1996-08-06 Regular MeetingA.
B.
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION
Call Meeting to order on August 6, 1996.
Invocation offered by Reverend John Paul Ziegler;
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk.
C. Mayor and Council Attendance:
Mayor James E. Kirk
Council Member Noel A. Chandler
Council Member Michael G. O'Connor
Council Member Robert Oliver
Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr.
Staff Attendance:
City Attorney John R. Cook
City Administrator John J. Drago
City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas
Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea
Mayor Kirk called the to order on August 6, 1996 at 7:45 p.m.
Council Member Dowling Watford offered the invocation;
Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Clerk Thomas called the roll:
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
D. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Sum- Council Member O'Connor moved to dispense with the reading and approve the
mary of Council Action for the Regular Council Meeting of Summary of Council Action for the Regular Meeting of July 16, 1996 and the Workshop
July 16, 1996. 11 Meeting of July 8, 1996; seconded by Council Member Oliver.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 9
E. Motion to approve Warrant Register for June, 1996 in the Council Member Watford moved to approve the Warrant Register for the month of July,
amount of $381,538.61. 1996 in the amount of three hundred eighty-one thousand, five hundred thirty-eight
dollars, sixty-one cents ($381,538.61); seconded by Council Member Oliver.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL OR Mayor Kirk asked if there were any additions, deferrals or withdrawals of items on today's
WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. agenda. Administrator Drago added new item number five, proposed Resolution No. 96-
3.
F. NEW BUSINESS
Discuss payment to LDR Consultant Dr. Jack Ware - Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Chairman Hazellief addressed the Council requesting
David Hazellief (Exhibit 1). payment for Dr. Jack Ware's assistance and work to the CAC and Council during the
CAC's review and rewriting of the City's Land Development Regulations and the
workshop's held by the Council and CAC.
Council Member Watford thanked the CAC for all their hard work, he felt they did a good
job and that the proposed LDR's are a good working document for the City.
Following a lengthy discussion, Council followed Administrator Drago's recommendation
and Council Member Oliver moved that Dr. Ware be paid nine thousand dollars
($9,000.00) for services rendered and reimburse five hundred ninety-six dollars
($596.00) to each CAC Member for expenses incurred while servina on the Board:
seconded by Council Member Watford.
CAC Chairman Hazellief thanked the Council for their confidence. Council Member
Watford asked if there was a way to dedicate the City's LDR's to Robbie Hoover who was
one of the members of the CAC and passed away while serving on the Board. Council
agreed to have his name put on them and dedicated to him.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 9
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F. NEW BUSINESS
1. Discuss payment to LDR Consultant Dr. Jack Ware Vote on motion is as follows:
continued.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
2. a. Motion to remove from the table, Ordinance 689. Council Member O'Connor moved to remove from the table, proposed Ordinance No.
111 689; seconded by Council Member Watford.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
2. b. Motion to read by title only, and set August 20, Council Member O'Connor moved to read by title only, and set August 20, 1996 as a
1996 as a Public Hearing date, Ordinance 689. - City public Hearing date, proposed Ordinance No. 689 (concerning the calculation of
Attorney (Exhibit 2). distance and locations of an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages from any
church, school or day care center); seconded by Council Member Chandler.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 9
F. NEW BUSINESS
2. b. Motion to read Ordinance No. 689 by title only Attorney Cook read proposed Ordinance No. 689 by title only as follows:
continued. III
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OREECHOBEE, FLORIDA RESCINDING
SECTION 3.3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, ADOPTING A REVISED
SECTION 3.3; DESIGNATING THAT THE DISTANCE AND LOCATIONS OF
AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SELLS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM ANY
CHURCH, SCHOOL OR DAY CARE CENTER BE DETERMINED AND
CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR MEASURING THE
DISTANCES BETWEEN SUCH USES; RESTRICTING EXPANSION OR RE-
ESTABLISHMENT OF EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT SELL ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE."
Discussion. III Mayor Kirk opened the floor for discussion.
Council Member Oliver asked what the input was from all the ministers?
Administrator Drago responded that he and Attorney Cook invited all the ministers of
churches within the City Limits to a meeting. They met and discussed this proposed
ordinance, they want everyone to understand they are not against growth however they
were concerned with encroachment of some establishments. They also understand that
the City does not have a very large Commercial and Industrial area and this is a
compromise that had to be found when churches, schools and day care centers are
located in those types of districts. He also thanked Pastor Scott Leslie of the
Okeechobee Presbyterian Church for all his work and assistance in this matter.
Pastor Scott Leslie appeared before the Council and reiterated what Administrator Drago
stated and thanked Administrator Drago for his time and help with the proposed
Ordinance No. 689.
AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 9
207
F.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Discussion continued. Mr. Bob Gibs, representative of ABC Liquor's addressed the Council stating that when
his company opened in Okeechobee they were aware of the set back requirements and
buffer zones, ABC feels that those areas are needed in communities and they respect
them, he did not feel this proposed ordinance was a good idea and stated that the one
presently on the books was a good and sufficient ordinance, and did not need to be
changed.
Administrator Drago suggested that he explain for everyone, what this ordinance allows
in amending the present restrictions on alcoholic sales. He advised that this proposed
ordinance provides that:
1. No place of business can sell alcoholic beverages within one hundred feet of property
owned or utilized by a church, school or day care center on lands designated
Commercial or Industrial on the Future Land Use Map.
2. No place of business can sell alcoholic beverages within seven hundred feet of
property owned or utilized by a church, school or day care center on any other land
designation on the Future Land Use Map (Residential, Multi -Family, Public Facilities).
3. The distance shall be measured along a straight line from the front door of said
business to the front door of the church, school or day care center. Each one of those
types of businesses must permanently designate the sole front door and provide the
information to the City.
4. That section (3.3) of the ordinance does not apply to any business establishment
presently operating under a valid City occupational license and located closer than the
restricted distance to any church, school or day care center.
5. Any existing business establishment selling alcoholic beverages, and operating under
a valid City occupational license and is closer to a church, school or day care center as
provided herein, shall not hereafter be permitted to expand or enlarge the existing
square footage of the building.
AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 6 OF 9
F. NEW BUSINESS
2. Discussion continued.
2. c. Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance
689.
6. Any existing business establishment selling alcoholic beverages which is located
closer to a church, school or day care center than as provided may continue such use
as long as the owner holds a valid City occupational license and license from the State
of Florida. Once the business is sold or transferred, and another use is made of the
location, such location shall not thereafter be re-established for the sale of alcoholic
beverages, unless in compliance with the ordinance.
Council Member Oliver commented that if the local ministers do not have a problem with
this revised proposed ordinance then he did not either. If ABC has a problem with it, that
is a business problem and something the Council should not get into. He also advised
the Council that he would be out of State and cannot attend the next meeting, August
20th, which is when this ordinance is set for public hearing and since Council Member
Watford must abstain from voting, would the Council feel comfortable passing this
ordinance with only three members able to vote? Mayor Kirk, Council Member's
O'Connor and Chandler stated that would not be problem for them.
Administrator Drago distributed in the agenda packets, copies of letters from the
Okeechobee County Chamber of Commerce and Okeechobee Economic Council all in
favor of the City Council passing this proposed ordinance.
Council Member O'Connor moved to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance
No. 689; seconded by Council Member Chandler.
Council Member Watford advised that he would have to abstain from voting since he
could receive personal gain from the granting of this ordinance.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD - Abstained
MOTION CARRIED.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 7 OF 9
011811
F. NEW BUSINESS
3. Motion to renew a Taxi Cab Business Permit to A-1 Council Member Oliver moved to renew a Taxi Cab Business Permit to A-1 Taxi Service;
Taxi Service - City Administrator (Exhibit 3). 1 seconded by Council Member Chandler.
Council Member Watford noted that the City Police Department did their normal check
on the applicant and approved the application.
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
4. Motion to approve closing the West'/ of the street Council Member O'Connor moved to approve closing the West half of the street between
between Flagler Parks 2 and 3 on November 29 and Flagler Parks 2 and 3 on November 29 and 30, 1996 for the Hospice Annual Arts and
30, 1996 for the Hospice Annual Arts and Crafts Fair Crafts Fair; seconded by Council Member Oliver.
- City Administrator (Exhibit 4).
11 Administrator Drago clarified that it should state avenues not streets. Council also
agreed it should be for the whole portion of that avenue not half of it.
Council Members Oliver and O'Connor withdrew their motion from the floor.
Council Member O'Connor then moved to approve closing the portion of the avenue
between Flagler Parks 2 and 3 (Southwest 3rd Avenue between North Park Street and
Southwest 2nd Street) on November 29 and 30, 1996 for the Hosipice Annual Arts and
Crafts Fair, they will be using the West half of Park 2 and all of Park 3; seconded by
Council Member Oliver.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 8 OF 9
F. NEW BUSINESS
4. Motion to approve closing the avenue between Vote on motion is as follows:
Flagler Parks 2 and 3 on November 29 and 30, 1996
for the Hospice Annual Arts and Crafts Fair KIRK
continued. CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
11 MOTION CARRIED.
ITEM ADDED TO THE AGENDA:
5. Motion to adopt proposed Resolution No. 96-03 - Council Member Watford moved to adopt proposed Resolution No. 96-03 concerning a
Council Member O'Connor (Exhibit 5). request to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council to postpone action upon the
Strategic Regional Policy Plan; seconded by Council Member Oliver.
Attorney Cook read proposed Resolution No. 96-03 by title only as follows:
"A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE,
FLORIDA, RESOLVING TO REQUEST THE CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL TO POSTPONE ACTION UPON THE STRATEGIC
REGIONAL POLICY PLAN."
Council Member O'Connor stated that he felt the City needed to unite with the County
and pass this resolution, it is the same type the County Commission passed. The
Stratiegic Regional Policy Plan that is being presented by the Central Florida Regional
Planning Council (CFRPC) to the State needs a lot of work to keep from jeopardizing
Okeechobee County's future growth and all other surrounding Counties. There are
several other Counties and Municipalities that have called emergency meetings to pass
resolutions like this one in order to postpone the action by the CFRPC. This is a very
serious matter and he would appreciate the Council passing this resolution so that he
can take a copy with him to the CFRPCmeeting tomorrow.
Council member Watford stated that there was a lot of controversy over this document
and he agreed with Council Member O'Connor.
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AUGUST 6, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 9 OF 9
211
F. NEW BUSINESS
5. Motion to adopt proposed Resolution No. 96-03
continued.
Adjournment - Mayor Kirk.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person
decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with
respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he/she may
need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made,
which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the
appeal is to be based. A tape recording of thising is on file in
the City Clerk's Office.
E. Kirk, Mayor
ATTEST:
Bonnie S. Thomas, CMC
City Clerk
Vote on motion is as follows:
KIRK
CHANDLER
O'CONNOR
OLIVER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
There being no further items on the agenda Mayor Kirk adjourned the meeting at 8:38
p.m.