1988-05-17 Regular MeetingOKFE. -
U m
\4 0 R' %O
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 17, 1988 - 2:00 P.M.
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION
COUNCILMH2- BERS WrION
VOTE
ABSENT'
YES
NO
A. Call meeting to order.
The meeting was called to -order a y
Mayor Chapman.
B. Invocation offered by the Reverend Arley Ball
Reverend Arley Ball
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Chapman
Mayor chapman
C. Mayor and Council attendance:
Mayor Oakland Chapman
Present
Councilman Nick Collins
Present
Councilman Andy Rubin
Present
f`
Councilman Oscar Thomas
Present
` Councilman Dowling Watford
Present
Staff attendance:
City Attorney Cook
Present
City Clerk Thomas
Present
City Administrator Drago
Present
D. Motion to dispense with reading and approve the Summary
Motion by Councilman Rubin, seconded by Councilman
of Council Action for the regular meeting of May 3,
Collins.
1988.
Chapman
X
Collins
X
Rubin
R
Thomas
X
a
Watford
X
Motion carried.
E. Motion to approve warrant registers for April:
Motion by Councilman Collins, seconded by Council-
man Rubin.
d
M
n
C
General Fund.................................$29,288.86
Public Utilities Fund... .....................$44,460.48
REQUEST FOR THE ADDITON; DEFFERAL OR WITHDRAWAL OF
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
F. New Business
1. Motion to appoint Mr. Glen Hodges as a new
employee assigned to the fire department - Fire
Chief Tomey.
2. Motion to approve the reappointment of Robert
Ridley and James Palmore to the Code Enforcement
Board.
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
None.
Motion by Councilman Collins, seconded by Coun-
cilman Rubin to appoint Glen Hodges to the Fire
Department.
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Collins, seconded by Coun-
cilman Watford to reapoint Robert Ridley and James
Palmore to the Code Enforcement Board.
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
a e 2
VOTE ABSENT
YES NO
X
X
X
X
X
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
VOTE
ABSENT
YES
NO
Motion by Councilman Rubin, seconded by Councilman
the transfer of funds.
3. Motion to approve the transfer of $65,000 from
the Public Utilities Improvement and Replacement
Collins to approve
Fund to the Public Utilities Wastewater Collection
Utilities
Chapman
X
X
System Construction Fund - Public
Collins
X
Director Fortner (exhibit 1).
Rubin
X
Thomas
X
Watford -
Motion carried.
4. Update of items of interest to the City by County
Nothing for this meeting.
Commissioner Jack Williamson.
G. COUNCIL REPORTS AND/OR REQUEST:
a) Asked about action concerning Semi -Trailer
1. Councilman Collins:
parking on S.E. 3rd avenue. Chief Mobley responded
<�
stating that he was working on this matter.
'
b) Asked about sale of myrtle trees on City
property (154 acres) and was told Jim Threewits is
working on this.
c) Asked City Attorney Cook about alley at Porters
Dry Cleaners. Attorney Cook was asked to put this
if he
matter on the agenda for the next meeting
could have the research completed.
Nothing at this time.
2. Councilman Thomas:
a) Attorney Cook informed the Council that he will
3. City Attorney:
copy the storm drainage rules and regulations to
distribute to them for study.
b) The Attorney stated he was working on the
Lawson (contractor) file and has sent a letter to
Mr. Lawson requesting him to contact the City
Attorney.
t y
COUNCIIMENBERS/ACTION
Q
VOTE
EYES
C Y
ABSENT
NO
a) Motion by Councilman Watford, seconded by Coun-
4. Councilman Watford:
cilman Rubin for the Administrator's office to
send a letter to our legislators immediately, to
both the House and Senate Appropriations Commit-
tees, as well as the Governor, to indicate our
support for the continuation of the Community
Services Trust Fund program, as stipulated in the
Florida League of Cities Legislative Bulletin,
dated May 13, 1988.
Discussion: This grant has been used in recent
years to assist our local Hospice organization and
is vital to it.
Chapman
R
Collins
x
Rubin
X
Thomas
X
Watford
X
Motion carried.
b) Motion by Councilman Watford, seconded by Coun-
cilman Collins that the City Administrator be
instructed to study the draft copy of our Land
use and Housing Data Base plans and report to
Donna Kennon, of the Florida Regional Planning
Council, all corrections that need to be made to
our Comprehensive Plan.
Discussion: Errors in those two elements of the
draft copy of the Local Comprehensive Plan were
pointed out by Councilman Watford.
Chapman
R
Collins
X
Rubin
X
Thomas
X
Watford
X
Motion carried.
COUNCIIMEMBERS/ACTION VOTE ABSENT
IYESI NO
c) In reference to a memo the Council received,
Councilman Watford inquired about the City's in-
volvement with newspaper pickup by City employees
and whether this was a project the City should be
doing, and suggested we proceed with this program
on a trail effort only.
Discussion: It was explained that is what we
are doing, (trial effort) and the more frequently
we can fill up the bin with newspapers for recy-
cling the more money we can make for the City.
The Council agreed for the project to continue
on a trial basis as planned.
d) Regarding changes in departments, Councilman
Watford asked whether any changes had been made
and that there would be none unless they came
before the Council for approval.
The Administrator assured Council any changes
would come before Council for approval.
e) After discussion regarding complaints from
customers about their utility billing, payments,
and delinquent accounts, Councilman Watford sug-
gested the Utility Director look into the aspects
of sending out "delinquent notices" and let the
Council know at the next meeting whether this cost
would be feasible or not. After futher discussion
Council agreed.
f) Councilman Watford discussed with the Council
and Director of Public Works certain complaints
from citizens regarding tree trimming by the City.
Council expressed its obligation to protect the
public and two important items that the City has
to consider and that is trees blocking traffic
must be trimmed; and trees that may fall that are
on City right-of-way must be trimmed.
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
5. Councilman Rubin: a) The City Attorney was asked about the progress
on a policy regarding transient truck merchants.
The Attorney has discussed the subject with the
County Attorney.
b) Councilman Rubin stated the fact that the City
Council had voted at the last meeting to have two
elections on the Consolidation question. One for
the City voters and one for the County voters.
c) Councilman Rubin encouraged the Council and
staff to get to work on annexation.
After futher discussion the Council agreed for
the City Administrator and the City Attorney to
prepare a memo and send it to the Council explain-
ing the steps necessary to proceed with the
annexation matter.
Recess: After a short recess Councilman Thomas asked
Engineer Broome and the Public Utilities Director
to explain to the Council where the City stood on
the matter with DER and the City's wastewater
disposal problems.
Director Fortner advised the Council he had
contacted two property owners with land adjacent
to the City's facility and one of them, Sonny
Williamson, was willing to accept the perimeter
ditch water to be used for irrigation on his
property as soon as details could be worked out.
After discussion Council agreed to proceed
with a "quick fix" plan immediately, then a perm-
anent plan for the treated irrigation quality
water.
Councilman Thomas asked how soon the mora-
torium could be lifted? Director Fortner advised
that DER said if they receive a letter from
Williamson agreeing to take the water they could
begin issuing general permits again as soon as
next week.
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_VOTE _[ ABSENT
YES I NO
e7
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION VOTE ABSENT
IYES1 NO
Motion was made by Councilman Collins, seconded
by Councilman Thomas to install a pump and pipe
that will pump water from the perimeter ditch
around the waste water plant to a 100 acre site
owned by Sonny Williamson at an approximate cost
of $25,000 to $30,000.
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
Motion was made by Councilman Collins, seconded
by Councilman Thomas to retain Broome Engineering
to design plans and prepare specifications to
install a pump and pipe that will pump the perime-
ter ditch water to a 100 acre site owned by Sonny
Williamson at a cost not to exceed $10,000.
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
Administrator Drago advised Council to go ahead
with the perimeter ditch only and recommended they
wait until he could study the plans, then proceed
further. Council agreed.
Motion was made by Councilman Collins, seconded
by Councilman Thomas that the City draw up an
agreement with Sonny Williamson that will allow
the City to pump treated wastewater to citrus
groves owned by Sonny Williamson and for the staff
to bring the agreement and final cost calculations
back to the Council for approval.
Discussion: It was agreed by Council that
this should correct the immediate problem.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6. Mayor Chapman:
r
00 ADJOURNMENT
0 t
I f1AKLAND R . MAY
ATTEST:
BONNIE S. THOMAS, CITY CLERK
,A; �..
COUNCIIME14BERS/ACTION
Chapman
Collins
Rubin
Thomas
Watford
Motion carried.
Director Fortner informed the Council that he
would get back to them later concerning the water
plant project.
Councilman Thomas stated the contractors want
to know about the water and wastewater matters.
No report.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 P.M.
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VOTE
YES F NO
ABSENT
i