City Council

MEMBERS Debi Lux, Mayor Jeannine Polk, Vice Mayor Janis Denton, Councilmember Greg Julian, Councilmember Melissa Lockhart, Councilmember CITY OFFICIALS Melissa Reichert, City Manager Sara Welch, City Clerk Steven S. Leskovich, Interim City Attorney CALL TO ORDER Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Announcements Next Meeting- Regular City Council meeting January 14, 2026 at 9am at Laishley Community Room PUBLIC COMMENT Anyone wishing to address the Council on any agenda item may do so at the appropriate time during the meeting. Those who choose to speak must state their name for the record. Each person will be allowed to speak once on each subject up to a maximum of three minutes. 1. WORKSHOP TOPIC- SUSTAINABILITY 1.a Seagrass: Nature's Unsung Hero 1.b Citizens Partnership for Clean Canals 1.c Resilience and Adaptation to Flooding 1.d Proposed Punta Gorda Utility District Bill and Water Supply Coordination ADJOURNMENT In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Florida Statute 286.26, the location of this public hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. If you are a person with disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA 120 LAISHLEY COURT, PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA 33950 *******AMENDED******* JANUARY 6, 2026, 5:00 PM 1

provision of certain assistance. Interpreters for the hearing impaired (TTY 941-575-5013) or non-English speaking citizens, and any other special accommodations can be requested by contacting the Human Resources Manager/Non-Discrimination Coordinator whose address is 326 W. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, whose telephone number is (941) 575-3371, and whose email address is humres@cityofpuntagordafl.cpm, at least two (2) calendars days prior to the meeting. 2

Title: Seagrass: Nature's Unsung Hero Funds: Recommended Action: Presentation to Council Summary: Presentation from Blue Arc Engineering, Inc. on seagrass benefits for the environment Department/Division: City Manager CITY COUNCIL CITY OF PUNTA GORDA 01/ 6/2026 WORKSHOP TOPIC- SUSTAINABILITY EXHIBITS: 1. Presentation 3

Seagrass: Nature’s Unsung Hero The Foundation of Clean Water, Coastal Resilience, and Community Prosperity  Presented by: Jack Archambault, P.E.  Blue Arc Engineering, Inc. 4

What Is Seagrass & Why It Matters?  True flowering plants, not algae.  Thrive in clear, shallow waters (< 10 ft deep).  Improve water clarity by trapping sediments  Produce oxygen and stabilize the seabed  Form the foundation of Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. 5

Seagrass in Southwest Florida  Dominant in Southwest Florida:  Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii):  0–3 ft  Shallow depths and fast-colonizing pioneer.  Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme):  2-8 ft  Key forage for manatee and wildlife  Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum):  3-10 ft  Deeper depths and major health indicator.  Rare Species in SW Florida:  Paddle grass (Halophila decipiens)  Star grass (Halophila engelmannii)  Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii)  Federally threatened; mainly SE Florida. Close up of dense Shoal Grass mixed with Turtle Grass 6

A Few Examples Not quite the type of Manatee Grass we are talking about Close up of Manatee Grass, Picture taken from FDEP website How Ironic! Close up of Turtle Grass, Picture taken from FDEP website Close up of dense Shoal Grass, picture taken from the FDEP website Close up of sparse Shoal Grass, picture taken from the USACE website 7

Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve  One of Florida’s largest and most monitored estuaries.  Tracked by FDEP’s Seagrass Integrated Mapping and Monitoring (SIMM) and Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) programs.  Long-term data show stable seagrass coverage and improving clarity.  Supports Punta Gorda’s coastal resilience reputation and tourism economy. 8

Benefits To Punta Gorda & Why It Matters  Eco-Tourism: Manatee and turtle viewing, kayaking, boating, wildlife tours.  Fishing: Seagrass beds sustain redfish, snook, trout, and tarpon populations.  Community Value: Clean water enhances property values and business vitality.  Protecting seagrass preserves Punta Gorda’s heritage and economy. https://youtu.be/ffa3_AsbekA?si=flWUslqHk1VDI5L5 9

Threats and Stressors to Local Seagrass  Upland Runoff: Fertilizers and stormwater cause algal blooms.  Propeller Scarring / Anchoring: Boat props cut trenches and uproot beds.  Construction Shading: Low or wide docks reduce sunlight.  Turbidity & Sediment: Wake energy and runoff cloud the water.  Extreme Events: Storms and salinity shifts delay recovery.  Preventing impacts through thoughtful planning is more effective than costly restoration. Anchoring within a seagrass bed Image of Matlacha, FL following Hurricane Ian, September 29, 2022 Prop scarring of a seagrass bed caused by reckless boating 10

Planning and Design Around Seagrass  Depth-Based Design:  Waterward extents to meet proper depths for boat access and mooring.  Depths can be a limiting factor for the seagrass limits  Sunlight Penetration & Elevation:  Use grated or light-transmitting decking (≥ 43% open area).  Maintain docks ≥ 5 ft above MHW where seagrass is present.  Impact Avoidance Through Planning:  Align docks and marinas along open-water corridors.  Proper consultation and collaboration among engineers, planners, and citizens builds resilient coasts. Boardwalk with grated decking for sunlight penetration Dock design that was configured to avoid seagrass impacts 11

Seagrass Restoration, Recreation, and Call to Action  Restoration Methods: Transplant plugs or sods; seed with biodegradable mats; replant prop-scars.  Recreation Concepts:  Seagrass Parks with kayak trails and boardwalks.  Manatee Feeding & Education Areas.  Demonstration “Seagrass Farms” for schools and tourists.  Integrate depth awareness and habitat mapping in early planning. 12

References  “Ecological Indicator Species - Shoal Grass (Halodule Wrightii).” Army.mil, 2018, www.saj.usace.army.mil/Media/Images/igphoto/2002451999/.  Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “Florida Seagrasses | Florida Department of Environmental Protection.” Floridadep.gov, 2025, floridadep.gov/rcp/rcp/content/florida-seagrasses.  Florida Museum of Natural History. “Seagrass Species Profiles.” Florida Museum, 3 Oct. 2018, www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/seagrasses/species/.  Hoose, Natalie Van. “Seagrass 102: 4 Ways You Can Help Restore Seagrass.” Florida Sportsman, Florida Sportsman, 21 June 2022, www.floridasportsman.com/editorial/seagrass-102/461829.  Landry, J. Brooke et al. “The effects of docks on seagrasses, with particular emphasis on the threatened seagrass, Halophila johnsonii.” (2008).  “Seagrass Monitoring in Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves | Florida Department of Environmental Protection.” Floridadep.gov, 2016, floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/content/seagrass-monitoring- charlotte-harbor-aquatic-preserves.  US Army Corps of Engineers. Construction Guidelines in Florida for Minor Piling-Supported Structures Constructed in or over Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV), Marsh or Mangrove Habitat U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/National Marine Fisheries Service. Nov. 2017. 13

Title: Citizens Partnership for Clean Canals Funds: Recommended Action: Presentation to Council Summary: Heal Our Harbor project overview and results will be presented. Department/Division: City Manager CITY COUNCIL CITY OF PUNTA GORDA 01/ 6/2026 WORKSHOP TOPIC- SUSTAINABILITY EXHIBITS: 1. Heal Our Harbor Citizen Partnership 14

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Title: Resilience and Adaptation to Flooding Funds: None Recommended Action: Presentation Summary: City staff will provide an update and overview of resilience and adaptation for the City of Punta Gorda. Resilience is a community’s ability to withstand, recover from, and adapt to shocks and stresses. Resilience is a trait of a Community. Adaptation is the process by which a community evolves its systems, capacities, and infrastructure to prepare for and manage future flooding. Department/Division: City Manager CITY COUNCIL CITY OF PUNTA GORDA 01/ 6/2026 WORKSHOP TOPIC- SUSTAINABILITY EXHIBITS: 1. Workshop City of Punta Gorda 25

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