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	Charlotte Community Foundation to negotiate an agreement for the House transfer and re-location terms.  Negotiation terms will be addressed by the Foundation and then brought before Council.
	Initial meetings between the City Manager and departments regarding FY 2006 budget proposals have been completed.  Departments have been asked to go back and re-evaluate their 2005 and 2006 expense categories and report any reductions to Finance.
	The City Manager addressed the Charlotte County Republican Club regarding the City’s strategic plan initiatives and new communication tools.  Permitting and inspection issues remain a major focus of concern based on questions raised at the function.
	The City Manager and Finance Director met with representatives of the Hammer Construction Corporation relative to their progress on reconstruction of City buildings.
	The Lee County Department of Transportation and the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization conducted a public information workshop regarding the bi-county corridor study for the Burnt Store Road Corridor.  Projected costs are estimated below. By 2015           Burnt Store: 41 to Notre Dame Blvd                             $18-23 million By 2015           Burnt Store: Notre Dame to Lee/Charlotte Line            $103 million By 2030           Jones Loop Rd: I-75 to Taylor Rd                                $4 million By 2040           Tuckers Grade: 41 to Burnt Store                                 $58 million Conceptual plans range from four-land divided roadways to those that could be widened to six-lanes in the future.  For more information, you can contact Cella & Associates at (239) 337-1071 or by e-mail at kmolnar@cella.cc.
	City Manager and Administrative Services Director met with representatives of the Community Sailing Center to begin the analysis of potential sites for a sailing activity within the City.  The analysis will highlight sailing center needs and the strengths/weaknesses of various sites.
	A reporter from the Orlando Sentinel visited the City and is writing a story on how our community is recovering from Charley.  The article should appear sometime next week.

	Our strategic plan is progressing with a letter sent to boards, commissions and civic groups asking for their input in the development of strategic objectives.  One suggestion (enhanced downtown parking) has been received to-date.
	We are scheduling a workshop with City Council in early June to present the following topics – Web Site Redesign, Project Implementation Method of Delivery, Emergency Management Plan and Renovation of City Buildings Progress Report

Human Resources Department

	Positions Filled: 2 – Permit Clerks 1 – Service Worker 1 (Waste Water Collections)
	Benefits Administration Four training sessions related to Stress Management
	Bargaining unit contracts §         Police Sergeants Union has approved their contract §         Firefighters’ union met with their executive team at the County and a formal vote will be conducted during the week of May 16 §         Fire Pension Committee met to discuss changing the multiplier for retirement. §         Police Officers’ union is still reviewing our proposal. §         City’s paralegal reviewed all contracts for scrivener’s errors.
	City Attorney Search §         Began preliminary background checks, but limited to employment and Google search until post-offer. §         One candidate, Maria Chiaro, called to withdraw.

Finance Department

·        Continued meetings with departments to go over proposed FY2005/2006 budget requests in an effort to close the gap between projected revenues and expenditures

Public Works Department

• Ponce de Leon Park fishing piers & Nature Walk:  FDEP permits on file.  Bid opening 5/24/05.
• Cooper Street drainage project:  Walk thru 5/10/05 with punch list items remaining.  Project is   substantially completed.
• 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 scheduled for 5/13/05 with Public Works, Community Development & Procurement to review proposals.

• Mary Street 95% completed; pending cleanup.  Project consisted of new sidewalk, curb and paving.
• Replaced 4,425 ft. of Citywide storm related broken sidewalk; 85% completed FEMA funded.
• Cleaned up debris in Neighborhood One.
• Mowed right-of-ways in Historical District.
• Reworked swales on Whippoorwill and Candia Dr.
• Cleaned culverts & basins in Burland & Carmelita area.
• Repaired 2 outfalls in Burnt Store Meadows with 4 more scheduled to be completed.
• Repaired outfall pipes on Lewis Dr.

• Cleaning U.S. 41 medians; Aqui Esta to Airport Road completed 5/10/05.  Crews began working on two islands at the intersection of Henry St. and U.S. 41.  Target date to complete medians from Airport Road to William Street is 5/18/05. 
• Cul-de-sac tree replacement scheduled to begin 5/16/05.  50 cul-de-sacs, 108 trees; target date to complete 6/3/05.
• P.O. for repair of Gilchrist Park gazebo erosion repair was awarded to Marine Contracting Group on 5/12/05.

