4970 CITY HALL BLVD

NORTH PORT, FL 34286

City of North Port

Meeting Minutes

City Commission Regular Meeting

CITY COMMISSIONERS

Barbara Langdon, Mayor

Alice White, Vice Mayor

Pete Emrich, Commissioner

Debbie McDowell, Commissioner

Phil Stokes, Commissioner

APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Jerome Fletcher, City Manager

Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney

Heather Faust, City Clerk

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

6:00 PM

City Commission Chambers

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Langdon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

5 -

Present:

Mayor Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor Alice White, Commissioner Pete Emrich,

Commissioner Debbie McDowell and Commissioner Philip Stokes

ALSO PRESENT:

City Manager Jerome Fletcher, City Attorney Amber Slayton, City Clerk Heather Faust,

Recording Secretary Matthew Powell, Deputy Police Chief Chris Morales, Deputy Fire

Chief Scott Hirlhey, Emergency Manager Mike Ryan, Grant Writer Valerie Malingowski,

Assistant City Manager Julie Bellia, Assistant City Manager Jason Yarborough, and

Public Works Director Chuck Speake

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Pete Emrich.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Langdon requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Commissioner

McDowell, to approve the Agenda as presented. The motion carried on the

following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

2. PUBLIC COMMENT:

Sandra Buehn-Sohl: expressed opposition to City rezoning.

Valdy Olender: expressed concern for City policy and actions.

Jeffrey Scott: expressed concern for City policy and actions.

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

23-0441

Current Vacancies and Upcoming Expirations for Advisory Boards and

Committees

Mayor Langdon 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 Langdon announced the item and queried the City Manager regarding items pulled

from the Consent Agenda for discussion.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon requested a motion.

A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Emrich,

to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following

vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

23-0247

23-0248

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter Into

a Contract With Dade Paper & Bag LLC for Janitorial Supplies Under

Purchase Order No. 049529 in an Amount Not to Exceed $30,000.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with DeJonge Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Emergency Road

Repairs on Hillsborough Boulevard Under Purchase Order No. 49568 in an

Amount Not to Exceed $48,870.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0250

23-0251

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with DeJonge Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Emergency

Bridge Repairs at Price Boulevard and Blue Ridge Waterway Under

Purchase Order No. 49569 in an Amount Not to Exceed $437,191.25.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with DeJonge Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Emergency

Repairs to Three Bridges on Price Boulevard Located at McCaughey

Waterway, Lagoon Waterway, and Creighton Waterway Under Purchase

Order No. 49570 in an Amount Not to Exceed $655,730.50.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0252

23-0256

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with DeJonge Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Emergency Road

Repair to Chancellor Boulevard Under Purchase Order No. 49604 in an

Amount Not to Exceed $101,762.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter Into

a Contract With Sutter Roofing Company of Florida for Emergency Roofing

Repairs to City Hall Under Purchase Order No. 49575 in an Amount Not to

Exceed $16,100.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0257

23-0317

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter Into

a Contract With United Rentals, Inc. for Rental of Message Boards Under

Purchase Order No. 49576 in an Amount Not to Exceed $33,800.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter Into

a Contract With ZEP Construction, Inc. for Repair Services of Water

Control Structure No. 106 Under Purchase Order No. 49577 in an Amount

Not to Exceed $524,790.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0323

23-0325

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with Wharton-Smith, Inc. for Temporary Fencing to Secure

Damaged Buildings at Dallas White Park Under Purchase Order No.

49751 in an Amount Not to Exceed $10,160.00.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with Nichols Contracting Inc. for Temporary Trailer Facility Hook

Up Under Purchase Order No. 49819 in an Amount Not to Exceed

$212,064.36, to Provide Workstations for Displaced Road and Drainage

Facility Maintenance Staff.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0898

23-0971

Ratification of City Manager's Use of Emergency Authorization to Enter into

a Contract with HighSpans Engineering, Inc. for Bridge Inspections Under

Purchase Order No. 49572 in an Amount Not to Exceed $500,000.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Approve the Electronic Surveillance Support Team Multi-Agency Voluntary

Cooperation Mutual Aid Agreement Between the Florida Department of

Law Enforcement and the City of North Port for the Sharing of Technical

Resources and Personnel in Criminal Investigations.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0975

Approve the Appointment of Jessica Eik as a Regular Member of the

Environmental Advisory Board, to Serve a Term from June 27, 2023, to

June 27, 2026.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0979

23-0983

23-0985

Approval of Minutes for the May 23, 2023 Commission Regular Meeting

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Approval of Minutes for the June 1, 2023 Commission Regular Meeting

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Approve

the

Requested

Operational

and

Voluntary

Cooperation

Agreement for Mutual Aid Between the City of North Port Police

Department and the City of Punta Gorda Police Department for the Parties

to Cross Jurisdictional Lines to Assist and Protect Citizens in Both

Jurisdictions.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

23-0990

23-0991

23-1029

Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Public Safety Bomb Squad

Response Between the City of Sarasota, Florida and the City of North Port,

Florida for Public Safety Bomb Squad Response Services.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Sarasota

and City of North Port for Police Canine Handler Training and Deployment

of Explosive Detection Canines.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

Approve the Program Letter of Agreement Between the Florida State

University College of Medicine EMS Fellowship Program, Located at

Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and the City of North Port, Florida, to Provide

for First Year Medical Students to be Utilized for Pre-Hospital Medical

Treatment, Protocol Development and Review, and Departmental Training

at No Additional Cost to the City of North Port.

This item was approved on the Consent Agenda.

5. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES

23-0977

Presentation by Executive Director Heather Todd Regarding Teen Court.

Mayor Langdon announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Vice Mayor White spoke to the item regarding updates and current status.

Devin Epps, South County Client Coordinator, Sarasota Teen Court, provided

presentation including presence, number of clients served, additional services, Camp

Examine Reality About Your Decisions (XRAYD), success rate, and volunteer

opportunities.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding foundation and expansion,

travel requirements, and success rate definition.

There was no public comment.

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

ORDINANCE - Second Reading:

A. ORD. NO.

An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida; Amending the Code of the

2023-17

City of North Port, Florida Section 4-3(e)(2) Providing for Six (6) Absences

for Planning and Zoning Advisory Board Members; Providing for Findings;

Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for

Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.

Mayor Langdon announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.

Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only and introduced the item.

There were no Commission questions or discussion.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon closed the public hearing and requested a motion.

A motion was made by Commissioner Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Stokes,

to adopt Ordinance No. 2023-17 as presented. The motion carried on the following

vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

RESOLUTION:

B. RES. NO.

A Resolution of The City of North Port, Florida, Adopting the 2023

Revisions to The City of North Port, Florida Comprehensive Emergency

Management Plan as the Formal Guide of The City of North Port’s

Emergency Management Activities; Incorporating Recitals; Providing for

Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing for an Effective Date.

2023-R-45

Mayor Langdon announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.

Ms. Faust read the Resolution by title only.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding correspondence verbiage

relating to potential amendments, changes being notified via memorandum, tracking

changes, changes made since 2019 plan adoption, references of Mayor versus

Commission roles and responsibilities, and essential chain of command communication

processes.

In response to Commission questions, Mr. Ryan noted utilities will be included in Section

4.7 and the missing population with special needs (PSN) abbreviation will be included.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding data source usage.

Consensus was requested to add to Section 1.3 that “the City Manager shall determine

whether changes to the plan are substantial...and within one business day send

memorandum to City Commission. All changes will be tracked and changed to every

book regardless.”

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding timeline limitations and

recommendations.

There was consensus to add to Section 1.3 that “the City Manager shall determine

whether changes to the plan are substantial...and within five business days send a

memorandum to City Commission. All changes will be tracked and changed to

every book regardless.”

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding data sources.

Consensus was requested to change the data in Section 2.2 to reflect the data from the

2022/2023 adopted budget.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Table 5 City leadership roles

and responsibilities language changes, practical application history, references of Mayor

versus Commission roles and responsibilities, City Manager authority, emergency

limitations relating to communication, point of contact necessity, analyzing the Citywide

social and economic impact, reason for changes from previously adopted 2019 plan, and

proposed plan conflict with City Charter requirements relating to Mayor versus

Commission role and responsibilities.

Ms. Slayton noted the proposed plan does conflict with City Charter requirements relating

to Mayor versus Commission role and responsibilities.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding City Manager authority

relating to communication limitations during an emergency, and bringing back the

proposed plan after implementing discussed changes.

Mr. Ryan noted the previously discussed changes will be implemented before the

proposed plan is brought back for further discussion.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon closed the public hearing and requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner

Stokes, to direct the City Manager to work with the City Attorney capturing

discussion points, reviewing the 2023 and 2019 Comprehensive Emergency

Management Plans (CEMP), and bringing back for further discussion and adoption.

The motion carried on the following vote:

4 -

Yes:

No:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner McDowell and Commissioner

Stokes

1 - Commissioner Emrich

Commissioner Emrich dissented due to amount of review and changes being requested.

C. RES. NO.

2023-R-46

A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of North Port, Florida,

Adopting the 2023 Continuity of Government Plan as the Formal Guide of

the City of North Port’s Emergency Continuance of Government Activities;

Providing for Incorporation of Recitals; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for

Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.

Mayor Langdon announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.

Ms. Faust read the Resolution by title only.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding declared versus undeclared

emergency, and enemy attack hazard relating to technological threats.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon closed the public hearing and requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner

Stokes, to adopt Resolution No. 2023-R-46 as presented. The motion carried on the

following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

7. GENERAL BUSINESS:

23-0940

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Appointing a Commissioner to

Sit on the Florida League of Cities Legislative Policy Committees and the

Legislative Advocacy Committee.

Mayor Langdon announced the item.

Ms. Faust introduced the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding preferences and the Federal

Action Strike Team (FAST).

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Commissioner

McDowell, to approve the continued appointments of the current Commissioners

appointed to the Florida Legislative Policy Committee and the Legislative

Advocacy Committee.

motion to amend was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by

Commissioner Emrich, to appoint Commissioner McDowell to the Federal Action

Strike Team (FAST). The motion to amend carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

The main motion as amended carried on the following vote:

5 -

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

Recess was taken from 7:20 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

23-1050

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Processing and

Distribution of Letters of Support Received by the City Commission

Mayor Langdon announced the item.

Mr. Faust introduced the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding policy inclusion and

identifying recipients.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner Emrich, seconded by Commissioner

McDowell, to authorize individual City Commissioners and/or City Staff, on behalf

of an individual Commissioner to forward letters of support or like items that were

previously discussed and voted on by the City Commission to outside entities.

Commission questions and discussion continued regarding directing Charter Officers

versus City Staff.

motion to amend was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by

Commissioner Emrich, to strike “City Staff” and add “Charter Officers”. The

motion to amend carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

The main motion as amended carried on the following vote:

5 -

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

23-1045

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Approval of Proposed

North Port Projects for Sarasota County Resilient SRQ Program Funding

Mayor Langdon announced the item.

Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding prioritizing project list, low to

moderate income (LMI) definition and determination, Housing and Urban Development

(HUD)'s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding

requirements, possibility for potential project additions and removals, process for review

and approval, grant process relating to home damages, project completion timeline

limitations, increasing waterway crossing connectivity, purchasing of blighted homes,

South River Road construction, Cocoplum Waterway dredging, affording housing

construction, sensitive land acquisition, Utilities Inflow and Infiltration (I and I) program,

new police station headquarters, potential removal of projects due to timeline limitations,

Utilities administrative building funding, partial funding possibility, Spring Haven Extension

project recommendations and requirements, wildlife preservation, stormwater culvert

replacement, and City versus County jurisdiction relating to South River Road

construction.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Langdon requested a motion.

motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner

Stokes, to submit to Sarasota County for Resilient SRQ Program funding

consideration the following proposed North Port projects:

City needs:

1. Water control structure rehabilitation.

2. Harden and improve bridges, including water and sewer lines on bridges.

3. Water and sewer service to Warm Mineral Springs/surrounding commercial area.

4. Home buyout/land acquisition in flood prone areas (including any remaining

Tier I and Tier II Myakkahatchee Creek vacant and developed properties)

5. Drainage improvements in Highland Ridge, McKibben and area surrounding

Talon Bay.

6. Land acquisition for east/west connector.

7. Utilities AMI metering project for utilities leak detection.

8. Water storage study for stormwater and water supply.

9. Spring Haven Extension project.

10. Price Boulevard Phase II - Sumter Boulevard to just past North Port High School

Widening for evacuation shelter access.

11. Utilities Administration Building (administration building severely damaged,

rebuilding in new location, need additional funds).

12. Public Works Building Phase II (operations building severely damaged, need

additional funds).

13. Fire Station 81 (building severely damaged, may need rebuilt).

14. Myakkahatchee Creek blockage removal.

15. Utility Asset Management Program.

Community needs:

1. Help for businesses along US 41 - projects that prevent blight, hook up to sewer,

parking north and south side.

2. Cowork Hive/business incubator support.

3. One Stop Non-Profit Center.

4. Homeless Center.

5. Funds to support Suncoast Technical College.

6. Additional funding for Boys and Girls Club.

7. Affordable housing and rehabilitation projects.

With the addition of:

1. Grant program for residents for refurbishing of FEMA/insurance shortfalls.

2. Purchase blighted homes.

3. Crossings over various canals.

4. Dredging canals.

5. Accelerating inflow and infiltration (I and I) program through Utilities.

6. New Police Station.

7. Purchase of sensitive lands.

8. Stormwater culvert replacements.

The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Langdon, Vice Mayor White, Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner

McDowell and Commissioner Stokes

8. PUBLIC COMMENT:

There was no public comment.

9. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS:

23-0424

Commissioner Emrich's Communications

Commissioner Emrich did not provide a report.

Vice Mayor White's Communications

Vice Mayor White reported on important topics and events attended.

Mayor Langdon's Communications

Mayor Langdon reported on important topics and events attended.

Commissioner Stokes' Communications

Commissioner Stokes reported on important topics and events attended.

Commissioner McDowell's Communications

Commissioner McDowell reported on important topics and events attended.

10. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL REPORTS:

23-0431

23-1025

23-1037

City Clerk Report

Ms. Faust did not provide a report.

City Attorney's Monthly Report

Ms. Slayton did not provide a report.

City Manager Report

Mr. Fletcher did not provide a report.

11. ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor Langdon adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

City of North Port, Florida

By:

_________________________________________

Barbara Langdon, Mayor

Attest: _________________________________________

Heather Faust, City Clerk