The City of Cape Coral is located in southwest Florida in Lee County. Incorporated on August 18, 1970, it is situated just west of the City of Fort Myers. With a growing population of approximately 146,000, it has been determined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the fifth fastest growing city (of populations over 100,000) in the United States for the second consecutive year. It is the third largest city in the state of Florida geographically, with 115 square miles. At this time, it is only 41% developed. The projected build-out population in 2080 is approximately 413,000. As a municipal government, the city’s main focus is to provide services to its residents within a regulatory framework of laws adopted by various federal, state and local government entities. Typical of most full service cities, these services include police and fire protection, code enforcement, streets maintenance and repair, parks and recreation programs, public information via the city’s web site, mailings, e-mails, public television, publications and newsletters, building inspections, animal control and trash collection as well as provision of utility services such as water, sewer and reclaimed water. In addition the city started a municipally operated charter school system in 2005. While the vast majority of these services are provided by those individuals employed directly by the City, a number of services are provided by third party private contractors. Some of these services include parks and public grounds maintenance, trash collection and construction of new roads and extension of the city’s utility system. The provision of electric service is handled by an electric cooperative. The provision of the animal control services is provided by an inter-local agreement with Lee County. Other inter-local agreements are in place with Lee County and the Lee County School District for joint use of facilities. Support services within the organization are provided by the Human Resources, Financial Services and Information Technology Service departments. The city employs approximately 1,200 fulltime employees throughout the organization. An additional 500 contract employees are utilized, particularly in those areas such as Parks and Recreation where part time, seasonal personnel are required. Contract employees are used instead of part time employees. The demographics of the City’s workforce, including contract employees is: 64% male, 36% female, 90.6% White, 6.7% Hispanic, 1.9% Black, .53% Asian/Pacific Islander, .24% American Indian/Alaskan Native, for a total of 9.4% minorities. This compares to an estimated 14.7% minority population in the City’s general population. The workforce’s educational range runs from high school diplomas to PhDs. The city currently has seven employee unions, representing all but the senior management and professional positions in the city. The City provides various “E-Services” to residents via its website, www.capecoral.net.  These include the ability to submit and receive the status of complaints/requests for service, to pay for utilities and schedule inspections, renew Business Licenses and view council agendas – all on line. The city operates under a “Council-Manager” form of government. Policy and overall direction is provided by an eight member elected City Council, consisting of a Mayor and seven Council members, all elected at large, with each councilmember residing in a specific geographic district. The Mayor and Council direct three specific executive positions: The City Manager, City Attorney and City Auditor. Each is responsible for their own operations, with the City Manager responsible for managing the day to day affairs of the City, including carrying out and enforcing the will of the City Council. The Manager directs an Assistant City Manager as well as eight major operating departments. Two additional director level positions are located within the City Manager’s office – those are the Public Information Officer and Economic Development Director. The City of Cape Coral faces a number of challenges. With only 8% of its land use zoned commercial, the cost burden of provision of general services rides disproportionately on the backs of the residential population. The city needs to correct this by attracting significantly more commerce and industry. As a pre-platted community, the diversity of land ownership and the resulting difficulties in land assembly will continue to plaque the city’s economic development efforts. Ever escalating land prices will also be a detriment to these efforts. While the city is investigating additional annexation opportunities, where non-platted land is amply available, it is in competition with developers who wish to develop additional residential, where the market is currently hot – as opposed to commercial and industrial – the city’s true need. Growing at a pace of 12,000-15,000 residents a year, the ability of the city to keep pace with the needed infrastructure (roads, utilities, facilities, parks etc.) is being severely tested. The inability to do so over both the short and long term may compromise the city’s ability to provide a suitable quality of life, creating economic and political problems for the community. As the growth continues, the quantity and quality of natural resources is threatened. This includes the provision of a resource as basic as potable water. Under emergency watering restrictions now, the city has responded to concerns. Yet, additional measures may need to be taken in order to protect this most basic of life’s needs. The city has enjoyed astronomical increases in its assessed valuation over the past three years. Increases of 30%, 29% and most recently 49% have been experienced. This resulting increase of funds has assisted the City in providing much needed additional personnel to deliver services to an ever growing population. However, concern exists that such growth cannot be sustained. The time will come when the city needs to be prepared to exist on ever diminishing increases – when the real estate bubble “bursts”. The city needs to be prepared to respond to the growing and different needs of a more diverse community. Private sector competition will continue to plague the city as it grows. This competition will not only be for services, but for manpower as well. Cape Coral At A Glance Population 1995 86,140         2000 102,067 1996 88,119         2001 107,377 1997 90,484         2002 114,919 1998 93,017         2003 124,449 1999 97,637         2004 133,995 Est. 2005 146,000 Median Age                 42 Number of Households (through 9/30/004) 50,998         Single-family/Duplex 49,972         Multi-family   1,026 Median Per Capita Income          $29,972 Racial Composition White 85.3%  Hispanic   9.7% African American   2.8% Asian/Pacific Islander   1.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native   0.9% Education For School Year 2004-2005 Number of Public/Charter Schools         15 Elementary           8 Middle           4 High Schools           3 Number of Students 17,135 Land Use Land Area                                 115 sq. miles Land Use: % of  Total Single-family and Multi-family by PDP (Planned Development Project) 35% Single-family 25% Preservation 18% Pine Island Road District 5% Mixed Use 4% Commercial/Professional 3% Multi-family 3% Parks 3% Public Facility 3% Industrial 1% 100% Developed 41% Undeveloped 59% 100% Ten Largest Property Taxpayers Taxable Valuation % of Total City Assessment Ellingwood Point LLC $  17,582,340 0.25% GRE Coralwood LP     16,998,880 0.24% Eagle, Gregory, W. Trust     15,806,640 0.23% Thieman Enterprises LLC     13,820,950 0.20% Cape Coral Holdings Inc.     13,163,800 0.19% First Home Builders of Florida     13,159,640 0.19% Coral Cover I LTD     13,057,640 0.19% Tarpon Point Associates LLC     13,003,250 0.19% Adams Homes of NW Florida Inc.     10,976,630 0.16% HWA Properties Inc.     10,071,280 0.14% $137,641,050 1.98% Assessed Taxable Property Valuation (05 Tax Year/06 Fiscal Year)                         $14,122,844,600 Property Tax Millage Rate General Operating $5.2787 Voter Approved Debt     .1119 $5.3906 Bond Ratings: Insured Underlying Moody's Investor Services Aaa A1 Standard and Poor's AAA A+ Fitch Rating Services AAA A+ Per Capita Debt: General Obligation Debt (Per Capita Fiscal Year 2005)             $42 Fiscal Year 2006 Adopted Budget: (All Funds)         $474,159,859 For more information, please visit www.capecoral.net