With an average score of 4.0 out of 5.0 Cape Coral City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn was widely praised for the job he’s doing running the City. Cape Coral is a strong manager style government which means the City Manager is the CEO. His boss is the 8-member City Council.
At Thursday’s special council meeting to evaluate the City Manager’s job performance over the last year, Mayor John Gunter said he has all the confidence in the world in Ilczyszyn “At times we agree, at times we don’t agree. Mike listens and he takes constructive criticism well.”
Ilczyszyn grew up in Cape Coral and began working for the government as a Water Treatment Plant Operator in 2002. He was appointed Interim City Manager in February of 2023 and lost the Interim title in September of 2023.
Council member Joe Kilraine said Ilczyszyn is doing an exceptional job. “He has a great vision for where the city is headed and he does a great job of protecting the city.”
Ilczyszyn told the Council that he wakes up every day thinking two things. “I have a chance to make a difference here in our City. And, I have a choice to execute.”
One thing several council members would like to see Ilczyszyn and his team do more of is update the community – in an easy to find format – with all the projects taking place across the City.
Ilczyszyn is entering the 3rd year of a 4-year contract. His annual salary for the previous year was $314,204. He’s eligible for a 7.25% increase which translates to $22,779. His contract stipulates his salary increase would be equal to other city employees. Ilczyszyn requested the City consider forgoing the raise in his base pay and using the money to pay benefits for his family. The City already covers his benefits. The Mayor and Ilczyszyn will now meet to work out those details.