TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Subrecipient Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to Assist With Funding Involved With Narcotics Related Investigations and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents, After Legal Review.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Subrecipient Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to assist with funding involved with narcotics related investigations and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents, after legal review.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Subrecipient Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to assist with funding involved with narcotics related investigations and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents, after legal review.
• Pros: This Agreement will allow for reimbursement of eligible North Port Police Department (NPPD) expenditures such as Police Officer overtime, fuel, and vehicle leases, incurred during HIDTA operations.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to approving this Agreement.
Option 2: Deny the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Subrecipient Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to assist with funding involved with narcotics related investigations and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents, after legal review.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying this Agreement.
• Cons: The NPPD would not be eligible for reimbursement for drug investigations/operations that could be reimbursed by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the fiduciary of Central Florida HIDTA.
Background Information
The HIDTA program, created by the U.S. Congress through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, is a grant that provides assistance to Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. The program's mission is “to enhance and coordinate America’s drug-control efforts among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.”
On May 23, 2025, the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, awarded a grant to Seminole County Sherrif’s Office for the HIDTA program. The NPPD, as a member of Central Florida HIDTA, acknowledges the obligations of participation in the program. The Seminole County Sherrif’s Office, as a fiduciary of Central Florida HIDTA, desires to reimburse the NPPD for eligible work to support the activities of Central Florida HIDTA.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Subrecipient Agreement for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA) to assist with funding involved with narcotics related investigations has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The North Port Police Department will submit reimbursement requests to Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The total reimbursement requested will be dependent on costs expended on qualifying HIDTA activities, programs, and projects.
Revenue account: 001-0000-331.20-00
Procurement
The City’s Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed.
Attachments:
1. Subrecipient Agreement
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Valerie Malingowski, Grants Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager