City Commission Workshop on 2025-12-01 10:00 AM — North Port, FL
Date: 2025-12-01

4970 CITY HALL BLVD
 City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286



 Meeting Agenda

 City Commission Workshop
 CITY COMMISSIONERS
 Pete Emrich, Mayor
 Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor
 Phil Stokes, Commissioner
 David Duval, Commissioner
 Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner

 APPOINTED OFFICIALS
 Jerome Fletcher, City Manager
 Michael Fuino, City Attorney
 Heather Faust, City Clerk

Monday, December 1, 2025 10:00 AM City Commission Chambers


PUBLIC COMMENT: Properly submitted comments will be accepted and included in the official record of the meeting
pursuant to City Commission Policy No. 2020-04.

Public comment may be submitted in the following ways:

In Person Attendance: Submit a comment card to the City Clerk. Comment cards with completed information may be
submitted until the Mayor closes Public Comment for the agenda item. Public comment is limited to three minutes per
person.

Online: Submit a written eComment using the eComment link at cityofnorthport.legistar.com/Calendar. The link will be
available online at 8:00 a.m. the day before the meeting until one hour prior to the start of the meeting. Your public
comment is limited to 2,000 characters.

Voice Mail Message: Leave a voice mail message via telephone at 941-429-1032. Voice Mail messages will be
accepted the day before the meeting from 8:00 a.m. until one hour prior to the start of the meeting. Please provide
information as listed in the City’s outgoing message. The message must not exceed two minutes, fifteen seconds.


CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

1. PUBLIC COMMENT:

(The purpose of the Public Comments Section of the Agenda is for members of the public to speak to the City
Commission/District Governing Body on any subject pertaining to City Business whether or not it is on the Agenda, with
the exception of Quasi-Judicial Items.)


2. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES

A. 25-3029 Presentation by the Economic Development Division Providing a Quarterly
 Economic Development Update to the City Commission.

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 Attachments: Presentation

B. 25-3073 Presentation Regarding Brand Strategy and Workshopping
 Recommended Mission, Vision and Values by the Communications
 Division.
 Attachments: Presentation
 Brand Strategy


3. GENERAL BUSINESS:

A. 25-3026 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Future Needs of the
 North Port Senior Center, Inc., Awaken Church, North Port Art Center and
 Kiwanis Club.
 Attachments: Attachment A
 Community Services Facility Assessment Memo
 Evaluation of Alternate Locations to House Senior Center Memo
 Evaluation of Kiwanis Club Modular Building Memo

B. 25-3069 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding an Implementation Plan for
 a Special District to Fund Infrastructure for Activity Center 6 and 10.
 Attachments: Presentation
 Memorandum


4. PUBLIC COMMENT:

(The purpose of the Public Comments Section of the Agenda is for members of the public to speak to the City
Commission/District Governing Body on any subject pertaining to City Business whether or not it is on the Agenda, with
the exception of Quasi-Judicial Items.)


5. ADJOURNMENT:

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS - The Agenda is a summary of the proposed actions to be taken by the City
Commission. For almost every agenda item, the City staff has prepared materials for Commission consideration and
provided a staff recommendation. All of these materials are available at the City Clerk's Office, during normal
business hours, for inspection and (for a fee) copying. Questions on these materials may be directed to the staff
member who prepared them, or to the City Clerk's Office, who will refer you to the appropriate person.

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 - The North Port City Hall is wheelchair accessible. Special parking is
available on the west side of City Hall and the building may be accessed from the parking area. Persons with hearing
difficulties should contact the City Clerk to obtain a hearing device for use during meetings.

NONDISCRIMINATION: The City of North Port does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age,
disability, family or religious status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical
characteristic in administration of its programs, activities or services.

No stenographic record by a certified court reporter is made of these recordings. Accordingly, anyone seeking to
appeal any of the decisions involving the matters herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the
meeting/testimony and evidence upon which any appeal is to be based. Copies of the recordings are available (for a
fee) at the City Clerk's Office.



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4970 CITY HALL BLVD
 City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286



 Meeting Minutes
 City Commission Workshop
 CITY COMMISSIONERS
 Pete Emrich, Mayor
 Barbara Langdon, Vice Mayor
 Phil Stokes, Commissioner
 David Duval, Commissioner
 Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner

 APPOINTED OFFICIALS
 Jerome Fletcher, City Manager
 Michael Fuino, City Attorney
 Heather Faust, City Clerk

Monday, December 1, 2025 10:00 AM City Commission Chambers


CALL TO ORDER

 Mayor Emrich called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

ROLL CALL

 Present: 5- Mayor Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon, Commissioner David Duval,
 Commissioner Demetrius Petrow and Commissioner Philip Stokes

ALSO PRESENT

 City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Fuino, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist Lindner,
 Police Chief Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Economic Development Program Manager
 Meerman, Communications Manager/PIO Bartolone, Marketing and Engagement
 Manager Sutherland, Public Works Director Speake, Social Services Manager Carrillo,
 Parks and Recreation Director Pfundheller, Facilities Manager Humphrey, and Deputy
 City Manager Yarborough.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fire Chief Scott Titus.

1. PUBLIC COMMENT:

 Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:
 Debbie McDowell: Expressed concerns regarding rebranding.

2. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES


 A. 25-3029 Presentation by the Economic Development Division Providing a Quarterly
 Economic Development Update to the City Commission.
 Mayor Emrich announced the item.

 Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.


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 Mr. Meerman provided a presentation including a highlight from the House Beautiful
 article naming North Port a Top 10 City for people in their 50s, October 2025 business
 activity, small-business partnership advertisement video, workforce development, digital
 assets, activity centers boundary map, North Port Economic Development Summit, and
 Federal Reserve Bank Small Business Credit Survey.

 Commission questions and discussion took place regarding school integration with
 Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH), Activity Center 6 acreage, clarification for
 home-based businesses, availability of commercial space, Suncoast Technical College
 (STC) expansion, Galen College of Nursing growth and needs, Imagine Schools’ future
 property plans, median household income clarification, Benderson development,
 job-growth tracking, affordable housing, potential Charlotte County Utilities partnership,
 Avella North Port, Toledo Blade 320 Project potential developments, City-owned property
 marketing, Sarasota County Economic Development Group (EDC) involvement, Florida
 Select trade-show participation, upcoming Florida Power and Light (FPL) Economic
 Symposium, building-use clarification, City assistance for commercial investment and
 single-family lot swaps, and short-term vacation-rental tax regulations.

 There was no public comment.

 B. 25-3073 Presentation Regarding Brand Strategy  and Workshopping
 Recommended Mission, Vision and Values by the Communications
 Division.
 Mayor Emrich announced the item.

 Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

 Mr. Bartolone and Ms. Sutherland provided a presentation including timeline, strategy
 clarification, community voice, framework overview, value proposition and brand promise,
 brand pillars, current versus recommended mission, vision, and values, strategic pillars,
 and workshop purpose.

 Commission questions and discussion took place regarding financial sustainability,
 allocated funding for rebranding, proposed changes, impacts to City progress,
 sustainability concerns, and investment allocations.

 There was no public comment.

 Recess was taken from 11:20 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

3. GENERAL BUSINESS:


 A. 25-3026 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Future Needs of the
 North Port Senior Center, Inc., Awaken Church, North Port Art Center and
 Kiwanis Club.
 Mayor Emrich announced the item.

 Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

 Mr. Speake spoke to Community Services facility options cost estimates.

 Commission questions and discussion took place regarding lease direction, funding

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 resources, land-lease agreements, citizen engagement, relocation processes, goals,
 options clarification, fair-market-value leasing policy, space allocations, Federal
 Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) code and compliance processes, community
 engagement, the North Port Scout House, Parks and Recreation administration
 assistance, available legal resources, temporary placement options, grant negotiations,
 upcoming meetings with nonprofits, and fundraising.

 Ms. Faust read the following eComment into the record:
 Sheila Miller: Expressed concerns regarding funding of non-profit organizations.
 Nonprofits: Spoke to utilizing the Scout House with a shed for storage for Kiwanis.

 In Person:
 Jacklyn Cislo: Spoke to grant applications and request for use of the Scout House.
 Larry Grant: Expressed support of Commission involvement at recent events and spoke
 to limitations at the George Mullen Activity Center.

 Mayor Emrich requested a consensus.

 There was consensus to direct the City Manager to work with the Awaken Food
 Pantry and Outreach Center to explore repairing the deficiencies at the existing
 Community Educational Center and to allow the Awaken Food Pantry and
 Outreach Center to continue at the current location.

 There was consensus to direct the City Manager to work with the North Port Senior
 Center to move its operations to the George Mullen Activity Center and to explore
 the move with either City staff managing the programming or the Senior Center to
 continue managing the programming.

 There was consensus to direct the City Manager to work with the North Port Art
 Center and Kiwanis Club to find available land for them to locate their operations
 and to draft land lease options.

 B. 25-3069 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding an Implementation Plan for a
 Special District to Fund Infrastructure for Activity Center 6 and 10.
 Mayor Emrich announced the item.

 Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.

 Mr. Yarborough provided a presentation including North Port ’s future growth and
 infrastructure funding, Activity Centers 6 and 10 background and context, infrastructure
 overview and core components, special districts, process, communications and
 engagement strategy, interlocal and legislative coordination, the recommended action
 and implementation path, and next steps.

 Commission questions and discussion took place regarding regulations, Florida
 Department of Transportation (FDOT) interchange processes, revenue-bond allocations,
 millage rates, impact fees, Master Plan explanation, marketing options for locations, the
 water main on Price Boulevard, water and sewer costs, independent district processes,
 workforce housing, and technology research and development.

 There was no public comment.

 Mayor Emrich requested a consensus.

 There was consensus to direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare a


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 Resolution of Intent to use the Uniform Method of Collection under Florida Statute
 197.3632 for implementation beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, for Commission
 consideration.

 There was consensus to direct the City Manager to develop and advance a
 legislative concept, coordinating with the Florida Legislative Delegation and City ’s
 contracted lobbyist, for the 2027 Regular Session to create a State-authorized
 independent special district with merging language.

 There was consensus to authorize the City Manager to develop the assessment
 methodology for the proposed districts.

 There was consensus to authorize the City Manager to seek assistance from
 Sarasota, DeSoto, and Charlotte Counties on legislative action to create the
 independent special district,  including  support related to the future
 Yorkshire/Raintree Interchange on Interstate 75.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT:

 There was no public comment.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

 Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting at 1:33 p.m.

 By: _________________________________________
 Pete Emrich, Mayor

 Attest: _________________________________________
 Heather Faust, City Clerk




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