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, Designating the City's Administrative Authority and Administrative Official for the Administrative Approval of Plats and Replats Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 177.071; Providing for Incorporation of Recitals, Providing for Conflicts, Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-64 as presented.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-64 as presented.
• Pros: Ensures compliance with the Florida Statutes and provides for efficiency and consistency in the development review and approval process for final plats and replats.
• Cons: The amended Florida Statutes Section 177.071 preempts the City from determining an alternative process for approval or denying final plats.
Option 2: Amend the draft resolution to designate the City Manager as the administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying a proposed plat or replat, and then adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-64
• Pros: Delegates approval authority to the highest appointed official.
• Cons: Reduces efficiency and consistency in the development review and approval process for final plats and replats and may result in delayed delivery of signed plat mylars to the applicant for their recording in the Sarasota County Public Records.
Background Information
Effective July 1, 2025, the Florida Legislature amended Florida Statutes Section 177.071 to require administrative approval of plats and replats with no further action by the governing body of a municipality if the plat or replat complies with the requirements of Florida Statutes Section 177.091. This amendment (adopted via Chapter 2025-164 Laws of Florida) requires the City Commission to designate, by ordinance or resolution, an administrative authority to receive, review, and process plat and replat submittals, and to designate an administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying a proposed plat or replat. (The statute defines the term administrative authority as a department, division, or other agency of a municipality, and for purposes of issuing a final administrative approval of a plat or replat submittal, the term also includes an administrative officer or employee designated by the governing body of a municipality, including but not limited to, a city manager, a deputy city manager, an assistant city manager, or other high-ranking city department or division director with direct or indirect oversight responsibility for the municipality’s land development, housing, utilities, or public works programs).
Adoption of this resolution would designate the City’s Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) Administrator as the administrative authority to receive, review, and process plats and as the administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying a proposed plat or replat ensuring administrative efficiency and consistency, and compliance with the Florida Statutes. In the near future, staff will prepare an ordinance for consideration by City Commission to codify this designation and update the development review process for final plats and replats to align with the requirements in Florida Statutes Section 177.071.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed Resolution No. 2025-R-64 for form and correctness.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Good Governance
Economic Development & Growth Management
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-R-64
2. Chapter 2025-164 Laws of Florida
Prepared by: Lori Barnes, AICP, CPM, Deputy Director, Development Services Department
Department Director: Alaina Ray, AICP, Director, Development Services Department