The North Port City Commission on Sept. 4 split 3–2 on ordinances to elevate the communications division (Ordinance 2025-26) and the information technology division (Ordinance 2025-27) to full departments. Both measures drew public support and praise from several commissioners but fell short of unanimous adoption at the meeting.

Under Section 5.05 of the North Port charter, the commission must adopt an ordinance to activate or deactivate city departments. City Manager Fletcher presented both proposed ordinances and recommended continuing each to a second reading on Sept. 18, 2025. The motions to continue each ordinance passed on a 3–2 recorded vote; the mayor initially stated the measures failed because adoption requires unanimous vote. The city attorney then clarified that a 3–2 vote is sufficient to move an ordinance to second reading, while final adoption would require the unanimous vote mandated by the charter.

The communications item drew repeated public comment in support of making the division a standalone department. Michelle Moore, a local business owner, said creating a single communications department would “make our city stronger” and help the city “build more public trust.” Lance Broke and Kathy Gearty, who identified themselves as North Port University graduates and long-term residents, urged the commission to give communications its own identity so residents can more easily find official information.

On the dais, Commissioner Langdon described the communications team’s work as having “a tremendously beneficial impact on our economic development efforts” and said he was “an unequivocal yes” on elevation. Vice Mayor Emmerich emphasized the need for a single, clear source of official information, saying, “Go to the communications of the city of North Port and get the facts, get the truth.”

Commissioner Duvall opposed moving the communications item forward on budgetary grounds, noting the reclassification and a related change would add nearly $100,000 in recurring costs this year and stressing concern for taxpayers. Commissioner Petro likewise raised concerns about the budget impact and the city’s commercial tax base, saying the household burden and the pace of budget growth required caution.

For the IT ordinance, Commissioners who spoke in favor noted public-safety and operational reasons to elevate the division. Commissioner Langdon said elevating IT “is vitally important” to the city’s future growth and praised the department’s stewardship. No public speakers opposed the IT item during the hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025-26 (create Communications Department): motion to continue to second reading — recorded vote 3 yes, 2 no; mayor initially announced failure due to unanimous-adoption language; city attorney clarified a 3–2 vote can move an ordinance to second reading though unanimous adoption is required to finalize department activation. Financial impact of reclassification (combined with another division) was cited in staff/commission comments as approximately $99,630.

- Ordinance 2025-27 (create Information Technology Department): motion to continue to second reading — recorded vote 3 yes, 2 no; mayor initially announced failure; later clarification by city attorney mirrored the communications item.

What this means

Because the charter requires a unanimous vote to adopt ordinances that activate or deactivate departments, the items will return to the second-reading calendar. The city attorney’s statement that a 3–2 vote can move an ordinance to second reading indicates the measures will appear again, but final adoption will require the unanimous commission vote the charter prescribes. The commission set the second-reading date as Sept. 18, 2025.

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts)

- Topic intro (communications): “Ordinance number 2025Dash26, an ordinance of the city in Northport, Florida activating a communications department…” (transcript block starting at 00:15:01).

- Topic finish (communications vote): “Got a motion by the vice mayor, seconded by Commissioner Langdon to move this motion forward. Let's go ahead and vote folks. So while this vote was 3 to 2 in the affirmative as a result of this requiring a unanimous vote, fails.” (transcript block starting at 00:29:92).

- Topic intro (IT): “Ordinance number 2025Dash27, an ordinance of the city in Northport, Florida activating an information technology department…” (transcript block starting at 00:30:26).

- Topic finish (IT vote and attorney clarification): “Sorry. Got a motion by commissioner Lang, seconded by the vice mayor to continue… While that appears to be to the affirmative, it fails as it requires a unanimous vote.” Followed by city attorney clarification: “The ordinance has to be adopted by unanimous vote. We're moving it to second reading… this ordinance can go to second reading with a pass of 3 to 2.” (transcript blocks starting at 00:31:22 and 00:33:35).