TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Interagency Agreement By and Between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida, on Behalf of the North Port Police Department for the Use of the Knight Trail Park Law Enforcement Firing/Gun Range Facilities.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities.
• Pros: Approval of the Agreement will allow the North Port Police Department to utilize a local training facility to conduct required/mandatory law enforcement training.
• Cons: Additional time will be necessary for the North Port Police Department Officers to travel outside of the City limits to complete the required firearms and law enforcement training.
Option 2: Deny the Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities.
• Pros: The North Port Police Department Sarasota range fees would not increase.
• Cons: The denial would make the North Port Police Department travel further out of town for training which would negatively impact on the North Port Police Department’s ability to provide enhanced law enforcement training at a training facility with the currently strained availability on current training facilities in our area.
Background Information
The Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities will allow the North Port Police Department to provide required and mandatory law enforcement training to be conducted. It also provides the North Port Police Department the ability to conduct enhanced training needed for mandatory firearms qualifications and recertification training. This Agreement shall have the initial term of beginning on the effective date of execution by both parties and continue for one (1) year. The Agreement shall automatically renew for additional one-year periods thereafter, unless otherwise terminated as stated in this Agreement.
The Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Interagency Agreement by and between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the City of North Port, Florida on behalf of the North Port Police Department for the use of the Knight Trail Park law enforcement firing/gun range facilities was submitted to the City Clerk's Office on February 25, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Funding in the amount $30,000 is estimated in range fees for use of the training center on a needed basis which will be utilized from the Fiscal Year 2026 North Port Police Department budget, account number 001-2100-521-55-00.
Procurement
This will be procured pursuant to Chapter 2 - Administration, Article VIII - Procurement, Section 2-403 Exemption (a)(2) of the City of North Port Procurement Code for Procurement contracts between the City and non-profit organizations, other governments or other public entities.
Attachments:
1. Interagency Agreement
2. Procurement Packet
Prepared by: Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Scott M. King, Administrative Bureau Captain
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police