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, March 3, 2025  
10:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  
ROLL CALL  
4 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Commissioner Barbara Langdon, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner  
Demetrius Petrow and Mayor Philip Stokes  
1 - Vice Mayor Pete Emrich  
ALSO PRESENT  
City Manager Fletcher, Interim City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist  
Lane, Deputy Police Chief Morales, Fire Chief Titus and Finance Director Williams.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Finance Director Kimberly Williams.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
25-1950  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Findings of the City Fee  
Structure Study for Fire Rescue Fees; Parks and Recreation Fees; Facility  
Rental Fees; Road and Drainage Fees; and Utility Fees Conducted by  
Willdan Financial Services.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Dennis Goral, Project Manger, with Wildan Financial Services, provided a presentation  
including user fee background, user fee study, methodology components, typical fee  
composition, user fee policy considerations, fee types reviewed, city-wide fees, utility  
user fees, road and drainage fees, police fees, fire fees, emergency medical services  
fees, parks and recreation fees, final considerations, and development services fees next  
step.  
Commission question and discussion took place regarding user fees study methodology,  
Parks and Recreation, citizen inquiries on details, Warm Mineral Springs, nonresident  
fees, Florida Law fees, raising fees vs. lowering taxes, service levels, cost-effective  
strategies, maximum fees, uncharged services, Accela investment, police fees, city-wide  
fees, fee caps, cost recovery, Parks and Recreation recovery rates, avoiding citizen  
upcharge, fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget, revenue, service quality, efficiency policies,  
budget-based user fee determinations, increased efficiencies, Florida Power and Light  
(FPL) fees, community center costs, cost offsets, tax savings, citizen benefits, fee  
balance, past city-wide studies, loans, spending vs. charging balance, North Port fee  
history, demand data, gym and aquatic center access, direct and indirect costs,  
mandated building fees, funding, department-wide expense cuts, service cancellations,  
Fire Department, depreciation, maintenance, building upkeep, city employees, and  
awards programs.  
There was no public comment.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 11:46 a.m.  
By: _________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk