[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6251077,"mediaKeyId","3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e","parentId",3196751,"title","External auditors give Cape Coral unmodified opinion on FY24 ACFR; auditors report no findings in single-audit testing","audioSeconds",685,"startMs",6806955,"endMs",7492190,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e&start=6806&end=7492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e/thumbnail_6806955.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251077/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/External-auditors-give-Cape-Coral-unmodified-opinion-on-FY24-ACFR-auditors-report-no-findings-in-single-audit-testing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251077-99308f54d937838d6847603391a3db6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172849&Signature=csk700pAAf6aaQAp9WkRWPDBhjYgn91Ru0MtMWDuSeEh8Xbdw8DsXG~Nx668ymGFZqZ8sT1UhinpKPfPXR94N-rF~2NPcSo2FT0hQqPk4KopDpJsijsO4X02u~-QOpKD7EmPyaQcBLPk4y5ebGnR5TNRvf3vt9Ka5PujzIE0BgxmrxvgUz5Gtyl98DOSRvj~d1onyvnrGJQjAy0d~5cOgGwtrOsiJkoFwBJd0K1tc-W3qCkIvZE~2ASPTa4U-tEwAq~k1xrS3HAsppBPycKamxtI-v8~wrzA-Ap0qqKG3rEzFWcNqAQyL8G6MbdFItXQ7ceebmy9~bAr5wLRtzdJqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cape Coral, FL","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","Malden & Jenkins, the city's external audit firm, reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on Cape Coral's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, and the city reported no audit findings in the external auditors' single-audit of major federal and state programs.

Wade Sansbury, audit partner with Malden & Jenkins, told the Committee of the Whole the city received a clean opinion on its financial statements and had no reportable audit findings, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. \"This was our very first year helping out the city with your overall audit process... The back of the report are our compliance reports... I'm very happy to report that we had none,\" Sansbury said.

Context and key numbers: city staff and auditors reported that Cape Coral received approximately $57 million in federal awards and $20.6 million in state awards during the fiscal year; the city expended roughly $77.8 million in federal and state grant funds with the auditors auditing about $70.8 million (about 91%) of those expenditures as major programs. The city reported total net assets (net position) of about $1.14 billion at year-end, with governmental net assets of approximately $396.6 million and business-type net assets of about $741.1 million (a year-over-year increase of roughly 21%). The general fund posted a net increase in fund balance of about $41.3 million, driven primarily by FEMA reimbursements that replenished the budget stabilization reserve, officials said.

Andrea Russell, City Auditor, reviewed the kinds of audits the city's internal audit office performs and how external and internal audits fit together. She emphasized the office's focus on performance audits while noting the office can also perform compliance and information-technology audits.

Other technical notes cited in the presentation: the city implemented GASB Statement No. 100 for accounting changes and error corrections during FY24 with a minimal effect on the statements; external auditors performed single-audit testing for five major programs and found no issues with management of those grant funds; the city continues to submit required schedules (SEFA) and to comply with federal reporting requirements.

Recognition: finance staff said the city earned the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown award for excellence in budgeting and financial reporting (awarded to a limited number of governments in the U.S. and Canada). City finance staff also briefed the council on the scope of routine and on-demand reporting they produce, including the ACFR, single-audit schedules, continuing-disclosure filings related to municipal bonds, and monthly/quarterly reports for the charter school.

Ending: Council members praised staff for timely reporting and the clean audit results. Staff said they will continue to maintain reporting schedules, provide required disclosures, and return with additional budget and reporting items as planned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of the Whole Meeting - April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Malben & Jenkins delivered an unmodified (clean) opinion on Cape Coral's FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; auditors reported no findings on the single-audit major programs. City staff highlighted net asset growth and FEMA reimbursements that supported the city's fiscal position.","taxTitle","Cape Coral City, Lee County, Florida","taxId",4188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251082,"Cape Coral council sets monthly minimum for Charter Review Commission, asks for topic list and rolling submissions",3984,1930505,5914915,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e&start=1930&end=5914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e/thumbnail_1930505.jpg","/articles/6251082/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-council-sets-monthly-minimum-for-Charter-Review-Commission-asks-for-topic-list-and-rolling-submissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251082-7d9485bdc25e03c863fe7d4e95ad8dd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172849&Signature=JiaJHqh8A0hzTZ996ZC--zlhr8M1lQJPt76~rz2ZYGb0C1ie496HkFcPxMoYg~sdvpuFzybQNXefiYiioYVYOfqy5esDLxglDZ8CA2b~rxOV6hTzLnDxCXTlXgLnWh9NWctf25FZmNIdIMl3IvIhPNsUxczwym3LtXqHeAEGX3yOYEj0fIL7163EGYiOq4gQmBzFd0t0GBA4R0ieKj0ZqIwzXgCeZjCicjiwf4moU0fiqsHJXttlQWt~dOPIwrqgbmL4LpZt0TyI950DuiCrY~Q--vr2qWecdJERu0D0o7mfdQ9tX8LFtGnwmy-nyZCZactOFGRy35I0xhqIuMBfMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 23 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Cape Coral City Council agreed on a process and timetable for the Charter Review Commission and flagged several priority topics for the commission to examine.

Council and staff settled on a minimum schedule of monthly meetings for the Charter Review Commission through December and set a target date of Dec. 10, 2025 for final recommendations to the council. The city attorney advised that proposed charter changes must be prepared in ordinance form with ballot language limited to 75 words and that, depending on state action (House Bill 1581 was under consideration), some timing changes could be required. \"I have to get it in ordinance form. I then have to do the ballot language. I'm limited to 75 words and then it's gotta ultimately come before you all,\" the City Attorney said, describing the constraints and recommending a rolling-submission approach so final language could be reviewed as items matured.

Why it matters: Charter changes can alter the rules that govern municipal officers, elections, compensation, and referral to public ballots. Council members said they did not want work to stall late in the process and emphasized the value of regular reporting from the commission, including minutes and periodic updates to council. The city clerk confirmed an introductory meeting with the commission already scheduled for Tuesday the 29th at 9 a.m. and agreed to provide a written summary of topics members asked the commission to consider.

Topics council members raised (not exhaustive): compensation and the relationship between duties and pay; the process and thresholds for petitioning council; mayor pro tem and succession; residency or minimum-duration residency requirements for district candidates (several members proposed a one-year residency requirement); clarifying inconsistencies between charter and city ordinances (for example, travel expense rules); term-limit language and whether to allow nonconsecutive returns after serving two terms; and the liaison/appointment process for bodies such as the Youth Council.

Council discussion covered both substance and process. Several members urged a cost-benefit approach on compensation, noting that any change should reflect the workload and duties expected of council members. The City Attorney recommended that council review recommendations on a rolling basis as they emerge rather than waiting until a final packet is complete. \"I'd rather bring it before you as it matures,\" the attorney said.

Decisions and next steps: Council directed the clerk to compile and distribute a written summary of topics raised by council members and to provide the commission with the list. The commission will meet at least monthly and report back; the mayor and members agreed that rolling submissions of finalized charter language would be forwarded to the City Attorney for drafting so that council could act on mature items before the Dec. 10 deadline. The City Attorney also cautioned that pending state legislation could shift whether proposed charter items may appear on the 2026 or a later ballot.

Ending: The council asked that the commission prioritize items that the council collectively identified and that the clerk circulate meeting minutes and topic summaries to keep the council apprised of progress.","Council directed the Charter Review Commission to meet at least monthly and asked the city clerk and attorney to facilitate rolling submission of completed recommendations ahead of a December 10 target for final recommendations; council members flagged compensation, petitions to council, mayor pro tem and residency requirements as priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251086,"Cape Coral staff brief council on NFIP participation and CRS points; outlines path to lower premiums",953,212615,1165865,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e&start=212&end=1165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196751-7f0df1e7d4eac48b2e2b950798fc2c3e/thumbnail_212615.jpg","/articles/6251086/Cape-Coral-City/Lee-County/Florida/Cape-Coral-staff-brief-council-on-NFIP-participation-and-CRS-points-outlines-path-to-lower-premiums","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251086-66dc2ad6e2e96b92ce6c3ad56fbe403e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172849&Signature=fa6fjVbw87Bt6A4FcsF7t9w2hxjOFXxww514MJMmin7MubmY6-hrZD~g0S8Ml5Kh0U5Jm9YMvBdJUiEZQgxEm7S28mV6Ffu8JVHOkVHpf8DIngNN35gys5PNSH~rUsslU8hym6x8KrWzS~SUuP4S2Ppc6m40LZPaIjfetBSUPYFWij-mt3QL6iu~2Y0UbPT~NqMfyvXOBnB1ZoydTYG0MiCHppFUzG3921i86Y0abat2uluCUb7AG4FzV7CMFs5dyI3ZOVELauf8qgQNCM80Nwqh0x1pe~76~HgKbld0FyksXqMhLLpGTde6yrdXGhCRO-qgDsnRF5J90qOKAjsFIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cape Coral City officials used a Committee of the Whole meeting on April 23 to walk council members through the city's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS), describing how program rules and local policies affect flood insurance costs for residents.

The presentation, led by Shane Kintner, Building Official, and Sophia Seys, Floodplain Manager, explained the NFIP's role in offering flood insurance for residential and nonresidential properties and the CRS' point-based system that yields premium discounts. \"The National Flood Insurance Program offers the insurance coverage for residential properties, personal property, nonresidential properties,\" Kintner said, describing the federal program's intent to reduce the financial impact of flood damage and to encourage improved floodplain management. Seys said, \"When a community participates in the CRS program, they can earn points for those activities that reduce flood risk... The more points that a community earns, the higher their CRS classification or class.\"

Why it matters: Cape Coral's flood exposure is driven by 400 miles of canals, the Caloosahatchee River and coastal influences. Participation in NFIP preserves residents' access to federally backed insurance, disaster assistance and certain federal grants and loans. The city's CRS classification directly affects many residents' flood-insurance premiums: Cape Coral is a CRS Class 5 with 2,755 points, which yields up to a 25% discount for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area, the presenters said. CRS discounts can reach as much as 45% for a Class 1 community; properties outside the SFHA (X zone) may receive smaller discounts (about 10%).

Key technical points from staff:
- Minimum NFIP requirements: adopt and enforce floodplain regulations, issue floodplain development permits, maintain floodplain maps/records, conduct outreach, and participate in audits and compliance checks.
- The \"50% rule\" (substantial improvement/substantial damage): if improvements or repairs equal or exceed 50% of a structure's market value (building value, excluding land), the entire building must be brought into compliance with current floodplain standards; the rule applies to nonconforming structures that do not meet current elevation requirements.
- CRS activities that earn points fall under public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction and warning/response. Cape Coral's higher regulatory standards (Florida Building Code, ASCE standards and the city's Land Development Code) contribute to its CRS points.

Council questions and staff responses focused on resident access to flood data, how CRS discounts are applied by insurers, and steps to raise the city's CRS class. Council Member Donnell asked for a demonstration of how residents can look up elevation certificates and flood-zone information online; staff showed the city's flood web page and the third-party Forerunner mapping service for address searches. Council members also pressed staff on how discounts are actually reflected on insurance bills; staff answered that discounts are eligibility-based and that the structure's compliance status (for example, active code violations) can limit the discount the insurer applies.

On improving the city's CRS rating, staff said several feasible steps could yield more points and that city officials are preparing a third presentation to analyze options and costs. \"There are several things that we are doing to try to actually go to a class 4 rating,\" Seys said; staff identified a stormwater study and other activities as potential point sources. Council discussions emphasized a cost-benefit approach before committing resources: \"It is a cost benefit analysis — what it takes to get the savings,\" Council Member Steinke said, urging that staff quantify costs and incremental premium savings before the city pursues higher CRS measures.

Ending: Staff said they will return with the third presentation in the series to present a prioritized list of CRS actions, estimated points and costs so council can weigh the trade-offs and decide which measures to pursue.","City staff explained how participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and the Community Rating System affects residents' flood insurance premiums, described the '50% rule' for substantial improvement/damage, and outlined options to raise Cape Coral's CRS score from Class 5 toward Class 4.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

External auditors give Cape Coral unmodified opinion on FY24 ACFR; auditors report no findings in single-audit testing

Cape Coral council sets monthly minimum for Charter Review Commission, asks for topic list and rolling submissions

Cape Coral staff brief council on NFIP participation and CRS points; outlines path to lower premiums