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City Council OKs emergency purchase orders

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At Monday’s meeting, City Council readily approved two emergency purchase orders for Public Works to replace its grapple truck and the Utilities Department to hire Quality Enterprises to make repairs to two failing weirs in Northwest Cape.

The grapple truck, which had a critical breakdown last week, can not be repaired and is used daily by crews removing waste and horticultural debris from city streets and public property. Council approved the purchase from Southern Sewer Equipment Sales for $141,032 for a readily available vehicle. The emergency purchase order eliminates the typical 90 to 120 days waiting for a new vehicle to be built.

Weirs 13 and 14 failure is causing loss of pressure in the bladder control systems that raises the weirs to allow additional storage of canal water. The weirs are responsible for two-thirds of the water used for irrigation and fire suppression systems.

Quality Enterprises currently is involved in the Burnt Store Road widening project and is available immediately to begin repairs, which saves the city money by not charging mobility fees.

Utilities Director Jeff Pearson estimated the repairs to cost $136,422 and can be completed in less than 90 days.

Impact fees deferred

Council also approved deferring about $1 million in impact fees spread over eight years for the Liberty Park development at Pine Island Road and Northeast 24th Avenue.

The project includes plans for 320 apartment units, 131 beds in an assisted living facility and 25,000 square feet of retail space. It also includes a badly needed traffic signal installation at the intersection.

Economic Development Direc-tor Dana Brunett said the deferment will cost the city $55,348 in interest revenue over eight years that would be offset by the city through $2.7 million in new property tax revenue over the same period.

Lots donated for affordable housing sites

Council also approved the donation of three residential lot sites owned by the city to Cape Coral Housing Development Corporation for the construction of affordable housing.

The lots are located at 120 Nicholas Parkway West, 233 S.E. 7th Place and 628 N.E. Van Loon Lane. The three properties have been appraised at $90,000.

The city is required by law to identify properties in its inventory every three years suitable for affordable housing.

Cape Coral Housing Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that helps low and middle income families find new or remodeled homes. A family of four with an income of between $45,100 and $67,680 a year qualifies for the program.

To qualify, applicants must be able to obtain a $120,000 mortgage with a $2,000 down payment and no foreclosure judgement in the past three years.

The next meeting for City Council is a special workshop session at 4:30 p.m. on March 27 in Council Chambers. The next council voting meeting is April 3 following a 3 p.m. special meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency.