News From Punta Gorda City Council -- Ring Around the City, Day Docks and More

At next Wednesday’s meeting, City Council will review and update the latest schedules, priorities and financials for the various components of the  “Ring Around The City,” more than 15 miles of interconnected pedestrian and bicycling pathways.

As Councilman Larry Friedman describes it, "the “Ring” will have three major components: the Harborwalk, along the harbor from the eastern City limits to Fisherman’s Village; the Linear Park, circling our downtown and east- and west-side historic districts, and connecting with the two extremities of the Harborwalk; the MURTs (Multi-Use Recreational Trails), running along US 41 from the southern City limits to Airport Road and then along Shreve, connecting with the Linear Park at Virginia."

The proposed amended business tax ordinance will also be reviewed this coming week; it will remove the exemption for licensed professional who are employed by a company/partnership already paying the business tax. An equity study commission, consisting of yet-to-be-named representatives from the business community, will recommend an appropriate tax structure to City Council, before any change is put into effect.

Construction of the Laishley Park Marina day docks will commence next week, with completion anticipated by mid-December.

The Subway at Herald Court Centre has begun its interior “build-out”. Both the Subway and Ceramics Studio should be open for business before the end of the year, according to Friedman.