TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Annual Certification Statement Between the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port Regarding Access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Annual Certification Statement between the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Annual Certification Statement between the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
• Pros: The North Port Police Department will be able to continue to use this resource to access Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs.
• Cons: Staff have not identified any foreseeable consequences to approving the Annual Certification Statement.
Option 2: Deny the Annual Certification Statement between Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS).
• Pros: Staff have not identified any foreseeable benefits to denying the Annual Certification Statement.
• Cons: The North Port Police Department would be out of compliance with the agreement and risk losing access to the BFSA system.
Background Information
The North Port Police Department (NPPD) is a current user of Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s (PCSO) Face Analysis, Comparison, and Examination System (“FACES”). FACES allows access to Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs, which are collected and maintained by the Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
The PCSO has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as the Requesting Party (a defined term in the MOU) with the understanding that each agency that has access to FACES is required to execute an MOU with the FLHSMV as a Third-Party End User (a defined term in the MOU) in order to access Florida driver’s license and identification card photographs. During the City Commission Regular Meeting held on October 13, 2020, the Commission approved a MOU Contract No. HSMV-0366-21 with the FLHSMV as a Third-Party End User.
As a Third-Party End User, the NPPD must submit an Annual Certification Statement to the FLHSMV indicating that the NPPD has evaluated and certified that it has adequate controls in place to protect the personal identifiable information from unauthorized access, distribution, use, modification, or disclosure.
The Annual Certification Statement between Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS) has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The Annual Certification Statement between Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the City of North Port regarding access to the Biometric Facial Analysis System (BFAS) was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on November 13, 2025, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Annual Certification Statement
Prepared by: Christopher Morales, Deputy Chief of Police
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police