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 Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Appendix A - City Fee Structure; Amending City-Wide Fees, Development Services Fees, Fire Rescue District Fees, Police Fees, Parks and Recreation Fees, Solid Waste Fees, Utilities Fees, Road and Drainage District Fees, and Social Services Fees; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance No. 2024-34 to second reading on September 24, 2024.
Recommended Action on Second Reading
Adopt Ordinance No. 2024-34.
Background Information
The following provides a chronological order of events pertinent to Ordinance No. 2024-34:
Ø May 10, 2022: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, Bryan Mantz, President, GovRates, Inc. provided a presentation including overview of building fees, adjustment history, current financial plan goals, revenues under existing fees, proposed building fees, neighborhood communities’ comparisons, projected carryforward cash balance, and requested action.
Subsequent to Mr. Mantz’s presentation, the Commission approved the following motion:
ü Motion: To approve the recommendations from GovRates of an increase to the building fee rates to keep pace with operating expenses, fund major capital needs, and maintain healthy reserves, as well as the support of an annual review of fees by City staff to ensure that the fees remain equitable and reasonable.
Ø June 24, 2022: Bryan Mantz, President, GovRates, Inc. provided the City of North Port with the Building Fee Analysis.
Ø October 25, 2022: The City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2022-14, increasing certain Building Fees under the City Fee Structure and amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Appendix A - City Fee Structure, Section D, Building Fees.
Ø September 10, 2024: The first reading of Ordinance No. 2024-34 will be presented to the City Commission for their review and consideration. Ordinance No. 2024-34 amends the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, as follows:
ü The City Fee Structure is codified as Appendix A to the Code of the City of North Port, Florida.
ü Renames Appendix A to the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, from the “City Fee Structure” to the “City Fee Schedule.”
ü Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 2024-34 City of North Port, Florida, Building Fee Analysis dated June 24, 2022, prepared by GovRates, Inc.:
§ Although the City Commission approved the recommendations from GovRates to increase building fee rates and also adopted Ordinance No. 2022-14, increasing certain Building Fees, the final Building Fee Analysis dated June 24, 2022, prepared by GovRates, Inc. was not approved by the City Commission. Therefore, the City of North Port, Florida, Building Fee Analysis dated June 24, 2022, prepared by GovRates, Inc. has been included as Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 2024-34 for consideration and adoption by the City Commission.
Changes between First and Second Reading
Ø Page 31 ACHIEVE ANYTHING MEMBERSHIP
*Proof of City of North Port residency required for resident rate. To resolve the “Resident” asterisk reference.
Ø Page 32 WARM MINERAL SPRINGS ADMISSION
*Proof of City of North Port residency required for resident rate. To resolve the “Resident” asterisk reference.
Ø Page 33 NORTH PORT AQUATIC CENTER ADMISSION FEES
*Proof of City of North Port residency required for resident rate. To resolve the “Resident” asterisk reference.
Ø Page 35 - George Mullin Activity Center Section:
Remove the “sq. ft.” from the middle of: “sq. ft sq.ft. square feet”.
Ø Page 40 Recycling
One 35-gallon container:
Ø Page 41 Recycling
One 95-gallon container:
Ø Page 41 Yard Waste
One 95-gallon container:
Ø Page 50 Refunds
Requests for refunds due to qualifying situations received less than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the event may be approved by the city manager.
Ordinance No. 2024-34 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Business Impact Estimate for Ordinance No. 2024-34 will be posted timely on the City’s website prior to final reading, per Florida Statutes Section 166.041(4).
Strategic Plan
Good Governance
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance - First Reading
2. Ordinance - Second Reading
3. The Summary of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Proposed Fee Changes
4. Business Impact Estimate
Prepared by: Tiffany Fowler, Accountant III
Department Director: Kimberly Williams, Finance Director