Punta Gorda still dealing with Ian impacts

PUNTA GORDA — While Hurricane Helene’s flood waters drenched Punta Gorda, residents and the city are still dealing with the impacts of Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Among the unfinished fixes are the Laishley Park Splash Pad, streetlights, the Harborwalk, the Veterans Park gazebo, marine repairs, damaged water meters and seawalls.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma damaged seawalls. The city spent more than five years battling federal agencies over payments and permits.

While the city finally moved forward with those repairs, Hurricane Ian hit, damaging some of those compromised seawalls.

More than 6 miles of seawalls were damaged by Hurricane Ian in Punta Gorda Isles and another 3/4 of a mile in Burnt Store Isles affecting approximately 582 parcels.

For two years, the city worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Department of Emergency Management and the city’s insurance company to pay for 90% reimbursement to fix or create new seawalls.

Seawall damage was estimated at about $50 million.

The city budgeted about $3 million for seawall repairs. Taxpayers who live on canals with seawalls fund the city’s maintenance program, but don’t pay for hurricane-related damaged seawalls.

In January, Punta Gorda Vice Mayor Bill Dryburgh and Mayor Lynne Matthews went to Tallahassee to lobby state representatives for additional funding to pay the difference for seawall repairs. They were successful.

With damages to the interactive fountain area at Laishley Park, the city worked for two years to rehabilitate it. Then staff decided to add upgrades to the splash pad/play area.

Play equipment installation is nearly complete. The enhanced fountain area is scheduled to reopen in late 2024, according to Matthews.

The nearby gazebo at Veterans Park, 98 Nesbit Street, near the Southwest Florida Vietnam Memorial Wall replica, was also damaged by Hurricane Ian. The city hasn’t rented it out after the hurricane hit.

The City Council is also dealing with repairs that must be made to the marina after Hurricane Ian. While the council wants people to use the marina so they can visit downtown restaurants and shops by boat, they know there’s millions in repairs that must be made to the peers and docks.

Repairs must also be made to Harborwalk, a popular downtown walking and biking destination.

There are city lights that still need to be repaired including some near Harborwalk. The city anticipates they will be covered from insurance, FEMA, city reserves and Florida Department of Emergency Management.

Included in the 2025 budget is a $150,000 stormwater study for flooding in the downtown historic district.

New issues after Hurricane HeleneLast week, Hurricane Helene “overwhelmed” an already taxed water system. Residents were asked not to take long showers or do laundry as the system backed up.

Some residents reported sludge coming up through their drain last week after the hurricane. Nearly all streets in the historic district were flooded as water poured into vehicles and homes. Some had to be rescued as their homes flooded.

During meetings, Punta Gorda City Manager Greg Murray said flood waters from Charlotte Harbor have no place to go when it rains. City drainage backs up before flowing back into the harbor.

Matthews suggested the city could create a special taxing district to pay for infrastructure upgrades such as larger pipes or new water control structures if the study reveals costly solutions.