1981-05-28 Workshop 2855
B. CITY CLERK
l) MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Clerk Thomas presented the General Fund and Water & Sewer Fund monthly financial
statements for April, 198~.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCILMEN
A. DOWLING WATFORD, JR.
81-55 1) PALM BEACH NEWS S~TTLEMENT
Councilman Watford asked if the Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. accepted the Five
Hundred Dollar ($500.00) settlement offered by the City.
Attorney Conlon stated they had.
81-6~ 2) OKEECHOBEE COUNTY BANK - WATER BILL COLLECTION
Coun¢±lman Watford brought up for discussion the issue of Okeechobee County Bank
offering the service of water bill collection.
Clerk Thomas noted the funds collected will automatically be deposited into the
City's account with daily records being kept.
Councilman Watford moved to authorize Okeechobee County Bank to collect City water ·
and sewer bills, seconded by Councilman Chapman.
Councilman Burk questioned if problems will arise when two month bills are paid at
the bank and the City turns the water off for non-payment. Director Fortner stated the
possibility will be rare because the cash receipts will be picked up daily from the bank
for posting.
No further discussion, Chairman Douglas called for a vote on the motion to authorize
Okeechobee County Bank as a collection agent, Councilman Watford and Chapman voted yes.
Councilman Burk abstained. Chairman Douglas voted yes, motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
o~las
Chairman/Mayor
City of Okeechobee
ATTEST:
Bonnie S. Thomas
City Clerk
City of Okeechobee
WORKSHOP THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1981
The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, convened in a Workshop session
in City Council Chambers, at City Hall, Okeechobee, on Thursday, May 28, 1981, at 7:00 P.M.
Chairman/Mayor Edward W. Douglas presided with the following Councilmen present:
Dowling Watford, Jr., Oakland Chapman and Jim Knight. Councilman Donald Burk was absent.
28,56
Others present were: City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas, Administrative Assistant
Richard C. Fellows, Fire Chief Keith Tomey, Building Official Mallette Westbrook,
Director of Public Works L.C. Fortner, Jr., Deputy Clerk Janice M. Mann and Planning
Board members Dale Burk, Darrell Ferneau and Frank Altobello.
Chairman Douglas called the joint meeting to order.
FIRE PRESENTATION
Fire Chief Tomey presented a film entitled "Bleved" which means "Boiling Liquid
Expansion Vapor Explosion." The film dealt with propane gas fires and the hazards
involved.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
81-15 1) UTILITIES ELEMENT
Council was presented a third proposal of a "Utilities Element" from Marvin Arrants,
Florida Power & Light.
Councilman Watford saw no problem with the Florida POwer & Light proposal. He
felt Mr. Arrants did not eliminate any vital information, it infact includes everything
that was in the original in some form or another. Councilman Chapman agreed.
Councilman Watford moved that the Comprehensive Plan "Utilities Element" draft be
changed to the one submitted by Florida Power & Light as a compromise between the original
plan and the objections raised, seconded by Councilman Chapman, vote carried.
2) LAND USE ELEMENT
Councilman Watford could not find any reference to the City's Zoning ordinance in
the policies of the "Land Use Element", and suggested a statement be inserted as follows:
"Ail land development shall be consistant to the City's Zoning Ordinance."
3) HOUSING ELEMENT
Councilman Watford noted a needed change on page fifteen (15) of the "Housing
Element" under policies.
Present wording "establish and maintain a housing rehabilitation program to bring
suitable sub-standard housing up to standard condition and to improve the existing
housing." Watford suggested rewording the clause as follows: "Encourage rehabilitation
of suitable sub-standard housing to bring it up to standard conditions and to improve
existing housing." Council agreed.
4) CONSERVATION
Councilman Watford expreSsed some difficulty with the absence of a flood prone
map. He felt a clause should be inserted to discourage or prohibit development along
a certain portion of Taylor Creek.
Director Fortner noted that without extensive stady and a flood prone map (which
had been recended) this would be almost impossible. --~
81-13 PROPOSED STREET PAVING
The Council discussed a street paving proposal to be presented to the County
Commissioners. Chairman Douglas noted the County will no longer pave any new City
I ? I I I[l ; II
2857
streets that are not collector roads.
