[Music] I'm Stacy Losio. I am the emergency management coordinator for the city of Northport and I'm going to be talking about having an evacuation plan. It's important to have an evacuation plan ahead of time and it's very important to
write it down because that way you can have it somewhere present where everybody in your family can see it and keep it fresh in their minds. And you want to also share it with people in your family or your neighbors so that they know what your plans are ahead of time and how to get a hold of you or where to look for you after a disaster.
For your evacuation plans, uh you should have multiple routes to get to the location you're planning to go to. Just because traffic-wise, traffic on 75 might be gridlocked. There could be some very good back roads to get to where you're going uh that could get you there
more quickly without being stuck in traffic. When you're making an evacuation plan, we usually tell you four different things. You should stay home if you are not in a zone that's being evacuated. And if your home is built to withstand the forecasted storm,
if you can't stay home uh and you evacuate, your next option should be to go to a friend or family's home that is outside of the evacuation area and is structurally sound to withstand the storm. Third option would be go to a hotel. They're much more comfortable than our evacuation centers. Fourth
option would be to go to one of our evacuation centers. Sarasota County has 12 evacuation centers. Uh those can be found on their website. [Music] [Music]
I'm Stacy Losio. I'm the emergency manager for the city of Northport and I'm going to discuss first responders after the storm. So, it may take a while for first responders to get to after the storm and that's due to a variety of reasons. One being we pull first responders off the roads when tropical
storm force winds are sustained for their safety. that is a standard usually across the state and other states that have hurricanes as well. So we will have a backlog of calls that have come in during the storm that we will prioritize based on urgency and they'll be responding to those as well as the calls
that are currently coming in if they're urgent. Also, the roads might be flooded. There might be debris in the roads. Our tactical first in teams will be going out right away to clear the roads of any hazards uh so that our vehicles can get through and respond as quickly as possible. Just keep that in
mind when you call after a disaster for assistance. We are coming. You are very important to us. We care about our residents and their safety, but it may just take a while for us to get to you depending on the conditions of the roads.
[Music] Hello everyone. My name is Mario Van Diddi. I am the planner scheduler for the city of Northport solid waste. I got
into this position um first I was a recycle driver for 5 years for the city of Northport and then I became the planner scheduler after taking an interest in educating the residents on how to recycle properly. In my position, my day-to-day, usually I start out by
visiting the new residents that schedule garbage and recycle containers to be delivered and I will go see them and educate them on our solid waste guidelines. More or less, I'm more focused on the recycle part of it. After that, I will drive around the city and I
actually inspect recycle containers manually for contamination. And then I will take calls from drivers if there's any issues with uh repeat garbage in the recycle and I will go educate those people as well. What I love most about the city of
Northport is their residents are from all over the world and I get to learn about the solid waste guidelines where they come from as well as educate them on the city of Northport solid waste guidelines and how to recycle properly. [Music]
[Music] [Music] by Commissioner Landon. Seconded by the vice mayor to uh direct city clerk to read by
for the total cost of impact fees paid to the city. Uh I'm going to ask Randy Bowling, planner with development services and Maria Maria uh Depo, uh impact fee administrator with development services to come and uh lead us in discussion and presentation.
Thank you. as uh uh I almost said drone. As Jason Yar just said, uh this is amending chapter 58 of the city code, doing a restructuring and just making it the impact fee
chapter. Here are some general changes of what is happening. This is actually a long process we've gone through with doing the deferral program and the incentive program. Both programs have been to commissions in some some version
or another. The deferral program was originally created for the Hilton Hotel. Um, and because of some issues that came out of that, they ended up not actually applying. And so this is us using those issues that we found in the program, addressing them, making the program
better. And then the incentive program is to create an incentive program here in the city. And so in addition to those two things, we have some affordable housing exemptions, some live local act uh kind of codifications and some best practices we've been
doing. So this is how currently chapter 58 is structured where article one is in general, article two is developments of regional impact and article 3 is impact fees. Developments of regional impact
are not um used by the state anymore. So we don't need that codified section in code and the in general uh language that is there most of it was moved to the ULC when we did the rewrite. So then and then we then had
impact fees. So the new 58 is the fees administration in fees schedules the deferral program and then article 3 being the targeted industry incentive program. And I'll go over the incentive program. The incentive program was originally uh was originally formulated
in 2022 with information from the Kamoy study that commission adopted and we did a targeted approach with activity centers and we allowed for a at the time
for just a waiver of fees. Since then we have learned that we cannot wave fees. The city must make those fees hold. So rather than a complete waiver, what we proposed in that first discussion, this is a tiered pace system in which gives commission the ability
to look at the program and look at the applications as they come in. And so the industries are in specific activity centers and the qualified opportunity zone. Those are the only places that are allowed to qualify. And the amount that is deferred or waved is based on job
creation and capital investment thresholds. And the commission can terminate any of the agreements based on the um based on the terms in the agreement. The program will be as funds are available meaning they will come to commission. Commission will decide if
funds are available. They'll be granted the waiver and there will be a compliance period of 5 years. Meaning that you have five years to either get those jobs, get that capital investment, and then once you within those five years do those things, go off and make
money for the city and give the city jobs. Here are the qualifying activity centers and the opportunity zone. So we have activity center 2, three, four, five, and seven and the qualified opportunity zone. And so the
opportunity land we added this because this is area that is in the future annexation plans of the city. And so rather than um rather than happy to come back to commission whether we expand activity center activity center 7 or
whatever plans that we may have in the future. We just added the opportunities up there. And then here are the eligible industries. We have healthcare, information technology, life sciences, logistics and distribution, manufacturing, tourism, entertainment
and corporate headquarters. These mirror the targeted industries in the com study as well as state level as well as uh start state level targeted industries. That way we
can offer a full tiered system. If they can get an incentive from us, we they should be able to get incentive from the state. Here are the two ways to qualify. One way is a just a high wage path. The other is a high wage or medium wage and
a high taxable uh capital investment. So you need to have 10 jobs at 115% of the average private wage or you can have 10 jobs at these are minimums just so you know we'll get to the tiered but these 10 jobs at the 100% of the MSA and at
least a taxable capital investment of a million dollars. And then here are the thresholds. So you could, it's kind of a pick your own adventure. If you're doing a job, if you're doing a development that is very high capital investment but
low on the jobs, you can get maybe a 25 mitigation on cap cap capex but then a 10% on jobs. Or the opposite, you have a low capex but high jobs. You can kind of go any way which you feel that your
development is truly giving back to the city. and I will let Maria talk about the deferral program. Thank you. Hi, I'm Maria Dempo, impact fee administrator. I will review the deferral program
today. Let's take a look at the eligible development changes. Our current code um has development valued at at least $1 million and only commercial is currently eligible. With the proposed changes, new
construction will be considered of office spaces of 5,000 square ft minimum, industrial of 15,000 square feet minimum, and restaurants of 3,000 square feet minimum, and all other impact fee categories of 50,000 square
feet minimum. We will also look at expansions and/or changes in use and affordable non-residential development there. We're also proposing changes with security and agreement length changes. Our current code we use
only a property lean. The lean is time consuming and very risky to the city. We're proposing using performance bond or the deferral agreement must be recorded and released only upon payment in
full. We're also proposing the current length of 3 years to be increased to five years for the deferral process improvements and affordable housing. Let's take a look at our codified best
practices. We have accessory building exemption clarifications, shell buildings, and changes in use assessment process, square feet definition clarifications to address outdoor dining and to reduce conflict definitions now refer to
building code or ULDC, unified land code, unified land development code when possible. We're also looking at affordable housing exemptions. The exemption is scaled by AMI area median income which is based
off of MSA metropolitan statistical area and we are um proposing 75% exemption for AMI below exemption for AMI between 80 I'm sorry between 60 and 80% and 25%
exemption AMI between 80 and 20 AMI is area um median income which is um uh a median of uh average person's um income in a
region and um we are basing this also uh we're looking at Sarasota County's um criteria and um I think that concludes our presentation. Thank you. And we open the floor to questions.
U Mary, before we start a question, I just want to a reminder that any kind of impact fee credits or or systems that we come up with and Michael can clarify even more that we will have to make those those
particular impact fee funds whole. So, if you give a million dollars of credit of impact fee away, you're going to have to come up with a million dollars to make that particular or or various impact fee funds whole except for affordable housing under recent
legislative action. Yes, you're absolutely correct. So, that we're here to answer any questions, Commissioner Langon. Uh, thank you, Mayor. I have a bunch of questions. Um in the eligible activity centers I
noticed that activity centers six and 10 are not included. Can you explain why? Because in the so the legal basis of the incentive program is the comin study and the com study did not look at those activity centers. That really doesn't sound like a a good
reason to me. Um I think we need to look at that. We have such uh emphasis on commercial development out east. It's critical to the financial long-term success of this city. We really need to
be able to include those activity. You know, my opinion, we really need to be able to include those activity centers. So, if it takes another study, let's talk about it during budget and get it done.
Um, I I noticed business parks were not one of the allowable target markets. Have a big emphasis on those kinds of programs. I'd just suggest that we consider including that kind of
development in the incentive program. Most of the business parks will be covered under the light manufacturing that we do. Would it be? Okay. Yes. Okay. Thank you for that. Then I won't worry about that. Um I noticed in your presentation, Randy, that you talked
about average private wage. What's that compared with AMI? Are they the same? Is it different? Uh it's it's different. the average private wage for the city and don't hold me to this and I can give the commission after the fact the exact
numbers but I want to say it's in the 60s and the what's it based on um the ed the the private wage that an individual is receiving as opposed to AMI that's uh sometimes based on household data okay so that's individual
and is it um AMI is county correct not city necessarily. Is that accurate? AMI is at the the MSA level. Commissioner um AMI includes the Northport, Bradon and Sarasota area. So
that would include those um cities in that uh multi-jurisdictional area. Okay. So similar question is the average private wage it's based on individual not household. I get that. Is that also
based on SMSA data or is that city data? The private wage is county level county. Okay, thank you for that. One last question if I may. Um, affordable
nonresidential development. That's a new one for me. Could you describe that and give me some examples of what that might look like? the affordable non-residential development are the listing of those
categories. It's actually in the ULDC as incentive to be able to qualify for the incentives. So, it's uh food truck parks, community land, trust banks, I don't have the full list, but I do have the ordinance limit book. Micro, micro units, so live workspaces, those
kinds of things that makes it being affordable, but in a non-residential space. Okay, great. Thank you. I appreciate that. And so it's a good way for the Yield DC to match up with city code when what we're actually trying to incentivize here in the city. Okay. Um
and and just one last thing, I would assume that ascent incentive programs would not apply to affordable housing using the live local preeemption of commercial space. Correct. Correct.
