TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Amending the City Charter of North Port, Florida to Create Section 1.05, Corporate Boundaries; Providing for Findings; Providing for Filing of Documents; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action First Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-05 on first reading and continue to second reading on March 24, 2026.
Recommended Action Second Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-05 as presented.
City Commission Options First Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-05 on first reading and continue to second reading on March 24, 2026.
• Pros: Establishes the corporate boundaries of the City in accordance with Section 166.031(3) Florida Statutes and Section 8.01 of the City Charter.
• Cons: There are no identifiable disadvantages to the approval of Ordinance No. 2026-05.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-05.
• Pros: There are no identifiable advantages to the denial of Ordinance No. 2026-05
• Cons: The city would be in noncompliance with Section 171.091, Florida Statutes.
City Commission Options Second Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-05 on first reading and continue to second reading on March 24, 2026.
• Pros: Establishes the corporate boundaries of the City in accordance with Section 166.031(3) Florida Statutes and Section 8.01 of the City Charter.
• Cons: There are no identifiable disadvantages to the approval of Ordinance No. 2026-05.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-05.
• Pros: There are no identifiable advantages to the denial of Ordinance No. 2026-05
• Cons: The city would be in noncompliance with Section 171.091, Florida Statutes.
Background Information
The boundaries of the City of North Port have changed over time due to a series of annexations and contractions. Although these changes have been enacted through various ordinances, they have not been officially recorded as amendments to the City Charter.
Before November of 2018, Article II, Section 2.01, - Corporate boundaries of the City Charter stated the following: “The boundaries of the city shall be the legal description on file in the office of the City Clerk and is hereby incorporated by reference as the same may from time to time be amended as provided herein.” When the Charter was amended by referendum on November 6, 2018, this language was omitted. Without a clear definition of the corporate boundary, it is difficult to accurately determine the city’s limits.
Under Section 8.01 of the current City Charter, the City Commission has the authority to amend any part of the Charter by ordinance when the City's corporate boundaries change due to annexation or de-annexation, without requiring a voter referendum. Any ordinance passed by the governing body will be incorporated into the Charter and file the same with the Florida Department of State. In addition, Section 166.031(3) of the Florida Statutes states that municipalities can amend their charters by ordinance without a referendum, allowing them to redefine their boundaries to include only the lands that have been annexed. Such redefinitions must also be filed with the Department of State within 30 days.
Florida Statute Section 171.091 requires that any changes in municipal boundaries, whether through annexation or contraction, be reflected in the charter's boundary article. Additionally, this section specifies that the updated boundary article must be submitted to the Department of State within 30 days of any change.
The proposed Charter amendment adds Section 1.05, titled "Corporate Boundaries. This section ensures compliance with Florida Statute 171.091 and clarifies that the city's boundaries will be defined by legal descriptions. Whenever an annexation ordinance is adopted, the boundary will be updated, and the new legal description will automatically redefine the corporate boundaries. Furthermore, the amendment specifies that these legal descriptions will be maintained on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
As per Florida Statutes Section 166.041(4)(c), a business impact estimate is not required, as this ordinance is required for compliance with federal or state law or regulation.
Ordinance No. 2026-05 has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office and is legally correct as to form.
Information for Second Reading
During the City Commission meeting held March 10, 2026, Ordinance No. 2026-05 was forwarded to second reading with a 5-0 vote.
Ordinance No. 2026-05 was provided to the City Clerk’s Office on March 10, 2026, for signatures, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Good Governance
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2026-05, Second Reading
2. Ordinance No. 2026-05, First Reading
Prepared by: Sherry Willette-Grondin, Planner III
Lori Barnes, AICP, CPM, Development Services Deputy Director
Department Director: Alaina Ray, AICP, Development Services Director