INSIDE: Legal Notices
www.capecoralbreeze.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
$1.00
Council to get updates on parks and projects By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
A possible public-private partnership that could bring a community center, pool and indoor recreation center to Lake Meade Park will be discussed at Cape Coral City Council's workshop meeting Wednesday. If the P3 route garners a consensus, modifications will need to be made to the plans and permits for the as-yet-undeveloped park off Kismet Parkway near the Del Prado Boulevard extension. The Parks Go Bond progress report dis-
cussion also will include Yellow Fever construction, which is at 75% complete; Lake Kennedy Racquet Center at 95% and Crystal Lake is at 10%. The de-construction and demo contract is nearing completion for the Yacht Club, another discussion point Wednesday. Progress at the Yacht Club also includes boat slip transfers being completed and the final design and pier design proposal are in the process. Yellow Fever Creek has a budget of $6,026,287 and the contractor is OAC Action Construction. According to the
presentation there are liquidated damages being assessed on the contract. The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center has a budget of $11,243,030 and is scheduled to be completed next month. The completion date for Crystal Lake Park is scheduled for March 2025. The budget for this project is $10,293,147 and the contractor is Pavement Maintenance, LLC. Festival Park’s groundbreaking is scheduled for June 28. It has a budget of $17,829,987 and the contractor is Burke Construction Group, Inc.
City offices closed for Memorial Day
INDEX Legal Notices . . . 5-10 Local Tides . . . . . . . 3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 3
7
48445 46010
1
See UPDATES, page 4
Hurricane seminars to offer preparedness tips
NEWS OF NOTE Cape Coral City Hall will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day, and will reopen Tuesday, May 28, for regular operating hours. Trash collection services will be delayed by one day for the entire week. Parks & Recreation ■ Boat ramps, parks and preserves will be open. ■ Parks administrative offices and recreation facilities are closed Monday, May 27. ■ All offices and recreation centers will resume regular operating hours Tuesday, May 28. 311 Call Center & Water Account Services ■ The 311 Call Center and Water Account Services are closed Monday, May 27, and will reopen Tuesday, May 28. ■ To pay your water bill, visit the city website at www.capecoral.gov and go to “Pay Water Bill.” Checks can be placed in the designated payment drop box at City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral.
Permits are waiting to be obtained for Tropicana Park. In addition, the exotic tree removal and eagle nest take have been completed. The Wednesday workshop also includes quarterly reports regarding grants management, capital improvement projects, communication, and economic and business. The second quarter includes 54 active grants citywide for a total award of $155,997,733 with a total available to draw of $103,528,917.
By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
More than 150 volunteers turn out for annual Burrowing Owl Census By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Members of the community showed up in full force this past weekend to help count the little furry friends that are Cape Coral's official city bird. The sixth annual Burrowing Owl Census, put on by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, spread throughout the Cape where more than 150 volunteers helped get a better idea of how many of these unique owl species call the city home. While official numbers won't be ready for a few weeks, in 2023, organizers tallied nearly 4,000 burrowing owls, with all signs pointing to that number holding steady. “The census is a tremendous effort which could not happen without many volunteers from the community,” said CCFW spokesperson Janet Windisch. “It’s an important duty, but it's also very exciting for nature lovers. I talked to many volunteers as they returned to Rotary Park with their census results and everyone had a story about the burrowing owls they saw.” Experiences included seeing a dark eyed owl for the first time, watching owlets pop out of their
PHOTOS BY MICHIALE SCHNEIDER
Above, CCFW volunteer Dan Carney records data during the Burrowing Owl Census. Top, three burrowing owls near their burrow in the Cape. burrows to check out the census takers, and seeing owls lay on the ground with their wings spread to stay cool. Windisch said this is sometimes misinSee BURROWING OWLS, page 4
With hurricane season commencing June 1, local experts will host an event to give residents the best information on how to be prepared should a major storm arrive over the next six months. On June 15 at the German American Club of Cape Coral, the city will host its second annual Hurricane Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The event will showcase representatives from local organizations and agencies that play a key role in disaster preparedness, response and recovery,” Cape Coral Fire Department officials stated. Agencies taking part will include Cape Coral City Government, Amateur Radio Club, Area Agency on Aging, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center, Department of Financial Services, Department of Health, LCEC, Lee Health, National Weather Service, and more. WINK Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt will provide a 2024 Hurricane Season Outlook presentation from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed by a preparedness question-andanswer session with Emergency Management officials. There also will be a preparedness area for kids and food trucks onsite. “The Hurricane Expo is free and open to the public and will provide opportunity to gather essential information, connect with local experts, and become equipped with tools and knowledge to stay safe this hurricane season,” CCFD officials said. The first 100 attendees will get a free case of water to add to their preparedness kits, courtesy of Midwest Food Bank, and there will be three giveaways of preparedness items/baskets throughout the event.
See HURRICANE SEMINARS, page 4