SUMMER 2020 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins Now is the time to get ready for a hurricane he 2020 Hurricane Season started June 1. Hurricanes are El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are expected to either among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. remain neutral or to trend toward La Nina, meaning there will not be an T Early forecasts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric El Nino present to suppress hurricane activity. Also, there are warm- Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is predicting er-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic above-normal activity for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Ocean and Caribbean Sea, coupled with reduced vertical wind NOAA is a division of the National Weather Service. shear, and weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds. Similar con- The outlook predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-nor- ditions have been producing more active seasons since the mal season, a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and current high-activity era began in 1995. only a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic Hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. however, tropical storms and depressions can also be devastating. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 The primary hazards from tropical storms, tropical depressions, and to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could hurricanes, are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hur- destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip current. ricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm’s winds. these ranges with a 70 percent confidence. An average hurricane season pro- This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the duces 12 named storms. The combination of several climate factors is driving United States. Storm surge and large battering waves can result in large loss the strong likelihood for above-normal activity in the Atlantic this year. continued on page 4 Cape Coral Remains Atop HIGHLIGHTS n Hurricane Safety Tips .................... 4 PAID n Water Quality Report .................... 5 ECRWSS Safest Cities US Postage FT. MYERS, FL MYERS, FT. Police Department credits officers, staff and Permit No. 521 No. Permit n PRSRT Standard PRSRT Museum Honors 1st Responders ......... 6 POSTAL CUSTOMER POSTAL community for success n Caloosahatchee Connect Project ......... 7 he Florida Department of Law Enforcement n Fleet Receives Top Award ................. 8 (FDLE) recently released the Uniform Crime n Residential Parking Changes ............. 9 T Reporting (UCR) statistics for 2019. The City of Cape Coral is rated the safest city in Florida for violent n New City Manager Selected .............. 9 crime, with populations greater than 100,000 residents. n Cape Coral’s Flood Map ................. 10 The City of Cape Coral also had the highest reduction in n Hurricane Landscaping ................. 14 violent and non-violent crimes than any other comparable city. The Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s function is to n Fertilizer Restrictions .................... 15 generate a reliable set of criminal statistics for use in law n CCPD Responds to Current Events ....... 16 enforcement operation, administration, and management. The program n Economic Development News .......... 17 is used around the nation and has become of the country’s leading indicators as to the growth or decline in crime. n Utility Billing Cycle Changes ............. 18 The City of Cape Coral experienced a more than 19 percent decrease in n Solid Waste Contract Renewed .......... 19 violent crime and a more than 21 percent decrease in non-violent crime. n Pick Up After Your Pets .................. 20 continued on page 6 2 SUMMER 2020 WWW.CAPECORAL.NET City of Cape Coral Council Members DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 John Gunter John Carioscia Marilyn Stout Jennifer Nelson (239) 574-0437 (239) 574-0437 (239) 574-0437 (239) 574-0437 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 Lois Welsh Rick Williams Jessica Cosden (239) 574-0437 (239) 574-0437 (239) 574-0437 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] City of Cape Coral Administration City Manager City Clerk Financial Services Information Technology Services Public Works John Szerlag Kimberly Bruns, Director Victoria Bateman, Director Michelle Hoffmann, Director Paul Clinghan, Director City Attorney Community Development Fire Department Parks and Recreation Utilities Department Dolores Menendez Vince Cautero, Director Ryan Lamb, Chief Kerry Runyon, Director Jeff Pearson, Director Editor/Public Information City Auditor Economic Development Human Resources Police Department Maureen Buice, Andrea Russell Ricardo Noguera, Manager Lisa Sonego, Director Dave Newlan, Chief Sr. Public Info. Specialist On The Move is a quarterly newsletter produced by the City of Cape Coral for the citizens of the city. The publication is mailed as a courtesy to every household and business in the city. Comments or questions can be directed to the City Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 150027, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027 or by email to [email protected]. WWW.CAPECORAL.NET SUMMER 2020 3 Mayor’s Message elcome to the summer issue On The work has begun on the Coral Pointe Canal bank and their proms canceled Move. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season we have found a compromise for the future Tropi- due to the pandemic. I W officially began June 1 and experts are cana Park that I think will work for everyone. would like to thank the predicting an above-normal season. The best way I recently negotiated a contract with our next City local sponsors that have to protect your family and your home is to be pre- Manager, Rob Hernandez. Rob will take over the stepped up to support pared. Please don’t wait until a storm is headed this city’s top administrative position in mid-August and these celebrations, which way. This newsletter includes important emergency I am confident his leadership will keep Cape Coral will take place at the preparedness information to help keep you and moving in the right direction. Rob joins us from Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. your families safe this summer. the City of Fort Lauderdale after serving as the City We have an upcoming Primary election in August Speaking of safety, the country is facing un- Manager in Savannah, Georgia. and the General election is in November. It’s import- precedented times and I am encouraged that that Your City Council also will begin work on the up- ant that you vote and that you become educated on city as a whole has pulled together to support its coming Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget in August. the issues facing our community. Council districts residents and businesses during this COVID-19 Based on preliminary figures, we expect to see prop- 2, 3, 5, and 7 will be on the ballot and are elected pandemic. This pandemic was unexpected and erty values increase this year, which will provide some citywide. There also are several county and consti- has created hardships for many people, businesses, additional tax revenue. We are still evaluating the fi- tutional office seats that will appear on the ballot and organizations. Above all, we are committed to nancial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and will including three County Commission seats, four Lee making decisions with the safety of our communi- have a clearer picture of revenues and expenses when County School District seats as well as the office ty at the forefront. we reconvene in July, after a brief summer break. In of Sheriff and the Lee County Property Appraiser. I am proud that the Police Department’s part- the meantime, we are heavily scrutinizing any planned Local elections are critical and have a direct impact nership with the community keeps Cape Coral capital projects and other significant expenses. on the lives of our Cape Coral citizens. among the safest cities in Florida. There is more in- During the short break, I will be working closely On behalf of our great City, I wish you a safe and formation in this newsletter about crime statistics with the Cape Coral Rotary Foundation to host happy summer. n in the city and the Police Department’s response to Prom 2020. Six separate proms will be held for Regards, current events. I am also pleased that restoration Cape Coral and North Fort Myers seniors who had City Manager’s Message elcome to the summer issue On The Move, budget for FY 2021, the three-year rolling budget format Speaking of economic our community newsletter. This will be allows City Council and the community to consider fu- sustainability, this has been W my last message in the newsletter as I am ture financial impacts of policy-related decisions and to a long journey, which start- retiring in August after serving the Cape Coral chart the future course for the level of service we want to ed shortly after I arrived in community since 2012. provide. Essentially, a multi-year budget is a foundation 2012. Our finances and cap- This issue features our annual focus on hurricane for economic sustainability. Due to the economic impact ital assets were in perilous preparation. There are several articles and infor- resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are closely condition. Cape Coral did mation to help our residents prepare for the storm monitoring the City’s revenues. The state shared sales not have a capital program season.