TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement With the American National Red Cross to Extend the Termination Date of the Existing Agreement Through December 8, 2028.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement with the American National Red Cross to extend the termination date of the existing Agreement through December 8, 2028.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement with the American National Red Cross to extend the termination date of the existing Agreement through December 8, 2028.
• Pros:
o Continues the third-party aquatic examiner service relationship that supports professional evaluations and external verification of lifeguard performance; facility safety protocols; and emergency response preparedness.
o Maintains access to a specialized American National Red Cross program providing on-site assessments of lifeguard skills and surveillance techniques; review of emergency action plans and facility safety procedures; detailed feedback with actionable recommendations; and certification and compliance verification aligned with American National Red Cross standards.
o Demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to public safety, best practices, and transparency in recreational facility operations.
o Extends the Agreement through December 8, 2028, while leaving all other Agreement terms, including pricing, unchanged.
• Cons:
o Staff have not identified any foreseeable consequences to approving the Amendment.
Option 2: Do not approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement with the American National Red Cross to extend the termination date of the existing Agreement through December 8, 2028.
• Pros:
o Staff have not identified any foreseeable benefits to denying the Amendment.
• Cons:
o Third-party aquatic operations assessments and external evaluations would conclude at the end of the current Agreement term.
o Reduces external oversight related to lifeguard performance, facility safety procedures, and emergency response preparedness.
o Staff would need to seek another agency for external auditing, which could result in higher costs.
Background Information
The American National Red Cross provides third-party aquatic examiner services to support lifeguard operations assessments; facility safety review; and emergency response preparedness at the North Port Aquatic Center. These services provide independent observation and evaluation of lifeguard performance and aquatic operations, including recommendations related to American National Red Cross standards.
The following provides a chronological order of events related to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement:
Ø January 12, 2021: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, the City Commission approved a 12-month Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement with the American National Red Cross to conduct lifeguard operations assessments, including observation and evaluation audits.
o Subsequent to the expiration of the 2021 Agreement, staff submitted a revised Agreement from the American National Red Cross for legal review. However, the City and the American National Red Cross were unable to reach consensus on renewal terms.
Ø July 26, 2022: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, staff identified Counsilman-Hunsaker as a qualified firm offering comparable services through its aquatic management program. The City Commission approved an Aquatics Operations Agreement for Consulting Services with Counsilman-Hunsaker for a 36-month term.
Ø December 9, 2025: During the City Commission Regular Meeting, the City Commission approved the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement By and Between the City of North Port and the American National Red Cross on the consent agenda.
To uphold national best practices and maintain high operational standards, staff recommends approval of the First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement to extend the termination date of the existing Agreement through December 8, 2028.
The First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The First Amendment to the Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on August 6, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Quality of Life
Financial Impact
Funding in the amount of $4,410 is included in the fiscal year 2027 tentative budget in account number 001-3037-572.34-00.
Procurement
This service is being procured under City of North Port Procurement Code Section 2-403 (a) (2) - Exemptions - Procurement Contracts between the City and nonprofit organizations, other governments or public entities.
Attachments:
1. First Amendment
2. Aquatic Examiner Service Agreement
3. January 12, 2021, Meeting Minutes
4. July 26, 2022, Meeting Minutes
5. December 9, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Prepared by: Devón Poulos, Aquatics Manager
Department Director: Sandy Pfundheller, Parks & Recreation Director