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, September 4, 2025  
5:01 PM  
City Commission Chambers  
Budget Special Meeting  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.  
ROLL CALL  
5 -  
Present:  
Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius  
Petrow, Commissioner Barbara Langdon and Mayor Philip Stokes  
ALSO PRESENT  
City Manager Fletcher, Interim City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist  
Lindner, Police Chief Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, and Budget and Performance  
Administrator Herrmann.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Carmine Miranda.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor Stokes requested a motion to approve the agenda.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record:  
Jill Luke: Expressed support of Ordinance Nos 2025-26 and 2025-27.  
Maria Leslie: Expressed opposition to Ordinance Nos 2025-26 and 2025-27.  
Community Member: Expressed support of the Parks and Recreation Department and  
budget.  
In Person:  
Valdy Olender: Spoke to police presence and concerns with budget.  
Robin Vaccai: Expressed concern with budget increases.  
Carmine Miranda: Expressed support of Ordinance No. 2025-26.  
Lance Broat: Expressed support of Ordinance No. 2025-26.  
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS:  
A. ORD. NO.  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Activating  
a
2025-26  
Communications Department; Providing for Findings; Providing for  
Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and requested a motion to direct the City Clerk to  
read by title only.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to direct the City Clerk to read the Ordinance by title only. The motion carried on  
the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding importance of good  
communication, budget increases, financial impacts, impact on functionality, commercial  
and residential tax base, public education, and unanimous vote requirement.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComments into the record:  
Susan Kostbar: Expressed support of the item.  
Michelle Moore: Expressed support of the item.  
In Person:  
Kathy Garrity: Expressed support of the item.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
to continue Ordinance No. 2025-26 to second reading on September 18, 2025. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
3 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
2 - Commissioner Duval and Commissioner Petrow  
Yes:  
No:  
B. ORD. NO.  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Activating an Information  
Technology Department; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts;  
Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.  
2025-27  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and requested a motion to direct the City Clerk to  
read by title only.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to direct the City Clerk to read the Ordinance by title only. The motion carried on  
the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding leadership and work of the  
department, impact on all departments, and importance of security.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to continue Ordinance No. 2025-27 to second reading on September 18, 2025. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
3 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
2 - Commissioner Duval and Commissioner Petrow  
Yes:  
No:  
C. ORD. NO.  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Adopting the Ad Valorem  
Millage Rate and Rolled-Back Rate for the Fiscal Year Beginning October  
1, 2025, and Ending September 30, 2026; Providing for Findings;  
Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an  
Effective Date.  
2025-24  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and requested a motion to direct the City Clerk to  
read by title only.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
to direct the City Clerk to read the Ordinance title and required sections. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance title and Sections 2.01 and 2.02 into the record.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and read the reason as to why the ad valorem tax  
revenues are increasing.  
There were no Commission questions or discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to  
continue Ordinance No. 2025-24 to second reading on September 18, 2025. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
D. ORD. NO.  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Adopting the Non-District  
Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025, and Ending  
September 30, 2026; Adopting the Capital Improvement Budget and  
Program; Prescribing the Terms, Conditions, and Provisions with Respect  
to the Items of Appropriations and Their Payment; Providing for  
2025-25  
Supplemental  
Appropriations  
and  
Reappropriations;  
Providing  
for  
Findings; Providing for Posting of the Budgets; Providing for Conflicts:  
Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and requested a motion to direct the City Clerk to  
read by title only.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to direct the City Clerk to read the Ordinance by title only. The motion carried on  
the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding hiring freeze, additional  
personnel positions, and affordability.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to  
continue Ordinance No. 2025-25 to second reading on September 18, 2025. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
4 -  
Yes:  
Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langdon and Mayor  
Stokes  
1 - Commissioner Petrow  
No:  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 5:57 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By:  
_________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk