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, July 25, 2024  
9:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
Employee Health Center  
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 Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
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, Deputy City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Police Chief  
Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Human Resource Director McDade, Benefits and Wellness  
Administrator Witkosky, Assistant City Manager Bellia, Deputy City Manager  
Yarborough, Parks and Recreation Director Pfundheller, Assistant Development Services  
Director Barnes, and Finance Director Williams.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Human Resource Director Christine McDade.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor White requests a motion to approve the agenda.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
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:  
There was no public comment.  
3. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
24-1098  
A.  
Discussion and Possible Action to Move Forward with Preliminary Plans  
for the Establishment and Funding of an Employee Heathcare Center  
Utilizing Funds From Budgeted Savings in the Amount of $1,124,773 for  
the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. McDade introduced Shawn Fleming, Gehring Group and Gordon Burger, Charlotte  
County.  
Mr. Fleming provided  
a presentation including items for discussion, the landscape,  
background and timeline, Employee Health Center (EHC) overview, considerations of  
EHC, benefits to the City, and entities with health centers.  
Mr. Burger provided a presentation including health care system complexity, Charlotte  
County center locations, EHC benefits to employees, primary care, EHC history, health  
plan emergency room (ER) visits, gross medical costs, projected savings, and employer  
paid Rx costs, and on-site pharmacy.  
Mr. Fleming continued his presenting including recommendations, clinic models,  
partnership with Charlotte County, estimated staffing and site needs, estimated first year  
expenditures, and next steps.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding percentage of employee use  
as primary care, savings timeline, liabilities, non-health plan participants, automated  
patient records, pharmacy supply and availability, employee dependent access, transition  
in/out of plan, Cobra coverage, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Charlotte County  
number of employees eligible and usage, use of current Charlotte County locations, costs  
and savings, cost of rental space, wellness programs, cost to taxpayers, mandatory  
participation, cost savings and general health improvements, cost sharing, and needed  
direction.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White requested a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner  
McDowell, to direct the City Manager to work with Staff to move forward with the  
preliminary plans for creating and implementing Health Care Center for  
a
employees of the City of North Port. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Recess was taken from 10:50 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  
24-0836  
B.  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval to Transition the City  
of North Port Tribute Program Relating to Tree, Bench and Paver  
Donations from  
a
City Commission Approved Program to an  
Administrative Regulation.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Pfundheller provided a presentation including history of program.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding average cost, initial cost  
coverage, fee structure, average staff time, monument versus tribute, contributed tribute  
placement, tree and bench 5-year period versus 10-year period, reason for transitioning to  
administrative regulation, average transactions per year, fee coverage, Commission  
approval for tributes outside of policy, and prohibiting alternate tributes.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White requested a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner  
McDowell, to direct staff to work with the City Attorney to include language taking  
today's discussion into consideration and bringing it back to Commission for future  
discussion. The motion carried on the following vote with Commissioner Emrich  
dissenting due to the policy reading accurately as currently written:  
4 -  
Yes:  
No:  
Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes and Commissioner  
Langdon  
1 - Commissioner Emrich  
24-1001  
C.  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Removal of the  
Single-Family (SF) Lots in the Constitution Drive Area From the Sarasota  
County Land Acquisition List in Order to Consider Properties That May be  
More Likely to be Acquired for Conservation Purposes (Requested by  
Mayor White).  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Mayor White spoke to the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding purpose for removing from  
lists, paving, and future conversations regarding city-owned properties.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Robin San Vicente: Expressed concern with this being an environmentally sensitive land.  
No action was taken on this item.  
24-1070  
24-1078  
24-1080  
D.  
E.  
F.  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of the June 27, 2024,  
Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Ms. Faust introduced the item.  
There were no Commission questions or discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White requests a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner  
McDowell, to approve the June 27, 2024 workshop meeting minutes as presented  
with the recommended changes. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Yes:  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of the June 24, 2024  
Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Ms. Faust introduced the item.  
There were no Commission questions or discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White requests a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner McDowell,  
to approve the June 24, 2024 workshop meeting minutes as presented with the  
recommended changes. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of the June 3, 2024  
Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Ms. Faust introduced the item.  
There were no Commission questions or discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White requests a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Langdon, to approve the June 3, 2024 workshop meeting minutes as presented with  
the recommended changes. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Recess was taken from 11:57 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.  
24-1103  
G.  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Amendments to the  
Development Review, Planning & Zoning, and Natural Resources Fees in  
City Code Appendix A – City Fee Structure, to Provide for Consistency  
with the Proposed Unified Land Development Code.  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Barnes provided a presentation including delay in presenting a resolution, included  
fees, and prior process for special district fees.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding environmental protection  
mitigation fee, and code reference for tree survey mitigation and environmental mitigation  
fee.  
There was no public comment.  
Ms. Barnes spoke to fee criteria and independent fee study.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding prior Commission direction  
regarding fee study and timeline.  
No action was taken on this item.  
24-1108  
H.  
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding City Commission Policy  
#2021-01 - City Commission Travel Expense Policy and Consolidation of  
Commissioner Budgets for Expenses for Training Education and Travel  
and Per Diem (Requested by Commissioner McDowell).  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commissioner McDowell spoke to the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding transparency, prioritizing  
travel, and virtual attendance.  
Commissioner McDowell clarified her request.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding amending budget to  
accommodate needed changes and separated accounting lines.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record.  
Robin San Vicente: Spoke to Florida Statute language regarding per diem amounts.  
Mayor White requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,  
to direct staff to bring back City Commission Policy No. 2021-01: City Commission  
Travel Expense Policy to permit  
a
Commissioner to combine their individual  
training and travel accounts, not to exceed the $9,200 budgeted threshold, without  
Commission approval. The motion failed on the following vote:  
2 - Commissioner McDowell and Vice Mayor Stokes  
2 - Commissioner Emrich and Mayor White  
1 - Commissioner Langdon  
Yes:  
No:  
Absent:  
A motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,  
to approve Commissioner McDowell’s request to combine her individual training  
and travel accounts for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, not to exceed $9,200, following the  
standard training and travel funding/reimbursement procedures. The motion  
carried on the following vote with Commissioner Emrich dissenting due to the  
action conflicting with current policy.  
3 - Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White and Vice Mayor Stokes  
1 - Commissioner Emrich  
Yes:  
No:  
1 - Commissioner Langdon  
Absent:  
Ms. Williams spoke to city-wide fee study timeline.  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 1:22 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk