The council also delved into the proposed amendments to the City of North Port Comprehensive Plan. The Assistant Director of Development Services explained that the amendments were mostly structural, with the intent of establishing additional future land use districts to pair with new zoning districts. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on the timeline for adoption by the Land Development Code and the need to transmit the Comprehensive Plan to the state for a 30-day review. Commissioner Langdon highlighted the importance of having access to the modified document before the second reading, and a consensus was reached to continue the first reading at a later date, allowing for the presentation of amendments and state review.

Commissioner McDowell emphasized the significance of the Comprehensive Plan as a policy document and the need for review and input. She advocated for assurance that citizens, advisory boards, and city departments had reviewed the plan’s changes. The City Manager was directed to provide the advisory boards with a copy of the draft plan for their review and to make the draft available on the city’s website as soon as possible.

Another point of interest was the discussion surrounding the proposed Peace Pole Project by the Art Advisory Board to commemorate the city’s 65th anniversary. The project, which involves planting 65 Peace Poles with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” throughout the city, was met with enthusiasm from some council members. However, the city attorney raised legal concerns, including the use of public funds for private art placement and the scope of the Art Advisory Board’s duties. This led to a debate on the feasibility and legality of the project, with the initial motion to have the City Manager evaluate the feasibility of the city sponsoring the program withdrawn. Instead, a new motion was passed for the Art Advisory Board to review comments and figure out a path forward, possibly decoupling the city from the project.

Furthermore, the council addressed several infrastructure and community matters. Discussions included the importance of evacuation planning, stormwater management, and the evaluation process for the city’s swim programs. The Emergency Management Coordinator stressed the need for residents to have a “go bag” with essential items in case of an emergency and to understand the difference between flood zones and evacuation zones.

The City Commission also reviewed property developments, including the approval of a separate parcel for the development of Harvey’s Car Wash and the creation of a face to reply for the Here in Creek development. Both projects were recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board and the city surveyor.

Budgetary considerations were also on the agenda, with the council discussing amendments to the non-district budget and capital improvement budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. Allocations for various projects, such as the police headquarters, public art projects, the North Port Myakka Creek Greenway Trail, and the emergency operating center, were part of the budget amendment.

Lastly, the meeting included reports from council members on various events and meetings they had attended. These reports covered a range of activities, from emergency room groundbreakings to community events and discussions on local government issues such as House Bill 433.