[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6153075,"mediaKeyId","5494753-d7d944ef0fb228eeaf249f368d544afc","parentId",5494753,"title","Punta Gorda utilities report: June flows near normal; city advancing alum tank replacement, ammonia conversion and meter‑reading contract","audioSeconds",1407,"startMs",119000,"endMs",1526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5494753-d7d944ef0fb228eeaf249f368d544afc&start=119&end=1526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5494753-d7d944ef0fb228eeaf249f368d544afc/thumbnail_119000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153075/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Punta-Gorda-utilities-report-June-flows-near-normal-city-advancing-alum-tank-replacement-ammonia-conversion-and-meterreading-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153075-2483dd192a2769ee6151b321a0d643fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773601916&Signature=OIFJY097duejz6MsB82JYoSb-k4B0PnVAh9YsFV49t80H-hMfbXbLRHuaG3psivjbQxge2zY3SezsFrD9VqZGvGxS3F5o0tAAu3oIqB2TULxBC5HH3xi746aOcHZlu1W9~EXYkP~LH4rhaWu-K2Tk4nu4ZQRsDfNYVKSvD9i3jpNl8Z0xp95WHrQkuMmGHlbLWOYth-nRgxucbV3BwZ4G36NgHT8WX3aFjs7fAHy8SrbnEZ6j94W-54HfrdXY-OW9pQeTTQKoWQOJ53wJbMlJUlrHqjNm5CzMyXQkY8QEfLwu8fSfG5saLOyloo6u~~efsizofvRaB8ocg6lLABdCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Punta Gorda, FL","date","2025-07-28T19:28:10Z","article","Tom Spencer, Punta Gorda’s utilities director, told the Utilities Advisory Board July 28 that system operations were within normal ranges for June and reviewed several capital projects and contract awards moving forward.

For June, Spencer reported the city’s average daily water to town was about 4.7 million gallons and peak daily water was about 5.9 million gallons; combined surface‑water and RO production capacity is 11.73 million gallons per day. “The combined surface water and RO production is 11.73,” Spencer said. He reported total to‑town production for June of 141,168,000 gallons and noted the reservoir level rose from 5.47 feet on June 1 to 5.84 feet as of the meeting. Rainfall for June was 8.35 inches, modestly above the long‑term average.

Spencer said blended water TDS (total dissolved solids) has averaged below 500 ppm and described normal seasonal variation at the intake. He also told the board the wastewater treatment plant’s average daily flow for June was about 2.98 million gallons, with a three‑month rolling average near 2.52 million gallons and a peak of about 3.81 million gallons.

Capital projects and contracts
Spencer reviewed multiple ongoing capital projects and recent contract awards: the city has launched work on alum‑tank replacement and conversion from gaseous ammonia to liquid ammonium sulfate (a project combined with acid‑feed replacement), which staff said will increase operational flexibility. He said the alum and ammonia conversion kickoff meeting occurred recently and estimated about a one‑year completion horizon for the combined work, while noting some elements had been in planning and engineering for multiple years.

The board was also briefed on an award to Odyssey Manufacturing of Tampa for construction improvements related to alum and ammonia equipment, and on authorization for chrome coatings and tank interior coatings on master and booster tanks. Spencer said the city authorized a new meter‑reading agreement with Olameter under a per‑meter payment structure that includes deficiency penalties if meters are not read.

Spencer told the board that the city requested award authority under a master agreement to CDM Smith for biosolids handling and off‑site disposal and said CDM Smith has been instrumental in building the wastewater treatment plant improvements. He reported the wastewater plant remained ahead of schedule and on budget and that startup and training of a new diffuser system should enable flow tests in August.

Other staff updates and tours
Spencer said an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) study is ahead of schedule and that staff will host public tours of the water and wastewater plants; Spencer said he would personally guide several tours given robust community signups. He also said that several routine utility agenda items had been approved by city council and highlighted a resolution recognizing public‑works and utilities staff as first responders in alignment with federal guidance, the American Public Works Association and Florida statute 403.865 as an important formal recognition of operational responsibilities during storms.

What the board asked
Board members pressed on project timelines, the history of long planning cycles for some large projects, and the need to secure grants and other funding. Spencer said the city is seeking grants, has filed notices of interest on some programs and expects notification of some grant opportunities within 30–60 days; the full application and selection process for grants typically can take months to a year. On the RO plant expansion and alternatives such as purchasing finished water, Spencer said the RO plant draws from wells and that prior water‑supply analyses found building out the RO plant was more cost‑effective than buying finished water via a Peace River connection, though he said alternative supply analyses could be pursued if council directs staff to do so.

Operational context
Spencer framed the work as necessary to maintain current capacity and reliability rather than to add speculative future capacity: “The expansion of the RO plan isn't to meet any proposed or new growth. It's to meet the demand and the needs that are currently there,” he said.

