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, March 18, 2025

6:00 PM

City Commission Chambers

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, Board Specialist

Lane, Police Chief Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, and Communications Manager Jason

Bartolone.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Communications Manager Jason Bartolone.

1. APPROVAL OF 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 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

2. PUBLIC COMMENT:

Valdy Olender: Spoke to various items with emphasis on budget.

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

25-2051

Announcement of Current Advisory Board and Committee Vacancies

Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read announcements.

Ms. Faust read the announcements into 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 Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,

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

vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

24-1039

24-1687

Approve Fifth Amendment to Construction Manager at Risk Contract No.

2023-17.003 for Construction Services Contract Phase II With Ajax

Building Company, LLC., in the Amount of $256,618.33, for Repair

Services to City Hall and Immediate Site.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

Approve the Eleventh Amendment to Construction Manager at Risk

Contract No. 2023-17.001 for Construction Services Contract Phase II With

Wharton-Smith, Inc., in the Amount of $766,936.00, for Repair/Demolition

Services at the Public Services Facility Site Located at 5455 Pan

American Boulevard.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

25-1827

25-1883

Approve the Disposition of Surplus Fleet Assets in an Appropriate Fashion

Pursuant to Chapter 2 Administration, Article VIII Procurement, Section

2-419, Disposition of City Assets and Property (d), (1) of the Code of the

City of North Port, Florida.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

Approve Contract No. 2024-28 Price Boulevard Widening - Phase I to

Watson Civil Construction, Inc. in the Amount of $79,283,010.35 and

Contingency in the Amount of $3,964,150.52 for

$83,247,160.87.

Total Amount of

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

25-1888

25-1889

Approve The Traffic Enforcement Agreement with Everly at Wellen Park

Homeowners Association, Inc. for Traffic Enforcement Services

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

Approve the Traffic Enforcement Agreement with Palmera at Wellen Park

Owners Association, Inc. for the Traffic Enforcement Services

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

25-1892

25-1942

Approve The Traffic Enforcement Agreement with Lakespur at Wellen Park

Homeowners Association, Inc., for Traffic Enforcement Services

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

Approve Ninth Amendment to Agreement No. 2015-19, Professional

Engineering Services for the Widening of Price Boulevard, From Sumter

Boulevard to Toledo Blade Boulevard to Consor Engineers, LLC in the

Amount of $298,373.69.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

25-1985

25-1989

25-1997

Approve the Award of Funds From the Special Event Assistance Program

to North Port Area Chamber of Commerce in Support of the Business &

Community Expo to be Held on March 8, 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.

Approve the Award of Funds From the Special Event Assistance Program

to Kiwanis Club of North Port in Support of the Kiwanis Pet Expo 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.

Approve the Twelfth Amendment to Construction Manager at Risk Contract

No. 2023-17.004 for Construction Services Contract, Phase II With Jon F.

Swift, Inc. in the Amount of $132,947, for Hurricane Ian Repairs at the

Kayak Launch at Water Control Structure 101 - South.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

25-2010

25-2038

Approve Change Order No. 1 to Work Assignment IF1 for the Inflow and

Infiltration Rehabilitation Project with Insituform Technologies, LLC., for an

Additional Amount of $22,439.85, for a Total Cost of $622,089.75.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

Approve the January 17, 2025 Joint Meeting, February 24, 2025 Special

Meeting, February 25, 2025 Commission Regular, March 3, 2025

Commission Workshop, and March 6, 2025 Commission Regular Meeting

Minutes.

This item was approved on the consent agenda.

5. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

RESOLUTION:

A. RES. NO.

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

Vacating the Rear Utility and Drainage Easements for Lots 11, 12, 31 and

32, Block 1438, 29th Addition to Port Charlotte Subdivision; Providing for

Findings; Providing for Recording; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for

Severability; and Providing an Effective Date. (QUASI-JUDICIAL).

2025-R-13

Mayor Stokes announced the item, stated this is a quasi-judicial hearing, and called on

the City Clerk to read by title only.

Ms. Faust read the Resolution by title only and swore in those wishing to provide

testimony.

Mayor Stokes called for disclosure of ex-parte communications.

Commissioner Duval disclosed one on one discussion with City Manager.

Commissioner Langdon disclosed agenda briefing discussion with City Manager.

Commissioner Petrow disclosed agenda briefing discussion with City Manager.

Vice Mayor Emrich disclosed no ex parte communications.

Mayor Stokes disclosed agenda briefing discussion with City Manager.

Ms. Faust stated there were no aggrieved parties.

William and Jamie Swartz, property owners, being duly sworn, provided a presentation

including reason for vacation of easement, number of lots, and location of pool.

Mr. Brown, being duly sworn, provided a presentation including overview, background,

review process, compliance with Florida Statutes and Unified Land Development Code

(ULDC), staff recommendations, and survey of existing conditions.

There was no public comment.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding staff review, support of item,

intent for the additional lots, Planning and Zoning Advisory Board (PZAB)

recommendation, and Utility company response.

There were no closing arguments by Staff or Applicant.

Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion.

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

to adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-13 as presented. The motion carried on the

following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

B. RES. NO.

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

Appointing James Toale to the Position of Hearing Officer With the

Authority to Hear and Decide Matters Related to Enforcing the City’s

Codes, as Well as Zoning-Related Matters; Providing for Incorporation of

Recitals; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing

an Effective Date.

2025-R-28

Mayor Stokes 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 and noted the need to continue this item.

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 Langdon,

to continue Resolution No. 2025-R-28 to the April 8, 2025, Commission meeting.

The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

ORDINANCE - First Reading:

C. ORD. NO.

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

2025-10

City of North Port, Florida, Section 26-3 and 26-7 Relating to Fire

Sprinklers and Exceptions to Fire Sprinklers; Providing for Findings;

Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for

Codification; 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 Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,

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 Fire Department tour,

support of item, home-based businesses, and model homes.

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. 2025-10 to second reading on April 8, 2025. The motion

carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

6. GENERAL BUSINESS:

25-2064

Discussion and Possible Action to Direct the City Manager to Send a

Letter of Support to the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners

Regarding the Allocation of Hurricane Recovery Funds for the Suncoast

Technical College (Requested by Commissioner Duval).

Mayor Stokes announced the item.

Ms. Fletcher introduced the item.

Commissioner Duval spoke to the item.

Commission questions and discussion took place regarding expansion, proactive with

school board, Sarasota Campus, Industrial Arts program, Building Industry Association

(BIA) training center, funding requests previously submitted to the County, additional

information needed, support of Sarasota Technical College (STC), discussion with County

Commission, and support of community.

There was no public comment.

Mayor Stokes requested a motion.

A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to

direct the City Manager to draft a letter of support to the Sarasota County Board of

Commissioners regarding the allocation of Hurricane Recovery funds for the

Suncoast Technical College and bring back to Commission on April 8, 2025 for

review. The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Commissioner

Langdon and Mayor Stokes

7. PUBLIC COMMENT:

There was no public comment.

8. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS:

Mayor Stokes called on Commissioners for communications.

Commissioner Duval's Communications

Commissioner Duval reported on events attended.

Commissioner Langdon's Communications

Commissioner Langdon noted her report will be attached to the April 8, 2025 agenda.