Cape Coral Economic Development Strategic Plan

Task 1 Report

Project Kick Off/Facilitation of the Vision


1.a Project Kick-off/Project Management


  • Review Committee
    • T. Sharon Woodberry, Economic Development Officer
    • Matt Grambow, Special Projects Coordinator – City Manager’s Office
    • Laura Dodd, Principal Transportation Planner – Public Works
    • Chad Boyko, Principal Planner – Development Services – Public Works
    • Amy Yearsley, City Planning Manager – Development Services
    • Bill Corbett, Design and Construction Manager - Capital Projects
    • Melissa Mickey, Communications Manager - City Manager's Office
    • Pamela Johnson, Deputy Director, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
    • Andreana Petersen - Business Recruitment/Retention Specialist
    • Ashley Anderson - Business Recruitment/Retention Specialist
  • Kick-Off Meeting Attendees
    • Bruce Hoch - DCG Corplan Consulting LLC
    • Max Forgey - Forgey Planning
    • Alan Parter - Parter International, Inc.
    • John Dolan-Heitlinger - D-H & Associates Consulting, LLC
    • Rob DeRocker - Rob DeRocker & Assoc.
    • Michael Ilczyszyn - City of Cape Coral - Interim City Manager
    • Kimberly Bruns - City of Cape Coral - City Clerk
    • Maureen Buice - City of Cape Coral - City Manager's Office
    • Connie Barron - City of Cape Coral - City Manager's Office
    • Matt Grambow - City of Cape Coral - City Manager's Office - Special Projects
    • Tom Slaughter -City of Cape Coral - Community Redevelopment Agency
    • Vince Cautero - City of Cape Coral - Development Services
    • Chad Boyko - City of Cape Coral - Development Services - City Planning Division
    • Mark Mason - City of Cape Coral - Financial Services
    • Crystal Feast - City of Cape Coral - Financial Services
    • Ryan Lamb - City of Cape Coral - Fire- ER Services
    • Michelle Hoffman - City of Cape Coral - Information Technology Services
    • Persides Zambrano - City of Cape Coral - Public Works
    • Bill Corbett - City of Cape Coral - Public Works - Design and Contruction
    • Laura Dodd - City of Cape Coral - Public Works - Transportation Division
    • Jeff Pearson - City of Cape Coral - Utilities
    • Paul Clinghan - City of Cape Coral - Office of Capital Improvement
    • T. Sharon Woodberry - City of Cape Coral - - Office of Economic & Business Development
    • Pamela Johnson - Lee Country - Convention & Visitors Bureau

Project Kick-Off Meeting: Thursday August 17, 2023 at 1:00 PM in Conference Room 220A  

1.b Project Website

The website is complete and functioning.  Content is added as occurs. The site is hosted by GoDaddy and has SSL encryption. Address is: https://capecoraledsp-work.com/

