North Port Currents Redesign

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remainder is funded by

City of North Port’s trans-

portaon impact fee rev-

enue.

Improving the quality o lie

along Sumter BoulevardFor many North Port residents, Sumter

Boulevard is a linear walking park. With

weaving sidewalks and decorave

street lamps, gazebos, and benches, it

is not uncommon to see residents en-

joying an evening stroll, walking their

dogs, rollerblading or bicycling along

this major roadway.

Improvements will connue to be

made along this gateway road through-

out the next several months. The

roadway improvements are designed

to help with trac ow and also im-

on capital improvement projects that

increase the capacity of system that

Winter 2011



Planning or an energy efcient utureThe City of North Port began in 2010 to develop a sustainabil-

ity plan for an energy ecient future.

The plan will include both broad and specic recommenda-

ons and strategies to address the City’s projected develop-

ment throughout the next 15 years. The goals of the plan

include an overall emission reducon, energy savings, and

conservaon of the area’s natural resources. The funding for

this project came from the American Recovery and Reinvest-

ment Act of 2009.

As part of the process to develop this plan, the City launched

a Green Transformaon Survey, which can be found on the

City’s website. North Port also intends to create a cizen task

force to provide valuable ideas to include in the plan. For more

informaon or to take the survey, visit www.cityofnorthport.

com or call (941) 429-7234.

City saves with recycling program

In late 2010, the City of North Port Solid Waste Division

notched up the mandatory recycling program. Beginning in

November, the City’s Solid Waste Division began giving friend-

Green Acomplishments:

Looking Back at 2010



Solar panels used to power ambulances

North Port Fire Rescue incorporated two new ambulances

into its eet in early 2010 that were equipped with solar pan-

els on the roof. Normally, when an ambulance is pulled into

the re staon garage, it is plugged into an electric power

source to keep all equipment charged. In this case, solar pan-

els will augment that power to help maintain the charge on

the equipment when the vehicles are out of the staon.

“The use of solar power in our emergency apparatus is in

keeping with our commitment to be good stewards of the

taxpayers’ money and the environment, while providing the

best equipment possible for our paramedics,” said Fire Res-

cue Chief Bill Taae.The purchase of these ambulances balances the need for pa-

ent care and comfort, responder safety, and long term dura-

bility while maintaining scal responsibility. The vehicles were

purchased for less than $151,000 each with funds provided

by the one cent sales tax. In 2010, the City of North Port also

broke ground on a new re staon on Cizens Parkway. Like

the Fire Rescue Staon on North Port Boulevard, the new sta-

on will have many green features incorporated to cut longterm operaon costs.

City making more reclaimed water

In 2010, the City of North Port celebrated the compleon of a

$20 illi i f i W T Pl



LOOKING

FORWARDto 2011City Commission Chair Jim Blucher:

“In 2011, I am looking forward to the

economy to start a turnaround so that

people can get back to work.”

City Commission Vice Chair Tom Jones

“2011 will see the compleon of won-derful projects and the beginning of

others that will rocket North Port into

the future. I want us all to work togeth-

er and keep that momentum growing.”

City Commissioner David Garofalo

“My goal in 2011 is to engage others that

may not be so involved in local govern-

ment. It is absolutely necessary for us to

have involvement from our cizens for

us to move forward at any capacity.”

City Commissioner Michael Treub

“I am looking forward to a new manment team and geng North Port h

ed back in the right direcon thro

this economic downturn.”

City Commissioner Linda Yates

“I’m looking forward to cizens really c

ing together to address the issues and

vide soluons to the challenges ahead



Residents can watch City

videos on iunes, Youube,and the City’s websiteNorth Port residents can now

watch City videos on iTunes, YouTube,

and the City’s website.

For more than a year, the City

has streamed its City Commission

meengs live on the City’s website.

Past meengs are also available to

be viewed. Residents can now sub-

scribe, for free, to the City’s podcast

on iTunes and watch City Commis-

sion meengs.

With the new upgrades, residents

also can watch the City’s half-hour

television show, “North Port Pres-

ents: The View From Here” on the

City’s website. (The show will con-

nue to air every Monday at 5 p.m.

on Comcast Channel 189).

The City of North Port launched a

YouTube channel last year and has

already posted several public ser-

vice announcements and other spe-

cial programming.

For more informaon, visit

www.cityofnorthport.com.

City of North Port

4970 City Hall BoulevardNorth Port, FL 34286

A C H I E V E A N Y T H I N G

Local business owners who are looking for ways to improve

their businesses can use their lunch hour to learn new skills.

The City of North Port will once again oer free lunch-

me workshops to help business owners sharpen their

entrepreneurial skills. The 2011 version of the popular Lunch

& Learn series will connue through October. The workshops

will feature mely topics designed to help business owners

improve their compeve edge during the current economic

climate. All sessions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

in Room 244 at the North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd,

North Port, FL 34286.

Lunch & Learn is a component of the City’s Small Business

Assistance Program which was created to increase the

number, size, and capacity of businesses in the City of North

Port. Last year, the Lunch & Learn sessions aracted nearly 150

parcipants and received support from SCORE, Florida Gulf

Coast University, the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce,

Helping Businesses Trive:

Entrepreneurs invited to

learn new skills

the Florida Small Business Development Center, State

College of Florida, the University of South Florida, and the

Small Business Development Services, LLC.

There will be a minimal cost to aend. A complete

schedule is available at www.cityonofnorthport.com.

Because of limited seang, parcipants a re asked to RSVP

by registering online at www.cityofnorthport.com or by

calling Donna Suggs at (941) 429-7240.

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PAID

MANASOTA FL

PERMIT #9

Playul City USA

The City of North Port is one of 118cies and towns across the country

that earned recognion as a 2010

Playful City USA from KaBOOM!, which

is a naonal not-for-prot organizaon

commied to providing me and space

for America’s children to play.

With 23 parks spread throughout the

City’s 105-square-miles, the City of

North Port oers a number of outdoor

acvies for any age. Residents will

nd playgrounds, ball elds, tennis

and basketball courts, picnic shelters,

walking trails, indoor acvity centers,

boat ramps, and more. Within

recent years, the City has invested

nearly $600,000 in new playgroundequipment, picnic shelters, parking lot

resurfacing, soccer eld lighng, and

more.

With a Playful City USA designaon,

the City of North Port has pulled

together a commiee of dedicated

residents and business owners

willing to donate their me toward

enhancing the park experience. The

Playful City USA Commiee has been

working diligently on a number of

acvies to promote opportunies for

families to play. Includedin that work are a number

of neighborhood park

events. An event will be

organized this Spring to

highlight Kirk Park. The

Commiee also is working

on hosng a Play Day in

September.

“We are going to connue

our eorts through pro-

moons and let people

know where there are play staons

and the types of amenies we have at

our parks,” said Parks and Recreaon

Manager Bill Ward.

Spring 2011

April 2 May 14 June 18

Canine Awareness and Health

Fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Te Canine Club Family Paw Park

2nd Nature Environmental

Festival 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Garden o the Five Senses

Kids Fishing Tournam

Fishing Clinic 8 a.m. toMcKibben Park

This is the rst me that Nor

been recognized in the Playf

program. To learn more abo

of North Port’s Parks and

Division, visit www.cityofnor

or call (941) 429-PARK(7275

V i s i t c i t y o f n o r t h p o r t . c o m



Get City news in your inboxVisit the City’s website at www.cityonorth-port.com and sign up to receive City newsand events in your e-mail inbox. Te City o North Port strives to give you the most up-dated inormation about what’s happening in your community.

Join an Advisory BoardInterested in taking a leadership role in your community? Joining a City adviso-ry board is an excellent way to get your voice heard. For more inormation, con-tact the City Clerk’s Ofce at (941) 429-7064 or visit www.cityonorthport.com.

The City of North Port will begin this Spring to

rehabilitate between 16 to 19 miles of local roads.

This is part of an ongoing eort by the Public Works

Department to rehabilitate the more than 500 miles

of local roads that are in need of repair. The North

Port City Commission approved $2.3 million this year

for the project. Through a comprehensive selecon

process, neighborhoods were idened o Biscayne

Boulevard, south of Price Boulevard; o South Salford

Boulevard, south of Price Boulevard; along Glenallen

Boulevard from Price to Biscayne Boulevards; and anarea along Pan American Boulevard, north of U.S. 41.

The City of North Port rehabilitated 27 miles of local

roads last year, 17 miles in 2009, and 138 miles in 2008

and 2007 (which was the largest road project in the

City’s history).

In a connuing eort to improve water ow and

prevent neighborhood ooding, the City of North Port

is reconstrucng many of the water control structuresfound throughout the City’s more than 80 miles of

freshwater canals. Currently, work is being done to

improve Water Control Structure 132, located near

Jeannin Drive and Johannesberg Road. The City is

removing the corrugated metal pipe, installing three

new reinforced concrete pipes and a new xed weir.

The $460,000 project is being paid for by the Road and

Drainage District assessments.

The City’s water control structures maintain the

waterways at a certain desired elevaon (much like a

dam) to allow the storm water to be treated and ow

out of the area without ooding surrounding areas.

This is the ninth water control structure that has been

improved since 2007.

City rehabilitates

local roadways

City improves water

control structures to

prevent fooding

Scan with your smart phone to view

Achieve Anything: North Port

residents, employees recognizedCitizen of the YearAndy Gerberich was selected as the Ci-

zen of the Year for his community spirit

and personal commitment to the qual-

ity of life in North Port.

Andy donates much of his me and re -

sources to local organizaons. His help

is instrumental at community events

and acvies. Andy also is known for

his role in enhancing parks and creang

new recreaonal opportunies as Chair

of the City of North Port’s Parks and

Recreaon Advisory Board.

“He has to be one of the friendliest peo -

ple I know,” said a nominee about Andy.

“Whenever there is an event in North

Port, Andy is there to help out.”

Each year, the North Port residents

nominate candidates for the Cizen of

the Year. This program was established

to acknowledge and show appreciaon

to cizens who, over the past year, have

exhibited generous community spirit.

The Cizen of the Year was announced

at an annual awards luncheon on Thurs-

day, January 27, 2011 in conjuncon

with the City’s Employee Service Recog-

nion Program.

Congratulaons to all the no

Cizen of the Year, includin

Bonsky, Margie Ducharme, Ji

Renaud, Jusn Mahews, An

James Thiele, and John Wrub

Employees recognor achievement

Aaron Bourquin, network a

the Informaon & Technolo

sion, and Diane Marn, sta

in Public Works, received C

Service Awards.

Richard Berman, emergen

agement coordinator for Fire

received the Innovaon Awa

Police Ocer Robert David

awarded the Community Award.

Deputy Chief Sco Titus, Fire

was the recipient of the Lea

Award.

For more informaon, visit th

website at www.cityofnorthp

.

Employee of the Year

Darrell Smith, construcon coor-

dinator for North Port Ulies,

was named the Employee of the

Year for his dedicaon to makingthe City run as eciently as pos-

sible. Darrell always has a posive

atude and his work ethic invigo-

rates the workplace. He is an out-

standing employee who takes on

responsibilies that are above and

beyond his regular job dues.

Greenest Citizen Award

Karen Cramer received the Green-

est Cizen Award, sponsored by

the City’s Building Department.

Cramer, a fourth/h grade sci-ence teacher, led an environmental

club at Glenallen Elementary for 11

years and at Cranberry Elementary

for eight years. She connues to

lead the school club in a number of

acvies, including road clean-ups,

parades, community planngs,

benet drives, and more.

V i s i t c i t y o f n o r t h p o

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City graduates rst 28

North Port AmbassadorsThe City of North Port graduated 28

volunteers as part of a newly cre-

ated Ambassador Program. The new

Ambassadors will become directly

involved in markeng North Port as a

choice locaon for business, leisure,

and a residenal lifestyle.

The North Port Ambassador Program

was developed by a group of local

residents, business owners, students,

and City sta. The idea behind the

program is to provide an opportunity

for community stakeholders to spread

knowledge about North Port’s assets.

To complete the program, the gradu-

ates aended a three hour bus tour of

North Port and a three hour class.

The program is open to North Port

residents, both full-me and part-

me; business owners; members of

community organizaons; and anyone

who would like to promote the City.

For more informaon, visit the City’s

website at www.cityofnorthport.com

or contact Donna Suggs in the City

Manager’s Oce at (941) 429-7240

or at [email protected].

City of North Port

4970 City Hall BoulevardNorth Port, FL 34286

A C H I E V E A N Y T H I N G

Florida’s climate means that we oen see major rain events

and tropical systems that can signicantly impact our lives. The

City of North Port is encouraging all North Port residents to

evaluate the potenal risk of ooding for your property and

beer prepare.

Flooding in our City is primarily caused by heavy rains associated

with various weather systems, including frontal passages,

intense summer thunderstorms, and the rains and storm surge

associated with tropical systems.

As mapped by FEMA on September 1981 Flood Insurance RateMaps (FIRM), the City’s Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is

located primarily near the Myakkahatchee Creek, which ows

north to south through the City, and along the Myakka River. In

these areas, oodwaters can cover streets and yards with lile

warning. Past rain events have seen porons of major roadways

such as Sumter Boulevard and local roads in the North Port

Estates being rendered impassable due to ood waters.

The City connues to pursue opons to upgrade the City’s

stormwater system and beer handle such situaons. In

recent years, the City has focused its aenon on repairing

failing water control structures, priorizing canals for dredging,

Residents encouraged to

evaluate the risk o fooding

cleaning up canals and ditches, and working with the

Southwest Florida Water Management District on more

accurate ood mapping.

However, there are acons that you can take to become

beer informed about the ood issue and how to beer

protect yourself and your property. The City has posted a

wealth of informaon at www.cityofnorthport.com. Click

on the Flood Informaon menu item under the Planning,

Zoning, and Engineering Department. You can also contact

Elizabeth Wong, the City’s Stormwater Manager, at (941)

429-7090 or at [email protected].

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PERMIT #9

High quality drinking waterThe City of North Port’s Myakkahatchee

Creek Water Treatment Plant recentlywas named the best water plant

for its size in Florida by the Florida

Secon of the American Water Works

Associaon.

This summer, the City of North Port

will make upgrades to further improve

the quality of the water and create a

high-quality water system that will be

reliable year round.

The water treatment facility, located

o of North Port Boulevard, was

originally constructed by General

Development Company in the 1950s.

The plant is strategically located on

property that borders the intersecon

of the Myakkahatchee Creek and theCocoplum Canal, two of the City’s

major sources of drinking water. The

water treatment plant is a surface

water plant and treats the water from

the canal and creek for drinking.

“Our water plant has been around for

a long me,” said Cindi Mick, Ulies

Director. “Our sta certainly needs

to be complimented on operang an

extremely labor intensive plant and

ensuring the plant runs as eciently

as it does.”

Servicing more than 18,000 customers,

North Port Ulies is consistently

looking at ways to improve its

operaons and water quality. This

summer, the City of North Port will

celebrate the groundbreaking of

a new groundwater and reverse

osmosis system, which will be

constructed and integrated into the

exisng water treatment facility.

The project will create an addional

source of drinking water for North

Port and help maintain good water

quality, parcularly during the dry

months.

Currently, the City pulls water from the

Peace River during the drier mes of

the year. While the new upgrade is not

expected to replace the Peace River, the

City will be able to produce high-quality

drinking water from its own water

supplies year round. This will mean less

water will be pulled from the Peace

River, especially during drier periods.

This also translates into long term cost

savings because the cost to produce

water locally requires less pumping

and, thus, less energy, Mick said.

The new groundwater and reverse

osmosis system will draw water from

wells, which will be constructed near

the exisng water treatm

The well water will be tr

reverse osmosis to reduce

of chlorides and other

solids. The highly-treated w

then be combined with thsurface water from the City

water plant to achieve the

and water quality. The wate

be distributed to North Po

customers.

“The blend of the two is a

mix,” Mick said. “Cizens wil

of the water quality and tast

Construcon is expected

as early as August and

completed by Summer 2012

informaon, call (941) 240-8

Summer 2011

August 2 August 13 September 24

National Night Out

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

North Port High School

Back to School Resource Fair

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Morgan Family Community Center

Family Fun Day

Time to be Announced

Highland Ridge Park

V i s i t c i t y o f n o r t h p o r t . c o m

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Morgan Family Community CenterThe North Port City Commission, along with the communi-

ty, celebrated the grand opening of the new Morgan Family

Community Center in early June.

The new 33,300 square foot center targets youth acvies

but is a mul-use facility to meet the interests of the enre

community. The center features an expanded gymnasium,

state-of-the-art tness center, teen lounge, game room, large

mul-purpose room, ample meeng space, a dance room,

full kitchen, and an outdoor social area. The facility, situated

in Butler Park, 6207 West Price Boulevard, is located next to

Heron Creek Middle School and across the street from North

Port High School.

The total cost of the project was nearly $10 million (which

included construcon of the community center, outdoor bas-

ketball court, new road access, addional parking, and site

improvements for a future aquac facility). Funding came

from the sale of escheated lots and the City’s general fund.

For more informaon, call (941) 429-PARK.

Atwater Community ParkThe North Port City Commission opened a new baseball com-

plex at Atwater Community Park at the end of June.

The community park includes four Lile League elds, one

“major league” eld, a two-story concession building, a picnicfacility, and walking trails. The 25-acre parcel is adjacent to

Atwater Elementary School with access o East Price Boule-

vard via Song Street.

Funding for the park totaled over $4.8 million from impact

fees, one cent surtax and the City’s general fund. Future

phases of construcon are planned for the park as addional

funding becomes available that may include a playground fa-

cility and a splash park.

This park is the rst park to be constructed east of Cranberry

Boulevard. The park also provides the North Port Area Lile

League organizaon the opportunity to host tournaments

and further grow their program. For more informaon, call

(941) 429-PARK.

Fleet Maintenance Facility The City recently broke ground on a new Fleet M

Facility at the Public Works Department’s complex

the northeast corner of Price and Chamberlain Bo

The new 37,500-square-foot facility will take abouconstruct. The building will house the Fleet Divisi

City Public Works Department’s administraon. A

the 12 work bays, the facility will include 15,000-s

of oce space, a fueling staon, a washing staon

The North Port City Commission awarded the cont

ruary 2011 to Mills-Gilbane in the amount of $6,22

funding to build the facility is being pulled from the C

al fund, road and drainage district fees, re rescue d

the City’s ulity enterprise fund, and solid waste dist

Since the early 1980s, the City’s Fleet Division ha

out of a facility o Pan American Boulevard. Fleet

has increased from 150 vehicles in the early 1980

than 500 today. For more informaon call (941) 24

Fire Rescue Station 84The City of North Port will soon celebrate the op

new Fire Rescue Staon 84 on Cizens Parkway. T

is located behind the Publix shopping plaza near P

vard and Toledo Blade Boulevard.

For the past several years, Fire Rescue Staon 84 ha

erang out of a modular buildi ng on the Public Wo

ty near the corner of Price and Chamberlain Boule

new facility will be named in honor of Captain Ea

who passed away earlier this year.

In addion to housing a 75 foot ladder truck and an athe new 11,700-square-foot facility will house the

nical Rescue Team and will be used as the supply he

for the Fire Rescue District. Space has been provide

nozzles, reghng foam, equipment, gear, and sup

lipad is located behind the staon for emergency p

Funding for the $2.1 million project came from a co

of impact fees and one cent sales tax dollars. For m

maon, call (941) 240-8150.

New Achievements:

Watch CommissionmeetingsThe City of North Port oers live

streaming video of the North

Port City Commission meengs at

www.cityofnorthport.com. Stay

engaged while in the comfort of

your own home.





2012 Fiscal Year BudgetThe City of North is in the process of devel-

oping the 2012 Fiscal Year Budget. Budget

workshops are scheduled for July 20-21, 2011,

during which the North Port City Commission

will set the maximum millage rate. For more

informaon, visit www.cityofnorthport.com

or call (941) 429-7107.

Police Department addsnew K-9 to unitThe North Port Police Department added

a new canine to its K-9 unit. Cammo, a

Belgian Malinois, will take the place of K-9

Gino, who is rering. The funds to purchase

Cammo were donated by Larry Dispar,

an aorney from the Tampa/New Port Richey are

who has family in law enforcement, believes that t

is a very important element in Law Enforcement

informaon, contact the North Port Police Depa

(941) 429-7300 or visit www.cityofnorthport.com.

V i s i t c i t y o f n o r t h p o r t

North Port Currents Redesign

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