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The City of North Port also intends to begin construction from Hansard Avenue to Morandi Avenue, which is estimated to cost $2.2 million. The construction is being paid for by the transportation impact fees collected for Sarasota County within the City and from transportation impact fees collected by the City. (This means that the funding for this roadway is not coming out of ad valorem dollars paid by homeowners. Impact fees are monies collected from new development and are only allowed to be used
on capital improvement projects that increase the capacity of system that is impacted by development, such as roadway improvements, parks, fire stations, police or solid waste.) The final stretch of Sumter Boulevard, from Heron Creek to City Center Boulevard, is estimated to cost $9 million and is currently unfunded. The City of North Port is proud of the improvements to Sumter Boulevard and wants to thank North Port residents for their patience as the improvements continue to be made to enhance this up-and-coming community.
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February 5, 2011
Green Acomplishments:
North Port homeowners can get rebates, low-interest loans and free energy-saving kits to upgrade their properties with energy saving technologies under a new program. Visit www.GetEnergySmart.net or call (941) 429-7084.
The City of North Port website received a Gold Award for its website in MarCom Awards 2010 international awards competition. The Citys website also received a 3CMA Award of Excellence earlier this year. Visit www.cityofnorthport.com.
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Danielle Santoro, a recent North Port Entrepreneurial Academy graduate, and her partners, Stephani Faulkner and Daniela Sawalt, recently received the Citys first Small Business Assistance Loan. Santoros business, GreenBidNet is a subscription based service to elec-
tronically notify environmental contractors and engineers of municipal green projects that are out for bid. GreenBidNet is expected to employ three North Port residents to start and expand to five positions before the end of 2011. To find out more about the Entrepreneurial Academy or the Small Business Assistance Loan program, visit the Citys website at www.cityofnorthport.com.
City 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 Commissioner Linda Yates: Im looking forward to citizens really coming together to address the issues and provide solutions to the challenges ahead.
City Commission Vice Chair Tom Jones 2011 will see the completion of wonderful projects and the beginning of others that will rocket North Port into the future. I want us all to work together 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 government. It is absolutely necessary for us to have involvement from our citizens for us to move forward at any capacity.
City Commissioner Michael Treubert: I am looking forward to a new management team and getting North Port headed back in the right direction through this economic downturn.
Last year, North Port resident Sandi Bevill, a local teacher, was voted online as the winner of the Citys Greenest Citizen Award. Her award nomination said that she is an outstanding preschool teacher who is enthusiastic about her recycling projects and all things green.
This year, nominations were made by the public in December. Voting will take place in January and the winner will be announced on January 21, 2010 during the Citys Arbor Day celebration at Lamarque Elementary School. Arbor Day is important because it raises the awareness of the importance of trees. Trees improve our
environment by increasing air and water quality, conserving energy and more. They increase property values, create wildlife habitats, and add beauty to any setting, said City Arborist Ryan Pieper. To vote, go to www.cityofnorthport. com and take a survey under the I want to menu option.
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City of North Port 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, FL 34286
Spring 2011
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 attend. A complete schedule is available at www.cityonofnorthport.com. Because of limited seating, participants are asked to RSVP by registering online at www.cityofnorthport.com or by calling Donna Suggs at (941) 429-7240.
Residents can watch City videos on iTunes, YouTube, and the Citys website
North Port residents can now watch City videos on iTunes, YouTube, and the Citys website. For more than a year, the City has streamed its City Commission meetings live on the Citys website.
Past meetings are also available to be viewed. Residents can now subscribe, for free, to the Citys podcast on iTunes and watch City Commission meetings. With the new upgrades, residents also can watch the Citys half-hour television show, North Port Presents: The View From Here on the Citys website. (The show will con-
tinue 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 service announcements and other special programming. For more information, visit www.cityofnorthport.com.
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know where there are play stations and the types of amenities we have at our parks, said Parks and Recreation Manager Bill Ward.
This is the first time that North Port has been recognized in the Playful City USA program. To learn more about the City of North Ports Parks and Recreation Division, visit www.cityofnorthport.com or call (941) 429-PARK(7275).
City of North Port 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, FL 34286
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McKibben Park
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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 effort 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 selection process, neighborhoods were identified off Biscayne Boulevard, south of Price Boulevard; off South Salford Boulevard, south of Price Boulevard; along Glenallen Boulevard from Price to Biscayne Boulevards; and an area 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 Citys history).
Andy Gerberich was selected as the Citizen of the Year for his community spirit and personal commitment to the quality of life in North Port. Andy donates much of his time and resources to local organizations. His help is instrumental at community events and activities. Andy also is known for his role in enhancing parks and creating new recreational opportunities as Chair of the City of North Ports Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He has to be one of the friendliest people 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
In a continuing effort to improve water flow and prevent neighborhood flooding, the City of North Port is reconstructing many of the water control structures found throughout the Citys 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 fixed weir. The $460,000 project is being paid for by the Road and Drainage District assessments. The Citys water control structures maintain the waterways at a certain desired elevation (much like a dam) to allow the storm water to be treated and flow out of the area without flooding surrounding areas. This is the ninth water control structure that has been improved since 2007.
nominate candidates for the Citizen of the Year. This program was established to acknowledge and show appreciation to citizens who, over the past year, have exhibited generous community spirit. The Citizen of the Year was announced at an annual awards luncheon on Thursday, January 27, 2011 in conjunction with the Citys Employee Service Recog-
nition Program. Congratulations to all the nominees for Citizen of the Year, including Nicholas Bonsky, Margie Ducharme, Jill Luke, Bob Renaud, Justin Matthews, Ann Sineath, James Thiele, and John Wrublevsky.
Visit the Citys website at www.cityofnorthport.com and sign up to receive City news and events in your e-mail inbox. The City of North Port strives to give you the most updated information about whats happening in your community.
Interested in taking a leadership role in your community? Joining a City advisory board is an excellent way to get your voice heard. For more information, contact the City Clerks Office at (941) 4297064 or visit www.cityofnorthport.com.
Summer 2011
cleaning up canals and ditches, and working with the Southwest Florida Water Management District on more accurate flood mapping. However, there are actions that you can take to become better informed about the flood issue and how to better protect yourself and your property. The City has posted a wealth of information at www.cityofnorthport.com. Click on the Flood Information menu item under the Planning, Zoning, and Engineering Department. You can also contact Elizabeth Wong, the Citys Stormwater Manager, at (941) 429-7090 or at ewong@cityofnorthport.com.
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 off of North Port Boulevard, was originally constructed by General Development Company in the 1950s. The plant is strategically located on property that borders the intersection of the Myakkahatchee Creek and the Cocoplum Canal, two of the Citys 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 time, said Cindi Mick, Utilities Director. Our staff certainly needs to be complimented on operating an extremely labor intensive plant and ensuring the plant runs as efficiently as it does.
Servicing more than 18,000 customers, North Port Utilities is consistently looking at ways to improve its operations 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 existing water treatment facility. The project will create an additional source of drinking water for North Port and help maintain good water quality, particularly during the dry months. Currently, the City pulls water from the Peace River during the drier times 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 North Port Ambassador Program was developed by a group of local residents, business owners, students, and City staff. The idea behind the program is to provide an opportunity for community stakeholders to spread knowledge about North Ports assets. To complete the program, the graduates attended a three hour bus tour of North Port and a three hour class.
