--------- days go by and on that second day it rains again, you got to restart your 72 hours. We have to spend time of our water inside the system in order to clean it and in order to slow it down, otherwise we're going to end up washing out our neighbors below us. >> Absolutely. So tell us about what's happening here.
>> Right here we have a rather large uh blockage inside the system. This is clearly a um a legal dump of some sort uh a tree obviously and this will slow down the water. If we could see on the north side of it or north as in the upper part of the drainage way, it's
full of water. But when we look at our footage from down below, it's dry. So this is a huge point of collab collecting water. These systems really fail sometimes with like a a death by a thousand cuts. you get a um a sump here, a collapsed uh covert pipe, a blockage
like this, and it slowly adds up. >> That makes sense. So, if anybody out there is seeing issues like this or experiencing it in your neighborhood, you're welcome to report it um through our Northreport system, which is at northportfl.gov/northreport, or you can give the public works
customer service a call. In Northport, families are finding more and more places built just for them. We opened um this past June. We are an indoor play center for children ages 0 to 7. We do open play sessions, birthday
parties, special events, and classes here at the play center. For me, um you know, being a Northport resident, there was really not a whole lot in Northport for children um besides the local parks. So, it was super important for me to have something in the community to be
able to offer to families with young children. You want to have that option to be able to still get out of the house with the kids, get their energy out and not have to hike all the way up somewhere with traffic and you can just go to a spot near you and just make
those special memories that are close to home. >> Playtime Paradise isn't the only new spot making Playtime local. >> Do the Beach is a immersive indoor adventure park. We are primarily an inflatable based attraction. We have over 14 different ride attractions scattered throughout the park. With
growing young families pouring into Northport and growing the city, we just knew there was such a need for families to have an outlet and some some good entertainment, active entertainment for children. One of our core beliefs as a as a company is encouraging kids to get
involved in active and social play, getting them away from their screens and using their imaginations. From slides to inflatables, dance classes, birthday parties, Northport is growing and so are the options for young families right here at home. >> The community has welcomed us with open
arms. >> We are thrilled to be here. >> Shows families that there's a place for them um to grow as a young family in Northport. There's a place in Northport that invites you to slow down to see, hear,
and feel the world around you. Inside the Garden of Five Senses is Boundless Adventures, a playground where every child can play, no matter their abilities. Just beyond the playground, the story stroll turns a simple walk into an interactive adventure.
Each step reveals a new page or activity sparking imagination, curiosity, and conversation. It's a walk, a story, and an adventure all in one beautiful setting.
The Garden of Five Senses, Boundless Adventures, and the story stroll where every visit is a story waiting to be discovered. While you're watching me run away from this hurricane, you could be signing up for emergency alerts. Sign up at alertsacount.com
today. Welcome to the brand new Northport Podcast Network. We're so excited to introduce you to our revamped lineup of shows created to keep you connected, informed, and inspired about everything happening in our city. >> That's right. With three unique shows
under one network, there's something for everyone. >> First up is Northport. Now, Madison and I will rotate hosting this fast-paced news-driven podcast to bring you the latest city updates, event previews, and important information, all in one quick listen. >> Think of it as your weekly guide to
staying in the know about what's happening in Northport. >> Next, we have Northport Stories. Laura and I will share heartfelt and inspiring tales from around our community. Stories that showcase the people, places, and moments that make our city special. And
don't worry, Voices of Northport isn't going anywhere. I'll continue bringing you even more personal stories and interviews with residents who shaped our city. And last but not least, Northport Living. Cody and I will also rotate hosting this show, which is all about tips, events, and lifestyle ideas to
help you make the most of life right here in Northport. Whether you're looking for family-friendly activities, ways to get involved, or helpful home and garden tips, Northport Living has you covered. With breaking news, heartfelt stories, or practical tips, the Northport Podcast Network is your
go-to source for all things Northport. >> Make sure to subscribe to the Northport Podcast Network wherever you listen and join us as we celebrate and connect with our amazing community. >> Northport Now will be released bi-weekly. >> Northport Stories and Living will be monthly. A schedule will be available on
social media and our website. Hello everyone, Devon Pulis here, aquatics manager. Welcome to my crib. We have fun here at the crib. Programs included. Become a pass member. Play all year long. Hey, at the crib, we do have
rules. We take all payments here at the crib. Apple Pay, Mastercard, Visa, cash. You pay right here to enjoy the crib. So, enter through the gate. Childproof, most adult proof. Shade.
What's that? Our newly installed sun shade available for rent all season long. Here at my crib, you don't have to worry about a place to find a seat. We've added more chairs than ever here at the crib. If you're coming to enjoy the cribs and you got little ones, we got
the perfect area for them. Our Pelican playground, newly painted, fresh floor, fresh palm tree. It's looking clean. Looking for a place to work your upper body? Take a shot at here at our Stingray shuffle.
Looking to relax? I got you covered here with our lazy river. Living more on the adventurous side. Check out the slides right behind me. Newly painted. All offer something individual and unique. Check it out.
Check out the main pool kept at a wonderful 84 degrees all year long. I just want you to have a good time. We have safety covered. Lifeguards here, staff all day, every day when we're open
for you to enjoy. Concession is open. Pizza, pretzels, nachos, ice cream. We got it all. >> My crib is your crib. Looking forward to seeing you here.
>> Duty calls. Hello, my name is Jerome Fletcher, city manager of the city of Northport. I'm at the Northport Aquatic Center. I'm on the job today. Let's go. Morning Jesse. Good. Hey, sir. >> Nice to see you. >> All right. Thanks for having me today. >> Of course. Hey, we're going to go
through our opening checklist for this morning to make sure that the facility is safe and operational. >> All right, sounds good. Let me do it. Before anything else, the team walks the entire area to make sure everything is clean and in good shape. Our next part of our task is to make sure that our
body of water is one clear. The water must remain clean. We must identify any possible materials that shouldn't be in the water. Then it was time to check the surge tanks. >> As you can see, the glistening of the water down there. >> If the water is too deep and you hear a rushing of water, that means that this
needs to be filled before we can begin operations for this. >> Okay. >> It's part science, part intuition. At the Relax Achie River, Jesse showed me the digital checklist system, the Hydro app. As soon as I click yes on this checklist that let's say the water is clear and I do not identify that the
water is cloudy or any sense that yes goes directly to my manager and lets them know that at this exact time I checked that water to make sure it was safe and clear. >> This technology being used at its best job. >> Now our rotations we have evolved to having our lifeguards into a more of a
roving position >> with the competition pool. We still maintain the chairs for the height eligibility. Um, but here we have to have a minimum of five lifeguards just to run this body of water. >> Wow. >> And we actually have a lifeguard
positioned in our >> Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at 400 p.m. We are in the city chambers and I call the road and drainage district meeting to order. Commissioners present are Commissioner Dval, Commissioner Stokes, Mayor Em,
Vice Mayor Langden, and Commissioner Pro. There is a quorum present for this meeting. Also present are city manager Fletcher, city attorney Fino, deputy city clerk Powell, board specialist Linder, we have Captain Fussell in the
back, and fire chief Titus. I am requesting that all commissioners, public participants, and staff maintain order and decorum throughout this meeting. City Commission policy 2021-03 states that attendees shall refrain from
engaging in personal attacks and boisterous, immaterial, inflammatory, obscene, profane, or disorderly conduct. Additionally, meeting attendees must refrain from obscene, profane, and disorderly conduct, including clapping,
yelling, and similar demonstrations, all of which deserves disturbs the peace and good order of the meeting. Thank you. Going to call on Vice Mayor Disc. >> Thank you, sir. I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> You are welcome. >> I am looking for a motion to approve the
agenda. moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor Langden to approve the agenda. There's nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 5 to Z. City clerk,
public comment, please, sir. Tim Doyle. So, I want to kind of go back to what I was talking about at the last meeting. So, I requested some paperwork. Everybody's working on it. That's fine. But I had to go to pay for some of the documents that I got and I went down,
paid for them. No problem. And I found this sitting right at the counter there free of charge. It's beautiful. I'm not being facitious or anything. I love this. I'm glad we're spending money on stuff like
this. It was funny because when I opened it up, we went right to archery. I remember when I was a kid, that's what I learned at the park was one of the things I took was archery. Good book, very good quality. Someone
spend some time on this. That's what we should be spending our money on, not spying on individuals. My next comment about this book is free of charge. You used to have code books in this town.
One of you up there said you wanted to go to one of the HOA meetings to see what was going on. Years ago, I said in this room, some of you weren't here, but you can go back and look, that you should give your condo book at every
closing. Every realtor should hand out your condo laws. is you have condo laws. How long your grass is, how long's this, how long's this. Mr. Fletcher says he's going after that money for people who didn't pay him for the past 20 years.
Now, I don't know if they didn't pay you in 20 years, how he's going to get the money. The only way he can get the money if he's forclosed on the property, they haven't paid you, they ain't going to pay you. The only way for you to get it is take the house and sell it. He said he could come up with $2 to $3 million
that way. I was in this room. Am I hurting? So my problem is this is great. I support the parks. I support all the programs. I don't support the spying. I
don't support you spending $5,000 on spying on people who come to your events. That's what they said. It cost them $5,000 to find out over 600,000 people came to your events. We should have a code book. Anybody
should get it. If you want to charge me $3, $5 for the paper, fine. But you should have it accessible. You used to have it. This is free of charge. I don't I don't understand why you ditched it. Is that so someone like Mr.
Fletcher can send someone out, give someone a fine, and steal their house 20 years later? You can't have everything on the computer. We used to have the book. I want the book back. Take the $5,000 you spending on spying and get some code
books in this town. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Um, moving on to the consent agenda. City manager, any items been pulled? >> No, sir, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Um, do we have public comment on the consent agenda?
>> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. I'm going to request a motion. I move to approve the items in the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion on the floor made by Vice Mayor to approve the items in the consent agenda as presented. And that
was seconded by Commissioner Pro. There's nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 5 to zero. Moving on to public hearings. Resolution number 2026-R18. Deputy city clerk, can you read this by
title only, please? A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, as the governing body of the Northport Road and Drainage District, authorizing the purchase of real property located on Shorewood Street, described as lot 67, block 666 of the 17th edition to Port Charlotte
subdivision, parcel identification number 095806667, incorporating recital, providing for filing of documents, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you. Uh,
city manager, this is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Department of Public Works is seeking to purchase real property located along the Cosmic Waterway on Shorewood Street. Is currently owned by Joseph Kasaputo and Deborah Casaputo as
co-rustees of their revocable trust. This per this property, excuse me, property acquisition will provide permanent access for future inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation activities associated with the city's water conveyance systems. It was appraised in December at the value of
$21,000, and we have agreed, I'm sorry, the seller has agreed to sell the property to our road drainage district for $23,000. We ask that you approve option one which is approve resolution number 2026-R18 as presented authorizing the purchase of real property located on Shwood Street,
Northport, Florida 34288. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioners, questions, anything. I see nothing. Uh, city clerk, public comment. >> Tim Doyle. I guess if you need the party uh if you
need the property to get to the drainage and work on the drainage then you should get it. But my point is you got to be careful what you're spending. So you're paying 23 says 21. They know the town wants it or you need it. So you're going to have to pay a
little bit. Usually towns when they want something usually have to overpay. The taxpayers always get overcharged. There's so many different ways. It's not right, but we got to live with it. Huh?
So, if you need the property and it's available, then you should get it. But it takes another piece of property off the tax map. You're going to have less revenue. Foreclosures are all over the place down here. They're going up.
So, just make sure you know what you're doing with the money. That's another 23 grand gone. My question on the 23,000 is does that include closing costs? Who's paying for that? I don't see the contract. So that 23,000 could actually
go up. I've bought and sold plenty of property in my lifetime. Just because that's the price, that doesn't mean what you pay, tax stamps, everything else. I still think you have to pay tax stamps if you're paying for the property. It's not being donated.
So, I don't know what the final cost of the property is going to be, but it's probably not 23,000, but again, if we need it, that area of town, if I remember, flooded pretty bad over toward the highway over there. So, there might be some problems. So, if it's a life safety issue, you should do
it. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. Go ahead, sir. >> I move to adopt resolution number 2026-R18
as presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion on the floor to adopt resolution number 2026-R18 as presented by by Commissioner Dval and seconded by Vice Mayor Langden. There's
nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 5 to Z. City clerk, final public comment. >> Tim Doyle, >> I'm not off the parks ticket. People might have take me wrong on what I said at that meeting about the $5,000
and the geo fence and everything else, but it's 100% true. If you have a cell phone, you can't back out of that. Do you know why you can't take out of your cell phone battery anymore? >> Is if you take the battery out, they
can't track you. Even when your phone's off, they can track you. It has the battery in it. Th This is getting crazy. And you know, right now in the stock market, what companies are taking off?
All these tech companies. You know why? Because all of you guys are spending way too much money on these tech companies. And you're going to have to make a decision whether you want to pay people in jobs because I rather see people not a computer. And your programs that are
in this book, you guys are all talking about money, how it's running out, the fees are going up. You're wasting $5,000 on a geo fence to see who comes to your event. I mean, this is ridiculous. I'd rather
see the $5,000 go to the raises, add a program, help out the nonprofits. I don't want five grand going to a tech company somewhere in La La Land. And I want you to know when you put all this stuff together, they're selling
that information to other people. So these these tech companies would be out of business if they weren't spying on everybody and the government wasn't giving them money hand over fist. Parks money should stay in the parks. It should stay in the staff and it should
stay in the people who use it. It shouldn't be going to some LA company somewhere wants five grand to tell you you had 600,000 something people coming to your events. Wow, you got a big number. That's all you got out of that.
And if you gave gave you demographics, if they told you who was there, then that is definitely spying. All this stuff's is going through the court system right now. You are the government. The government should not be spending money
to spy on people. It's a fourth amendment violation. You guys could all be brought up on RICO charges. You, the parts department, and the company. You know why I say that? You're breaking the law
on all the spying, and you're using my money to do it. I'm tired of it. Put the money back in the parks. You got to give out raises. Put it back in the raises. Don't send it to the tech companies. You guys are going to have to make a decision real
soon. Tech or people. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. It's 4:13 and I adjourn this meeting. catch pool over there to help our guests that are coming out of the slides at a barracuda's tarp and twister.
>> I've seen that person there. Then Part: 2
hurricane, you could be signing up for emergency alerts. Sign up at alertsacount.com today. Welcome to the brand new Northport Podcast Network. We're so excited to introduce you to our revamped lineup of shows created to keep you connected,
informed, and inspired about everything happening in our city. >> That's right. With three unique shows under one network, there's something for everyone. >> First up is Northport. Now, Madison and I will rotate hosting this fast-paced news-driven podcast to bring you the latest city updates, event previews, and
important information, all in one quick listen. >> Think of it as your weekly guide to staying in the know about what's happening in Northport. >> Next, we have Northport Stories. Laura and I will share heartfelt and inspiring tales from around our community. Stories that showcase the people, places, and
moments that make our city special. And don't worry, Voices of Northport isn't going anywhere. I'll continue bringing you even more personal stories and interviews with residents who shaped our city. And last but not least, Northport Living. Cody and I will also rotate hosting this show, which is all about
tips, events, and lifestyle ideas to help you make the most of life right here in Northport. Whether you're looking for family-friendly activities, ways to get involved, or helpful home and garden tips, Northport Living has you covered. >> With breaking news, heartfelt stories,
or practical tips, the Northport Podcast Network is your go-to source for all things Northport. >> Make sure to subscribe to the Northport Podcast Network wherever you listen, and join us as we celebrate and connect with our amazing community. >> Northport Now will be released bi-weekly.
>> Northport Stories and Living will be monthly. A schedule will be available on social media and our website. Hello everyone, Devon Pulis here, aquatics manager. Welcome to my crib. We have fun here at the crib. Programs
included. Become a pass member. Play all year long. Hey, at the crib. We do have rules. We take all payments here at the crib. Apple Pay, Mastercard, Visa, cash. You pay right here to enjoy the crib. So, enter through the gate. Childp
proof, most adult proof. Shade. What's that? Our newly installed sun shade available for rent all season long. Here at my crib, you don't have to worry about a place to find a seat. We've added more chairs than ever here at the
crib. If you're coming to enjoy the cribs and you got little ones, we got the perfect area for them. Our Pelican playground, newly painted, fresh floor, fresh palm tree. It's looking clean. Looking for a place to work your upper
body? Take a shot at here at our Stingray shuffle. Looking to relax? I got you covered here with our lazy river. Living more on the adventurous side. Check out the slides right behind me. Newly painted. All offer something
individual and unique. Check it out. Check out the main pool kept at a wonderful 84 degrees all year long. I just want you to have a good time. We have safety covered. Lifeguards here,
staff all day, every day when we're open for you to enjoy. Concession is open. Pizza, pretzels, nachos, ice cream. We got it all. >> My crib is your crib. Looking forward to
seeing you here. >> Duty calls. Hello, my name is Jerome Fletcher, city manager of the city of Northport. I'm at the Northport Aquatic Center. I'm on the job today. Let's go. Morning
J. Good, sir. >> Nice to see you. Thanks for having me today. >> Of course. Hey, we're going to go through our opening checklist for this morning to make sure that the facility is safe and operational. >> All right, sounds good. Let's do it. Before anything else, the team walks the entire area to make sure everything is
clean and in good shape. Our next part of our task is to make sure that our body of water is one clear. The water must remain clean. We must identify any possible materials that shouldn't be in the water. Then it was time to check the surge tanks. >> As you can see, the glistening of the
water down there. If the water is too deep and you hear a rushing of water, that means that this needs to be filled before we can begin operations for this. >> Okay. >> It's part science, part intuition. At the Relaxahhatchee River, Jesse showed me the digital checklist system, the hydro app. As soon as I click yes on
this checklist that let's say the water is clear and I do not identify that the water is cloudy or any sense that yes goes directly to my manager and lets them know that at this exact time I checked that water to make sure it was safe and clear. >> This technology being used at its best job.
>> Now our rotations we have evolved to having our lifeguards into a more of a roving position. >> With the competition pool we still maintain the chairs for the height eligibility. Um, but here we have to have a minimum of five lifeguards just to run this body of water.
>> Wow. >> Evening. Today is Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. We're in the city chambers, and I call this city commission regular meeting to order. Commissioners present are Commissioner Dval, Commissioner Stokes, Mayor Emerich, Vice Mayor Langden, and
Commissioner Pro. There is a quorum present for this meeting. Also present are city manager Fletcher, city attorney Felino, deputy city clerk Powell, board specialist Lindner, police chief Garrison, and fire chief Titus are in
the back. I am requesting that all commissioners, public participants, and staff maintain order and decorum throughout this meeting. City Commission policy 2021-03 states that attendees shall refrain from
engaging in personal tax, boisterous, immaterial, inflammatory, obscene, profane, or disorderly conduct. Additionally, meeting attendees must refrain from obscene, profane, and disorderly conduct, including hand
clapping, yelling, and similar demonstrations. All of which deserves the peace and good order of this meeting. Thank you. I'm going to call on Commissioner Stokes to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the for one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, sir. Need a motion to approve the agenda. So move. >> Second.
>> Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stubs to approve the agenda. That was seconded by Vice Mayor. There's nothing to that. Please vote. That passes 5 to Z. City clerk, public comment. Sure. So we'll start out with e
comments. Uh Stephanie Gibson on or around April 24th, Mayor Pete Emmerich posted on his personal Facebook page a vile statement that directly targeted critics and participants in community discussion groups, specifically Northport city concerns. He referred to them as part of the See You Next Tuesday
Sisters Club, a crude, derogatory, and misogynistic euphemism for the C-word. He went on accusing concerned residents of having the mentality of a 12-year-old, bullying, lying, or being downright pos. Many of our group members see this at as aimed at residents who
raise legitimate concerns about city operations, transparency, water billing, development decisions, and accountability. The real divide and hatefulness in our community is coming from city hall, not from residents exercising our first amendment rights. We have seen this pattern before. Poster
Gate, where city resources and conduct were called into question without meaningful accountability. We witnessed Commissioner Stokes cussing and crinkling papers to drown out Commissioner Pro during a recent meeting with the mayor struggling to maintain order. Now we have the ceremonial mayor
publicly labeling constituents with this vulgar slur simply for daring to speak out. We are entitled to hold and pursue our political views even if they don't align with city hall. Public officials swear an oath to serve impartially, not to insult and silence those they disagree with. Using vulgar, gendered
insults in response to constituent feedback undermines participation and proves exactly why residents feel city hall has become toxic. Northport needs less gaslighting and more leaders who model the maturity, fairness, and accountability they demand from the community.
>> I'd like to respond to that, city clerk. >> Okay. This public comment is a typical Ms. Gibson narrative for posts on Northport city concerns which she is an administrator. Now for the facts.
It was a generalized post on my private page. I did not share it to her page or mention that page specifically or any members of that group. It was a post entitled, "How to become a
keyboard warrior." An example, it is simply satire. It was a 10-step plan showing how to achieve that goal. Someone posted it on that site hoping to
achieve their main directive, the ultimate gotcha moment. I'm guessing Miss Gibson after reading it realized she was checking multiple boxes throughout that post and became triggered. Could be a lot of that group
did as well. Miss Gibson preaches gaslighting comes from city hall. How? By informing citizens the facts and truth about upcoming situations and policies. Just go to that site and judge for
yourself. Just look how much hate, name calling, misinformation, gaslighting, bullying against one person who is currently running for city commission district 4, my wife Elaine Alen Emer,
and it is repeatedly allowed by the admins Stephanie Gibson and Debbie McDow. Group rules straight from their page. Number one, be kind and courteous.
Number two, no hate speech or bullying. Bullying of any kind is allowed. Is not allowed. Hateful comments towards one another will not be tolerated. I guess it's allowed and encouraged when
it fits the admin's narrative because they chime right into the conversations, never reprimanding anything that is being posted. So, I guess I am not entitled to the same first amendment rights that they claim to have as well.
Thank you. Go on, city clerk. >> Okay. Uh, next one is Cheryl Cook. I appreciate the chair's reminder regarding the quorum and commission policy 2021-03, particularly the prohibition against personal attacks, inflammatory remarks,
and disorderly conduct. Earlier this year, a public commenter used this form to make false and defamatory statements about me personally. Those remarks relied in part on media reporting containing inaccurate claims that can be disproven through official city meeting videos and public records. My concern is
not about disagreement or criticism. Public participation is important and should remain protected. However, the city's standards of civility and decorum should be applied consistently to everyone participating in these meetings. I am also concerned by the statement that rather than using public
records request, individuals need to attend meetings to know what is happening. Public access to government information should not depend solely on physical attendance. Residents may rely on public records, remote access, or accommodations in order to participate fully in civic affairs.
The city of Northport's human rights commitments and public conduct standards should ensure that all residents are treated fairly and respectfully during public proceedings. I respectfully ask the commission to apply policy 2021-03 consistently regardless of who is speaking or who is being discussed and
to ensure that public participation remains accessible, factual, and respectful for all residents. Next one is from AV. As anonymous Northport resident and taxpayer formally complain about a toxic unprofessional environment at city hall,
certain elected officials and hired staff exhibit a spiraling pattern of behavior that must be addressed before anything else. Double standards on decorum. Officials rigidly enforce decorum rules and profanity bans on citizens while violating them themselves. The mayor and commissioners
have used profanities during meetings, holding citizens to a higher standard than leadership. City manager's conduct. The city manager showed no remorse for failing to display the US flag per the US flag code, prioritizing a foreign flag instead. He reportedly treats his
temporary office as personal domain rather than public property. Citizens raising these issues faced ve threats of counter lawsuits, chilling free speech, intimidation, retaliation. Commissioner Stokes and Langden, Mayor Pete Emmerich
and his wife Ela Emir have engaged in or encouraged intimidation. They leverage online groups to foster harassment, doxing, fake accounts, bullying, and disinformation to silence critics. Labeling residents as haters, including a crude see you next Tuesday haters club
reference const uh constitutes a direct attempt to discredit and isolate constitutes raising serious civil rights concerns. specific incidents and government failures. Commissioner Stokes used profane language toward Commissioner Pro during public meetings,
sharing public records of these events triggered character assassination. Furthermore, sending unsolicited mandatory water connection letters to hundreds of property owners without proper commission approval, demonstrates a lack of transparency, and suggest taxation without representation. Order
an independent investigation into these allegations of hostility and misuse of authority. Provide a written response outlining actions to restore professionalism and respect for the flag code. Northport deserves integrity, not bullying. Cove cough fifi vers coffee
gate. Next one is David regarding the conversation easement at War Mineral Springs. I'm writing in support of the original plan voted for on September 10th, 2024, unanimously approved by all commissioners. I'm not
sure why time and time again when we get close to doing the right thing at Warm Mineral Springs, someone's decides to do the wrong thing. Before the city and the county jointly purchased Warm Mineral Springs, it had a great restaurant on site in a spa. The point is these amenities existed in the existing
footprint. The conservation easement will allow for new non-destructive recreational activities as well. Please do not derail the plan which was voted for unanimously by commission on September 10th, 2024. Do not alter the 60 60 acres of conservation easement.
Next one is concerned resident. Hello commission board. I'm a concerned longtime resident of our city. I just want to put on a spot Commissioner Phil Stokes who clearly stated that the board should not be reaching into citizens pockets at the last special meeting. Yet a few minutes later he proposed to create a special parks and recck
district. What a contradiction. Same commissioner Phil Stokes said that the city only retains 25 cents on the dollar and the rest goes to the county and Sarasota County School District. Whether adorum or not at Delorum, those are the taxes/fees
we the citizens pay to the city. And to say that only 25 cents is retained by the city of Northport is completely inaccurate and false. about 50 cents of my taxes, whether advalorum or not, advalorum is retained by the city. That's the fact. Whatever you call it, fees, district fees or tax, around 50
cents stays in the city. So, let's be clear about that. Same commissioner never apologized to Commissioner Pro when Commissioner Stokes kept interrupting Commissioner Pro showing his tantrum and swearing. I appreciate Commissioner Pro asking simple questions publicly so we can learn and be aware of
what goes on in the city. The board has to realize that we, the public, do not attend your one-on-one meetings. So, we only learn and stay informed by watching and attending the meetings. Commissioner Langden has to realize that that as well. And I bet she didn't have the answers to the same questions Pro was
asking the city manager. The city manager couldn't even answer them all on the spot. So, yes, we need you commissioners ask staff and city managers questions publicly. Commissioner Stoke suggested that pro needs to hold town halls to inform his constituents. And yes, that would be a
good idea with the exception of what do you get paid for then if you interrupt each other and not allow each other ask questions at public meetings such as this. This is what you are being paid for. You are the board represent the people.
Okay. Next one is from Elaine Emerich. commissioners. Prior to Facebook, when one ran for office, critics attended forums and asked if candidates read the budget, prepared for meetings, and could make cuts. It's totally different now. If a select group doesn't want you in, they call you a scumbag, demonic, a dirt
bag, a pot stirer, and a liar. Even if they've never met you, they spread misinformation, rumors, and mischaracterizations of anything you've done to help others. They put my water bill account number online as a gotcha moment without ever having a conversation with me about an old online
billing system glitch. It's done as freedom of speech, which has nothing to do with the difference in opinions over issues. They make the candidate the issue and confuse their right to criticize one's job performance and voting record with personal attacks, which can lead to violence. There's no
room for issues when they have pitchfors and insights incite people into a frenzy. Then they get defensive when called out and say they are concerned citizens. They call anyone who defends the truth of bootlicker. I don't condone bad behavior from anyone. These relentless online attacks show those
considering running that they must endure character assassinations without any competent evidence. Many say that the personal attacks aren't worth it. The city doesn't allow them. Facebook administrators shouldn't either. It's their job to follow the platform's rules. When ignored, it sends a message
of how harmful it is to run for office to those who just want a fair chance to make a difference. On Sunday, a woman woman called me. She was crying. She said, "Ela, why do Northport City Concerns page administrators allow someone with a fake profile to call you demonic? Why will they allow such an
untruthful madeup post?" She asked how the administrator of that page plans on having an unbiased candidate form in July if she participates in these posts. I thanked her. We prayed and I said my motto is to give to others until it hurts and then give some more. It hurts.
