CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral’s mayor has called a special meeting for Nov. 18 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss awarding a $400 million garbage contract, prompting questions from residents and council members about the timing and necessity of the decision.
FCC Environmental Services received the highest score in the bidding process for the contract, but competing companies Waste Pro and Coastal Waste challenged the award, sending their protests to the state for review. The meeting is scheduled ahead of the regular council meeting and before the new council is sworn in.
City rules allow special meetings for matters that cannot wait for a regular meeting due to time constraints, urgency, or importance. However, Councilmember Rachel Kaduk questioned the timing of the meeting in an email to the city attorney, writing, “The intro to this public hearing was in our last regular council meeting and therefore is scheduled.” She added, “There is no time constraint for this contract being awarded. It was just intro’d at last meeting.”
Kaduk requested an investigation into the rules and the special meeting.
The city attorney responded by copying the interim city manager and Cape Coral police chief on the email exchange to address Kaduk’s request and the potential start of an investigation.
Newly elected District 6 Councilmember Annette Warren said an independent review could help restore public trust.
“If this contract has been handled correctly, then an independent review should protect our residents and strengthen the city’s position. And why wouldn’t we want to do that?” Warren said.
People living in Cape Coral like Wes Owen expressed concerns about the process, saying, “This is just a glaring example of some of the challenges that happen here within this city council that make people question the integrity of this city.”
Owen also commented on past issues with the waste management contract, saying, “Well, I think the, the entire waste management contractors been kind of plagued with allegations of bid rigging. The city council voted to send it to DOA, then they voted not to, and then they voted to put it off in the next council. And now they’ve got a special meeting set up. You know, it may not be illegal, but just because something’s not illegal doesn’t mean it’s proper.”
Questions about the special meeting’s timing and urgency have been directed to Mayor John Gunter, who has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The meeting will be held in city chambers, and Owen is encouraging Cape Coral residents to attend to better understand what will happen with their taxpayer dollars.
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