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1982-05-20 Recessed Meeting3059 82 -1 82 -50 82 -6 RECESSED MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1982 The City Council of the City of Okeechobee convened into recessed session on Thursday, May 20, 1982, at 7:00 o'clock P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers, Okeechobee,Florida. Chairman /Mayor, Edward W. Douglas, called the meeting to order with the following Council- men present: Edward W. Douglas, Chairman /Mayor, Donald Burk, Vice Chairman /Mayor, James H.Knigh Oakland Chapman, and Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Others present were: City Clerk, Bonnie S. Thomas; City Administrator, Richard C. Fellows City Attorney, David Conlon. AGENDA ITEM # 1 - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE The invocation was offered by Clerk Thomas. The Pledge of Allegiance was given by those present. AGENDA ITEM # II - APPROVAL OF REVISED MINUTES A section of the minutes of the April 27, 1982, meeting was re- written, copied and dis- tributed to the Council by the Clerk as requested by the Council. Chairman Douglas asked if there were any further corrections, additions or deletions to those minutes. There being none, Councilman Watford made the motion that the minutes of the April 27th meeting be approved as re- written. Councilman Knight seconded. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEMS # III - FIRST READING - ORDINANCE TO REZONE Chairman Douglas stated that discussion had arisen since the meeting of May llth concern- ing the reading by title of an ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance for the purpose of chang- ing a classification of certain property from Residential Single Family to Commercial. Council voted at the meeting to read the amendment to the Ordinance by title only, but it was omitted. Therefore, Chairman Douglas informed the Council he would proceed with the reading at this time of the Title and Section 1, for their information. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE CODE FOR THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA: AMENDING APPENDIX A BEING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE WHICH ESTABLISHES ZONING REGULATIONS AND PRO- VIDES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT AND AMENDMENT THEREOF: PROV- IDING FOR A CHANGE IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIFIED LAND FROM RESIDENT- IAL SINGLE FAMILY TO COMMERCIAL. SECTION 1. That the following described real property is hereby rezoned from Residential Single Family to Commercial. Lots 1 through 11, inclusive, Block 121, City of Okeechobee, Plat Book 53, Page 265; Lot 12, Block 121, City of Okeechobee, Plat Book 10, Page 491. Chairman Douglas asked for the Councils' wish in regards to advertising the Ordinance Amendment for Public Hearing on the 22nd of June. The Chairman also reminded the Council of the discussion concerning the amendment and the recommendation of the Planning Board to deny the rezoning request. He then asked for further discussion from the Council. There was none. Motion was made by Councilman Knight to advertise the Ordinance Amendment for Public Hear- ing on June 22nd. Seconded by Councilman Chapman. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEM # IV- LA GROW SETTLEMENT OFFER Assistant City Attorney, Garald Lefebvre, appeared before the Council to inform them of a settlement offer by Mr. La Grows Attorney, James E. Tompkins. The settlement letter req- uested that: "The City of Okeechobee pay to my client the liquidated damages we sued for and legal interest as required under Florida law. In return, we will waive costs and Attorneys fees Attorney Lefebvre explained to the Council the meaning of the settlement offer was a re- quest for payment of the balance of the account. Atorney Lefebvre further stated his recommend- ation to the Council was to reject the settlement offer request. 3060 82 -41 After considerable discussion by the City Attorney and Council Members regarding the advisability of refusing the settlement offer, Chairman Douglas asked the Council for its decision. Motion was made by Councilman Burk to deny the settlement offer of La Grow. Seconded by Councilman Chapman. Further discussion ensued including some questions from Council to Director of Public Works, L. C. Fortner. Vote to deny settlement offer carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM # V - RECOMMENDATION OF BUILDING COMMITTEE Chairman Douglas asked the Building Expansion Committee to report its findings and recommendations. He further stated the purpose of the committee was to determine if there was a need for additional office and storage space at City Hall, whether we could better utilize the space we already have, or go into an expansion plan. If through the on -site study it was discovered we don't need a building expansion plan at this time, the committee is to give its recommendation for utilization of the space available to a better advantage to solve our current space problems. The basic question for which an answer is sought is, do we need more space or not, and if so, what kind, where and how. Councilman Chapman began the discussion with his determination being there was a definite need for additional office space in the General Services Department and the City Clerk's Office. Chapman discussed the possibility of a long range expansion pro- gram to be completed in three phases, beginning with the building of a second floor ab- ove the present fire department building. Councilman Burk reported that in his inspection he determined that obviously we need expansion for space, however, there were two or three factors we need to take into consideration if we were going to go into an expansion program costing several hundred thousand dollars as has been suggested, such as: Will what we do now be sufficient five or ten years down the road? We do not presently have the land mass available for a large expansion program. If we're going to expand, then obviously we need further plan- ing. I feel we should try to acquire adjoining property, as a first step, I'd like to start there. However, the only space provision I would recommend now is closing in the porches. Nothing else. I am for further study and prefer more workshops. I have no problems with modifying what we have now to provide more space and I think we can. Councilman Watford stated in his recommendation that he agreed we do have space problems at City Hall. He further stated our problems are extremely similar to private business concerning space needs. But, you have to work toward a balance of cost and needs. Our problems are not unique because we are government. From my inspection, as far as the need for more space is concerned, Public Works is Okay. Fire Department, Okay, basica -ly. The Administrator's Office is Okay. The City Clerk's Office is Okay with the exception of a need for more storage. The General Services Department has a severe problem, we need more room there. The Police Department has problems for more area we didn't solve with the last re- modeling. A complete renovation would be nice, but the present state of the economy prohibits this, I think. We have two choices as I see it, they are: either double deck the Fire Department or close in the porches and bay behind the Fire Department. If we double deck the Fire Department, we are almost certainly committing ourselves. We may be obligating ourselves for the whole renovation somewhere down the road. 3061. 3 Chairman Douglas then asked for comments on the space problem from Councilman Knight who stated he was not for a total building expansion program. He further stated he was not for spending a lot of unnecessary money at this time. If we need an additional office or two, that is okay, but I am not for a whole expansion plan, Councilman Knight declared. Chairman Douglas asked for comments from the audience. Citizen A. Rubin commented he didn't agree with the idea of a piece meal plan for expansion. He further informed the Council of an idea he had for building two wings west of the building to the road to provide space needed at an estimated cost of $150,000 without furnishings. Chairman Douglas called upon the Citizen Tax Committee Members who were present to comment on the results of their inspection concerning the City's need for more room. Tax Committee Member, Gil Culbreth, addressed the Council with his remarks stating the Committee had met in a group with all the department heads then proceeded to make a tour of the City Hall to determine if there was a need for more office and storage space. Our committee felt, concerning additional space in the General Services Department, that since there was only one -half as many permits sold this year as last, there wasn't an actual need for expansion in that department. The City Clerk's Office was found to be satisfactory as far as present space. The Committee, however, feels there is a need for more space in the Police Department but not to the extent of an expenditure of $70,000. We'd like to see you (the Council) postpone the expansion. Keep your plan handy, but don't expand right now, Culbreth stated. Councilman Watford informed the Tax Committee that the General Services Department has increased. By the creation of a new Planning Board, a new Code Enforcement Board and the hir- ing of a full time secretary to handle the business of these Boards as well as the Building and Zoning Administrator. Watford then asked the Tax Committee if they objected to the expenditure of $300,000 and /or $80,000 would they agree to an expenditure of $15,000 for expansion purposes? Committee Member Culbreth replied, $15,000 for what? The question couldn't be answered by the committee without a plan. They would object to it if the City can get by with what we've got, he stated. Councilman Watford then stated, in your opinion then, we don't need to expand. Committee Member Altobello then stated he would like to go on record saying that, however, the Police Department possibly needs more room. Committee Member Jeffers stated the Tax Committee doesn't want the Council to feel we are against you. We want you to have what facilities you need to give us good government. If there is absolutely a need for space in the Police Department or Building Department, if we need an- other room, Okay, but only after careful consideration of your needs. Chairman Douglas informed those present of needs for more room as far back as 1974. At that time a concrete slab was poured with a promise to close it in to provide storage room for evidence. The room was never provided. Since that time the cries for additional space have continued. We are glad for the Citizen imput to this problem. This is an accomplishment in itself here tonight. We're glad to see your interest. Chairman Douglas further stated it has been determined we do need additional space of some type. We have kept putting the Department Heads and Employees off, but now, I think it's time we made the space for the present and the future. Councilman Watford stated, I agree. A lot of businesses can and are cutting back. We are the opposite. We do have a space problem. We created the problem by providing more services. If we are going to provide those services, we've got to provide the space for them. Tax Committee Member Culbreth informed the Council the Committee doesn't deny there is a need for space. As a committee we were given only one alternative to work on, that being the justification of a $70,000 or $80,000 expenditute for building expansion. 1 3062 City Administrator Fellows explained that amount was arrived at by the Department Heads and was not intended to be an official determination. That decision or determination could only be made by the City Council. Councilman Burk stated he hadn't heard about the suggested amount of $70,000 or $80,000. I didn't discuss a price with anybody. The Building Committee worked individually, not as a group. It was our judgement that we do not need a $300,000 expansion program. There was discussion by some Council Members that keeping the whole City complex in the same area was most helpful to the Citizens rather than separating the facilities and housing them in different areas of the City. Tax Committee Member Culbreth stressed to the Council that he wanted to re- emphasize what Lloyd said earlier, that the purpose of that Committee was not to fight our government, but to help you if we can. We're not here to hinder you, but to help you. We want to work with you. Chairman Douglas responded by saying the Council all realize that and really appreciate the Tax Committee's interest and input. Chairman Douglas asked Administrator Fellows if he had anything he would like to add. The Administrator explained that he felt the dialogue has been the people who don't really understand how government works do employed by government do not make the decisions. We can only that we can acquire, from those who are on the battlefield, so we don't have all of the answers either. was intended when this whole thing began. and just because we may have one point of just one point of view. Other comments from the Administrator extremely helpful and perhaps not realize that those who are furnish information, the best to speak, eight hours a day and So this type of dialogue and discussion is entirely wh And that was to get input from everybody concerned view, doesn't mean it may be the best one. But it's included information to thse present that taxes make up only a small amount of our income. Referring to the bedget, Fellows said if I identified everything in here that could conceivably be taxes, those items would be: Franchise, taxes, Utility taxes, and Ad Valorum taxes. They only amount to one -third of our budget. Al the rest, like our Water and Sewer is totally self supporting and is profit making. The rest of the City pays it's own way. The total amount of taxes we take in of all those I mentioned, just pays for police and fire and nothing else. Chairman Douglas informed the Council it could set up a workshop at the next meeting to discuss the space needs further. AGENDA ITEM # VI - MAYOR TO CALL ON AUDIENCE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL There were none. AGENDA ITEM # VII - MAYOR TO CALL ON CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, CITY ADMINISTRATOR, AND COUNCILMEN REGARDING REQUESTS OR REPORTS There were none. AGENDA ITEM # VIII - ADJOURNMENT It being the hour of 9:00 o'clock and after a call for more discussion and receiving none, Chairman Douglas adjourned the meeting. Edward W. Douglas Mayor /Chairman City of Okeechobee ATTEST: Bonnie S. Thomas, CMC City Clerk City of Okeechobee There is a tape of this meeting in its entirety on file in the office of the City Clerk. T at AGENDA CITY COUNCIL CITY OF OKEECHOBEE COUNCIL CHAMBERS CONTINUATION OF MAY llth RECESSED MEETING MAY 20, 1982 7:00 P.M. 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Approval of the revised minutes of the regular meeting of April 27, 1982. First reading of an ordinance rezoning lots 1 through 11, Block 121 which is property bounded on the south by 3rd Street Northeast, on the west by North- east Second Avenue, on the north by Northeast 4th Street and on the east by Northeast 3rd Avenue from RSF (residential single family) to C (commercial) for the purpose of building a hardware store and reaffirming a public hearing for June 22, 1982. IV. Discussion relative to letter offer from attorneys for LaGrow. V. Discussion on findings and recommendations of Building Expansion Committee. VI. Mayor to call on anyone in audience wishing to address the Council. VII. Mayor to call on City Attorney, City Clerk, City Administrator and Council- men regarding requests and/or reports. VIII. Adjournment.