Greater Pine Island Civic Association (GPICA) General Membership Minutes
Date: October 7, 2025, 6:30
Location: First Baptist Church of Pine Island
Board Attendees: Christine Blum, Nadine Slimak, Deborah Swisher-Hicks, Kathy Chumley and Sue Dahod
Call to Order & Approval of Previous Minutes
A motion was made to approve General Membership meeting minutes from September 2025. The motion was seconded and approved.
Treasurer’s Report
-Steve Eldredge was not present. Nadine filled in and gave the financial summary.
-Monthly Income: $177.61 (memberships + interest income)
-Expenses: $637.51 ($100 (church rental, $537 insurance renewal)
-Year-to-date income: $4,544 (~$2.3k membership + ~$2.2k interest income)
-Investments: A CD matured at the end of September and was roll-over into 3 varying maturities.
Guest Presentation — Pine Island Fire Department
Speakers: Assistant Chief of Fire-Matthew Davis, Finance Manager-Sarah Miles and Assistant Chief of EMS-CodyAllen
Department Activity
– 2024 calls: 1,841 (≈1,300 YTD 2025)
– Medical calls are majority; 41 fire-related incidents
– Helicopter use: 48 in 2024, 50 YTD 2025 (~5/month)
– Dispatch can pre-stage ‘stand-by’ launches; ~8-minute arrival on average
Public Assistance & Services
– Fall assist and lift services
– CPR/AED training (~$30 fee), smoke alarm battery help, blood pressure checks, sharps collection
– Car seat installations (3 certified technicians)
– Safe Place/Safe Haven programs for youth & infants
– Post-fire pet-adoption fee waivers
– ‘Vial of Life’ refrigerator medical info program
Advanced Life Support (ALS)
– Achieved Sept 2023; renewed Sept 2025 (2 years)
– Enables EKGs, advanced meds, intubation, trauma care
– Goal: 1 paramedic per apparatus
Station 2 Rebuild — St. James City
– Funded by $5.013M Housing & Urban Development grant
– Design complete; county review & board approval expected Oct 2025, then out to bid
– Features: 3 bays, meeting space, helipad, storage for hurricane supplies
– Lowest qualified bidder required per federal rules
– Anticipated groundbreaking late 2025
New Equipment & Budget
– Ladder truck arriving March 2026; in service June 2026
– FY 2026 Budget: $9M operating, $5.5M capital (mostly Station 2), $389k debt service
– Impact fees set by County; ~$25k annual
Upcoming Community Events
– Pumpkin Patch (Oct), Trunk-or-Treat (Oct), Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 19)
– Fire Prevention Week school programs ongoing
Community & Island Updates
Conservation 20/20 Parcels
– Three Pine Island properties approved for next stage
– GPICA monitoring progress
Upper Captiva Zoning
– Hearing rescheduled to October 24
Matlacha Activities
– Monthly Art Walk; Halloween ‘Fish Treats’ Oct 31
– Hurricane Ian building demolitions will begin soon. Contractor has been selected. Permits are pending. Four sites: ‘Brown Wave House’, Old fish house gift shop, Island Ave property, and one in St. James City
Pine Island Cares
– Offering weekend assistance and open enrollment support
Calusa Land Trust
– Volunteer work parties (4 dates Oct–Nov); RSVP to Robert Ballard
Calusa Waterkeeper (CW) Recognition Event
– Member Sue Dahod will be honored at upcoming CW event. Ranger training is ongoing.
Hazardous Waste Collection
– Scheduled for November 15, 2025
Next Meeting
- Date: November 4, 2025
• Time: 6:30pm