North Port commissioners pledge to keep senior center, food pantry in community; direct staff to study repair, replacement and interim options

At a City Commission workshop on Oct. 6, 2025, North Port commissioners said they would work to keep services provided by the city-owned community services facility at 4940 Pan Am Boulevard in the community while staff studies repair and replacement options.

The commission opened discussion after public commenters, including volunteers and nonprofit leaders, urged the city to preserve the senior center and the Awaken Outreach Center food pantry, which operate from the building. City Manager Fletcher told the commission the structure, built in 1977 with additions through 1982, shows extensive corrosion, noncompliant roofing and life-safety deficiencies and that immediate repairs were estimated at roughly $574,956 with an additional $202,000 needed in about five years; a full renovation estimate ranged up to about $2,000,000 in the city memo.

Commissioner Langdon, who led the push for formal direction, said the organizations “are integral parts of this community” and urged the commission to “find money for this, whether we keep the building patched for the next few years or take a different approach and put some trailers there so they can continue to operate and tear that building down and build a new building.” Langdon asked staff to pursue options that would retain the services and minimize disruption to seniors and clients.

Public works staff and project managers told commissioners that certain repairs would trigger Florida Building Code requirements. Kim Humphrey, Project Manager of Public Parks, explained that plumbing and roof replacements could trigger the code’s threshold for a Level 3 alteration: “Florida building code dictates that whatever you touch has to be brought up to code as part of the project,” she said, noting the code treats the 50% threshold by area and not strictly by monetary value.

Commissioners weighed alternatives: patching immediate safety items, replacing the building with a simple metal structure, or demolishing and rebuilding a larger multi-use facility that could consolidate nonprofits and city services. Several commissioners recommended exploring temporary modular (trailer) solutions so services could continue during construction. Commissioner Duval emphasized minimizing displacement for seniors, who “won’t drive far,” and suggested temporary storage and off-site service days if necessary.

Janet Carrillo, Social Services Manager, said the current leases bring in $600 per month combined ($200 for the senior center; $400 for Awaken because it occupies two spaces) and that those funds go into the general fund. Commissioners noted those rents are not dedicated to facility maintenance and that the facilities maintenance budget must be funded from the general fund.

Public commenters, including longtime volunteers and nonprofit leaders, asked the commission to preserve the facility. Larry Grant, director of Awaken Outreach Center, emphasized the pantry’s scale and partnership with the city, saying the organization had served large numbers of people with food distributions and would continue to partner with staff. Debbie McDowell, a resident, asked why the deterioration was not flagged earlier in city budgeting and maintenance records.

After discussion commissioners offered consensus direction: (1) a moral commitment to retain the services now provided at the site, (2) direct staff to engage with building occupants to identify minimum space needs and what occupants might contribute (fundraising, volunteer support, rental of temporary space), and (3) instruct staff to provide cost estimates for demolition and replacement at the current footprint plus the cost of temporary trailer solutions. Mayor Stokes and other commissioners said they want staff to return with detailed options, costs, and timelines before taking final action.

Staff said immediate repair work would require bidding and structural review and that several months would be needed before work could begin. Commissioners asked staff to prioritize short-term safety fixes where possible while developing a transition plan that preserves service continuity.

The commission did not adopt a binding ordinance or award contracts at the workshop; the direction given was a set of consensuses to guide staff follow-up and return with detailed proposals for future consideration.