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, Activating an Information Technology Department; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Continue Ordinance 2025-27 as presented to second reading on September 18, 2025.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Continue Ordinance 2025-27 as presented to second reading on September 18, 2025.
• Pros: Aligns the team with our organizational growth with the structure of comparable Departments and helps to build a more resilient, adaptable organization.
• Cons: Requires additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for Information Technology.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance 2025-27 as presented.
• Pros: Does not require additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for Information Technology.
• Cons: Not activating an Information Technology Department could limit strategic influence, resources, authority, and growth capacity, which can hinder technology effectiveness and organizational progress.
Background Information
The following provides a chronological order of events pertinent to changing the Information Technology Division to a Department:
Ø June 16, 2025: During the budget workshop, as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget development process, the creation of an Information Technology Department was proposed in the City Manager’s Proposed Budget. There was a consensus by the City Commission to move forward with converting the Information Technology Division into a Department to better support the City’s growing operational needs.
Ø Section 5.05. Organizational structure. (a) of the North Port City Charter states:
“(a) The City Commission shall, by ordinance adopted by unanimous vote, activate or deactivate departments as deemed necessary for the efficient administration and operation of City government. The following departments may not be deactivated except by referendum:
1. Police Department
2. Finance Department”
Ordinance 2025-27 has been reviewed by the Interim City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Business Impact Estimate for Ordinance 2025-27 was posted on the City’s website on August 19, 2025.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Good Governance
Financial Impact
The Information Technology budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes a budget proposal totaling $52,370 for the reclassification of the Division Manager to Department Director.
Below is a breakdown of the budget proposal by salary and benefits.
|
Salary |
Benefits |
|
$14,940 |
$37,430 ($36,290 is FRS) |
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance 2025-27
2. Business Impact Estimate
Prepared by: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager