4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Workshop  
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  
Monday, October 6, 2025  
10:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  
ROLL CALL  
5 - Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner Barbara Langdon, Commissioner David  
Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow and Mayor Philip Stokes  
Present:  
ALSO PRESENT  
City Manager Fletcher, Interim City Attorney Golen, Police Legal Advisor Rubino,  
Deputy City Manager Yarborough, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist Lindner, Police  
Chief Garrison, Deputy Fire Chief Herlihy, Public Works Director Speake, Facilities  
Manager Humphrey, Emergency Manager Aloisio, and Development Services Deputy  
Director Barnes.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Larry Grant.  
There was consensus to reorder the agenda to move Item No. 25-2805 after  
public comment.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record:  
Mista Rando: Spoke to funding and resources for emergency preparedness.  
Nonprofits: Spoke to support of Senior Center and other nonprofits.  
In Person:  
Joan Morgan: Spoke to preserving the Senior Center and Awaken Food Pantry.  
Chuck English: Spoke to Senior Center maintenance and board removal policies.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
25-2805  
Discussion and Possible Direction Related to the Condition of the  
B.  
Community Services Facility.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding funding, building repairs,  
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements, nonprofit involvement,  
occupancy options during repairs, project timelines, and legal considerations  
surrounding the use of taxpayer funds.  
Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record:  
Debbie McDowell: Spoke to demolition, transparency, and preservation.  
Sheila Johnson: Spoke to quality-of-life and preservation.  
Chris C: Spoke to concerns regarding Commissioner involvement, transparency, and  
accountability.  
In Person:  
Larry Grant: Spoke to Commission support.  
Brian Zdrojowy: Spoke to Commission support and partnership with Parks and  
Recreation.  
Mayor Stokes requested a consensus.  
There was consensus to make  
a commitment that staff and Commission will  
work aggressively on solution that retains the services that the occupants of  
a
this building currently provide to the community.  
There was consensus to direct the City Manager to work with staff to engage with  
the current occupants of the building to identify minimum space requirements  
and to identify what they might be able to provide to help craft a solution.  
There was consensus to direct the City Manager to work with staff to identify the  
cost of and replacing the current structure in the most cost effective way, and  
document cost of providing trailers should they be needed by the occupants to  
continue to provide services.  
Recess was taken from 11:15 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.  
3. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES  
25-2847  
Presentation Regarding the Funding for the Emergency Operations  
Center Project.  
A.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Aloisio provided  
a presentation including emergency management phases, Blue  
Skies, Grey Skies, budget summary, building fund and surtax, and tax collector  
co-location.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Furniture, Fixtures, and  
Equipment (FF&E) costs, tax collector funding, budget deficits, county financial and  
support options, potential locations, repurposing existing city property, integrate with the  
new fire department building, building size, and backup generator integrating.  
There was no public comment.  
Recess was taken from 12:51 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  
4. GENERAL BUSINESS- Continued:  
25-2796  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Development Review  
Administrative Approval Report.  
A.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Barnes provided a presentation including development viewer map, administrative  
approval report, location, basic components of the project, quarterly economic  
development updates, and an over all development services update.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding communication of major  
updates, social media comment, and value of monthly report.  
Mr. Fletcher spoke to economic development and user automated updates.  
Ms. Barnes spoke to additional communication methods.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Development Review  
Committee meetings, Commission attendance, and updates to the public.  
There was no public comment.  
5. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
6. ADJOURNMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Sheila Smith: Spoke to preserving the Senior Center and Awaken Food Pantry.  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 1:25 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk