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• The first “Pizza with the City Manager” luncheon was held among 8 employees selected on a random basis by birthday.  Employees from Public Works, Utilities and Fire were represented and discussed such topics as our enhanced communication efforts and current/future web site improvements.  We will continue this program on a monthly basis.
• Affordable/workforce housing was discussed at the Enterprise Charlotte Board meeting to include fast track affordable housing permitting, community land trusts and use of recovery/housing funds in the County and City.  We highlighted the Trabue Woods area as a project that would jump start this program and provide needed housing and economic opportunities for our community.
• Another presentation at the Charlotte Enterprise Board was from the Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative (SWFTI), a privately funded regional coalition established to ensure that the region receives additional transportation revenues in order to maintain a strong economy and quality of life.  SWFTI has helped get significant transportation funds for Lee and Collier Counties and made a pitch for Charlotte County to join in their regional approach towards meeting our future transportation needs.
• Representatives from The Wilder Company met with the City Manager and Community Development Director regarding a significant retail shopping and residential complex on lands potentially to be annexed into the City.  The site (195 acres) is located in the Jones Loop/Taylor/41 area and could include up to 1.7 million square feet of office and retail space in addition to mixed use housing types.  Further information will be forthcoming as the project progresses through the planning and development phases.
• The City Manager addressed the Boating Alliance, which is a diverse group of community representatives interested in the promotion and future needs of the boating community.  The group will be putting together recommendations for City Council to consider in strategic planning efforts.

Police

• Chief presented the City’s Emergency Management Plan to the Punta Gorda Rotary on Friday, June 17.

• Members of the Punta Gorda Police Department, Councilmember Phelen, and the City Manager attended the final “Do The Right Thing Awards” Ceremony at the United Congregational Church on Aqui Esta.  This event honored six June award winners, and all of this year’s winners and families were invited to attend.
• The Police Department continued targeted ordinance enforcement of City Parks utilizing both uniformed, bike, and plain clothed officers.
• Detectives investigated a report of employee theft from Harpoon Harry’s at Fisherman’s Village.  A total of ten individuals have been or will be charged with grand theft stemming from this incident.  This event attracted both local and national media attention due to the nature of the incident (cleaning crews consuming/stealing alcohol after business hours).
• Plans were finalized for a specialized Emergency Vehicle Operation Course tailored specifically to train agency supervisors in the operation of new police Sport Utility Vehicles.  The course will take place at the Charlotte County Airport and will include practical exercises and training geared toward police SUV driving.  The new Ford Expedition SUV’s are scheduled for roll-out next week.

Public Works

Engineering:

• Ponce de Leon Park fishing piers & Nature Walk:  FDEP permits on file.  Bid opening was on 6/03/05.  Public Works recommending contract be awarded to Marine Contracting Group.
• West Marion Ave./Aqui Esta/Bal Harbor Traffic Study:  Kimley-Horn submitted revised proposal.  Project to be reviewed by City Manager.

Right-of-Way:

• Mary Street 97% completed; pending cleanup.  Contractor has been contacted to complete cleanup.  Project consisted of new sidewalk, curb and paving.
• 37 of the 42 hurricane road marking circles have been installed; 5 remaining circles will be installed in Section 15 after paving is completed.
• Drainage improvements ongoing at Vasco St., Gussie St. and Baynard St. between Aqui Esta and Lake Ct.; expected completion week of 7/05/05.

Parks & Grounds:

• Cul-de-sac tree replacement began week of 5/16/05; target date to complete installation of 108 trees the week of 7/05/05.
• Gilchrist Park gazebo erosion repair:  riprap replacement 75% complete, fill 75% complete.  Anticipated completion date week of 7/05/05; delayed due to rain.
• 16 of the 29 damaged City facility signs repaired; expected completion 7/18/05.
• Site preparation to install Herald Courtyard irrigation began 5/20/05.  Irrigation materials arrived            6/22/05.  Project delayed due to utility problems; expected completion week of 7/18/05.

PGI Canal Maintenance:

• Heavy rains have caused the failure of approximately 240 feet of seawall at three locations – Lot 13 & 14, Block 178 on Woodthrush Dr. (100 feet), 1006 San Mateo Dr. (80 feet) and LaCosta Island Ct. (60 feet) in PGI.  The rains have also delayed completion of other seawall and seawall cap replacement projects.
• Seawall replacement on Columbian Dr. scheduled for completion week of 6/27/05 due to rain delay.  Seawall replacement has begun on Breakers Court; completion scheduled for the week of 6/27/05.
• Work by division employees on seawall cap replacement at Woodthrush Dr. with 500’ has been completed; an additional 100’ will be replaced at a different location on Woodthrush Dr. Work to be completed week of 6/27/05.
• Division maintenance crews have begun a seawall cap replacement project on Sand Piper Ct; completion scheduled for the week of 6/27/05.

Administrative Services

Building

• The Building Department is now fully staffed. Inspections continue to be performed on a next day basis and permit applications are being processed in two weeks or less.
• On June 28, the Building Board will be presented with both the proposed fee increase as well as a proposed schedule of fines for an infraction at next Tuesday’s meeting. The Legal Department will receive both along with any changes following the meeting.

Facilities Maintenance

• Completed preparation work in City Clerk’s offices prior to move in on June 24.

GIS

• Prepared (additional) address observations for use by and delivery to Charlotte County GIS/MSBU.
• GIS project for Public Works is in Progress with delivery expected on July 1, 2005. Program used by Public Works sign crew to inventory “Regulatory Signs” for the entire city.
• Additional Request for GIS Project:  Utility requested that GIS assist with infrastructure update for new locations. Field work completed utilizing GIS/GPS field inventory system. Data uploaded and converted for use by Utility using GIS desktop software.

Utilities

• Completed a force main by-pass line to route flows from lift station 1 around lift station 3.  This change will improve lift station operating conditions of stations 1 and 3, and reduce pump run times for station 3 after heavy rain events. 
• Continued construction of a new 175,000 gallon concrete tank for wastewater residuals, (DSSU Tank).  The tank company Crom Corporation has completed the concrete tank work, and the general contractor RTD Construction will complete the pumping and piping work.  Additional improvements under this contract include upgrades to the Booster Pump Station (BPF) facility.  This work is underway.

Human Resources

• Conducted training on proper interviewing techniques for all employees involved in the hiring process.

Community Development

• The new Design Studio process to assist developers in meeting the standards set by the new design based Land Development Regulations held its first meetings this week.  Staff met with property owner representatives in regards to Sweetbay shopping center subdivision, Home Depot Subdivision, Ellen Simoni retail/residential, Socorro Village condo project, and a potential office project at Marion Ave and Booth Street.  Design Studios will be held monthly on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday in Council Chambers from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.
• Made a series of searchable map documents of the Punta Gorda Voter Districts for use on the City website.

• Met with developer to discuss construction of multi-family project in Burnt Store Meadows
• Emergency meeting for the Revitalization Committee has been called for Monday, June 27^th to discuss True Light Economic Development Corporation CRA Incentive Request for housing and economic revitalization project in Trabue Woods.

Finance Department

• Completed Proposed FY 2006 budget documents and distributed such to City Council and departments.

Fire Department

• The Chief  participated in a National Incident Management System (NIMS) Emergency Operation Center (EOC) integration seminar held by the Cape Coral Fire Department/EOC.
• All FD personnel were involved in the nationwide Fire Department Firefighter Safety Stand-Down training. During three consecutive days (Tues, Wed & Thur) all activities other than emergency responses were suspended so that the focus could be exclusively on firefighter safety, injury prevention and health.

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.