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  
Thursday, April 24, 2025  
6:00 PM  
Suncoast Technical College  
Commission Town Hall – 2025 Referendums  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
ROLL CALL  
5 - Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius  
Petrow, Commissioner Barbara Langdon and Mayor Philip Stokes  
Present:  
ALSO PRESENT:  
City Manager Fletcher, Assistant City Attorney Coughlin, Assistant City Clerk Powell,  
Police Chief Garrison, Deputy Police Chief Morales, Fire Chief Titus, Facilities Manager  
Humphrey, Finance Director Williams, Communications Manager Bartolone, and  
Deputy CIty Manager Yarborough.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Deputy Police Chief Morales.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Mr. Powell read the following eComment into the record:  
Art Bilski: spoke to bond versus tax amount.  
In Person:  
Richard Micluscar: spoke to concerns regarding development.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
25-1925 Introduction by the City Manager  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher provided an introduction.  
25-1927  
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, election turnout,  
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and reserve funding.  
25-1929  
Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Removal of  
Residency Requirements From 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 residential limitations, work efficiency  
versus residential location, and Charter requirements.  
25-1931  
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 current and future needs, tax costs,  
alternative funding, crime rate, funding sources, property tax requirements, commercial  
development, Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) rewrite impact, construction  
timeline, and municipality cost comparison.  
25-1933  
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 savings.  
25-1935  
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.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 7:31 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk