TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Calling for a Referendum Question to be Placed Before the Qualified Electors of the City of North Port, Florida at the March 11, 2025 Special Election; Providing a Referendum Question Determining Whether to Amend the City Charter to Remove the Residency Requirements for the City Clerk and City Attorney Positions; Providing for the Full Text of the Proposed Charter Amendment; Providing Findings; Providing for an Effective Date for the New Charter Language if the Proposed Charter Amendment is Approved; Providing for the Filing of the Ordinance with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections; Providing for Publication of the Text of the Proposed Charter Amendment; Providing for Filing with the Florida Department of State if the Proposed Charter Amendment is Approved; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing for an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance No. 2024-49 to second reading on December 23, 2024.
Background Information
During its workshop meeting on December 3, 2024, the City Commission discussed recruitment efforts to fill the vacant City Attorney position, and the limitations imposed by the residency requirements within the City Charter pertaining to the City Clerk and City Attorney positions. Currently, the City Charter requires that the City Attorney and City Clerk establish residency within the City of North Port within one year of their appointment date and maintain residency within the City for the duration of their employment in their respective position.
The current residency restrictions limit the potential candidate pool by excluding qualified candidates that may not live within the City but reside within our region and are able to commute daily to the City. In order to attract candidates residing beyond City limits, the City Com...
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