We all like nicer streets and new places to eat and shop.
Local community redevelopment agencies tackle these projects, but state lawmakers are talking about not allowing any new CRAs.
House Bill 991, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Giallombardo, is only in the amendment process, but it’s already worrying many Cape Coral City Council members.
It would prohibit community redevelopment agencies from starting new projects or issuing new debt after Oct. 1.
"Proactively, we made need to have those types of discussions of what projects do we want to implement going forward," said John Gunter, Cape Coral's mayor.
Cape Coral's city manager, Michael Ilczyszyn, said the CRA "has been a critical part of getting some of the new development downtown."
If the bill passes, no new CRAs can form, but existing ones will remain active until their sunset date or until 2045. Cape Coral's is in 2047.
The cape's CRA is working on several major projects, like Bimini Square, The Cove at 47th, and Big John's parking lot. It also votes on improving streets with landscaping and lights.
"The CRA is a way to make sure the what has come before remains vibrant, remains and visually appealing," said CRA board Chair Bill Steinke. "That will attract that future growth."
Steinke supports a resolution to oppose the bill. That resolution passed 6-2 at last week's Committee of the Whole meeting.
Back in 2023, the council voted to have members sit on the CRA. It approved a stipend to pay for their work on the board and then doubled their salaries. New council member Rachel Kaduk believes this is what sparked the bill.
"I think that this is coming because of the stipend and what happened form banning the CRA with volunteers," said Kaduk. "That's probably why it was not necessarily kept a secret, but wasn't advertised to us."
However, Steinke disagrees:
"I can only speak for the city of Cape Coral, but the stipend had absolutely nothing to do with the CRA, and there was no funding that came out of the CRA that was to support any stipends."