Demolition of the fire-damaged Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill begins.
\nFILE\/PHOTO BY LAUREN KURKIMILIS, PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST\/COURTESY OF THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL<\/p>\n
Photos by Lauren Kurkimilis, public information specialist courtesy of the city of Cape Coral<\/p>\n
A resolution that would have city-funded an extension of a natural gas main to the Yacht Club Community Park to support the Boathouse will come back to the Cape Coral City Council at a future date for a vote.<\/p>\n
Resolution 187-26 called for approval of a gas service agreement and construction deposit agreement between Peoples Gas System, Inc. and the city for the extension of the main at a cost of $596,144.<\/p>\n
Cost was the sticking point.<\/p>\n
Mayor John Gunter said at Wednesday night\u2019s Cape Coral City Council meeting that he would like to explore other funding options first, so he feels comfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a no vote today until we get other answers addressed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Other council members had questions that were not answered during the meeting. <\/p>\n
Among them was what was the cost difference between a natural gas line and propane in the ground, using hazard mitigation funds to pay for the cost, and seeing if the Kearns Restaurant Group, which is building the Boathouse at the city park would contribute money.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone asks for natural gas. Tank after tank is going in at these residences. When we think about water quality and runoff \u2014 the more of these tanks we keep putting in the ground, the greater risk we take, I believe,\u201d Councilmember Bill Steinke said. \u201cIt brings another utility opportunity that is cleaner energy to our residents that choose to hook up and don\u2019t have to sink a propane tank.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said during Hurricane Ian there was a call that the fire department responded to regarding wood banging against a propane tank at the Yacht Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is to serve utility gas to the Boathouse in lieu of the tank. Anybody along that line will have the ability to connect but it will be a private decision,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are mitigating all safety issues. That tank was 4 feet underground. You might be able to see it behind the tank, a 12 by 12 board that during that storm was literally banging into the top of that. There was a cover protecting those lines and it was broken off,\u201d<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn explained that when bringing electric or natural gas to a project \u2014 the developer, or homeowner, does not design the distribution network or transmission network \u2014 but rather TECO Peoples Gas and LCEC.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a policy. It\u2019s not negotiable,\u201d he said. \u201cBy bringing this utility to the Boathouse anybody that connects to that line within a certain amount of time, we would get a repayment credit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said the Boathouse is the city, as it is their investment, their infrastructure, and their site.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are required to provide the utilities to the site \u2013 electric, water, sewer, gas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said the city is not designing the extension, it is not going through the construction manager at risk through Wright Construction. He said it is not going to be their plans, designed by the city, or built by the city.<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said if the council was \u201cbalking at running utilities solely for the benefit of the Boathouse because it is run by a private sector business and not the city,\u201d then he needs to understand the question behind the question. <\/p>\n
He said the city planning to add more than just utilities \u2014 city is adding fire sprinklers for resiliency and hazard mitigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s just about cost, we will produce the cost benefit analysis for the tank verse the line,\u201d Ilczyszyn said.<\/p>\n