4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Workshop  
CITY COMMISSIONERS  
Pete Emrich, Mayor  
Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor  
Jill Luke, Commissioner  
Debbie McDowell, Commissioner  
Alice White, Commissioner  
APPOINTED OFFICIALS  
Jerome Fletcher, City Manager  
Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney  
Heather Taylor, City Clerk  
Wednesday, June 15, 2022  
9:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
City Manager Recommended Budget  
CALL TO ORDER  
Vice Mayor Langdon called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  
Ms. Taylor notified the Commission that Commissioner White requested to attend the  
meeting via Communications Media Technology (CMT).  
Vice Mayor Langdon provided required notifications regarding conducting  
meeting.  
a
hybrid  
Commissioner White stated she will be attending the hybrid meeting via CMT due to  
experiencing an illness.  
Vice Mayor Langdon requested a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Luke, to approve Commissioner White's request to attend the Workshop via  
Communications Media Technology (CMT). The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
Yes: 3 - Vice Mayor Langdon, Commissioner Luke, and Commissioner McDowell  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner White  
Absent: 1 - Mayor Emrich  
Ms. Taylor notified the Commission that Mayor Emrich requested to attend the meeting  
via Communications Media Technology (CMT).  
Vice Mayor Langdon provided required notifications regarding conducting  
meeting.  
a
hybrid  
Mayor Emrich stated he will be attending the hybrid meeting via CMT due to experiencing  
an illness.  
Vice Mayor Langdon requested a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Luke, to approve Mayor Emrich's request to attend the Workshop via  
Communications Media Technology (CMT). The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
Yes: 4 - Vice Mayor Langdon, Commissioner Luke, Commissioner McDowell, and  
Commissioner White  
Abstain: 1 - Mayor Emrich  
ROLL CALL  
Also Present  
5 -  
Present:  
Mayor Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon, Commissioner Jill Luke,  
Commissioner Alice White and Commissioner Debbie McDowell  
City Manager Jerome Fletcher, City Attorney Amber Slayton, City Clerk Heather Taylor,  
Recording Secretary Amanda Baker, Fire Chief Scott Titus, Police Chief Todd Garrison,  
Deputy Fire Chief Nick Herlihy, Police Department Business Manager Jennifer Ayres,  
Police Captain Paul Harvey, Assistant City Manager Julie Bellia, Assistant City Manager  
Jason  
Yarborough,  
Neighborhood  
Development  
Services  
Director  
Alaina  
Ray,  
Neighborhood Development Services Business Manager Katrina Romano, Public Works  
Director Chuck Speake (virtually), Fleet Manager Ken Rappuhn, Solid Waste Manager  
Frank Lama, Public Works Business Manager Garrett Woods, Utilities Director Nancy  
Gallinaro, Assistant Utilities Director Jennifer Derosiers, Field Operations Manager Mike  
Vuolo, Economic Development Program Manager Mel Thomas (virtually), Planner II  
Randy Bowling, and Economic Development Staff Assistant II Kaitlyn Stelzer  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fire Chief Scott Titus.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Valdy Olender: citizen's rights, millage rates, and interest rates increase.  
Commissioner McDowell spoke to the budget process, growth benefits, general fund, and  
inflation.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
22-2971  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Fiscal Year 2023 City  
Manager’s Recommended Budget.  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and expressed gratitude to staff and Commission.  
There was no public comment.  
22-3072  
Fire Department  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart with proposed new positions, accomplishments, and initiatives.  
Chief Titus spoke to the employee satisfaction survey.  
Mr. Fletcher continued with the presentation including strategic plan pillars, priorities,  
performance measures, budget summary, and budget proposals.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding proposed new positions,  
general fund contribution to the Renewal and Replacement (R&R) fund for vehicles,  
funding and attendance for paramedic school, Debrita Road parcel, District accreditation,  
number of staff for one station, future safety building, first responder mental health  
wellness, equipment, general fund payment, start date for new personnel, inflation  
impact, gratitude to staff, Citizens Parkway station, and emergency signals on Price  
Boulevard and Citizens Parkway.  
There was no public comment.  
Recess was taken from 10:20 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.  
22-3073  
Police Department  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart and proposed new positions, accomplishments, and initiatives.  
Chief Garrison spoke to the employee satisfaction survey.  
Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including strategic plan pillars, priorities,  
performance measures, budget summary, and budget proposals.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding policing for special events,  
volunteer services, department morale, additional Officer positions, neighborhood watch  
program, new vehicles and vehicle replacements, proposed new positions and start  
dates, covert equipment and software, wireless services, digital lab server software, plans  
for a motorcycle unit, drop-in metrics for safe community, Telecommunications positions,  
community outreach, gratitude to staff, creating culture change, and involvement in  
community programs.  
There was consensus to fully fund Budget Proposal #2215 for  
position with start date of January 1, 2023.  
a
Police Officer  
There was consensus to fully fund Budget Proposal #2217 for  
position with a start date of January 1, 2023.  
a
Police Officer  
Commission discussion continued regarding the start date for the Police Captain position  
and the department utilizing existing personnel until the position is posted.  
There was consensus to postpone Budget Proposal #2206 for an Accreditation  
Specialist position to be reviewed next fiscal year.  
