CITY OF PUNTA GORDA

CUL-DE-SAC MAINTENANCE POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for homeowners regarding initial set-up, material replacement, weed spraying, repairs, and abandonment procedures for the City’s community cul-de-sacs. 

1. INITIAL SET-UP

   INCLUDES: Clearing, herbicide treatment, fire ant treatment, irrigation, three 15-gallon foxtail palms or one single Christmas palm, choice of six 3-gallon shrubs (gold tip ligustrum, viburnum, hibiscus or Indian hawthorn), and mulch. 

2. MATERIAL REPLACEMENT

   Replacement plant material will be provided upon request from the homeowner who maintains the cul-de-sac.  Requested shrubs are delivered onto the cul-de-sac where they are left for the homeowner to install.  City employees will install trees.  Mulch will be delivered upon request, no more than once a year, and delivered to the cul-de-sac for the homeowner to spread. 

3. FERTILIZING

   Fertilizer is provided once annually under Charlotte County’s Fertilizer Ordinance*, either in April or October.  Residents must request April fertilizer no later than March 31^st or October fertilizer no later than September 30^th. The appropriate amount will be dropped off in the cul de sac for homeowners to apply. 

4. REPAIRS

   Homeowner-installed plant material, weed barrier, rocks, soil or landscape design, and/or decoration may be removed as needed for repairs to underground utility lines, overhead utility lines, large tree removal, street/curb repairs, and irrigation repairs.  Upon completion of repairs, City crews will reinstall as many of the homeowner’s items as are salvageable.  Unsalvageable items are not replaced by the city, nor are homeowners reimbursed for said material.  Trees, shrubs, and mulch originally supplied by the city will be replaced. 

5. ABANDONMENT PROCEDURES

   Cul-de-sacs that are not being maintained; have become overgrown with weeds; have dead/dying and/or overgrown plant materials are considered abandoned. Abandoned cul-de-sacs are stripped of all plant material and will be mulched. 

6. OTHER MAINTENANCE

* Active fire ant mounds will be treated by City employees on request by the homeowner. 

* Weeds will be sprayed up to twice a year by City employees on request from the homeowner.

* Plant material, added irrigation components and other decorative items purchased and installed by the homeowners will not be maintained, repaired, or replaced by City staff.

* Only Queen palms will be trimmed and maintained by City staff.  All other types of trees will be maintained by residents.

* Dead trees planted by the city will only be cut off at the base, not fully removed to ensure no damage to irrigation lines.                             

      *This ordinance is to address the leaching and runoff of nutrients from improper or excess fertilization practices that contribute to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the community’s water resources.