4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Regular 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  
Tuesday, February 11, 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 David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius  
Petrow, Commissioner Barbara Langdon and Mayor Philip Stokes  
Present:  
ALSO PRESENT  
City Manager Fletcher, Interim Deputy City Attorney Roberts, City Clerk Faust, Police  
Captain Fussell, and Public Works Director Speake.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Legislative Analyst Todd Miles.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor Stokes requested a motion to approve the agenda.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Stephanie Gibson: Spoke about public comment policy discussion at prior meeting.  
Robin San Vicente: Spoke about Ord. No. 2025-04.  
In Person:  
Valdy Olender: Spoke about oaths and police headquarters.  
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS  
25-1894  
Announcement of Current Advisory Board and Committee Vacancies  
A.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read the  
announcements.  
Ms. Faust read the announcements into the record.  
4. CONSENT AGENDA:  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and queried the City Manager regarding items pulled  
from the consent agenda for discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor Stokes requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to approve the items in the consent agenda. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
25-1757  
25-1768  
25-1830  
25-1835  
Approve Contract Amendment NPP00001.2 and Statement of Work with  
TeamDynamix Solutions LLC for the City of North Port Police  
Department to Add Additional Information Technology Service Desk  
Software Licenses to the City’s Original Contract for an Additional Cost  
of $23,820.11 Over a Three (3) Year Period.  
A.  
B.  
C.  
D.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
Approve the Application to the SUN Trail Grant Program in the Amount  
of $3,730,000 for the Warm Mineral Springs Connector and Authorize  
the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to  
Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant  
be Awarded to the City.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
Approve the Award of Funds From the Special Event Assistance  
Program to St. Andrew’s Religious & Cultural Center in Support of the  
Ukrainian Festival of Southwest Florida to be Held on March 1, 2025, in  
an Amount up to, and Not to Exceed, $1,000 to Cover the Costs of City  
Fees and Services.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
Approve the Award of Funds From the Special Event Assistance  
Program to People for Trees, Inc. in Support of the 2025 Tree Fair to be  
Held on April 26, 2025, in an Amount up to, and Not to Exceed, $500 to  
Cover the Costs of City Fees and Services.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
25-1836  
25-1837  
Approve the Award of Request for Bid No. 2025-11 - Citywide Park  
Facility Debris Removal and Restroom Cleaning to Clean Space, LLC. in  
the Amount of $159,709.68 Plus a Cleaning Contingency of $8,000.00  
for a Total Amount of $167,709.68.  
E.  
F.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
Approve the Fourteenth Amendment to Construction Manager at Risk  
Contract No. 2023-17.002 for Construction Services Contract, Phase II  
With Halfacre Construction Company in the Amount of $551,258.37 for  
Repairs/Replacement of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park  
(MCEP) Restroom Replacement.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
25-1900  
Approve the Municipal Election Agreement Between the City of North  
Port and the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections for the May 13,  
2025, City of North Port Special Election.  
G.  
This item was approved on the consent agenda.  
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS:  
ORDINANCE - First Reading:  
ORD. NO.  
2025-06  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida; Amending the Code of  
the City of North Port, Florida, Section 2-329 Regarding Deferred  
Retirement Option Plan; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts;  
Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an  
Effective Date.  
A.  
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 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding negotiations and benefit to  
city.  
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. 2025-06 to second reading on February 25, 2025. The  
motion carried on the following vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
ORDINANCE - Second Reading:  
ORD. NO.  
2025-03  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Calling for  
a
B.  
Referendum Question to be Placed Before the Qualified Voters of the  
City of North Port, Florida at a Special Election; Providing a Referendum  
Question Determining Whether to Finance the New Police Department  
Headquarters Project Through the Issuance by the City of General  
Obligation Bonds Payable from the Proceeds of Ad Valorem Taxes  
Levied on all Taxable Property within the City in Amounts Sufficient to  
Pay Debt Service on Such Bonds; Providing for Findings; Providing for  
the Filing of the Ordinance with the Sarasota County Supervisor of  
Elections; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and  
Providing an Effective Date  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding cost comparison to other  
projects, benefit to the city, cost to delay, and relocation of other staff to vacant building.  
Public Comment:  
Pam Tokarz: Expressed concern with citizen awareness and understanding, support of  
the item, and spoke to a Plan B.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-03 as presented. The motion carried on the  
following vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
ORD. NO.  
2025-04  
An Ordinance of the City Of North Port, Florida, Calling for  
a
C.  
Referendum Question to be Placed Before the Qualified Voters of the  
City of North Port, Florida at a Special Election; Providing a Referendum  
Question Determining Whether to Finance a New Solid Waste Transfer  
Station Through the Issuance by the City of Bonds Payable from the  
Revenues of the City’s Solid Waste District; Providing for Findings;  
Providing for the Filing of the Ordinance with the Sarasota County  
Supervisor  
of  
Elections;  
Providing  
for  
Conflicts;  
Providing  
for  
Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding benefit to city, cost to city,  
and determination of associated fees.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Debbie McDowell: Expressed opposition about the Ordinance.  
Stephanie Gibson: Expressed opposition about the Ordinance.  
In Person:  
Pam Tokarz: Expressed opposition about the Ordinance due to lack of backup material.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-04 as presented. The motion carried on the  
following vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
ORD. NO.  
2025-05  
An Ordinance of the City Of North Port, Florida, Calling for  
Referendum Question to be Placed Before the Qualified Voters of the  
City of North Port, Florida at a Special Election; Providing a Referendum  
a
D.  
Question  
Determining  
Whether  
to  
Finance  
Certain  
Capital  
Improvements to a Wastewater Treatment Facility Through the Issuance  
by the City of Bonds Payable From the Revenues of the City’s Water  
and Sewer Utility System; Providing for Findings; Providing for the Filing  
of the Ordinance with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections;  
Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an  
Effective Date.  
Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding project need.  
Public Comment:  
Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:  
Debbie McDowell: Expressed opposition about the Ordinance.  
Commission discussion continued regarding educating the citizens.  
Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to  
adopt Ordinance No. 2025-05 as presented. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
5 - Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner  
Langdon and Mayor Stokes  
Yes:  
6. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
7. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS:  
Mayor Stokes called on Commissioners for communications.  
25-1895  
Mayor Stokes' Communications  
A.  
Mayor Stokes reported on events attended and important topics.  
25-1896  
25-1897  
25-1898  
25-1899  
Vice Mayor Emrich's Communications  
B.  
C.  
D.  
E.  
Vice Mayor Emrich reported on important topics.  
Commissioner Duval's Communications  
Commissioner Duval reported on events attended and important topics.  
Commissioner Langdon's Communications  
Commissioner Langdon noted her report is in the agenda backup.  
Commissioner Petrow's Communications  
Commissioner Petrow reported on events attended.  
8. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL REPORTS:  
Mayor Stokes called on Charter Officers for reports.  
Mr. Fletcher reported on special election information.  
Ms. Roberts and Ms. Faust did not have a report.  
9. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 10:51 a.m.  
By: ___________________________________________  
Phil Stokes, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk