City Commission Workshop on 2025-07-23 10:00 AM - City Manager Proposed Budget Amended to add attachment "Budget Memorandums" to Item No. 25-2482.
Regular MeetingNorth Port, FL · July 23, 2025
Minutes
4970 CITY HALL BLVD
City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286
Meeting Minutes
City Commission Workshop
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
Wednesday, July 23, 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- Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, Commissioner Barbara Langdon, Commissioner David
Duval, Commissioner Demetrius Petrow and Mayor Philip Stokes
ALSO PRESENT
City Manager Fletcher, Interim City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Administrative
Service Specialist Lane, Police Chief Garrison, Fire Chief Titus, Grants Division Manager
Malingowski, Development Services Director Ray, Deputy City Manager Yarborough, and
Public Works Deputy Director Wisner.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Grants Division Manager Valerie Malingowski.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. 25-2482 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 City
Manager's Proposed Budget.
Mayor Stokes announced the item.
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including Commissioners
strategic pillars, annual budget process, June workshop actions, proposed budget key
factors, changes from June workshop, general fund, Human Resources Department,
budget summary, fund balance, Police Department, City Clerk ’s Office, City Commission,
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City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025
City Attorney’s Office, Information Technology Department, Non-Departmental, Parks and
Recreation Department, Social Services Division, Finance Department, City Manager ’s
Office, Development Services Department, Fire Rescue Department, Utilities Department,
Public Works Department, Road and Drainage Department, Fleet, Capital Improvement
Projects (CIP), and 5-year CIP overview.
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding budget memo changes,
additional funding to the Police department, surtax, revenue concern, annual cost to rent
trailers, personnel cost increase, homestead tax, personnel hiring freeze, move -in rates,
proposed new positions, Code Enforcement violations, revenue growth, cutting level of
services, Police personnel, commercial footprint, City growth, Florida Retirement Services
(FRS) increase adjustments, Police budget adjustments, fund balance balancing general
fund, Commission contingency reduction, travel expenses, reduction for the US 41 access
road, Tree fund revenues, payroll personnel, operating expenses, Warm Mineral Springs,
and Communication Division to Department.
There was consensus to support the City Manager creating an agenda item for
discussion regarding the transition of the Communications Division to a
Department.
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding 5-year CIP overview including
police headquarters, funding, round table possible citizen discussion, and Utilities capital
increase.
Recess was taken from 12:18 p.m. to 1:01 p.m.
There was no public comment.
B. 25-2530 Discussion and Possible Direction for the 10 Year Capital Improvement
Plan.
Mayor Stokes announced the item.
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and provided a presentation including 10-year Capital
improvement Plan (CIP) at a glance, priority ranking guidelines, summary of funding
status by priority, funding status and funding sources, and potential funding options.
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding Solid Waste Transfer Station
project, funding options, capital funds for projects accounted for, delayed project funding
increase, utilizing the funding methodology, implementing mobility fees, repurposing the
Mullen Center, unfunded training program, Emergency Operation Center (EOC) project,
Wellen Park building funding, and training complex for Police and Fire.
Consensus was requested to explore and draft an official proposal for sharing the Building
Training Program with the neighboring communities.
Recess was taken from 2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Mullen Center.
Consensus was requested to direct the City Manager to work with staff to identify the
most suitable purpose for the George Mullen Activity Center or other City -owned
properties, determining potential user groups, and developing a preliminary budget for
repurposing the Mullen Center or other properties.
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Mullen Center.
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City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes July 23, 2025
There was consensus to bring back, before the end of the calendar year, a
proposed path forward, including key milestones and timelines for establishing a
special district in East North Port to fund infrastructure improvements supporting
commercial and industrial development.
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding Price Blvd. Phase 2 and 3
funding, and Legacy trail.
There was no public comment.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
4. ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Stokes adjourned the meeting at 3:39 p.m.
By: ___________________________________________
Phil Stokes, Mayor
Attest: _________________________________________
Heather Faust, City Clerk
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Agenda
4970 CITY HALL BLVD
City of North Port NORTH PORT, FL 34286
Meeting Agenda
City Commission Workshop
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
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 10:00 AM City Commission Chambers
City Manager Proposed Budget
Amended to add attachment "Budget Memorandums" to Item No. 25-2482.
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:
City of North Port Page 1 Printed on 7/17/2025
City Commission Workshop Meeting Agenda July 23, 2025
A. 25-2482 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 City
Manager's Proposed Budget.
Attachments: Changes and Additional Budget Information
Capital Improvement Program
GovMax Worksheets
Budget Memorandums
B. 25-2530 Discussion and Possible Direction for the 10 Year Capital Improvement
Plan.
Attachments: 10 Year CIP Priorities and Funding Status by Categories
10 Year CIP Priorities and Funding Status by Projects
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.
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