BSI Canal Maintenance

• Marine Contracting Group has completed all of the seawall cap replacements projects in Burnt Store Isles.  Minor cleanup and sod replacement will be completed by 5/20/05.
• Perimeter canal dredging continues; anticipated completion date of 5/20/05.

PGI Canal Maintenance:

• Seawall replacement project has begun on Willet Ct.  Scheduled completion on 5/27/05.
• Seawall cap replacement projects in Punta Gorda Isles performed by City contractor has been completed.
• Division employees have replaced 300 feet of seawall cap on Woodthrush Dr; 200 feet remain to be replaced. 
• Seawall stabilization in Punta Gorda Isles has been completed.
• Inlet dredging in Punta Gorda Isles has been completed.
• Division maintenance crews have filled sinkholes at 53 locations and repaired seawall caps at 9 locations.

Police Department

• Detectives met with the State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit and discussed the handling of economic crime cases including but not limited to exploitation cases and contractor fraud. 
• Chief attended Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Tampa and made presentation on emergency preparedness.
• Department made first sex offender violation arrest.

Fire Department

• Asst.Chief made two presentations at the Governors Hurricane conference.
• Conducted a joint search & rescue night training evolution with paid / volunteer firefighters at Heritage Circle.
• Initiated Annual “In-Service Fire Inspections” program, utilizing all stations and on duty personnel.
• Participated in “Water Day” Celebration at Sallie Jones Elementary.  Public Education with approximately 75  5-6 year old children.
• Updated and completed 14 commercial occupancy Pre Fire Plans.  Utilizing in-service Engine/Truck crews.

Utilities Department

• Met with County regarding Challenger Boulevard Lift Station.
• Kick off meeting with Wilson Miller took place regarding Water Treatment Plant Improvements.
• Wastewater Collection staff are working on repairing Durrance Street.

Administrative Services Department

·        Contract Awarded or in Award Process

§         Burton & Associates - Water & Wastewater Rate Study

§         Landscape renovations for:  Marion Ave and Herald Court

·        Requesting estimates for moving the A. C. Freeman house

·        Drafting solicitations:

§         City Hall Annex Generator

§         EOC Mobile Kitchens

§         Directional Boring

§         Janitorial

§         Painting Council Chambers

·        Pre-Bid Meeting

§         Ponce Pier/Walk

§         Landscape Renovations on US 41

·        Facilities Maintenance is working on contracts for painting Council Chambers,  installation of new doors and frames at Laishley Park restrooms and plans for data and phone wire installation at City Hall.

·        Hurricane Charley Vehicle Repair Status:

            Total Claims Submitted 122     

            Total Claims Completed             77

            Total Claims Not Complete        45

            63.11% Complete

·        40% complete on the Address Collection Project for GIS

·        643 building inspections completed for the week with 279 new permit applications, totaling $51,644.86 in fees collected.

Community Development

• Met with Trabue Woods neighborhood to discuss Historic Preservation
• Finalized coordination for placing sidewalks at the MLK Mitigation Pond
• Met with representatives from Charlotte Regional Hospital to discuss their new medical office building and assist with variance information required
• Met with Punta Gorda Housing Authority to review revised site plans and discuss DRC process
• Discussed the Punta Gorda Trolley with Rick Bissonette and have scheduled him to do a presentation to DRC on May 27^th  prior to presenting to City Council on June 1^st
• A briefing on the new Land Development Regulations will be held on Thursday, May 19^th in City Council Chambers for City Staff.  There will be 2 sessions: 12:30 pm -2:30 pm and 2:30 pm -4:30 pm. 
• Working on application to Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services Forestry Grant.  This is a 75:25 match grant for trees lost in the 2004 hurricanes.
• Revitalization Committee will meet on  Monday, May 16^th at 9:30 a.m. – Council Chambers
• Beautification Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 17^th at 2:00 p.m. – Council Chambers

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.

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