4970 City Hall Blvd

City of North Port

North Port, FL 34286

Meeting Minutes

City Commission Joint Meeting

CITY COMMISSIONERS

Alice White, Mayor

Phil Stokes, Vice Mayor

Pete Emrich, Commissioner

Barbara Langdon, Commissioner

Debbie McDowell, Commissioner

APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Jerome Fletcher, City Manager

Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney

Heather Faust, City Clerk

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

1:00 PM

City Hall Room 244

w/North Port Area Chamber of Commerce

Mayor White called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. and announced the notice of use of

communication media technology (CMT) into the record.

5 -

Present:

Commissioner Pete Emrich, Commissioner Debbie McDowell, Commissioner

Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor Philip Stokes and Mayor Alice White

Aldo Present:

City Manager Jerome Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney Michael Golen, City Clerk Heather

Faust, Fire Chief Scott Titus, Police Chief Todd Garrison, Finance Director Kimberly

Williams, and North Port Area Chamber of Commerce Board Members.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Gunnin.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor White requested a motion to approve the agenda.

A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner McDowell,

to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:

3 - Commissioner McDowell, Vice Mayor Stokes and Mayor White

2 - Commissioner Emrich and Commissioner Langdon

Yes:

Absent:

2. PUBLIC COMMENT:

There was no public comment.

3. GENERAL BUSINESS:

24-0542

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Use of Surtax Funds for the

Funding of the Police Department Headquarters Project.

Mayor White announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Commissioner Langdon arrived at 1:07 p.m.

Mr. Gunnin spoke to the item including Phase 2 and 3 of Price Boulevard widening

project, reallocation of project funding, and funding options for the Police Department

Headquarters.

Commission and Board discussion and questions took place regarding lease to

purchase, funding options, proposed use of Surtax, sale of assets, building life

expectancy, and project inclusion on Surtax project list.

Commissioner Emrich joined the meeting at 1:30 p.m. and stated that he will attend the

hybrid meeting via CMT due to experiencing a medical condition.

Mayor White requested a motion to approve the use of CMT for a hybrid meeting.

motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,

to accept the use of CMT for a hybrid meeting. The motion carried on the following

vote:

5 -

Yes:

Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Commissioner Langdon, Vice

Mayor Stokes and Mayor White

Commission and Board discussion and questions continued regarding impact of

reprioritizing Price Boulevard widening Phase 2, why the project was not on Surtax list,

fundraising by business community for the promotion of Surtax, prior failed referendums,

projects considered for funding, grant options, Emergency Operation Center (EOC), real

estate perspective, tentative deferred project list distribution to Chamber Board Members,

projected revenue, and inclusion of intended funding sources of projects.

There was no public comment.

Mayor White requested a motion.

A motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,

to direct the City Manager to provide to the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce

and Christine Robinson, based on Commission discussion yesterday, the tentative

list of projects being unfunded and/or half funded including all funding allocations

if available and a copy of the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) sheet if available.

The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Commissioner Langdon, Vice

Mayor Stokes and Mayor White

4. PUBLIC COMMENT:

There was no public comment.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.