TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Interlocal Agreement Between Charlotte County on Behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) and City of North Port for Services Supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, Authorize the First Work Assignment in the Amount of $230,000 When Issued, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents for the First Work Assignment After Legal Review.
Recommended Action
Approve the Interlocal Agreement between Charlotte County, on behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), and the City of North Port, for services supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, authorize the First Work Assignment in the amount of $230,000 when issued, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents for the First Work Assignment after legal review.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Interlocal Agreement between Charlotte County, on behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), and the City of North Port, for services supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, authorize the First Work Assignment in the amount of $230,000 when issued, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents for the First Work Assignment after legal review.
• Pros: The City will receive funding from Charotte County on behalf of CHNEP.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to approving this Interlocal Agreement.
Option 2: Deny the Interlocal Agreement between Charlotte County, on behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), and the City of North Port, for services supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, authorize the First Work Assignment in the amount of $230,000 when issued, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents for the First Work Assignment after legal review.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying this Interlocal Agreement.
• Cons: The City will not receive funding from Charlotte County on behalf of CHNEP.
Background Information
In December 2025, City staff applied to CHNEP for project funding supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, including water quality improvement, hydrologic restoration, fish, wildlife, and habitat protection. The City submitted an application for the Warm Mineral Springs Habitat Restoration and Education Initiative in the amount of $300,000.
CHNEP has awarded $230,000 for this initiative, with no local match required. The City will reduce the proposed scope of work appropriately to align it with the actual awarded amount. The project objective is to enhance the ecological integrity of the area surrounding Warm Mineral Springs by removing invasive plant species, planting native trees, and installing educational signage. These efforts are intended to improve water quality, support hydrologic function through native vegetation, and protect fish and wildlife habitat, while also engaging the public through education and stewardship. The work will be completed on Warm Mineral Springs property, located at 12200 San Servando Avenue, North Port, Florida, 34287.
At the time of application, CHNEP advertised that the funding opportunity was not a grant. Upon project award notification, the funding source was discovered to be a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant. The City will receive funding for this project as a subrecipient of the EPA grant. Grants staff will manage applicable financial and programmatic reporting and compliance requirements associated with the grant.
Charlotte County, on behalf of CHNEP, and the City propose entering into an Interlocal Agreement that establishes a framework for accepting funding through individual Work Assignments issued as funding becomes available. The specific scope, deliverables, and budget for this project will be documented in the first Work Assignment issued under the Interlocal Agreement.
The Interlocal Agreement between Charlotte County, on behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), and the City of North Port, for services supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, authorize the First Work Assignment in the amount of $230,000 when issued, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents for the First Work Assignment has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Interlocal Agreement between Charlotte County, on behalf of the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), and the City of North Port, for services supporting CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, authorize the First Work Assignment in the amount of $230,000 when issued, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents for the First Work Assignment was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on May 5, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan
Quality of Life
Financial Impact
Per Ordinance No. 2025-25 Section 2.04, the City Commission’s acceptance of terms is deemed to constitute a budget adjustment, including appropriation of funds. If approved, a fiscal year 2026 budget transfer shall be processed to establish a revenue budget in the amount of $230,000 to account 115-0000-331.39-00 and an expenditure budget in the amount of $230,000 as shown in the chart below. Staff will also assign a new project number for the $230,000 project. Matching funds are not needed for the grant or required to complete the work. Any future funding under the Interlocal Agreement will be subject to applicable Commission, budget and procurement process approvals at the time of award.
|
Category |
Amount |
Account |
|
Invasive Species Removal |
$ 115,000 |
115-2755-537.46-10 |
|
Native Tree Planting (Materials, Labor, Maintenance) |
$ 57,500 |
115-2755-537.46-10 |
|
Native Plant Rewilding (with Irrigation) |
$ 55,000 |
115-2755-537.46-10 |
|
Signage and Education Materials |
$ 2,500 |
115-2755-537.52-50 |
|
Total |
$ 230,000 |
|
Procurement
All relevant Procurement Codes, policies and procedures will be followed when purchases are made.
Attachments:
1. Interlocal Agreement
2. Project Application
3. Revised Funding
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Valerie Malingowski, Grants Division Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager