City Commission Workshop on 2026-03-13 10:00 AM - Budget

Amended to add attachment to Item No. 26-0376. — North Port, FL
Date: 2026-03-13

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

Friday, March 13, 2026 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. GENERAL BUSINESS:

 26-0376 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Fiscal Year 2026-2027
 Budget Assumptions, Financial Projections, and Strategic Priorities.

City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 3/16/2026
City Commission Workshop Meeting Agenda March 13, 2026


 Attachments: 10 Year CIP Summary and Detail
 Presentation


3. 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.)


4. 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.




City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 3/16/2026

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

Friday, March 13, 2026 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, Deputy City Clerk Powell, Deputy City
 Manager Yarborough, Assistant City Manager Bellia, Police Chief Garrison, Deputy
 Police Chief Morales, Fire Chief Titus, Finance Director Kukharenko, Deputy Emergency
 Manager Nevarez, Emergency Manager Aloisio, Development Services Director Ray,
 Parks and Recreation Director Pfundheller, Assistant Finance Director Martinec, Grants
 Division Manager Malingowski, Human Resources Director McDade, Public Works
 Director Speake, and Budget Manager Gaub.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Jerome Fletcher.

1. PUBLIC COMMENT:

 Mr. Powell read the following eComment into the record:
 Robin SanVicente: Spoke to presentation accessibility and sensitive land acquisition
 funding.

 In Person:
 Tim Doyle: Spoke to word interpretation and boater community role.

2. GENERAL BUSINESS:


 26-0376 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Fiscal Year 2026-2027

City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 4/7/2026
City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes March 13, 2026

 Budget Assumptions, Financial Projections, and Strategic Priorities.
 Mayor Emrich announced the item.

 Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including certification,
 community input, Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) report on local
 government spending, applying DOGE to North Port, personnel cost containment, and
 Parks and Recreation cost recovery.

 Commission questions and discussion took place regarding population growth, budget
 amendment history, vacant houses, DOGE methodology, Parks and Recreation cost
 recovery, staff accreditation, fleet optimization, capital improvement projects (CIP),
 environmental protection fund, merit awards, trailer maintenance, infrastructure needs,
 growth management, and limiting overtime.

 Public comment:

 In Person:
 Tim Doyle: Spoke to DOGE efficacy, City priorities, and prioritizing departments.
 Pam Tokarz: Spoke to equipment usage, budget options, incentives, and accreditation.

 Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including fund balance changes 3-year review,
 fund balance analysis fiscal year (FY) 26, general fund ad valorem assumptions, local
 municipalities and counties, peer municipalities, taxable value, active grants, overall
 budget assumptions, compensation impacts, and general fund estimated changes 2026
 to 2027.

 Commission questions and discussion continued regarding CIP clarification, road bonds,
 budget reduction amount, taxable value, grant revenue growth, Road and Drainage district
 revenue versus expenditures, building fund revenue, collection rate, local comparisons,
 open versus active grant project, deferred maintenance, health insurance costs, building
 cost recovery, lien expiration timeline, and health clinic implementation.

 Public comment:

 In Person:
 Tim Doyle: Spoke to building funding, insurance costs, revenue generation, lien
 enforcement, and union versus non-union pay structure.

 Recess was taken from 11:54 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including defining priorities, 2026 adopted budget
 by pillar, reductions to electric public service tax, revenue neutral approach, timeline,
 payment in lieu of franchise fee, property tax reform and usage, millage rate history,
 taxable values, timeline of key elements, general fund impact, service impacts, funding
 options, and Winchester Ranch annexation.

 Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Winchester  Ranch
 annexation, County resources and funding, pillar and project prioritization, residential
 revenue versus services provided, Florida Power and Light (FPL) rate increases, transfer
 station, water revenue, retained taxes, River Road widening project, and property sales
 impact.

 Public comment:


City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 4/7/2026
City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes March 13, 2026

 In Person:
 Tim Doyle: Spoke to monopoly of services and Winchester Ranch annexation.

 Mr. Fletcher continued the presentation including 10-year capital needs assessment,
 capital planning matters, utilities water and wastewater master plan, capital plan projects,
 project evaluation and ranking process, capital needs summary, potential projects for
 borrowing, projects recommended for CIP removal and closure, and recreation district.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT:

 In Person:
 Tim Doyle: Spoke to utility funding, Cranberry Boulevard and Toledo Blade intersection,
 and property taxes.

4. ADJOURNMENT:

 Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting at 1:41 p.m.

 City of North Port, Florida

 By: _________________________________________
 Pete Emrich, Mayor

 Attest: ________________________________________
 Heather Faust, City Clerk




City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 4/7/2026