City Commission Regular Meeting on 2025-07-03 4:00 PM
Regular MeetingNorth Port, FL · July 3, 2025
Minutes
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 Golen, Interim City Attorney
Heather Faust, City Clerk
Thursday, July 3, 2025 4:00 PM City Commission Chambers
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: 4- Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner David Duval, Commissioner Barbara
Langdon and Mayor Philip Stokes
Absent: 1- Commissioner Demetrius Petrow
ALSO PRESENT
City Manager Fletcher, Assistant City Attorney Coughlin, Assistant City Clerk Powell,
Board Specialist Lane, Deputy Police Chief Morales, Deputy Fire Chief Herlihy,
Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator McLellan, and Human Resources
Director McDade.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator
Michael McLellan.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Stokes requested a motion to approve the agenda.
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,
to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:
Yes: 4- Vice Mayor Emrich, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langdon and Mayor
Stokes
Absent: 1- Commissioner Petrow
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
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City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes July 3, 2025
3. WELCOME OF NEW EMPLOYEES:
A. 25-2435 Welcome New Employees
Mayor Stokes announced the item.
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.
Ms. McDade acknowledged new employees.
4. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. 25-2243 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 2025, as Parks and
Recreation Month, to be Presented to the City of North Port Parks and
Recreation Department.
Commission presented this proclamation.
B. 25-2288 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 31st, 2025, as
International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, to be Presented to the City of
North Port Parks and Recreation Department - Aquatics
Commission presented this proclamation.
C. 25-2362 Presentation of the Renewal of the City’s StormReady Certification, to
be Presented to the City of North Port Emergency Management
Division.
Commission presented this certificate.
D. 25-2401 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 1st Through July 7th,
2025, as National Made in the USA Week, to be Presented to the City of
North Economic Development Division.
Commission presented this proclamation.
E. 25-2402 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 2025, as National
Independent Retailer Month, to be Presented to the City of North Port
Economic Development Division.
Commission presented this proclamation.
F. 25-2403 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Tim Burquest in
Recognition of His Retirement From Journalism.
Commission presented this certificate.
G. 25-2404 Presentation of the National Association of Government Communicators
(NAGC) 2025 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Award for North Port
University to be Presented to the City of North Port Communications
Division.
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City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Minutes July 3, 2025
Commission presented this award.
H. 25-2436 Presentation of the 2025 Best Wellness Employer Gold Award to be
Presented to the City of North Port Human Resources Department.
Commission presented this award.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
6. ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m.
By: __________________________________________
Phil Stokes, Mayor
Attest: _________________________________________
Heather Faust, City Clerk
City of North Port Page 3 Printed on 7/23/2025
Agenda
4970 CITY HALL BLVD
City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286
Meeting Agenda
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 Golen, Interim City Attorney
Heather Faust, City Clerk
Thursday, July 3, 2025 4:00 PM 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. 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.)
3. WELCOME OF NEW EMPLOYEES:
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City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Agenda July 3, 2025
A. 25-2435 Welcome New Employees
4. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
A. 25-2243 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 2025, as Parks and
Recreation Month, to be Presented to the City of North Port Parks and
Recreation Department.
Attachments: Proclamation
B. 25-2288 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 31st, 2025, as
International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, to be Presented to the City of
North Port Parks and Recreation Department - Aquatics
Attachments: Proclamation
C. 25-2362 Presentation of the Renewal of the City’s StormReady Certification, to be
Presented to the City of North Port Emergency Management Division.
D. 25-2401 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 1st Through July 7th,
2025, as National Made in the USA Week, to be Presented to the City of
North Economic Development Division.
Attachments: Proclamation
E. 25-2402 Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming July 2025, as National
Independent Retailer Month, to be Presented to the City of North Port
Economic Development Division.
Attachments: Proclamation
F. 25-2403 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Tim Burquest in Recognition
of His Retirement From Journalism.
Attachments: Certificate
G. 25-2404 Presentation of the National Association of Government Communicators
(NAGC) 2025 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Award for North Port University
to be Presented to the City of North Port Communications Division.
H. 25-2436 Presentation of the 2025 Best Wellness Employer Gold Award to be
Presented to the City of North Port Human Resources Department.
5. 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.)
6. ADJOURNMENT:
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City Commission Regular Meeting Meeting Agenda July 3, 2025
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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