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  
Michael Golen, Interim City Attorney  
Heather Faust, City Clerk  
Monday, October 7, 2024  
9:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.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, Interim City Attorney Golen, Board Specialist Bodmer, Assistant  
City Clerk Powell, Police Chief Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Natural Resources Manager  
Kalev, and Development Services Director Ray  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Natural Resources Manager Kalev.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Mr. Powell read the following eComments into the record:  
Robin San Vicente: Spoke to the Warm Mineral Springs preservation.  
2. PRESENTATION: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES  
24-1415 Presentation Regarding 2024 North Port Tree Canopy Assessment  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Mr. Kalev provided a presentation including overview, Sarasota County tree canopy study,  
Florida Urban tree canopy assessment, past North Port tree canopy assessment, tree  
equity score, 2024 North Port tree canopy assessment, canopy coverage, cover class  
distribution, map assessment excluding Myakka State Forest, Myakka State Forest  
coverage, tree benefits, overall surface comparison and conclusion.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding method of canopy  
assessment, software used to do assessment, software updates, tree planting program,  
target goals, avoided runoff value, what leads us to a balanced habitat, Hurricane Ian's  
impact, how does the imaginary system work, sample error rate, random generated data  
points, tree planting area importance, filling in wetlands, and wetland mitigation.  
Recess was taken from 10:00 a.m. to 10:31 a.m.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding urban tree canopy, street  
trees, palms are not trees, tree canopy affecting electricity bills, wood mass, previous  
Commission direction, status update, Environmental Advisory Board meeting, and policy  
on planting trees.  
Mr. Powell read the following eComments into the record:  
Robin San Vicente: Spoke to Natural Resources department.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 10:50 a.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By:  
_________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk