WHR - City of Punta Gorda

Police Department• As of October 1, 2013, texting while driving is against the law. Textingwhile driving is a “secondary offense”. The measure calls for a $30 fineplus court costs for a first offense, and a $60 fine plus court costs for asecond offense within five years. Every texting ticket after that will countas a moving violation, so it can add points to your driver’s license. The bill allows for textingwhen a vehicle is not moving, and does not allow for a person’s phone records to be used incourt unless an accident causes death or injury. The Punta Gorda Police Department will phase inenforcement by providing warnings to help educate the public for those who are found to be inviolation of this new law.• Arrests Made in Local Bike Thefts – Since the beginning of the year, numerous bicycle theftshave been reported to the police department; the values range from $40 to $1,800. On Tuesday,Punta Gorda Police Detectives arrested 2 males after they were spotted riding one of the stolenbicycles from a theft on Purple Martin Drive. Both men were charged with burglary, possessionof burglary tools, grand theft, possession of methamphetamines, and possession of drugparaphernalia. On Wednesday, a follow-up investigation led to the recovery of another stolenbicycle. Additional bicycles with the serial numbers scratched off or degraded (that are believedto be stolen) are being held at this time. More arrests are pending. If anyone has been the victimof a bicycle theft and has not reported it to the Punta Gorda Police Department can contactDetective Martin Meddaugh at (941)575-5528.• Department is pleased to announce it will be hosting two Self-Defense Familiarization andExchange (S.A.F.E.) courses in the month of November (November 7 th and November 21 st ).Corporal Becky Grim, a certified S.A.F.E. instructor, will be teaching both classes. Classes arelimited to 25 participants and as of now, both classes are full. The S.A.F.E. program continues tobe a very popular course amongst citizens of all ages.Fire Department• Department is supporting Breast Cancer awareness bywearing pink uniform T-Shirts on select days in the monthof October. The pink T-shirt initiative is a collaborativeeffort by the PGFD firefighters in efforts to raiseawareness and contribute to the needs of family memberswithin the department who are currently battling BreastCancer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all friends,family and caregivers touched by cancer. Keep up the fight!• Fire Chief participated in a “Skype” interview with a middle school class in Watertown,Wisconsin. The interview focused on a class project titled “Nature’s Fury-natural disasters” Theclass targeted hurricanes as the specific area of study and selected Hurricane Charley as theirmain focus. The students had many questions relating to hurricane preparation, enduring thestorm as well as short term and long term recovery. The class gave the City of Punta Gorda anA+ on long term recovery and confirmed what we already know - “We have a beautiful City”.Finance DepartmentVacant Lot Mowing Program• Burnt Store Meadows & areas along Tamiami Trail were completed on Wednesday. Themowers are working in the Bird section & Almar Drive on Thursday and today.5

Utilities DepartmentGroundwater RO Plant Update• Peace River Manasota Regional Water Authority approved sending a letter to the SouthwestFlorida Water Management District (SWFWMD) stating that the City’s project is notinconsistent with the Authority’s regional water supply plan. This letter is required for a localgovernment to be considered for cooperative grant funding from SWFWMD.• City Council approved the RO project as the sole funding request before our State Delegation.Mayor Albers will present the request at the upcoming October 24 delegation meeting.• City has started to receive letters of support for the project To-date we have received 7.Organizations wishing to provide a letter of support may email them to citymgr@pgorda.us.Water Treatment Plant• Plant Operations: Rainfall for September 2012 - 5.10” and September 2013 - 15.40”. Rainfall forOctober 2012 - 5.10” and October 2013, so far - 0.10”. Currently the treated water has 7 grainsof Total Hardness. Hardness is a measurement of calcium and magnesium ions naturallyoccurring in the raw water. At the current level the City’s water is considered “slightly hard”.• Reservoir Information for October 3: Current Level - 5.67’, Record Low - 4.98’, Record High -7.08’ and 45 Year Average - 5.53’.City ClerkCurrent Board & Committee Vacancies• Burnt Store Isles Canal Advisory Committee (2 vacancies) - Meets 2nd Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. inCity Council Chambers. Makes recommendations to City Council on effective maintenance ofexisting canals, waterways and navigable channels (including BSI boat lock) within the district,together with the maintenance and reconstruction of seawalls. Holds public hearings and makesdeterminations on petitions for special permit to the provisions of Section 6-6(c) of the CityCode of Ordinances.• Code Enforcement Board (1 vacancy) - Meets the 4th Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in City CouncilChambers. Hears and decides alleged violations of the City Code of Ordinances.• Firefighters' Pension Board (1 vacancy) - Meets quarterly and as called in City CouncilChambers. Charged with management of the Firefighters' pension fund.• Historic Preservation Advisory Board (1 regular vacancy & 1 alternate vacancy) - Meets the 4thThursday at 8:30 a.m. in City Council Chambers. Identifies for the City Council historicallysignificant structures and sites that should be considered for designation as a "Local HistoricLandmark" or be nominated for listing on the Florida Master Site File and the National Registerof Historic Places. Makes policy recommendations for the protection of historically significantstructures and sites. Makes recommendations to staff regarding certificates of appropriateness forany demolition, variance, sign or relocation of structures. Promotes public awareness of historicarchaeological preservation and its community benefits.New Businesses• All persons, firms or corporations engaging in business or occupation within the City of PuntaGorda are required to obtain a Local Business Tax (LBT) Receipt in accordance with Chapter 12of the Punta Gorda City Code. As part of our effort to promote economic development andvitality in our area, we offer the following list of new or transferred business within ourcommunity this week: Van Ahn Associates, Inc. - 315 East Olympia Avenue, Suite 221 andFlorida Eye Health at 109 Taylor has changed its business name to Frantz Eyecare.6