Next steps
Staff will continue CIP work, procurement for remaining projects, and outreach on grants. The board requested more detailed briefings on specific projects for future meetings and offered to participate in tours and outreach to help explain projects and timelines to the public.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Utility Advisory Board 7-28-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Utilities Director Tom Spencer reported June water and wastewater metrics and updated the Utilities Advisory Board on multiple capital projects, a new meter‑reading contract and upcoming plant tours.","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},6153080,"Punta Gorda advisory board recommends 12% annual water-sewer rate increases, urges council to pursue full impact-fee update",4552,1960000,6512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5494753-d7d944ef0fb228eeaf249f368d544afc&start=1960&end=6512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5494753-d7d944ef0fb228eeaf249f368d544afc/thumbnail_1960000.jpg","/articles/6153080/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Punta-Gorda-advisory-board-recommends-12-annual-water-sewer-rate-increases-urges-council-to-pursue-full-impact-fee-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153080-6e21b27a8cc28262e7f2f5384f8d0dbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773601916&Signature=DahDV4KuT78Bb6vRItHroBTCqNJ364FmhJPmZXIJ7my9RIg4R7H80ny7Wskn29WRSbTxP0XUjAsW3FG-YNdnI-u0noGEVc1G0qxFBkxLt67zeTjOALtTj-EkHjEE80pdhv~BwoJ-K3WA6ivhXSlYXkwQIeiwMoq~5i0rcOf7ebE9bX6q5hWMP84mOugZ-fRQptlK480pQVXW2HmbcDpBPe89VmC08pxquvKZu4-Ec7r0frwg7p59Zys5A9rV~kRO39TV-qOtjr6KuMqVhfZ~Xia9yQpyBdEIoxRmxy5md7TaqnFQsIYwCJMxuz-8VVYznycEYkqrgds21263vi9IHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Punta Gorda Utilities Advisory Board on July 28 recommended a 12% annual increase to water and sewer rates through 2029 and endorsed pursuing a full, immediate update to the city’s water and sewer impact fees using the statutory “extraordinary measures” process.

The recommendation followed a presentation from Danica, a manager with Stantec, who told the board, “we are recommending that, there's a rate increase of 12% annually through 2029, and that is required in order to meet the cost requirements.” The board voted unanimously to forward both the rate recommendation and the consultant’s proposal to city council for consideration.

The recommendation aims to cover a projected 10‑year capital plan that Stantec reported at about $197 million and an updated combined cost estimate of roughly $112 million for two major water projects first identified in the city’s water supply plan. The consultant said the proposed increases would hold a three‑month operating reserve (about $5 million) and avoid depleting operating funds by the late 2020s on the current forecast.

Why it matters: Punta Gorda’s capital needs include an expansion of the reverse‑osmosis (RO) plant, service‑water rehabilitation and other projects the consultant said are driving increased debt service and near‑term cash requirements. Stantec’s analysis shows sewer revenues fall below current cost‑to‑serve levels while water revenues are comparatively higher; the consultant recommended allocating a larger share of the first year’s increase to sewer to move the systems closer to cost recovery.

Key details from the study and meeting
- The consultant proposed 12% increases each year through 2029; Stantec said that corresponds to about an $11.20 per month increase for a typical customer in 2026 under the scenario shown to the board.
- Stantec recommended keeping the fixed monthly customer charges largely unchanged and placing more of the increase on volumetric charges, with a restructuring that collapses the city’s top two water tiers and raises the upper tier price to promote conservation.
- The consultant reported a five‑year capital improvement program that includes the water treatment rehab, Shell Creek RO expansion, meter replacements and other projects; staff and the consultant used a conservative 1% annual growth assumption for new units in the forecast.
- On cost allocation for 2026 the consultant recommended shifting 25% of the new revenue toward sewer and 5% toward water to narrow the sewer shortfall reported for the test year.

Impact‑fee process and board action
Danica explained statutory limits on impact‑fee phasing under Florida law and outlined the “extraordinary measures” alternative that allows the city to implement the full calculated fee immediately if it documents demonstrated need, holds two public workshops and secures a two‑thirds vote of council followed by a 90‑day notice period. Stantec recommended pursuing that extraordinary‑measures path for Punta Gorda’s updated water and sewer impact fees. The board voted unanimously to recommend that course.

What board members said
Tom Spencer, Punta Gorda’s utilities director, framed the financial choices as driven by system capacity and near‑term needs tied to the water supply plan. He told the board that work on the water supply plan in 2023–24 showed the city needed additional capacity now. “We were told repeatedly that we were at a breaking point where we don't have enough water and we need to do that expansion,” Spencer said during the discussion.

Board members raised questions about who the highest‑use customers are, equity between single‑family and multi‑unit accounts, meter‑reading completion rates, and potential grant opportunities to offset capital costs. Stantec and staff said they included some elasticity assumptions (i.e., possible consumption reductions when prices rise) when modeling revenues and that staff would continue to search for grants and state revolving fund loans.

Next steps
The Utilities Advisory Board forwarded both recommendations to city council: (1) to pursue the “extraordinary measures” impact‑fee update and (2) to approve the first year’s 12% rate increase and a plan to phase further increases through 2029 as shown in the Stantec report. Each item will return to council for formal action; Stantec and staff said the impact‑fee path requires two public workshops before council action.

Votes at a glance
- Recommendation to pursue extraordinary‑measures implementation of updated water and sewer impact fees: Motion passed unanimously (all board members present voted yes).
- Recommendation to adopt a 12% water‑and‑sewer rate increase for fiscal year 2026 (and a plan for 12% annual increases through 2029 as modeled): Motion passed unanimously (all board members present voted yes).","The Utilities Advisory Board voted unanimously July 28 to recommend a 12% annual rate increase through 2029 and to pursue an 'extraordinary measures' impact-fee schedule to recover capital costs tied to a $112 million water and wastewater capital plan.","actionData","errors"]

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Punta Gorda utilities report: June flows near normal; city advancing alum tank replacement, ammonia conversion and meter‑reading contract

Punta Gorda advisory board recommends 12% annual water-sewer rate increases, urges council to pursue full impact-fee update