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, Activating an Information Technology Department; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Continue Ordinance 2025-27 as presented to second reading on September 18, 2025.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Continue Ordinance 2025-27 as presented to second reading on September 18, 2025.
* Pros: Aligns the team with our organizational growth with the structure of comparable Departments and helps to build a more resilient, adaptable organization.
* Cons: Requires additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for Information Technology.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance 2025-27 as presented.
* Pros: Does not require additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for Information Technology.
* Cons: Not activating an Information Technology Department could limit strategic influence, resources, authority, and growth capacity, which can hinder technology effectiveness and organizational progress.
Background Information
The following provides a chronological order of events pertinent to changing the Information Technology Division to a Department:
> June 16, 2025: During the budget workshop, as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget development process, the creation of an Information Technology Department was proposed in the City Manager's Proposed Budget. There was a consensus by the City Commission to move forward with converting the Information Technology Division into a Department to better support the City's growing operational needs.
> Section 5.05. Organizational structure. (a) of the North Port City Charter states:
"(a) The City Commission shall, by ordinance adopted by unanimous vote, activate or deactivate departments as deemed necessary for the efficient adminis...
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