Check back here often for current BSI and Punta Gorda news and announcements
HyperFiber is a provider of high-speed internet and will be installing a citywide fiber optic internet network within the City right-of-way. Installation began in PGI on July 10, 2023. 82% is underground and they have invested approximately $12.1 million thus far.
Pricing: No contracts. Monthly $65 for 250 Mbps, $75 for 500 Mbps, and $85 for 1,000 Mbps (1 gigabit).
Plans for the BSI installation have been submitted to the City. Communications will come to the residents via direct mail and door hangers about 30 days prior to installation starting. BSI will likely be installed in four sectors. Door hangers will not be left behind on homes with shutters or posted for sale signs.
Initially you will see utility markings within the City right-of-way, followed by the directional drilling of the fiber optic conduit. Fiber optic boxes will be installed in the right-of-way or easement at the edge of your property. They will do everything possible to avoid damaging any other underground utilities. If they do damage something, they will get it repaired as quickly as possible. Please use extra caution while driving through the project area due to construction personnel and equipment.
Once the installation of the underground and service points has been completed for the entire sector, crews will then return to individual locations for the restoration of sod. This will take place at the end of construction in each sector. Please be patient and allow time for sod restoration.
The City Engineering Department will be performing spot inspections during construction as well as a final inspection when the restoration is complete to ensure the contractor’s restoration meets the City’s requirements.
HyperFiber has provided a telephone number to call if citizens have questions or concerns about the project and installation. Please contact HyperFiber’s Scott Jackson, Director of Direct Sales & Field Operations, at 239-887-5379. For information about HyperFiber click HERE.
Watch for future updates in the BSIA Tuesday Bulletin.
***UPDATE*** Per Mayor Lynne Matthews 07/12/2024 weekly email ...
HyperFiber has provided a telephone number to call if citizens have questions or concerns about the project and installation - contact Hyper Fiber's Samantha at 941-336-4957.
***UPDATE*** Per the 07/16/2024 BSIA Tuesday Bulletin …
We have received the schedule for the HyperFiber installation. They have had some turnover and although the installation has progressed, the communication has not. Refer to the map in the 07/16/2024 Tuesday Bulletin to find your sector and its timing. Installation has already started in BSI and will continue through the week of August 25, conditions permitting.
HyperFiber will be mailing both a letter and postcard immediately to the addresses on file.
August 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM - HyperFiber will have a couple of representatives at the BSIA BOD meeting at Twin Isles Country Club to review their company, services, and construction process, and be available for any questions. NOTE: BSIA BOD meetings are open to Association members only.
City Council will meet on July 3, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at the Military Heritage Museum. Then due to their annual summer break, the second July meeting will take place on July 10, 2024. Council then takes a few weeks off and returns on August 21, 2024.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 06/21/2024 weekly email
City Council meeting agendas, agenda packets, minutes, and videos may be found HERE. Scroll down to AVAILABLE ARCHIVES and click on CITY COUNCIL .
Mosquitoes bite day and night. They spread germs through bites that can make you sick. Prevent illness by protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Use EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. DEET - Deet, Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the United States), IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) - A plant-derived ingredient, Para-menthane-diol (P.M.D.), or 2-undecanone - A plant-derived ingredient. With E.P.A.'s search tool you can specify protection time, active ingredient, and other product information click E.P.A.'s Search Tool.
Tips for babies and children:
Insect repellent on your child:
Tips for everyone:
Control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors:
Fact sheets: Mosquito Bite Prevention for the United States & Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites Outside.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 07/12/2024 weekly email
The City of Punta Gorda has an alert system geared to inform residents about public emergencies.
“Alert Punta Gorda” will allow the city to contact the entire community or target specific areas in an emergency or for urgent situations that require the public’s immediate attention.
Examples include natural disasters, man-made disasters, search and rescue situations, and sexual offender alerts.
Users can choose how they want to receive time-sensitive alerts, either through a home or business phone, mobile phone, email, text message, or more based on their preferred settings.
For more information and to register, click here.
Note: If a user opts to sign up for lightning alerts, you may receive numerous notifications throughout a storm.
Extreme heat is dangerous for us, as well as for your family pets. The American Red Cross has steps to take to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer:
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 07/05/2024 weekly email
The ASPCA also provides some hot weather safety tips for pets HERE.
Did you know your signature can change over the years? To avoid any potential problems when you go to vote, you should ensure that the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections has an up-to-date record of your signature on file. Stop by their office in the Charlotte County Historic Courthouse at 226 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda to update yours during regular business hours. Questions? Call the office at 941-833-5400.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 06/21/2024 weekly email
Vote-By-Mail (VBM) ballot requests expired on November 8, 2022. If you have not renewed your request and want to vote by mail, your request MUST be renewed by August 8, 2024. Click HERE to renew your request.
When it’s time to vote, mail your completed VBM ballot via USPS or drop it off at any of the County’s Secure Ballot Intake Stations (SBIS). SBIS locations, dates, and times may be found HERE.
Once your VBM ballot request is renewed, it is valid through December 31, 2024.
For additional information about VBM ballots click HERE.
Lastly, answers to many election questions may be found in the Charlotte County and Florida Voter Guides (click HERE for the guides) or on the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections website.
Source: Leah Valenti, Charlotte County’s Supervisor of Elections, 05/30/2024 email (Issue 13 / May 2024)
New ballot tracking service is available to follow your ballot from "printed and mailed" to "received and counted!"
BallotTrax is a secure communication system that helps voters track their Vote-By-Mail ballots. The system does not change or update a voter's registration. It uses USPS information to track outgoing and received mail, as well as voter registration that is made available via public record.
BallotTrax can send text, email, and voicemail notifications reporting the status of a voter's ballot during an election. The tracking service will provide the following notifications when the ballot:
Sign up to track your Vote-By-Mail Ballots by clicking HERE.
Source: Leah Valenti, Charlotte County’s Supervisor of Elections, 06/27/2024 email (Issue 14 / June 2024)
The City of Punta Gorda Code Compliance wishes to remind the community of the hazards and violations associated to overgrown vegetation as we approach the rainy season. Property owners are required to maintain all landscape areas, trees, and shrubs in a neat and healthy condition free of diseased, dead, or bare areas and free of debris and weeds (Chapter 26, Section 8.11(e)). Areas that are overgrown and creating a visual blight or dangerous condition by the potential blockage of public right-of-way, sidewalks, etc., are subject to the code violation process (Chapter 9, Section 9-2(g)). Any questions or concerns on the matter may be forwarded to the Code Compliance team at code@cityofpuntagordafl.com.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 05/10/2024 weekly email
Starting in July 2024, the My Safe Florida Home program started taking applications again. The program was created to strengthen Florida homes against hurricanes and save Florida homeowners money. The My Safe Florida program information is available by clicking HERE.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 05/10/2024 weekly email
The Governor has once again signed a tax break package authorizing an annual sales tax holiday for Florida residents.
Hurricane supplies - June 1-14 and August 24-September 6 will be tax free for hurricane season supplies, such as tarps, batteries, and flashlights.
Outdoor items - July 1-31, no sales tax on items such as fishing supplies, pool floats, outdoor equipment. Also, admissions to museums and state parks are sales tax free.
Back to school - July 29-August 11. No tax on pens, pencils, computers, clothing priced at $100 or less and other school supplies.
Tool savings - September 1-7, no sales tax on power tools, hand tools, toolboxes and other items.
For more information, click HERE.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 05/10/2024 weekly email
If you see a non-emergency issue or problem or something suspicious that needs to be addressed by the police, please call the Punta Gorda Police Department's non-emergency line at 941-639-4111 immediately so we can address the issue as it is happening. We often hear of issues that occurred in the past, through third parties or through other City employees. It is difficult or impossible to address these issues unless we are able to respond as they are happening. Often when these reports come through a third party it is too late or there is additional information that we need in order to respond. Of course if there is an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews weekly newsletter
All contractors who will be performing structural work on your home (roofs, pool cages, soffits, etc.) MUST be a contractor licensed in the State of Florida - click HERE to check on a specific company, AND they must also be registered with the City of Punta Gorda in order to be able to pull a building permit which is required by law. You can check on the status of a contractor's registration with the City by clicking HERE and typing in the name of the company you wish to check on. Failure for a contractor to have the appropriate licensing and registration could result in a felony for the contractor. Additionally, they may not have the required insurance and liability insurances that the state requires. Please do your homework before you sign anything!
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 05/10/2024 weekly email
Have you ever wondered about the various cul-de-sacs around BSI?
Cul-de-sac maintenance is the responsibility of the residents who live around that cul-de-sac. That's why you see so much variation. Some residents are really into creating something special and in some cases, well, not so much. Click HERE for information about the City's support for cul-de-sacs..
Cul-de-sacs that are not maintained are stripped of materials and mulched.
Curious as to which City Council district in which you live?
BSI is divided in 2 districts, 4 and 5. If you are not sure which is you, click THIS INTERACTIVE LINK on the Punta Gorda city government website.
You can sign up to get weekly emails from your City Council rep (or both!) so you stay in the loop on all the fast paced changes our city is seeing.
Below are some clickable links to find local events:
City of Punta Gorda events and festivals
Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce events
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