PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A newly formed Punta Gorda City committee met July 1 to begin ranking capital-project candidates that would be funded if Charlotte County voters approve a 1% local option sales tax in November 2026.

The kickoff meeting, convened by Boyd Lawrence, Punta Gorda planning director, laid out the committee's schedule and process and reviewed legal requirements such as Florida's sunshine law and Florida's public records law, both summarized by City Clerk Sarah Welch. Welch told committee members that the sunshine law “provides a right of access to government proceedings to everybody” and cautioned members not to discuss board business with other members outside public meetings.

The committee is advisory: members will review candidate projects, apply established ranking criteria and forward recommendations to the Punta Gorda City Council, which may accept, modify or forward them to the Charlotte County Commission for possible inclusion on a countywide ballot. Lawrence told the group staff aims to have project recommendations to the council by March, with the city’s required materials submitted to the county by April to support a November 2026 referendum.

Staff and several committee members discussed estimated revenue and eligible uses. A city staff finance representative, Christian Cinnamo, described the figures as annual estimates and said the county projects total receipts of $20 million to $24 million over the sales-tax period; because the county retains 90% and the city 10%, staff presented the city’s share as approximately $2.2 million to $2.7 million. The committee reviewed statutory limits staff read from the summary: proceeds may finance or construct infrastructure, acquire land for public recreation or conservation, and provide loans, grants or rebates for residential or commercial energy-efficiency improvements; economic-development projects are limited to up to 15% of proceeds. Funds cannot be used for operating expenses.

Staff outlined next steps and committee logistics. Members asked for a standing meeting schedule and earlier access to city documents so they can evaluate project status and unfunded amounts before later discussions. Senior Project Manager Danielle Burhill and other staff agreed to circulate agendas and the existing capital improvement program (CIP) materials; Bill Courtney asked specifically for a document packet in advance so members could review project status and funding gaps.

Public-comment and committee rules were reiterated. Welch said meetings must be open to the public, minutes will be taken and members should forward any records they create to the city clerk for retention. The clerk also noted that communications with individual council members are not precluded, but cautioned members and councilors to avoid acting as liaisons that could create a sunshine-law violation.

No formal votes or motions were taken at the kickoff. Committee members agreed to aim for regular midweek meetings at 10 a.m., with staff to finalize and publish a schedule by the end of the week and to place a follow-up meeting in August where staff will present the CIP projects eligible for ranking.

Committee membership and several community organizations were identified during introductions, and staff said the public may speak for up to three minutes at meetings. The advisory group will continue meeting through the coming months to prepare the city’s recommended project list for council consideration ahead of the county’s referendum process.