December 2023 City Newsletter

December 2023

A Message from

Mayor John Gunter

Happy holidays to our residents and visitors, and welcome back to our part-time residents.

To kick off the holiday season, everyone is invited to join us in front of City Hall tonight (Thursday, November 30) at 6:00 p.m. for our Annual Holiday Tree & Menorah Lighting event. The City’s Christmas tree is over 50 feet tall this year!

As we embark on another holiday season, it’s a good time to reflect on the City’s accomplishments and how far we’ve come over the past year.

Read more from the Mayor-->

Sincerely,

John Gunter

Mayor

Ribbon-Cuttings Scheduled at Two New Neighborhood Parks

In 2018, Cape Coral voters approved a $60 million expansion of the City's parks and recreation amenities, including adding seven new neighborhood parks and three community parks. These projects are now coming to fruition, with two more neighborhood parks scheduled to host ribbon-cutting events in December, including:

Sands Park (2718 SW 43rd Terrace)

Ribbon-Cutting & Community BBQ: Friday, Dec. 8, 4:30 pm

This park features walking paths, a playground, a putting green, and sports courts for basketball, tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, and cornhole.

Joe Coviello Park (3514 Oasis Woods Lane)

Ribbon-Cutting: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 10:00 am

This park features a multi-use path, boardwalk, pier, shaded picnic area, and outdoor classrooms.

Both ribbon-cutting events are free and open to the public.

See Parks GO Bond Projects

City Clerk Accepting Applications for Council Vacancy Through Dec. 1

The City Clerk is accepting District 4 applications to fill a Council vacancy. The application deadline is Friday, December 1, 2023, at 5 p.m.

Applicants must:

Reside in District 4
Be a registered elector of the City
Be a permanent resident of Cape Coral
Be a continuous full-time resident of the City for the entire calendar year immediately preceding qualification for office
Submit a statement of financial interest

City Council will conduct interviews with candidates from December 4-8, and a candidate is expected to be appointed to the vacant seat at the Regular City Council Meeting on December 13, 2023.

--> Click here to read more and access an application form.

Del Prado, De Navarra Signal Construction May Cause Lane Closures Through Dec. 5

Motorists may see temporary lane closures through Tuesday, December 5, as work continues to construct the traffic signal at Del Prado Boulevard and De Navarra Parkway.

Motorists are advised to use caution when driving through the area and are encouraged to avoid this intersection during construction hours if possible. Construction is not expected to occur over the weekend.

The speed limit on Del Prado Boulevard approaching the De Navarra intersection is reduced from 50 mph to 35 mph to ensure the safety of motorists and construction crews. Left turns onto Del Prado from De Navarra are restricted throughout construction. The traffic signal is anticipated to be completed in early 2024.

SFWMD Issues Mandatory Irrigation Restrictions for Portion of Cape Coral

On November 28, 2023, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions for a portion of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County. Landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week in the designated area for irrigation water supplied by private wells.

The impacted area is experiencing the lowest ever recorded level, and the irrigation restrictions are expected to reduce the decline in water levels.

A water shortage warning issued on November 21, 2023, is still in effect for all Collier and Lee Counties. Residents with questions about the irrigation restrictions can visit SFWMD.gov/Conserve.

All residents and businesses across the region are encouraged to use Simple Steps to Save Water throughout the year.

Residential Waste Removal Reminders

As the city's population grows and "snowbird season" brings back many seasonal residents, below are some quick reminders about the City of Cape Coral's solid waste removal program.

The City utilizes contracted solid waste removal services to help keep our city's streets clean and safe. Each residence is provided a tan bin for household waste and a green bin for recyclables. These bins are the city's property and must remain with the dwelling.

Residents should familiarize themselves with trash collection protocols to optimize available services and comply with city requirements.

Trash collection services begin at 6 a.m. Monday-Friday. Check your area's trash day online.

Garbage, recycling, yard, and bulk waste are all collected on the same day.

--> Click here for more information on the City's waste removal services.

Practice Safe Boating

The abundance of canals in and around Cape Coral makes this area a boater's paradise; however, it is essential to practice safe boating.

As we enter the busy snowbird season, remember that excessive speed and improper lookout are two of the top contributing factors to boating accidents. Ensure you understand and follow the waterway's local rules and laws closely.

Please remember the visibility, traffic density, and proximity to navigational hazards such as shoals, rocks, or floating objects. Victims drowned in ~80% of fatal boating accidents. Of those, 83% were not wearing a life jacket. Please ensure your crew and guests wear a life jacket that fits them well. This can help them stay afloat in rough waters, protect them against hypothermia, and, in some cases, keep their head above water.

Get additional boater safety information on the following websites:

https://www.uscgboating.org/

https://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/courses/

"Keep the Wreath Green" with Fire Safety

Though fire safety should be a year-round priority, particular precautions must be taken during the hectic holiday season, and the “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign serves as a reminder.

Each year since 2012, Cape Coral firefighters have placed a wreath illuminated with green bulbs at Fire Station 4, located at 2007 Santa Barbara Blvd. If a preventable fire, such as cooking, smoking, candles, etc., occurs between December 1 and January 1, one of the green bulbs will change to red.

Fortunately, with a little added awareness and some minor adjustments to holiday cooking and decorating, the season can remain festive and safe for everybody.

Keep decorations away from heat sources.

Never leave candles unattended. Extinguish them when you leave the room.

Do not overload outlets. Be sure to check that you are using surge protectors instead of power strips.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the peak days for home cooking fires.

When frying, grilling, or broiling, stay in the kitchen. Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen.

Create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.

When simmering, boiling, baking, or roasting food, stay in the home and check on it frequently; use a timer as a reminder if necessary.

Ask smokers to smoke outside and use large, deep ashtrays and wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

Ensure there is a working smoke alarm on each level of your home and practice fire escape plans with all family members and holiday guests.

By taking simple precautions, Cape Coral residents and visitors can stay safe, avoid potential fire hazards, and help to “Keep the Wreath Green.”

Fire Department Annual Toy Drive Continues Through Dec. 18

As a reminder, the Cape Coral Fire Department is collecting toys and gifts for children in our community who have special needs, suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, are in foster care, or have families struggling with financial difficulties.

Donations for boys and girls of all ages (newborn to 17 years) are needed. Gifts for teens are often in short supply. Please consider donating gift cards, makeup, body soaps and lotions, perfume or cologne, arts and crafts supplies, sports equipment, or entertainment items for this age group.

To contribute, please bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift to any of Cape Coral's 12 fire stations by Monday, December 18. For a list of stations and more information, or if you or someone you know could use a little help this year, please visit capecoralfire.com/toy-drive. If you have a business or a group that would like to partner with the Cape Coral Fire Department for toy collections, please call (239) 242-3303 or email aschuch@capecoral.gov.

City Set to Host Festive Holiday Events

'Tis the season to be jolly, and the City of Cape Coral's Special Events team is gearing up to help everyone celebrate!

The festivities will kick off on Thursday, November 30, at 6 p.m. for the City's Annual Tree & Menorah Lighting in front of Cape Coral City Hall (1015 Cultural Park Blvd.) This year's Christmas tree is over 50 feet tall and is believed to be the tallest one in Southwest Florida! Holiday vendors, food trucks, and photos with Santa will also be there.

Are you trying to keep your health on track this holiday season? Join us for the Reindeer Run 5K and Family Fun Run at Coral Oaks Golf Course (1800 NW 28th Ave) on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m. This is a fun way to get some exercise while showing off your holiday spirit!

A Cape Coral holiday tradition is back when the Holiday Boat-a-Long returns to Four Freedoms Park on Saturday, December 16, at 4 p.m. This year's event will feature food trucks, photos with Santa, and a free showing of the movie "Polar Express" on a giant inflatable movie screen after the boat parade.

Click here for more details on these and other City events.

Cape Coral Quest 2.0 Begins December 1

Cape Coral has partnered with the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau to create a NEW mobile scavenger hunt. The second edition launches on December 1, bringing new locations and amazing deals!

Whether you live in Cape Coral or are just visiting, the Cape Coral Quest Scavenger Hunt is a fun way to explore the city, learn about some of the services our community has to offer and win awesome prizes!

Participate by yourself, with a friend, or with your family. Enjoy exploring and learning about Cape Coral as you visit local businesses, parks, and fun landmarks that are all specific to our growing city. Earn points as you go and redeem them for swag! Click here for details on Cape Coral Quest 2.0.

Coral Oaks Golf School Open for Registration

Coral Oaks Golf Course is preparing to launch a new season of Golf School, with the first session scheduled to begin on Tuesday, December 5. Each comprehensive program covers Ball Flight Laws, Full Swing Reviews, Chipping, Putting, Pitching, and Bunker Play over five sessions. Classes have a maximum of a 5-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio for more personalized interaction, and the cost is just $249 for the entire course.

Whether you are a beginner wanting to learn the game of golf for the first time or an established player who wishes to fine-tune your skills, Coral Oaks Golf School is sure to provide the knowledge to improve to your game!

See Golf School Details

Ring in 2024 at the City's Inaugural New Year's Eve Celebration

The countdown to 2024 is officially on, and the City invites everyone to come down to 47th Terrace on December 31 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight to help celebrate!

The City's inaugural New Year's Eve Celebration will feature stage entertainment, a vendor village, kids' activities, and TWO Ball Drops so all ages can participate in the fun!

See NYE Event Details