Council agrees on preliminary joint‑meeting agenda topics with county; members discuss buying old courthouse building

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Punta Gorda council members outlined agenda topics for a planned joint meeting with Charlotte County commissioners and debated whether the city should explore purchasing the underused old courthouse (referred to in the meeting as the SOE/old courthouse) as an alternative to new construction for municipal offices.

Councilmembers suggested a starting agenda for the joint meeting that includes collaborative regional priorities. As part of the discussion, several council members raised the possibility of using the nearby county courthouse/office building for some city functions, including council meetings and offices. One councilor said the building is vacant much of the year and questioned whether the city could acquire or lease it rather than build a new facility.

County staff feedback had previously indicated some parts of the facility (e.g., elevators) are not currently operable and the county had concerns about availability. Councilmembers discussed past conversations with county commissioners, possible appraisal steps, parking availability behind the property and operational considerations before making any purchase decision.

Council agreed to use the topics discussed as a starting point for the joint meeting agenda and for staff to convey the suggested items to county staff and commissioners for a finalized agenda. No purchase or appraisal was authorized Wednesday; councilors asked staff to continue informal inquiries and to include discussion of the old courthouse as a potential topic with the county delegation.