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, Providing That Failure to Appear at a Code Enforcement Hearing Constitutes an Admission and Waiver and Authorizes Imposition of Penalties and Costs; Amending The Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Section 2-508; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve Ordinance 2026-09 as presented and continue to second reading on June 23, 2026.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve Ordinance 2026-09 as presented and continue to second reading on June 23, 2026.
* Pros: Will clarify responsibilities of alleged violator, enhance administrative efficiency and streamline the hearing process in situations where property owners or responsible parties do not attend scheduled proceedings.
* Cons: Staff have not identified any foreseeable negative consequences for approving Ordinance No. 2026-09.
Option 2: Deny Ordinance 2026-09 and retain Section 2-508 in its current form.
* Pros: Pros: Staff have not identified any foreseeable benefits to denying Ordinance No. 2026-09.
* Cons: Maintaining current procedural limitations will continue to create inefficiencies in the Code Enforcement hearing process.
Background Information
Currently, when a property owner fails to attend a scheduled hearing, the Code Enforcement Division must still present the case in full, including testimony, photographic evidence, and review by the Hearing Officer.
Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-09 is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the City's Code Enforcement hearing process by addressing situations in which an alleged violator fails to appear at a properly noticed hearing. Although the City provides notice and an opportunity to be heard in accordance with Chapter 162, Fl...
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