City Commission Joint Meeting on 2026-02-18 6:00 PM - This meeting will utilize Communications Media Technology for hybrid purposes. With Charter Review Advisory Board
Regular MeetingNorth Port, FL · February 18, 2026
Minutes
4970 City Hall Blvd
City of North Port North Port, FL 34286
Meeting Minutes
City Commission Joint Meeting
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
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 6:00 PM City Commission Chambers
w/Charter Review Advisory Board
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Emrich called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: 4- Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner Philip Stokes, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow
and Commissioner David Duval
Absent: 1- Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon
ALSO PRESENT
City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Fuino, Deputy City Clerk Powell, Board Specialist
Lindner, Police Captain King, and Fire Marshal Marietti.
Charter Review Advisory Board Members Boddy, Justice, and Guerin-Staples.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Phil Stokes.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Emrich requested a motion to approve the agenda.
A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Petrow,
to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:
Yes: 4- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Stokes, Commissioner Petrow and Commissioner
Duval
Absent: 1- Vice Mayor Langdon
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:
City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 3/25/2026
City Commission Joint Meeting Meeting Minutes February 18, 2026
In Person:
Tim Doyle: Expressed concerns regarding trespassing.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS:
26-0357 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Advisory Board
Recommendation Memorandum From the Charter Review Advisory Board
Concerning Bond Issuance During Declared Disaster or Emergency
Without Voter Approval.
Mayor Emrich announced the item.
Mr. Powell introduced the item.
Vice Chair Justice spoke to the item.
Commission and Advisory Board member questions and discussion took place regarding
community engagement, public trust, branding and language clarifications, millage rates,
budget cycles, reserve percentages, cap and borrowing limitations, emergency borrowing
authority, referendum timeline, fiscal and legal implications, prior election results, voter
approval requirements, Argus Foundation comparisons, no -interest loans and grants,
advocacy versus education, core critical services, and time sensitivity.
Public Comment:
In Person:
Tim Doyle: Expressed concerns regarding budget cuts, language clarifications, and
public safety.
A motion was made by Commissioner Duval, seconded by Commissioner Petrow,
to direct the City Clerk to coordinate Christine Robinson's attendance at a Charter
Review Advisory Board meeting to discuss the process, placement, and language
relative to the ability to borrow during declared emergencies and to provide a
recommendation to Commission. The motion carried on the following vote:
Yes: 3- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Petrow and Commissioner Duval
No: 1- Commissioner Stokes
Absent: 1- Vice Mayor Langdon
Commission and Advisory Board member questions and discussion continued regarding
next steps.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
In Person:
Tim Doyle: Expressed concerns regarding trespassing.
5. ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
City of North Port, Florida
City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 3/25/2026
City Commission Joint Meeting Meeting Minutes February 18, 2026
By: ________________________________________
Pete Emrich, Mayor
Attest: _________________________________________
Heather Faust, City Clerk
City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 3/25/2026
Agenda
4970 City Hall Blvd
City of North Port North Port, FL 34286
Meeting Agenda
City Commission Joint Meeting
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
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 6:00 PM City Commission Chambers
This meeting will utilize Communications Media Technology for hybrid purposes.
With Charter Review Advisory Board
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. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2. 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.)
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City Commission Joint Meeting Meeting Agenda February 18, 2026
3. GENERAL BUSINESS:
26-0357 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Advisory Board
Recommendation Memorandum From the Charter Review Advisory
Board Concerning Bond Issuance During Declared Disaster or
Emergency Without Voter Approval.
Attachments: CRAB - Bond Issuance
1-13-26 Commission Minutes
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.
City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 2/9/2026