TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Amending the Non-District Budget and Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for Purchase of Replacement Fire Engine 85 and Associated Equipment, Additional Costs for the Utilities Administration Building and Field Operations Center Project U18UAB, for a Total Sum of $3,795,000; Providing for Findings; Providing for Posting; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action for First Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented and move to second reading on March 24, 2026.
Recommended Action for Second Reading
Option 1: Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented.
City Commission Options for First Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented and move to second reading on March 24, 2026.
• Pros: The City can move forward with purchases and construction as planned.
• Cons: Funds currently available in fund balance will not be available for other uses.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented.
• Pros: Funds planned for the replacement engine purchase could be reallocated to other needs and the additional funding needed to complete the Utilities Administration and Field Operations Complex could be utilized for other future capital needs.
• Cons: The City would be unable to purchase the replacement engine as intended and construction and occupation of the new Utilities Administration and Field Operations Complex would not proceed as scheduled.
City Commission Options for Second Reading
Option 1: Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented.
• Pros: The City can move forward with purchases and construction as planned.
• Cons: Funds currently available in fund balance will not be available for other uses.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-06 as presented.
• Pros: Funds planned for the replacement engine purchase could be reallocated to other needs and the additional funding needed to complete the Utilities Administration and Field Operations Complex could be utilized for other future capital needs.
• Cons: The City would be unable to purchase the replacement engine as intended and construction and occupation of the new Utilities Administration and Field Operations Complex would not proceed as scheduled.
Background Information
The Fire Rescue Department seeks to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Non-District Budget to appropriate $1,500,000 in funding necessary for the purchase of replacement Fire Engine 85 and associated equipment.
During the City Commission Regular Meeting on January 23, 2024, the City Commission approved an equipment proposal with Ten-8 Fire & Safety for the future purchase of new and replacement equipment in order to reserve a build slot in the manufacturing line, which, due to extreme manufacturing delays, had an estimated lead time of 37-40 months. Fire Engine 85 was originally planned for replacement in Fiscal Year 2026-2027 under this proposal; however, the Fire Rescue Department was notified that production of this equipment will be complete ahead of schedule with expected arrival in September of 2026. Funds have been established and reserved through Fire Rescue’s renewal and replacement plan and are available in fund balance in the current fiscal year for this purchase.
The Utilities Department seeks to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Non-District and Capital Improvement Budgets due to increased costs associated with the construction of the Utilities Administration Building and Field Operations Center project.
The Utilities Department is requesting the reallocation of wastewater capacity fees from the Effluent Pumping Station & Pipeline Project U23EPS to fund construction of a lift station and associated offsite improvements that are required to provide wastewater service to the property. The lift station was originally planned to be constructed by the developer of an adjacent property that it will also serve, however, the developer has encountered delays and to meet construction timelines for the administration building, The Utilities Department must move forward with construction as soon as possible. The City will seek 50% reimbursement of the construction costs in accordance with the Shared Infrastructure Agreement with the neighboring developer, Waters of North Port, LLC, which was transferred to the City with the acquisition of the property. If other funding sources are not secured, funding for Project U23EPS will be replaced utilizing anticipated capacity fee revenues in the fiscal year construction is expected to begin.
In addition, the Utilities Department is requesting to appropriate $775,000 from fund balance in the Utility Revenue Fund for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment to outfit the building, which is scheduled to be completed in early September 2026.
Ordinance No. 2026-06 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Information for Second Reading
During the City Commission Regular Meeting held on March 10, 2026, Ordinance No. 2026-06 was continued as presented to second reading on a 5-0 vote.
Ordinance No. 2026-06 was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on March 11, 2026, for signature, subject to Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Good Governance
Financial Impact
$1,500,000 will be added to Engine 85 Replacement Project F26E85 from fund balance in the R&R - Fire District Fund (323).
$1,520,000 in wastewater capacity fees will be reallocated to the Utilities Administration Building and Field Operations Center project U18UAB from the Effluent Pumping Station & Pipeline project U23EPS, account no. 424-6062-535.63-00.
$775,000 will be added to the Utilities Administration Building and Field Operations Center project U18UAB from fund balance in the Utility Revenue Fund (420).
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2026-06 - Second Reading
2. Ordinance No. 2026-06 - First Reading
3. Fund Balance Reports
4. Project Detail Sheets
Prepared by: Nickie Brown, Budget Analyst
Department Director: Irina Kukharenko, CPA, Finance Director