1.c Survey and Interviews


  • Public Survey
    • SurveyMonkey.com was engaged to host new public input survey. Questions were created with the input from the Review Committee. Ten questions were posed; Nine were multiple-choice, the tenth was an essay-type
    • Final Version of Public Survey -- Publish date: 9/8/23
      Closure date: 10/13/23
      Total responses: 1,841
Summary
  • Q1: How long have you been a resident of Cape Coral, Florida?
    Leading response: Five Years
  • Q2: Which aspects of infrastructure do you think are most crucial for economic development in our area? Rank by priority of investment.
    Leading responses: Utilities, Multimodal Roadway, Stormwater Management
  • Q3: Looking to the future, which areas should Cape Coral prioritize for development over the next decade? (Select up to three):
    Leading responses: Business & Commerce, Healthcare Facilities, Education & Schools
  • Q4: How would you rate the effectiveness of local government in addressing community concerns?
    Leading response: Not Very Effective
  • Q5:. At present, the City of Cape Coral has only one college. What forms of higher education do you think the city currently lacks? (Select any that apply):
    Leading responses: Technical/Vocational Training, Community Colleges
  • Q6: How would you rate the employment opportunities in Cape Coral?
    Leading response: Fair
  • Q7: What is your opinion about the current state of tourism and its impact on Cape Coral?
    Leading response: It is good, but there are some negative impacts that should be managed
  • Q8: Are you in favor of more downtown development projects in Cape Coral?
    Leading response: Strongly in Favor
  • Q9: In the future, what would you like to see more of in Cape Coral? (Select up to three):
    Leading responses: Linear Parks & Streetscape Beautification, Outdoor Recreation Opportunities, Cultural Events
  • Q10: Please provide any additional comments or concerns you may have about Cape Coral and its future direction. Feel free to explain any of your answers to the questions above.
    1,248 written comments were received and the major themes were as follows:
    -- Desire for more greenspace throughout the City
    -- Completion of parks started though GoBond funding
    -- Rejection of the Jaycee Park plan
    -- More outdoor recreation activity opportunities
    -- Full restoration of the Yacht Club beach
    -- Tourist attraction based on water use
    -- Installation of shade trees and planted medians
    -- Installation of sidewalks in residential neighborhoods
    -- Better policing of traffic violators
    -- Better controls on vehicle storage and general cleanliness of properties
    -- Improved traffic control, stoplights, street widening – to handle ever increasing congestion
    -- Better connectivity to I-75
    -- Clean up of canals
    -- Sensitivity for eco-systems sustainability, including Redfish Point development
    -- Limitation on rental apartment construction
    -- More cohesive zoning and planning
    -- Improvement of building facades in downtown
    -- Infrastructure improvements, including burying of electrical and telecommunication cabling
    -- Higher-paying business attraction
    -- Commercial/office development in the north area
    -- Attraction of a second hospital/health care provider
    -- More efficient permitting processes
    -- Tax reduction
    -- Responsiveness from municipal government to citizens’ needs

The Public Survey results are contained in the Task 1 Report Appendices.

  • Stakeholder Interviews
    • James Sommers, RE/Max - Realtor, Residential (10/5/2023)
    • Joseph Bonara, Catalyst Development - RE Developer (10/9/2023)
    • Charles Pease, Cape Coral Technical College - Educator (10/9/2023)
    • Annette Barbaccia, Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group - Realtor, Commercial (10/11/2023)
    • Donna Shuman Germain, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce - Business Leader (10/16/2023)
    • Henrik Margard, Nor-Tech Boats - Manufacturer (10/16/2023)
    • Larry Nygard, Crown Development - RE Developer (10/17/2023)
  • Interviews Summary
    • Businesses are largely unhappy with civic leaders
    • Permitting process time are too long, personnel attitudes are poor
    • City needs to learn about benefits of fast-tracking, Public-Private-Partnerships (P3)
    • Years 2021 & 2022 were the City's highest growth years
    • Current lending climate due to inflation and interest rates are slowing investment
    • Labor supply is limited, and not often qualified
    • Educational system opportunity: Marine tech, Welders, Automotive, HVAC, Nursing, CNC production specialists, Transportation, Logistics
    • New residents are: typically 25 to 34 year old starters; or, 59-75 year old retirees
    • Demand for rental seems to overshadow ownership
    • Public awareness training needed on issues of environmental sustainability, preservation of native plant species, etc.
    • A city of 400,000 needs:
       -- Mixed-use housing development to attract younger residents
       -- Affordable workers housing
       -- Downtown development through site assemblage
       -- Tech Center to house new tech startups companies
       -- Business incubator
       -- More hospital space

1.d Facilitation of the Vision

Some initial thinking by the team has begun on this topic.

Progress thoughts:
    • Downtown mid-rise development - building above existing surface parking areas; mixed-use office buildings; Cape Coral Civic Center
    • Canal use -- water taxis throughout canal system; connect Pine Island Road to Bimini Basin; connect Cape Coral Parkway with Westin Marina Resort; Uber Boat
    • Business Development -- focus the interest of residents on spending on goods and services in Cape Coral instead of across the bridges in Fort Myers and other communities; Cape Coral VISA card; Business Improvement Districts
    • Transportation -- recognize the value of e-bikes, e-scooters, and golf carts as viable transportation elements in hot summer months; charging stations and shaded areas
    • Housing -- recommend the requiremnt for a set-aside for affordable housing for new workers

1.e Task 1 Progress Report/video conference