Utilities director outlines CIP, staffing requests and SRF reimbursements; DEP letter on storm-related SSO requires response

Punta Gorda — At the March 24 meeting the Utility Advisory Board reviewed capital project status, cash flow and a list of proposed staffing additions and organizational changes intended to support upcoming construction and regulatory work.

Finance Director Chris (last name not specified in the transcript) told the board the utilities fund has received roughly $19 million in reimbursements from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program and has about $12 million in submitted reimbursements outstanding; the state typically runs 30–60 days on reimbursements, she said. Those reimbursements temporarily required borrowing from the operating fund earlier in the fiscal year; staff expect the construction fund will reimburse operating once outstanding reimbursements are processed.

Why it matters: The timing of SRF reimbursements affects operating cash flow and budget planning for the wastewater treatment plant expansion and other capital projects.

Project updates and procurement: Engineering staff reported several active projects. Steve Adams described the start of the AMI study (see separate article), water-distribution improvement planning, a master pumping facility project near the Henry Street dog park to replace aging pumps and electrical systems, and three combined bar-tubing plant projects (acid feed system, ammonia conversion and alum tank replacement) that are out for bid. The reverse-osmosis expansion will likely be combined with surface-water rehabilitation and go out later this year for engineering and construction procurement.

Wastewater plant construction is under way and at about 66% progress, the board heard. Staff said they are working with procurement to select an engineer for distribution work and will negotiate scope and fee for the Henry Street pumping facility before forwarding to council.

Staffing and systems: Utilities staff proposed adding operational and administrative positions to support the CIP and maintenance work: two additional AMI technicians, an additional locate technician (the department had one; staff reported about 6,000 locate tickets in 2024), a four-person restoration crew (to free distribution crews to do core repairs), another project manager, an engineering technician, and a grants-and-funding analyst to pursue SWFWMD, FEMA and other program funding and to assist with data collection and reporting. Staff also recommended a department-wide computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) tied to GIS to enable proactive condition assessment and heat-map analysis of failures.

Other items: Staff reported purchase and delivery of 10 backup generators for lift-station hardening funded by the Florida DEP grant program; procurement is advancing on SCADA upgrades with a manufacturer trade-in offer that staff expect will reduce costs. The city will also seek a biosolids-handling consultant to study long-term disposal alternatives, staff said.

Regulatory note: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent a warning letter about storm-related sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) events and requested a meeting; staff met with DEP and will submit a response letter by April 15 describing revised spill-response and emergency action plans and the actions the city has taken since the events, staff said.

What’s next: Staff will return with more detailed budget requests tied to the CIP and personnel additions during the budget cycle and will present the DEP response letter to council as required.