Mr. Fletcher spoke about bringing proposed adjustments to offset costs back to  
Commission.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding staff balancing the budget,  
funding the Accreditation Special position and Police Officer positions, and reconsidering  
the previous consensus.  
There was consensus to approve Budget Proposal #2206 for an Accreditation  
Specialist position for this fiscal year.  
There was no public comment.  
22-3074  
Neighborhood Development Services  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart and proposed new positions, accomplishments, and initiatives.  
Ms. Ray spoke to the employment satisfaction survey and the changes that have  
occurred within the department.  
Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including strategic plan pillars, priorities,  
performance measures, budget summary, budget proposals, and funding for three-year  
proactive Code Enforcement positions.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Code Enforcement collection  
of funds, proposed new positions, Activity Center 6 Master Plan, additional staffing and  
recruiting issues, vehicle requirement, gratitude to staff, office space, and extending Code  
Enforcement Inspector hours.  
Recess was taken from 12:30 p.m. until 1:15 p.m.  
Commission  
questions  
and  
discussion  
continued  
regarding  
Arborist  
positions,  
percentage of tree fund usage, tree planting projects and programs, tree canopy tracking  
software, use of Building fund for portion of Arborist salary, anticipated revenue for tree  
mitigation, top three complaints received from residents to Code Enforcement, Impact  
Fee Administrator position, additional Arborist vehicle, staff bringing back more  
information regarding customer care service training, tree assessment, consulting  
services for Activity Center 6, permitting software implementation, building metrics,  
growth impact, and professional development.  
There was no public comment.  
22-3075  
Public Works Department  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
charts and proposed new positions, accomplishments, and initiatives.  
Mr. Speake spoke to the employee satisfaction survey.  
Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including strategic plan pillars, priorities,  
performance measures, budget summary, and budget proposals.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding tree planting line item and  
project locations, purpose of new positions, budgeted funds for remodeling offices, vehicle  
request, modular unit rental and update for the Children's Clothing Closet, security  
assessments for City buildings, enhancing security at City Hall and the Morgan Center,  
unfunded Project Manager position, recommended budget proposals within Solid Waste,  
3% District fee increase, Commission discussion for Public Works methodology, gas tax  
moratorium, walking excavator, Solid Waste rate studies, transport operator, gratitude to  
staff, and proactive Police Department involvement.  
There was no public comment.  
22-3076  
Utilities Department  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart and proposed new positions, accomplishments, and initiatives.  
Ms. Gallinaro spoke to the employment satisfaction survey.  
Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including strategic plan pillars, priorities,  
performance measures, budget summary, budget proposals, and Sustainability Officer  
position not currently funded.  
Recess was taken from 3:13 p.m. until 3:25 p.m.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding vacant positions, Utilities  
payroll, water conservation, water and sewer increase, proposed new positions,  
continuous  
improvement  
program  
planning,  
vehicle  
replacements,  
switchgear  
replacement, gratitude to staff, Meter Operator Supervisor position, collection and  
distribution tax, operation complex initiative, funding for vehicles and building, cost of  
postage, biosolids disposal funding, increase in rentals and leases, Shop Assistant  
budget proposal and increase in communications services under Fleet Management,  
backflow copies, utilities repairs, and water treatment plant chemicals.  
Consensus was requested to remove Budget Proposal #2160 for the part-time Customer  
Service Representative position.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding empowering employees,  
department managers' feedback regarding the employee satisfaction survey, encouraging  
adequate security for systems and physical plants, and community engagement in  
neighborhood expansion and water conservation.  
There was no public comment.  
Ms. Derosiers spoke to mechanical integrity testing of biosolids.  
Ms. Gallinaro spoke to water sources.  
22-3077  
Economic Development Division  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including organizational  
chart and proposed new positions, accomplishments, employment satisfaction survey,  
and initiatives, strategic plan pillars, priorities, performance measures, budget summary,  
and budget proposals, and read a statement submitted by Ms. Thomas.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Cranberry Boulevard and  
Hillsborough Boulevard project and the value of the proposed property for the Wellen Park  
government building.  
Ms. Thomas spoke to the number of zoned and appropriate use land being limited,  
working with Planning and Zoning and Public Works to locate 10-acre property for the  
Wellen Park government building, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund allocations,  
and answered questions regarding rezoning property.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding $250,000 in the shovel-ready  
site proposal and economic incentives.  
Ms. Slayton spoke to charging and collecting impact fees.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding the going rate for an acre of  
property, whether shovel-ready site would be sold and recouped by a developer or used  
as an investment to entice developers, internship program, commercial recreational  
opportunities, retail attraction and development, interlocal agreement with Sarasota  
County, new positions, gratitude to staff, implementing internships City-wide, surtax  
concerns, space renovations, outreach to retail outlets and entrepreneurs, staff identifying  
tactical programs, companies looking to relocate their business, implementing  
a
consultant/project manager to assist with the Wellen Park government building project,  
level of process, employee satisfaction survey feedback, increase of workers'  
compensation, one-on-one with  
a budget advisor, Utility tax, ad valorem tax, and  
uploading the presentation to backup material.  
There was no public comment.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
Vice Mayor Langdon adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Pete Emrich, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Taylor, City Clerk  
These minutes were approved on the ____ day of _______________, 20___.