Solid Waste Manager Terry Schweitzer provided updates on debris collection and reimbursement costs in Cape Coral, announcing the city has collected 1.9 million cubic yards of debris since Hurricane Ian.  

Of the total amount of debris, 413,165 cubic yards are construction and demolition, and 1,515,000 cubic yards is vegetation. 

Canal debris removal is ongoing, currently at 71,858 cubic yards of land-based debris removal, with marine-based removal expected after the holiday break. 

Resident drop-off sites in the city will be closing Friday as usage has dropped significantly. 

Regarding the cleanup of county roads, particularly Cape Coral Parkway, Del Prado Boulevard South and Hancock Bridge Parkway, the county indicated it would have the streets completed by Dec. 21, Schweitzer said. 

The city also entered a permissible use land agreement for three months, allowing the state to conduct some of its debris removal operations on the debris site at the corner of Pine Island Road and Andalusia Boulevard. “They’ve got it fenced off, and they’re not going to bring in a lot of debris there, but it will make it logistically easier for them to get it done,” Schweitzer said. “We’re going to be on top of it and make sure that they put the site back the way it needs to go as well.” 

City Manager Rob Hernandez said the city is well into its second pass for debris removal but is still waiting to announce an upcoming final pass in any neighborhood in the city. 

In terms of reimbursement, the city will receive all of the eligible expenses it expended between Sept. 23 and Dec. 7, a period of 75 days. 

Reimbursement by the federal government was extended multiple times throughout the recovery process, initially at 30 days, then 60 days and then to 75 days, with a current request to extend to 120 days. 

“At this point, we’re so far beyond the Dec. 7 date, I’m not sure that they’re going to get to that 120 days,” Financial Services Director Mark Mason. “But if they do, it will be retroactive and will still be available to us.” 

Since Dec. 8, the cost-sharing approach began with the federal government reimbursing the city 75%, with the state and city each contributing 12.5%. 

However, the state requested the cost share be modified to 90% for the federal share, with the state and county each contributing 5%. The request has not yet been granted, but if approved, it will most likely be retroactive to Dec. 8 when the 100% reimbursement period ended.