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PGI Canal Maintenance District proposes incremental assessment increases, plans seawall replacements and riprap bids
Summary
City staff presented a multi-year plan for the PGI Canal Maintenance District that includes a proposed $150 annual assessment increase through 2030, a FY26 seawall replacement program of 10,000 linear feet and carryover of Irma riprap permitting and debt until reimbursements arrive.
City staff presented proposed fiscal-year budgets for the Punta Gorda Isles (PGI) Canal Maintenance District at the June 12 budget workshop, including multi-year assessment increases, a large seawall replacement program in FY26 and continued use of an interfund loan to cover hurricane-related riprap expenses while FEMA reimbursements are pending.
Finance Director Kristen Simonyo said the district plans to use last year—s 2025 proposal for FY26 and that the PGI advisory board will formally receive the presentation Monday. Based on the packet presented to council, Simonyo said the PGI board recommended an incremental program that assumes a $150 per-year increase to the assessment in FY27 through FY30 to accelerate seawall work.
Under the draft program, FY26 operating assessment is shown at $1,350 with a $150-per-year increment projected in later years; staff estimated the $150 buys about 1,000 additional linear feet per year. Simonyo said the FY26 pro forma includes 10,000 linear feet of seawall replacement, administration and a 3% annual overhead assumption for later years. She said the Irma riprap permitting has been received but the project will be bid in FY26 and the related reimbursements remain outstanding.
Mark Storm, the canal maintenance supervisor, described ongoing field work as part of the Hurricane Ian project and said crews are addressing areas that need riprap and adding material where berms are insufficient. "We are doing those as a process in the Ian project," Storm said. He explained variations in repair approaches depending on existing berm and wall conditions and noted production of seawall panels in-house.
Staffing and operations were part of the discussion. Simonyo reported PGI currently staffs 11 employees (including one inspector approved earlier in the fiscal year) and that canal staff cost allocations are split 90/10 between PGI and BSI. City managers and public-works staff also proposed adding two canal maintenance workers to increase in-house seawall production and reduce contractor costs; staff said additional yard capacity and production would offset part of contractor expenditures.
The pro forma shows carryover reserves through 2030 with an ending reserve estimate of about $961,000 in that year. Simonyo said the city maintains contingency reserves so that staff can respond to late-season storm damage without returning immediately to council for supplemental appropriations.
No council vote occurred at the workshop; staff will bring the PGI advisory-board recommendation and any recommended adjustments to council before final adoption.