Okay, that is all for e comments. Now in person we have Debbie Blackwell. How in the world are you? Discover the warm mineral springs of neighborly Northport, Florida. With commitment to the conservation of the real Florida's natural beauty, the Warm
Mineral Springs Wellness Park offers an incredible bird watching experience on our 60 acres of natural Florida landscape gardens. Take a relaxing soak in the only geothermally heated warm spring in Florida. The water temperature is a constant 85°
filled with 51 minerals for your body to absorb. I think you all need to go there. Relax in a yoga session surrounded by songs of nature. Wind down with a lavish relaxing massage at the onsite spa after a long ride on your bike on the famous Florida Legacy Trail
that is connected to the park. A deliciously Florida dining experience awaits in the warm Mineral Springs Cracker Cafe. A Florida cowboy burger. A grilled grouper sandwich. Chocolatecovered Florida strawberries. Freshly squeezed flora orange juice and
a key lime pie cookie, the state cookie. Take an unforgettable warm spring glamping overnight stargazing experience from one of our six seminal chicky huts. The warm mineral springs ecoourism therapy and Florida history destinations
only 30 minutes from Punagorta airport, three miles from the Maka River and Maka State Forest in neighborly Northport, Florida. On another note, sometimes less is more, which is the case at the warm mineral
springs. 15 acres is more than enough to create a nest quality ecoourism destination, not 20 acres. horsing around triple crowns just been and the Kentucky Derby the PNness races.
I think of our fantastical team in the parks and recreation department. Opening the starting gates and let them out to run in the race to come from behind in the creation of this ecoourism destination. Give them the tools they need like sharing the bush hogs to push
back the non-natives surrounding the healing waters. Stop lolly gagging. And remember to treat others the way you want to be treated by them. Good night and good luck. >> Robin Samante.
>> Good evening all. I'm going to read because I don't want my passion to get the best of me. You all know how I feel about Warm Mineral Springs. Uh, so I'm looking at the um options that are going to be presented
to you tonight and I'm wondering where is the original 2019 master plan in all of this which was fully vetted. The September 10th meeting there were
motions made as far as getting a Selby Gardens. But as I'm looking at all of the motion, the key words are to explore the possibility and identify. Okay, that's not shall or must. That's to look
at it and see how what we're trying to do fit in with the original master plan. At the May 27th 25 meeting, uh it was decided that instead of the 12 acres, we were going to increase it to 20 acres.
Now, it keeps looking that we're all continuing to try to carve into Warm Mineral Springs, and I understand the discussions that were had as far as carving out an area so you can do your little commercial activities there. However,
in the attachments to this particular meeting, that original master plan should have been there for comparison's sake because on the original master plan, the carveout area on option two, which is 15 acres actually is where the
parking lot, the overflow was going to go, the event, and the market area was going to go. And we discussed food trucks and everything to have in that area. So, I'm wondering what is it being carved out for when the plan 2019 plan
specifically states that's where the parking lot and the overflow is going. So, in the exclusionary areas, I'm going to first ask why. Number one, we're being presented with two options when we only wanted to do 20. If we look at
option A, you can forget about it because in no way is that going to represent the adopted 2019 final master plan. and its components that are set forth in that plan. It's totally unacceptable to the citizens rate. Additionally, it looks like half of the
area is colorcoded as conservation, which it can't be if it's clearly defined as exclusionary. Should this area be included as a color blue? Definitely not two because it doesn't make sense. Option B is a better
representation of the adopted 2019 final master plan as it relates to the parking event plaza and market area. However, again, it is colorcoded wrong because it's got two colors. Uh in both of these options, you have to consider again the 2019 final master
plan, which clearly defines the parking area along with event plaza market area that is located within the delineated exclusion area. regarding identifying a section. My time is up. Oh, my time's up. Okay, ma'am. I'll come back again.
>> We got the we got the item coming up later. So, you >> Yeah, I know. Thank you, >> Joseph Majorino. >> Joseph Majorino, 2747 Rebel Lane. Here's the problem, Pete. You want everybody to be nice to you. Your wife just said blank bag. Wait a second. Your wife just
said blank bag, did she not? Yes. Okay. But that was okay. Now you want look at her comment. You better look at her comment. Okay. So now here's another thing. >> Your buddy, and I'm going to say your buddy cuz he told me he is. Dan Rawlings. Had a conversation with him. He doesn't like this shirt. He says I'm
racist because we have a black city manager. He came after me. Then when we we we told him that we have six African-Ameans in our family, he tripped over his tongue. He also told me that we're two trucks coming at each other and I better stop cuz there's a lot of money up there. Is that a threat?
Because go ahead, let him threaten me. I don't care. You want to know what? I don't care. You think I'm aligning? I I I I heard I heard I'm sitting there. I'm aligning with these people online. I haven't talked to Stephanie Stephanie Gibson in 5 years. But you want to know what? You're an electedu official. She
runs a site. There's the difference right there. Elected officials are expected to be above. You're your own worst enemy. You You got that boot in your mouth. You keep shoving it further and further down. I I don't understand why I just shut up if I were you. It you
years past where where your regular page was fair game. It was all public record. You think it's And I asked him and he said your your see you next Tuesday comment. Ah, what do you care? He's only got 6 months left. You had a motorcycle accident. He had a six-way bypass.
Didn't you have your come to Jesus moment? Didn't you think that sometime maybe somebody gave you a second chance and you're wasting it? You didn't think about that. You just care about you and your pocket. And you want to know why everybody's cl claming on your wife? Well, you know, she can't. She tells
one, says one thing, when she gets caught, she switches. Then she switches again. It's the same old same old. People want change. I'm glad that there's somebody running against Mr. Stokes now. That's actually somebody who has experience. I'm glad, you know, and it's true. The bullying is absolutely
true. Another resident that supposedly is a fake. I want to see it. Has an email from him apparently that that he's going to sue her for defamation. I don't know if it's true. Let me see that one and we'll see what happens. This is ridiculous. This is a ridiculous. This
is a joke. You You should You should start actually respecting residence. I'm sorry. Disgusting. Valdi Oleander. >> Good evening. I am Valdi Hollander. I come here in peace and I am not a
criminal and I have a dignity and my dignity is not to anyone to interpret. I am instructing you to remove policeman off my back. Remove this threat.
Move him 90° here. He likes my bald spot. Stop bullying. Obey you all. Still I see no authority for each agenda.
You have a attorney office nine people working there. He's so busy. Notebook charter preamble reads it is the electorate community and voters plan
of the municipal government. Not the manager, not the attorney, not you, not the city employee. Read it. On April 21st, 20 2026, manager asked
Dubal how Dub pay for improvements on facility. Duval didn't know to you all visit page five or 19 and PDF of the 2024 CF which is comprehensive
annual financial report there is a balance of 20 220 million700,618 if you don't know what it means called molden and Jenkins LSC LLC
who do the audits of financing for the city of NPO or any CPA to verify what I just said. Money called capital flows around the world all the time seeking investments
to benefit us all like people in the government here. Capital must come from outside. If you b tax people here for new projects, stackflation will occur. Stackflation is when the growth is stall
while cost of living rises. You give an attorney if we know $5,000. He can even understand borrowing powers. Why you give us this money? Why there is no updates on employee day salary? Does information technology
didn't get paid >> Tim do I received this paper under Freedom of Information Act. It's the MOA orou with flock cameras. Every time I go to church, you are following me. Now, let's
look at this contract you have with Flock. Agency's desires to access Flock technology performed by Flock Safety Dashboard for investigating purposes in order to view search photos and videos
recorded recorded by Flock with my money on your property which are stored for no longer than 30 days. usualize software blah blah blah. They store their stuff at Amazon cloud. They may rec get rid of it after 30
days. It never disappear because it's in Amazon cloud. So this contract is BS. Ownership. Okay. Ownership. I'm paying for the cameras. ownership as between the parties subject to the
rights granted by thisou flock and its license retain all right title and interest in and to flock services and its components and any recordings or data blah blah blah blah.
Then it goes agency further further acknowledges that flock retains the right to use the foregoing for any purpose in Flock's sole discretion. There are no implied rights. You are recording everybody in this
city. You are paying for it. Flock is recording it. They are selling our information, selling our license plates, selling our pictures. They are an Amazon cloud. This this I'm telling you, you're going to get more letters on this and your lawyer
better start reading up because I'm telling you right now, I'm going to want this information. And under the law, this has already been in court. The towns have to turn it over. Anybody who files a Freedom Information Act on those
cameras, you have to turn it over. According to this contract, you can't do it. And in the cities that people took it to court, you know what the cities did? They got rid of the flock cameras. Is it is spying 100%. You are spying
through your parts department. You're spying on the corners of this city. And this is BS. And the American people are getting mad. And Brett Bear is on the news. Well, I'm in China. Look at all these cameras. I got a parking ticket in one minute. What are you doing? I got
more PAPERS RIGHT THERE. I ONLY got 3 minutes, so I don't know how many meetings going to take me to get through this documentation. But I'm telling you, everybody in this city better learn about these block cameras and what these people are doing to us. Spying us at the parks, spying us on the street, spying
us going to church. Talk English. Yeah. Good evening. I hope you're having a blessed one. I'm going to start with the easy part. Warm mineral springs.
There has been individuals dedicated to that 2019 plan from day one. your vote on the 24th, right, was a solid vote
to adhere to that plan. I simply asked you to do one thing. Follow the plan, please. Right. Uh Debbie said she the 15 acres is good.
You know, let you know. Okay, now that was the easy one. Oh, and Miss Vincent, she's given you the road map to where you should be going. As she has done on
many occasions, she stands up here and puts forth solutions. Okay? Please understand that not everybody is not putting forth solutions. It's
whether they they're accepted or not. Okay. Now, social media, I am an avid, well, actually, I only spend probably
two hours, maybe three hours on my phone viewing that stuff where other people spend all day. All right? And I try to filter out the superolous bivvine feces that's involved in it and
seek out what the concern is. And in every conversation, if you're willing to separate the rhetoric from the concern, you may find a solution.
And Pete, you know, okay, I've known you and Elaine for a very long time. You all better get rid of the animosity and start sitting down with some of these people that are trying to give you
solutions and talk to each other just like I've chatted with probably a lot of you over coffee at Panera. Thank you. Oh, blessed evening. That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you.
>> Moving on to announcements. City clerk. The current vacancies for the following boards and committees include art advisory board, auditor selection committee, charter review advisory board, citizen tax oversight committee, community economic development advisory board, debt management committee,
environmental advisory board, historic and cultural advisory board, joint management advisory board, police officers pension trust fund board of trustees, parks and recreation advisory board, planning and zoning advisory board. One resident of Northport to serve on the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization
Citizen Advisory Committee. One resident of Northport to serve on the Citizens Oversight Committee for School Facility Planning. If anyone would like more information, please see the city clerk's office. Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to the consent agenda. U city manager, any items been
pulled? >> Yes, sir. Well, Mr. here. Item E 26-0607. All right. Uh any public comment on consent, sir? >> Uh Tim Doyle, >> there's several things. There's a couple
topics I want to talk about. You got the fuel gas charge. I think I think we are on it already. But you got two of them on here to vote for five or six cents. Like I said, you're going to need money if they get rid of property tax. So, I'm not going to sit here and and uh
ridicule you for putting a tax on the gas. I think you should because that's a more fair tax. But I do have a problem with the gas tax. All these electric cars are driving around this city. I have to pay a tax and that goes, you know, my state, my federal gas tax. And
these gas tax goes fix roads and these electric cars aren't paying anything to fix the roads. How much was it the last time it cost you to fix the roads in this city? You guys way over spent. So five and 6 cents. I don't know which one you're going to go with, but uh I don't
know why the electric cars aren't being charged. The other thing on here is finally someone noticed that Northport's the most populated city in this county because on the because on the uh tax we're getting what
19.748 and Sarasota is only getting 11. How come we get nothing else from the county? They spend all their money down in Sarasota down there. They don't spend anything here. I want you to make sure you get every single penny from that
county. is this county is ripping us off blind. We're the highest populated state I mean in uh highest populated city in the county and we do not get our justice from the county whatsoever.
Now here on I approval award for the bid for new guns for the police department. I'm not going to say anything on that. They need the guns. They're trading in the old ones are getting new ones. That's fine. My problem with it is I don't see any shotguns.
Who's going to shoot down the drones with a lock? You need a shotgun. And I'm not worried about Cuba. I'm worried about the other people we blew up that are in this country. 10 million of them. We don't have any sirens to let us know
the drones are coming, do we? I've been preaching about that for whatever. I think every police vehicle should have at least a shotgun in there. a good one. And they should be well trained on how to shoot it. They should have birdshot try to take down these
drones. A slug won't work. This is the new world we live in. We got Scott, we got Trump blowing up all the countries all around the world. Every day you hear your texts on social media, they said this and that. That makes me
less safe. I'm sorry. I want to see shotguns in every single car. That is all, Mr. R. >> Thank you. All right. I'm going to request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> I move to approve the items in the
consent agenda with item E26-0607 being pulled for discussion. >> Have a motion on the floor made by vice mayor to approve the consent agenda pulling item E26-0607 for discussion. That was made by the vice mayor and
seconded by Commissioner Stokes. If there's nothing to that, please vote. >> That passes 5 to zero. City manager, who pulled item E for discussion? >> I did, >> but because it was pulled for discussion.
Uh, I I would um leave it to the city manager to determine what the timeline would look like or what if you need a motion for further direction on it. The item >> I'm not sure I can return that.
>> I'm not worried about a timeline. I'm just worried about do you need a motion to bring it back or you're just going to bring it back? >> No, we don't need a motion to bring it back. >> All right, that's all I needed. Thank you. >> Moving on. General business
item number 26-0665. City manager, this is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item is discussion and possible action regarding the revised general terms and selection of a parcel map option to facilitate development of a conservation easement between the city of Northport and Big
Waters Land Trust Incorporated for a portion of the Warm Middle Springs Park property located at 122000 San Condo Avenue in Northport, Florida 34287. I will turn it over to parks and reps director, Miss Sandy Funhiller, for introduction.
>> Thank you. For the record, Sandy Funheller, parks and recreation director. So during the May 27th, 2025, just about a year ago um commission meetings, we presented a draft general terms document to support the development of a conservation easement
on property located at Warm Mineral Springs Park. In conjunction and in response to prior commission direction, a 12 acre exclusion area was proposed to be removed from the conservation easement to support the future trail head, pedestrian bridge, and a 10,000
square ft building site to support a holistic health center. While commission generally supported the terms document, there were questions related to funding for in invasive species removal and direction was given to increase the exclusion area to 20
acres. Over the past year, city staff and representatives from Big Waters Land Trust and GF Coast Community Foundation have worked together to identify funding for the invasive species removal and with the appro with within the proposed conservation easement and determine the
best approach for configuration of a 20 acre exclusion area as reflected in the updated general terms document that is attached to this item. $115,000 in coastal and heartland natural estuary partnership funding has been identified
for year one of the invasive species removal with an additional 50,000 coming from GF Coast Community Foundation to support year two and three provided there is agreement with the updated general terms document staff will incorporate this into a draft
conservation easement and submit for legal review. Also included for review today is a parcel map option A showing a 20acre exclusion area and parcel map option B showing an alternative 15 acre exclusion area. The alternative 15 acre
exclusion area is being recommended to reduce the impact to high value ecological areas and avoid documented archaeological occurrences that are on the site. Staff are seeking approval of the revised exclusion area, either the 15 or the 20, to confirm agreement on its
specific location within the property prior to proceeding with the formal lot split survey that will be required. Um, I have uh graphics that you can look at. Um, the original uh 12 acre carveout that was proposed, the option A that's
in your packet, and the option B that's the 15 acres. Um and the the colored shading on here is showing the zoning of those areas. Um we do have representatives from Big Waters Land Trust and GF Coast Community Foundation here um that are ready to
speak to the item as well as myself and staff from development services. With that, I can answer questions. >> I got one real quick before I open it up to the other commissioners. On this car for the trail head, how many acres is that?
the the total the trail head would be within the carveout. So whether you go with the 15 or 20 do you need for the trail head Sturgis, assistant director of parks and recreation. So the trail head restroom itself 1,600 ft² and the parking
associated with that is about 3,000 ft². So it works out to less than 2 acres. >> Okay. Less than 2 acres. So if we settled at 15 acres, then it's still 13 acres taking out the two acres. That's I just wanted that math. That's all. >> Thanks.
>> Okay. Commissioners Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh Sandy mentioned uh meeting and there was a a change from the 12 acre cut out to 20 acres. Uh the the vote on
that was 4 to one and I believe that I was I was the one and the reason I voted no was I didn't agree with increasing that cutoff. Since then, staff has come up with an
option A and an option B. And the option B is 15 acres. And that 15 acres from the background material I read was because they looked the staff looked at hydraological
factors to try to protect the springs. So therefore, I will be supporting option B. Thank you. Uh, vice mayor. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I have a
question on the um a agreement um item 2E. It talks about u maintenance and enhancement of natural habitats etc etc in accordance with an approved
management plan. How will this management plan be developed and by whom? The management plan would be developed um with the oversight of natural resources division um and it would include um both
stakeholders and parks and recreation as well. >> Thank you. That's all. Mayor >> Okay, Commissioner Pro. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have a question on the
so I conc I concur with the commissioner deval and everything he said. So your logic is it was increased from 12 to 15 because of the trail head um that is needed that two acres or less than two
acres is that the logic that it went up. What we were showing was that we originally proposed 12 acres, which at the time we felt was sufficient to accommodate the trail head, the pedestrian bridge, and a 10,000 square foot building of whatever development
would come for that site with the shared parking that's already there. The direction given was 20 acres. So, we've done that um in option A. Um, and we felt like bringing back option B with 15 acres um, made sense because it
avoids some of the hydraological characteristics on the site that we that we don't want to impede upon and it also avoids archaeological occurrences that are documented on the site. >> Okay, that's all for now. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah, thank you Sam. Um, is there Is it possible that we can I listened to some of the public comments here and part of the concern when I read the draft of the conservation agreement, you know, part of my sensitivity is because
I do support conserving this land um that there's enough flexibility in what uses can go on the conserved portion to tie it more into that 2019
plan. There was, you know, my fear is that if if it isn't spelled out word by word in this agreement, then down the road, we all collectively may have some problem doing some very passive recreational kind of things that may not
have been included. And I would love to know if there's a way to work this language in this agreement a little better to reference that 2019 agreement and the amenities that were proposed there because they were all relatively low impact and it gives us a
little bit more flexibility when it comes to what we can do on that 60. I mean, the idea is we accept the realities that we want to protect, I hope we do, that we want to protect this 60 acres, but I want to I I would hate
for future commissions and staff to look at this and say, gee, I wish we could have done this. I wish we could do that. It's low impact. It wouldn't affect the springs, wouldn't affect the property, but we can't do it because it's not included. So, I would hope that there could be a bit of a rework on some of
the language and somehow the lawyers could find a way to work this language so that there was more flexibility here because I feel I I really do feel that that we're going to we're going to end up excluding things and and down the road be sorry we did
and and so, you know, I just throw that out there. Hopefully between this draft and a future draft or final we can come up with something here. So if I can clarify the general terms document is not the conservation easement. It has not received legal review. We are not
there yet. This is a highlevel document so that we can go to legal review and knowing that commission has a general consensus of agreement to the terms that are on this sheet. And then I would call your attention to um
section four permitted uses um item C um where it does have the right to develop, construct, repair, remove, improve and maintain a recreational trail system and park elements as conceptually shown on April 2019 or Springs Park final master
plan and similar enhancements there too. So I I believe we have addressed that in this document. The only other comment is can we pull up the picture of the map? But A or B, it doesn't really matter to me, I guess. Um, yeah, do the next one. B, the other
one, the the the 20 acre. >> Oh, there it is. Okay. I'm sorry. >> Uh, so we got the dotted lines here. Is that the stream? >> Yes. >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. So, you really can't go beyond. Okay. I was wondering if they
where there's concern hydraologically, you know, up where you know that extra 5 acres, so to speak. Could we have redesigned it and brought it out across that stream? But it probably doesn't make sense to do that. All right.
You know, again, my my only comment is is is the same concern. 10,000 square feet, you know, if it's adequate, it's adequate. If it's not, I mean, I guess the reality will be that, you know, if we all collectively vote here and and the consensus is to go to the 15 instead
of the 20, potentially the opportunity to do certain things that that may be amenities that the you know, the participants and the residents who utilize this facility will say, "Gee, why can't we do this? Why can't we do that? We can't do it because we don't have enough square footage. We don't
have enough acreage to do it." So, you know, if if there's environmentally environmental concerns over that extra 5 acres, then it is what it is. If if that's the case, then I I can understand that. But, you know, to me, I just want
to make sure we have enough enough flexibility in this plan because I I I absolutely support this and and I just want it to be done right once and for all. Let's get this done and get it done the right way so we can clean the
springs up and and and draw people into this 60 acres that that haven't enjoyed it that that nobody's enjoyed it and and you know as one public commenter said this is
like taking forever and ever and ever and ever. So, just um I just want to um for comparison purposes, and I I've mentioned this before, >> 15 acres is what Selby Gardens is. So, I really do think it will serve the
purpose that you want it to. Um and we have parking there that will serve not only more Middle Springs, but that parking could then serve whatever that developed area is. >> Well, Sily's footprints 15, huh? Pretty cool. Okay. Can >> Thank you, mayor. Can you pull that
picture down because I can't see the complete bottom of option B. I want to see what the difference is between A and B. Where I'm looking at it, it looks pretty much exactly the same picture. >> You see, >> I'm not seeing the difference between 20 acres and 15 acres.
>> It doesn't go as up as high. >> Go up as high, >> but And where exactly would the trail head go? So, the trail head is closer to um the front um you where the street that comes in. I can't remember what the
street name is. I can't read it. Um there's a street that you can see on the on the left side. Um that uh right now just dead ends in front of Warm Mill Springs. um that street will come that
that roadway we will have an entrance right there that's coming into the property and the um trail head will be just off of that towards the front. >> Okay. >> The trail is actually going to follow the edge of the property along and up.
So if in this proposed 15 acres, if we go from the 20 acres to the 15 acres, it's going to be a true 15 acres and it's not going to include the trail head minusing two acres. >> No, it it will include the trail head.
>> Okay. So, is there a way, and this is what I'm looking at here, if you take the two acres out, cuz then we would still have a true 15 acres instead of going up to the 20 acres, you would come up a little bit. I'm looking at a compromise here to
where the trail head is taken care of and there's still 15 acres there for what we decided to carve 20 out for, but we're going to sacrifice 5 acres. We can certainly do anything that commission directs us to. Um my concern
is and and without putting them on the map and advertising them, there are archaeological occurrences that are in the property as you get in the 20 acre that would be impeding on those. So is is of those scenarios that you're
talking about is that on this map between the 15 and the 20 acres in that area >> approximately. >> Okay. Because what I'm saying is if we could stretch it out a little bit here and there, that's all I'm looking at as a compromise. Vice Mayor.
>> Uh thank you, Mayor. Of the carve out areas, how much of it is parking? Looks like about half of the 15 acre cargo. >> It's actually 12,000 square ft. And if you look the developed the the what is
not paved is actually in when you see the colors on the smaller maps. Those are actually the zoning colors the area around the springs is 13 acres and that is zone C conservation. >> Then the blue is what's called 7A and
that is actually the part with frontage along Triumpho. that would be the most commercially desirable. >> Where's the parking? >> And the parking would be between that frontage and the >> So the So the parking is exactly where
it is now. The paved parking, >> but wouldn't we need to expand it? >> No, we are not expanding the parking. It is going in the same footprint as the current parking lot. The expanded parking would come with the trail head where we would need specific parking to
serve that which is going to be towards the front of the property where that I still can't see what that street name is. >> So if you see where the orange section is on the map >> Mhm. >> Um that road that curves coming to the end that road will extend and the trail
head will be immediately right there. >> Yes. who >> now going over to the right >> and I don't know if you heard me, Commissioner Langden, but the existing parking lot is 12,000 square feet. >> Okay. >> Um I have another question. Um
>> in my research on War Mineral Springs, I understood that most of the archaeological finds >> I can't read it. fines, not fines, of the the springs itself and the
surrounding area were pretty much stripped when the property was privately owned. So my question is I think mayor asked about where that area was where there were some fines.
Um when did the last find occur? This was from the cultural resource survey that um was previously done. Um it was referenced in the master plan, but it had previously been done. I don't have
the date on it, but I will say that to say it's stripped. Generally, when there's historic artifacts on a site, they don't move very far. They're not going to be stripped out. This they just did a cultural resource survey where they dug down in different holes to see
where what was on the property. So, if you're talking about having an activity that's disturbing more area where we would putting putting in a building and footers and and doing more than just say
maybe a trail, um, you may run into other artifacts. I I can't say if you would or you wouldn't, but we know it's there and they generally do not move. >> Well, people dig them up and take them. >> Yeah. I I'm not aware that anybody's
been out there digging except for the cultural resource survey that happened. >> Well, we also had the homeless encampments out there for years and >> there was really no supervision of anything on that. >> No, it's not 23 acres, >> right? It's undeveloped. It's not open to the public
>> area. Um, yeah, I I would propose a compromise. I'm I'm hearing 15 acres is acceptable to some if not
all of my other fellow commissioners. I'm definitely a 20 acre gal and I and I want that to be developable 20 acres, but as a compromise, I would be happy to say the 15 acres plus 2 acres for the
trail head, let's carve out 17 acres and be done with it. Can we bump up a couple more acres of that line on the map of the 15 acre
proposal? I would think we could we can do anything that you you ask for us to do. >> That's what I would propose to my fellow commissioners. Um, >> another option if you want >> I mean if we wanted to do a spa and a
holistic health center and a healthy restaurant, let's say 10,000 square ft is not sufficient. >> Another option that you uh commission may want to consider is breaking up um the 15 acres. And if you wanted to do some um more at the top of the property
where there's also uh road access up here um and not having it be contiguous, we could look at that as well. >> Well, but I but I think the the whole concept, at least in my head, about having those kinds of assets is that they would be together.
>> So it would become a destination. people could do the springs, they could then go into the more commercial area for a massage, etc., etc., etc. So once you start, you know, divvying that out and spreading it out, it it weakens sort of
that destination feel for it. >> So if we can line up a couple more acres, then um I'll be very supportive. I am supportive of doing a conservation easement on a lot of this property. Um I
I do have a little bit of a concern because in the language here, and I'm sorry I didn't highlight it, but it talks about restoring slashmaintaining habitat. I did have the opportunity to walk this
property maybe three years ago with some conservationists and a representative of Florida fish and wildlife and and we were on a mission to find scrub j habitat. And so we walked around
and I think we were sort of on that higher end maybe just north of the springs that area. and um the representative from Florida Fish and Wildlife identified a very large area that looked
as though at one time had been scrubj habitat but it hadn't been maintained. It hadn't been trimmed and it was very much overgrown. And our purposes of going is that that organization
had funds to help municipalities in the county and state actually to restore habitat. And so I asked him twice if this property would qualify if the city of Northport should pursue funding to
restore that area as a scrubj habitat. and twice he kind of shook his his head and said it would be very expensive. So, I took that as a no. And and I just want to be careful because if we commit in
this agreement to restore and maintain scrubj habitat, for example, it could cost, and I have no idea how much, hundreds of thousands, a million,$2 million dollars, I don't know. So, I just want to really caution against
that. Um and and my underlying I I very much like um the funding and maintenance plan. It was certainly better than our being in the rowboat with by ourselves with one paddle. But I I'm concerned
about some of the underlying conditions that might make this proposal ownorous for the city to live up to at some point in the future. Um, so that's really my
concern and and at least if I felt we had enough commercial development so that we could generate some economic benefit from this property, then oh, you know, we would have taxes. We we would have other kinds of things that would
provide incremental revenue to help support these kind of things. But 10,000 square feet won't do it. And this could get very expensive depending upon how some of these terms are interpreted for
the city to to be able to manage. >> So, if I can first address the the the acreage, I just want to remind everybody that the parking lot that is there now and the parking lot that would be put in if we move forward with the legacy trail would also be parking lots that could
serve any development that goes on there. So, you're not having to account for that necessarily. Um, there'll be different there'll be different amounts needed, but you're not necessarily having to account for that because you already have it existing. Um, and I would like to invite um John
Thaxton down to address the scrubj um comment and also um Christine Johnson um as they've been involved in this and we've been working with them. I think that they may have some input as well. And again, I think what I'm driving at, if there's a provision in here that
absolves the city from having to restore habitat, I would be comfortable with that. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Director Ray Elena Ray, director of development services. I want to provide
some clarification as far as what this proposed 15 acres can support from a land development intensity standpoint. We we've talked about Selby Gardens, but um when we're talking about the size of a building, I know originally it was
asked where we want to make sure we could put a 10,000 square foot building on there. 10,000 square feet's less than a quarter of an acre in size. 15 acres can support the construction of a much much larger
development. Um, I haven't figured out the calculation in my head, but if it's buildings that we're talking about, 15 acres can support a very intense development. Um, to the to the point of
you could have conference centers and uh a hotel. I mean, just from a from a land development standpoint, I'm not talking about bad intensity here. I'm just saying what it can support as from a land standpoint. >> I I would really like to have a a good
estimate before we go to final agreement on this exactly how many square feet of buildable area. And again, we we have pretty strict regulations in terms of buffers and landscaping. So, we have to
take all that into account, right? >> Um, but I'd like to have a a good sense that the 15 acre plan could support what I just described. >> From a from a planning standpoint, as a professional planner, I can tell you
that I cannot imagine us building a development that is so intense that it wouldn't fit on 15 acres. I I I can't conceive that for this land. Um but we can work on those numbers for you. So I appreciate Yeah, absolutely.
>> Thank you very much. Um I'm done, Mayor. >> All right, Commissioner Petro. >> Sorry. >> Thank you, Mayor. So as I understand, we not talking about the actual agreement right now. We talking about the carveout uh scenario.
Is that correct? So we we are talking about the general terms that would go into an agreement. So the language will be different because it it will be um an official conservation easement. But these are the the main points, the
business points that are going to go into that conservation easement. And then the parcel map, we need to if we don't agree today, we will have to come back to you again because we are going to need to do a lot split survey before we can do the conservation easement. And
that's why we need to agree where it's going to be configured on the property. U so if we do 15 acres can we specify what is going to be what is going to be in conservation easement the AC acreages
how much the actual conservation easement because we keep talking about 15 12 20 if we do 15 how much would be designated in the conservation ement is it 60 minus 15 >> so the when you look at what's there the
entire entire acreage is 82. >> Um, so we have the 13 acres in the zone CE right now around the spring, the green. >> I saw that. >> Right. And so that would then we would deduct the 13 and deduct the 15 from the total and that's where we would be left.
>> And we'll specify how much exactly >> exactly it would have to be in the agreement exactly the acreage. >> 30 and >> you can see that at the at the general terms document. Um at the top it
talks about what that acreage is. We just haven't filled it in because we haven't come to agreement on what that looks like. >> Correct. I just want to specify that we should be also talking exact number of acres a acres in the actual agreement.
And so the carveout area if if we do it the intended purpose um will be city-owned or it will be uh with an option to sell or how it's going to >> it it will be city-owned. Um if you if you chose to go that route,
you would follow the um procedures that are already set up for selling city property. >> Okay. So we're not talking about intended use to sell it right now. Can we specify that it cannot be sold? >> Are you talking about the carboat? >> Yes, correct.
>> Um, unless you all approved putting that up for sale, that that's not going to happen. >> No, no, that's that's why I wanted to protect, not to sell it. That's what I'm asking. Can we specify that? an agreement >> for the carbalt um acreages.
>> The purpose of the easing would be to show the per the portion of the land which would just be for conservation purposes. Everything else will retain for any other purpose. And I think what the director is saying before you math
is whether it's 15 20 or whatever nothing can happen to that unless you all decide in that that's not something that you would put into the conservation easement because it wouldn't be an agreement between us the city and the land. >> I understand that. Yes. Um another
question I have is on parking. So the current parking and on a good day if you go there people park on the grass will are we going to have to pay it >> we for
>> the the current um building renovation plan is to redo the parking as it exists on the same footprint. Um, >> what about the grass? >> The grass parking will still be there until we further develop the property.
The next the next phase would be if we move forward with the trail head and the trail, there would have to be a parking area >> for that. So, currently um the plan calls for 48 paved parking spaces. Six of those ADA spots that would saw that
>> that will be in that same footprint as is currently exist as paved parking. And then when we do if we get to the point of doing the trail head and the trail um there would be an additional 30 pave parking spots with two of those being ADA.
>> And I guess I'll conclude with this warm spring is very dear to my heart. Um but it also seems to be neglected. So the reason why we talking about this carve out uh is to make it more appealing to
make it more utilized for the families. um like a little boutique shop or even a playground, most importantly for the families to enjoy outside of the park. Um so I'm in support of option B. I
would not be in support of anything more than 15 total more than 15 acres. Um that being said, two of those acres would be part of the 15 acres. Um I don't want to encroach on anything else. Um and not not to commercialize or not
to not to do anything crazy. Just let it stay as it is. Just improve or lightly develop. >> Okay. >> 15 acres. That's my take on it because um we have to make it more attractive. we have to
be more we have to utilize that land that partially if you look on the map it's a lot of those 15 acres already is just mow and cleared already um so that's where I stand I'm in support of
15 option B uh option that it is only 15 acres thank you >> if if I may uh director Ray has the calculations that you were asking 54. >> And this is planner math, so it's quick
and dirty, but this is why we're not engineers. So, we would be looking at um once you take out on that 15 acres, you take out um approximately 30% for storm water, parking, open space, those types of
things. Um that would leave us um for the footprint of a building of 98 over 98,000 square feet for a building. >> That's one story. If you went up then
you would have additional square footage, but that's to give you an idea of size. 98,000 ft is roughly 2/3 the size of Costco in Wellen Park. Um, that would leave you with approximately 360,000
square feet, which is over eight acres for a botanical garden or anything else that you might want to use that land for. U, but you'd have an almost 100,000 square foot space for a 100,000 foot building, one story, and you could go up
higher if you wanted to. >> Thank you. Uh, max height is a good question, but I don't have off the top of my head. >> I think it depends on which uh zone it's in as well because there's two different
zones in that acreage. >> It is. It is um zone seven. That one is This is seven. This is 7A. So, we would have to look. But 100,000 square feet, it's a pretty massive building. Um, so
we could just we could get pretty much anything we wanted. It doesn't have to be one building. It could be multiple as well. So hopefully that's helpful. >> If I can also add um the botanical garden um depending on on what that includes. That can be in the
conservation easement. There's nothing that says that it it can't um depending on on what it what it looks like or it could be part on the um exclusion area and and flowing into the conservation easement. But let let me if if you don't
mind, I'd like to give Christine Johnson um with Big Waters Land Trust an opportunity to speak. >> I have a few comments to make and then of course I'll be here for any questions you may have. Um I am Christine Johnson. I am the president of Big Waters Land
Trust. Um, so thank you for bringing this back forward. Um, we hope that the city commission will direct staff to begin drafting the legal document known as the conservation easement. As you heard, what you are voting on tonight is just the terms. We haven't even gotten
to the point where we are creating the legal document. Um, the community has spoken overwhelmingly in support of conserving this public open space. We've negotiated in good faith for almost two years to get to this point. Responding
to every city commission request and CHNP has awarded funds to remove the invasives. GF Coast Community Foundation has pledged funds to manage the invasives for three years and fund Big
Waters Land Trust conservation eent stewardship fee that would normally be on the land owner. So, we've addressed all of your concerns over the last two years just to get to this point, and we still have to work on the legal document.
Leaving 15 acres out of the conservation easement means you have the same size land as Selby Gardens to develop in any way you or a future commission wants. Even with two acres of the 15 being used for a trail head, which also includes a
parking lot, that would also serve any future commercial development. Selby Gardens property includes a fivestory parking garage, a restaurant and historical home, a gift shop, a cafe,
about 10,000 10,000 square foot rental facility called Michaels on the Bay as well as well multiple acres for flex lawn for rentals for people to put up tents to rent to the facility as well as other acres for just the botanical
gardens themselves. It is a massive amount of land. Placing a conservation easement on War Mineral Springs will give certainty to potential commercial investors that this property will always remain as public
open space and be an economic driver. So again, we ask we've been negotiating in good faith. Please direct staff to proceed to the next step, drafting the conservation easement and our preference of of course with 15 acres taken out of the conservation easement to leave
plenty of room for for future commercial space or anything else that a future commission would want. So, thank you, >> Commissioner Deval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um listening to
uh Director Ray uh standard lot in the city of Northport is 23 acres 80 by 125 that's 10,000 square ft.
So that 23 acres let's just call it a quarter acre. So, for each acre, we've got four of those 10,000 square foot plots. Multiply that by 15, you come out with 16 600,000
square feet. I would think you'd be able to fit whatever building you want in something that size. Now, as far as I've got to give a push back here. Um,
Vice Mayor Langden has said like, well, you know, maybe we can compromise, you know, between the 15 and the 20 and go 17. We started at 12 and then it was raised to 20. The 15, if you start at 20
and go to 12 and you meet in the middle, you come to 16, I believe. And 15 is really close to that. Um, the 15 already is a compromise. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Stokes. >> Thank you, Commissioner, cuz you crystallize. I had a I had a question about what that extra two acres would mean in terms of square footage, and it's the minimus. Um, I'm good with 15. when when what brings it home for me, it's very
hard sometimes to envision what you can put on, you know, when you're talking square footage or you're talking acreage and what you could build. I've been to Selby Gardens dozens of times. I love Selby Gardens. If you look at that footprint and we had a footprint like that, I would say there's
probably nothing that I could think of we would want to do that we couldn't fit. So, I'm good with that. I also don't want to encroach on those areas that that we're a little bit concerned about. I I appreciate that. You know, again, at this point, I I am committed
to this conservation easement. I do not see this springs as an economic juggernaut, but I do see it as a huge attraction. And when you look at all the unincorporated land surrounding this the 82 acres
that is where Northport come the day will reap the benefit. This needs to be preserved. This needs to be protected and most of all it needs to get done. >> Thank you mayor. All right. See nothing else. City clerk
public comment. >> Uh we do have some. I'll start with the e comment. Juno Enoch, I support the original 60 acre conservation easement with no new exceptions. Anything less than this is not appropriate for the site or the community needs. And in
person, we have Tim Doyle. >> Mr. Mayor, we're Can it wait till after public comment, sir? >> Yes, as long as you >> since we've already started it, right? and then I'll I'll circle back to you. Go ahead, sir.
I think the parking lot at 12,000 square ft is too small. I'm not going to sit up here and tell you how many acres what you're supposed to do with it cuz I think I've been there four times in the 20 years I've been in town. So, there's a lot of people passionate
about the project and I think you need to talk to those people and figure out what they want to do. My two cents on this is I had something to do when the old man in the mountain fell off of the mountain up in New Hampshire. We sponsored and we
took donations to redo it. And I had to go all of those meetings and boy oh boy were people passionate on each side. And what came down the street they bought things in the room. They wanted to put up one of those big movie theaters. What
do they call them? with the round thing on it. I don't know what they wanted to put everything there. From what I am listening to from comments and people saying I don't think they want that. If you want to put a size of a Costco building next to
that, you're going to kill that place. And you ever see the parking lot at Costco? How big's the parking lot at Costco? So, I'm not going to tell you guys what to do or not to do because it's not my cup of tea. But the problem here is you got a lot of
people very passionate and you need to listen to them. And you can't just throw everything in the kitchen sink on that property because you think it should be there. A restaurant, all this stuff and a 10,000 foot, you know,
100,000 foot building. Forget about it. You're going to kill it. you want to put a couple small things, I'll let them make that decision. And uh you know, the land around it is kind of what makes it nice. You know, if they're sitting around the
lake and you start see high-rise buildings, I don't people go down there to see that. So, I'd be real careful on what you bring into that area and what you build. And I do think the parking lot's too small, especially if you bring in a
trail head. Trail head parking usually isn't very big. I've gone to plenty of mountains, plenty of trail heads, and they and you know when I see a trail head parking down the street, everybody's parked on the side of the road because there's not enough parking. So,
I think a 100,000 square foot building is ridiculous to put up there at the, you know, but that's my two cents. You know, let the people say what they want to say, but I would not build no 100,000
square foot building there. >> Christine Johnson, >> John Paxton, >> you can go right there, sir. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, members of the commission, Mr. Mayor. John Paxton. and I'm here on behalf of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and um I had the
comments prepared to speak but listening to the conversation I'm going to trash most of them. I've been in sales long enough. Don't oversell. You when you get to the point where you need to be um shut up and hand the client the pen. Um but I would like to say I'm real excited
tonight. I mean you all know my enthusiasm for this spring. Um, it's been a part of my life since very young childhood and uh the prospects of once and forever preserving th this remarkable
10,000 plus year old public access asset for generations to come. It's just beyond it. It just gives me u just gives me goosebumps. But I was I did want to address two concerns that I heard here this evening. And first off uh commissioner had to do with the sale of
the land. um you're not selling any of the land at all. You're selling you're you're giving a conservation easement. It's important to Big Waters Land Trust. It's important to GF Coast Community Foundation that this land always have
the Northport City brand. This is your property. This is your asset. And we want to build these assets both economically, architecturally um so that it benefits the community um
into the um into the future. And in terms of the Florida scrubj, I am an accredited Florida scrubj expert as many of you know. I've spent my adult life studying, researching, and cataloging the Florida scrub jay in southwest Florida. And this conservation easement
does not require you to restore scrubj habitat, but rather it requires you to just simply maintain the habitats free of these exotic species. If Florida scrub jays decide to move back into some of these areas that you have stewarded, then so be it. but it does not burden
the city with any of these expensive restoration things that Florida fish and wildlife conservation um officer um had had had talked about. Um and then the um the last thing that I wanted to add is
I've been a part of many park decisions over the last 45 years in Sarasota. Um, this is one of my favorites because this is going to give this commission, the five of you seated here, the opportunity to be remembered by your
greatgrandchildren's grandchildren as the commission that once and forever preserve this remarkable asset uh for generations to come. So, thank you for your discussion. Um, GF Coast Community
Foundation believes in this project. We're bringing money to the table. We've heard your concerns. Um, we got the grant from I still call it the CHN, the Charlotte Harbor National Estate Program. I know it's got a new name now, but we're going to bring money for subsequent years to make sure that the city is not burdened with that. And then
finally, we are going to fund the stewardship fund to relieve the city of that financial obligation as well. >> Thank you for not overselling it, Mr. >> City Manager. I promised I would circle back to you, sir. >> We had more. >> We have a couple more. Yeah.
>> Okay. Sorry, Robin Sanente. >> Okay, back again. Again, you're all forgetting about the 2019 master plan that was fully vetted. That's not even up here for you to look at and compare what is being suggested as a carve out.
Additionally, that was you saw the citizenry and the passion behind that and the surveys that were done and you supported the 2019 master plan and it seems like you're continuing to carve into warm mineral springs and I'm
continuing to hear about commercial entities that don't belong anywhere on that property. That carveout area was specifically designed for the parking lot, an event and a market area with food trucks and so forth and an expansion for the trail head. I'm so I'm
so tired of hearing about a 98,000 ft building or any kind of building. It doesn't belong there. It wasn't vetted. It's not in the 2019 master plan. Stop looking to put buildings on that property. You're going to piss off a lot of citizens and you're going to hear
from them. You've got additional areas for that particular type of work. All abortes. You got five, six parcels that are available to put buildings on. You've got renovations in this building that's
going to support holistic care and health services. I don't understand why you continue to want to put buildings on this property. Again, you're going to have to reszone for this carve out anyway because it doesn't coincide again
with with what's going to be. So, put all your buildings up on Ortiz and stop trying to carve out areas and put buildings and buildings and buildings and commercial entities on this property. You can have your Selby gardens. it fits right in with the conservation,
not buildings when you already have building renovations under under plans. Additionally, as far as the protected species, like John says, they're on the move because of the fragmentation that's going on within our developments and in within our state.
We've had from Oscar Shear moving to Dear Prairie Creek. We once had a a population of scrub jays at Warm Mineral Springs when I was there. So they can't come back because of the fragmentation and the conservation area
for Warm Mineral Springs is just another stepping stone between Dare Prairie Creek and other and whatever is behind the preserve. You got to stop messing with what's not supposed to be messed with. It's a huge
ecoourism site. Stop trying to commercialize it. There's plenty of money to be made with ecoourism without putting buildings after buildings. Go up the street where it belongs, not on that property. Again,
you're going to piss off a whole lot of people and you're going to regret it. >> I'm going to be very brief. I totally agree with Mr. Thaxton. I totally agree with what Robin's trying to say. I'd also like one more thing. Stop kicking
the can down the road. Right. All right. Oh, and one thing I'd add, I think the best place for Botanical Garden would be around the Springs itself, creating a buffer. 2019 plan. Thank you very much. You have
a blessed evening. I gotta get out of his chair. >> That is all. Mr. Mayor, >> city manager, back to you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to make sure that John Sax had a chance to speak and he has done that. >> Uh, he has done that, sir. Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> All right. I'll request a motion. I'll make >> I would like to make it. By all means, commission, >> I move to approve the revised general terms and parcel map option,
Bravo, that's B, to facilitate development of a conservation easement between the city of Northport and Big Waters Land Trust Incorporated for a portion of the War Mineral Springs Park property located at 12,200
San Cando Avenue Northport, Florida 34287. >> Second. Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Deval to approve the revise general terms and parcel map option B to facilitate development of a
conservation easement, excuse me, between the city of Northport and Bigwaters Land Trust Incorporated for a portion of the Warmill Springs Park property property located at 12,200 Sanendo
Avenue, Northport, Florida 34 4287. That was made by Commissioner Dval, seconded by Commissioner or Vice Mayor Langden. There's nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 5 to Z. All right.
Yeah, we're going to take a 10-minute break. And we actually have a lifeguard positioned in our catch pool over there to help our guests that are coming out of the slides at a barracuda tarp and twister. >> I've seen that person there. Then Jesse brought up something that most people might not think about. Pool skimming.
>> Pool skimming is the sounds of the water being properly flowed. So with those drains, all the water has to constantly filter throughout our pool at least three to four times a day. So, not only is the water continuously being pumped in, continuously flowing out, being
cleansed through our sand filters, then being pumped back into the pool. It's a very long process, but it makes sure that the water stays the clear as possible. >> Then, Jesse taught me about the zones. >> It helps maintain that their body of water is theirs to protect anybody that's in their zone. So, lifeguard
Brandon right now is actually scanning red one zone. So, red one zone is here. any part of this body of water that reaches let's say all the way from those stairs to the bulkhead and to the side of the corner. This entire zone is his
right now to make sure that they are staying healthy and hydrated. We do have a 30 minute a rotation here for all of our lifeguards and lifeguards are not meant to bypass more than one hour of continuous lifeguarding. So after every hour, the lifeguards must take either a
visual break or an actual break. After Jesse's walkthrough, I met up with Matt, one of the pool technicians responsible for keeping the water clean and safe every single day. He started by showing me how they test the water across the park. We got comp pool, lazy river, kids pool. >> Each sample is dropped into small disc
and loaded into a device and in just seconds it gives a full readout on the pool's chemistry. And before this little machine was created, this was a more of a manual model. >> Yeah, we um a lot of people will use tailored tests. So, it involves like little different chemicals. You would
fill up a container and drop them in like a certain amount and basically it'll calculate from there um what your pH and chlorine is. >> And this is the daily task. >> Yeah, this is what we do at the start of every day. >> Inside the control room, he fired up the valves that get the entire water park up
and running. When we have everything going, the water level will be back up, but since we're not running everything in the moment, it'll drop it down a couple inches. >> Next, he showed me the daily checklist for the part. >> Then we have our chemical data sheets. So, basically just making sure like that
our comp pool, lazy river, kids pool are all where they need to be, anywhere between two parts per million or 10 parts. And then pH is somewhere between 7.2 and 7.8 for a healthy pool. There you go. Then came the back washing and wasting
process. Flushing the filters to keep the water flowing freely or removing excess water from the system to keep the water levels balanced. >> And then it'll start coming out in this pit. >> So this this whole pit will fill in about 3 minutes. >> Really? Over there? >> Yep.
>> Next, we changed out one of the strainer baskets which help catch large debris before it can reach the pumps. >> I'll tra that one. Thank you. Then new one goes in just like that. And we usually let those dry out and I'll clean them later this week. >> Before joining the team in Northport,
Matt worked as a lifeguard in Charlotte County under Trish Sturgis, our assistant director of parks and recreation. >> So I've known Trish a very long time. So that definitely was one of the influences of wanting to come work at the aquatic center. Had me go out for an AFO course recently, which is aquatic
facility operator course. basically anything and everything relating to a facility like water chemistry, safety rules, that this and that. So, I went there. I just passed that class. So, that's a little little bit of knowledge
under my belt. It was definitely useful. >> Well, Matt, we're we're grateful for your time and your experience and all you put into your career here and congratulations on your certification and you do amazing job here. >> Thank you for joining me today at the Northport Aquatic Center. It's a great facility. I want to thank director Sandy
Funheler, assistant director Trish Sturgis. I have learned so much amazing things today. I would like to say that the technical expertise that goes to keep the water safe as well as the people safe is an amazing combination. See you on the next job. Thanks for being here.
>> Hey, city of Northport. My name is Sandra Budro. I am with AECOM and I am representing the city of Northport on this glorious Price Boulevard project. We are here on Price Boulevard at the Blue Ridge Waterway in which we are building the box culvert. Um, as we've
talked in the past, we're doing a double barrel box culvert here and we are currently pouring the second wall of the structure. That wall's got to cure. The concrete has secure and then we can strip form. So, it does take some time for the walls to cure and then for us to
start building the top. After that, we're going to build uh the earthwork and then the roadway. So, at this point, we are currently early on in the process. If you want further updates, you're going to go to the Price Boulevard web page. Pop.
Hello, I'm Jerome Fletcher, city manager of Northport. I'm on the job with the solid waste division of public works. Let's go. Make yourself at home. >> Oh, I love the duck. Look at that. >> Yes, >> that got passed down through a few co-workers and then now it's it's ended
up in this truck. So, I was like, I want to keep it. So, >> well, well, maybe it's for the uh two-time driver of the year. How about that? >> Yeah. >> Oh, congratulations. >> I appreciate it. >> Yeah. You You only been here for two years, right? >> Two and a half now. So, >> right. >> Recognition is nice. But what he really
values is the simplicity of the work. Meet Cole Sigley, a solid waste driver for the city of Northport. >> You can put me on the same truck and same route, leave me alone for 30 years, and I'll be it'll be done. You don't have to worry. You don't have to worry about it, >> right? It's very low stress. Let me do
my job. Yep. >> I'll do it right. Come back tomorrow. >> Yep. And then you go on to your next route and you just keep doing that and then eventually the weekend comes. You enjoy the weekend right back to it. >> Right. That's >> that's how life should be. >> It's a career he planned for early on right after high school.
>> I went and got my CDL after I graduated high school and my goal is to get here eventually. So >> All right. >> So I sound like a man with a plan. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, we appreciate it. We appreciate everything you guys do. He even shared a little bit about where he grew up far from the Florida heat
>> because we we're from West Virginia. >> Okay. What what part of West Virginia? >> Uh so it's north central so like Clarksburg. It's about 40 minutes from Morgantown which is where the university and the schools are and all that stuff. >> I've been to Wheeling West Virginia a couple times up in the mountains.
>> Yeah. >> I I I'm going to tell you driving up those streets when the streets are like really narrow >> and you got to wind up those I was like oh my And I was young. And I was like 23. >> Yeah. >> And I was like, man, this is going to be a problem. >> There are some of those mountain roads
where it's just we like to call them kiss your butt turns where you're snaking through >> and then you got to do that in the winter when it's icy on the road. >> I don't want to think about it. I don't even want to think about it. >> No, I'll take this over that up there. >> Any day. >> And when the talk turns to hobbies, the trucks don't stop at work. In his spare
time, it's all about monster trucks and RC cars. >> Nice little basketball court right there. My son would like that outside of our house. >> Oh, yeah. >> That's nice. >> Your place to run your little RC trucks, too, >> right? Oh, yeah. >> I got a bunch of those. I like that one. >> Do you? >> Yeah.
>> Oh, man. Do you have the gas powered ones? >> I have the electric. I don't have the gas powered. I've seen them. >> I I just want like the ones that go fast. I mean, it can be electric or gas, but >> how fast can yours go? >> I have So, I have a couple that can go 40 plus. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, they're the brushless motors. So,
>> you go race them somewhere like on the track? No, I just race around my yard. They're monster trucks, so they you just take those things anywhere. >> They can jump over anything. >> Oh, yeah. >> Right. >> I rip them through the sand and the grass and hit big jumps with them. I break them more than I do plate. >> You take a big jump, you're like, "All
right, let's do this." And then you land it and it's like boom, it's done. You just broke the wheel off. Or >> But when the work day starts, the focus shifts to keeping the city running smoothly. Every collection has a plan. And behind the scenes, people like Mario Vaniti, planner and scheduler for the city, help make sure it all runs like
clockwork. >> So basically, I'll and I will check them one by one. >> Right. Do you really? >> Oh, yeah. I'll get out at every one and I'll check I might take a section and do like three or four streets, >> right? >> For the entire city. >> Yeah. So, here we have
>> back to our regularly scheduled program. Ordinance number 2026-11. Uh, city clerk, can you read by title only, please? >> An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the unified land
development code to consolidate the revenue account, formerly known as the tree fund into the environmental protection fund by amending section 6.1.3 providing forings, providing for conflicts, providing for subverability, providing for codification, and providing effective date.
>> Thank you, city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh during the city commission regular meeting held on May 5th, 2026, the city commission approved a motion 4 to1 to approve the this ordinance on first reading and continue the second reading on May 19th, 2026. We
ask that you approve today ordinance number 2026 11 as presented. We're happy to answer any questions. Thank you, sir. Vice Mayor Langden, >> I have two very quick questions and um just to refresh my memory. The the money
that goes into this fund was the money from the clear cutting of trees um that originally went into the tree fund and we were generating so much money we wanted to expand the uses. So that's why we're here today. My question
is twofold. Do any other sources of revenue go into um the environmental protection fund? >> Yes, vice mayor. >> And what are they? >> Um in addition to the tree mitigation
fees, the plan review and inspection fees for the natural resources division staff uh for environmental arborists um endangered species also go into those funds. Beautiful. Thank you. Um and one
final question. What percentage of that money um I remember in one of our previous meetings we talked about a certain amount of that fund being allocated specifically for tree replanting. Can you refresh my memory
what that number was or percentage was? >> Um there was no percentage allocated specifically for planting of trees versus other environmental uses. However, this commission does approve all of the natural resources division
initiatives including ple tree tree planting projects, land acquisition projects, etc. through the budget process. >> Okay, great. Thank you very much. I'm done. Mayor >> Commissioner Pro, >> I just want to address this and to clarify some misunderstanding. I was
called out um by a few residents that we are rating the tree fund and the intended use of the tree fund is going to be no longer viable and so on and on. So the new ULC that was voted prior to my election that the new UDC that was
adopted in 2024 already expanded environmental protection fund the technically absorbed the tree fund um and and into itself allowing and designating uh these four things which is acquisition and ongoing m maintenance of
environmentally sensitive land. If anything, it's much better use of this tree fund than it was uh acquisition of land for sustainability projects, planting trees in public places and maintaining trees to protect health and
safety on public lands in the city. Tree education, planting and conservation programs. So technically we only uh doing a title change if you will. Am I correct? >> Correct. The intent with the adoption of
the 2024 ULDC was to merge the tree fund into the environmental protection fund. Um, and as it happens, we did submit a legal request um, regarding the use of the tree funds um, under the environmental protection fund. And the
commentary from the city attorney's office was um that although the phrase land acquisition is not carried through specifically in the old I'm paraphrasing
um the list in section B of the old code is permissive. Um it says the funds may in use of the funds may include not shall include may include and so the city attorney's office concluded that the previously con collected money in
the tree fund could be combined with and used as part of the new environmental protection fund because it's hard to imagine that a use could qualify for approval under the new section 6.1.3 that would not involve at
least some trees. Nevertheless, they recommended the lo most legally sound approach was to amend the uldc to specifically and explicitly clarify the intent of the environmental protection fund merging the tree funds
into it. >> Okay. Thank you. That was very informative. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Commissioner Duval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh on first reading I voted against this. I'm still going to
vote against it. Um at two separate meetings I've asked how many trees were planted by the city and both times I've been told we don't have those numbers available.
Do you have those numbers now? I do not have those numbers tonight, sir, but I can tell you that um the the natural resources division was created in late um December of 2023.
And since then, we have built the division and are undergoing procurement for a number of tree planting projects and initiatives. And the procurement process here in the city of Northport does take a substantial amount of time.
So, you should be within the near future seeing many um social media posts and sharing of these tree planting um and rewing projects that the natural resources division has will be initiating soon.
We're getting close to the end of the procurement process for some of those projects and we'll see some planting coming in the near future. Um we also have um donated trees um last year at Arbor Day and this year at Arbor Day 100
trees this year. Um and we will be um repeating that initiative on a quarterly basis. >> Now at the last meeting uh you brought up uh the comprehensive plan. I had asked a question and you said it's in
the comprehensive plan. I got into the comprehensive plan and on page 57 I want to read something that's written there. Tree protection ordinance and it's
amended pre2074 also included fines for violations. Developers who do not or cannot save trees on building sites are also required to pay fees into a reforestation trust fund.
quotation marks tree fund close quotation. The E recommended that the city must do more to ensure that these funds are reserved for tree protection slashreforestation
only. And now what I'm seeing is we've created a environmental division. And I'm not saying there's anything bad about that. But now we want to get rid of the tree fund completely. We've taken a good share of that money and now tree
funds gone away. And our comprehensive plan has the words our reser funds are reserved for tree protection reforestation only. I cannot support this. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong. Each year we have the ability I mean with this fiscal budget um I know we approved 2.5 million of this to be set aside for envir for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land. Um I
believe natural resources talked about a number of about 500 plus trees which while haven't been planted yet were in their plan for probably what'll be partially in this fiscal but but more so
in next fiscal year. So am I correct in that every year as we budget commission will be in a position to make those decisions and allocate and actually give direction on the spending of some of those dollars to trees or
environmentally sensitive land purchases. >> That is correct. >> Okay. So it's not So again to to highlight what Commissioner Petro said because because I think he was looking for that clarity from the standpoint of
the community so everyone could understand this is a name change. This is a consolidation of the tree fund into the environmental fund. But all its uses are the same. The rules are the same. The commission still has total authority
on how we spend it and where we spend it. Right. >> Correct. Through the >> through the budget process. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Thank you. That's that's what I want to make sure. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Petro.
Maybe since it's a discussion time and that's the only time we can discuss this um specifically this item uh maybe we can call on the city attorney so he can explain us what actually is changing because under my impression
uh it was brought up by the finance and we have that money sitting but we can't use it to acquire environmentally sensitive land and that's important. that we do it um with that fund uh with
those money. Um and this is again I just like Commissioner Stokes said it's a name change but if uh the city attorney can clarify what exactly this ordinance is changing uh for the sake of understanding uh to average citizen that
would be very helpful. >> Thank you Commissioner. It's exactly what you said and as Commissioner Stone said it is a name change. Um the tree what was formerly known as a tree fund was in your old land development code which no longer exists when in 2024 when
a fire commission adopted the unified development land development code that's no longer here anymore. What's in place is what's known as the environmental protection. That's basically what it can be used for the same things that you saw earlier here which include planting
trees but also acquiring maintaining environmentally sensitive land and um as well as supporting the um environmental resources division as as the assistant director's dead. So those are all the things that all we're really doing is a
procedural change to make sure it's clear in the law that what used to be the tree bond which no longer exist because we no longer have those ordinances is now in the environmental protection fund >> and this is just a cleanup of a law
because the old is gone and no longer is applicable. >> That's correct. Is a is not a substantive change in the law. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Yes, >> city clerk public comment. >> Tim Doyle.
>> I think it is to clean up like the guys were saying the one thing question you said you can use on land for you know sensitive areas. You're buying that lot for 23,000 because it goes to a sensitive area for flooding and stuff. So I don't know if you can use any of
that money to buy that lot. plant some trees on it. The other thing is the one thing I'm going to say about a tree fund is this city is being developed and you guys are all talking about the last thing cutting down more trees.
So where are you going to plant all these trees? Eventually you're going to run out of space to plant them. So I mean I don't know. Sort of like global warming. Some of it doesn't make sense.
you know, and um you got a lot of invasive species. I'd like to see some of that money go to cut down some of these trees, pine trees that aren't from native that during a hurricane cause so many problems and then maybe use some of
that money to plant a tree in that area where you cut down those trees that will be more conducive to the climate down here. they won't cause problems during a hurricane. So again, I don't know the ins and outs of the law or these organizations you're
trying to move around money to, but those sounds like some good things that uh could be done for it. And uh you guys are all talking about that road going from uh Toledo Blade sending it east. That's environmental
sensitive area. You could buy that with that money. use some of that money to build bridges and underways for the animals. I see that all over the country and plant trees. More people can see more wildlife,
go for a walk, go for a jog in the wildlife with the trees. So, I don't know. You're charging everybody to take down trees on their property, but I don't know where you're planting them. I think that was a good question.
how many trees you're planting. But my question is where you're planting them. You only own so much property. I don't know if you can go on private property and plant this stuff. But somehow I don't think that's right. So if you have less and less land and more
and more trees, your forest is going to be full soon. Then what do you do with the money? So I don't know. You do what you want on it. But maybe we should stop collecting money. people cutting down trees on their own property.
>> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. I'm gonna close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> I move to adopt ordinance number 2026-11 as presented. >> Second. I have a motion on the floor
made by Vice Mayor to adopt ordinance number 2026-11 as presented. That was seconded by Commissioner Stokes. There's nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 4 to one with Commissioner Dval dissenting for reason
stated. Sir, >> that's correct, sir. >> Thank you. Moving on to ordinance number 2026-13. Request a motion to direct the city clerk to read by title only. >> So moved. >> Second. Have a motion on the floor made
by vice mayor to direct the city clerk to read by title only. That was seconded by commissioner Stokes. If there's nothing to that, please vote. And that passes 5 to zero. City clerk. >> An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the code of the city
of Northport, Florida, appendex A, city fee schedule, amending parks and recreation, general fees and facility rental fees, providing for bindings, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your
item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. During the city commission workshop on March 2nd, 2026, the commission discussed agenda item 26-0404 discussion of possible direction regarding the establishment of a reduced rental for Northport Senior Center
Incorporated to utilize the George Morland Center. At the conclusion of the discussion, the commission made the following consensus to direct the city manager to create a flat rental rate of $200 per month for up to $120 of monthly facility use mirroring the rent payment identified in the current lease
agreement between the city of Northport and the Northport Senior Center Incorporated. The recommended fees have been incorporated into the amended Fenix A CDP schedule. We ask that you continue ordinance number 2026 at 13 to second reading on June 9th, 2026 as presented. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you. Uh, vice mayor. >> Yeah, a quick question and a comment. The comment is I think a lot of people will be delighted to see that we reinstituted the annual pass for War Mineral Springs. I'm anticipating at
some point in the future we can see numbers on how many people have purchased what types of passes. Is that a reasonable expectation? >> I'm seeing nodding. >> Yes. >> Okay, that's great. Thank you very much.
>> Is that it? >> Yep, that's it. >> All right. City clerk, public comment. >> Tim Doyle. Seems like you're taking care of some nonprofits. I agree with that. I wonder if you're telling these people in these buildings that they're being
surveiled. Is that in your lease agreement or your rental agreement? So you can spy on them while they're in the building. I wonder how many people in that 600 and something thousand number were at these events
with your geo fence spying on people. How many of the people were at the senior thing? How many of the 640,000? Wonder how the seniors feel about being spied on.
I hope none of the fees that are being paid for these rooms and facilities are going to continue to go to companies that spy on people. You're not getting enough fees for these
places to pay for what they're getting. We've all talked Well, you guys all talked about we I was in the room. I heard it. So, we're caught them a break. We got to look at where we're spending the money so we can keep on doing these things for these
general fees. Keep them reasonable. You have to start to look at what you have to cut. I think you should cut the $5,000 out for your geo fences. I'm not going to let this go.
We're worse than China. I'm sorry. And these people don't even know what they're doing. They don't know you're doing this. I didn't know you were doing it till I came to the meeting.
Parks are supposed to be for the public. They shouldn't be spy centers around them. I don't agree with it at all. And maybe if you had that $5,000, you could maybe give them a better price.
Maybe do some of the renovations to the buildings you guys all been talking about. Keep the fees low. Why should we keep giving our money to these technological companies? All day long, I've heard you guys argue about what's online. I know I'm not online. I
never had a Facebook account in my life. There's a one in my name. Someone made it up. I don't even own a computer. You know why? They're the root of all evil. They're going to be death and destruction of our society.
>> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. Go ahead. I move to continue ordinance number 2026-13 to second reading on June 9th, 2026.
>> I have a motion made by Commissioner Stokes to continue ordinance number 2026-13 to second reading on June 9th, 2026. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> And that was seconded by Vice Mayor. There's nothing to that. Please vote.
And that passes 5 to zero. Moving on to ordinance number 2026-16. I request a motion to direct the city clerk to read by title only. Move. Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to direct the city clerk to read by title only.
>> Second. >> Seconded by Vice Mayor. There's nothing to that. Please vote. That passes five to zero. City clerk, >> an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, related to city solid waste services, amending chapter 62 and
chapter 66 of the code of the city of Northport, Florida, providing for findings, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The proposed ordinance amends a solid waste district
code to aligning the code with current and proposed operating procedures. At present, several code provisions do not fully reflect how solid waste services are administered in practice, which can create uncertainty for staff and customers and make the code more difficult to apply consistently. This ordinance is needed to clarify the
governing rules, update procedural language, and support uniform administration of residential and commercial solid waste services. We recommend that you continue ordinance number 2026-16 to the second reading on July 21st, 2026 as presented. Thank you.
>> Okay, commissioners. City clerk public comment. >> T Doyle. Seems like a lot of this is dealing with the commercial side, not so much residential. Now, I ran businesses, so I had trash
about a 100 locations. And trash can be the biggest problem in the world. Now you have something in there that they can own their own compactor or they have to get certain uh dumpsters from
you. Sometimes what I found when I own my own dumpster is the people charge me twice as much to come get my garbage. That was to make me get rid of my dumpster and rent theirs. But I'm glad
to see that you let people own their own dumpster or compactor. I just didn't really know what you're charging the people who paying for that trash. Are you charging by the yard? You charging by the weight?
There is a d a big difference between a dumpster and a container. 10, 15 yard or five yard. That's why the mob used to run all the garbage in this country. They still do. Waste
management is to me still mafio. So, you know, I don't know what the fees should be. I have no idea. I don't know what the tipping fees are or you guys go dump it. From what I understand, it's Port Charlotte. Maybe I'm wrong on that.
Their dump. It's not a Sarasota County dump, is it? I guess Sarasota doesn't want any garbage in it. It's county if I'm correct that they go to Port Charlotte. And again, I could be wrong on that, but
I remember hearing that pass. I don't know how often you have to switch out your dumpster, buy new ones. I hope you do the same type of thing you do with the police guns and trade them in. Ment them down. Just don't throw them in the garbage. And I do appreciate the garb uh the
garbage service I get. They do a great job. I will say that the one department I never had a problem with in this city is the garbage department. So, I appreciate the hard work of the people that work there. And I'll leave
it at that. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> Uh, I'll make it if I can find it. Here we go. Um, I move to continue ordinance
2026-16, a second reading on June 9th, 2026. >> Second. Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to continue ordinance number 2026-16 second reading on June 9th, 2026. That was seconded by Vice Mayor. If there's
nothing to that, please vote and that passes 4 to one with Commissioner Pro dissenting. Commissioner Pro. Uh yes. Uh I voted no because it does include vacant lots and that vacant lots can be assessed capital
component component assessment on the district. So I'm not in favor of taxing vacant lots commercial owners for the service they're not receiving and that is line 84 and the ordinance.
>> Is that it sir? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on to resolution number 2026-R25. City clerk, can you read by title only, please? A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, repealing and replacing resolution number 2007-R36
granting authority to the director of parks and recreation department for his or her design for the recruitment and payment of athletic officials, adopting an independent contractor fee agreement, adopting a fee schedule and pay invoice for independent contract contractor
athletic officials, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for conflicts, providing for subverability, providing an effective date. >> Thank you, sir. City manager, this is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. During the city commission regular meeting held on
October 9th, 2007, the city commission adopted resolution number 07-R36 authorizing the parks and recreation department to recruit and compensate athletic officials and to establish the city's official fee schedule for these payments. Since that time, staff has
reviewed compensation levels across comparable jurisdictions, school districts, and athletic associations. Analysis indicates that several of the city's current rates are below prevailing standards, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified officials. To address
current challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified official staff has prepared an updated resolution along with exhibit A, an independent contract fee agreement in exhibit B, a fee schedule and pay inputs to adjust officiating fees to align with current expectations and ensure the city remains
competitive in the regional market. Today we ask that you approve resolution number 226-R25 as presented. Thank you, sir. >> Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, as the city manager just explained, uh, the year was
2007, and that's when the fees were set. Basically, this is what we pay the referees for games in the city and stuff. Uh, they haven't had a raise since 2007. Uh, during my uh, agenda briefing, we talked this over and this is expected to cost the city about
$5,000. U,, this is 2026. I'm sure that anybody would appreciate a raise a after 19 years I believe. Uh I
support this. >> I see no one else. City clerk public comment. >> Tim Doyle front page of your book. There's an official or someone sitting down here. They need to be paid. You guys say it's going to cost $5,000. I
know where you can get $5,000 from. Get rid of that geo fence. Like I said earlier, I support this. I don't support the $5,000 going to tech
companies for no reason whatsoever to tell me 600 and some thousand people went to a park or in a bench. This is the future of the town. Kids learn a lot on the playing fields.
How to get along right from wrong. They also learn curse words, but usually from the adults in the stadium or the stands screaming. So, like I said, I support it. You need
to have good officials. People who know what they their jobs. If you don't pay enough, you're going to get the bottom of the barrel like you guys are talking about a little bit. No doubt about that.
So again, you know, you spent some nice money on the book and I appreciate it. I'm not being facitious at all. I love this. This is what I like seeing my money spent on. Same way with this ordinance, giving
them a raise. Make sure the young lady on the cover gets her balls and strikes called right. I think you guys need to work on the balls and strikes in this room a little bit because I think you're way off on some
of the stuff you're doing. And you'll never see me online criticizing any of you because I'm not online. I'll do it right here at this podium or actually a lecturing. It's not a podium. You're on the podium. So, $5,000, guys. That's what's going to
cost us. Hope you can find the $5,000. I'm telling you where you can get the $5,000. Cancel that contract. Put that $5,000 back in the parks department
because these tech companies don't deserve the money. They are destroying this nation. Just look what was said in this room on the comments. So, give him the $5,000 raise. I agree with it.
But you know where the money should come from. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. I'll make it. >> All right. >> Move to adopt resolution 2026-R25 as presented. Second. I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to
adopt resolution number 2026-R25 as presented. That was seconded by Commissioner Dval. Nothing to that. Please vote. That passes 5 to zero. Moving on to resolution 2026-R31.
City clerk, can you read by title only, please? A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, terminating portions of utility grant of easements in sections 28, 29, 32, and 33, Township 39 South, Range 21
East, located in Sarasota County, Florida. Providing for incorporation of recital, providing for partial termination and release of easements, providing for filing of documents, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your
item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The city commission approved the new easements for the plat of Central Park phase 3 on September 9th, 2025, and the current request is to terminate only those portions of the legacy easements that fall within the flat area without affecting easement shown on the approved
plat. The draft partial termination of grant of easements defines the lease property as all land described on the plat of central park phase 3 recorded in plat book 59 pages 294 through 305 public records of Sarasota County. Prior record instruments show that the city
used substantially the same approach for central park one in February of 2024 under resolution number 2024-9 and central park phase 2 and January 2025 under resolution number 2025-R12 releasing only the portions of the same legacy easements located within each
respective release property while preserving the easements shown on the new plats. Today we ask that you approve resolution number 2026-R31 as presented and we're happy to answer any questions. Thank you sir. Thank you, Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, basically, as you
know, to simplify this, uh, as it was explained to me in my agenda briefing, Sable Trace, old piping, Central Park, new piping, changing the easements just to cover the new piping. I support this.
>> I see no one else. City clerk, public comment. >> Tim Doyle. to change those balls. Easements. That's what we're talking about here. I just hope if you're going to, you know, change any easement grant or
whatever, make sure everybody knows what you're doing and who has the legal right to go on that easement. And sometimes in the city, people tell people they can go on other people's property because there's an easement,
but in reality, you can't go on someone else's property. Only the person who has that easement can go on that property. So, if you have to replace, like you said, some pipes and stuff, that's fine. I was once told
by someone in this town that they would give me a week notice if they ever came on my easements, they were going to do work. So, if you're changing the pipes, I want to make sure you give them a week notice because that's what I was told. And other people told people they could
come on my easement and on my property anytime they wanted, even after a no trespass order. Some people don't like being harassed. That was pure harassment on your part. At least 20 of people in this city told them they could do that to me and
protected them afterwards. That's fat, Jack. You guys know it. So, this easement, I don't know where it is. I just know what an easement is. And I know who has the rights to go on
it and not some cracker jack. And you know what I found out? I just took a gun course. That guy should have been charged with a felony.
He had a weapon in his hand. If you trespass with a weapon, it's a felony in Florida. I never knew that. You let him walk. I hope the people who owns these property where you have easements don't
have to go through what I went through. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> I move to adopt resolution number 2026-R31 as presented. >> Second. Have a motion on the forum made
by vice mayor to adopt resolution number 2026-R31 as presented. That was seconded by Commissioner Stokes. Nothing to that. Please vote. That passes five to zero.
Uh moving on to resolution 2026-R35. City clerk, can you read by title only, please? A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, authorizing a corrective deed in the conveyance of plus minus 63 acres of real property located in northeast
quarter of section 3, Township 40 South, Range 20 East, bearing Sarasota County Property Appraiser parcel identification number 0797001 0 as previously adopted through resolution number 2025-R21
providing for filing of documents providing for conflict providing for severability and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. During the city commission regular meeting held on April 8th of 2025, the city commission adopted
resolution number 2025-R21 accepting conveyance of certain real property from West Villages LLP and authorizing the conveyance of approximately 63 acres of real property to an affiliate of the West Villages.
On May 14, 2025, the warranty deed conveying the 63 acres of real property was recorded in the official records of Sarasota County. A deficiency in that deed has since been identified regarding compliance with section 270.11 of Florida statutes. The proposed resolution will amend the recorded deed
to release any reserve statutory rights and ensure the conveyance satisfies the obligations of both the city and Wellland Park under the restated agreement. We ask today that you approve resolution number 2026-R35 as presented. Thank you, sir. >> Nothing from commissioners, city clerk,
public comment. Tim Doyle. Deeds are important. They tell you who owns the property. You got to make sure deeds are correct. So, if you have to fix the deed, you have to fix the deed. You know what happens if a deed is
wrong? I might not have a right to go on my own property. And down here in Florida, doesn't matter whose deeds on your names on the deed. I think you realize that.
So something was done wrong with the deed. I think you should correct it first thing in the morning cuz it's not fair to the person who name or whatever problem with the deed is should be taken care of first thing in
the morning and I'll leave it at that. >> That is all Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. I move to adopt resolution number 2026-R35 is presented. Second. >> I have a motion on the floor to adopt
resolution number 2026-R35 as presented. Made by Commissioner Stoke, seconded by Commissioner Duval. There's nothing to that. Please vote. And that passes 5 to zero. Moving on to resolution 2026-R36.
City clerk, can you read by title only, please? A resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, accepting a non-exclusive permanent access utility easement and an exclusive permanent lift station easement located on a portion of the parcel lying in section 10, Township 40
South, range 20 East, Sarasota County, Florida, Sarasota County Property Appraiser parcel identification number 081100-00002 providing for incorporation of recital providing for filing of documents providing for codification for fighting for conflicts, providing for
severability, and providing effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well Park High School is located within Village K of Wellen Park. The Village K plaque was recorded prior to the installation of infrastructure necessary to serve the
high school. Now that this infrastructure has been completed and placed into service, the associated easements are required to provide the utilities department with access to the lift station and other facilities within the easement area for ongoing operation, maintenance, and repair. Section three of the 2019 amended and restated
utilities agreement specifically requires the developer to convey these easements to the city of Northport to ensure ongoing operation and maintenance. And we ask that you approve resolution number 2026-R36. and we as as written and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.
>> Thank you. Seeing nothing from the commissioner, city clerk, public comment, Tim Doyle, another easement. Who has the right to go on that easement? I understand why you need the easement
to get to what you got to fix. When these minutes are made, they're pretty specific at who can use them sometimes in this city. People try to abuse it. When the house is building next to me,
they said they had an easement, so they cut down trees on my lot next to me. But the only problem was they were 25 ft off the property line. Nowhere near any easement. I was threatened with jail
when I said something for interfering with government. You know why they cut it down? They wanted more sunlight for their lot. And one of your employees,
and it was not the police department, threatened me with arrest is I told someone to get off my property with a chainsaw under the class I just took. He was
trespassing with a chainsaw. I would consider that a deadly weapon. Should have been a felony. Instead, they tried to lock me up. And again, no police are involved. It was someone else
who thought they were God. So, make sure you guys know what easements are and who's allowed on them. And if someone is trespassing with a shovel, a pick, chainsaw,
those are all deadly weapons. And if they're trespassing, that's a felony. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> Move to adopt resolution number 2026-R36
is presented. >> Second. I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to adopt resolution number 2026-R36 as presented. That was seconded by Vice Mayor. There is nothing to that. Please vote.
That passes 5 to Z. Moving on to discussion and possible action to resend the motion made during the city commission regular meeting on May 5th, 2026 regarding agenda item
number 26-0611 directing the city manager to explore event sponsorship opportunities and or a sponsorship program. Um Mr. Powell, this is your item. Uh on
May 5th, 2026, the commission reviewed and acted upon a recommendation from the parks and recreation advisory board. The commission directed the city manager to explore event sponsorship opportunities and/or sponsorship program. Following the commission meeting, parks and recreation staff contacted the city
clerk to advise that during the same meeting, commission approved resolution number 2026R-10 amending and restating the citywide sponsorship policy for city events, activities, programs, and designated public spaces. Due to the approval of
said resolution, the action given under agenda item number 26-0611 was already completed and not necessary. >> Thank you, sir. Seeing nothing from the commission. Public comment. Oh, sorry, Commissioner
Dval. You're a little slow there, sir. >> Sorry about that, Mayor. >> Just teasing. Just teasing. >> Uh, basically, oops, we lost track. >> Yeah. >> Somebody once said, you know, if you make a mistake, own up to it. We made a
mistake. Let's do this. >> All right. Thank you, sir. City clerk. Public comment. Tim Doyle, >> I really don't know what you're voting on on this one, but parks department is going to need some
funding. And to me, this is a good way to get some money without the taxpayers have to pay for it. Brings people together, too. I remember when I was in little league,
the local pizza shop sponsored our team. You know what happened after the games? They invited us down for free pizza. Some people don't have money for pizza. Not only did he pay for the uniforms,
but he fed the kids. So to me, this is a no-brainer. you should be doing it. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to request a motion. >> I'll make it.
>> Go ahead. I move to resend the motion made during the city commission regular meeting on May 5th, 2026 regarding agenda item number 26-0611 directing the city manager to explore event sponsorship opportunities and
slash or a sponsorship program. Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Dval to resend the motion made during the city commission regular meeting on May 5th, 2026 regarding agenda item number 26-0611
directing the city manager to explore event sponsorship opportunities andor a sponsorship program that was made by Commissioner Dval. Do I have a second? Do >> seconded by Commissioner Stokes. There's
nothing to that. Please vote. That passes 5 to zero. City clerk, final public comment, please. Tim Doyle. This paper I received through the Freedom of Information Act was redacted. Either or gave me a fake paper cuz it
says everybody's initial supposed to be signed on the bottom. It looks like it was blacked out. It's not blacked out. was just covered up. I don't know why you would hide who signed this paper, but obviously it's been been hidden from
me. Now, why does this bother me? You guys are all communist. You say you have a modern police department. You got brown shirts. That's what you have to put these
cameras. No one will know what a brown shirt is today because they're not educated. My brother was run over or killed by a car. None of these cameras would have saved his life. Don't tell me you're doing this in
safety. You're doing it for spying. There's no doubt about it. These cameras have to go. And I'm prepared to file a lawsuit on it. is this isn't about blood. This is about a computer watching me
everywhere I go and write my own biography. Is that's what's happening in this country whether you know it or not. And it has to stop somewhere. All you people online talking back and forth, getting in trouble, no one likes
this, no one likes that. That's the world you created. Not me. I'm so far removed from it. It's not funny. Even when I go out, I'll leave my phone at home because I know it's spying on
me. Even when it's off, even when your phone's off, they know exactly where you are because that internal battery just keeps on running, keeps sending a single for your geo fencing. I don't think people understand this,
but this isn't the last you heard about these cameras from me. These cameras didn't help me when you put a gun to my head and arrested me. Did it on a false accusation. So, these cameras wouldn't done anything for me.
And I can show you case law where this has been ruled unconstitutional. And I'm probably going to show it to you because on the news they're all talking about China. China hears, baby. Stalin,
Mao, Hitler, he they're rolling over in their graves with what you guys are getting away with. They wish they could do what you guys do. That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, moving on to commission
communications. Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Yesterday, I attended the MO meeting in Sarasota and it was a presentation given on the Breeze transportation.
And I gave the opportunity for Commissioner Stokes to let them know that sections of Northport, especially the section, anybody who lives north of I75 in the city of Northport,
cannot use Breeze on demand, even though they pay for it and they pay taxes. Uh I spoke to the lady who gave the presentation after the meeting and she
told me that basically the MO gives sections just a certain amount of money and that's it. And apparently they consider that over 75 uh that would that
would cost too much even though people pay for that service. Um, so I think we should all make an effort to let our county commissioners, uh, I did speak to one of them yesterday, Mr. Smith, uh, that our
citizens deserve to be served also. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Stokes. >> Radio quick. >> Thank you. Not that attended the Salvation Army ribbon
cutting uh budget eaten greet the uh Northport PD do the right thing annual recognition dinner which is always a treat >> audio there sunshine. >> Oops. >> Excuse me. Should I start over? >> No. Go ahead.
>> All right. Uh attended the uh ribbon cutting and king plasks for the YMCA early learning. uh attended the uh county EDC economic outlook um breakfast which uh you know was uh interesting to
say the least and I also attended this past Saturday night the chambers night at the races which is their big event big fundraising event so it was a pretty full week and uh it's always good getting out there and uh engaging with all the other things that go on other
than our commission meetings that affect our city. So, thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Yeah, I attended the Do the Right Thing banquet. That's always one of my favorites. I mean, just to see the kids getting recognized and their families there in a banquet setting,
it's it's it's heartwarming. Um, I also attended the uh night at the races with the chamber. That was a very fun event. Got to see a lot of people and everybody enjoyed themselves. I don't think we won one race. I think we donated most of the
evening. So, I mean, it it went to a good cause, but most importantly, I want to give a sincere and heartfelt thank you to city manager and staff for working with me and working with the citizens and the veterans to try and
make the two ceremonies on Friday cohesive and be able to work. And unfortunately, today we received uh confirmation that the VA clinic is postponing there. So for the valiant attempt, I thank you
very much, sir, and make sure staff knows how appreciative I and quite a few of the veterans in the community are. So thank you so very much. And uh we'll see you Friday for our grand opening of the
circle of honor. So 11:00 still, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> We're not switching back. No, I'm just teasing. >> You're not. >> Uh Vice Mayor, you're up. >> Thank you, mayor. um anyone who's interested in my activities, I always post them to my commissioner Facebook
page. So, I would simply point you to that location. Thank you, >> Commissioner Pedro. >> Thank you, Mayor. I attended Economic Development Corporation outlook uh breakfast. It was very informative. I
also did go to the Jinx Plastics groundbreaking, not ribbon cutting, groundbreaking uh of the YMCA kindergarten academy. It was very enlightening and talked to many
people, a few people. It was it was good to see the progress in our community. Is that it, sir? >> Deputy city clerk, you got anything for us? >> No, sir. >> City attorney? >> Nothing, mayor.
>> How about you, city manager? >> No, thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Thank you. It's 8:40 and we are done. >> Contamination, our first tote, >> right? >> We have yard waste which does not belong in there, >> right? and we're going to end up tagging
this and they're not going to collect it because of that. >> Okay.