TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: ORD. NO. 2020-47 An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Renaming the Neighborhood Development Services Department to Building and Code Enforcement Services and the Activation of the Department of Development & Environmental Affairs; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for an Effective Date
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance No. 2020-47 to second reading on November 10, 2020.
Background Information
In 2001, the City hired a consultant, MGT, that evaluated the entire City and it's operations. Part of that study included a recommendation of splitting the Community Development Services Department into the Building Department and the Planning and Zoning Department. In 2011, the Planning, Zoning and Engineering Department and the Building Department were combined administratively to create the Neighborhood Services (NDS) Department due to the recession and budgetary constraints. Subsequently, the Economic Development Division and the Social Services Division were added to the NDS Department in 2019. This department has grown to a point that the departments need to be split again. In June, 2020, the City Manager presented the Commission with the option of splitting the department again. In July, the Commission directed staff to have the matter brought back within 3 months for a larger conversation on the reorganization. On October 19, 2020, the Commission had a special meeting which resulted in direction being given to bring back an ordinance renaming Neighborhood Development Services to the Building and Code Enforcement Services Department and the creating the Development and Environmental Affairs Department and have Social Services and Economic Development report directly to the City Manager.
As a result of these meetings, Ordinance No. 2020-47 is being presented to the City Commission for consideration ...
Click here for full text