City Council - Regular Meeting

Test. Good morning, everybody. It's 9:00 a.m. and the microphones are working. Great. Outstanding. Congratulations on the microphones. Please let the record reflect that all council members are present. Uh we have two proclamations that I have been informed that council member Julian has been asked to provide. We have the Harborside Hometown University graduation. That'll [snorts] be Laurel. And then we have a service award that I'll present. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to provide public comment? I see no one rising, so we'll continue on our agenda. Item 3A is a resolution for the wastewater facility plan and the implementation of the master pump booster pump facility lift station 30 force main improvements. Any questions on this? We added this last minute. This is important to keep all of our water projects moving forward. And this is just part of the 190 million or whatever. This is already part of the budget that we budgeted. Is that correct? This is yes, it is included in that budget.

Thank you. And this I just want to give you a heads up that this kind of stuff will likely happen moving forward cuz we are trying to keep these water and wastewater projects moving along so quickly that as soon as we can get them on an agenda, we're going to get them in front of you. Okay. And then if there's no questions on that, we go on to ZA012026. This is a second reading. Okay. No questions? Then we have the speed detection systems and the accompanying resolution setting the hours. Uh Dr. Leskovich, if when we have this item at council, if you could read the title of the resolution into the record at that time, that's helpful. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Questions on this? No. Okay. Then we have a resolution of the city council for the administrative authority for the review and approval of plats and replats. No questions. No questions? Okay. And then we have um this was another one that was added last minute. It's the grant authorization. We had a grant in for the mooring ball fields. They need specific language that's reflected in this resolution to be able to accept the grant application, so that's why we're amending that. So instead of going to city council, it just stops at the city manager cuz I know before it always said city council always has the final approval. You will have the final approval when um so we we write the grant if we're awarded the grant, it comes to city council then for approval at that time. So there isn't a like a unnecessary amount like I think you have approval of 50% 50% of Mhm.

if the grant is more than that. If if the city would have more need to provide more than 50%, that would have to come to council. Okay. So no matter how the way this sounded is if it just kind of gave a cart blanche, so I didn't I didn't understand that.

Want to clarify, Richard? So this is the it's amended uh Rick McCool grants. Um this is amending the previous resolution that we had to add specific language that says the once awarded, staff has the authority to administer the grants. It's already in our position description, but FWC specifically wants that in the resolution in order for the um the grant application to move forward and be awarded. It's one line that they wanted and they are the only grantor that specifically wants that language because honestly, it's in our position descriptions to administer the grants once you approve it. Right. And so that's what I was saying that it still keeps us for the approval, but it just gives her the right to go ahead and move forward. Yep. Thank you. That's my clarification. Any other questions? No. No. Okay. Consent agenda, anything on there? No. The temporary use permit for the parking lot that is near Bank of the Ozarks. Questions on this? Do we know anything more about what their future plans are? Good morning. Rachel Berry, zoning official for the record. The property owner has indicated that they have plans to build a retail complex on the property. We have not seen a site plan for that yet. We have also met with another developer protocol excuse me, proposing a health facility like the front portion of the property. But again, we haven't received any applications yet. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Traffic calming on West Rita? So I don't have any questions, but for some [clears throat] reason I have gotten a lot of emails on this and the concern is not necessarily this project,

but there's a perception that they feel like we have so many other things that are going on in the city. Is this really something that we should take time to do at this moment? Again, I think the perception is that, you know, we got other things going on, so why are we bringing this into fruition as well? So just letting you know the feedback I've been getting. Yeah, I I read a lot of that thread on Nextdoor and and it appears that they don't have clarity on the length of the plan that it's phased program over many years and not a big investment at any point. Right. And if we don't start the conversation we have to start the conversation with city council to start to move in that direction if it's something that you're interested in doing. You've all been on council long enough to know exactly things don't happen overnight. It takes time to plan for things. This is the initial conversation to see if council has any interest in pursuing traffic calming in that area. I think it's really important for us to get ready as the potential of the Impact Building being um rehabilitated and possibly having a use in there. Just to start to think about really how we can get some of the traffic or slow the traffic down on West Rita because that is such an active park and it will continue to be be utilized in that manner. So it's it's an initial conversation.

And I think that's what it my point was tomorrow I'm probably going to bring up again just for public record that, you know, the city is capable of having many projects going on at the same time and just because we're talking about it doesn't mean something's going to be done tomorrow, so I'll probably just bring that up, you know, tomorrow, but that's just feedback I got. Wednesday. You have the Janine buzz. Yeah.

Wednesday. I'm so sorry. I might be here tomorrow, you never know. Janine Polk, for the record. Um, if you don't mind, I'd I'd like to say a little something because Wednesday I'm not going to be here. I will be at the MPO board meeting, um, that is between us and DeSoto County, so it's very important that I be there. But, um, my thing is is just being on the MPO board, how will this affect both Marion and any other places that, you know, people cut in to get to PGI. That is my biggest concern. Um, it will cause it will cause a jam system. So, is there something we could do on 41 to help relieve that when people are turning onto Marion? It's not easy to turn onto Marion, by the way. When you go over the bridge and you use Marion instead of Retta, it is very dangerous. You talk about pedestrians, there's a bar right there and people are always crossing to get to their cars that they parked on the other side or go to the ice cream shop, so there's a lot of walking going on in that area and I've had a lot of times where I have a green light, people are waiting behind me, I can't turn right because people are walking across the street, so um, you know, how will this impact Marion is my biggest concern. I think it's a a lovely idea. Um, and that's all I'll say on it. Thank you. Anything else? Okay. And we have our quarterly revenue and expenditure financial update. Questions? Do we have anything going on with the FEMA contract yet? I know a lot of this is the FEMA that keeps on getting moved and around. I will have the exact date that the FEMA contract closes for you on Wednesday. My recollection is it's sometime this week. There was an additional addendum. So, I think it I think it's this week that that FEMA grant manager closes. And is the, um,

the canal maintenance always in the general fund and then gets moved over to the other funds? Yeah. That's correct. Chris Yeah. So, that's how it always makes it look like a little bit of a loss is because the money keeps on getting moved over. Okay. Yes, I had actually asked Kristen that same question. Yeah. Um, Kristen Smith. [clears throat]

Yes, so when those loans were, um, done, they were done under the general fund or the general all funds, but it's meant to be used for the construct the maintenance PGI and BSI, so as they're spending it, we're moving it over. And then my other question is our city leases, we no longer have the PG chocolate and wine lease or the coffee and tea lease and it's still in here. There were there were some revenues that came in during the fiscal year. Right, but it says like projection and it still has the same amount projected when we know we're not going to have that.

Right, we haven't finished our projections, so right now it's the current budget. That's what's in the system. Okay. Until we adjust it later. Okay. As part of the budget process. Yeah. And then I noticed that bridge repair now jumped up for a current project. I thought that when we were looking at bridge repairs in our long-term, we didn't have anything for bridge repair, but now we do. I just see something for like 78,000. They carry over those funds every year, so that when they have a project, they have enough funds cuz they only ever schedule about 20,000 per year, 10 to 20,000 per year. So, they accumulate those funds and when a project is needed, those funds are available. Right. Right. I just thought that there was something that was added to it, so it looked like an expense, but it's just money. So, wouldn't that be a revenue instead of an expense? So, for, um, governmental budgeting, we have to budget the revenue and the expenditure side. So, just having it Okay. Mhm. I think that was it. Thank you. Okay. And then we will have the strategic plan quarter two update. Questions? No. Project updates. And Sarah will have a bit on proclamations. Questions? Boards and committees. My only question was with the boards and committees. I And I didn't know if anybody else felt like it um, the Builders Association is a great association. Sometimes they do want more building. I know they protect, you know, residents and everything to make sure people are licensed, but when we find that a lot of them may be pushing for higher density, taller buildings and all of a sudden we have them all on our boards, it it just concerns me and I'd like to really keep an open mind about that of who we have on our boards to make sure that they're really looking out for what the city residents and and the city is looking for overall. And how would you propose we do that? I

don't I I just think that we have to keep it open. We have to take a look I mean, I hate the word discriminate against some people that may want to sit on a board based on what we think they stand saying I'm just saying that we have to have it We have to have it open so that we can try to get more people. I think that sometimes we find somebody and we just close it off and we nominate and appoint. So, what I'm hearing is if they're on a building association, you don't want them on there? No, I'm saying that we should No, I'm not saying that we don't want them on there, Melissa. Well, I don't understand the point like the whole conversation was you want to have an open mind. I think we always do. So, how would you So, my open mind was that I'm looking at how many people are actually on the Builders Association who are on our boards. That's my only question is Right. Which means you want to discriminate against how many people are with the Builders Association that you can't do that?

