for a short period of time. But after a while, I started thinking about the utility. It was in my heart. At this point, I had almost 12, just two months shy of 12 years in. And so, I realized during that time, my heart was in utilities. And so, I started looking
around again. I seen an opening here to be a CN tech. So, I applied and I got in. Typically, I get here at 7 in the morning. I get my list of, you know, if I can get to this, this is what I need to do. and I get in my truck if if I need any supplies, parts, tools based
off of the work I was given that morning, I'll pick that up here at our shop. And then I head out and um my goal for the day is just to get as much work as that was assigned to me done as possible. And sometimes that happens and other times there's a lot of first response calls that come in. My favorite
part is the uniqueness. It's um not knowing what I'm going to be faced with every day. It could be different. It's not mundane in any way and it's exciting when you get a call and you're you're on your way and you don't know what it is and you you have the experience and the
knowhow and the backing to face whatever it's going to be. So I feel very confident in facing these calls and I think that's my favorite part. Hello, my name is Devon Pulis. I'm the aquatics facilities manager with the city of Northport. And today we're going to be talking with you guys about our
free swim evaluation. It's important that we do these swim evaluations. So, as uh kids are registering for swim programs, they get placed in the right class. What we're looking at when we're doing the swim evaluation is every swim level has what's called exit skill assessments. So, what we do is we have your child get in the water and we'll go
through a series of different movements. Can you go under the water? Uh can you show us your front crawl? Can you show us back crawl? Can you show us elementary backstroke? Different strokes within there. And what we're doing is we're trying to see where your child tests to before it becomes a challenge for them at that point. Once we assess
that, then we'll let you know and you can go ahead and sign your child up for that appropriate level there. It's important that we have these so that way when we're teaching a level one, we don't have kids that should be potentially in a level two and a level one class because they're not learning the appropriate skills that they need at
that point in time. Right now, uh when we're in full summer operations, uh we ask that people come between 8 and 10 to do the swim evaluations just as you can hear the water splashing in the background, slides and everything like that. But any day of the week uh that we're open, you can come in at any point in time and ask for a swim evaluation. We always have a certified swim
instructor on site that can uh have your child take a swim assessment. Frankl, sawways manager. I am here today with Mario Vendidi. Mario, tell people here how long you've been doing this job. I've been here five years. Five years. Excellent. Excellent. So,
Mario, tell people what it entails, what you do. I'm a planner scheduler for Solid Waste of the City. And um I go around and I I greet the new residents and I educate them on the recycle. Excellent. Sounds interesting. Very good. Yep. So Mario, what do you find inside the recycling bins that shouldn't
be there? So let's try to tell the people how to recycle, right? Well, the most common thing I find, Frank, is plastic bags. Okay. So the plastic bags are not recyclable. I find them just tossed in the container or they bag the recycle with them. Right. And they should This is inside the blue containers.
That's right. Inside the blue lid containers. Correct. And they should be either taken back to the grocery store or tossed in the trash. Very good. Do you see a lot of recycling inside the containers? Uh I do. I come across a lot of that. Okay. We don't want to do that. So, okay. So, if you have any questions, you
can always look at our website ww.northportf.gov/solid waste. [Music] 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. 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. All right. Good morning everybody. Today is Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. It's 10:00 a.m. We're in city chambers
and I call the city commission regular meeting to order. This meeting has been properly noticed and will be conducted as a hybrid meeting requiring the use of communications media technology CMT. A physical quarum of voting members is
present in the city commission chambers. A hybrid meeting allows voting members to attend and participate without physically pres without being physically present in the room uh where this quorum is convened. Um commissioners present,
Commissioner Duval, Commissioner Langden virtually, Mayor Stokes, Vice Mayor Emmer, and Commissioner Pro. So quum present for this meeting. Uh need to hear from our virtual attendant. Uh attendee, there is a statement. Commissioner Langden, you need to read for us.
Great. Thank you, Mayor. As authorized by city commission policy number 2021-10, I am attending the hybrid meeting by a communications media technology because I am experiencing a medical condition,
illness, or disability. And if I may, mayor, um, be because of my surgery, I'll I won't be talking much today, which will probably make Vice Mayor very happy. Thank you. We appreciate that.
With that, uh, I'm going to need a, uh, motion to approve the use of CMT for, uh, this hybrid meeting. I move to accept the use of the CMT for a hybrid meeting. Second. I got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner D to
accept the use of CMT for this hybrid meeting. Let's go ahead and vote, folks. Oh, that's right. Votes everything today is going to be voice vote. So, Commissioner Pro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes.
Mayor's a yes. Commissioner is a yes. We have four to zero to approve. And I'm a yes. I can I can vote, mayor. Oh, well, I didn't know. We haven't decided if we're going to let you vote. We are five to zero. All right. With that, um, we'll move on
to also present, city manager Fletcher, interm city attorney Golan, city clerk FA, board specialist Lindner, police chief, who do we have back there? Oh, Captain King. Thank you, sir. And fire chief Titus. Uh, let's see. Aban, you
want to lead us in the pledge? Thank you, sir. To the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
All righty. Looking for a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. We got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to approve the agenda. And again, voice vote. Commissioner Petro, yes.
Yes. Vice Mayor's a yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Lang, I'm sorry. Yes. And Commission Langden is a yes. We have five to zero. That passes. Uh, let's see.
I guess we're looking for any general public comments. City clerk Gregory Kohley. Proposed tax heights. Again, I used to try and get involved and attend public commissioner meetings, but it came became crystal clear you five commissioners don't listen to nor care
about the people you were elected to represent. So why should I bother to waste my time on getting involved? Nothing changes. My trim notice shows you are increasing my north portion of property taxes by another 6.4% on top of last year's 6%. Yet by contrast, my
social security cola only rose 2.5% this year and Sarasota County only raised their adorum portion by 2.8%. 8%. So why does Northport need so much more money to spend? The answer is very simple. Out of control Fletcher spending that you five continue to support? I will remind
you, you five were elected to represent us citizens, homeowners, and seniors, not to give in and shower city hall with all this money. Give yourselves big fat payraises and stick us with a 6.4% tax increase. But again, it is crystal clear that you don't listen to nor give a crap about us property owners. Year after
year, you continue to approve higher and higher taxes yet provide little to no increases in c city services. Thus, I can't wait to vote out emerges next year and you other three shortly thereafter. I am going to remind you five in this entire city hall. You work for us citizens, we the people. We don't work
for you. You are not kings, queens, and royal court. And we are not your lowly peasants whom you get to kick around, steal from, and or tax to death. I am sick of the five to six to 7% tax hikes when clearly you are just patting your pockets with our money because Northport
city revenues are at an all-time high. So why do you need to raise my taxes 6.4% again this year? Greed and waste. And that's all. Mayor, thank you very much. Uh with that, we're moving on to the consent agenda. Um city
managers, any items been pulled? Yes, sir. Just one item. Item W, resolution number 2025- R65. All right. Um, and who pulled that? Commissioner Lincoln.
All right. Well, let's see. Uh, so let's do this. Uh, we got any public comment on the consent agenda? There is none. Then I'm looking for a motion. I'll make it. I move to approve the items in the consent agenda. Pulling item W for
discussion. All righty. We have a second. Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to uh approve the consent agenda accepting uh pulled item
W. With that, let's do a voice vote. Commissioner Petra, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor Z. Commissioner Langden, yes. and commissioner. We've got five to zero to approve the consent agenda. Uh
Commissioner Lang. Sure. Thank you. Excuse me. Given that the city has a pending lawsuit with um Central Park, I believe that we should table this conversation
until we have an opportunity to consult with litigation counsel. Um uh I had a brief conversation with city attorney uh acting city attorney Golan. Uh he brought it to my attention that
while I think all of us would like to see uh a conversation with our outside council over this litigation before we do anything with regard to this this development project. my understanding and correct me if I'm wrong anybody that
uh platting is is basically an administrative approval and so I'm not sure that it it does us any good to try to table this item. Um not to mention a little bit of sensitivity to the fact that time is money and delaying for you
know a period of time um may have some financial impact um you know that's not withstanding the concerns we have over the bridge issue at Tuscola and and uh our desire to see that issue be resolved. So um you know I don't know if
anybody's got any thoughts here if if Mr. go and would care to weigh in a little and uh you know articulate if you'd like. Thank you, mayor. I'm sure you're as you're aware the legislature passed uh
Florida statute 177071 and that requires that class be approved administratively. So, um that was effective in July 1. So, if if um you don't approve it here, photo law requires to be approved administratively. it meets requirements
of law and I'm not aware of anything that prohibits this platform from being approved administratively. I mean um you know I know uh Mr. Goolan's doing everything he can to set up a a meeting for the commission with count outside council with regard to
this issue and u you know the sooner the better so we can figure out what to do. Um you know that's a conversation for another day. So, uh, with that, uh, Commissioner Langden, I don't know if you've got anything you might want to
add or say with regard to it, but I don't Well, I I would just ask Thank you, Mayor. I would ask that if plats are now approved administratively, why is it on the agenda? [Music]
So the there's a resolution on your agenda later in the agenda um to designate prefer statute someone from the from the city to approve those administratively. So once that is approved it will be that will be done. So we're going to be complying with Florida law which requires that to be
done um once that resolution is adopted. Okay. Thank you for that. Um so I guess I'm entertaining a motion on on this item. I'll make it. I move to
approve item W resolution number 2025-R65 as presented. I'll second. All right. Got a motion by Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dell to approve resolution number 2025-R65.
Um, there's nothing more to that. We'll do a voice vote. Uh, Commissioner Pro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor is a reluctant yes. Uh, Commissioner Langden, I'm an O. And, uh, Commissioner Dval, yes.
And that passes 421. Moving on to public hearings. Resolution 2025-R67. This is a quasi judicial hearing and um as a result, city clerk, uh if you could read by title only and the swearings.
Resolution number 2025-R67, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, vacating the drainage and utility easement for lot 32 and 33, blocks 329 of the fifth edition of Port Charlotte subdivision, providing for findings, providing for recording, providing for conflicts,
providing for subability, and providing an effective date. Can everyone wishing to provide testimony please stand and raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to provide is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge to help you God? [Music]
You are up. No. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, we have experte. Uh, Commissioner Pro, I'm sorry. Thank you. I was approached by the representative of a petitioner to look into the process, how to do it,
and I've referred them to the city manager. That's about it. I have none. I have none. Uh, Commissioner Langden, I have none. and Commissioner Dval.
Yes, those are my discussions with the city manager in my oneon one in my prejob. All righty. Pre agenda. Very good. Then city clerk, any grief parties?
Then we are up with uh believe applicants presentation. Um okay. Good morning, commissioners. Adriana Silva, planner 2, development services. I have been sworn in. Today, we'll be
discussing 2737 Cottage Lane vacation appeasement with resolution number 2025R-67 through petition number PAC 253060. The applicant is Yuri Kaju. The property owners are Yuri Kovaju and Margarita
Kovaju who are present here today. They are requesting to vacate the platted six foot wide drainage utility easement located on the interior sidelot lines in order to have a clear title on the property for future sale if they desire to pursue that. The location of this
property is 2737 Cottage Lane PD0988-3-2932. On the screen, you can see a survey of the area to be vacated. That is 1,380 square feet proposed to be vacated. Again, this is the interior drainage and
utility easement. Please note that the house and their AC and their pool pump as well as the shed is currently located on the portion of the easement to be vacated. The total property area is 43,921 square ft with a total easement area to
be vacated of 1,380 square ft. The following agencies have reviewed the request to vacate the easement um according to state statute and the the
all of the utility responses are listed here and reflected in the staff report. All agencies have approved the vacation of easement uh excluding airrass. They did not provide a response but the procedure is that if they do not submit a response within 10 days, it is
presumed that there is no issue with the vacation of easement. So this ha this request has been reviewed in compliance with Florida statute chapter 177 and thec chapter 2 and is found to be in conformance with
both Florida statute and the development review regulations. Staff recommendation is approval of the petition number PVAC 25503060 via resolution number 2025R-67.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um no other presentations. We got any rebuttal? Would you care to rebut yourself? No.
Very good. Um, any public comment? Uh, commissioners, any questions on this item? Commissioner Dval. Thank you, mayor. Uh, I would just like to verify that the applicants have paid
city fees. Yes. To have this done. And we do have the receipt of all applicable taxes paid in the staff report. Thank you. Welcome. You're welcome. Um, closing arguments. No, none. No closing arguments. Uh, I'm going to
close this public hearing and request a motion. Make it move to adopt resolution number 2025-R67 as presented. Second. Got a motion by vice mayor, seconded by commissioner develop to adopt resolution
number 2025 dash 67 as presented. Um that if there's nothing more, let's vote. Commissioner Petro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor is a yes. Commissioner Langden, yes. And Commissioner Dell, yes.
That passes 520. All right. Moving on to resolution number 2025-R61. Uh, city clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. Resolution number 2025-R61, a resolution of the city commission of
the city of Northport, Florida, revising the list of proposed infrastructure projects funded through Sarasota County's collection of the 1% infrastructure sales tax proceeds for years 2025 through 2039, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and
providing an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. All right, city manager. Sure item, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this item is just to clear up a few items that were previously discussed uh for our certex
list. Uh one in May 14, 2024 during the city commission regular meeting, the city commission approved resolution number 2024-R17. It transferred funding from the road rehabilitation project and eliminate the projects for the public safety training buildout in the public safety complex
classrooms in years 2030 to 34 and the Certex 4 project fund to fund the emergency operations center. In December on December 10th of 2024, the commission regular meeting um this commission approved ordinance number 2024-45,
ordinance number 2025-45 budgeted the voter approval bond proceeds into a capital fund for the Price Boulevard phase 1 widening project. At this time, the Price Boulevard phase one project was eliminated from the Certax 4 project list and a debt service was added to the
certax fund expenses. The Warm Middle Springs Park master plan implementation CERT tax 4 project for $5 million in the years of 2030 to 34 was eliminated and the funds were transferred to the Warm Middle Springs building rehabilitation project and the annual parks amenities
program was included in the original search board list but since has been determined not to meet the criteria for infrastructure and removed from the project list. Um, we ask that you adopt option one, which is to adopt resolution number 2025-R61
today as presented. We're happy to answer any questions you may have. Mr. Mayor, thank you very much, sir. I believe Commissioner Dval, you're Thank you, Mayor. Uh, as a city manager just went through, you know, this is a list of items that we have all that that
have been discussed and okayed before, and this resolution is putting them all together. Uh, I recommend we pass this. Sounds good. Anybody else? All righty. Uh, any public comment?
In which case, I'm going to close this public hearing, request a motion. I'll make a move to adopt resolution number 2025-R61 as presented. Second. And got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dval to
adopt resolution 2025 D-sh presented. Uh got a voice vote. Commissioner, it's going to be a lot of work today. Commissioner Petro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner uh um Langden, I'm a yes.
And Commissioner Dval, yes. Very good. That passes 520. Moving on. Resolution 2025-R64. City clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. Resolution number 2025-R64,
a resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, designated the city's administrative authority and administrative official for the administrative approval of plats and replats pursuant to Florida statute section 177.071, providing for incorporation of recital, providing for conflicts, providing for
severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you very much. Uh, city manager, your item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Adoption of this resolution would designate the city city's unified land development code administrator as the administrative authority to receive, review, and
process plats and as the administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying a proposed plat or replat, ensuring administrative efficiency and consistency and compliance with Florida statutes. Um, we ask that you choose
option one today, which is to adopt resolution number 2025-R64 as presented to ensure compliance with the full statutes and provide efficiency and consistency in the new development review and approval process for final plats and replats. We're happy to answer
any questions you may have. Good commissioners, anything to this one? Any questions? Just to reiterate, city manager says this is a resolution to uh to stay in compliance with the uh
with the Florida statute 177.071. So you know from this point forward, administrative approval of plats and replats um are administratively handled per the state law. So, with that, uh, if nobody has
anything else to this, uh, I'll ask city clerk any public comment. There's not, uh, then I'm going to close this public hearing, request a motion. I'll make that motion. I move to adopt resolution number 2025-R64 as presented.
Thank you, sir. We have a second. Second. We got a motion by Commissioner Dval, seconded by the vice mayor to adopt resolution 2025-R64 as presented. Voice vote. Let's go the other way. Commissioner Dval, yes. Commissioner Langden,
I'm a yes. Mayor's a yes. Vice Mayor, yes. And Commissioner Petro, yes. That passes 5 to zero. Moving on to ordinances. Uh, ordinance 2025-22.
[Music] And, uh, do I need a motion? Uh, I need a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only. So moved. Need a second.
Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by commissioner Dval to uh direct city clerk to read by title only. Uh, voice. Commissioner Petro. Yes. Vice Mayor. Mayor's a yes. Commission. Yes. and commission 5 to zero. You are
up. City cler ordinance number 2025-22 an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida amending the future land use designation from conservation to agriculture estates for approximately 3.30 30 acres of land generally loc located located west of Jennings
Boulevard in section 24 township 40 south range 20 east of Sarasota County and further described in instrument number 2022010157 and official records of Sarasota County amending the city of Northport comprehensive plan chapter 2 future land use map 2-7 providing for findings
providing for adoption providing for transmitt of documents providing for conflicts providing for severability and providing an effective Thank you, ma'am. City manager, you're right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I see our assistant director of
development services rising to the podium. I'm going to turn it over to her for further discussion. Thank you, sir. Uh, good morning, mayor, commissioners. Lori Barnes, deputy director of development services. Uh this morning I
am presenting on behalf of Gabriel Quentis, our assistant director who is unable to be here. Uh this is a smallcale comprehensive plan amendment to the future land use map petition PLU2502427 by ordinance 202522.
Uh in this case the applicant is the city of Northport. I know that it is uncommon for the commission to see petitions for future land use map amendments and resonings initiated by the city. There is a specific reason in this case that the city has initiated
this petition. Um when the new future land use map was adopted last year, this property was um was assigned a conservation future land use designation and a conservation
zoning designation. That is because it was a carry forward from the prior future land use map and zoning map. Um the si the planning and zoning staff in preparing the new maps looked at those conservation designations and carried
them forward unbeknowing that in complete conflict with the comprehensive plan designation for conservation. The unified land development code permitted single family homes on conservation property provided the property was 3
acres or more. Um, this property owner submitted an application to build a single family home and upon learning the issue with the mapping and the conversion to the new code, the city initiated this
petition to correct the matter. The property owner is John Acriman and Veronica Acriman and the request is to change the future land use designation of a 3.3 acre property from conservation to agricultural estates. Uh this
property is located west of Jennings Boulevard in the proximity of the Mak State Forest. Uh, this property has existed in its current configuration since at least 1986 and was specifically excluded from the
transfer to the public agencies that would own the state forest. Uh, the site is currently designated as environmental conservation on the future land use map with an environmental conservation zoning. The surrounding
future land uses and zoning for the most part are parks and conservation uh with the exception of the properties to the east which are designated low density residential. This future land use map amendment was processed for management review and no
comments were issued by the reviewing department and the city attorney's office has reviewed the proposed ordinance and approved it for form and correctness. Staff reviewed the proposed application for consistency with the Florida statutes, the city's comprehensive plan,
and the unified land development code. This is a small-scale amendment, which means it's under the 50 acre threshold. So, um, if this is approved on first reading, it will not be transmitted to the state for review. It will simply come back for a second reading.
The property is not in an area of critical state concern either. Uh pursuant to chapter 163 3177 of the Florida statutes, uh staff has reviewed this application um for a determination as to whether public services and
facilities are available um and whether this property redesation would contribute to urban sprawl. and we find that it does meet the requirements of Florida statutes. Uh we have reviewed this application for
consistency with our comprehensive plan including the property rights element. Um due to this misdesation on the future land use map and zoning map. Um the property rights of the people who own this property have been removed due to
the current conservation designations disallowing single family development as compared to the prior designations which permitted a single family home. Uh so this comprehensive plan amendment and amending the map designations would be
consistent with the property rights element. Um this um designation is consistent with the conservation element and we do have um safeguards in place during the development review process to ensure
that any rare endangered species are protected um and that any uh wetland areas or other environmentally sensitive lands are treated properly through the development review process. uh this um designation and this one
property because it's for a single family home is actually exempt from public schools concurrency review. And finally, we've reviewed for compliance with chapter 2 of the ULDC and the decision criteria contained in
there for redesating future land use assignments. Uh notices of the public hearing were um mailed to the owner of the property as required by Florida statutes 166041. And we mailed uh notices to the property
owners within 1320 ft of the the subject property 15 days before the first public hearing as required by the ULDC. Um, the petition will be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation 10 days
prior to adoption pursuant to uh the Florida statutes and the city code. Uh, as required by section 2.1.4 L1 of the Unified Land Development Code, city staff held a virtual neighborhood
meeting on August 28th, 2025. There were no attendees for the meeting. Uh staff recommends option one, approval of ordinance 202522. And I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much, Commissioner Dval. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Uh thank you. Um, the reason that I questioned on one of our prior topics here, I questioned if if
the petitioner had, you know, paid fees um, regarding this topic. A citizen asked the question, why was the city spending time, you know, and city
resources, you know, cost money doing this? It's your explanation that the uh property owner, you know, did put in for permits, you know, to build a house. And as a result of that, the city found out, you know, that when you get down to it,
basically the city kind of made a slight error here in uh in this adjustment, you know, not having it done before. So, I thank you very much for that explanation. Thank you. And I see no reason why we
shouldn't move forward with this. Could would it be possible to explain why is this particular case different than the person who owns a piece of property uh in in in an area of the city that we've
reszoned, you know, where their intention was to build a single family house and we reszoned it to either mixed use or commercial or whatever. and and now they are no longer allowed because for the average person who might listen to this
they're going to say like you know you reszoned and you you know you can call it a mistake but maybe in their eyes they could call reszoning their property that they can no longer build a single house on a mistake as well by the city.
Can you explain that for not only the citizens but for me? Yes, mayor. Absolutely. Um much of the um many of the changes to the future land use map and the zoning map uh through the initiative to amend the ULDC
and bring the city from 8% commercial to 16% commercial were intentional. Those designations were applied in order to meet the goals in the strategic vision plan of the city commission. We
actually expanded the allowable uses for those properties. Wherein in this case because of the former conservation designation allowing single family and the current conservation designation
prohibiting any development whatsoever other than nature trails and parks and the like. um we have actually stripped this property owner of all of their development
rights. And because of that, if we don't proceed with changing the designations to restore their ability to build a single family home, we could be subjects to a takings claim under the Bert Harris Act. Perfect, Lori. Thank you so much for
that. Hopefully that it's, you know, explains it and uh it for me, so I hope it does for anyone listening. So, thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Anybody else? Dit uh Commissioner Pedro. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. You partially answered my question. U my just wanted
to be educated on this. So, the conservation designation is has it it's been since 1986, correct? Or this has been a platted lot for residential development since 1986. Um when the initiative uh came forward
to create the Maka State Forest um in 1998, this property was not incorporated in the land area to be publicly owned by the state. Um it was left behind as privately owned and therefore their
development rights stayed in place. Okay. So my understanding was because it's a conservation designation designated as a conservation, it cannot be changed. I'm I'm sorry, Commissioner Patro, if I could
Once it's designated as a conservation, it cannot be changed. It can be changed. Um, as far as a future land use designation and a zoning designation, um, there there is a a
method that can be um, used to provide for a permanent conservation easement on a property and that is done through recording a conservation easement document to maintain the property in perpetuity. The future land use
designations and zoning do not restrict the city commission from making a change to those designations if they feel it meets the criteria of the statutes, the comprehensive plan, and the unified land development code. That makes sense. The only question I
have is how the owner overlooked when they bought in 2022. They they did overlook that that it was designated as a conservation or again um under the prior future land use element and unified land development
code. There was an issue. The conservation designation in the comprehensive plan clearly identified that conservation lands were designated for preservation and minimal improvements. However, the unified land
development code specifically allowed single family homes on properties with conservation zoning provided they were over 3 acres. Now, that's antithetical and in complete conflict and we can't wrap our heads around
how former uh planning staff, commissions, etc. permitted single family homes in a conservation designation. But that's the facts. The facts are is that it was allowed. And with this recent
initiative, new future land use map and new zoning map, this property owner has been stripped of all of their development rights that they once had. Makes sense. Thank you. Anything more to this item?
Any seeing nothing? Any public comment? Maria Leslie. After the crooked and unjust citywide reasonzoning that just plagued the majority of its residents, I cannot fathom what nefarious purpose the city has to reszone conservation land. This
is very odd and a red flag to anyone paying attention. We should never reszone precious conservation lands, especially with how rapidly the city has been developing things in the last 5 years. Leave the planning staff alone. They have better things to do than degrade the Maka forest. And that is all. Mayor,
thank you very much. Hopefully, Miss Barn's explanation helps. Uh, with that, I'm going to close this public hearing, request a motion. I'll make the motion. Go ahead. I move to continue ordinance number 2025-22
to second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Second. Got a motion by Commissioner Dval, seconded by the vice mayor to continue ordinance 2025-22, the second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Uh, we'll vote by voice. Commissioner
Pro, yes. Mayor, yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden, yes. And Commissioner, and that passes 520. Moving on. Ordinance 2025-21.
It's a quasi judicial hearing. Uh, and I request a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only. So move. Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded
by Commissioner Duval to direct city clerk to read this um by uh title only. Uh let's vote. Um Commissioner Petro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden, I'm a yes.
And Commissioner Tal, yes. And passes five to zero. City clerk, you're up. Ordinance number 2025-21 and ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, reszoning approximately 3.30 30 acres of land located west of Jennings Boulevard
in section 24, Township 40 South, range 20 east of Sarasota County and further described in instrument number 2022 010157 in official records of Sarasota County from environmental conservation classification EC to agricultural AG classification amending the official
zoning map providing for findings providing for filing of approved documents providing for severability providing for conflicts and providing an effective date. Can everyone wishing to provide testimony please stand and raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to provide is true and accurate to the best
of your knowledge to help you got uh let's do experte communications. Uh Commissioner Pro none. The vice mayor none. Uh mayor's none commissioner Langden none. And commissioner Dval
just my one-on-one with city commissioner or city manager. Alrighty. Thank you, sir. Uh, any grieved parties? City Cler. Sorry, sir. With that, we're on to presentation. Um, Miss Barnes, you're up.
Yes, sir. Thank you. Lori Barnes, development services direct deputy director. Uh, I am presenting today on behalf of Gabriel Quentis, our assistant director, who is unable to be here today.
and I'm presenting a reasonzoning for the Acriman property petition PRZ252428. This is a city initiated resoning a companion to the future land use amendment you just heard. Uh the property owners are John and Veronica
Aki and this request is to reszone 3.3 acres from environmental conservation to agriculture properties located west of Jennings Boulevard in the Maka State Forest area. As indicated in the future land use
amendment presentation, this property has existed in its current configuration since at least 1986. And when the Maka Estate Forest was created um in 1998, this property was specifically left out
of the the um properties that were assembled to be under PI public ownership by the state of Florida. Currently the adopted future land use map designation for this property is environmental conservation with a uh
companion environmental conservation zoning district. Surrounding land uses are mainly conservation with the exception of property to the east which is residential low density. This resoning petition was processed for
management review and we received no comments from the reviewing department. City attorney's office reviewed the proposed ordinance and have approved it for form and correctness. Staffs reviewed the application for consistency with the Florida statute, the city's comprehensive plan, and the
city's unified land development code. Uh this petition uh will follow the procedure for adoption of ordinance and resolutions. It will be advertised 10 days prior to adoption pursuant to the state law. Compliance with the comprehensive plan
staff has reviewed for compliance with our future land use element, our public schools facility element, and our property rights element. and compliance with the unified land development code. Uh pursuant to Florida statute section
166041, we have uh provided mailed notice to the owner and we have mailed public hearing notices to property owners within 1320 ft pursuant to our uldc
as required by chapter 2 of thec uh development services staff held a neighborhood meeting virtually on August 28th. uh we had no attendees for that meeting. Um, as mentioned under the future land
use map amendment, uh, this correction to the mapping designations is necessary to restore the rights of the property owner to build a single family home which were available to them under the prior conservation designation uh, due
to the ULDC at the time prior to 2024 uh, allowing a single family home on properties three acres or larger. Uh, so staff recommends option one to approve ordinance 202521. And again, I'd be happy to answer any
questions you may have. Petro, thank you, Mayor. Just a circumstantial question. What if the meeting was attended by any residents and voiced their opposition? What would be the outcome?
Uh the outcome would be we would have u memorialized those those comments in the memo attached to your staff report which detailed the mailing notices and um that there were no attendees. If people had
attended that neighborhood meeting, your memo would have indicated how many people attended, what their comments entailed, and whether staff was able to address those comments or not at the time of the meeting. And that would be all incorporated in your packet for
commission consideration. And that's about it as far as the attendees voice whatever for or against. And yes, in this case, because this is a city initiated petition um to correct
mapping designations in order to avoid a uh takings claim, there really if we had members of the public opposing this, we would communicate that to commission, but it would not prompt staff to make
any changes. Now with a privately initiated development petition wherein a developer holds a neighborhood meeting, the neighbors come to the meeting, they have concerns, the developer does in some cases modify their site development
plan or tweak it to minimize some concerns of the neighbors as to impacts of that development on them. So that is the the primary purpose of the neighborhood meeting um is for to bring the developers and the neighbors together to work through concerns about
a site plan. But legally the developer is not obligated to make changes in any shape or form or No, they are not. If if if their site complies with the unified land development code and the comprehensive plan, they are not required to make any
changes. In some cases, they do anyway. Okay. Thank you. Just to also point out that there is remedy for uh it in situations like that with private development where neighbors um can actually justify uh themselves
being agrieved parties. there is a process for agrieved parties obviously as you see to be a part of this hearing and testify and um you know we've had that over the years where where they do qualify as agrieved but in this case there really are no agrieved parties. So
thank you. Um, seeing that there are no other presentations, do you care to rebut yourself? No, sir. I wouldn't think so for a minute there. I wondered. Just thinking about I do believe it.
Okay. Um, with that, any public comment? There is none. And then, um, at that point, we got closing arguments, I guess. No closing arguments. Just respectfully request you approve the ordinance before you as presented.
Very good. With that, then uh I'll close the public hearing and request a motion. I'll make that motion. I move to continue ordinance number 2025-21 to second reading on September 23rd, 2025.
Second. Got a motion by Commissioner Dval, seconded by the vice mayor to continue ordinance 2025-21, the second reading, September 23rd, 20125. Let's vote verbally. Uh, Commissioner Duval, yes.
Commissioner Langden, Commissioner Langden, yes. I had to unmute myself. I'm sorry. Yes. There you go. You're a yes. Mayor's a yes. Vice Mayor, yes. And Commissioner Pro, yes. And that passes 520. Thank you.
All right. Moving on. We have ordinance 2025-20. Uh need a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only. So moved. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to direct city
clerk to read this item by title only. Uh Commissioner Pro. Yes. Mayor. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden, I'm a yes. And Commissioner Dval, yes. That passes 5 to zero. See the clerk, if you'd be kind enough.
Ordinance number 2025-20, an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the code of the city of Northport, Florida, section 2-510, regarding subpoena procedures related to code enforcement hearings, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an
effective date. Thank you very much. Uh, city manager, you're item, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It is the recommendation of the city clerk, city attorney's office, and code enforcement division of the development services department that article 9, code enforcement, section 2-510,
subpoena and procedures, section A of the code of the city of Northport, Florida, be amended to comply with the Florida statute section 162.08. As such, this proposed amendment has been included in ordinance number 2025-20 for the commission's review and consideration. We ask that you continue
ordinance number 2025-20, the second reading on September 23rd, 2025 as presented. We're happy to answer any questions you may have, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this item?
We all good? Uh, any public comment? Then I'm closing this public hearing. Request a motion. Move to continue ordinance number 2025-20 to second reading on September 23rd, 2025.
Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to continue ordinance 2025-20, second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Let's have a voice vote. Uh, Commissioner Pro, yes. Vice Mayor, yep. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner
Langden, yes. And Commissioner, we have 520. Affirmative. Then this passes. Uh, moving on. Ordinance number 2025-9.
Need a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only. So moved. Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to direct city clerk to read by title only. Uh, voice vote. Commissioner Petro, yes. Vice Mayor, yep.
Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden, yes. And Commissioner Duval, yes. And we've got five to zero. Um, city clerk, you're up. Ordinance number 2025-9, an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, providing for the use of speed detection systems in school
zones, designating local hearing officers to conduct hearings on contested violations, and determining school zones where speed detection systems will be placed. Amending the code of the city of Northport, Florida by adding section 74-31, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing
for codification, and providing an effective date. Very much, city manager, your item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Chapter 166 of the Florida statutes and article 8 of the Florida Constitution states that the legislative body of each municipality is vested with the authority to enact
ordinances necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents. House Bill 657 is codified under chapter 2023-174 of the laws of Florida authorizes municipalities to use speed detection systems in accordance with certain
technical specifications established by the Florida Department of Transportation to enforce the speed limit in a school zone at specified periods. Uh, prior to utilizing speed detection systems to enforce eligible school zone speeding violations within it jurisdictions, municipalities are required to adopt an
ordinance authorizing the placement and installation of speed detection systems and creating administrative and enforcement procedures for the use of speed detection systems at designated school zones. We ask that you accept this ordinance u and continue it which
is number 2025-9 the second reading on September 23rd 2025 as presented to allow us to do so. We happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you sir. Commissioners anything to this item? Commissioner Dval. Thank you mayor.
There is nothing in this city that's more important than the safety, health, and welfare of our children. When I first saw this on our agenda, and my comment in my one-on-one with the
city manager was, "Yay." And I will not change that comment today. Yay. Anything else, Commissioner Pro? Yes. What would be the financial impact
on the city's budget? Um, let me see if that's listed in the items. So, give me one second. And is it going to be at the all schools zones or just selected once? It would be in specified areas of
our school zones. I'm not sure if Captain, but let me see if I can get that. I can answer that for you. Oh, you can. Yeah, there there are 10 schools listed on the in the ordinance. Um, and then also all future schools that might be
built in the city's jurisdiction. Financial impact on the budget. Captain Scott King, for the record from the PD, uh there is no financial output that we have to place to have this enacted into the city. So there is nothing that the city has to put out
first to get them to come into the city. Oh, so it's a third party type of a deal. Correct. The vendor will do all the work, all the placement of the devices in the city. Uh we do not have to pay for that at all. Do we keep any income so to speak from
the infractions? There is some that comes in, but it's distributed by the bill uh individual to uh crossing guard funds to uh traffic and safety education and then it goes through uh other sections. I can give you the specific
breakdown uh later if you'd like, but it breaks down the bill actually states where the funds go. And uh when does the installation or implementation of the program take place? Uh we have to get the ordinance created
first. Once the second reading is done, then the uh potential contract will be placed in front. Once that is done, they can give us a window of availability to get started to place the actual devices in the school zones. We're hoping by the
end of this this year, by December, we'll have all of them put in at the schools. Will that minimize the police presence in the school zones? The police presence will still be there, but these devices will actually register
without us having to be there. So, we can do actual police work outside of the school zones if we needed to, but we'll still be able to enforce the traffic laws inside the school zones even if the officer wasn't there. And in your
estimation, by what percentage the work would be decreased by the current police of force? Um, I don't have an estimate of what the percentage would be, but I can tell you from the beginning of the school year this year till today, we've already uh
had 214 violations that officers have observed in school zones that we can be in while addressing all the other calls for service. So this would be able to be educated for 30 days prior to the
installation and then after that any violations from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after. So those time frames of the entire day those violations would be notified. And what is the percentage of uh revenue
will be kept by the city as opposed to the vendor? I can't factor that because it all depends on how many violations occur. And do we have a selection of vendors whom we can choose? We as a city or is
it just one vendor and the contract is how long? Uh right now we will have a contract brought forward at the end of the month for after the second reading. But um we did venture out to meet with different vendors.
Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Anything else? Commissioners, any uh public comment? John Rain. Good day, Mayor Stokes, Vice Mayor Emage, and Commissioner Dval Langden and Pro. My name is John Rain and I
represent Genopic Smart Mobility Solutions. We commend the city in considering this important student and traffic safety initiative and fully support the adoption of this ordinance. Geno Genoptic is a preeminent designer, manufacturer, and provider of traffic
enforcement technologies with over 60 years of experience and 30,000 systems deployed globally, including nearly 4,000 of our systems deployed and operational throughout the US and Canada. We provide a fully endto-end solution, equipment, event capture, and violation processing with zero upfront costs to the city. Our North American
headquarters is regionally located in Jupiter, Florida. There are several firms that provide similar technology. We urge the city to research and interview several vendors or initiate an RFP procurement rather than looking next door to the vendor providing these services to neighboring or nearby
municipalities. This will allow the city to be fully aware and compare solutions, processes, services, and costs as well as the practice, successes, and challenges of each vendor. more importantly to make the most informed determination of the best firm to partner with that is responsible, responsive, and provides the most
cost-effective solutions that meets or exceeds the city's needs to ensure that a successful program is implemented. Again, we support the adoption of this ordinance and wish you the city wish the city the best with this initiative and anticipated program implementation. Thank you. And that's all, mayor.
Thank you. Uh with that, I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. I'll make it move to continue ordinance number 2025-9 to second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Second. And a motion by the vice mayor, seconded
by Commissioner Dval to continue ordinance 2025-19. Second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Uh we'll vote by voice of Commissioner Pro. Yes. Mayor, yep. Uh mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden,
yes. and Commissioner Duval. Yes. That passes 520. [Applause] Moving on to ordinance number 2025-23. This also requests a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only.
So moved. Second. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dval to direct city clerk to read by title only. City clerk, if you'd be so kind. Ordinance number 2025-23, an ordinance of the city commission of
the city of Northport, Florida relating to fines and leans amending the code of the city of Northport, Florida, section 2-511 to expand and clarify the lean reduction program for code enforcement fines, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. Uh, city manager, your
item, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh this item facilitates the remediation of code violations and encourages the reoccupancy of vacant or neglected properties uh thereby improving neighborhood conditions and the overall quality of life for our residents. It also ensures that administrative costs,
contractor or vendor abatement fees andor labor and supply costs incurred by the city for abatement if applicable and recording fees associated with enforment are not borne by the taxpayers. We ask that you approve ordinance number 202523 on first reading and continue it to
second reading on September 23rd, 2025. We're happy to answer any questions you may have, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir. Anything to this commissioners? And basically the value of this is what's the manager?
Is it a value? Yeah. This uh this would enable us to do what? You want me to it and you want me to reread what I just said, Mr. Mayor, or are you looking for something specific as in like a dollar amount?
Uh, no. just that um you know basically I guess we have property that you know in this city I just wanted to make the point for our citizens that you know the reason we're doing this it ensures that administrative costs contractor or vendor fees and labor
supply costs incurred by the city for inatement if applicable and these fees associated with the enforcement are not a burden to the taxpayers. Good. Um, any public comment on this item? You have one more um, commission
comment. Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Dval. I'm sorry, I missed you, sir. Oh, thank you, Mayor. Um, yeah, I just looked into, you know, the background information on this and u, basically sometimes we have leans and leans are put on a property. You got an unfinished
building. Uh, I have one on my street, been there for a number of years, and the city can't collect on that lean until something's done with the property. Uh, this holds back getting
the situation solved and getting the property back on the tax rolls in some cases. uh getting the neighborhood to look the way it should instead of in a half destroyed half finishedish
area. Um by instituting these minimum fees basically we can move forward and I recommend passage of this. Thank you. Thank you Commissioner Dval. That's what I was looking for there, sir. Thank you.
Thank you. Um, with that, we have any public comment? We do not. And then I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. Move to continue ordinance number 2025-23 to second reading on September 23rd, 2025.
Motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Defal to continue ordinance 2025-23 to second reading of September 23rd, 2025. Vote by voice. Commissioner Pro, yes. Vice Mayor, yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden,
I'm a yes. And Commissioner Duval, yes. And that passes 520. Moving on. Ordinance number 2025-29. Need a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only.
So moved. Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Duval to direct city clerk to read by title only. Uh let's voice vote. Uh Commissioner Duval, yes. Commissioner Langan, yes.
Mayor's a yes. Vice Mayor, yes. And Commissioner Pro, yes. Passes five to zero. City Clerk. Ordinance number 2025-29. An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, regarding quasi judicial proceedings, amending the code of the city of
Northport, Florida, section 2-79 through 2-84, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Very much, city manager, your item, Sarah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh the city code for quasi judicial proceedings uh is
requested to be updated um case law to reduce legal exposure and approval of this ordinance number 2025-29 will amend city code section 2-79 through 2-84 as follow uh clarifying definitions uh clarifies the agreed or
adversely affected party status uh request process requires the quasi judicial body to determine standing of persons requesting status to intervene. It modifies the quasi judicial proceedings to include determination of standing for agreed or adversely
affected party status requests after the introduction of the case. It provides that when a quasi judicial proceeding is approved by ordinance and the city commission approves the ordinance on first reading that the second reading will be procedural only unless a party notifies the city clerk that they have
new factual evidence that was not provided in first hearing first reading. uh and also includes a notification process in the event there is new factual evidence for second reading. It will be quasi judicial and a renoticing process if all parties do not confirm attendance or wave their participation
in the proceedings. Uh we ask today that you will approve ordinance number 2025-29 on first reading and continue it to second reading on september 23rd 2025. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Um, actually I have a
question for uh acting city attorney. Can we get a little background on this and and a little insight as to the issue of agrieved parties and the determination as to who is an agrieved
party and how why is this before us? Thank you for that question, mayor. Um, actually, assistant city attorney Caitlyn Coglin was the one uh who did most of the work on this uh ordinance. I asked for her to come and kind of weigh in on the benefits of the amendment and
how it should help with this with that exact process of grieved adversely affected parties. We're in trouble now. Yes, sir. Good morning. Caitlyn Coglin, assistant city attorney. I have not been sworn in. Do any of these sworn in? We're good.
Okay, perfect. Um, so here what we have is our quasi judicial as it stands is as you guys do it every single time. Um, the issue of an agrieved party is always something. So if you have standing to um
essentially interrupt into this proceeding, we want to make sure that it's being done properly. Uh, this new ordinance will allow you to look at the facts, look at the person, and uh, see if they actually have the standing to be
in a grief party so we don't run into issues later on. Typically, standing will be uh, looked at or appealed later on in a circuit court. Um but here it allows you to do that first initial um
look at the different parties and what they have going on and be able to um essentially say whether or not they can speak to the commission at that time. Um I don't know if you have anything you want to add but basically allows for
standing. So thank you Lori Barnes deputy director development services. Um, just to add a little clarity to what assistant city attorney Coughlin indicated, under the current quasi judicial proceedings,
a grieved party standing is not specifically determined through our quasi judicial proceeding process. The only way there's consideration of whether this person actually has standing under the law is if another party challenges that agrieved party
status. Okay. So that has not happened under the current ordinance because first of all those representing developers don't want to create issues that might make the commission look at them differently and uh staff
doesn't generally have um any specific purpose to challenge an agrieved party. So these agrieved parties are automatically found through our quasi judicial process to have standing and therefore if they appeal in
court they will automatically have standing in front of the court. So making a determination of standing of agrieved parties here in our proceedings can minimize the legal exposure of the city
because if someone is not found to have standing in our proceedings, they're not going to have standing when it comes to the circuit court. And how does this body determine what the guidelines are to determine if they're in the code in
they're in the new ordinance. Um and we staff will walk you through that. So um they'll need to indicate how they are have agrieved party standing. how are they affected more than the average citizen in the city? And then also
you'll take a look at for quasi judicial proceedings and um standing in those land development applications, you'll also look at are they within the notification proximity because that also impacts standing. You know, someone who lives 5 miles away from the project is
not necessarily going to be impacted more than someone who is within that 1,200 or 1320 ft. So, this was brought forward to um minimize the city's legal exposure and to streamline our quasi
judicial proceedings um in as much as they currently call for the second reading to be procedural, but that was never implemented. So, we've cleaned up that language so that it can actually be effectuated in our proceedings here in
this chamber. This does this still not limit or restrict, you know, citizens rights. You know, it's kind of a a fine edge. I mean, I I get that there's a standard by which a a
party is agrieved. You know, how does it affect them? Simply not liking something doesn't necessarily constitute, you know, being a grief. But, you know, it like
what problems did we have that's prompting us to do this? I I I you know, I'm I'm just I'm trying to understand. I feel as if like I I don't want to think that we're making it harder for citizens to speak up and
complain or object to whatever, you know, and and I'm wondering like what was broken that we're fixing here. Okay. So, I'll let uh assistant city
attorney speak to the case law. Um but one of the things that prompted this was case law. Okay. and what we've presented is consistent with case law um to ensure people have their due process rights and
to minimize the city's legal exposure. Um additionally, some of our quasi judicial proceedings can be very long and protracted. Um every agrieved party has 20 minutes to present, 10 minutes to
rebut and five minutes for closing arguments. And so when you have multiple agrieved parties that may not have standing under the law being granted that status, you, your staff, your attorneys are here
for hours and hours and hours wherein that person who was granted standing because no one challenged it is given that status when they're not adversely affected any more than any other resident or citizen of this city.
Caitlyn Linda, do you want to add anything? Not necessarily, but it allows for, you know, a third party who doesn't necessarily have the interest under the case law or have the interest that they would hold up in court later on. It allows you to make that determination here. That determination should be made
here. Uh, it's allowing for any future lawsuits for any future quote unquote agrieved parties who may not have that standing to even bring that forward to the commission. Um, they're now doing it in a larger court. So, it's it's absolutely helping our our uh the way
that we're doing things here. Um, and it's following the case law in the sense that if you are not actually an agreved party, you have not found them as an agrieved party, uh, that they will not be able to get into that that proceeding. And also keep in mind, every
member of the public has a right to give public input through the quasi judicial proceedings. um whether they, you know, they they'll have their time during public input to speak. And and that designation really is intended for
people who are impacted to a greater degree than the rest of the citizenry of the city. Well, if you're looking for financial impact and a grief party who's doesn't necessarily need to be a grief party could then bring a challenge causing the
city dragging the city into litigation where they wouldn't necessarily have the right to be a party anyway. Just thinking of situations where there are potentially subject matter experts to a particular issue that might come before
us and the opportunity for a party who may not necessarily be agrieved, you know, to have the ability to present rather than 3 minutes which goes awfully quickly and it provides the opportunity
for um input to this body that may well help add perspective with regard to certain decisions in a quasi judicial we may make. Now, if the court decides that that person has no standing, they're not agrieved or someone challenges it,
that's a different story. But taking that burden on this board to determine whether a party's agrieved or not, I mean, I don't know. I mean, I've watched some of these go on and almost all of them go smoothly and there's
really hardly ever agrieved parties, but there has been a number of occasions where there has been and there's been some public input from individuals who have some interesting knowledge and experience in certain areas. So, I'm just wondering like if this doesn't sort
of limit public input and public opinion. While I appreciate the value it brings to us as a city and and the mitigation of potential legal exposure, I it to some degree limits
the public voice. I mean, I'm just Mr. Mayor issue, Mr. Mayor. Um, I I can offer that it's my understanding that the city commission can increase the time limits for public input if they so choose to do
so as long as they are granting that to every member of the public. So that might assist. Um, and then also keeping in mind that if if if this body if the quasi judicial body here at the city doesn't challenge that standing, the
court will not challenge the standing if an appeal is filed. So if we don't find that they that that standing is not appropriate, the court won't address that in an appeal either. So that is one of the reasons when we learned of this
case law, we wanted to bring this forward to you to to protect the city from that exposure. So, so as a point of clarification making the comment you did were this body to determine it wanted to expand the amount of time allowable. How
does that work? Does that uh you know I if we were to do that does that automatically mean forever more or can it be for a specific agenda item that comes before us a particular quasi judicial? I'm happy to answer that. Yeah. So, it would be per item the board
the board can vote to grant more public comment time for everyone who has public comment on that item on that particular item. Very good. Good thing to know. All right, then I'm good. Thank you very much for taking the time and patience with me. Uh, anything else? Oh, Commissioner
Dval. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I had a lot of the same concerns as the mayor has. Um, and actually on this, you know, I'm not a lawyer and
I was hoping that through this meeting I would get more information, you know, enough information, you know, to make to make an informed decision on this. And you know, based on what I've heard, um,
I want to reserve for myself the amount of time for me to go and read through city code. Um, so I would uh vote yes to move this to a second reading,
but when it gets to that second reading based on what I read in the next two weeks, um, I may change my vote at that time and city attorney, you or your staff can provide commission with a little more
information. Certainly, Commissioner Dval especially. Yeah, that's we're available. Beautiful. Uh, if I may, Mayor, I have a question. Yes, ma'am. The voice in the cloud has a question. Thank you. Um, Miss Caitlyn, who who
established how how were the criteria of an agrieved party established? Where and when were they established? Good morning again. So, if you look through the proposed ordinance, and I apologize I'm looking up to you since
you're on the screen. Um, if you look through the proposed ordinance, there's going to be separate ways that that we can do this. Obviously, there's going to be procedural issues that we deal with first. There's going to be a filing deadline. There's going to be due process that they are afforded. They have to follow those rules. They being
whoever the agreed party may be. Um, then we're looking at, if you go to page, um, assuming you have it in front of you, if you go to page five of nine of the ordinance in subsection B, um, if they've done so, if they've given their
notice and they've put together the u the application and the approval document for the matter, it goes through first reading. If they've done that before first reading, then you may look at them as an agreed party at that time. um as to if they have not gone to first
reading um then you have to make sure that they've done it uh let me see what page that is on standing on I believe it's on page six of nine then they can do it by second by second reading um there this is all laid out the purpose in this is the same way
that in a quasi judicial you have to have competent substantial evidence it's the same procedural aspect for standing We are basically laying out what you will be looking at to accomplish standing for them. It's not necessarily
to say that somebody who an outside party doesn't have standing on that. If they have that evidence that they are meeting this criteria, then they are able to do that. Um, but everything is laid out and I could go through the the entire thing, but it there's certain
things that if if it's procedural in nature, if there's new factual evidence of we've laid everything out and and fixed the ordinance as such. Okay. Again, let me try. Are these standard something that the city of Northport
um identified? You reference case law, so I'm assuming it isn't state statute that lays out who qualifies as an agrieved party. Who determines those standards? Yes. So, case law does determine those
standards. Um, there's a lot of case law and standing in general. This ordinance is directly impacted by that case law. um when you go through standing, there are certain due process rights obviously that these outside citizens have. Um all
of this is based off of that case law. Okay. And thank you. So this these are arbitrary standards that the city of Northport came up with. That's correct. And and what I could do is provide my brief of that um in
totality as it relates to the certain I think that will that will help you as well, Commissioner. the brief of that case law as it relates to the ordinance and why why standing is so important in these types of hearings moving forward. Okay. Thank you. That would be helpful.
I appreciate it. Of course, I'm all set. Thank you, Commissioner Pro. Thank you, Mayor. When I first thought first saw this, I got a little bit concerned. And Lori, you are correct when you said
if the court the court might decide um the standing and if it qualifies for a standing, but if the court proceedings might be put the court proceeding might put additional burden to the griefd party
and my my concern is you know I always try to put myself in that situation if I might be excluded from a griefd party designation. My my concern is parameters. Um,
from what I observed, we've never had anybody that would be not affected and still want to show up and take time of uh staff's efforts and commission. It's just for me
it's a little bit it's uneasy. It's it's it's not really black and white to go and vote for this. I want to learn more about this. Um the simple simple conclusion is what if I was in that
situation? I would be excluded. What if I'm not a part of municipality but I for whatever reason I have some interest here or uh it's just too exclusive in my opinion. But I might be wrong. I'm not a
lawyer and I want to learn more about this. But uh taking one law case and applying it to the future proceedings for the who knows how many years might be a bit of a
limited in nature and that is my and that is my concern because if you say yes the court will decide it puts additional burden on that party to go not only financially but timewise might take months or even a
here just to be at that spot. So, Commissioner Petro, if I may clarify, um, a few things. Um, first, if this board finds that someone has agreved party
status according to the Florida statutes and according to the standards in the draft ordinance, if it's adopted, then that person if they wished to appeal, they could appeal in court and they would have that standing on the basis that you found
they had the standing here in our quasi judicial proceedings. But they will have to go through the court and anything has to go through the court system. So for example, if there was a a development, if there was a development
and um we had a developer present a petition and we had a grieved parties from the neighborhood that met the requirements for standing and that 1320 ft or 1,200 ft, whichever applies per
the code. If the commission finds that they meet the criteria and they have standing and the developer the developer's petition is approved, then that is their next step in the due
process if they want to file in court. That there there is that's that's a a decision of the agrieved party that they need to make if they want to proceed with an appeal to the circuit court. I understand that. Okay. So if they have standing and
you've determined that there's no additional steps at the circuit court for that standing. Conversely, if you find that someone doesn't have standing on the basis of the state law and the criteria in the code or case law, then
that person would not be agrieved. They would not be found to have standing for a circuit court appeal. And that is appropriate because appeals in the circuit court can cost the city hundreds and thousands of dollars in legal fees
as Mr. Goolan had indicated. And so that is, you know, the primary purpose for bringing this forth to the commission is to provide that protection from legal exposure and provide for good
stewardship of the taxpayer dollars. Um and um moreover um Miss Caitlyn can provide the the the case law summary that we utilize to
prepare these proposed regulations and between first and second reading if the commission believes that that would be helpful. And when you say if the commission finds the the agrieved party to be valid or
validate what is the actual process in that? What is the what is the actual process in establishing that? Okay. So in the draft code there are there there is a definition of a griefd
party based on the state statute. There it there are criterias for which the commission will review the agrieved party's application and um as assistant city attorney
indicated they are on page um line 51 they are on page four of nine. So the city commission would need to find that the basis of the request complies with procedural requirements. The requesttor
is a resident, citizen, or owner of property in the city limits. If the basis of the request is the correct application of our Northport comprehensive plan or unified land development code that relates to reszoning and special exception
hearings, their requesttor resides or owns property within 1320 ft. and they've provided sufficient evidence or justification that they have a protected interest that exceeds
those of the community as a whole. If it's another quasi judicial proceeding, it's the same standard only it's the 1200 ft. Um so if the basis of then finally if the basis of the request is correct
application of the city code the requesttor must show a legally cognissible interest. So in the new quasi judicial proceedings, if the commission should adopt this
ordinance after the title of the ordinance is or or the petition is read, the first step would be determination of standing if we have agrieved parties. So you'll have the application that
identifies all of their information. We'll have a map up showing the proximity whether it's 1320 ft or 1,200 ft and we'll confirm whether that person owns property or resides within that
proximity. And then you'll consider the factual evidence or justification that shows that they have an interest over and above the community as a whole. That is how the process would work and that is how the process would support the
city's efforts to minimize our legal exposure. And if I could add on to that, so something to keep in mind and I know that this is has been the general consensus of of fear that not everybody's going to be able to come up and make these arguments or make these factual instances that they may feel
that they are grieved. The reason that we're looking at this long term is because the facts and circumstances that this board or let's say PAB determines during the quasa judicial hearing is what's going to a circuit court. So everything that comes out here, you
don't get to add more facts. You don't get you get to make appeals, but just like the facts and circumstances here are presented as they are. The same thing goes for standing. You could have a third party who comes in and gives you all of these facts that are not not going to be helpful to the city and then
later on we have no standing to basically say that they they had no right to be there. They had no right to come into this hearing and say xyz. Um so that's something to keep in mind. What happens in here in addition to determining whether or not somebody is
an agreed party is important for that circuit court hearing. if you already determine that they did not qualify or they did qualify, those facts and circumstances are going to be taken from that court. Uh, and that's really what we're trying to avoid and help. If you
are an agrieved party and this board is making that determination as the commission of North Court, it's not some circuit court making that determination later on who don't doesn't maybe have the fact. They're just reading this off of a piece of paper. So,
it does make sense, but it for me it's just premature. I'd like to learn more about it. Um, consult with our city attorney and possibly future city attorney, but I I just don't feel
that it's for me. I I need to to do more homework on this. It's a good intention, I see. But there's the other side that might be adversely affected and that's my fear.
Anything else to this matter, commissioners? Uh, any public comment on this item? Then I'm going to close this public hearing. Request a motion. I'll make it move to continue ordinance number 2025-29
to second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Do I have a second? Second. All right, ladies. Thank you very much. I have a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dval to continue ordinance 2025-29
to second reading on September 23rd, 2025. Uh, let's do a voice vote. Commissioner Dval, yes. Uh, Commissioner Langden, I'm a yes. Mayor's a yes. I'm a yes. And Commissioner Pro?
Uh, no for no. And that passes four to one. We need the second reading. Yeah. Why don't we take uh we don't need to take a lunch break, I don't think, cuz I think we can get right through the rest of it.
Yeah. So, let's uh it's 11:35. Let's take a 10 minute. So, at 11:45, we're back. That'll work. That'll work. You got me getting
are back in business. And next up, we got everybody here. Presentation uh 25-2702. City manager, if you'd be kind enough to introduce yourself. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is the
presentation of econ economic development update. Uh we will let Mr. Michael Mirman, our economic development division manager, lead us through a presentation. Michael, well, welcome. Thank you. Good morning. Uh Michael Mirman, economic development manager.
I'm pleased to be here today and to offer you a glimpse and insight into the activities of the economic development group over the last number of months. I should preface my comments by letting you know that we have divided our activities into three primary
categories. The first is business retention. The second is business expansion and the third is that of business attraction. I'll start out by letting you know that we have received a wonderful accolade
from Lending Tree. This is 45 days ago. Lending Tree announced us as the number three boom town in America. And you might say, well, what rates us as a boom town in their in their rankings? I have listed there. They've indicated that the GDP growth number that they have on
Northport, which shows a positive increase of over 11%, our population growth, which continues on the trend that we've been seeing somewhere in that 4 to 6% annual growth rate, and the earnings growth all put us in a number
three position, up from number six a year ago, number three boom town in America. We accomplish that in part by helping our business community and what they want to do here in the
community and stay in the community. And we do that through business retention. And one of the programs that we've instituted is to partner with the small business development center which is headquartered at the University of South Florida. and their consultive team comes
to the city on the first Tuesday of every month and takes up residence here and offers the business community free consultive help. It's a very nicely received program. It's very well-managed. Mr. Carpenter, who is pictured here, is a subject matter expert across a number of business
disciplines and he does an excellent job in supporting our small businesses here. And of course, again, this is a service that we offer to promote business retention in our community. We don't want our businesses leaving town. We don't want them going someplace else,
and certainly, we don't want them going out of business. And so, this is one of those efforts that helps support that objective. Another one of those products that we have developed which we launched back in September
um was this idea of having educational offerings on a monthly basis for the small business community on subjects that would interest them and help propel them forward. This eight class program which runs
through March of next year is partially underwritten by Cruz Bank. We went out and solicited their sponsorship to help defay the costs that were associated with developing that program. Classes are taught onsite at the SCF
campus adjacent to Wellland Park. And we have our third class offering happening and it is going to be attended by over 50 individuals on Wednesday, a week from
tomorrow. The continued growth of the small business community is demonstrated in some of these photos here. We've attended ribbon cutings, groundbreings, and support of our business community on a quarterly basis.
The local Sarasota, I'm sorry, the local Northport Chamber of Commerce has recently recognized us um as a chamber champion and we attended this event and received this nice recognition from them. uh Michael Mlen who is on staff
with us, attends many chamber events and is a fantastic community ambassador. Recently, we were asked to take a look at development activities here in the community and could we provide some new level of mapping that would give the
citizens at large the ability to see projects. And so on our website currently and for the last 3 weeks now you can access this current development map. It is very userfriendly. It allows
you to zoom in on any of these projects. Click on them, see more information about the project, see plans that have been filed, get a small infographic with a narrative that describes the project. This is the initial view that you see when you log on to our website and pick
the current development map page. And what I think is interesting about this page is it now has polygons that are colored and shaped according to the parcels being developed. And what's great about that is you can see the impact and size of the projects relative
to the city limits. And I think you can obviously see here on this particular screen that some projects are bigger than others. And of course, some don't even show up until you zoom on in. But uh the the nice thing is is that this is uh accessible by our citizens. And I can
tell you there's been tremendous amount of positive feedback from all sorts of folks saying, "Thank you. We now know what's going on. We can see it. We can click on it. We can read more about it." The attraction activity for the economic
development department has included attending trade shows. And in the last number of months, I have listed some of the trade shows that we've attended. The Southeast Assembly Show in Nashville, the Entertainment Experience Show in Los Angeles, and two real estate
based shows, one in Las Vegas and one in Orlando. I can tell you I was present at three of the four and those shows have proved to be phenomenal in terms of networking, contacting education for our own community as we compare what we're doing to other communities around the
nation, but also getting a sense and feel for the economic indicators that drive development in the different markets that we try to bring here to our own community. And so it's not just the retail component, a strip plaza, a
retail store. All sorts of projects, all sorts of silos of business are tapped into. I can tell you that my my rolodex, if you will, has grown uh substantially as a result of attending these shows, my contacts, and of course the sol
solidifying of relationships that um we need to make the right people at the right place at the right time. trade shows an important component of the economic development mix. We call these our inbound missions. We meet with site selectors, developers,
retailers, folks in the hospitality trade, those in the healthc care environment, and certainly those in the real estate investment component. I have recently had significant numbers of um uh discussions, phone calls, teams meetings, in-person meetings with the
real estate investment firms. They seem to like today's economic climate. They're they're um quite bold on real estate these days. They want to have discussions. They're looking for the next opportunities and they're looking to do what's right for the community. I
can tell you that every developer meeting that I have sat in, every real estate investment group that I have spoken to, and I do mean every, the first thing they ask is, "What do you want to see done in the city of Northport?" And I find it very refreshing because I'm prepared with
answers. Answers that are consistent with our strategic vision, our comprehensive plan, and the will of our community. And so when we find these inbound mission individuals talking to us and asking us what we'd like to see done, we're glad to know, you'll be glad
to know that we're prepared to speak with them. At the present time, I have a number of active relationships. I thought I'd give some samples for you so you could see the type of act activity and and development activity that that
we're pursuing. Um, many of you realize we have one active hotel in the community at this point in time. Well Park has talked about a Marriott flagged hotel boutique hotel that's going to go up in Wellland Park. But I can tell you that in addition to some of the chatter
about other projects, I am actively working with five other hotel years andor investment firms to build hotels within the city. Now I say I'm talking to them. If if two of the five come to fruition, it would be great because it
would be two more that we don't have today. We have recently looked at um mobile and cellular activity thanks to the visit Sarasota count's ability to access some software and we can see mobile activity here in our community
and determine where money is being spent, what people are doing. We can see them coming from other communities. They might eat at a restaurant. They might go shopping. We can track that data. We see that data. And then they leave town to go get hotel accommodations somewhere
else. So very interesting that um that data points to the fact that we have that need. The citizens know that we have this need. We all want to see some sort of new um hospitality development here in our community.
Along with the real estate investment folks who are looking to master plan certain properties around the community, one of the first things that they need to have done, of course, is to secure an anchor to kick off that property. and
and typically we think of anchors like Target or Walmart or Publix. Uh I am actively working with couple of different retail anchors 50,000 plus square feet to help those initiatives get kicked off so that those projects
can come to fruition. Working on three separate restaurant agreements although they may be quick service restaurants which are market driven market demand creates that. It's not something that we've pursued. the quicks service restaurant uh component of economic
development occurs naturally based upon growth of a community demand for a particular type of product and of course then there are those those fad products that do come out from time to time but I am working on three different restaurant projects as well
most exciting for me is the technology sector I have been pursuing this aggressively to bring technologyoriented businesses here to our community and begin to capitalize on what seems to be a growth pattern in many cities around the country, but do it our way. Do it
the way we need to see it done here in the city of Northport. Our citizens have asked for, we've heard it, we talk about it. They want things that are sports centric. And to that degree, I am speaking with organizations about
developing sports centric projects. You might think of baseball fields, soccer fields, indoor recreation activities, and yes, those are all included in these discussions, but also are sports centric mixeduse development projects that
include restaurants, retail, and arena styled sports activities. And so those discussions are active and ongoing. And lastly, something that we've just begun to pursue in the last 90 days is the entertainment component. Our
citizens have asked, there's a need for more entertainment options in our community. Um, next week we're seeing a youthoriented entertainment option. Uh, do the beach open up their grand opening. And so that serves that that u
that youth marketplace, but the adult entertainment that didn't come out right. The entertainment option for adults is lacking. You might hear things like bowling alleys and movie theaters. We're thinking well
beyond that. We're thinking of uh strong levels of entertainment through music and artistry. And so I have active projects along those lines as well. Where are you going to put all this stuff, you say? Well, what we're doing
is we're working, of course, with a blank landscape out in activity center 6 and 10. I say blank. We do have some residential out there in activity 10 existing uh homeowners. But nonetheless, it presents us with an opportunity to
develop uh and and utilize appropriately something on the order of 3,000 acres. And you'll see there that I've listed a few bullet points addressing the entertainment, retail, restaurants, sports, and technology sectors that can be built out in that direction. When I speak to organizations around the
country, I can tell you the theme of economic development is driven by redevelopment. And and we don't have redevelopment here to speak of. Redevelopment is the hot ticket around the nation. In fact, some of the folks that I've talked to to try
to attract to our community don't want to come here because they don't want to start from scratch. They want to take something over and redevelop it. Our comprehensive plan and our goals and objectives all point to us
finding homes for health care, life sciences, corporate headquarters, things of that nature. And it came to be that we could have corporate headquarters through aerospace and aviation. We could have logistics and
transportation sectors through aerospace and aviation. And so we went ahead and put together a study on the possibilities of serving as a secondary market to the aerospace and aviation industry. We're looking at the east coast where a lot of the aviation and
aerospace in Florida. And by the way, Florida is the leader in the nation in this category. most of it's centered along the east coast of the state. Yet along the west coast of the state, we have regional and executive airports that still need to be serviced. And so our study focused on
how do we service the west coast aerospace and aviation industry. It's certainly not through having runways, tarmac space, hangers and airport for general aviation. It is in fact through that secondary focus, that secondary
marketplace, logistics, supply, corporate headquarters, and research and development. And so we are speaking with and talking to folks in those industries about bringing them here to our community. Interestingly enough, to the south of us in Charlotte County, they
have a large presence with this industry, but of course, they have an airport. and to the north of us all the way up to Bradenton and Sarasota they utilize the Sarasota airport and they've attracted major players like Cirrus Aviation and others to come to those
communities. We fit perfectly into the model in between those two communities with the secondary market so that we can supply out the West Coast with parts, technology and development.
Thank you for your time this morning. All right. Um, I have some questions. Those of you who want to ask any questions and provide some input, feel free. I made some notes. What, Michael?
Are there any and and what and if so, what impediments are you finding with regard to attracting larger companies to this city that can bring sizable employment opportunity to our
citizens here? I mean, we seem to be doing real well attracting a lot of small mom and pop businesses. Um, you know, I see it all the time. I'm on the chamber board. I meet these people all the time. I go to the meetings. Uh we do a great job especially when it doesn't
involve brick and mortar, you know, at home in home businesses, but that's not creating job opportunities for our citizens here. And and I asked that coupled with I noticed your target categories and health care with the
hospital under construction. You know, to me, if we want to be a South County medical mecca, like there's real opportunity out there across the nation to attract businesses that would, you
know, fit well in and around the SMH facility. So, you know, what are we doing to to focus on that? And what challenges are you finding? Because I know you've got a workforce house. You've got that kind of background. So, I'm I'm I'm anxious to get people off
the roads driving north and south to their jobs and keep them here in the city if we can. Thank you. Great great insight, mayor. The um the challenges are obvious, right? Um economics play the leading factor as a challenge. Most
organizations of size are not making strategic moves unless it's economically feasible. Not just long-term, but short-term. And so that's the first challenge. And right now the marketplace doesn't necessarily lend itself to
moving from one location to another or necessarily starting in a new new location when you have scale at question. Um although that will change in a short order. And I think the hospital is a great example with the hospital coming on stream. We're going
to see organic growth around the hospital. We're going to see diagnostic centers, medical centers. We're going to see physicians. I am talking to a development firm um who happens to be in Sarasota about developing properties in
the area of the hospital that would accommodate professionals at the hospital. And so that's very interesting dialogue as well. They're wanting to attract the physician and professional staffing for that hospital and provide for them an easy access location for
residences, renting apartments and retail options. specifically for staff. And so I'm working with them to further develop that plan. Probably the leading obstacle that I get personally if I put it the economy aside, the economics of
moving aside, the the leading objection I have when I talk to folks is and what are you going to do for me? Right? And of course, um, I get very serious on that subject with these folks and I let them know, frankly, um, we're
going to provide you with ridiculously great service to come to the community and we're going to walk you through city hall and we're going to help you out. And of course, right away, they respond with, you know, they're they're wanting some sort of incentive. And I and when we get right down to it and talk to them about incentives, they realize that
that's just icing on the cake. It's not going to really make them move. Yet they do expect some sort of incentive at the largecale level. And the reason they expect it is not because the board of directors at that corporation, it's not because the CEO of that corporation, but
all these large businesses who bring scale to a community like ours have to look at how do they select a property? And they typically do it through professional site selectors. And the site selectors are hired by these organizations to help them relocate to a community. They have very
sophisticated software tools that say what if we went here versus there. And those tools through the power of technology will spit out their options. And what one of those options that gets spit out includes is what is the incentive for me to go here when they
compare that to an incentive to go somewhere else. You mentioned workforce. Workforce is a is a really strong and leading indicator of attracting a business to a community. It doesn't help us that 90% of our active workforce
leaves the city every day to go work somewhere else. And so we have to work on a formula that allows the work, live, play economic development so that our workforce begins to stay here or we
attract new residents who want to come here for that reason. Do we find that population growth and densities are also a strong determining factor in some of these businesses decision making?
Yes sir. In all of them. In all of them. Uh the word density is used frequently in discussions whether you are a steakhouse, a quick service restaurant or a corporate headquarter. Uh they're interested in the density of the
community, the number. And we're not talking about whether or not we have appropriate clearances between lots. We're talking about the number of of of citizens we have in the community within a geographic area. It's fun to note that we hope to be approaching that 100,000
mark maybe by this time next year. And that 100,000 mark offers us great opportunity for discussion around the density subject, but also uh for the workforce issues that people have questions about. And on the subject of workforce because you asked what we're
doing about it, right? So what's really important is we're working with the career source options who provide grant funding for training and development. We're providing training and development ourselves. We're working right now. I should share it wasn't in the presentation. I'm actively working on a
program with the uh uh Maninnesota and the Charlotte County score chapters formerly known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives. uh they are funded by the SBA and we have an active project on the table to launch additional
development activity through SCORE and of course that's always an attraction point as well. the um you mentioned the sports centric. Um, it just one of the things that have stuck in my craw for ever since I've
moved here and seen it go up is is the Brave Stadium in Wellen Park. and I sit on the county tourism board and I on a periodic basis like rattle the cages over why there isn't more activity down
there and why those fields aren't utilized why there aren't more events um why there just is not more action which you know there is certainly the desire on the public's part to have in this city and I am always continually pointed
to the fact that these decisions are made by the Braves. So, I I wonder what if anything we might be able to do there because um I appreciate that, you know, they're about baseball and and they've
got their priorities, but there are companies out there that are event type organizations and our parks and reccks folks do incredible job with all the events and and and programs that they
they service our community with. But there are professional uh event organizations out there who can jump in and and run yearround type of things at using those venues, which I I
mean, they're just sitting there unused. And I know the Braves aren't going to spend their money to do it. I don't know that we we want to spend taxpayer money to do it, but there are businesses in the business of making money at doing this stuff and it'd be interesting to
see how we explore that. coupled with the fact that I believe there's somewhere near around 80 acres that we've played with with the West Villages improvement district regarding sports tourism and um I know there is a window
a timetable window on what the city might want to do in in conjunction with the district on that and and I don't want to see that window elapse because if we don't do something to take advantage of all that land that could
help us with regard to sports tourism if that's what we decide is the best use for it. That just reverts back to the West Villages improvement district and they can build homes and we got plenty of homes in West Villages. Be nice to have something more. So I, you know, I I would, you know, urge you I'm not
looking for any real, you know, answers except that, you know, I think it's worthy of putting it on our radar screen because there's opportunity there. I think we we totally agree. Thank you, mayor. The your insight's fantastic. Sports centric is just a generic term that I
use today. Obviously, we have more specifics, but in indeed we do want to fill that category with exactly the things you described. And have you I got two more then I'm going to give it up. But um have you in our economic development department have
you created like a a set of goals and grading systems for you know how you how you're looking forward to like tracking yourself over the next couple of years and you know I mean
is there kind of like that goal or or objective oriented program going on or is it kind of like we're out there exploring where we see opportunities. I mean, is there a way to track your progress, your accomplishment, your
successes? Um, no, thank you. Um, I am by trade a strategist and so you might understand then that I am very driven by objectives and goals, tasks that are completed. We use u we use uh formal project planning
mechanisms. We do track our goals. Um uh I'll remind you've only been here with the city for 7 months and so all of that is getting off the ground but it has gotten off the ground and we do in fact have goals and objectives around uh getting things accomplished in these areas. Yes.
Beautiful. And the final piece is, you know, we with the ULDC and a comp plan rewrites, many things have become administratively handled throughout our city. And at a point in time back at that time of
approval, we requested that we get input on um development projects um not just of a residential neighbor nature, but of any kind of nature. And you know, we get a monthly report, I believe it is, or
bi-weekly, I'm not even sure. And it's typically a little chart and it's got how many applications this and that. really it doesn't help me to know anything. What I am requesting formally, if my com, you know, fellow
commissioners concur, is I would like quarterly development update workshops where key staff come before this commission and to the best of their abilities inform us on what's going on developmentally, not
just residentially, but commercially, industrially. And I know that there are confidentiality issues with some of these discussions and conversations that go on. So I know we might not be able to know who, but I think it would help us.
It would also help the community cuz I have to tell you, I learn more on Facebook when somebody says, "Oh, there's groundbreaking here, there's groundbreaking there, and I don't have a clue what's going on." And that is somewhat concerning on my part. So I'm being a little theatrical, but you see
where I'm headed. And and I know it's not just economic development alone. It's it's it's our development services department. It's it's it's a lot of departments. But I was hoping that, you know, I'd use this opportunity to make that formal request. And you know, if
anybody else, as they have some say here now that I've been as long-winded as I have uh want to weigh in, I'm I'm appreciative. So with that, I'm done. Commissioner Dval, you're up. Thank you, Mayor. Don't stab me people.
Close. I've been just looking at the Sarasota County Property Appraisers map and if you're familiar with it at all, very familiar with where our Woodland Middle School
is. It's um east of Toledo Glade and it's right up against I75. That's Sarasota County School District property.
But just souththeast of there headed down towards San Mateo is Northport City property. Has anyone given any thought to possibly using some city land for a front road
that would go parallel to 75 in that area for something like a fuel station? Um, you know, I you know, I know that gas t taxes can be revenue. So, in terms of development of roadways and whatnot, that's another group within the city that I wouldn't have any input
on, but to answer your question with respect to looking at city-owned properties. You bring a smile to my face. I would love to continue to look at city-owned properties for appropriate development uh particularly um citizen
endorsed development and and so yes we we have collected u um um and inventoried all the the city has done that before me but I have done it from an economic development standpoint and I have pointed to certain properties that
the city owns that I believe are appropriate for consideration for various typ of projects. Yes. And I would love to have that input uh where you think it's appropriate and we'll we'll look at those in case we haven't already identified them.
Thank you, Commissioner Petra. Thank you, Mayor. Just a technical questions question. I'm curious, how hard or how easy was it to get uh mobile activity monitor for marketing purposes?
How hard or how easy was it to get what, sir? mobile activity for marketing purposes. It was it was um a single meeting followed by a phone call uh with a an acting relationship that I have with the
Sarasota Visitors Bureau and they were all too happy as a county organization to share their um um uh data that was specific to our community. So, it was not difficult at all to obtain that
information. Thank you. That's all. Anything else? Commissioner Langden, anything? Um, not at this time. I'm really saving
my voice. All right. Thank you. Just want to make sure you're still with us there. All right. Still here. Uh with that then um uh any public comment?
There is none. So with that we thank you very much. Good luck. Keep up the good work. Thank you. And on to general business. Uh 25-2468. Uh,
city manager, your item, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item is discussion and possible action regarding the nomination for acquisition of parcel number 0997034655 under the Sarasota County Land Acquisition Program. Uh, as background
on this item, in June of this year, the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources received a nomination form for purchase of a property located within the city of Northport under the county's land acquisition program. The same property was reviewed by city commission during a special meeting on
April 27th, 2021, but there was a consensus to not prioritize prioritize or consider properties that are designated commercial within activity centers or neighborhood commercial zoning. Uh the nomination form was submitted by the realtor representing
the property owner. According to the realtor, recent changes to the land use regulations have significantly reduced the property's development potential. They believe the land's highest and best use is for conservation or public use. For reference, the subject property was
previously zoned planned community development and is currently designated as activity center one. Both zoning designations permit commercial usages. The nomination was received by the parks and reccks advisory board during the June 26, 2025 advisory board meeting
with the recommendation to support the acquisition as per established protocol. Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources have has requested that the city review this nomination and determine if there is support to move forward with pursuing the acquisition.
Um, we are here to answer any questions you may have in deciding which option to choose. Mr. Mayor, thank you, sir. Where exactly is this property located? Do we have a map that can come up so people can we can all see where this is located? Yes, we'll get the map up there. It is
located on Tamiami. It is across the street from the Anmarie Oyster Bar and next to the plaza that have the former Wind Dixie shop incinerated. Okay, commissioners. Yeah, I have a question. Vice Mayor,
now we discussed this a little bit in the one- on-one. It was under my understanding that the property owner is not the one that put this in for the nomination, but somebody else did. Is that correct? The realtor for the property owner put it in.
But the property owner wants this to be made conservation or no? According to the summary, they do want it to be conservation per the property owner. You as a commission said four years ago that you did not want it based on I I understand the four years ago
because I sat here. Uh but no, I mean there was very big reasonings on why we didn't want to because it was designated commercial and I still stand by that. Correct. Mayor.
Yes, ma'am. If if I may, I totally concur with Vice Mayor. Tammy Yammy is our prime industrial commercial development zone.
Uh even even more so than Toledo Blade and to undo any commercial um zoning for anything other than commercial. Um, it's a it's a hard no
for me, right? Um, what are the what kind of environmental concerns are there since this appears to be right on that waterway, a canal, I guess,
whatever it is there that's running along it. I mean, I mean, have there been is there any input from natural resource department on this thing? Good morning. Elena Ray, director of
development services. Uh, planning did not recommend approval for this going into conservation. Um, this property has had a conservation zone over a portion of the property for many, many years.
The new ULDC did not change that designation. Um it did not it did not increase uh the environmental uh regulatory constraints on this property. Essentially um because there are some
environmental constraints um along the water. the development would need to be concentrated uh towards Tamiami Trail and to the east
southoutheast. So um that that corner and the intensity that would be allowable for the entirety of the property could be concentrated into that area of the property. um if you try if they tried to subdivide the property and
put part of it in into a conservation that would reduce the intensity that could be allowed on that portion of the property. So um that those were the reasons why planning did not recommend moving this to conservation or or um
recommending it for acquisition. Thank you, Miss Ry. You know, it's I mean, boy, if there was ever a property that had opportunity from a commercial and retail standpoint, I mean, the
opportunity I mean, we have we've yet to take real advantage of our canals and and what waterways we do have to promote um entertainment type activities. And as long as it's done in an environmentally sensitive
way, um that's just an incredible property. Um you know, I I I also that the Route 41 Carter, there's no way that I I could see my way to reszoning that to conservation. Um I I can see my way to
doing it in in a bunch of other areas around this city, but not there. That there is too much opportunity. That said, I was happy to hear Miss Ray talk about the concerns over, you know, that waterway and and being as
environmentally sensitive as as we need to be a as development may come to that particular parcel. So, you know, uh, and if I may add to that, Mr. Mayor, um, there's a lot of development that would
take advantage of the view. I I know some of the long-term residents that I've spoken with in the past um really hoped that when Benderson built the Cocoa Plum that some of those
businesses would face the Cocoa Plum Canal um because of the beauty of that. I mean, anyone who's been to um I'm still under the influence of anesthesia. What's that little river
that runs through? Is it Austin, Texas? If anyone's been on that river walkway, it's like a trickle. And um there's all kinds of entertainment venues that take advantage
of that view. So, I agree with the mayor. We have to be judicious in terms of what goes in there, but the location of it would be appealing to a lot of businesses. I I think I've referenced in
the past Lashley Park um in Panagora. It's a very small um piece of property from an entertainment venue. It's right on the river and uh they have a professional
organization that comes in there several times a year and does a festival with music and food trucks and and all kinds of things. So maybe that level of intensity is or is not appropriate for that parcel. But just suffice it to say
there are a lot of entertainment values that would appeal to the older I won't call it adult entertainment, but that would appear that would appeal to our young adults and, you know, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, me,
you know, if there was some music there, some food there. I mean, let's have some fun for once. And I think that would be a great property for that kind of development. Again, done in the right way. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Pro.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh just a quick question. What is the intention of this nomination? Um the owner doesn't want to get u get financial gain or what what tax. So the the owner is asking you if you
support their nomination to the county's program for them to acquire the land and use it for public use or conservation. It's c it's currently zoned for commercial use. You have the authority to allow for it to be included or
excluded in the county's process of acquisition. That's what they want. They can donate to the city with a stipulation of not being developed. Can they stay conservation? I don't know.
I guess it's a legal question then. Right. I don't Could they donate to the city? Is that what you're asking? with the stipulation of not being developed, right? Every anything's possible if they wanted to do that. That that's not what's
before the commission today. I mean, the primary concern is to not being developed if I understand correctly. Correct. From the from the property owner. Yes. From the Yes. So, I guess they can donate to the city with a stipulation
as an idea. I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud and have a kayak lounge there or whatever or whatnot, food trucks. Seems like what's before us is to make a decision on whether or not
we're going to approve or disapprove of this property owner being able to submit this for nomination to the county. That simple. All the whatifs, could be, you know, they'll still sit out there. You know, who knows what that land owner
might want to do, but we have to decide whether or not, you know, we're simply willing to agree to this property owner turning this property over to the county for conservation and precluding any
development opportunity that may come along. I guess that's really what's before us. Yeah, I'm ready to make a motion. Um, yeah. Any anybody else want to weigh in on this one? I I mean
it it it's just such Route 41 is just such an incredible corridor as far as economic development and Lord knows we need commercial development done in a smart way and an environmentally sensitive way. whether it's, you know,
boat launches and and and that stuff or whether it's a restaurant overlooking the canal or or whatever it might be a little park-like outdoor mall kind of strip center where people can walk around and sit outside to eat. I mean, there's just a plethora of of
possibilities. But the thought of making this parcel a a piece of conservation land, you can't support that. So, with that, do we have any public comment on this? No. Geez. Really? All right. Um, then I'm
looking for a motion. I'll make it. I move to reject the nomination for acquisition of parcel number 0997034655 under the Sarasota County Land Acquisition Program.
Do I have a second? I'll second it. So, we got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by the mayor to reject the nomination for acquisition of parcel number 099734655
under Sarasota County Land Acquisition Program. Uh, there's nothing more to that. We'll do a verbal vote. Uh, Commissioner Duval. Commissioner Langden, I'm a yes. Mayor's a yes. I'm a yes.
And Commissioner Pro? Yes. And that passes 421. Uh, anything to that, Commissioner Duval? Yes. Um,
this is just a difficult Yeah, we need the commercial. Um this property um I've kayaked on this property my you know on these waterways myself. That's my creek going into the Maka. It's
coming off the Cocoa Plum. Um in this case I I really voted no because I don't want to make the decision. Uh you know it's it's an awful thing to have to say that. Um,
but I guess, you know, I leave it to the I don't want to take away this owner's right to petition and ask, you know, the county for what to do. This property is is so valuable on both sides,
and that's why I just had to vote no. Fair enough. All right, moving on. We have uh oh geez our last item on the agenda here pretty much 25-2624 uh city manager this is your item sir I
get this item thank you Mr. Mayor in September 2024 Mr. Michael Goolan was appointed by the commission as the interim city attorney Mr. Goolan has maintained the inter position for approximately one year coinciding with
his normal annual performance review date which occurs each September. This year his annual performance review must be completed by the commission. Uh upon hiring of the new city attorney, Mr. Goolan will return to the deputy city attorney position. Mr. Goolan, however,
will still maintain and keep assisting in getting the new city attorney up to speed and lead help leading the city attorney department. Therefore, the recommend the recommended action for the commission is to approve the maintenance of his current interim salary based on
his return to his deputy city attorney position. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir. Uh, let's open this up to commissioner questions and discussion. Commissioner Duval. Thank you, mayor. Um,
city manager recommended. I agree with that recommendation. Uh, Mr. Goolan has taken over that department. He's been responsible for that department. Uh,
he's been running that department, you know, and unfortunately um, you know, he's not going to get the top job. Um but the job he's done um you know which has included you know
hiring some assistant attorneys as well as representing the city uh keeping it going. Um I got to say he's done a good job in my book and I think he
you know we have to consider taxpayers you know and u Mr. got a, you know, a 10% increase of his pay as as assistant, you know, to take over this position. Um, and if we, as we look at
a new city attorney coming in, we got to look at that salary that we got to pay the new permanent city attorney. Uh, it looks like those those two salaries are going to come
fairly close, but I have to look at this and say this man has earned this. Thank you. All right. Um, prior to uh Mr. Goen stepping up into
the position of acting city attorney, what was his compensation rate? Approximately $184,000. And at present as acting city attorney it's 205 203 203 second.
So we are looking at uh roughly 20 grand divided by Okay, mayor. Yes. While you do your math, um the 184 that
he's currently at, if he was to receive a regular increase of approximately 4% and a cost of living increase, that would take him to approximately 196. The difference between the 196 and the 203 is the $7,000 that's being requested of the board today or about an extra 3%.
Yeah. I got a question real quick while we're on that. Vice Mayor, go ahead. When he was put in when Mr. Goolan was put in as the interim was around the same timeline as his evaluation last year.
Yes. He just went from his current salary to the interim salary. So, did he bypass that evaluation and that compensation last year? No, sir. I believe, and HR can correct
me if I'm wrong, I believe he did receive his regular evaluation and then the inter room was added there. So, he did receive, if I'm not mistaken, his normal increase before the interim was associated with his. So, he was increased to the 184 then,
correct? and then increased to where he's at now. Correct. I believe that to be correct. Yes. And HR is saying yes, that's correct. Um, all right. I mean, I played with my numbers, you know. Uh, first I want to
say that Michael Goo's done a great job that, you know, he's stepped up. He's easy to work with. He's always been responsive to me and and I believe to to all the commissioners here. And so, you know, I I have no criticisms in in that
regard. Um, bearing that in mind, you know, uh, it's a big number. And, you know, not saying people don't deserve it, but 10% is a big increase. I believe that, you
know, helping to facilitate the transition is the responsibility of not just Mr. but everyone else in the legal department who wants to continue to have their job there. So I would suggest that
you know the air of cooperation in in in helping to facilitate a new boss uh you know as as he get he or she gets acclimated into their position is something that goes without saying. um you know as the person you all as a
commission asked to negotiate on the city's behalf uh to bring back to the commission for approval a employment agreement with our new Michael Fino um our new city attorney. Um,
I was of the of of of the position to start him at the lowest end of the range, which was 190. Uh, obviously that's impossible to do when we have an assistant city attorney who makes more than that or who will make more than
that with normal increase. And so it forced that starting pay up um significantly. And um you know we are working with taxpayer dollars and um I I I just feel
that you know with the normal increases that Mr. Goolan would experience you know or or or that I would support from the 184 up to that 196. I'm comfortable with that. Going to the 203 I think is
excessive. I think that it it it pushes the limit and and it's not to say, hey, I think we all deserve 10 times what we make, but that isn't reality. We're still working with taxpayer dollars. So, you know, I'm I'm I'm supportive of the
normal set of increases, but you know, I I I do not support keeping it at at the 203. I I I just don't think we got to pinch our pennies where we can. That's just my take. Uh
Commissioner Pro, that hike of $7,000, will that be included or was it included on the budget? Yes, it was already included because that's the way it's budgeted now. It's not an increase to their budget. It's
just a part of their budget. Anybody else? If I may, I'll do the best I can. Um, I I concur with the mayor. I think Michael
did a great job keeping the team moving forward under very adverse conditions that included not having an office and um but he was compensated for that.
So that was more than fair. It was a big increase. I wasn't aware that he had gotten a raise and then the um additional 19,000 for taking the acting position. So I think it's more than fair. Um and
and the dynamic not only, you know, impacts Mr. Golden salary, but as the mayor pointed out, it now impact, excuse me, what we would offer for our
new attorney coming in. So, I think the 196 is more than fair. Um, I I would I would even go maybe to 198, do it all at once. I wouldn't require a step midyear or anything like that. But
um you know he had a a a very good performance. Um so 196 to 198 I would be very comfortable but I think it's important that we keep it under 200 because again it's it's bumping into our
range for the city attorneys. So there's a double whammy there from a cost perspective. That's all I have. Mr. Mayor, thank you commissioner. Um to this folks
any public comment on this item and uh looking for a motion. I'll make a motion. Mr. Mayor, can I do that remotely? I think I can. That's okay. Thank you. Um, I move that we give
um I guess it would be deputy city attorney um a raise to $198,000 beginning on his anniversary date. Do I have a second there? I'll second it for discussion.
All righty. Vice Smith, you're up then. And the re reason I asked this is if we're going to pick and choose salaries that we're just going to raise them to. You know, we're we're not following the
policy on percentages and cost of living and following what everybody else gets. Like the city manager, if we give him a 5% increase, that's what he gets on his salary plus cost of living. City employees, same thing. Different union
members. is all the same. But when we start to pick and choose, we're going to raise to X, that just seems to be a little bit more out of the box. I understand the reasoning why, but I figure we need to follow whatever procedures that we already do for the
rest of the city. So, my recommendation would be, you know, the 5% plus the cost of living like it was stated rather than jumping to the 198. Yep. That's just my comment on that. I I concur with the vice mayor. I think it's
it's it's we need to be more consistent. We need to remain consistent. I don't mean become consistent. We And I can see the you know I can see the 5% the cost of living. That makes sense, you know. So we got a motion on the
floor and it's been seconded. Yeah. You got something to say, city manager? You're looking pretty bewildered over there. I just want to make sure that you are you are clear as to what the how the process is. When you rate your charter officers, normally we get 5% which is a little bit more than
the 4% of a normal employee raise, but there is no cost of living adjustment for your charter officers. So the 5% represents the raise and the cost of living, not two together. Um since you're doing two more charter officers raises pretty soon. So if what you're
saying and what I'm hearing, you're saying 5% and then you giving him 5% and then he would get two and a half% cost of living for the role that he has done. It'll take him up a little bit more than that 196 that I referenced earlier. I referenced a 4% plus a 2 and a half%. So
I just want to let you know it'll be a slightly more. Doesn't that take it up to about 198? I'm not I didn't do the math. Yeah, I just I took 5% on 184 and then took 2.5% on top of that and it took me to
198. Okay. I didn't do the math. So then if Yes. Yeah. But they don't get the cost of living. It would just be a straight percentage rate. So we would have to go if to bring it up to the 198
he would have to get a 7.5% increase. Correct. which is the which is the same math you just did Mr. career. So, we should be on the same page, right? Oh, I'm just just for, you know,
quantifying this on how the money works out and with the percentage increase. And to be fair, like I mean, Heather, she's way down the road. She looked like she had a question. Okay. Yeah. No, I think we're all saying the same thing.
So, we're sitting with the motion. Um, do you want to pull the motion and I'll do a different one? Yeah. I mean, does the vice mayor and commissioner Langden wish to withdraw the motion and the second so it can be restated in a
percentage form or in some other form? Um, well, if if the number is 198, why don't we just do an amendment to the motion and add the percentages if if that's
what's lacking. wants to take a shot. Well, it's with the percentage. It's not going to come out as an exact 198. I was just about to say the percentages we give you. So, I mean, it would be better to be at at the be consistent. Correct.
Yes, Mr. Calculator. Uh, you know, if I'm not wrong, 184 times 1.075 075 goes out to 1978 800.
His actual salary is 1844 451. Oh you would correct. That's what I saying if you make it percentage then it takes care of itself rather than playing with a number. That's what vice mayor is
trying to emphasize and we do that for everybody else. So why would we do it any differently? Yes, sir. He's correct. Mayor, so somewhat suggest an amendment. The motion would to amend could be to remove the 198 and to add whatever percentage it is.
And then that's your amendment. All right. I'll make that amend. I'll make an amendment to remove the designated 198,000 uh number for the uh salary for the inter interim city
attorney and replace that to a 7.5% increase percent increase. I'll second that. Okay. So, we've got an amendment by Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dval
to remove the the the amount of 198 as a salary increase or as a as a new salary, but to replace it with a 7 and a half% increase to keep it consistent.
And uh we need to vote on that verbally. Um, Commissioner Pro, yes. I'm a yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden, I'm a yes. And Commissioner Dval, yes. That is five to zero. That passes. And
now the original uh motion. It kind of negates the original motion as amended. Yeah. But do we need to vote on it, city attorney? Yes. Yeah. As city clerk. Yes. I just attorney pay. has promoted you.
So with the original motion, Commissioner Pro. As amended. As amended. As amended. Yes. I'm a yes. Mayor's a yes. Commissioner Langden. Yes. And Commissioner D. Yes. And that passes.
Um before we go to general public comment, um I would like to since we're on this subject of compensation and uh acting city attorney, you can tell me if this is not acceptable. I'm not looking for a motion, but rather a consensus. I
would like to propose that at a future meeting in the not too distant future, we add an agenda item to discuss the formula by which commissioners are compensated. So that
subsequent to the 2026 election, which is legally I guess when any compensation formula change would go into effect, I would like to have a discussion about changing uh our compensation formulas from uh populationdriven to what
everybody else is living with, which is, you know, normal cost of living increases from, you know, year to year. I think it's important to do that. We as a body some time ago rightsize the
compensation um and and I think uh to continue to allow uh compensation for commissioners to go up based on population is is not a reasonable thing. And and I think since we're here reviewing uh acting city attorney and
and we're going to be uh voting on how to compensate our our uh new attorney uh when that agreement comes before us and we're going to be reviewing city manager. I think it's appropriate that we also let our citizens know that we're going to make a change here if that's
the will of this body. So, all I would look for is a consensus to direct staff to put this on some future agenda item for us to review. Is that acceptable? We don't need a consensus. You can just ask us to put it on an upcoming agenda. So, I'll get with you to add that.
Okay. Well, the good thing is is at least it's now out there public for the citizens to hear um you know, in conjunction with us talking about all the big money uh all the tax dollars that we're spending here, there, and everywhere. So, very
good. Um, with that, are there any other general public comments? There is none. Well, let's move on to commissioner communications. Commissioner Duval, you're up first, sir.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I attended an FLC, Florida League of Cities Legislative Policy Committee Zoom meeting on Wednesday, September 3rd. Uh I attended the uh Freedom Fest uh Goodbye to Summer
on August 30th. Uh staff did a great job on that. Uh I also participated in a uh Chamber of Commerce governmental relations committee Zoom meeting on August 28th. I'm done. Oh, okay. I'm sorry. Uh,
Commissioner Langden, anything to say or I I'm just going to take a pass um this meeting. I'll report on the next. Very good. Vice Mayor, no. Nothing for Vice Mayor. Commissioner Pro Freedom Pastor was good.
And I also have been attended the Freedom Fest. Enjoyed myself there. I think it was really well attended. You know, with the change in date, I you know, I I wondered and worried, but but it had really great attendance and and I think everybody had a really good time.
Um and uh I also uh uh attended the um thanks to the uh the contribution of uh Home Depot uh the uh ribbon cutting for
the uh high school baseball uh dugout, new baseball dugout uh the other day. Um, that was a real treat since baseball's a little special to my heart. And, um, so with that, uh, that pretty
much wraps it up. Now that we're back into September, we're back on board and full steam ahead. So, um, moving on to, uh, administrative and legal reports, um, charter officers. Anything, city manager?
No, sir, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. And acting city attorney. Briefly, I just want to thank the commission um Commission Mayor for for your trust uh which is so very important to this role. This this past year has been um the most rewarding of my career. I have to say that this you know these opportunities
don't happen very often and it's something that will shape my my career in the future and I'm really grateful and thankful for this opportunity. Um but I must also say how proud I am of the team the city has in the city attorney's office. It's only due to their hard work and their dedication to
the work that the city continues to succeed the way it does. And it's been an honor to serve the city and its residents in this in this trusted role and even if only temporarily. So, I thank you very much. We appreciate you, sir. We really do. And appreciate all the hard work you did
and holding this team together and moving them forward and and the assistance you'll be giving our new Michael. I think we call you Michael one, him Michael, too. Can we do that? But, uh, we thank you for all you do and your support of this city. So, thanks. Uh, city clerk,
hi. Nothing. Nothing. Well, with that, I got one last thing, though. Let's say goodbye to our big crowd out there, Mr. Daniel. Have a great day. There you go. With that, it is 12:56
and I chair this meeting.