TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application to the Florida Legislature for the Emergency Operations Center Outfitting Project for Consideration in the Fiscal Year 2026 State of Florida Appropriations in the Amount of $900,000, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City of North Port.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the application to the Florida Legislature for the Emergency Operations Center Outfitting project for consideration in the fiscal year 2026 State of Florida Appropriations, in the amount of $900,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the application to the Florida Legislature for the Emergency Operations Center Outfitting project for consideration in the fiscal year 2026 State of Florida Appropriations, in the amount of $900,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
• Pros: These funds will provide the City with reimbursement for furniture, fixtures, and equipment to outfit the proposed City of North Port Emergency Operations Center.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons approving this application.
Option 2: Deny the application to the Florida Legislature for the Emergency Operations Center Outfitting project for consideration in the fiscal year 2026 State of Florida Appropriations, in the amount of $900,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros denying this application.
• Cons: The City would not receive reimbursement for funding the furniture, fixtures, and equipment to outfit the proposed City of North Port Emergency Operations Center.
Background Information
A request to fund furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) for the proposed City of North Port Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been selected for State Appropriation consideration. Outfitting the EOC with FFE is anticipated to cost $900,000. The City is asking for the State to appropriate $900,000 for this project, providing for funds needed to create a fully operational EOC for the City.
Requests will be reviewed and submitted by members of the House and Senate for further consideration. If the request is supported, it is then heard and recommended by different Legislative Committees during the legislative session. If the Appropriation Request is approved, it will be included in the Governor’s Budget which will be approved on July 1, 2026, and a Grant Contract will be issued.
This is a reimbursable grant, meaning the City will spend funds first and then request reimbursement from the granting agency.
If awarded, the Grant Contract will be reviewed by the City Attorney to ensure that it is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan
Infrastructure & Facilities Integrity
Disaster Response and Recovery Management
Financial Impact
If awarded, the City will be eligible for reimbursement of up to $900,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment used in outfitting the proposed City of North Port Emergency Operations Center. The City of North Port, through Capital Improvement Project F24EOC, has a local match for the City of North Port EOC project in total of $13,851,660. These amounts are pending Commission approval of the budget amendment at the second reading scheduled for the City Commission Regular Meeting on December 9, 2025.
Revenue account: 001-0000-334.20-00
Expense account(s): 001-2223-525.52-50
Procurement
If awarded, all grant-related purchases will be made pursuant to the Code of the City of North Port, as well as procurement policies and procedures.
Attachments: 1. House Appropriations Project Request Form FY 2026-2027
2. Senate Local Funding Initiative Request Form 2026-2027
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Valerie Malingowski, Grants Division Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager