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  
Monday, February 24, 2025  
6:00 PM  
Morgan Family Community Center  
Commission Town Hall – 2025 Referendums  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 6:00 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, Police Chief  
Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Public Works Director Speake, Finance Director Williams,  
Deputy Police Chief Morales, Public Works Project Manager Humphreys, Utilities  
Director Gallinaro  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robin San Vicente.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Alan Rehm: Spoke to vacant lot assessments.  
Brenda Van Salisbury: Spoke to need for Police Headquarters.  
2. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES  
25-1918  
Presentation by Sarasota County Schools Regarding Planning for Growth  
in North Port  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Dr. Michael Kemp and Diane Cominotti, Sarasota County Schools, provided  
a
presentation regarding future growth and school capacity including Nearmap, Wellen Park  
development, South County school capacity, North Port developments, North Port school  
capacity, capital improvement planning, future North Port projects, and capital  
challenges.  
3. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
25-1913  
Introduction by the City Manager  
Mayor Stokes announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher provided an introduction.  
25-1919  
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 process for repayment of debt, debt limit  
threshold, type of debt and revenue funds, establishing debt limit, reserve replenishment,  
PFM Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) prioritization, November 2024 referendum language,  
referendum timing, use of Federal Emergency Management Agency  
(FEMA)  
reimbursement funds, borrowing power, impact if the referendum does not pass, types of  
emergency projects and prioritization, and impact on FEMA reimbursement.  
25-1920  
Discussion Regarding Referendum Question Related to Removal of  
Residency Requirements form 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.  
Commission comment took place regarding justification of removing the residency  
requirement, and administrative duty of positions,  
Questions and answers took place regarding maintaining jobs within the city for  
residents, requirements of neighboring municipalities, and payment of city taxes.  
25-1921  
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 identification of funding options, sale of  
current police building, phased approach, shell space and growth planning, providing a  
view of the current department’s status, 100% design plan, maximum construction cost,  
total project cost, debt service cost and payments, capital improvement millage tax line  
items, and property tax increase/decrease.  
25-1922  
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 design plan estimates, public private  
partnership (P3), savings impact on taxes, cost savings, updated data, and benefits to  
the city.  
25-1923  
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 cost to utility customers and design and  
construction timeline.  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Greg Culy: Expressed concern with tax increases and spending.  
Debbie McDowell: Expressed support of the town hall.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk