GOOD THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT bsi and PunTA Gorda

Did you know?

• Charlotte Harbor was visited by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and 1521.
• “Punta Gorda” was founded in 1885 by Col. Isaac Trabue of Kentucky, who purchased 30 acres of a town named for himself.
• The City Seal was adopted on November 5, 1924 by Resolution #5.
• The wood carving of the City Seal in City Hall was done by Mr. Arthur W. Paul.
• “Posperitas in Sanitat” means “Prosperity and Health”.
• The City bird is the Yellow Crown Night Heron.
• The City flower is the Hibiscus.
• The City fish is the Tarpon.
• If driving through the City you see street signs that are blue, they are City roads. If they are green, they are County roads.
• Water valve locations are marked using a thermoplastic blue “V” on the roads. 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.

Also, per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:

• It is the responsibility of every individual to make sure their driver’s license remains in a valid status. Florida offers a free and easy website that allows you to check the status of your individual license at any time. This quick and easy check shows the current status of your license and the expiration date. It works on computers, tablets, and cell phones. FLHSMV - MyDMV Portal - Driver License Check
• All license plates are required to be replaced every 10 years. More information about FL license plates may be found HERE.   

Posted 06/23/2025

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.

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. 

The Punta Gorda Police Department offers the invaluable AWAY FROM HOME Program to its residents. The primary purpose of the program is to offer vacationing, seasonal, and year-round residents the reassurance that if a problem exists at their property such as suspicious activity, utility emergencies, or other emergency conditions, the resident or their designated key holder can be contacted expeditiously. This program uses our volunteer officers and is a free service to residents. Read more about the program and how to enroll HERE.

Posted 04/15/2025

Source: City of Punta Gorda website

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.

Posted 09/17/2024

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

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

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