher demand and a larger pipe.”
Mazurkiewicz maintained his client had paid the initial utility assessments and should not have to pay again.
Council decided it would be prudent to take some time to study the situation and bring the matter back to council with more information in three weeks.
A discussion scheduled for resuming Cape Coral Tallahassee Days was tabled for the time being by Councilmember Rick Williams.
Council’s next meeting is Oct. 31 in Council Chambers.