TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: A Resolution of the City Commission of The City of North Port, Florida, Repealing and Replacing Resolution No. 2007-R-36; Granting Authority to the Director of the Parks & Recreation Department, or His or Her Designee, for the Recruitment and Payment of Athletic Officials; Adopting an Independent Contractor Fee Agreement; Adopting a Fee Schedule and Pay Invoice for Independent Contractor Athletic Officials; Providing for Incorporation of Recitals; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve Resolution No. 2026-R-25 as presented.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve Resolution No. 2026-R-25 as presented.
• Pros:
o Strengthens recruitment and retention of qualified athletic officials by aligning compensation with market rates.
o Reduces disruptions such as game cancellations or rescheduling caused by shortages of officiating staff.
o Enhances program quality and participant safety through consistent enforcement of rules by trained, experienced officials.
• Cons:
o Increases officiating rates leading to higher league fees.
Option 2: Deny Resolution No. 2026-R-25.
• Pros:
o Avoids impacts to program budget.
• Cons:
o Continued difficulty attracting qualified officials due to below market compensation, making the City less competitive than neighboring jurisdictions.
o Increased risk of game cancellations, reduced program offerings or reliance on less experienced officials.
o Added strain on existing officials potentially leading to reduced availability.
o Potential negative participant experience due to inconsistent officiating or reduced program offerings.
Background Information
During the City Commission Regular Meeting held on October 9, 2007, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 07-R-36, authorizing the Parks & Recreation Department to recruit and compensate athletic officials and to establish the City’s official fee schedule for these payments. Since that time, staff has reviewed compensation levels across comparable jurisdictions, school districts, and athletic associations. The analysis indicates that several of the City’s current rates are below prevailing standards, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified officials.
To address current challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified officials, staff has prepared an updated Resolution along with Exhibit A; an Independent Contractor Fee Agreement; and Exhibit B, a fee schedule and pay invoice, to adjust officiating fees to align with current expectations and ensure the City remains competitive in the regional market.
Under the revised structure, changes include:
Ø Increasing adult basketball official rates from $17 per game to a $40-$60 range based on experience;
Ø The former $30 certified official rate is removed;
Ø A three (3) official crew rate of $30-$40 per game is added;
Ø Scorekeepers, timers and combined roles move to a unified $10-$15 range; and
Ø Softball official rates increase from $27 for one official and $18 for two officials to a $40-$60 range.
These fees are incurred only when leagues are active and are incorporated into league registration fees to ensure full cost recovery.
Resolution No. 2026-R-25 was reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Resolution No. 2026-R-25 was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on April 17, 2026, for signatures, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Quality of Life
Financial Impact
Based upon the current adult league structure and scheduling, the City is anticipating a net increase in annual league officiating costs from $4,000 to $5,000 as a result of this updated fee schedule. Funding in the amount of $5,000 is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Parks & Recreation General Fund account 001-3036-572.34-00. Officiating costs are incorporated into the league fees, which are structured to cover all program expenses, including the proposed increase in officiating rates. There is no net fiscal impact to the City. Revenues from league fees are deposited into General Fund account 001-0000-347.20-10.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2026-R-25
2. Resolution No. 07-R-36
3. October 9, 2007 Meeting Minutes
4. Benchmarking
Prepared by: Rachael Payne, Business Services Coordinator
Shelby Mendelson, Recreation Manager
Department Director: Sandy Pfundheller, Parks & Recreation Director