NORTH PORT NEWS

The smoke-free ordinance takes effect March 1

Effective March 1, Ordinance 2023-33 goes into effect. The ordinance was adopted by the City Commission this past November and prohibits smoking in city parks. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, filtered cigars, pipes, and other devices that can be used to inhale, exhale, burn, or carry tobacco products. Per Florida state statute, unfiltered cigars are exempt from regulation within this ordinance.

“North Port is committed to providing safe green spaces and park amenities,” said Sandy Pfundheller, Parks & Recreation director. “The smoke-free parks ordinance promotes healthy recreation while reducing secondhand smoke and litter that could end up in our blueways or harm wildlife.”

The following parks will have a designated smoking area which will be identified with signage and waste receptacles in the parking lot: Atwater Community Park, Blue Ridge Park, Butler Park, Canine Club, City Center Complex, Dallas White Park, Garden of the Five Senses, Highland Ridge Park, LaBrea Park, Marina Park, McKibben Park, Narramore Sports Complex and Pine Park.

There will be no designated smoking areas for the city’s natural parks. This includes Warm Mineral Springs Park, Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Oaks Park.

For more information, see NorthPort- FL.gov/SmokeFree.

New path recommended for Warm Mineral Springs Park

The city of North Port’s negotiation team has recommended the city cease the negotiations for a potential public-private partnership with WMS Development Group LLC for the future of Warm Mineral Springs Park. As the team conducted extensive due diligence, the developers revised their proposal to no longer take on the operation of the springs, citing rising costs for insurance and staffing expenses. Both parties came to the mutual decision that operations of the park should remain with the Parks & Recreation Department.

As a result, staff will be proposing a Phase I revitalization of the 20 acres around the springs performed by the city that would include a suitable admission building and permanent restrooms. In anticipation of this possible outcome, staff had the foresight to add staffing in the current fiscal year’s budget for the operations of the park.

While negotiations did not result in a successful public-private partnership, the city is in a better position to assess and evaluate future plans for the adjoining 60 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the park. Valuable knowledge was gained thanks to the due diligence of staff and contracted subject matter experts:

• A threatened and endangered species survey by Pritchett Steinbeck Group Inc. provided guidance on potential habitat restoration. The city’s newly created Natural Resources Division can also assist with environmental planning and protection efforts.

• An extensive geotechnical survey by Ardaman and Associates, anticipated to be completed in May, will provide answers to many questions regarding the suitability of development near the springs and will guide future decisions for the parcel.

• An evaluation of the real estate and financial analysis of the Warm Mineral Springs Development Group’s proposal conducted by CBRE Inc. provided insight into market conditions, construction costs and potential economic impact through commercial opportunities and revenue streams. city staff are also evaluating an impact model that may be useful for future economic development considerations.

• A comprehensive real estate valuation analysis by Hettema Saba LLC found the annual triple net market rent value for the operational portion of the Springs is $495,000 and the market value for the undeveloped land is valued at $16.4 million.

“The city remains open to future opportunities that align with our shared vision for the future of this part of our community,” said City Manager Jerome Fletcher. “We are committed to making Warm Mineral Springs Park an asset we can all be proud of. The extensive research and analysis done during negotiations also gives us the confidence to move forward exploring a possible Phase II for the remaining acreage and the potential benefits it could bring to our taxpayers.”

For more information, see NorthPort- FL.gov/WMSPMasterPlan.

North Port releases annual report

With a continued emphasis on transparency and accountability, the city of North Port released its inaugural annual report for the fiscal year 2022-23. The digital publication comprehensively overviews the city’s achievements and milestones across departments.

The goal is to not only present the organization’s major accomplishments, but also mark its progress toward achieving the strategic goals and the vision for the future of the city. From department highlights to financial reports, the annual report, titled “A Pathway Forward,” presents this information in a format that is visually appealing and easy to read.

“We’re thrilled to release this interactive report and showcase all our city has accomplished and why our future looks so bright,” said North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher. “The report isn’t just numbers — it’s about the city employees who serve our residents and make North Port shine.”

Residents, stakeholders and the broader community are invited to delve into the report to gain insights into the collective progress made over the past year.

The annual report is available at North- PortFL.gov/AnnualReport.

The post NORTH PORT NEWS first appeared on Town Chronicle .