Blog: Speak up, North Port: your voice shapes our future

Published on April 20, 2026

Community engagement has always been at the heart of how we do business in the City of North Port. Our dedicated staff works every day to provide high-quality services, but real success depends on something we cannot do on our own. We need to hear from you, learn from you and partner with you. If you want to see a change in your neighborhood, your street or your city, your voice has to be part of the conversation. You cannot help shape decisions if you stay on the sidelines.

Over the past year, we have added more than one “front door” into your local government so you can choose the way to participate that fits your life. Some residents prefer to speak at a meeting. Others like to take a quick survey on their phone after dinner. Some want to watch a webinar on the weekend and then follow up with questions. All of those are valid ways to engage, and all of them matter. When you take a few minutes to weigh in, you are helping determine what gets built, what gets improved and how your tax dollars are put to work.

One of the simplest ways to plug in is through our North Port Engage Hub, an online space where you can see what projects are underway and how you can get involved. You can follow topics like infrastructure, parks and growth and see updates as projects move forward. The Engage Hub exists because residents asked for a clear, central place to get information and share feedback. That feedback only has power when people use it, so I encourage you to visit NorthPortFL.gov/EngageHub and make your voice part of the record.

Another major way to make a difference is by participating in our budget process. The City budget is where priorities become reality. It is where we decide how much goes toward public safety, roads, utilities, parks, recreation and long-term improvements. Through our Budget Input Hub and interactive budget tool, you can tell us how you would balance those needs. You do not have to be a financial expert to participate. You just need to know what matters most to you and your family. When we review budget input, we are looking at real preferences from real residents. If those voices are missing, important perspectives are missing from the process. You can learn more at NorthPortFL.gov/BudgetHub.

We are also planning our yearly Eat & Greet: Community Budget Input gathering on May 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 W. Price Blvd. You can grab free small bites from local restaurants and share your feedback as the City continues preparing the budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. We will even have a kids' zone with games and activities, so children can have fun while adults talk through budget priorities in a relaxed setting. This event is designed to make budget conversations more approachable and personal, giving you the chance to ask questions, share concerns and let us know what services and projects matter most to you.

Of course, some of the most visible opportunities to speak up happen at public meetings. City Commission meetings, workshops and other public sessions give you a chance to listen and share your thoughts on record. You can attend in person and speak during public comment, or you can watch online and follow along with the discussion. If you cannot be there at a specific time, you can email staff or the Commission before or after the meeting, so your perspective is still heard. The point is simple: If you care strongly about an issue, we need to hear from you. Silence can look like agreement, and we do not want important concerns or creative ideas to go unheard simply because someone thought their voice would not make a difference.

Your engagement is not symbolic. In recent years, resident input has shaped how we communicate major projects, how we prioritize road work and capital improvements and how we design tools like the Engage Hub and Budget Input Hub. When you complete a survey, attend a meeting or talk with us at an event, you help us see blind spots, test ideas and find solutions that might not surface otherwise. You may not see the result of every comment immediately, but your feedback becomes part of the foundation for future decisions.

If you are wondering where to start this week, you have options. You can visit NorthPortFL.gov/EngageHub and share your thoughts on current projects. You can explore the Budget Input Hub to tell us your priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. You can mark your calendar for the upcoming Eat & Greet and invite a neighbor to join you. You can watch a meeting online and send us your thoughts afterward. However you choose to engage, the most important step is to participate.

As City Manager, I see every day how engaged residents help us identify challenges sooner and develop better solutions. I also see what happens when only a small group of voices is heard. Decisions still have to be made, but with fewer perspectives at the table. If you want to help shape North Port’s future, please speak up, get involved and use the tools that are available to you. Together, we can continue building a stronger community, one conversation and one decision at a time.

Jerome Fletcher is the North Port City Manager. He can be reached at jfletcher@NorthPortFL.gov.