To the editor:
I sent the following to the eight members of Cape Coral City Council in advance of Wednesday’s meeting:
I sent this via email to all council members yesterday and I have a few questions you all need to consider before voting on Resolution 70-26. I only got one acknowledgment out of the 8 I sent, so I’m resubmitting my records requests in person.
First of all the resolution itself makes no mention that, as stated in Invitation to Bid 250′ Flagpole Project BPW2620SS, that “Funding: This project depends on securing financial support and will be fully financed through community contributions.” Yet it states in the resolution the award “in an amount not to exceed $420,000 utilizing those funds existing to be deposited into the Flag Trust Fund” with no mention it is to be fully funded by community donations. As written, it can be interpreted funds can come from city funds. Nothing in the resolution states otherwise. Intentional to give the City Manager a loophole to use city funds? I would like an answer.
Second: Where are the Professionally engineered drawings outlined in Invitation to Bid 250′ Flagpole Project BPW2620SS, Part II Specifications, paragraphs A & B. The drawings attached to the Resolution package are not of the flagpole or base installation, but of soil conditions at the park.
Third: Where is the FAA study that was supposed to be performed and the FAA approval of this project as required in Invitation to Bid 250′ Flagpole Project BPW2620SS, Part II Specifications, paragraph C. I would like to see these BEFORE this resolution is voted on.
Fourth: How can you be assured a solar powered 360 degree LED light as required in Invitation to Bid 250′ Flagpole Project BPW2620SS, Part II Specifications, paragraph M will stay illuminated throughout the night. No back-up power?
Fifth: On page 6 of the Supplier Response, Section 14 requires supplier to “submit 3 completed Survey Forms for past projects within the past year, preferably projects of similar scope and size.”
And not to mention the traffic mess during installation, like Cape Coral Parkway isn’t a traffic horror already. Why can’t the city mandate construction be done at night to alleviate traffic issues?
How will the flagpole maintenance be funded?
Will specific insurance will be procured for the flagpole in case of catastrophic failure and what will it cost annually?
Before considering this resolution, the City Manager must provide these contract requirements. That is your responsibility to assure all aspects of the contract are being met.
Needless to say, once again the city manager waits until the last minute to present this so you will take his urgency as justification to pass this. PLEASE don’t. He confidently promised he would have no issue raising the funds privately and he still has just over 50% raised. And on that note, what city contracts has Andrews Sitework, LLC been awarded? I would like an answer. I’ve added the information below that was not included with the 3/3/26 email sent to council:
Also, in the documentation attached to Resolution 70-26, the “Bid Tab at Opening” states, at the top of the page “Apparent low is base bid only.” Please clarify what, precisely, that means. Is the accepted bid only a starting point and costs will escalate? If costs escalate, who will pay those costs?
Additionally, regarding Resolution 69-26 how can use of city logo(s) constitute “violations that directly implicate public health, safety or general welfare of the city, it’s residents and visitors?” Please be specific as many have received cease and desist letters for often inadvertent use of a city logo. I want a clear explanation or is this just another resolution to fleece Cape Coral taxpayers by fining people into submission? Response requested.
I would like to know how the City Manager is going to get the funding to buy the remaining 5 properties in the initial scope of Bimini East that the city does not yet own. There are 3 properties on Triton Court East and one on Manor Court. The price the current owners paid for those properties is $3,280,000 which does not include George’s auto repair shop. Could not find current value on that property. So I seriously doubt the current owners of those properties are about to sell them for less than what they paid for them unless the City Manager gives them a sweetheart deal paid for by taxpayers. Then they are also eyeing the Lake Michigan Credit Union and the gelato store right in front of Four Freedoms Park — Cape Coral’s first public park they are planning on giving to developers — another park taken away from the people by unscrupulous city management and council. They say it is not on the table, but was mentioned in the Bimini East Contractors event last year. They are also eyeing 506 Cape Coral Parkway — another bank. Add what those owners paid for their properties, the MINIMUM the city would have to pay these 3 properties is another $3.1 million. I guess losing $25 million on the major purchase of Bimini East wasn’t enough. Remember, Sunseeker Resort paid approx. $22 million for the 22 acres that the resort sits on and it has expansive waterfront footage — not the measly 100′ at Four Freedoms Park. And also remember, Sunseeker was built for $700 million and sold last year for $200 million — a $500 million loss. How much will we lose and why does the city manager still have a job? Further proof no one in Cape Coral administration is ever held responsible for their costly screw ups. IMHO they just keep expecting us to pay for their incompetence and council obliges. Outrage by citizens seems to be routinely ignored.
Marie Kavanaugh
Cape Coral