[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6549406,"mediaKeyId","5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769","parentId",5503777,"title","Bobcat Trail residents press North Port for action; officials cite limits while property is in foreclosure","audioSeconds",996,"startMs",8736000,"endMs",9732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769&start=8736&end=9732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769/thumbnail_8736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6549406/North-Port/Sarasota-County/Florida/Bobcat-Trail-residents-press-North-Port-for-action-officials-cite-limits-while-property-is-in-foreclosure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549406-f43bd35368fcd262c4c9afca558e173d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005189&Signature=eTWKoQVnS6C28JfoJ2d4g7a~-BDdiEFDlfJKvK369O9fG0ZrGfRjMop3FZyccgrjotj48QbNtsy5fcB1ppMK0Z2wy-B0GwuasBGe-pdcIxqVbfWLZRZJKpNq0ZHYlTAhh6cyDmfywudPCE-GWNrI-mmtMpVImpzkBD7JCb8zH-eXryvBMHm5AhSUQrJ8OsTpoXBy2~9sYQ0L1fHTjYvenPkvmrKBtZlXNLfdfj0WzEhqxuw6kHkOu7BUUw1fnDbHXdMklxtnaVxPrznaDCN82Ko-kHxztpWs7Z1TiyJBwVoAoiPy-dJ5VPNCPoqrGu8-M9GzUO3hJHdF9K60y6Ab4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of North Port","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple Bobcat Trail residents urged the City Commission on July 8 to take action after years of visible neglect at the neighborhood's former golf course, citing overgrown vegetation, vermin, unsecured buildings and fuel and fertilizer stored near homes.

Residents and community leaders described broken doors, open access to a deteriorating clubhouse and outbuildings that contain fuel and fertilizer. Richard Burke, president of the Bobcat Trail Homeowners Association, showed photos and said vegetation on parts of the course is taller than a golf cart and called it a public nuisance under municipal code. Steve Ball, chairman of the Bobcat Trail Community Development District, said the property has exposed fuel tanks and a fertilizer shed that were accessible and had been vandalized.

Commissioner Barbara Langdon said staff had followed up on the complaints. Development services staff explained the legal limits on code enforcement: the city may cite violations visible from public rights-of-way but does not have legal authority to enter private property without the owner's permission. Assistant City Attorney Caitlin Coughlin said the property is in foreclosure and the legal owner remains Cloud 10 Marketing LLC; she said the bank and a potential buyer are in negotiations and that adding liens could complicate a pending sale.

Fire Rescue District staff told commissioners that the fire marshal and building inspector had previously inspected the property, identified violations and required repairs; they said some vegetation mitigation work occurred with help from the Florida Forest Service and community volunteers about a year ago.

Residents asked the commission to send a letter to the bank or to direct code enforcement to take immediate action; commissioners did not send a letter at the meeting but asked staff to consider whether updated information from residents warranted further enforcement steps that can be taken without entering private property or that would not jeopardize an imminent sale.

No new enforcement action or city-funded remediation was approved at the meeting; staff noted that if the property's legal owner fails to remedy visible exterior violations, the city's normal code-enforcement remedies (noting limitations for undeveloped property) remain available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Regular Meeting on 2025-07-08 6:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and community leaders told the commission the Bobcat Trail golf course has deteriorated, creating safety and nuisance concerns; staff said code enforcement authority is limited while the property remains privately owned and in foreclosure, and the fire district said it had inspected and required repairs last year.","taxTitle","North Port, Sarasota County, Florida","taxId",4668,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6549411,"North Port directs staff to draft historic and cultural designation policy",488,3004000,3492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769&start=3004&end=3492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769/thumbnail_3004000.jpg","/articles/6549411/North-Port/Sarasota-County/Florida/North-Port-directs-staff-to-draft-historic-and-cultural-designation-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549411-fb074063f292e2857477a4e31afa25ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005189&Signature=CmpOWQmUcZyZWbNiyvY~mZ-smhfN5Nhynq~3ylnrpgCgwlSmFFFBQHRSdBcLFjlkHNP2l8Y9XQKOgXjixXXw7QcSKGBfKbKIv7kObl5sBFShHHPXY7MAdTmO9qzISAjoQe8OAjzISx2UMdvA3TzadAhVqYvC30Tt0iEdvu5etbEkj7J2BEoSGXRIvhKqFvOJ54dZk8Mhzs3UORtw659r3bA6DEst1OgEZsV2yxnz8ROn~aK7RymmcdfSNxL7MDeyhYBVazdq3P3Yd~S7n4ZqyKiRH62aW1AEj29TlwJxzS-zaKfkHY1e6SZGke2J7c3zKIGu8N~9PeIN6ErFxGzyHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Port City Commission on July 8 directed the city clerk to work with the Historic and Cultural Advisory Board and the staff liaison to draft a policy to guide designation of historic and cultural sites and to return the draft for commission review.

Commissioner Barbara Langdon said the city lacks an adopted set of guidelines and asked staff whether the city had any formal criteria to evaluate historic or cultural significance. Tricia Whisner (staff liaison) and Assistant City Attorney Caitlin Coughlin said the city code establishes the board's powers but does not include a breakdown of objective criteria; Whisner said staff had previously used Sarasota County's standards as a starting point but no final policy was adopted.

Commissioners also discussed specific local examples, including whether the Cyclorama structure at Warm Mineral Springs should be considered by the advisory board. Assistant City Manager Juliana Beleah said city staff previously attempted a site search related to a historic wharf and that remnants had been moved to Public Works for evaluation but had not been formally assessed.

On a motion by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emmerich, the commission voted 5-0 to direct the city clerk to work with the board and liaison to prepare a draft policy on criteria and a process for designating historic sites.

Staff noted the board had earlier requested guidance and that a written policy would help standardize evaluation and reduce ad hoc decisions.

No funding or formal designations were authorized at the meeting; the action directs staff and the advisory board to return a written policy for the commission's consideration.","The commission asked the Historic and Cultural Advisory Board, through the city clerk and liaison, to draft guidelines defining what the city should treat as historic or cultural sites, after staff said no formal criteria currently exist and prior claims lacked documentation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6549416,"North Port tells staff to study unsolicited P3; commission seeks COPs comparison and repayment analysis",3288,3632000,6920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769&start=3632&end=6920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","/articles/6549416/North-Port/Sarasota-County/Florida/North-Port-tells-staff-to-study-unsolicited-P3-commission-seeks-COPs-comparison-and-repayment-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549416-1860e833784a50d80b7f9779af3a21ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005189&Signature=bugOg-35QHYe0tlK1OsvCa3ZzD3wOOvtkjVp1EfI15udrcWIQdgS8zd2t~oN1fD5peWEQUneN6OSdvdf~yCZoIJl2nGrJVJmuei-pnTBh3-ZQx5RxJvps8qDx0SsVu9rHDEsjyQLiYpB~ETXUTeENrnHwdDTAG4UG9DaCdFpwiJP2Fcwdj5T0v9NqA0W52SG536VB9yypkL4C19DPIf354c52z-pfZuX1ASRKvQgl4EAEd2GRd-RAjEVPLwnD7lxpZihqcNtvPxozYtIA2uqUSnPosNhS0UWOytqWZu5XBDSpZkbcRpX7twdsa8CaxDHEg1aVktB2oBXKKgr5JTy6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Port City Commission on July 8 directed staff to undertake a detailed review of an unsolicited public-private partnership (P3) conceptual proposal from Florida Development Solutions LLC that covers three separate projects: a new police department headquarters, wastewater facility expansion and renovation, and a solid-waste transfer station. Commissioners asked city bond counsel and financial advisors PFM to compare the proposal with a city-led certificates of participation (COP) financing option and to evaluate the city's realistic ability to repay any proposed obligations.

City staff said the unsolicited proposal met the city's code requirements for consideration. Ken Arkin of Bryant Miller Olive (city bond counsel) told the commission the projects can be reviewed individually and are not required to be accepted as an \"all-or-none\" package. Jay Glover and Jake Larkin of PFM, the city's financial advisors, said the developer's materials were conceptual and that their review would test multiple financing structures, payment schedules and sensitivity to interest-rate and cost changes.

Commissioners repeatedly asked how a P3 would compare to a COP in cost and timing. Vice Mayor Emmerich flagged a conceptual annual payment the proposal showed for the police headquarters of roughly $6.5 million and asked whether the city currently has the capacity to make such payments; staff replied the city does not currently have that recurring capacity and that achieving that level would depend on development-driven revenue or other revenue increases.

During public comment John O'Grady of Florida Development Solutions said his company had already engaged financing and would bear risk to move the proposals forward. \"It is at our risk,\" he said. \"We're the ones putting up the money to have this evaluation done because we feel these three projects are the right solution.\"

The commission split its action by project:
- Police headquarters: On a motion by Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Duvall, the commission directed the city manager to work with PFM and Bryant Miller Olive to investigate the unsolicited P3 proposal and COP options, including a \"realistic evaluation of the city's ability to repay\" any resulting obligation. The amended motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Petro dissenting.
- Solid-waste transfer station: The commission voted unanimously (5-0) to direct staff, bond counsel and PFM to return a direct comparison of the P3 approach versus the city pursuing its own COP financing for the transfer station, including costs, pros and cons.
- Wastewater treatment facility: The commission voted 5-0 to accept the unsolicited P3 conceptual proposal for substantive review and to notify the private proposer of the anticipated time frame for comprehensive review.

Commissioners and outside advisors emphasized that the P3 route may yield quicker delivery but is generally more costly than city self-financing; PFM said it would model multiple structures (deferred rent, capitalized interest, payment ramps) and recommend options only if the city can afford them over the long term. Commissioners also asked staff to continue pursuing COP analysis in parallel and to bring back written findings on options, timing, cost sensitivities and legal constraints (including any charter or validation requirements).","The commission directed staff, bond counsel and PFM to further evaluate an unsolicited public-private partnership (P3) proposal that covers a police headquarters, wastewater upgrades and a solid-waste transfer station, and asked for comparisons with city-run certificates of participation and an explicit review of the city's ability to repay.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6549421,"North Port delays citywide fee changes; Warm Mineral Springs pass discounts to phase down",600,505000,1105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769&start=505&end=1105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503777-0cc4ef3f764c1bce902734594d9ba769/thumbnail_505000.jpg","/articles/6549421/North-Port/Sarasota-County/Florida/North-Port-delays-citywide-fee-changes-Warm-Mineral-Springs-pass-discounts-to-phase-down","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549421-030b49851d779df9117ad6baac1030b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775005189&Signature=FVD7g9-RKCwj2-izld67YBv04kTsydjRqKl-GWXLu~MdShJT1rnOOIG61KsSlU~5WkfYOmyj9Bb5WrOBIkeCSXnsxldJbHsyT~O1ExkH5Wgi~eO-uRGBwZHtC-yDQ0pycYILPwt3Svi5OYB3b8jQtKKoQG0CJTEM1WecalRaeOex5d1RPA~VRJiXAmO2rAa2U5qHOAZdJZ4Tsw11Igdp~ECkBisOwJuPeQsog3Ka40t0O4KssFqe7C-cTwqBxj-Fwjmzxl7OYcMRCUsJqeP~EU3QcBtp9bYrUuSwBmDJniEIfc0c1-Dm2ozxcq8VtBaX9~D1Ioml1gTnmrgtEivC0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Port City Commission on July 8 continued first reading of an ordinance to update the city's Appendix A fee schedule, including changes to development, police, parks and recreation, solid waste and utilities fees, and asked staff to incorporate a new Sarasota County resident rate and a phased three-year pass-discount plan for Warm Mineral Springs into the ordinance's second reading on July 22.

City Manager Fletcher told commissioners the fee update was based on a third-party comprehensive user-fee study by Willdan Financial Services that identifies the full cost of providing services, including overhead, direct and indirect costs. \"The charges that we pass along are not designed to be 100% recoverable for the fees that we charge,\" Fletcher said, adding the goal is to reduce the burden on the city's finances while aligning fees with market comparables.

Parks and Recreation Director Sandy Funheller outlined proposed changes for Warm Mineral Springs, proposing to keep daily admission steady while reducing the discounts on 10- and 30-visit passes and phasing out the annual pass, which has not sold since the city assumed operations. Funheller said the proposed three-year phase plan would generate an estimated $514,000 in additional revenue over three years based on current attendance levels, funds the city expects to reinvest in infrastructure and capital needs at the Springs. She said FY24 revenues at the Springs were about $1.5 million, expenses about $1.2 million, and that the facility showed roughly 127,000 visits last year with an average daily operating cost of $34.85.

Commissioners asked for more detail before final approval. Commissioner Barbara Langdon asked whether the attendance number represented unique visitors or total visits; staff said the admissions data counts visits and that passes and admissions data show about 49,000 paid individual admissions last year and 77 pass holders. Langdon also asked whether the city benchmarks fees against peer municipalities; Fletcher replied comparables are a main factor in the consultant's analysis.

Commissioners also raised the policy question of how much cost recovery the city should seek from fees. Fletcher said goals vary by department and the consultant adjusted rates to reflect market rates. Commissioners pressed staff on how the projected additional revenue would hold up to rising costs; Funheller said the phase plan is intended to reach a sustainable level by the time new buildings at the Springs open and that annual rate proposals will still come back through the ordinance process.

On a motion by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emmerich, the commission voted to continue Ordinance 2025-14 to a second reading on July 22, 2025, directing staff to incorporate the proposed Sarasota County resident rate and the 2026'28 rate and discount schedule into the ordinance. The motion passed 5-0.

The first-reading action also included the city clerk's reading of the ordinance title and the managers'presentation of the fee study; commissioners said they wanted a follow-up report with unique-visitor counts and annual admission and pass breakdowns before second reading.

The commission also approved related procedural motions to read other ordinances by title and to continue several other budget and code items to the July 22 meeting.

These fee changes affect a wide range of city services; staff said multi-year adjustments are intended to balance affordability with the city's need to cover operations and to build reserves for capital work at Warm Mineral Springs.","The North Port City Commission continued first reading of Ordinance 2025-14, which updates the city's Appendix A fee schedule including phased changes to Warm Mineral Springs multi-visit passes and a new Sarasota County resident rate, and asked staff to incorporate the 2026'28 rate plan into the second reading on July 22.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bobcat Trail residents press North Port for action; officials cite limits while property is in foreclosure

North Port directs staff to draft historic and cultural designation policy

North Port tells staff to study unsolicited P3; commission seeks COPs comparison and repayment analysis

North Port delays citywide fee changes; Warm Mineral Springs pass discounts to phase down