Cape Coral City Council took its first step toward a takeover of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, which is made up of a board of appointed residents. It voted 5-3 on Oct. 18 to terminate all existing CRA board members Nov. 30, and an ordinance will be introduced in a couple of weeks to allow Council to absorb the duties of the CRA.
A CRA is created to assist in pursuing redevelopment in target areas that are characterized by blight and disinvestment. Cape Coral’s CRA meets every other month and was established to enhance the South Cape and create a vibrant urban village.
Council previously acted as the CRA, which Council member Jessica Cosden recalls from the beginning of her first term in 2015. It acted as the CRA from September 1986 to November 1993 and again from November 2012 to December 2017.
“I honestly think it’s better the way it is now,” Cosden said. “We have appointed people who are professionals in certain areas and meet certain qualifications, not that we’re not qualified. It got contentious and political sometimes with the Council being also the CRA. It just made more sense to go the way that we went.”
Council member Robert Welsh shared Cosden’s concerns, focusing on the location of the 1,957 acres the CRA encompasses.
“CRA is primarily District 1 and somewhat in District 4,” Welsh said. “I like having the opinions of people who live there and work there. Me being the CRA liaison, I know they’re going through quite a lot. They’ve got two members who are leaving, but I think there’s a few members on that board that bring a wealth of knowledge to the industry and to what needs to be done in the CRA.”
Council member Keith Long argued Council is elected at-large and votes on issues that relate to the entire city.
If approved, CRA meetings would either take place during committee of the whole meetings or City Council meetings.
“We would look to fold it into your meeting days already, so that it doesn’t add any additional time requirements for you,” City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said.
Council member Bill Steinke said a positive of Council assuming the CRA’s responsibilities would be a coordinated approach integrating decisions made by the CRA with those of Council.
Despite some consensus among the board, Council member Tom Hayden described the proposed takeover as another attempt to remove citizens from participating in the process of their community and their government.
Welsch, Cosden and Hayden were the dissenting votes.
An introduction to an ordinance for Council to serve as the CRA is expected to be presented Nov. 1, followed by a second reading two weeks later. If approved, Council will begin serving as the CRA in December.
The Nov. 7 CRA meeting will still be held with the current board.
