North Port votes: police headquarters, transfer station, wastewater, charter changes and contract amendments at Jan. 28 meeting

What the commission voted on (selection, Jan. 28, 2025): the City Commission handled multiple ordinance readings, a pair of charter amendments, a policy change and several construction‑contract amendments. Below are the formal outcomes recorded during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

1) DMA 24‑093 (Ecos at Arbor Park Phase 2): Approved, motion carried 4‑1. (See separate coverage.)

2) Ordinance 2025‑03 — Police headquarters referendum (first reading): Commission voted to continue to the second reading on Feb. 11, 2025, and to remove the words “a portion of” from the ballot language. Motion to continue passed 4‑1 (Commissioner Emmerich absent? vote recorded as 4‑1 with Commissioner Emmerich recorded as dissent in roll call; Commissioner Langdon stated the reason for his no vote). Motion made by Commissioner Langdon and seconded by Commissioner Duvall; vote passed 4‑1.

3) Ordinance 2025‑04 — Solid waste transfer‑station referendum (first reading): Continued to second reading on Feb. 11, 2025. Motion passed 5‑0. (Commission record: requested borrowing amount in presentation $14,000,000 to include debt issuance costs; staff noted funding gap and that repayment would come from solid‑waste revenues, not ad valorem taxes.)

4) Ordinance 2025‑05 — Wastewater facility capital improvements referendum (first reading): Continued to second reading on Feb. 11, 2025. Motion passed 5‑0. (Staff said project upgrades include new effluent pumps and a force main to protect reclaimed‑water operations during high‑flow events.)

5) Ordinance 2024‑47 — Noise code amendment (second reading): Adopted on second reading. Vote 5‑0.

6) Ordinance 2024‑48 — Charter amendment to allow limited emergency borrowing without prior voter approval: Adopted (second reading) 5‑0 after commissioners agreed to add specific wording clarifying allowed uses (debris removal, repair or reconstruction of public infrastructure damaged by a declared emergency or disaster) into the ballot question language.

7) Ordinance 2024‑49 — Charter amendment removing residency requirement for city clerk and city attorney: Adopted 5‑0.

8) Ordinance 2025‑01 — FY2024‑25 nondistrict budget amendment (hurricane repairs and park impact fee projects): Adopted 5‑0.

9) Ordinance 2025‑02 — Golf‑cart roadway designations (second reading): Adopted 5‑0.

10) Resolution 2025‑R‑10 — Amending commission policy on agendas and schedule: Adopted 5‑0.

11) Resolution 2025‑R‑11 — Updating public‑comment procedures and limits: Adopted 3‑2 (Commissioners Duval and Petro recorded dissenting votes). The change added a limit of one public‑comment submission per agenda item and specified the handling of voicemail public comments.

Contract and procurement approvals (construction manager at risk amendments)

- John F. Swift, Inc. — Eleventh amendment to CMAR contract 2023‑17.004 (demolition of Utilities Administration building): Approved, amount $72,607; motion passed 5‑0.

- Wharton‑Smith, Inc. — Sixth amendment to CMAR contract 2023‑17.001 (repairs to senior center): Approved, amount $332,217; motion passed 5‑0.

- Wharton‑Smith, Inc. — Eighth amendment to CMAR contract 2023‑17.001 (repairs to Family Service Center): Approved, amount $204,679; motion passed 5‑0.

- Ajax Building Company, LLC — Fourth amendment to CMAR contract 2023‑17.003 (lighting and open‑space repairs at City Hall campus): Approved, amount $360,730.13; motion passed 5‑0.

Appointments and other business

- The commission appointed Ali Akayeva to the Environmental Advisory Board as a regular member and Paul Jackaman as an alternate (term through 01/27/2028). The commission appointed Richard Gortz and Charles Wolf as alternates to the Planning & Zoning Advisory Board, with Wolf designated Alternate 1 and Gortz Alternate 2 (terms through 01/27/2029).

What commissioners and staff said in brief

City staff emphasized the financial and scheduling reasons for moving some referendum items quickly (bond counsel timelines and advertisement deadlines). Public‑works staff outlined operational savings and reduced wear‑and‑tear on vehicles from a local transfer station, and utilities staff said wastewater pump and force‑main upgrades would prevent regulatory penalties by enabling deep‑well disposal during high‑flow wet weather events.

Provenance: The first ordinance reading relevant to these referenda appears in the Jan. 28 agenda packet and the City Clerk’s reading of Ordinance 2025‑03 (transcript time ~8404.465–8414.561); the meeting concluded with the adjournment at transcript time 15864.71.

Notes and next steps

Most of the referendum ordinances were continued to Feb. 11, 2025, for second reading and final ballot language. The police‑headquarters ballot language was amended to remove the phrase “a portion of” and clarified in the ballot question for accuracy. The wastewater and transfer‑station questions were continued so staff can finalize scope and financing details. The commission scheduled town‑hall meetings and directed staff to provide further educational materials ahead of the May special election.