TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve Three Updated Templates for Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Orders Including Order for Compliance, Order for Assessing Administrative Fine, and Order Assessing Administrative Fine for Tree Removal Without Authorization.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve three updated templates for Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Orders including Order for Compliance, Order for Assessing Administrative Fine, and Order Assessing Administrative Fine for Tree Removal Without Authorization.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve three updated templates for Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Orders including Order for Compliance, Order for Assessing Administrative Fine, and Order Assessing Administrative Fine for Tree Removal Without Authorization.
• Pros: Updating the templates will ensure the City has met all legal and procedural requirements for enforcement.
• Cons: The new templates are double in size, which will add additional charges for processing and require software updates.
Option 2: Deny three updated templates for Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Orders including Order for Compliance, Order for Assessing Administrative Fine, and Order Assessing Administrative Fine for Tree Removal Without Authorization.
• Pros: Software updates will not be necessary, and the forms will not require updating.
• Cons: The City will not be complying with legal and procedural requirements for enforcement.
Option 3: Approve a selection of the three templates presented.
• Pros: Less software updates will be required if not all three templates are approved.
• Cons: The City will not be complying with legal and procedural requirements if only some of the templates are approved.
Background Information
The Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) update was completed and approved by the City Commission on August 6, 2024, (effective date October 28, 2024). Changes made to the ULDC prompted a legal review of these templates. The Code Enforcement Hearing Officers Orders templates have been revised by the City Attorney’s Office.
The Orders have been prepared to provide a clear and consistent framework for enforcement and to ensure the City meets all legal and procedural requirements. They are intended as templates for general use and should be filled in with all relevant case-specific information before being issued. The revised templates will be stored in the City Attorney’s Office template library for future reference.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The Administrative Fine for Tree Removal Without Authorization document and the Administrative Fine document will each increase from two pages to four pages. Recording costs through Sarasota County, via the City’s Contract services with Simplifile, are $10.00 per page plus an additional $2.00 per document. As a result, the increase in page count will proportionally increase the total recording cost per document.
Funding for these expenses has been allocated in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, account no. 001-2750-524-49-14.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Order For Compliance
2. Order Assessing Administrative Fine
3. Order Assessing Administrative Fine For Tree Removal Without Authorization
Prepared by: Katrina Romano, Senior Business Manager, Development Services Department
Department Director: Alaina Ray, AICP, Director, Development Services Department