The decision hinged on five criteria.
In a motion by City Commissioner Debbie McDowell and seconded and later amended by Vice Mayor Pete Emrich, the board rejected the citizens petition based on the grounds that the land met the criteria for annexation under state statue 171.043. That law defines the character of an area suitable for contraction. The board also said the commission had to consider the public health and safety for all residents, that it was not feasible to contract the boundaries because of the urbanization of the area, contraction was not in the best interest of the future goals of the city and it would not be fiscally neutral.
North Port City Commission denies petition to contract city borders
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“At least those liens equal a quarter million dollars that we had our taxpayers pay to have something removed that we may or may not get back,” City Commissioner Debbie McDowell noted. “Just because there’s a lien doesn’t mean we get reimbursed; we’re at the bottom of the list.”
McDowell, who joined the board in November 2016, is the only commissioner remaining from the members who adopted that 2017 ordinance. Mayor Jill Luke was elected to the board after that, through a special election.
Faced with the task of cutting costs in the 2021-22 budget, board members decided that it was time to eliminate the portion of the ordinance empowering the city to trim growth on vacant lots and then bill the property owner.