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1998-12-08 Regular Meeting0KE4C �! O �O r z �L Og10 jolts CITY OF OKEECHOBEE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION I. CALL TO ORDER: - Mayor: December 8, 1998, City Council Regular Meeting,12 o'clock noon. II. OPENING CEREMONIES: Invocation offered by Reverend J.P. Zeigler; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk. III. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ATTENDANCE - City Clerk. Mayor James E. Kirk Council Member Noel A. Chandler Council Member Lowry Markham Council Member Robert Oliver Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr, City Attorney John R. Cook City Administrator Robert J. Bradshaw City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea IV. MINUTES - City Clerk. PAGE 1 OF 6 -- 4 Mayor Kirk called the December 8, 1998 Regular City Council Meeting to order at 12 o'clock noon. Reverend John Paul Zeigler offered the invocation; Mayor Kirk led the pledge of allegiance. Clerk Thomas called the roll: Present Present Present Present Present Present (entered chambers at 12:10 p,m) Present Present Present A. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Summary of Council Member Chandler moved to dispense with the reading and approve the Summary of Council Action for the Council Action for the Regular Meeting of November 17,1998. Regular Meeting of November 17,1998; seconded by Council Member -Markham. There being no discussion on this item, the vote was as follows: KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. DECEMBER 8,1998 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 2 OF 6 --A VI. AGENDA - Mayor. A. Requests for the addition, deferral or withdrawal of items on today's agenda. VI. NEW BUSINESS. A.1. a) Motion to read by title only and set January 5,1999 as a Public Hearing date, proposed Ordinance No. 724 correcting scriveners errors - City Attorney (Exhibit 1). b) Vote on motion to read by title only and set public hearing date c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 724 by title only. Mayor Kirk asked whether there were any requests for additions, deferrals or withdrawals of items on today's agenda. There were none. Council Member Watford moved to read by title only and set January 5, 1999 as a Public Hearing date, proposed Ordinance No. 724 correcting scriveners errors; seconded by Council Member Chandler. KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM-YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Kirk read proposed Ordinance No. 724 by title only as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA AMENDING ORDINANCE 692, PARTICULARLY SECTION 3(1)(d), SECTION 3(1)(f), AND SECTION 3(1)(g) THEREOF TO CORRECT REVISION TO FUTURER AND SUSE IN OMAP ACCORDINGLY, PRONG VIDING FOR RRECTIVE LEGAL DESCRIPTION; PERMITTING SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." 2. a) Motion to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 724.III Council Member Watford moved to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 724; seconded by Council Member Oliver. b) Discussion. Council requested a staff report from the Clerk regarding this ordinance at the public hearing of January 5,1999. c) Vote on motion. KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - YES 11 MOTION CARRIED. VI. DECEMBER 8,1998 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 6 NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED. B. Motion to approve Change Order No. 1 to Best Striping Contract Council Member Oliver moved to approve Change Order No. 1 to Best Striping Contract not to exceed ten thousand not to exceed $10,000 for street striping improvements - Public dollars ($10,000) for street striping improvements; seconded by Council Member Markham. Following a brief discussion, Works Director (Exhibit 2). 11 the vote was as follows: KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. C. Presentation regarding Okeechobee Main Street - Lane Gamiotea, Lane Gamiotea, Interim Program Manager for Okeechobee Main Street approached the podium to address the Council Interim Program Manager. regarding the progress the organization has made to date stating, that Main Street held a "Community Meeting" on October 29. There were 23 people in attendance. City Administrator Bradshaw gave a presentation of existing development that had recently located to the community and proposed developments that were looking to locate in Okeechobee. He explained why he initiated the Main Street Program and why he thought it would work for the betterment of Okeechobee. Jim Churloski, the Program Manager for Vero Beach Main Street was the key speaker and he explained how Main Street has helped Vero and Ft. Pierce. The next event was to have Mrs. Joan Jefferson, the consultant hired by the State to assist with the organizational build out, hold interviews all day on Monday, November 9. There was such a huge response that there was not enough hours in the day to interview everyone, some were interviewed on Tuesday and some were interviewed over the phone. She then hosted a workshop on Tuesday, November 10. There were 33 people present and it lasted about 3 hours. The purpose of the interviews and workshop was to establish our organizational build out. As a group they set some goals for each committee and had people already volunteering to be on the committee. Main Street Training Sessions were offered by the State the week of November 12 and 13 in Clewiston and the following week, November 19 and 20 in Vero, eight people from Okeechobee went to these training sessions. November 30 was the first Board of Director's meeting. The executive board and committee chairpersons were elected and they are as follows: President, Mr. Walt Smith. Vice President, Rennae Sweda. Treasurer, Lois Gray. Secretary, Missy Rhodes. These 4 people make up the Executive Board. --A DECEMBER 8,1998 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 6 VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED. C. Presentation regarding Okeechobee