Government Liaison
Bill Folchi
505-8557
BillFolchi@comcast.net
July, 2008
Budget The item on the 1% sales tax last month, caused considerable buzz. This is a hot issue and a repeat and clarification of some of the details is appropriate. If this doesn't answer all the question, even more info is easily available from both the City and County web site:
http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/
http://www.charlottecountyfl.com/
Click on the Penny on either home page and you will be re-directed to a detailed explanation of the 1% sales tax extension. One thing you will see there is an impressive list of City and County projects that have been undertaken using the ISS revenue.
Since 1994, these projects have totaled $247,997,750 and of this sum, $17,250,750 was spent on City of Punta Gorda projects. The City collects a share of the total tax collected by County in proportion to its population, which is roughly 10%.
Projects being funded by the current sales tax include:
- Fire Station #2
- Linear Park Phase 1 – Retta Esplanade to Olympia
- Mooring Field East
- River walk under US 41N Bridge
- Contributions toward Conference & Events Center and Old Courthouse restoration
- Martin Luther King streetscape – Fitzhugh to Ida
- Downtown Flooding Mitigation – study, design, permitting and partial construction
- Taylor (Marion to Retta) parking improvements
- Public Works/Utilities Campus – design and partial construction
- Police vehicle replacements
Projects proposed by the City for the extended tax over the next 6 years include:
- Reconstruction of the public works/utilities complex at a new site in the Airport area or if the land swap doesn’t materialize, reconstruction at the existing site or an alternative.
- Parks, Pedestrian & Heritage Tourism Enhancements:
- Harborwalk/Riverwalk from Charlotte Regional Medical Center to Fisherman’s Village;
- Linear Park from Shreve to Historic Train Depot;
- Rails to Trails from Burnt Store Meadows to Cooper Street in areas not served by bike path along US 41; Blanchard Museum addition;
- A new park in southern area of the City;
- US 41 Gateway improvements;
- Sidewalks; Intersection Enhancements
- Police Fleet & Public Safety equipment:
- vehicles,
- computer aided dispatch system enhancements
- Sidewalks will be constructed in areas identified in the five year sidewalk program, as funding becomes available.
These projects will cost about, $10,800,000 which is the City's estimated portion of the tax. If the tax is not approved, these projects may have to be postponed, eliminated or funded from another source.
Florida statutes require that the County adopt a plan for sales tax expenditures and all revenue is kept separate from other County funds. The funds can only be used for the projects authorized by the referendum. An advantage provided by the ISS is that it is paid by both residents and visitors. Since this area has a high seasonal influx of visitors, the net effect is to reduce the cost to the local residents by about 30%.
Other Tax Related Information
Last month we reported that there is a potential increase in sales tax of 3% proposed on the two coming ballots:
- Infrastructure Sales Surtax—1%,
On the August 26 Ballot - School Property Tax Replacement—1%,
On the November 4 Ballot - Local Option Community College Funding—1%,
On the November 4 Ballot
The School Property Tax Replacement eliminates the state required ad valorem property tax and substitutes a 1% sales tax statewide.
The Local Option Community College Funding Tax proposes to amend the state constitution to authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax of 1% for five years. If the amendment is approved by the voters, counties could then hold subsequent elections to vote on the tax. This would not become a tax in 2008 but can become a tax, if approved in a 2009 election in Charlotte County.
Sign Ordinances
A meeting was held in the PGICA Civic Center to hear a presentation on the proposed sign ordinances by Teri Tubbs, Punta Gorda Building Official. The ordinance is narrowed to the possibility of a 3 ft2 sign in a yard advertising an Open House and one additional sign located elsewhere to provide direction to the event. The signs are permitted for the duration of the event and 30 minutes before and after. A 3 ft2 sign measures about 21" on each side. The ordinance will appear on the City Council Agenda in the near future.
Whalley IV Bandstand
The Punta Gorda Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved the construction of a Bandstand at Laishley Park. The project, reported in the May Commentator, was a private enterprise undertaking planned to be funded through donations. Jim Morris proposed to raise the money in cooperation with interested citizens including Marilyn Thorndycraft. Amazingly, they were back at the June 4, CRA Meeting with a grant of $47,000 from Mr. John Whalley III conditional on naming the Bandstand after his son John Whalley IV, who passed away last year at the age of 29. Even more amazingly, the CRA was hesitant due to a long standing, unwritten policy against naming public property for individuals and left the item open. At the June 11, special meeting of the CRA, a Philanthropic Naming Policy for City Property was adopted. This policy provides the framework for dealing with grants and donations involving naming of public property for benefactors. With this policy in place the CRA gratefully accepted the Whalley proposal and agreed to name the Bandstand the John Walley IV Bandstand on a plaque nearby the structure. The project is expected to be completed in months rather than the two year originally envisioned. Get your rubber chicken ready.
Hilton Garden Inn
The developers of the Hilton presented a ground level, pedestrian friendly, façade to obscure the parking lot from the street, including display windows. The conceptual design was approved by the CRA and construction should commence within months.
Herald Court Parking Garage – The Fawley Bryant design team presented the results of a value engineering review which produced a $1M+ list of net savings. The project now stands about $10.5M and is beginning to move forward.
Events Center Parking
At the City/County meeting on June 13, 2008, the issue of parking fees was discussed. The County described plans for a continuous parking charge to all visitors of $0.75/hr. City Council expressed concern and sharp disapproval arguing that there are no fees for parking elsewhere in the City and the cost of supporting the parking fee collection would drive the cost up or reduce the net revenue. County Commissioners will take the City's comments under advisement in making a final decision on parking fees.
Aqui Esta
The starting date for the Aqui Esta improvement project has been expected to be mid August for at least the past 6 months. The project was suddenly dealt a stunning blow by the possibly overprotected manatee. The Army Corps. of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that it would be possible for one of these critters to swim into a 24" culvert connecting the project drainage to the canal system and become trapped. The project will be halted while the design is modified to include protective grates at all culverts. This will push the starting date back at least a month and possibly a few months.
Deed Restrictions
The PGICA has formed a committee, headed by David Brower, to evaluate the pros and cons of re-establishing the deed restrictions. Most of the important restrictions have been codified into the City of Punta Gorda Code of Ordinances in chapter 26. However it has been deemed appropriate to evaluate the present situation and come to an updated conclusion on the subject. If you have an opinion, you may reach David at 637-8056 or email at browerd@comcast.net.