City Commission Regular Meeting on 2025-11-04 10:00 AM

4970 CITY HALL BLVD City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286 Meeting Minutes City Commission Regular Meeting CITY COMMISSIONERS Phil Stokes, Mayor Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow, Commissioner APPOINTED OFFICIALS Jerome Fletcher, City Manager Michael Fuino, City Attorney Heather Faust, City Clerk Tuesday, November 4, 2025 10:00 AM City Commission Chambers CALL TO ORDER Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: 5- Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow, Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon and Commissioner Philip Stokes ALSO PRESENT City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Fuino, Assistant City Clerk Powell, Board Specialist Lindner, Police Captain Gregory, Development Services Deputy Director Barnes, Finance Director Kukharenko, Deputy City Manager Yarborough, and Human Resources Director McDade. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Powell read the following eComment into the record: City Employee: Spoke to Commissioner communication, workplace environment, and concerns regarding proper engagement procedures. City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. 25-2986 Announcement of Current Advisory Board and Committee Vacancies Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the Assistant City Clerk to read the announcements. Mr. Powell read the announcements into record. 4. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Stokes announced the item and queried the City Manager regarding items pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich, to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes A. 25-2779 Approve the Termination of the Assignment and Assumption of Master Service Agreement and Statement of Work Between the City of North Port, Florida, and CivicPlus, LLC, in the Amount of $26,029.50, Approved by the City Commission on February 28, 2023. This item was approved on the consent agenda. B. 25-2932 Approve the Disposition of Surplus Assets in an Appropriate Fashion Pursuant to Chapter 2 Administration, Article VIII Procurement, Section 2-419, Disposition of City Assets and Property (d) of the Code of the City of North Port, Florida. This item was approved on the consent agenda. 5. PRESENTATIONS: TIME LIMIT OF 15 MINUTES A. 25-2984 Sarasota County Tax Collector, Mike Moran, Regarding Possible Long-Term Facility Solution for South County Residents. Mayor Stokes announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Mr. Moran spoke to request for communication between the city and county regarding options for a long-term tax collector facility in North Port. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding citizen support and a plan for moving forward. City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to direct the City Manager to work with Mr. Moran to bring back plans for a new Sarasota County Tax Collector building on City Hall Campus. A motion to amend was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to include the City Attorney in discussions. The motion to amend carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes The main motion as amended carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance - First Reading: A. ORD. NO. An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Establishing a Schedule 2025-32 and Location of City Commission Regular Meetings and Workshops for the 2026 Calendar Year; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date. Mayor Stokes announced the item and requested a motion to direct the Assistant City Clerk to read by title only. A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich, to direct the Assistant City Clerk to read the Ordinance by title only. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes Mr. Powell read the Ordinance by title only. Mr. Powell introduced the item. There were no Commission questions or discussion. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to continue Ordinance No. 2025-32 to second reading on November 18, 2025. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes Resolution: City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 B. RES. NO. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of North Port, Florida, 2025-R-74 Transferring Real Property Located on Manila Avenue and Described as Lot 25, Block 734, 12th Addition to Port Charlotte Subdivision, Sarasota County Property Appraiser Parcel Identification Number 1144073425, to the North Port Road and Drainage District; Incorporating Recitals; Providing for Filing of Documents; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability;and Providing an Effective Date. Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the Assistant City Clerk to read by title only. Mr. Powell read the Resolution by title only. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. There were no Commission questions or discussion. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Duval, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-74 as presented. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes C. RES. NO. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of North Port, Florida, 2025-R-84 Granting a Non-Exclusive Permanent and Exclusive Temporary Construction Easements Located on a Portion of the Parcel Lying in Section 12, Township 40 South, Range 20 East, Sarasota County Florida, Property Appraiser Parcel Identification Numbers 0793-00-1010 and 0815-00-1010; Providing Various Easements; Providing for Incorporation of Recitals; Providing for Filing of Documents; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date. Mayor Stokes announced the item and called on the Assistant City Clerk to read by title only. Mr. Powell read the Resolution by title only. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. There were no Commission questions or discussion. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes closed the public hearing and requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-R-84 as presented. The motion carried on the following vote: City of North Port Page 4 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 7. GENERAL BUSINESS: A. 25-2969 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Amendments to Chapter 58, Code of the City of North Port, Florida, to Provide Affordable Housing Impact Fee Exemption or Reduction, Government Use Impact Fee Exemption, Amend the Impact Fee Deferral Program, and Process Improvements. Mayor Stokes announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Ms. Barnes provided a presentation regarding affordable -housing exemption, other local government affordable-housing exemption or reductions, and government-use exemption. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding income -controlled housing, Eco Senior housing, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), impact-fee incentives, development needs, housing studies, prior workshop requests, case -by-case impact-fee exemptions, waivers and deferrals, policy structures for guidance, Florida Statutes, State and County grants, proposed improvements and incentives, land uses, comparisons between local and county housing studies, the need for solid direction from the Commission, zoning classifications, density bonuses, public -purpose determinations, impact-fee flexibility and usage, capital and reserve funds, construction -inflation impacts, system improvements, Commission-directed initiatives, tax considerations, general -fund flexibility, labor and material-cost increases, the budget process, the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), capacity and service standards, legal limitations, transportation uses, Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) facilities, and statutory language. Ms. Barnes continued her presentation regarding deferral program, eligible development change, security and agreement length changes, process improvements, and codified best practices. Commission questions and discussion continued regarding options clarification for voting and deferral program extension timeline and utilization. Public Comment: In Person: Eric Card: Expressed support of Item No. 25-2969. Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon, to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance for consideration including Option 1C the proposed updated deferral program eligibility and refined program requirements and Option 1D the proposed process improvements. The motion carried on the following vote with Mayor Stokes dissenting due to stating there is no need to provide incentives of impact fee waivers: Yes: 3- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Petrow and Vice Mayor Langdon City of North Port Page 5 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 No: 2- Commissioner Duval and Commissioner Stokes Recess was taken from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. B. 25-2975 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Unified Land Development Code, Section 3.2.3.B. Non-Residential Uses in the Corridor Transitional (CT) and Corridor (COR) Zoning Districts (Limitation on Hours of Operation). Commissioner Langdon stated that, following a discussion with the City Attorney regarding the rezoning of her home, there is no conflict with her voting on Item No . 25-2975. Mayor Stokes announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Ms. Barnes spoke to Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) workshops, Commission-directed changes to the permitted uses within the Corridor Transitional (CT) and Corridor (COR) districts to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential districts, a review of permissible primary uses, special-exception uses, and prohibited uses, Economic Development analysis of business hours-of-operation, and the Attorney General’s opinion. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding changes, essential services, differences between minor and major services, staff opinions on the changes, noise ordinances, clarification of the CT and COR zoning districts, legal exposure, hours-of-operation restrictions, clarification of noise limitations, commercial development, quality of life, case law, and the ability to regulate short-term rentals. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich, to direct the City Manager to prepare an Ordinance regarding Section 3.2.3.B of the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) to remove the hours-of-operation limitation in the Corridor Transitional (CT) and Corridor (COR) Zoning Districts also known as Annex 1 and Annex 2. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes C. 25-2806 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Commission Compensation Formula. (Requested by Mayor Stokes). Mayor Stokes announced the item. Mr. Powell introduced the item. Mayor Stokes spoke to the item. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding cost -of-living concerns, charter amendments for pay scales and adjustments, failed referendums and government trust, salary-adjustment effective dates tied to the election cycle, North Port City Code City of North Port Page 6 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 Section 5.04(b), future Charter Review Advisory Board (CRAB) review, and rights of future Commissioners. There was no public comment. Mayor Stokes requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Langdon, to direct the City Attorney to draft an Ordinance for Commission compensation starting the new compensation at the base line of what it is right now adding what is comparable for the City employees cost of living increase annually. Commission questions and discussion continued regarding cost -of-living, salary freezes, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Social Security income, cost-of-living adjustment percentages, future cost-of-living, and Commission actions. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 8. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. 9. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Stokes called on Commissioners for communications. A. 25-2987 Commissioner Duval's Communications Commissioner Duval reported on events attended. B. 25-2988 Commissioner Langdon's Communications Commissioner Langdon did not have a report. C. 25-2989 Mayor Stokes' Communications Mayor Stokes did not have a report. D. 25-2990 Vice Mayor Emrich's Communications Vice Mayor Emrich did not have a report. E. 25-2991 Commissioner Petrow's Communications Commissioner Petrow did not have a report. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL REPORTS: Mayor Stokes called on Charter Officers for reports. Mr. Fletcher did not have a report. City of North Port Page 7 Printed on 12/15/2025 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes November 4, 2025 Mr. Fuino did not have a report. Mr. Powell did not have a report. 11. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 1:18 p.m. By: ___________________________________ Phil Stokes, Mayor Attest: _________________________________ Heather Faust, City Clerk City of North Port Page 8 Printed on 12/15/2025