The most practical takeaway for residents was a hurricane reminder: North Port used this meeting to push preparedness before the June 1 start of storm season. City emergency staff urged people to check their evacuation level and flood zone, refresh seven-day supply kits, and sign up for alerts through the city or county. For residents, that means the city is asking people to get ready now, not when a storm is already on the way.
The commission approved its agenda 5-0, with Barbara Langdon making the motion and Phil Stokes seconding it. The rest of the meeting was largely ceremonial, but it still highlighted people and services that touch daily life in North Port.
The city welcomed six new employees in Public Works and the Police Department, including solid waste, equipment operators, and police officers. That matters because those are the workers residents rely on for basic city services and public safety.
Commissioners also handed out several recognitions. Alice White received a Key to the City for decades of civic work, including tree planting, education programs, and Tour de North Port. Stokes was recognized for his year as mayor. The city also proclaimed May as ALS Awareness Month, Building Safety Month, and Drowning Prevention Awareness Month; May 3-9 as Hurricane Preparedness Week; May 10-16 as National Police Week; May 11 as National Salvation Army Day; and May 7 as Michael Golen Day, honoring the deputy city attorney’s service.
Public comment ranged widely. Speakers praised Alice White and Michael Golen, defended City Manager Fletcher’s management approach, and raised concerns about geofencing, artificial intelligence, city codes, and national political issues.
The meeting ended without any new policy vote beyond approving the agenda, and the digest does not list a next vote or deadline.
Key takeaways: - The North Port City Commission approved the meeting agenda by a 5-0 vote. (0:05:36)
The commission welcomed new city employees from Public Works and the Police Department. (0:18:50)
The meeting consisted primarily of recognitions and proclamations, including presentation of a Key to the City to Alice White and a proclamation declaring May 7, 2026, as Michael Golen Day. (0:20:33) (0:57:58)
Public comment included remarks about Alice White, city management, national political issues, geofencing, artificial intelligence, and local codes. (0:06:03) (1:04:40)
Call to order, roll call, and agenda approval
Mayor Emrich called the regular meeting to order at 4 p.m. on May 7, 2026. Present were David Duval, Phil Stokes, Pete Emrich, Vice Mayor Langdon, and Commissioner Petrow. Staff identified as present were City Manager Fletcher, City Attorney Fuido, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist Linder, Police Chief Garrison, and Fire Chief Titus. (0:04:11)
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Vice Mayor Langdon and seconded by Phil Stokes. The motion passed 5-0. (0:05:36)
Public comment before recognitions
One speaker, identified in the transcript as a dedicated employee, spoke in support of Deputy City Attorney Michael Golen and referenced his eight and a half years of service to the city. (0:06:03)
Another speaker, also identified in the transcript as a dedicated employee, said City Manager Fletcher had brought professionalism to the city and said the commission should focus on high-level strategy rather than departmental equipment and logistics. The speaker referenced Commissioner Petrow and lawnmowers for Parks and Recreation. (0:07:18)
Jill Luke spoke about Alice White’s work in North Port, including tree planting, Tour de North Port, teaching, public service, and service as commissioner and mayor. (0:08:15)
A speaker identified herself as Joan Morgan and spoke about Alice White’s work involving trees, education, environmental programs, Mommy and Me, writing, and other community activities. Joan Morgan also said Alice White had been named Teacher of the Year by the state of Florida in October 2000. (0:13:02)
Another speaker discussed oil from the National Strategic Reserve, Rick Scott, Greg Steube, military spending, and infrastructure funding, including an air raid siren and Road 72. The speaker discussed oil from the National Strategic Reserve, Rick Scott, Greg Steube, military spending, and infrastructure funding, including an air raid siren and Road 72. (0:15:43)
Welcome of new employees
Christine McDade welcomed new employees and asked them to stand when their names were called. She named Daniel Petters, identified as a solid waste laborer from Public Works; Mark O’Martinet, Equipment Operator 2; Daniel Nomelli, Equipment Operator 2; Matthew Williams, Equipment Operator 3; Joseph Eilerman, Police Officer; and Paul Freeman, Police Officer. (0:19:03)
Presentation of a Key to the City to Alice White
Mayor Emrich presented a Key to the City to Alice White. He said he first met her in 2019 while running for city commission and said they discussed North Port for two hours. He also referenced volunteering for Tour de North Port. (0:20:33)
Alice White thanked Jill Luke and Vice Mayor Langdon. She said she had called North Port home for 35 years and described first coming to North Port while working for mosquito control. She said she later started Welcome to North Port in 1992, Mommy and Me, People for Trees in 1997, and Tour de North Port. She said the key represented the work she had been involved in and referenced the trees planted in the city as part of her legacy. (0:23:46)
Recognition of Commissioner Stokes for service as mayor
Mayor Emrich presented Phil Stokes with a plaque recognizing his service as mayor from 2024 to 2025. Pete Emrich said Phil Stokes had held town halls and had been accessible to residents. (0:30:21)
Phil Stokes thanked the mayor and said it was an honor to serve the city and to have served as mayor. (0:30:52)
ALS Awareness Month proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month. No recipient came forward at that time. The proclamation referenced ALS as a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease, stated that someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from ALS every 90 minutes, and stated that the ALS Association has committed more than $154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries. (0:32:10)
National Salvation Army Day proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 11, 2026, as National Salvation Army Day. No recipient came forward at that time. The proclamation stated that the Salvation Army has been serving Sarasota County for 99 years. (0:34:28)
Building Safety Month proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Building Safety Month. The proclamation referenced the 2026 theme “Built to Last” and the role of building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, and others in construction. (0:36:09)
Later in the meeting, a staff member accepted the proclamation and thanked the commission, administrative staff, inspectors, and the fire marshal’s office for working in partnership to keep buildings in the city safe. A staff member accepted the proclamation and thanked the commission, administrative staff, inspectors, and the fire marshal’s office for working in partnership to keep buildings in the city safe. (1:03:09)
Hurricane Preparedness Week proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Hurricane Preparedness Week. The proclamation stated that residents should maintain seven-day emergency supply kits, have a battery-powered radio, know evacuation levels and routes, know the locations of official evacuation centers, and comply with evacuation orders. (0:39:26)
A representative of emergency management, identified in the transcript as Ms. Alessio, thanked the commission and said the date of the meeting was 25 days before the start of hurricane season on June 1. She urged residents to understand their evacuation level and flood zone, refresh disaster supply kits, sign up for emergency alerts at alertsarizonacounty.com or northportfl.gov/alerts, and understand National Hurricane Center watches and warnings. She said the city was a storm-ready community. (0:41:17)
National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 10 through May 16, 2026, as National Police Week. The proclamation also referenced May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. (0:43:43)
Police Chief Garrison, speaking on behalf of the North Port Police Department, thanked the commission and community for recognizing law enforcement officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. He said the week was important for remembering officers and the effects of those losses on families and departments. (0:45:07)
Drowning Prevention Awareness Month proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Drowning Prevention Awareness Month. The proclamation referenced Learn to Swim, Float for Life, Manda Swim Safe Water Instruction Matters, youth scholarships, the American Red Cross Centennial Program, and drowning statistics. It stated that drowning is the leading cause of death in Florida for children under age four, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 11 children drown every day in the United States, and that the Florida Department of Health reported 105 fatal drownings of children under 18 in 2024 and 348 fatal drownings among adults. (0:46:53)
A speaker identified Devon Poole as Aquatics Manager and said the city would hold a free May Day Drowning Prevention Expo on Saturday for North Port residents. The speaker said the aquatics team had one of the most advanced certification levels in the area and said Katie Meyer was a water safety instructor trainer, one of six in Florida. The speaker also said the Red Cross Centennial Program would provide 200 children swimming lessons for only $5 and said families with children attending a Title I school could register through the Aquatic Center. (0:49:33)
Paul DiMello of the Just Against Children’s Drowning Foundation said 7,000 children had been trained at the Aquatic Center since 2018. He described the drowning deaths of his 13-month-old twin boys and said the foundation supports safety fences, swimming lessons, CPR, and active adult supervision. He said there had been 120 drownings last year and 30 drownings so far this year in Florida. (0:50:54)
Michael Golen Day proclamation
Mayor Emrich read a proclamation declaring May 7, 2026, as Michael Golen Day. The proclamation stated that Michael Golen was hired by the city on October 31, 2017, promoted to Deputy City Attorney in 2022, and served as Interim City Attorney from September 26, 2024, through October 15, 2025. It also stated that he oversaw legal review on Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton recovery work, two city charter amendments and three bond referendums, the Price Boulevard construction contract, the Wellen Park post-annexation agreement and related real property transfer, and economic development incentives including ad valorem exemptions, impact fee deferrals and waivers, and use of economic development funds. (0:57:58)
Michael Golen thanked the commission and said the city attorney’s office had grown from three employees when he started. He said the team in the office and his family at home had helped him be successful. (0:59:39)
After the presentation, Mayor Emrich told Michael Golen that, since it was after 5, he had the rest of the day off with Chase. (1:01:19)
Final public comment
A speaker addressed the commission during final public comment and objected to geofencing, saying the city was paying $5,000 a year to a tech company “to spy on people’s cell phones.” The speaker also objected to artificial intelligence in city departments and said some members of the public feel they already live in an HOA because of city codes. The speaker urged the city to pass a local ordinance against recording and taping people in cars and referenced a federal requirement beginning in 2027 for cars to have a listening device and camera. The speaker discussed oil from the National Strategic Reserve, Rick Scott, Greg Steube, military spending, and infrastructure funding, including an air raid siren and Road 72. (1:04:40)
Adjournment
Mayor Emrich adjourned the meeting. (1:07:48)
Watch the full meeting recording
Vote tallies in this recap were checked against the body’s official roll-call record.
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