GPICA General Membership Meeting Minutes
- Date & Time: 2025-06-03 18:32:31
- Location: First Baptist Church of Pine Island
- Board Attendees: Christine Blum, Deborah Swisher-Hicks, Nadine Slimak, Steve Eldredge and Kathy Chumley
Treasurer’s Report
- Mr. Eldredge presented the income statement for May (ending May 31st) and year-to-date, detailing income, expenses and cash balances.
Approval of Minutes
- The Membership reviewed and approved March, April and May General Membership meeting minutes.
Upcoming Community Events
- Road cleanup will occur tomorrow and resume October 8. Road cleanup will not occur in July and August.
- There will be multiple learning sessions at Beacon of Hope during June.
- Discussion on the collection and planting of approximately 200 pine trees, with volunteers needed for planting on June 21, 2025.
- There will be no meeting in July 2025.
- Announcement that the organization will have a booth at Mangomania at Winn-Dixie Plaza on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
- Membership renewals are currently being sent out via email.
Local Development Update
Mr. Eldredge provided a brief update on various local development projects including:
- The apartment complex behind Publix, Margarita Bungalows behind Winn-Dixie;
- A storage facility near the water utility plant on PI Road;
- A mixed-use application for 23 acres east of the doctor’s office (old Bank of America)
- And a proposed 155-foot cell phone tower in Bokeelia.
Guest Speakers Presentation
Matt Caldwell (Property Appraiser) and Noelle Branning (Tax Collector) from Lee County explained Florida’s property tax system, including valuation,
exemptions, and tax bill process. Highlights from the presentation include:
- Mr. Caldwell and Ms. Branning detailed the property tax timeline: January 1 is the assessment date for property valuations and exemptions; early value estimates delivered June 1;
certified values due July 1; trim notices sent by August 25. The tax roll is finalized and certified by mid-October each year, with tax notices mailed by November 1. Taxes are due by March 31, with discounts for early payment:- 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, 1% in February.
Both offices are independently elected and represent property owners and taxpayers, not the county or other authorities. Property owners can file appeals if they disagree with property valuations.
- The homestead exemption caps assessed value increases at 3% per year (Save Our Homes). Owners can subtract $25,000 or $50,000 from value, depending on property value.
Other exemptions exist for widows, seniors, veterans, disabled, and first responders. - Portability of Homestead Exemption allows the transfer of up to $500,000 in value savings to a new home. If downsizing, the percentage of savings is applied to the
new property proportionately. - The office provides various state services such as driver’s license, vehicle/boat registration, disabled parking permits, hunting/fishing licenses, and concealed weapons permits.
Lee County is one of three counties approved to build and fund mobile units for community services, planned for year 2026. A new building on Colonial Boulevard
near I-75 is being developed to meet community needs. - There was an explanation of the process for applying for property tax relief after hurricane damage, including documentation requirements, deadlines, and the
impact on property valuation. - Explanation of FEMA’s 50% Rule requires that if repairs exceed 50% of a structure’s value immediately before a disaster, the property must be brought into floodplain compliance. Mr. Caldwell encouraged residents to seek independent appraisals — separate from the County’s valuations — in situations where they may be faced to rebuild under this.
For the full discussion and explanations, please watch the meeting recording below.
The next meeting of the GPICA is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at The First Baptist Church of Pine Island (5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia).
There is no July meeting of the GPICA Membership.
— Respectfully submitted by Steve Eldredge, Secretary