TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Contractor Licensing Presentation & Discussion
Recommended Action
City Commission consider implementing a North Port Building Trades Advisory Board
Background Information
At the regularly scheduled meeting of February 26, 2019, Commission discussed the possibility of creating a board that works in conjunction with a special magistrate.
At present, all formal contractor complaint cases are forwarded to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Sarasota County Task Force Against Unlicensed & Unpermitted Activity for their review. All complaint cases that claim fraud or financial misconduct are forwarded to the City of North Port Police Department and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All complaint cases involving the elderly are redirected to the “Seniors vs. Crime” organization. This process ensures that contractor misconduct cases are expedited in the reporting to other local & state agencies and brings resolution to these cases in a more efficient and consistent manner.
The State of Florida is the final authority with respect to contractor licensing. The State and the County are both the authority in enforcing contractor license issues and non-compliance with regulations. They have established license requirements, handle license adjudication and enforcement matters. No license - no work in North Port.
Although the State and the County handle the formal complaints and the compliance with State regulations, there is a missing component. North Port’s rapid growth necessitates improved communications with the contractor community. The City can improve communication by working more closely with the contractors to support advocacy/cooperation in areas of mutual concern and by facilitating a process to develop improvements on enforcement and procedures as well as discuss emerging issues within the contractor community.
It is the recommendation of staff that a North Port Building Trades Advisory Board be established. The board would be advisory in nature and the board’s purpose is to work with the contractor community as a liaison with the State regulating agencies for contractor licensing and enforcement. The North Port Building Trades Advisory Board would meet quarterly, or as needed.
Strategic Plan
Neighborhood Enhancement, Efficient & Effective Government
Financial Impact
N/A
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. North Port Building Trades Advisory Board
2. Contractor Licensing Board Status Memo
3. Response to Request for Legal Services - Licensing Board Authority
4. Legal Memo 12-18- 2013
Prepared by: Katrina Romano, Administrative Services Manager
Department Director: Frank Miles, M.P.A, Director, Neighborhood Development Services