Punta Gorda and Charlotte County officials will meet in a joint public session July 9 to discuss the potential consolidation of the city’s 911 dispatch services with the county’s new emergency communications center. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda. The joint meeting will allow for public input.
The city has strongly pushed back against the proposed merger, which would shift all dispatch operations to a new facility located within the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office administration building on Loveland Boulevard in Port Charlotte. The facility, nearing completion, is part of a broader modernization effort the county says will improve emergency response efficiency countywide. But city leaders and residents disagree, arguing that local dispatchers have a better understanding of Punta Gorda’s geography and can more effectively route calls to city fire and police units.
In February, Punta Gorda City Council voted unanimously to retain its own dispatch center, asserting the city’s average dispatch response time outperforms the county’s and falls below the national standard of 120 seconds. Officials say consolidating services would risk increasing that time and could endanger lives in critical emergencies.
The Charlotte County Commission had planned to approve the consolidation in April but ultimately voted 3-2 to postpone the decision after receiving significant public opposition. The delay allowed Sheriff Bill Prummell to meet with city leaders to address concerns and discuss potential adjustments. All five commissioners indicated they supported consolidation but withheld a formal vote due to the backlash.
The issue also has sparked concerns over the city’s autonomy. Then-City Attorney David Levin previously stated the city has the authority under Florida’s home rule laws to operate its own dispatch center. Council members have emphasized that maintaining local control is not only legal but essential for ensuring timely, community-focused service.
The debate comes amid a larger statewide trend toward dispatch consolidation. Following recommendations from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, Florida has encouraged counties to assume control of public safety communications in an effort to eliminate call transfers and reduce emergency response times. Commissioner Chris Constance noted there is also pending legislation that could mandate dispatch consolidation under county control.
Prummell said new software must be purchased and delay of implementation would interfere with the consolidation.
Commission Chair Joe Tiseo said the state Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is targeting cost-saving measures, such as consolidating dispatch centers.
City leaders counter that efficiency must be balanced with service quality. Interim City Manager Melissa Reichert told the commission that “local dispatch is vital to the city,” while Mayor Debi Lux emphasized that the issue goes beyond cost savings. “The City Council made it clear — this is more than dollars. It’s about maintaining a high-quality service, timely response and public safety,” Lux said.
Council member Jeannine Polk criticized the lack of feasibility studies and formal workshops on the issue. She called for the joint meeting to better evaluate the pros and cons of consolidation and ensure public concerns are heard. Prummell has stated Punta Gorda officials will have a seat at the table moving forward.