Assistant Fellows noted that Director Fortner had worked out a scale on the City
map that indicates the existing collector roads as designated by the State. The State
presently has a reclassification program underway to be finalized in 1982. Possibly
by then the State will designate more collector roads within the City.
Councilman Knight expressed the desire to table any discussion until further
extensive study has been done as to the number of collector roads the City will have
designated.
Councilman Chapman felt for the citizens to receive their tax dollars "worth" the
City has to maintain the roads.
Assistant Fellows noted the possibility of contracting the County to pave the City's
shelled roads for $25,000.00 - $30,000.00 per mile. The City has approximately sixteen
(16) miles of unpaved streets.
Council discussed 1) County taking over the paving and maintenance of City streets
completely, 2) the City hiring an outside firm to pave the remaining sixteen miles of
City street, and 3) the City purchasing the necessary equipment and doing the work
themselves.
The Council agreed the County should not take over the paving and maintenance
completely. Councilman Watford stated the first and foremost thing to do is to
determine as many collector roads as possible and present them to the County for approval.
Assistant Fellows suggested a meeting with the Director of Public Works, the Police
Chief and himself to prepare a proposal of collector roads to present to the County for
consideration. Council agreed, after presentation to the County, the Council will
discuss further at the June 9th, regular meeting.
PLANNING BOARD
81-65 LOT CLEARANCE ORDINANCE
Planning Board Chairman Dale Burk was present to discuss with and ask for Council's
opinions and input on a lot clearance ordinance.
Mr. Burk noted the City presently has a lot clearance ordinance in the City Charter,
which Building Official Westbrook deems adequate for enforcement. Burk asked Council to
consider and decide: 1) Is the present ordinance adequate or 2) How extensive did the
Council wish to get in lot clearance.
Councilman Watford felt it was atrocious to require raw, undeveloped land to be
cleared (in essence improved). Watford added that trash and junk cars on vacant property
should be dealt with but not natural growth, unless a series of complaints have been
lodged.
Chairman Douglas felt any property zoned commercial should be kept clean, any RSF
property within a development should also be kept clean. However, Holding property or
property used as pasture land should be left alone. Council agreed.
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After lengthy discussion, Council agreed to enforce, with discretion, the present
lot clearance ordinance and not draft a new one.
Planning Board member Frank Altobello asked of City laws regarding vagrants, noting --~
a problem which exists on Southwest Park Street in the City parks.
Chairman Douglas asked Assistant Fellows to have the Police Chief check into the
situation and remedy it.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:40 P.M.
~~Chairman>Mayor /
City of 0keechobee
ATTEST:
Bonnie S. Thom~
City Clerk
City of Okeechobee
FIRST REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY~ JUNE 9, 1981
The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, convened in a regular session in
Council Chambers at City Hall, Okeechobee, on Tuesday, June 9, 1981, at 7:00 P.M.
Pro-Tem Chairman Donald Burk presided with the following Councilmen present: Dowling
Watford, Jr. and Oakland Chapman. Chairman/MaYor Edward W. Douglas and Councilman Jim
Knight were absent.
Others present were City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas, Administrative Assistant Richard C.
Fellows, Director of Public Works L.C. Fortner, Jr., Police Chief Larry Mobley, City
Attorney David Conlon, Secretary Rosemary Lear and Deputy Clerk Janice M. Mann.
Pro-Tem Chairman Burk called the meeting to order. Councilman Oakland Chapman offered
the invocation.
81-2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilman Watford noted the omission of the word "discussion" in the motion made in
the public hearing regarding occupational licenses. Watford asked that it be inserted.
With correction noted, Councilman Chapman moved to approve the minutes of the May 21st
workshop meeting, the May 26th regular meeting and the May 28th workshop meeting, seconded
by Councilman Watford, motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARING
81-51 SECOND AND FINAL READING - ORDINANCE VACATING ALLEYWAY
Pro-Tem Chairman Burk presented for second and final hearing an ordinance vacating '-~
all rights to an alleyway located in Block 38 near the intersection of Northwest 5th Avenue