4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Special Meeting  
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 Faust, City Clerk  
Tuesday, June 21, 2022  
6:00 PM  
CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS  
CALL TO ORDER  
Vice Mayor Langdon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
Ms. Faust 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 Luke, seconded by Commissioner  
McDowell, to approve Mayor Emrich's request to attend the Commission Special  
Meeting 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  
5 -  
Present:  
Mayor Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon, Commissioner Jill Luke,  
Commissioner Alice White and Commissioner Debbie McDowell  
Also Present  
City Manager Jerome Fletcher, City Attorney Amber Slayton, City Clerk Heather Faust,  
Recording Secretary Amanda Baker, Fire Chief Scott Titus, Police Commander Joe  
Fussell, Planning Manager Lori Barnes, Project Manager Monica Bramble (virtually),  
Neighborhood Development Services Director Alaina Ray, and Assistant City Manager  
Jason Yarborough  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by North Port resident Mary Dougherty.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
A
motion was made by Commissioner McDowell, seconded by Commissioner  
Luke, to approve the Agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Mayor Emrich, Vice Mayor Langdon, Commissioner Luke, Commissioner White and  
Commissioner McDowell  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Jeffrey Scott: expressed concern with recent budget workshop decisions.  
3. PUBLIC HEARING:  
ORDINANCE - SECOND READING  
A. ORD. NO.  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Amending the Code of The  
2022-03  
City of North Port, Florida, Chapter 58 – Planning and Development, Article  
III. – Impact Fees and Updating Impact Fee Rate Schedules for the City’s  
Parks, Fire Rescue, Law Enforcement, General Government, and Solid  
Waste Impact Fees; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability;  
Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.  
Vice Mayor Langdon announced the item and directed the City Clerk to read the  
Ordinance by title only.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Slayton spoke to the special meeting notification and advertisement.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding the proposed start date of  
the impact fee rate increase, extending the effective date, State legislative decision  
regarding impact fees, incentive plans, economic shift, inflation effects, potential harm by  
increasing impact fees, comparing the impact fees to the 2011 fees, 2011 study,  
surrounding areas placing impact fees on hold, commercial and office space increases,  
North Port being the 9th fastest growing City in the country, unrealized revenue, City's  
impact fees compared to surrounding areas, projection on lost revenue should the  
Ordinance be extended six months, and issues with extending the Ordinance.  
Ms. Slayton spoke to the lifespan of the demonstrated needs study and State Statutes.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding cost factors associated with  
extending the effective date, incentive programs, benefits of extending the Ordinance,  
prior Commission decisions regarding impact fee increases, and negotiating office space  
and commercial rates.  
Ms. Slayton spoke to Commission adopting a partial rate, uncertainty of revisiting impact  
fee increase for the next four years, and statutory obligations.  
PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Mary Dougherty: commercial development including jobs, incentive discussions, and  
pausing the Ordinance.  
Jeffrey Scott: City recognizing financial limits, governing in a responsible manner, and  
additional taxation.  
Vice Mayor Langdon closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Luke, seconded by Commissioner White, to  
approve Ordinance No 2022-03 as presented. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
4 - Mayor Emrich, Vice Mayor Langdon, Commissioner Luke and Commissioner White  
1 - Commissioner McDowell  
Yes:  
No:  
Commissioner McDowell dissented due to her belief that a six-month pause would allow  
developers time to bring jobs to North Port, approving the Ordinance may close  
opportunities, and today's economy being different than in February 2022.  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Jeffrey Scott: Charter Officers' authority and responsibilities, and respecting the Oath of  
Office.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Vice Mayor Langdon adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Pete Emrich, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk  
These minutes were approved on the ____ day of _______________, 20___.