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	recent Planning Commission meeting.  Topics discussed were developing a better understanding of a condo/hotel concept, limitations that can be placed on such use, public access along the river in case a boardwalk is not permitted, parking issues and façade.  The significance of this project can’t be overstated, since this may be the first, new large project to get off the ground since the Hurricane in our core downtown and provides a vista/entryway from the Peace River Bridge into our City. We need to ensure that a sound public/private partnership is secured to protect the public interest and coincide with the ongoing master plan concepts and proposals conveyed by Jaime Correa & Associates.
	City Manager met with representatives of Team Punta Gorda to get an update of Master Plan progress and discuss upcoming projects and their role in assisting the City with project implementation.
	City Manager met with representatives of Florida Power & Light to review their role as part of our Emergency Management team, thoughts on undergrounding utilities and enhancing landscaping/decorative walls around power stations.
	Action Register was implemented that identified action items, person responsible, target date and eventual completion.
	City Manager’s strategic plan proposal was featured on WINK-TVs Good Morning show, after which it was presented at the May 4 Council meeting and approved to move forward.
	City Manager, along with Finance Department staff, initiated FY 2006 budget meetings with department directors.  Preliminary indication from the Charlotte County Property Appraiser is that the total taxable valuation in the City may not demonstrate an increase due to the impact Hurricane Charley had on the commercial tax base.  If this indication turns out to be a reality, the City will be facing quite the challenge to retain the same general fund ad valorem (millage) rate and still be able to provide the same level of service.

Police Department

	Assigned Punta Gorda Police Officers continued to hand out community notification flyers to city residents and various at-risk locations (day cares, schools, etc.) in the area of registered sex offender’s homes this week.  This is a continuation of the Police Department’s new “Adopt a Sex Offender” program which was launched last week.  The Police Department has received considerable law enforcement interest in this program from across the country as well as significant positive community feedback.
	The Chief, Major, Patrol Captain, and three officers assigned to monitor city sex offenders met with four representatives from State Probation and Parole on Tuesday.  This meeting was scheduled at the request of State Probation.  They are very enthusiastic about the Police Department’s Sex Offender Monitoring Program and a commitment was made to develop a closer working relationship concerning city sex offenders.  This includes sharing of information and officer/probation visits to sex offender’s homes together.
	Punta Gorda Police Detectives procured an Arrest Warrant for James E. Garvey of Sarasota for his involvement in the robbery of the Southtrust Bank located at 401 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda on April 8th, 2005.  Garvey is currently being held in the Sarasota County Jail when served with the Punta Gorda warrant, and will be held in lieu of $1,000,000.00 bond.
	The CIS Captain and the Patrol Captain held a debriefing with all of the primary officers and employees involved in the Homicide on February 24, 2005, at 308 E. Virginia Avenue.
	On Thursday May 5, 2005 the Police Department Dive team participated in a training exercise at the Pines apartment complex.  The exercise was a search for a missing four year old girl, who was presumed to have been drowned in the complex lake.  This exercise was conducted in conjunction with the Fire Department dive team.
	On Thursday afternoon May 5, 2005 the May “Do The Right Thing” program was held in City Hall Council Chambers.  This was the next to last program of the school year and prior to the June 10th year end banquet in Ft. Myers.

Public Works Department

	Ponce de Leon Park fishing piers & Nature Walk:  FDEP permits on file.  Bid opening 5/24/05.
	Cooper Street drainage project:  Project is 90% completed.  Final inspection/walk thru to be scheduled with contractor the week of 5/9/05
	Bridge repairs:  Release of solicitation April 19, 2005, bid opening 5/13/05.
	BSI Mangrove Trimming:  Received e-mail 5/4/05 FDEP permit should be received within 90 days.
	Downtown Flood Relief:  Joint Hazard Mitigation Grant Program & Flood Mitigation assistance application submitted to FEMA & State of Florida expect response between Jul. 05 – Jan. 06.
	West Marion Ave./Aqui Esta/Bal Harbor Traffic Study:  One bid received; meeting to be scheduled week of 5/16/05 with Public Works & Procurement to review proposal.
	West Retta Esplanade design:  Meeting to be scheduled week of 5/16/05 with Public Works and Community Development & Procurement to review proposal.
	Mary Street 95% completed; pending cleanup.  Project consisted of new sidewalk, curb and paving.
	Replaced 4,275 ft. of Citywide storm related broken sidewalk; 80% completed FEMA funded.
	Cleaned storm drains in Neighborhood One.
	Mowed right-of-ways in Burnt Store Isles, Burnt Store Meadows and Punta Gorda Isles.
	Reworked swales on Captiva Ct., East Henry & Narranja.
	Removed debris and grades ditches on Rio Villa and Almar Dr.
	Mowing U.S. 41 from Aqui Esta to Taylor Road completed 5/2/05.
	Cleaning U.S. 41 medians; Aqui Esta to Airport Road target date for completion 5/11/05.  Target date to complete medians from Airport Road to William Street is 5/16/05.
	P.O. to repair 28 facility signs awarded to Images Graphics 4/29/05.
	Cul-de-sac tree replacement scheduled to begin 5/16/05.  50 cul-de-sacs, 108 trees; target date to complete 6/3/05.
	Ongoing ROW tree program – installation of 31 trees completed as of 5/2/05
	Replacement of rip rap at Ponce de Leon Park seawall completed 5/3/05.

BSI Canal Maintenance:

	Marine Contracting Group is performing seawall cap replacement at Madrid Blvd. & Port Bendres Dr.  Project is nearing completion.
	Perimeter canal dredging is underway on Macadonia Dr.  Project scheduled to be completed 5/20/05.

