TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Request From the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. to Place a Portable Building on City Owned Property at Dallas White Park Located at 5900 Greenwood Avenue, North Port, Florida, 34287.
Recommended Action
Provide direction to staff related to the request from the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. for the placement of a portable building on City owned property at Dallas White Park Located at 5900 Greenwood Avenue, North Port, Florida, 34287.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Direct the City Manager to identify options to offer the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. space at Dallas White Park.
• Pros: This would potentially satisfy Kiwanis’ request and support the grant application submitted by the not-for-profit. Regular presence in the park could foster stewardship through initiatives like Adopt-A-Park and support timely reporting of suspicious or unusual activities.
• Cons: Parking deficiencies already exist at the park, and increased usage could strain existing parking. Potential for confusion over which areas of the park are leased versus open to the public. If lease space is identified, extending an opportunity to a specific not-for-profit could be perceived as favoritism.
Option 2: Deny request from the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc.
• Pros: No perception of favoritism towards one not-for-profit and avoids a potential reduction of public access to the park.
• Cons: Kiwanis will not be able to satisfy the requirements of the grant being pursued for a portable building.
Background Information
On September 4, 2025, the City of North Port received a request from the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. to place a portable building on City-owned property at Dallas White Park, across from the site of the former City-leased space that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian. Related to this request, the Kiwanis Club has submitted a grant application to purchase a portable building. The grant requires an Agreement with the property owner (City of North Port) authorizing placement of the portable building and completion of a site visit.
The Dallas White Park property has a Public Institutional future land use designation, and a Government Use zoning district designation. The Kiwanis Club is a social service use, which is an allowable use in the Government Use zoning district. However, a manufactured building (i.e., mobile/trailer/portable) is not permissible. A modular building that is certified to meet the Florida Building Code could be permissible if the building elevations could be modified to include required architectural enhancements, or if the City Commission approves waivers to building design standards contained within Section 4.4.5 of the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).
If the waivers to building design standards were granted, the timeline for permitting is approximately 8-12 months. This would include submittal of a Master Concept Plan (MCP) (fee of $2,050.00 plus $50.00 per acre over 1-acre or portion thereof) along with a waiver application for each building design standard requested to be waived (fee of $600.00 per waiver; could require 12 or more waivers). If the City Commission approves the MCP and waivers, a Site Development and Infrastructure Plan Amendment would be required (fee of $650.00) followed by building permits (fee based on construction value).
Related to this request, staff has also researched the history of the Scout House and Kiwanis Club. Below is a timeline of events staff has been able to verify:
Ø 1984: The building referred to as the Scout House was built by the Early Bird Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club to be used as a Boys and Girls Club (Note: Some records reference 1960 however, that has not been able to be verified).
Ø 1992: The City of North Port acquired the Scout House.
Ø 1993: Sarasota County took over control of the parks, including the Scout House.
Ø 2005: Sarasota County leased the Scout House, Al Goll Center and pool to the YMCA.
Ø 2009: The Scout House was severely deteriorated. A campaign was launched to renovate the Scout House and subsequent renovations were completed.
Ø 2011: The Scout House was renamed to the Bud and Wanda Korte Scout House by the North Port City Commission and the Parks & Recreation Department became responsible for reservations and operations.
Ø 2019: The Early Bird Kiwanis dissolved.
Ø September 28, 2021: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, the Commission approved a Tenant Lease Agreement between the City of North Port and the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. for space at the Al Goll Ancillary Building located at 5925 Greenwood Avenue, North Port, Florida, 34287.
Ø April 11, 2023: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, the Commission approved the termination of the Agreement between Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. and the City of North Port, Florida, regarding the Children’s Community Clothing Closet and approved the Tenant Lease Agreement between the City of North Port and Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc. for $1.00 per month for space at the Al Goll Ancillary Building for Kiwanis Club outreach efforts as amended to capture the consensus given.
Ø May 14, 2024: The Al Goll Ancillary Building was demolished due to damage from Hurricane Ian.
The Parks & Recreation Department continues to offer the Scout House as a recreation rental space and is reserved regularly for youth scouting activities or meetings and other meetings, rentals, and recreational activities. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Scout House was utilized for 1,387.25 hours.
Additionally, the Parks & Recreation Master Plan is scheduled for completion in December 2025, and its recommendations are still pending.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Quality of Life
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Request
Prepared by: A. Jerome Fletcher, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager