The Punta Gorda Historic Preservation Advisory Board reviewed two proposed amendments to its bylaws and agreed to forward input to City Council ahead of an October 8 council meeting.

Jennifer Faulconer, deputy city clerk, presented the two proposed changes: (1) revise board composition to five regular members and one alternate (a reduction from the current seven members), to be implemented by attrition; and (2) change the absence policy so a member is permitted up to three absences in a 12‑month period and would forfeit appointment upon a fourth absence (appealable to council).

Board members asked clarifying questions about timing, the status of recent alternate appointments, and how attrition would be handled. Beth Magnan said she intended to seek reappointment but understood the change would depend on council action. Several members said they had difficulty recruiting volunteers historically; Magnan argued the board has struggled to keep members and preferred retaining seven seats.

After discussion, the board reached unanimous consensus in support of the proposed change to the absence policy (permit up to three absences; forfeit on fourth absence). On the membership composition change (reducing the board to five members and one alternate), the board recorded a majority consensus in favor of the reduction and noted one member preferred retaining seven members and two alternates. The board asked staff to report that ratio when presenting input to City Council; staff said the council will consider a resolution on Oct. 8.

Faulconer and staff also clarified that duties and responsibilities for HPAB remain codified in Chapter 26 of the city code and that some duties previously discussed in 2022 would require an ordinance change to Chapter 26 before they could be altered in the bylaws. Members requested staff confirm which prior 2022 recommended changes, if any, were adopted in earlier actions so the board’s recommendations to council would be focused and accurate.

The board asked staff to pass its input to council and to provide copies of the current operative bylaws and the prior proposed changes for the board’s review ahead of the joint meeting with council.

Provenance (transcript excerpts): topic begins at the item introduction: "Now when can I pick up my Okay? So now we're on the general business, and this is the proposed bylaws amendment." Discussion closes when staff summarizes consensus and next steps: "Did anyone have any other comments on the change to the absence policy? No. Okay. So basically, what we'll do is we'll take back to counsel that there was a unanimous consensus regarding the absence policy and there was a majority consensus regarding the change to membership..."