The program is open to North Port residents, both full-time and parttime; business owners; members of community organizations; and anyone who would like to promote the City. For more information, visit the Citys website at www.cityofnorthport.com or contact Donna Suggs in the City Managers Office at (941) 429-7240 or at dsuggs@cityofnorthport.com.
the existing water treatment plant. The well water will be treated by reverse osmosis to reduce the levels of chlorides and other dissolved solids. The highly-treated water will then be combined with the treated surface water from the Citys surface water plant to achieve the best taste and water quality. The water then will be distributed to North Port Utilities customers. The blend of the two is a beautiful mix, Mick said. Citizens will be proud of the water quality and taste. Construction is expected to begin as early as August and will be completed by Summer 2012. For more information, call (941) 240-8000.
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City of North Port 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, FL 34286
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New Achievements:
The North Port City Commission, along with the community, celebrated the grand opening of the new Morgan Family Community Center in early June. The new 33,300 square foot center targets youth activities but is a multi-use facility to meet the interests of the entire community. The center features an expanded gymnasium, state-of-the-art fitness center, teen lounge, game room, large multi-purpose room, ample meeting 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 construction of the community center, outdoor basketball court, new road access, additional parking, and site improvements for a future aquatic facility). Funding came from the sale of escheated lots and the Citys general fund. For more information, call (941) 429-PARK.
The City of North Port will soon celebrate the opening of a new Fire Rescue Station 84 on Citizens Parkway. The station is located behind the Publix shopping plaza near Price Boulevard and Toledo Blade Boulevard. For the past several years, Fire Rescue Station 84 has been operating out of a modular building on the Public Works property near the corner of Price and Chamberlain Boulevards. The new facility will be named in honor of Captain Earl Conrad, who passed away earlier this year. In addition to housing a 75 foot ladder truck and an ambulance, the new 11,700-square-foot facility will house the Citys Technical Rescue Team and will be used as the supply headquarters for the Fire Rescue District. Space has been provided for hoses, nozzles, firefighting foam, equipment, gear, and supplies. A helipad is located behind the station for emergency purposes. Funding for the $2.1 million project came from a combination of impact fees and one cent sales tax dollars. For more information, call (941) 240-8150.
The North Port City Commission opened a new baseball complex at Atwater Community Park at the end of June. The community park includes four Little League fields, one major league field, a two-story concession building, a picnic facility, and walking trails. The 25-acre parcel is adjacent to Atwater Elementary School with access off East Price Boulevard via Song Street. Funding for the park totaled over $4.8 million from impact fees, one cent surtax and the Citys general fund. Future phases of construction are planned for the park as additional funding becomes available that may include a playground facility and a splash park. This park is the first park to be constructed east of Cranberry Boulevard. The park also provides the North Port Area Little League organization the opportunity to host tournaments and further grow their program. For more information, call (941) 429-PARK.
The City recently broke ground on a new Fleet Maintenance Facility at the Public Works Departments complex located at the northeast corner of Price and Chamberlain Boulevards. The new 37,500-square-foot facility will take about a year to construct. The building will house the Fleet Division and the City Public Works Departments administration. Along with the 12 work bays, the facility will include 15,000-square-foot of office space, a fueling station, a washing station, and more. The North Port City Commission awarded the contract in February 2011 to Mills-Gilbane in the amount of $6,223,269. The funding to build the facility is being pulled from the Citys general fund, road and drainage district fees, fire rescue district fees, the Citys utility enterprise fund, and solid waste district fees. Since the early 1980s, the Citys Fleet Division has operated out of a facility off Pan American Boulevard. Fleet inventory has increased from 150 vehicles in the early 1980s to more than 500 today. For more information call (941) 240-8050.
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The City of North Port offers live streaming video of the North Port City Commission meetings at www.cityofnorthport.com. Stay engaged while in the comfort of your own home.
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The City of North is in the process of developing 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 information, visit www.cityofnorthport.com or call (941) 429-7107.
The 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 retiring. The funds to purchase Cammo were donated by Larry Disparti,
an attorney from the Tampa/New Port Richey area. Disparti, who has family in law enforcement, believes that the K-9 Unit is a very important element in Law Enforcement. For more information, contact the North Port Police Department at (941) 429-7300 or visit www.cityofnorthport.com.