CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Cape Coral city council voted against going forward with its utility expansion project late on Monday night.

The first vote came after five hours of public comment from both sides of the issue, followed by more than 90 minutes of council discussion.

The council's vote stop city plans for installing drinking water, irrigation water and sewer lines in the Southwest 6/7 assessment area of the city, as well as denying new city drinking water lines in the North 1-8 assessment area, covering areas north of Pine Island Road.

All four utilities were denied on 4-3 votes. Mayor Jim Burch abstained due to past involvement by his survey firm.

Opponents in the crowd argued the current economy left them unable to afford assessments averaging $6,000 to $8,000 in the North 1-8 area, and $18,000 in the Southwest 6/7 area.

Council supporters argued the first required payment wouldn't come due in the North until 2012.

But the denial also has an impact on the city's existing utility customers. Earlier this year, the council approved a 92% rate increase over the next five years for 52,000 customers already on the city utility system. The first rate hike is set to hit utility bills this fall.

City council member Tim Day sponsored the revival of the project, hoping to bring in funds to pay down debts on a new water plant in the north Cape, as well as keeping rates down for existing rate payers.

But following several emotional and contentious meetings, council member Eric Grill was among those dropping his support for the project.

On the North 1-8 project, council members Tim Day, Dolores Bertolini and Derrick Donnell voted in favor of the project, with Gloria Tate, Bill Deile, Eric Grill and Pete Brandt voting against it.

A couple council members changed their positions on the Southwest 6/7 area, but the result was the same, with Day, Tate and Donnell in support of the project, and Bertolini, Deile, Grill and Brandt opposing it.


So many people showed up to talk about the project that the city had to set up a t.v. and speakers outside so everyone could see what was going on.

WINK News talked to people on both sides of the issue.

During more than five hours of public comment, 56 people told Cape Coral City Council what they think of the project. Most of them want it put on hold indefinitely, but others say they are part of the silent majority in favor of city utilities to promote growth and jobs.

Lyndia Bradley is one of some 52,000 people in the Cape already hooked in to city sewer and water.

"$32,000 is my share," Bradley says of the money she's already paid for her triple-size lot.

But, if her neighbors don't get on board too, she and others will be stuck footing a bigger bill.

"It was tough, and still is tough (to pay), but to possibly give me another $150 on my water bill could be the straw that breaks the camel's back," Bradley says.

But, that's the same thing people are saying who don't want city utilities. Some folks living Cape areas Southwest 6&7 fear the $17,000 assessment will sink them, sending their homes into foreclosure.

"Cape will be a ghost town," one man against the project tells council. "You can start by taking my keys tonight."

"What you have succeeded in doing is to pit citizens against one another," another woman tells the council.

That's because others say city utilities will increase their property value.

Darin Brown lives in the Northwest Cape: "I invested in the property, I invested in the city, I invested in the future of that city. I'm willing to pay the assessment."

He also hopes it brings jobs. More than 300 construction workers have been waiting months to roll into the next phase of Cape Coral's utility expansion.

"I'm laid off by the stoppage of the UEP," one worker tells council. "If you don't pass it tonight, I'll have to leave town, because there's no work here."

And for that -- some say putting the utility expansion back into action is about being a good neighbor.

"If you're a good neighbor, you would not want your neighbor that's in the south area to foot a bill that they've already paid their share for," Bradley says.

The city is offering various options to pay for the assessment.

WINK News also talked to four council members. We'll have full coverage of their thoughts ahead on WINK News Now This Morning.