4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Special 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  
Thursday, March 7, 2024  
1:00 PM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.  
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 Slayton, City Clerk Faust, Police Chief Garrison,  
Fire Chief Titus, Budget Administrator Herrmann, Finance Director Williams, Assistant  
Public Works Director Wisner, Legislative Analyst Miles, Grants Division Manager  
Malingowski, and Development Service Director Ray  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Finance Director Williams.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor White requested a motion to approve the agenda.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Emrich, to  
approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Bobby Schotte: Expressed support of the $122 million Police Headquarters.  
3. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
24-0357  
Presentation,  
Discussion  
and  
Possible  
Action  
Regarding  
Further  
Development and Construction of the Police Station Headquarters and the  
Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher and staff reviewed and responded to question/answers including 911  
operators, millage designation on tax bill, homestead exemptions, multiplier, potential  
funding sources, $50 million bond repayment options, millage rate impact, Emergency  
Operation Center (EOC) building, and future use of property.  
Aaron Jacobson, Schenkel & Shultz, spoke to property footprint and wetlands.  
Mr. Fletcher and staff continued reviewing and responding to questions/answers including  
EOC timeline, funding sources, build-out, grants, current project funding, penny tax  
authority, impact fee increases, and selling assets.  
Recess was taken from 2:39 p.m. until 2:49 p.m.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the below comment cards into the record:  
Daniel Hughes: Supports the item.  
Santiago Vidales: Supports the item.  
Tom Linz: Supports the item.  
Joel Nutter: Supports the item.  
John Boswell: Supports the item.  
Jeanne Talbott: Supports the item.  
Rick Fermin: Supports the item.  
Chris Church: Supports the item.  
Prince Lawson: Supports the item.  
Robin Snider: Supports the item.  
Danny Hudson: Supports the item.  
Nathan Bontreger: Supports the item.  
In Person:  
Trevor Thomson: Expressed support of the item.  
Drew Smith: Expressed support of the item.  
Missy Ordinay: Expressed support of the item.  
Patrick Corona: Expressed support of the item.  
Mike Morales: Expressed support of the item.  
Brett Straff: Expressed support of the item.  
Mr. Fletcher and staff continued reviewing and responding to questions/answers including  
sale of current police station, impact fees, and a recap.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding support of the project,  
not-to-exceed number, funding, vehicle unfitting, lease-back option, and fee study.  
Mayor White requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,  
to direct the City Manager to proceed with the $122 million growth to 2065 plan.  
The motion carried on the following vote with Commissioner Langdon dissenting  
due to the burden on current residents for capacity 25-40 years from now and future  
financial stability of the City:  
4 -  
Yes:  
No:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White and Vice Mayor  
Stokes  
1 - Commissioner Langdon  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Emrich, to direct the City Manager to work with the engineer firm for site, drainage,  
and construction plans for the headquarters at 100%. The motion carried on the  
following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding process and review by  
Commission.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell to direct the City Manager to  
bring back the 100% site, drainage, and construction plans to Commission prior to  
going out for bid. The motion failed due to lack of a second.  
Recess was taken from 4:04 p.m. until 4:21 p.m.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding time frame and impact fee  
assessment.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Langdon, to direct the City Manager to start the process to conduct a new impact  
fee study for Parks, Police Department, Fire Rescue, Solid Waste, Government and  
possibly Transportation impact fees.  
Ms. Slayton spoke to public notice.  
Commissioner McDowell withdrew her motion, Commissioner Langdon withdrew  
her second.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner  
McDowell, to direct the City Manager to continue preparing funding plan for  
a
additional services to complete the site, drainage, and construction plan for the  
Police Department Headquarter at cost not-to-exceed $4 million dollars. The motion  
carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner McDowell,  
to direct the City Manager and City Clerk to schedule a meeting with the Chamber  
of Commerce and Commission to solicit input regarding Police Department  
Headquarters project.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding meeting location and type.  
The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner McDowell,  
to direct the City Manager and Staff to review the alternative option of a lease  
buyback for construction of the Police Department Headquarters project.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding method of feedback to  
Commission, timeframe to obtain information, and use of Surtax.  
The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding referendum question and  
funding plan for remainder of project.  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 4:44 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk