TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on Behalf of the North Port Police Department Regarding Access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
• Pros: The North Port Police Department will be able to continue to use this resource to access Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs.
• Cons: Staff have not identified any foreseeable consequences to approving the MOU.
Option 2: Deny the approval and authorization of the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
• Pros: Staff have not identified any foreseeable benefits to denying the MOU.
• Cons: The North Port Police Department would lose the ability to use this investigative tool for the identification of suspects and victims.
Background Information
The North Port Police Department (NPPD) is a current user of Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s (PCSO) Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS). BFAS allows access to Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs, which are collected and maintained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
The PCSO has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as the Requesting Party (a defined term in the MOU) with the understanding that each agency that has access to BFAS is required to execute an MOU with the FLHSMV as a Third-Party End User (a defined term in the MOU) in order to access Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS) has been reviewed by the City Attorney and it is legally correct to form.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the City of North Port, Florida, on behalf of the North Port Police Department regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS) was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on August 28, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission Approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
Prepared by: John McDowell, Commander
Jamie Ebershoff, Executive Assistant
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police