Cape Council to consider more time for public input
Cape Coral City Councilmember Marilyn Stout has proposed additional time for citizens to speak before City Council during public comment periods as a result of reducing in the number of council meetings held in 2017.
Public comment currently is set at three minutes per speaker and a total of 45 minutes. Stout’s proposal is to expand the time limits to five minutes per speaker and a total of 60 minutes.
Council will discuss the resolution amending the council agenda rules at Monday’s regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Council decided in December when it approved its annual meeting schedule to hold regular voting meetings twice a month in 2017 instead of four with one special workshop non-voting session at the end of each month. That results in three council meetings each month when citizens are alloted time for public comment on issues, ordinances and resolutions facing the governing body.
Four public hearings on proposed ordinances are listed on Monday’s agenda for discussion.
One ordinance is being brought forward to amend the city’s land use and development regulations that implements reasonable accommodation with respect to persons with disabilities with regard to federal fair housing laws preventing discrimination against persons with handicaps.
Another ordinance seeks to amend the land use element of the comprehensive plan to provide greater flexibility for development within the Commercial Activity Center classification. Since the current classification was created in 2004, the Community Development office has seen little market acceptance with almost no new development in areas designated CAC.
The change will permit development of multi-family residential, permit 5-20 acre parcels to develop multi-family residential in addition to commercial and mixed use opportunities. Currently, 20 acres is the minimum for multi-family. The amendment also removes a requirement for filing a planned development project document and removes the minimum compound use component.
Council is expected to approve a 99-year contract agreement with Cape Coral Animal Shelter Corp. to lease city property to build and operate a shelter and adoption facility behind the Lake Kennedy Senior Center.