Loading...
1997-05-20 Regular Meeting352 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION A. Call Regular Meeting to order on May 20, 1997. Chairman Pro-tempore Watford called the May 20, 1997 Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. B. Invocation offered by Reverend John Paul Ziegler; Reverend J.P. Ziegler offered the invocation; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk. Council Member Watford led the Pledge of Allegiance. C. Mayor and Council Attendance: Clerk Thomas called the roll: Mayor James E. Kirk Absent (Special Program for Honor Society at Yearling Middle School) Council Member Noel A. Chandler Present Council Member Lowry Markham Present Council Member Robert Oliver Present Council Member Dowlina R. Watford. Jr. Present (Chairman Pro-tempore) Stuff-i Attendance: City Attorney John R. Cook Present City Administrator John J. Drago Present City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Present Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea Present D. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Sum- Council Member Chandler moved to dispense with the reading and approve the mary of Council Action for the regular meeting of May 6, Summary of Council Action for the regular meeting of May 6, 1997; seconded by Council 1997. Member Oliver. There being no discussion on this item, vote is as follows: KIRK CHANDLER MARKHAM OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. PAGE 1 OF 6 x X x x x 353 Motion to approve Warrant Registers for April, 1997 - General Fund $237,687.90 Public Facilities $13,176.68 REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL OR WITH- DRAWAL OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. F. NEW BUSINESS Hear from the Jaycees regarding donation to fire- works display - Christine Caruso (Exhibit 1). MAY 20, 1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 6 Council Member Markham moved to approve the April 1997 Warrant Register's in the amount of: General Fund two hundred thirty-seven thousand, six hundred eighty-seven dollars, ninety cents ($237,687.90) and Public Facilities Fund, thirteen thousand, one hundred seventy-six dollars, sixty-eight cents ($13,176.68); seconded by Council Member Oliver. Following a brief discussion concerning a sixteen hundred dollar ($1,600.00) expenditure to Holland and Knight, Attorney's At Law of Tallahassee, Florida regarding the local option gas tax issue, vote on motion to approve the April 1997 Warrant Register's was as follows: KIRK CHANDLER MARKHAM OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Pro-tem Watford asked if there were any requests for additions, deferrals or withdrawals of items on today's agenda. New Business item number three was added by Council Member Markham to discuss City Administrator applications and interview scheduling. On behalf of the Jaycees, Christine Caruso addressed the Council requesting a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) donation for the 1997 Fire Works Show for Okeechobee. Their goal in the past has been five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) this year they are striving for seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500.00). Donation requests are being made to the City, County, local businesses, and Jaycee fund raisers, including their "Annual Battle of the Bands". X X X X X 354 MAY 20, 1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 6 F. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED Hear from the Jaycees regarding donation to fire- In response to Council Member Markham's question as to the legality of the City Council works display continued. donating funds to organizations, Attorney Cook advised that the Council can use tax pay- ers money for the benefit of the City residents and if the Council feels this would benefit the City residents then a donation can legally be made. Attorney Cook also advised that he had met with Finance Coordinator Parker today concerning a budget amendment that will be coming up (possibly) at the June 17th meeting. Mrs. Parker stated that if the Jaycee Firework donation was approved that it could be taken care of at that time. Council Member Oliver moved to donate one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to the Jaycees for the `97 Fire Works Show: seconded by Council Member Chandler. Discussion ensued. Administrator Drago advised the donation could come from the City Council budget line item: Aid to Governments/Organizations. Ms. Caruso was also informed that if this was going to be a yearly request she would need to come back to the City during budget time and make her request then. Chairman Pro-tem Watford cau- tioned the Council on arantina this item recalling a time when four organizations were requesting donations throughout the year. Ms. Caruso commented she understood Chairman Pro-tem Watford's concerns, but that this donation is going toward an event that the majority of Okeechobee residents attend, not just a specific group or small minority. She continued further that her plans are to make this a traditional community event by striving to get all the local organizations, clubs and businesses involved to try to make it a "self supportive" fund raiser throughout the entire year. Vote on motion is as follows: KIRK CHANDLER MARKHAM OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. X 355 F. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED 2. Motion to award a street paving contract to Ranger Construction Industries, Inc. in the amount of $225,123.00 - Director of Public Works (Exhibit 2). 3. Discuss Administrator Applications - Council Member Markham (Exhibit 3). MAY 20, 1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 6 Council Member Oliver moved to award a street paving contract (for the 1996197 Road Improvements) to Ranger Construction Industries, Inc. (of Ft. Pierce, Florida, low bidder) in the amount of two hundred twenty-five thousand, one hundred twenty-three dollars ($225,123.00) (as recommended by Engineer ICafer, of Lawson, Noble and Associates who also noted the bid is within ten percent of the estimated cost and considered to be an unweigted and valid bid); seconded by Council Member Markham. Other bids received from Dickerson Florida, Inc. of Stuart, Florida ($256,789.98) and Better Roads, Inc. of Lake Placed, Florida ($250,453.50). Following a brief discussion on this item, vote is as follows: KIRK CHANDLER MARKHAM OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. (Council Member Markham requested this item be added at the beginning of the agen- da.) Exhibit Three, a memorandum from Council Member Markham to the Mayor and Council, explained in order to try to make the review process for the position of City Administrator run as smoothly as possible he proposed a schedule of events that would need to transpire. Following a brief discussion, Council approved the "format" of the memorandum, but changed the dates due to other meetings/workshops already scheduled as follows: O Wednesday, June 4th, Clerk's Office to provide a "spreadsheet" of applicants qualifications and credentials to Council. X X X X X 356 MAY 20, 1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 6 F. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED 3. Discuss Administrator Applications continued. A Monday, June 9th, City Council will hold a Special Meeting to discuss new contract language, job description as outlined in the City Code Book, Chapter Two; and short list the applicants. Also at this meeting, Council will have to decide to: O Ask the applicants to appear at the June 17th regular meeting for interviews; or C Postpone the Regular Meeting until the following Tuesday, June 24th and ask applicants to attend for interviews; or 3 Hold the regular meeting on June 17th and set another Special Meeting for the following week for interviews. © Tuesday, June 10th, City Clerk contact short list applicants with interview dates/time/etc. Attorney Cook then requested to bring up an item concerning an encroachment of a structure in the 400 block of Northwest 5th Avenue (across from the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office). Due to a recent survey of the property it was discovered that the structure encroaches in the City right of way. The property owners are in the process of selling the land. The bank will not close on the property until an easement is granted. Attorney Cook requested official action from the Council to draw up the necessary document granting an easement, for the amount of footage needed only; and that it be restricted to the current structure only. Chairman Pro-tem Watford advised Attorney Cook that he would have to place this on the next agenda since it was not added at the beginning of the agenda, as appropriate to Council policy. 357 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 this meeting is on file in the City Clerk's Office. A Dowkrio R.,MaLTord. Jr. Council Member ATTEST: MAY 20, 1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 6 OF 6 There being no further items on the agenda, Chairman Pro-tem Watford adjourned the May 20, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting at 7:35 p.m.