Main Street continued Main Street uses a four point approach Design, Organization, Promotion and Economic Restructuring, or ER for short. Each approach has a Committee and Chair Person and they are as follows: Our Design Committee Chair is Hilary Pulitzer. It is through the Design Committee that the community will see Main Street change. Without good design, it will be hard to bring people downtown to shop or attend special events. This committee will also work to educate and offer technical assistance to property owners when they develop or redevelop their buildings. They also work to obtain financial assistance and incentives for public improvements and open spaces. The Organization Committee Chair is Janet Willis. The Organization Committee also known as the Outreach Committee, when it becomes large enough, it will basically branch out into 4 committees being: Fund-raising, which the importance of cannot be overstated. Main Street is a public/private partnership that ideally receives ongoing monetary support from both sectors. Nonetheless, the most successful ongoing programs are those whose principle support comes from private contributions. Membership. Building a considerable membership roster enhances the organizations chances of success in two ways. First, members serve as ambassadors who help raise community awareness of Main Streets work; and second, annual membership dues make up a significant portion of the annual operating budget. Bear in mind the importance of community awareness, which generally yields community support, an effective public relations program is essential to the long term achievements of the Main Street program. Without continual, two-way communication, the Main Street program simply fades away over time. A Volunteer Committee, this committee ensures that all who wish to work with Main Street are aware of the volunteer opportunities and that volunteers are continually aware of meeting schedules, upcoming special events and other ongoing events and tasks which are continually underway on Main Street. This committee's chair has the great task of monitoring and modifying the volunteer program so it can meet the needs of the organization. Other Organization Liaisons. The Board of Directors includes several seats designed for individuals who are associated with other interest. Individuals who serve on the Main Street board as Other Organization Liaisons are typically either on the board of or hold senior staff positions with the respective organization. One of their duties is to make sure Main Street stays informed of their organizations events and meetings so that we do not conflict with them and vice versa, they keep their organization updated on what main street is doing. IOU DECEMBER 8,1998 - REGULAR MEETING PAGE 5 OF 6 VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED. C. Presentation regarding Okeechobee Main Street continued. Promotions Committee Chair is John Finch. Promotions is also known as the "fun" committee. Their major responsibilities are to hold special events to attract people to the community and they act as the image enhancement for the district Image is one of the most important factors in the revitalization of the program area. The perceptions that consumers, visitors, investors and others have of the downtown area and of downtown businesses directly affect purchasing and investment patterns. Consistent, carefully planned image promotion will gradually build consumer and investor confidence in the downtown and help reverse negative perceptions. And the last committee is ER, Chair is Steve Nelson. Once people begin to notice the positive change in the district they will start coming to downtown, however, if it is all good looking empty buildings without shops, they will not stay long. Somebody has to occupy those buildings and that somebody has to be making money in order to keep the buildings maintained. The first job for ER is to strengthen the existing economic assets of the district. The next is to recruit new businesses to diversify the economic base. They have a step by step plan to put this motion. And the last member of the Board is the Program Manager. The Manager becomes essential to the program and the role of that person is to be a facilitator, trainer, communicator, coordinator, information resource, motivator, is the face of the organization and they are not a director nor an implementer. The Executive Board, Committee Chairs and Liaisons to other Organizations together make up the board of Directors. Collectively the Board of Directors assumes legal and philosophical responsibility for all Main Street activities. The Board is solely responsible for establishing program police, approving the annual program budget and determining the goals of the program within the framework of the community's vision. The Board Meetings will be held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. here at City Hall. All the meetings are open to the public. Right now Main Streets goals are to complete the articles of incorporation and file for "not for profit' status. From there Fund-raising activities and membership drives will begin. Some of the events that are in works are participation in the Lighted Christmas Parade and Information Booth in the Park; a boat show sometime the end of February; participation in the Speckled Perch Festival by having our logo entries voted on during the festival. An Easter Parade and Hat Contest. A Mothers Day Bonnet Contest; and A Little Mr and Miss Main Street Beauty Contest. She concluded by thanking the Mayor and Council for their time and attention and welcomed them to participate and become an individual member of main street. DECEMBER 8,1998 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 6 OF 6 IX. ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING - Mayor. 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. ` JAMES E. KIRK MAYOR ATTEST: ' BONNIE S. THOMAS, CIVIC CITY CLERK There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the regular meeting at 6:47 p.m.