[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6273375,"mediaKeyId","3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f","parentId",3000958,"title","Council asks staff to rethink proposed ADA parking on West Marion after safety and location concerns","audioSeconds",252,"startMs",3020000,"endMs",3272000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f&start=3020&end=3272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f/thumbnail_3020000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273375/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Council-asks-staff-to-rethink-proposed-ADA-parking-on-West-Marion-after-safety-and-location-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273375-56d5f1661fb4d21c82efd0761c95318c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197475&Signature=ZsqNqPUgUDHQ-SvkUgeXFKCAVJ0NDimFi~Z7wiaJ5z-ZRqsD96id1lV5XGwtFpCTFcCqL1PfMGt2WHz5qN1SA6x4Au~nirdwL5XLU7qySpx-jNjEUX1JywVwOTZMkqenA7vPdq3awaI4fkj7DqG45sw9DK~PTeE~-KZfDfdoiit3QE7Ju-aK~KD-C0rgbbmQkuv~8R3iKxYz3biF5-8tAaM0os0CtYSLinlHG3zGT1CfJ-l3NngyUzgTQ9BRsiF7vPyutTbIUwB5AbPVXTdd9~bgVa9kPKI3Y4xkHHv2NXumOh883rVxi1SHvb0v8Zjsmr5UDdlzpyexkTdICey5Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Punta Gorda, FL","date","2025-04-16T05:10:45.537Z","article","Punta Gorda council members said a staff proposal to add ADA‑compliant parking on West Marion Avenue needs more study and suggested alternate locations and design options to improve safety and access.

Why it matters: ADA parking placement affects accessibility for people with disabilities, pedestrian safety, and downtown curbside circulation. Council members voiced concerns that Marion Avenue’s geometry makes safe access difficult.

Several council members recommended staff evaluate other nearby blocks such as Sullivan Street or a vacant parcel on Taylor Avenue that could be purchased to create angled parking and multiple accessible spaces. A council member suggested making Sullivan a one‑way street to generate more parking. Staff agreed the item should be folded into a larger transition and ADA study and said they would return with a broader analysis.

Some council members asked that ADA funds be considered for property acquisition if it produces safer, consolidated accessible parking rather than on‑street spaces that could introduce hazards at Marion.

The council agreed to pull the specific Marion Avenue action from the immediate agenda and directed staff to return with options, including site acquisition costs, and how the proposal fits into the citywide ADA transition plan.

Ending: Staff will come back with alternative site analyses, estimated acquisition and construction costs, and how any new spaces would integrate with the ADA transition plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pre Agenda City Council 4-14-25","oneSentenceSummary","Council members questioned a staff recommendation to add Americans with Disabilities Act‑compliant parking on West Marion Avenue and suggested exploring alternate locations such as Sullivan or Taylor streets and potential property acquisition to create angled parking and safer access.","taxTitle","Punta Gorda City, Charlotte County, Florida","taxId",54477,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273380,"City weighs options for Gilchrist Park pickleball: 8 courts in place vs. reconfigured 6‑court design",260,2367000,2627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f&start=2367&end=2627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f/thumbnail_2367000.jpg","/articles/6273380/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/City-weighs-options-for-Gilchrist-Park-pickleball-8-courts-in-place-vs-reconfigured-6court-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273380-bfbf1db8ed563a4a6dd64cd7249fb0bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197475&Signature=GlACxeYq49mVYaGElS~ubc8TaogfpstfDvzbY65lujrghMqTADwvIpQfmoJdYO57T4CQS2RUG-ij~OztPI8-j9fiLqYj6iejlAkFrCIKNixrmU4Ud6RIsI1qeWUwXn6ST42doKIjfaWTStd4IpqphxyaoIT9x43ySWzj97C3SdxsKQgkMZHpBFQmm-wtdHy4wDCbz1MGMk4B05BEf2fb6zdzNPlkce31xtA5E505zKscpKdhlto4~f~z2azwbocJPg3gwGkzwrhILzo-v5yggmt5cKvn~WlIWQtTb04V1qwD3Trr~fECsvgYoP9jXHG1wkJvmt47hgCw5jdGrJc-rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Punta Gorda council members and park users discussed whether to leave eight courts in their current location at Gilchrist Park or reconfigure the site into a six‑court layout and possibly relocate courts to an area with larger parking.

Why it matters: Pickleball demand is growing, and the council must balance playing capacity with parking, neighborhood character and cost. Staff said leaving the courts in place would be the least expensive option because existing poles and an 8‑court configuration reduce resurfacing and fencing costs.

City staff said a meeting with stakeholders produced a range of ideas: some players prefer a six‑court competition layout; others favor keeping more courts for beginners and families. Staff noted one low‑cost benefit of keeping the courts in place: existing poles could remain, and only nets would need replacement if the layout is not swapped. Moving the courts would require new poles and likely higher costs for surfacing and fencing.

Council members also discussed parking tradeoffs. One council member reviewed aerial photos and argued that although a relocated site would show more parking spaces in some images, those spaces were often occupied by park goers and not available for court users, so effective parking at the existing location may be sufficient.

Staff said private fundraising has been raised to help with landscaping (about $6,000 reported by a council member) but that resurfacing and new fencing costs are separate from that private fundraising and from previously planned tennis‑court maintenance budgets.

Council did not make a final decision at the pre‑agenda meeting and directed staff to continue stakeholder outreach and return with cost comparisons and a parking analysis.

Ending: Staff said they will return with more detailed cost estimates and a parking study to help the council choose between retaining the current eight‑court layout or reconfiguring and/or relocating courts.","Council discussed competing proposals to keep or reconfigure pickleball courts at Gilchrist Park, weighing cost, parking, user types and whether to move courts to an area with larger parking facilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273386,"Public works director asks council to consider staffing increases to address maintenance and canal recovery",229,2646000,2875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f&start=2646&end=2875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f/thumbnail_2646000.jpg","/articles/6273386/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Public-works-director-asks-council-to-consider-staffing-increases-to-address-maintenance-and-canal-recovery","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273386-a703391b665f3d51d036710e1635cda5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197475&Signature=oiBOn~IbXZuVoB5~aPodxqnVyNCS2MH1RjAiO21nbGYZJj0Ki1cEb-HkRU2pYMclK-nIsfGQdwcWlXtkCepatLLyD8t2mUloaTIaxYCngDnMqtZYMiAWMTuDTzvoARCWQHgD8EVsL2JaryRrc7kbbr8xKikQavLStB~xGeJM57HxFghDP7HTAoYB1RpK5K7dm~l8QaGflgAy~9nj6QkNfn8BVaB13rXQFeAo~MkzS0Kvj75EFWxKrQuCwwMAYilQPQjTas2V10f10bkMMoTwVlIttbELdI5s1w56V2pgrWDUT~~wBlIe9YhrlUbK3wqe3Kv~OdTFSc5IqB375r-HeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The city’s public works director outlined where additional employees would help speed infrastructure repairs and routine maintenance, telling the Punta Gorda City Council that more in‑house capacity could reduce consultant costs and accelerate hurricane recovery work.

Why it matters: Council members repeatedly said maintenance and infrastructure are top priorities. Staff said gaps in staffing had led to consultant hires and slower field response in recent storms; adding positions could produce long‑term savings and faster repair cycles.

Public works Director Ron Everett (referred to at the meeting) explained the proposal at a high level and asked the council to consider budget‑year planning to phase in additional positions, including canal maintenance staff and an extra inspector. He told council that, during recent hurricane recovery, the city spent about $1.2 million on a consulting engineer and that some of that work could have been done by additional staff.

Council members asked for granular follow up: which positions need vehicles, phones or computers; whether part‑time hires without benefits had been considered; and how costs would be apportioned across districts such as Punta Gorda Isles (PGI) and Burnt Store Isles (BSI). Staff said vehicles and equipment needs could be identified during budget planning and that hiring part‑time workers without benefits had proven difficult in the local market.

On canals, staff said additional inspectors and maintenance workers would let the city complete more in‑house work and reduce contract retainer time. Staff noted that canal maintenance funding is often sourced from district assessments and would need proportional allocation.

No formal staffing decisions were made. Council asked public works staff to present a detailed five‑year staffing plan and associated vehicle and equipment needs during the budget cycle.

Ending: The council accepted the high‑level presentation and asked staff to return with a detailed staffing plan, cost estimates and proposed funding sources for council consideration during budget deliberations.","Punta Gorda’s public works director presented a high‑level staffing plan that would add inspectors and maintenance workers to speed hurricane recovery and routine maintenance, with staff arguing the hires could reduce reliance on costly outside consultants.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273389,"Residents and council press YMCA on use of Tolles Plaza space; council weighing lease options for other tenants",568,1441000,2009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f&start=1441&end=2009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f/thumbnail_1441000.jpg","/articles/6273389/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Residents-and-council-press-YMCA-on-use-of-Tolles-Plaza-space-council-weighing-lease-options-for-other-tenants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273389-ba5bc9780ec5bc9bbf78bf06ab8fe353/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197475&Signature=WBG5VSJpWMKpLdcpTWPbaTYJ-IIX-4QVbwuU5g2Q7fVS4VC-tAENP25innDLKTepsBe5WVQtRFIpiw3v7-H8mNcz28GXrMcY5zogGwyfWigEGay2a50AAyilN6n~QU4dqNJcFZEqTKleVp~qjFS6qKbyJB55ahNyWySuyp5iqP5xzKpUOVH2qf4upyOcARG44-aOEuC5z10KxkW~pwG8TwdOLab39fHUZKK1rdSoGeMGxyyYXeKDKE9fPK3TlDBdPMAF-k7DDSRdcBaPDQKodAA99qm9hBdNJcq07id3GlrY-Wfe1ZiouUTP48PmnSN3rKJAW02qYtCCcTeScSzjcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Neighbors and city council members told the Punta Gorda City Council the YMCA’s 10,000‑square‑foot downtown space is not serving the immediate neighborhood the way some residents expected and that lease and facility rules may be limiting local use.

Why it matters: Council must decide whether the YMCA’s operation meets the city’s public‑purpose expectations for the space, whether to grant further leniency, and how to use or re‑lease sections of the facility to meet city needs such as housing finance staff temporarily.

Residents and neighborhood leaders said the YMCA serves about 60 children in current programs but that many of those children do not live in the immediate neighborhood and that rental procedures and perceived security measures make the building feel less accessible. One neighborhood leader said local pastors had compiled a list of unmet needs, including more senior programming, and said the community was reluctant to fully support the YMCA until access issues were addressed.

City staff said they have identified funding and are arranging practical fixes: a deep cleaning has been completed, ramp repairs are largely done, and new flooring is in procurement. Staff also said they found funds to provide tables and chairs for after‑hours and weekend public use of the meeting space; those tables would not be for YMCA exclusive use.

Separately, the council discussed a formal lease termination request from a tenant (referred to as \"Lee\" in staff remarks) who reportedly owes three months’ rent. Staff said the tenant had previously asked to be released from the lease; paperwork was not located in the staff packet. Council considered whether to recoup January–March rent and whether to use part of the space to house the finance department, which staff said needs about 1,400 square feet for the near term.

Council also noted one Tolles Plaza tenant, Otherside Inc., is behind on rent and seeking a payment plan; staff said that tenant has renovated and aims to stay. Staff will return with a payment‑plan recommendation if one can be negotiated.

No formal vote was taken at the pre‑agenda meeting. Council members asked staff to collect more documentation about YMCA programming numbers, rental policies, and tenant arrears, and to return with options for partial city occupancy and lease remedies.

Ending: Council directed staff to prepare follow‑up materials and potential motions for the regular meeting, including options to reconfigure space for city use or to pursue tenant payment plans.","Council heard neighborhood complaints that the YMCA's after‑school and community programming is underused and constrained by rental rules; officials also discussed lease termination requests and tenant arrears at Tolles Plaza and potential city use of vacated space.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273393,"Punta Gorda officials and residents spar over county takeover of 911 dispatch",693,191000,884000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f&start=191&end=884","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000958-1bec7a40cb0abb05ae02cd5469f7591f/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6273393/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Punta-Gorda-officials-and-residents-spar-over-county-takeover-of-911-dispatch","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273393-e6efa53cc1a18f473486532d5f5066ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197475&Signature=CWTY8y9P9m~5nY36Xt61soHX2EzGJX0Ap9aq~fTR4a5uxdCFfiysNboOPCDREMINrZiwme36plBkK21bYLxfjMf4QFQVCNCMilEgYX9J8QfXfWKQ~FbYJrx3mPHNOSRg8QaezRSigV-EKfHWmEMdsSCmEfEaSCG4LQqVksJKLpd6bHB~ubqCtzr-dVcYaKSrppswcopQXttyA4NtzTY3fHPQ1HEyVISqjago5oN7vAI8lONgi9kEApOs-A7OOC7bAepO0YKKBr12y~zi56IA3Ic5SlBofn462dNoNMaSNlBlOVtfjJshlKtmzmnKUjpEGdJW0Ae-pRa-8ocoM4lYxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials, public safety leaders and residents pressed the Punta Gorda City Council on whether the Charlotte County sheriff should assume county‑wide 911 dispatch responsibilities, and what that would mean for response times, staffing and city costs.

The debate intensified after resident Keith Henderson, who identified his background in emergency dispatch, criticized the sheriff's push to absorb municipal dispatch centers and called it “a power grab.” Henderson said council members had signed an ethics pledge on Nov. 20, 2024, and added that the sheriff’s “exploitation of the tragedy of Marjorie Stone and Douglas is shameful.”

Why it matters: Council members and public safety chiefs said the issue could change how the city handles emergency calls and could affect day‑to‑day dispatch coordination with police, fire and school resource officers. Council members sought clarity on whether consolidation would save money, slow responses or require the city to buy new software to share a common computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system.

City public safety leaders told the council that panic buttons in schools transmit immediately to both dispatch centers when used. “If somebody hits a panic button, it goes right into their Arctic center, which is a real time intelligence center. It goes to both dispatch centers,” Chief Smith said during the meeting, arguing that joint monitoring is already in place in many incidents.

Officials discussed call volumes and cost estimates the county has cited for consolidation. Council heard that Punta Gorda receives about 10,000 emergency (911) calls annually and roughly 40,000 nonemergency calls. The county previously cited potential savings of about $1.2 million, which city staff said would shrink after required record‑keeping staff are retained, producing an estimated net reduction nearer to $900,000 in some scenarios. City staff warned that if only 911 calls were transferred while the city retained its dispatchers, the savings could be negligible and the city would still need to invest in CAD compatibility.

Council members pressed staff on technical options. One council member said the simplest remedy would be shared CAD: “If we have the same CAD system that the county has, that solves everything,” a council member said. Staff replied existing IT budgets include funds to upgrade the city’s CAD and that county and city IT teams are in talks about interoperability.

Officials also discussed response‑time tradeoffs. City fire and EMS leaders said local dispatchers can get ALS‑equipped fire units en route within roughly 30–40 seconds after a call is received; they cautioned that handing some functions to an external center could add seconds that matter on life‑threatening calls.

No formal action was taken at the pre‑agenda meeting. Council members asked staff to continue technical discussions with county IT and to return with documentation about costs, timelines and how a shared CAD would affect local dispatch protocols and staffing.

Ending: Council members said the issue will remain on the near‑term agenda for additional review and directed staff to seek more detailed cost, timeline and interoperability information before any formal decision.","At a Punta Gorda City pre‑agenda meeting, residents and city officials discussed a proposed Florida law and the possibility of the Charlotte County sheriff assuming 911 dispatch duties; city chiefs warned of potential costs and response‑time impacts, and recommended technical alignment of CAD systems as a mitigation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council asks staff to rethink proposed ADA parking on West Marion after safety and location concerns

City weighs options for Gilchrist Park pickleball: 8 courts in place vs. reconfigured 6‑court design

Public works director asks council to consider staffing increases to address maintenance and canal recovery

Residents and council press YMCA on use of Tolles Plaza space; council weighing lease options for other tenants

Punta Gorda officials and residents spar over county takeover of 911 dispatch