4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Workshop  
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, June 25, 2024  
9:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and provided required notifications  
regarding conducting a hybrid meeting.  
Commissioner Emrich stated he will be attending the hybrid meeting via Communications  
Media Technology (CMT) due to experiencing a medical condition.  
A 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:  
4 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes and Commissioner  
Langdon  
1 - Commissioner McDowell  
No:  
ROLL CALL  
5 -  
Present:  
Commissioner Pete Emrich, Commissioner Debbie McDowell, Mayor Alice White,  
Vice Mayor Philip Stokes and Commissioner Barbara Langdon  
Also Present:  
City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Ryan, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist Bodmer,  
Police Chief Garrison, Deputy City Manager Yarborough, Development Services Director  
Ray, and Fire Chief Titus  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fire Chief Titus.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record:  
Robin San Vincente: Expressed concern with use of the Tree Fund.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
24-0811  
A.  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Fiscal Year 2025 City  
Manager's Recommended Budget.  
Major White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and spoke to City Clerk department resources, and  
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding unbudgeted items.  
There was no public comment.  
24-0867  
Fire Department  
B.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart, pillars and priorities, performance measures, budget summary, and budget  
proposals recommended.  
Chief Titus spoke to different types of fundings.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding cascade trailer, Bayflight  
funding, Bayflight temporary location, radio replacement equipment, strategic cuts,  
additional instructors training, 10% increase impact, and opioid settlements.  
There was consensus to instruct the City Manager to fund Budget Proposal 2821 for  
replacement radio system equipment.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding funding.  
Peter Napoli, Stantec, provided a presentation including agenda, background, 2024 study  
recap, billing units update, budget updates, updated financial plan, and customer  
impacts.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding new fire station, impact  
studies, financing of new stations, concurrency study, road network, sharing  
station, fair market value, and property value.  
a fire  
Chief Titus provided clarification on expected changes on the revenue numbers.  
There was no public comment.  
24-0868  
Utilities Department  
C.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart, pillars and priorities, performance measures, budget summary, and budget  
proposals.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding 5 year growth needs.  
Mr. Yarborough spoke to grants.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding reclaimed water, 15 year  
water plan, flooding issues, storing flood waters, Peace River, Orange Hammock, firewall  
protection, reclassification salary, increase in water and sewage rates, ebill fee increase,  
lab conference room upgrade, employee pay, and aging systems.  
Recess was taken from 10:47 a.m. until 11:00 am.  
There was no public comment.  
24-0869  
Development Services Department  
D.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart, pillars and priorities, performance measures, budget summary, and budget  
proposals.  
Ms. Ray spoke to reforestation fund, tree canopy study, additional proposals for  
consideration, new playgrounds, potential shade solutions, microforest, environmental  
issues, tree planting, contracting work, and environmental protection fund.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding arborist activities, shade,  
Tree Fund, gopher checks, tree plantings, voucher program, K9 club, use of funds for  
planting, environmental restoration, land conservation, Tree Fund balance, property  
acquisition, mowing instead of natural look, Spring Haven, policy amendments, tree  
growth, Florida Statute, property owners, non residential taxes, Activity Center 6 Master  
Plan, budget proposals, and floodplain administrator.  
There was consensus to direct the City Manager to remove Budget Proposal 2913,  
to create a CIP for Activity Center 6 & 10 Master Plan, and to keep the $200,000  
budgeted in the program.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding expenses, fiscal model, tax  
payer dollars, inspector vacancies, police conservation officer, police officer equipment,  
building fund balance, general fund, operating budget, permitting vacancies, funding of the  
Economic Development Corporation (EDC), business tax revenue, and County support.  
There was no public comment.  
Recess was taken from 1:14 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.  
24-0870  
Public Works Department  
E.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart, pillars and priorities, performance measures, budget summary, and budget  
proposals.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding increases, traffic control  
technician,  
salary/benefit  
inconsistencies,  
gazebo  
replacements,  
trash  
truck  
replacements, in house versus contracted security, hours of operation, Morgan Center  
lights, solid waste, millage increase, lot fee registration, Solid Waste assessment  
revenue increase, pavilions, loitering, overhang maintenance, community averages, Road  
and Drainage fund balance, light duty lifts, and additional personnel.  
24-0872  
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Public Works Department  
F.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including overview, projects  
by funds, surtax proposal, projects by strategic pillars, proposals by department,  
Development Services, Parks & Recreation, Fire Rescue, Public Works, and Utilities.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Spring Haven, Road and  
Drainage fees, project allocation, expenditures, replenishment plans, Price Boulevard,  
permanent signals and temporary signals, accidents, mobility plan, neighborhood  
expansion, water and sewage expansion, U.S. 41 parking, tree planting, internal  
equipment, and road rehabilitation.  
There was no public comment.  
24-0873  
CIP Parks and Recreation Department  
G.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Legacy Trail connection,  
parking lot improvements, staff recommendations, drainage ditch, Warm Mineral Springs,  
potential collaborative meeting, park impact fees, and parking enhancements.  
There was no public comment.  
There was consensus to direct the City Manager to create a new CIP titled Legacy  
Trail Connection to Warm Mineral Springs and allocating $125,000 from Park  
Impact fees that are currently in Legacy Trail Parking Extension Enhancement.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Langdon, to continue this meeting to Thursday June 27, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in  
Chambers. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
24-0874  
24-0875  
24-0876  
24-0877  
CIP Utilities Department  
H.  
I.  
This Item was continued to Thursday June 27, 2024 Commission Workshop  
Meeting.  
CIP Fire Department  
This Item was continued to Thursday June 27, 2024 Commission Workshop  
Meeting.  
CIP Police Department  
J.  
K.  
This Item was continued to Thursday June 27, 2024 Commission Workshop  
Meeting.  
CIP All Others  
This Item was continued to Thursday June 27, 2024 Commission Workshop  
Meeting.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 3:46 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By:  
_________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk