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, Adjusting the Commission’s Base Salary Rate; Amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Section 2-23. - Declaration of Salary; Payment; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action for First Reading
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-02 as presented and move to second reading during the City Commission Regular Meeting on February 10, 2026.
Recommended Action for Second Reading
Option 1: Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-02.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2026-02 as presented.
• Pros: (1) Transparency with the public, as the Commissioners’ base salary would not be tied to the growth of the population and reduces the contentious debate over Commissioners’ compensation; (2) Predictability for Budgeting because employee cost-of-living adjustments are easily budgeted for; and (3) Modernizes outdated salary structure, using current salaries as a new baseline prevents continuing a structure that is already be outdated
• Cons: The City may be limiting its flexibility to compensate appropriately.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-02.
• Pros: No change to the way the Commissioners’ salaries are currently paid.
• Cons: The current compensation chart is outdated due to the rapid growth of the City and it’s less predictable.
City Commission Options for Second Reading
Option 1: Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-02.
• Pros: (1) Transparency with the public, as the Commissioners’ base salary would not be tied to the growth of the population and reduces the contentious debate over Commissioners’ compensation; (2) Predictability for Budgeting because employee cost-of-living adjustments are easily budgeted for; and (3) Modernizes outdated salary structure, using current salaries as a new baseline prevents continuing a structure that is already be outdated
• Cons: The City may be limiting its flexibility to compensate appropriately.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance No. 2026-02.
• Pros: No change to the way the Commissioners’ salaries are currently paid.
• Cons: The current compensation chart is outdated due to the rapid growth of the City and it’s less predictable.
Background Information
During the City Commission Regular Meeting held on November 4, 2025, the City Commission directed the City Attorney to bring back an Ordinance amending Commissioner salary calculation starting compensation baseline at its current amount, increasing annually based on that same cost of living increase approved for City employees. If there is no cost-of-living increase given to the City employees, then Commission gets no increase.
Ordinance No. 2026-02 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Ordinance No. 2026-02 was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on January 21, 2026, for signature subject to City Commission approval.
Information for Second Reading
During the City Commission Regular Meeting held on January 13, 2026, the City Commission heard Ordinance No. 2026-02.
A motion was made by Commission Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to direct the City Clerk to read the Ordinance by title only. The motion carried on the following vote: all yes.
A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langdon, to continue Ordinance No. 2026-02 to second reading on February 24, 2026. The motion carried on the following vote: all yes.
Staff revised the signature block of the original Ordinance after first reading to reflect the current Mayor. The adoption date was also changed from February 10, 2026, to February 24, 2026, to match the motion for second reading made at the City Commission Regular Meeting on January 13, 2026.
Business Impact Statement
The Business Impact Statement has been prepared and posted publicly in accordance with Florida Statute Section 166.041. The Business Impact Statement was posted on January 13, 2026.
Strategic Plan
Good Governance
Financial Impact
Fiscal Year 2025-2026: Not applicable.
Increases for future fiscal years will be dependent on the cost-of-living increase being approved in the adopted budget.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance - Second Reading
2. Ordinance No. 2026-02
3. Business Impact Estimate
Prepared by: Michael Fuino, B.C.S., City Attorney
Department Director: Michael Fuino, B.C.S., City Attorney