GOOD THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT bsi and PunTA Gorda

Chief Smith of the Punta Gorda Police Department asked us to share information on the operation of golf carts on public streets and sidewalks in the City of Punta Gorda with all of our residents. The information may be found HERE.

Source: BSIA 09/17/2024 Tuesday Bulletin

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.

• To get Lynne Matthews' District 4 email, email your name, email address, and zip code to lmatthews@cityofpuntagordafl.com.
• To get Melissa Lockhart's District 5 email, email your name and email address to mlockhart@cityofpuntagordafl.com.

Punta Gorda is the county seat of Charlotte County and the only incorporated municipality in the county.

For general information, there are numerous communities in unincorporated Charlotte County that have a Punta Gorda mailing address and which are NOT in the City limits. Other than some who have City water service, all other services are provided by Charlotte County. The Charlotte County Administrator's office should be contacted for assistance.

More specifically,

• No properties north of the U.S. 41 bridges are in the City limits.
• There are also numerous housing communities that have a Punta Gorda mailing address for purposes of the U.S Postal Service, however they are NOT in the City limits. This includes but is not limited to Deep Creek, Charlotte Park, Creekside, Waterford, Calusa Creek, Harbor Heights, Windmill Village, Riviera Lagoons, Ventura Lakes, Rio Villa Lakes, Blue Heron Pines, Heritage Landing, Burnt Store Marina, Burnt Store Village, Burnt Store Lakes, Solana, Riverside Drive, portions of Aqui Esta east of Magdalena, Tropical Gulf Acres, Coral Creek, Tuckers Grade, Babcock Ranch, and others.
  • None of these communities have been annexed into the City and they are NOT serviced by City services.
  • Several of these communities still have septic, so they do NOT utilize wastewater services by either the City or the County. They are serviced by the County for sanitation, police, and fire assistance.
  • They also do NOT pay taxes to the City.

And to further clarify, if driving through the City you see street signs that are green, those are County roads. If they are blue, they are City roads. You will see both on Aqui Esta as an example.

To make things easier, Charlotte County has a tool called My Neighborhood - click HERE. Simply enter the address and the site will populate with data that includes if the address is in the City or in unincorporated Charlotte County.

Click HERE for a link to the map of the City limit boundaries. Only areas in beige on the map are in the City.

Finally, Interstate 75 does NOT run through the City of Punta Gorda. Interstate 75 is entirely in unincorporated Charlotte County in this area.

Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 09/07/2024 weekly email

Punta Gorda’s form of municipal government is known as “City Council – City Manager”.

• The City Council sets policy and hires/gives direction to the City Manager who is responsible for and oversees the day-to-day operation of the City government and reports to the Council.
• City Councilmembers are elected at-large, meaning all registered voters in the City vote for all districts in every election, and it is a non-partisan election process that takes place each November. Therefore, you will never see City Council candidates listed on a ballot that reflects their political party affiliation. Members are elected from among all registered voters with a legal residence address anywhere within the City’s boundaries. A Councilmember’s full term is two years, with the election to the City Council’s five district seats being staggered … three are up in one year and two are up the following year.
• Councilmembers equally represent all residents in the City without regard for where they live.
• The only thing that is district specific is that the Councilmember must 1] live in the district they are elected from, 2] live in their district for at least six months prior to the election and throughout their term, and 3] their campaign petitions must be signed by people in their district. Everything else is citywide.
• The City’s Mayor is not elected by the City’s registered voters. City Council appoints (i.e., elects by a majority of the five seated City Councilmembers) a Mayor and Vice Mayor once a year at the first scheduled meeting after the election is certified. The mayoral role is more of a ceremonial position.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 9:00 a.m. at the Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Avenue. in Punta Gorda. Meetings are open to the public. In addition, meetings are livestreamed on YouTube and also broadcast on Charlotte County TV20 on Sundays at 12:00 p.m.

City Council meeting agendas, agenda packets, minutes, and videos may be found HERE. Scroll down to AVAILABLE ARCHIVES and click on CITY COUNCIL.

Source: https://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/government/city-council

Posted 09/22/2024

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, they may receive numerous notifications throughout a storm.

Skip a phone call and use your mobile phone’s text messaging to find answers to your questions!

The City of Punta Gorda has invested in smart texting technology to interact with citizens. It uses a mobile phone's regular text messaging service to allow residents and visitors to quickly find links, documents, or text that answer their questions. Answers to common questions are available 24/7 through website searches and preprogrammed responses. If an immediate answer is not found, the question will go to a designated mailbox to ensure the sender gets a timely response.

It also allows residents to report issues such as code violations or issues with City infrastructure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A picture can also be added when reporting an issue or violation and the service sends the information immediately to City Staff to have the issue resolved.

No app download is needed. To subscribe simply text “Hi” to the City of Punta Gorda at 941-347-0747. Click HERE for available keyword options. You can learn about the TextMyGov technology HERE.

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

Contact the City of Punta Gorda Utilities Department as follows:

• During Business Hours M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, call (941) 575-5088 or (941) 575-3339.
• After Business Hours & on Holidays, call the after-hours number (941) 575-5070 or the Water Treatment Plant at (941) 639-2057.

The City of Punta Gorda Zoning and Code Compliance Division has prepared the Code Compliance Homeowner’s Guide to familiarize property owners and prospective property owners with code compliance within the City of Punta Gorda. The purpose of this guide is to educate citizens about the Code Compliance process. It is intended only as a general summary of Code regulations and is NOT intended as a substitute for the Punta Gorda Code of Ordinances. It also includes some maintenance recommendations which can be utilized to keep your property in a safe and sanitary condition.

Click HERE for the Code Compliance Homeowner’s Guide.

Click HERE for the Punta Gorda Code of Ordinances.

Posted 09/17/2024

The Punta Gorda Public Works Department has prepared the Waterfront Property Owner's Guide to familiarize property owners and prospective property owners with the canal system lying within the city limits of Punta Gorda. Click HERE for the Guide.

The City of Punta Gorda Urban Design Division has prepared the Homeowner’s Guide to the City’s Landscape Code to familiarize property owners and prospective property owners with landscape requirements within the City of Punta Gorda. Appropriate landscaping enhances the appearance and natural beauty of the City and protects property values. Click HERE for the Guide.

Posted 09/17/2024

Wondering about mangroves? What are they? Why are they important? Are they protected under any law?

The Living with Mangroves brochure on the City of Punta Gorda’s website provides some basic information about mangroves. Click HERE for the brochure.

Additional information about mangroves and links to other resources may be found on the Mangroves page of the City of Punta Gorda’s website.

Posted 09/17/2024

Ever wonder about the blue V’s on the City of Punta Gorda streets? The Punta Gorda Utilities Department has marked water valve locations using a thermoplastic blue “V”. The base of the “V” points in the direction of the valve and the small arrow shows the direction of water flow that the valve will isolate. Some markers have small white numbers at the base of the “V” indicating how far from the base of the “V” the valve lid is.

What is a swale? Much of our community utilizes roadside swales to convey excess storm water to the nearest body of water. Swales are shallow grass areas along the road which collect and convey runoff so that our homes and roads are not flooded. Swales function much differently than underground pipe systems that many residents are more familiar with. Besides conveying water, swales also act to filter and absorb water, resulting in cleaner canals and aquifers. A swale is expected to retain small amounts of water after a rainfall event. Unless the swale retains water for more than 72 hours since the last rainfall, it is considered to be functioning properly.

72-Hour level of service - The City of Punta Gorda utilizes a 72-hour Level of Service for determining if a drainage swale is functioning properly. For a swale to not be functioning properly, there must be standing water in the swale 72 hours after the last rainfall event. Each time an additional rainfall event occurs within 72 hours of the previous event, the time clock restarts for the 72-hour determination. It is not uncommon for successive rainfall events that are not more than 72 hours apart to lead to wet swales for weeks at a time during the rainy season. Additionally, there are areas within the City that have deeper swales that may remain wet during the rainy season due to the groundwater table. These swales are looked at from the perspective that they are draining properly rather than being without water 72 hours after a rainfall event.

Homeowners responsibility - When your home was built, engineering inspectors worked with the builder to ensure that your swale was properly constructed. Without proper maintenance, the elevation of your swale can change, causing drainage issues for you or your neighbor. It is important that you maintain your swale because the improperly maintained swale at your home may be causing problems for your neighbors several lots away even if your own drainage seems to be working fine. There are many things a homeowner can do to help maintain their swale including the following:

• Avoid over-watering and fertilization of the swale area. As the swale is the lowest part of your yard, it will naturally get moisture and nutrients that flow from the higher area.
• Keep pipes and culverts open by removing sod which may be blocking the flow of water.
• De-thatch Floratam lawns annually in the spring to remove dead vegetation below the surface.
• Avoid driving in your swale, and certainly not during wet times. Ruts cause blockages in the swale.
• Do not pile vegetation or other debris in the swale.
• Do not dispose of chemicals or other pollutants in the swale.

If there is a substantial amount of water in your swale after the 72-hour time period or if water is threatening your home, we recommend that you contact Punta Gorda Public Works at 941-575-5050 to submit a drainage complaint, or complete a problem by clicking HERE.

Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 08/10/2024 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. 

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 

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:

• Never leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes.
• Limit exercise on hot days. Exercise in the early morning or evening hours.
• Walk your pet in the grass if possible, to avoid hot surfaces burning their paws.
• If your pet is outside, make sure they have access to shade and plenty of cool water.
• Water safety is important for your furry friends. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool - they aren’t all good swimmers.
• Watch your pets at a backyard barbecue. Keep them away from the grill and know that some food can be poisonous to them. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, and products with artificial sweeteners.
• Heat stroke is a common problem for pets in the warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with an extremely thick fur coat, or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea. Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are:
  • Heavy panting and unable to calm down, even when lying down.
  • Bright red gum color.
  • Fast pulse rate.
  • Unable to get up.
  • If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees.
  • Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.
• Open windows or doors are a temptation for pets to try to get outside. Keep all doors and unscreened windows closed, and make sure screens are tightly secured.
• Some plants in your garden can be hazardous to animals. Visit the Animal Poison Control Center to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.
• Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for more information on how to include pets in emergency preparedness plans. The app also features step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, toxic substances, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, and early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app, or click HERE. 

Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 07/05/2024 weekly email

The ASPCA also provides some hot weather safety tips for pets HERE.

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: 

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.

Insect repellent on your child: 

• Always follow label instructions.
• Do not use products containing OLE or P.M.D. on children under 3 years old.
• Do not apply repellent to a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
• Apply repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child's face.

Tips for everyone: 

• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Reapply repellent as directed.
• Do not apply repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Wear protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites:
• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes. Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

Control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors: 

• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
• Use air conditioning, if available.
• Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
• Check for water-holding containers both indoors and outdoors.
• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers.

Fact sheets: Mosquito Bite Prevention for the United States & Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites Outside.
Source: Mayor Lynne Matthews 07/12/2024 weekly email