Burrowing owls may get city protection
The city of Cape Coral will consider on Monday an ordinance proponents say will better protect the city’s favorite – and official – bird.
The idea of the measure is to protect, enhance, and preserve burrowing owl burrows and the birds’ immediate environment.
The small ground owl was classified as “state threatened” by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in January 2017.
City police and code officers would then be able to respond to any complaints and investigate any problems, according to Councilmember John Carioscia, who brought forth the ordinance.
It will give the city a better protection mechanism for the birds, and will duplicate the state’s laws, he added.
“The city has two official Fish & Wildlife officers assigned to the city. The Cape is 120 square miles and we have no ordinance to allow our code officers and police to respond to destruction of the nest and harming of the birds,” Carioscia said. “If we’re going to have these owls as our bird and if it’s a protected species, we should do what we can to protect them.”
The measure is not the only environmental issue on the agenda for the 4:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall.
Council is also expected to vote on a resolution regarding Lee County Interlocal Agreement for Joint Water Quality and Storage Improvements to Yellow Fever Creek Preserve.
City Utilities Director Jeff Pearson is expected to tell Council that development has altered surface water flows from U.S. 41 to the creek along North Del Prado Boulevard, and that Lee County proposes to restore flow, without negatively impacting the city’s irrigation water supply, with the construction of a surface water transfer pump station.
Lee County will support the city’s weir No. 29 Project that will increase water storage for its irrigation system. The weir has been approved for construction in the five-year utilities plan at a cost of about $1.2 million.
Also, Carl Veaux, a longtime environmental advocate in Cape Coral, will receive the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Stewardship Award for a Lifetime Commitment from Terry Cerullo, ombudsman for the FDEP’s South District Office.
Also, the council will officially authorize the issuance of $60 million in General Obligation Bonds to “finance the acquisition, construction and equipping of various parks, natural areas, recreational and athletic facilities, trails, boating, fishing and swimming facilities, and wildlife habitat and shoreline protection improvements.”
Cape Coral residents approved a referendum in November for the city to issue the bonds to pay for the city’s Master Plan for city parks and recreation.
In addition to additional neighborhood and community parks, a new environmental park is among the projects in the master plan.
“I hope we have a priority list and that we have meetings in neighborhoods about what they might like for them,” Carioscia said. “We should be responding to the people for what they want. They gave us the money, now let’s give them what they need.”
Mayor Joe Coviello is also expected to bring up the installation of “welcome” signs on the major thoroughfares entering the city (especially on Pine Island Road), as well as the potential for more “Sister City” visits as a way to improve the Cape’s image and build lasting relationships.
Also on the agenda is the appointment of two members to the Construction Regulation Board.
Council meets in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.