TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Legacy Trail Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector Project for Inclusion on the Prioritized List of Project Funding Applications Through the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Recommended Action
Approve the Legacy Trail Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector Project for inclusion on the prioritized list of project funding applications through the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Legacy Trail Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector Project for inclusion on the prioritized list of project funding applications through the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
• Pros: Allows the City to apply for grant programs, such as SUN Trails and others that require MPO support.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to approving this request.
Option 2: Deny the request to add the Legacy Trail Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector Project for inclusion on the prioritized list of project funding applications through the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying this request.
• Cons: This would prevent the City from applying for grant programs, such as SUN Trails and others that require MPO support.
Background Information
The MPO annually solicits project funding applications from Sarasota County, Manatee County and from all jurisdictions located within each County. These applications are submitted so that projects are eligible for certain State and Federal funding opportunities. Submitted projects are evaluated and ranked by MPO staff using criteria compliant with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) performance measures. The ranked project funding applications are then presented to the MPO Board for final approval and, if approved, are submitted to the State of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to be considered for future available State and Federal funds.
Staff are requesting that the City Commission endorse the project below to be included on the final list of approved projects:
1. Legacy Trail Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector:
Currently, the Legacy Trail portion of the SUN Trail network connects to the City of North Port via the North Port Connector at its terminus at the Price Boulevard Trailhead. The proposed project will extend the network from the Price Boulevard Trailhead, approximately 1.7 miles South and then West, to Warm Mineral Springs Park. The Warm Mineral Springs Park Connector consists of a 12-foot-wide paved surface suitable for a variety of uses, from bicycles and scooters to wheelchairs and strollers. A formal trailhead facility at Warm Mineral Springs Park will include bathrooms, drinking fountains, parking, and other amenities for the public's convenience.
Strategic Plan
Quality of Life
Financial Impact
Not applicable at this time.
Procurement
Should funding be obtained, the City of North Port’s Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed when the purchase is made.
Attachments:
1. 2026 Jurisdiction Priorities
Prepared by: Michael J. Davey, PhD, Grants Coordinator
Chuck Speake, Public Works Director
Sandy Pfundheller, Parks and Recreation Director
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager