THIS WEEKEND. THAT’S COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. KELLY. >> WE NEED A SAFE PLACE TO WALKER KIDS. I’M HAVING A BABY. I DON’T FEEL SAFE WALKING IN THE ROAD. >> TONIGHT IN GULF COAST NEWS INVESTIGATION, CAPE CORAL CITY LEADERS DIVIDED ONCE AGAIN THIS TIME OVER WHO SHOULD PAY FOR SIDEWALKS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE. A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, SAY THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO PAY ITS PART TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE. THANK YOU FOR COUNTING ON GULF COAST NEWS. I’M KELLIE BURNS. THEY WANT THE DISTRICT TO PAY FOR SIDEWALKS AROUND THE NEW HECTOR CAFFERATA SCHOOL OFF EMBERS PARKWAY. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER DAVID BARRON IS IN THE CAPE WHERE PARENTS SAY THE SIDEWALKS. >> ARE A REQUIREMENT, NOT AN OPTION. A BATTLE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OVER THE HECTOR, A CAFFERATA SIDEWALK INTER LANE PROJECTS. >> THE CITY CLAIMS THEY WANT TO REIMBURSEMENT, BUT THE DISTRICT TELLS ME ACCORDING TO FLORIDA LAW, IT ISN’T THEIR JOB TO FOOT THE BILL. BIG BILLS AND A BIG BATTLE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE CITY IS LOOKING TO SUE THE DISTRICT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OVER HECTOR CAFFERATA SCHOOLS $900,000 SIDEWALK AND TURN LANE PROJECT A VOTE BY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY APPROVED THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION. 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS DISAGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL AND VOTED NO. I’M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND MR. CITY ATTORNEY. >> BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE I’VE LIVED IN THE CITY OF FUNDING SIDEWALKS WITH MY TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TELLS ME TODAY, QUOTE, SIDEWALKS IN TURNING LANES MENTIONED BY THE CITY COUNCIL WERE CAPITAL NEEDS. THE CITY WAS AWARE OF THAT THEY NEEDED BEFORE. HECTOR CAFFERATA WAS GOING TO BE BUILT THERE. FLORIDA LAW SAYS THE DISTRICT IS A RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING IMPACT FEES BUT CAPE CORAL MAYOR JOHN GUNTER SAYS THIS PROJECT SHOULD FALL UNDER THE DISTRICT’S RESPONSIBILITY AND BE COVERED THROUGH ITS MILEAGE. WHAT WE’RE CURRENTLY DOING NOW SAYING THEY NEEDED. THEY’RE SAYING THAT WE DON’T NEED IT. WE’RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FUND IT AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO THEM TO GET IT BACK FOR PARENTS LIKE ROBERT DOLE WITH A DAUGHTER WHO IS STARTING TO ATTEND PRESCHOOL. THE IDEA OF SIDEWALKS GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SCHOOL EASES ANXIOUSNESS. PEOPLE ALWAYS SPEEDING LEFT AND RIGHT. >> MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS WANT WALK ON THIS ROAD ANYMORE. SO IT’LL IT’LL BE A GOOD THING FOR KIDS FINALLY HAVE A SIDEWALK. THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL TELLS ME THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC THIS CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ANY FORM
Cape Coral considers lawsuit over school sidewalk and turn lane project
Updated: 6:22 PM EDT May 22, 2026
Cape Coral city officials are debating whether to sue the School District of Lee County and its superintendent over a $900,000 sidewalk and turn lane project near Hector Cafferata School. The city attorney has recommended legal action, and on Wednesday, the city council voted 5-3 to approve pursuing it. Three council members opposed the proposal. “I am just trying to understand, city attorney, because, you know, ever since I’ve lived in this city, I’ve funded sidewalks with my taxpayer dollars,” Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said. The School District of Lee County responded, stating, “Sidewalks and turning lane mentioned by the city council were capital needs the city was aware they needed before Hector Cafferata was going to be built there.”The district also emphasized that Florida law exempts them from paying impact fees. Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter argued that the project should fall under the district’s responsibility and be funded through its millage rather than charging the county. “They’re saying that they need it. We are saying we’re going to go ahead and fund it, and then we’re going to sue them to get it back,” Councilmember Keith Long said. Parents, like Robert Dull, whose daughter is starting preschool, expressed support for the sidewalk project. “People are always speeding left and right. Most of the neighbors won’t even walk on this road anymore. So, yeah, it’ll be a good thing for kids to finally have a sidewalk,” Dull said. The City of Cape Coral said it is optimistic the issue can be resolved without formal court proceedings.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral city officials are debating whether to sue the School District of Lee County and its superintendent over a $900,000 sidewalk and turn lane project near Hector Cafferata School.
The city attorney has recommended legal action, and on Wednesday, the city council voted 5-3 to approve pursuing it. Three council members opposed the proposal.
“I am just trying to understand, city attorney, because, you know, ever since I’ve lived in this city, I’ve funded sidewalks with my taxpayer dollars,” Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said.
The School District of Lee County responded, stating, “Sidewalks and turning lane mentioned by the city council were capital needs the city was aware they needed before Hector Cafferata was going to be built there.”
The district also emphasized that Florida law exempts them from paying impact fees.
Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter argued that the project should fall under the district’s responsibility and be funded through its millage rather than charging the county.
“They’re saying that they need it. We are saying we’re going to go ahead and fund it, and then we’re going to sue them to get it back,” Councilmember Keith Long said.
Parents, like Robert Dull, whose daughter is starting preschool, expressed support for the sidewalk project.
“People are always speeding left and right. Most of the neighbors won’t even walk on this road anymore. So, yeah, it’ll be a good thing for kids to finally have a sidewalk,” Dull said.
The City of Cape Coral said it is optimistic the issue can be resolved without formal court proceedings.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.