Good. So in the in the way that the it is written has to be a permitted use in that district and so okay affordable housing is not a permitted use in a in a commercial district or well could be but a commercial district would not allow
for that incentive. Okay. Thank you. I'm done. Thanks. Uh deputy city manager. Yes mayor. I just wanted to introduce this is Gabriel Quentos uh assistant uh director for development services. I apologize that I didn't introduce myself earlier.
Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. Anything else, commissioners? Nothing. Uh just a Mr. Dval. Yes. Yes. I had
a a few questions. I'll start with the easiest one first. uh looking at the ordinance itself, you know, going uh by the line numbers, uh if I look at line 731, it's a review
requirement for the city and it says uh at least once every seven years. Um, just my thought. I think I'd rather see five or six seven years. A seven-year adjustment seems just too long for me. U, I think some of
this is getting currently amended by the state as we speak. And so I will let my assistant director speak to that. So those time frames are in flux right now per uh certain bills that have been introduced. Um I think the latest bill
that I saw was every 5 years, but I would have to uh we can get back to you with that latest information. Uh but any bills that are being considered right now likely haven't been signed yet. So uh but this would likely be affected by any statutory changes.
Okay. Um lines 699 to 706 uh 75 50 and 25% uh reductions. Um they just seem a little too generous
for my liking. Uh this city history uh economically this city's had problems because we deferred too many fees, impact fees, uh
lowered fees, you know, we're we're trying to catch up. And I just think that um you offer affordable housing uh 60% of the
annual median income or below a 75% reduction. Um that just sounds a little you know I at 70 50 and 25 I'd rather see it start at like 50
25 15. So, you know, I just think that that that's just too generous. And so, the current uh rate structure is Oh, sorry if you were not finished. I think that's currently what we're at. Uh the current rate structure is what Sarasota County uses exactly and it is
also what um based on commission feedback, that's what commission wanted to go with at the time. This board can feel free to change, but that's the basis of what it came from. So if yeah I I I I just can't say yes to 75 50 and 25. Um
Commissioner, if I may, um the intent there was to target that very low uh the low tier of affordable housing because it's missing from so many communities. Um but if the commission decides to change the um the percentage that's
within the commission's um uh prerogative and and review. Yeah, that's that's something I'd like to see. Um also, let's see. Uh this is
just this one's kind of nitpicking here on line 678 talks about the alteration expansion or replacement of non-residential structures where there's no increase in square footage. How do
you have an expansion with no increase in square footage? I think that's just kind of like a word problem. Oh, it could have been a catch-all just to ensure that we did catch everything because you could have an expansion where you're expanding maybe an use, but it's not
necessarily a square footage and also reducing at the same time. It was intended to just cover any scenario, but also only in the situation where you were not increasing square footage. Yeah, as I said, just for me that was just kind of like a a word problem.
Um going back to uh line 186 uh this is under definitions uh affordable housing uh multif family housing offered with a maximum mortgage or rent price including
the HOA utilities other non-negotiable housing fees at or below 120% of the area medium income value. I think that 120% is a little too high. I'd rather see that, you know,
like more like a 100%. That's the industry standard for the afford affordable uh housing definition as well as I believe that is what we have in our comprehensive plan. Well, and the state statutes all address what between 120% and the bottom which I
believe is 60% as the the targets the different tiers of affordable housing targets. Yeah. Um now as another comment you know and it's basically regarding that 75 50 and
25%. Um sometime in the last three or four months you know we okayed a an affordable housing complex across from the fire station just off of Price.
um they guaranteed those affordable rents for 50 years. I don't see anything in here that guarantees the amount of years. you know, somewhat I'm not saying, you know, that this would happen, but I'm saying u
I don't want to see a developer come in and say, you know, we're going to mitigate these impact fees for you, and then they only offer that affordable housing for like five years. Um, and the other thing is I didn't see anything about, you
know, and I'm going back to that one that we just okayed. U, they had one-bedroom apartments for people who were really at lower incomes at like 300 less than $400 a month. I don't see
anything in here that guarantees what kind of low pricing there is. You know, the actual numbers for the rents, you know, that these
developments will qualify for these impact fee reductions. If I may address that, um, so the the affordability would have to be assured by means of a de developers agreement. So they would have to enter into agreement ensuring that affordability
for the term specified and um the the um rent is based on the area median income. That's really how the entire state of Florida does it. So, whatever the area median income is based on the tier that they're trying to achieve, whether it's
um the very low uh tier or the highest tier, which is I think between 80 and 120%. That's what it would be based on. So, we would take the figure for the area median income and then um base the rents on that. Not we, but the developer
would base the rents on that. And based on that logic, if we this program actually allows for incentivizes to do those smaller units because if the if the space is lower then the rent is lower which means then
it's a lower AMI which means you can get more units which means then that you can get more units to get rent. Yeah. Um I said my mate, you know, u I'd like to see, you know, what those those
rent levels are and and again um that 75, 50, and 25% those numbers, they just don't do it for me. That's all I've got, folks.
Commissioner Langden. Uh thank you, Mayor. just have a couple of followup questions based upon what Commissioner Duval raised. Um I had thought and correct me if I'm wrong, but a lot of the rent levels and
and the 30 60 80 to 120% is more a function of the federal funding that a developer is getting. So it's we don't control that here locally is my understanding. Correct me if I'm wrong. A lot of it's really a function of the
type of funding that they're getting on the federal level. And the state also with their LITC grants are also have to do uh go into agreement and say that they will be affordable for most of the time at least 30 years right and 120% the first time I saw it commission McDow
I kind of went what but but then when I thought about it commission did I call I'm getting used I'm getting used to it. Get used to it. They have scripts that they have scripts
that that'll help with that. You know, blushing. Oh, it's awful being of Irish descent. Um the the 120% I think recognizes the fact that um our pay scales here in Southwest Florida are lower in general
than other parts of the country despite the fact that our housing costs and costs of living have really increased. So I had the exact same reaction initially until I really thought about those two factors. Um, and just in my
travels, I've just come across so many families making more than the AMI and still really struggling with basics because of of those things. But, but when you see an affordable housing project come in, you know, a lot of most
of the time they're really weighted toward the lower um pay scales anyway. And um yeah, those are my two comments. I just wanted to clarify that. Thanks, Mr. Pro. Yes. Couple things. I'm echoing
Commissioner Deval. I think we should revisit 755025. The second thing is I think we should make it less than seven years. I would say even four years. Um
and the next thing is could you describe because I get approached by a lot of people saying hey we giving too too much away to developers you know they what are we giving them in real
terms can you give us an example of a real case scenario uh as a development uh amounts to this much how much are they getting a break on impact fee or deferral Um if you can do that and then
the last thing is from your analysis what would be a financial impact to the city and it's a loaded very vague question on an annual basis looking at the projection of growth of
our city how much would be a financial impact to the city so if you can answer those two yeah I'll answer the first question about what we've given to the city uh to developers um based on impact fees and other than impact fee agreements that have been made with
well incentive program to any other private industry and then for the financial impact these are would go to towards the commission on a case-by case basis and so I would leave it up to our great
finance team to be able to articulate that in a way when you guys do get these agree agreements and in planning and zoning. I don't feel comfortable uh answering that with knowledge. Commissioner, if I could ju just a gentle reminder. So, say you have a
project of manufacturing project that uh that you're going to give them a million dollars in transportation impact fee credit. the general fund is going to have to stroke a check for a million dollars if and correct me if I'm wrong to go and make that transportation
impact fee fund whole. So while you while you can give away and and incentivize the financial impact is that the general fund is now going to have to transfer funds within a certain time frame. I don't know what that is. Um,
but it you're eventually that transportation impact fee fund is going to have to be made whole from and general fund is usually where it would come from, but staff can correct me if I'm wrong on that. That's generally correct.
That's an example. So, are we going to revisit these concerns and you guys correct or may make modifications to it? We we're going to need some consensus. So, y'all going to have to figure it out amongst yourselves and let us know what you with the majority of what you want
and then we can make those modifications and bring it back for consideration. Well, let's see everybody have their say and then if anybody wishes to make a motion, we can certainly entertain that.
Commissioner Dval. Yes. Um I'm back on that 755025. Uh, I'm thinking about and this is first of all, thank you for for all your work
on this and as far as the the commercial end, you know, the industry bringing those in, I'm I'm happy with that. But on the affordable housing, okay, we're going to that affordable housing will bring in more
residents, okay? and they're going to be using city utilities, the roads, water, you know, infrastructure is one of our big things and uh giving up 75% of an impact fee.
Um and as our deputy city manager just stated, you know, that money comes out of the general fund. I read those things that said where that money's got to come from and the city has to pay those things.
Uh I just can't go along with 7 or the affordable housing 7550 25. I just can't go along with that. Thank you. I agree. Commissioner Lang. Um just a couple things again for clarity.
Um Commissioner Duval Um you you had made the comment earlier that that part of the city's financial issues have been that we've deferred too many impact fees in the past and I just want to correct that. We have never to
um Mr. Bowling's uh clarification providing incentives is brand new to the city. We have never done it before. So, I agree with you. Impact fees have financially damaged the city only
because we set our rates too low. So, just just to be clear, um because people in the community hearing this, it would be very easy for them to get confused that we've been randomly giving up fees to developers and that is just not the
case. We set our rates too low. Um and I think with the 7550 25 I suspect those are fairly standard levels set. Yes. And for me rather than kind of either supporting
them or rejecting them at a kind of theoretical level. I'd rather have the discussion when a proposal comes in and we see the benefit to the city. I think it's safe to say that our city has been
singularly unsuccessful in attracting larger companies to come and build here. I think that's a fair statement. [Music] So my inclination is is
to approve the proposal as presented with the 755025. But that still gives us the opportunity to evaluate the potential benefit to the city and then have a conversation on
whether that merits a nothing or a 2550 or 75. Um, I mean, if a manufacturing or a pharmaceutical company or the kind of company wanted to locate here and had a 100, 200,
300 highpaying jobs, I'd be very amenable to a nice incentive for that kind of company because of the the jobs value that they would bring and the other tax values that they would bring.
So for me, it makes more sense to evaluate the incentive in terms of the benefit of that project coming into the city. Just my two cents. Thank you, Commissioner. Um, you really
echo my sentiments. um you know we have not had an incentive plan like this and and we need to to attract the type of businesses that we're looking for and and correct me if I'm wrong but any incentive program has to come before
commission on a one on one basis. So just because we approve this doesn't mean that staff just goes ahead and offers these incentives up and they just flow through the system. Each one has to come before a commission and we get to vote. So as Commissioner Langden said,
we get to weigh the benefits of that particular project and it is so important especially with the activity centers six and 10 that you know one I concur they they need to be included in this because they are our future. Okay.
our our financial plan and our uldc rework is predicated on the kind of growth over the next 5 to 10 years we need in those activity centers especially. So they really need to be included as far as affordable housing.
You know I mean this is a nationwide issue. There are developers of affordable housing that look to target various income levels. Um, those are all standardization. I mean, everywhere you go, those those percentages are
standards. Um, the reality is we desperately need more affordable housing everywhere, not just in this city, but everywhere. And we've been kind of a leader in in Southwest Florida in in, you know, affordable housing project. We
have been an affordable housing community, but, you know, interest rates are high. those de developers are having a heck of a time raising the kind of money to build those projects. That's why we haven't seen a lot of them. And the truth is, if we can do something to help people be able to stay in this
city, I'm I'm you know, I I hear those tales of not just people who work for the city, but people who have lived here in this city and are forced out because they just can't afford to stay here. And we're one of the most affordable cities in Southwest Florida. So, you know, if
we can do anything to help attract, you know, good, solid, affordable housing, I I I I'm supportive of that. And, you know, certainly it's it's from the top of the state on down, everybody is trying to make an impact on this issue.
And um you know if we did everything as John Thaxton has said numerous times, if we were to explore every avenue to attack the affordable housing problem in this nation, we would make a minor dent
in it. That's how severe the problem is. So anything we could do to help is I think worth doing. Mr. Petra. Yes. So if it is an individual basis which was stated before and we knew that in
advance why do we change it I mean let's leave it as is this as far as 75 50 25 and next thing is activity centers I would like them to be included I don't know if we have
to make a consensus on that specifically what I would recommend from a staff level is that we get direction to look into adding those to the pro because this ordinance has taken a lot of staff time to at least that we
have something on the ground and being able to work and I asked the question what's involved I if if we in fact were to approve this and then give direction for staff to go back and work on including what's involved does it require a study
or does it require you doing some due diligence departmentally and bringing it back in a minute. Kind of up to legal. Legal was one that wanted to use Kamoy as the legal backing for the incentive program.
Yes sir. If if it was based on that originally, we would prefer that be based on that continuing. So another study or an expansion of that study. I don't I don't feel any restriction. I don't see why we just wouldn't include them. Me too. I mean I
mean especially if I recall we correct me if I'm wrong. Did we didn't actually adopt a Kamoy study, did we? Yes. Yes, we did actually formally adopt it. Yes. Oh, okay. Good. Good. I just didn't think we did. If I may, Mr. Mayor. Um,
with regard to those specific percentages if there is no objection uh from legal, that would be more of a policy uh change. Um, and we could amend the ordinance prior to the second reading, but I will defer to legal on
whether there are any um objections on that. It would be something we would want to take a look at prior to second reading. Um, we had special counsel work with our office on this on this ordinance and I'd like to get them to weigh in. um before second reading and I would get back to you if that was the the will of the board they wanted to
direct that to happen. Great. So let's see. It looks like we got about two areas here that we want to try to give direction in. one uh needs somebody to either offer up a consensus or a motion preferably to direct
uh city attorney's office to look into uh what would be involved in amending those percentages if commission were to decide to do so. and uh and secondarily
um to direct staff to look into uh adding activity center what six and 10 but somebody other than myself mayor we have public comment as well I'm sorry we have public comment prior to a motion
as well yeah okay so those are if any other discussions on this and we can look for public comment and then come back with A motion. I'll make a motion. Hold on. Public comment. Commissioner Deval. Yes. Just I I just want to make it clear
that this is an ordinance. Okay. And this ordinance, you know, says that the affordable housing offered at 60% annual AMI or below will receive 75% redu. If we say yes to this, you know, at this meeting and the next
meeting, then it's an ordinance and for each individual project that comes up in the future, how are we going to make an adjustment to that if we have an ordinance that says this will be Oh my goodness. It's like I'm channeling a
previous commissioner. Um, should it be may rather than will? Deval's point. So for clarity, the percentages that if uh commission wants to change those percentages, that does
not need legal review. We can change the percentage of affordable housing. That's fine. What would need to be a legal review is adding the new activity centers to the to the incentive program. that would need legal review to the
point on uh the deferral agreements or the waiverss that would not come to commission because that's just a straightup exemption. We could through it we could add it through a development agreement. Uh but as of now it's just listed under the exemptions as any other exemption
that we have like when you put a shed on a commercial lot. We do not charge impact fees for sheds because that's not adding additional use. And so it's that is just in the straight of exemption section. And if I may, with regard to the word may and and will, we would prefer that
the word be definite and be will because we wouldn't want any discretion in that they would all receive that if they qualify. Excuse me. And that exemption applies only to affordable housing. Correct. Correct. Those specific
percentages. Yes, ma'am. Non-live local affordable housing projects. that are allowed within their their youth district. Before we go to a motion or motions, uh any public comment, city clerk? Yes,
Debbie Mcdow. The original purpose behind deferment of impact fees was to allow a business to pay their impact fees over three years. The deferral program allowed growth to pay for growth. There were no waiverss or modifications. This ordinance allows impact fee deferral and waiverss up to 50% for targeted industries and up to
75% for affordable housing. I am completely against exempting, waving or mitigating any impact fees for any business or housing development. The reason is simple. Somebody needs to make up the shortfall. Usually that is north is the Northport taxpayer. A 50% or 75%
waiver is not chump change. The targeted industry incentive was created to mitigate a disadvantage due to impact fees. disadvantage. That's pro prep protocus. Targeted industries will will come to our amazing city with or without incentives. We have the workforce, the
land, and are centrally located. Just look at the jobs created over the past 10 years by the same businesses who paid 100% of their impact fees, aka Benderson Industrial Park. There is no reason to bribe multi-million dollar developers at the expense of the taxpayer. As stated during the workshop, affordable housing
is less than 60% AMI and workforce housing is 80% to 100% AMI. Market rate housing is greater than 100% AMI. Why is there any exemption for affordable housing? Why in the world is there a 25% exemption for market rate housing? The Northport AMI threshold are jaw-dropping
and necessary to make an informed decision before granting exemptions. Also, who is making up these affordable housing shortfalls? It doesn't say in the ordinance when will the mobility fee conversation take place. We're leaving money on the table. In closing, I find it ironic the commission is considering
waving, modifying, and exempting impact fees on the same day you are asking the voters to issue debt for city infrastructure projects because the city doesn't have the money. So much for growth paying for growth. In person, we have John Lazinski. John, senior vice president Well and
Parker, while you're amending the impact fee ordinance, I ask you to look at amenities. We are being char we're building an amenity in Palmera on private streets behind a gate. There is no logical nexus at all to any public
street. It is miles from a city of Northport Street and we are being charged $14,000 for a private amenity. It's staff doesn't have doesn't there's no exemption when you list out all the uses
for private amenities. So that facility gets charged as a commercial restaurant on a private street behind a gate. You have to be a resident in the neighborhood to to belong to that club to use that facility. Yes, if a resident
has a guest there, they may use a public street, but those streets aren't city streets to access that. Those are WVID streets that are how people would get to the amenity. So, I ask you would consider while you're amending the ordinance, create a classification for a
private amenity behind a gate in a gated community behind the gate. So, it's not using public streets. Uh even if you wanted to charge a fee, charge a fee that is commensurate for its actual impacts, which is basically nothing.
Instead of commercial restaurant, we are being charged at the same rate a McDonald's would be charged or Burger King or Chick-fil-A. I don't see how that is fair and equitable to the future residents of Wellen Park in the city of North.
Thank you, sir. All right. Well, commission entertaining motions. I'll give it a shot. Um, I move to continue ordinance number
2025-11 to second reading on May 27th, 2025, [Music] including next steps to incorporate activity centers
six and 10 into the program. Do I have a second out there? I'll second. All right. Um, city clerk, would you be kind enough to read that back for us to continue ordinance number 2025-11 to
second reading on May 27th, 2025, including next steps to incorporate activity centers 6 and 10 into the program. Okay. And that was motion made by Commissioner Langden, seconded by the vice mayor. Um, anything to that
commissioners? Let's vote. And that passes four to one with Commissioner Duval. Um uh in the no. Uh sir, would you like to speak to that? Yes. you know, based on my, you know,
based on my comments about the 25, 50, 75% reductions, um, I'm just not happy with those numbers. Thank you, sir. Um, do we have any other
either motions or consensuses we would like to make regarding this matter? Um, I don't know. I mean, do we want to
um does anybody want to have staff take a look at uh public commenters issue at this time or I would just say we typically don't
respond to public commenters in the context of that meeting. Um but I will certainly explore the issue um separately and then bring the topic back as an agenda a future agenda item um if
necessary. I mean the one comment I'd make if unless somebody else has a a uh oh go ahead commissioner Petra I'm sorry I didn't see you up there. Maybe I was confused, but I thought we making
two motions regarding the percentages. So, I did vote to proceed as one motion, but then we didn't include the second motion with the percentages. And like I said, if it's an individual basis, why even consider
it? So, I'm echoing Commissioner Dval completely on the percentages. So, do we get a second motion for certainly this if I mayor um adopting the 755025 was part of my motion. It is the
way the ordinance is currently written. So, the only change my motion made was bringing it back with next steps uh for including activity centers 6 and 10. But from my understanding, the
mayor said we we'll have a couple motions. So I did vote to continue with that motion specifically to include those activity centers. And I thought we're going to have a second motion, but maybe it's only me who
misunderstood. You can make it. You can make it. Anyone can make a motion. Want to make you can make a motion to change the percentages. David's uh Commissioner Dval since you brought it up
[Laughter] the actual I I already voted no on the way it's written someone wants to you know make a motion to make a change you know I'm just not ready to do that right now
um you know maybe in the next two weeks I can come up with some thoughts on how to word uh you know I that that change of the wording from you know will to
may would do it for me because that would give the commission [Music] the ability to look at the project and say is it really worth it for the citizens
of this city overall. um you know where we could make an adjustment but but this just says will and I just can't go along with those numbers and I I agree I don't want to rush and certainly with the affordable
housing um I'm very supportive of affordable housing it's just affordable housing developers they get a lot of grants regardless from state federal level even on the local level county
level I just I don't know. Um I have to admit I'm new. I don't know how to make a motion kind of backtracking what we did already. But it's to me it's not
beneficial for the city itself as as giving away giving breaks and deferrals to the developers. In that regard, may I ask a
question? This this particular issue here is with relating to non live local. Correct. Correct. Yes, sir. So maybe to add perspective, you know, with the
state preempting basically affordable h the affordable housing issue by the creation of the live local act. and what appears to be over time will probably make that or amend it or add new
legislation to make affordable housing even more robust. Being forced as a city to forfeit commercial property or industrial property or nonresidential property to developers who want to build
affordable housing. the ability of our city to offer incentives to help steer affordable housing developers to property that may make more sense from an economic development standpoint to me
makes some sense. Have that tool in the toolbox. Now, I appreciate that it would be administrative, but the reality is, um, I like the idea of controlling or or having a somewhat of a
of of a control over where affordable housing goes. And this incentive program helps to do that as opposed to leaving it to the state affordable, you know, uh, live local act, which basically
preempts us if a developer comes in. He has the right to just gobble up what could be incredibly valuable property. And we can't stop it. We cannot stop it. And if anybody thinks that the state's going to back off of that, I would say
that's not the case. If anything, they're going to double down in order to create more affordable housing. So, if you think about it that way, it sort of may give us a little more flexibility here. And and that may well have been
some of the staff's thinking with regard to this. And and again, with regard to the rest of the incentive programs, because I I know there's always a concern like what do you give away? What do you give away? I mean, having to make
those impact fee funds whole is certainly a a I'm trying to find the right word. Um certainly a qualifier for any commission, this commission or future commissions before
they go ahead and and agree and vote in favor of these types of incentives because it comes out of the city's pocket. So, we would have to be and future commissions would have to be extremely discriminating as to whether
or not they were to approve these incentive programs or these incentive requests because again, we have to make up the difference. Yet, as Commissioner Langden referred, there are strategic there's strategic growth that this city
needs. We need more jobs. We need commercial and light industrial development. We need to be able to attract them. We compete nationwide for these types of businesses. We're on the map now with
the population the size we are. People are looking to Northport. We need to have the same tools in the toolbox that other municipalities and counties have. And we still as a commission and future commissions reserve the right to say yay
or nay on each one of these projects. So we're not giving away the store here. Certainly not on the the the projects that are not affordable housing because they come to us come to future commissions. But affordable housing,
think about that other perspective because there is clearly a drive on the part of this state to create affordable housing. And if we don't think they will gobble up some of our valuable commercial property, we're mistaken.
