Council discusses grant funding for the CCPD, land use requests
Government grant funding for the Cape Coral Police Department and land use requests occupied the discussions Monday night for City Council returning from a two-week holiday break.
Resolutions accepting state and federal funds were unanimously approved for a total amount of more than $268,000 with no matching funds from the city required.
The grants include $153,372 from the West Coast Inland Navigation District, $93,796 from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant and $21,600 from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement Cam-paign.
The money will be used to fund new equipment and overtime pay for the marine patrol unit, purchase comprehensive imaging equipment designed to enhance fingerprint collection on any surface and overtime pay for officers assigned to pedestrian and bicycle education and enforcement operations.
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Council approved amending the future land use for 32 parcels in two blocks just north of the Storms Football Complex from commercial/professional to single-family residential. The parcels are about 50 percent developed as single-family homes. The land use was changed 10 years ago in an effort to make more commercial property available for development, but no inquiries were made by developers. Monday night’s action returns the parcels to single-family use.
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Council also approved a change in land use on vacant city property located just north of Sun Splash Waterpark from parks to public facilities uses. The Gulf Coast Humane Society was interested in building a no-kill animal shelter on the 4.32-acre site, but dropped the project when it was unable to raise sufficient funds.
It is known that a group of area businesses and residents is interested in continuing the project to bring the city its first no-kill animal shelter.
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A veterinary clinic wanted to occupy space in the Publix Center on Burnt Store Road at Pine Island Road, but was denied under the village zoning designation. Council since directed staff to review and amend the ordinance since pet services and pet shops were among the permitted uses.
Monday night, the amendment was unanimously approved adding veterinary and animal clinics to the list of permitted uses. The change also applies to similar parcels along Pine Island Road at the Santa Barbara Boulevard quadrant and between Del Prado Boulevard and Pondella Road.
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Council also voted to continue a contract with Becker & Poliakoff for its primary state lobbyist representation in Tallahassee, thereby extending a nine-year relationship with the law firm.
Becker & Poliakoff was one of two firms making presentations before council. The other, Peebles & Smith, also has represented the city in Tallahassee in the past. Council indicated interested in using Peebles & Smith in the future for special services when needed.
The one-year contract with Becker & Poliakoff is for $50,000 with the possibility of four one-year renewals.
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Lee County Clerk of Courts Linda Doggett explained to council her decision to close the Cape Coral branch office on Mondays and Fridays due to funding reduction by the state of Florida. The reduction for 2017 is $1.3 million and by closing the Cape branch and using the staff at the Fort Myers office will enable the clerk’s office to “keep up” with the higher volume of transactions. Mondays and Fridays are the busiest at the Fort Myers office.
The main clerk’s office deals with 15,000 transactions and 10,000 phone calls each month while the Cape branch sees 1,500 customers per month.
“I hope this is a temporary solution,” said Doggett.
Councilmember Jim Burch was not happy with the reduction of service and blamed the state for the budgeting shortfall.
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Members of council assembled as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) commissioners on Tuesday to discuss streetscape projects and other CRA issues.
Council’s next regular meeting is next Monday at City Hall.