launched this program. Uh we were the only one in the state that was actually teaching this milestone program. So do want to give a shout out to our Northport Rotary as well who sponsored this program here at the aquatic center and actually paid for a trainer to come in all the way from Nebraska where this
program originates there. We practice and we go through what's called milestones here. So as soon as the kids progress through the milestones, we can continue moving on through them. And at the end of it, it's a pretty awesome program. when they graduate is one of the final things that they do is they jump in fully clothed and they have to
turn over, roll over on their back, and actually be able to scream for help at that point in time. It's just an awesome segment program that leads right into our learn to swim program. So that way we can make sure we're keeping our kids safe in, on, and around the water.
Good afternoon everybody. Today is Thursday, September 18th, 2025. It is 5:01 p.m. We're in city chambers, and I call the city commission special meeting to order. Commissioners present, Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langden, Mayor Stokes, Vice Mayor
Emerich, and Commissioner Petro. There's a quarum present for the meeting. Also present, city manager Fletcher, interimm city attorney Golan, city clerk FA, board specialist Lindner, uh deputy uh deputy chief Morales, and um what do we
got? Deputy Chief Early Frankie, would you be kind enough to lead us in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Britney, >> looking for a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. >> Second. >> A motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Langden to approve the
agenda. Let's vote. And that passes 520. City Clerk, public comments. >> Deputy McDow. Good evening, commissioners. Health, safety, and welfare is a common phrase said by every commissioner and staff at one point or
another. During the FY202526 budget cycle, all you all of you said public safety is the primary role of the city. Based on the budget workshop documents, the fire department gained eight new employees and MPPPD saw no increases to their staffing levels. I applaud your desire to revisit the MPPPD
staffing every few months to determine if positions can be filled as money becomes available. Did you know there is approximately 100,000 available in this budget right now? Yes, right now. Two simple no votes would go a long way in showing the MPPPD and the community you are genuinely concerned about the lack
of additional staff that wasn't added to the MPPPD this year. After all, the priority is public safety, not creating a communications department or an IT department, which only increases the salary of one employee in each division. By no means am I discounting the great work they do for other departments and
for the citizens. As a matter of fact, I have repeatedly said they do a fantastic job. However, I couldn't imagine the IT manager or communications manager doing anything less than what they do now if they were to remain a division. The $100,000 could be used to hire another police officer or possibly two or three
additional support staff in the police department. Please vote no to creating two new departments. Show the citizens you mean it when you said public safety is the priority. Hannah Rose, I previously reached out by email regarding the new ordinance adopted in Putnham County, Florida, that
strengthens residency and activity restrictions for registered sexual offenders and predators. Unfortunately, I have not received a response from anyone within the city, not even a simple acknowledgement. I understand that our city is short staffed and behind schedule, but this is a matter that directly impacts the safety of our children and families. Putnham County's
ordinance expands protections beyond the minimum state requirements. It increases residency restrictions to 2,500 feet from schools, child care facilities, bus stops, parks, and playgrounds. Prevents clustering of offenders, limits their presence in multif family communities, increases accountability through updated
registration fees, and prohibits participation in Halloween and similar events that draw children. Violations are enforceable with real penalties. Importantly, Putnham County has already done the hard work of drafting and adopting this ordinance. Northport does not need to reinvent the wheel. Our leaders can use Putinham's ordinance as
a model, make adjustments as needed, and move quickly to enact it here. The framework already exists, saving valuable time and resources. I did have a conversation with Mr. Stokes, and while I believe he wants to help, I left with the impression that the responsibility to push this forward rests on residents rather than leadership. That is discouraging.
Citizens should not have to do the leg work of routing ordinances to legal or the city manager. We elect and trust our leaders to act decisively on matters or of public safety. Our community deserves the same protections already in place in Putnham County. I urge you to take immediate action and direct the
appropriate departments to review and draft a similar ordinance for our city. Please do not let this request go unanswered. Silence communicates indifference and indifference on this issue puts children at risk. In person, we have Valley Oleander. >> Thank you, Madam 41. My bad.
Uh good afternoon. I am Valdi Hollander. I come here in peace. I have a dignity. Stokes. I am instructing you to remove cap of my back. Learn English and obey the you.
country of Albania has adopted the world's first AI minister in attempt to combat corruption. A member of cabinet who is not present physically but has been created
virtually since current government employees cannot be trusted. But who write the codes control the software? Society has fallen to the point that robots are trusted more than
human beings. I don't concern to 2026 budget of 331 million. Since 21 2021 population grow by 12,877 equal to 15%.
Budget grew by 76%. IRS grew by 8%. Solid waste grew by 33%. Road and range grew by 67%. Under pledger per capita
tax per capita grew from 1283 to 35 85 55%. Is Fletcher manager or min mismanage mismanager? I bet employees loves him. Commissioner do you voted you said 100%
increase of your salary since 2021 Mr. Petro when stock asked you why you vote no answer because there is no concern from the people and ask him why you voted yes without
consent of the people. 2024 cast page eight of the 2000 PDF reads. At the close of this year 2024, the city government governmental funds reported combined ending 22
20 $220 million. Please explain why increases you voted are are necessary or not. Show me one benefit from all this
increases that benefits me. Is my life easier? >> Thank you, sir. >> Right. Moving on to public hearings. Got ordinance second readings. Ordinance
2025-26. Uh, city clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. >> Ordinance number 2025-26, an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, activating a communications department, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date.
>> Thank you, city manager. Your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is the uh second reading of this ordinance, which was requesting the change from a division to department for our communications team. Uh we do feel like we have made a valid point and statement
regarding the work that is provided agencywide for them. We do also recognize the last vote that we received uh for this item and we don't have any new information to add other than that the amount of this budget increase has been allowed for and would not provide
any other undue burden on the city or its citizens. Thank you sir. >> Thank you commissioners. anything to this item? We spent plenty of time talking about it the last time. Uh any public comment?
>> There is none. >> And I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. [Applause] >> I'll make it. I move to adopt ordinance number 2025-26 as presented.
>> Second. Got a motion by Commissioner Langden, seconded by Vice Mayor to adopt ordinance 2025-26 as presented. There's nothing more. Let us vote. And while there's three ascending votes
and two desenting votes, this requires a unanimous decision. So this motion fails. Moving on to ordinance number 2025-27.
Uh city clerk, if you'd read by title only, please. Ordinance number 2025-27, an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, activating an information technology department, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date.
>> You, city manager, your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item, similar to the last, is the request to convert our IT division to a department. Um, once again, this is a request that was put into our budget and allowed for not
asking for any extra funding to make the change that we believe is necessary. No, no new information other than that, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this? Seeing nothing. Any public comment?
>> And then I'll close this uh public hearing. request a motion. >> I'll make it. I move to adopt ordinance number 2025-27 as presented. >> Second. >> A motion by Commissioner Langden,
seconded by the vice mayor to adopt ordinance 2025-27 as presented. There's nothing more to it. Let us vote. And as with the prior motion, this has three ascending votes, two desenting
votes, requires a unanimous vote uh in the affirmative to pass. So this fails. Moving on to ordinance number 2025-24. Uh I need a motion to direct city clerk to reot. I'm
>> sorry. >> No motion at second meeting. It shouldn't have a motion on there. >> It does requires a motion to Okay. Don't need a motion. All right. Then if you'd be kind enough just to read by title only. >> Ordinance number 2025-24.
An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida adopting the advalorum mill rate and rolled back rate for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Section
2.01, the general municipal millage rate and tax levy for the city of Northport, Florida for the fiscal year is 3.7667 mills, which is 3.7667 per $1,000 of assessed property within the city. The millage rate is certified
to the property appraiser and the tax collector of Sarasota County, Florida to be levied for the city's general government operating and capital purposes for fiscal year. Section 2.02. The general municipal millage rate is 0.47% higher than the roll back rate of 3.7491
mills, which is 3.4791 per $1,000 of assessed property within the city. >> Thank you, ma'am. City manager, you want to introduce this item, sir? >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. here. Uh the fiscal year 202526 tenative budget is based on a 3.7667
advalor millage rate and this rate represents um three $3.767 per $1,000 of taxable value. The proposed mill rate is budgeted to generate $39,421,820 in general fund revenues at a 96.5
collection rate. The reason that the adorum tax revenues are increasing include personnel costs from 14 additional general fund positions and an increase in facility maintenance for deferred maintenance, a transfer to the renewal and replacement fund for future capital facilities needs, generator
improvements, and city share costs on fire station 83 and 84 roof replacements. Um during the city commission special meeting held on September 4th, 2025, the city commission unanimously continued ordinance number 2025 24 reading as presented. We ask
that you accept that today. We're happy to have any questions you might have to >> Thank you, sir. Commissioners, any comments, questions? Seeing none, any public comment? >> There is none. In which case, I'm closing this public hearing, requesting
a motion. >> I move to adopt ordinance number 2025-24 as presented. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Commissioner Duval, seconded by Commissioner Langden to adopt ordinance 2025-24 as presented. There's more to that. Let
us vote. And that passes 520. Um, moving on. Ordinance 2025-25. Uh, city clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. Ordinance number 2025-25, an ordinance of the city of Northport,
Florida, adopting the non-district budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026, adopting the capital improvement budget and program. Prescribing the terms, conditions, and provisions with respect to the items of appropriation and their payment, providing for
supplemental appropriations and reappropriations, providing for findings, providing for posting of the budgets, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, ma'am. the city manager, your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, this request is regarding the non-district budget and
capital improvement budget. Uh, we ask that you choose our new option one, which is to amend the ordinance number 2025-25 to exclude funding for budget proposals related to elevating the communications and information technology divisions to
departments. Happy to answer any questions, Mr. May. >> Thank you. Commissioners, anything to this item? Seeing nothing, any public comment? >> There is none. >> Then I'll close this public hearing and I'm
looking for a motion. >> I'll make it. I move to adopt ordinance number 2025-25 as presented. uh removing the elevation of communications and IT from divisions
to departments. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Commissioner Langden, seconded by the vice mayor to adopt ordinance number 2025-25 as presented accepting for the elevation of uh both IT and communications from
divisions to departments. There's nothing more to that. Let's vote. And that passes 421 with Commissioner Petruff dissenting. Commissioner. >> Thank you, mayor. I I do believe that
this budget is excessive as it relates to the proportion of the growth of our city and um as a board we were we requested $3 million in cuts by the direction of the mayor and uh I didn't see the actual cuts in the form of
actual cuts. So with that, I'm voting no on the budget. >> Righty. Moving on. Uh any general public comment? >> There is none.
>> That then uh it is 5:18 and I am adjourning this meeting. Go ahead. Afternoon. Today is Thursday, September 18th, 2025. It's 5:19 p.m. We are in the city chambers and I call the fire rescue
district governing body meeting to order. Commissioners present. Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langden, Mayor Stokes, Vice Mayor Emerich, Commissioner Pro Quum present for this meeting. Also present, city manager Fletcher interm city attorney Goolan, city clerk FA, board specialist
Lindner, uh, deputy chief Morales and Deputy Chief um, sorry, Deputy Chief. Um, need a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion by uh Commissioner Langden,
seconded by Commissioner Dval to approve the agenda. Let's vote. Uh and that passes 5 to zero. Uh we have any public comments? >> There is none. >> In which case, moving on, public hearings resolution number 2025-R57.
City clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. >> Resolution number 2025-R57, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida as the governing body of the Northport Fire Rescue District, adopting the final Northport Fire Rescue District budget
for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Prescribing the terms, conditions, and provisions with respect to the items of appropriation and their payments. Providing for supplemental appropriations and reappropriations. Providing for findings. providing for posting of the budget, providing for
conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, ma'am. City manager, your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The final budget for fiscal year 202526 for the Northport Fire Rescue District is 20,538,830,
which is a decrease of 2,583 $2,583,882 from the fiscal year 202425 amended budget. This represents a 9% increase to the district assessment rate over the prior year assessment rate. We ask that you adopt resolution number 2025-R57
as presented. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this item? Seeing nothing. uh public comment. >> Then I'll close this public hearing and request a motion.
>> I'll make it. I move to adopt resolution number 2025-R57 as presented. >> Second. >> Oops. >> Got a motion by Commissioner Langden, seconded by Commissioner Duval to adopt resolution 2025-R57
as presented. There's nothing more to it. Let us vote. And that passes 4 to one with Commissioner Petro desenting. Commissioner. >> Thank you, Mayor. I do support our fire department and fire rescue district um
but with the lesser increase of a rate. So with that, I'm voting no. Thank you very much. Um, any other public comment? >> There is none. And before I adjourn this
meeting, I I would just like to go on record as saying that um I don't believe there's anyone on this dis who uh who who who is happy about the need to raise rates or fees. Um we all feel them just
like every other citizen in the city and um and none of us are independently wealthy who sit here on this desk. So um you know I just want people to understand um for commissioners I personally believe that um our jobs are
more than just to ascent or descent on votes. It is also to provide direction and make decisions and uh we went through a lengthy ms worth of budget process to get to where we are today.
And I feel that um you know I support the budgets for these districts as well as the general budget because um I believe that after scrutiny review drilling down on these budgets um this
is the best we can do in order to keep up with the growth of this city. We feel the pain like everyone. No one wants increases, but at the same time, it's not, in my opinion, acceptable to simply descent or ascent
without some substantiation to your position. And um, you know, if someone can show me where we can cut these budgets dramatically and make an impact, I'm all ears. I'm willing to listen. But um, you know, I uh I feel
compelled to say this. We work very hard to utilize our citizens tax dollars as efficiently as we possibly can. And um you know yet costs go up and the city continues to grow and in order to continue to provide the high quality of
services that our citizens have come accustomed to and to provide the public safety that everybody expects it costs money. So with that um it's 5:25. I adjourn this meeting. [Music]
My good city clear. Today's Thursday, September 18th. It's 5:25 p.m. We're in city chambers. I call this road and drainage district governing body meeting to order. Commissioners present. Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langden, Mayor Stokes, Vice
Mayor EMR, and Commissioner Proquam present for this meeting. Also present, City Manager Fletcher, intern city attorney Goolan, city clerk FA, board specialist Lindner, Deputy Chief Surlehey, and Morales. Um, city clerk,
uh, or I'm sorry, we need a motion to approve the agenda, please. >> So moved. Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Langden to approve the agenda. Let's vote. And that passes 520. Any public comments? That is not
>> moving on the public hearings. Resolution 2025-R58. City clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. Resolution number 2025-R58, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida as the governing body of the Northport Road and
Drainage District, adopting the final Northport Road and Drainage District budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. prescribing the terms, conditions, and provisions with respect to the items of appropriation and their payment, providing for supplemental appropriations and reappropriations,
providing for findings, providing for posting of the budget, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, ma'am. City manager, your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The final budget for the Northport Road and Drayton district is $3,928,880
which is a decrease of 16,752,436 from the fiscal year 202425 amended budget. This represents a 15% increase to the Northport Road and drainage district assessment rate over the prior year assessment rate. We ask that you adopt resolution number
2025-R58 as presented. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this item? Seeing nothing. Any public comment? >> There is none. >> Then I'm closing this public hearing. Request a motion. >> I'll make that. I move to adopt
resolution number 2025-R58 as presented. >> Second. Got a motion by Commissioner Duval, seconded by Commissioner Langden to adopt resolution 2025-R58 as presented. Let us vote. That passes 4 to one. Commissioner Pro
desenting. Commissioner, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, I voted no not to show up or not to get attention, but I feel that the rate of the increase and the rate at we as we go increasing those rates on annual basis outpaces the
growth of the city um the inflation and so forth. I would be much more comfortable to see a rate increase half of that size. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Um any general public comments? >> There is none.
>> All righty. Then at this point, um it is 5:29 and I adjourn this meeting. Today is Thursday, September 18th, 2025. Hasn't changed since the last time. It is 5:29 p.m. We're in city chambers. And
I call the solid waste district governing body meeting to order. Commissioners present. Commissioner Duval, Mr. Langden, Mayor Stokes, Vice Mayor Emer, Commissioner Pro. There's a quorum present for the meeting. Also present, city manager Fletcher, interimm city attorney Goolan, city clerk FA,
board specialist Lindner, and deputy chiefs and Morales. I'm looking for a motion to approve the agenda. >> So moved. Second. >> Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Langden to approve the
agenda. Let's vote. >> And that passes 5 to zero. Any public comments? >> There is none. And >> then moving on to public hearings. 2025-R59. City clerk, if you'd read by title only, please. >> Resolution number 2025-R59.
A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, as the governing body of the Northport solid waste district, adopting the final solid waste district budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026, prescribing the terms, conditions, and provisions with respect to the items of appropriation
and their payment. Providing for supplemental appropriations and reappropriations, providing for findings, providing for posting of the budget, providing for conflicts, providing for separability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, ma'am. City manager, your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, the final budget
for fiscal year 2025-26 for the solid waste district is $20,521,800. This is an increase of 1,925,862 from the fiscal year 202425 amended budget. The assessment rate for
fiscal year 2526 will be $332.75 per residents, which is a 10% increase from the fisc year 2024 25 rate of $32.50. 50 cents. We ask that you adopt resolution number 2025-R59
as presented. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Uh, commissioners, anything to this item? >> Seeing nothing. Uh, any public comment? >> There is none. >> Then I'm going to uh close the public hearing and request a
motion. >> I'll make it. I move to adopt resolution number 2025-R59 as presented. >> Second. >> Thank you, sir. Got a motion by Commissioner Duval, seconded by the vice mayor to adopt resolution 2025-R59
as presented. Let's vote. And that passes 5 to zero. Any public comment? General public comment. Okay. at which time it is 5:32 and I adjourn this Hey,