They will they will try to do everything they can to I would like to be able to incentivize a developer who wants to build affordable housing to do it in an area that makes more sense strategically for us. And that's Yeah. So the idea is that the state may tell us to as maybe at some point in time that we must allow
affordable housing everywhere in the city, but the state will never tell us who we can and not give incentives to because that's within our own rules. And so this is a way of guiding those land development projects to where the city finds it most strategically advantageous. So I don't know if that
helps anybody. Commissioner Petro. I guess I just want to end on the note that if it is presented on case by case why are we still specifying these percentages? And the second of um and I'll end with that
is somebody has to pay it. And as a as a financially conservative guy I I just you know can't give it away this much. Somebody has to pay it and somebody is is the city. So we filling those impact
fee voids as a city. So just want to leave these thoughts with you to ponder that somebody has to pay it and somebody is us. Miss Lori staff have anything to add here? Mr.
Mayor, if I may add. Um so the affordable housing reductions do not need to be made whole um from the general fund or from any other fund. It is statutoily required for non-residential um reductions. I will just say um I think we'll have
another very interesting conversation at second reading. Yeah, there's nothing else to it. Nobody else has another motion. Guess we're ready to move on. All
right, we're on to B, ordinance 2025-12. Uh, I need a motion to direct city clerk to read by title only. Second. Got a motion by vice mayor. Seconded by Commissioner Langden to
direct city clerk to read this item by title only. City clerk, you're up. Vote. Oh, I suppose. Do we really need a vote? Yes. Let's vote. Jeez. I'm just trying to move this meeting along.
So she can read it. That passes 5 to zero. City clerk, you're up. Ordinance number 2025-12, an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the non-district budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 for opio opioid treatment and
prevention items in the amount of $109,000. Providing for findings, providing for posting, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. Right. Commission. Oops. Anything to this? What's that?
I've got nothing. Okay. Mr. Fletcher's back. Yes. He introduces it. You want me to introduce it? Oh, yeah. Thank you, sir. Manager, can you change the routines as I've been gone? Um, now you just changed meds. That's all. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, the 111 fund is
specifically for the state overseen opioid settlement funds. The opioid settlement funds may be spent on substance use, disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery as well as mental health treatment. We ask that you approve ordinance number 2025-12 and move to second reading on May 7 May
27th, 2025. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this one? Very good. Then I'm looking for a Oh, public comment. There is none. And then I'm looking for a motion. I'll make it. Move to continue ordinance number
2025-12 to second reading on May 27th, 2025. Second. Got a motion by Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Dval to continue ordinance 2025-12, second reading on May 27th, 2025. There's nothing else to that.
Let's vote. and that passes five to zero. See, next moving on. Resolution C, uh, 2025-R22. Um, city clerk, would you be
kind enough to read this by title only? Resolution number 2025-R22, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, accepting a non-exclusive access and utility easement on portions of a tract of land located in section 21, Township 39 South, range 21 East,
Sarasota County, Florida, and a portion of lot 19 of Heron Creek Place, phase 2, bearing Sarasota County property appraisal parcel identification number 0978010011, providing for incorporation of recital, providing for filing of documents, proving providing for conflicts, providing for severability,
and providing an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. City manager, your item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Northport MF Ventures LLC, the owner of the parcel, desires to grant desires to grant the city of Northport a non-exclusive access and utility easement over and across certain portions of property owned by
Northport MF Ventures LLC in connection to the infrastructure installed within the Heron Creek phase 2 development. Um, we ask that you approve number resolution number 2025-R22 as presented. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.
Commissioners, anything to this one? Everybody's good with us. Uh, any public comments on this item? There is none. I'm looking for a motion. I'll make it. I move to adopt resolution number 2025-R22 as presented. Second. Got a
motion by Commissioner Langden, seconded by the vice mayor to adopt resolution 2025-R22 as presented. Let's vote and that passes 5 to zero. Moving on
to D resolution number 2025-R27. City Clerk, if you'd be kind enough to read by title only. Resolution number 2025-R27, a resolution of the city of Northport, Florida, accepting the transfer of water and wastewater infrastructure and improvements and
associated warranties in Sunshine Village F3, providing for incorporation of recital, providing for filing of documents, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. City manager, your item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The infrastructure located within Sunstone Village F3 is
now complete. Therefore, this resolution is necessary to identify what infrastructure the city is accepting from the developer. The city holds easement rights to access, operate, and maintain the infrastructure and all related warranties have been assigned to the city. We ask that you approve resolution number
2025-R27 as presented. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Commissioners, anything to this one? Nothing. I have one quick question. Oh, yes. May I um could you just describe the
infrastructure that we're accepting? Yes, I believe our team can come up and make a description for you. Hello, Susan Gracefield, assistant utility director. We're accepting water and wastewater extensions for to serve
the development. The the utilities were part of the utility approval and they were inspected by our utilities department. Okay. Thank you for that and thank you for voting. Good. Good. Everybody else good. Any public comment city? Then I'm
closing this public hearing. Request a motion. I'll make it move to adopt resolution number 2025-R27 as presented. Second motion by the vice mayor seconded by Commissioner
Dval to adopt resolution 2025-R27 as presented. Let's vote. And that passes 5 to zero. Moving on to E. Resolution number 2025-R31. City clerk, if you'd be so kind.
Resolution number 2025-R31, a resolution of the city of Northport, Florida, accepting the transfer of water and wastewater infrastructure and improvements and associated warranties in Heron Creek phase 2, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for filing of documents, providing for conflicts,
providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Thank you, ma'am. City manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The infrastructure located within Herring Creek phase 2 is now complete. Therefore, resolution number 2025-R31 is necessary to identify what infrastructure the city is accepting
from the developer. The city holds the easement rights to access, operate, and maintain the infrastructure, and all related warranties have been assigned to the city. We ask that you approve resolution number 2025-R31 as presented. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Uh,
commissioners, Commissioner Langman. Yeah. Again, just a quickie. Come on down. Same question. Just uh describe briefly the infrastructure we would be accepting. Susan Bracefield, assistant utility director. Similar to the other
development, it's water and wastewater extensions to serve the development and it's all it's all permitted and completed and inspected. Thank you. Anything else? Commissioners, any public comments? City
clerk. And then I'm closing this public hearing. Requesting a motion. I'll make it. I move to adopt resolution number 2025-R31 as presented. Second.
Got a motion by Commissioner Langden, seconded by the vice mayor to adopt resolution number 2025-R31 as presented. Let's go ahead and vote. And that passes
520. Moving on to general public comment. City clerk. Moving on to commissioner communications. Uh, Commissioner Pro. I've attended um Minnesota League of Cities. learning
a lot about the local politics and state bills that are being passed in or against our favor. That's about it for me. Vice Mayor. Yeah, I'm good.
Okay. Commissioner Lang. Yeah. I just want to thank city clerk for attacking my attaching Wow. Uh, attaching my activity list to today's agenda. And I just want to take
this opportunity to recognize and thank our mayor, the incredible leadership he has shown um in educating the community about today's referendum and vote. He has really gone in, in my opinion, above
and beyond what any of us should be expected to do. and I just wanted to publicly thank him for that. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Uh, Commissioner Duval. Yes. Thank you. Uh on April 6th, uh I
was at the Morgan Center for the budget input meet and greet. And I'd like to say thank you to all the vendors who provided food for that event. and also to our city staff that all gave uh
presentations to the public on what percentage of the budget each department represents, how much money they spent last year. Uh I thought it was a a very
beneficial event. April 6th, also I attended Elizabeth Wong's retirement party at public works. U may we always have employees of her caliber. Also on April 6th, I attended
the uh swearing in and promotion ceremony of our police department and I just want to say thanks to those that serve. April 3rd, I attended uh newcomers day at the Mullen Center. Uh that was a well attended event. Also on
April 3rd, I attended the Meals on Wheels benefit at Twisted Fork. Um and I helped our city mayor set up and tear down a tent a few times. And thank you, Commissioner Jabal, for that.
That's it for me. Thank you, sir. Uh yeah, I do want to just uh give a shout out to the chambers leadership uh class uh a member of which you know I am. And uh we did
our big fundraiser for the year to uh raise money for meals on wheels for new freezer which uh we did hit our goal and um it was really a fun event for everybody who was there. um had tremendous support by the community and
by the chamber and by really everybody uh both those who helped participate and helped set up and break down and and those that came and contributed and and you know bought raffle tickets and and and helped this be a huge success. Meals on wheels is a great program. So I thank
everyone who was involved there and and I do want to thank everybody in this city for this off-year you know election. This is it's not easy to do. The these are very very important referendum items and you know uh certainly it's been a spirited couple of
weeks. Um you know from both sides and you know hopefully uh these needs will be approved and we can move forward. If not the city will do what it always has done which is continue to move the needle forward and do what it needs to
do in the best interests of the majority of our citizens. So again, for all those people who are active and engaged, thank you very much. And for all those who vote. Um, moving on, administrative and legal reports. We have anything uh from our charter officer, city manager. Just
one thing, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I was honored to speak this morning for National Police Week at the law enforcement memorial event. It recognized the eight lives that were lost in law enforcement throughout the state of Florida in 2024. Um, so we just want to make sure that we never forget them and recognize that we
thank everyone in service in this city, in this state and the country. Thank you, sir. Sir, acting city attorney. City clerk. By God, if there's nothing else, I think
we can adjourn this meeting.