City Commission Regular Meeting on 2026-01-20 6:00 PM - Amended to add Item Nos. 26-0345 and 26-0340.

4970 CITY HALL BLVD City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286 Meeting Minutes City Commission Regular 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 Tuesday, January 20, 2026 6:00 PM City Commission Chambers CALL TO ORDER Mayor Emrich called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.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, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist Lindner, Deputy Police Chief Morales, Fire Chief Titus, Public Works Director Speake, and Public Information Manager Ingalls. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Public Information Manager Madison Ingalls. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Emrich requested a motion to approve the agenda. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Stokes, 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: In Person: Steven Harrison: Spoke to Charter non-interference clause language and advisory board vacancy concerns. Valdy Olender: Spoke to Charter language clarifications, City Attorney communications, and public trust. City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 2/25/2026 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. 26-0135 Announcement of Current Advisory Board and Committee Vacancies Mayor Emrich announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read the announcements. Ms. Faust read the announcements into the record. 4. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Emrich announced the item and queried the City Manager regarding items pulled from the consent agenda. There was no public comment. Mayor Emrich requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langdon, 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. 25-2842 Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of North Port, Florida, a Municipal Corporation, and Better Together Strengthening Families, Inc., a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization D/B/A Better Together to Reduce the Number of Children Entering Foster Care by Streamlining the Process of Caring for and Placing Minors Encountered During Law Enforcement Activities. This item was approved on the consent agenda. B. 25-2980 Approve the Canine Donation Agreement By and Between the City of North Port, Florida, and High Cotton Bloodhounds for a Bloodhound Puppy Valued at $1,500.00 to be Utilized as a Search and Rescue Tool. This item was approved on the consent agenda. C. 26-0211 Approve Sixteenth Amendment to Construction Manager at Risk Contract No. 2023-17.001 for Construction Services Contract Phase II, Work Assignment #2025-52FM, By and Between the City of North Port, Florida, and Wharton-Smith, Inc., for the Installation of Temporary Office Buildings at the Public Works Campus in the Amount of $277,640.00 This item was approved on the consent agenda. D. 26-0269 Approve the Letter to Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PRMRWSA) Providing Annual Water Demand Projections Report. City of North Port Page 2 Printed on 2/25/2026 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 This item was approved on the consent agenda. E. 26-0277 Accept the Cash Receipts Summary Report for November 2025. This item was approved on the consent agenda. F. 26-0297 Approve Contract for Transfer of Canine From the City of North Port, Florida, to the City of North Miami Beach, Release and Indemnification for the Transfer of K-9 Officer Rio to the City of North Miami Beach Police Department in the Amount of $10.00. This item was approved on the consent agenda. G. 26-0345 Approve the Removal of Eva M. Rathgeber as a Regular Member of the Environmental Advisory Board. This item was approved on the consent agenda. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: ORDINANCE - First Reading: A. ORD. NO. An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Regarding Golf Carts and 2026-03 Low Speed Vehicles; Amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, by Removing Subsection (B) of Section 74-152; Providing for Findings; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date. Mayor Emrich announced the item and requested a motion to direct the City Clerk to read by title only. A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langdon, to direct the 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 Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. There were no Commission questions or discussion. There was no public comment. Mayor Emrich requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Stokes, to continue Ordinance No. 2026-03 to second reading on February 10, 2026. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 2/25/2026 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 6. GENERAL BUSINESS: A. 26-0288 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Draft Facility Lease Policy for City-Owned Facilities Mayor Emrich announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Mr. Speake spoke to the item. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding options, tenant impacts, Awaken Food Pantry, and Family Service Center. There was no public comment. Mayor Emrich requested a motion and passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Langdon. A motion was made by Mayor Emrich, seconded by Commissioner Duval, to direct the City Manager to bring back the Facility Lease Policy for formal Commission approval using a set discount based on market value. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes B. 26-0331 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the City of North Port 2026 State and Federal Legislative Priorities. Mayor Emrich announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding state preemptions, Florida Senate Bill 180 (SB 180), municipal home rule, general fund and property tax impacts, public safety, education funding, and Florida League of Cities Advocacy. There was no public comment. Mayor Emrich requested a motion. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Langdon, seconded by Commissioner Stokes, to direct the City Manager to prepare talking points to supplement the existing priorities including impact of potential property tax cuts on the ability of the City of North Port to continue delivering effective city services and to present the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as a project the City is requesting State funding for. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes C. 26-0340 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Accepting an Invitation From Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners to Schedule a Joint Meeting of the Two Commissions in 2026. City of North Port Page 4 Printed on 2/25/2026 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 Mayor Emrich announced the item. Mr. Fletcher introduced the item. Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Sarasota County coordination, workshop preparation, and regional impacts. There was no public comment. Mayor Emrich requested a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langdon, to direct the City Manager to work with the Sarasota County Administrator to schedule a joint meeting with the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners. The motion carried on the following vote: Yes: 5- Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Petrow, Vice Mayor Langdon and Commissioner Stokes 7. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. 8. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Emrich called on Commissioners for communications. A. 26-0021 Commissioner Duval's Communications Commissioner Duval did not have a report. B. 26-0022 Commissioner Stokes' Communications Commissioner Stokes did not have a report. C. 26-0023 Mayor Emrich's Communications Mayor Emrich did not have a report. D. 26-0024 Vice Mayor Langdon's Communications Vice Mayor Langdon reported on events attended and important topics. E. 26-0025 Commissioner Petrow's Communications Commissioner Petrow reported on events attended. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL REPORTS: A. 26-0299 City Attorney’s Monthly Report Mr. Fuino did not have a report. City of North Port Page 5 Printed on 2/25/2026 City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes January 20, 2026 B. 26-0311 City Clerk's Monthly Report Ms. Faust did not have a report. C. 26-0332 City Manager's Monthly Report Mr. Fletcher did not have a report. 10. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. City of North Port, Florida By: __________________________________ Pete Emrich, Mayor Attest: ________________________________ Heather Faust, City Clerk City of North Port Page 6 Printed on 2/25/2026