TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of North Port, Florida, Adopting City Commission Policy No. 2026-01 Related to the Open Data Policy for What Works Cities Certification; Providing for Incorporation of Recitals; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-R-44 as presented.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-R-44 as presented.
* Pros: Establishes a formal Open Data Policy that strengthens the City's data governance practices and aligns North Port with recognized standards for high-performing, data-driven local governments.
* Cons: Implementation will require coordinated staff time across departments to operationalize and maintain the policy.
Option 2: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-R-44 with revisions to the Open Data Policy.
* Pros: Allows the City Commission to tailor the policy to address specific priorities or concerns.
* Cons: Modifications may compromise key elements required to meet What Works Cities criteria, potentially limiting alignment with nationally and internationally recognized best practices.
Option 3: Deny Resolution No. 2026-R-44.
* Pros: Avoids immediate staff resource commitments associated with policy implementation.
* Cons: The City would forgo establishing a formal Open Data Policy and remain misaligned with leading practices for leveraging data and evidence to improve community outcomes.
Background Information
The proposed Open Data Policy establishes and maintains a formal open data program to support the proactive release of public data in a manner that promotes transparency, accountability, and effective government operations. While the City currently makes some data publicly available, this policy formalizes those efforts by documenting the City's commitment, establis...
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