4970 CITY HALL BLVD

NORTH PORT, FL 34286

City of North Port

Meeting Minutes

City Commission Special Meeting

CITY COMMISSIONERS

Phil Stokes, Mayor

Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor

Barbara Langdon, Commissioner

David Duval, Commissioner

Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner

APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Jerome Fletcher, City Manager

Michael Golen, Interim City Attorney

Heather Faust, City Clerk

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

6:00 PM

Fire Station 86 Training Room - Wellen Park

Commission Town Hall – 2025 Referendums

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

5 -

Present:

Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius

Petrow, Commissioner Barbara Langdon and Mayor Philip Stokes

Also Present:

City Manager Fletcher, Interim City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Police Chief

Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Finance Director Williams, Deputy Communications Manager

Ingalls, Assistant Utility Director Brasefield, Deputy CIty Manager Yarborough, Assistant

Utilities Director Vuolo

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lance Broat.

1. PUBLIC COMMENT:

Valdy Olender: Spoke to 2023 Annual Financial Report.

2. GENERAL BUSINESS:

25-1924

Introduction by the City Manager

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher provided an introduction.

25-1926

Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to City Borrowing

Authority for Response to Declared Emergencies with Public Question and

Answer Session

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Questions and answers took place regarding borrowing authority and citizen voting,

declared emergency guidelines, election turnout, changes since November election,

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) letter, and conflict of interest.

25-1928

Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Removal of

Residency Requirements form the City of North Port Charter for the City

Attorney and City Clerk Positions with Public Question and Answer

Session

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Questions and answers took place regarding justification, recruitment costs, quality of

performance, opinion representation, and position advertisement.

25-1930

Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Borrowing

Authority for the North Port Police Department Headquarters Project with

Public Question and Answer Session

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Questions and answers took place regarding options should the referendum fail, fiscal

responsibility, pay as you go methodology, space needs, grants, certificates of

participation, safety, construction costs, DOGE, approximate cost based on property

value, effective date, and prior discussion.

25-1932

Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Borrowing

Authority for the Solid Waste Transfer Station Project with Public Question

and Answer Session

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Questions and answers took place regarding cost/tax.

25-1934

Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Borrowing

Authority for Capital Improvements to the Pan American Wastewater

Treatment Facility with Public Question and Answer Session

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Questions and answers took place regarding existing structures and growth, capacity

levels, rain levels, impact to utility customers, water treatment system connectivity, and

prioritization of referendum questions.