balance, Melissa. But again, so are you saying if someone's on a Builders Association, you're not going to we should keep it open for more people to look to see who we have. if I shouldn't just always pick somebody and then nominate and appoint right away. I'm hearing is if there's somebody that's on a Builders Association, then are we going to keep that open for an extended time because they're on that association? I didn't say that, Melissa. Quit putting words into my mouth. Well, you literally just said that if they're on the Builders Association, you're concerned because we have too many of them on our board. So, I'm trying to figure out what that statement was about. Did I say there were too many? I said we just have Yes, you did. I just said that we have to look to see that we don't have too many. That I wanted to say that we have a variety of people on our board. Would you like to have all Builders Association?

I don't really care where they come from is if they have the experience and that's where we need them to sit and they're willing to serve, then I have no problem what other boards they sit on. If they're on a Builders Association, I would think they're even more qualified. I I just think that's a very dangerous statement. That's all. I think that we have to be open-minded to make sure that everybody [clears throat] is in alignment with what the city of Punta Gorda means and that's all I'm saying.

What your alignment is, maybe maybe not my alignment, maybe not her alignment. I'm just saying like that that's just a very dangerous statement. I'm sorry you said that. I'm done. Okay. And we are to the end of our meeting, so uh, Vice Mayor Polk, do you have anything you'd like to share? I do I do have a little bit I'd like to share and I'm not going to be here on Wednesday, so if you don't mind if I'm allowed to do that. Yeah.

Okay. Um, I have a a serious question here. Can we have a shade meeting um, in order to discuss strategy moving forward with Fisherman's Village? Short answer is no. No? No. Because we're not a party to the lawsuit regarding Fisherman's Village or Fishville. And you you can only have a shade meeting to discuss strategy for litigation that is pending in which you're a party on. Okay. Um, so when I was in the meeting the other day with Fisherman's Village potential buyers and that could be where we where we're having the issue [clears throat] with potential buyers, um, and it's hearsay, they're saying, "Oh, well, the bank is is saying that they're going to sue you." Now, this isn't the first meeting I've had with them where they've threatened that and I just want us all to be aware that it's very dangerous for us to be meeting them with their now attorney because that's who was in the meeting with me the other day. They had their attorney and then, um, a realtor, I think it was, and the potential buyer. And it's just is a little concerning to me that I didn't have anyone there and I didn't want to make any, um, statements that could potentially affect us later on down the road, so I just kind of zipped it. Um, and I hope that the other city council members have done that because, um, you know, if you haven't been involved in these kinds of transactions before, which which most of us have not, these real estate transactions that are commercial, um, we need to be careful. So, I was kind of wondering, that's why I was wondering if we could do a strategy, but I I guess what you're saying is no, we're not a part of a lawsuit, a shade meeting is not possible. It's not that it is impossible, just at this juncture it's not possible.

Okay. Yeah, I think a shade means only for what? There's like specifics, right? Negotiation or [clears throat] But I I even, you know, because to strategize at all. Yeah. You know, hearing that there may be threatened litigation could open the door potentially, so I'll look into it. Okay. And I know you won't be here Wednesday, but I'll try to have an answer for Right. everybody else and if I can find one by Wednesday, I'll give you a call. Okay. And they're saying it's, you know, it's the bank [clears throat] that that because we're causing them we're we're in the way of their sale. And, um, that's that's what they're saying, the potential buyer. Yeah. But it just could be threatening. I don't know. No, there's always two sides to every story.

Exactly. And I can tell you that that is not something that has come out of the mouth of the attorney that we've been working with on the legal side. Um, and then one other point, anytime any of you are meeting with anyone that you don't feel comfortable meeting with alone. Um Dr. Leskovich and or myself are happy to meet with you. So, please keep that in mind in the future when people reach out to you. Yes, and that was that was my mistake because when I went in there, um I was under the impression that you guys would be there. Um but you weren't. And then I was like, "Whoa, what's going on here?" And with their attorney, it was even more frightening.

Sure. Okay. Even though we're all on friendly terms, um it's still when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, it's just not a good idea to make any kind of comments that might make them feel that, you know, they're going to go there. Well, the nice thing is you could always like feel free to stop the meeting, too. Right, and say I'm out of here. yeah. Yeah. I've seen that happen before, too. [laughter] Anything else? Do you think maybe we should have a consensus maybe anytime something like this happens that we should all have, you know, city manager and city attorney with us? Just so that we don't say the wrong thing or we hear every bit's more than one set of ears hearing what they say. Mhm. It's it's it's It's up to us. And and I'll use Fishville as the example.

[clears throat] It's my understanding they want to meet with you guys to kind of give you guys an idea of who they are and where they wanted to move how they're wanting to move forward. I mean, we're on the verge of becoming a party in the lawsuit because if a sale goes through, uh they have to get approval by the courts. So, you know, we're there, but I'll certainly address some of your concerns as well. Thank you. I think that part of the problem is they state things as facts, which may or may not be facts. And so, that's where it gets tricky. Mhm. So, you're saying if they buy it, they have to get approval from the court? Yeah, yes.

then would bring us in. Which would bring us in. Would then would give us an opportunity. So, we're waiting. We're waiting. [laughter] Thank you. Council member Jillian? Yes, um Noah Hyde brought up a topic that has gotten a lot of bounce in Nextdoor, at least, um about all the cables hanging from all these lines and the safety hazards and so forth. What are our measures of recourse with this? Because they and I understand that they're dealing with this throughout the coast. Mhm. It's not just us. And it's a huge expense, and I'm not even sure how many people even use landlines anymore. I've got a box in my yard that I would like to have go away because we don't use it. But what are our measures of recourse to clean this up? So, when you're talking about hanging wires, that is certainly something that the company at Comcast will deal with. We advise residents to contact public works. They compile the information, they send it over to Comcast. Should Comcast not um comply or or start to clean things up, which usually in the past they do, then we elevate it and we go to our next contact that's higher up at the company. Um we've had good success with her. She just recently came back to the company. She'd been gone for a while. Um but certainly public works is your first your first avenue. Um give a really helps if residents have pictures and have the address. Get those sent into public works, and then um Ron's staff will get them sent to Comcast, and typically they do take care of things when they're made aware of it. Thank you. But they don't have somebody that's out there proactively patrolling looking for the wires.

Yeah, and it's not just the wires, it's the the missing covers on

covers on the Yep, you can report those as well. Um the removing an actual box, I'm not sure that we would have any luck with that getting them to do that, but um we certainly do with the covers and the hanging wires. All right. Yeah, I just noticed something on the corner here turning where uh the law firm is. It's a huge thing on the corner. Now that I'm looking, they're all over the place, you know, they're just kind of sitting there. Yeah. I'm not sure. And these microphones are marvelous. I think yes. Amen. Thank you. Mayor? Um I was just going to say I I think you're having Mike post your weekly newsletters now on social media as well because I think that's what some people are saying is, "We don't have We don't know what's going on with the city." So, I was hoping that we were going to have him They're on Facebook, and they've been on Facebook for the last 7 years. Yeah, you have the crabby people on the the other Nextdoor, so I didn't know if you just post something on Nextdoor. We don't. Uh council previous councils have directed staff not to post on Nextdoor. If you would like to change that, um we can certainly have that discussion. I'm fine if you don't, you know.

[laughter] I just heard that, you know, oh, da da da da da, you know, we don't know anything. Well, then go on a different type of social media. Or you can sign you can sign up directly, and it'll come right to your inbox. Yeah, exactly. Tell them just to sign up for, you know, your weekly newsletter on the on city's website. Yeah, I don't know why they think that social media is like the way to go on stuff. It's kind of crazy cuz it's always so true, right? That's my only comment. I have no comments. I'm good. Nope, nothing. Jennifer? Nope. Okay. Okay, we are adjourned. Thanks. Thanks.