PGI Canal Maintenance:

	Statement of Work (SOW) forms have been issued to Marine Contracting Group for 4 seawall             replacement projects totaling 300 feet.  Actual replacement to commence week of 5/9/05.
	Seawall cap replacement projects are underway at Key Largo Dr., Turtledove Blvd., Plover Ct. & LaCosta Island Ct.  Project is ongoing.
	Division employees have replaced 200 feet of seawall cap on Wood Thrust Dr.  400 feet remain to be   replaced; project continues.
	Marine Contracting Group is cleaning & repairing the staging area on Casey Key Dr. following the completion of seawall stabilization project.
	Dredging of Bass Inlet, Snook Inlet & Ponce Inlet completed.
	Division maintenance crews have filled sinkholes at 48 locations & repaired seawall caps at 12 locations.

Community Development

	Meeting with representatives of various development projects including RaceTrac Petroleum, to discuss design and siting issues relative to proposed development.  Staff is producing suggested site plans based on the recently adopted code to assist in development submittals.
	Continue to collect data for CDBG Disaster Grant for justification of projects.
	Discussed Helen Avenue houses with City attorney, Albert Tiseo, and Contractor, PJ Custom Homes, to finalize disposition of houses.  Paperwork has been filed with Procurement for demolition of the houses.
	Meeting with Trabue Woods neighborhood residents to discuss Historic Preservation and related issues is scheduled for Thursday, May12th.
	Continue to work on the 5-year Strategic Plan for the Community Block Grant Program.  Report will be available for public to review by May 13th and will be placed on the June 15th City Council Agenda for their review and approval.
	Completing map and spreadsheet documentation for the joint School Board, County and City meeting regarding school site planning and ongoing development patterns.  Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 16th.
	Revised event manual will be presented to DRC on Friday, May 6th for their review and comment prior to Council submittal in June or July.
	Continue to assist Billing and Collections and Code Enforcement with the production of maps in conjunction with the lot-mowing program.  This project will continue through the rainy season.
	Meeting with Ed Wotitzky & Buz Berson on proposed projects along Taylor Street and Elliot (outside of the City)
	Received 60% drawings on the improvements to Laishley Park. Will be gathering internal comments to pass to consultants for preparation of 90% drawings.
	A public workshop is scheduled for May 12, 2005 at the Burnt Store Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The topic is the Burnt Store Road-Veterans Parkway-Colonial Blvd B9-County Transportation Corridor Study.
	Final coordination for placing the fountain in the Herald Court public plaza is proceeding.

Fire Department

	On May 4, 2005 “C” Shift responded to 126 E. Olympia Ave for a 30-40 gal. Diesel fuel spill in the parking lot.  The spill was a result from a ruptured fuel tank on a dump truck.  Charlotte County Fire & EMS Special Operations Team was notified to respond Mutual Aid for assistance with containment and clean-up.
	Assistant Chief completed a class titled “An Orientation to Community Disaster Exercises” and received a Certificate of Achievement through Emergency Management Institute, FEMA.
	Three PGFD personnel attended a class in St. Petersburg on “Fire Cause Determination”.  This class is in conjunction with Arson Investigation.
	All PGFD personnel completed the National Incident Management System (NIMS)-(IS 700) FEMA Distance Learning.
	Union contract negotiations were completed and the Firefighters union met on May 6 & 7 to go over the proposal.
	On May 5, 2005 the PGFD participated in a water rescue training with the Police Department at the Pines, the training included Rapid Entry Surface Rescue, Low/No Visibility and Unified Incident Command.
	12 Career and 2 Volunteer Firefighters completed the Hydraulics and Pump Operator series.
	3 practical training evolutions at the Housing Authority on Hazel Street and Marion Avenue
	PGFD volunteers conducted 1 night training at the Housing Authority on Hazel Street

Finance Department

	Held FY 2006 budget meetings with all departments to review submittals and insure all information is in the system and accounted for
	Conducted Utility Rate Study kickoff meeting

Administrative Services Department

	Prepared demolition contract for houses on East Helen Street
	Awarded restoration of US 41 beautification contract
	Awarded Herald Court landscaping contract
	Awarded emergency sludge removal contract
	Awarded seawall rehab contract for Gilchrist Park
	56 new fleet calls – 21 closed, 32 still open
	Continued repairs to decorative street lights
	Replaced stair treads at City Hall Annex
	105 code compliance issues
	284 new building permits
	404 FEMA mitigation applications
	Conducted Website Committee meeting to initiate a complete overhaul of the City’s web page and institute a process for updates and revisions

Utility Department

	Met with Stanley Consultants re: Hendrickson Dam Scope of Services
	Attended a biosolids demonstration at Lee County
	Repaired Terra Gator at WWTP
	Assistant Utilities Director did a Hurricane Charley Utility recovery presentation in  Cocoa Beach

Human Resources Department

	Conducted shade meeting presentation with City Council regarding Police & Fire bargaining unit contract negotiations.  All contracts are now in the hands of the bargaining units for ratification prior to presentation before City Council.
	Conducted Citywide Safety Committee meeting and reinforced our commitment to adhere to proper safety procedures throughout our operations

Comments from Marilyn Smith-Mooney....
You may direct your feedback, regarding this "City News" information, directly  to  our City Manager Howard Kunik at:  citymgr@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us .  Your feedback to him from the "customer's" perspective is, I'm sure, his most valuable measure of his own performance -- such as:  degree and speed of responsiveness, leadership style, different or new policies/procedures he institutes, etc.