4970 CITY HALL BLVD

NORTH PORT, FL 34286

City of North Port

Meeting Minutes

City Commission Special Meeting

CITY COMMISSIONERS

Alice White, Mayor

Phil Stokes, Vice Mayor

Pete Emrich, Commissioner

Barbara Langdon, Commissioner

Debbie McDowell, Commissioner

APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Jerome Fletcher, City Manager

Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney

Heather Faust, City Clerk

Monday, April 1, 2024

9:00 AM

City Commission Chambers

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor White called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and provided required notifications

regarding conducting a hybrid meeting.

Commissioner Emrich stated he will be attending the hybrid meeting via CMT due to

experiencing a medical condition.

motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner

Langdon, to approve the use of communications media technology (CMT) for

hybrid meeting. The motion carried on the following vote:

4 - Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes and Commissioner

Langdon

Yes:

1 - Commissioner Emrich

Abstain:

Present:

ROLL CALL

Also Present

5 - Commissioner Pete Emrich, Commissioner Debbie McDowell, Mayor Alice White,

Vice Mayor Philip Stokes and Commissioner Barbara Langdon

City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Slayton, Assistant City Clerk Powell, Board

Specialist Bodmer, Fire Chief Titus, Police Captain Gregory, Development Services

Director Ray.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jill Luke.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor White announced the item.

A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,

to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:

5 - Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes

and Commissioner Langdon

Yes:

2. PUBLIC COMMENT:

Jill Luke: Spoke to Police headquarters limitations and options.

3. GENERAL BUSINESS:

24-0536

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Funding Options for the

Police Department Headquarters Project to Include Review and

Reconsideration of Projects in the Approved 2024-2028 Capital

Improvement Plan and Surtax IV Project List and Other Potential

Funding Sources for Design and Construction of the Project.

Mayor White announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Jeremy Niedfeldt, PFM Financial Advisors, provided

a presentation regarding project

overview, funding considerations, plan of finance development, financing alternatives,

amortization, interest rates, bank loan, transaction management, debt service

estimates, and bond issue timeline.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding bond validation process,

millage rate consideration, leaseback versus bond costs, appropriation process, funding

source options, surtax usage, certificates of participation (COPS), rate comparison, call

options, bond issuance timeline, amortization timeline, leaseback maintenance

responsibility, public private partnership (P3), design build, debt service costs, base

case amount determination, construction cost, modeling plans and comparisons,

general obligation bond versus surtax, surtax revenue projections, surtax received,

priorities, and bond issue financing timeline.

Recess was taken from 10:35 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Commission

questions

and

discussion

continued

regarding

funding

amount

determination, capital improvement project (CIP) review, unencumbered investments

available, usable general fund balance, Price Boulevard widening project funding

amount, Commission role, potential emergency operations center (EOC) funding, and

construction timeline, road rehabilitation costs, a plan if voters say no to referendum,

future EOC budget amendment, Surtax IV project review, potential project cuts, and

cutting future surtax projects in half.

Recess was taken from 1:18 p.m. to 1:49 p.m.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding CIP general fund budget,

general impact fee allocation, payout structure options, park amenity program funding,

fund balance usage and reserves, building design cost, anticipated reimbursements,

Surtax III fund usage, reconsideration of project scope and costs, staff input on design

costs, milage rate consideration, community growth, smaller Police Department

Headquarters option, and property expansion.

A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Stokes,

to instruct staff to use $4,000,000 from the general fund balance to complete the

design of the Police Department Headquarters to 100%.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding design changes, and

budget amendment requirements.

The motion carried on the following vote: