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, Regarding Sales of Alcoholic Beverages in Proximity to Churches and Schools; Amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Sections 6-1 and 6-4; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.
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Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2025-31 on first reading and continue to second reading on October 28, 2025.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve Ordinance No. 2025-31 on first reading and continue to second reading on October 28, 2025.
* Pros:
o Establishes regulations that are consistent with the City Commission's Strategic Plan and the Comprehensive Plan.
o Expands the real estate options for businesses wishing to open commercial entertainment/recreation, hotels and restaurants.
o Removes barriers to expanding the recreation and dining options in the City which may result in location of convenient services in proximity to residential areas.
* Cons: There are no identifiable disadvantages to the approval of Ordinance No. 2025-31.
Option 2: Amend Ordinance No. 2025-31 to change the definition of alcoholic beverage establishment to include all establishments offering consumption on premises, except those locations licensed as restaurants, which derive at least 51 percent of their gross revenues from the sale of food and nonalcoholic beverages, then approve Ordinance No. 2025-31 on first reading and continue to second reading on October 28, 2025.
* Pros: Expands the real estate options for businesses wishing to open restaurants and removes barriers to expanding dining options in the City.
* Cons: Regulations inconsistent with the Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Plan economic development goals, objectives a...
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